Photo: The Vampire Diaries, CW
by Ashley Gouveia
The new television season is just weeks away and there are so many new shows that are going to be creeping into our primetime lineup. But which ones are worth our Tivo space? I think I have chosen a few picks that have the possibility and potential to be my new favorites.
Flashforward (ABC): When I saw the promo for this new ABC drama, I thought it had some slight undertones of Lost. The premise is that the entire population blacks out for two minutes and 17 seconds. During that blackout they have visions of their lives six months in the future. The show centers on a group of people who share these visions and try to discover why this happened. This show has the potential to drive me nuts with all the questions that are sure to pop up on the characters’ quest to discover the truth. But it also could be an intriguing hour of television that keeps you guessing, in a fun way.
Eastwick (ABC): Something totally different than my first choice but still on my list of shows that I’m willing to give a try. It’s about three women who discover that they have magical powers. No, it’s not a Charmed reboot. This series actually looks more light and whimsical and has some Sex and the City similarities. It stars Rebecca Romijn as one of the magical women. I think this will be a fun series that you can enjoy, without having to think too much about it. I’m curious to see if the viewing audience will get enchanted by this newbie.
Three Rivers (CBS): I am not a fan of medical dramas at all. But Alex O’Loughlin is the reason why I’m going to check this one out. The new drama centers around these doctors that perform organ transplants. I’m all for watching a new show with Alex in it. After Moonlight’s untimely demise, his reappearance on my TV is a long time coming. Bring the tissues, folks. It looks like every week is going to be a tearjerker.
Vampire Diaries (the CW): There are two main reasons why I’m going to give this show a shot: one, I love vampire stories, two, Ian Somerhalder. He could make me watch anything. I think the premise and look of the overall series reminds me of my old favorite Roswell. If this show is half as good as that, then it’s in good shape. It’s all going to rely upon the chemistry of the actors themselves. If it’s not there, then I fear many will tune out. But I think it has a good chance to be a CW hit.
What new show are you excited for? Let me know in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: New fall shows
Subscribe by RSSFriday, August 07, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Big Brother thoughts
by Ashley Gouveia
Ding dong! The rat is gone!
Yes, I am talking about Big Brother. It is still my summer guilty pleasure, as all you long time Tubers might remember. Each summer I get hooked on this show for no other reason other than it’s just mindless entertainment, as is much of reality television.
All the BB fans out there know that Thursday nights are eviction nights. One houseguest gets the boot out the door but not without some drama. Ronnie, the video-game geek, was up for nomination, along with Lydia, the tattooed, offbeat makeup artist. I was so glad that Ronnie was finally put up on the chopping block. Out of all the seasons I have watched of Big Brother, (which are a lot, don’t judge), he is one of the most annoying contestants ever.
His final plea speech last night just proved everything that I thought about him. He called out Michelle for being a “horrible human being,” but then frequently repeated that it’s just a game. Huh? First, I don’t think that Michelle is the best player that has ever walked through that door, but she doesn’t deserve to be attacked like that. I haven’t seen any evidence to back up Ronnie’s cruel claim. If I were Ronnie I would be ashamed at how he handled himself last night.
A lot of what he said last night made no sense. He was upset with Michelle because she was out for herself and had no loyalties to anyone. Um, hello! That is what it all boils down to in the end. Nobody in that house has any loyalties to anyone. When it comes down to it, they are all in it for themselves. If Ronnie thought that Jessie and Natalie were actually going to stick by him until the end then I think he was fooling himself.
He’s finally out the door and we don’t have to worry about him being on the jury either. So I am extremely happy with the eviction results. Goodbye Ronnie!
I’m thrilled that America gave Jeff the power of coup d’etat, although I laughed when he couldn’t pronounce the word correctly. Jeff and Jordan are my favorites this season, so I’m hoping that their showmance goes on and they stick together as long as possible.
Chima was crowned the new Head of Household. The only person that could have been worse would have been Natalie. Since Chima and Russell, the former HoH, had a massive blowout a few nights back, I’m thinking he’s going up. But you never know, he just might be able to save himself.
Who do you think Chima will nominate? Are you happy that Ronnie is out of the game. Sound off in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Legend of the Seeker review
by Ashley Gouveia
This week I had to let every Tube Talk reader know about a show that I’m currently obsessed with. It has already finished airing its first season but I am just now getting into it. It’s called Legend of the Seeker, and it’s awesome!
The very cute Craig Horner, who looks like a younger version of Nathan Fillion, plays Richard Cypher. He discovers that he is the Seeker, the man destined to kill the evil Darken Rahl and save the world. No pressure, right?
On his journey he is accompanied by a wizard named Zed and a woman named Kahlan. She is what they call a Confessor; she knows when people are lying and has the ability to make any person do what she wants. That’s certainly a nifty power, but not so great if you’re in love with the Seeker.
The love story between Richard and Kahlan is what makes the show for me. Craig Horner and Bridget Regan have off-the-charts chemistry that could be compared to the likes of Buffy and Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That’s something you can’t fake, and they have it. The whole “star-crossed lovers” thing is definitely present in their relationship. As a viewer you just get wrapped up in their story and just want to see if they’ll ever end up together.
The series is made by the same man who created the Hercules and Xena shows. I was also a big fan of those two series, so I was excited to watch this one. If you’re also a fan of those two throughout Legend of the Seeker you will see some familiar faces from both shows, which is really cool.
Seriously, if you haven’t watched this show yet you must. You can watch the entire first season on Hulu or check your local listings. I am halfway through the season and I can’t wait to see the rest.
