KILLER WOMEN Typical Genre Series

Article first published as KILLER WOMEN Review at Seat42F.

ABC’s new series, KILLER WOMEN, adapted from an Argentina drama, follows Molly Parker (Tricia Helfer, Battlestar Galactica), the daughter of a sheriff who has managed to make it as a Texas Ranger, despite the organization being male-dominated. She’s tough as nails, having survived a horrible marriage to a senator (Jeffrey Nordling, Body of Proof), but still has sympathy for her fellow women, and relaxes while playing the trumpet.

If that sounds like a perfectly crafted television character, you’d be right. She’s a bit too perfectly crafted, to be honest, verging on a stereotype. While it’s true that most law enforcement procedurals star men, Molly is exactly what we’d expect a girl to be in this situation. Tough, but vulnerable, fair and dedicated to justice.

Which makes her a bit boring. It’s likely a good vehicle for Helfer, because she plays the part to a tee, but the show itself cannot be sustained in an interesting way on this character’s shoulders. She’s too pure and easy to root for, without the unexpected layers and unpredictability that would make her a fascinating study. Basically, Molly is bland.

Those in her life don’t do her many favors in that regard, either. Molly has been living with her brother, Billy (Michael Trucco, Battlestar Galactica), his wife, Becca (Marta Milans, Valientes), and their daughter, Lulu (Siena Agudong, Second Chances). They are plain old, what-you-see-is-what-you-get ranchers. The only scene involving them that made any impact being the brief one in which Molly gets mad at her sibling for talking to her niece about the divorce.

Molly also has a love interest in fellow law enforcement officer Dan Winston (Marc Blucas, Necessary Roughness), but like her, Dan lacks edge. Sure, they step over the line together, but only in the noblest of causes, and it all works out. They also lack the heated chemistry that most viewers will be looking for, seeming far too tame a pair, unsurprising for Blucas, but disappointing all the same.

In the “Pilot,” a woman (Nadine Velazquez, My Name Is Earl) shots a bride at her wedding point blank. It takes only a little bit of the episode’s running time to catch her, but that isn’t the end of the story. While the regular cops want to put the case to bed, Molly takes it upon herself to not only see something else going on, but to pursue it without support. Which, no surprise, leads to a happy ending.

I believe this plot is meant to illustrate exactly who Molly will be. Everything from the initial car chase, an action-packed scene in which Molly is somehow the only one who can stop the vehicle, to a touching moment behind bars, shows us what Molly is like, how she will stand up for her ideals, and how her colleagues will seek to stand in her way.

Again, this is pretty basic crime drama stuff. Molly’s experience is nothing new, woman or not, as many a cop faces the exact same circumstances. The fact that she is a girl is not nearly fresh enough to save the series itself.

What’s more, KILLER WOMAN will very clearly be a case-of-the-week program. I understand that there are a number of such shows that get high ratings, and perhaps that’s why networks keep making more and more of them. At the same time, it’s frustrating when a cookie cutter is used over and over again, rather than straying from the worn path to deliver something fresh and new. Since this show doesn’t have anything unique to offer, it will not be added to my TiVo’s Season Pass list. I’ll probably never watch it again.

As far as the genre goes, KILLER WOMAN is a decent effort. But the genre is bloated and tired. It’s time to put it to the rest. KILLER WOMEN premieres Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

Malibu Country might catch the Romney/Ryan crowd

Reba McEntire, these days known as just Reba, is a great singer and a capable actress. Who can forget her role in the classic (a term used only slightly tongue in cheek) sci-fi film, Tremors? And after a successful six year run of her previous sitcom, Reba, a new vehicle for the former country star seems like a no-brainer. Paired with another comedy comeback, Tim Allen's Last Man Standing, the time slot should work for it, serving as ABC's attempt to reach out to a demographic different from their norm.

What might be over looked by some viewers, though, is just how bad Malibu Country is. Possibly worse than Last Man Standing.

