"Some New Beginnings" for VEEP

Article first published as TV Review: 'Veep' - 'Some New Beginnings' on Blogcritics.

HBO’s Veep returns for its third season in fine form this week with “Some New Beginnings.” Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is out hocking a book “she,” actually her staff, wrote, trying to raise her national profile, while still not being allowed to announce she’s running for president since the POTUS hasn’t publicly said he won’t seek re-election. This is particular self-serving, since the season premiere takes place on the day of Mike’s (Matt Walsh) wedding, which she is missing.

Selina is neither a good person nor a bad person; she’s just a politician. She plays the game and plays it pretty well, or else she’d never have achieved the Veep position, even if she isn’t the best at what she does. But she doesn’t always treat her staff so good. She’s nice enough that they remain loyal and hard-working, but not so nice that anyone volunteers to travel with her, the whole group attending the nuptials of their co-worker, rather than being out on tour.

We see this especially in Selina’s performance at a congressman’s funeral, which she attends after blowing off a line of people waiting to have her sign their books, which she’d grown tired of. She’s basically there to recruit a campaign manager, but he’s already left, and so she ends up making a speech as well. It’s a touching tribute that makes a lot of people happy, but for Selina, it’s all about winning over supporters, and she’s not shy at all about using the same words again when talking to Mike later that evening.

It’s worth noting that two of her staffers, Amy (Anna Chlumsky), who’s been with Selina forever, and Dan (Reid Scott), who ends up doing her a great service in “Some New Beginnings,” are both trying their best to earn the campaign manager spot. Selina is having a rough time deciding between them, but their feelings or efforts don’t really weigh into her thought process. Instead, she’ll go with whoever helps her the most, perfectly willing to toss both aside when a respected, experienced candidate appears to be available.

Does this make her undeserving of the highest office in the land? Well, that’s debatable. There’s something to be said for being good to those who are good to you. Then again, all of these characters work in Washington and they know how the system operates. They willingly chose to participate, so cannot just cry foul if Selina follows a typical path.

Viewers likely won’t have to worry about this, anyway, because the series is called Veep, not Pres. The premise is so successful because Selina never gets what she wants, always bumbling by in the funniest of manners. If she were to actually meet her goals, it would kind of ruin things. The title of her book, which doubles as the title of this episode, proves that yet again. So either the president will have to change his mind again, or Selina will wind up on the ticket below someone else, likely because of her own missteps, more than because anyone else is more deserving.

The best part of Veep is that these characters have become so well-defined and entertaining. The sibling-esque rivalry between Dan and Amy is excellent. Gary (Tony Hale) can’t help but slip right into his old habits in service to Mike’s bride, Wendy Keegan (Kathy Najimy, King of the Hill), for the day. The way the staff can’t let go of their phones, even for an hour, is so fitting. Jonah (Timothy Simons), of course, crashes the party, at which he is not wanted. And Ben (Kevin Dunn) may be new to the main cast, but he slips right into patter with Selina as if he’s always been there. Ditto guest star Sam Richardson (The Office) playing Selina’s on-the-road assistant, Richard, whom I hope we see again.

What may be the most unexpected development in “Some New Beginnings” is that Dan gets Jonah fired. It’s entirely Jonah’s fault, being indiscreet about info he leaks concerning the White House, but Dan helps the annoying guy dig his own grave, and delights at his downfall. Now, I hate Jonah as much as the next fan, but we need him present to hate. His being escorted out of the West Wing by security is laugh-out-loud funny, but he has to stay in the series somehow because he’s way too good an antagonist to let go. Hopefully, this will work itself out next week.

Veep is one of the smartest, silliest sitcoms on TV. It’s high-quality, HBO-level slapstick, with a brilliant cast of actors and writers. I cannot stress enough just how much I love it, probably having become my favorite half-hour premium-cable program currently running. If you’re not watching, you can probably jump in at any old point in the run without being too lost, and I highly recommend doing so.

THE BIG C "The Finale" Review

Article first published as THE BIG C "The Finale" Review on TheTVKing.

