Mad Men: My Old Kentucky Home - Review

After watching tonight's episode of Mad Men I was left with a strange feeling. Was it the social awkwardness seen in many of the characters? Or was it that nothing really happened to move the story along? Don't get me wrong I really liked this episode but in a different way that I liked the first two of the outstanding 3rd season. Maybe I was just hungry. Hmm.

"My Old Kentucky Home" kept with this seasons theme of change as this time we get to see how the characters react to social and status changes. As always, the atmosphere was dripping with authenticity which only adds to the richness of what's on the screen. This show has always been about the deeply layered characters and not about "moving the story" along.

Class conscious insecurities are plentiful as there were lots of just under the surface issues that the characters try to come to grips with such as Peggy doing anything to advance her career; Joan putting on the best show possible in order to further her husbands career; Roger throwing a Kentucky Derby party at his country club to show people he is happy and Betty strutting her stuff to strangers again.

Since most of episode happened outside the business hours of Sterling Cooper we also get to see how unhappy everyone really is with their lot in life. It was kinda nice not to see Lane Pryce's blunders though it wasn't as nice to not see Don Draper's creative brilliance or to hear Sal's sarcastic quips.

-- Janaki Cedanna

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Entourage: The Sorkin Notes - Review

This weeks episode of Entourage was a surprise. When I saw the preview and it showed that they were revisiting E's love life I screamed "Oh no!" But I was pleasantly surprised by not only the pacing of this episode but that the writers actually wrote some honest moments and gave the little Irishman something else to say besides "Whatever."

This episode called "The Sorkin Notes" was very well handled despite the E love triangle, the train wreck that is the Andrew story line and it not being very funny. Gary Cole was actually given a chance to show why he's such a good actor and the plot point revolving around writer Aaron Sorkin was as well placed as any cameo in the show's run. Bonus points for featuring a collagen enhanced Beverly D'Angelo and a very creepy (as usual) Peter Stormare. I'm the first one to admit when I'm wrong when it comes to predicting how good an episode of Entourage is (just don't ask my girlfriend what she thinks.) But I digress . . .

-- Janaki Cedanna

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Mad Men: Love Among the Ruins - Review

Last weeks season premiere of Mad Men answered some questions raised last season but tonight's episode did little to answer any more. If you're looking for neatly tied up (like Kinsey's ascot) storylines than look elsewhere.

This episode exemplifies why this show is the best thing on television. Brilliant acting, timely but not revisionist history and real reactions are trademarks of this show. By touching on actual events the show never fails to amuse by showing the characters reactions and narrow mindedness. In keeping with this seasons theme of change, the emergence of a new way of thinking abounds. We also get to nail down the time frame for this season to a certainty.

Roger is already married to an unseen Jane and is footing the bill for his daughter's marriage. Peggy feels compelled to assert her sexuality after seeing the opening segment of Bye Bye Birdie (which came out in the spring of 1963) and Joan's effortless charm. While Betty is the poster child of "what not to do while pregnant." And what of Don? Don proves once again why he's so successful at what he does. Repeatedly.

-- Janaki Cedanna

Click Here for Full Review at TV Fodder - Mad Men: Love Among the Ruins - Review (This means you Aria)

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Entourage: No More Drama - Review

Let me start out by saying that this episode of Entourage is the best one all season. It had it everything, funny scenes, great dialogue and above all good acting from everyone. Including Arnold the dog.

I was worried that creator Doug Ellin would let me down by making the whole Drama apology painful but it was very well written and I laughed more times during this episode than I have all season. This episode called"No More Drama" featured some notable performances from a foul mouthed Bob Saget and a smarmy Scott Caan. From the opening scene the show hit the ground running and never let up once. There was a deaf Arnold, a Vince stalker, a tough Johnny Drama and E learning how to walk.

