The season premiere of Bones last night was… okay. I don’t know why TV shows find it necessary to bring you an episode filmed in another country - usually that’s a sign that the sharks are circling and the lead characters are about to jump them. Granted, seeing jolly olde England was nice for me, having lived there and experienced difficulty driving on the left myself, but I’m not sure why it was necessary.

(Spoilers will abound here, so if you DVR’d it to watch this weekend, stop reading right here.)

Quick recap: Bones and Booth are lecturing at Oxford Uni and Scotland Yard where they meet their doppelgangers (a wise, tough female cop partnered with a genius forensic professor) - can you say “contrivance?” I knew you could. But the actors make it work. I’m also pretty sure the British copper was the Suzie they keep killing on “Torchwood,” but that’s neither here nor there.

An heiress is murdered and B&B are asked to help solve the crime. With the help of the squints, they make quick work of the case while Bones flirts with the professor who’s a bit of a lad. Meanwhile, back at the lab, Angela’s mysterious and gorgeous husband shows up to claim her. Awkward moments abound, and eventually he sees that Angela is meant for Hodgins. But as Cam takes him to the airport, his flight is delayed so naturally they tumble into bed together. Cue more awkwardness.

Sweets is back, along with the hapless grad student who replaced Zack who still doesn’t fit in with the squints, and long story short, Angela and Hodgins break up anyway. They aren’t sure why, the audience isn’t sure why, and it just seemed stupid. I hope there’s a reason for it other than Hart Hanson’s weird desire to always “shock” us. Dude, some of us are still pissed about Zack. Now is not the time to play silly buggers with our feelings about your show. (See how I throw cute little British-isms in? It’s an homage you see.)

Back in the UK, Bones’ flirtation with Dr. HunkyPlayboy ends abruptly when he’s murdered in his flat. Booth and Bones stay on to help solve the crime.

What I liked about the premiere:

• David Boreanaz just gets better with age. Man, he could stand still and read the phone book to me and I would be entertained.
• The easy relationship between Booth and Bones is fun. They’re like an old married couple already - considerate, teasy… You can just tell they’re comfortable with each other and both actors portray this relationship amazingly well.
• So help me, I loved Sweets this episode. I’m starting to accept his position among the squints though it requires quite the suspension of belief to do so. His assessment of the situation between Cam, Angela’s ex, and Hodgins/Angela was endearing and sweet.

What I didn’t like:

• Booth’s constant, jock-like bitching about the ways of the English. But I’ll admit there were some funny moments that explained it - I think it was Cam who said Booth was not adaptable to Bones as Booth attempted to parallel park his Mini. That made me laugh. But maybe it’s just me who can’t wrap my head around the fact that some people think it’s ok to show up in another country and basically do nothing but insult their culture at every opportunity.
• The character of Booth hasn’t evolved very well. In fact, I’d say he’s devolved. In Season One, Booth was a good guy, a stand-up guy, with a dark but proud past. He had problems (gambling, dealing with having been a sniper etc.) and displayed moments of compassion and gentleness that made me adore him. Season three and four Booth seems like the high school jock who never got past his glory days. He’s more buffoonish and one-dimensional these days. I really miss Season One Booth.
• The two murder cases were standard fare. Not interesting at all. Never got a chance to care. It’s like the cases are just background noise anymore while they bring the soap opera drama and comedic moments up front. That’s fine, I’m ok with Bones not being a strict forensics show - I mean, there’s a reason I’ve never watched a single episode of the CSIs. But for all their talk about being more about the characters, I see very little character development going on.

Maybe I’m still rather bitter about the handling of Zack. Maybe that coloured my opinion of the premiere. It was just okay. Not outstanding at all. It’s nice to have them back, but I’m going to stop holding my breath for the stuff I loved from the beginning of the series because it looks like that’s gone for good. Which is a shame.

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I’m going to watch it. Yes, after a few months, I’m still irritated with last season’s finale and the schlock ending of Bones. But not enough to lose interest. I’m going to try to just roll with the show and hope for the best. I still love Boreanaz, still love Deschenel, and if they at least lose Angela’s stupid, ‘Oops I forgot I was married!’ storyline, I will be much appeased.