Are you crazy about this show? Let me know in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed reviews "10 Things I Hate About You"
by Ashley Gouveia
I knew it was going to be near impossible to sit through this show without noticing the changes that the show runners made. For one, the two sisters, Kat and Bianca, are new in town and are just starting Padua High School. Their mother didn’t walk out on them but died in some way that has yet to be revealed. Kat, originally played by Julia Stiles, still has the brooding misunderstood vibe to her. Glad to see that hasn’t changed. Her younger sister Bianca is still a naive social climber, but I found this version to be a little too perky. However, it was great to see the same actor from the film play their father.
We got to see a glimpse of the character Patrick Verona, originally played by Heath Ledger, in the first five minutes. This version’s Patrick, played by Ethan Peck, certainly has the mysterious thing down. All the staring could be considered creepy, like what Kat thinks at first, but we all know that he isn’t the scary guy everybody at Padua thinks he is. I do think that Ethan Peck is a little too Abercrombie and Fitch to ever be considered terrifying. Heath Ledger had a certain look that made you believe that he could have been one of the offbeat kids in high school.
The most important element of this show is how good the chemistry between Kat and Patrick plays onscreen. It’s a bit early to tell, but I think all the actors need time to adjust to these roles. The character of Cameron is way too nerdy for my taste. I don’t remember him being that much of a pushover. Plus, Joey Donner is supposed to the epitome of a self absorbed womanizer, but he just seems to be a dim surfer dude who lets his bossy girlfriend Chastity push him around. I was surprised to see how they made the role of Chastity more of a lead, where as in the film she has a minor role. I guess they need a “villain” of sorts for the girls to be at odds with.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Friday night timeslot woes
by Ashley Gouveia
The television season is over and we are beginning to head into the land of seemingly never-ending reruns, but not before the networks announced their fall lineups. This begs the question, “Just where exactly our favorite shows are headed?”
It probably shocked a lot of you fellow tube watchers to find out that Ugly Betty and Smallville are both being moved to Friday nights. What were the networks thinking, and is this the kiss of death for these shows?
I think we have all had one of our favorite shows move to another night. That usually means that the network is trying to find a better spot for the show. It could also mean that the networks believe the show is on its last season and want to finish it off on whatever night is available. But a move to Friday nights is a sign of worry, more than any other night. Why is Friday a bad move? Well, the majority of the demographic that primarily watches these two shows is not home on Friday nights. The other bad thing about it is that even if the fans decide to record it, there is no way to show those numbers in the overall ratings. Do the networks even look at the TiVo numbers?
It’s a known fact that many shows that move to Fridays or premiere on that night don’t last too long. Remember the amazing Moonlight? Or more recently, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I was holding out hope that Terminator would not be cancelled but I knew that moving it to Fridays would not be a positive thing for the show. I know that Ghost Whisperer thrives on Friday nights, but that may be because it’s targeted for an older audience.
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed this past season of Ugly Betty, many thought that it lost some of its original charm. The ratings and the critical acclaim did suffer so is that why ABC decided to move it to its new time slot? Do they believe that Ugly Betty only has one more season left in them? I don’t think that’s true. I saw a lot of this show’s magic return in the season finale. If they fix some minor things, then Betty and Co. could live to see another season.
Smallville on the other hand is an entirely different story. This show has been on for eight seasons and many feel that it has worn out its welcome. It would seem that The CW would agree since they moved Smallville to Friday nights before an encore, (yep, encore), of America’s Next Top Model. Ouch! That move really doesn’t display much confidence from the network.
Do you agree that moving to Fridays is a bad sign for any show? Will you still watch Ugly Betty and Smallville at their new times?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Smallville finale disappoints
by Ashley Gouveia
If I had to use one word to describe last night’s season finale of Smallville it would be letdown.
What was that? When it comes to this show I have never sugar coated my feelings. I have been an extremely agitated, yet loyal viewer of this series. Through all the ups and downs, I felt hopeful that the writers would pull it together and pay off what the viewers have been waiting for. But this episode had so many plot holes I just can’t turn a blind eye. I guess I should start from the beginning.
Rokk, from the Legion, comes back from the future to tell Clark that tomorrow will be the day he dies. Okay, no shock there. Only the entire season has been building towards this epic battle between Clark and Doomsday. Everyone was waiting for it, and I guess we have to keep on waiting. I think I missed the battle because it was over within two minutes. We didn’t get to see Clark use any of his abilities while fighting Doomsday. He got smacked around a couple of times and then Clark “super leaps” Doomie into a building where it then explodes.
Fail.
I’m sure all of you Smallville watchers had heard the rumblings of a major character dying in this episode. Well, it was Jimmy Olsen. Who, by the way, is not really Jimmy Olsen. If anyone was not really his or her “character” he was definitely not the one I was thinking. I knew that he was not long for this world, once he found out Clark’s secret. Way to go, Smallville. It was like a blaring alarm was going off shouting, “He’s going to die!” Not a very stealth move. Apparently, Jimmy, or Henry James Olsen, has a little brother who we never heard about who likes to wear bow ties, too. At his brother’s funeral, Chloe gave him faux Jimmy’s camera. She said that maybe he would follow in his footsteps someday.
I have never been a fan of Jimmy on this show. I often found him annoying and whiney and his relationship with Chloe just sucked the entire life out of this show. However, Aaron Ashmore has been doing really well with his performances post breakup. Now that he is gone, I’m left wondering what the purpose was for killing him. Also, why did they completely forget about Davis’ human side and make him a Fatal Attraction wannabe?
