Grey's Anatomy drives a "Hard Bargain"

Article first published as Grey's Anatomy drives a "Hard Bargain" on TheTVKing.

In ABC's Grey's Anatomy this week, the hospital is ready to be sold to Pegasys, the medical company that runs hospitals like factories. This fact weighs very heavily on Owen (Kevin McKidd), who doesn't believe in what Pegasys is doing, but feels like the deal is the only way to keep Seattle Grace Mercy West running, and protect the jobs of all of the employees.

There is another way, put forth by Callie (Sara Ramirez), but we'll get to that in a moment.

Owen is put in an incredibly difficult position in "Hard Bargain." He has a responsibility, as the boss, to do everything that he can to keep things running. Yet, he knows that the Pegasys buy out would be a bad thing in the long run. It comes down to the classic scenario of how much can one give up and still find reason to go on? Is just keeping the doors to the facility open enough, or if the place is gutted, is it worth it to work there?

This is a debate called into question swiftly in "Hard Bargain," as Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson) is denied a treatment that could save her patient. She goes off on a rant, considering quitting. And she's right. What the place is turning into will be a shadow of its former self. If the doctors aren't free to do everything possible to help their patients, how can they be expected to continue to save lives?

I'm curious as to why Pegasys even wants SGMW. The deal is dependent on keeping the current staff, which preserves the reputation and value of the place. But, by tying the employees' hands, that reputation will start to fall. Is Pegasys really so short-sighted? Do they not understand the worth of a long-term investment?

It's worst for Owen because his image will be irrevocably tarnished. The other doctors, in this environment, will fall out of favor in their fields. But Owen will be ruined in the eyes of those that trust him, and whom he cares deeply about, the staff. As he speaks to the nurses, convincing them to give this new approach a try, there's obvious desperation and pain in his eyes. Once the transfer of ownership is complete, though, things won't get better, and those that work for Owen will come to feel betrayed. He may feel guilty about booking the plane that crashed and started this mess, but he doesn't deserve the hatred of everyone.

Which is why Cristina (Sandra Oh) likely agrees to the plan put in place her fellow survivors to wrest control of Seattle Grace Mercy West. She loves Owen, and even though she can't make him privy to the plan, for legal reasons, she is doing it to save him, at least as much as the facility itself.

The fact that Cristina can't tell Owen could irreparably harm their just-renewed relationship. The act that she has to take, quitting her job with the others in order to kill the Pegasys sale, is a direct slap in Owen's face, making all the effort he has been putting in to saving the hospital a waste. She knows how hard he has been working, and for her to do this to him, with no explanation, is nearly unforgiveable.

I hope that Owen eventually understands. Surely he knows Cristina well enough to think there's another play behind her deed. He's a smart man, and when he sees the specific group that quits, he must suspect something, or will when he gets over his shock. Sure, Cristina can't explain to Owen anything specific, but can't she at least just tell him to trust her? I mean, she is part of a far better option that what Owen is pursuing.

The scheme put forth is to buy the hospital themselves. Callie, Arizona (Jessica Capshaw), Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Derek (Patrick Dempsey), and Cristina, for various reasons, pool their resources and hire a man named Stan Grossberg (Eddie Jemison, Hung, Ocean's Eleven) to install them as the board of directors. It's a crazy, risky move, but it's one that, if it works, will preserve SGMW the way it is now.

Obviously, cost is a huge factor. They have resources, but those probably aren't enough. However, with Pegasys pulling out and Dr. Cahill (Constance Zimmer) pessimistic about locating another buyer, as well as the huge drop in value the hospital suffers by losing these five doctors, who all have to quit their jobs to stop Pegasys from buying, perhaps they can pick up the place at bargain prices.

The risk here is that others will unknowingly interfere. Owen and Cahill will keep working on other options because they have to, seeing themselves as the saviors, since they don't know about the plan. Webber (James Pickens Jr.) could also somehow be a stumbling block, since he is already suspicious of them, but they don't confide him, either.

Will the docs be able to save anyone? And can they do so before Bailey and others, including the new interns, abandon ship? I assume so, as otherwise the series would be dead in the water. But this ride of getting there is fantastic, proving that Grey's Anatomy can still be great, moving, and as surprising as ever, nine seasons in.

Also, I hope that Cahill is inspired by the heroic struggle to save a great institution, and chooses to remain on staff after all this is over. She has an in with Owen, and that should be enough to at least earn her a job offer, even if the five member team isn't a fan of her.

