WEIRD LONERS Neither in the TV Landscape

Article first published as WEIRD LONERS Review on Seat42F.

FOX’s latest sitcom, premiering this week, is called WEIRD LONERS. As you might expect, it follows four individuals who could be labeled with the descriptors in the title. They end up together by circumstance at a time when they could all really use a friend or two, and will likely become a stable group because of convenience and a common sensibility, getting themselves into wacky situations that don’t go well because of their oddness and selfish natures.

The ensemble is mostly made up of network comedy staples. Zachary Knighton (Happy Endings, FlashForward) plays Stosh, who blows up his life and career when sleeping with his boss’s fiancé. Since his condo is company-owned, too, Stosh decides to crash with his lonely, possibly unemployed cousin, Eric (Nate Torrence, Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip, Hello Ladies). Eric goes out looking for wall art and finds Zara (virtual newcomer who fits right in, Meera Rohit Kumbhani), an aimless artist. At the same time, Stosh can’t help but interfere with Eric’s hot neighbor, Caryn (Becki Newton, Ugly Betty, The Goodwin Games), who is considering marrying a boring guy (David Wain, co-creator of Childrens Hospital), the exact opposite as the type of man she is naturally inclined towards. And, because why not, Caryn asks Zara to move in with her, meaning all four now dwell in two adjoining townhomes.

As you can see, none of the four have their lives together, and all are in their mid-30s, past the time most of their peers decide to grow up, a fact highlighted in the opening of the pilot. A little arrested development is mixed with a lack of self-awareness, at least for most of the group, giving ripe ground for comedy to grow upon.

WEIRD LONERS isn’t exactly a new idea. Perhaps the characters are more emotionally stunted in this show, but it’s not that different from Happy Endings, How I Met Your Mother, Cougar Town, Friends, or a myriad of other programs built on the theme of acquaintances with a strong bond. It’s a formula that works pretty well with the right actors and writers, and despite its flaws and formulaic approach, Weird Loners certainly seems to have both of those groups working for it.

Because of the starting point of each of these characters, there is ample room for growth and development moving forward. The focus is likely to be on goofy situations and one-liners, but all four of the players also bring emotional depth and complexity to their roles, making them seem like three-dimensional individuals. People such as they are sure to find ways to better themselves over time, their coming together providing the resources all of them are lacking at the start.

Will that be enough for Weird Loners to succeed? I don’t know. The most recent good example of this, Happy Endings, got a mere three seasons. It may be that this recipe has been prepared so often that viewers are tired of it, and not looking for another helping. I could easily see it being a one-and-done late season also-ran. But I really like the cast, all of whom deserve to be on TV on a regular basis, so there’s always the chance that enough other people will appreciate it, as I have done, and give it the numbers to stay on the air.

If you’re not sure if you should check out WEIRD LONERS, I do recommend it. While not being particularly original, it succeeds at being funny. The pacing is good, the laughs are frequent enough, and the personalities are engaging, if not likeable. The characters aren’t completely realistic, but they do feel authentic. If nothing else, it is an entertaining half hour without the plot holes or quick, easy gags that many shows succumb to.

WEIRD LONERS premieres this coming Tuesday on FOX.

Game Over For THE GOODWIN GAMES

Article first published as Game Over For THE GOODWIN GAMES on TheTVKing.

FOX's The Goodwin Games brings their brief, seven episode run to a close this week with "The Box." Although very funny and sweet, the series by How I Met Your Mother creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas was basically given a vote of no confidence by FOX, placed on the summer schedule to be burnt off. Thus, before it even began airing, the show was doomed.

The Goodwin Games boasts an awesome cast. Ugly Betty's Becki Newton, Scandal's Scott Foley, and Cloverfield's T.J. Miller play three siblings named Chloe, Henry, and Jimmy Goodwin, respectively. When their father (Beau Bridges) passes away, he leaves them a series of challenges to complete in order to get his sizable (and previously secret) inheritance. The "Goodwin Games" are designed to let the adult brothers and sister reconnected with each other and themselves, righting the wrong paths they are all on.

From the beginning, I was a little skeptical of Miller alongside the other two, who were already beloved and respected. But as the weeks went by, he proved he could hang at their level, too, eliciting some of the biggest laughs of the show. Each have their own foibles and idiosyncrasies, but when they combine, they are strong, able to better help fix each other than themselves. Not to mention, hilarious.

In the series finale, which doesn't feel a lot like a series finale, all end up some degree above where they begin. Henry is forced to take time off work by his boss (Laurie Metcalf), meaning he will finally spend some time with the other two, as previously his mind is frequently elsewhere, and he is commuting two hours each way to his job as a surgeon. This also lets him relax enough to reconnect with his ex, Lucinda (Kat Foster), and discover that they didn't need to break up after all.

