Wake up for Monday Mornings

Article first published as MONDAY MORNING Series Premiere Review on Seat42F

Grade: 95%

TNT will soon being airing the new drama MONDAY MORNINGS. It’s another doctor series, yes, but before you let that scare you away, as there are already so many medical shows on television, consider this: it’s from David E. Kelley and Bill D’Elia, who have excellent credits like The Practice, Boston Legal, and Harry’s Law on their resumes, and it has an amazing ensemble cast.

MONDAY MORNINGS doesn’t feel all that much like other doctor shows. It does have a little Grey’s Anatomy thrown in, since it’s about a bunch of medical professionals at the top of their game, mostly surgeons, who do their best, and deal with the consequences when they fail. But most of this group is more seasoned, less skewing towards the young interns. Also, the drama is less soapy, there’s not the focus on sex, and a lot of the action takes place at the Monday morning meeting. It’s a serious program, making the plot engaging and more realistic than others.

The event that the series takes its title from is a weekly meeting where the various staff members gather and rehash cases that went wrong. OK, so it’s not all negative, but that’s what we care about, right? Their decisions are called into question, and they examine their own behavior, with the goal being to make them better doctors. Punishments can be handed out, but aren’t necessarily the focus. It’s the perfect forum to exhibit character growth and raw emotion in, playing up both strengths and weaknesses.

In the first episode, we are introduced to a litany of characters, but each so well played and defined, that viewers already get the impression that they know them. Dr. Tyler Wilson (Jamie Bamber, Battlestar Galactica, Law & Order: UK) is the brain surgeon who is compassionate towards his patients, but doesn’t connect as well with his co-workers. Except for Dr. Tina Ridgeway (Jennifer Finnigan, Better With You, Close to Home), who seems closer to Tyler than her own distant husband. Dr. Sydney Napur (Saraya Rao, Lions for Lambs) understands, having just been dumped by her own guy for being too committed to her work, but it’s her drive for the job, and her willingness to be annoying when she needs to be, that gets the job done. Dr. Sung Park (Keong Sim, Glee, The Last Airbender) is overly blunt, but gifted, and Dr. Buck Tierney (Bill Irwin, CSI, Lights Out) is the pain in the ass. Dr. Michelle Robidaux (Emily Swallow, Ringer, Southland) is new, but she’ll get the hang of it.

This crew is presided over by Dr. Harding Hooten (Alfred Molina, Spider-Man 2, Chocolat), who is a bit of an enigma. We know he is gruff and tough on his staff, but he also shows a caring side to a young patient’s worried mother (Tara Summers, Boston Legal, Ringer). It’s a typical combination for an effective leader, but his intimidation clearly gets the best out of the doctors serving under him, so it’s hard to complain.

The most interesting, and probably the most important, character, though, is Dr. Jorge Villanueva (Ving Rhames, Pulp Fiction, the Mission: Impossible films). He is the soul of the place, and has a personal connection with everyone else. He tells them what they need to hear, when they need to hear it. There are hints in the “Pilot” that he might not be so good at managing his personal life, but he does unofficially handle the entire facility, and it looks like things, and people, would quickly fall apart without him.

It’s because of Villanueva that I really loved this “Pilot.” I enjoy the rest of the characters, to be sure, every single one of the main cast getting time to really shine in episode one. But he adds a layer of something intriguing that isn’t present as firmly in MONDAY MORNINGS’ peers. It’s an abstract quality that is hard to pin down, but it kicks the show up from good to great.

MONDAY MORNINGS is not a case of the week show, nor a medical mystery. There are both present in episode one, but they aren’t the focus. Rather, they are used to tell us something about the characters. This focus on the people is a winning combination in many a program, and is used to great effect here, with such a talented group to play with.

MONDAY MORNINGS airs Monday evenings at 10 p.m. ET beginning February 4th on TNT.