The plot is this: Reba's husband, Bobby (Jeffrey Nordling, Body of Proof, 24) cheats on her. She tries to stand by her man, but then he demands that she actually speak in public, and she loses it, in the nicest way possible while still expressing hate. This event prompts her to pack up her two teenage children, Cash (Justin Prentice, Winx Club) and June (Juliette Angelo, New Year's Eve), and with her alcoholic mother, Lillie Mae (Lily Tomlin, Web Therapy, The West Wing) in tow, move from Nashville, Tennessee to Malibu, California.

So why does Reba, a strong, intelligent woman, stand next to Bobby in the first place, before coming to her senses? There should have been a more dramatic scene that explored these opposing elements of her personality, but that sort of pathos will never be explored in a comedy this broad. What's more, we learn that Reba gave up a promising singing career to raise Bobby's kids in the first place, an action that seems at odds with a woman strong enough to leave him and set out on her own. I'm not saying a woman cannot be complex in this manner, I'm only complaining that the characters presented in Malibu Country do not come across as complex, and in fact, complexity would feel out of place.

Oh, and Reba right away writes a song sure to be a hit, quickly and single-handedly sure to re-launch her long-abandoned career as a singer. Talk about fantasy! Where is the struggle? Audiences root for a mountain overcome, not fame handed out on a silver platter, which might not happen, but based on the "Pilot," probably will.

Worse than the characters is the way that Malibu is portrayed. It is a land full of drugs and homosexual boys who still kiss girls, awash in their heathen, immoral ways. It is surprising that the character of Reba is only a little judgmental, when the writers of this drivel clearly get their current events from FOX "News." Reba is not a hate-filled person, but whoever made up these characters and situations is. Sure, California is more liberal than Nashville, but there would not be a switch flicked that puts Reba quite so out of her element.

Interestingly, Tomlin, who for some reason must change the spelling of her first name when in character and wear a terrible wig, is a lesbian herself. So was the "Pilot" created by small-minded people, and then the actual production handed over to those less concerned with such things, but too lazy to fix them? Or ordered not to? After all, ABC already has their bases on the other side covered with Modern Family.

It's the way everything in Malibu Country seems at odds with itself that kills the show. That, and it's just not funny. Most of those involved deserve better, and hopefully audiences won't tune in and find a populist point to rally around anti-West coast culture. The last thing we need this election season is more divisiveness, pitting the middle of the country against the coastal regions. But, considering the other series it's paired with, which shares a similar, though far less obvious, sensibility, this is exactly what might happen.

Malibu Country airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

Dig up Body of Proof The Complete Second Season

ABC is not usually beholden to the procedural formula, preferring to specialize in soapy drama instead. However, there are exceptions. One such example is Body of Proof, a crime-of-the-week show following a medical examiner and her team. Body of Proof The Complete Second Season has recently been released on DVD.

The main issue I take with Body of Proof is that it is rote. Week after week, Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) and her co-workers manage to figure things out before the cops (John Carroll Lynch and Sonja Sohn) do. The whodunnit may not always be predictable, but it is nearly certain that Megan will finger the killer by the end, thus maintaining her glowing reputation.

The thing is, Megan isn't even the boss. She is a former surgeon who now works on the dead instead of the living. She must take orders from her ex-husband's girlfriend, Dr. Kate Murphy (Jeri Ryan). It's not an ideal situation.

Which is why Body of Proof manages to stay entertaining. Like it's network sibling, Castle, too much time is devoted to the crime, but when the series dares to stray into the personal interactions of the team, it becomes quite entertaining. Body of Proof has a fantastic cast that is often wasted. When they are used, they really shine, with terrific chemistry, witty one-liners, and shifting relationships. This focus on the personal is slightly amped up in season two by the promotion of Megan's daughter, Lacey (Mary Mouser) to series regular, and the scenes between Megan and Kate remain the best part of the show.

