How I Met Your Mother: 8:30pm CBS

HIMYM returned last night, starting from exactly where it left off: Robin and Ted finally together and Marshall and Lily separating. Marshall is devastated over losing Lily and goes into a depression that the gang tries to help him get over. Barney, in all his glory, wants to bring Sunshine into his life. Note I wrote Sunshine. This is Barney we’re talking about here; of course he brings Marshall to a strip club. Ted tries to initially not tell Marshall about him and Robin getting together but Barney could tell they were together and is dismayed because he was so excited they’d all be single together. Nothing the gang does seem to help Marshall.

Then Marshall receives a credit card statement, Lily’s statement. Ted takes it away, rips it up and throws it immediately out, taking the garbage with him. But Marshall gets it back and assumes that Lily is dating George Clinton (a hilarious cameo). Barney accidentally tells Marshall that he needs to go online to access the latest credit card info. He finds out that she’s back in NYC and staying at a hotel. The gang can’t keep Marshall in control and he goes to the hotel to find her. He knocks on the door and some guy answers. Marshall’s response: PUNCH.

Ted returns from his almost weekend away with Robin to comfort Marshall and find him at the hotel bar. Marshall informs Ted that someone had stolen Lily’s credit card. We see a flashback on how that happened, with Lily in SF annoying a bunch of customers in line for coffee. After 67 days of moping around, drinking leftover dinner beer and hanging around the apartment in his boxers, Marshall finally gets over Lily and makes pancakes for Sunday Pancake Day.

At the end, we see Marshall, Ted, Robin and Barney, all joking around at the bar. Then the camera looks past the foursome to the window to a newly-brunette Lily who is attempting and backing out of going into the bar.
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Next week:

Episode 2.02 - The Scorpion and the Toad:
Barney teaches Marshall how to pick up women. When things start to go sour for an awkward Marshall, Barney steps in and wins the women over... for himself. Meanwhile, Lily is back from her art experience. While helping her look for a new apartment, Robin gets sick of hearing about Lily's amazing summer in San Francisco.

Tonight’s options are:
8:00PM ABC Family “Wildfire” [new]
8:30PM CBS “How I Met Your Mother” [new]
9:00PM WB “Related” [new]
9:00PM ABC Family “Beautiful People” [new; return]
10:00PM MTV “Real World/Road Rules Challenge [new]

Last night's viewings were incredible. Tonight, I will hopefully get a chance to watch "Earl" and "The Office" after a few friends leave.

Tonight, you should be watching:

8:00PM Fox "American Idol" [Results show. I don't bother this early in the game to watch the other two nights. They replay most of it tonight so no need, at least for me]
9:00PM CBS "CSI" [new]
9:00PM NBC "My Name Is Earl" [new]
9:30PM NBC "The Office" [new]

Today is Wednesday March 1st, the last day of February sweeps.

8:00PM The WB “One Tree Hill” MUST SEE!! [A Columbine-like shooting with two characters fatally shot, at least one is a major character. Unlike other shows that forget that there was a shooting, the reactions and consequences will be felt for the rest of the season (and in the fourth season if it’s picked up by The CW)]
9:00PM ABC “Lost” [Claire-centric and unlike the other flashbacks, this will be flashing on the island, when she was kidnapped]
9:00PM UPN “Veronica Mars [repeat “Ahoy Mateys”, repeats in your area on Saturday or Sunday]
9:30PM Fox "Free Ride". [I've heard some good things about this semi-improvisation show so, if need be, record VM this weekend and record this while watching "Lost"]
10:00PM Bravo “Project Runway” [Part 1 of the season finale. Tim Gunn visits the finalists at their home and checks out their collection]

I am a HUGE “Gilmore Girl” fan. Like, major. Like, I have all the DVDs, I put alerts out for myself when new ones will be coming out, I read all articles, watch all the characters’ movies, know a little trivia [Did you know that Sean Gunn’s (Kirk) brother is married to Jenna Fischer (Pam on “The Office”)?], etc etc. I’m also very opinionated. Plus, I like my Girls happy (or at least upset for the greater good of the storyline). Let me just say SPOILER ALERT now for those who do not want to know anything coming up. Are we good? Good.

