Bones finds a ‘Skull in the Sculpture’

The World Series is over and the election has been decided so now we can get back to our regularly scheduled programs on Fox.  And the return of Bones is marked with a case that proved pretty emotional for Angela in “The Skull in the Sculpture.”

Is it art or a murder weapon?

When artist Jeffrey Thorne turns up dead in one of his own sculptures – a crushed car – suspicions turn to his assistant Roxy (Nichole Hiltz) who inherits one million dollars.

But the kicker is that Roxy is Angela’s lover from college.  What was interesting is everyone’s reaction to Angela’s former lesbian affair.

Hodgins already knew about the relationship.  But he didn’t seem to feel threatened even though Angela had just told him that she was going to start dating again.  I wonder if he realized that Roxy was a possibility.

Brennan was her typical scientific self, offering statistics on female orientation preferences.  Cam raised an eyebrow, but continued without comment.

But the most interesting reaction was Booth’s.  Angela was expecting him to go all conservative on her and I was waiting for him to get excited about girl on girl action.  But he surprised us both by being okay with the relationship and revealing a touching anecdote about his favorite aunt.  And then he turns around and defends Angela’s honor when a suspect gets disrespectful with his come on.

Likewise, Sweets was quite insightful in this episode too.  Usually I think he just drones on, but he actually said something that made a lot of sense tonight.  He revealed that while Angela might seem like a free spirit open to all relationships that actually her “openness” is an excuse not to give herself completely to a relationship.

My only complaint with the episode was the return of Daisy Wick (Carla Gallo).  Apparently she came up in the rotation again.  What does that mean?  Are we out of fun Zack fill ins?  Are we doomed to repeat the same six grad students for the rest of the season?

While there are a couple students I’d like to see return – can anyone say Scott Starret (Michael Badalucco) – the annoying Daisy Wick did not top my list.  I guessing her reappearance was more about her relationship with Sweets than service to Brennan.  I do hope that means we aren’t going to be exposed to her every week.

Overall another good episode.  I’m glad to have Bones back in my weekly rotation.

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Related Posts

Bones Investigates Office Life in ‘Crank in the Shaft’

Zack is Back on Bones in ‘Perfect Pieces’

Is Bones the Same without Zack?

Appointment Television – The Best Shows Worth Watching

As any of you who’ve read my blog know, I watch a lot of television and I mean a lot.  But what most of you might not realize is that I have a husband, three-year old twins, a full-time job and hopes for some semblance of a social life.

My other obligations mean that a lot of my television shows have to be DVRed for viewing at a later time.  But a handful of shows rank as must sees for me.  I will go out of my way to watch these shows live and am gravely disappointed when I can’t.

So without further ado here is my list of appointment shows – television shows I schedule time to watch:

Chuck

Chuck - Season 2 Cast - Yvonne Strahovski as Sarah Walker, Adam Baldwin as Major John Casey, Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski, Sarah Lancaster as Ellie Bartowski, Ryan McPartlin as Capt. Awesome, Joshua Gomez as Morgan Grimes courtesy Mitchell Haaseth/NBC Photo

It’s nice to start out the week with a little humor.  That’s why I watch Chuck.  And what’s funnier that a Buy More slacker turned super spy with Adam Baldwin as his take-no-prisoners handler? 

Chuck was happily not living up to his potential when he suddenly acquired a brain full of encrypted government secrets when the computer housing them was destroyed.  Now he balances his day job as part of the Nerd Herd with his secret life – a life where the girl he has a crush on – CIA Agent Sarah Walker – and NSA Agent John Casey (Baldwin) protect him while helping him to unravel the secrets in his head.

I already outlined my Top 10 reasons for watching the show so I won’t bore you with that again.  But if you are looking for a little lighter fare to add to your TV repertoire, then I highly recommend Chuck.

Chuck airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Fringe

FRINGE: When an unlikely trio uncovers a deadly mystery that involves a series of unbelievable events, they discover it may be part of a larger, more disturbing pattern that blurs the line between science fiction and technology on FRINGE airing Tuesdays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) this fall on FOX. Pictured L-R: Lance Reddick, John Noble, Blair Brown, Kirk Acevedo, Anna Torv, Mark Valley, Joshua Jackson and Jasika Nicole ©2008 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Michael Lavine/FOX

Out of all the new shows, Fringe is my favorite.  Who doesn’t love a show where a cow has a recurring role?  Seriously, the mystery is high in this high-tech X-Files-like show.

