TV Mad Man

Sometime you just need to have a smile in the middle of the busy week. I think Matt Bomer and Tim Dekay of USA’s White Collar (back June 7th at 9/8c with a new season) can do just that. This from Comic-Con 2010….

You were astonished by Planet Earth, in awe over Life, and now you can do it all over again with Human Planet. Who knew we could be so fascinating? The team from BBC and co-production with Discovery in the states has done it again, and even though though the six episode series that takes a look at what we do on this planet just wrapped in the US, its out on DVD this Tuesday.

Human Planet is presented in the same structure as the previous two ground-breaking series, but this time instead of focusing on the Earth we live on, or the animals we eat or love, this one takes a look at what we do, most importantly, to survive. This was a pretty captivating series for me for a couple reasons, one because I grew up in an Arctic climate which is featured very heavily, and second, because we don’t know much of anything about some of the tribes featured.

The Blu-Ray pack is wonderful, including all the making-of features that are just as fascinating of the series itself but its look is what sets this over the top. Coupled with great HD, the blu-ray disc set is a must-have in my book, and a series you must own starting this week. Check out some clips below, and their Facebook + website!

Bravo is riding high right now. Ratings are the biggest they have ever been, returning series are hitting their mark and they are expanding to more days than ever. This week is a transition week, with three of the nights moving on to new seasons.

Starting tonight, Pregnant in Hells follows the life of Rosie Pope, who is the foremost leader in helping expecting moms. I have not yet seen the series but I am still grieving from last year’s wonderful but barely seen 9 by Design. Then tomorrow, following the Top Chef: All Stars reunion at 10/9c (BLAIS!), the new revamped Top Chef Masters takes off at 11/10c (it airs normally a hour before). The new season has a new host, Curtis Stone, new judges (Bye Gael Greene), and a new format (same as the mothership). The premiere, however, does not change the show one bit as it is still competitive, fun, and tasty.

Finally, Thursday night brings us back to the City with a brand new season of Real Housewives of New York City. My favorite of the franchise, all the housewives (minus a Monday-bound Bethenny) are back with a new addition, Cindy, who from the two episodes I have seen, is not afraid to stir up trouble. The first few outings are a mixed bag with Alex stirring up most of the controversy, but I have high hopes  for the season that will take ALL the ladies to Morocco, and all the hell in between Manhattan and the Hamptons.

Tune in all week to Bravo, and not to mention after the Housewives premiere Thursday, its Andy Cohen’s 100th What What Happens Live with Ramona and Jill. Always a blast.

AMC is know for its excellence in shows that I devour (Breaking Bad) to shows that were gone to soon (Rubicon) to ones that give me goosebumps (The Walking Dead), and to ones that I just keep winning awards (Mad Men). Now, AMC has brought us another “one” of excellence. The Killing, debuts tonight at 9/8c, and is based on a Danish series. It surrounds the mystery of “Who killed Rosie Larsen,” a young girl in Seattle and the grieving parents, and the detectives that solve the case. The show is not a typical procedural, first and foremost, the show is set over 13 days and 13 episodes, and that is not a coincidence. Second, the viewers are show not only the people involved in the crime but they people it affected, from a political candidate (Billy Campbell) to the detective (Mireille Enos) its preventing from moving on. The shows ensemble also grows with Michelle Forbes, Kristin Lehman, and Brent Sexton.

I have seen tonight’s two-hour premiere twice and am going to watch again tonight. It is mesmerizing, compelling, thoughtful, unique, and depressing in the way that makes the tone so stark and dark. It is a home-run on any network, but just another in AMC’s fantastic bullpen of dramatic, dare-I-say, masterpieces.

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Tonight on Showtime, the two comedies on television that showcase complicated women so perfectly are back. Tonight at 10/9c, Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara return for both of their third seasons.

The last time we left Jackie (Edie Falco), her best friend and husband staged an intervention on her excessive pill-popping problems. Nurse Jackie is a wonderfully constructed dramatic comedy, and I know that sounds like an oxymoron but the show is more a drama than a comedy when it comes to Jackie but the supporting cast led by Eve Best and Peter Facinelli. After screening the whole upcoming season, I can say that the show is back to its stellar ways after a noticeable dip in season two. Look for return of Coop’s two moms (Swoozie Kurtz and Judith Light), and Zoey is getting a boyfriend.

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In United States of Tara, at the end of a mediocre season two, Tara (Toni Collette) learned she and Charmaine have a half-brother name Bryce, and Charmaine’s wedding went awry with a baby in tow. The third season is a improvement on the last but still has weak ends that should be tied up such as the use of Kate and Max. The high point (again!) is Marshall (Keir Gilchrist) who gives a outstanding performance as Marshall, Tara’s gay son that after two years is still trying to figure himself out. He goes through another transformation in the new season that is both heartbreaking, uplifting, and fun.

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Check out the new seasons tonight on Showtime at 10/9c, as well as the premiere of The Borgias, a new period drama starring Jeremy Irons next Sunday at 10/9c.