Watching The CW

No new Supernatural last night but I did have two episodes of Smallville on my DVR. Static from last week and then last nights repeat of Hydro. Except when I was watching Hydro I didn’t at first realize that it was a repeat until the Green Arrow popped up and Lana was all confused by whether or not to marry Lex. This was because I was totally distracted by having Tori Spelling back on prime time as a gossip columnist. Of the two Static was the most fun because is combined the strengths of CW: fantasy drama plus the Pussycat Dolls PLUS Friday Night Smack Down.

I kid you not - I think they are on to a winner!

A Krypto fight club has sprung up where meteor affected people go to knock each other about and it is streamed live all over the world. It turns out that Titan from the Phantom Zone (a “Zoner” if you will) is headlining and Clark (and Lois) head off to stop this, or in Lois case dress like Janet Jackson (she was undercover, doh!) and flirt with the female security guard. Both Clark and Titan are spoiling for a fight. Titan is a warrior (with Kryptonic prison tats) whilst Clark has had that mean and hungry look ever since the wedding.

Clark us is christened ‘The Man of Steel’ at the fight club and has to fight Lois! Ever the gentleman he refuses to fight her, but does shoot death rays from his eyes to blow out the webcam and some how alerts Titan to his presence. A nasty fight ensues. Titan has a sneaky, pointy weapon up his sleeve but in the end good triumphs and Clark kills Titan in accidental self-defense.

Back in Lutherland, Lana loses the baby and Lex is covering up the paperwork trail from the hospital but burning all the medical records. What is up there? I have a feeling that when Lana finds out she is going to be even more of a threat to Lex than Clark.

Overall one of the stronger episodes I’ve seen, Clark in black leather helped but what is up with Clark’s base of operations being the barn? He needs a Bat Cave or something!

The CW, Smallville, Superman, Clark Kent, Lana Lang, Lex Luther, Lois and Clark, Krypto fightclub

I think that the episodes get stronger the further into the cycle we get. It is easier to keep a track of who’s who when we are down to 9 or so girls, and we start to get more time spent on the photo shoots and challenges. Plus, we can start to look forward to when they whittle down the numbers enough for them to go overseas and get the girls really out of their comfort zone. I love it when they have to do their “go sees” and they get lost in Jo’berg, Paris or wherever. Kinda hoping they go to London this year so they could show Britain’s Next Top Model how it is really done.

This show was really all about how mean Sarah was and how much Dionne is improving. Sarah managed to put everyone’s nose out of joint by taking credit for an outfit that the other girls in her team put together, and of course won a prize. Thankfully it was not a bracelet like last week otherwise there would have bloodshed on the catwalk, but it was the option for additional frames at the end of her photo shoot and the opportunity to review them. The first mini-challenge slash lesson was with some ladies from Elite and this really was their first exposure to the types of people who will be getting them work. Sadly, Jael’s attitude whilst fun for her co-models is not professional enough and I think that next week she will be one of the final two.

The photo shoot was crossing dressing but the powers that be at ANTM have to get such big, butch drag queens to pose along side our girls? The hands down best bit was Natasha as a ‘Hip Hop’ boy she was completely in character, fashioned herself a metal tooth and nailed it. At the elimination Tyra was too cute for school with her bangs and what is up with Miss J. and the ruffles??? I thought Tyra was joking when she said that for every girl eliminated Miss J. would add a ruffle. Any how, Dionne improved her look from last weeks mall rat effort to fierce would-be supermodel. The plus sized gals were the final two and Diana went home. For some weird reason she photographs like a plain Jane.

Just a couple of things - is it just me or do a lot of the girls have bad skin and why has Renee started wearing head scarfs like Jemima Khan?

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, ANTM, Tyra, Miss. J Alexander

Dueling models at 8pm - America’s Next Top Model!!!

We are down to nine or so girls and from the promo clips it looks as if psychological warfare has begun with Renee telling Diana and Whitney that there will never be a plus sized model on Vogue (or some such publication). Wrong tactic Renee, if you truly think that then why waste your efforts trying to psych out the girls that you don’t deem competition. Focus your effort on Sarah - who is more similar to you in look and at times a bit of a know-it-all. Looks as if we are store for some crossing dressing with the girls being boys and boys being girls in the photo shoot, and please let us have some background on Natasha you know the other girls are dying to know about her… Diet soda in hand I wait with baited breath.