After a short first season, year two basically keeps the same set of circumstances, though a few things are allowed to evolve over the course of the sophomore run. Some memorable installments:

• "Love Thy Neighbor": The cul de sac central to this episode is a play off of Delany's former series, Desperate Housewives, making for some fun tongue-in-cheek moments. Kate tries to not-obviously bribe Megan.
• "Hunting Party": Kate fires Megan from a case at the request of a wealthy guy who is not afraid to throw his money around, but Megan still manages to save the day.
• "Missing": Bud (Lynch) is under investigation after an interrogation gone wrong, and Megan's mother (Joanna Cassidy) offers to help her daughter, though her motives remain murky.
• "Point of Origin": Megan clashes with firefighters.
• "Hard Knocks": Megan's ex (Jeffrey Nordling) decides to move away, making Lacey choose between her parents. Bud tells everyone that his wife is expecting.
• "Home Invasion": Curtis (Windell Middlebrooks) gets Kate's job, leading to lots of tension in the office.
• "Going Viral": In this two parter, a deadly virus is plaguing the city, and it's up to Megan and company to stop the body count on it's sharp rise.
• "Mind Games": A serial killer from Megan's past returns, posing a serious danger that results in the death of one of the team.

There are also 12 other episodes on the four-disc set, so plenty to keep you busy for awhile!

One thing ABC does do right is bonus features. There are quite a few on these DVDs, including a goof reel and some webisodes. Featurettes examine the set design, how the crew makes the dead bodies so realistic, various stunts in the series, and special effects. There's also a fashion bit, if you're into that sort of thing, and many Delany fans probably are, given her good looks and sense of style, both in this role and in others from her earlier career.

All in all, it's a decent series with some really interesting characters, and slightly better than average procedural cases. Were the focus to be even more about the people, it could be something really special. As it is, it's still worth a watch if you like a crime mystery.

Body of Proof The Complete Second Season is available now on DVD.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Body of Proof The Complete Second Season on Blogcritics.

Does Body of Proof "Love Thy Neighbor" ?

     For the second season premiere of ABC's Body of Proof, "Love Thy Neighbor," the team investigates a case in a neighborhood that purposely will remind fans of Dana Delany's previous series, Desperate Housewives. In an idyllic cul-de-sac, a man is murdered, and the body is made to look like an accident. But a little digging, and the team discovers an extensive circle of swinging, and eventually, the real cause of the murder, a meth lab. Throughout the case, Megan (Delany) proves she still has her wits, even while increasingly bothered by the relationship between ex-husband, Todd (Jeffrey Nordling), and her boss, Kate (Jeri Ryan). Specifically, how they might mess up Megan's still-in-repair relationship with her daughter, Lacey (Mary Mouser).

     The setting is a fantastic homage, and even Megan's toss off about "desperate housewives" at the end of the episode doesn't seem too corny. The whole thing is done with affection, rather than parody. The characters making up the neighborhood get filled by some fantastic guest stars, including Joelle Carter (Justified), Derek Phillips (Friday Night Lights), Rick Fox (Dirt, Oz), Christopher Wiehl, (Jericho), and Danielle Bisutti (True Jackson, VP). The cops find evidence of kinky sexcapades and false real estate schemes, with juicy twists and delicious surprises. As a case of the week, this one is pretty darn good.

     Thankfully, much of "Love Thy Neighbor" focuses on Megan's personal life, rather than just the case of the week. ABC. is generally pretty good about keeping the characters interesting in their procedurals, and Body of Proof looks to continue that trend. Megan now seems far closer to Lacey than when season one ends, and she is desperate to keep that mother-daughter thing from deteriorating, a perfectly understandable reaction. It's hard to tell how much of Megan's distress over the situation comes from worrying over Lacey, and how much is jealousy concerning Todd, but the former seems to be winning. Nice job keeping that at the forefront, while still going about this week's business.

     Other characters besides Megan are showing some growth and depth, too. Is Kate just acquiring a fancy, expensive new piece of machinery so that her staff doesn't hate her for what she is doing to Megan? Bribery is not necessary, as Kate is staying as classy as possible under the circumstances. Ethan (Geoffrey Arend) and Curtis (Windell D. Middlebrooks) continue to bicker, but help each other.