There are also some interesting romantic developments and funny moments this week. However, with all the fantastic drama of the hospital saga going on, it's hard to focus on those. They do help round out the episode, and that's important. They just don't make great topics for a review.

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

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FRANKLIN & BASH Season 2 Premiere Review

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Breckin Meyer and Garcelle Beauvais : Photo : Trae Patton/TNT

TNT's FRANKLIN & BASH returns tonight with the season two premiere, "Strange Brew." Stanton Infeld (Malcolm McDowell) would like to make Jared Franklin (Breckin Meyer) and Peter Bash (Mark-Paul Gosselar) full partners at his law firm, where they have been working. To do so, the duo must earn the votes of two thirds of the existing senior partners. Infeld sends them to meet with a beverage company head (Kevin Nealon, Weeds), who, if they woo as a client, will help their chances. Unfortunately for them, keeping the client happy may mean abandoning their values.

FRANKLIN & BASH is about two lawyers who care about more than just the law, or their careers. They care about people. Their bold, outlandish stunts are part of their draw, but the real reason Infeld is so in awe of the boys is because they bring something to the firm that it's lacking. Infeld is ingrained in his ways, though, and so he doesn't always give them a leash of unlimited length. "Strange Brew" tests the resolve of all three, as Infeld insist they keep the client happy, and Franklin and Bash think about how much they might want a spot at the big table.

The series is pretty light-hearted. As such, while FRANKLIN & BASH may flirt with heavy drama, it stops short of committing to it altogether. Things work out in the end because the core fan base doesn't want the story to end on a downer. The characters can face tough situations and question themselves, but at the end of the day, the good guy must win, and justice has to prevail. It's not a new formula, but it's certainly one that regular viewers of this particular show count on. In this, "Strange Brew" may take the path of least resistance, but that's what the people are looking for them to do.

This does not make FRANKLIN & BASH a bad show. While it will never sweep the Emmys or any other awards ceremony, it is still very entertaining. That is why, even when the ending might seem a little too neat, it is still a good episode.

Besides, Franklin and Bash are not the only ones affected by their promotion. They have friends to consider, too. Their new position allows them to hire Carmen (Dana Davis) and Pindar (Kumail Nanjiani) full-time. This is good, because as a subplot of the episode reveals, Pindar is in need of the mental health care that will come with being a permanent employee. Some of his social problems can now be traced back to his ex-roommate's girlfriend, whom Pindar clearly had an attraction towards. Though, how Pindar deals with the woman speaks to a previously existing condition.

Becoming senior partners is not without risk. Hannah (Garcelle Beauvais) tells Damien (Reed Diamond) she supports the change because of a moral clause that might help them get Franklin and Bash fired for good. Is Infeld aware of this clause, and does he already have a plan to get around it, like he negated the five year waiting period that would have delayed partnership for some time to come? Or is he just not considering the implications, as he sometimes doesn't. Franklin and Bash's behavior will not change, and to keep the show going, they will not be fired, no matter how much Hannah and Damien scheme against them. So where is this plot going? Perhaps it's just a new source of ongoing, low-stakes conflict for the coming season.

Another great thing about "Strange Brew" it the wealth of guest stars. Besides, Nealon, Martin Mull (Clue, Sabrina The Teenage Witch) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters, Oz) both play judges for various trials that Franklin and Bash bring to court. Kat Foster ('Til Death) is an attractive cop that Bash hits on while fighting a case against. Eddie Jemison (Hung) is an old friend of Franklin and Bash's, who was arrested by the hot cop. Is this a sign that good comedy actors are now lining up to appear on FRANKLIN & BASH?

Basically, "Strange Brew" is a return to same zany-hijinks-in-a-legal-setting recipe that attracted viewers last year. The quality of the stories and acting remains about the same. In short, it's mindless summer fun. FRANKLIN & BASH airs Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

Article originally published at Seat42F.com

Hung - "Don't Give Up on Detroit or Hung Like a Horse"

     HBO's Hung returned for a third season last night with "Don't Give Up on Detroit or Hung Like a Horse." Ray (Thomas Jane) and Tanya (Jane Adams) now have a successful Happiness Consultants store. In flashback, viewers get to see how the pair convince a couple of bank employees to give them the loan. With the new income, Ray is able to fix up the house, though he doesn't admit to Jessica (Anne Heche) just how he is doing so well. Jessica resists moving in with Ray, citing that she signed a lease, which is not yet up.

