Show-centered Podcasts

Neptune Pirate Radio – This is a podcast that centers around Veronica Mars. It was started by some active posters from Television Without Pity who wanted to come up with another way to hopefully make Veronica Mars reach more fans. Each show includes news about the show; and if applicable, a discussion on the previous episode. Some episodes are commentaries on certain selected episodes of Veronica Mars; and others have interviews with people related to the show.
Why listen? If you’re a fan of the show, then you better listen to this podcast. The hosts give great insight into what’s currently going on with the show; and the interviews with the guest stars are always interesting and entertaining. Also, you don’t have to worry about spoilers; because they’re usually minimal and they give clear warnings beforehand.
Warning, though… If you don’t wish to be influenced by opinions; and you want to solve the mysteries all by yourself (or probably not even try to solve the mystery at all), then avoid this at all costs. You might be swayed by their discussions and maybe, just maybe there’s a little spoiler in there in case they’re right on the dot. However, do try to grab the episode commentaries so you’ll get a feel for the show and probably try and download one episode; because there’s a chance you’ll get into it like I did.

Grey’s Anatomy Podcast (official) – This is the official Grey’s Anatomy podcast; and being official means getting the most important people as well as the latest scoop on the recently aired episode. Once in a while, actors from the show also get to do some recordings… sharing thoughts about their characters and anything that may come next for their role.
Why listen? Creator Shonda Rhimes and Executive Producer Betsy Beers are practically staples of this particular podcast. They talk about the recently aired episode and give their thoughts on what happened, probably why it happened and the possible ramifications of such events in future episodes. They are very entertaining; and the love and passion they have for the show truly shines through. It’s a must-listen for any Grey’s fan.

TV-Related Podcasts

TVGuide Talk – This is the weekly podcast of TVGuide Online. The show features four very endearing hosts that talk about news and reviews of the most recent episodes of our favorite shows as well as reviews of the latest movie releases. Sometimes, interviews with actors from different shows are featured; and questions from podcast listeners regarding television are answered.
Why listen? It’s a truly entertaining show. The hosts have great chemistry; and they give you the latest on the hottest and/or best shows on the air right now. They’re loud, opinionated and funny; and they just have fun doing the show and that definitely translates to each and every podcast they come out with.
Spoiler warning, though. They sometimes talk about future happenings on certain shows without proper notice. Still, it’s a great show worth checking out.

The TV Addict – This is based on the blog of The TV Addict Daniel. The podcast features news and reviews of his favorite shows from Monday to Sunday.
Why listen? If you wish to know someone else’s thoughts on your favorite shows, then listen in. There are not that many spoilers and each review is brief and quick without giving too much away. The format is simple and easily followed. New episodes aren’t currently available; but the blog itself is a mine of news that are up-to-date and informative. Try it out when new episodes are produced.

Entertainment-related Podcasts

Nowhere in Mulberry – I started tuning in to this podcast because they talk about my favorite shows Smallville and Veronica Mars. However, I continue to download new episodes; because the ensemble offer so much more than reviews. They have the latest pop culture news, some TV reviews, weird news from all over the world and news on the latest DVD releases. In between are great discussions and funny segments that keep you entertained for close to 2 hours.
Why listen? These guys are just plain funny. They are very vocal about their thoughts; and they pretty much enjoy going on and on without being boring. I also like the fact that they like the shows I like; and it makes them, at least in my case, easily relatable. The hosts also have very distinct personalities that mesh well with each other. I enjoy their shows each and every time; and you may like them as well so give them a chance.

The Hollywood Saloon – This show was recommended during one of the episodes of Nowhere in Mulberry. It’s a podcast that talks about movies and television, among other things. Each discussion goes in depth on a certain subject; and the hosts expound on their thoughts about certain topics. From Star Wars to TV shows on DVD, they’ve covered almost everything.
Why listen? If you wish to go in-depth on certain entertainment-related topics, then check this show out. You may not be interested in the coverage of certain episodes; but feel free to choose one that suits you and download it. The hosts give great commentary on seemingly simple subjects and their knowledge of the medium, the people and the process that goes along with it really shows.

And if you’re not really interested in anything I listed down here, then try to look for something you might like. It’s worth the download (depending, of course, on the quality of the production and content) and it’s worth the space on your player.

