VEGAS, BABY

So today, if I ever get out of work, I'm going to be heading to Vegas. The Tivo is set up to tape a bunch of stuff and on Saturday I'll hopefully come home with my winning ;-) and be ready to download you guys on everything we've missed, including last night's Amazing Race.

Wish me luck!!!!

PRISON BREAKIN' MY HEART

First and foremost, someone dies, and I have to say, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time wondering who it was going to be. I really do like this show, and it's not just because it's star is a crazy hottie. Okay, so maybe it is, but still, the story's pretty original and I find myself rooting for some really bad people.

Anyway, this show starts off with a flashback. Michael's at an office interviewing for his architecture job. We learn that he loves structure, design, and function. We then flash to present day as Michael's inside one of the underground tunnels. He sure makes a lot of noise when he's down there. With him he has the bag of belongings he stole last week. He takes out the black suit he had on when he came into prison. He goes down one tunnel and finds himself in a large underground room/silo type thing. He rips the suit open and there's a plastic bag and a rope. This mofo is McGyver I tell ya. Anyway, he puts the suit in the bag and ties the rope off. Then he stuffs it into a small hole on one end of the room. There's a pipe at one end with a valve on it and when he looks up there's a grate about thirty or so feet above his head. I'm really bad with measurements, so it may be more, it may be less, but it's way too high for him to climb up. But my man has a plan.

Upstairs in the yard T-Bag (what a great name) is on the phone with someone, asking about some kid. He sorta does have a heart. Abruzzi sees this and thinks something is up.

Meanwhile, Michael tells Linc about being able to access the infirmary and finding the tunnel. They also discuss the fact that they are one person too many for the escape. Unfortunately, newly added escapee, C-Note, overhears this and quickly informs everyone else that one of them has to go. Sucre doesn't want to keep digging if he doesn't have a chance to go, and Abruzzi scoffs that we know who should go. Cue, creepy T-Bag. He comes in and says they shouldn't even think about him. That he's called someone on the outside and if they don't hear from him five minutes before and twenty minutes after that they should call the warden. Okay, last week Michael said that they're gonna have 18 or so minutes. T-Bag's plan will out them anyway if the guy sticks to the twenty minutes thing. C-Note tells Sucre that he should watch his back with Michael because his head is on the chopping block to not go. Sucre trusts Michael but C-Note puts a little fear in him saying that Michael isn't telling him everything. Kinda makes sense because Westmoreland has the money, Abruzzi has the plane, and of course it's Michael's plan to get his brother out. The three people that should be concerned are T-Bag, C-Note, and Sucre. Seriously, where do they come up with those names. UPDATE: Totally forgot to mention this before. At some point during the show one of C-Notes boys walked up to him and handed him blank postcards from Iraq. Not sure what postcard store they got these from, but C-Note looked mighty happy to have them.

Later, Sucre gets a visit from Maricruz who tells him she's pregnant with his baby. He's extremely happy but she says that she might marry slimmy Hector so she'll have a father for the baby. If I remember correctly Sucre doesn't have much longer on his sentence, so not sure what she's thinking. He reassures her that he'll get out soon, but she points out that he always says that. I sorta want to slap the ho, but I'll hold back for now. Sucre continues to be paranoid about his standing in the group and realizes he needs to get out to stop Maricruz from marrying Hector.

