DIRTY SEXY MONEY
Let’s just say, with a title as blatant as DIRTY SEXY MONEY, I expected a lot more out of the gate from the new Greg Berlanti series. Yet as the weeks have gone on, this TV Addict, much like Peter Krause’s Nick, is slowly realizing that he can’t live without his weekly Darling family fix. It’s as if the writers finally clued in — television fans need to care about this family. Let’s show that the twins love eachother, that Tripp is genuinely hurt by his wife’s betrayal and that Brian truly wants to save his marriage. DIRTY SEXY MONEY is quietly evolving into an interesting family drama. Which is what it needs to be. After-all, if all we wanted to do was laugh at the stupidity of the uber rich, who needs a television show when we already have the internet.

GOSSIP GIRL
From rich families to rich teenagers, let’s gossip shall we. Could Jenny Humphrey be any cooler? Who’d have thought the unassuming younger sister of lead character Dan would so quickly become this TV Addict’s favorite. In less surprising news, popular book character [So I’m told. No really, this TV Addict draws the line at ‘chick’ lit — it’s all about chick’ TV for me] Vanessa appeared to stir up trouble between Dan and Serena. Why trouble you ask? Well she refers to Dan as “Humphrey.” Which in TV land means, I’m trying to be casual about this, but I’m really still into you. And finally poor Blair. Can this girl not catch a break? She spends undoubtedly days planning the ultimate romantic rendezvous with Nate only to have it backfire yet again. No wonder she’s always in such a bad mood. But let’s give Nate a break shall we. His Dad’s not only hiding some serious financial problems [Clearly Nate doesn’t watch THE OC — or else he’d realize his Dad’s pulling a Papa Cooper!] but also may be hiding a serious drug addiction. Too bad we’ll have to wait two weeks to find out what happens next.

BIONIC WOMAN
If you asked this TV Addict at the beginning of the season what show’s he’d consider “Can’t Miss”, BIONIC WOMAN would have undoubtedly made the top 5. Yet oddly enough, after two lackluster episodes, BIONIC’s gone from “Can’t Miss” to “Can’t Miss PVRing.” While I have yet to tune into the past two episodes, I still seem to be recording them. Was last night’s episode worth watching? Or should this TV Addict give up all together on Jamie Summers.

As great as last night’s episode of PUSHING DAISIES was, I’d like to offer up a little advice to showrunners everywhere. Never cast Patrick Fabian [or William Mapother] as your ‘bad guy’. Not only is he obviously the most evil guy in the room, VERONICA MARS fans will forever remember him as Professor Landry.

The award for Wednesday’s laugh out loud moment of the night goes to DIRTY SEXY MONEY for inventing the word ‘Twintuition.’ Reason #123 why I wish I had a twin, or at the very least a lot more dirty sexy money.

Since there’s only so much television this TV Addict can handle in one night, last night’s episode of BIONIC WOMAN was sentenced to weekend watching courtesy of my PVR. Today’s big question of the day — is it worth watching?

THE BAD: BIONIC WOMAN
From the uber disappointing opening credits [budget cuts anyone?] to the seen-it-all-before ‘training montage’, last night’s second installment of BIONIC WOMAN most definitely failed to impress this TV Addict. What’s worse, thanks to the surprise and unexpected death of Jamie’s boyfriend and the sudden appearance of Isaiah Washington one thing is abundently clear. There’s a helluva lot more fighting behind the camera of BIONIC WOMAN than there is in front of it. Here’s hoping creators David Eick and Jason Smilovic get their act together, because last night’s episode felt a lot more like a cheaper version of ALIAS than the high-energy action thriller that I expect from the men who brought us BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and KIDNAPPED.

THE UGLY
The fact that even after vegging out in front of my television from 7PM on, this TV Addict still couldn’t manage to stay up late enough to watch PRIVATE PRACTICE, LIFE, KID NATION, THE DAILY SHOW and THE COLBERT REPORT. Networks better start getting the axe out now, or this TV Addict’s going to have start downing Red Bull.

Did PUSHING DAISIES live up to the hype? Did PRIVATE PRACTICE get any better? Is GOSSIP GIRL running out of party ideas already? Post away with your own Good, Bad & Ugly.

