Welcome Friends!
One show that I thought I wouldn’t like was Better Off Ted. I’ve worked in big corporations before I was a writer, and the stupidity that runs rampant in 
the executive offices can be more alarming than funny.
I haven’t seen all the episodes but the ridiculousness presented with such a straight face cracks me up. Probably because there is a bite of truth to it!
What TV show did you think you would like but ended up loving?
The best scene ever is from “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” (Season 2, Episode 11) of The Big Bang Theory. It’s when Penny gives Sheldon a Christmas gift. I just love Sheldon’s reaction. What do you think is the best TV show scene ever?
I think everyone should watch at least one episode of The Big Bang Theory. Why? Because everyone has an inner nerd.
There’s a beauty and the geek storyline between physicist Leonard and his neighbor Penny, but the real focus is on four nerds learning about life outside of the lab.
There is Leonard, whose brilliance gets in the way in his search for love; Howard, who thinks he’s a ladies’ man; Raj, who suffers from extreme shyness; and Sheldon, the uber-geek who will design an algorithm on how to make friends. What I love most is the interaction with Sheldon and Penny. Sheldon is so rigid and Penny knows how to get him out of his comfort zone, whether he likes it or not.
What is a TV show you think everyone should watch?
My least favorite episode is “Home” from Glee. There was a lot of stuff going on in this episode. The writers touched on healthy body image, the lengths Kurt will go to in his infatuation for Finn, and Will’s need to fixed damaged women like April who is a former Glee club member that once had so much promise and is now an alcoholic mistress to a strip mall tycoon.
Okay, that all sounded odd, but it is the world of Glee.
I didn’t like this episode for a couple of reasons. The music didn’t move me and some of the storylines were awkward and preachy. And, as much as I like Kristen Chenoweth, her character doesn’t add much to the lives of those in Glee.
What about you? What is your least favorite episode in your favorite TV show?
My favorite episode from my favorite TV show is “Theatricality” from Glee. It’s the Lady Gaga one. I like it because it focused on what the show is about when everyone feels like a freak or a loser or out of place. I guess the theme is really about acceptance. The gleeks are punished in some way of showing their individuality and not fitting in. They need a safe environment like Glee club to wave their freak flag.
Oh, and it was a bonus to watch Burt defend his son. Best TV dad ever.
I really hope that the writers of Glee do more between the jocks and the gleeks in Season 2. I don’t want to watch over-the-top drama, but I want to see the Glee club members unite and take a stand against the bullies. The Gleeks might ultimately lose (as the show states, high school is a caste system. The jocks are in the penthouse and the glee club is in the subbasement), but it would be an epic battle.
What about you? What was your favorite episode of your favorite TV show?
I don’t think there has been a TV show that I hated. Sure, there were plenty that I stopped watching. And there are many more that I’ve never 
tuned in for because they didn’t appeal to me.
If there was a “genre” of TV that I don’t watch, it would be reality TV. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s the intense competition. Sometimes I can’t sit still or even look. And sometimes it’s the mission that sets me on edge. Once I saw an episode of “Wipeout”. The name alone should have clued me in. I was flinching and wincing during the entire show, wondering if these people would be able to walk—or crawl—at the end of the day!!
The strange thing is that I have a lot of things in common with my twin sister, but this is where we are different. She loves reality shows, especially Big Brother!
My favorite show ever is Remington Steele starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan. There are three big reasons why this is my favorite TV show:
The premise: A jewel thief/con artist wants to steal the Royal Lavulite gems Laura Holt and the Remington Steele detective agency are assigned to protect. The thief discovers that there is no one by the name of Remington Steele and that Laura had created a fictional boss because no one would hire a female detective. So what does the thief do? He steals the identity of Remington Steele.
