“You can let go now…”.

It’s a very rare thing to witness any sort of television character to go through a major arc throughout the life of a series. Many shows simply “reset” characters after each episode for the sake of preserving the franchise. One show in recent memory managed to build a character arc that was emotional and in some ways spiritual.  The last six years have been marked by a little series you may have heard of called LOST, wherein survivors of a plane crash realize that the island they now inhabit may not be what it seems. It’s also true that the series finale of the show entitled, “The End”, had a very polarizing effect on loyal fans in that some people loved it, and many (who in my mind missed the point of the show) were let down by it. What cannot be denied is the arc of the character in question, Jack Shepherd, played perfectly by the underrated Matthew Fox.

I have never identified with a character’s struggles in a show more than I have with Jack. This is a guy who starts out feeling like he doesn’t have what it takes to be a leader. A man who has too many issues with his now deceased father and a man who cannot accept other people’s choices. He needs to fix things. He needs to be in control. He needs people to listen to him. Throughout the series Jack went from being a “Man of Science” to a “Man of Faith”, which is no easy task for an actor to pull off.

I’m writing this now because tomorrow night The Emmy Awards airs, and one actor will take home the Emmy for best actor. Every year I have lobbied for Bryan Cranston to win for his outstanding performance as Walter White on Breaking Bad. This is the first year that Fox has been nominated for his performance as Jack Shepherd and this year, HE is deserving of the award and then some. I’m currently re-watching season six of the show and Fox’s performance is nothing short of brilliant. As an audience member I can see all the emotion that Jack is going through just by his facial expression and through his actions. Again, acting is no easy profession, and a lesser actor would not be able to convey the struggle that Jack goes through in the final episodes of the show like Matthew Fox can.

Jack is a character who could never let go of anything. He had to save everyone and had to be the one leading everyone to safety because if he controlled everything, in his mind he could never fail. Jack’s faith in science has been tested numerous times in the last six years and finally, in these last two seasons, he’s learned to let go. He’s learned he can’t fix everything or protect everyone. He can’t stop people from dying and he can’t be the one to make all of the decisions. How does someone emotionally connect to a story like that? How can that person make it believable? Two words: Matthew Fox.

Have I mentioned that I think his performance was phenomenal? After the finale aired Jimmy Kimmel did a special broadcast paying tribute to the show. His first guest was Fox, who had gotten quite teary eyed backstage. When asked about his character Fox said, “It’s been an amazing journey”. He was weepy because he had connected with his character on that level. He recognized the hell Jack had been through. The pain, the agony and the acceptance of his own fate. I’ve always been more of a sappy guy, but I’ll be damned if that is not a beautiful sentiment. This could be the one and only time Matthew Fox gets to walk away with an Emmy. He’s stated many times that he is now done with television and pursuing other interests. Lets not deny the man what he most surely deserves: a reward for believing in the character. For taking a chance. For putting his heart and soul into every day of work and, most importantly, for taking us along for the ride.

Written by Walon Green, Directed by Jean de Segonzac

Over the past year I decided to check out a few episodes from Law & Order: Criminal Intent mostly because Jeff Goldblum had joined the show. My aunt was the one who would always talked about how it was the best of the franchise, due in no small part to the performance by Vincent D’Onofrio as Det. Robert Goren. Upon watching the few episodes from last season that I did, I found out that my aunt was right on the money. Golblum is great as Det. Zach Nichols and offers a quirkiness to his character that has brought new life into the show. However, I must emphasize that D’Onofrio is by far one of the best actors working in television. I have not yet had the privilege to check out the episodes from season six and seven; one’s which focus on Goren’s more personal struggles but eagerly look forward to their DVD release.

This is the famous (or perhaps infamous) season opener that changes the entire show forever. Both D’Onofrio and the equally fun Katherine Erbe as Det. Eames (Goren’s partner) are departing from the show after eight years worth of cases. In addition, Eric Bogosian who plays, Capt. Daniel Ross is ***SPOILER ALERT*** killed off in the first half hour of the premiere, which as indicated by the ending scene, will send Goren into a downward spiral that will most likely cost him his job. In other words the show is transitioning (as shows often do) a new group of actors (with only Goldblum staying on) who will hopefully appeal to a larger audience. While I have had only a limited amount of time with the show I still do not yet know how I feel about these characters leaving. There are certain shows (CSI for example) that start off as procedural and then become more character driven. Much like Grissom on CSI, Goren IS Criminal Intent. Goren is such a powerful force in every scene that he’s in that it will be very tough to see him go and I hope the show continues to be as interesting as it has been.

The story of this first episode revolves around Capt. Ross and his apparent betrayal of The Major Case Squad by agreeing to help an arms dealer for a substantial amount of money. We find out, after his death of course, that he was working under cover with the FBI to bring this group down. Goren and Eames set out to find his killer and finish the case for him, but continued to be hindered by FBI interference. Nichols joins their cause, largely because he and Capt. Ross were partners for a number of years. This story sets up the model of acting that all actors should strive for. Golblum and Erbe give spot on performances that convey the anger and sorrow they feel for the death of their friend. It is (as if it were surprising) D’Onofrio that steals the show, at least in the first hour however. One scene in particular really shows what this guy can do: Just after Ross’s death the FBI has sealed the area off and are not letting Goren or Eames through to see their fallen friend. Goren basically rips the FBI a new one, while also fighting to keep back his tears. To drive the point home he says, “We take orders from our boss and our boss is over there!”.

