The Cast of 'Chuck' Say Their Good-Byes...

There are no words. Well, at least not for me. I was a latecomer to Chuck-- a newer adopter, if you will-- and I am forever grateful to the amazing team at the show for embracing me and making it so easy and fun for me to share the end of their journey with them. Tonight is the series finale of Chuck, and after five tumultuous years, it is an hour that will make you laugh, make you cry, and of course, make you happy to be a nerd. So grab your Subway sandwiches and a box (or two!) of tissues and gather 'round NBC at 8pm tonight. There will be a lot to discuss afterwards, and you know this cast is never at a loss for words, so for now, Zachary Levi, Joshua Gomez, and Yvonne Strahovski say their good-byes:

More from Levi here.

Preview the series finale here.

Tonight's TV Talk: 'The Big Bang Theory', '30 Rock', 'Parks and Recreation', and 'Archer'...

TV Talk for Thursday, January 26th 2012


The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8pm) - S5, Ep14: "The Beta Test Initiation" - 101 episodes in, I think we all learned something new about Sheldon (Jim Parsons) tonight: he has a whimsical side! His interest in flags, whether new or not, brought out a side of him that, dare I say it? Actually was fun! I wouldn't necessarily want to watch a 52-week vodcast about flags (and why 52 weeks? There are 50 states but literally hundreds more countries, each with their own flags, not to mention school, sports teams, etc...), but I would like to watch a vodcast where he and Amy (Mayim Bialik) act things out with puppets. Just go with it. Meanwhile, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) actually having conversations with Siri was just plain sad. I mean, I don't doubt that it has been happening since that technology was developed, but it's still sad. And I didn't think Raj was that bad off. He didn't even have to get drunk first to feel comfortable talking to the phone-- and I don't mean because he can't talk to attractive women sober, I just mean because no one has conversations with inanimate objects sober! Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) are a couple I have rooted for from the beginning, but there is no excuse for a smart, modern guy like Leonard not learning from the list mistake of Ross Gellar on Friends... Misstep aside, I'm happy to see that she still finds him adorable and that he's still willing to go outside his comfort zone for her. I just wish it was a little clearer what the intentions were for that couple. I'd hate to get too invested in them again if they're just going to break up again in a few episodes.

30 Rock (NBC, 8pm) - S6, Ep3: "Idiots Are People Three!" - Will Arnett may be on a new NBC sitcom that the network is actually cultivating, but when he popped up here tonight he spoke some disparaging truths about NBC being the Titanic (the ship). And I've sincerely missed this kind of commentary from this show. They take on their on network; they take on their own stars' pitfalls; they take on the insanity of comedy as a genre in general. I love it. I loved how Jack (Alec Baldwin) got sucked into yet another crazy scheme (this time for Devon) but only because he still holds tight to those deep-seated values of getting ahead in business at all costs-- even at what he thought was the cost of his own kid's own future, but most importantly I loved the fact that this show is smart enough to realize and point out that it is how hard you work at making yourself better that truly separates the idiots from the successes. I have no reason to believe Jack wouldn't have a complete heart attack if his daughter actually did have to go to public school, but that could lead to a fascinating episode down the line. Certainly much more interesting than the Best Friends Gang. Yikes, Grammar; just yikes. Though the episode still focused on Tracy (Tracy Morgan)'s own missteps in his insensitive rantings, in the end, even he wasn't an idiot in the truest sense of the word. He rejected Denise Richards' advances, and we have to give him some credit for the brains required for that. James Marsden may be Dennis Duffy 2.0, but I'm also glad he's sticking around. He has such a great smile and even better eyes, and he brings out a much more fun side to Liz (Tina Fey). You could argue that he's dumbing her down, but I like to think he's bringing out her less critical side. Though if she ever gets on board with the Entourage movie, we may have to call in an intervention. Also, I want a subordifriend. Inquire within...

Parks and Recreation (NBC, 8:30pm) - S4, Ep13: "Bowling For Votes" - I was really hoping it would be Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) to finally crack April (Aubrey Plaza), but if she couldn't do it, I guess the next best bet would have been Chris (Rob Lowe). The tag of this episode should have been a line-o-rama of April's weird adaptable phone voices. But not only does he clearly challenge her to actually try in ways Leslie should be he actually inspires her to care, too. That's a huge accomplishment. If April and Andy (Chris Pratt) weren't so darn cute, I'd want her to get more screentime with Chris. After all, he clearly needs some love. He's so darn cute, I don't know why he doesn't get more of it! Overall, though, this episode was weird for me. I was completely thrown off-guard by not being in the Pawnee offices; Tom (Aziz Ansari) was wearing gold shoes; Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) was actually not perfect at something; Leslie was trying desperately to make a misogynist love her. I don't know, it just felt like bizarro-Pawnee. But it did breed one of the best lines to ever come out of NBC (courtesy Ron Swanson, of course): "When I eat, it's the food that's scared."