The CW, ANTM, America’s Next Top Model, plus sized models

Rumor has it, via SpoilerFix, that Papa Winchester will be returning in May. I am excited by this news but I am wary of the context of the episode. It looks as if it will be the alternate reality one where Dean is shacked up and Sam is in grad school. It is plausible to have John back but I don’t think we are going to get any closure on his death or his dying words at the start of this season.

Enough navel gazing over Supernatural the bigger question is will I be faithful to Tyra et al or cheat on her and watch Pussycat Dolls tonight. I fear that that She Dances Like a Drag Queen might be fiercer than The Girl Who Takes All The Credit…

The CW, Supernatural, Spoilerfix, YouTube, ANTM, Pussycat Dolls

Werewolves + Supernatural = “Are you the dog whisper now?”

This episode may have centered on werewolves but it was really all about Sam, the possible monster in him and whether or not Dean would be able keep his promise. I am getting ahead of myself - the recap…

There is a spate of murders that look like “animal” attacks that have caught the eye of Sam and Dean. Mainly because Dean is as giddy as a school girl about hunting a werewolf. Enter stage left attractive and smart Madison, a potential love interest for Sam and the next meal for the werewolf. She walked into work one morning to discover her boss has been devoured on his desk and has a creepy stalker ex-boyfriend with a mane of unkempt hair. Sam stays with Madison whilst Dean is goes off to investigate, and forget cute Knut (the polar bear cub at Berlin Zoo) we had oh so cute Sam falling for Madison and getting into soaps. All red-herring clues point to the ex Kurt but it is in fact Madison who goes all lycanthropic and the brothers try to save her by severing the blood line but that doesn’t work.

Let’s face it you know that Sam getting laid wont end well. I must say that Madison was pretty pragmatic about the whole situation. She didn’t want to live a half-life and to be a threat to others. To save her Sam had to kill her, and by doing that both brothers had to confront their own demons. Dean’s stoic tear at the end could have been cheesy but it wasn’t because you knew it was for Sam.

Snaps for Supernatural for not going all hairy and just super sizing the werewolves teeth and nails, and throwing amnesia into the pot.

The CW, Supernatural, werewolves

Sorry folks, work commitments left me unable to watch Smallville and Supernatural last night. Trust me it took a pretty big thing to keep me away from seeing Sam hook up with a werewolf. Recap reviews for both will be up by Monday if not sooner.

In the meantime, don’t forget to craft your postcard to save Veronica Mars. Ausiello at TVGuide is of the opinion that Miss Mars’ fate rests in the hands of the Gilmore Girls… Any thoughts?

The CW, save Veronica Mars, Michael Ausiello, TVGuide

The title of this weeks show is The Girl Who Changed Her Attitude. Let us be honest that could be any of them (bar Whitney who is too nice and attend Darthmouth) as this cycle has featured the most scenes of the modelettes lurking in the backyard smoking and glaring at each other. But, the girl who turned over a new leaf (or tried to) was Renee. She started being really nice to the other girls. For example she gave Jael a picture of herself in an untied straight jacket. Of course Jael loved it. All went well until she lost the challenge then it was the usual descent into tears and hyperventilating on the phone.

I am getting ahead of myself, the lesson of the week was voguing with master voguer Benny. He had them competing in a pose off. This outing of course tied in neatly with the week’s proper competition, and finally the girls were competing for something worth while: $40k bracelet. And what did they have to do to be in with a running? Just prance and pose their way through a laser maze- piece of cake! Only poor Renee was not in the running for a slice of bling bling, and plus size model Whitney won!

The photo shoot was a combination of high fashion and crime. The girls had to reenact crime scene photos and channel their inner Gil Grissoms. I think it proved that there is too much crime on TV because this was the first shoot were pretty much all the girls nailed it. The elimination rounds was tough as the girls had such good shoots, loved that Tyra is still picking on their clothes (too mall, not fierce enough), Twiggy finally found her voice and alongside Nigel the Brits dominated the discussion. Sadly, Felicia went home.

Mystery of the week: How did Jael, who is sporting a crop, manage to burn her face with curling irons. Answers on a postcard or leave a comment.

The CW, America’s Next Top model, Tyra Banks

Get your yogurt covered raisins and trail mix at the ready the next installment of America’s Next Top Model is airing tonight at 8pm EST.

