The TV Watercooler

It Happened This Week: Party Down, Breaking Bad, MTV Movie Awards and more

Here’s a rundown of my top moments from the week in television. This was the week where we saw Kristin Bell return to Party Down, KCav face off with “45 year-old stripper” on The Hills, a huge turning point for Breaking Bad and a hookup gone terribly wrong on B&B.


Party Down: “Party Down Company Picnic”

Last week’s episode featured the Party Down Company Picnic which was catered by their rivals, Valhalla Catering. The Valhalla crew was once again lead by Kristen Bell’s Uda Bengst. Uda’s been mentioned all season long due to the fact that she’s been dating Henry (Adam Scott) but this is the first time we saw the Valhalla HBIC this season. While it was obvious that Henry and Uda would be breaking up, it was sorta sad to see it happen. Uda actually cared for Henry and contemplated taking the upper management position at Party Down so they could be together. Now that Henry is free of Uda and her giant penis-drawing son Bryce, he and Casey (Lizzie Caplan) are able to be with each other. Ryan also ceded his managerial responsibilities (in title only) to Ron (Ken Marino) which means that Henry is actually serious about having a committed relationship with his co-worker. After this episode, we can see that Ron is pretty much a stoner Michael Scott. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but now that Ron’s got his old job back (minus the pay upgrade and benefits), let’s hope he gains some self-esteem.


Breaking Bad: “Half Measures”
This episode had everyone talking. Kat and I even discussed it on the latest TV Casualty podcast (check it out here). In order to stop Jesse (Aaron Paul) from killing the thugs responsible for Combo’s death, Walt (Bryan Cranston) plows over the thugs with is Pontiac Aztec and then finishes the job with his handgun. With Jesse on the run, Walt’s going to have to beg Gus (Giancarlo Esposito) to spare his life (yet again).


MTV Movie Awards
So the “effing” MTV Movie Awards aired this past week. Dose.ca’s MTV Movie Awards page has got your full recap, complete with the fashion, best and worst moments and list of winners. The language wasn’t the only thing offensive about this award show. I’d complain about how Kristen Stewart is so blah and boring at award shows, but I’d just be repeating everything I said last year. FYI kids, no wannabe-vampires or werewolves could ever beat this girl-on-girl kiss. There was absolutely no call for that musical number by those hasbeens, Jennifer Lopez and Tom Cruise (even if he was appearing as Les Grossman). There was also no need for Christina Aguilera to have a glowing heart on her “vageen.” We get it, you are releasing an album on Tuesday, but you know what? Lady Gaga’s dropping her latest video for Alejandro. Speaking of queen Gaga, Katy Perry, you are cute and I love you, but don’t talk shit about her the Alejandro video (blasphemy for entertainment) when you are just using sex to do the same thing (“cupcakes for boobs”). I wish there was more time for the host Aziz Ansari.


The Hard Times of RJ Berger (Series Premiere)
Kudos to MTV for picking up a scripted series that also centers around and caters to a male audience. The half-hour show is about a social outcast (RJ) who, like all social outcasts in high school, gets picked on by his peers…that is until his pants and jockstrap fall off and the entire gym notices his well-endowed member. If you enjoy movies like Superbad, then RJ Berger is worth checking out. Canadians can catch the series on MuchMusic (Mondays at 10pm).


Pretty Little Liars (Series Premiere)
Another new series that I was impressed by this week was Pretty Little Liars (Tuesdays at 8pm on MuchMusic). I made the poor decision of checking out Molly Ringwald in The Secret Life of the American Teenager and it forever turned me off from shows from the U.S. cable network, ABC Family. Because of the horrible acting by the teen in The Secret Life, I was worried about PLL. The show focuses on four teens (Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily) who grow apart after their best friend Alison goes missing. A year later, they all begin receiving mysterious text messages relating to their secrets. I found the program to be a little more bold for what I would normally expect on a “family” network from the USA, but I loved it. Cast-wise, there are plenty of familiar faces including Chad Lowe, Ashley Benson (she played Abby on Days of our Lives), Lucy Hale (Privileged), Bianca Lawson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Nia Peeples (The Young and the Restless) and Holly Marie Combs (Charmed). Listen, it was great to see Combs back on screen, but she’s playing a mother? Looks like I’m not the only one who has an issue with that.


The Hills: “The Company You Keep”
The sad “reality” of our situation is that withouth Speidi, the show isn’t that entertaining. Luckily, this week, MTV brought in some new trash by the name of Allie Lutz (she “looks like a 45-year-old stripper who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day”). Kristin HATES this girl, more so than she hates Brody’s latest stage-five-clinger McKaela.  Apparently, Allie is another one of Brody’s conquests who forget her watch or whatever and broke into his place to retrieve it. Lutz denied it all (of course), however Kristin reminded her that it was all true because she was there in his bed when it happened (of course).


Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel dropped by LNWJF on Wednesday to promote her new film, The A-Team (which I enjoyed, btw). They decided to go for a tendem bike ride in the studio, during which, Jessica told him he looked like Pee-wee Herman, Jimmy continued riding with a Pee-wee impression.


The Young and the Restless: Sharon calls Adam
So we all know that the very much-alive Adam (Michael Muhney) is still fostering feelings for his victim/wife Sharon (Sharon Case) but could Sharon return those feelings? Now that Muhney is staying on the show, they’ve got to find a way to redeem the villain, could Sharon’s love be it? Maybe Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) will help Adam if it means that she’ll get to hold on to Nick (Joshua Morrow). Which is funny because none of Adam’s crimes would have been uncovered if Phyllis didn’t mind her own business in the first place.


The Bold and the Beautiful: Brooke sleeps with her daughter’s man (again)
What could have been a highly criticized recycled plot has turned out to be one of the best things that B&B has done in ages. Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) unknowingly had sex with her daughter, Hope’s (Kimberly Matula) boyfriend Oliver (Zack Conroy) at the masquerade party, thinking it was her own husband, Ridge (Ronn Moss). On Friday, viewers assumed that it was schemer Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) who dressed up like Hope and attended the party (also where Daddy Yankee performed) to seduce Oliver, but on Monday we found out that Oliver hooked up with Brooke instead. Perfect nod to history, since we all know that Hope was conceived when Brooke had an affair with her other daughter, Bridget’s first husband, Deacon.


Days of our Lives: Alice is dying
DAYS took a couple of months to write in Alice’s death after Frances Reid‘s passing in February. Characters from the past began making their way back this past week (and will continue to do so next week). Fans were thrilled to see Melissa Reeves return this week as Jennifer was the first Horton to return to Salem to see her ailing gran. It’s good to know that DAYS isn’t just bringing old faves back for the memorial, but will actually include them in storylines. Within Jenifer Rose’s first episode, she reunited with her aunt Maggie (Suzanne Rogers), crossed paths with her good friend Carly (Crystal Chappell) and then went to visit Bo and Hope (Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso). I’m glad they’ll be using Jennifer for the Hope/Bo/Carly triangle (Jen had just discovered the divorce papers). We already know her loyalties are with her cousin Hope, but what advice will she offer Carly? Also returning are Jaime Lyn Bauer (Laura), Maree Cheatham (Marie), Christie Clark (Carrie), Roark Critchlow (Mike), Bryan Dattilo (Lucas), Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), Patsy Pease (Kimberly) and Lisa Trusel (Melissa). Charles Shaughnessy (Shane) has already returned (for a different storyline) and will make his way back to Salem and should reunite with is ex, Kimberly. John Martin will assume the role of Bill Horton.

Video of the Week: Lady Gaga – “Alejandro”

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