Wake Up to THE MORNING SHOW

Article first published as THE MORNING SHOW: TV REVIEW at Seat42F.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first three episodes.

One of Apple TV+’s new dramas is THE MORNING SHOW. Set at a Good Morning America type of series, the program follows anchors past and present as they navigate through the current political climate and their own ambitions. Featuring an all-star cast, this is probably the best program I’ve seen from the brand-new streaming service so far.

As the pilot begins, sexual harassment charges go public against veteran anchor Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell, The Office). The network reacts quickly, firing him. Producer Chip Black (Mark Duplass, Togetherness) is thrown because he was preparing to let go Mitch’s on-air partner, Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston, Friends), go for being past her prime (in talent, not age). All this drama excites the new head of news for the network, Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup, Watchmen), and other anchors like Yanko (Nestor Carbonell, Bates Motel), Daniel (Desean Terry), and Alison (Janina Gavankar, The League) want the empty seat. But it’s little known, passionate, online sensation Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies) that swoops in and takes the spot.

The plot of THE MORNING SHOW is beyond juicy. It has the #MeToo controversy that is still so relevant, but also all manner of scheming and backstabbing. While none of the characters come off as unlikeable, there is plenty of insecurity and ambition. Besides those mentioned above, behind-the-scenes staff Hannah (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Touch) and Mia (Karen Pittman, Luke Cage) seem like key players, as does Alex’s secretly estranged husband, Jason (Jack Davenport, Smash). So there’s no shortage of participants, and not all of their motivations are immediately clear.

Add to all the individual concerns, there’s the business perspective of a network and a popular, but struggling, series that that must be taken into consideration. The Morning Show is losing ground to competitor Audra (Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project) and looking to shake things up; Cory himself is a new approach. So even before Mitch blows everything up, there’s tension. But with this latest development, no easy way out is apparent, leaving the cast to fight amongst one another.

What’s more, there are actual questions of journalism and responsibility layered in. Bradley is temperamental, to be sure, but there’s a level of genuineness and naivety to her role. She believes in the profession and the mission, and doesn’t like being used as a pawn, which she’s smart enough to pick up on immediately. Will she bring back what The Morning Show needs to rise again, or will it chew her up and force her to be something she isn’t? And which needs to happen for the show to succeed? This isn’t The Newsroom, after all, and drama can equal ratings.

Perhaps the toughest part for some to swallow is the effort made to humanize Mitch. It’s very easy to write him off as soon as the rumors start, and the all-too-ripped-from-the-headlines button under his desk does him no favors. But then, in the third installment, Mitch is talking to his high-profile friend (Martin Short, Saturday Night Live) about snap judgments and nuance, and there’s a moment where some may start to feel sorry for Mitch. Not because his behavior was excusable (it isn’t), but because he truly doesn’t know why he’s been taken down, or how what he did was wrong. Should inappropriate consensual relationships be a death knell for a career? As a straight, white man, I refuse to weigh in on that and I certainly understand how some may have no sympathy for him, but I’m fascinated by the questions raised. What is an appropriate punishment for the details of his case?

Reviews for THE MORNING SHOW have been mixed, but I like it. It’s smart, it’s quick, and it makes you think about things we should all be considering more carefully than we usually do. Catch it now on Apple TV+.

Justin Timberlake brings back Saturday Night Live

Article first published as  Justin Timberlake brings back Saturday Night Live on TheTVKing.

NBC's Saturday Night Live has good episodes and bad. In recent years, after the 2008 election, the bad weeks have outnumbered the good by quite a few. But all it takes is a fantastic host and a bevy of wonderful guests to turn things around, and last week's episode, which features Justin Timberlake as both the host and musical guest, does just that.

Right from the opening where Timberlake does a wonderful Elton John impersonation with a "Candle in the Wind" parody, the episode takes off. Timberlake is obviously a musician, having contributed to many of the best musical numbers in the series in previous episodes, and he uses that skill again in this gig. A good episode plays to the host's strengths, and this one most definitely does.

Besides the opening, he also sings with recurring characters like the parody-singing advertising mascot (this time a block of tofu, and ending with a Harlem Shake in Veganville) and a return of the "D*** in a Box" guys with Andy Samberg. Sure, it takes time to build up a recurring character's popularity, but the ones that the writers and actors love are usually the ones that the fans love to, so the effort is worth it. Timberlake manages to have a couple of very popular characters with only a limited number of appearances. It's quite impressive.

