Castle Review: “An Embarrassment of Bitches”

C: As you might be able to guess from the title (maybe), this week’s subculture on Castle was the world of dog shows. Although in actuality, the episode was primarily concerned with the star of a Kardashian-like reality show and a Dog Whisperer. So, no Best in Show-style humor here.

E: That was rather disappointing, wasn’t it?  I wanted to spend more time with neurotic pet owners.

M: I agree, there was very little in the way of dipping into the dog show subculture, not at least to the usual Castle level.

E: On the other hand, it did lead to what might have been the funniest line of the show – papparazzi swarming over Castle, then backing away in disappointment. “Hey, that’s not Jason Bateman!”

Downton Abbey, Series II Episode 3

E: After last week’s rather less eventful episode, Downton Abbey comes charging back.  Matthew and William are missing!  Cora muscles Mrs. Crawley out, and so the latter leaves England!  Mrs. Patmore might be stealing from Downton!  Bates returns! Everything you thought was going to happen with Ethel and the mustachioed Major actually does!

Oscar Nominations and Reactions 2012

E: Damn you, Dave Karger.  How is it that you sometimes know what no one else does?  How the heck did you call Max Von Sydow?

This morning’s nominations bring a happy number of surprises and more than a few nominations that weren’t so shocking.  And nine Best Picture nominees! Wow!

Let’s get to it.

Oscar Nomination Predictions, 2012

E: Here it is again, that time of year.   It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of film (much of which, depending on where you live, probably still hasn’t come to a theater near you).  It’s the culmination of a year’s worth of guesses, of anticipation, of pedigreed films which fell flat at the box office or with the critics, with festival darlings who may or may not make the grade, with movies flying under the general radar, but worth the search.  Ready for a month of marathon movie watching?  Ready to make those final guesses?  Ready to get up early tomorrow and hear the news?

The nominations always bring greater surprises than the actual awards; that makes nomination day my favorite of the awards season.  Let’s start with one of the worst categories – but I’m going to leave the very most important and very worst of all, Best Picture with its uncertain number of honorees, for last.  And as always, I will be hoping to be wrong.

Top Chef: Fit For An Evil Queen

E: M, you must be psyched. As far as I’m concerned, this episode gave us everything you’d be dreaming of from this season and hadn’t yet gotten.

M: You’re right, I am!  Now, I know that the show was taped months ago, and that our piece on literally has only had 14 views, but it felt like they read all of my criticisms and everyone, contestants, judges and producers alike, all stepped up.  And yes, I know that that is amazingly narcissistic of me.  I think I’ve been seeing too much of Newt Gingrich.

E: You said it, not me.

M: Gotta call a spade a spade.