Uploaded by evergreen82 on Apr 5, 2009
(This show's a lot more fun than this promo shows.)
THE MENTALIST
(This show's a lot more fun than this promo shows.)
Fun, fun show about Shawn Spencer whose cop father raised him to be highly observant. Watching a news clip of a police investigation, Shawn solves the crime and reports that to the Santa Barbara Police Department. He stops by the station, expecting to receive a reward, but instead gets arrested, because: How else could he know what he knows? He then claims to be psychic and forms a psychic detective agency with his lifelong pal Burton Guster, a.k.a. Gus, a.k.a. whatever silly nickname Shawn gives him. The silly nicknames are one of the running gags of the show. Also, in every episode, a pineapple is shown, mentioned, and/or alluded to in some way. (Kind of like Superman on "Seinfeld".)
Psych's fun, because of its premise, its cool hipness, the character dynamics, the fast-paced funny banter chock full of pop culture references, the intriguing crimes that need to be solved, and much, much more. Helps that the camera highlights whatever Shawn looks at it, so we get to see the clues he sees. Watching/listening to the commentary on DVD, you can see/hear how much fun the cast and crew have creating the show. Also, the show has one of the best TV theme songs ever. The theme song's written and sung by the creator of the series: Steve Franks. (See next week's post: "My Favorite TV Theme Songs".)
Favorite Episodes:
1X01: Pilot: It sets up the show and is so much fun.
2X02: 65 Millions Years Off: Just plain fun, Shawn claims the killer is a T-Rex; and the interim police chief orders Shawn to undergo psychiatric evaluation.
4X09: Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark: Not as funny, but well-written, suspenseful, Shawn gets shot!
4X15: The Head, the Tail, the Whole D*mn Episode: Fun jabs at JAWS.
5X09: One, Maybe Two, Ways Out: Franka Potente guest stars, forgetting that he's wired; and thus, unaware that Juliet can hear what he says, Shawn has his "Serious Shawn moment" where he tells Gus how he really feels about Juliet.
THE MENTALIST
Uploaded by poohbear1701 on Sep 3, 2008
CASTLE
Oddly enough, The Mentalist is also about a fake psychic who uses his keen powers of observation to read people and solve crimes. Hmm. My top two favorite TV shows are both about fake psychics! What does that say about me? I think we’re all posers, painfully aware of the Grand Illusion? Or I just enjoy entertaining shows with captivating characters, clever mysteries, and hilarious humor.
The Mentalist is still a funny show, but it takes itself more seriously. The thrust of the show, its undercurrent, if you will, is the relentless search of former "psychic" Patrick Jane's search for Red John, the serial killer who murdered his wife and daughter. Obviously, that part's not funny. But there's still a lot of humor and fun with this show too. Intriguing mysteries as well. Moving moments too, like when Patrick has to kill the only person who could lead him to Red John in order to save Detective Lisbon's life.
I've only seen Season 1 in its entirety and various episodes from the other seasons, but I've enjoyed every one I've seen. Where the show excels is in the clever plans Patrick Jane devises to catch the guilty. Plus, part of the fun is the funny reason Patrick gives for why he first suspected the culprit he catches. Spoiler Alert: I.e., "He uses too much butter." "No one steals beef and barley soup."
Favorite Episodes:
1X01: Pilot: It sets up the show and is so much fun, like when Patrick Jane talks to a shrink and says he feels guilty because he paid his brother to do his chores, but his brother got killed doing so; and the shrink comments about how the same thing happened to Johnny Cash.
2X01: Redemption: The opening scene alone is well worth watching. The team gets pulled off the Red John case which makes Patrick Jane wonder why he should continue to work with the CBI (California Bureau of Investigation) if he can't pursue his wife and daughter's killer.
3X02: Cackle-Bladder Blood: Patrick helps his brother-in-law. Funny, fun, and fascinating episode. From the opening scene until the ending where Patrick solves the case in an usual way.
Although I haven't read it yet and can't say for sure, this book claims to help you become a mentalist and "master the secrets behind the hit show":
3X02: Cackle-Bladder Blood: Patrick helps his brother-in-law. Funny, fun, and fascinating episode. From the opening scene until the ending where Patrick solves the case in an usual way.
Although I haven't read it yet and can't say for sure, this book claims to help you become a mentalist and "master the secrets behind the hit show":
Uploaded by charmed14921 on Jan 24, 2009
And my secret favorite TV show ...
