Play for me, Wedding Band!

TBS premiered a new hour-long dramedy series this past Saturday night called Wedding Band. Yep, the network known for Tyler Perry sitcoms and stale comedies, both new and in syndication, began a show of a different format on a night where virtually no one airs any new television episodes. It has to suck, right?

Actually, quite the opposite. It's compelling! The characters are well thought out, the cast is terrific, fantastic music with interesting arrangements adds to the fun, and the first story is both entertaining and moving. Let's hope, with virtually no competition on Saturdays, save BBC America, Wedding Band can find an audience. Let's also help, with Wedding Band and the-soon-to-launch fourth season of Cougar Town, TBS has finally become a network worth watching! Sure, it's only two shows, but it's a start!

Wedding Band follows four guys who play have their own band that performs at weddings and various other functions. There's Tommy (Brian Austin Green, Desperate Housewives, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), the lead singer, who is somewhat of a player, but only until he finds the right woman; Eddie (Peter Cambor, NCIS: Los Angeles, Notes from the Underbelly), who has to balance fatherhood with his passion; Barry (Derek Miller, Secret Girlfriend), the goofy drummer with a knack for pyrotechnics; and Stevie (Harold Perrineau, Lost, Sons of Anarchy), the new guy who is tired of being a studio musician and wants to hit it big as a real part of a band. He thinks that he has found his chance in this group.

Stevie may be right. I don't know if the actors are doing their own singing or playing, but if it's fake, it isn't obviously so. They perform arrangements of popular songs, both new and old, crossing genres, and they sound really, really good. They take what they're doing very seriously, which shows. It's no wonder that, by the end of the "Pilot," they are being sought out by Rutherford (Melora Hardin, The Office, Monk), Seattle's top wedding organizer, who previously had hired their arch-nemesis group, led by a real douche (Ken Marino, Childrens Hospital).

In the "Pilot," the gig that gets them Rutherford's attention is one in which they are playing for Tommy's ex, Sara (Bree Turner, Grimm). Yet, as hokey as the sounds as a premise, it is executed with the utmost sincerity. Sure, Tommy still has feelings for Sarah; she's the one that got away. But he also loves his buddies, and he's not about to (intentionally) do anything to jeopardize the band. This isn't just a weekend hobby for the guys. it's something they want to devote their life to. Rutherford can help that.

Which doesn't mean there aren't any shenanigans. One of the group does hook up with Rutherford, and the boss's adorable assistant, Rachel (Jenny Wade, The Good Guys, Reaper), who happens to be engaged, catches Tommy's eye. Yet, all of the main characters are upstanding citizens who seemingly would not cheat on their significant others, which actually makes them all the more charming and easy to root for.

The non-band and non-romance scenes are also great. There's a birthday party that lets everyone show off a bit of their personalities, and an hour does not seem too long a format, given the way it plays out in the first hour. There's some drama, to be sure, especially when Sara makes a play for Tommy, which results in a boob mishap, and as Eddie lies to his wife, Ingrid (Kathryn Fiore). But none of it plays out in a completely predictable or boring way.

This band needs to find success. I'm not just talking about within the story, because I want the show itself to get some attention. It's a special series that could easily slide onto a broadcast network and not look out of place. It deserves to do well. It's doing it's part, making quality, now the audience just needs to find it.

There's nothing else on TV Saturday night. What have you got to loose by checking out Wedding Band, which airs at 10 p.m. ET on TBS?

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

'Happy Endings' gets one of its own

ABC's Happy Endings wraps up their second season last night with "Four Weddings and a Funeral (Minus Three Weddings and One Funeral)." As the long title implies, the gang attends the nuptials of their friend Derrick (Stephen Guarino, The Big Gay Sketch Show). Jane (Eliza Coupe) is the only one not in the wedding party, but after a last minute drop out, she is soon taking charge of the entire event. Penny (Casey Wilson) finds herself stuck at the Skype table, which pays off when she meets a cute guy (Brian Austin Green, Desperate Housewives, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). And two former lovers consider reconnecting.

Happy Endings continues to be consistently funny, and not just because of the awesome episode title. From the visual of a table full of laptops at a wedding, to crazy Jane making the food and drinks last longer, to Max (Adam Pally) headlining a Madonna cover band, this episode has many high points. The cast is top notch, and have really grown comfortable in these characters, continuing to delight week after week.