Showtime's The Big C came to an understated end this week in "The Finale." Rather than make a big showy production, the final hour is about Cathy's (Laura Linney) last days, and the way that her loved ones say goodbye to her. Each of the main characters get a touching scene with Cathy, and the hour ends when she passes on.

I do kind of wish we'd gotten to see her funeral. Yes, Cathy's ending, speaking to her therapist (Kathy Najimy) about her story, taking Angel's hand (Michael Ray Escamilla), swimming in the pool with Marlene (Phyllis Somerville) and her dog, is sweet and appropriate, matching tone and closing that The Big C has been building to. It's nice enough that I won't complain about other deceased characters not appearing there, which I had hoped for going in. But I'd like to know what the effect of her actual death had on her loved ones, not just how they prepared themselves for her going.

Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) can leave town with no regrets. She is willing to give up her fashion design internship to stay and watch Cathy die, but Cathy convinces her not to. By Cathy passing away so soon after that conversation, Andrea will get to attend the funeral and go to New York City, presumably. It's a happy ending for her.

Adam (Gabriel Basso) may be relieved. He works so hard to earn his high school diploma before Cathy's death, and barely succeeds. Now that everything he has devoted himself to these past few months is over, he can finally take a moment to relax. He is a good son who does everything he can to let Cathy die with no regrets, and deserves a reprieve.


Paul (Oliver Platt) also needs a break so he can heal and move on. His marriage to Cathy never does explicitly repair itself, regrettably, but his sticking by her until the end, taking care of her, visiting her, is his way of trying to make up for the mistakes he has made. He does right by her, and can grieve properly, conscience clear.

Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) also has much to be proud of. When his character is introduced on The Big C, he needs help. Taking care of Cathy, instead of she taking care of him, has let Sean grow as a person and become self-sufficient. He will miss his sister, to be sure, but he also has the skills to live in a house now, and be a productive member of society. Giving away his kidney, especially to someone so despicable as the recipient is, is a responsible, adult decision which shows how far he has come.

And Cathy gets closure with her dad (Brian Dennehy). He has not been an important part of The Big C, but in Cathy's final days, she gets to make peace with him, something important to helping her move on. I don't think this comes out of nowhere, having heard Cathy and Sean discuss their upbringing before, and it does feel right, even if he is a new character. It's part of life for parents and children to squabble, but to have that time together, to make amends, is priceless.

Cathy spends much of "The Finale" preparing to die, so that she will go out on a good note. She plans her funeral, talks to religious representatives (one of the best scenes in the episode), considers assisted suicide, and even tries to will herself to go out on her own terms. The fact that she's still alive, four months after she expects to die, and has to be kicked out of hospice, shows just how strong a person Cathy is. Yet, she can't control death, as she is forced to accept.

Cathy's last decision is her final words. She chooses "lucky me" because it is the perfect way to sum up her life. We don't know for sure if those are her last words, though they might be, since we don't see what she says after eating the homemade strawberry pie, and that seems a likely phrase. But those are her final words to each of the people she loves. None of them are there when she passes, which I'm sure she is grateful for. Instead, she gets to send them off right, leaving them with the memory of her she wants them to have, smiling and saying "lucky me."

I think we should all say "lucky me" for getting to watch The Big C. It is an original story, one many can relate to, but also forging its own path, avoiding the stereotypes such a tale usually engages in. It's charming, funny, depressing, and inspiring all at once. "The Finale" might not be what one would expect, but it should leave fans feeling proper closure. So to all involved, I say "lucky me" for getting to watch your fine series. Thank you.

Review / Refresher The Big C Hereafter Premiere

Article first published as Review / Refresher The Big C Hereafter Premiere on TheTVKing.

When last we see Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney), she is sailing away on a boat with a man named Angel (Michael Ray Escamilla), allowing her loved ones to believe she is dead. As THE BIG C’s final season, four hours that are subtitled HEREAFTER, begins tonight with “Quality of Life,” we learn that scenario is a dream had while Cathy is rescued from drowning and hospitalized, and, five months later, Cathy is back at home, slowly dying.

