PICKS OF THE WEEK
Cougar Town: Season 1
Who does it star? Courteney Cox (as Jules Cobb), Christa Miller (as Ellie Torres), Busy Philipps (as Laurie Keller), Brian Van Holt (as Bobby Cobb), Dan Byrd (as Travis Cobb), Ian Gomez (as Andy Torres), Josh Hopkins (as Grayson Ellis).
What’s the premise? A recently divorced mother to a teenage son re-enters the dating world, which is filled with younger men.
When can I see it? Cougar Town’s sophomore season debuts Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Where does it air? Citytv and ABC.
Why is it worth my time? Created by Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel (both of Scrubs fame), this half-hour laffer debuted last fall and while it was a hit around the TVGuide.ca office, particularly amongst my colleague Denette and myself, other critics didn’t opine so kindly. No matter; the show is clearly a hit with viewers in its Wednesday timeslot (following a lead-in from the equally comical Modern Family — look for Season 1 to bow on DVD in September) and was promptly renewed for a sophomore run in January.
Starring Friends alum Courteney Cox (who makes a welcome return to comedy after two seasons on FX drama Dirt), the 46-year-old actress is hilarious in the role of a middle-aged, newly-single mother-of-one, even if Jules Cobb is a poor portrayal of women in this age group. But if you don’t read too much into the stereotype and simply take the show for what it ultimately is — a sitcom — you’ll likely find it’s brilliant, laugh-out-loud fun. Particularly when you add in all of Jules’ family and friends.
There’s ex-hubby Bobby, who’s unemployed, underachieving antics never fail to drive her up the wall; 18-year-old son Travis, who’s continually humiliated by her dating escapades; best friend and employee Laurie, who encourages her to let loose; other best friend and neighbour Ellie, who worries Jules new lifestyle will affect their friendship; Ellie’s hubby, Andy, who still remains best friends with Jules’ ex; and other neighbour and bar owner Grayson, who has a penchant for younger ladies — and an even bigger penchant for annoying Jules with his many conquests.
All in all, its 30 minutes of witty one-liners, great comedic acting, and a few well-known and well-loved actors for added star power. Keep your eyes peeled for rising celeb Dan Byrd too, who at the young age of 24, is making serious comical waves. Cougar Town’s sarcastic brand of comedy is much more his forte than say, The Hills Have Eyes (he played Bobby Carter in the shudder-inducing horror flick), and it looks like he’s got a promising future in this genre.
With over a month until Season 2 debuts, catch up on all the chuckle-worthy Cougar Town antics with this bright, electric pink boxed set — as an added bonus, it’ll also help brighten up boring shelves. That is, if you ever put it away.
*Fun fact — Did you know? With the exception of the pilot, all of Cougar Town’s episode titles are named after Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers songs.
In Season 1 … Jules and her friends hilariously tackle dating and marriage quandaries.
Guest stars: Scott Foley, Nick Zano, Lisa Kudrow, Beverly D’Angelo, Sheryl Crow, Barry Bostwick, David Rogers, Alan Ruck, Ryan Devlin.
Bonus features: Bloopers; deleted scenes; and four featurettes titled “Taming Cougar Town,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Saber-Tooth Tiger Town,” “Ask Barb” and “Stroking It with Bobby Cobb.”
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Number of discs: 3
Number of episodes: 24
Running time: 520 minutes |
Dexter: Season 4 [Blu-ray and DVD]
Who does it star? Michael C. Hall (as Dexter Morgan), Jennifer Carpenter (as Debra Morgan), Julie Benz (as Rita Bennett), Keith Carradine (as FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy), John Lithgow (as Arthur Mitchell), Lauren Vélez (as Lt. Maria LaGuerta), James Remar (as Harry Morgan), C.S. Lee (as Vince Masuka), David Zayas (as Sgt. Angel Batista), Desmond Harrington (as Joey Quinn), Christina Robinson (as Astor Bennett), Preston Bailey (as Cody Bennett), Brandon Michael Bass (as Harrison Morgan).
What’s the premise? A blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police by day leads a double life as a serial killer by night.
When can I see it? Season 5 debuts on Sept. 26 at 10 p.m. ET.
Where does it air? The Movie Network and Movie Central (and Showtime, in the U.S.).
Why is it worth my time? Oh, Dexter — how I’ve missed thee. It’s been so long since Season 3 hit store shelves, almost one year to the date. With the Prado brothers now out of your hair, you can focus on your new family and new serial killers — particularly in the form of John Lithgow.
Well, not Lithgow himself actually, but his character, Arthur, otherwise known in the series as one of America’s most prolific murderers. Rather a kindred soul to Dexxy, so to speak, but also the latest police case for his sister, Deb, and her former lover, Frank, to investigate.
If you’re not yet watching Dexter, my question to you is: why not? Debuting in the fall of 2006, this hour-long serial breaks the crime drama mould with its dark comedy, quirky and endearing lead, and cliffhanger plots. Aside from following Dexter on his personal exploits (this instalment includes a new bride and a newborn son, along with his usual urges to kill), each season features the hunt for one main assassin. Season 1 was The Ice Truck Killer, Season 2 was the Bay Harbor Butcher, Season 3 was The Skinner, and here in Season 4, it’s the Trinity Killer a.k.a. Arthur.
A critical success, Dexter has scored multiple award nominations since its inception, with Michael C. Hall and Lithgow winning Golden Globes for best performance by an actor and best performance by a supporting actor, respectively, in January 2010. Expect Lithgow to take home the Emmy for outstanding guest actor at the end of this month, too (although I hardly would classify him as a guest, given he’s in every episode of this season). Also, rest assured that Hall is now doing well, health-wise, following a bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year. The 39-year-old actor is now in remission and back to work filming Season 5 of Dexter, which bows next month.
Like the aforementioned Cougar Town, there’s over a month until Dexter returns — in other words, no excuse to not catch up. Particularly with this cable gem, which is only a mere 12 episodes long. Trust me, you’ll be absolutely itching to find out what happens next once you witness the chilling finale.
As an aside, look for Julie Benz in new ABC superhero drama No Ordinary Family this fall. I’ve had the privilege of screening the pilot episode so far and it’s definitely one to watch this coming TV season.
A gift set featuring Seasons 1-4 of Dexter is also available on Blu-ray and DVD.
In Season 4 … Dexter adjusts to life as a family man and father of three; Debra struggles with the return of her former lover; the department searches for the Trinity Killer; and LaGuerta and Batista come to regret a major decision.
Guest stars: Courtney Ford (as Christine Hill), Brando Eaton (as Jonah Mitchell), Vanessa Marano (as Rebecca Mitchell), Julia Campbell (as Sally Mitchell).
Bonus features: The first two episodes of Californication: Season 3; the first episode of Lock ‘N Load: Season 1; the first two episodes of The Tudors: Season 4; and interviews with the cast and showrunner.
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Number of discs: 4
Number of episodes: 12
Running time: 632 minutes |
VIDEO: Season 4 trailer of Dexter
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To escape from the daily chaos of life, Diana enjoys curling up on the couch to watch a good movie, and is guilty of partaking in the current TV-on-DVD trend. From documentaries and dramas to comedies and animated flicks, no genre is off-limits.
Before her current editorial gig, Diana worked in TVGuide.ca’s listings department, so she’s a pro at getting the most up-to-date info to keep fellow movie buffs in the know with the latest TV and film releases. Now a content specialist, Diana graduated from the Broadcast Journalism program at Seneca College in Toronto. |
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