With the help of lovable “mad scientist” Walter Bishop and his brilliant, but loner son Peter, FBI Agent Olivia Dunham sets out to unlock the mysteries behind The Pattern.  But Olivia has a few secrets of her own including a dead boyfriend who haunts her.  But she’s not the only enigma – Peter, Walter, the Observer and Nina all have a mystery or two of their own.

I tune in every week for the weekly case, as much as for the overall intrigue.  What is the Pattern?  Who’s behind it?  And what are they trying to do?

Fringe airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.  The next new episode airs on November 11.

Bones

BONES: L-R: TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Tamara Taylor and Eric Millegan. ©2007 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Kwaku Alston/FOX

I followed Angel’s David Boreanaz to Bones four years ago, but stayed because I fell in love with the team of squints let by Dr. Brennan.  Together the team of brilliant misfits solves murders based on a pile of bones.

Booth (Boreanaz) is a former sniper turned FBI agent who always gets his man.  But this single dad also has a soft spot for Brennan and her team, and of course, his son.  Brennan is his forensic anthropologist partner – brilliant, but socially inept.  And that’s just the leadership of this team.

The cases are intriguing – after all where else do you see a case solved from nothing more than a femur — but the dynamics of the team are what keep me coming back for more.

Bones airs on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Fox.  The next new episode airs November 5.  You can catch reruns of this season on Mondays at 11 p.m. on TNT.

Supernatural

Supernatural - Season 4 - Jensen Ackles as Dean, Jared Padalecki as Sam courtesy Brian Bowen Smith/Warner Bros. Television Entertainment

I wait all week for this show.  And if I only get to watch one show a week – Supernatural is it.  In its fourth season, this sci fi series stars a beautiful 67 Impala and two demon hunting brothers – Jensen Ackles and Jared Paledecki as Dean and Sam Winchester – that are more than easy on the eyes.  Need I say more!

Okay, if you need more than pretty faces and a hot car to sell you, I’ll continue.  The show is about an epic battle between good and evil without being preachy.  In fact the show does an excellent job of combining the spooky with excellent dialogue, super music, wit and lots of great pop culture references. 

And the story itself is top-notch (in my opinion).  Dean and Sam were raised by their late father to be hunters after their mother was killed by the powerful yellow-eyed demon Azazel.  This season Dean has been pulled from the bowels of Hell by the angel Castiel to help prevent Armageddon and to keep Sam from being sway to the dark side through the use of his psychic powers – powers he acquired because Azazel dropped demon blood into his mouth when he was a child.

Supernatural airs on the CW on Thursdays at 9 p.m.

That pretty much wraps up a week for me.  I spend the rest of the time catching up on my DVR.

What shows do you find yourself scheduling time in front of the tube for?  What are your must see shows?

Bones Investigates Office Life in ‘Crank in the Shaft’

When a decomposed leg falls into an elevator from the shaft above on, Booth and Bones must navigate their way through the cubicle farm to find the killer in “Crank in the Shaft.”

BONES: Brennan (Emily Deschanel, L) and Cam (Tamara Taylor, R) investigate the remains found in an elevator shaft in the BONES episode

This week Bones takes the investigation to the office.  But how prepared are an FBI agent and an anthropologist/writer to tackle the jungle known as office politics?

It seems that murder is just the tip of the iceberg for this office crew.  In their search for the office manager’s murderer, Booth and Bones uncover drugs, vengeance, sex, blackmail and the office version of the black market.

I just hope when I die, it won’t be as a result of office equipment!

But Booth is dealing with a bit of his own office politics – his quest for a dead man’s chair – that involves fraud (Cam writes him a “doctor’s note”) and bribery (cupcakes for the lady in Human Resources).  But who knew that Brennan held the secret to his success?

And the Jeffersonian isn’t without its own work drama.  The tension between Hodgins and Angela continues at least until Angela visits Sweets for some advice and fries.  Hey, in my book, good French fries heal all.

It’s interesting that Sweets advice to Hodgins a few weeks ago was that he was dealing with it with anger and that was okay.  Hodgins was baffled and kept asking for more answers.  While tonight, Sweets tells Angela that she needs to analysis the situation more and wants to meet with her weekly.  Angela is pleased with their conversation, but fails to take his advice.