I think this one might be a little cruel for the plus size models of the batch, as there is a cat burglar themed shoot. Will the girls need to tap into their inner Mission Impossible? Will they need to “become more aware of their bodies”? Will Twiggy be any more engaging this evening or remain at the end of the judging panel like a bookend? These questions and more to be answered this evening.

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, plus size models, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sean Connery, Entrapment

According to Kristin’s blog on E-Online the campaign to save Veronica Mars has started. In the most comprehensive breakdown of the fate poor Veronica Kristin concludes that either it will be canceled (boo!), continue on in its current format or fast forward a few years to Veronica being a fully fledged FBI agent. One rumor doing the rounds was that a treatment was being down for Veronica being a trainee FBI agent but that has been subsequently discounted which I think is a shame. It may have been fun to see her being broken out of her bad habits and the FBI trying to mold her into an agent.

I heartily agree with Kristin, and the fifteen hundred or so people who have left comments on her blog, this show really is worth saving as it is one of the smartest shows on television let alone the CW. So take a moment out of your busy day and leave Kristin a comment and follow her instructions for the postcard campaign.

The CW, Veronica Mars, E-Online, Watching with Kristin

After a three week break Supernatural returned with a strong guest star (Battlestar Galactica’s Six aka the sublime Tricia Helfer) and a simple story. On a stretch of deserted highway there is a damsel in distress on the run from Mr Creepy, or are things not as they first appear? This episode was a good example of the opposing attitudes the brothers have to their “job”. Sam with his empathy for anything with or without a pulse and we got to witness him being referred to as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Haley Joel in the one episode - classic Supernatural banter.

Molly (Helfer) and her husband are driving and arguing about being lost when they slam into a man and crash their car. She wakes up, finds her husband is missing, heads over towards the creepy shack and finds the “man” she hit. Except he is no longer human (Dean eloquently describes him as “Farmer Roadkill”), she runs back to the road and into the path of the on coming Impala. The brothers tell her that the farmer was killed 15 yrs ago and on the anniversary of his death haunts the road for a victim and this year it is Molly.

Experience has taught me that I was missing something, especially since when they returned to the scene of the crash and the car was missing plus Dean was uncharacteristically indifferent to the hot Molly (in her retro sports jacket). Needless to say it is of course no accident that the Winchester boys were on that stretch of road on that night.

I thought it poignant that the brothers only had until sunrise to salt and burn the spirit’s bones and that ‘House of the Rising Sun’ was Farmer Roadkill’s entrance music. Classic Dean remarks were that the hidden room smelt like “old woman”, that knowing what went on in the afterlife was “way beyond his pay grade” and greeting his Impala with the words “Oh, baby it has been a long night”. Then there was Sam’s sweet 101 for Molly about spirits being stuck in the same loop, and then my heart breaking when they told Molly her husband survived the crash because it confirmed my suspicions.

I loved this episode and I bang my head on my desk in frustration that more people aren’t watching the show. It is so good.

The CW, Supernatural, Tricia Helfer, House of the Rising Sun

This was quite a neat episode even though I had hoped it would be more Lex rich. I think the plot device of experiencing the morning of the wedding from the point of view of Clark, Lex and Lana worked well enough to set things up for the rest of the season. It wasn’t as clunky as I’d thought, and the flitting back and forth suitably unraveled the days events in the Smallville universe.

It is not often that manslaughter, three counts of blackmail and a dozen stare downs are needed to facilitate a wedding. But hey, this was a Luther family wedding after all.

Clark’s PoV was a little too sitting around moping and throwing things out of windows to sad music. But, he did get to wear something other than his standard red-blue color combo. His dream was all very Shakespearian. At least he finally managed to muster up a last minute declaration of love and everything might turn out okay because at this point Lana isn’t going to marry Lex. Enter stage left the villain…

Things do not look good for our young lovers and we are projected back to the future to start the day over. Lex is dreaming about a mutant baby or is he just projecting his true self - discuss. He foolishly tells his father that he would do anything to make sure that Lana will marry him. Then minutes before the wedding he meets the creepy blackmailing doctor in the crypt under the church, beats him up and then accidentally (but without remorse) kills the doc. After he has finished washing the blood from his hands Chloe appears with the news that Lana is missing….