30 Rock (NBC, 9pm) - S6, Ep4: "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell" - I still can't believe Maulik Pancholy chose Whitney over 30 Rock-- larger part or not. And I like to think 30 Rock can't believe it either, hence tonight's reference. Also a perfect (and coincidentally topical) reference? Demi Moore utilizing leeches for her skin. Or maybe to lose weight. But mostly I can't believe after all of this time, Liz (Tina Fey) and Jenna (Jane Krakowski) are still having the same fights. Sure, Jenna is more marginally famous now that she is also hosting a kids' talent show, but Liz has always known she is crazy and has alternatingly put up with it and blew up because of it. The final straw couldn't have been a little red paint on what I assume was not even her coat. But since this time around it caused Liz to declare she was looking for a new best friend, I went with it anyway. Even though we all know Jack (Alec Baldwin) is her real new best friend. Because I wanted to apply, even if it was reality show style. It's always only a matter of time before Liz comes around to Jenna, so what I really wanted to see was Amanda and Steffy making their own amends. I had this image of Steffy in my head as a struggling performance artist, maybe not unlike Maureen from RENT. Also, after all of these episodes, this was the first time we saw Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) without his page uniform on, right? It was weird and cold, and I didn't like it.

Archer (FX, 10pm) - S3, Ep5: "El Contador" - Is it terrible of me to say I was hoping Cyril (Chris Parnell) would crash and burn in the field? I mean, he wasn't entirely cut out for this line of work, but he certainly thought on his feet faster than Archer himself (H. Jon Benjamin) ever could. It was almost impressive, which I just found unfortunate. I have to admit, with Cyril doing half-decently, despite Parnell's dozen jobs, my money is now on Ray (Adam Reed) to be the one who perishes this season. Without him out in the field, he seems to be a bit useless. That is not a commentary on all characters in wheelchairs, so please don't send angry emails, but it is indicative of him, a spy who can't quite be stealthy or inconspicuous anymore, as we quite hilariously saw last week with the handicapped van chase sequences. Tonight Ray (along with Pam and Cheryl) was relegated to a funny but apropos of nothing subplot about drug testing at ISIS and the much more sinister testing that one of their own likes to do. It felt a little out of place when held up against the backdrop of the poignant field mission. Come on, drug trafficking, hunting humans for sport, and Archer having to play second fiddle to Cyril? That's BIG stuff. Lana (Aisha Tyler) may have ill feelings toward Cyril for his "not-real sex addiction," but I don't know, working alongside him in the field may have her seeing him in a whole new light. Of course, she'll still have to save his ass once in a while, but that's really a given. She clearly is the most competent one on the whole team. I'd actually love to see an episode going home with her to learn exactly why she still sticks it out with the rest of the yahoos! Actually, I'd also like to see an episode going home with Krieger (Lucky Yates). He just the right kind of twisted!

From LA Examiner: Paley Center Honors 'Bones' & 'Cougar Town'; Mark Pellegrino On...Everything; Lucy Lawless Slips Back Into 'Xena' For Her Fans...

"The Paley Center for Media to honor Cougar Town & Bones this spring"

Earlier this month The Paley Center for Media announced their 2012 honorees for their annual PaleyFest celebration in Los Angeles, but this morning it appears that another show has been added, along with a very special public program... [MORE]




"Q&A: Mark Pellegrino’s returns to Supernatural, Being Human & what about Major Crimes?"

As if Mark Pellegrino doesn’t have enough on his plate working on the seventh season of Supernatural, the final season of The Closer, and reappearing in the second season of Being Human, he also appeared in the final episode of Chuck and will guest star on an upcoming episode of Castle (more on that soon). That’s more than enough to keep an artist creatively fulfilled, right? But Pellegrino doesn’t want to stop there. In order to work with his family and feed his ambitions even more, he is producing a series of short films that his wife will be directing. Where does he find the energy!? Pellegrino found some time to chat with us about all of his upcoming television gigs... [MORE]


"Lucy Lawless to headline Creation Entertainment's Xena fan convention in LA"

Xena: Warrior Princess may have gone off-air in 2001, but its fandom is still going strong! And wouldn't you know it? The talent from the show still shows up to support what, for many of them, made them a household name. This upcoming weekend in Los Angeles marks The Official Xena: Warrior Princess Fan Convention from Creation Entertainment, starring none other than Jennifer Sky, Renee O'Connor, Timothy Omundson, and Lucy Lawless (to name a few)! ... [MORE]

MTV's 'The Challenge': Now A Love Story?...