Of course, it's not just the humor that hooks viewers. There must also be some emotional punch to the characters that fans have been made to care about. Penny's recent crush on Dave (Zachary Knighton) is one such example, though it is tempered by her meeting the hunky guest star this week. Which is OK, because Happy Endings instead chooses to pursue a possible Dave / Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) reunion in "Four Weddings and a Funeral (Minus Three Weddings and One Funeral)."

Dave and Alex break up in the very first episode of Happy Endings, and that past is constantly hanging over these two characters. Will they be a Ross and Rachel, who get together in the end after years of fans longing for it to happen? Or will they just need some closure to move on? Somehow, Happy Endings has avoided either possibility for two seasons. It seems like Alex and Dave are going to need to get back together at some point, even if only briefly, to answer these questions. Their recent tryst did not satisfy this, and it's gratifying that the series isn't just ignoring that.

Plus, anyone rooting for Dave and Penny to be a couple needs to see Dave get past Alex first, so the sooner a reconciliation happens, the quicker he can begin to move on.

Interestingly, for those keeping count, season two of Happy Endings comes up one episode short, even though "Four Weddings and a Funeral (Minus Three Weddings and One Funeral)" is billed as the season finale. If one remembers, last summer a random episode of the show aired. Only people with DVRs really caught this, and other fans may still be unaware of it. It looks likely to happen again, as there is currently no room on the schedule to stick this half hour. Either that, or it will be shoved into next season somewhere. Sometimes things like this just happen, but it's a curiosity, to say the least.

Happy Endings also stars Damon Wayans Jr., and will return to ABC next fall.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy Happy Endings streaming episodes, please click here.

Desperate Housewives The Complete Seventh Season out on DVD

     Coming to DVD this Tuesday, August 30th from ABC Studios is Desperate Housewives The Complete Seventh Season. Subtitled "Wild, Wild Westeria Edition," just because, as all of the DH DVDs have 'edition' titles, it contains all twenty-three episodes of the hit dramedy's penultimate season. Getting back to the show's roots, the seventh season returns some characters not seen in quite awhile, and tries valiantly to recapture the original tone. Couples fall in and out of love, and secrets get darker. This DVD set is a must-watch for anyone who hasn't seen the series yet. And like other ABC shows, it is only available on DVD, not Blu-ray.

     As season seven begins, Paul Young (Mark Moses, Mad Men), fresh out of prison, moves back to Wisteria Lane, determined to get even with the neighbors who abandon him after his trial. He brings along a new wife, Beth (Emily Bergl, Southland, Men in Trees), who also has a dark secret of her own. Beth is actually Felicia Tilman's (Harriet Sansom Harris, Frasier) daughter, there to get revenge on Paul, who murders Felicia's sister, Beth's aunt, in season one. As both Paul and Beth try to carry out their plots, emotion gets in the way, and Paul soon finds unexpected compassion from one of his old friends. It's a great throwback to what is arguably the best storyline from the entire series, even though it happened at the very beginning.

     Joining the cast in season seven is the amazing Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty) as Renee Perry, an old friend of Lynette's (Felicity Huffman) who moves to town. Renee stirs up trouble and shakes up the dynamic of the housewives in deliciously interesting ways. Williams manages to hold her own against the long-time stars, and actually carves herself a nice little niche that she will sadly get to occupy only one more year, before the series goes dark forever.

     Also appearing in an arc throughout much of season seven is Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills, 90210 and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) as Keith, a much younger love interest for Bree (Marcia Cross) after Orson (Kyle MacLachlan) finally moves out. MacLachlan is missed, but Green is also great, in a totally new-flavor way. John Schneider (Smallville, Dukes of Hazard) plays Keith's dad, who takes an interest in Bree, too, a more age appropriate, albeit wrong, choice. Both are gone by season's end, but then Jonathan Cake comes along as Chuck Vance, Bree's newest love interest, so it's safe to assume that Bree's bed won't remain empty for long.

     The seventh season of Desperate Housewives ends with quite the cliffhanger, and a beautiful set up for the final season. All of the housewives, and one of the men, are involved in a murder and the cover up of said murder. For those who haven't seen the episode, I won't spoil the twist with too many details, but needless to say, their actions are not evil. But this does set up a very intriguing final season plot where the four women have to band together as never before to protect each other and stay out of prison. Making matters even more complicated, Bree's new guy, Chuck, is a homicide detective. Talk about a conflict of interest!

