Bob's Burgers gets "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal"

Unlike the Halloween special, which aired almost a month before the holiday, FOX let Bob's Burgers put out their Thanksgiving episode at an appropriate time, the Sunday before. Of all the animated comedies the network has on this night, Bob's Burgers is my current favorite. To see the family celebrate a holiday that is so much about family is heartwarming. And, this being Bob's Burgers, also funny.

The story, "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal," begins with the landlord, Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline), bribing Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) to cook a meal for himself and a lady friend, and also hiring Bob's family to pose as his own. See, Mr. Fischoeder's love interest only goes for married guys, so he plans on using Linda (John Roberts) and the kids to hook her in.

Bob is very resistant. Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday, and he has traditions with each child. To him, preserving these rituals is more important than money. Unfortunately, the children don't feel the same, and are excited to escape their father's corniness to get involved in a scheme. This is not only a typical portrait of a clan, painting Bob as the family man he truly is at heart, but also illustrative of the generational divide, parents being more sentimental than their offspring.

This, in of itself, would be a good enough tale. Bob grows ever jealous in the kitchen, while his kids compete for Mr. Fischoeder's affections, and Linda horribly overdoes things, as she is wont to do. But "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal" adds in a twist when Bob finds a bottle of absinthe in the kitchen. Suddenly, he is hallucinating and talking to the turkey, whom he has named, which makes things spiral even quicker out of control, and in very humorous ways.

Bob's Burgers works because of so many elements. One, it has a unique sense of humor that isn't found in practically any other series I can think of. Two, the characters are incredibly well defined, and are always played to their strengths. A fine balance is walked between repeating already known character traits, and overusing the same jokes, and it is pulled off expertly. Third, the show and its vocal cast can really land a joke, over and over again. Like when the family is naming holidays in the order of importance and Gene (Eugene Mirman) says the season premiere of Game of Thrones, though quickly admits to never having seen the show. Fantastic!

Louise (Kristen Schaal) remains the best part of Bob's Burgers. The fiendish young girl with her pink bunny ears is as clever as she is ornery. She will do whatever she must to meet her goals, and her brain just thinks on a different wave length than everyone else. And yet, when combined with her siblings, Gene and Tina (Dan Mintz), as she so often is in many a story, she works well in the group, too, without stealing too much focus.

"An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal" has a happy ending for the family, of course. Like The Simpsons, no matter what happens during the episode, they can all come together in the end, and there is deep love between them. Bob's Burgers may be a little quicker to show it than The Simpsons, though, and only three seasons in, it still feels fresh and original, definitely designed for the modern sensibility.

Bob's Burgers airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

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

Doctor Who back for more

For those who missed the scant five episode of Doctor Who that aired this fall, you're in luck. The BBC has just been released on a two-disc Blu-ray and DVD set, Doctor Who Series Seven, Part One. And for those who didn't miss the season, you already know that these are five fantastic installments, so you might be interested as well. It will be something to tide fans over until the series returns for a longer run next year.

As series seven begins, Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) are getting a divorce. That's right; the man who waited two thousand years for his love has been tossed out of the house. The Doctor (Matt Smith) is concerned when he notices, but he has other concerns, as the three have been swept up by the Daleks, who are asking for the trio's help with their prison planet.

"Asylum of the Daleks," the season opener, is one of the best hours of Who ever made. Not only do we get to see the Doctor's archnemesis in a slightly different light, and get a glimpse of another aspect of their society, but we also have the Amy/Rory breakup mystery to sustain us. Toss in the introduction of Oswin (Jenna-Louise Coleman, Captain America: The First Avenger, Emmerdale), who will take over as the Doctor's companion beginning this Christmas, and some wonderful twists, progress on a major arc involving the Doctor's identity, and action sequences, and the season begins with a bang!