Abruzzi tells Linc later not to worry about T-Bag because he's gonna have it taken care of. According to Abruzzi his outside team has found the man T-Bag was talking to and is going to keep him in a van for a few days until after the escape so he can't tell. Yeah, cause that's what the mob does before you testify, they keep you locked up a few days so you miss the court date. Sure. Later, Abruzzi's guys find T-Bag's cousin or brother or both who is outside in full mullet salute playing with a little kid, presumably the one T-Bag was asking about earlier. Unfortunately cousin mullet doesn't go quietly into that goodnight. In fact, Abruzzi guy tells him later that the guy pulled a gun and they had to kill him and oops, there was a kid with him and the guy used him as a shield and he got killed too. Damn, the mob sucks these days, can't take care of one cousin mullet.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Veronica, LJ and Nick make it to the hospital. Nick stops them from going in, saying that if they find a bullet in his arm, they're going to call the police. He insists they dig out the bullet, which Veronica does, lord knows doctors are stupid and won't realize a bullet did that. They successfully get him to the hospital and Nick goes into surgery. The doctor confronts Veronica about it, but doesn't push her. LJ sees a newspaper that has an announcement of his mother's funeral, so he disappears with the car. Of course, he arrives after the funeral is over and walks to the casket. Watching him do this is Hale, the good (better) of the evil agent type guys following Nick and Veronica. Kellerman tells him via phone to follow LJ. Hale watches in guilt as LJ cries over his mother's grave and then follows him back to the hospital where he's almost seen by Veronica who's happy to have LJ back.

Back in the joint Michael is in the infirmary. Remember when he kept shooting tubes of toothpaste with nasty stuff in it down a grate in the infirmary floor? Well, this time he sticks a mop handle down there and the floor breaks. I guess that stuff was acid or something. He hears Bellick come in looking for him and quickly goes to work mopping. Bellick informs him that he ran into his stripped wife the night before and knows about the credit card, that he just searched Michael's cell. Not very well I guess because Mike has a bunch of stuff hidden in there. Sara, the Doc, comes in and tells Bellick to scram, but not before Bellick mentions that Michael only married Nika to get her a green card. After Bellick leaves Michael tells Sara that Bellick's had it out for him since he got there. She ignores him, but I suspect she's jumping up and down pn the inside because she found out his wife is a green card wife. She says that he doesn't have to explain himself to her, and he says that he wants too. Can they please hook up already?

Abruzzi's going crazy in his room as he dreams about a dead little boy in a casket and wakes with a start. He also sees a water stain in the corner of his room and starts to think it's Jesus. His men confirm that they're going to take care of T-Bag in shed the next day. Later a priest comes in and tells Abruzzi that Jesus loves everyone.

As they're working in the yard, Michael sees a drainage valve and has Westmoreland cover him as he goes and turns it on. I was sure he was gonna get caught and have to make up some excuse. He didn't, and was able to fill the silo thing with water. I knew he was gonna do that!!! Later, he sneaks back into the tunnel and in the highlight moment of the show, Michael... takes...his... clothes...off to climb into the water filled silo. Not really sure what happened after that, my roommate had to splash cold water on me to wake me up. She told me that once under water Michael grabbed the rope he left in there and swam to the top where the grate was, tying the rope off. We find out that it empties into some sort of storage room right underneath the infirmary. Michael pulls the rope and the plastic bag that was stuffed into the hole at the bottom of the silo comes out and the water drains, not sure to where. By now I'm awake again and wondering how he's gonna get back to his clothes, not that I care, he can run around in his skivvies if he wants.

Back in the real world, Hale goes home to his pregnant wife and tries to convince her to move. She wonders what's brought this on and thinks maybe his job has something to do with it. Yeah, could be those blood stains you keep having to wash out of his suits. At the hospital Nick is out of surgery and Veronica gets a call from Hale, saying that he has information for her, and he knows that Lincoln was set up. Hale wants to meet with her and insists this isn't a trap. I believe him, I've known he was gonna turn for awhile.

In the clink Michael works his way (clothed to my disappointment) back to the hole in the guards room. He's about to come up with Linc warns the group that a guard is on his way. Westmoreland tells Linc to stall, and instead of talking to the guy about the weather, he just stands in his way with a 'I'm guilty' look on his face. When the guard insists on going in, Linc punches him and is quickly taken off, most likely to solitary confinement. Not as smart as his bro is he? When Michael gets into the room, I wonder if the guards will notice that he wasn't there before, he says that the plan is in place and that they're going TONIGHT. Then he realizes that his brother isn't there, and Westmoreland tells them that they have a problem. Speaking of problems...

