In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Roush Dispatch
As American Idol Truly Begins, Nip/Tuck Ends
American Idol's David Archuleta by Frank Micelotta/Fox
When Nip/Tuck’s Julia McNamara (Joely Richardson) woke up from her gunshot coma in a state of retrograde amnesia, I found myself thinking: Can I have some of what she’s having? There’s a lot about Tuesday night’s TV offerings I’d like to forget, from the musical mediocrity of American Idol’s disappointing opening night of actual competition to the bloody mess of Nip/Tuck’s season finale.
Regarding Idol: I can’t imagine it will be all that hard to kick two male contestants on Thursday night’s results show. Honestly, I’d be hard-pressed to find two guys to keep.
OK, that’s overstating things a bit. I could make a plausible case for five, maybe six of the guys. But only a precious few showed any actual star quality, or joy in performing: young charmer David Archuleta, who, as Ryan Seacrest noted, many of the viewing audience would probably like to adopt; Australian hottie Michael Johns, who just as many might prefer to marry; and dreadlocked Jason Castro, who (channeling Randy Jackson here) kept it real.
The low points: wan Garrett Haley, drowning in big hair and insecurity; off-key Chikezie, who should really know better than to talk back to his elders and betters, especially when wearing a clown suit (did anyone else notice the Pips in the subsequent Geico ad were wearing virtually the same colors?); and bitchy Danny Noriega, whose “swagger and attitude” couldn’t save his misbegotten version of Elvis’ "Jailbait" — oops, "Jailhouse — Rock".
Let’s hope the ladies step up with stronger performances on Wednesday and the guys soon shed their opening-night jitters, or this is going to be one long season of American Idol. (Click here for TVGuide.com's complete American Idol recap.)
It was certainly a painful season for Nip/Tuck — or at least for those among us who used to champion the show for its psychological daring as well as for its graphic bravado. After a promising start, this Hollywood season soon degenerated into a vulgar, stupefying assault on the senses that each week reminded us of the not-so-fine line between disgust and shock. The finale attempted, with typical clumsiness, to teach some obvious lessons about the dark side of fame, embodied in the usually enjoyable Jennifer Coolidge’s grotesque, faded starlet and ending with the deranged Colleen (Sharon Gless, devouring each mad scene as if it were a juicy ribeye) plunging a knife into Sean’s back four times, leaving him drowning in his own blood.
Julia was the lucky one, to have slept through much of this episode, including the scene of a drunken Christian taking the legless mother of his bastard daughter to bed — after having delivered the classic line to his other illegitimate offspring, Matt: “I can’t believe I have to say this, but you can’t sleep with your sister again.” This girl’s name, by the way, is Emmy — and that’s about as close to an Emmy as this show is likely to ever see again.
I think what annoys me most about Nip/Tuck are the viewer advisories at each break, declaring the show is for “mature audiences only.” Hogwash. Maturity is hardly a qualification for this freak show, now better suited for people who refuse to grow up.
For another take on Nip/Tuck, read Cheers & Jeers.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Feb 19, 2008 11:55 PM
|
|
I totally agree with you about Nip/Tuck. This used to be one of my favorite shows, the one I couldn't miss an episode of, with the exception of this season. The show has degenerated into a total freak show. It has no redeeming qualities at all. From the hot tub diarrhea scene, to Christian posing for Playgirl, to Matt and his wife doing porno movies, to one of the worst additions to the show, the immoral daughter of Portia DeRossi. I have been so disappointed that I have watched Law & Order SVU in its place and totally forgot about N/T several times, it's been that bad. It's got to get better than this season or I will stop watching.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 9:47 AM
|
Yikes, couldn't agree more. I used to love this show when I stumbled upon it 3 years ago. What the heck happened.It's like a cartoon now. I mean for me it was Colleen ( Sharon Gless) stuffing the agent to death. The whole thing is like a joke now , I to have forgotten to watch it because its just too comical with a touch of disgusting thrown it for shock value. Maybe next season will be better, maybe they will move back to Miami, though if Sean really was stabbed and it wasn't a dream he will probably end up paralyzed.
And what happened to the baby that Sean and Julia had 2 seasons ago?
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 10:37 AM
|
|
I had the misfortune of watching AI live last night. Which means I was unable to fast forward through the various nightmares that were paraded across the screen for two hours. Honestly, only the Australian is close to talented. There's another guy there who looks like a manly Orlando Bloom, so his looks might get him by. But the rest were like little mini-Sanjayas, all the way down to the girly strutting and slight lisping. It was abominable. I think Archuleta is the heir to Sanjaya's throne. The boy is there to be mocked. I hope the girls are a little better.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 10:40 AM
|
|
They'll only be kicking one male contestant to the curb, not two. Two contestants total will go home though, one from each gender group. I think there a few men that have potential but I don't hear any future Chris Daughtry's that's for sure!!