     Bud (John Carroll Lynch) gets to complain to Sam (Sonja Sohn) about his sex life. This opens up something that is perhaps not necessary to know about Bud. But it also humanizes him, and allows a real look at the two homicide detective's working relationship. This is welcome, and so are the scenes of the two doing their own jobs, as the pair are often only on the fringe during season one. Clearly, both actors can handle a bigger workload.

     Peter (Nicholas Bishop), so far, remains generic and boring.

     Watch Body of Proof Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all my Body of Proof reviews.

     To order the Body of Proof DVD or purchase streaming episodes, please click here.

Body of Proof: The Complete First Season on DVD next Tuesday

     After stints on ABC's Desperate Housewives and Castle, Dana Delaney finally gets her own series on the network with Body of Proof, which premiered last spring, and comes to DVD next Tuesday, September 20th. Delaney plays Dr. Megan Hunt, a medical examiner who used to be a neurosurgeon, until she is in a car wreck, and can no longer live with the guilt of killing anyone. Plus, her hand goes numb.


     Now Hunt cares, something she didn't use to do, so she goes out of her way and solves the crimes that result in the victims she examines. She is very intelligent, doesn't have much respect for authority or rules, but gets away with it because she helps bring justice to the world. She is sort of a cross between House's House, Castle's Castle, and Bones's Brennan, three of the best offerings in the crime procedural genre, but Hunt doesn't quite live up to the standards of any of the trio.

     Make no mistake about it. Body of Proof does fit firmly into that crime procedural genre. Does Megan step outside the purview of her occupation, as she is only a medical examiner? Possibly, but I don't hear Detectives Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch, The Drew Carey Show, Close to Home) and Samantha Baker (Sonja Sohn, The Wire) complaining when she helps them catch yet another killer. If you have a genius, use her. And make no mistake about it, Megan is a genius.

     Which is why her boss, Dr. Kate Murphy (Jeri Ryan, Star Trek: Voyager, Shark), lets Hunt get away with spending a huge portion of the department's budget, despite the fact that she has many co-workers to share the money with.

     There's her partner, Peter (Nicholas Bishop, Past Life, Home and Away), who is generic and dull. Seriously, if Peter were to be replaced in season two with a similar looking guy, few would notice. Curtis (Windell D. Middlebrooks, The Suite Life on Deck, Scrubs) is often grumpy, but helpful, and has a contagious excitement when cases get interesting. Ethan (Geoffrey Arend, Trust Me, Daria) is an eager to please, still learning, underling, who frequently gets saddled with the crappy jobs. Considering that Curtis ranks above Megan, it may seem odd that he often ends up helping Ethan with said disgusting chores, but perhaps realizing Megan's genius, Curtis only good-naturedly complains. None of these supporting players get much development in the freshman run, though the latter two show promise.

     Finally, there's Megan's family. Her teenage daughter, Lacey (Mary Matilyn Mouser, Life Is Wild), whom she drives away during her surgeon days, is someone Hunt wants back in her life. Now that she seems to value more than her career, to which she still devotes most of her focus, she is trying to repair things with Lacey. Ex-husband, Todd (Jeffrey Nordling, Desperate Housewives, 24, Dirt), is another story, especially when, in the season finale, it is revealed that he is secretly involved with Kate. It's just unnecessary melodrama, especially because Kate and Megan's interactions are the best part of the series, and this revelation threatens that relationship.

     In summary, Body of Proof does little to raise itself above its peers, of which there are many currently on television, and quite a few of them much better. With this talented cast, there is a chance that that might change in season two. After all, with only nine episodes in the initial run, the series is just finding its legs. Now it's time to steer the show more character focused, and less about the case-of-the-week, if it wants to remain interesting.

     The bonus features are, sadly, about as dry as the nine episodes in the DVD set. "Examining the Proof" spends ten and a half minutes assuring viewers that the science and medical details are real. It is commendable that the staff behind the series puts so much effort into authenticity, using consultants with wounds and terminology and even the set. But we get it already. Having the entire cast and a number of others keep telling us that is not needed.