Dexter 1×01 “Dexter”
This show is absolutely creepy and seriously intriguing; and I think I’m going to like it.
In a nutshell, Dexter is a forensics blood spatter expert who is a closet… wait for it… serial killer. He kills serial criminals who have escaped justice.
Before anything else, though, let me just say that it was surprising to see Michael Hall from Six Feet Under play this fascinating character. Nothing about his acting, however, reminded me of his former gay role. This show calls for a lead who is scary and charming all at the same time; and this guy definitely brought it.
I found out about this show a few weeks ago through TV Guide Talk. When they talked about what the show is going to be about, the potential for greatness is just so huge that I got hold of the pilot and watched it before I went to sleep last night. Bad idea.
Theopening sequence doesn’t hold back and shows us one of Dexter’s killings. We get an idea about how he does murder. Basically he slits their cheek, gets some blood, chops them up into little pieces, and keeps the blood in a glass strip (like the one we use under the microscope) as a souvenir. I can’t believe I’m talking about this so casually like it’s something I see everyday. The episode introduces us to some of the people in his life; and we also get curious about a serial killer who knows about what Dexter’s doing. This killer cuts off his (or her) victims as well; but there’s absolutely no blood in the crime scene. This makes Dexter doubly challenged; and is on board to “play” with this other killer.
This show has so much to offer; because we literally get to enter the mind of a serial killer. Warning, however, to the faint hearted. This show is not for someone like you. It could get pretty graphic in parts (It’s a cable show, after all) so be sure to have those barf bags handy in case you feel the need to puke. Personally, I had to go watch what my niece was watching (Beauty and the Beast, as usual) in order to take in something wholesome before going to sleep. Still, if you’re interested in a crime drama that takes things a little bit further, then Dexter is definitely for you.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip 1×03 “The Focus Group”
A focus group discussion is a form of qualitative research tool that companies sometimes use to find out what certain people think about their product. People openly discuss what they think amongst a group of people and this may lead to certain ideas being thrown around as well as some aspects being scrutinized to its bones. In this episode, we see how such research affects a show; and a little bit about how useless it could be.
I can’t really get into detail about what happened; but I just wanted to do this quickie for Studio 60 to say that any trace of Chandler left on Matthew Perry’s shoulder is now officially all gone for me. By the time I reached the last 10 minutes, I realized, Perry’s now Matt from Studio 60 and not Chandler from Friends. I just applaud him for that. And you know what, he probably couldn’t have done it without a show like this.
This show’s good. ‘Nuff said. It keeps me on edge; because I feel like I have to get every single thing they’re talking about. Otherwise, the jokes get lost on me and the insider-y dialogue will leave me in the dust. Still, I accept the challenge and enjoy myself as I watch the show. Most importantly, the basic premise of a certain episode pulls through and brings everything together in the end. The cast is amazing at pulling off banter that could only be done on a fictional show; and the funny from the show within the show is pretty good. I just have to do a special mention of the cold open from the last episode. It was seriously good.
The show keeps looking good. I’m looking forward to more episodes.

One Tree Hill 4×01 “The Same Deep Water As You”
The biggest question of the episode is, of course, who among the girls are pregnant. Well, that and the fate of my favorite couple Brucas. I was pretty sure Nathan would be alive, so worrying about him is useless. I didn’t really care about the Rachel-Cooper story. It was just too much on the periphery of the main characters to even bother problematizing about.
Like Veronica Mars, it was no surprise that this episode of One Tree Hill had a semi-introduction to hopefully bring in new viewers. New cast members have also been added in. Rachel and Skillz are now series regulars. This means more stuff will be going on, something I always welcome.
So the episode showed the aftermath of the wedding. Rachel and Nathan are both fine; but Cooper’s in a coma. Rachel is in danger of being charged with homicide if hot uncle Coop will not survive. That is, if she will tell the truth about what really happened. Meanwhile, Peyton finds out that she has a brother; and there is mention of a biological father. I guess the family ties just keep getting longer and longer for her just to get things going. Also, it sadly ends for my favorite couple Brooke and Lucas. Just then, we find out that Brooke is carrying a baby. “Is Lucas becoming more and more like Dan?” is the question I’m asking. It also looks like Dan is trying to make amends (out of guilt, obviously).
The episode was done in usual One Tree Hill fashion. The story is good; and it looks like the season will have some interesting story arcs. Some cheesy lines were again offered up. Some things I didn’t want to happen happened; and others I have no idea where they’re going with. Still, it answered a number of questions, but left me wanting more. Once you’ve done that, then I’m in for the rest of the season.