From there we move to "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship," which is a truly fun romp. There is some danger, with a space pirate (David Bradley, the Harry Potter films) having hijacked a ship full of dinosaurs, which a future version of UNIT is ready to blow out of the sky. But the meat of this episode lies in the humor created when the Doctor brings together not only Rory and Amy for the outing, but also Rory's father, Brian Williams (Mark Williams, also Harry Potter), Queen Nefertiti (Riann Steele, Holby City) from ancient Egypt, and John Riddell (Rupert Graves, borrowed from Steven Moffat's other series, Sherlock), a big game hunter from the early twentieth century. It's these clashing personalities set among such fantastical creatures that really make this episode memorable. Plus, the most adorable triceratops ever!

Then there's " A Town Called Mercy," an interesting little morality tale, that happens to be set in the Old West, and involves a cyborg. This one is arguably the least of the five episode in the set, and yet, the care with which the town is designed, and the Western genre influence, combine to make it worthy of the collection. As the Doctor would say, Stetsons are cool.

In "The Power of Three," Brian is back (yay!). Taking place over a very long span of time, the world is slowly invaded by cubes, while Amy and Rory try to build a more normal life on Earth, and the Doctor struggles with letting them go. The highlights of this episode include seeing how much the Doctor cares for his companions, and how well he does not adapt to the type of lifestyle that they the married couple are considering. It's a "take stock" episode, and it's narration makes it a departure from the norm, if Doctor Who has a norm.

Finally, in "The Angels Take Manhattan," the central trio is drawn to a noir version of New York City, and River Song (Alex Kingston) makes her, sadly, only appearance in this batch. The Angels, Doctor Who's scariest villains, have built themselves a farm in the middle of the metropolis, and catch Rory in their trap. Can the Doctor change time to save him, or will he lose both of his best friends in one swoop? It's a moving love story with high stakes danger and some huge developments.

Not only are these episode incredible, but the special features are pretty great, too. There's the hour-long special, "The Science of Doctor Who," which recently aired on BBC America. "Ayslum of the Daleks" gets a prequel, "A Town Called Mercy" has a bit of back story, and a series of minisodes called "Pond Life" seem to set up the series as a whole. Plus, there's a feature following the cast as they visit Comic Con earlier this year. It may fall slightly short of a "Making Of," but all the additional scenes included on this set, not appearing in the episodes, are very satisfying.

The Blu-ray itself is amazing. There are rich colors in every landscape, whether characters are on a dark spaceship, the dusty Old West, or the grey of the city. Each setting is vibrant and life-like. This isn't even including the special effects, which are often pretty darn neat, and showcased brilliantly in HD. Sound is high quality, with the base stepping in exactly where you want it to, and overall providing an immersive experience, without pops or static that will ruin the moment.

Fantastic episodes, great extras, and a stunning visual and auditory experience, I have no complaints at all about Doctor Who Season Seven, Part One other than that I wish it went on longer. The Blu-ray and DVD are available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as Blu-ray Review: Doctor Who Series Seven, Part One on Blogcritics.

Bones frees "The Patriot in Purgatory"

This week's installment of FOX's Bones is one of the best stand-alone episodes the series has ever made. I do not say this lightly, as despite it's procedural format, I highly enjoy the show most weeks. It may be the only procedural I hold in such esteem. The credit goes to a truly fantastic ensemble cast, and the quirkiness of the various characters. In "The Patriot in Purgatory," these people are taken to new levels of emotion.

The hour begins with Dr. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) bringing together her five best interns so that she can try out some coaching skills she learned from reading Phil Jackson's book. Yes, Brennan is finally into some small aspects of pop culture, most likely thanks to her ever-deepening relationship with Booth (David Boreanaz). She assigns these five to examine old bones with new technology in the hopes of identifying many remains that have never been named.

At first, the squad humorously argues and gets competitive, each trying to outdo the other ones. This is to be expected, as Brennan has, until now, created a fiercely competitive environment. Each jockeys for Brennan's favor, and tries to prove they are better than the others. Had this been the way the rest of the episode played out, it still would have been good, because seeing these personalities clash is entertaining.

Yet, "The Patriot in Purgatory" soon deepens when Vaziri (Pej Vahdat) becomes obsessed with a homeless man. Taking the ignored case to heart, as the police clearly didn't do a thorough investigation the first time around, Vaziri becomes obsessed with figuring out who this man is, even if he neglects the other bodies in the process.

