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April 27, 2007

Hector Does Go Rug

It's a good thing that our Dr. House makes it a point, unlike most docs, to leave right at 5P most nights, because he now has a doggy to take care of. In "House Training", our new episode for this week, we learn that Wilson and new ex-wife #2 shared a dog that she wants Wilson to take. Jimmy is living in a hotel these days and he's a doc that tends to pull down typical doc hours, so that is not a great solution.

House, pursuing his latest meddling, prying torture of Wilson, has been meeting with ex-Ms. Wilson to learn more about Jimmy's initial courting methods. "Why?", you may ask. It seems that Cuddy turned down House's offer to attend a play (after going with Wilson last week.) AND plans to go to an art exhibit with Jimmy this week. This disturbs Greg enormously, I think more because it's a puzzle AND a way to screw with Wilson, than because he's interested in Cuddy. (I hope.)

After several exchanges with Ex-Ms. Wilson (who also used to be Ms. ex-Niles Crane by the way.) House learns that Wilson is relentless in his pursuit but always frames it as being "just friends". Ms. Ex tells Greg that if she had just had sex with him right away, he might have gotten out of her system, but the unending "friendliness" got under her skin AND made her "jump" Wilson in the end as well as fall in love with him.

House pretends to be interested in buying a condo from Ms. Ex, New Jersey's worst realtor, so that he has ample opportunity to grill her with his questions. He learns more than he wanted to, however, when she tells him that while she doesn't blame House directly for the marriage ending, his constant demands on Wilson's time certainly didn't help. Also, the dog in question is named HECTOR because he never got.... HOUSE TRAINED.. (get it!) and HECTOR DOES GO RUG is an anagram for Doctor Greg House. House tells her there's a much better anagram - HUGE EGO, SORRY (which unscrambles to Gregory House.) Greg, in typical harsh House fashion, lets Ms Ex down pretty hard while letting her know that he has no intention of buying a condo, but clearly he does feel somewhat responsible for his friends' current state, and seems to want to make amends for that in some way.

House ends the epi telling Jim he can't go get dinner, he has a new dog to go home to. I can't wait to see the little critter.. and also to see how he gets along with "Steve McQueen". (AKA - cutest rat EVER.)

The case of the week and the side story about Foreman and his parents were both a bit too close to home for me, so I'll keep it brief. Omar Epps, I felt, did a stunning job of conveying his guilt and emotion over the patient of the week, a gal a bit to close to home for him in background, who he pre-judged both personally and medically. His medical judgment led to his killing her immune system with radiation allowing a runaway infection to kill her.

His personal judgment of her reminded him of from whence he came, and introduced us to his mom, who apparently has early-onset-Alzheimers. (The official maternal disease of the year for docs.) Eric ends this epi remembering his roots, even while the mom comforting him does not remember him.

Posted by Marenkay at 05:15 PM | Comments (0)

April 21, 2007

Fake Moms, Chief Grief and Guilt Aplenty!

Chief Grief continued to plague the attendings of SGH this week. Derek sensed that his campaign for the position was not going as well as he'd hoped so he had a sit down with Webber about it. Derek's hunches were right. In Webber's mind, Meredith's presence in Derek's life all but removes Derek from the chief's race. Webber knows first hand how impossible it is to be chief and to maintain a happy homefront, AND he specifically promised Ellis, Mer's mom, that he would take care of his daughter. Promoting her love to chief and sentencing him to always putting work first doesn't accomplish that, but then again, neither does putting Derek into the position of having to leave her to get what he wants in his career.

Marlowe and Burke continue to joust with the fair Cristina the prize. While they try to top each other with their surgical prowess, Cristina makes clear that she and Burke are a sure thing and continues to try to deflect Marlowe's constant, almost stalker-like, advances. He eventually gives up, telling Cristina he is going home, but also accusing her of giving up what she truly is to bolster her man's ego.