Angela and Hodgins are so different.  I always wondered how they became an item.  But they were good together, so writers please hurry up and make them a couple again!

And the highlight of the night was Mr. Cheerful.  Fisher is, as Brennan put it, the depressed intern that is quite clever.

The fill in of the week dramatized everything even the task to take 1,263 bone fragments, “each one screaming of pain, violence and hopelessness” and reassemble them to find the cause of death.

But the staff’s reaction to Fisher was classic, especially Cam.  By the end of the show she was telling him to take Prozac.  When he said that he already did, she told him to double it because he was bringing her down!

Overall a nice fun episode (well expect for the whole murder thing).  I like the humor of this ensemble.  What did you think of the episode?

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Related Posts

Zack is Back on Bones in ‘Perfect Pieces’

Is Bones the Same without Zack?

Zack is Back on Bones in ‘Perfect Pieces’

Since last season’s Bones finale, Zack has been missing from the series, presumably cooling his heels in a mental hospital after killing a man and aiding Gormogon.

BONES: Zack (Eric Millegan, R) returns to help Brennan (Emily Deschanel, C) and Booth (David Boreanaz, L) find the murderer of a writer found in a pond in the BONES episode

But tonight in “The Perfect Pieces in the Purple Pond” we learn that Zak has not been very far from the hearts of his former coworkers.

Apparently, Hodgins visits his “best friend” regularly bringing him puzzles to challenge him.  When Zack solves the one Hodgins brought him this time he names himself “King of the Loony Bin.”  Hodgins then talks about the current case with Zack, leaving him the file to review

Angela visits too.  It’s unclear whether Brennen and Cam stop by too, but they both have Zack on the brain.

Brennan tells Wendell Bray (Michael Terry), the latest Zack fill in and Brennan’s brightest scholarship student to not be distracted by the standard standards set by Zach.  Unfortunately, that’s not what distracts him.

Meanwhile, Cam tries to get Hodgins to move into Zack’s space because she thinks it would be easiest on Zack.  But Hodgins can’t.  He wishes that Zack was back.

But Booth tells him that Zack isn’t coming back.  Just then Zack walks into the lab with the key to solving the case.

When asked out he got out, Zack replies that Sweets helped him.  It seems that on one of Sweets’ counseling sessions with Zack, Zack stole the strip from his access card and put it on his “loony bin library card.”  He then later used that card to escape.

But back to the case.  A body cut in exactly 12 pieces and missing its head is found.  The body belongs to Jared Addison, an author that lives with his mother (Lisa Kaminir), collects action figures, suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and has excessively small feet as a result of some disease I can’t spell.

Jared was having an affair with a woman (Debra Christofferson) 28 years his senior and was trying to overcome his OCD in order to get back in the good graces of his publisher (Matt Doherty) when he died.

Wendell proves to be a pretty astute assistant coming up with a couple key pieces of information, but not before he misinterprets Brennen’s questions about relationships with older women.

In the end, it turns out the location of Jared’s missing head is key to finding his killer and Zack discovers that location.

While Booth and Bones go to retrieve the head and arrest the killer, Zack stops in at the diner with the rest of the crew.

But then he must return to the mental institute.  Booth drops Zack off with Sweets so it can look like Sweets checked him out.  But Sweets is clearly uncomfortable with being alone without security with Zack.

Booth makes Zack promise not to kill Sweets, but it’s what Zack tells Sweets after Booth leaves that really eases his mind.

Zach’s comment “I was wrong, not delusional” from the counseling session at the beginning of the show makes a lot more sense now.

What did you think of Zack’s return?  Should the team seek his help in the future even if he’s in the mental hospital?  Should they continue to try to find a replacement for Zack?

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Is Bones the Same without Zach?

Is Bones the Same without Zack?

When Zack was revealed as Gormogon’s accomplice in the Season 3 finale of Bones, I was in shock.  I can only imagine what his co-workers and friends felt.

The team with Zach before they discover he's Gormogon's apprentice.

And imagine is exactly what I’ve had to do in Season 4.  Until last night’s “Finger in the Nest” episode, I was wondering if the staff at the Jeffersonian had completely forgotten about Zack.  His name hadn’t even been mentioned in the first two episodes and his situation was only alluded to briefly in Brennan’s speech in the U.K. premiere.

