The Novela Formula

It starts off wonderful when we get really hooked on a show. Season one is great, you’re connecting with the characters, the season finale was a cliffhanger and the WHAM, season two doesn’t look so hot. It’s a mess actually. You get ticked off and start going on the show’s Facebook page or GetGlue to vent about how the writers are ruining the show.

Corporate wasn’t sure about season 1 but when they see how much a following the show has and they start making changes. Writers are fired. New characters are brought in. People start dying or getting pregnant. Essentially, it’s the love of money that ruins a show. They begin to see how long they can drag out a certain plot or just switch the pace entirely.

This is quite the opposite with Spanish novelas. All novelas have an expiration date. You know it’s going to happen and all loose ends will be tied. Our favorite shows now could be greatly enhanced if we started taking this approach. We get a steady pace, an awesome ending and the actors can walk away from a show proud of it. There are a few shows this could benefit from and some shows that probably would be better off going as long as they can. Examples below:

Once Upon A Time is a show that can’t go on forever. I mean, it can, but it will start to suck. This is a 4 season show, maximum. And I think I was too generous with a fourth season.  How long can they keep going ‘round and ‘round with Regina?

Hart of Dixie is one that I’m on the fence about. We could get a conclusive ending if they were to pursue only the love angle, but it could go on for a while if they started focusing a little more on the medical emergencies. Then again, how many emergencies will happen in a small town?

Community should have an expiration date as well. Six seasons and movie; real fans know why. Also six seasons because they will have to graduate eventually. Although I’m not sure how we can keep them in college those additional 2 years….

I’m 50/50 about Vampire Diaries.  Should Elena just choose a brother and then wrap it up? Or should they go on for a while with a new villain coming out every season? That’s what they have been doing for so far. Season 1 was about Katherine. Then season 2 the scarier villain was Klaus of whom Katherine was afraid.  Now in season 3 we have Silas and he frightens even Klaus. I’m seeing a pattern here. And I think they should make a lateral move with the villains. Things will soon change now that The Originals will have a spin off and I’m eagerly awaiting that premier.

Big Bang Theory can go on for years. Some say it has jumped the shark, others still say it’s fresh.  Sitcoms like this usually don’t get stale quickly. The cast seems to be growing nicely and transitions are smooth.

Psych is another show that won’t peak quickly.  It’s mainly because every episode is a different but believable case.

Happy Endings can go on for decades.  I can’t even put into words how hilarious the writers/actors have made this show.

Those are just a few samples of shows I threw out there. I’d like to know what everyone thinks.  What causes a show to jump the shark and what can writers do to keep it from happening?

Community Season 4 Episode 11 Recap

Community 

Season 4 Episode 11 Recap

"Basic Human Anatomy"

This past Thursday’s ep was hilars. One of the funniest ones so far. It opened with the group deciding what their group project for history was going to be. They decide on banners because Jeff wants “doable and passable” and also Annie and Shirley both want an A since they are both in the running for valedictorian.

Shirley mentions that it’s Britta and Troy’s anniversary of their first date. Of course Britta and Troy don’t even remember their anniversary and were put on the spot.  But Troy does remember that it’s third anniversary of Abed and he watching Freaky Friday. As a gift, he presented Abed a slew of body switching movies. Abed rifles through them and comes across the original "Freaky Friday". Both lament how the other has it easier and they both grab the DVD and fake body switching as a janitor flips the switch on and off during a “routine light switch check”.

The following morning Troy and Abed start the day as if they had switched bodies. This means that Abed is really going on the date with Britta. And by the way, Donald Glover did an outstanding job playing Troy-as-Abed. Danny Pudi didn’t impress me as much playing Abed-as-Troy but he’s so great in everything else that this is forgivable.