Henry is uptight and fancies himself better than others and his hometown. Even though we don't get to see his continued growth, "The Box" shows us the turning point, when he shifts his energies and begins to open his eyes. We know he will continue on this journey, and while there may be twists along the way, he is going to get back with Lucinda, the right woman for him, unlike his current and unseen fiance, and he'll come to see there is more to life than being the best surgeon he can be.

Chloe, meanwhile, gives up her dreams of being an actress, returns to college, and falls for a childhood pal named Ivan (Adam Rodriguez, CSI: Miami). Her plot is about bursting her bubble, too, like Henry's, although she isn't any good at what she is doing, unlike him and his career. Instead, she has been wasting her talents, namely her brilliance in mathematics, and now she can begin to put them to good use.

There is clearly opportunity here for a swap between Chloe and Henry down the road, with Chloe becoming driven in her field, and Henry growing too complacent and directionless after a break. It's a crying shame we won't get to see that develop.

Jimmy has to prove himself responsible for his daughter, Piper (Kaitlyn Maher). "The Box" doesn't really address this, but shortly before the last episode, Jimmy gets a rude awakening when he realizes that Piper's mother (Janina Gavankar, True Blood, The League) is right, he isn't a good influence on Piper. So he sets off to find a job and become stable so that he can be in Piper's life.

I like that Jimmy and Piper aren't able to reconnect so easily, with an acknowledgement about what a bad father Jimmy is. I also like that Jimmy isn't able to turn things around so quickly, becoming a bartender and sleeping with his father's lawyer, April Cho (Melissa Tang), not exactly getting to a good environment right away. It leaves him some room to expand and improve, as it should be.

It's these detailed characters, each with so much to offer, wonderfully performed by three amazing actors, that make The Goodwin Games so alluring. They all go from goofy to sincere, from crazy to wise, in moments with utter authenticity. The premise is clever, with lots of appearances by Bridges' deceased father in ways that make sense, and one can see not only some movement in these seven episodes, but also oh so many possibilities as to where they could go. This could easily have run for seven seasons and been entertaining the entire time.

Sadly, this is not to be, and The Goodwin Games has crossed the finish line.

Looking on the bright side, at least the cancellation leaves Scott Foley open to return to Scandal, where he has been upgraded to series regular. Newton should bounce back, as she did after her previously failed and charming Love Bites, making her a hot property for next year's pilot season. And Miller, perhaps not considered a popular casting choice previously, has some cred he can lobby into another role.

Read, Set, Go for THE GOODWIN GAMES

Article first published as THE GOODWIN GAMES Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 92%

FOX’s new comedy THE GOODWIN GAMES premieres tonight at 8:30 P.M. EST. The “Pilot” finds three grown up, estranged siblings returning to their hometown upon learning of their father’s death. After the funeral, they learn he secretly has more than twenty million dollars tucked away, and, rather than split it among them, has set up an elaborate series of contests to determine with child should inherit the fortune.

THE GOODWIN GAMES was originally ordered as part of FOX’s lineup for the television season that is just ending, but has now been reduced to a seven-episode order intended to be burnt off this summer. Even being programmed with reruns of popular comedies, the show doesn’t stand much chance of a future.

But don’t let that scare you aware. It has a great cast and a fun concept, one that should hook in viewers, even if it failed to find support at the network. It’s charming, and it’s time-jumping story will remind sitcom fans of How I Met Your Mother, which isn’t coincidence, since this show is from the same producers. As such, it retains some of the tone and jokes that make How I Met Your Mother so entertaining.

In THE GOODWIN GAMES, we are introduced to: Henry (Scott Foley, Scandal, True Blood), whom is a successful surgeon; Chloe (Becki Newton, Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother), a highly intelligent aspiring actress; and Jimmy (T.J. Miller, How to Train Your Dragon, Cloverfield), a screw-up freshly out of prison (again), and indebted to some very bad people. Each have their eccentricities and good and bad qualities. They are all easy to root for, even when bickering, because there is familial affection present in their rivalry.

It’s no wonder they’re a little weird, given their upbringing by single father Benjamin (the great Beau Bridges). He always pitted them against each other, making them jump through hoops for treats and his approval. Viewers get a chance to see just how Benjamin treats them as kids, which informs quite a bit about who they are today, and it’s apparent just where their relationships go wrong.