Is this how squints react when one of their own betrays them?  I’ve been expecting anger at the very least and a bit of nostalgia for the Zack they once knew.  At the very least I thought Sweets would be prodding them each to get in touch with their feelings.

I’m not sure that I want to see him have counseling sessions with each staff member (although after last night’s session with Hodgins, it might be quite funny), but maybe at least allude to the fact that he’d chatted with them over the summer.

Instead we’ve had a parade of grad students trying to fill Zack’s shoes.  And none have quite been able to do it.

First, we had Eugene Byrd return as Dr. Clark Edison, who filled in last season when Zack was in Iraq.  But being inundated with the personal details of his coworkers’ lives was too much for this guy who just wanted to focus on his job.

Next up was the Brennan-obsessed Daisy Wick (Carla Gallo) who annoyed the entire staff with her non-stop talking and her desire to kiss up to Bones.  Only Sweets is fond of Daisy admiration and we are led to believe that they went out for a date after she was fired.

This week we met Scott Starret (Michael Badalucco), Brennan’s oldest grad student.  Scott’s immense life experience made him an asset to the case and my favorite fill-in.  But his former life as a car salesman leaves Hodgins with a grudge.

Next week it looks like Bones gets to play Mrs. Robinson with her latest intern Wendell Bray (Michael Terry)

While the parade of grad students has changed up the dynamic in the office a little and added a bit of humor, I’m hoping that it doesn’t continue all season.

Whether they are talking about it or not, there’s something missing from the staff at the Jeffersonian.  It doesn’t help that Hodgins and Angela have broken up (in one of the weirdest dumpings).

But if the crew doesn’t find its inner team soon, I think we are going to start to see it in their work (and possibly on Sweets’ couch).

In fact, will there be a case the team can’t solve without Zack?

Maybe.  Tune in next week to get your Zack fix as Hodgins turns to his former lab partner for help with a case.  Not sure if he really needs Zack’s help or if he just needs to feel that connection with Zack again.

But you have to wonder how if you can trust information you get from a convicted killer?  How is Zack feeling towards the team?  Is he willing to help or is he angry with them?

Even if he isn’t back to stay, I’m still looking forward to next week’s episode and the return of Zack to the fold even if temporary.

What do you think?  Will the team ever be the same without Zack?  Will the show ever be the same?

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Related Posts

Zack is Back on Bones in ‘Perfect Pieces’

Fall TV Premiere Schedule

I remember a time when the fall premieres last a week, maybe two.  Nowadays, the premieres go on for a couple months.  If you are like me it’s very hard to keep track of when your favorite shows return, let alone when the new shows start airing.

So in an effort to make your TV viewing pleasure easier, I’ve compiled a list of the premiere dates from various sources including TVGuide.com and TV Guide Magazine.  Hope this helps you find your favorites – new and old.

Thursday, September 11

8 p.m.
Hole in the Wall on Fox

9 p.m.
Kitchen Nightmares on Fox

Friday, September 12

9 p.m.
Don’t Forget the Lyrics! on Fox

Saturday, September 13

11 p.m.
Mad TV on Fox

11:35 p.m.
Saturday Night Live on NBC

Tuesday, September 14

9 p.m.
House on Fox

Thursday, September 18

8 p.m.
Survivor: Gabon on CBS
Smallville on CW

9 p.m.
Supernatural on CW

Sunday, September 21

7 p.m.
In Harm’s Way on CW

8 p.m.
Valentine on CW

9 p.m.
Easy Money on CW

Monday, September 22

8 p.m.
Dancing with the Stars on ABC
The Big Bang Theory on CBS

8:30 p.m.
How I Met Your Mother on CBS

9 p.m.
Heroes on NBC
Two and a Half Men on CBS

9:30 p.m.
Worst Week on CBS

10 p.m.
Boston Legal on ABC
CSI: Miami on CBS

Tuesday, September 23

8 p.m.
Opportunity Knocks on ABC
NCIS on CBS

9 p.m.
The Mentalist on CBS

10 p.m.
Without a Trace on CBS
Law & Order:SVU on NBC

Wednesday, September 24

8 p.m.
New Adventures of Old Christine on CBS
Knight Rider on NBC

8:30 p.m.
Gary Unmarried on CBS

9 p.m.
Criminal Minds on CBS

10 p.m.
CSI: New York on CBS
Lipstick Jungle on NBC

Thursday, September 25

8 p.m.
Ugly Betty on ABC
My Name is Earl on NBC

9 p.m.
Grey’s Anatomy on ABC
The Office on NBC

10 p.m.
ER on NBC

Sunday, September 28

7 p.m.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC

8 p.m.
Amazing Race 13 on CBS
The Simpsons on FOX

8:30 p.m.
King of Hill on Fox

9 p.m.
Desperate Housewives on ABC
Cold Case on CBS
Family Guy on Fox
Dexter on Showtime