-- Janaki Cedanna

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Mad Men: Out of Town - Review

Tonight's triumphant return of Mad Men nearly picks up right where it left off. Right off the bat there are a number of interesting and compelling plot points that may propel this season as the best yet. Seriously. Creator Matthew Weiner has said this season is all about change and man he wasn't kidding.

I was extremely surprised by some of the developments and how the characters handled them. So, with my Lucky Strikes in one hand and a Dewar's Scotch in the other I dug in and at times couldn't believe what I was seeing. A lot happened so . . . on to the review and recap!

Unlike the 2nd season premiere, the season 3 premiere called "Out of Town" did not have a huge time jump. Sure some things happened previously off screen and if I had to guess I would say it was 3-4 months later given the nature of Betty's pregnancy. And there's the matter of the British Invasion! No, not that one. But first things first.

As the episode opens we see the circumstances of Dick Whitman's (aka Don Draper's) birth. Don's in flashback mode as he tries to make some warm milk in the middle of the night. Then the first bomb drops. Turns out Don is the bastard son of a prostitute who died in childbirth. It's also revealed that his father got the prostitute pregnant and after he was born the midwife spilled the beans to the wife when she dropped off the baby to him. After many failed attempts Don's dad couldn't get his wife pregnant and this is why Don's childhood was so hellish. In one line it's clear that his father is not a good person. There was some humor as the prostitute threatens to cut off the d*ick of Don's dad if he got her in "trouble". This is how Don got the name Dick. Nicely done.

We find out that the milk is for none other than a pregnant and sleepless Betty. Yes, the second bomb has dropped. All appears to be good between Don and Betty and they even seem happy. In pregnancy she has reverted back to childlike form. Betty tells Don that she packed a bag for his business trip but he'll have to repack it due to Sally breaking the clasp she blithely tells him that Sally "is taking to your tools like a little lesbian". Gotta love those Bettyisms.

-- Janaki Cedanna

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Entourage: Murphy's Lie - Review

Now this is what I've been talking about. This episode should have been called "The Real Drama" as the REAL Johnny Drama finally showed up. Neurotic, insecure and susceptible to suggestion, Drama can still be a threatening psychopath when he wants to be. And that's just the way I like it.

Even though we had ample "Drama" we also had the misfortune of seeing E bumble through another relationship. We also had Ari making amends with the wife and attempting to control his agency. Vince was also pretty good tonight as he's skewing younger by picking up college chicks with video cameras. And best of all we finally get a new nemesis on the show. This time Drama instead of Ari is going to war. We haven't had a good once since Alan Gray dropped dead on the gold course last year.

This episode called "Murphy's Lie" is the official mid-point this season and with only 6 episodes left it's about time Entourage gets rolling. The last two episodes lost track of what makes the show great. Friendship, and loyalty. Of course it never hurts when the guys are put into funny situations and they just react. That's the basis of great comedy.

-- Janaki Cedanna

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Entourage: Fore! - Review

It had to happen sooner or later right? The bubble has burst with this subpar episode following last weeks train wreck. It just goes to show two things: don't break with a tried and true formula and never, ever give the best lines to guest stars.

After a strong start to it's sixth season, Entourage has stumbled a bit nearing the midway point. Tonight's episode called Fore! left nearly all the character development it had earned in the dust. And what's with Johnny Drama? He's going south in a hurry. His insecurities were hilarious when he got zero respect and couldn't get a job but now he's just plain mean. Especially after last weeks fiasco when he had the nerve to ask Turtle to get Jamie-Lynn to agree to be his love interest on Five Towns. That was just plain wrong on so many levels and was completely out of character for such a loyalist like Drama.

As quickly as I got on board with and really liked the character growth, I'm just not happy with the last two episodes. Creator Doug Ellin is veering off into a very weird direction that puts the show in danger of alienating the rest of the core fan base. But the episode wasn't all bad as it definitely had it's moments. As an homage I will also break with my review formula. Why not?

-- Janaki Cedanna

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