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Glee wants to "Hold on to Sixteen"

     FOX's Glee presents "Hold on to Sixteen." Finn (Cory Monteith) and Rachel (Lea Michele) are worried about Sectionals, so they travel to Kentucky to bring back Sam (Chord Overstreet), whom they find working as a sexy dancer. Sam agrees to return to McKinley, though Blaine (Darren Criss) isn't pleased, feeling shoved out of the group. Finn makes peace with Blaine, and the New Directions win Sectionals. Quinn (Dianna Agron), who decides to keep Shelby's (Idina Menzel) secret, at least for now, convinces Will (Matthew Morrison) to fold the losing Troubletones back into the group, with the caveat that they get to perform a number at all future contests. Thus, the band is back together again.

     The most glaring thing wrong with "Hold on to Sixteen" is Quinn's conversion back into the good girl. She is ready to spill the beans on Shelby, but a few words from Rachel change her mind? And they're friends now? Though, kudos to Rachel for calling Shelby "Beth's real mom," which she definitely is. Shelby also tells Quinn that she needs to enjoy being a teenager, a concept that Sam echoes to Quinn earlier in the episode. But it just doesn't gel. Quinn acts nice at the end, but all that keeps coming to mind is, "What's her angle?" Is her character so ruined that she cannot be seen as a decent human being anymore? Or is it intentional that Quinn is merely acting that way to further her next schem
e?
     Mike Chang's (Harry Shum Jr.) first, and probably only, real character arc comes to an end in "Hold on to Sixteen." Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) makes it her personal mission to convert Mike Chang Sr. (Keong Sim) into a believer in his son's dancing. And, of course, she does, even though Mike Sr.'s outlook is much more realistic. This entire plot in "Hang on to Sixteen" is cheesy, and yet, still heart warming. Sometimes a little cheese is OK in a series like Glee, and this is probably one of those times. Let's just hope Glee doesn't shove Mike back into the background for the rest of the season.

     And Tina will never, ever make it as a professional performer of any notability. That's not a slam against Ushkowitz, but rather, her character.

     Annoyingly, it does not appear that Blaine's stalker with the "CW hair," Sebastian (Grant Gustin), is going away. He pops up again in "Hang on to Sixteen," and his exchange with Kurt (Chris Colfer) is quite fun. Yet, he feels like an unnecessary hindrance, and the series would be better off without him.

     Sam's return is welcome, if a bit weird. This is the guy too shy to wear the golden underwear in Rocky Horror last fall, and now he strips down to them in a lecherous crowd, voluntarily, every day? It's also odd that Sam's parents (including Smallville's John Schneider) allow him to go stay with friends and transfer back to a high school four hours away. Top that off with Sam's come back performance of the country talky "Red Solo Cup," and the whole reunion is a little forced. But that doesn't matter, as viewers will be as happy as Santana (Naya Rivera) is, as evidenced by her amusing insult list, to have Sam back.

     When Sam last leaves Ohio, he is in a relationship with Mercedes (Amber Riley). Upon coming back in "Hold on to Sixteen," he vows to win her heart once more. This is complicated by the fact that she already has a boyfriend, albeit one who never gets, but deserves, much screen time. The best part about the inevitable showdown may be if Shane (Lamarcus Tinker) gets some actual story, and maybe even a song. However, Sam will probably win in the end, since fan favorite Overstreet is back to (potentially) stay.

     Sam's rejoining of the New Directions is beneficial, to be sure, though definitely not the only reason that they win Sectionals. With Rachel out of commission, almost every group member gets to sing solos. It's a true team effort, which may be why it sounds fantastic, perhaps even their best Sectionals yet! That, and the fact that they do a Jackson medley, perfectly suited to their voices, including "ABC," "Control," and "Man in the Mirror." Well, admittedly "Control" is a little out of synch, but the opening and closing are awesome from start to finish.

