(S02E16) You’ve Got Yale!

Is Dan hot for teacher? Let me look into my crystal ball and predict that future. Ah, now it’s getting clearer, it appears that Serena and Lonely Boy are up for the umpteenth break-up… and just in time for college. How perfect considering she ditched Dan for Brown.

While Dan is becoming a fan of the new young prep-school teacher, I can certainly tell you the feeling isn’t mutual with all classmates. After getting her first (?!!!) B on a paper and thus setting her slightly behind for her wait listed dream of going to Yale, Blair seeks revenge but teach isn’t going down without a fight. One call to the headmistress and she unknowingly found herself in Blair’s cross hairs. Oh Miss Crass, this is one war you should have switched countries for.

Onto even bigger news, not only does Chuck how have his company back after turning to Lily for help, but he also has a family again. In a surprisingly turn of events Momma van der Woodsen completes adoption papers that Bart already signed off on and gains a new son… again.

(S02E15) Gone with the Will

First you have it, and then you don’t. Chuck should be familiar with that notion. One minute he’s got his act together, the next he doesn’t. One minute he’s got a doting girlfriend the next he doesn’t. One minute he’s a millionaire and in control of his father’s industry and the next he doesn’t. So what’s the one key link to all three being taken away? Uncle Jack of course. If we thought Bart had bite, we must have underestimated baby brother Bass. Now the real question is, will he ever get it all back?  Chuck’s certainly a guy who gets what he wants.

Momma van der Woodsen and Poppa Humphrey didn’t even realize the amount of loss and deception they experienced this episode. One minute they’re baby boy searching on the sly, the next they’re cradling up to death’s sad door. But could it be? Did the rich and Gossip Girl famous get served a steaming cup of parental deception? Looks like this lost child is riding more six feet high then six feet deep after all. If there’s anything I’ve learned from GG it’s that secrets never stay that way. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to someday meet the spawn who could turn every one’s world upside down, and almost already has.

Speaking of which, will S and Lonely Boy ever truly recover from the very disclosed knowledge of their joint sib? Of course they will. Money, popularity and an ability to set trends will get you everywhere when it comes to the unusual. Can nobody remember Angelina Jolie’s brotherly kiss just a few years back? Now if her current beloved status doesn’t show the ability to rebound, I don’t know what does.

As for Eric and Jenny, were we ever really worried? Those two adorable kids couldn’t break up even if they wanted too. Too bad he’s gay, they’d be a match made in heaven.

(S02E14) In the Realm of the Basses

Talk about dropping the ball. Here I was expecting some enlightening Gossip Girl news to ring in the new year by, but all I was left with was the same old overdone story lines and ridiculously fake characters. First of all, Blair and Chuck… really? Just when I thought the melodrama couldn’t get any more heightened, we find Bass up on a ledge with only Blair to talk him down. It kills me that this tug of war is still going on between the two. Either you like her or you don’t. Either you want to conform to societies hopeless wishes or you don’t? No matter of liquor guzzling, edge walking or call girl kissing is going to make a difference. When it comes to the writers who cling on to this continuing nonsense, I simply expect more.

Then we turn to my two favorite on again off again stars of the show. Since Serena sent Aaron packing it should come as no surprise that her new boy toy be her old boy toy. Lonely Boy Dan just can’t learn a lesson, can he? The only tiny attempt at breaking up the monotony of their light switch relationship is the knowledge that Momma van Der Woodsen and Poppa Humphrey had a love child together and are now in on the act of bringing him back into the family. In all honesty, after the last episode dropped the baby bomb, this next step in the path to screwing up their home lives should come as no surprise.

The only plot that offered any reprieve from the same old news is Jenny’s entry back into prep life. Forgoing her bad girl ways, Jenny proudly stepped back into prep school while managing to step on the mean girls toes all in the same day. Spending the entire episode seeking justice for their new pathetic victim Nelly, we’re only led to disappointment when it turns out Nelly didn’t want to be saved after all. Well, as they say, you can’t save them all.

On an uplifting note, Blair, love the colony club regalia. You so should consider majoring in theater, the melodrama certainly suits you.

Smallville has NEVER been as good as it is this season, and if Tom Welling decides not to return next year, this could be the end of the series. If so, it’s an amazing time to go out. Of all all the promos and trailers I’ve seen for what to expect on various shows next year, this new Smallville video gets me the most excited.

If this is the end of the series, I sincerely hope that Michael Rosenbaum can be convinced to return to the role of Lex one more time. It even looks like they might actually call Clark “Superman” when the Legion shows up.

EEEK! I’m loving this show!

Kamen Rider is a long running series in Japan very much like Ultraman or the Super Sentai series that is adapted here in the U.S. as “Power Rangers”. The franchise was brought to U.S. shores in the 90s as “Masked Rider” – but the series was not the hit that “Power Ranger” makers “Saban” hoped it would be.

The franchise is getting another shot in the States in January 2009 on The CW kids as “Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight”. This new show is adapted from the 12th incarnation of the “Kamen Rider” series, and will feature english speaking actors in the roles, with Japanese footage inserted for much of the action.

This Saturday at 9:30 am (check local listings) you’ll be able to get a sneak peek at the series. From what I’ve seen (in the trailer above) it looks very “rangers-like” in concept, but it seems like it might be taking itself far too seriously. I actually love watching most of the “Power Rangers” series with my daughter, but this one doesn’t look like it’s going to be a hit in my eyes…we’ll have to wait and see though.

(S02E13) “O Brother, Where Bart Thou?”