Even when Davis was physically separated from the beast he was still a psychopath? It doesn’t really follow what we’ve been seeing this whole season. We saw someone who was fighting desperately against something he didn’t have control over. That was what made Davis Bloome so interesting. They threw away his entire appeal within a few lines of dialogue. What a waste.
Not only did Jimmy die, but Clark decided, after he resurfaced surprisingly unscathed post “the epic battle that never was,” that Clark Kent is also dead. He tells Chloe that his human side is his most dangerous, not his alien side. His connection to humanity is holding him back from the hero he is destined to become. He says goodbye to Chloe and walks away from her. Poor Chloe not only lost her ex but her best friend all in the same day. Not to mention that no one seems to want to continue the search for Lois any longer. Thanks to the Legion ring, she was sent to the future somewhere within the first fifteen minutes of the episode.
We all know the show has been renewed for season nine. Will you watch because of the return of Zod? What did you think of the Jimmy “twist?” Did anyone enjoy it? Sound off in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Lost season ender
by Ashley Gouveia
The season finale of Lost is coming up next week and it promises to be an episode full of twists and turns. Sure, pretty much every episode of Lost could fall under that category. Nonetheless, this week’s episode was a great set up for the finale. Locke went on a power trip, Sawyer and Jack got the stuffing beat out of them, and Ben is actually funny. Weird, right?
The one element that I can always count on this show to have is an awesome, jaw-dropping, scratch-your-head-pre-credits moment. Before the title comes up and the eerie sound starts playing, I’m always left bewildered by what I just saw. This week, for instance, Richard told Sun that he recognizes Jack and Co. because he watched them all die. Huh? My thoughts exactly. Could Richard mean that Jack succeeded in getting the plane to never crash and they all disappeared Back to the Future style? Or did they all just get killed? I’m hoping for the first theory.
I thought it was quite amusing watching Locke go on his little power trip as new leader of the Others. He was sticking it to Ben whenever he had the chance, whether it be about his new power as leader or how Ben never saw Jacob. I couldn’t help but laugh at some of Ben’s lines during the scene when Locke asked Ben if he was going into the jungle with him. Who knew that Benjamin Linus could be funny? He mostly just creeps me out. The tone in his voice just had so much loathing towards Locke that it came off as hilarious.
Sawyer got beat up by the Dharma Initiative because their cover was blown. I felt bad for him and Juliet. They had some kind of resemblance of lives and then it was all taken away. Love them or hate them, but Sawyer and Juliet have some great onscreen chemistry. I was taken aback by Sawyer deciding to just leave the island on the submarine. His response when he took one final glance at the island was “good riddance.” Really? I didn’t think that he would leave Kate and the others behind. Poor Juliet’s fantasy of a life alone with Sawyer had blown up in her face when Kate showed up on the sub, and she knew it too. It looks like the big elephant in the room is going to finally be discussed next week.
Do you think that Jack’s idea of preventing the plane from crashing a good one? Or should he not mess with fate? I’m hoping next week we finally get an answer to whom or what is Jacob. Will Locke actually be able to kill him? Sound off in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Supernatural recap
Photo: courtesy of the CW
by Ashley Gouveia
When I first heard rumblings about a possible third Winchester brother on Supernatural, I immediately thought that it couldn’t be true. There was no way that the writers would introduce another brother on an already established show. It had Cousin Oliver potential written all over it. However, this show has never let me down, so I just waited to see how this was all going to unfold. I have to say, I am a little confused.
I really enjoyed the episode. I loved that it brought up a lot of stuff from the past seasons, like John and his relationship with Sam. But I guess it’s just a hard pill to swallow that John Winchester had another kid out there. Not only that, but that he was able to spend quality time with him and actually be a normal father. There are a lot of fans who dislike John Winchester because of the way he raised and treated his boys. I was always part of the group who believed that he did the best he could. Plus, who couldn’t love Jeffrey Dean Morgan? This episode changed how I see John Winchester.
In the beginning of the episode, a random kid called John’s phone and told Dean that he was John’s son. Much like Dean, I was already thinking that this was some sort of trap. Maybe it was a trickster or some kind of angel test that they wanted to put the brothers through. When it was revealed that Adam, the new Winchester brother, didn’t have a negative reaction to silver or holy water, it wasn’t looking good for any of my theories. It seemed as if the boy was legit.
What was the most interesting was how Dean and Sam reacted to this news. Dean was completely against letting Adam into the fold of hunting, while Sam was rolling out the welcome mat. Sam’s reasoning was that he believed Adam would be better off if they taught him how to defend himself. I felt like Sam was really dark in this episode. His motivations and his reasoning are a little off. I guess that’s all the demon blood that he’s been slurping on.
Why didn’t Dean push the issue further about how easily swayed Adam was to the whole “demons are real” story? That moment had me thinking again that there was something weird about this kid. As it turns out, I was right. It was revealed that Adam was a ghoul, playing them the whole time. The ghoul killed the real Adam and his mother. The twist was that Adam really was John’s son. I think that was when my jaw dropped to the floor.
What does this say about Papa Winchester? Has this episode forever tainted the way you look at his character? Did it reaffirm your hatred?
Sound off in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Save the Sarah Connor Chronicles
by Ashley Gouveia
It’s around that time of year when all of us TV fanatics worry about our favorite shows getting the ax and being prematurely cancelled. Of course, the television shows that have 10 or 20 million viewers each week don’t have to panic. Instead, it’s the shows that have a strong following, but the numbers don’t display that loyalty.