It isn't long before his fellow interns are also drawn in by the mystery. Wendell (Michael Grant Terry), Clark (Eugene Byrd), Finn (Luke Kleintank), and even, eventually, Fisher (Joel David Moore) each lend their strengths, which differ from person to person, to the case. Only together, can they solve the puzzle. This is not only a display of what a great team the Jeffersonian has, and more proof that Brennan picks the right interns, but also an inspiring tale about a quest for justice.

Before long, the guys decide that their bones belong to a man who died shortly after 9/11 due to injuries suffered on that fateful day. Not only that, he is a soldier. This quickly draws Booth into the mix, becoming just as determined to solve the case as the squinterns, and everyone else helps, too. Thankfully, this time murder isn't involved, but there is a huge disservice being done to a guy who should be a national hero, and Booth will not rest until the truth comes out, and the body is honorably buried.

"The Patriot in Purgatory" is a holiday episode. Not many shows tackle a Veteran's Day theme, but Bones shows that an inspiring tale can be told at this time of year. It took such a series, with a character like Booth, who is devoted to the military, to do it right. While not based on anyone that actually lived, at least, not that I know of, it is a spotlight on the sad tragedy of what happens to many soldiers who return from war, and the neglected heroes living among us.

This also provides an opportunity for each of the squinterns to share their 9/11 story. Wendell's, in particular is sad, but Vaziri also gets to give voice to many an American Muslim who suffered on that day because of the actions of extremists. He reminds us that we should not hate the religion, which isn't really to blame, but the people who take it and twist it into something ugly. Christian history has plenty of similar examples. Let's not forget that.

In the end, tears flow, and viewers are left feeling deeply moved. There is some serious drama and character development here, all perfectly executed. This is why "The Patriot in Purgatory" deserves to be watched and remembered. And maybe, like the best of Christmas-themed specials, dusted off every few years to be rewatched and enjoyed again on the holiday it celebrates.

Bones airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

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

Glease is the word

 "Glease" is the word this week on FOX's Glee. Which is funny because it isn't actually a word. Nor does it deserve to be. In an entire episode that serves as a mashup between Glee and Grease, the music from the musical remains as classic as ever, but some of the performances are an inferior echo of the original, not because of lack of talent, but because it's such a blatant copy. It's a good thing that there's some actual Glee character development plot included, too.

"Glease" works best when the cast isn't trying to recreate scenes from the movie. Sure, Finn (Cory Monteith) taking the guys to a mechanic shop to practice "Greased Lightin'" and Kitty's (Becca Tobin) girls' sleepover "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" bit may enact scenes that look just like the John Travolta / Olivia Newton John film, but they stretch the plot a little too much towards the cheesy side. Similarly, the set design in McKinley's production is way too advanced for a high school budget, though it makes "Beauty School Dropout" and "You're the One That I Want," the former a favorite moment from this episode, look nearly identical to the inspiration.

This continues a trend in season four of things that seem like a good idea on the surface, but don't quite work right when they are played out. I am referring to the way that alumni keep returning to McKinley and acting like they are adults, while still socializing with their younger student pals. Most high schoolers can't wait to move on after graduation, and those that don't are not generally regarded so highly as the ones on Glee. Letting Finn serve as Will's (Matthew Morrison) temporary glee club replacement actually does all right by the character, but Mercedes (Amber Riley), Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.), and Santana (Naya Rivera) really need to find some new friends and activities to get involved in.


That's what Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) are doing. They do come back to watch their friends do the musical, but they are also beginning to break ties and look towards their futures. Things have changed, their chums have moved on, and the duo feel it. It's hard to imagine them flying home again for the next minor event. And that's a good thing. Whether Glee opts to shift even more into a post-high school focus next season, or drop a large number of original cast members, this balancing act often feels forced, and cannot continue indefinitely.

The continued presence of the older crowd also steals focus from the newbies. Marley (Melissa Benoist) and Ryder (Blake Jenner) barely open "You're the One That I Want" before being replaced by Rachel and Finn, and soon Kurt and the others are imagined into the scene, too. Yes, it's nice to see some more resolution will all of the recently dissolved couples, but not at the expense of some characters that are just beginning to grow on us.