I’ve been sort of low-pro the past few weeks, mainly because, and I’ll be honest here, I’m actually not watching television much. At least not current stuff. I’ve been enjoying all four seasons of Doogie Howser, MD on Hulu as well as rewatching Battlestar Galactica on DVD. I actually reduced my cable package down to basic/expanded  because I thought it was ridiculous to pay for 500 channels I never watch.

And so I’m having trouble thinking of stuff to write here. But with the new season starting up, with Bones and Dollhouse being the ones I’m most interested in, I’ll pick back up, I’m sure. But I might start leaning heavily towards talking about older shows I’m catching on the intertubes. So for my two or three readers, hope you don’t mind!

Anyway, Bones. Tonight. Tell your friends.

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The only thing I’m watching right now is Project Runway. I should be perched in front of the tube watching anything and everything so I can dutifully report on the plethora of crap summer TV (says the girl hooked on Project Runway.)

But it’s sum-sum-summertime and there’s just nothing on (besides Project Runway) that I want to see. If it’s any consolation I’m not really watcing movies either.

So yes, Project Runway. Full of bitchy, whiny wannabe designers, one who speaks of himself in third person all the time, which is getting really old. And his “name” is ‘Suede.’ Uh-huh, sure it is. There is also Stella, the “I would use leather toilet paper if I could” biker chick who makes nice stuff but has been the whiniest one I’ve seen so far.

Tim is still Tim and he’s one of the main reasons I watch. He’s like a really wise, fashionista guru that no one will listen to. I find it amusing when he comes to check on the designers’ progress and offers them valuable advice, then as soon as he leaves they’re in the confessional saying, “I have my own style and I feel really confident in what I’ve achieved with my pastic garbage sacks.”

So with nothing else on of interest to me, I will be scraping my brain for other TV-related topics and hopefully will get back into a regular rhythm. Until then - have you seen this Music Madness thing?

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I’ve been anxiously awaiting the premiere of Joss Whedon’s little project for months now. I followed its progress, word-of-mouthed it to death, and read every tidbit I could get my hands on. It just sounded cool, you know? Despite all of that, I really knew very little about the plot. This is all I knew;

• It would be a musical.
• It starred Buffy/Firefly alum. Nathan Fillion (Evil Priest Caleb on Buffy and Captain Tightpants on Firefly, and Felicia Day, who played a potential Slayer in Buffy’s final TV season and currently enjoys much success with her web series “The Guild”) and much-admired actor of mine, Neil Patrick Harris.
• Joss and Co. (including brothers and wives of brothers) wrote the story during the writer’s strike and found a way to release it online. Something that’s become highly touted and “groundbreaking” - although there have been a lot of popular web series available online for some time. Perhaps not one on this scale though. Still, it’s not exactly new, is it? Someone clue me in on this.

That’s it. That’s all I knew. The power of Joss and the draw of the actors was enough to make this highly anticipated for me. Finally, though, artwork started to appear. Then Joss found a way to release it and we had some Real Live dates to look forward to. Oh happy day!

I think a lot of the hype centered around the way this thing was being released. It’s an experiment. An idea to perhaps release something for free, for a limited time online, and then make available to own through iTunes for a small fee (it ended up being a mere $3.99 to own all three acts), and then if it does well enough, try to capitalize on it by merchandising and putting out a soundtrack and DVD with extras.

So far it’s working. I watched it for free, loved the ever-loving crap out of it, plunked down my 4 bucks so I could take Dr. Horrible with me (indeed, I watched it on the ‘pod waiting for Batman to start yesterday ) and by God I will buy the soundtrack and DVD. Why? Because I am a fan. I’m in this Whedon fandom for the long haul and part of being a fan is supporting it. Plus I think that maybe the cast and crew would like to get paid

So! The show itself. I already mentioned I loved it. Yes indeed I did. I’ll refrain from a full-blown recap because you can find those anywhere with a little Googling (or, you know, iTunes. 4 Bucks. That’s all I’m saying.) Instead, my basic reactions following each Act ranged from, “Oh my God Nathan can sing!” to “Noooooooooooooo!”