Remington keeps the identity because it’s a good gig (a penthouse apartment, limo driver, and the best tables at restaurants), but he’s also very interested in Laura Holt. Laura wants him out of her life, but she can’t expose him as an imposter. She’s trying to do her job, but now no one will listen to her because they want the “boss.” While she is the brains behind the operation and reins in Remington from causing too much damage with his new role, Laura and Remington manage to solve quite a few mysteries.
The clever plots: Many of the mysteries and plot points are inspired by movies, but the writers gave them a fresh take. I love the balance of comedy, mystery, romance and action. The episodes are fast-paced but they also offer poignant and thoughtful moments.
I prefer the mysteries that affected the main characters, like when Remington Steele must run from his past or discover his parentage. As much as I enjoyed the episodes that are set in Europe and Mexico, my favorites are “Steele Framed” (Season 2, Episode 5) and “Elegy in Steele” (Season 2, Episode 16) that involves their nemesis, Major Descoine. They are running for their lives through Los Angeles while reaching a new level of trust in order to survive.
The romance: This is one of those romantic relationships that are designed to frustrate the audience. There was the promise of intimacy only to be pulled apart. Lots of interruptions and potential love triangles. I didn’t like the contrived obstacles because there were plenty of relationship issues Remington and Laura had to work through before they could be a couple.
Remington is the worst guy for Laura. She doesn’t want to take a chance on him because he’s the kind of guy who will one day walk out of her life, just like her father did when she was young. He is a thief with no name, and she doesn’t trust his true motivations for staying around. Laura is the worst woman for Remington. She can predict his moves and gets too close to uncovering the man behind the disguise. He needs to be on the run to stay one step ahead of the authorities, but he’s tempted to stay put to be with Laura.
Laura and Remington are perfect partners. When the going gets tough, they will break every rule and take every risk to protect each other.
What is your favorite TV show ever?
My favorite new show is the musical comedy Glee. I almost stopped watching it early in the season. As much as I liked the pilot, it started getting weird with all the baby drama. I can’t keep tuning into to a TV show that makes me angry.
Once they dropped that storyline (and not a moment too soon!) I started enjoying it again. I don’t like all the characters. I’m not sure what makes Finn the automatic leader or why every woman who comes into contact with Will wants to sleep with him. I’m going to chalk it up to musical mentality. You know, when everyone breaks out into song and knows all the dance moves. That is musical mentality.
Yes, the show has had its hits and misses, but Glee is at its best when the focus is on the kids’ journey in finding their place in the world. It’s not all fluff or comedic. One of my favorite episodes is “Dream On” (Season 1, Episode 19) when the students discover that not all dreams can come true.
What about you? What is your favorite new show aired this TV season?
I wish more people were watching Lie to Me. It was on a very long hiatus and I think it’s one of those series that could easily get canceled because no one can find it when it’s on TV.
The show is based on Paul Ekman’s research in psychology studying facial expressions, emotion and deception. It’s a fascinating science that many people discredit, yet government agencies, educational and medical personnel use Dr. Ekman’s training to “read” people.
In the show, the characters mission is to get the truth. Sometimes they meet their match in serial killers and psychopaths. I think the show has really hit its stride since returning from hiatus because they are focusing more on the main character’s past and what makes him the lie detector he is today.
What TV show do you wish more people were watching?
One show that I think should have never been canceled was Nero Wolfe. It had great mysteries and an incredible style. There was so much 
attention to detail and the effort was worthwhile. I loved how the show created a world with bold colors and even bolder characters.
I think having a repertory cast (using the same actors every week, but cast in different roles) was its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. The actors were amazing and I was continually impressed at how one actor could become a completely different person week after week. However, a repertory cast is confusing for a TV audience. If I clicked over to see the show and saw the same people from last week, I would think it was a repeat.
These days Nero Wolfe is part of my Christmas tradition. I watch “Christmas Party” when I’m wrapping presents.
Yes, this is why my gifts look like a homicidal maniac wrapped them.
What about you? Name a TV show that should have never been canceled.