It’s a little disappointing that much of the story seen in the previous season finale didn’t actually happen. And yet, taking the selfish way out, sailing off into the sunset, leaving her friends and family behind, makes Cathy unlikeable. It’s a fantasy, not one to really be explored.

THE BIG C HEREAFTER doesn’t take long to find its footing, getting fans right back into the story. Cathy is going through the depression stage of her grief, and while her family is as supportive as they can be, she tells her therapist (Kathy Najimy, King of the Hill, Sister Act) that she doesn’t have anyone to talk to. This is Cathy pre-emptively cutting herself off, preparing to die.

It’s hard to blame her for her pessimistic attitude. Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) is much more attentive to her needs, but it’s probably because of his guilt at almost letting her drown, and he is vocal about being grossed out by Cathy’s biological issues. Paul (Oliver Platt) isn’t pushing for a divorce anymore, but he’s sleeping on the couch, hanging out with his perky, annoying new assistant, Amber (Liz Holtan, Man on a Ledge), and ignoring offers of sex from Cathy. And she doesn’t want to burden her son, Adam (Gabriel Basso), or new college student, Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe), whom she hopes will live their lives.

However, Cathy’s inability to be open with her loved ones is not helping her or them. How can she draw on them for support if she won’t tell them what’s going on? How can they properly deal with what’s happening if they aren’t kept in the loop?

The pressure finally gets to be too much for Cathy, and, spurred on after a discussion with Dr. Sherman (Alan Alda), who is now also undergoing chemo, she decides to blow off some steam at the most inappropriate of places – school – much to Principal Schuler’s (Connie Ray) dismay.

As cringe-worthy as it is when Cathy pulls off her stunt with the loudspeaker, she delivers a lot of truths. She urges the kids to do something that makes them happy, while admitting that teaching is not her real calling. She also laments about the broken school system, where teaching to the test is not nearly as important as actually learning. These are valid concerns, while not being anything new, and it’s nice that she gets to express them, her final message to her students, whom she does care about, no matter what her opinions are of the educational system.

It’s disappointing that Schuler tries to prevent this, especially after pushing so hard to get Cathy to quit. After all, Cathy is dying, shouldn’t she get her final wish? Yet, seeing it from Schuler’s point of view, Cathy does cause a lot of trouble, and the speech she does make isn’t completely innocent, so I don’t know that I would want her to speak to the students, either.

Thankfully, Cathy doesn’t stay miserable and lonely through the entire hour. She is making her way through the seven stages of grief, being around step four at this time, and she does rebound when her
anti-depressants finally kick in. She is able to enjoy being with Sean, lean on Andrea when they both need each other, and give Adam the best birthday of his life.

The way that Cathy will go out, and I do think that THE BIG C HEREAFTER will end with her death, is going to depend fully on her relationships. She’s had her fun, striking off on her own and doing things separate from her family. Now it’s time to reel herself back in and rebuild those bridges. She does a great job with most of the people in her life in “Quality in Life,” especially Adam, who she shares his best story with her yet, but she still has some work to do before the end.

Will Cathy survive until Adam’s graduation, more than a year and a half away? I don’t know, but it seems like the perfect bookend to the series, even if they do a mock ceremony before his class actually walks across that stage.

Cathy is making her peace, and this is helped by the comforting company awaiting her on the other side. Marlene (Phyllis Somerville) and her dog, Thomas, are part of “Quality of Life.” They are what will make Cathy’s passing hopeful and sweet, rather than just sad. Their presence here points to a happy ending, even if the cancer wins, rather than just a teary demise.

Paul, however, is still the odd man out. Even while everyone else rallies around Cathy, he keeps a bit of distance between himself and his wife. It has to be incredibly hard to deal with a dying spouse, and I don’t pretend to know what he’s going through, but this needs some resolution. Maybe in life there isn’t always closure, but I really want Paul and Cathy to make up before she goes. They still care about one another, and with so little time left, they should reconnect in the ways that brought them together in the first place, even if only at the last minute.

“Quality of Life” is heartwarming, satisfying return for a series that is about to go out, like its main character, on its own terms. THE BIG C HEREAFTER airs Mondays at 10p.m. ET for the next four weeks.

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.