     Small note: glee clubs choose their set lists months before competition and work the same songs tirelessly. Yet, in Glee, the kids pick material days, or hours, before going on. They would never place, let alone win, in the real world.

     Sectionals is a rousing affair, as usual, though lacking any really fun guest judges. Harmony (The Glee Project's Lindsay Pearce) leads her group, the Unitards, in "Buenos Aires." The crazy girl seems very happy to get third, out of three, bragging that she is only a sophomore. Hopefully this means Harmony will return, maybe transferring to McKinley for the next two seasons of Glee? Still, happy about getting last? Come on!

     The Troubletones get the short end of the stick this week. They are overconfident in a win, and are crushed when they don't get it. And only one song is shown in "Hold on to Sixteen," as opposed to all three being seen for the New Directions. Considering that this group is made up of major characters, why are they cut short? Even worse, the New Directions laugh about having things in the bag when the girls sing "I Will Survive," and any take back of those comments when the song morphs into a mash with "Survivor" is on the cutting room floor. This makes our heroes look petty and cruel.

     It is nice that everyone comes back together again with "We Are Young." Though Quinn only delivers her proposal to Mercedes, Santana, and Brittany (Heather Morris), they bring Sugar Motta (Vanessa Lengies) along with them. This is acceptable, since Sugar is a recurring role. But what about the rest of their girls, the ones with no names or speaking roles? Are they just abandoned? That doesn't ring right with the spirit of the whole Troubletones subplot. While it makes sense from a practical perspective, this could have been handled slightly better, perhaps with a humorous scene in which the others feel betrayed by the defectors.

     Lastly, if Rachel is only allowed into the school to pick up work during her suspension, as she claims to be, how comes she spends most of "Hold on to Sixteen" there? Is she really skulking around, risking further punishment? Sneaking in for Sectionals, sure, I could see that. But she isn't even acting like she's trying to hide!

     In a night of many great lines, one in particular stands out: "I started the Dalton branch of Fight Club, which I obviously can’t talk about." ~ Blaine


     Tune in next Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET for Glee's Christmas special! Also, watch Community this Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC for a fun parody of the series.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

 

     Click here for all of the Glee reviews I've ever written.

 

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Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Hold on to Sixteen" on Blogcritics.

No "Asian F" for Glee

     FOX's Glee presents its third episode of the third season, just before taking three weeks off. In "Asian F," Mercedes (Amber Riley) fights valiantly against Rachel (Lea Michele) for the lead in West Side Story. Not happy with a tie, she throws a fit, causing Will (Matthew Morrison) to toss her out of the New Directions. That's OK, because Shelby (Idina Menzel) has a rival group for her to join. Will faces further trouble when he invites Emma's (Jayma Mays) parents to dinner against her wishes, and learns they are Ginger Supremacists. Mike Chang's (Harry Shum Jr.) audition goes much better, though his parents disapprove of his passion.

     The cast list for West Side Story goes up, and Blaine (Darren Criss) gets the part of Tony. Showing just how much he and Kurt (Chris Colfer) value each other, Kurt manages to put aside his strong desires for the part and be happy for Blaine, bringing him flowers. This is not only sweet, but a sign that they are really in love, with a healthy, mature, mutual relationship. Yay!

     Mercedes sits in the background far too much on Glee. Suddenly, in "Asian F," she steps into the spotlight, confidence boosted by her boyfriend, Shane (Lamarcus Tinker, Cougar Town, Friday Night Lights). Yet, after one episode's worth of strutting around and letting her ego rule, she is ostracized by her friends, and kicked out of the glee club. Why do they not come to her defense? Why can't they allow her a little slack? After all, she plays second fiddle every week. Can't she be featured just once? Yes, her behavior is unacceptable, but not enough so to erase two years of being a (mostly) team player.