9:30 p.m.
American Dad on Fox

10 p.m.
Brothers & Sisters on ABC
The Unit on CBS
Californication on Showtime

Monday, September 29

8 p.m.
Chuck on NBC

10 p.m.
Life on NBC (airs Monday and Fridays through Oct. 10 and moves to Fridays)

Wednesday, October 1

8 p.m.
Pushing Daisies on ABC
Friday Night Lights on DirecTV (doesn’t return to NBC on Fridays until midseason)

9 p.m.
Private Practice on ABC

10 p.m.
Dirty Sexy Money on ABC

Friday, October 3

8 p.m.
Wife Swap on ABC
Ghost Whisperer on CBS
Everybody Hates Chris on CW

8:30 p.m.
The Game on CW

9 p.m.
Supernanny on ABC
The Ex List on CBS

10 p.m.
Numbers on CBS

Monday, October 6

9:30 p.m.
Samantha Who? on ABC

Thursday, October 9

8:30 p.m.
Kath & Kim on NBC

9 p.m.
CSI on CBS

9:30 p.m.
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday on NBC

10 p.m.
Life on Mars on ABC
Eleventh Hour on CBS

Friday, October 10

10 p.m.
The Starter Wife on USA

Monday, October 13

10 p.m.
My Own Worst Enemy on NBC

Tuesday, October 14

10 p.m.
Eli Stone on ABC

Friday, October 17

8 p.m.
Crusoe on NBC

Wednesday, October 29

9 p.m.
Stylista on CW

Thursday, October 30

9:30 p.m.
30 Rock on NBC

Sunday, November 2

7:30 p.m.
Surviving Suburbia on CW

Already Premiered

Sunday
True Blood on HBO at 9 p.m.
Entourage on HBO at 10 p.m.

Monday
Gossip Girl on CW at 8 p.m.
Prison Break on Fox at 9 p.m.
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles on Fox at 8 p.m.
One Tree Hill on CW at 9 p.m.
Raising the Bar on TNT at10 p.m.

Tuesdays
90210 on CW at 8 p.m.
The Biggest Loser: Families on NBC at 8 p.m.
Fringe on Fox at 9 p.m.
Greek on ABC Family at 9 p.m.
Privileged on CW at 9 p.m.
The Shield on FX at 10 p.m.

Wednesday
Bones on Fox at 8 p.m.
America’s Next Top Model on CW at 8 p.m.
Deal or No Deal on NBC at 9 p.m.
 ‘Til Death on Fox at 9 p.m.
Do Not Disturb on Fox at 9:30 p.m.

Friday
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader on Fox at 8 p.m.

What show are you most looking forward to returning?  Supernatural and Chuck tops my list.

Bones’ Big Finish Leaves One of their Own in Danger

I thought last night’s Bones was going to be a fun episode in which Bones and Booth poked fun at wannabe singers and shows like American Idol.  However, I was not prepared for the episodes’ serious ending that left one of their own in peril.

After watching the final seconds of “Wannabe in the Weeds” all I can say is Oh. My. God. And that’s not even the season finale.  I can only speculate how exciting the finale is going to be.

****The following contains spoilers if you didn’t see the episode****

With former Idol contestants Ace Young and Brandon Rogers guest starring, I was all prepared to write about Bones and Booth’s banter about people’s need for fame and acceptance, and why they would participate in open mic nights and reality contests like American Idol.  I was even prepared to talk about how much fun it was to see Brennan cut loose with her rendition of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” or what a surprise it was to find out that Zach had such a nice voice.

But in all honesty, the rest of the show is shadowed by the final moments.  I still can’t believe that Booth was shot!  I totally didn’t see that coming.  I’d even read spoilers that said there would be a death in this episode, but since someone dies every episode, I didn’t put much stock in that tidbit.

