Do I think NBC's *Smash* is a smash??

I love musicals, love New York City and love TV, so this show should be the ideal one for me.  After the pilot I do have many thoughts on it, mainly I'm scared that I am going to love it and its going to be quickly taken away!

Ok firstly I did love it, of course I did, its a musical TV show set in one of my all time favorite cities New York, with Broadway show tunes, what's not to love!  There was not one original song that I did not love and I was cautious about that going in to this show.  When you know its going to be original Broadway show tunes mixed with a couple you already know it does scare you because this is the type of TV that well people like me want to work.  I did not appreciate Karen (Katherine McPhee) singing Beautiful with a pop voice and it being an amazing thing to do at audition.  Up until that point I did find the show to be more realistic about the industry but  singing a pop song with a pop voice no it just wouldn't no I refuse to believe that would EVER work on Broadway.

So lets start with McPee's Karen.  Not a fan, she is so blumin boring.  Please please please do not make her the lead actress and we are all supposed to route for her to be Marilyn.  McPhee is a brilliant singer and can hold her own (as seen with the finale duet with Ivy) but she is Broadway enough to lead a Broadway show, and she's too clean and boring to be Marilyn.  No Marilyn NEEDS to be played by Ivy (Megan Hilty).  Ivy is already my favorite character she is talented, very talented, and she's not appreciated enough.  That alone was enough for me to love her character but after seeing the previews for the upcoming episodes and how competitive she is going to get, ooo I am already very excited, she could be someone to watch for at awards season. 

The writers Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) are a great team.  Straight from the first scene of the pilot you believed that these two had worked together for years and are great friends, it made me want to route for Marilyn to be a success straight away.  Julia's life isn't a complete mess as well, it seems pretty normal. A nice change from most TV show where no married couple can be happy, ever.  Poor Tom though his new wonder assistant Ellis (Jaime Cepero) lets him down in the pilot but I sense it is going to happen again within the season.

The producer Eileen (Anjelica Houston), well firstly Houston is a legend, that's enough to love  her character, its a good thing though that the character is someone you want to see kick her soon to be ex husbands ass.  Eileen is in the middle of a messy divorce where I am guessing she came in with no money but made a lot through her musical producing.  Her current work has gone into stand still until the divorce is finalised and so she needs Marilyn to work.  Its great when nearly everyone is passionate about the project.  Bringing me to my other least favorite character, as well as Karen that is, Derek Wills (Jack Davenport).  He is everything you kinda stereotype for a Broadway director, dick head who is charming but sleazy at the same time.  Of course this makes me dislike him.  I think though what makes me dislike him the most is that he somehow thinks Karen is perfect for the part of Marilyn when he already had Ivy there ready and perfect.  Of course he and one of the writers Tom already have bad blood between them so the ladies in charge of the production (Eileen and Julia) kinda have to sway them both for Derek to be involved.  I know I am only 1 episode in but I am totally already on Tom's side!

With all this being said I am very excited for the next episode, and well the whole season.  I just hope that It continues to be a success!

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I am LOVING the new FOX thriller *Alcatraz*

Alcatraz starts off straight from conspiracy central, and come on we all love a little bit of 'what if that actually happened' ness.  What if when the prisoned closed down in 1963 no one left the island they all just vanished.  If you are one of those believers in the Alcatraz ghost stories or love a good old conspiracy thriller this show is defiantly for you.

I think first up I should mention that I am very intrigued by Alcatraz as it is, a prison that has help some of the most notable criminals from back in the Mafia prohibition days etc, but also its an island.  One day I defiantly want to visit San Francisco and do the tour of Alcatraz.  Mind you from the amount fo footage shown of the prison on the show I don't know if an actual visit is still needed, only joking!

So I am now 4 episodes in and I am a little bit hooked on this show, so much so I have been in my dreams investigating the Alcatraz prisoners along with Dr Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia) and Det Rebecca Madsen (Sarah Jones).  Immediately you are drawn in as they are, we the audience are in just the same loop as these two characters so it can make us feel we are with them in this. 