     Perhaps the bad attitude gives Mercedes's vocals a boost. She often demonstrates some great singing power, but "Asian F" gives her more prominence than usual. She belts "Spotlight" out to rock her audition for Maria. Then she not only holds her own against Rachel in "Out Here On My Own," but both girls agree, Mercedes is better. Too bad the directors don't see that, or can't bring themselves to pick Mercedes over Rachel, leaving them to double cast the role. This is unacceptable to Mercedes, as is so much else lately, and she positively slays "It's All Over" as an exit.

     What is next for the queen of belting? Well, it's over to join Shelby's group, and likely take a bigger role. Perhaps not the lead, as Shelby is being coerced into letting someone else do that. But hopefully Mercedes will feel more value there than she is used to. And will rejoin the New Directions sometime soon.

     Speaking of rejoining, Santana (Naya Rivera) is back in the group after "secretly" re-swearing allegiance. This could have been a cool arc, but is wasted as it is thrown away without exploration. The whole reason she is removed from the glee club in the first place is because she still listens to Sue (Jane Lynch). What happens the next time Sue orders Santana to betray her friends? Won't the secret come out pretty quickly?

     That being said, it is nice to have Santana back, especially when she sings along with Brittany (Heather Morris). Brittany is the true power behind the girl-power ballad "Run the World (Girls)," though Santana is there to lend her support. It's such a rocking number, even Sue is moved by it. Which just goes to show that Glee's girls are anything but passive bystanders.

     Too bad Mike Chang's parents don't like assertive women, especially when they may be taking valuable time away from studies. Mike Chang Sr. (Keong Sim, The Last Airbender) and Principal Figgins (Iqbal Theba) are able to bond over their distaste for Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz). Figgins remembers that Tina is a vampire in a nice throwback to season one, while Mike Chang Sr. blames Tina for distracting Mike Jr. enough to get an A- on a test, or, in other words, an "Asian F." As such, Mike Sr. would like Mike Jr. to stay far away from the "temptress."

     Of course, Tina isn't the only thing that Mike Sr. blames. He also wants Mike Jr. to stop wasting his time dancing and singing. Mike Jr. isn't about to do so, considering that he has a real passion for the arts. He uses his frustration to deliver the character's most triumphant performance to date, "Cool," earning him the role of Riff in West Side Story. Luckily, Mike's mom, Julia (Tamlyn Tomita, Law & Order: LA, Eureka), understands what her son is going through, and vows to help him break the news to his father.

     Mike isn't the only one with parental problems. Will is worried that Emma is embarrassed of him when she doesn't want to introduce him to her parents, so he invites them over on his own accord. Unfortunately, they turn out to be Ginger Supremacists, considering redheads to be a superior "species." Not only that, but they don't treat Emma very well. Mother Rose (Valerie Mahaffey, United States of Tara, Desperate Housewives) calls her daughter "Freaky Deaky," while father Rusty (Don Most, Happy Days) isn't any more supportive. It's a disaster, and only Will standing up for Emma makes the slightest positive impression. It's easy to see how Emma moved to Crazy Town.

     Now that Will understands why Emma is the way she is, can he fix her? His "Fix You" sung to her, which expands into the closing number of "Asian F," is patronizing, but not without heart. Will has his flaws, too, and it's not his job to try to change Emma. That being said, she does need help, as she is beyond abnormal, and should get over her eccentricities for her own sake. With this in mind, "Fix You" sends a mixed message, tossing the female empowerment of earlier in the episode aside in order to show vulnerability and caring. It's hard to say how one should feel about his number.

     Finally, Rachel, while worrying about losing the part of Maria, decides to enter the race for class president against her best friend, Kurt. He doesn't take this well, since he actually wants the job, and is not just trying to pad his resume. They have a major rift, and this just might be a sticking point in their friendship. It is time for Rachel to set ambition aside and be a friend. Success isn't worth having if there is no one to share it with.


     Glee will be taking a few weeks off, but will return November 1st at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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

 

     To purchase Glee DVDs, streaming episodes, music, and more, please click here.

 

 Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Asian F" on Blogcritics.