     "If Looks Could Kill" is a five and a half minute feature focusing on Roberta Haze's costume design. Clearly, she is a legend in her arena. Her detailed explanation of how she differs Megan and Kate's looks is interesting. But again, if one is not into clothes and fashion, this feature isn't all that beneficial, and is worth skipping.

     "Body of Goofs" is the mandatory (for ABC shows) blooper reel. Clocking in at over three and a half minutes, there is everything one would expect in such an extra. There are plenty of flubbed up jargon, and cast members screwing up lines. John Carroll Lynch, who opens the bit with an interview from his "dressing room pool" stands out as the most amusing part of the segment. But again, disappointing.

     Finally, "New Evidence: A Sneak Peek at Season 2" is simply a forty-five second commercial for the new season. Which begs the question, why word it so promisingly if it's just a commercial? Viewers can see the same thing, or practically the same thing, on other venues. While not promoted as a bonus feature on the packaging, the title given the segment leads to a huge letdown when it is actually watched.

     It's hard to recommend Body of Proof: The Complete First Season on the aforementioned merits. It isn't terrible, but it isn't great. It falls somewhere in the middle of quality television. What will make the biggest turning point in deciding on whether or not to purchase a copy is how season two plays out. Until a few episodes get to air, I find myself ambivalent.


     You can buy Body of Proof: The Complete First Season on DVD next Tuesday, September 20th, and watch new episodes Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, beginning the same day.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Click here for all my Body of Proof reviews.

     To pre-order the Body of Proof DVD or Blu-ray, or purchase streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as DVD Review: Body of Proof: The Complete First Season on Blogcritics.

Body of Proof Season One Overview

     ABC premiered a new medical drama, Body of Proof, in late March. After reviewing the pilot, it seemed to be a standard medical/crime procedural, so I allowed it to languish on my TiVo for months. Truthfully, I was just hoping it would be canceled, and I wouldn't have to watch it at all. There are a few interesting procedurals, including Bones and Castle, but most are boring and rote. But then Body of Proof got a second season, and I decided to give it a shot. Having watched the entire nine-episode run these past few days, most of my initial opinions hold firm. It is definitely a standard procedural, and far from the best on TV, but there are a few hints of something decent, so I will at least be watching the season premiere next fall.

     The best thing Body of Proof has going for it is that it stars Dana Delany (Desperate Housewives) as the central character, Dr. Megan Hunt. Delany excels on Desperate Housewives, and continues to stretch her range on Body of Proof. She now plays a surgeon who, after an accident, been forced to switch careers, becoming a medical examiner. Although at first she comes acros as cold, Delany brings an earnestness and compassion to the role. It takes but a few hours for her to start to see the bodies as people, and really care about what happens to them.

     Delany's plot is furthered by the fact that she has an ex-husband, Todd (Jeffrey Nordling, Desperate Housewives, 24, Dirt), and a teenage daughter, Lacey (Mary Matilyn Mouser, Life Is Wild), whom she drove away during her surgeon days. Now that she seems to value more than her career, to which she still devotes most of her focus, she is trying to repair things with Lacey. While Mouser isn't the best actress, the strongest episode of season one, "Talking Heads," is one in which Megan gets very involved in Lacey's life, and Lacey reciprocates.

     Todd, on the other hand, remains an obstacle for Megan. While it may be understandable, given their history, that he harbors bitter feelings towards his ex, he does not think of her when acting, and barely considers her in regards to Lacey. In the season finale, "Broken Home," Megan learns that Todd and her boss, Kate (Jeri Ryan, Star Trek: Voyager, Shark) are in a secret relationship, damaging Megan's relationship with both of them. Todd doesn't seem to care about Megan's feelings of betrayal, and insits that he has done nothing wrong. He may be technically right, but his reaction is not.

     Megan and Kate may or may not be okay when the season ends. A true pleasure of season one is any scene with Delany and Ryan together, both being fantastic veteran actresses. Ryan's role is too small, and for that reason alone, it is forgivable that she gets involved with Todd, which gives her more screen time. Kate's place as Megan's boss, who Megan infrequently listens to, but both seem to have some personal mutual respect, is a delight, and the two have wonderful chemistry. The Todd subplot should be gotten rid of, but any time Kate wants to get more involved in a case, it's welcome.

