Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars is a new hour-long drama on ABC family airing during this summer season, and I recently checked out the first episode on Hulu (but it's currently also available for free on Itunes so check it out before that deal expires).

It tells the story of four girls whose best friend mysteriously disappears and how they deal with the crisis that follows. In the pilot, the best friend's, Allison, body has been discovered but the girls are still receiving mysterious person texts and letters from "A", posing as Allison.

I enjoyed it, even though some parts of it were confusing (I kept mixing up the two blond characters and forgetting which one went missing). I also couldn't figure out whether or not Jenna had been there at the beginning sleep over where Allison had gone missing (turns out she hadn't been--I'm confused as of right now where this whole storyline is going). I'm hoping the series explains more and gets better as it goes on.

Overall, it was pretty decent (especially for an ABC family drama) even if it seems kind of similar to Gossip Girl with the whole secret text messaging thing. Check out episode 2 on ABC family on Tuesday at 8.

What have you been watching this summer?

Party Down

Party Down is a show about people who are struggling in Hollywood business (actors, comedians and writers) who work for a catering company as a day job.

I'm actually quite surprised with how much I've seemingly managed to fallen in love with the show. I've watched both season 1 (10 episodes) and caught up with season 2 on Netflix in under a week. Yes, I happen to have a lot of time on my hands (I don't start working til like June 17th), but the show itself is addicting.

Season one took a while for me to get into, it seemed to drag a little and be a little boring. And I just didn't really like Jane Lynch (usually I adore her scene stealing roles) in the first couple of episodes, but around the third episode, Pepper McMasters Singles Seminar, the whole entire show started to begin to click. I think it was finally because the catering company started working these odd quirky parties that fit the cast themselves. Also, it was funny because it became more than the characters acting quirky at boring parties. The parties themselves became entertaining.

My favorite episode of the first season had to be the James Rolf High School Twentieth Reunion. I love how Ron (the company's boss and "Team Leader") thought it would be a good idea to work his own reunion to show people how successful he's become. It's hilarious.

My two favorite characters have to be Casey and Henry. I just love the chemistry they have and how you can tell that even though they when they aren't together as a couple you can still tell they have feelings for each other. Also, in kind of a weird way, can't help but love Roman. I love how he's so incredibly socially awkward and I never go an episode

Unfortunately, Jane Lynch left in the last couple of episodes of Season One (and does not appear in season two so far) to go be on Glee. In order to get the actors they did for the show, Rob Thomas and the creators only required a one year contract allowing the cast to pursue other pilots in case Party Down didn't make it. And Lynch did.

This also means that Adam Scott was free to leave at the end of season two to go pursue another role on Parks and Recreation, meaning he won't return if season three ends up happening.

Either way, Party Down is a show worth seeing. Check it out on Netflix, DVD or Starz website.

I don't Usually Do This, but...

Helen is a good friend, so I figured I'd give her blog some love. She's doing a giveaway of Meg Cabot's Runaway over at her blog Bookaholic Extraordinaire.  Everyone should go enter and follow her blog.

Hope everyone has a good weekend! I'll be posting about Party Down and Rescue Me soon!

Summer Television Woes

There isn't much to watch on TV when it comes to the summer. Network stations begin running reruns and reality TV shows (which I'm not a big fan of) leaving viewers without much to watch. So what's a serious TV addict to do during this television drought? You wouldn't think there would be a lot of options, but thanks to TV on DVD and the internet there's plenty.

One of my favorite websites to watch TV is Netflix. Sure, it coats a little, but it gives you plenty of options. For instance, I'm beginning to watch Party Down (a Starz series produced by Rob Thomas, the creator of Veronica Mars). It also stars a lot of my favorite Veronica Mars actors (and Jane Lynch) which is a huge plus. I also plan on catching up on Rescue Me (an FX series I've seen some episodes of) before it premieres July 29th.

I also exploring my old favorite TV shows on DVD. I've recently been doing a rewatch of Veronica Mars (it's been years since I've watched the episodes straight through in order). I'm also looking forward to the release of Everwood Season 3 (one of my other favorite cancelled shows).

I'll be posting on what I think of both Party Down and Rescue Me once I get a couple of episodes in to each series. But for now, how do you deal with the television drought during the summer?

A Letter to Ryan Murphy

I know, sadly, this blog has been lacking a lot of Glee content. And this post is going to be a little bit of complaining and personal opinions, so don't hate me. I just need to voice it.

Dear Mr. Murphy,

Glee was perfect in the first 13 episodes. I loved it almost as much as I've ever loved any TV show before. I slowly fell in love with the characters of Rachel, Quinn, Finn, Brittany, Puck and Emma. I loved the music too and listened to it repeatedly.

But somethings been missing in the back 9. Story lines have seemed forced. My favorite character, Quinn, barely had any lines. She disappeared. Also, you seemingly kicked Emma to the curb as well. I don't think we've really seen her in an episode for quite some time either. You brought in too many guest stars (whom I love--NPH, Idina Menzel, Kristen Chenowith) but they were given more solos than Quinn, a main star of the show, had during this whole half of this season. I would have loved to see these guys more spread out over the entire series, but they just took over, and I missed my main characters (who are the reason I love the show).

But you did give the show one redeeming thing in the back nine--Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff). He's what kept me watching. He became like a main character in my mind (and in my heart). But, Mr. Murphy, you didn't use him right. Yes, I realize he had to break Rachel's heart (Mr. Groff will be starring in a musical in London this fall, making his season 2 return improbable). But why does Jesse St. James go from this character who admits that he has feelings for Rachel in one episode (Dream On) and then up and leave for Vocal Adrenaline claiming he's been done wrong and no longer loves her two episodes later in Funk? Something felt like it was missing: it shouldn't have gone from him telling Shelby he has feeling for her to that he didn't belong in New Directions and it wasn't going to work out. It felt like a scene was cut--or even worse--the writers did some seriously sloppy writing. We should've seen the McKinley High kids being meaner to him. We should have seen Rachel and Jesse interact before things completely fell apart or how they fell apart. (Also--did the "Here's what you missed on Glee" thing say something about how Jesse and Rachel had broken up or was that just me hearing things?) This sudden breaking of Rachel's heart just happened so you could nicely tie up the season finale bow of Finchel. It wasn't right.

So you may have finally gave us Quinn lovers some Quinn in Funk, but you took away our St. Berry. And not kindly, might I add. I'm not sure I can keep watching Glee unless it starts to shape up better. Especially given the numerous ill-sounding rumors you've put out about season 2, which I don't even want to get into.

So, what will it be, Mr. Murphy?

Please stop ruining Glee.