Now, it’s clear almost right off the bat that the main goal Benjamin has is to bring the three back together as a family, one that is very sympathetic, and likely to happen, based on early interaction. It would not be surprising if, in the end, should an end ever be shown, that he’s not rich. After all, the house they return to isn’t super ornate, though it is quite nice, and maybe the fourth man who plays the game in the first episode and is gifted one million dollars is a decoy to motivate them into participating. This would make sense, given the premise. But, if the money is real, surely they will share it in the end.

However, as in How I Met Your Mother, knowing how things will turn out, generally speaking, doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the show. The draw is the journey, how the characters will get from Point A to Point B. Their interactions with each other, buoyed by excellent casting choices and great chemistry, are what makes THE GOODWIN GAMES worth watching, and the scenes where all three siblings are together are easily the best moments of the “Pilot.”

The only small complaint I have about THE GOODWIN GAMES is that Chloe, Henry, and Jimmy get along to well too quickly. Sure, mid-episode they argue so much that they can’t finish a single game of Trivial Pursuit. But by the end of the half hour, they seem to have found some common ground and begin to rebuild things between them. In order for Benjamin’s scheme to take up some time and continue for awhile, a little more conflict and a slower warm-up would be appropriate.

Had it been known that THE GOODWIN GAMES would only get seven installments, it’s likely the story would stay confined to this premise. However, designed to run much longer, each of the trio also has their own subplot, too. Chloe is ex-best friends with the lawyer Benjamin tasks with handling his children, April Cho (Melissa Tang, Beginners). Henry, soon after arriving in town, runs into his ex-girlfriend, Lucinda Hobbes (Kat Foster, Weeds, Royal Pains), who is now a minister, and whom Henry still has feelings for. Jimmy has a young daughter, Piper (Kaitlyn Maher, America’s Got Talent), who he tries to do right by, and who is wise enough at her young age to encourage Jimmy to stay on the straight and narrow. These characters are fun, and they do add depth to the proceedings, but while they would work great for a longer-running show, seem extraneous to a limited series.

There’s always a chance THE GOODWIN GAMES could find an audience and continue, slim as that might be. Because I’m a big fan of Foley and Newton’s work, and these are interesting, funny roles for them to play, I really hope that this happens, and will definitely be watching as many episodes as FOX will air, having loved the “Pilot.” But if THE GOODWIN GAMES would fail, as it is expected to, at least I’m confident that the cast won’t be unemployed for long.

How I Met Your Mother draws closer to conclusion

CBS's How I Met Your Mother, whether it does a ninth season next year or not, is undeniably drawing closer to the series finale. As such, it has been callously ending all of the non-final relationships of the main characters during a so-called "autumn of breakups," and setting up everyone for who they will be with in the end. This trend continues last night in "Splitsville."

After Ted (Josh Radnor) dumps Victoria (Ashley Williams) last week, and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Quinn (Becki Newton) end things a few episodes ago, that leaves only Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Nick (Michael Trucco). This is the pair that most obviously should break up, as despite Nick's hot bod and the awesome sex, he is dumb, and Robin has no interest in anything long-term with him.

Actually ending things with Nick proves hard to Robin. Not because she doesn't want to hurt him, though that plays a small role in delaying the inevitable, but because she just wants to keep having fun. After a couple of serious relationships, it's not a surprise that Robin likes to blow off some steam. But Nick isn't the man she will marry, and considering her wedding to Barney has to happen before the show ends, and that could be this spring, the plot must move forward.

Barney's grand declaration of love, which he claims is fake in order to get Robin off the hook with Nick, is easy to see through for viewers and Robin alike. I thought How I Met Your Mother might try to drag it out, a la most sitcoms, by having Robin believe Barney's insistence that he isn't being sincere. Thankfully, this is not the case, and Robin calls him on his stuff, even if Barney remains cagey at the end of "Splitsville."

How quickly will things progress between them now? I think there is a clue in last week's installment, where Victoria insisted to Ted that a renewed relationship picks up where it left off, not restarting back at zero. Barney and Robin grew pretty heavy before. A quick engagement is not out of the question.

And then, once we get the second pair of supporting players out of the way, we will finally get to how Ted meets the titular mother. I hope.

"Splitsville" does bring a slightly better than average plot for Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel). With romance playing such a pivotal role this year, the old married couple with the baby have been reduced mainly to goofy bits that don't add much to the series overall. But in this episode, they are sex-deprived because of said infant until Ted can rescue them, and that is a little amusing and rings of realism.

How I Met Your Mother continues to fall short of the heights it hit in early seasons, but if the current trends are any indication, we might still be in for a heck of a series finale. The only question is, will that occur six months from now, or eighteen months?

How I Met Your Mother airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.