But even more shocking than Booth’s injury (he was after all being stalked by the creepy Pam) was Bones reaction.  Without hesitation, she picked up Booth’s gun and fired a kill shot.  This might be a woman you make fun of for not knowing who Kelly Clarkson is, but she’s definitely someone you don’t want to mess with when her life or the lives of her friends are in jeopardy.

So is Booth a goner?  I doubt it, but the shock value of his shooting was still stunning.  He was shot in the shoulder and with immediate medical attention he should survive without incident.  Or maybe his past life as a vampire left him with some extra healing powers.

Seriously, I can’t imagine one of the leads of the show being offed so easily and the gang is going to need Booth back on his feet to help find the Gormogon killer next week.

But Booth’s plight gives Pam Nunan (Jennifer Hasty) a notch up on the creepy factor.  Even before she gave Booth socks, my husband said she reminded him of Kathy Bates in Misery.  And I have to say she’s no less dangerous.  Who knew Sweets was going to be so right about Pam?

Let’s hope Booth heals well and quickly because I’m very excited about the season finale next week.

While I’ve been enjoying all the episodes since the hiatus, I thought this episode was one of the best this season.  What did you think of the episode?

Five Season Finales Sure to Keep Fans in Suspense

Just last month our favorite shows returned from the hiatus forced by the writer’s strike and now it’s already time for the shortened seasons to come to an end.  But which series season finales promise the most bang for our buck?

This season fans will have to bid good bye to more than their shows for the summer.  Several series will be saying farewell to longtime characters – or at least these characters’ fates hang in the balance.

Beware:  the following might contain spoilers.

Here’s my list of the Top 5 Season Finales to watch:

1.  Supernatural

Dean’s (Jensen Ackles) deal with the crossroads demon from last year’s explosive finale finally comes due this week.  But holding the contract is Lilith (Rachel Pattee), the newest bad ass on the block and she’s gunning for Sam (Jared Padelecki).  Can the Winchester brothers defeat this pint-sized demon with enormous power?  Will Dean find a way out of the contract without sacrificing Sam or will he join the demons he hates in Hell?  And if Dean is hellbound, can Sam survive without him? 

I’ve heard no word that Ackles is leaving the show (in fact, I’ve heard he wants to stay) and I can’t image Supernatural without Dean, but I have a feeling the executive producer Eric Kripke isn’t going to give Dean an easy out on this deal.  Expect an exciting hour with killer music, the return of Ruby (Katie Cassidy) and one very big cliffhanger.  The Season 4 finale airs May 15 at 9 p.m. on CW.

2.  NCIS

Rumors have been flying since this show returned in April that one of the main characters will not be returning in the fall.  The absence of Director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) in the “Stakeout” episode where Ducky (David McCullum) handles some blood work for the director has many speculating that Shepard is on her way out.

But this fifth season death won’t be from any long-term disease.  It’ll be murder and from what I’ve read it’ll be a tragedy that devastates the entire team in the two-hour finale.  We seen many of the characters put in jeopardy during the last few weeks, but my money is still on the director.  But we’ll have to wait until the finale airs on May 20 at 8 p.m. on CBS to find out.

3.  Bones

I’ve read that in the Season 4 premiere that Dr. Brennan (Emily Deschanel) will be looking for a new full-time forensic anthropologist.  But just why is Bones looking for a new staff member?  Well, the Gormogon killer returns for the season finale and all the clues point to an insider in the Jeffersonian.  Will the killer off one of Bones’ own team before Booth (David Boreanaz) can find him or could one of the team members be the killer?

If a serial killer in the lab isn’t enough, Angela’s (Michaela Conlin) long-lost husband shows up.  Will his perfectness be enough to drive Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) to homicide or will Angela finally get the divorce that she wants (she still wants it, right?)?  The third season finale airs on May 19 at 8 p.m. on Fox.

4.  Numb3rs

If this year’s season finale is anything like the Season 3 finale we are in for one helluva ride.  Last year’s finale was by far one of the best season finales on TV last season.  On Friday, we will hopefully learn more about Megan’s (Diane Farr) mysterious personal leave that sent her to the East Coast in the last episode before we bid her character farewell.