I'm glad that Marlowe is hitting the road and the wedding is on. Cristina told the patient the wedding would be in one month, which puts it right on the last new episode of the season at the end of sweeps! Surprising, right? I'm looking forward to the wedding preparations as we move ahead. Saw a spoiler concerning the preps and the two Mom's, Mrs. Burke and Mrs. Yang. Two headstrong ladies to be sure, as well as ladies that I'm guessing will insist on a more traditional day than what Cristina has had in mind. This ought to be good.

Sloan found a way to incorporate one of his greatest strengths (outside the OR) into his efforts to win the chief's spot. Seeing Webber struggle to flirt with an attractive woman in the elevator, he appoints himself Webber's wingman and tries to help him find someone new. Webber's been out of the game a long time and is very uncomfortable with the whole routine. But watching Sloan, and later even Addison, try to help him get back in the saddle again, was lots of fun.

George is NOT vying for the chief spot, but he is definitely leading the race for the next SGH male to be tossed out by his gal. Izzy will be there to pick him up when Callie gives him the heave-ho, of course, which I hope will be soon. Izzy had a tough time to go through this week and George was so "there for her" that he completely forgot that he had a wife. Next week's previews show Callie more or less begging Izzy to "give me my husband back." That makes me sad. The Callie we first met, the Callie I liked, would tell George to take a hike and not come back until or unless he decides he wants ME.. not Izzy. Don't beg, girl.. It's NEVER worth it.

We knew that Izzy had a daughter as a teen that she gave up for adoption. We knew that this would have to come back to haunt her someday. I never thought it would be this soon. Nor did I think, (and Izzy's didn't either.) that she'd turn up at SGH one day, sick and in need of a bone marrow transplant. Izzy agrees to the procedure, even though the girl decides not to see her (for this week anyway.)Bailey finds Izzy crying in an empty room and Izzy tells her the whole story. Bailey is supportive and helpful until George charges up on his white horse and relieves Bailey of her post. The kid is an eleven year old and quite the cutie, even bald! You can see as George looks at her and describes her that he is totally in love with Izzy. Callie who?

Fake moms intrude on the lives of both Meredith and "Jane Doe". When the episode opens, Susan Grey has arrived at Mer's house bearing groceries. She keeps showing up at the hospital and continues to try to bond with Mer at every opportunity. Mer wants nothing of it, but Susan insists. She eventually corners Mer at her door one evening, demanding that she get a chance to say what she came to say. She feels responsible for Hatcher's absence from Mer's life and wants to make amends. Mer tells her that an attentive mom is a very new thing for her and she needs time to adjust. But she looks like she's willing to give it a chance.

Jane Doe's plastic surgery is mostly healed and pictures are released to the media in the hopes that a husband or family will claim her. Sure enough, a very nice mom and dad arrive claiming that she is their daughter, Shannon Marie. For a few minutes, JD has parents, a career as a teacher, an identity. But it doesn't take long for the mom to realize this is not her daughter. Now, poor Alex has to tell JD that the family and identity she just thought she regained were a mistake. She's back to Square One. That exchange does not go well for her or for Alex. Alex is clearly more involved with her than he should ever have become. Did he not learn anything from watching the whole Izzy/Denny romance take place?

Posted by Marenkay at 07:36 PM | Comments (0)

April 20, 2007

HOUSE: "Play" it with Flowers

Those of us that love the House/ Wilson dynamic, (and no, I do NOT mean the oft-rumored romance... )and enjoy the pure fun they have just messing with each other got a real treat with this episode. Those who are not crazy about Chase got a treat as well!

The case of the week involved a six year old girl brought in with symptoms usually suffered by women much older. She has arthritis, while there she has a stroke. They learn (after Chase and Camers do the weekly search of the house) that she has started her period. As they puzzle through what could cause such events in a girl this young, her eight year old brother develops a walloping crush on Cameron. The kid steals flowers from a new mom's room to give to her, squeezes her butt and even lunges at Chase when he sees him with Cameron at a coffee machine! House quickly surmises that both brother and sis have hormonal issues not befitting their age.