My favorite “on the bubble” television show is Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles. I thought this week would be a good time to beg, I mean, give my well-thought-out reasons, as to why this show has to have a third season. These all came to me while watching the season, now possibly, series finale. Are you listening Fox?
Reason #1: Who’s John Connor?
How could the show possibly end without us seeing what happens after John is transported to the future, post Judgment Day? Apparently, nobody has heard of him, and he is completely alone. Sarah decided to stay behind and let her son go without her to chase after John Henry. This plot could easily give the show runners material for a third season. What does John do now? Is he going to get back? Will he repeat the decisions that he knows his future self made?
Reason #2: OMG! BAG is back!
We had to watch Brian Austin Green’s Derek get blown away by a single shot to the head from a terminator and then his ashes being lowered into a grave. I thought the character I had grown to love was gone for good. But then in the last five minutes of the finale, Derek showed up alive and well in the future. Okay, we just got Derek back and they’re thinking of canceling the show. It can’t happen. We, the fans, need to see why Derek doesn’t know John. We also need to see how John is going to handle being around his dead uncle and father. That’s right! Kyle Reese is alive too. This is all just too good to pass up.
Reason #3: Is that Allison from Palmdale?
Not only were Derek and Kyle there to meet John in the future, but a girl who John assumed to be Cameron was there. I think we can confirm that the smiling girl who was pet friendly was not Cameron but Allison, the human who Cameron was created after. Oh, the possibilities. The fans need to see John’s interaction with Allison. This could be an amazing storyline that many John and Cameron fans have waited to see for some time now. Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau have amazing chemistry; it would just be a complete waste to miss the opportunity to explore this relationship.
Reason #4: Where is John Henry?
The last time we saw the oddly lovable and yet creepy terminator he was in a room alone with a knife-wielding Cameron. She gave him her chip and he teleported into the future. Why did Cameron give her chip? Will John Henry now have Cameron’s personality when John finds him? Is John Henry part of the resistance?
Reason #5: It’s one of the best written and acted shows on television.
If not because of all the amazing cliffhangers that need to be answered this show is one of the best out there. The whole cast always brings their A game and the writing is top notch. If any show deserves a second chance it’s this one. Plus, from a marketing standpoint the network would be foolish not to work the new Terminator movie angle. I’m sure the film will bring in new viewers. I think moving the show back to Monday night or another slot would bring up the ratings.
Those are only a few reasons why this show deserves a third season. Please FOX, don’t let another great show slip into the proverbial abyss of television shows that ended way before their time.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Smallville recap
by Ashley Gouveia
See how good an episode of Smallville can be when it deals with things that actually matter? Last night’s episode was so awesome. Every actor was at the top of their game. This storyline about Davis has really amped up these last couple of episodes. Sam Witwer has really done a phenomenal job with this character. He has given a human side to one of the comic’s most dangerous villains.
The first five minutes I thought I was watching the pilot episode. The meteor shower, the Kents, Lionel and little Lex were all part of a flashback to how Davis came to Earth. It was so great to see Martha and Jonathan again. I didn’t realize how much I had missed them. Even the sight of Lionel got me all nostalgic. It broke my heart to see a young Davis abandoned in the field, while the Kents walked off with Clark.
Another person who certainly deserves recognition is Cassidy Freeman who plays Tess. That girl can pull off being evil one minute and sympathetic in another. Those scenes with her and Davis in the mansion were chilling. It could have been really boring with all that exposition that she had to get through about Davis’ past, but it wasn’t. I still don’t know what her game is. She knows about Clark and how Davis is meant to destroy him. Clark is aware of that too. So is Clark still going to work for her? Those are going to be some awkward days in the office.
Speaking of awkward, how awkward was that when Clark walked in on Davis and Chloe having dinner? Chloe didn’t let her slight frustration with Clark subside. She told him how she felt like he wasn’t really being there for her as a friend. I say it is about time. Plus, Jimmy is being a complete jerk. I could understand him being angry with her for not trusting him, but those mean emails he apparently sent her were uncalled for.
Allison Mack and Sam Witwer have such amazing chemistry. I always find their scenes to be so intense. When he came to Isis and tried to get her to listen to him was phenomenal. Then when he said he loved her I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. I knew Chloe wouldn’t be able to just kill Davis with the kryptonite. But it just goes to show that when it came to protecting Clark she would have. Having Clark watch as Chloe put her hand up to Davis on the glass was heartbreaking. Well acted from everyone in that scene.
Of course we knew that Davis/Doomsday wasn’t going to get killed off just like that. It would have been ant-climatic since this whole season has been building to a Davis and Clark battle. Can Chloe help Davis control Doomsday? I think she believes she can and if it’s the only way to save Clark, she is surely going to try her hardest. I can’t wait to see how this story arc turns out. So far I’m enjoying it so much I think I’ll have to rewatch the episode again.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: One Tree Hill is back
by Ashley Gouveia
One Tree Hill is finally back with a new episode, and it was a doozy. What a rollercoaster ride! One minute I was happy and loving the adorable Nathan and Haley scenes, then the next I was crying over Lucas and Peyton’s devastating situation. Then we had Mouth and Millie’s seemingly last goodbye and Brooke and Julian came to a crossroads in their relationship. It was definitely a jam-packed episode, full of revelations and heartbreak. But what does it all mean for the future of this show?
