I’ve been watching television in spurts lately and not in any form of timely fashion. Until this past weekend, I still had yet to watch any of MAD MEN and was behind on all episodes of THE CLOSER except for the premiere. SWINGTOWN had me two eps behind but I’m happy to say that I’m close to caught up.

Last night’s episode of THE CLOSER was hilarious and Jennifer Coolidge as a deludinoid hiring Provenza to kill her husband was inspirational. I was talking with my friend Lil Jenn on Sunday about how incredible this season of The Closer has been and we can’t really pinpoint why. The murders of the week have been really strong and compelling and they’re really living up to what creator James Duff alluded to… POWER.

Whether it’s Brenda trying to hold power over Fritz and the FBI to close her case or whether Priority Homicide is battling Ramos from the LA Times or whether a cocksure Jock is raping ugly girls, the season has been incredibly spot on. I’m loving it now just as much as I always have and that says a lot about a show in it’s 4th season. Go Brenda Leigh Johnson and Co.!

MAD MEN is back and I’m still not completely caught up but I have officially seen (and loved) the first two episodes. I just ended the episode with Pete’s Dad going down in Flight 1 which was an incredible episode about emotions and how everyone on the show conceals their true feeling and studies how people cope with any situation.

I’m blown away by the control Peggy has and the denial she lives with in Season 2. She’s so focused on what she wants from her job that she can completely disconnect herself from that bastard child her sister is now raising for her. It’s scary and I love it. Pete trying to deal with how to move on out of the shadow of his Father is fascinating as well. The lack of emotion is frightening but perfect for who Pete Campbell is at his core. PS – that’s one frakked family.

The Draper’s are wigging me out a little too. I’m digging how they’re focusing on the family a little more this season instead of Don’s affair with Midge or the Menkens dollface because it’s unrealistic to think he could spend that little time at home and not have Betty pull that shotgun out.

Joan is Joan and she’s fantastic. Sure she’s a little racist and classist but dammit she’s Joan through and through. I love how they keep alluding to her Doctor boyfriend and how everyone either hates the thought of him or doesn’t believe he even exists. I’m kinda over the Joan/Sterling relationship so I’m glad she sorta taunts him.

What about Salvatore’s wife being Sarah Drew from Everwood? So far it’s a waste of a great talent but I’m hoping that means she’ll factor into the storyline at some point. I mean obviously the beard has to get a scene or two. I’m just anticipating that moment.

*Now remember, I’m one episode behind so shut it shida on the spoilers.

“Give it up, give it up…” Oh how I heart the Liz Phair theme song to SWINGTOWN. I have to tell you right here and now that watching the show makes me sad. It’s not because the show is overly dramatic and draining, it’s because every episode gets better and better but the threat of cancellation gets greater and greater.

Ratings are tanking for Swingtown and I can’t comprehend it. Sure the first two episodes were all over the place and a little too kitschy but once the show hit its stride it’s been banoodles of greatness and the thought of losing this show pains me.

The acting is superb, the storylines are not only profound but compelling. The tone of the show has shifted from almost farcical to almost painful in the honesty they’re getting at with these characters. Laurie’s relationship with hot teach Doug Stephens is somehow romantic instead of creepy and I love that we accepted the relationship in almost the same way Susan did. Susan and Roger’s dangerously close friendship scares me because I know it will mean the end of Susan and Janet’s relationship (for the time being).

We’re heading toward a major divorce between Susan and Bruce which is fine by me because he’s kind of a douche lately. The Dekker’s have become surprisingly wonderful people. I think the honesty between their characters have really allowed for some of the most critical betrayals on the show (both within their own marriage and between the others) and they remain the catalyst for change in that freaky suburb of theirs. Even the teen boys are compelling.

Does anyone else see a little gay vibe from Janet’s son? I mean, the kid is a little too possessive of B.J. and jealous of his relationship with next door neighbor Sam. I’m just saying.

If this show dies this summer, I’ll be profoundly sad. There’s no harm in leaving it as a 13 episode run every summer so CBS needs to make it happen. Save Swingtown Now!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 7:52 am and is filed under Ducky Does TV, Mad Men, Swingtown, The Closer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.