Jeff is irritated at the bit that Troy and Abed have committed to and he finds the dean. Dean tricks him into saying the same phrase as Troy and Abed and holds the DVD with Jeff. He does a fake body switch of his own with Jeff looking at him weirdly. Another “routine light switch check” goes on while this happens.  Jim Rash nailed it as Jeff!  He had the deep voice, the arrogance and even pretended to be on a Blackberry. After Jeff leaves, Annie and Shirley show up to find out why Leonard is ahead of them in the running for valedictorian. Dean-as-Jeff tells them Leonard has been taking easy classes and Annie is visibly attracted to him. I gotta admit………..so was I. Dean-as-Jeff rips off his shirt and hunts down Leonard who leaves. Not sure if that meant he was dropping out of school or what.

Abed-as-Troy is on the date with Britta and she slowly starts to realize that this bit is just Troy acting out because he doesn’t know how to break up with her. I kind of felt bad for Britta.

Jeff finds Troy-as-Abed and tries to get him to drop the bit. Realizing that he has to play along, he goes with Troy-as-Abed to find the missing DVD so they can “switch” back. While searching for the DVD Troy-as-Abed starts talking about how Troy wants to break up with Britta. Jeff is moved and takes Troy-as-Abed to the restaurant where Britta and Abed-as-Troy are on their date. The duo holds on to the DVD (that Troy pulls out of the backpack because he had it the entire time) and they switch back. Jeff succumbs to the bit and does the routine light switch check at the restaurant.

Everyone goes back to the study room to find that Pierce has done the project and it turned out pretty good.  We close with Britta and Troy hugging and knowing that everything is okay. This will ensure that there will be no awkwardness in future episodes.

With Chevy leaving the show, Pierce had a small part in the episode. The phasing out continues. If the next episodes are as funny as this one, then it won't be as painful. 

Again, I loved this episode. It had some of the formulas that worked in previous eps:

• Jeff was being cynical, sarcastic, selfish and on the blackberry. Then he has a revelation towards the end and shares his nuggets of wisdom with the others.
• Troy and Abed were awesomely weird.
• Annie was wound tightly. Yay!

High Points:

The Dean’s monologue about “body switching” with Jeff and referring to Jeff being “inside” of him had me dying!

Predictions:

The race between Annie and Shirley is going to get ugly.

There you have it Delta Cubes, looks like we are back on track. I knew it would get better. Next episode let’s all wear Delta Cube shirts while watching it. Just kidding, looking for a Delta Cube shirt sounds like work. But, I’ll probably make popcorn or something.

Hart of Dixie Season 2 Episode 20

Hart of Dixie

Season 2 Episode 20

"If Tomorrow Never Comes"

It all started with a donut bite.  Once I saw where this ep was going I wanted to shake Zoe. But then I thought about it, we’ve all had our irrational thoughts and anxieties. Zoe doesn’t want to die alone. Did she handle it well? No, not really. I’d like to think of this ep as a filler ep. I read comics where a certain issue may come off boring because it’s setting up the next issue where it gets real. So I’d like to think that the next ep will be off the chain, or at least funnier than this one.

Okay, I got over wanting to shake Zoe but then the side story with Lemon and Wade was up next. Wade invested in a flat screen TV for the Rammer Jammer. But Lemon wants to turn it into a salon thingy. And apparently salons don’t just mean a place where you get your hair done. Obviously, anyone can see that Wade’s idea was the more sensible one. It’s already a bar, the transition to a sports bar would be a smooth one.  Come on Lemon!

Over at George’s boat Tansy is moving her things in and boy, is it a lot of crap. How again did she fit all of that into a trailer????  While George is taking that all in, three men bust in and start hugging Tans. They’re her brothers (the Truitt Trio). And they are super hillbilly. The next day George offers to take the brothers to lunch sans Tans. He loves her so much he wants to get to know her family. Awww.*  The brothers are immature but he continues to put up with them. They make him an honorary Truitt. Sometime later they get kicked out of the Rammer Jammer and they are plastered. George leaves them and when Tansy finds out that they’re unsupervised she is ticked! Hours later Sheriff Bill calls George. The boys are locked up. George bails them out.  Tansy overhears George call the family and that seals it for them it is love and their relationship is awesome (according to George).