Is Peyton really a goner? Would the writers of this show actually kill off Peyton Sawyer, or is this a fake out? Well, by the way Peyton was talking to Lucas it looks like she has accepted her fate. I can understand her decision of going through with the pregnancy, even if it means that she could die. A parent’s love is about sacrifice, right? I give the show credit for bringing up this issue, but I’m not sure why it had to be this way. Are we looking at a season seven of One Tree Hill with Lucas raising a baby on his own? Would any of you be interested in watching that?
I loved all of Nathan and Haley’s scenes together. Their private anniversary celebration with some nods to It’s a Wonderful Life was really cute and a long time coming. We finally got some romantic Naley and it seems like it’s been forever. With all the crazy nanny stuff and Nathan’s basketball career, it was nice to see these two reconnect again. It looks like Haley might be going back on tour again but with her family this time. I don’t know how that’s going to work with Jamie, but we’ll see what happens. I for one would love to see Haley pick up a guitar again and actually have a storyline.
Julian dropped the l-word on Brooke and she totally freaked. He loves her but she was not ready to say it back to him. Julian put it together that the last person that Brooke fell in love with was Lucas. Even though he said he would wait for her, he is feeling completely insecure about her past with Lucas. Can we really blame him? Look what happened to his relationship with Peyton. I loved his line about if he found more than one copy of Lucas’ book he was leaving. I think it was a little too soon for the “I love you” so I can understand where Brooke is coming from. But is that really the reason why she couldn’t say it?
It was nice to see Dan and Deb in the same room again, even if it was only because Jamie conveniently forgot to mention he was inviting Grandpa Dan for dinner. Their confrontation was really intense. I keep having to remind myself not to like Dan, but I just love his scenes with Jamie. It makes me want that beeper to go off, so Jamie doesn’t lose his grandpa. Well, it looks like I got what I wanted. Let’s just hope that new heart is not from someone we know. It can’t be Millie’s, right? Although she was really distraught while she was driving. Hmm.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Favorite musical moments on TV
by Ashley Gouveia
Has there ever been a time when you’re watching your favorite television show and then an amazing song starts playing during a crucial and pivotal scene and suddenly you are clamoring, trying to find out who sings it and how fast you can get it on your iPod? I have been there and done that so many times that I’ve lost count. Before the iPod was invented a big part of my CD collection had songs that had once been played behind some of my beloved and most memorable moments. These are my picks for my favorite “musical” moments on television.
Dawson’s Creek, Season one finale - “I’ll Be” by Edwin McCain: How could anyone forget the moment when Joey finally decided that she was going to fess up about her feelings towards her best friend, Dawson? She climbed up the ladder to his room and saw Dawson lying in bed with Jen. It was the moment that had been building the entire season. Was Dawson going to go after Joey or stay with Jen? Edwin McCain’s song was perfect for this scene. I remember hearing it and immediately falling in love with it. To this day when I hear “I’ll Be” I still think of that episode.
Smallville, Season one, “Obscura” and “Crush” – “No Such Thing” by John Mayer and “Time after Time” by Eva Cassidy: I think one of the reasons why I fell in love with Smallville in the beginning of the series was because of all the fantastic music they featured in each episode. Yeah, whatever happened to that? These two episodes in season one were two of my favorites. The Cyndi Lauper classic covered by Eva Cassidy was the perfect backdrop for setting the scene as Lana stared at Clark standing in the rain waiting for her, while a heartbroken Chloe watched on. A wet Tom Welling was only the icing on the cake. The song made it even more amazing. And John Mayer’s hit still brings me back to when Clark asked Chloe to the Spring Formal. It completely captured the mood of two people taking the next step in their relationship.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season one, “Angel”- “I’ll Remember You” by Sophie Zelmani: Buffy and Angel’s long-awaited first kiss couldn’t have had a better song to accompany it. The Bronze always had some great music playing but this one topped my list. I loved that the whole song was played and the last shot we saw was Angel’s chest where Buffy’s cross burned him after they kissed. It was the beginning of a great love story.
Supernatural, Season one, “Carry on my Wayward Son” by Kansas: Okay, I was tempted to put every Supernatural “previously on” on this list but I narrowed it down to this one. Not only is this an amazing song but it completely fits Supernatural to a tee. The lyrics only rang truer coming after the episode when Sam was stabbed and killed. This song has really become a Supernatural anthem.
Those are my some of my picks for my favorite musical moments. There are so many that I can’t fit it into one column. Let me know some of your faves in the comments!
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: The Oscars 2009
by Ashley Gouveia
I had fully prepared myself for my Oscar rundown to have more lowlights than highlights. I love the Academy Awards and what they stand for, but the actual awards’ presentation can be a little boring at times. However, I am happy to say that this year’s telecast was really enjoyable, not boring at all. There were so many great speeches and beautiful dedications. The entire format of the show was different than years before, but change can be good thing.
Many people have occupied the spot of host, like Hugh Jackman did Sunday night. Some have hit it out of the park and others have left little to be desired. I was rooting for Mr. Wolverine himself to pull it off with flying colors, and he did. His opening number was spectacular and truly showcased that he can act and sing, too. I loved when he pulled Anne Hathaway from the audience and made it a duet. That girl can sing! Also, she can pull off a hilarious Nixon impersonation. Well done, Anne.
What I loved about this year’s Oscars was how they didn’t just showcase the films that were nominated. They took time to also show movies that weren’t deemed by some to be “Oscar-worthy”. They did that by showing movie montages that focused on romance action and animation. Well, my favorite was the Romance in 20008 spot, and I’ll tell you all why. The first reason is because it showed some of my favorite moments in last year’s movies. Secondly, it was presented by the amazingly adorable Robert Pattinson. Any of you who have seen Twilight know what I’m talking about right now.