Finally, we start the day with Lana. Her dream is that it is Clark who saved her from a torondo and I am assuming that his really happened because of the news clipping and that it was a repressed memory. The whole Chloe getting locked in the cellar incident bugged me but it did have a purpose - Lana did it to discover the truth about Clark. Pat on the back for the soon to be trophy wife, she is not has green as she is cabbage looking and might be a thorn in Lex’s side. Of course the villain was Lionel, who blackmails her into marrying his son.

To sum up poor little Lana is forced to marry Lex to keep her true love alive and can’t breath a word of it. You don’t need to be a genius to know that this will not end well.

(I didn’t get a chance to watch Supernatural last night, so to keep you going check out the TV Guide interview with Jared Padalecki.)

The CW, Smallville, Lex-Lana-Clark love triangle, TV Guide, Jared Padalecki, Supernatural

I sat poised with laptop and a cup of coffee ready for the onslaught, and cry me a river wasn’t this a better episode or what.

It started off with a montage of makeover freak outs from previous cycles and then Tyra comes out to wave her magic wand. Blondes become brunettes, long to short and vice versa. She declares that all crappy weaves and wigs sew on are to be banished from her kingdom, and she gives the modelettes a firm pep talk about how they are not restyling them just for the hell of it but to make the girls better models slash products (I am of course paraphrasing). Pretty much all the girls took the changes on the chin. Only Brittany and Jael have a bit of a weep. Out of the two Jael totally had the rights to sob her heart out. After eight hours getting a weave put in the powers that be decided that ti wasn’t working and that it would have to come out. Jael, I had a lump in my throat for you. Group hug.

So far, the girl I most want to slap is Brittany who would not stop complaining about her gorgeous red curly weave, so she shall hence forth be known as ‘The Glum One’. Then Jael gets some devastating news, but she handles it really well (just like a top model would) and sees the competition as a distraction. The challenge was okay, they needed to create their own make-up look, and the judges were tactful as they told one girl she had gone for a “strong look”. Against all odds The Glum One won.

For the photo shoot the girls got to be actual eye candy. Naked eye candy holding ice cream. Of course Glum Girl did not want to strip, a little naive me thinks in this industry, and of course she went on to nailed the shoot. She is incredibly photogenic. To make up for the muted makeover reactions Tyra commented on the outfits the girls wore to elimination - priceless. The final two were Diana and Cassandra, and after much deliberation Cassandra went home.

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, Tyra Banks

Don’t forget the next episode of America’s Next Top Model is tonight and I have a feeling it will be a good one. It is called “The Girl Who Cries All The Time” and according to the blurb it is MAKEOVER time. Cue tantrums and tears over cuts, crimps and color changes. If you are interested last week’s eliminee Samantha is answering your questions over The CW.

Get your soy chips and low fat yogurt drink at the ready because I think ANTM will be getting its teeth back tonight.

(Also only ONE DAY till new episodes of Smallville and Supernatural air!!!!!!)

The CW, America’s Next Top Model, makeovers, Tyra

One of the refreshing things about Supernatural is the soundtrack, heavily driven of course by Dean’s character. It is most definitely a Britney - Alanis free zone. Dean has evolved from listening to the retro cassette tapes in the pilot episode to an MP3 playing cell phone (must be Sam’s influence). The medium changes but the songs stay the same.

I’ve started a playlist for Dean (will hopefully carry this on for other characters in other CW shows) and I am asking for more suggestions from all the lurkers out there…

1. Renegade by Styx
2. Fight the Good fight by Triumph
3. Carry on Wayward Son by Kanas
4. Hey Man Nice Shot by Filter
5. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent
6. Fire of Unknown Origin by Blue Oyster Cult
7. Hair of the dog by Nazareth

The CW, Supernatural, playlist, Styx, Triumph, Kanas, Filter, Ted Nugent, Blue Oyster Cult, Nazareth

Well, I feel like I got my blogging mojo back and there are only FOUR days till a new episode of Supernatural!!!!

I am surprised at how much I am lamenting the temporary loss of Veronica Mars (is there a petition I can sign somewhere in cyberspace for an even swifter return to Neptune, CA) and I am even starting to get quite excited over the coming Smallville wedding. I have obviously been exposed to green kryptonite or something, or perhaps it is a result of all the time I have been spending at KryptonSite and Ask Ausiello.

The CW, Smallville, Supernatural, America’s Next Top Model, Veronica Mars, TV Guide, Ask Ausiello, kryptonite site