     Also fun are Megan's co-workers in the lab. Curtis (Windell D. Middlebrooks, The Suite Life on Deck, Scrubs) is grumpy, but helpful, and has an excitement when cases get interesting. Ethan (Geoffrey Arend, Trust Me, Daria) is an eager to please, still learning, underling, who frequently gets saddled with the crappy jobs. Considering that Curtis ranks above Megan, it may seem odd that he often ends up helping Ethan with said disgusting chores, but perhaps realizing Megan's genius, Curtis only good-naturedly complains. Neither get much development thus far, except for Ethan's love story with a beautiful woman (his real life wife, Mad Men's Christina Hendricks) in "Dead Man Walking," but hopefully that will be corrected in season two. Perhaps even a return of Hendricks?

     Sadly, Megan's partner, Peter (Nicholas Bishop, Past Life, Home and Away), is generic and dull. There is nothing about him that stands out or is memorable, and he could be replaced by a similar looking actor tomorrow, and few people would notice. While he does sometimes give Megan good advice and offer her a sympathetic ear, Bishop is doing not a single thing to make his character stand out or interesting. If Peter is going to stick around, or god forbid, be a love interest for Megan, major changes are needed.

     The final main characters, Detectives Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch, Close to Home, The Drew Carey Show) and Samantha Baker (Sonja Sohn, The Wire), are a mixed bag. While Baker gets some character development while investigating the death of a friend in "Buried Secrets," and Morris is shown bonding with Megan in "Helping Hand," one episode is all either get to do anything other than typical police work. Both seem to be very capable actors, but both also take episodes off, and the plot changes little with only one at a time working. It's a shame, because Morris and Baker are probably the biggest untapped potential of the series. Often on screen separately, as they don't work in the lab, they get cheated more than the others.

     So the main problem with Body of Proof seems to be that some of the supporting characters need to be beefed up. While Delany is fantastic, Body of Proof would be more interesting if it was more ensemble-focused, rather than banking on just one star. It has a deep enough talent pool to do so. Season one is not bad, but it could be better.

     Body of Proof will return this fall to ABC.


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

     To pre-order the Body of Proof DVD or Blu-ray, or purchase streaming episodes, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: Body of Proof - Season One Overview on Blogcritics.

JWTV Quickie: Body of Proof - "Pilot"

     When we last saw Dana Delany, she was leaving Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane with a female lover, not long after she matched wits with Castle on Castle. I guess it should be no surprise, then, that the star is popping back up on ABC. This time, in Body of Proof, Delany plays Dr. Megan Hunt, a medical examiner who used to be a neurosurgeon, until she was in a car wreck, and could no longer live with the guilt of killing anyone. Plus, her hand goes numb. Now Hunt cares, something she didn't use to do, so she goes out of her way and solves the crimes that result in the victims she examines.

     Does Megan step outside the purview of her occupation? Possibly, but I don't hear Detective Bud Morris (John Carroll Lynch, The Drew Carey Show, Close to Home), whom clashes with Hunt throughout the case, complain when she helps him catch the killer. If you have a genius, use her. And make no mistake about it, Megan is a genius. Which is why her boss, Dr. Kate Murphy (Jeri Ryan, Star Trek: Voyager, Shark), lets her get away with spending a huge portion of the department's budget. Also, I'm guessing, why Bud will be using her again and again, since he's listed as a main character.

     Now I could tell you the basic story of Body of Proof's "Pilot", but if you've watched one of the gazillions of other crime-related procedurals currently running, you pretty much know how it goes down. Megan is a mix of House's House, Castle's Castle, and Bones's Brennan, three of the best offerings in the genre. She is very intelligent, doesn't have much respect for authority or rules, but gets away with it because she helps bring justice to the world. If this show succeeds, and the high ratings it racked up during last night's premiere are a good first step, it should not be because it masters a formula. We have more than enough shows that do that. I, for one, will not be watching if it relies too heavily on a case of the week format, though I'm willing to give the series a chance to prove itself before I tune out.