Unique (Alex Newell) gets the biggest shaft in "Glease." His parents (including Chuck's Mark Christopher Lawrence) pull him from the show because they are worried about bullying, since he has a female part, even though they do accept their son for who he is. This seems a step backwards from the Kurt days, with Unique having to re-fight some of the same battles. It also means that s/he only gets a few lines of "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," a crying shame, no matter how good Rivera can handle the number.

Also, I don't care how dumb Brittany (Heather Morris) is, we cannot honestly be expected to believe that she thinks Mercedes and Unique are the same person.

Quick side note, Jenner is just not doing it for me as Ryder. I felt let down at his take on Danny Zuko, and his acting just isn't up to par with his cast mates. He may grow into the role, as others have done, but it seems like he got a little too much focus, a little too quickly.

I also did not care for Marley's bulimia plot. She is a gorgeous, thin girl, and while Kitty's ability to trick her into puking makes sense, it also ventures a little too far into after-school-special territory. It will be awfully hard to make Kitty sympathetic after she goes to such depths, and Marley's "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" ends up being heart wrenching at a time when she should be enjoying her chance to shine as the musical lead. It works for the story, but I wish that the writers chose to take her in a happier direction.

Speaking of terribly evil villains, in "Glease" Cassandra July (Kate Hudson) tricks Rachel into skipping town, then seizes the opportunity to seduce Brody (Dean Geyer). It would not be surprising to learn that things didn't quite go down as Ms. July describes them. But seeing her act all sleazy, then picking up Brody's phone when Rachel calls to rub it in her face is absolutely awful. Sue (Jane Lynch) can be a bit of a monster, but even she has more humanity than Rachel's new teacher.


Not that "Glease" is a bad episode, by any means. All six of the musical numbers are very well done, no matter what my complaints are, plot wise. Blaine (Darren Criss) and Sugar (Vanessa Lengies), in particular, are perfectly cast in Grease. Newell and Benoist, and, to a lesser extent, Tobin, are solidifying their roles as the new stars of Glee, and they definitely have the chops to do so. It's awesome to see Santana and Brittany together again. Almost every actor gives a fine performance, and most of the story choices make sense, even if a few are regrettable. As such, despite my nit picking, I liked the episode a lot overall. There just needs to be some tweaks to the larger arcs to make the season gel a little better.

Glee airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com!  Article first published as TV Review: Glee - "Glease" on Blogcritics.

Ruby Sparks light a fire

Recently released from FOX, Ruby Sparks is the story of a boy and a girl. But it's oh so much more than that. The boy, Calvin (Paul Dano, Little Miss Sunshine), is a young, best selling author who is struggling to find inspiration to repeat his success. At the advice of his therapist, Dr. Rosenthal (Elliot Gould, MASH), he writes about a girl that can accept him as he is. And then the girl, Ruby (Zoe Kazan, Dano's real life girlfriend and the writer of this film), appears in his apartment.

Now, Calvin is not going crazy. At least, he doesn't appear to be. His brother, Harry (Chris Messina, The Mindy Project, Damages), can see her, too, as can everyone else. Once viewers are able to suspend that disbelief, one can really get invested in the tale of this couple, who are made for each other, on one side, quite literally.

But no one is perfect. As much as Ruby is the girl that Calvin imagines he wants to be with, she is also a fully developed person, not just a two dimensional figure on paper. Which means, she has a mind of her own, and can do things that bug Calvin, or make him feel down on himself. Calvin has the power to change Ruby at any time just by whipping his type writer back out. It isn't too long before he gives in to temptation and does just that.

One can tell that Ruby Sparks is written by a woman. Rather than rewriting Ruby for sexual purposes, an option brought up by Harry, but quickly dismissed by the more sensitive Calvin, he just tweaks her personality so that she is devoted to him, and he gets rids of things about her he finds annoying. However, when Calvin begins to remove layers, even with the best of intentions, because, after all, she is his creation, and so it could be argued that he has a right to make adjustments, he also erases the essence that makes Ruby Ruby. She no longer has free will, nor is she the person he wanted to be with. This is a case of over-thinking things.

