Last Night: Gossip Girl "The Lost Boy"

Last night's Gossip Girl was by far the best of the season. (The competition really isn't that high though, so it's more like: Last night's Gossip Girl was finally a good one.)

Georgina and Dan together is strange, but it works. I like that Serena has stuck around and miraculously become happy again - happy enough to accept that Dan is with (or not with) Georgina. And I love that S knows Georgina's ways and is suggesting that G will fall in love with Dan so quickly. There's always something weird and creepy about Georgina, but at least they're keeping her consistent in her awkwardness.

I LOVE the Chuck + Blair's sexual tension laced conflict throughout this episode. You know how much I love them together, but their relationship really couldn't stay perfect forever. This was just enough conflict, and just enough playfulness. And side note: Chuck has been a really rather impressive boyfriend these past couple of weeks. He better not make a wrong turn. I'll be so upset, and so will B.

I loved most of the dialogue this week. Something about it was more clever and witty than usual. There was a much more dramatic approach. They stopped trying to make it feel every day / real and took it up a notch. They might as well; these college freshman are not regular college freshman. What a great episode. It was upscale, and yet fun. And the characters were exaggerating themselves just enough - almost like they were making fun of themselves. Love it.

"Putting his own happiness above mine!? What kind of boyfriend does that? How is that a healthy relationship!?"-- Blair Waldorf freak out.

News News News: Goodbye TBL

Per the Cynopsis: "The CW took its new fall series The Beautiful Life off the schedule after two airings, and production on the Ashton Kutcher-produced series has also stopped in New York. The last airing of The Beautiful Life on September 23 delivered a 0.5 A18-49 rating and 1 million total viewers. The CW will replace the series with repeat episodes of Melrose Place in the Wednesday 9p time period starting this week."

Sad news for Mischa, but good news for us. That show was not even good (bad) TV. That was just bad.

News News News: Fly Girls

CW will have a reality docu-series ready for mid season... "The eight 30m episodes will follow a group of female flight attendants working for new airline company Virgin America." Apparently the girls all live in L.A. and we'll get to see them traveling to the airline's destination cities (Vegas, NYC, South Beach) and balancing their personal lives as well. The Hills meets the sky?

Speaking of which... the City returns soon. Whitney Port was on Regis & Kelly this morning. I've got it on my TiVo for later. Love that girl.

What's on tonight: Wednesday the 23rd.

SEASON PREMIERES:
ABC: Modern Family at 9p; Cougar Town at 9:30p; Eastwick at 10p
CBS: The New Adventures of Old Christine at 8p; Gary Unmarried at 8:30p; Criminal Minds at 9p; CSI: NY at 10p
NBC: Mercy at 8p; Law & Order: SVU at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
CW: America's Next Top Model at 8p
Bravo: Top Chef Las Vegas at 10p

Tonight: 90210

I'm really hating that I'm about to write this, but 90210 was better than Gossip Girl this week.

What's on tonight: Tuesday the 22nd.

SEASON PREMIERES:
ABC: The Forgotten at 10p
CBS: NCIS at 8p; NCIS: Los Angeles at 9p; The Good Wife at 10p
Oxygen: The Naughty Kitchen at 10p
TLC: Table for 12 at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
CW: 90210 at 8p
Bravo: Flipping Out at 10p

Tonight: Gossip Girl "The Freshman"

Decorating my dorm, and meeting new people; Everyone being optimistic and nervous, and awkward student-run orientation ice-breakers. I'm trying to remember what the first day of college was like. Sadly, watching this week's Gossip Girl didn't help bring back any memories. Maybe it's because I didn't go to an Ivy League on the east coast, or maybe it's because my high school cast wasn't at all present on the first day of college, but either way, this week's episode feels a little off, for GG, and for a college 101 episode.