Besides Samberg, many other Saturday Night Live alumni dropped by. This is done in celebration of Timberlake joining the "5 Timers Club," since this is his fifth time hosting, so other frequent hosts including Steve Martin, Candice Bergen, Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, and Chevy Chase appear. The cast of SNL is a very important clique. But so is the job of host. Only a few have reached this pinnacle, invited back over and over again, and they all ooze with talent. Seeing them gather together, along with Martin Short, Paul Simon, and Dan Akroyd, is not only thrilling, but hilarious, as these are some of the funniest people of their generation.

Sometimes, though, guests can be wasted. That is not the case in Timberlake's episode. It isn't practical to include all of those named in other sketches, of course, because too many showed up. But Martin and Akroyd dust off their Wild and Crazy Guys for a bit, and Martin, Chase, and Short don their Three Amigos costumes, thankfully altered to accommodate their current bodies. It's these kind of touches that make the episode memorable, and worth the time of these non-hosts who show up.

There are plenty of sketches in this episode that will provide laughs for years to come, unlike the "5 Timers Club," which is fantastic, but not inherently funny. These all have one thing in common: a current cast member holds their own against the host and/or veterans. The dating game show, where poor Bobby Moynihan competes against two pairs of recurring characters is amusing, especially because of Moynihan's role in it, not in spite of it. He knows he can't compete against the others and embracing it, making him a valuable part of the sketch, rather than a throw-away. And the commercial where Timberlake dates a girl with a penis (played beautifully by Nasim Pedrad) will elicit a giggle or two.

I'm not a fan of the musical performances, and often skip them. I will say, though, that I stuck with "Suit and Tie," despite being lukewarm on the song itself, and it was a terrific performance. The stage looked great, the dancing was incredibly impressive, and tone was perfect.

Overall, Justin Timberlake once more delivers for Saturday Night Live. Let's hope they invite him back soon.

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11 p.m. ET on NBC.

"The Best Man" looks for "The Naked Truth" on How I Met Your Mother

      CBS's How I Met Your Mother returns with two all new episodes. In the first, "The Best Man," the gang heads to Punchy's (Chris Romano) wedding. Marshall (Jason Segel) drinks for both he and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) so that no one will know that she is pregnant. But seeing all of the babies at the event spurs them to reveal their good news, even though it's still very early in the term. Also, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) tries to gather the courage to ask Nora (Nazanin Boniadi) out again. That's too bad for Robin (Cobie Smulders), who would really like Barney back.

     The second episode, "The Naked Truth," finds Marshall begging an old friend (Jimmi Simpson, Breakout King) to remove some embarrassing videos of him from the internet so that he can land a job that he wants. But Marshall comes to realize that he may be forgetting a part of himself, and his dream boss, Garrison Cootes (Martin Short, Damages), hires him anyway, so it's all good. Barney waits all night in a diner to prove his commitment to Nora, reminding Ted (Josh Radnor) of the feeling that he is looking for sharing with a woman. Then Ted spies former flame, Victoria (Ashley Williams, Warehouse 13).

      Both of these episodes focus on a theme that has become prevalent on How I Met Your Mother as of late - growing into the adults these friends will be. Marshall really suffers a crisis of faith, not sure he is ready to leave his past behind to become a father. Part of this may be from the lingering grief over his own father's death last year. Being gone, Marshall begins to immortalize his father, holding him up as a gold standard. It's hard to live up to a memory. But Lily realizes that Marshall doesn't have to give up who he is to move on. He can merely reconcile the two identities. Parenthood doesn't erase everything that comes before it.

     Barney's quest for love after years of endless, meaningless sex is a breath of fresh air. It doesn't at all ruin the character that he seeks to better himself. The framing story for "The Best Man" continues last year's glimpses of Barney's wedding, though the bride's identity is still a mystery. Is it Nora? Is it Robin? It's hard to say, but one thing is certain: Barney's friends seem completely at ease with his decision, and they would not be if he were making a mistake. This means that whoever Barney's mystery wife is, which will not be revealed for some time to come yet, his happy ending is in sight. Thank goodness!

     Because Robin is still mooning over Barney, it is very possible that she will be the bride, despite being just as commitment-phobic as Barney, once upon a time. Yet, Robin has matured, too, in that she knows what she wants now. For the moment, that's Barney, but she cares enough about him that she will not stand in the way of his happiness, even if that's with another woman. Their dance number together in "The Best Man" is teeming with chemistry, so that might bode well for Robin. Whether Barney will eventually wake up and see what's right in front of him, or Robin will get over her former beau and move on, is up in the air. Either way could be great, if handled correctly.