But Megan’s exit seems minor compared to a case that is about to set the Eppes brothers at odds.  While Don (Rob Morrow) and the FBI deal with a potential terrorist attack, it’s a battle of knowledge vs. security that Don will wage with his brother Charlie (David Krumholtz). Season 4 concludes on May 16 at 10 p.m. on CBS.

5.  CSI

For the last three seasons, the season finale has found a member of the CSI team in peril – last year Sara (Jorja Fox) was kidnapped by the miniature killer, the year before Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) was in surgery after being shot and in Season 5 Nick (George Eads) was buried alive.  But this year, Warrick (Gary Dourdan) is in jeopardy – and I have the feeling that he’s not going to fare as well as his teammates.

We already know that Dourdan is leaving the show, we just don’t know yet how.  In the season finale, Warrick is once again in trouble – this time he’s a suspect for murder of a big-time Vegas gangster.  Is Warrick headed for lock up or will he be a victim of retaliation?  The eighth season finale airs May 15 on CBS at 9 p.m.

And one series finale that I’m not looking forward to – Smallville.

In its seventh season, Smallville is about to loose the best villain on TV at a time when it is already showing its age.  I’ve already talked about how Smallville needed to take the next step and let Clark Kent (Tom Welling) don his cape.  I was hoping to see Clark make the transition to Superman in this season finale – and what I thought would be a series finale. 

But due to the shortened season, the powers that be have granted this superhero another season.  But the eighth season looks to be a shell of the former series.  The series already lost Lionel Luthor (John Glover) earlier this year.  And word has it that Clark’s arch nemesis Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) and his high school sweetheart Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) will not be returning as regular cast in the fall.  And now there’s a possibility that we’re losing Chloe (Allison Mack) too.  Add that to the fact that the show will also lose the two men behind the show – Alfred Gough and Miles Millar – next season and it doesn’t bode well for the future of the show.  However, if you’d like to see what Lex has in store for Clark before he parts, tune in to the season finale on May 15 at 8 p.m. on the CW.

What series finale are you most looking forward to?  Which characters will you miss the most?

Your Favorite Shows Are Finally Back, How Did You Survive?

Normally April brings warm showers and the first signs of spring.  But it’s bitterly cold and dreary here.  But nonetheless, I’m singing like a bird.  Because this April marks the return of our favorite television shows after a much too long hiatus brought on by the writer’s strike.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m doing a little happy dance (no video of said dance will be included) because finally television as we know is returning.  And even the threat of an actor’s strike will not overshadow my joy this month.

But in all honesty, I found plenty to do in the absence of my favorite shows.  I cleared off my DVR (it is now primed and ready for the April onslaught of shows), I watched BBC America (who knew I’d like British dramas), I read and read some more (including books on my favorite shows like Supernatural and Heroes), I’ve had plenty of field trips with my kids to museums and parks, and I’ve caught up on last summer’s blockbusters on DVD.

In fact, I’ve enjoyed a little break from my TV set.  But the break is over and I happily welcome the return of my shows.

Here’s a breakdown of the returning shows (source:  TV Guide):

Mondays:

8 p.m.

The Big Bang Theory on CBS, Returned March 17

Bones on Fox, Returns April 14

Gossip Girl on CW, Returns April 21

8:30 p.m.

How I Met Your Mother on CBS, Returned March 17

9 p.m.

Two and a Half Men on CBS, Returned March 17

House on Fox, Returns April 28

9:30 p.m.

Samantha Who? On ABC, Returned April 7

Rules of Engagement on CBS, Returns April 14

10 p.m.

CSI Miami on CBS, Returned March 24

Tuesdays:

 

8 p.m.

NCIS on CBS, Returns April 8

9 p.m.

Shark on CBS, Returns April 29

10 p.m.

Boston Legal on ABC, Returns April 8

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC, Returns April 14

Women’s Murder Club on ABC, Returns April 29

Wednesdays:

8 p.m.

‘Til Death on Fox, Returns April 15

8:30 p.m.

Back to You on Fox, Returns April 16

9 p.m.

Criminal Minds on CBS, Returned April 2

10 p.m.

CSI:NY on CBS, Returned on April 2

Law & Order on NBC, Returns April 23

Thursday:

8 p.m.

My Name is Earl on NBC, Returned April 3

Smallville on CW, Returns April 17

Ugly Betty on ABC, Returns April 24

8:30 p.m.