Before going out to the yard Pope tells T-Bag about his cousin's murder, as well as the murdered little boy. He nearly falls down in anguish. His day isn't going any better later when Abruzzi's guys grab him and force him into the shed, tie him up, and beat him a bit. Can't say I'm all that unhappy with this, although T-Bag is one of the more interesting characters. Abruzzi comes in and I think, okay, he's just found Jesus, he can't kill the guy, right? RIGHT? This whole scene is up and down for me, I was definitely at the edge of my seat, wondering what's going to happen. Abruzzi threatens T-Bag as T begs for his life. Abruzzi holds a knife to his throat, and is ready to cut at any moment. Will he kill him because T-Bag is a bad guy and Abruzzi wants to get rid of him, or is Abruzzi done with killing, and is going to spare him. Abruzzi airs on the side of decency and spares T-Bag. He does make him promise to back out and to not tell anyone. T-Bag whimpers and agrees to this. Abruzzi turns to leave and T-Bag pulls a razor out of his mouth and KILLS Abruzzi!!!!!! Yes!! The scene ends with T-Bag smiling over a sliced neck Abruzzi!

Don't miss next week's episode, the last for awhile since 24 is taking over the time slot in January (!!!!). Next week the group finally escape! We'll see how far they get without a plane.

ALIAS

I've really got nothin'. It's taken me a few days to finally watch last week's episode because it was extremely dense. I mean, it was a decent episode, but unless you've seen every single episode you'll be completely lost. I've been watching every episode and I'm completely lost. I think maybe if I watched every episode straight through, without commercials, no other sound in the room, with headphones on I might get what the hell is going on, but I don't.

Long story short, they capturedDean with Rachel's help of course. Once they have him they give him some psycho drug that was somehow supposed to make him tell the truth or something. It's a bit confusing since normally they just give them truth serum, but whateva. Marshall gives him a bit too much and he starts thinking he's back in the sixties and tries to run around naked in the mud. Okay that last part didn't happen, but he does start gettin' crazy. Sydney has to go in and comfort him. We learn that the code key was part of "Profit Five" and accesses some sort of computer. Grace and Dixon go in to access the computer and Marshall translates. We learn that "Profit Five" isn't just one organization, but has ties to every spy organization in the world, MI6, CIA, twelve to be exact. Sydney feels like this is way too big for them and is reminding her of "The Alliance" and I'm starting to agree.

In fact, they've been able to reel Sloane back in. He was helping them for awhile in hopes of getting a cure for Nadia. Remember she's a zombie who they're keeping in a coma for everyone's own good. He realizes that she's never going to wake up, and comes clean with the CIA and gives them Dean. Unfortunately, they still need his help and show him they're serious by having Nadia wake up for a few minutes, only to go zombie again. Of course he decides to help them, by killing Dean. He sneaks into the interrogation room and before Sydney can get to Dean and get an access code, Sloane kills him. He makes it look like Dean had been hiding a pill in his cheek this whole time and took it to kill himself. Sydney's not really buying it but her dad thinks it's plausible.

Later Syd asks her dad to help her put the crib together. Cute.

As much as I want to like this show, it's getting harder and harder each week, even though Jen G. gets cuter and cuter each week with her growing tummy. My girl crush lives on.

GREY'S ANATOMY

I really can't get enough of this show. The writing, the acting, I love it.