Ruby Sparks really makes the audience think, too. Surely, many people have dreamed up a scenario such as this, but how many have taken time to really explore what being in this situation would mean? How many consider all the implications and nuanced rules that would go hand in hand with the occurrence? Kazan proves her talents as a writer quite handily, really fleshing out everything in a very believable way.

And does anyone truly want what they consider to be the perfect girl? Not only would this be boring, but how would Calvin ever be challenged to grow? If all he wants is an idea of a woman, the internet and blowup dolls exist. No, he wants a companion, and that means he must take the good with that bad. Those are the facts of life.

All television them song references aside, Ruby Sparks is a fascinating, smart movie that is very enjoyable, but also so much more than mindless entertainment. Buoyed by an excellent supporting cast, each with wonderful featured moments, that includes Toni Trucks (Made in Jersey), Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood), Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder), Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show), Annette Benning (The Kids Are All Right), and an amazing turn by Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots), this is a movie that begs repeat viewings.

In fact, if one stops the film about two minutes before the end, I would consider it a near-perfect movie. There's a tag I'm not a fan of; I'd prefer if the next to last scene served as the ending. Others may disagree.

The special features, on the other hand, at least the ones included on the review copy I got, leave much to be desired. There are three featurettes of only a few minutes each in length that are pretty repetitive, just praising those involved. It is pointed out that not only are Dano and Kazan a couple, but so are the directors, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (both Little Miss Sunshine). But that's about the only thing interesting gleaned from the scant extras. Hopefully, there will be another release in the future that packages a bit more, because, the impression I get is, the story behind the story is probably pretty neat, as well.

Ruby Sparks is available now on DVD and Blu-ray.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Ruby Sparks on Blogcritics.

The Office lands "The Whale"

NBC's The Office continues its great final season this week with "The Whale." Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is given the opportunity to double Dundler Mifflin's growth when a new potential client asks for a meeting. Learning the meeting is with a woman, and knowing how bad Dwight is with relating to women, several of his female co-workers try to intervene and improve upon his manners. But no one is prepared when they learn who Dwight is actually being sent to talk with, and it will take everything Dwight has to land this impossible account.

Yep, Jan (Melora Hardin) is back! Jan is one of those character who is a delight every time she arrives on screen, mostly because she makes everyone squirm. This is the type of humor that The Office frequently lands, so it hits the perfect tone when it is returned to. We haven't seen Jan in awhile, so it's a great surprise (if you avoided NBC spoiler-filled promos), and the way it's played as a horror film moment when it slowly dawns on Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Dwight just whose office they are in is priceless.

This being the final season, we are likely to see a good many familiar faces in the coming weeks. Even former boss Michael (Steve Carell) is rumored to be making an appearance by series end. It's a well deserved victory lap, nine years in, to revisit these past people.

But it's not just done for nostalgia's sake. Jan's reemergence allows for a really good Dwight story. He may not be best at dealing with girls, but he is an expert salesman for a reason. Even Jan, who has absolutely no intention of dealing with her former employer, and is just taunting them, comes around to Dwight's skills when he uses what he knows about her to change her mind. Meaning, he dangles Clark (Clark Duke) as a sex object. And Dwight and Pam get a very nice friendship moment.

This continues the trend of giving the characters nice payoffs this year. While last season floundered as the company searched for a new manager, this year is back to the basics, exploring the main characters, reminding us who they are, allowing them to make some big decisions, and hopefully sending them on their way with sweet, satisfying endings.

There is drama. Jim (John Krasinski) is trying to start a business on the side. Andy (Ed Helms) is taking advantage of Erin (Ellie Kemper), driving her away. Angela (Angela Kinsey) seems to have realized that her husband, the Senator (Jack Coleman), is sleeping with Oscar (Oscar Nunez) and other men. But all this should be resolved, probably with happy results, by the end of the year. So rather than sweating it, as might have been done in earlier seasons, there's a sense that all of this is just the last few bumps in the road.

If you drifted away from The Office, as many have done, now might be a nice time to catch up. However it ends, it should be memorable.