As Cuddy says at the outset, "It's always the Dad." We learn that recently widowed dad is dating hot and much younger gal from their day care and using daily doses of male enhancement cream to keep up with her. Apparently, he is using so much that it is leeching through his skin and his two children are picking it up from his hugs, kisses, hands, etc. Good god, man, how much are you using?? Once he lets up, both kids will be fine.

The case provides not even half the fun this week however. Chase is wrestling with Cameron's rejection. Camers is just plain out of sorts due to guilt, horniness or maybe just plain starvation. Who knows? Chase and Camers are sniping at each other constantly which leads Foreman to instantly surmise, "I guess you two aren't sleeping together anymore." (Foreman gets more like House every day.) Later, Foreman points out to Chase that Camers must be lying about her feelings towards him because she gets attached to everything that moves. How could she have no feelings toward someone she works with, slept with, etc. Chase asks her this very question, and even presents her with some flowers NOT stolen from a new mother, but her answer remains the same. "I don't want a relationship with you." Camers tells Chase. (Again.. thank God! Now if we could JUST kill any ghost of a chance of a Cuddy/House hookup.) Oh, and the jealous eight year old called CHASE A TOOL. How much fun was that!

One of the great joys of House the show is watching Greg House messing with people especially his close friend, Wilson. House convinces Wilson to take off his hands two tickets to a play he (allegedly) received from a grateful patient.

Wilson first assumes they'll go together.
"What did you think this was? A Date?" , House says. "Dudes only go to plays when dragged by women they want to see naked."

Wilson replies, "Then, why give them to me?"
House: "Maybe there's someone YOU want to see naked."

Wilson takes the tickets and later, he notices that Cuddy is wearing more undereye concealer than usual. When asked about her late night, she says, "I went to A PLAY." "What Play?" House asks.

Now House knows that Wilson used the tix to take Cuddy out... and fun and mutual male messing-around ensues. If you haven't watched yet, do. If you do, watch again. And if you want a Readers-Digest condensed version video-style.... Here it is, courtesy of an adept You-Tuber who spliced together a vid of the essential House/Wilson/Cuddy scenes from this epi. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwdfaX-TcCY

One final note: I THINK that House is just messing with both of them and doesn't REALLY want Cuddy for himself. True, that's the only way I can digest these events and enjoy this epi.. but I really think that's the case. Also, we know that a new character, played by Piper Perabo, is arriving at PPTH for the last two epis and may be yet another love interest for our Greggers. Whether she'll pull me away from being the Camers/House shipper I am remains to be seen.. but I look forward to ANYTHING that will divert his attention from Cuddy. Bring her on!

Posted by Marenkay at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2007

LOST: A Penny in your Thoughts

Desmond flashs us back and forward in this episode that really starts the wheels in motion for the upcoming final four of the season.

Desmond's vision of the future centers around a hike into the woods taken by Des, Hurley, Jin and Charlie. As they proceed, Hurley and Charlie talk about "The Flash" and Superman until Charlie steps on a trip wire. It sends an arrow right into Charlie's throat and Charlie dies. While this commotion is going on, Desmond spies a flashing red light in the sky.

Desmond decides the light in his vision is an ejected passenger that is coming to rescue them. Furthermore, he's made the leap that this person will be PENNY. (His lost love from previous flashbacks!) Now, I understand that Penny has the wherewithal and the unending desire to find him. And I can see how he would assume that whoever may be trying to find them is someone that Penny sent or hired.. but it's only by sheer faith or hope, at this point, that he's assuming that the person parachuting down to rescue them (and solo, no less. How is one person going to rescue them all?) would be PENNY HERSELF.

Given his obsession with being reunited with Penny, Desmond assembles the "camping party" that he saw in his vision. Up to this point, as we know, Des has been going out of his way to avert the numerous demises of Charlie that he has envisioned. But this time, since the scenario he sees involves rescue and Penny, he WANTS it all to happen... just as it is "meant to."