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 10:54 AM
|
I agree about Nip/Tuck: more of the same "shock for shock value" stories. There was way too much packed into episode to make sense of it:
- almost the entire McNamara family in a health crisis
- Matt with yet another poor choice of women
- Christian never knowing when to say no
- Colleen still on the loose: this year's verison of the Carver
- Teen horror Eden who MAY have gotten her mom to cover-up her murder attempt
Yikes! At least the stuffed agent from CAA can now have a proper burial.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 10:57 AM
|
Stopped watching Idol after Daughtry was let go and I was a big fan from Season 1. So happy with that choice.
I'm done with Nip/Tuck. I keep giving this show a chance out of loyalty & habit for the last 2 1/2 seasons. No more! Except for maybe 1 or 2 episodes in a season, I get zero enjoyment from this hot mess of slop. I'm breaking the Nip/Tuck habit so that I can breath easier and add some hours back to my life! Tuesdays at 10, I'm free again!
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 11:01 AM
|
|
Could not agree more about Nip/Tuck; I watched it this season with a sense of loyalty to the characters I loved in the first few seasons. I think the main problem this year was with the writing. Ryan Murphy has created two great dynamic characters who have many different sides to them; even when they mess up and do stupid things we can at least understand the motivation behind it. Every single other character on the show is a one note personality that adds nothing to the overall direction. Why even have Kimber on this season if she is just going to pop in for a few episodes with the same old drama? Why have Colleen end one episode bleeding to death on Sean's couch and then not even mention her name in the next one (and perhaps Sean should invest in some locks for his apartment, it might keep out the crazies)? I think the writers picked out the most grotesque and over the top scene they could think of (amputation sex, incest, canibalism etc) and then wrote the stories around that.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 11:13 AM
|
|
Alexis1997--no way is David Archuleta going to be a "Sanjaya". This kid is really talented. He tried to go for upbeat last night and I didn't really like his choice of song, but if you've watched any of the preliminary auditions, this kid can really sing. Overall, I agree with Darclyte, this batch of men is more talented than many groups of men in the past. Nerves seemed to play a big part for many of them last night. The ones who get a second chance to perform will hopefully relax now that the first performance is out of the way, and deliver much better performances than they did last night. Only a couple of them had pitch problems as opposed to past year's top 12, and the rest of them seem to have good voices but looked so nervous. And, as in past seasons, song choices are SO important. Let's see what the ladies bring tonight--I know some of them are really talented, but I would personally like to see another male winner. Don't watch Nip/Tuck, but my friends who do agree that it has really gone down-hill.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 11:16 AM
|
|
I don't care what you say about NipTuck, your new favorite show to bash. I'm still gonna watch it till there's no more to see.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 12:25 PM
|
MrsT1040
They will be kicking 2 men and 2 ladies off AI tomorrow.
Here's hoping Jacuzzi, er Chikezie, no last name is one of them.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 12:26 PM
|
|
I don't know why so many people watch American "Idiot". People complain about the TVs are full of reality shows but still watch this reality TV crap!!
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 1:27 PM
|
|
Ok, I thought the guy looked like a cross between an older Orlando Bloom & the aussie hottness of Hugh Jackman. & he could sing pretty decent. I also liked the Aussie/Cali guy too.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 2:32 PM
|
|
OK nip/tuck jumped the shark; whole ocean of sharks but there was a hint in the dialogue when Sean admits he got all caught up in the Hollywood scene and vowed to return to his values. In other words in my opinion the producers will bring it back on track like we like to remember it when next we see it.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 3:34 PM
|
I also stopped watching AI when Daughtry was voted off and after watching a few minutes last night, I did not regret my decision. I could re-watch every other season and never see anything new or different. The comments from the critics are stale, the contestant mix is boring - you always have a no-talent who makes it to the top 10 and there are always some snot-nosed brats who mouth off to Simon, as if that helps them any!
In retrospect, I'm glad Daughtry was voted off. I don't have to waste time on AI and I can enjoy his music, not the bubble gum pop crap AI would force him to sing.
Anyone know where Reuben, Taylor, Fantasia or Katherine's songs can be found on the hit list? Carrie is a country star and Kelly Clarkson sure seems headed that way as well.
|
|
Feb 20, 2008 4:12 PM
|
|
|