Last night, The Challenge returned to MTV.

Yes, I know what you're thinking: "That show is still on?" But not only is it still on, also with its new take on the old formula, it may be thriving for the first time in a long time. This particular season is a Battle of Exes, and under the guise that those participating had no idea they'd be partnered with their ex (though for legal reasons, I have to assume MTV disclosed the fact that a particular ex was going to factor quite heavily into the gameplay), returning favorites and some new blood signed up for their chance at cash, prizes, physical competition, and of course, an extension of their fifteen minutes of fame. Though I have to admit that MTV seems to be using the term "ex" loosely, I was more than happy to see a number of the players come back, as well as meet a couple of rookies, even if for a short time. I was so excited by the return of the series that I broke my "no reality" rule and live-Tweeted the premiere episode. I expected a lot of railing at each other off the bat, as those who have not spoken, let alone seen each other in perhaps years were suddenly thrust into intimate space with each other. I expected additional (most likely drunken) hook-ups, either between partners or mixing and mingling and "building alliances." I expected Wes to stomp around the house about how Johnny is this and Johnny is that, while Johnny actually slithered much more quietly, planting his venom and lying in wait. I expected a rookie team to go home first. I got most of that, of course, but what I never expected was to be thrust back into the romantic arc of Chris "CT" Tamburello and Diem Brown. And I can't help but now suspect that this entire season may have just been a ploy to get those two crazy kids back together. It's been awhile since MTV did a wedding reality show, right?

Here's the thing: CT is big; he's loud; he's wild. He gets drunk and yells; he has a short fuse and is quick to throw a punch. He's a bear. If you poke him, he'll rip your head off. But he's a bear in a good way, too-- the cuddly, protective kind. And we saw that seasons earlier when he fell for Diem and inspired her and made her feel good about herself when she was going through her chemo treatments. All of a sudden audiences saw a brand new side to him-- a side she surely brought out. It was the side that made the young girls swooning at home that he was so cute feel like they could like him even more and not worry what that said about their tendencies toward abusive men. He was never anything but sweet with Diem when they were together. It was what came after that got scary.

MTV didn't brand their romance "Beauty and the Beast," but they might as well have as everything that came of CT before and after Diem was messy, angry, and yes, violent. I thought it was clear he had been hurt by her and how their relationship ended, but many people disagreed. They saw her as the cute, passionate survivor and him as a guy known for outbursts. It was a fair assessment, given the majority of what MTV shows. I figured CT wasn't verbalizing this pain-- whether because he couldn't or thought it wasn't "manly" or because he didn't want to air everything on television, especially when she wasn't even around. His brother had recently been killed, too, and that no doubt added to the stress and switch. But thanks to Battle of the Exes, we are being given some clarity.

It appears that Diem broke up with CT because she wanted to focus on her career. That is a perfectly valid reason, though CT would have an equally valid reason for being upset about it. But that is just the surface. It also appears that the way Diem broke up with him was simply to start freezing him out-- to grow more and more distant-- until she ultimately texted him and didn't show up to his brother's wake. I'm sorry but no matter what you may want out of life or be going through on your own, that's just cold! There is never a good time to break up with someone, and after the death of a loved one, you may look like an even bigger jerk for doing so, but there are always better ways to break up with someone. Be mature; be vocal; don't just get weird and aloof and passive aggressive. You may think it's making your intentions clear or forcing the other person's hand to make the decision for you, but that's not cool. You have to stand up for yourself. In love, in relationships, in life. Always. That's something Diem has become known for, thanks to MTV, so it's fascinating to see this other side now.

Of course, with only one episode into Battle of the Exes, I'm not saying we have the whole story. It certainly seems like Diem still has feelings for CT, and vice versa, though they're each trying to suppress them for their own, various reasons. But I just feel like throwing them back together like this is a blessing. Even if they don't get back together, they will be forced to actually sit down and talk about their relationship and perhaps at least repair enough good feelings toward each other to go on to win this competition and then remain friends after it. They are both amazing competitors, and I have no doubt they will be a force to be reckoned with all season. They placed in the top four in the first event, and that was an awkward, not really speaking to each other challenge. Time can only push them toward success, even if not heal all wounds.