If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

How I Met Your Mother The Complete Season 7

CBS's How I Met Your Mother started out as one of the best sitcoms on television, and then sagged a bit in the middle. However, by season seven, owing to a deeper level of emotion, and some development in the characters' lives, the series had regained its momentum, beginning to build towards a climax (even though it's uncertain if that climax will happen in season eight, or nine, or...). Now, all twenty-three episodes of season seven, plus extras, have been released on a three disc set dubbed "The Ducky Tie Edition."

As year seven commences in Ted's (Josh Radnor) search for the titular mother, his friends are continuing to grow up and move on. In fact, as we see in cut scenes in several episodes set slightly in the future, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) is finally tying the knot, before Ted no less, though we won't find out who Barney's bride is until the final moments of the season. Is it Robin (Cobie Smulders), whom is still haboring feelings for him? Is it Nora (Nazanin Bonidai), whom Barney wronged, but maintains a torch for? Or could it be the soon to arrive on the scene stripper, Quinn (Becki Newton, Ugly Betty), who understands Barney in a way that no woman ever has before?

Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) are even further into adulthood. They announce in the season premiere, "The Best Man," that Lily is pregnant. But do they want to raise a baby in New York City? It isn't long before they find a place in the suburbs. This moves them further away from their friends, hurting their social life. Is this the right decision for them?

Other events important to the lives of the gang occur throughout the season. Some ones well worth mentioning are:

• "Ducky Tie" Barney loses a wager to see Lily's breasts, and Ted runs into old flame Victoria (Ashley Williams), sparking a "What if...?" question about his ex.
• "Noretta" Kevin (Kal Penn) freaks everyone out when he tells them that people always choose a mate similar to their parents. Visual gags ensue.
• "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" Ted reunites with a mystery flirt from years ago (Katie Holmes), and Barney learns that he's one quarter Canadian. It's a good thing that it's Halloween. The horror!
• "Tick Tick Tick" After cheating on their significant others with each other, Robin and Barney decide how, or if, they will break up with Kevin and Nora.
• "The Rebound Girl" Barney and Ted decide that they should raise a child together. There is no way that this can possible go wrong, right?
• "Tailgate" Marshall visits his father's grave to update him on that gang's life.
• "The Burning Beekeeper" The story of Marshall and Lily's housewarming party is told repeatedly from different perspectives.
• "Karma" Barney meets Quinn, a stripper who steals more than his money, and Ted seeks to fill the void in the apartment, and his life, left by Robin after she moves out.
• "Trilogy Time" Ted realizes that he has been stuck in a rut, and wonders how he might finally make a positive change in his life.
• "The Magician's Code" (two part finale) Lily goes into labor while Marshall is drunk with Barney in Atlantic City. Then Barney proposes to Quinn, while Ted gets a visit from Victoria on her wedding day.

This is a great batch of episodes, and is definitely proof that How I Met Your Mother still deserves its spot on the air. Rather than continuing to grow stale, the series has reinvented itself in a very interesting way, moving into the stage of the characters' lives past the carefree days of youth. It isn't a perfect year, but it's much better than several of the previous ones.

There are plenty of extras included in The Ducky Tie Edition set. Besides getting your own copy of the infamous tie with it (possibly depending on where you buy it?) , there are also deleted scenes, a gag reel, and audio commentaries on certain episodes. Featurettes include a look at writing the series, making the series, and all of the great guest stars that appear. There is also a look at Neil Patrick Harris getting his star. Very cool, and enough to satisfy

How I Met Your Mother The Complete Season 7 The Ducky Tie Edition is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

Farhampton not far off for How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother began its eighth season premiere on CBS last night with "Farhampton." Much of the action was set in Farhampton, the place where Ted (Josh Radnor) will finally meet the titular mother. In fact, "Farhampton" brings viewers right up to the point where Ted is about to encounter her, and then stops just short of that fateful moment.

The creators have said before that meeting the mother may not be the end of the show. But the last few seasons have started to tease this moment, the day of Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) wedding. It certainly feels like the end, now that so much time has been spent building towards it. The creators are keeping the show's biggest reveal so secret, they won't even admit whether the legs we saw belong to an already-cast actress or a stand-in. It's simultaneously nice to know that we're getting closer to the big day, but frustrating that a timeline has not been firmly established.

When will this day actually happen? November sweeps? February sweeps? May sweeps (if the series is renewed for a ninth year)? All I can say is, it will almost surely be during one of those sweeps periods. And it will probably happen very quickly, with little build up in the prior episodes, so as to surprise the fans as much as can be, given the flash forwards.