     For the first few seasons of How I Met Your Mother, in fact, the entire original premise of the show, concerns Ted's quest for the love of his life. Somewhere along the way, gradually, he has given up on that dream. He has become cynical and no longer thinks he can have that perfect future. For awhile, this makes his character less sympathetic. But the framework of the series establishes from the first episode that Ted does get everything that he wants, and his reawakening in "The Naked Truth" to his quest reinvigorates the character in a way that is needed, but forgotten about until now.

     Might Victoria be a stepping stone to Ted's destiny? She isn't the mother, as far as we know, but of all the relationships Ted has over the years, she is the one he shows the purest joy being with. She comes at a time when he is really into his quest to find the right woman, and they share something very, very special. Only her career drives them apart. Well, that, and Ted not being able to resist Robin while Victoria is in Germany. So Ted has some making up to do with Victoria. But whether they date again or not, now that she is re-entering his life, they surely have a lasting connection, and maybe she will help Ted find the thing that he lost.

     Of all the things that could stand in Ted and Victoria's way for a rekindling, Robin is no longer one of them. Ted loves Robin dearly, and pursues her for a long period. They spend a significant amount of time being a couple, but that has cooled. They are just friends and roommates now. This is beautifully illustrated in a balcony scene between the two of them in "The Best Man." Robin wants to help Ted with his problems, but there is no spark coming from either side. While timing may admittedly be the factor that is needed to flip things back again, it seems their time has already passed. Which is kind of nice, since Robin and Barney's chemistry is so strong, and there doesn't need to be another fight between Ted and Barney.

     After a couple of floundering seasons, How I Met Your Mother is growing into something really special once more. It mixes humor and real emotional maturation to find the right combination to keep it going, now that it has moved past it's original concept. It's a very welcome development.

     Watch How I Met Your Mother Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.


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Article first published as TV Review: How I Met Your Mother - "The Best Man; The Naked Truth" on Blogcritics.

2010 Emmys: Drama Part 2

     Last week, the Emmy nominations for this year were released.  This is television's biggest awards show, and as a television reviewer, I couldn't help but be excited.  Sure, there were some snubs, but there were also some pleasant surprises.  With 51 days left until the statues are handed out on August 29th, there is plenty of time to examine who's up for what.  In this second in a series of articles, I'll look at the the supporting player categories for Dramas.

 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad (AMC), Martin Short, Damages (FX), Terry O'Quinn, Lost (ABC), Michael Emerson, Lost (ABC), John Slattery, Mad Men (AMC), Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age (TNT).  This is a very tough category.  I didn't initially like Mad Men, but am just now getting around to watching it, as I purchased the first three seasons on DVD some time ago, and I'm tired of them just collecting dust.  I'm still on season 1, so I don't know how Slattery did this year.  I watched all the episodes of the shows the other five nominees are in, though.  Braugher was good, though I was surprised to see him in the Supporting category instead of Lead.  And where are his co-stars?  O'Quinn and Emerson area always good, but neither match previous season appearances.  Not that it's a detriment to them, but their earlier work on Lost was so spine-tingling good, I just can't see them taking it for the final season.  Short was also incredibly enjoyable, and proved he can do serious drama just as well as he does comedy.  However, as tempted as I am to support Short this year, Aaron Paul was incredible.  Season 3 brought so many big moments for his character, from dealing with the death of his girlfriend, to struggling to stay sober, to almost getting killer, and then contemplating murder.  I have to say, Paul all the way.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Sharon Gless, Burn Notice (USA), Rose Byrne, Damages (FX), Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife (CBS), Christine Baranski, The Good Wife (CBS), Christina Hendricks, Mad Men (AMC), Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men (AMC).  I am ashamed to say that I only saw two of these fine women in their entirety.  As stated above, I'm way behind on Mad Men.  I missed the boat on The Good Wife, though in my defense, I already have the season one DVD pre-ordered, and I certainly won't continue to be delinquent any longer than necessary.  That being said, I always love Baranski, so maybe she should get.  Byrne did a fine job on Damages, but like some of the man above, she had a much better chance to stretch her talent prior to this season.  She was relatively balanced by this past year, so I wouldn't give it to her.  I am pleased to see Gless in this category, a completely unexpected turn.  When Burn Notice began, I really didn't care for her character.  But now she was forced her way into the group and proven her mettle, so I do enjoy her contribution.  I guess, still being unsure, as this is the rare category I don't feel prepared to judge because of all the Good Wife and Mad Men nominees, I am still putting my money (figuratively) on Baranski.

     The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will air live Sunday, August 29th at 8pm on NBC.