Last night's episode was a special Thanksgiving episode. We learned a lot about the characters in this one, starting off with Izzie planning a huge dinner for all of her hospital friends. The day doesn't start off well for her, when George and Meredith both leave, after promising to help cook dinner. Meredith runs off to the hospital with the promise to be back before six, and George runs off with his two crazy brothers and dad to go turkey hunting. Izzie is expecting Alex, who ignores her numerous calls to her. Christina and Dr. Burke, Preston, show up, even though they're a bit late. Can't blame him though, he went into work for a quick surgery. Dr. Burke insists on helping Izzie cook, much to Christina's chagrin. Not really sure what she thought was gonna happen here. Izzie's having a blast with Dr. Burke, mostly because they're treating cooking like they would surgery. Christina keeps wondering where the alcohol is, even asking Joe the Bartender (who shows up with his cutie boyfriend) if he brought some booze. Eventually she storms off, claiming she's going to get some alochol. She ends up working at the hospital, scrubbing in on a man who's swallowed a wishbone. Not really sure how he did that, but she's pumped that she'll get to scrub in. Dr. Bailey, "The Nazi", and Christina talk during the surgery and Bailey confides that she's pregnant. She also brings up Christina and Dr. Burke, and says what a good father he would have made. This sends Christina back to the house to be with him.

Out turkey hunting, we get a taste of George's obnoxious family. He's obviously the smartest one of the group, who make fun of him for just being an intern, and not really saving people. His father insists that they're not leaving until George kills a turkey so the first chance he gets he kills one. As they're loading the bird into the truck dumb and dumber shoot the dad in the butt. George has to take him to the hospital and remove the shots. George finally admits to his dad that he feels out of place, and the dad tells George that they feel out of place because he's the smart one and they never understand what he's talking about. There's a cute moment of recognition as they each think about what the other one said.

Addison and Derek are on the ferry into town and Addison informs him that she wants to have sex that night. I mean, the woman ain't dumb. Oh, except for that time she cheated on Dr. McDreamy with his best friend. Bitch. He doesn't seem too into the idea, but says he'll meet her later after he checks on a few of his patients. And by a few of his patients I mean Meredith.

Meredith and Bailey seem to be the only two surgeons around, except for a sub who is a big jackass. He wants to meet "The Nazi" and tells Bailey to leave him alone because he just wants to meet this "guy". She doesn't break it to him that she's that "guy", so he looks like a dumbass the whole show, love it.

A man comes in from a nursing home that has fallen out of his bed. He's been in a vegetative state for 16 years, but as Meredith checks him, he looks at her. Everyone laughs at her as she tries to get the man re-examined. Everyone except Derek that is, sigh. He looks at the man and they discover that he's not in a complete vegetative state and will wake up with the right meds. They call the man's family who show up and aren't too happy he's now awake. The wife has remarried and is pregnant. The son was just a baby when his dad went into the coma, so he's confused as well. Unfortunately the man got a blood clot in his head when he fell at the nursing home, and needs an operation or he'll die. Of course he could let it go and it could either get better or kill him. After the son visits him, he realizes he lost everything and opts for the surgery. Derek operates on the man as Addison waits for him to arrive. Ha, that's funny, I wish it was raining on her. Unfortunately the man dies and Derek has to tell the son that his father is dead.

Meredith finds Alex and they confide in each other what's bugging them. He says that he's not at dinner with Izzie because he failed his boards and can't face telling her the truth. Meredith tells him that she doesn't want to be around people because she's miserable, and doesn't want to make them feel as down as she does. They console each other.

Richard, who's been at the hospital all day tells Bailey that he hasn't gone home yet because his wife is probably already mad and he may as well stay there for awhile. Bailey gives him hell for it, and he yells down the hall "no wonder they call you 'The Nazi'". Cue sub asshole doctor who is amazed that she's a woman. She just looks at him as the elevator doors close and says "Happy Thanksgiving". Classic.

Dr. Burke asks Izzie why she decided to cook Thanksgiving dinner when she can't even cook. She basically tells him that the people at the hospital are her family, and she wanted to spend one day away from the hospital. Finally, everyone shows up except for Meredith. Even Alex shows up to Izzie's delight.

While Meredith watches from outside as everyone has a good time, Derek finally arrives home with Addison waiting for him. She asks him how much longer he's going to punish her. He just looks at her pouty face and kisses her. I'm assuming this means they're finally going to do it.