One character grates my nerves. I mean, I can not stand to read fans’ comments on bringing this particular character back. I mean, it makes me furious which is saying a lot because, although I love my TV, I would hope I’m not invested in it THAT much. I wouldn’t letter write to complain, picket outside the studio, give up on the show or anything. It’s just, for me, the constant “Bring Jess back” is like nails on a chalkboard.

I have yet to read a comment or critique that would make me understand what I will call “The Jess Phenomenon”. To me, he was inconsiderate jerk who never deserved our little Rory. So, why does a good percentage of the GG audience love him? If it’s just because he’s cute, I will scream. Yeah, yeah, alright. I’ll give you the satisfaction that he is a mildly good looking guy, that Milo. And I have no qualms at all that Alexis and Milo are dating in real life. That I think is completely fine. For the audience to be enamored of the Rory/Jess relationship irks me to no end.

Having him pop up every year is completely stupid. AS-P, I’ll give you the benefit of Jess’ return earlier this season in waking Rory up to go back to school but I know you could’ve done it in other ways. Bringing Jess back again in April, however, better be good.

Alright, let me try to state my case a bit better. When Jess first appeared, I thought it would be a good thing for Luke. Luke needed his own family. We needed to learn more behind the blue baseball cap. As the tormentor of everyone in Stars Hollow, Jess showed no redeemable qualities. Trying to steal someone’s girlfriend is another unsavory quality. Liking to read, having the same taste in music does not make a great couple. Although Dean wasn’t always the sharpest tool in the shed, he tried. He got his grades up, he believed in Rory and he voiced his feelings and opinions. Jess, on the other hand, quibbled, distracted, steered Rory on the wrong path (literally…he got her injured) and grunted, not even that sometimes.

Jess would tell Rory he would call later and instead of telling her he wasn’t able to make plans, he would say nothing and would assume she would sit at home waiting for him. He didn’t tell Rory about dropping out of school and what makes him the best boyfriend, he gets on a bus and leaves without a word. I’m sorry; this is awesome behavior for a person that is supposedly in love with another person? This is the person I should believe is perfect for Rory? No, Rory yelling at the phone after receiving several calls on graduation day was totally valid. I am so proud of that moment for her.

He keeps popping in and out of her life. He left several times and came back and she should wait for him? For someone that treats her like that? No. Yes, I’ll give AS-P credit for finally redeeming him during his last visit to Connecticut. But, Rory didn’t need to see him; he could’ve called Luke and let him know what he was up to. Or, here’s an idea: his mother.

So, what do I expect for his next visit? Well, first off, he’s not in Connecticut. Yeah! Luke chaperones April on a school trip to Philadelphia. He checks up on Jess, so there should be some snarky remarks regarding Luke having an unknown child and Jess having a cousin. I also heard rumblings that Rory was going to go down to Philadelphia. If so, I will be really upset if she goes to see him. She doesn’t need him. He doesn’t deserve her.

In last night’s episode “Bridesmaids Revisited”, Rory discovered that Logan “cheated”. Well, in the “Friends”-like moment, they were on a break. It is reprehensible what he did, yes. But, he matches wit, brains, pop culture references, etc with Rory. I’m not even talking about Logan being from Rory’s grandparents’ world. They click a lot better than the relationship with Jess.

Matt Czuchry has signed on for about 12 episodes for next season. So he is going to be around for much longer. Milo, on the other hand, can barely get his pilots to air. His new show, “Bedford Diaries” will not have a second season, already! Now, I’m not saying it is his fault. He’s already attached to another pilot for 2006 – 2007, but let him move on. Let Alexis’ character move on. Rory deserves better than that schmuck with an attitude, Jess. There are thousands of girls in Philadelphia, get with one of them. Aight? Aight.
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On another note: ZACH PROPOSED TO LANE!! Granted, AS-P wrote the episode and it was filmed awhile ago, but I think she heard my inner rumblings. For that, THANK YOU AMY!!