The Office airs at 9 p.m. ET Thursdays on NBC.

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

Doctor Who fights The Claws of Axos

This month, perhaps due to the release of a modern-day Doctor Who set, only one of the classic serials gets the DVD treatment, instead of the usual two. But it's a pretty good one, and a Special Edition, at that.

Titled The Claws of Axos, these four episodes aired in the middle of season eight, way back in 1971. The most interesting thing about this, that will set it apart from many of the other old releases, is that season eight has a large arc, spanning multiple serials. As such, The Claws of Axos exists as a stand alone story, but also as part of something much bigger. Allow me to explain.

As the episode opens, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is trapped on Earth, the Time Lords having taken away the memories he needs to fix the TARDIS. He is growing weary of UNIT and the other military-minded humans, wishing he didn't have to bear witness to their violent streak. When something crashes near a power plant in Britain, the tension between the Doctor and UNIT comes to a head, as UNIT wants to fire missiles, and the Doctor thinks that they need to figure out what the aliens' intentions are first. The Doctor scores a point when he decrypts a distress call from the ship.

At first, the aliens seem friendly enough. They need fuel, and are willing to trade Axonite, a rare material that can replicate, for it. This would end hunger and starvation for the entire world. But then, a friend is captured by the Axons, and finds the Master (Roger Delgado), whom they thought had left Earth, within the bowels of the ship. Clearly, there is more going on here than first glimpsed.

I really like the clash between the Doctor and the humans in this episode. Being played by a human, of course, and looking like one, it's sometimes easy to forget that the Doctor is an alien, and not like everyone else on Earth. This is not the case in this serial, where he very obviously considers himself apart, and better. While UNIT has to remain somewhat sympathetic, as Lethbridge Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and Benton (John Levene) recur on Doctor Who often, Chinn (Peter Bathurst), who tries to cut the UN out of any deals with the Axons, hoping to win rewards solely for Britain, has no such constraints. The Doctor does still love humans, but this is exactly why he can't live and work among their government, at least not in the present. We are just too flawed a species.

The Doctor usually seems more evolved than mere mankind. Obviously, he travels through time and space, and so has seen a lot. But he also often has a stronger sense of right and wrong than most species, or, at least he believes that he does. The Claws of Axos actually tests this mettle, and see him making what appear to be some questionable choices in the service of escaping our planet. Not only is this more relatable, allowing chinks in the armor of the character, but it also knocks him down off his high horse, even while allowing him to be right and save the day.

The visual effects in The Claws of Axos are attempted too early in film history. In the special features, you will hear about how the people making Doctor Who just couldn't wait to use the latest technology! And yet, while the result may have been impressive in the day, it seems incredibly hokey now. The disappearing effect is OK, considering, but some of the aliens get just a bit too laughable, like piles of spaghetti, or someone rolling around in a colored blanket. It's a good thing that there's a strong story here, with wonderful moments for several characters, especially the Doctor, so this can be overlooked.

The special features on the Special Edition two-disc DVD include an audio commentary with Barry Letts and actors Katy Manning and Richard Franklin, far less crowded than the normal large group. There are almost a half hour of deleted and extended scenes, some PDF materials, and a photo gallery. Something cool for die-hard fans who wish they could be on set is seventy three minutes of studio recording that survives, which includes things like background conversation and recording breaks.

Among the featurettes are a "Making Of" and an interview with Michael Ferguson, who directed the serial. Katy Manning narrates a look at the locations that were used in shooting. But the best inclusion is "Living with Levene," in which frequent Doctor Who DVD contributor Toby Hadoke spends some time in the recent past with John Levene. Levene puts on a bit of a show, as Hadoke notes, and tells some stories that not all of his former co-stars might appreciate! It's really a fascinating thirty-five minutes, for the personality showcased, as well as the tidbits from the past.

The Claws of Axos Special Edition is definitely worth a look, even if you checked it out back in 2005, when it was originally released on DVD. The writing holds up beautifully, and the extras make it a pretty cool find.

Doctor Who The Claws of Axos Special Edition is available now on DVD from the BBC.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Article first published as DVD Review: Doctor Who - The Claws of Axos Special Edition on Blogcritics.