DESPERATE (FOR A DECENT STORYLINE) HOUSEWIVES

So, last night I drudged through another episode of this steadily declining show. I have to say it was better than the previous shows this season, but still pretty bad. Susan still needed a cheeseburger, Lynette continued to manipulate, Gabrielle was self-centered, and Bree was clueless. I say it was a pretty decent show though b/c finally Bree and Gabrielle started to see the light.

Because of Caleb's "attack" on Gabrielle (the brother just wanted some ice cream) which I was happy to hear Gabby say it wasn't really an attack, the community gets together and tries to decide what to do. Mrs. McCluskey, love her by the way, wants to vote on setting up a neighborhood watch. Because Betty thinks that a good distraction will keep people from talking about this ever again, she plays them a song on the piano.

Susan's mother, Sophie, and Morty are getting married, and her mom is wearing white, I just don't get it. Susan wants Mike to still be her date. Ha, ha, ha, sorry, I just can't get over her stupidity. Anyway, Mike is cleaning out the gutters when Susan comes by and starts blabbing about him going to her mother's wedding with her. Seriously, I think the lack of food is depleting her brain cells. As they talk he throws the mud and leaves from the gutter nearly on top of her. Of course he's not going with her, and she better back up because he's still pissed. She also mentions her never talked about father, the Merchant Marine who fought and died in Vietnam. Mike informs her that the MMs didn't fight in Vietnam. Huh, curious. Later, at Sophie's wedding rehearsal Susan questions her about her father. Sophie gets frustrated and angry and storms off. Morty says he knew this would happen one day and Susan gets him to admit that Susan was conceived from a one night stand. Susan of course is upset at her mother, but eventually forgives her, saying that everybody makes mistakes. Mistakes like the one Sophie finally admits to in true Mayer style, at her wedding reception, with a microphone in her hand. She tells Susan that she does know her father, in fact, one of the wedding guests tells her that he knows the man, and he works in town. Susan of course is furious and runs out.

Meanwhile, Lynette comes home from work at 9pm one night and finds her kids outside, in the street, playing football. Man, these kids are little assholes. Anyway, she scolds Tom for it, telling him that the kids could get kidnapped. Although, if they were taken my guess is they'd be back in a few hours. No one but Tom and Lynette can stand those kids. Tom then trains the kids to run away from strangers who try and snatch them. Lynette's not buying it so she asks a guy at work to "kidnap" her kids. As Tom and Lynette watch from the house, the guy lures the kids into to the car with candy. Mrs. McCluskey sees this and zaps the guy with her stun gun. Man, that sure was funny.

Betty catches son Matthew leaving the house in the middle of the night. He claims to be searching for Caleb, but in reality he's meeting the newly whorified Danielle Van de Kamp at the park. Seriously Bree, don't you even pay attention to these kids anymore?

So, Gabrielle tries to put the miscarriage behind her by shopping. The girls come over to console her, but she's not having that, she's got some baby clothes to return. Luckily she tells the girls she'll pencil them in for later in the week. Carlos on the other hand is inconsolable when Gabby visits him in prison. They have him hopped up on downers because he's been tearing up his cell since he heard the news. He's a bit irritated when he realizes Gabby has on a new sweater, wondering how she can shop at a time like this. She does point out that everyone is different, which I agree with. Carlos just gets mad and storms back into prison. Later when Gabby is doing yoga in her living room, a tattooed Latino man is staring in her window. She's frightening and he tells her that Carlos sent him to look out for her. She doesn't let him in so he sits on her porch and watches her come in and go out, each time bringing more shopping bags. Finally she gets fed up of him judging her and wants to pay him off to leave. He smoothly tells her that he doesn't have a bank account, and wonders if she'll drive with him to the bank. Of course she'll get into a convicted felons 1985 Impala with dirty windows. The dumbass notices too late that there aren't any window or door handles on the inside panel. He tells her that Carlos didn't send him to look out for her. Key scary laughter and a crash of thunder as they pull away. He takes her to the park, noting that it's nice and disserted (guess he's gonna kill her on the seesaw). She takes off running once she's out of a car and thinks he's reaching for a shovel. He tells her to stop, and pulls out a red balloon. Carlos didn't hire him to look after her, he hired him to help her get over her grief. Yeah, that makes a lot more sense then a grief counselor. How long has Carlos even been in prison to make friends like this? Anyway, he tells her to let go of the balloon as a symbol of the baby she lost. She thinks it's supid but has trouble letting go of the balloon. She finally does and thanks the man for not killing her.

