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Review: 'Leverage' - 'The Future Job'


(S02E13) "He who sells miracles will have the devil knocking at his door."/"What's that? A proverb?"/"A fortune cookie." - Alec to Parker


Probably the most interesting aspect of 'Leverage', other than Parker's wonderful taste in form fitting dresses, is the way it manages to top itself in small areas.

Not every episode is a home run in every category on the checklist, but it does find new ways to heighten the action, increase the twists and broaden their stories give or take an episode.

Continue reading Review: 'Leverage' - 'The Future Job'

Review: Leverage - The Zanzibar Marketplace Job

Leverage
(S02E12) "[Nathan's] drinking is not a problem. It's a symptom." - Eliot to Tara


Action dramas don't have to be so layered. As long as the screen is filled with lots of explosions and tough guys with their backs to them, smirking at the camera as if to say, "Oh yeah, that's an explosion behind me and I caused it. I'm a badass, even if I would face federal charges for detonating an explosive device in a public area. So who out there wants to sleep with me?"

Even though this week's Leverage had a couple of moments like that, it still managed to be more layered in both its plot and characters than it has a right to be.

Continue reading Review: Leverage - The Zanzibar Marketplace Job

What's On Tonight: State of the Union, Leverage, Tosh.0

  • PsychAt 8, FOX has a new American Idol.
  • PBS has a new Tavis Smiley Reports at 8.
  • At 9, the major networks and other channels have The State of the Union Address.
  • TBS has four new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns starting at 9.
  • Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild at 9.
  • History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
  • Showtime has a new Inside the NFL at 9.
  • Fine Living has a new Whatever, Martha at 9.
  • Also at 9: Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters International.
  • At 9:30, ESPN2 has more of The Australian Open.
  • At 10, USA has the premiere of Psych.
  • TNT has a new Leverage at 10.
  • There's a new Nip/Tuck on FX at 10.
  • Bravo has a new Launch My Line at 10.
  • At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Tosh.0.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk shows.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: State of the Union, Leverage, Tosh.0

Review: Leverage - The Bottle Job

(S02E11) Leverage has the thankless task of walking one of the most difficult tightropes in television writing.

How do you keep an audience interested in a show that they already know how it will end? The good guys always win and have so far for TNT's favorite scheming do-gooders.

The show runners must have a whole bag of plot tricks and devices they use to keep the show interesting and last night's was one of the most interesting diversions to keep our minds off the fact that good is about to triumph evil.

Continue reading Review: Leverage - The Bottle Job

What's On Tonight: Gary Unmarried, Cougar Town, Nip/Tuck, Real World

  • Ugly BettyAt 8, CBS has a new Old Christine, followed by new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.
  • NBC has a new Mercy at 8.
  • FOX has a new American Idol at 8, then a new Human Target.
  • PBS has a new episode of The Human Spark at 8, followed by a new Great Performances at the Met.
  • At 9, ABC has a new Modern Family, then new episodes of Cougar Town and Ugly Betty.
  • TBS has four new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns starting at 9.
  • DirecTV 101 has a new Friday Night Lights at 9.
  • Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild at 9.
  • Food Network has a new Throw Down with Bobby Flay at 9.
  • There's a new MonsterQuest on History Channel at 9.
  • Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters International at 9.
  • Fine Living has a new Whatever, Martha at 9.
  • Showtime has a new Inside the NFL at 9.
  • At 10, NBC has a new Jay Leno Show.
  • TNT has a new Leverage at 10.
  • FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
  • Bravo has a new Launch My Line at 10.
  • TV Land has a new High School Reunion at 10.
  • Also at 10: MTV has a new Real World.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk shows.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: Gary Unmarried, Cougar Town, Nip/Tuck, Real World

Review: Leverage - The Runway Job (mid-season premiere)


(S02E10) "Tara Cole is the best. I wouldn't have sent her if I didn't trust her and I know you're going to love her, so just give her a chance." - Sophie to Parker, Alec and Elliot/"Well, she is hot." - Elliot


No one makes for a better enemy than some kind of ruthless fashion designer. They are the epitome of bloodsucking evil. They want everything, produce nothing and expect to get even more than everything for even less. They are the real world equivalent of a James Bond villain, only not as tastefully dressed.