     If Jessica really wants to be with Ray, a lease will not stop her. After all, with the amount of income that Ray is bringing in, she can afford to pay off any broken lease penalties. More likely, she is just not ready to commit to him. Which is a pattern for her, considering how she leaves Ray for Ronnie (Eddie Jemison), and then goes back to Ray. Jessica needs some major reflection before she fully dives into another relationship, considering how the last couple end.

     Another consideration, although Ray doesn't mention it, is that if Jessica moves in with Ray and forges a real romantic reunion with him, Ray will have to give up his major income. Sure, he can still work with Tanya, but take away his biggest "asset" (his penis) from the mix, and his contribution will be much smaller. Plus, another guy will have to be hired to take his place, and it will spread out the money coming in between three people instead of two. This means he could very quickly end up poor again, especially since he is only substitute teaching about two days per week, a very small addition to his bank account.

     It is really, truly nice to see Ray and Tanya making it. They struggle for so long, and have their ups and downs with their business. But now they have got it together. Ray has everything fixed, and he's buying expensive cars and furniture. Tanya seems satisfied and fulfilled with her career, something more important to her than wealth. How long this will last is anyone's guess, but surely not long.
     That's because Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff), permanent pain in their side, is not pleased with their success. Only moments after Lenora sees an ad for their business, she beds a waiter named Jason (Stephen Arnell, Heartland) and begins the process of recruiting him for a rival venture. Tanya and Ray are not ripping Lenore off, but she has contributed to their business before, and feels like they have. She has been cut out, but only because of her own actions. She has no one but herself to blame. Unfortunately, she usually bests the pair, at least temporarily, so they are likely in for a rocky road.

     Finally, the scene where Ray gets the bank employees, Judy (Michaela Watkins, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Saturday Night Live) and Joanie (Arden Myrin, MADtv, Working), into a consultation, where they show more interest in each other than him, is hilarious! It's an interesting and bold choice to use two comedic women, rather than hot models. They are definitely more than attractive enough to pull this off, but it's not often you see comedians willing to take off their shirts and make out. Kudos to Hung for such a great score, Without the talent of the actresses, if their only contribution were looks, it would not work half as well as it does. The way it is executed manages to be well acted and hot!

     Don't miss Hung, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

     For Hung streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

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Hung up on Hung

     HBO's Hung is about a single father slash high school basketball coach who goes into prostitution to pay for the rebuilding of his house after it pretty much burns down.  Ray (Thomas Jane) is an interesting character, balancing family life, romance, and being a male whore.  He fell in love with a client last season, and clearly pines for his ex-wife, Jessica (Anne Heche, Men in Trees), who isn't exactly happy with her second husband, Ronnie (Eddie Jemison, Ocean's 11, 12, and 13).  This almost came to a head last season as Jessica sat waiting for a male hooker in a hotel room, but Ray, realizing who he was going to meet, couldn't bring himself to go through with it.  It's frustrating, because Ray and Jessica have great chemistry, and they belong together, now that Jessica is developing into a full grown human.  They just had a case of bad timing the first time around.

     Their kids, twins Darby (Sianoa Smit-McPhee, UK's As the Bell Rings) and Damon (Charlie Saxton), are far less than well adjusted, and wish Ray would finish his construction so they could go back to living with him, which hurts Jessica quite a bit, as she's genuinely trying.  They are both interesting, though rarely get much plot.  Darby's campaign last week to make fat acceptable was nice, and Jessica's attempt to support her, though awkward and a complete failure, was sweet.  My biggest question about the kids, though, is how did two such beautiful parents make two completely average, normal looking children?  I would have never suspected Damon and Darby's biological lineage had it not been spelled out explicitly.  In fact, I'm still waiting for the plot twist to explain it.  I'm not trying to be mean; I like them both.  They just don't match.

     Tonight will be the third episode of the second season.  This year, Ray is being fought over by two pimps.  His first, Tanya (Jane Adams, Frasier), doesn't quite know how to build the business, but is trying her hardest.  Lenore (Rebecca Creskoff) is already a lifestyles coach for wealthy broads, and is just trying to add Ray to her list of offered services.  Lenore is winning on the income, but Tanya is determined to prove herself, so it's still anybody's game.

     Hung doesn't get the attention, praise, and award nominations that many HBO shows get and have gotten, but it is very good.  It's a unique story, told in a compelling way.  I don't really see where it's going to go long term, but twelve episodes in, I'm very pleased.  I think it just needs to find its audience, and with HBO waiting two weeks after the season premiere to air the second episode, that may be difficult.

     Hung airs Sunday nights at 10pm.