Welcome back Whitney

NBC's Whitney may not be the most popular show out there, but gosh darn it, it has some serious heart, no matter how much it might want to make you believe that it doesn't. This is the attitude of the titular character, Whitney (Whitney Cummings), as we see in the season two premiere, "Bawl and Chain." She may be married to Alex (Chris D'Elia) now, but giving into those feelings of stability aren't really in Whitney's nature.

For many shows, seeing the two lead characters married off to each other would be a late development. Or it would happen before the series begins. It's rare that, not only are Whitney and Alex just dating when Whitney begins, but they tie the knot at the end of the freshman season. Doesn't this destroy the will they-won't they drama?

No. Whitney doesn't buy into that malarkey. For her, it's a journey towards finding something permanent. She has abandonment issues, and it's easy to see why, when her mom (Jane Kaczmarek) pops back in to congratulate the new married couple, only to run off as soon as she learns their marriage isn't officially legal. This is a great reminder of the damage that has been done to Whitney, and why she is the way she is. She needs someone to be with for the long haul, not to jump back and forth between men.

The good news is, Alex is loving and understanding and patient. He may have already been committed to Whitney for years now, but by deciding that they are now married, even if they don't get the piece of paper that proves it, he is telling her that he is sticking around. He also verbally reiterates this a number of times in "Bawl and Chain." It doesn't instantly calm Whitney's fears, but it does show her that she has chosen a good guy who plans on staying with her, and she doesn't have to panic that her marriage will end up like her parents'.

Whitney is relatable because there are plenty of young women out there now like Whitney. Every person under thirty knows someone like her, or is like her themselves. They sometimes come from broken home, sometimes not. But they take a cynical view of the world, and have trouble relying on others. Whether they've been hurt, or they're just afraid of being hurt, they are scared to get too close to someone. Whitney is a message to those types of people that they can find love and happiness, too. And they don't have to take the traditional route, that they lack the desire to follow, to get to it.

Whitney will not be one hundred percent comfortable with Alex anytime soon. That will take a number of seasons, assuming the network will allow it.

Which is good, because the series is funny, and the chemistry between Cummings and D'Elia is fantastic. I know this show doesn't get a lot of love from critics or viewers, but as long as it keeps the focus on the central pair, and doesn't try too hard to make it an ensemble piece, I really enjoy it. "Bawl and Chain" has a little bit of a B story in it, and it's a sweet addition, but the meat of it is Whitney and Alex, so over all, a good return.

Whitney airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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

How I Met Your Mother draws closer to conclusion

CBS's How I Met Your Mother, whether it does a ninth season next year or not, is undeniably drawing closer to the series finale. As such, it has been callously ending all of the non-final relationships of the main characters during a so-called "autumn of breakups," and setting up everyone for who they will be with in the end. This trend continues last night in "Splitsville."

After Ted (Josh Radnor) dumps Victoria (Ashley Williams) last week, and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Quinn (Becki Newton) end things a few episodes ago, that leaves only Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Nick (Michael Trucco). This is the pair that most obviously should break up, as despite Nick's hot bod and the awesome sex, he is dumb, and Robin has no interest in anything long-term with him.

Actually ending things with Nick proves hard to Robin. Not because she doesn't want to hurt him, though that plays a small role in delaying the inevitable, but because she just wants to keep having fun. After a couple of serious relationships, it's not a surprise that Robin likes to blow off some steam. But Nick isn't the man she will marry, and considering her wedding to Barney has to happen before the show ends, and that could be this spring, the plot must move forward.

Barney's grand declaration of love, which he claims is fake in order to get Robin off the hook with Nick, is easy to see through for viewers and Robin alike. I thought How I Met Your Mother might try to drag it out, a la most sitcoms, by having Robin believe Barney's insistence that he isn't being sincere. Thankfully, this is not the case, and Robin calls him on his stuff, even if Barney remains cagey at the end of "Splitsville."

How quickly will things progress between them now? I think there is a clue in last week's installment, where Victoria insisted to Ted that a renewed relationship picks up where it left off, not restarting back at zero. Barney and Robin grew pretty heavy before. A quick engagement is not out of the question.