Speaking of reality, I really, really hate when a show which is supposedly competition-based keeps a contestant simply because they will create drama. Case in point? AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL’s Bianca so should have been given the boot last night, but instead Tyra – after admitting that all of the judges except her wanted to see the tempermental poser hit the road – ditched Kimberly. Why? You can bet your last false eyelash that it had a lot more to do with the fact that Bianca being a bitch-on-heels than any failing on Kimberly’s part. Meanwhile, although the show tried to paint Ebony as this season’s girl-you-love-to-hate, she’s turning out to be one of my favorites. Notice how when two of the girls got into a screaming match, the Ebster just sat back and laughed…

I’m beginning to think BIONIC WOMAN just ain’t a show for me. I’ve been a huge fan of Michelle Ryan’s for years, but this show just ain’t working for me. The opening credits should be mega cool but are, instead, cheap and uninspired. And shouldn’t Miguel Ferrer’s secret agent guy at least check the bathroom stalls before spitting out hush-hush exposition like, “We’re a private, clandestine group dedicated to stopping rogue organizations from ending civilization as we know it.” Was the fact that Jamie’s would-be bathroom lover was named Steve — you know, as in Austin — a coincidence or a subtle wink at the audience? Given the lighter tone of this episode than the pilot, I’m going to go with the former. Here’s what I don’t get: Why did NBC not go back and do some reshoots on the pilot when it was deemed too dark? By not doing so, they ran a double risk. After all, viewers turned off by the gloom-and-doom feeling of the pilot weren’t likely to return for the second episode, and those who loved the pilot probably weren’t going to enjoy having the show suddenly go for such cheap humor as a technician whacking our heroine on the head to stop her bionic ear from ringing. Have the networks forgotten the importance of first impressions?

Hard to believe we’re already three weeks into some shows, huh? Last night’s GOSSIP GIRL was the weakest so far, perhaps because the show already is falling into a formula that proved tiresome during THE OC’s first season, when every episode revolved around a party at which something bad would happen. And how is it that the never-seen lead character is clued in to plot developments that she couldn’t possibly have witnessed, such as the moment when Serena’s brother clued Blair into who’d really been a patient of the clinic and why. It’s one thing for DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE’s Mary Alice to do that kind of omniscient presence, what with her being a ghost host and all. But no matter how much I adore Kristen Bell, I’m thinking the show might want to take a “less is more” approach to her character’s patter.

Anyone seen any great — or even decent — opening credits this season? I’ll admit that I’m a total geek for credit sequences, but so far, I’ve been wildly disappointed in the offerings this season. Too many shows have foregone them entirely in favor of a quick bumper. Anybody else miss them?

It’s time for everbody’s favorite game show — “Fun with Photos!” Here’s how you play. Take a look at the just released photo of Isaiah Washington’s guest stint on BIONIC WOMAN. Think of a caption. Post way in the comments. Yes folks, it’s that easy.

In all seriousness though. We’re happy to see Isaiah Washington is getting a second chance to redeem himself. Everyone makes mistakes and last season’s GREY’S ANATOMY misstep shouldn’t automatically destroy the man’s career.

Here’s hoping he’s learned his lesson and more importantly that others learn from what he went through. Intolerance of any kind won’t to be tolerated — and if you’re ignorant enough to think it is — well, NBC’s going to send the BIONIC WOMAN to kick your butt.

Thanks to TV with MeeVee for the Tip!

Now I know what you’re thinking, posting NBC’s PRIMETIME PREVIEW on theTVaddict.com? Clearly someone’s being paid off. To that I say, “I WISH!” In fact, this posting of NBC’s PRIMETIME PREVIEW is a completely altruistic act. The simple fact of the matter is that I’m excited for each and every new show NBC has to offer. JOURNEYMAN, BIONIC WOMAN, CHUCK and LIFE all are great, and definitely worth checking out. Click the link below for the rest of NBC’S PRIMETIME PREVIEW.

While Jason Smilovic may not be a household name, to this TV Addict, he just so happens to be the man responsible for last season’s most exciting [and short-lived] drama KIDNAPPED. So when Amrie [of My Take on TV fame] spotted him walking down the aisle following Saturday’s BIONIC WOMAN panel, this TV Addict couldn’t pass up the opportunity to thank him for his work on the show and joke with him about the show’s brilliant yet maddening ending (One that I’m not about to spoil here!) Needless to say, Jason was very appreciative and thanked me for being the only loyal viewer outside of his immediate family.

Missed KIDNAPPED entirely? You can buy the complete series — fantastic ending included — at Amazon by clicking here.

11:00AM: The pilot screening is over. Coming on stage now are producers Jason Smilovic, David Eick and Glen Morgan. As well as actors Marc Sheppard, Katee Sackhoff and Michelle Ryan.

11:00AM: Holy Frak! Katee Sackhoff knows her audience, way to dress uber HOT. I think the fanboy next to me just drooled on me.