This episode was an hour of high adrenaline, conflicting emotions and some farewells to a lot of great character moments. This premiere sets up what could be a very interesting year; one which I am very much looking forward to. Goldblum is a reason to keep watching, despite the departure of D’Onofrio because his character is a lot of fun. Goren is fun to watch because he really is a genius, and the implications of what being a genius does to his mind sends the audience into some very dark territory. But again, FUN dark territory. Golblum as Nichols on the other hand is the light to all of the darkness. He approaches crime scenes with an upbeat sense of humor, mostly to diffuse the idea that he is probably equally as smart as Goren.

The two new leads, whom we have not been introduced to yet are Saffron Burrows as Det. Serena Stevens and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Capt. Zoe Callas. I have a lot of hope for both actresses, largely because of their body of work. This could indeed be one show that succeeds in reinventing itself despite the loss of great actors and great characters. I for one am looking forward to what will come…

Written by Vince Gilligan, Directed by Bryan Cranston

One of the things that continues to amaze me about Breaking Bad is the willingness of the writers to actually use the visual medium that is television. What I mean is that oftentimes too many shows become convoluted with dialogue and as a result have no room to breathe. The opening teaser to the season three premiere entitled “No Mas” is dialogue free and conveys more of a setting, pace and tone for the season than any brilliant dialogue ever could.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Season two was one of the most unique seasons of television I have ever seen. How many times have we seen an episode of a show that shows the end in the teaser, then spends the rest of the hour explaining how we arrived at that end moment? Granted, many shows do this well but frankly, I’ve grown tired of it. I have always remarked that the writers on Breaking Bad try and show (remember show, not tell) the audience something they have never seen before or, if they have seen it, show it in a new and fascinating way. Season two did just that. The opening teaser for the season showed us a cryptic black and white pool with a pink teddy bear that looked burned floating in it. It was the ending images of the season. In other words the first episode showed us the end of the season, not the end of the episode, and as the season progressed we understood more and more events or story beats that would lead to the plane crash that took place over Walter’s home. Not only did the writers devise a circular season, but they made it work beautifully. By the way, the episodes that feature the black and white opening have titles with dual meanings that form a sentence revealing what happens in the season finale. The sentence says: “Seven Thirty-Seven Down Over ABQ”.

“No Mas” begins a week after the plane crash, with Walt finding out that he is the man responsible (indirectly) for it and Jesse accepting his role as “the bad guy”. Meanwhile Skyler finally finds out that Walt is indeed a drug dealer (or as he says it, “manufacturer”) and demands his signature on their divorce papers in exchange for her silence. The teaser of the episode introduces The Cousins, two men sent by the Mexican Cartel to kill Walt. They arrive at the shrine of Santa Muerte, based of a religion that seems to worship death. Throughout the episode we get glimpses of the horrors that The Cousins are capable of as well as seeing that they are getting closer to Albuquerque.

What I love about the episode and the show in general is that it just gets better. It never betrays the characters with regard to who they are and what they’re willing to do. It does not change them for the sake of progressing the plot. Instead, story points are introduced and never forgotten and virtually every decision that Walt makes on the show has some sort of consequence. The use of visual images to convey what Walt in particular is feeling is nothing short of genius and Vince Gilligan’s writing has never been better. Bryan Cranston continues to show that he is easily the best actor on television and also manages to do one hell of a job directing. The rest of the actors, particularly Anna Gunn as Skyler, really show that they can match Cranston’s work and assure us that the show will continue to impress us.

From a credit standpoint I am very happy to see that most of the writers (aside from Vince, obviously) are still with the show. The writers include George Mastras, Peter Gould, Moira Walley-Beckett, Sam Catlin and John Shiban. New additions include yet another X-Files writer, Thomas Schnauz, Diane Mercer and perhaps my biggest joy, Michelle MacLaren, who directed my favorite episode last year entitled “4 Days Out” and got her start on of course, The X-Files. This may seem arbitrary to most people but to me, and hopefully anyone actually in the television business is signifies that these people actually want to work on this show. I have now met Vince Gilligan and can substantiate what has been said about him being one of the nicest guys one could ever meet. He runs his show in a similar fashion, most likely earning the respect and appreciation by anyone who works under him. What I’m getting at is the show works because of the people involved and because the man in charge knows what he is doing. Gilligan, the writers and the cast have already openly stated that this season will be the best yet and from the quality of just one episode already, I have to say that I agree.

Every film site will be talking about the Oscars. They will be fighting over whether Sandra Bullock should have won and celebrating that Avatar didn’t. So instead I am going to just talk briefly about the show itself.