     Of course, the real soul of Desperate Housewives is provided by the four main women, all of whom undergo major upheavals in their lives in season seven prior to the awesome finale. Bree not only searches for a new man, but also helps son Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) deal with the alcoholism he inherited from her. Susan (Teri Hatcher) faces her own mortality. She and Mike (James Denton) also face money problems, and have to temporarily move off of Wisteria Lane. While Mike goes out of town to find work, Susan becomes a sexy online cleaning lady for her landlord, Maxine (Lainie Kazan, My Big Fat Greek Wedding). Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) discovers her and Carlos's (Ricardo Chavira) eldest daughter, Juanita (Madison De La Garza), was switched at birth in the hospital, and their biological child is being raised by illegal immigrants who must flee authorities. It's an Emmy-worthy performance for Longoria, though she is not nominated.

     Lynette faces the possible end of her very long marriage to Tom (Doug Savant), the most stable relationship on the series, up until now. This is a very sad state of affairs. While Mike and Susan have had extremely rocky patches over the years, and Gabi and Carlos even divorce for a time, Lynette and Tom have always been rock solid. With that foundation crumbling, and the threat of a permanent divorce looming, it's going to take much effort to come back from the brink. Given the final season status, a reconciliation would seem to be a no-brainer. But seeing how bad things are as season seven ends, it won't be an easy fix, either.

     On Desperate Housewives The Complete Seventh Season, there are an average number of bonus features for an ABC release, but they are mostly worthwhile extras. Twelve deleted scenes are interesting, but don't add much. Most are from the episode "Assassins." More than four minutes of bloopers seem like too much, yet they are pretty entertaining. A five-minute feature called "Desperate for Trivia" finds the four main women, their three steady men, and Mark Moses answering trivia questions pertaining to all seven seasons of the show. It's hilarious to see who knows what. For instance, did you know that the episode titles in Desperate Housewives are all Stephen Sondheim references? Ricardo Chavira does! Though it's also easy to understand how just being on a series doesn't mean you retain every intimate detail.

     The best bonus feature is "Growing Up On Wisteria Lane." In it, a number of the child actors, especially those who grew up on the series and were never recast, talk about what it's like to be on the set. Some of the adults also provide insight about working with these particular kids. It's a poignant retrospective, appropriate with the end so close. It's also touching that the children, who are forgotten about from time to time, get their very own ten minutes of focus among so few other features. A very worthy addition!

     Make sure you check out Desperate Housewives The Complete Seventh Season, on sale this Tuesday, August 30th.


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Article first published as DVD Review: Desperate Housewives The Complete Seventh Season on Blogcritics.

Desperate Housewives - "Assassins"

     After a heck of a mid-season finale, though the show is known for those, ABC's Desperate Housewives came back strong (and earlier than usual) last night. I don't think there was much suspense for long-time fans over if anyone actually died. I never thought either character in peril would, but it's very satisfying to get a few answers, and be left with a few new mysteries.

     The biggest plot this year is the return of Paul Young (Mark Moses). Paul was a main character for the first two seasons, and returned for three episodes in January 2007, before showing up in last year's season finale. As he is back in the opening credits as a main character for season seven, and his plot for revenge on his neighbors has still gone unfulfilled, I found it likely he would survive the gunshot wound from the fall finale. He did. The first half of the season, we wondered what Paul was up to, and that was revealed a few weeks ago with his halfway house for released convicts. Now, going forward, the mystery is, who shot JR, er, Paul Young? Every single resident of Wisteria Lane has a motive, but the cops say they also all have alibis. The police outed arch-nemesis Felicia Tillman (Harriet Sansom Harris) to Paul, who wasn't aware that she was his mother-in-law, but she seems just as clueless as we are.

     It's an exciting mystery, taking Housewives back to its roots. The series has been consistently good for many years, but the murder committed by Paul in season one, and Felicia's framing of Paul for her own murder in return, was one of the best stories of the show. Returning to it now, taking viewers back to just how good it was, is brilliant. It reminds people that show has always been strong, and it's cool to dredge up the past if there's a fresh twist on it, which there is here. The blend has resulted in a very satisfying mix of nostalgia and new suspense.