Before Barney and Robin get married, though, they first have to lose their current significant others. The tipping point for Barney's beau comes in "Farhampton" when Quinn (Becki Newton) learns that he has neglected to mention that he used to date Robin. This is a betrayal of her trust, and while Barney manages to prevent her from leaving him on the spot, it definitely seems like their nearly perfect bond has been broken. It's unfortunate, considering the awesome chemistry Newton and Harris have, but this probably is a big part of what will lead to their impending dissolution.

Robin, like Barney, is very happy with someone else. In her case, he's little more than arm candy (Michael Trucco, Battlestar Galactica, Fairly Legal), which could be why it won't work in the long-term. But before she can even get tired of the new guy, Barney drops a bombshell when he gives Robin the key to a storage space where he has stored all of their memories. It hits Robin hard, and while she thought that she was over Barney, it's clear that she really isn't. The fact that Barney has this space at all proves he feels the same way. Thus, the seeds are planted for a sweet reconciliation.

Meanwhile, Ted and Victoria's (Ashley Williams) plan to run away together hits a snag when they find it difficult to leave a note for Klaus (Thomas Lennon, Night at the Museum, Reno 911!). If it's this much trouble, is it even worth it to leave a note? And what is it with people sneaking off and just leaving a piece of paper? I know this is a sitcom, but it's gotten to be a ridiculous pattern. Please tell me that real people don't really do this? Surely, most weddings actually happen, and even those that don't usually get more than a quick scribble, right? A face to face conversation is the minimum owed to the jilted party.

To make matters even more unbelievable, Klaus, too, writes a note and flees. He tells Ted that it is because Victoria is almost perfect for him, but not quite, and that everyone meets that person that they are meant to be with eventually. This makes for a great story, but it's simply not true. There will be issues in every relationship, and plenty of people never do find the exact right person. I hate to bring a dose of cynical reality into the mix, but this just isn't how it works.

That's the problem with How I Met Your Mother. At times, it ventures too far into cartoon territory, leaving the real world behind. This is acceptable for some series, but in a show that seems to be set in the actual world, it makes some elements ring a bit hollow. That was fine when the series was still very funny, but it's not anymore. I like the growth into deeper, dramatic territory, as it has more fully fleshed out the characters, but the world around them didn't shift in tandem, which is why this is only a good show nowadays, not a great one as it once was.

And then there's Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel), who are barely necessary in this particular episode, but hang around the entire time anyway. The water haze special effect is kind of lame, and I'd rather see them sit out most of a week than be wasted in this manner.


Recent episodes of How I Met Your Mother have gotten so much better than the middle period of the series. In a perfect world, it will nail the elusive perfectly balanced dramedy tone before the end. Even in an imperfect reality, though, it has a shot at doing so. Watch How I Met Your Mother Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

How I Met Your Mother's trickery

CBS ends this season of How I Met Your Mother with the two part episode, "The Magician's Code." It doesn't really make sense to list this as a two-parter because they really are two completely separate stories. None of the major plots continue from one half hour to the next. One wonders if, after deciding to grant 2 Broke Girls a full hour last week, someone just went and renamed the first of these two episodes.

But the title "The Magician's Code Part 1" is not the only thing that doesn't work about the first half of the finale. The entire story is dumb. Marshall (Jason Segel) is plastered as he tries to make his way home for the birth of his daughter. Big event in Atlantic City or no, surely someone would have found him some type of transportation if he explained the situation. Granted, Marshall is in no condition to explain anything, but Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) could. Unfortunately, Barney is acting so far inept that he's way out of character.

Worse is the other plot, where Ted (Josh Radnor) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) try to distract an in-labor Lily (Alyson Hannigan) with stories. These are nothing more than rapid punchlines shown in quick succession, Family Guy style. Even the larger tale of the mysterious door, while essentially clever, doesn't work in this context. Robin's insistence on treating Lily like a farm animal is horrible. And why is Lily told by her doctor to wait to go to the hospital until it is too late to administer the drugs? Not to mention, Mickey (Chris Elliott) is a terrible character.

Fans have come to expect better than this from How I Met Your Mother. Despite a weak season or two in the middle, the series has gotten relatively consistent at being good again. "The Magician's Code Part 1" does not at all live up to this high standard. The fact that the episode features something as momentous as the birth of Lily and Marshall's child makes this mistake of an episode nearly criminal.

Thankfully, "The Magician's Code Part 2" is excellent. Barney and Quinn (Becki Newton) head off on a trip, but are detained in airport security because of Barney's mysterious box. Now, at face value, Barney cannot possibly be stupid enough to act the way he does in front of these security agents, who are also unnecessarily bad at their jobs. However, the charming tone and sweetness of the situation, which ends in a proposal, is more than enough to make up for any flaws. How exciting that Barney has finally found true love!