When the major awards were given out, recipients from the past came out on stage and presented them to the nominees. It wasn’t just the boring way of reading the name off the teleprompter this year. Each presenter was assigned a nominee and they gave a little speech about what that person had accomplished in his/her role. I’m not embarrassed to say that some of those speeches had me choked up. Anne Hathaway could barely hold back the tears and neither could Best Actress winner Kate Winslet. I loved Kate’s acceptance speech. Come on, who hasn’t held up the bottle of shampoo and imagined it was an Oscar? We’ve all done it.
The brilliant Sean Penn won for his performance in MILK which was shocking for some. The equally amazing Heath Ledger won for his daunting role as the Joker in the Dark Knight. His family accepted the award on his behalf, and I think that’s when the entire audience started crying. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Some other highlights were Tina Fey and Steve Martin presenting for Best Screenplay and Ben Stiller’s awkward but yet amusing Joaquin Phoenix impression. What did you all think about this year’s Oscars? Was there a favorite moment, a favorite dress? Let me know in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: TV's best couples
by Ashley Gouveia
In honor of Valentine’s Day this Saturday, I decided that this would be the best time to make my list of television’s best and most memorable couples. There have been so many couples over the years that have left an impact on viewers so it was definitely a task to narrow it down. Whether these duos are breaking up, making up, or fighting to the death one cannot deny the sparks that fly in the process.
Buffy and Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer): These two were the definition of “star-crossed lovers”. A vampire in love with the Slayer, like Giles once said, “It’s rather poetic.” This couple had everything against them. He was more than 100-years old, and she was a high school student. Not to mention that she killed his species for a living. His basic instinct was to kill her, but instead he fell in love with her. Their story was filled with love and hate, but we never stopped rooting for them. Even when he turned evil and, she was going to kill him, we still hoped they would find a way back to each other. They did, for a while, but like any “star-crossed” couple they split apart. Buffy and Angel’s love story was one of the highlights of the series and deserve the top spot on this list.
Ross and Rachel (Friends): The fans only waited 10 years for these two to finally wake up and realize they belonged together. They had many trials and tribulations in their often-rocky relationship (remember the “we were on a break” debacle?), but they never stopped caring about each other. They were still friends, after all they had been through. Their first kiss at Central Perk is one of those memorable moments in TV history that fans will certainly never forget.
Jack/Kate/Sawyer (Lost): Okay, so I couldn’t choose which pair was better. The truth is that both men have amazing chemistry with Kate. I’m sure there are fans out there who could choose with no problem about which pair they would rather watch onscreen. I think the appeal of these two men with Kate is that they both have a very different type of relationship with her. Jack makes Kate a better person when she’s with him. He helped her through the weirdness that is the island. On many occasions he has been a source of strength for her. Sawyer and Kate have this amazing connection and sizzling attraction. Also, when they are together we get to see a softer side to Sawyer, which is always a nice thing to see.
These are my choices of the best couples of TV past and present. Which couples would make your list? Happy Valentine’s Day!
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Superbowl commericals
by Ashley Gouveia
While many people tuned in to the Super Bowl last Sunday to see which team, the Arizona Cardinals or the Pittsburgh Steelers, would walk away as the champions, I have to admit I wasn’t one of them. To be perfectly honest, my football season pretty much ends when the New England Patriots stop playing. I instead tuned in to watch the numerous ads that were sure to get people talking. Here are my choices of some of the most memorable.
Heroes of the Gridiron: I loved this commercial! Not only was it of one of my favorite shows, (yes, I’m still watching!) but it was great to see the cast in a fun setting like that. It was the Heroes vs. NFL legends. Peter, Nathan, Claire, Hiro, Ando and Parkman were all in attendance. Even Noah and Mama Petrelli were on the sidelines which was awesome. I loved when Claire charged in and broke all her bones and then Ando told Hiro to “save the cheerleader” and he yelled “Later!” I thought that was hysterical. As well as Hiro’s little dance after completing a big play. Jerry Rice called in reinforcements with a flying John Elway making an appearance. Parkman’s line about him knowing that Elway was one of them had me laughing. This was definitely one of my favorite commercials of the night.
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head for Bridgestone: Who didn’t have a Mr. Potato Head at one time in their life? I certainly did. So when I saw this commercial I thought it was really funny. Mrs. Potato Head was driving in the car with her husband and she won’t stop nagging him. They almost hit a bunch of sheep and when they come to a stop her mouth falls off and over the cliff. While I’m sure this made Mr. Potato Head happy, Mrs. Potato Head then switched her eyes to those of extreme anger and fury. If she can’t verbalize her frustration she’s was going to give him the death stare.
Audi 2009- Car chase: How can a commercial go wrong when it has Jason Statham in it? It really can’t. The actor from Transporter fame goes through the last couple of decades to find the perfect getaway car. It’s not until he arrived in 2009 did he find the one that was just right. I think Lost’s Hurley needs to get himself this car, pronto.
LMAO Syndrome-NBC Thursday lineup: I think this was the ad that made me laugh the most. Of course, after watching this I had the urge to hold my laughter in. The woman with the cooler, the unsuspecting woman who laughed her butt off, literally, when watching the Thursday night comedy lineup were all hysterical. It was a clever commercial that took a much-used online acronym in the literal sense.
What was your favorite Super Bowl ad? Let me know in the comments.
Check out my favorite below.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Did Lost sizzle or fizzle?
by Ashley Gouveia
Lost is back!
Is it too early to say better than ever?