I found myself feeling strange about rooting for a “bad guy” and disliking the superhero. Dr. Horrible’s quest to join the Evil League of Evil was alternately hilarious and tragic. Ok, I guess I can’t talk about it without some kind of recap. Here goes (SPOILERS - LOOK AWAY NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN, FOR WHAT HAS BEEN SEEN CANNOT BE UNSEEN):

Dr. Horrible keeps making attempts to join the Evil League of Evil run by ultimate bad guy, Bad Horse - the Thoroughbred of Sin. Every time, he is thwarted by his arch-nemesis, Captain Hammer. On one of his attempts, he inadvertently introduces Penny, the girl of his dreams, to Captain Hammer and they begin to date.

Bad Horse informs Dr. Horrible that the only way he will be allowed into the ELE is by murdering someone. Dr. Horrible is conflicted. He’s got morals, and doesn’t think murder is a line he wants to cross. He only wants to rule the world and cause social change. And get the girl. Until Penny introduces him to Captain Hammer, who recognizes him, and taunts him, and suddenly, Dr. Horrible has found his victim. In one of the best songs in all three acts, Dr. Horrible decides Captain Hammer must die.

In the final act, Dr. Horrible carries out his plan to kill Captain Hammer. But things go awry, as they always do, and Penny is the accidental victim. His death ray explodes and shrapnel gets her. Her death is what gets him into the Evil League of Evil (where he joins with the likes of Fake Thomas Jefferson, and Dead Bowie) and his grief causes him to just give up on any semblance of being good. Presumably, he goes on to perform true acts of evil, fueled by that grief.

Okay, so there’s a quick recap. But watch it anyway, because there’s so much more to it than that.

The first two acts left me singing and tapping my foot. I enjoyed the sweet, gentle songs from Penny, a do-gooder who is trying to get funding for a homeless shelter. Captain Hammer was obnoxious and arrogant. Who might be gay. Jury’s still out, but he does enjoy lacy, wafting curtains I really wanted Dr. Horrible to do him in by the end of it. Hammer was only interested in dating Penny so he could do the “freaky” stuff and because he knew Dr. Horrible loved her. Jerk.

And the Doctor. The Doctor who put his blog and plans out there on the intertubes for all to see, not realizing the LAPD and Captain Hammer watched it and therefore were able to thwart him and toss cars at his head. Bumbling, inept Dr. Horrible who can’t get his foot in the door with Bad Horse, and who loved Penny terribly, and maybe should not use pie as a metaphor.

After I saw the final act, I have to say I was scratching my head a little. Joss, who seems incapable of going for the happy ending - not that there’s anything wrong with that, angstaholic here, kills Penny. A shocking moment in an otherwise fun and upbeat, goofball show.

This bothered me I guess. Until I thought about it.

Don’t a lot of “bad guys” in superhero stories usually end up evil because they’ve suffered some sort of trauma that disintegrated any shred of morality they might have been hanging onto? Something that pushed them over the edge? In watching all three acts, we’re really watching the evolution of a true bad guy. No he doesn’t get the girl in the end who saves him from himself and they live happily ever after and everything is sunshine and puppies. Instead we get a misguided misfit, who might actually have good intentions, has some semblance of morality, who then has every illusion he knows completely shattered all to hell. So, since he has nothing to be good for, he might as well go all out and become truly evil - something he only really ever had a vague idea about.

For me, it’s that context that makes Dr. Horrible work for me. The Evolution of a Bad Guy, with songs.

Thank you Joss, Jed, Zack, and Maurissa for writing this little gem. And thank you to your cast and crew who worked for peanuts (possibly literally) to put this together for us. I think it was a success

It’s exclusively available on iTunes now. Four dollars. Price of a gallon of gas. Less than a #3 at Mickey D’s. Less than a movie ticket. Slightly more than a gallon of milk. You probably have that much in change in your couch. Go buy it.