Conservative pearls and a high-collared burgundy dress, Blair's outfit is far from studious. And the dorm room shots felt completely elementary. (Did you notice the squiggly paper borders on the bulletin boards. What the hell??) I would have liked to have seen the actual bedrooms, and to really get to know the new roommates. Gilmore Girls had a really great transition into college -- Rory had 2 new eccentric characters to get to know in her dorm, plus Paris, who we already knew. They could have done something similar here, but they really failed to show that we are starting a new chapter at a top notch university.

Instead of giving us something interesting and different, the same cast of characters we've seen now for years danced around each other as if they were in a cramped New York apartment. This is not an episode of Friends, people. Show me more important, new characters. Show more intro to college moments. And please, do something with creepy Scott. That is being dragged out while everything else is spinning in fast forward. (Couples hooking up, Serena's indecisiveness.)

I guess this episode just felt rushed. A lot of ups and downs. A lot of changed minds and acting out. It kind of felt like the writers never went to college, and they really had no clue what they were talking about. Either put them in college, or leave them in their penthouses. I can't deal with both. Sushi parties... fancy rooftop parties with junky couches and red cups.. I understand that they were different types of high school kids, but they don't have to be so completely awkward to send to college.

The best quote of the night comes from a guy who we have yet to see go to school: Nate referring to things people in couples do post-honeymoon stage, "...watch tv shows you really like, as opposed to ones you're supposed to like..." I do. And I will. I'll be tuning in next week, ready for something amazing to happen.... Perhaps something Gossip related? ...since that's the name of the show? xoxo.

Tonight: Gossip Girl

I've realized that I really only watch Gossip Girl for Chuck + Blair.

Screaming at the Abercrombie model, then smiling at Chuck and giving into his raised eyebrow hello. Why is it so good??

I suppose it's because Chuck Bass doesn't do girlfriends.

They taunted us for so long... And finally, yes finally, he's let Blair in.

I love them separately. I love them together.

They are why I love this show.

As for the rest of the cast... I'm so sick of Serena and her secrets. And Nate and his family problems. But I guess those are just stories I don't connect with.

I want to know what long-lost son, Scott, has up his sleeve right now. I don't know why GG insists on casting these not-so-lovable guys in these special guest - only on for a few weeks - sort of roles. Carter fits. I can accept him permanently on the show. But Scott... he's just like that annoying artist guy from last season. Obviously wrong from the start, I can't even try to get into it. Same goes with Ms. Ex-Privileged. Too soon, and not enough of a character change. Decently-dressed girl with problems: go away.

I guess I'm up for more Serena secrets over that girl. Except, not if it's the money-wasting kind. Paparazzi pay-offs? Lame.

What's on tonight: Monday the 14th.

SEASON PREMIERES:
The CW: One Tree Hill at 8p; Gossip Girl at 9p
NBC: The Jay Leno Show at 10p
VH1: Eddie Griffin: Going for Broke at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Inside the Actors Studio: Family Guy at 8p; The Rachel Zoe Project at 10p

TiVo'd: America's Next Top Model

Cycle 13 Season Premiere

So I've suddenly been hit with a summer-into-fall flu. Only good thing about this is that I'm forcing myself to stay home all weekend. First up, ANTM. When I started watching the premiere at work this week, I will admit I wasn't feeling these new girls. (It's the under 5'7" season, so automatically I'm thinking shoot, I missed my chance!! -- And if you don't already know, I love Top Model. Love.) Now, sitting here in my dazed and confused state of sickness, I'm a returning fan. Tyra is always the ridiculously over-dramatic mama model, and the shorties she picked out this season - the cycle 13 collection - are quickly growing on me.

Already they've received "ty-overs" (makeovers) and Tyra's team never fails to impress. Hm.. I wonder what Tyra'd do with my 'do.... Not sure if I like (my initial favorite) Rachel's darker hair. She was super cute and awkward before, but now she's lost some of that freakiness. Definitely NOT feeling the outfit they picked out for her baby photo editorial shot, however, she's still a top runner on my list.