After seeing several more flashes of this vision, Reality intrudes. While the boys are on their night hike, we see that the flashing red light in the sky is preceding by the sound of a helicopter in trouble. He insists they find where the beacon landed because SHE might be hurt. Charlie insists that he will NOT go out into the jungle in the middle of the night due to Hurley's warning of Rousseau's death traps. Desmond agrees to wait till first light.

The boys camp on the beach and Jin tells a ghost story as they sit around the campfire complete with creepy flashlight under the chin! It's 100% in Korean... but it scares Hurley anyway. Is it just the tone of Jin's voice as he tells the tale? or does Hurley truly understand Korean now as he did once before when Jin spoke in one of Hurley's dreams last season?)

In the morning, as they head toward the place they think the light fell, they find a little hula doll and a backpack up in the tree. The backpack contains a satellite phone and a Joseph Heller Book with the infamous Penny/Desmond picture inside! IT MUST BE PENNY!! Desmond now is convinced. (Because no one but her could carry that book or a photo, I guess.)

They proceed onward toward the beacon. Hurley and Charlie start to talk about the Flash and Superman. They approach the place Des recognizes from the vision. They see the trip wire. Charlie steps on it. In a split second decision, Des yells DUCK! and knocks Charlie away from the arrow zooming toward him. Des has saved Charlie again... but has he changed the outcome of the rest of the vision as well? They find a parachutist dangling from a tree near where the beacon is found. They get her down. She does not look at all well.. not moving much. Still has her helmet on, so we don't know instantly who she is. IS IT? "Penny?" Desmond pleas! NOPE. Some brunette.. who is quite out of it but does recognize.... "Desmond!" she says. as she passes out.

Back on the beach..... Sawyer makes the "friends with benefits" pitch to Kate and she declines.. even when he offers to sweeten the deal with a "mix tape." That is, until Jack pretty much frosts her attempts at cozying up to him AND goes off to have dinner with the fair Juliet. Kate arrives teary-eyed at Sawyer's tent and basically jumps his bones. Later, he finds out during a heated ping-pong match with Jack that he and Juliet had dinner together. He puts two and two together and realizes that Kate only came on to him because she was hurting over Jack. He confronts her later, "You ain't got to use me, Freckles. All you got to do is ask."

Oh, one more thing. In Desmond's flashBACKS this week, we learn that he served a brief stint as a monk. Apparently, he heard "his calling" right around the time he was set to marry someone he consequently left at the altar. After his prospective brother-in-law found him at the monastery and decked him for ditching his sister, Des proceeded to get himself "pissed" on a great deal of the monastery's very expensive wine and get thrown out of the BRA-THA hood. The head monk, who BTW had a picture of the PSYCHIC JEWELRY SHOP LADY we saw in Des' first flashbacks on his desk... told Des to leave saying, "God has different plans for you." His last duty before leaving... help load some cases of the monastery's wine into an SVU... owned by ... THE LOVELY PENNY.

Penny and Des are my favorite LOST couple (and he ain't bad to look at either, mates.) followed by Jin and Sun.. who look to figure prominently in next week's epi. I also read that these last four epis should be very exciting, answer lots of questions, and feature a showdown between Jack and Locke... and possibly ... the loss of a few more characters...

So... stay tuned...
And YES, they ARE still LOST.

Posted by Marenkay at 08:12 PM | Comments (0)

April 15, 2007

Hodges Lucky Day!

While each of our usual CSI'ers were busy on other cases this week, the "Lab Rats", encouraged by and led by Hodges... took a look at the model killer's models. They were hoping to bring some new insight to the cases by looking at the models from their perspective. Hodges brought them together to work on this, telling each of them that Grisson has been "losing sleep over this lately" and that "they could be heroes tonight!" As lab rats, they can not interview suspects or go out in the field, but Hodges felt that maybe, by examining each of the models closely, they could find a link between the models that would lead to a break in the case.

It was a neat episode in that we got to know a bit better these characters that are usually behind the scenes. Honestly, except for Hodges, I never even knew their names before. Now I know that their names are Henry, Archie, Mandy and Wendy. Wendy seems to want to engage in a power struggle with Hodges for leadership of the lab rats.