11:01AM: The moderator asks what we can expect from the beginning of the season. Smilovic, “Well, she runs fast, jumps high…” I have a feeling they are still busy re-writing the pilot script to incorporate Jamie’s new sister.

11:03AM: Michelle Ryan…. beautiful British accent… Why do British people sound so much smarter than us?

11:04AM: On the difference between Starbuck and Sarah Corvis [her BIONIC character], Katee Sackhoff says, “Sarah loves being evil, Starbuck’s always second guessing herself.”

11:06AM: Michelle Ryan says there was a lot of sexual tension during the climactic rooftop fight scene. Cue nerd orgasm.

11:10AM: First audience member question. “The show’s all about women. Why aren’t there any woman on the creative side?” David Eick just called NBC President Ben Silverman a girl! But seriously, apparently all the woman who make the decisions at the network are woman. Take that anonymous audience member!

11:10AM: Smilovic explains that every episode will be self-contained, but naturally there will be a continuous mythology woven throughout the season. Pretty much an on-the-fence answer to ensure everybody tunes in all the time.

11:12AM: “Booos” as Smilovic remarks that they had to re-cast the sister. As much as I love Mae Whitman from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, I got to say that the deaf sister was a bit much. I think Jamie Summers has enough on her plate being Bionic and you know, on the run from mysterious government agents.

11:13AM: Inevitable question with regards to a possible Lindsay Wagner guest appearance. Who’s Lindsay Wagner? Oh wait, she’s the original BIONIC WOMAN! Curse me for being so young, beautiful and born after 1979.

11:15AM: Smilovic says the original 70’s version was a great show for its time. But the Sasquatch and other famous (infamous?) elements won’t be returning to the re-imagined version.

11:16AM: The fanboy audience has no mercy, yelling “kill switch” to the lamest and longest question of the morning. The question, “What’s the difference between Jamie Summers and predecessors such as Jessical Alba, Jennifer Garnet etc…” Umm… to quote the fanboy behind me, “She’s BIONIC idiot!”

11:19AM: Random Musing…. Jason Smilovic looks remarkably similar to JJ Abrams. ALIAS/BIONIC WOMAN… interesting. Has anyone seen the two writers in the same room together?

11:19AM: Last question… Will BIONIC every lighten up, or remain as dark as say BATTLESTAR GALACTICA? Worst last question ever? You decide.

LAW & ORDER
The success of the LAW & ORDER franchise is one of the worst things to ever happen to television. Never-ending LAW & ORDERS, three CSI’s, two STARGATES and now a GREY’S ANATOMY spin-off. If there’s one thing television doesn’t need, it’s more generic carbon copies of an already successful and proven formula.

That said, Dick Wolfe may have given us a reason to tune into LAW & ORDER this season. Turns out this TV Addict wasn’t the only one who fell in love with NBC’s short-lived-yet-brilliant series KIDNAPPED. ORDER mastermind Wolf admitted yesterday to a gaggle of reporters that he was a big admirerer of the show, resulting in the hiring of Jeremy Sisto and Linus Roache. Ladies and genteleman. LAW & ORDER may have finally gotten interesting. Stay Tuned…

BIONIC WOMAN
Step 1: Give Isaiah Washington his first post-GREY’S ANATOMY gig, ensuring maximum media coverage and interest.

Step 2: Replace the BIONIC sister with the far hotter Lucy Hale. (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER fans may remember Hale as Robin’s sister).

Step 3: Watch as BIONIC WOMAN quickly soars to the most buzzed about show online.

That my friends is how you create a guaranteed break-out hit come fall 2007. Congratulations NBC. Too bad you didn’t figure this out last season. Isaiah Washington would have made a great addition to STUDIO 60!

According to USA TODAY, NBC is set to announce (at this morning’s TCA press tour) that Washington will guest-star on their most buzzed about new fall series BIONIC WOMAN. For at least five episodes, he’ll play an outsider with a mysterious agenda.

For exclusive TV Addict scoop on what his ‘mysterious agenda’ will be, click the link below.

Isaiah Washington’s mysterious agenda… REVIVING HIS CAREER!

In all seriousness though, we can’t help but think this is a brilliant move for both NBC and Isaiah Washington. Not only are both parties going to get an enormous amount of press from this signing, BIONIC WOMAN just became the fall’s most talked about new show. Love him or loathe him, we’re willing to bet you’ll be tuning into BIONIC WOMAN. Even if it’s only to see the Bionic Woman herself Jamie Summers kick some serious Washington butt.