MTV is smarter than a lot of people give them credit for. The Challenge is in its 22nd year. A lot of the fans who watched for years and years have since tuned out because it was more of the same all of the time. But giving an audience an actual meaningful arc, romantic elements aside, is a way to win back those audiences who have matured from finding the revolving room-doors amusing. I know I am certainly more invested now than in almost any other year, and certainly in every year since Diem and CT met. And that's even with a bunch of newer castmembers who I don't even remember from newer seasons!

Whatever Happened to Mentor-ability?...

When I was in fifth grade I volunteered to be a lunch time monitor for a first grade class. It was my public school's way of utilizing its student body for free labor under the guise of teaching about responsibility, but I reveled in it nonetheless. Maybe a part of me just liked having the little bit of power I could, but mostly, I liked working with the kids-- helping them with their lunches or tying their shoes or breaking up arguments over stickers or Pogs or Barbies or whatever. Then the following year my creative writing class joined forces with another local elementary school, this time acting as writing partners for third or fourth graders. That is where I felt I really excelled. I may have only been a few years older than these kids, but I had ample experience with fiction, so teaching a child how to craft a children's book seemed right up my alley. I took great pride in the mentor role and even got a little competitive over my kid's book when compared with my friends'.

Looking back on this now, I realize I would have really benefited from keeping this an on-going theme in my life. When I moved out to L.A. and started working in entertainment, especially, it would have behooved me to seek out a mentor, tuck safely under his or her wing, and hone both my own skills and my contacts through that person. After all, with someone already established effectively vouching for me, it would have been an easier road, and with someone already established guiding me in terms of style and sensibility, I would find myself continually inspired to keep pushing myself and doing better.

For whatever reason, that thought didn't cross my mind that almost decade-ago that I moved out here, though even if it had, I wouldn't have known where to find an adequate mentor. You can't quite put out a Craigslist ad for something like that. And what if I found someone on my own who I wanted to be my mentor? Sending an unsolicited Facebook message or introductory email is as awkward as those "Do you like me? Check yes or no" squares when they come back with the negative box checked. It's somewhere in between asking someone to be your friend and asking someone to hire you, and honestly, I'm not comfortable with either. I like things to happen organically.

So, if you think you have what it takes to mentor an extremely set in her ways writer with her TV show ideas, inquire within. And it works both ways: if you like what I do or what I have to say and want some advice from me, I'm totally willing to pay it forward. Creativity is built on community.

From LA Examiner: The 'Community' Flash Mob; Zachary Levi Reflects on 'Chuck'; 'Ringer' Love Story Preview; 'Gossip Girl' Hits 100...

"The Los Angeles Community flash mob in retrospect"

When we first spoke with Catherine Boyd, the organizer of the New York Community flash mob, she very honestly told us that she was not involved in the Los Angeles one in any other way than to help spread the word because she believes so passionately in the show. She wanted to get as many people to turn out to show their support, as well, but being a musician based out of the east coast, she had no plans at that time to do anything more than Facebook and Tweet and perhaps reach out to some local L.A. musicians to get involved since “Baby Boomer Santa,” the song selected for the L.A. flash mob was an extremely difficult one. But boy, how fast things can change in this little business called show, are we right? Because last Thursday, January 19th, when fifty or so Community fans (most from California but some as Brazil!) gathered outside the NBC offices in Universal City, Boyd was among them... [MORE]


"Zachary Levi reflects on five seasons of Chuck"

For the last five years, Zachary Levi has gotten to go to work everyday and play a superhero of sorts. Chuck Bartowski started out a seemingly normal guy who was smarter than most but kind of direction-less when it came towards life outside of video games. He could do anything—he could save the world-- but he hadn’t been challenged to do so yet. And then all of a sudden he received a surprise email from an old college friend-- an email that would change his life, introduce him to the love of his life, and show him his true capabilities. In many ways, his character might have been a perfect parallel to Levi’s own life. Having co-starred on a sitcom prior to landing the leading role on Chuck, Levi had not truly tapped into his own full potential in Hollywood—or on the world. But what the show was about to unfold for him was just how great his reach could be. Let’s all just be thankful he has chosen to use his power for good! Here Levi opens up about his time on Chuck, reflecting on everything from meeting his partner-in-virtual-crime Joshua Gomez, to where he wants to go from here... [MORE]


"Ringer EPs break down their dual love stories & pity for Siobhan??"