For the first time in a great many years I watched the Oscars. I didn’t really care who won. Although, I was pleased that Avatar did not get best picture. I watched the Oscars primarily for Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. If you’re a fan of comedy, or live action versions of radio shows, then you have to be in love with the work of both of these men. So I started watching with the hope that they would bring a new dimension to the program. I was disappointed.

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Jay Leno came back to The Tonight Show on Monday and the result is pretty much what everyone expected. It was just bland, safe “entertainment” that only serves to highlight why he should be taken off the air. The man is simply not funny. His jokes are obvious and lame. His interviews are boring and the only humor derived from his sketches seems to be the idiocy of the people he meets. In other words,  almost anyone could do what he does because he adds nothing to the situation.

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Ready for something that has NOTHING to do with Valentines Day and EVERYTHING to do with drugs and guns?

YES?????

Well here is a brief summary of the show The Wire, created by David Simon and shown on HBO. It’s a five season series, and its fantastic! I’m trying to get Nick and Matt to pay some credence to it, mostly just so I can talk to them about it, but so far they seem uninterested…

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Written by J.J. Abrams & Akiva Goldsman

Directed by Akiva Goldsman

When the opening scene for the season two premiere of Fringe came on last night I’ll admit I was excited. When the episode ended, I was just as excited. Not just from what I had just watched but also from what is foreshadowed to come. Yes, that’s right Fringe has done it again! Season one ended on a pretty big cliffhanger, with Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) crossing over into another dimension and finally meeting the elusively mysterious William Bell (Leonard Nimoy). It was revealed that Peter (Joshua Jackson) had actually died as a child, and the Peter we have come to know and love was taken from that alternate reality by his father, Walter (John Noble), and brought into this one.

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Writers: Tom Kapinos, Gina Fattore, Daisy Gardner, Jay Dyer, and Gabriel Roth

Directors: David Duchovny, David Von Ancken, John Dahl, Ken Whittingham, Michael Lehmann, Daniel Duchovny, Adam Bernstein, and Bart Freundlich

Cast: David Duchovny, Natasha McElhone, Madeleine Martin, Evan Handler, Pamela Adlon, Madeline Zima and Callum Keith Rennie

Anyone who is reading this and/or who knows me knows that I have an obvious man crush on David Duchovny. I grew up watching The X-Files and Fox Mulder will always be my childhood hero. The point being that (a) I’ve followed Duchovny’s work for a long time and (b) when I heard two years ago that he was returning to television with Californication on Showtime, I was ecstatic. The first season of the show was golden. It set up the basic premise of a writer with writers block named Hank Moody (Duchovny) trying to put his life back together but failing miserably. He had a daughter with his beautiful girlfriend Karen (McElhone) and wrote a book that won him so much acclaim it was being made into a movie. When the movie tanked, so did the rest of his life. In fact throughout the hilarious and heartfelt first season, there was rarely a moment where Mr. Moody wasn’t drunk, high, having sex or some combination of the three. At the same time, he was trying to convince Karen not to get married. The season ended with Karen deciding that she wants to be with Hank and they drove off into the night.

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Entourage seems to inspire a kind of fanatical devotion that I simply do not understand. I started watching it mainly because there wasn’t anything else to watch and, largely, that is the reason I have continued to watch. If the show was to be can canceled tomorrow, I wouldn’t bat an eye.

For those who are unfamiliar Entourage follows the lives of Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) , the next “hot” star, his brother Johnny “Drama” Chase (Kevin Dillon), a mediocre actor struggling to make it, Eric Murphy (Kevin Connolly), Vince’s business manager and best friend, and their other friend Turtle (Jerry Ferrera), who appears to do almost nothing. The other main character is Ari Gold, Vince’s hard selling agent played by Jeremy Piven. Usually each season focuses on Vincent trying to get a movie deal, with the season ending with him going off to make the movie. Various side plots involving Eric’s romantic life, Johny’s career, Turtle doing nothing and Ari’s life are also explored.

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Writers: J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, David H. Goodman, J.R. Orci, Akiva Goldsman, Julia Cho, Felicia D. Henderson, Brad Caleb Kane, Zack Whedon, J.H. Wyman, Jason Cahill, Robert Chiappetta, Andrew Kreisberg and Bryan Burk

Directors: Alex Graves, Paul Edwards, Fred Toye, Christopher Misiano, Bill Eagles, Brad Anderson, Gwyneth Horder- Peyton, Michael Zinberg, John Polson, Norberto Barba, Akiva Goldsman, and Bobby Roth

Cast: Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevado, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole and Mark Valley

It goes without saying that I think that J.J. Abrams is a genius. Heis a man who knows how to create stories that are captivating as well as characters that are lovable. Fringe was one of my favorite new shows of this past year and it is largely (but not only) due to Abrams himself. He and the two other creators (Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci) were reportedly influenced by a number of things: Michael Chrichton, the film Altered States, The Twilight Zone, The X-Files, Law and Order and Lost. The biggest thing that I and I’m sure everyone else heard when the show premiered was that it was both an update and a rip-off of The X-Files. That’s a fair criticism for someone who doesn’t watch the show or for someone who maybe watched an episode or two. F.B.I. Agents investigate paranormal phenomena, sounds just like The X-Files right? Yes and no.

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