The Brilliance that is "House"

I know this show is great, but if I ever doubt it in the future, all I'll have to do is think back to tonight's episode. Wow. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines it as an interjection meant to express strong feeling (as pleasure or surprise). So, I'll say it again...Wow. Tonight's Part 1 of the two-part season finale epitomizes everything that makes "House" great: the acting, the dialogue, the drama and as always the mysteries. Tonight's mystery was a puzzle which baffled and perplexed both House and us, and those last few minutes when House is finally able to fit in that missing puzzle piece were incredible and heartbreaking all at once. Loved this episode, can't wait until next week, and already dreading the wait until the start of next season.

This Past Week on the Boob Tube (5/11)

Monday's Dancing with the Stars is a blur in my mind overshadowed by Tuesday's 100th episode which brought back...Apolianne! Yes, my all time favorite couple on DWTS, Apolo and Julianne, was back and as magical as ever. I love these two! I could watch them dance every night. Apolianne performed an incredible routine with spins, death drops and lifts, to "Every Day" which was performed live by Rascal Flatts. Also, back for a special performance were Tom Bergeron's favorite M&M's (Mel & Maks). The special episode was on results night, and at the end of the hour Mario and 'rolling-eyes Karina' were sent home. Mario handled his ouster with with class and grace.

On Monday's House, House indulged his soap opera addiction by bringing a little drama to a daytime drama, when he kidnapped and later drugged his favorite daytime actor because he was convinced he was dying of a brain tumor. Cameron got some extra screen time in this episode, as Cuddy delegated the job of cleaning House's patients records due to an ongoing hospital inspection. For me, the patient cases in the last couple episodes have taken a back seat to the House/Wilson/Amber storyline, and this week was no exception. Amber finally performed the unthinkable, she won me over. Yes, cutthroat bitch has a new fan. What did the trick? The touching scene when she tells Wilson that she can take care of herself, and that she needs him to take care of himself by making decisions that make him happy so that he doesn't grow to resent her. As for the case, in the end it turned out to be an allergy to quinine brought about by the fake doctor's, the patient and soap star, not House, sipping from prop cocktails during filming.

Tuesday's American Idol was marked by ho-hum performances from the final four. The biggest disappointment of the night was my favorite blue-eyed dreadlock dude, Jason, who was beat up by the judges for forgetting the lyrics to his second song (Tambourine Man). Wednesday's results show was pretty anti-climatic as Simon's "you better pack warning" proved true, and an obviously relieved and giddy Jason was sent home.

I flaked out mid-season on Survivor, but I'll definitely be tuning in Sunday for the finale and reunion. We'll see which of the ladies will take home the cash. [Update: Parvati beat out Amanda to take home the million dollar check. (Boo! What was the jury thinking?) Congrats to James for winning the $100K player of the season prize.]

A Mother's Day Message

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."
--Washington Irving

Coming Soon to a Video Store Near You

You know the saying folks, you snooze you lose. In an effort to be my usual helpful self, I've compiled this list of soon to be released DVDs, along with useful links for each movie where you can read a brief movie synopsis, read critic reviews (really, what do they know?) and watch the movie trailer. I've done my part. Now you know the dates, so be the first in line to rent one of these fine movies at a video store near you.

5/13/08
The Great Debaters, PG-13 (Denzel Washington)
Untraceable, R (Diane Lane)
Mad Money, PG-13 (Diane Keaton)

5/20/08
National Treasure: Book of Secrets, PG (Nicolas Cage)

5/27/08
Rambo, R (Sylvester Stallone)

6/3/08
The Eye, PG-13 (Jessica Alba)
Semi-Pro, R (Will Ferrell)

6/10/08
The Bucket List, PG-13 (Jack Nicholson)
The Other Boleyn Girl, PG-13 (Scarlett Johansson)

Happy viewing!

27 Dresses

"27 Dresses" stars Katherine Heigl as Jane, a hopeless romantic who embodies the saying always a bridesmaid, never a bride. How much of a romantic is Jane? Her idea of relaxing at home is to read the 'Vows' section of the newspaper and cut out and save the most sentimental and touching pieces. Jane is selfless with those in her life, including her younger sister Tess, her boss George (Edward Burns), whom she's secretly in love with, or the endless number of friends for whom she's attended and helped plan weddings (27 in total). Everything is going swimmingly in Jane's life, until her sister Tess comes to visit and starts falling for George and vice versa, and then Jane's dreams of happily ever after are threatened. Thrown into this mix is Kevin Doyle (James Marsden), a writer for the 'Commitments' section in the newspaper. Kevin meets Jane at a wedding and after finding her filofax and reading it, he sees the potential for a story about the perennial bridesmaid as a ticket out of the wedding beat. To make matters interesting, Tess and George get engaged, and Kevin is the writer assigned to write their piece for the 'Commitments' section. As Kevin and Jane are thrown together sparks start to fly, and then things get really interesting. The movie isn't laugh out loud funny like "Knocked Up", Heigl's last comedy, but there are quite a few funny scenes, and even a few touching scenes which Heigl pulls off just as easily as the laughs. All in all, this sweet and charming romantic comedy is a chick-flick which is definitely worth seeing.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Alas, the journey has ended for Jason Castro on Idol. My favorite goofy, gorgeous, dreadlocked dude from Texas was unfortunately serenated home with Ruben Studdard's "Celebrate Me Home" at the end of Wednesday's episode. Unlike the previous week's results night, no tears were shed, as Jason looked downright giddy to be voted off the show. Moments before being told he had the lowest number of votes, he joked with Ryan Seacrest that he'd been told by someone that on Tuesday he shot the tambourine man, making joking reference to his two poorly received performances of "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." Even after the news, Jason sported a beaming and infectious smile as he chuckled through the start of his farewell performance of "I Shot the Sheriff". Jason's laid-back hippie vibe and folksy sound were a welcome change on American Idol were the norm has been wannabe rockers, pop stars, or country singers, so I'll definitely miss him. Now, as Carly Smithson aptly put it, "The Show Must Go On." So, who do you think Jason's fans will switch their allegiance to, David Cook or David Archuleta? Will his fans serve as kingmaker for David C., putting him over the top, in spite of the massive support from all the teeny-boppers for David A.? Tune in and see.