Ashley's pic on the couch was amazing. Favorite? Maybe.

Also loved: Rae. Kara. Laura. Erin. Lulu.

Super bummed that Amber dropped out. That girl was amazing TV.

Who's going home?? The pouty clown faced, Lisa. Oh well.

What's on tonight: Thursday the 10th.

SEASON PREMIERES:
The CW: Vampire Diaries at 8p; Supernatural at 9p
VH1: Behind the Music at 10p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Real Housewives of Atlanta at 10p; Watch What Happens Live at 12a
Lifetime: Project Runway at 10p; Models of the Runway at 11p

What's on tonight: Wednesday the 9th.

SEASON PREMIERES:
The CW: America's Next Top Model at 8p
FOX: So You Think You Can Dance at 8p; Glee at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Top Chef Las Vegas at 10p

Tonight's premieres: 90210 // Melrose Place

I'm a bit of a sucker for high school dramas. While, yes, they're all the same and completely predictable, I also love that they're all the same and completely predictable. I guess I'm just entertained by the awful, new slang that the writers try to bring into the same old story. For example, tonight I heard a "Let's give 'em something to tweet about" on The CW. Not classic. Not timeless. Terrible, terrible, but oh so entertaining.

90210

They changed up the open of 90210. Definitely a smart choice. Last season's re-make of the original theme song was bad... annoyingly bad. The new one isn't great, but at least now it doesn't sound just like version 2.0 of the original. They also switched out the cheesy smiling cast with shots of things that make up the zip code. It's fun.... cuz who doesn't love a peace sign and a title written in sand?

Speaking of the beach, they must have rented out Malibu to shoot the entire first episode. Excluding the first scene of a completely over-dramatic exit from summer school, the entire hour was spent in and around the sea side club. It took me in... A real beach set is far superior to the house sets they used last year. (I've always hated off location episodes, but this one actually felt real and well done. They must have a better budget this year.) Plus, the beach scenes gave all three leading ladies the great opportunity to wear different colored sunglasses every time they were on screen. Awesome.

And on a style note, is it just me or did they actually feed the girls over summer? Adriana's thighs are playing the part of "girl who just gave birth to a child she gave away" very well. (Whoops.) And on a positive note, I love her new long locks. And Silver's new short 'do too. It reminds me of the Tiffani-Amber Thiessen a la the original. Dig it.

Overall, the problems seem to be bigger this season, leaving things undone for next week, in an almost unpredictable way. Poor Annie has gone from super good girl to the bad and abandoned girl, even fighting with her (unexplainable attitude-bearing) brother. Those two were so strong. Beverly Hills has broken them! And I've gotta admit I'm worried about Annie's potentially Marisa Cooper-esque path. Taking drinks from strange boys on the beach... we've seen this already!!

But again, it's a high school drama. So here we go again. Let's learn our (2009) lessons: 1) Feist + Norah Jones = sex jams. 2) Don't go to a summer kick-off party without learning your hip hop choreography. (Does anyone know what that dance was? I don't. I guess I'm too old for this show. Shoot.) 3) Act your age. Oh the irony... cheers "to being teenagers," as suggested by the girl who is pining over the married man. Way to go jailbait.

Melrose Place

Maybe it's not fair to judge Melrose Place against 90210 since the latter has had a year to give us something to hang onto, but can I? This show sucks. It's worse than 90210. Total, utter soap opera in the prime time, bright white lighting flashbacks and all.

I had low to mid-level hopes for Ashlee Simpson's return to TV. She really failed me. I know she can't help the dialogue but "You and me, we're good girls... It's just not as fun." She could have tried just a little bit harder to convince me. Ugh. Bad. Bad. Bad. Bad. Bad. No season pass. Only if TiVo suggests.

What's on tonight: Tuesday the 8th.

SEASON PREMIERES:
The CW: 90210 at 8p; Melrose Place at 9p

TiVo SEASON PASS:
Bravo: Flipping Out at 10p