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
Uploaded by prettylittleliarsss on Apr 21, 2010
The Rule of Threes? Or because I don't want you to think I only like shows about fake psychics? Either way, another favorite show of mine is: Castle. Fiction writer Richard Castle tags along with New York Police Detective Kate Beckett, so he can base his character Nikki Heat on her. What adds to the fun of this show are Castle's mother and daughter.
The undercurrent and thrust of the show Castle is Detective Beckett's search for her mother's killer. Similar in tone to The Mentalist. In fact, I think of The Mentalist as being the show Psych with the sentiments of Castle. The Mentalist is funny, but not zany. In another similar vein, Beckett had to shoot the only person who could lead her to her mother's killer to save Castle's life. Quite sad watching her continue to give the dead man CPR. But overall, this show's fun too.
I missed the first season and some of the second season of this show, but I've thoroughly enjoyed Seasons 3 and 4 and what I saw of Season 2. What's brilliant about this show from a marketing standpoint is that a new Nikki Heat book gets published at the end of each season. Supposedly, these are the books Castle worked on all season. The books appear on the show too. And the books are published as if written by Richard Castle himself! For more info about two of these books, check out my book reviews: Book Review: Naked Heat by Richard Castle and Book Review: Heat Rises by Richard Castle.
Favorite Episodes:
3X24: Knockout: When Kate gets shot, Castle admits his love for her, which sets up a lot of forthcoming tension in Season 4 when she pretends she never heard him, but he eventually figures out she did.
4X02: Heroes & Villains: Fun superhero story!
4X21: Headhunters: Nathan Fillion who plays Castle reunites with his fellow actor from the Firefly TV show and Serenity movie: Adam Baldwin.
And my secret favorite TV show ...
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS
Uploaded by prettylittleliarsss on Apr 21, 2010
Fun show. Lots of twists and turns. Flashes of humor. Emotional. Suspense galore. A mysterious person (or persons) known only as "A" torments and taunts four friends whose friend Allison disappeared. But just when you think Allison might be A, she turns up dead. Dead from a year ago, which gives her a brilliant alibi! Might be the most intense of the shows listed.
Ick Factor: Season 3 puts the "Liars" in their senior year in high school. I thought they were in their senior year the first season, and then the second season when they were still in high school; and thought the character of Aria might have been 18 in the first season; thus giving her teacher Ezra the benefit of the doubt. But if she was only a sophmore then, the oldest she would've been is 16, so eww! (Lucy Hale, the actress who portrays Aria is 23, but from the standpoint of the story that makes her former teacher Ezra ... Ick!)
But Ick Factor aside, the show's fun with its other predominant story lines, character dynamics, the webs of deceit and tricks "A" uses against the "Liars", and their schemes to try to catch and foil "A" as well.
Ick Factor: Season 3 puts the "Liars" in their senior year in high school. I thought they were in their senior year the first season, and then the second season when they were still in high school; and thought the character of Aria might have been 18 in the first season; thus giving her teacher Ezra the benefit of the doubt. But if she was only a sophmore then, the oldest she would've been is 16, so eww! (Lucy Hale, the actress who portrays Aria is 23, but from the standpoint of the story that makes her former teacher Ezra ... Ick!)
But Ick Factor aside, the show's fun with its other predominant story lines, character dynamics, the webs of deceit and tricks "A" uses against the "Liars", and their schemes to try to catch and foil "A" as well.
The show is based on the book series by Sara Shepard:
And vice versa, some of the books are based on the TV series too:
Favorite Episodes:
1X01: Pilot: It sets up the show.
2X25: unmAsked: Supposedly reveals the identity of A, but even with this person locked away in a loony bin, someone claiming to be A still threatens and frustrates the fab four.
3X03: Kingdom of the Blind: The girls finally reconnect to an extent with Jenna whom they accidentally blinded before the series began (in the back story of the show). After undergoing surgery, Jenna can see now, even though she continued to pretend to be blind, because she seems to be hounded by A or someone like A too. This episode has the fun interchange: Spencer: "Hannah, you have all the subtlety of a hand grenade." Hannah: "Thank you!"
Blessings& Joy,
Dean
* My all-time favorite TV shows will be revealed in a future blog. Although this list doesn't show it, I mostly like comedies. But, as this list makes apparent, I also enjoy mysteries, intrigue, and suspense. Even so, each of these shows demonstrate some humor too.
COMING JULY 13: My Favorite TV Theme Songs
COMING JULY 20: My Favorite Commercials*
* For my Favorite Favorite Commercial, see: My Favorite Commercial
COMING JULY 13: My Favorite TV Theme Songs
COMING JULY 20: My Favorite Commercials*
* For my Favorite Favorite Commercial, see: My Favorite Commercial
No comments:
Post a Comment