Hodges was moved to action on this particular day because it seemed, from the moment he woke, to be his lucky day. He found a dollar on the street. Three bags of chips fell from the vending machine spring when he made his selection. A cute girl flirted with him on his way to work... and his bid for the THREE'S COMPANY BOARD GAME on E-Bay was the successful one! If he could break this case, on this day.. what a hero he would be.. to HIS hero.. Grissom.

In the end, Hodges relates to Grissom his best theory. He had found a coupon for bleach in one of the models.. and bleach was involved in each case in some way. Grissom mentioned that bleach may be the trigger to kill for this particular perp.

We still are led to believe that the perp is one of dozens of foster children that the chicken guy (the older man who worked in the poultry plant and who, on a video sent to Grissom, confessed to the murders and then killed himself.) We don't know yet, however, who this killer may be.

Getting to know the behind-the-scenes crime fighters of CSI was interesting, as is the continuing story of the model killer.. a thread that has been picked up over and over throughout this season. And, if you watch CSI's for the gross-outs.... this epi had a great one. Grissom and Robbins are doing an autopsy on a "floater" when something starts moving around in the vic's belly. Floaters often puff up with gas, so Robbins proceeds to cut in. A LIVE RAT pops out and starts running around the morgue!!!! CSI NY used to hold the title for grossest scene (one that involved a dead person and live bugs) but this one came in darn close. If it's enough to make even Grissom and Robbins scream.... YIKES!

Posted by Marenkay at 01:58 PM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2007

Blonde Ambition on LOST

I never had one second of doubt last week. I knew that Juliet hadn't been "left behind". She SEEMS sweet and caring, and it makes you want to give her the benefit of the doubt, or even to go so far as trusting her.. but I learned early.. NEVER TRUST those sweet lookin' blondes that pretend to be your friend. (Don't ask.)

My hubby doesn't watch LOST much... and it only took him 10 minutes of viewing the end of last week's episode to conclude that, "Yes, they are still LOST." and "Sayid is the only smart guy on this side of the island."

Clearly, Jack has been schnockered by Juliet... and may even have fallen in love with her. This won't be good for anyone. It was clear from her flashback's yesterday that she is very driven to succeed and that she will do just about anything to get what or where she wants.

I must say, new and exciting job offer or not... , and no matter how much I need the bucks or the recognition, if some new boss told me to drink a heavy tranquilizer before he'd take me to my new workplace.. I'd be saying, "SEE YA LATER." But Juliet drinks the juice and goes anyway... and then finds that Othersville is much like Hotel California. You can check in but you can't check out. Also, do you believe for a minute that video Ben showed Juliet was genuine and that Juliet's sister is alive, cured of cancer, and a happy mom?? I don't. How easy is it to manipulate video? (or Juliet for that matter.)

One thing we know for sure, is that Ben certainly knows how to push everyone's buttons. What we don't know, yet, is what their end game is. Juliet has infiltrated the beach camp of our good guys. But for what purpose? Whatever it is, she only has a week to get it done.

She "saves" Claire from her mysterious illness to gain everyone's trust and to appear the hero. No surprise that the "illness" was planted - just as Juliet was. What did surprise me was that Sayid and Sawyer backed off so quickly. Is hiding their personal histories from the other good guys worth the price they are all about to pay? I'm guessing not.

This was one heck of a good episode, tho.. The only interesting "Other" is an evil "Other" in my opinion... so glad to see that things are cooking again between our "Losties" and the Others. And what's Locke up to?? Still wondering about that.

Oh, and Sun... Keep that pregnancy under wraps for AS LONG AS YOU CAN.

Posted by Marenkay at 07:06 PM | Comments (0)

Fun Hurts on HOUSE

This week finds Hugh Laurie really rockin' a Hawaiian shirt (OK, I'm a bit biased.) and everyone paying a high price, or perhaps just thinking they are, for a bit of fun.

