TVSquad

Interesting piece in Slate today, on all of the TV shows on ABC that writer Troy Patterson calls a "nauseating lineup of yuppie dramas."

Which shows is he talking about? You can probably guess: Men In Trees, Brothers & Sisters, What About Brian, and Six Degrees. I think that Patterson's whole viewpoint can be summed up with this paragraph:

These shows share a view of the human mind modeled on Dr. Phil's and an aesthetic sense shamelessly cribbed from a Pottery Barn catalog. When you watch them, you're mostly watching people feel bad over beverages. Despite it's pseudo-literary ambitions, the genre's got a certain soap-operatic streak, and the soap's an orange-lavender bath wash.

Ouch.

(S02E03) This episode worries me. After a really strong start to this season, I thought this was kind of a drop down. However, the same thing happened when Grey's Anatomy first premiered and we all know that show bounced back. The reason I make that comparison is because Grey's isn't solely about Meredith anymore and What About Brian is shaping up to be more than just Brian now. But that makes sense I suppose. To work in the long-term (and I hope What About Brian will), a show needs to have multiple story-lines with multiple characters. Brian is still going to be the focus of this show but it looks like we're going to start getting a ton more info on everyone else. This week was a whole lot of Dave.

(S02E02) I'm impressed. This show was good last year but the changes made in the off-season were all for the better. Even some of the little things that other shows might not take the time to tie up, What About Brian goes and takes that extra step to keep it's own little world intact. Take the Angelo storyline. The actor (Raoul Bova) has been released from the show, but rather than do what some shows would have done and just forget his character even existed in the off-season, he's still "there." Nic has daily phone conversations with him until it becomes clear that he won't make it back in time for Adam and Marjorie's wedding. It just makes Angelo's transition from being on the show to being off it that much smoother.

(S02E01) I'm so glad that ABC renewed this show. Now we can only wait and hope it gets a full season order. Might be tough though, especially since it's going up against CSI: Miami and Studio 60. What About Brian is good though. It's not the best thing on televison but it is a great drama (with plenty of funny moments) that deserves a look. I'm pretty confident that anyone who likes Grey's Anatomy is going to find this show equally appealing.

(S01E05) Boy oh boy, do I love adultery! Let's be honest, we don't want to see shows about things deemed acceptable by society. We want to see buildings collapse, surgeries go wrong, and adultery!

In last night's season finale, we go plenty of it. At least we thought we did. I've got to hand it to the writer's because they tied this one up very nicely, but it still left us hanging. Enough that I'm hoping we see the show come back for a full season next year.

A large portion of the show focused on Dave and his continuing dislike with this whole "open marriage" he reluctantly agreed to with his wife Deena. In part because she seems to be cashing in on the idea while he's not into it at all. When the guys take off for a golf trip, Dave spills the story to them and even shows them the video of Deena and Richard fighting at the party from last week.

Variety is reporting that Monday night's episode is in fact the series finale for 7th Heaven. I guess all those rumors that the show was getting an 11th season were really just rumors. WB had previously announced that this season was the final one but when WB and UPN caved, things weren't so clear with new network The CW.

The show will wrap up with the return of Jessica Biel and Barry Watson, just in time for Simon Camden's marriage to Rose. "We think it will be pretty satisfying to people," said Stephen Collins, who plays Eric Camden.

(S01E04) What about him? For this episode, they should have changed the title to Everybody Needs Brian. I felt bad for the guy. All Brian was trying to do was have a lazy Saturday full of mindless sex, and the entire day his phone won't stop ringing.

After bumping into Lisa B. at the end of last week's episode, Brian brought her home, proceeded to undress her, and then spent the next 24 hours with her. As I said, his phone wouldn't stop ringing and the problem with that (especially when you have someone new in your apartment), is that they might hear something they shouldn't when the answering machine kicks in. Like what you might ask? Perhaps Marjorie, calling to tell Brian that the two of them need to figure out whatever it is that's going on between them. You do not, under any circumstances, want the girl that you just spent the entire day with hearing a message like that. Goodbye Lisa B.

(S01E03) This is just a feel good show. I watch it and I feel good. Simple as that, no prescription required. Then of course, I wonder what's wrong with me... that a show about semi-consensual adultery, dishonest relationships, lying, sex, and dirty thoughts about your best friend's fiancée is something that eases my mind and puts a smile on my face.

Who am I kidding? These days, that makes me the norm. The status quo. The guy next door. Which means I'm just like you and you should be watching this show too. It's awfully enjoyable and it's going to be a crying shame if ABC gives it the boot because it lacks in the ratings department. Three episodes in and I can say with certainty that no one should be forgetting about Brian.

(S01E02) I love this show. Usually that's a bad omen though. Shows I like get canceled. Take Love Monkey... hooray for the last 5 episodes on VH1 though. Then consider The Unit. I was not a big fan, yet it's getting plenty of rave reviews and lots of viewers. Balderdash I say! Let's just hope that Brian doesn't suffer from the curse of me. What if I say I hate it? Maybe it'll stick around.

Anyway, last night's "premiere" picked up right where Sunday night's "sneak preview" left off. Did anyone understand the point of advertising the two episodes like that? By calling Sunday's episode a sneak preview, at first it made me think that I didn't need to see the episode. Like it was some sort of season overview. I don't know, that whole plan didn't make sense to me. But I'm glad I saw both hours, because folks, this is good television.

(S01E01) If I had to make an educated guess, I'd say ABC is hoping that What About Brian can somehow become this year's Grey's Anatomy. It's coming in late in the season, which means we'll probably only get 7 to 9 episodes if it runs on - just like Grey's did. People will obsess on the few episodes we got. It'll become a huge conversation topic over the summer and by September, What About Brian will be on everyone's must see season premiere list. At least that's what ABC is hoping for.

Well, after tonight's pilot (although, they're calling tomorrow night's episode the premiere which I don't get... it's a new one), I can say that I'm hoping for the same outcome that ABC is. This show has got it. Whatever it is. It's got the quirkiness of Ed along with the "at the end of the day it seems like everyone just wants to get laid" mentality of Grey's. Plus it's funny. That sounds like something that should work... right?

The CW is reportedly thinking about giving 7th Heaven an eleventh season, even though The WB announced its cancellation back in November. According to the Los Angeles Times industry blog, called Channel Island, talks are underway to keep the family-friendly soap on the air for at least one more season.

The big question is why The CW would want to do this? When it canceled 7th Heaven, The WB said it's because the show will lose $16 million this year. I doubt these actors would agree to bump down their salaries for one last go.