 The story goes as follow - In 1963 Alcatraz was closed down and all the prisoners were transferred, or so we thought to believe.   When the guards came to transfer the prisoners they found Alcatraz empty, no prisoners and no guards.  Now in the modern day these disappeared of Alcatraz are starting to reappear, and now being free are going back to their criminal ways whilst helping the unknown source that kept them hidden for the past 50 odd years.  The big shocker though is that they all look the exact same as they did in 1963.  Madsen and Soto became involved, by being well a little big too inquisitive but also having the knowledge they do, Madsen who looks a little deeper than everyone else and Soto who is a criminology expect on the Alcatraz prisoners, and published author.  The man in charge of the 'capture the Alcatraz guards and prisoners' is Emerson Hauser (Sam Neil), who seems to be keeping a lot more hidden than what he is sharing.

With being four episodes in quite a bit has happened and some AMAZING shockers along the way, which had me shouting at the screen, I don't want to ruin it too much more by going into detail.  For those of your who think this is kind of Lostesque, that might have something to do with eh fact that its another JJ Abrams show, so you do feel the Fringe and Lost vibe in it but its is a very different show, and set in the city (and surrounding areas) of San Fransico.  

I highly recommend this show to well mostly everyone, there is a little bit of everyone, sci-fi, drama, action thriller, mystery etc.  I hope you enjoy it as much as me :D.

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*~ My Top 10 TV Shows of 2011 ~*

This is a list of MY top 10 TV shows of 2011.  This was so very difficult to make as I have a list of about 20 shows I loved this year but a top 10 always sounds  better.  So here we go.

• 10 - True Blood

Season 4 of True Blood was one of its finest in my eyes.  Firstly it did what no other season had dared to, it took us a year on straight away and wow the things that change in Bon Temps in a year.  Bill becoming King was a genius idea, after after beginning to hate him throughout Season 3 this was a well needed idea.  The witches storyline not everyone loved but I did, Marnie starting off so weak and then becoming so psycho with power.. The only downfall for me was Eric I really found him pathetic with no memory, I'm not the biggest Sookie and Eric fan but that wasnt what bothered me I wanted bad ass Eric back.  Ok yes ERic did possibly the most badass thing yet using the heart as a juice box (so hilarious) but that was all he really had this season.   

• 09 - The Mentalist

I find it shocking that I wasn't a massive Mentalist fan until this year, in fact until January I am not sure if I had even ever watched an episode, but here I am a year on putting The Mentalist in my top 10 and owing the first two seasons on DVD!  Now I could narrow down the reason its on here is for the Season 3 finale.  Jane who is so anti guns shoots the believed to be Red John blank in the middle of a mall and then sits back down to his tea.  Or it could be for the cabin scene with Van Pelt finding out her FBI finance is one of Red Johns men.  Actually the entire Season 3 finale was brilliant.  But on top of that Season 4 has continued to soar and I find myself thinking that this show just gets better and better.

• 08 - Suburgatory

If you are not watching this show you should be it is HILAR! When i first decided to watch it though I didnt think it would ever be as funny as it is, I thought it would be a fluff comedy but I am really glad I was wrong.  First Jeremy Sisto gotta hand it to him did not know he could do comedy, of course all i really knew him from was Six Feet Under and Clueless, but every time there is a George and Dallas scene I find myself in stitches.  Maybe its because Dallas is so so so into George.  But even better them then scenes are the ones between Tessa and Dalia two extreme opposites and I think everyone is on Tessa's side.

• 07 - New Girl

Nick and Jess! Schmitt! Douche Jar! Singing every thought! Schmitt! Ooooo i love this show! The word Adorkable is the way to truly describe this show as that's what it is!  Of course the real break out of this show is Max Greenfiled as Schmitt but for me it is Zooey Deschanel's best role, as much as I am in love with 500 Day of Summer I much prefer Jess over Summer! And then there is Nick and Jess, who need to be together by the end of well OK they can drag it out but please not too long!  I love all of Winston's little side plots as well like fighting to be the usher at a wedding with a child, actually all of Winstons scenes with kids are hilarious because he is always trying to be the best.