Ugly Betty 1×01 “Pilot”
I finally got to watch this much buzzed about new show; and it didn’t disappoint. I laughed. I cried. I got curious about the mini-mystery. It is entertaining; and I think a lot of people will find it entertaining as well.
In this episode, Betty gets from high, low to high again during her first few weeks working as an assistant for Daniel Meade, the new editor-in-chief of Mode magazine. When Daniel realizes that his father hired her to stop him from sleeping with his assistants, he tries to push her to the edge. Betty eventually gets frustrated and quits; but an idea she had for a layout helped Daniel get out of a jam with the magazine’s biggest advertiser. She’s back as his assistant; and (hopefully) things will get a little bit better for her from here on out.
I love America Ferrera. She does the character justice. She’s also charming and funny. I also love how the show has that feel of being intentionally over-the-top when it comes to the world of fashion (and the magazine), as opposed to the simplicity of Betty’s home life. This show has kept my interest; and I think it’s potentially a show I’ll love. *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED*

Great cold open.
It pretty much sums up the sass and wit that Veronica embodies. I have no idea why Rob Thomas decides to use Lucky again; but James Jordan played it well… not a trace of Lucky there.

Opening credits.
All new. Great editing work. I think Rob signed up the guys that did the Comic Con video. Don’t those vertical bars remind you of them? Great choice of pictures. The remixed “We Used to Be Friends” will take a little getting used to; but it’s all good. As long as this change translates to better ratings this year, then I’m all for it. Like I commented in my previous entry, I like how this opening credits represent the noir to a T. Our favorite show’s growing up!

LoVe.
As promised, Logan and Veronica continue to be a couple this season. This better last or I’ll scream at the top of my lungs! We get a little glimpse into how the S-E-X was… looks pretty great to me. I wished we could’ve witnessed the first time the deed was done; but I guess we can’t have everything.
As expected, though, snark between the two characters is pretty low. I guess Logan, the mayor of snarkville, gets a little tuned down when he’s happy. That’s the little bit of sacrifice we have to endure to get this couple going. Still, I’m happy for them; and I hope it sticks. Please, Rob… LET IT STICK!

New characters.
Mac and Wallace get roommates; and we get new regular cast members. There’s Parker for Mac and Piz for Wallace. The former don’t exactly click (even if the other one thinks they do), the latter have things going pretty well for them.
Piz and Parker? LOVE THEM. I didn’t really expect anything as I went into the season; because Rob spins characters like I’ve never seen. Both of them are likable in their own way; and each has potential to grow as the season progresses.
Piz is such a dork. And I absolutely love that about him. His air of naivite makes him truly adorable. I’m happy Wallace has a new pal to hang out with other than Veronica. Otherwise, Wallace would have no choice but to go “bird watching” on his own, right?
Parker, on the other hand, is a free spirit. And being this open may have its consequences, as we’ve seen happen going into the last few minutes of the episode. Still, her character would be a fascinating thing to watch as she goes through this type of ordeal.

MOTW, among others.
The mystery of the week is simple enough to follow; and it taps into the college setting in a good way.
Piz’s ‘prized possessions’ get stolen and Veronica helps him track the ‘welcome wagon’ committee that promised to watch his stuff for him as he went in their dorm.
Well, Piz is in love with Veronica. Right now, he’s seriously no match for Logan. I believe he’s also the type of guy who’d be good for Veronica; but someone she won’t love LoVe like she does Logan. Still, it would be interesting to see this newbie try.
Keith also decides to help Kendall out during the summer and help her get a new identity as she tries to run off with Cormac Fitzpatrick and a whole lot of dough. This turns out ugly when Vinny Van Lowe, who inserted a bug into Keith’s briefcase, turns out to be in cahoots with the other Fitzpatricks. Cormac kills Kendall; and Keith’s in the middle of nowhere trying to run away from him.
Meanwhile, Dick is an absolute mess. It’s interesting to see just how he’s affected by the death of Cassidy. Guess he’s just realizing how much he loves his little brother. This is a great opportunity for some character development. This guy has some feelings after all, and I’m expecting to see that he won’t be the dumb/jerky ass that we’re all used to.
I especially love the scene where he visits Logan to ask for help because he ‘messed up bad’, these two share a scene that will forever be a turning point for the Dick that will no longer be a total dick.

