wonderwoman

Nice piece in today's New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/business/media/this-is-us-nbc-tv-mandy-moore-milo-ventimiglia.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Farts&action=click&contentCollection=arts&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

This might be just a bit TMI: Rachel Bloom's toilet training...

This is a really smart move by NBC (she said, hopefully:). One of the real challenges serialized shows face in uncertainity. So, renewing this early gives, along with the # of episodes per, gives the writers a leg up in laying out how the story will unfold. Unlike Parenthood, which was often renewed late in the game, and the # of episodes bounced around, as well.

Sad to say, since Greg left, my interest has waned, but ain't going to miss Patti LuPone as a rabbi doing the hora with Tovah Feldshuh!

from salon: While this is a piece about the Gilmore Girls revival, there's an odd reference to JtV: "The CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” which deals with the everyday realities of pregnancy in an extremely matter-of-fact way, stumbled last year when Petra (Yael Grobglas) was considering having an abortion" As I recall, when Petra got hold of Rafael's lost sperm sample, she impregnated herself, so considering an abortion would have made no sense. Of course, given how much plot the show burns through, I could be forgetting another pregnancy.

from salon: Not entirely clear what the author's point is.

In total agreement. I always lsaw the potential in Jess, and would have loved to Rory see it as well.

See, now that's how I felt about Parenthood. But here, I'm not feeling manipulated; the scenes feel organic and authentic. And while I'm not sobbingl; I have been moved.

Hate to burst your bubble, but JtV doesn't return until Jaunary 23rd.

I've only watched "Winter," and found it exacerbated much of what I found frustrating in the series overall: the utter lack of awareness on the part of both Rory and Lorelei. Over the course of 7 seasons, if was offset by other aspects of the characters and their relationships. But here, it was stuck out and, at least for me, allowed me to lose sight of what made me love the show. Forgetting a boyfriend? Pure plot; ASP never even went through the motions to show us why he was so forgettable; I don't think the guy had more than 5 lines. Same with Lorelei and the chef. He moved the coffee pot? He's not Suki? Well, Suki's not there; it's been a year. Grow up! Luke and Lorelei together for almost 10 years and they've never discussed having a child? Part of the problem was with so much else going on in the episode there was no time to lay the emotional groundwork, as there would have been in a series. So, it felt forced. Of course, had there been a little less Kirk (a little Kirk goes a long, long way:) And, much as I always loved Paris, I found this characterization, while certainly true to the character, more in service to the plot than anything else. I did love the Emily-Lorelei confrontation. Tha emotional complexity of that relationship is the foundation upon which GG was built, even more so than Lorelei and Rory.

Apologies -- I forgot that it started with Winter.

Why is this stuff posted in the Fall thread, which is the only one i've been reading because I DIDN'T want to be spoiled!

The AV Club is another review advising against binge watching all four episodes. Can't remember where I read it, but one critic she watched with her daughter over four consecutive nights. http://www.avclub.com/review/gilmore-girls-first-streaming-revival-benefit-elbo-246264http://www.avclub.com/review/gilmore-girls-first-streaming-revival-benefit-elbo-246264

Todd VanDerWerff @ Vox: not a rave, but some thoughtful insights. http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/11/18/13655576/gilmore-girls-netflix-year-in-the-life-flaw

Re Jamie: Sad to say, I fully expect them to squander what could be a potentially fascinating story: Youngest son abandons the law not too long after graduating from Harvard (for fuck's sake) to join the family business where he now stagnating. He say's he's happy being a beat cop; clearly he's not. But, he's won't even take the sargent's exam, because even if he aces it, there's little likelihood that he'd be promoted because his father's the police commish, and the optics would look bad. No wonder the guy's frustrated and throwing punches (the Eddie thing's just a smokescreen). There's so much emotional material to mine here, but this show doesn't do deep dives into character, so it's likely to be another exercise in frustration and futility.

No spoilers, but this seemed like the right place. alan sepinwall's take

It's one-note because since Kevin moved to the East Coast, the character exists in a vacuum. What works so beautifully about this show is how connected the characters and their history are. Easily fixed if Kate comes East. But, if she remains in LA, it's going to be difficult, if not impossible, to fully integrate her into the storytelling.

Not loving the new opening. But was thrilled to see Albert Tsai as Rebecca's ping pong coach. Loved him since the brillant-but-cancelled Trophy Wife.

See, I feel exactly the opposite. I found all that "heartstring-tugging" on Parenthood contrived. The writers always telegraphed the scenes that were supposed to make viewers cry. And, with one exception, that's why I never did.

That makes sense. But with Rafael so involved in decisions re Mateo, it would be nice if he at least acknowledged his daughters, as well. And with Anezka inpersonating Petra, want to see how she's dealing with "motherhood."

Finally, an unplanned pregnancy handled in an adult manner, without histrionics, but with consequences, resolved a bit too neatly (and quickly) for my taste. But, what the hell; let's put this one in the win column. The was a great episode all the way around. Loved seeing Michael's emotional reaction, a perfect illustration of how a tearful scene should work; not telegraphed from a mile away, but rather sneaking up on viewers.. And, I may have missed this, but with Petra frozen in the hospital, who's taking care of the twins? Was this addressed last week? Or is it a rare slip up by the writers?

Alan Sepinwall's preview (no spoilers) at Hitfix: http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/review-crazy-ex-girlfriend-is-crazier-and-better-than-ever-in-season-2

Yes! And wash your lab coat. I've never been able to figure out if the shrinks at Chicago Med wear a different colored lab coat or if we're supposed to think that being a slop is party of Charles' quirky appeal. Much as I love Oliver Platt (he and S Epatha {not enough her} were big draws for me), looking at the dingy grey lab coat every episode makes me a little nauseous.

Ahh... Thanks.

Okay -- this is my first time watching The Talk (still bitter about the P&G soaps), and I missed the first 10 minutes. So, could someone explain why these women look as though they skipped hair and makeup and rolled on to the set straight out of bed.