     Less predictable was the return of Orson (Kyle MacLachlan). I thought when Bree's (Marcia Cross) second husband left at the onset of the season, we had seen the last of him, at least for awhile. His unexpected arrival on her doorstep last night, and her letting him (temporarily) move in with herself and her new boyfriend, was very surprising. Though Orson's last name did not do Bree justice, and despite their issues and secrets from each other, they had seemed a perfect pairing. I enjoy Bree's hair coming down now that she's with Keith (Brian Austin Green), but Watson would make an even less satisfying last name for her than Hodge. I was shocked that she chose to stay with Keith, despite her obvious remaining feelings for Orson. As much as I like Green as an actor, I wish she'd reconsider. And no matter what her decision, she should keep her first husband's last name of Van de Kamp.

     Hands down, the best acting on the show this year is being done by Eva Longoria (sans Parker once more). This is probably because she is getting the most affecting story. Gabi (Longoria) discovered that her eldest daughter, Juanita (Madison De La Garza), is not her biological child, the hospital having made a mistake. Gabi found her 'real' daughter, Grace (Cecilia Balagot), but Grace's illegal immigrant parents took her away. Now Gabi is struggling to make Juanita feel loved, but not let go of Grace. It's a delicate tightrope. Her husband, Carlos (Ricardo Chavira), has no problem forgetting all about Grace if it helps Juanita's pain, but Gabi is torn. While Gabi surely talks plenty, Parker's best moments this year have been acted completely in her grieving face. It's a situation few women will ever have to imagine, but heart breaking for anyone to even witness. If Parker doesn't at least get nominated for an Emmy for this season, there is little justice.

     Another brilliant move by the show this year was the addition of Renee (Vanessa Williams). Much more sympathetic than the previous resident of the house, Renee is more than just a replacement. Her guilt over sleeping with best friend Lynette's (Felicity Huffman) husband, Tom (Doug Savant), was beautiful. Though, thankfully, Tom and Lynette had been broken up at the time, which was twenty years ago, the betrayal is no less fresh, especially as it just came to Lynette's attention. Renee has also tried to form friendships with the other women on the Lane, and her scenes with Susan (Teri Hatcher) have been particularly good. Despite a prickly personality, Renee is no Wilhelmina Slater. She's staking her place on the show and in viewer's hearts legitimately, already earning her keep. I think rather than Edie's (Nicolette Sheridan) substitute, Renee is more a Katherine (Dana Delany), meaning she has a true chance at being the real, equal fifth housewife in the group. Something many women have tried (Katherine came closest), but no one has yet managed to achieve.

     Speaking of Susan, can her year possibly get any worse? First, she lost her house. Then her husband, Mike (James Denton), went to Alaska to make the family some much-needed money. I know the economic story hit home to millions of Americans, but it's time to get past it. I believe it's gone as far as it can being entertaining in this instance. Susan's health problems, stemming from her recent trampling experience, may be a step in the right direction, though I'm not optimistic it will provide long legs either. As bumbling as Susan has always been, it's hard to watch such a likable character go through so many harrowing ordeals in such a short span of time. Please give her a break!

     Lastly, it's been hell to watch Lee (Kevin Rahm) and Bob (Tuc Watkins) be so ostracized by their neighbors. It isn't clear if their deal to sell the house to Paul went through, as Lee was still shown on the Lane this week, but I sure hope it doesn't. Wisteria's resident gays provide more than just comic relief. Their marital problems were hard enough without everyone else hating them, too. I personally adore both men, and love almost every moment of screen time they've gotten. Like Susan, I want to see skies get a little bluer for the couple, and the hostility to ease.

     All said, it has been one of the best seasons in memory, and that's saying something, because the show has rarely had a mediocre one, with one possible exception while creator Marc Cherry was gone. If the second half of this season can live up to the first, the series has nothing to worry about. After seven years, there's still no clear end in sight for one of TV's best dramas. Desperate Housewives airs Sunday nights at 9pm on ABC.

     If you've missed any episodes this year, right now Amazon is charging a mere 99 cents an episode for the HD versions! It's a steal, as they usually go for $2.99. I highly recommend you check it out.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.


Article first published as TV Review: Desperate Housewives - "Assassins" on Blogcritics.

Desperate Housewives welcomes new characters

ABC's Desperate Housewives has arguably undergone more changes in the first two episodes of this season than at any other time, with the exception of the five year leap forward in time a few years ago. There are new characters arriving, old characters leaving, and some unexpectedly familiar faces popping back up in big ways. Plus, there is an air of danger and mystery that has been absent from the series for some time now. The show has still been strong and interesting for awhile, but these turn of events are refreshing, and has raised the bar once more for Housewives, which has just begun it's seventh season.