Mystery arc theories.
Everyone’s pretty much a suspect in my book… except for my beloved been-there-since-the-first-season characters. My first whack at the suspect list? Tim Foyle and Dr. Landry, Veronica’s criminology professor. Don’t ask me why. I have no basis whatsoever… just a gut feel thing.

Overall.
Did not disappoint. Of course, I watched it twice before putting everything together like I almost always do (It always helps.); but when everything fell into place in my head, AWESOME. Rob and the writers were obviously trying to squeeze in new viewers by a great cold open (that keeps newbie’s interest and shows, in a nutshell, that Veronica is not your average college girl) and a simple mystery of the week. I believe it’s pretty successful in trying to create a hook (and not alienating newbies) without forgetting to throw a couple of bones in the direction of faithful viewers such as myself.
It started on a light note; but ended dark and mysterious. The ball’s rolling again, people! I really think this season is off to a great start. Rob is still a god and the show hasn’t lost its touch.

3×01 “Time Has Come Today”
Episode Description: (from TV.com) Meredith must make an important choice about which path she wants to follow to determine the future of her love life. While she considers her future she and others have flashbacks of their pasts. Cristina spends time with Burke while he recovers. Webber and Adele have a conversation after he spends the night at the hospital. Everyone attempts to deal with Izzie’s choice to quit. George seeks relationship advice from Derek.
Kicking things off: As expected, the season starts off with everyone still being affected by what had transpired during the prom. Here’s just a smidge of the aftermath: Izzie lies down on the bathroom floor in her prom gown. Meredith chooses no one (from the two McHot doctors in front of her) and runs out of the hospital. Addison discovers Meredith’s panties in Derek’s tux. Bailey feels partly mad and partly guilty for what happened to Denny.
What else happened: Two cases came in for this episode. One was a baby thrown into the trash can. One of four very young teenagers is the real mother and Addison has to find out which one it is before the baby dies. The second case involves an accident and the wife who suffered injury also caught the plague. This forced the people who came in contact with her to be quarantined, including Derek and George who operated on her. While together, George divulges to Derek about how hard it is for him to say “I love you” to Callie. Callie, after hearing about George getting quarantined, decides to go to Meredith’s house and cook some food for Izzie.
The flashbacks shown are the following (in no particular order): Alex talking to Izzie during the intern mixer (night before their first day at work); Young Meredith, while riding a carousel, sees her mother begging Webber not to leave her; Derek throwing Addison out of their house; when Derek first met Meredith; Meredith avoiding Dr. Webber during the mixer while at the same time ignoring George as he chats her up; Izzie telling George about her excitement about being a surgeon and Christina introducing herself to Burke. (did I forget something?)
How it ends: Derek tells Meredith that she has a choice to make; and he won’t rush her into coming at a conclusion. George still can’t tell Callie he loves her. Christina, after being told by Izzie to imagine if Burke were to die, lies by Preston’s bedside, cries and tells him not to die. Adele tells Richard that she can’t wait any longer (which may mean he’s getting a divorce). Addison washes Meredith’s panties and hangs it on the bulletin board. And when night came, Izzie finally decides to get up from the bathroom floor and Meredith helps her out of her dress.
Thoughts: Where the hell do I start? I really really missed this show; and I loved how the season kicked off. Everyone’s still experiencing the aftermath of the prom, so it’s good that things haven’t picked up full speed. The flashbacks were interesting to watch. They helped the story along; and we got a quick glimpse at moments before they were all together at Seattle Grace. The cases, as usual, sustained the stories involving the doctors by being somehow related to them.
Anyway, I don’t know how long I could handle a grieving Izzie; but I haven’t gone over the edge yet. After all, when she told Christina to imagine if Burke died, I lost it. They’re my favorite couple; and Burke almost got killed, so I can’t imagine one half of that couple dying. It somehow gave me a clue on how Izzie was feeling at that moment. One last thought… could someone just hand Finn over to me? He’s too perfect for Meredith and I’d gladly take him in. Okay?