"There’s a lot of umbrellas that the second half of the season fall under. One of the big umbrellas is Bridget and Andrew’s burgeoning relationship. Another umbrella is Siobhan and Henry salvaging their relationship," Ringer executive producer Eric Charmelo previewed during a special screening of their mid-season return episode "It Just Got Normal" in Los Angeles today... [MORE]


"The road to 100: Gossip Girl EPs preview "G.G."

"It’s a big deal. It’s emotional! I mean, it’s very, very hard to get to 100 episodes. You know, The O.C. got to 93 episodes; Chuck got to a heartbreaking 91 episodes. 100 episodes, in our industry, is considered kind of a standard of success-- of achievement-- so to be able to get there, especially on a serial drama, especially on a show about young people, especially on a cycle where there was a writer’s strike, it’s a big deal,” Gossip Girl executive producer Stephanie Savage said during a special advance screening of his 100th episode, "G.G." in Los Angeles earlier today... [MORE]

Tonight's TV Talk: 'Switched at Birth' and 'Southland'...

TV Talk for Tuesday, January 24th 2012


Switched at Birth (ABC Family, 8pm) - S1, Ep14: "Les Soeurs d'Estrees" - There was something really poetic about the opening of this episode. It appeared pretty clear from the beginning-- what with the very typical teen drama music that is so atypical of this particular show-- that what we were seeing was not actually happening in life but instead in Daphne (Katie Leclerc)'s head. Then to come out of it so abruptly by turning the music off and instead being sucked into yet another silent argument with Emmett (Sean Berdy) and Melody (Marlee Matlin)-- that's just this show at its best, at its most poignant. It gives me chills every time. I have to admit I'm glad something finally derailed Daphne tonight, though, because the path she was on, although a very realistic one for a teenage girl and a nice way of not martyring her, was annoying as all hell. And she was such a horrible liar it made her minor comeuppance all the more amazing. I know she is lashing out now after all of the upheaval in her life lately-- from having to move, to finding out her parents weren't really her parents, to losing her best friend because he's quite co-dependent in his relationship, to having the father who abandoned her come back into her life-- but I just wanted to slap some sense into her. Giving a boy money is not going to make him fall in love with you, and if it does-- well, he's not the kind of boy you really want in love with you anyway. And using another boy to get her the money or use for favors when she knows he likes her? NOT COOL, Daphne. Though, you should probably take on Hollywood after you graduate because you'd fit right in here. I would say she needs a hobby-- something to throw herself into-- but she kind of has that with basketball, doesn't she? This is one moment I wish John (D.W. Moffett) had more Joe McCoy in him so he would get on her and stay on her about practicing, allotting for more father-daughter bonding, and also keeping him busy enough to stop snooping. Yes, Angelo (Gilles Marini) probably can't be trusted, but digging around with malicious intentions is only going to push Bay (Vanessa Marano) further away. And Bay really needs all the friends she can get right now. Who does she even hang out with besides Emmett (Sean Berdy)? According to Marano, no one. That makes me sad. Then again, who are her options? Wilke (Austin Butler) is a dumbass and a jerk, typical teenage boy. Toby (Lucas Grabeel) certainly has his own distractions, hobbies, and issues. I would hang out with her! She says what I'm thinking, and she may just be the smartest one on the show. How DO you "accidentally" text someone? And how are Emmett and Regina next to each other in Daphne's phone? What does she have them listed under? BFF 1 and BFF 2? She and Daphne really do need each other, and I wish they'd make more of an effort to hang out past the obligatory "sister bonding" scene in each episode. They compliment each other. They may not have much in common in terms of interests, but they connect on a deeper, more meaningful level. They can certainly help each other out in a lot of respects. Oh, and speaking of-- going back to Melody for a second-- I'm really hoping she starts to come around to Bay soon-- even a little bit, even if all it looks like is her not cocking her head almost mockingly when Bay stumbles through trying to keep up with her signing. Or, you know, Melody could slow down because Bay is trying. OR Melody could use her words once in awhile. She has them, and Bay is trying so hard with Emmett, with Daphne, and with Melody; it would be nice if they would meet her half-way. The problem is, if Melody makes the effort to change now, it's going to be seen as just a last ditch attempt to keep her son around, and kids as smart as Emmett can see right through cheap ploys like that. Emmett is the best. HE is my Top Five (TV) moment.