Today is Tuesday February 28 and there is some fantastic new episodes on tonight:

8:00PM The WB "Gilmore Girls" MUST SEE! (Better than must see, just watch. You'll be complaining about repeats soon)
9:00PM & 9:30PM NBC "Scrubs" (if Turk lip-synchs and dances to TLC's "Scrubs", I might die)
9:00PM The WB "Supernatural" (I haven't watched since the first couple, but, it's Izzie's Denny as the cuties dad!)
9:30PM MTV "Coral's Casting Couch" (which leads to...)
10:00PM MTV "Real World: Key West" (very pertinent with the Katrina victims and Mardi Gras today...but RW has been lame lately. And where is "Road Rules"? They can't keep casting the same RRers. Need new blood)

Alright, for those who are reading, I am in the midst of a few articles. Which one are you more interested in reading first:

1) Music licensing for TV on DVD
2) Scientists, mathematicians and dorks, oh my!
3) The "to go to storyline": teen pregnancy

Let me know and that will be what we discuss next.

Today is Monday February 27 and it's a decent television night.
8:00PM ABC Family "Wildfire" [Rest in Peace: Dennis Weaver (played Henry Ritter). He passed today] {On a dark note, it's a "thing" that celebs die in three...and he's the third for this past weekend.}
8:30PM CBS "How I Met Your Mother" (MUST SEE how Barney turned into current Barney)
9:00PM WB "Related"
10:00PM MTV "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" (titled "Mac-Beth", get rid of BETH!!)

Next week on ABC Family, "Beautiful People" is coming back. YES!

Originally, I was going to have this entry discuss another under-used character. From what I have heard, I won’t need to because she will be added to the cast for next year. Autumn Reeser plays Taylor Townsend on Fox’s “The O.C.”. Feisty, by-the-book yet a little off her rocker, Taylor is the perfect complement to Rachel Bilson’s increasingly more responsible and less outrageous (than previous seasons) Summer Roberts. So, congratulations Autumn!!

Now, here’s a question: what is with the revolving door of new characters in Newport? As soon as they bring someone around and then have them leave, the next episode has a brand new character. Recently, the ever-annoying, always “Marissa, love me…” Johnny Harper died and they implanted his cousin Sadie. Um…why would Johnny’s aunt think it’s a good idea to send her daughter to help console her sister rather than herself? I just don’t think that’s logical. “Oh, you’re sad about your son? Well, let me send you my daughter, you know, the one that was wicked close to your son and will constantly remind you that your son is not around and will bring his friends over all the time so you can still be constantly reminded that Johnny is dead.”

I am thankful that this will put a damper on the Ryan-Marissa relationship because they really have a crappy relationship. They never seem to be truly happy together. They SAY they are but they don’t show it. With Summer and Seth, Summer may be upset at Seth a lot but at least you see the moments when she cares for him. Marissa seems to be more in love with charity cases (sorry about being un-PC right here) than with the guy that proclaims his love for her. I have heard rumblings (possible spoiler alert) that Marissa and Kevin Volchok will hook up. Another love square in the OC, huh?

Bring back the characters you guys actually know we love! In “The Journey” we’ll have Dawn Atwood back, in “The Undertow” we have the mischievously evil Jess Sathers, in “Exploring Colleges”, looks like our little Mini-Coop Kaitlin will be back, as well as Luke Ward (hopefully with a hair-cut because I can not stand the long hair on “Related”), and way down the road…ANNA!

Seth has even quipped on the show the evitable fate that new characters have on the show, yet they keep bringing them in. I do not trust Matt Ramsey, he’s the male version of Charlotte Morgan, the woman in the beginning of the year that was trying to con our beloved Kiki.

So, please…please, get back to the good story-telling, about the characters that we have stood by, not these new, crappy people we don’t like. Except for Taylor, she rocks! Give her more screen time, and to go to whatever pseudo-college you make up for the gang.

Today is Wednesday February 22, and the Olympics are still on, so I will continue to tell you to catch up with old shows on your DVR. Or check out these suggestions:
8pm Fox “American Idol”
9pm ABC “Lost” (the first two episodes for you 3 people that have never watched it)
10pm Bravo “Project Runway” (reunion special)
11pm Bravo “Project Jay” (they better repeat this because I didn’t have a chance to record it tonight, damn my many concerts)