Damages drowns in blood

    It began three years ago.  Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) stumbled down a dark street, blood on her hands and clothes.  It was quickly renewed for not one, but two more installments.  Now, after a trio of breathtaking seasons, the series may be at an end.  Currently, FX is in talks with DirecTV to split the cost of continuing Damages, but whether that will happen is still up in the air.  Why does such a critically acclaimed, award winning show have to struggle so hard in the ratings?  Perhaps it is the serial nature of it.  But it's well worth the time.


     This year's major case centered around the Tobin family.  True to form, twists kept coming left and right in the final hour and a half finale.  After the suicide of Louis (Len Cariou) in an earlier episode, it was a bit of a surprise to watch his wife, Marilyn (Lily Tomlin) jump to her death.  Beautifully filmed, I didn't even see it happening until she hit the water with a splash.  But will Carol (Ana Reeder) get away with murder?  It appears so.  For now anyway.

     Speaking of getting away with murder, it was wonderful to see Frobisher (Ted Danson) finally get arrested for paying someone to murder Ellen's fiance two years ago.  I'm sad that Wes (Timothy Olyphant, who now his own FX series, Justified) had to go down, too, but it proved the kind of man he is, and that he loved Ellen.  It would be fantastic if they could get back together at some point in the future.  Despite their dark deeds, the bad guys on Damages are frequently shades of gray, and I almost felt sorry for Frobisher, since he turned his new leaf and all.  Almost.

     Turns out, Joe Tobin (Campbell Scott) was really the villain, and the man who murdered beloved character Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan).  Because of that bastard, if the show gets a fourth season, long time third-star Donovan will not be able to return.  Or maybe he will.  Dead characters frequently prop up on Damages, among them, Zeljko Ivanek's Ray Fisk, for which he won an Emmy.  Ray popped up as recently as this week to haunt the people left behind.  But not in a cheesy way.

     I would be remiss if I did not praise Martin Short for the brilliant way he handled the serious drama, as opposed to the comedy that I am used to from him.  Also, Glenn Close is a true star, and proved once again how she can handle entire ranges of emotions in just her eyes, without speaking a word.  Her character may be one who deserves to be taken down more than any other, but you still root for her and care for her.  This season's plot concerning her son, Michael (Zachary Booth) allowed her to show yet more layers to Patty Hewes.

     Please, FX.  Find the money.  Give Damages another season.  To do otherwise would be criminal. 

More Damages have arrived

     One of the best dramas on television, Damages, has just returned for a third season on FX.  There was much to like about the season premiere last Monday, including a new, lighter tone with welcome brighter colors.  That's not to say there isn't plenty of twisted stuff still going on.  In fact, one of my favorite characters, and one of only three principal actors in all three seasons, is shown dead in a body bag at the end of the episode.  Of course, much of Damages takes place in flashback, so the character will still be around for at least this year, if the person is actually dead, which I have my doubts about.  Either way, killer way to end the special no-commercial episode!

     As this season begins, ten months after the last, Ellen Parsons, (Rose Byrne) though she has forgiven her former boss, has moved on with her life and now works for the DA's office.  Meanwhile, the former boss, Patty Hewes (Glenn Close, who has deservedly won multiple awards for this role) is just getting around to allowing Ellen's office to be cleaned out, though she is certainly in a better mood than when we last left her.  She is even allowing longtime employee Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan, The OC) to add his name to the door of her firm.  Meanwhile, Tom has remained friendly with Ellen, and when Ellen suspects Patty secretly helped her with a client, the three are entwined further together.  If it wasn't Patty, who was it then?  One of these season's many mysteries, surely.

     The big case of season three deals with a Ponzi scheme of Madoff proportions.  The head criminal here is Louis Tobin (Len Cariou, Into the Storm), and both Patty and the DA are trying to bring him down.  Tobin's family is brilliantly cast, including Lily Tomlin (The West Wing, The Magic School Bus) as his wife and Reiko Aylesworth (24) as his daughter in law.  Joining the cast full time are Tobin's son Joe (Campbell Scott, Royal Pains) and family friend slash lawyer, Leonard Winstone (Martin Short, Primetime Glick, Father of the Bridge, Three Amigos).  Short, usually a comedian, plays this ore dramatic role well, and despite limited screen time in the first episode, he has managed to impress already.  Add to that the promised return of Frobisher, (Ted Danson, Bored to Death, Becker, Cheers) there will surely be no lack of star power.  Yet, unlike other shows, it never feels like stunt casting on Damages.

     This season's mystery will continue tonight and every Monday at 10pm on FX.