And does anyone else totally not trust Craig (Sam Page) strictly because of how he stepped into Desperate Housewives and came thisclose to ruining everything for Bree (Marcia Cross)? Ah well, guess we'll see soon enough!

Southland (TNT, 10pm) - S4, Ep2: "Underwater" - I kind of wish this episode hadn't started with Ben (Ben McKenzie) and Sammy (Shawn Hatosy) breaking up the parking lot dance party. Because the minute the screen froze for a minute after Ben had been shoved, slapped, and spit on, I knew he was about to react out of provocation and slap the girl back, setting up the newest viral video in the Cops Gone Bad category. But by starting the episode there and then flashing back, I spent the entire episode just watching for the clues that would tip Ben toward that boiling point when he was usually the level-headed one out of the uniforms, instead of just focusing on the story to be told. And there really was so much story to be told! The first case Lydia (Regina King) took on, where she found a woman's head stuffed in a truck's wheel-well, well, that alone should make a number of us think twice not only about drinking and driving (never okay) but also driving tanks around Los Angeles city streets (increasingly less okay; we don't need to prepare for battle on these streets; only the cops do!). I wish I hadn't been eating during that scene. Honestly, I should have put down my chips and dip the minute they pointed out the rest of the body was nowhere to be found because at that moment I exclaimed "I bet it's being dragged by the car that hit it" (but the dip was just sooo yummy!). The 227 was everything I wanted it to be, and since that was one story element I didn't see coming in this particular episode, it was that much more powerful when it happened. Ah, Brenda! But really, I found it fascinating that two separate cases dealt with the competency of older women and how it affects the way cops treat the situations and their investigations. In Lydia's case, her point was valid: if the woman was not competent enough to process what Lydia was saying to her, she couldn't be a valid alibi for her grandson who was a suspect in a murder. But when her grandson ultimately got arrested for the murder, I couldn't help but wonder how 1) they can make the evidence they obtained stick when the incompetent lady was the one who granted them access to it and 2) what would happen to her if he was convicted and put in jail again, given that he was her care-taker now. Though the morality of just "losing" evidence was raised, the morality of using this woman was glossed over-- and that is the thing that ultimately could get the case thrown out in the end. But as Lydia pointed out, that's not something she has to worry about because she is not the judge and jury. And that was fascinating in itself, too, because it made her attitude toward her job seem flippant and lazier than I expected. On the flip side, there was the "Granbo," who clearly had a few screws lose, too, but was smart enough to wear a bullet-proof vest when she started shooting at the cops who came to her house to check on a complaint about her cat shitting everywhere. And she was smart enough to arm herself twice to still keep the element of surprise. They said she was just off her meds, so that's a different kind of batty, but I kind of liked the balls her "clear head" provided her. I did not like that the new Captain took her down with an army rifle. He's no-nonsense and that's how he should be in such a position, but I feel like we're going to learn he's not as clean as he should be, and that's going to reflect badly on everyone and trickle down to create a huge mess. Before we go back to Ben, I just want to point out that I felt short-stiffed on the Cooper (Michael Cudlitz)/Tang (Lucy Liu) stuff tonight. They handed over the case of the hit-and-run, which they're required to do since they are not homicide detectives, but the meth-head who was set on fire was an interesting case on its own, only we weren't allowed to spend any time with it. I know the show is easing us into the new partnership dynamic-- and to Tang in general-- but I don't need to see much of them in the car, chatting and obviously building a strong, if somewhat sexually tense rapport, to know they will work well together. I need to see them out on the streets, taking down perps to know they work well together! With so many strong characters, though, every episode features one partnership taking a backseat to some other more front and center storylines, so tonight just happened to be Cooper and Tang's turn. I just hope that changes next week! Anyway, back to Ben and Sammy: Sammy was so insistent that Ben needed to move somewhere where he could have a long drive home to clear his head and decompress, but I realized at the end of the episode that where he lives is not the problem: it's that when he finally does go home-- wherever his home is-- he's alone. So he ends up taking his work home with him and stewing in anger or upset longer because he has no one to distract him, take his mind off things, clear his head and decompress for. Maybe that will change this season and maybe it won't, but the bottom line is: this mistake Ben made is going to haunt him deeply on the job and at home. I only hope he can shake it off and move on, rather than let it define him in his squad.