Blog From The Bench

Sometimes, when I have a chance to do something really spectacular, I hesitate about doing it because I know that life afterward will suck in comparison. I thought I was alone in this but apparently Larry Flienhart feels the same way. Yep, Larry returned from outer space on tonight's episode of Numb3rs and after chasing his dream for so long, he's finding out that living life after the dream is difficult.

The main storyline involved a death row inmate who wants to trade the location of his victim's bodies for a meeting with the daughter he's never met. Don thought the guy was up to no good, but in an interesting twist - he wasn't! Way to go out on a limb, Numb3rs and actually make me feel sorry for a hired hitman. As always, this show managed to have me holding my breath as I watched and that actually perplexes me. This episode wasn't particularly suspenseful and yet I found myself on the edge of my seat most of the time. My conclusion is that it's the way the show is directed and edited. Everyone in the show speaks with a slow, soft voice and it moves in sort of a lazy ambling manner until BAM - voices raised, bodies in motion and Don's looking like he's going to put his fist through the wall. Gets me every time.

My one complaint - awful use of Jeremy Sisto who I just adored as loose cannon Knapp in Kidnapped. I expected him to play a similar character here but he was actually kind of a wet noodle in a suit. Well, I still love listening to his voice so I'll let them have the rest.

Friday night is also Raines night and in this case it was the uninspired season finale of the series. Raines' ex-wife asks him to investigate the airplane crash that killed her husband and if you think you have trouble dealing with your ex's spouse, imagine his dead carcass riding around in the car with you! Sadly, this episode moved too slow and the ending was fairly cliché but there's always a spark about Raines and you usually find it in his opening monologue. Those Sam Spade soliloquies slay me. This time he made a very poignant point. When other people die along side of a famous person, the non-famous people are often ignored. It's as if their life didn't mean as much. Look at the case Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Goldman's family lost just as much that night but the news was always about Nicole. But at the end of the episode, Raines, in his crazy, noir style, set it all right. Brilliant tag to a so-so episode.

What are the chances of Raines getting another season?

Stargate Atlantis is on the DIVO - can't wait to watch for the return of Kolya. And has anyone else noticed how much they've lightened up the character of Ronon. It's a nice touch - makes me feel like he's finally learned to trust.

On a final note, I see that Supernatural's Jensen Ackles is going to perform on stage in A Few Good Men in Dallas, TX in June. Hmm….what I wouldn't give to see him performing live but after working on Ten Inch Hero and seeing him at the premiere Wednesday night, I fear I'd look a bit like a stalker if I ran into him in another state. "What? Dallas? I was on my way to Vegas and I must have taken a wrong turn."

That's it for TV at my house.