• 06 - The Vampire Diaries

I am very well aware that my picture of TVD does not include any of the main characters and that is for good reason.  As it is these two characters who have made the whole show onto my list.  Not just the relationship between Tyler and Caroline but also the individual characters themselves and the obstacles they have both faced this year.  From January we watched Tyler find out he was betrayed by Caroline after falling in love with her only to leave town and discover how to control his werewolf urges.  On his return he ends up locked in a well dungeon with Caroline and well season 2 ends with him comforting her over her Matt breakup.  Season 3 sees them become a couple and then have it horribly taken away from them by Tyler's allegiance to Klaus and becoming the first successful Werevamp.   As well as that Caroline also faced being tortured by her won father for being a vampire.  Here is hoping 2012 brings a lot more drama for these two but also for them to be back together!

• 05 - How I Met Your Mother

Yes this has been the year for Robin and Barney fans, but not only that but we are getting that much closer to finding out who the mother is.  This year started off with the tragic episode of the countdown to Marshall loosing his dad and they then ended the year with the episode where Robin discovered she could never have children.  But remarkably through both episodes the comedy remained, but we were still able to mourn with the characters.  I will say they are possibly two of the best episodes HIMYM has done.

• 04 - NCIS 

 

NCIS never gets old and we are into the 9th season.  In 2011 we have found out a little bit more about Tony's back story of how he ended up at NCIS and how Gibbs has been one of the biggest influences on his life.  We also got to see a little bit more of what Gibbs was like right at the beginning of his army career.  Ziva allowed herself to show emotions in front of Tony when Mike Franks was killed, and then also in front of Abby and  McGee.  We also got more about Palmer this year as we lead up to his wedding, which i am sure will be an nice NCIS event.  We even got to meet McGee's grandmother, its been a very good NCIS year. 

• 03 - Revenge

My biggest guilty please.  I really did not expect to love this show but I am so badly addicted now and that's possibly why its my highest new show on this list. Emily Van Camp has found her role of a lifetime with Amanda/Emily especially with the Emily stare, which as Nolan has witnessed you do not want to be on the other side of.  however it is probably Nolan and Victoria who steal the show as the deliciously evil supporting characters.  Nolan so desperately wants to be part of Amanda/Emily's revenge, they are like brother and sister, I hope it comes out that they are.  Whereas Victoria is like a silent storm, the scene where she tells Lydia she will forever hate her and every time she smiles etc my word i have shivers it was cold but amazing!

• 02 - Cougar Town

WHY IS IT NOT BACK ON TV YET!!! Cougar Town has been very much missed from my tv schedule this fall and the fact its not even had a midseason date yet, why is ABC doing this to me! Cougar Town is definatly one of the funniest comedies on TV at the minute with an amazingly funny ensemble cast.  However Busy Phillips as Laurie has me in stitches every time, how shes not received any award loving yet (apart from the critics choice) is beyond me.  So ABC executives if you happen to read this please please please get Cougar Town back on TV now!

AND IN THE TOP POSITION IN FIRST PLACE IS...............................

• 01 - Happy Endings

The biggest and bestest shock this year for me was the renewal of this hilarious show!  Ok ABC is killing me with Cougar town right now but I love them at the same time because they are keeping this gem on TV!  Max and Penny so camp but straight and bad but funny, I cant describe them, you probably shouldn't be laughing but its so funny that you have to, best friendship on TV.  Alex and Dave i am shipping these two to get back together, after that kiss on the Christmas episode so cute.  Any of Brad and Janes marriage scene crack me up as well, especially the scene where Brad is couch jumping or something like that and Jane just slowly moves her win out of the way, so simple but so funny!  i cant actually wait for new episodes!

Honourable Mentions

Chuck - Final season started this fall, this show shall be sorely missed, fans did well to keep it alive for 5 seasons.

Gossip Girl - After 4 years they actually made me love Dan! Very shocking! even more shocking they got me to start disliking Blair with Chuck and to want Blair with Dan instead!

The Office - This year we said Goodbye to Michael Scott and everyone thought that would be it, but the show has done very well to continue giving the funny and I am happy to say I am still a very big fan.

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