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I actually had to watch the hour recap show. It’s been way too long since the Losties were on my tube, and I needed a little refresher. It also got me pumped for the season five premiere. Is Locke really dead? What happened to Sawyer and the rest of the gang back on the island? Did Jack finally shave off that awful beard?
Thankfully, he did do just that. But not before Ben convinced him that he had to get all of the Oceanic Six and a dead Locke back to the island. Apparently, Locke had gone to the mainland and told Jack that terrible things happened after they left. Then we got a series of flashbacks in which we saw just exactly what those “terrible” things were.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the time space continuum, but I was surprisingly keeping up with Daniel’s synopsis on what was going on. It wasn’t exactly just the island that was moving but its people were also moving through time. Sawyer, Juliet and the others went into the past and future. They even went to the point where Ethan Rayne was still alive and kicking. Crazy, right? I loved that we got to see the island and what happened after Jack and company left.
Back in the future, Jack tried to rally up the troops. That task turned out to be a lot more difficult what with Hurley being chased by the cops, Ana Lucia’s ghost not included. I was not expecting to see her back; that was a nice little twist. The little bit that we saw of Desmond was great. I loved that Daniel got him to open up the hatch and told him to go to Oxford where they first met. Then Desmond woke up three years later and believed it was a memory.
Can I say that Sun is scaring me? She was completely creepy during her meeting with Kate. One minute she was serious and the next she was drained of all emotion. She is out for revenge, and I don’t think anyone should stand in her way. I was not expecting Hurley to turn himself into the cops to escape Ben. After all, he was the one who was always saying they never should have left the island. I thought he would have been the first one in that line.
What did you all think of the Lost premiere? Are they all going to go back no matter what? What exactly happened to Sawyer and Juliet that caused Locke to leave the island to get the Oceanic Six back? Let me know your theories in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Clark Kent vs. Brainiac
by Ashley Gouveia
Smallville’s first new episode of the New Year aired last night, and even before it started, I was excited. My excitement was not only about the members of the Legion coming back from the 31st century to help the pre-Superman. It was also for the chance to see Chloe/Brainiac wreak havoc in Metropolis. For those of us who have been watching this season, this has been a long time coming.
The episode basically started right where it left off with the repercussions of the “wedding of my nightmares” a.k.a. Jimmy and Chloe’s nuptials. The Persuader, a villain from the 31st century, traveled through time to kill Clark and to prevent the destruction of Brainiac. The members of the Legion sent his butt back pretty quickly.
I loved all the references that Legion made about how history told them about Kal-El’s life. Garth, also known as Lightning Lad, was such a fan of Superman that he was giddy with all of the “artifacts” he was finding around Clark’s barn. I loved that he was such a fan boy. It was like he was meeting his idol.
“Who’s Chloe Sullivan?” What!! That line was crazy. Clearly, the people from the future don’t have any idea who Chloe is and how she has affected Clark’s life. Even if she died wouldn’t there be some record of her? I loved that scene when Rokk was naming all the people in Supes history; Lane, Lang, even Olsen, but no Chloe (or Lex?). Garth made the suggestion that maybe Chloe’s not in history because she dies due to Brainiac. Well, Clark wasn’t hearing any of that. “Chloe Sullivan doesn’t die! Hear me?” I hear you Clark, loud and clear!
The Clark vs. Brainiac/Chloe showdown was everything I had hoped for. Allison Mack’s performance was amazing. She channeled James Marsters perfectly. The “Go on. Kill me” line was chilling and expertly delivered. I thought it was interesting that Brainiac chose Chloe to inhabit out of everyone, because he knew that Clark would never be able to hurt her. He was adamant that they had to find another way besides killing Chloe to destroy Brainiac.
Does anybody else think they know what Lana’s “destiny” is? I’m glad that this episode pointed out that Lana will accomplish more than just being Clark’s love interest. Interesting, but I really haven’t seen anything so far to support that. Maybe it has to do with the real reason she left town. I guess we’ll have to wait and see with that, since Ms. Lang is sticking around for a little bit.
I still feel bad for Davis. I don’t think that’s going to change since Sam Witwer has totally won me over. Can I get a woo-hoo for Chloe getting her memories back? One episode of Chloe not knowing was more than enough for me.
This was a great episode written by comic book writer Geoff Johns. All the little winks and nudges to the comic fans were immensely appreciated. I would say it was my favorite episode of this season.
What did you all think? Did “Legion” live up to your expectations?
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Commentary with a Co-Ed: 'One Tree Hill' Thoughts
by Ashley Gouveia
Happy 2009, Tube Talk readers!
A new year means all new episodes of our favorite television shows. Starting this week was One Tree Hill. First of all, can I say that I love that the show is back so soon? Usually, it seems like forever until they come back, but One Tree Hill actually surprised me. Thank goodness for my season pass on TiVo, or I would have missed it.
We ended last year with some good old-fashioned cliffhangers. Does Peyton have cancer? What happened to Sam? Will Owen and Millie actually do the deed? Well, we pretty much got all those answers in the first ten minutes of the episode. Peyton does not have cancer; she’s actually pregnant. The writers didn’t trick me for one minute. I knew that was where they were heading with this story even before she called Lucas her “baby daddy.” Were any of you shocked by the news?
As for Sam, she got into a car with Jack Daniels (not the drink) and his creepy brother. He turned out to be the same guy who attacked Brooke and killed Quentin. Tree Hill really is a small town. While I applaud Brooke for being brave enough to stand up to her attacker, I did wonder why she didn’t call the police for backup. I know it’s a drama and there has to be the build up of suspense but, I can’t help but wonder these things.