So it's a perfect way to reacquaint us with the wily antics of Nathan Ford and company as they permeate the seedy underbelly of the world's most powerful evil, even if the way they take them down does have a tiny number of noticeable holes.

Continue reading Review: Leverage - The Runway Job (mid-season premiere)

What's On Tonight: Old Christine, Mercy, Friday Night Lights, Leverage

Modern Family
  • At 8, CBS has a new Old Christine, then new episodes of Gary Unmarried, Criminal Minds, and CSI: NY.
  • NBC has a new Mercy, followed by new episodes of Law and Order: SVU and The Jay Leno Show.
  • FOX has a new American Idol at 8.
  • PBS has a new episode of The Human Spark at 8, followed by a new Great Performances.
  • At 8:30, ABC has a new episode of The Middle, then new episodes of Modern Family, Cougar Town, and Ugly Betty.
  • At 9, DirecTV 101 has a new Friday Night Lights.
  • TBS has four new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns at 9.
  • History Channel has a new, two-hour MonsterQuest at 9.
  • There's a new Ghost Hunters International at 9 on Syfy.
  • Showtime has a new Inside The NFL at 9.
  • At 9:30, A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter, followed by a new Steven Seagal: Lawman.
  • At 10, TNT has the premiere of Leverage.
  • FX has a new Nip/Tuck at 10.
  • Bravo has a new Launch My Line at 10.
  • TV Land has the season premiere of High School Reunion at 10.
  • Also at 10: MTV has a new episode of The Real World.
  • At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Tosh.0.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk shows.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: Old Christine, Mercy, Friday Night Lights, Leverage

Leverage mid-season return -- An early look


My TV has been waiting for a show like Leverage. It's also been waiting for a new TV stand and a more slender, attractive person to look back at, but it's not getting either until it drops the attitude.

It's one of those few shows that blends together the things that make other TV shows so great. It's got the action packed, tense drama of an episode of 24, the wry and sharp wit of Frasier and the complex and twisted plot logic of any episode of Lost.

The only difference is unlike 24, the action doesn't overtake the front seat from the drama at gun point. Unlike Frasier, it doesn't find comedy by talking so far over the average audience's head that frost has to form on their forehead in order for them to appreciate it. And unlike Lost, your head doesn't explode by the end of every episode.

Continue reading Leverage mid-season return -- An early look

TNT sets return date for Leverage

leverage_tntThis morning some good news leaked out sooner than expected, although I don't think it was that big a surprise to learn that TNT is bringing Leverage back on Wednesday, January 13 at 10 p.m. Surprise news or not, it's still great to know that we have fresh episodes coming in early 2010.

There are six episodes of Leverage left from season two, then the third season will commence in the summer. This set up is a lot like The Closer, and you know how well that split schedule has been working. By the way, you do know that split schedules is one of the things I'm most grateful about this holiday season, don't you?

Continue reading TNT sets return date for Leverage

What's On Tonight: Presidential Address, America's Next Top Model, Glee

  • WipeoutAt 7, ESPN2 has more coverage of The U.S. Open.
  • At 8, ABC, CBS, NBC, C-SPAN, and the news channels have the Presidential Address.
  • FOX has the season premiere of So You Think You Can Dance at 8, followed by the series premiere of Glee.
  • The CW has the two-hour season premiere of America's Next Top Model.
  • Cartoon Network has a new Bobb'e Says at 8, then a new Dude, What Would Happen?
  • At 9, ABC has a new Wipeout, then a new Primetime: Crime.
  • NBC has a new America's Got Talent at 9.
  • There's a new Leverage on TNT at 9, followed by a new Dark Blue.
  • Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild at 9.
  • BBC America has a new Gordon Ramsay's F Word at 9.
  • Showtime has a new Inside the NFL at 9.
  • Also at 9: Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters.
  • At 10, Bravo has a new Top Chef: Las Vegas.
  • MTV has a new episode of The Real World at 10.
  • TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns at 10.
  • Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
  • At 11, ION repeats the premiere of Durham County.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk shows.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: Presidential Address, America's Next Top Model, Glee