Too bad Barney's love is not with Quinn. It's actually a little disappointing when Robin is revealed to be Barney's bride. For years, a Barney-Robin pairing has been something to root for. As Barney matures and moves on with Quinn, that changes, which is a testament to what Newton is bringing to the party. It's kind of a step backwards for Barney to return to Robin now. However, this takes place in the future, so there is time to build to the wedding properly. And fans still want Robin to be happy. As such, while it's sad that Quinn, as predictable as that would have seemed in the context of this episode, is not going to marry Barney, it's also great to see that Robin finds happiness. Bittersweetness.

Also in "The Magician's Code Part 2," Ted gives Victoria (Ashley Williams) a call. Robin tells Ted that he is not dating the right girls for building a family, something he claims to want, and Victoria is the only possibility he has squandered a chance to fulfill his dreams with. But it's Victoria's wedding day, and she shows up dressed for the ceremony, asking Ted if he wants to run off together. It seems Victoria is no longer the type of girl Ted needs to settle down with, either.

Ted pledges to do the right thing and take her to the church. Though, if she is actually considering running off with another guy, is that really the right thing? Which is why it's not so sad when Ted drives past the church and off into the sunset with Victoria. Such terrible circumstances do not point to Victoria being the likely titular mother. But she is such a delightful character that it would be good just to have her around again for awhile. And Williams makes her so wonderful that, if Ted does reveal her to be the mother, any mistakes and bad ideas would be forgiven anyway.

How I Met Your Mother will return next fall to CBS.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy How I Met Your Mother DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here. Article first published as How I Met Your Mother's trickery on TheTVKing.com

Is 'Karma' good for How I Met Your Mother?

This week's How I Met Your Mother on CBS is called "Karma." Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) finds Quinn (Becki Newton, Love Bites, Ugly Betty) at a strip club working under the name Karma. Actually, they've both been there on a regular basis for over a year, but he finally notices her. Barney tries to ask her out, but ends up being played into spending lots of money on her. He is sincerely hurt, and seeing that, Quinn decides to give him a chance. Meanwhile, Ted (Josh Radnor) tries to decide what to do with his spare room, and Robin (Cobie Smulders) crashes in the suburbs.

Season seven has been the year of Barney looking for a serious relationship. The writers have tried him with Robin, but that didn't work out. He ends his next relationship because he thinks that he can get back with Robin, but is let down. Now he's considering Quinn. Has he learned his lesson, or will he toss Quinn aside at the first chance for another shot with Robin?

Quinn is a great character, played by the wonderful Newton perfectly. She is a match for Barney in every way, with similar personalities. If anyone has a chance to truly turn his head from Robin, as it should be, after he was scorned, it's Quinn.

So might Quinn be the woman Barney is going to marry in the flashes of a wedding seen earlier this season and last? Well, it's hard to tell. Perhaps Robin will be the bride, because she's familiar, and it's what many fans want. But it might be the bolder, more realistic move to go with someone else. And should that be the decision, Quinn might just be the perfect girl to make that happen. Plus, keeping Newton working on television is a worthy goal.

It's kind of a shock when Ted decides to move out of his apartment, where he has lived for the entire run of How I Met Your Mother. But Ted is desperately looking to make a change, because what he has been doing for the last seven years has not given him the result he seeks. He wants a wife, and he is failing over and over again. So the smart thing to do is make changes, any see if one can get different results. Giving up the apartment unsticks him from his comfort zone, and could be just what he needs.

Still, it's heartbreaking to see the place empty at the end of "Karma." It is some comfort that Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) will be back in it, given it was once their home. But it won't be the same.

While staying with Lily and Marshall outside of the city, Robin is unhappy, and thinks that they are, too. This plot culminates in "Karma" when the couple sees Ted's gift of the apartment. The question is, is this the right decision for them? They were willing to live in the suburbs for their child, but both prefer city life. Will they feel guilty for putting their own needs above the kid's? Or will they make peace with the fact that many kids are raised in New York City and do just fine, so why not theirs? This story is probably not yet over, though moving back downtown seems to be the right decision.

"Karma" is a terrific example of how How I Met Your Mother is fully recovered from the slump it was in for awhile. Tune in to CBS Mondays at 8 p.m. ET later this spring for more fresh episodes.

MORE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy How I Met Your Mother DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

Loves Bites begins with "Firsts"

     NBC has a little show called Love Bites that was originally slated to premiere last fall, got pushed to mid-season, and ultimately has to wait until summer to see the light of day. That, combined with terrible first night ratings, does not bode well. And yet, it is an original, compelling, tasty treat of a series. The first episode, appropriately titled "Firsts," aired this past Thursday, and if it is representative of the series as a whole, Love Bites is going to be pretty good. Assuming NBC allows it to continue airing, which is far from certain because of the aforementioned ratings.