3×02 “I Am A Tree”
Episode Description: (from TV.com) Cristina meets Burke’s parents, the interns try to get Izzie’s job back, Addison takes a sabatical, a surgical patient may be living her last day. The interns want to know why Bailey won’t talk to Izzie. Meredith tries to decide between Derek and Finn.
Kicking things off: After lying on the bathroom floor for hours, Izzie’s next course of action in the grieving process is baking muffins… LOTS OF THEM. Meanwhile, Meredith gives herself until the end of the day to choose between Derek and Finn. If she can’t come at a decision until then, she will flip a coin to decide. The interns encourage Bailey to talk to Izzie in the hopes of convincing her to get back on her feet and maybe back into the program. Christina meets Burke’s parents while in a compromising position. Addison takes a leave and decides to spend the day drinking; because to her, her marriage is over. Dr. Webber spends the night at the hospital; because his marriage is really over.
What else happened: Three cases came in for this episode. One is a lung cancer patient coming in for surgery who is just now discovering how to live her life. Another case involves a man who, as a result of his neurological condition, tends to be too blunt. The last case involves a boy who accidentally had a tree pass through his body (don’t ask me how).
While all this is going on, Callie takes the rap for the panty stuck on the bulletin board, saving Meredith from embarrassment. When Callie admitted that the panties were hers, George gets very disturbed (and jealous, of course), which she found insanely hot. Christina meets Burke’s mother and they immediately rub each other the wrong way. The Burke men? They just laugh and watch. As Meredith goes about making a decision, she first went with her gut (Derek); but when Finn stops by to bring Izzie food (without knowing Meredith would be home and she found this gesture very sweet), Meredith changes her mind. Derek finds out that Addison knows about the panties. Callie gets caught living in the boiler room. She then tells him the reason why she stays there. He understands her situation; but the violations connected to what she’s doing gives him no choice but to kick her out. As they were talking, George comes in with flowers to say something, sees the chief and Callie, and walks out the door.
How it ends: Callie admits to George that the panties weren’t hers; and they both head back to Meredith’s house. Bailey finally talks to Izzie and admits that she’s partly to blame for Denny’s death; because she got soft. The old Bailey would have done something to prevent what had happened; and on her end, she’s sorry she forgot to teach them. Meredith calls Derek and Finn and tells them that she’s decided to date both of them for a little while (May the best man win, I guess.) before finally choosing. Derek visits Addison in a hotel she was staying at. He apologizes for what happened. As he talks to her, Mark comes out of the bathroom half naked.
Thoughts: I was so shocked at how it ended. At least there’s a bit of closure, I guess; and somehow, both Derek and Addison are on an even field again. What a way to start an ugly divorce. The best thing about this is that they have no children to traumatize. As for Christina’s bout with the possible mother-in-law, it is just so entertaining to witness. I hope they get along eventually; because it should be about Burke and not them, especially when he’s in a such a situation. It also felt good to see Bailey talk to Izzie. I just wonder if she’ll come back or not. As for Meredith’s decision, I completely respect it. And isn’t the final choice a bit obvious? What do you think? 

So one is dead. One is somewhere in Las Vegas. All the others are heading to Utah for the five million dollar stash. Of course, there are snags here and there. The close calls are so numerous, it’s good I’m still breathing. It’s fascinating to witness how all of them seem to get to the destination in their own ways. You just have to give them credit for being savvy enough to get there.

Random thoughts:
- I’m glad T-bag’s hand is still not functional. A vet putting it back together successfully would be bull… pure bull!
- I’m still scared of T-bag. I feel so bad he killed the dad and sent an innocent to prison; but it’s a good thing that a rape never occurred. It was just so much fun seeing Scofield and Linc pushing him around.
- Tweener really impressed me the past few episodes. He’s a really likable character… such fun to watch.
- I wonder what Bellick and company will do next?
- Will we see Nika again? What exactly does she know?
- How the hell are they going to get to the money?
- WHERE’S HAYWIRE?