I think Sophia Bush deserves a standing ovation. She pulled off an amazing performance in those last scenes. I actually got a little teary-eyed when she dropped the gun and hugged Sam. Did I feel like the whole “Mom” comment from Sam was a little too over the top? Yes. But I just took it for what it was and enjoyed it.
It was also revealed that Millie did sleep with Owen. We didn’t even get to see them kiss or anything. Why? We just saw Millie crying in the store, and Owen boozing it up at Tric. It looks like he definitely fell off the wagon again. Who better to help him out then Stephen Coletti, I mean Chase. Yep, Chase returned and I have to say pretty randomly. I know it was a way to get Owen off the show, but why bring Chase back? Is it for a possible Mia/Chase hookup? Come on, they didn’t put that scene with them at the bar just for giggles.
I have to confess that I am enjoying the Julian character. For someone who hated Felix, Anna, and the rest of the newbies on this show, I have to say he’s intriguing and it shocked me too. I really like his interactions with Brooke and he’s funny too. The “cool mom” comment made me laugh during an episode that was particularly heavy on the drama.
What did you all think of One Tree Hill’s first episode of the New Year? Sound off in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Christmas gifts for the TV fan
by Ashley Gouveia
If you’re like me and wait to the very last minute to complete your holiday shopping, then don’t fret fellow Tube Talk readers. I have a list of great gift ideas that is sure to satisfy the TV-obsessed member in your family. Some of these items are even on my own personal list, so Santa if you’re reading this, I would take some notes.
The first item that any TV fan would be extremely grateful for would be their very own TiVo. This year I was lucky enough to purchase my own, and I can’t express to you how much I love this inanimate object. I was one of those people who could never keep up with all the shows that they watched. I couldn’t record two shows at the same time even if I wanted to. VCR’s were not my friend. Then I got TiVo and all my tube troubles were a distant memory. I guarantee that if you get this for your TV fan they will be forever grateful.
For the family members that love TV and board games I would suggest Scene It, the Friends, Seinfeld and TV editions. I own multiple editions of this DVD game because I love it so much. If the person you’re buying for is a die-hard fan of Friends or Seinfeld, then I definitely recommend these games. Let me tell you from experience that you could play these games for hours. All the clips and trivia questions are awesome, and they sell extra packs of trivia questions and a new DVD, once you start repeating questions.
A person can’t go wrong with buying a DVD set for the holidays. My suggestions for the best DVD sets are probably not going to surprise many of you, since they consist of two of my favorite television shows. Even if they are not fans of these shows, do them a service and introduce them to Ugly Betty and Supernatural on DVD. For the person who loves comedy and a dash of drama, get Ugly Betty seasons one and two. While you’re at it, get Supernatural, seasons one through three for the person who loves to be spooked, and appreciates great stories and fantastic acting. At this time you can probably find these sets for a reasonable price. I hope to be getting some of these sets to add to my own collection.
Those are my suggestions for all you TV fans this holiday season. I hope everyone has a safe and happy one. Let me know in the comments what all of you are asking for? Happy Holidays!
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Commentary with a Co-Ed: Ugly Betty and Amanda, a dynamic duo
by Ashley Gouveia
Now that the holiday season has officially begun, all of us TV fans know what that means: winter hiatus. All of our favorite shows go bye-bye until we ring in the new year. Luckily, Ugly Betty hasn’t gone away yet. We were treated to a brand spankin’ new episode last night that had Amanda and Betty teaming up on a Mode assignment.
I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy Amanda being Betty’s new roommate. Sure, I thought it would deliver some laughs, but I didn’t know what else it would bring to the show. It appears that since Amanda has moved in to casa de Betty she has grown more of a conscience. She was still eating Betty’s food and stiffing her on her half of the rent. Of course, she blamed it on Bad Ronald, the old dude who comes out at night and eats Betty’s leftovers.
It was hysterical to hear Hilda’s upfront way to get the rent money from Amanda. But Betty is way too nice to do it that way. My question is; why doesn’t Daniel pay Betty enough money to at least pay her rent? The lengths she goes to for her job is more than enough to get her a raise. Oh well, he got her a chance to write for Mode’s website, which means a little more money.
Please tell me I wasn’t the only one who guessed that those two guys were going to run off and leave Amanda and Betty with the check? I had guessed that right away. But I was impressed that Betty used the Mode name to get out of it. I didn’t think that the guys were going to steal Amanda’s wallet, which, of course, had all of Betty’s rent money. Oops, Amanda’s bad.
It ended up working out in the end with Betty getting the online article and Amanda getting a second job. This leaded to them both having a nice dinner at their apartment. It was weird, but nice. I’m just not use to this pleasant friendship that these two have struck up. What do you all think of it?
Mrs. Meade made about a five minute appearance. We need more Claire Meade in an episode. But the time that she was in was fantastic. I thought that she was going to encourage Daniel to go after Molly. Instead, she was there to slap some sense into him, literally. I loved that! Someone needed to tell Daniel that it would be a huge mistake to think about making a move on Molly.
Even with Daniel seemingly moving on, I don’t think this storyline is over. Now that Wilhelmina has caught wind that he is interested in her, I’m sure she will use that to get Connor for herself.
All in all, I liked this episode. It wasn’t as good as the one from two weeks ago but I still enjoyed it. But we need to see more of Queens and the Suarez family, I miss them.
What did you think of last night’s episode? What storyline are you loving/hating? Let me know in the comments.
Commentary with a Co-Ed is a weekly column at Tube Talk new every Friday.