Over at Bree's delusion, she sees her wedding announcement in the paper. She's furious at George who says he forgot to cancel it since they decided to keep it low for awhile. I mean, it's only been seven weeks since Rex has died, you have to at least wait eight before you annouce you're marrying his killer. Speaking of killers, not once in this episode do they mention the demise of Bree's therapist. I guess she must only see him once a month or something. Whatever. George notices that Bree isn't wearing the engagement ring and insist that she put it on. Later, an old girlfriend of George's tracks Bree down and insists that George is crazy. She says that George saw her talking to an old flame and then set the guy's car on fire. Bree doesn't believe this and kicks the woman out. When Bree approaches George about it at the pharmacy, he claims the woman is psychotic and shows Bree her prescription order which of course is faked. George takes Bree out for a nice dinner of crazy and notices she's not wearing the ring again. She tells him that the stone is loose and doesn't want it to risk losing it. He says he doesn't care, cue Bree's old hunky flame who shows up. They haven't seen each other in ages (or Bree invited him to find out if the old flame's story was true) and George doesn't look too happy. Because she's irritated at George anyway, she asks her OHF to dance. As they dance George boils over and runs up to them, forcing the ring on her finger. She, finally, breaks the engagement off and he runs out of the restaraunt, not before stealing the OHF's valet ticket. Five dollars for anyone who can guess what he does. Yup, he burns it. Man, ya sure can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Finally, we get to see Mike again as he notices Caleb running through the yards at night. He tackles him and yells at Mrs. McCluskey to call the police. Gabby identifies him as the man in her house and the neighbors watch as the police cart Caleb off. Betty puts her fingers to her lips and Caleb nods that he won't say anything. Does he even talk anyway?

WITHOUT A TRACE (quickie)

I just finished watching this past week's episode of Without A Trace. I've always enjoyed this show, but decided to leave it off of my normal blog because it's so serious, and takes itself so seriously, it wouldn't necessarily be fun to blog. But, I had to say a few words about this past episode that was WONDERFUL. Since it's up against ER, a show I've been loyal to for the past 12 years, I encourage everyone to Tivo Trace and give the Nielsen points to ER.
Typically the show centers around the FBI team assigned to different missing persons cases. This time around we followed a mother and father who's son was missing and saw what they went through. We weren't privy to any of the normal interviews with suspects, discoveries of phone calls, or speculation from the team. Instead, our team whispered to each other, kept things from the family, and took calls out of the room. After this episode you really get a better sense of what the families of missing people must go through, the different emotional stages and frustration. The parents hear bits and pieces of what our team is finding out from them thinking the son is a drug dealer, to thinking he may be dead and having to identify the body that turns out not to be their son.
The ending was nail biting for the audience and the family as they waited half a mile away from where their son was being held hostage, listening to what took place from the police radio in the car. Of course they don't understand most of the technical talk, and overhear that their son is not moving. We also feel somewhat relieved when we realize that Jack is doing the negotiation. Finally they hear gunshots as their son is rescued, and they're left wondering about his safety until they get to the hospital and realize he's alive.
Sometimes flipping the dynamic of the show works, like in last week's LOST, and sometimes it doesn't, like in the two part CSI from the past two weeks, but this past Without A Trace had strong performances, a great story, and was overall an excellent episode. Just had to let y'all know.