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The first act is up and running. I laughed, I cried, I grinned like an idiot Oh Joss Whedon, how I wish I was half as talented. Oh Felicia Day, you looked so sweet. Oh Neil Patrick Harris, I loved the facial ticks and masterful mix of evil genius and bumbling, shy geek. And Nathan Fillion… Nathan, Nathan, Nathan. Words fail me.

I’ll be in my bunk.

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So I’m trying to get back in the swing of things. Things have been, shall we say, whacked out crazy insane? around here for a while but it’s settling down. One of the things occupying a majority of my time is getting read for Music Madness. It’s a bit of a bear to get this tournament up and running by myself, but fun too. So that’s one of the Big Reasons I haven’t been posting. The rest I can’t talk about.

So what is on telly lately? Well, I finally finished Battlestar Galactica up through the phenomenal scene when Admiral Adama discovers who some of the hidden cylons are. I think that was the most powerful scene I’ve seen in a long time. Edward James Olmos’ breakdown was heartrending.

Now, after finding out everything I needed to find out, I’ve been rewatching it from the start. Slower this time and it’s almost… delicious to rewatch some of these scenes, knowing what I know (I’m trying to be sly so I don’t spoil anyone.)

Some things that I think might have been overdone or kind of tedious are the imaginary convos Dr. Baltar kept having with the #6 model cylon. At first it really worked in a greek chorus kind of way, but then they kept doing it. And kept doing it. And finally, I was tired of it. I think the religious themes were sort of heavy-handed as well. But I can put up with both if it means I get otherwise fantastic, the-way-it-should-be-done sci-fi.

What else… The finale of Hell’s Kitchen was the other night. I’m fine with the winner, and I’m damn glad the whiny, self-absorbed, crass, classless Jen was booted off. It always amuses me to see these chef wannabes argue with Gordon Ramsay, as if they know better. Come on now. He’s Gordon F***ing Ramsay. You just don’t argue with him. And a word of advice from a former kitchen grunt: if you’re booted off Hell’s Kitchen, but brought back to help the finalists out on the last service, don’t freaking ask Gordon for a letter of recommendation, and then act like a beeyotch the whole night. Sore loser, thy name is Jen.

Lastly, for now, don’t forget that Dr. Horrible’s first installment will be online July 15th at drhorrible.com! It’s getting rave reviews!

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I know I plug Dr. Horrible quite often around here, but that’s just the way it is. It’s become quite a little phenomenon and a great testament to word-of-mouth promotion. Plus, I am Joss Whedon’s bitch and there’s nothing I can do about it. Nor would I want to

So, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog will be unveiled in mid-July. Here is the plan, in the words of my Master:

“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” will be streamed, LIVE (that part’s not true), FREE (sadly, that part is) right on Drhorrible.com, in mid-July. Specifically:

ACT ONE (Wheee!) will go up Tuesday July 15th.

ACT TWO (OMG!) will go up Thursday July 17th.

ACT THREE (Denouement!) will go up Saturday July 19th.

All acts will stay up until midnight Sunday July 20th. Then they will vanish into the night, like a phantom (but not THE Phantom – that’s still playing. Like, everywhere.)

You can read the full Master Plan by clicking here. If you want to help spread the word about the show and have a MySpace, Facebook or Twitter account, you can use these links and help Joss and everyone get the word out.

• Dr. Horrible on MySpace
• Dr. Horrible on Facebook
• Follow Dr. Horrible on Twitter
• Dr. Horrible Resources (Banners and Buttons)

And if you don’t mind a few spoilers, TV Guide’s Matt Roush got to see all 42 minutes of it, the lucky sonofabitca, and has some details about it as well as plans for DVD extras that should, you know, rocks and stuff.

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Teaser from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

Sweet!! Joss Whedon’s little side project written during the writer’s strike and filmed shortly afterwards, starring Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day and Neil Patrick Harris is coming soon!

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