     The hook for Love Bites is that it is a series of vignettes, with their own subtitles, having some threads that twist through all three stand alone stories. The theme song boasts only two stars: Becki Newton (Ugly Betty) and Greg Grunberg (Alias, Heroes). Yet, in the first episode, so many wonderful actors play their friends, including Craig Robinson (The Office), Kyle Howard (My Boys), Lindsay Price (Lipstick Jungle), Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), and Guillermo Diaz (Weeds), that this could easily become an ensemble piece. Also in the pilot, is Grunberg's character's wife, who is Pamela Adlon (Californication) in the first episode, but was recast as Constance Zimmer (Entourage) in further installments.

     The first bit, "First Time," finds Annie (Newton) trying to help her friend Cassie (Ritter) pick up a man. Unfortunately, Annie's large belly and story of being a surrogate for her sister distracts the guys in the bars. Cassie comes up with her own, albiet made up, story to get attention, telling a guy she's a virgin. He falls for her, but becomes hesitant to engage in sexual relations, knowing he will be the one she remembers. She eventually comes clean, as does he, but instead of splitting up, as would happen when the scenario arises in sitcoms, they stay together. It's a sweet nugget, and a good way to begin a series about love. Attraction is about more than just the pick up lines people use, and everyone wants attention.

     In the second segment, "First To Go," Carter (Howard) loses his job. When he gets home to tell his fiance (Price), he finds her using a vibrator. It's too much humilaition for his manhood to take in one day, so he puts off telling her the bad news, and instead devotes himself to being better in bed than the sex toy. Of course, the truth eventually comes out, and she is supportive. It may sound similar to the first story, but it doesn't feel that way, because a committed couple who have been together for a long time have totally different reasons to lie, and find it much easier to forgive. Clearly, these two belong together.

     Finally, the third and longest section is called "First On the List." Judd (Grunberg) gets the chance to live out the fantasy of many a married man. On an airplane, he runs into Jennifer Love Hewitt (herself), the one and only girl on his "exemption" list, who if he sleeps with, his wife is not allowed to get mad. His wife tells him to go for it, and his buddy (Robinson) is very encouraging. Stranger still, Hewitt is agreeable, having just gotten out of a relationship, finding Judd nice, and wanting to try her fantasy of joining the mile high club. In the end, they get to the bathroom, but Judd is too loyal to his wife to seal the deal, earning even more respect from Hewitt. This is certainly the least realistic situation, meeting an attractive celebrity is only too willing to have sex with you, but again, the heartfelt ending demonstrating true love saves it from being an utter waste.

     Doesn't that sound like a good show worth watching? Here's hoping the series gets signficantly more viewers so it can at least play out the short first season it filmed. Love Bites airs Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all of my Current Season Reviews.

     Click here to watch the first episode of Love Bites streaming for free!

Betty comes to an end, sans the Ugly

    Last night marked the series finale of a fantastic four year story.  ABC's Ugly Betty, after scoring high enough ratings to move off of Friday nights, was abruptly and unfortunately canceled shortly thereafter.  What makes the cancellation seem criminal was that Betty's current season was shortened by two hours, giving the show's team even less time to tie everything up.  They managed to, but only by rushing and packing plot thickly into the last few hours.

     True to Betty style, everyone got a happy ending in "Hello Goodbye".  Amanda (Becki Newton), in the course of a mere three episodes, got to know a man she realized was her father, and he was glad to be in her life.  Marc (Michael Urie) didn't officially get a promotion, but it seems like he'll be a major creative drive for Mode magazine from now on.  Speaking of Mode, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams), the show's resident villainess, not only turned over a new leaf, but got her heart's desire in both her career and her personal life.  Hilda (Ana Ortiz) was married to a man who treated her right and bought her a home in Manhattan, much to her son Justin's (Mark Indelicato) delight.  Justin found acceptance of himself.  And even Ignacio (Tony Plana) being left alone seemed happy about it, glad to see his daughters do something with their lives.

     Of course, the title character daughter, Betty (America Ferrera, who turns 26 on Sunday, what a crappy birthday present!) got her dream job and moved across the Atlantic to London.  And new more stylish glasses, to match her better wardrobe and braces-less smile, as she has slowly been transformed away from ugly duckling by the time they filmed her swan song.  Though she revisited a couple of the men who stirred her heart over the years, in the end she was left single.  Sort of.  Although it had to be quick, Daniel (Eric Mabius), her boss of the last four years, came to realize his feelings for her, quit his job, and moved to London, too.  He didn't try to stop her from fulfilling her potential, the sole man who only ever wanted her to bloom.  It was perfect, and thankfully the writers didn't rush that, merely teasing at the beginning of the relationship without getting into it yet.