Brick has let Jonah know about his condition. He and Shelby are the only ones that know now. Allow me to interject, that I am super happy that Jonah is back. I don’t want him with Zoe……permanently, but I do think he’ll make a nice distraction. Maybe he’ll even be an enemy, but I think we’re way past that.  It’s just that Zoe shined when she had a nemesis. Anywho, Zoe is curious about why Brick and Jonah are so secretive and she finds out that the Brick has a pituitary tumor. It’s not serious but off she goes to discuss this with Brick and also find out how Shelby is taking it. She doesn’t think Shelby will stick around or be supportive. Brick informs her that Shelby has been by his side. Zoe bursts into tears as she realizes that she is forever alone. Brick leaves the room. Lol

Zoe runs into Shelby and mentions the risks of the procedure and sometimes people die. She then says that it’s best to have a loved one there for them. Shelby gets a worried look on her face and we cut to the next scene.

Lemon and AnnaBeth plan a surprise wine tasting to show Wade that the Rammer Jammer can be classy. Or something.I wasn't too keen on this scene.

Jonah finds Zoe and shows her a note that Shelby left Brick. Apparently, Zoe put worry in her heart about Brick and she ran for the hills. Brick hasn’t seen the note yet so Zoe vows to get Shelby to the hospital in time for the surgery. She finds her shopping and apologizes and when that doesn’t work, threatens to rip up her coupons. They arrive at the hospital in time where Brick proposes to her. She says yes. 

While on a walk with AB, Lavon finds out Lemon has a wine tasting. He then then tells AB that he and Wade have a “fight night” planned. It’s where you watch mixed martial arts. It would have been cooler if there was real live fighting. j/k  AnnaBeth and Lavon both realize that they are too involved in Lemon and Wade’s Rammer Jammer battle and bow out of this one. But then five minutes later call their respective friends and let them know what’s going on. So now both events are happening inside the RJ and it’s a disaster. That is, until they pull together and combine events and magically everything works out.  It’s about compromise, folks.

Shut The Front Door! Moment:

Lemon and Wade knocking a wall down and having the roof cave in. That’s not the part I’m getting at, though. It’s when he got on top of her to protect her. They were already under a table for heaven’s sake! And why the heck was Lemon there? Was Lavon not available???

And last but not least, Zoe running to George and professing her feelings of love for him. I’m a little glad he went off on her like he did. It’s time to grow up and move on Zoe.

Predictions:

Jonah is gonna be in town for a bit. Someone will have to take over Brick’s patients.

That’s all for tonight. What did you think about this filler episode?

*Still don’t want him with Zoe.

Community Season 4 Episode 10 Recap

Community 

Season 4 Episode 10 Recap

"Intro To Knots"

It’s Christmas and Jeff’s having a party! Wait, what? I feel like this was shown out of order and that this should have been aired after the Thanksgiving ep with Jeff reuniting with his father and Shirley having a disastrous Thanksgiving of her own.

All continuity aside, Annie blows in Jeff's crib and starts adding her own touches. The rest of the Greendale 6 (no Pierce, sad face) arrive and Annie informs them that they have failed their history paper. Jeff is upset as he is attempting to graduate early.

But have no fear; Annie has invited Cornwallis to the par-tay! The plan is to talk him into a higher grade. Jeff botches the plan and Cornwallis ends up tied to a chair as they force him to up their grade. Cornwallis takes it upon himself to manipulate the group into betraying one another as the person who will untie him gets an A while the rest fail. In the end, Jeff, with his wise words, says they will not betray one another.  Cornwallis was never tied and confessed to being lonely this holiday and that’s the reason he attended the soiree. Also it is revealed that Shirley is in the running for valedictorian. I did not see that coming. 

High points: Abed in the Die Hard shirt and Chang asking “Is this a card?” Those were the only laugh out loud parts for me but that’s two more than last week.

Predictions: This isn't really a prediction just a hope. And it’s that Chang will be the new 7^th person in the Greendale 7. We just have to get past his hatred of the group. Also I think he’s working with the Dean of City College.

While this wasn't a stellar episode it was certainly a step up from last week’s ep. There were glimmers of the old Community here and there and I still have high hopes the show can become as great as it once was.  It’s just painfully obvious that they are still working out the glitches of having new writers and dealing with Chevy Chase’s departure.

