TVSquad

We open on a beautiful mansion, panning into an elderly man sleeping. He sees something on his hands, rips the sheets back! The horror! It's the "head" of his luxury car! This homage to one of the most gruesome and classic scenes ever (horse head in bed scene in The Godfather...you've seen this right?) is pretty clever. The cut to the Audi R8 sitting in his driveway looking sinister, works well. Who knew a luxury car could have such a dark side?

I'm pretty sure that this TV Squad assignment -- make a list of all the things you're thankful for in television -- is going to get me in trouble with my family. See, I've only got so much introspection to spare and I've pretty much used up November's allotment making this list. When my wife asks me to give her one thing I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving, she'll probably be expecting me to say "all the love I receive from my family" or something else suitably goopy. When I say, "I'm really thankful for how good House has been this season," I'm going to get a carving knife plunged into my eye-socket.

But I knew the risks when I signed up to be a television blogger. As my blogging mentor Hyman Roth once told me, "This is the business we have chosen, Jay." My list after the jump...

(S01E06) Unlike 24, which is another fine, fast-paced, thrilling drama, Day Break has a good sense of humor. I am still laughing about seeing Damien, Hopper, and Damien's driver in the Skinheads' van listening to Journey Asia's "Heat of the Moment" (Thanks to Chris for the correction!). As if that wasn't good enough, it was great when they threw the CD out the window at Hopper after kicking him out.

I love how the show is editing sequences now, so that instead of seeing every detail, we see what is relevant. On the other hand, if we miss something (my husband ran out to get our son from swim practice) they will show you enough of what has happened that you can pick it up again pretty easily.

(S18E01) When Bart refuses to let Lisa sit with him on the bus, she tries to complain to Otto, but he'd rather rock out to his Grand Funk Railroad tape than bother with her. She tries to get his attention but manages to break his tape in the process, leaving him with no musical options except the kids' rendition of "Old MacDonald Had a Fart" and whatever crap his bus radio is spewing out. At that moment, he sees Metallica's tour bus stranded on the side of the road, but they opt to get a lift from Moleman, who once slept with Lars' grandmother. Oh yeah, and Bart steals the bus.

Enraged, Otto encounters Bart outside the school and spanks him. The corporal punishment is witnessed by Skinner, who instructs Otto to turn in his beaded seat cushion and gun. Until Otto is reinstated, the kids will have to rely on car pooling to get to school. On the first day, Marge takes Bart, Lisa and their friends, including Fat Tony's son, Michael. Since he's the son of a mob boss, everyone is afraid of Michael and wants nothing to do with him, but Lisa sees he's not the hardboiled criminal his father is and befriends him. Michael reveals he wants to be a chef, which upsets his father who wants him to take over the family business.