     Sadly, there were some glaring loose ends that just couldn't be tied up.  Most involved the Meade family.  Alexis's (Rebecca Romijn) absence was glaring, nor did Claire (Judith Light) have time to figure out her new family situation to my satisfaction.  I hesitate to hope for a feature film, chances seeming slim, but surely there could easily be happenstance enough to get the entire cast over to Britain and do a fitting follow up?

     As the picture faded out, the title appeared on the screen, and then the Ugly faded away, leaving only Betty.  That would be the name of the dream movie in my mind.  Given the constraints, it was the best finale fans could have hoped to have seen.  The sadness comes with the knowledge of such unfulfilled potential.  The show, not Betty herself.  She got hers.

Ugly Betty ditches the metal mouth and heads to London

   Ugly Betty has almost concluded it's four year run on ABC, but an important milestone was reached last week.  Betty (America Ferrera) got her braces taken off!  Kathy Najimy (Sister Act) was the orthodontist who got to do the honors, after a falling out with Betty's previous one, played creepily by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family).  Of course, this being Betty, it was done in style, while the title character had her mouth stuck to a million dollar bra.

     I was slightly disappointed because most of this episode was fantasy, with Najimy playing a fairy godmother-type who showed Betty how her life would have been different if she had never worn the braces.  However, it was done to great effect.  Poor Justin (Mark Indelicato) was never born, Marc (Michael Urie) was the receptionist, Betty was evil, and Daniel (Eric Mabius) and Amanda (Becki Newton) were married, though they were cheating on each other.  This last bit was a little sad, as that is one couple I would kind of like to see end up together.

     That aside, the episode still managed to pack quite a bit of plot in around the dream sequences.  With the series finale looming, the plot involving Daniel and his family, as well Amanda's interaction with them, advanced quite a bit.  Betty's family also got some fun time, being there for Betty after the metal was out of her mouth.  It's a charming, quirky show, and there is nothing else like it on television, which is why it will be sorely missed when it's gone.

     In tomorrow night's episode, Betty will travel to London, England, where she will be reunited with best friend Christina (Ashley Jensen, Extras) and have a run-in with former flame Gio (Freddy Rodriguez, Six Feet Under).  As long as Betty gets one last encounter with Henry (Christopher Gorham), she will have a nice ending.  And it would be wise to bring back Daniel's brother/sister Alexis (Rebecca Romijn).

     Ugly Betty airs Wednesday nights on ABC at 9pm, but only for three more weeks.

Guess who's coming to tv?

    It's spring, and that means tons of casting news.  Some people have been picked up for an existing series, or signed on in exciting guest roles.  Some have been cast in new pilots.  Here's some of the biggest stories to break in the past few days: 

Love Bites - Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer), Greg Grunberg (Heroes), Craig Robinson (The Office), Jason Lewis (Sex and the City), and Lindsay Price (Lipstick Jungle) will all be appearing in the pilot of this new comedy next fall!  The series will be on NBC, and will concern love, as told in three stories with only loose connections.  It will star Becki Newton (Ugly Betty) and Jordana Spiro (My Boys).  This raises a couple of questions, like, does that mean the end of My Boys?  Surely the guest stars can work around their roles on their own shows, but TBS already picked up My Boys for a fourth season, and Spiro is the star.  Does that mean this year will be My Boys's last?  Cause that would be tragic!  Don't get me wrong; Spiro deserves network TV, but still...

Wright Vs. Wrong - This new ABC show was written by MadTV alum Stephnie Weir.  Debra Messing (Will & Grace) will portray a conservative political pundit and Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) will be her liberal opponent.  Does that mean Hines won't be in the next season of CYE, if there is one?  Or at least, she won't appear much?  Not that she ended this past year with Larry exactly, but there was hope of a possible reconciliation.  Carrie Fisher (Star Wars) will play Messing's manager.

The Big Bang Theory - Judy Greer (Arrested Development, Archer) will be guest starring as a famous physicist who Sheldon (Jim Parsons) invites to spend the night with him.  Knowing Sheldon, the offer won't be in the least sexual, but it's great to see a fantastic actress pop up a show worthy of her.  Well, she just did Modern Family, so make that two shows worthy of her.

The Good Wife - Eli Gold fans celebrate, Alan Cumming will be returning as a series regular for the second season of the popular CBS drama.  For those who don't watch it, like me, though I eagerly await the DVD so I can catch up, Cummings worked to fix Peter's (Chris Noth) public image.  Looks like that image needs a little more work.