I say that we soldier on through this season! Until next time Greendale Humans!

West, Texas Devastation

The following article at DallasNews.Com is filled with tons of ways to help people in West, Texas. Many people are still homeless and need basic necessities.

Hart of Dixie Season 2 Episode 19 Recap

Hart of Dixie

Season 2 Episode 19 Recap

“The Kiss”

We’re back and Bluebell is putting on a production of Romeo and Juliet. Tansy and George are supposed to play the star couple.  But we all know it’s not going to go that way. It starts with George and Zoe getting upset over the NY Times no longer being sold. Frank states the publisher makes him order 8 and since they are the only 2 buying them, then he throws out 6. There was an eye-rolling moment when G and Z both say “crossword puzzle” at the same time. George says he’ll buy the other 6 within earshot of Tansy. Later she confronts George and who can blame her? But George says even if it wasn't for Zoe that he would have bought them all for himself....

Lemon and Wade find that all employees have quit since they have taken over. So after several interviews, they hire a professional chef and a trashy waitress. It’s about compromise, folks. The chef is awesome except for the fact the he can’t cook grits. This causes Lemon to get back there and start cooking. Then Magnolia reveals that the new waitress is a junior at Fillmore right in front of the sheriff. Lemon and Wade lose their liquor license. Sad face. They sit and mope about how the day went. Then they get an inspired chat from the ex-owner about how you have days like this. They run down to the license place which employs a woman who applied as a waitress. Did anyone else think that was weird??? They get the license back in exchange for hiring that woman as a waitress. I'm guessing she needs 2 jobs but it didn't sound like she'd be working. There were a couple moments between Wade and Zoe. She’s still pissed and rightly so but she did show support at the opening and then later when they got the restaurant going again.

It’s mental health awareness week. Wait, they’re already doing Shakespeare this week. Who has the community calendar? Brick is giving out free counseling. Sometimes you gotta know when to do free counseling and when to give patients Tic Tacs. Zoe goes because she is having dreams of George. Brick deduces it’s because she is still healing and George is unavailable and can’t hurt her. She vows to stay away from George until the feeling passes.  The second patient is Lavon who is avoiding AB. He had a traumatic experience in a play as a child and he doesn't want to be in the play. Brick empowers him to let AB know. In the end, he goes on with AB and he nails it.

Speaking of the play, Tans has laryngitis and long story short, Zoe is Juliet.  They kiss and it was uneventful (to me). 

Brick reveals to Shelby why he’s been avoiding her. We don’t hear the conversation as they cut to another scene.

Shut the front door! Moment:

Zoe in a beekeeper outfit hopping around. I didn’t laugh at all. It was weird and didn’t fit with the episode. I get it that it was a way to no kiss George but whatever. But because Zoe let the bees loose they get into Tansy place and now she is moving in with George. Zoe is hurt. I hope it’s just because she wishes she could be happy.

Predictions:

Like I said last week, Brick is gonna have cancer. He’ll probably die in the season finale and they’ll bring in Jonah as the Breeland to run half the place. This is just my prediction, I could be WAY off. I’m just speculating. I wouldn't mind Jonah coming back but not at the expense of Brick. Lemon and Wade become "besties". Yes they have chemistry but hopefully that's it. If they sleep together and George and Zoe sleep together, then we're officially changing the name of the town to Casual Sexville. Fingers crossed we won't and everyone can be just friends and keep it in their pants.

So that’s it for now. What are your predictions? What did you think of the ep?

Tragedy in Boston

My heart goes out to those affected in Boston.

To donate funds to those in need visit the Red Cross site. 

Community Season 4 Episode 9 Recap

"Intro to Felt Surrogacy" 

aka The Puppet Episode

We open in the study room where the gang avoids eye contact with one another and no one is speaking. Dean busts through the door and suggests puppet therapy to discuss what happened and for us to discover what happened too.

They reveal that they were tired of being in a rut and decided to go on an adventure. The puppets get on a hot air balloon that the guide manages to miss.  They’re all frightened and think death is near. Then the balloon begins to descend. They end up in a wooded area and mountain man played by Jason Alexander (with longish hair) shows up and gives them berries that make them hallucinate.