The biggest news is that former full-time character Paul Young (Mark Moses, Mad Men), who went to jail way back near the beginning of the series for murdering Felicia Tilman (Harriet Sansom Harris) has been released, and has once more been signed to star in the show. Felicia was found alive and well, and is now serving what will likely be an eighteen month sentence for framing Paul. Meanwhile, with his large settlement check in hand, Paul has moved back to Wisteria Lane in a rental, while angling to buy his old home back. He has not come alone. While incarcerated, he met penpal Beth (Emily Bergl, Southland, Men in Trees), who now finds herself living with a man she never thought that she's see except through the jail bars. It's a weird dynamic to be sure, and one that is far from played out.

The second biggest change is the inclusion of Vanessa Williams, seemingly snapped up by Housewives as soon as Ugly Betty was canceled. Williams plays Renee Perry, and old college friend of Lynette's (Felicity Huffman). After being dumped by her baseball playing husband, Renee turns to Lynette for comfort, and decides to stay. Although she and Lynette's husband Tom (Doug Savant) has a past that they're keeping under wraps, I don't feel like she's a threat to their marriage. She has moved into the late Edie's (Nicollette Sheridan) house, though, and it's obvious that the two have a few things in common. Her inclusion in the neighborhood won't be a quiet one. By next week, she will already by competing with Bree (Marcia Cross) for a man.

Speaking of Bree, her husband, Orson (Kyle MacLachlan) has gotten his divorce and run off with his physical therapist, leaving her all alone. It's a pretty sad development, and MacLachlan will definitely be missed on the show. No one else quite brings what he brought to the table. After a small mental breakdown, Bree has decided to redo her home. To accomplish this, she hired hottie handyman Keith (Brian Austin Green), and the sparks are already starting to fly. Especially after she hit him with her car. As mentioned above, Bree isn't the only one interest in Keith, who is much younger than the ladies on the lane. Green is charming, and I hope he stays around for at least a few episodes. I don't think he'd make a great third husband for Bree, but hopefully he will loosen her up a bit.

Susan (Teri Hatcher) and Mike (James Denton) have left Wisteria (it's their house that Paul is renting) for smaller digs after their money problems blew up at the end of last year. Mike doesn't see a way out of the whole, but Susan has convinced him that she can make enough money off of homemade jewelry to do some good. I'm sorry, but the fact that he buys her load of crap is pushing the boundaries of reality for me. Her jewelry is hideous, as the other characters have all indicated, and there's no way she'd make anything off of it. What Susan has really done is taken a job cleaning her house in her underwear for a web cam. Her boss and landlady, Maxine (Lainie Kazan, My Big Fat Greek Wedding), has convinced her that it's an honorable profession. But Susan cannot think too highly of it, since she refuses to tell Mike where the money is really coming from.

Despite all of that juicy gossip, the best story so far goes to Miss Gabrielle (Eva Longoria Parker) and Mister Carlos (Ricardo Chavira) Solis. Apparently, a nurse switched their daughter, Juanita (Madison De La Garza) with someone else's baby when she was born. Eight years later, the nurse confessed on her death bed. The hospital first approached Carlos, who blackmailed them into keeping the secret from his wife and the public. It was a noble sentiment, done to protect his family from the emotional torment sure to follow such a revelation. It worked for one episode, until Juanita ended up in the hospital, and her blood type, inconsistent with her parents', was pointed out to Gabrielle. At first, Gabi amusingly assumed she must have had an affair when drunk and not remembered it. But Carlos cleared it up for her, instead of leaving it hanging. Next week, Gabi will begin seeking out her biological daughter, without Carlos's knowledge.

Surely, we have the makings for quite the season! Paul brings the threat, Renee brings the slut, Keith brings the steam, and Beth brings the mystery, while the titular housewives all do their best to make their lives as good as they can be, overcoming anything that comes their way. I'm certainly excited. Now if the writers would just get Bob (Tuc Watkins) and Lee (Kevin Rahm) back together, all would be right in their little suburb.

Desperate Housewives airs Sunday nights at 9pm on ABC.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.


Article first published as TV Review: Desperate Housewives welcomes new characters on Blogcritics.