And then, once we get the second pair of supporting players out of the way, we will finally get to how Ted meets the titular mother. I hope.

"Splitsville" does bring a slightly better than average plot for Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel). With romance playing such a pivotal role this year, the old married couple with the baby have been reduced mainly to goofy bits that don't add much to the series overall. But in this episode, they are sex-deprived because of said infant until Ted can rescue them, and that is a little amusing and rings of realism.

How I Met Your Mother continues to fall short of the heights it hit in early seasons, but if the current trends are any indication, we might still be in for a heck of a series finale. The only question is, will that occur six months from now, or eighteen months?

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


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

Play for me, Wedding Band!

TBS premiered a new hour-long dramedy series this past Saturday night called Wedding Band. Yep, the network known for Tyler Perry sitcoms and stale comedies, both new and in syndication, began a show of a different format on a night where virtually no one airs any new television episodes. It has to suck, right?

Actually, quite the opposite. It's compelling! The characters are well thought out, the cast is terrific, fantastic music with interesting arrangements adds to the fun, and the first story is both entertaining and moving. Let's hope, with virtually no competition on Saturdays, save BBC America, Wedding Band can find an audience. Let's also help, with Wedding Band and the-soon-to-launch fourth season of Cougar Town, TBS has finally become a network worth watching! Sure, it's only two shows, but it's a start!

Wedding Band follows four guys who play have their own band that performs at weddings and various other functions. There's Tommy (Brian Austin Green, Desperate Housewives, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), the lead singer, who is somewhat of a player, but only until he finds the right woman; Eddie (Peter Cambor, NCIS: Los Angeles, Notes from the Underbelly), who has to balance fatherhood with his passion; Barry (Derek Miller, Secret Girlfriend), the goofy drummer with a knack for pyrotechnics; and Stevie (Harold Perrineau, Lost, Sons of Anarchy), the new guy who is tired of being a studio musician and wants to hit it big as a real part of a band. He thinks that he has found his chance in this group.

Stevie may be right. I don't know if the actors are doing their own singing or playing, but if it's fake, it isn't obviously so. They perform arrangements of popular songs, both new and old, crossing genres, and they sound really, really good. They take what they're doing very seriously, which shows. It's no wonder that, by the end of the "Pilot," they are being sought out by Rutherford (Melora Hardin, The Office, Monk), Seattle's top wedding organizer, who previously had hired their arch-nemesis group, led by a real douche (Ken Marino, Childrens Hospital).

In the "Pilot," the gig that gets them Rutherford's attention is one in which they are playing for Tommy's ex, Sara (Bree Turner, Grimm). Yet, as hokey as the sounds as a premise, it is executed with the utmost sincerity. Sure, Tommy still has feelings for Sarah; she's the one that got away. But he also loves his buddies, and he's not about to (intentionally) do anything to jeopardize the band. This isn't just a weekend hobby for the guys. it's something they want to devote their life to. Rutherford can help that.

Which doesn't mean there aren't any shenanigans. One of the group does hook up with Rutherford, and the boss's adorable assistant, Rachel (Jenny Wade, The Good Guys, Reaper), who happens to be engaged, catches Tommy's eye. Yet, all of the main characters are upstanding citizens who seemingly would not cheat on their significant others, which actually makes them all the more charming and easy to root for.

The non-band and non-romance scenes are also great. There's a birthday party that lets everyone show off a bit of their personalities, and an hour does not seem too long a format, given the way it plays out in the first hour. There's some drama, to be sure, especially when Sara makes a play for Tommy, which results in a boob mishap, and as Eddie lies to his wife, Ingrid (Kathryn Fiore). But none of it plays out in a completely predictable or boring way.

This band needs to find success. I'm not just talking about within the story, because I want the show itself to get some attention. It's a special series that could easily slide onto a broadcast network and not look out of place. It deserves to do well. It's doing it's part, making quality, now the audience just needs to find it.

There's nothing else on TV Saturday night. What have you got to loose by checking out Wedding Band, which airs at 10 p.m. ET on TBS?

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