This is all being told to Dean and Shirley is the first to reveal her secret that she spilled that night.  So that’s what it was about, everyone’s awkward secrets.  They all look at Shirley with surprised faces and come to find out, no one heard her secret. As the group discusses what happened they find that no one heard one another’s secrets. Everyone but Shirley is relieved. Shirley pulls a guilt trip and now they have to reveal their awkward skeletons in their closet.

I’m not even going to get into what the secrets were because I was a little disappointed in this episode. It felt like a rush ep to replace another one that had gotten trashed. Or as my friend Alex said “They’re just phoning it in”. Pierce was notably absent in this ep, except in puppet form which does go with my theory that this was a rush episode.

Community will get a pass from me on this one because I know they can do way better than this and there had to be circumstances unbeknownst to us as to why this was shot and aired.

I still have love for them! It sometimes gets worse before it gets better. Until next time Greendalers.

Hart Of Dixie Season 2 Episode 18 Recap

"Why Don't We Get Drunk?"

Spoilers ahead.

Since this is my first recap of Hart of Dixie, I would like to get a few things out of the way:

1.      I am ALL for Zoe and Wade to be together. Sorry but Zoe and George just seem boring, uninspired and I feel nauseated. I wish the writers would stop throwing Zoe/George hints every episode. It’s annoying. I’m hoping they’ll wake up and get over that.
2.     I do like Tansy and George together.
3.    Loving me some Lemon/AnnaBeth shenanigans.
4.     Not sure who Lavon’s true love is.
5.   I like the Brick/Shelby story.
6.   I miss the medical emergencies from season 1.

I think that sums it up. Now on to the recap!

It’s spring break in Bluebell and of course that’s an excuse for everyone to let loose. Lavon is actually okay with all the coed excitement. Wade is in on the action too and I gotta respect the man for trying to make a buck. Speaking of making a buck, Wally is looking to sell the Rammer Jammer. Of course Wade wants this, but now so does Lemon.

Jonah Breeland suggests for Zoe to join in the spring break fun and of we are forced to watch George get jealous of the pair making plans. *eye roll* Seriously, you are with Tansy, George. And Tansy has really grown on me. Anybody ever care about her feelings? The whole “whistling ducks” analogy was a beat down.

It was nice to see the flirting/bantering between Zoe and Wade in Lavon’s kitchen.  And to think it started over Zoe’s fanny pack.

Ruby Jeffries is back. She’s gonna save the day after the mayor of Filmore tries to steal Bluebell’s tourists.  She sets up a “hands on the boat” contest. It’s where you keep your hands on the boat and if you’re the last person….you win.  Wade and Lemon both want to win so they can get the moolah to buy the Rammer Jammer. Long story short, it’s a tie and they’ve agreed to split the winnings and partner in buying the Rammer Jammer. Hilarity should ensue in the episodes to come.

To close the “Ruby J” door, well Lavon told her he was in love with someone else. Lemon finally realizes that she was being selfish about keeping Lavon from AnnaBeth and tells her to go fight for her man. AnnaBeth rushes off and professes her feelings for Lavon and he informs her that he already sent Ruby packing. They kiss. Awwww.

Jonah and Zoe don’t even kiss in this episode and it’s time for little Jonah to hit the happy trails for a few episodes. 

Shut The Front Door! The shut the front door moment is something that literally made me shout “Shut the front door!” Apparently Brick is sick with something.  I’m thinking cancer. Why!?! Why can’t anyone be happy in Bluebell? Shelby and Brick are actually a fun couple.

That's all for this week fellow Bluebell lovers. Until next time!

In Other News....

Check out my comic book reviews at Unleash The Fanboy. I do a few weekly. Also check out the reviews from the other members of the team as well! Comics, TV shows, movies....we do it all. Stop by and let us know what you think in the comments.

Also Not So Much An Open Book now has a Facebook page. Like it for access to all the latest reviews and an insider look at what's being contemplated next!