Cuddy and House are on a flight back from Singapore where they spoke at a medical conference. Greg's pursuit of business trip fun (fine wine, great food, costly X-Rated in-room video) resulted in an abnormally high expense report Cuddy felt she couldn't justify. House's solution? Cuddy's first class ticket has been converted to tourist.. saving exactly the amount of his over-expense.. and relegating Cuddy to the back of the plane for the eighteen hour duration.

Just as House is about to settle in and enjoy the first class luxury and Cuddy-less solitude, a passenger seated near him ralphs all over. The flight attendant calls out, "Is anyone here a doctor?" prompting Greg to say, "Yes!"...... "I'll go get HER." He retrieves Cuddy from the plane by letting her think he has had a change of heart and is relinquishing his cushy seat to her. Little does she know what she'll be faced with when she gets up front.

The ralphing guy now has a rash and is severe pain. They really should turn around, but House feels they can handle it. Plus, I think he just wants to get the heck home. It's looking like the guy has meningitis, and as usual, Cuddy is spending more time panicking than treating the patient. Pretty soon, half the plane's passengers, including Cuddy herself, are exhibiting the same symptoms. Thank goodness Greg is still there.. because as we soon see, not having House and/or his REAL ducklings around can seriously hamper any case.

House first figures out that the rest of the passengers, including Cuddy, are having hysterical symptoms. The original patient, however, really IS sick.. and getting sicker. First House thinks he may be a drug mule and some drug filled condoms he swallowed have opened up inside him. Just as he's about to perform surgery on the plane, using what looked like a razor blade taped to a pen, and three passenger/substitute "ducklings" (a smartass woman= Camers, a kid who agrees with everything = Chase, and a guy who barely speaks English - who disagrees with everything = Foreman) as assistants, he comes to a new conclusion. As the assistants hold the guy down so that House can start cutting, he notices that pressure on his joints relieves his pain. Let go... and the patient starts up again. House has Cuddy check the dude's wallet where they find a scuba certification card and a receipt for a dive he took yesterday! The guy has the bends! FUN HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES LESSON #1: NEVER SCUBA RIGHT BEFORE FLYING.

The PPTH patient of the week is a 50-something woman who decides to let loose for once by ordering herself up a rather attractive female hooker for some afternoon delight. Too bad she strokes out right after bringing out the dough, but before doing anything. FUN HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES #2.

The hooker almost takes the money and runs, but thinks better of it and calls 9-11. She ends up staying with the patient through most of her treatment and seemingly truly beginning to care about her. She also captures the notice of our PPTH team of docs, most notably our very lonely Dr. Wilson.

First, Wilson and the team theorize all kinds of parasites and toxins because the patient had been in Caracas recently where she did all kinds of naughty things (FUN HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES #3) They find that Fran, the patient, forgot to remove a motion-sickness patch since her trip. Soon after, Wilson suspects she may have cancer and that the patch was blocking some of the symptoms. Thankfully, before they cut into the poor gal's brain, CHASE of all people!!! finds that Fran's house shared an electrical system with the one next store when they were built long ago and the piping for the wiring allowed toxins from a fumigation the neighbors had to enter HER house.

On the personal life side, Chase and Camers do it baby, one more time, in Fran's house when checking it for toxins... while the cat watched. Foreman is irritated by the whole Chase/Camers thing (as are most of us.) He feels that it is probably effecting their jobs.. and most definitely effecting him. FUN HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES #4 comes in the form of Chase getting SLAMMED when he tells Camers he wants this to be MORE relationship than fun.. and she makes it clear that fun was ALL she wanted and that wouldn't change. It's FUN or NONE. Thank God that's over.

FUN HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES #5 will no doubt be revealed in a future episode when we learn the aftermath of Wilson's hook-up with the hooker. Oh, boy...

And I won't even get started about ANY remote hints of a House/Cuddy relationship.. of which there were more than a few on the plane. Oh, Yuck. Not FUN at all.

Posted by Marenkay at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)