What's On Tonight: American Masters, Ghost Hunters, Man vs. Food

  • The Real WorldAt 7, ESPN has more of The U.S. Open.
  • At 8, ABC has a new Wipeout, followed by new episodes of Crash Course and Primetime: Crime.
  • NBC has a two new episodes of America's Got Talent at 8.
  • FOX has a new So You Think You Can Dance at 8, then a repeat of the series premiere of Glee.
  • PBS has a new American Masters at 8.
  • TCM has Mr. Smith Goes To Washington at 8, then Casablanca.
  • Also at 8: Cartoon Network has a new Bobb'e Says, followed by a new Dude, What Would Happen?
  • At 9, TBS has two new episodes of Meet the Browns.
  • TNT has a new Leverage at 9, followed by a new Dark Blue.
  • Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild at 9.
  • Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters at 9.
  • BBC America has a new Gordon Ramsay's F Word at 9.
  • At 9:30, A&E has a new Dog The Bounty Hunter, then a new Criss Angel Mindfreak.
  • At 10, Bravo has a new Top Chef: Las Vegas.
  • Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
  • MTV has a new episode of The Real World at 10.
  • Travel Channel has a new Man vs. Food at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk shows.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: American Masters, Ghost Hunters, Man vs. Food

Leverage hired for a third season on TNT

LeverageGood news for everyone who's ever been screwed by someone in power. Not so good news for everyone in power. TNT just picked up Leverage for a third season, and I couldn't be happier. In the first season, Leverage worked because of the cleverness of the heists the gang got up to. I found myself trying to figure out all the angles they were working, but by the end they still managed to trick me a couple of times.

The second season saw them lose their stately headquarters and tackle these jobs in a much more street level fashion, and in several ways the show got better. At the same time, rather than the heist always taking center stage, at times it was our five characters that shone brightest.

By that I'm referring to the quirks of their individual personalities, because we haven't gotten a great deal of character development this season. The banter and camaraderie within the crew gives us some great lines and moments each week, though. Now that a third season is secured, I'd like to see the character arcs for those great personalities pick up again.

Hey, Wil Wheaton's on Leverage tonight!

We here at TV Squad like Wil Wheaton. He starred on Star Trek: TNG and tons of movies and writes fun books and even wrote a great column for us at one point. Tonight he guest stars on Leverage, and as you can see from the clip below, he's in his natural habitat: sitting in front of a computer, typing.

What's On Tonight: Top Chef, Leverage, Ghost Hunters, Meet the Browns

  • Gordon RamsayAt 8, ABC has a new Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
  • FOX has Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage at 8.
  • NBC has two new episodes of America's Got Talent at 8.
  • Nickelodeon has another new Glenn Martin, DDS at 8.
  • Cartoon Network has a new Bobb'e Says, then new episodes of Dude What Would Happen? and The Othersiders.
  • At 9, Bravo has the season premiere of Top Chef: Las Vegas, followed by the season finale of Top Chef Masters.
  • TBS has two new episodes of Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns at 9.
  • TNT has a new Leverage at 9, then a new Dark Blue.
  • Discovery has a new Man vs. Wild at 9.
  • There's a new Dog The Bounty Hunter on A&E at 9, followed by a new Criss Angel Mindfreak.
  • History Channel has a new MonsterQuest at 9.
  • BBC America has a new Gordon Ramsay's F Word at 9.
  • Also at 9: Syfy has a new Ghost Hunters.
  • At 10, MTV has a new episode of The Real World.
  • Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
  • At 10:30, Comedy Central has a new Michael & Michael Have Issues.

Check your local TV listings for more.

After the jump, the late night talk shows.

Continue reading What's On Tonight: Top Chef, Leverage, Ghost Hunters, Meet the Browns

TNT's giving us more Leverage

Nate_Leverage
While this off-network summer season has reached a fevered pitch after last with the return of Mad Men, not to be overlooked is that other cable shows have also been delivering the goods. Shows like Burn Notice and Leverage, for instance. Regarding Leverage, there's good news to report. TNT will air two extra Leverage episodes in the weeks ahead.

Continue reading TNT's giving us more Leverage

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