As a proud twenty-something I often find myself snubbing all things of the tween genre. Miley Cyrus? Overrated. Jonas Brothers? Please, they’re like glorified Hansens, they too shall pass. Gossip Girl? A little too over the top and far out of any self respecting youngster’s league if you ask me. I mean really, what’s with all that riff raff they’re putting on TV these days? (God I’m old.)

So when I asked my editor if I could review Gossip Girl this season, I  surprised even myself. I pretended that it was for the excellent fashion, that even I can’t ignore. Or perhaps it was all in the intrigue? Maybe it was even because one of the actress who plays Jenny Humphrey was once the star of one of my favorite Christmas movies, The Grinch. Sure, that weak reason was probably why.

In any case, I’ve since teetered between pretending to fit in as a viewer of the show, absolutely tearing the show up and now, tonight, finally cheering it on. So, why you may ask, the sudden turn about?

Apparently I’m a sucker for a feeling so deep it’s hard to believe it’s just “puppy love.” Or maybe it comes down to the way a quick turn from life to death can truly shake up a show and bring out a character’s true colors. I’m not quite sure, but what I do know is that at the end of tonight’s show when Rufus Humphrey walks up to Lillian van der Woodsen  and says, “just tell me, was it a girl or a boy,” I finally felt the shows humanity. In that one meaningful question I felt the damage of one person’s decisions hurting so many around them and finally found myself actually feeling bad for one of the characters instead of pure disgust or evil humor. These spoiled little brats grew fragile hearts right before my eyes. It sounds evil, I know, but at the same time I’m so glad the writers were able to help me reach this point. My only hope is that the sense of humanity they developed stay into coming episode and not fall apart in a NY train station.

Rumblings across the web have have made their way to TV Guide, and there is concern that Tom Welling may not return for a 9th season of “Smallville”.

Now, if you’d told me that last year I would have said “good”. After watching this season, however, I can truly say that I hope he changes his mind. Welling is not contracted for season 9 of the series, and while I can understand being ready to move on after having played the role for so many years, the show is the best its ever been – and I’d hate to lose now.

Unless, of course, they have him play Superman in a movie that grows out of the “Smallville” series. It’s unlikely that will happen – but if it did, the concept of Superman could be easily worked in with the “Smallville” cast – and re-introduced to an audience as a new feature film, without having to worry about the baggage of the series.

A Superman film doesn’t need a major all-star cast to be a success – it needs a great Superman story, with a group of talented actors, and “Smallville” already has that in place.

It’ll never happen – but with the right director and writer, it could be awesome.

(S02E12) “It’s a Wonderful Lie”

Ah, to be young, vengeful and rich.

It should come as no surprise that the Gossip Girl guys and gals have been a little less than nice this holiday season. While I wouldn’t expect coal in their jimmy choo stockings, I wouldn’t be surprised if a non-designer named treat snuck it’s way in there (gasp!).

So exactly what naughty tricks am I alluding too? Well, let’s shine our light on Lil J for a moment, shall we? Hurt and extremely angry Jenny is easily convinced by the Blair wannabe’s that it’s high time Vanessa is served her fat piece of justice pie. Sneaking the unsuspecting new Archibald girl a see through dress just in time for the famed snowflake ball, not just one girl walked away embarrassed. It appears J’s just not cut out to be  so mean. She still has a conscious, and I recommend you hold on tight to what’s left little Humphrey. Luckily for the blushing Vanessa, it’d take more than a dress flop to turn him off of a good thing.

Now let’s see, what else are out upper-eastsiders up to this holiday season. Well, first off Aaron’s Ex, this abrupt yet charming Lexi is in town. Where Serena is sensual and demure, it appears Lexi is a downright Vixon, quickly setting her hooks into none other than lonely boy Dan. An ex for an ex, not bad, not bad at all.

Ironic no? Let’s all pause to appreciate this next bit of irony. With both the maid and the limo on the line Chuck and Blair decided to set each other up. It should come as no surprise that their destined dates turned into mini caricatures of each other. Really, why fight it? So what happens next you might ask. Duh, they fall for each other and leave their alpha twins just about ready to do the same.

Don’t even get me started about the grown-up drama. With Mrs. Van der Woodsen still pining over her childhood crush Poppa Humphrey, and of course all the while Bart Bass using all of his evil means to either get her back or ruin her life, you’d think the adults were as young as the kids. Just think about that for a minute. Teenagers that drink and have sex being raised by adults who seek revenge and gossip like school girls. It’s not surprising these characters are such a mess.

What happens next for the back-stabbing betrayed Jenny and what really happened to Bart Bass? There’s always next week.

XOXO~ Dena

The CW has dumped Media Rights Capital, who were programming the network’s Sunday night line-up. They have instead replaced that programming with re-runs of Jericho and Everybody Hates Chris, along with MGM movies.

This has left Bob Saget’s new family centric show “Surviving Suburbia” without a home. The production company is continuing to produce the show, however, and will be shopping the series to the major networks.

Currently 13 episodes of the series are being produced.

Official Episode Description:

IT’S CHLOE AND JIMMY’S DREAM WEDDING DAY BUT TWO UNEXPECTED GUESTS CRASH THE PARTY — Chloe (Allison Mack) is excited that she’s marrying Jimmy (Aaron Ashmore). Meanwhile, Oliver (Justin Hartley) tells Clark (Tom Welling) he thinks he’s discovered where Lex is hiding and takes off to Cuba to confront him. However, when he arrives, Oliver is shocked to find Lana (Kristin Kreuk) instead. Clark and Lois (Erica Durance) grow closer but chaos ensues when Doomsday crashes the wedding and tries to kidnap Chloe. Jeannot Szwarc directed the episode written by Al Septian & Turi Meyer