30 Rock on NBC, Returns April 10

9 p.m.

CSI on CBS, Returned April 3

The Office on NBC, Returns April 10

Supernatural on CW, Returns April 24

Grey’s Anatomy on ABC, Returns April 24

9:30 p.m.

Scrubs on NBC, Returns April 10

10 p.m.

Without a Trace on CBS, Returned April 3

ER on NBC, Returns April 10

Lost on ABC, Returns April 24

Friday:

8 p.m.

Ghost Whisperer on CBS, Returned April 4

9 p.m.

Moonlight on CBS, Returns April 25

10 p.m.

Numbe3rs on CBS, Returned April 4

Sunday:

8:30 p.m.

Aliens in America on CW, Returns April 27

9 p.m.

The Game on CW, Returned March 23

Cold Case on CBS, Returned March 30

Desperate Housewives on ABC, Returns April 13

10 p.m.

Brothers & Sisters on ABC, Returns on April 20

The schedule looks a bit thin, but I think we will all take what we can get.  Mondays and Thursdays seem to be the nights that will pack the biggest punch.

How did you survive the strike?  What returning show are you looking forward to the most?

Valentine’s Day: The Best TV Couples

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I take a look at TV couples for shows airing this season (I’d say currently on TV, but with the strike we aren’t left with much but reality TV).  Here’s my rundown of the most romantic couples on TV today.

Best All Around Couple

Hands down, the best all around couple has to go to Eric and Tami Taylor (Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton) of Friday Night Lights.  This pair has to be the most realistic, but yet madly in love with each other couple on TV. 

In two seasons, we’ve seen them fight and we’ve seen them make up.  We’ve watched as they’ve handled issues around career, parenting, sex, money and even in-laws as a couple.  Whether it’s their witty dialogue or the sweet way they look at each other, Mr. and Mrs. Coach are the couple to be.

Smartest Couple

The combined IQ of Numbers’ Charlie Epps (David Krumholtz) and Amita Ramanujan (Navi Rawat) has got to be through the roof.  But even when they talk about their relationship is terms of simulations and game theory algorithms, this couple is too cute together. 

Amita seems to know just when to give math genius Charlie space to figure out his latest calculation.  And Charlie never seems to underestimate Amita’s talents and has gone the extra mile to support her career advancement even if it might strain the relationship.

Young Love

Smallville’s Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) might have had a crush on Clark Kent (Tom Welling) and his super hero ways, but I think she’s found her real match in Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore).  Together they are the perfect Daily Planet duo – an unrelenting reporter and her every faithful photographer.

What’s better than watching this pair tackle the news?  Watching them discover each other and their own feelings in their first real relationship.  Remember what it was like to be young and in love?

Honorable Mention:  It took the murder of a rapist to bring Friday Night Light’s Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) and Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons) together.  But bizarre plot twist aside, it’s been interesting to watch these two kids from different backgrounds find each other.

Oddest Couple

If in the first season of Bones’ you told me that Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin) would give Dr. Jack Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) a second look, let alone get engaged to him, I would have laughed you out of the room.

But as the romance began to kindle in the second season I couldn’t help but cheer for Hodgins in his relentless pursuit of Angela.  Then when they embarked on the adventure to find Angela’s long lost first husband (she needs to get a divorce in order to marry Hodgins) and I watched the depth of their love unfold, I knew that this couple, as odd a combination as they are, were meant to be.

Honorable Mention:  When Las Vegas‘ Mike Cannon (James Lesure) and Piper Nielsen (Camille Guaty) got drunk and did the ultimate Vegas cliché – got married – I was shocked at the pairing since neither had showed a significant amount of interest in the other.  But I cheered when the two decided to forgo an annulment and give the marriage a shot. 

I Can See Them Together Couple

When Rachel Bilson turned up on Chuck as deli owner Lou, I was very excited that Chuck (Zachary Levi) might actually have a chance at a real relationship for a change.  But alas, he’s still hung up on his handler Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski).

I continue to hold out hope that not only will Bilson return to resurrect her role as Lou, but that Chuck will finally realize that Sarah is not the right girl for him.

Honorable Mention:  The sexual tension between Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) is one of the reasons we tune into Bones each week.  But if the Christmas kiss is any indication of the depth of their attraction that we are in store for a great romance between the two some time in the future.

What’s your favorite TV couple past or present?