     No, what I want to see, and what I hope the writers deliver, is interesting characters. While I find Hunt's co-worker, Peter Dunlap (Nicholas Bishop, Home and Away) dull, and am not impressed with Bud's partner, Det. Sam Baker (Sonja Sohn, The Wire), I like Bud, Kate, and geeky mentee Ethan (Geoffrey Arend, Trust Me) just fine. I love 'why doesn't anyone call me Doctor' Curtis Brumfield (Windell Middlebrooks, Scrubs) even more, especially when he's ranting how Hunt shouldn't get the special priveleges that she does. Delany is fantastic as Hunt, bringing just the right amount of depth and layer. My heart breaks when she admits to losing her daughter for her career, and then losing her career. The only inauthentic moment of the entire hour is when, as shown in the preview, Hunt mouths off to Bud about being worse than he's heard.

     But my main concern, starting out, is I need to see plenty of Hunt's family. Todd (Jeffrey Nordling, 24, Dirt, Desperate Housewives) is a scheming jerk, keeping Hunt away from their daughter, telling Hunt not to even come to a birthday party. Or maybe he's not. Let's see more of their backstory! Maybe, considering Hunt's referenced past, he is justified in trying to keep sole custody, at least in regard to the old Hunt. Now Hunt wants to be there for Lacey (Mary Matilyn Mouser, Life is Wild), and if cake is any evidence, it's not too late. If the series can give enough time to personal details, it will be great.

     A special episode of Body of Proof will air this Sunday, and then the series returns to its normal time slot Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Click here for an alphabetical list of all of Jerome's Current Season Reviews.

Housewives leaves on another cliffhanger

     ABC's Desperate Housewives bowed out for the calendar year last night with a 'big event'.  Though reports of a place crash were prevalent on the internet ahead of time, it was not a large liner (as indicated by an early false rumor that it might be an Oceanic Airlines plane that came down) that landed in the street, but a small two-seater.  This must be the most unlucky block in the country, already hit by a tornado, multiple murders, suicide, hit and runs, etc.  Predictably, it took out the woman about to cause huge issues for one of the housewives, newcomer Angie (Joey's Drea de Matteo).  It also killed at least one other in the Santa house, but of course, Mark Cherry will leave us hanging until January to find out who.  It is unlikely that Bree (Marcia Cross) died, but Orson (Kyle MacLachlan, Sex and the City), or more likely, Karl (Richard Burgi), has also bitten the dust.  After the tornado cliffhanger, its more frustrating than exciting waiting to find out for sure.

     This season has only been all right so far.  On the good side, the fued between the Scavos (Felicity Huffman and Doug Savant) and the Soliss (Eva Longoria Parker and Ricardo Chavira) has been handled in such a way where no one is demonized, but you can still see how they would have had such a falling out.  The suspense has been built, with both sides acting in reasonable manners, but still managing to make things worse.  Surely, this fight will be over post-crash, especially since Lynette (Huffman) saved the Solis daughter as the plane came down.  Also, the addition of the new neighbors (de Matteo and Jeffrey Nordling) has been interesting and mysterious.  The couple is likable, and hopefully whatever their issues are, they will be able to work them out and stay on the block.  Plus, Karen (Kathryn Joosten, The West Wing) is appearing more than ever, and even has a love interest!

     On the other hand, the return full time of Julie (Andrea Bowen) has been less than satisfactory.  The wise teenager who parented her mother has turned into a whiny adulterer.  The delightfully complex Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) is gone with almost no explanation.  And Katherine (Dana Delany), the first new housewife that could have rivaled the originals, has sunk into a dark, sad, depression-fueled mental condition.  It's sad, really.  So much wasted potential in that character.  There have also been mini-episodes during the commercials, but they have been completely uninteresting.

     Will the show pick back up in January?  It looks like many of the plots of this year are resolved or close to it, but there is plenty more to come.  Given the ratings and long term contracts, it looks like Wisteria Lane has plenty more chances to get things right, as they have done more often than not in the past.