TV FINDS ITSELF IN A FAMILY WAY PREGNANT PAUSE FOR `HOUSEWIVES,' `BROTHERS & SISTERS' DEBUTS.Byline: David Kronke Television Critic Last season, ``Desperate Housewives'' didn't need TV critics. After emerging as the new century's biggest pop-culture phenomenon, the saucy sauc·y adj. sauc·i·er, sauc·i·est 1. a. Impertinent or disrespectful. b. Impertinent in an entertaining way; impossible to repress or control. 2. , sassy sas·sy 1 adj. sas·si·er, sas·si·est 1. Rude and disrespectful; impudent. 2. Lively and spirited; jaunty. 3. Stylish; chic: a sassy little hat. soap didn't offer its second-season premiere for advance review. Not suggesting cause and effect, but season two was roundly considered the latest Exhibit A for the definition of a sophomore slump A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx (U.S. English) refers to an instance in which a effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort. It is commonly used to refer to the performance of students (sophomore year), baseball players (second season), bands (sophomore . This year, ``Desperate Housewives'' returns to its wicked wit, dialing back but certainly not eradicating the melodrama. Tonight's episode boasts several big laughs, evenly distributed among the expected sources -- a particularly witchy, well-delivered one-liner from Gabrielle (Eva Longoria), further long-suffering from Lynette (Felicity Huffman), Susan's (Teri Hatcher) trademark kooky klutziness erupting unexpectedly and an exquisite moment that can only be described as quintessential Bree (Marcia Cross). Desperate times Each woman is particularly desperate as the season opens: Gabrielle is forced to nurture the maid/surrogate mother her husband impregnated im·preg·nate tr.v. im·preg·nat·ed, im·preg·nat·ing, im·preg·nates 1. To make pregnant; inseminate. 2. To fertilize (an ovum, for example). 3. . Lynette discovered that, years ago, her husband had another child with a grasping bimbo hellbent on insinuating in·sin·u·at·ing adj. 1. Provoking gradual doubt or suspicion; suggestive: insinuating remarks. 2. Artfully contrived to gain favor or confidence; ingratiating. herself into the couple's current life. Susan is camping at the hospital -- caring for Mike (James Denton), who has been in a coma for six months -- but is receiving not-entirely-unwanted attentions from Ian (Dougray Scott), who's caring for his own comatose co·ma·tose adj. 1. Of, relating to, or affected with coma. 2. Marked by lethargy; torpid. comatose (kō´m spouse. And Bree has entered into a hasty relationship with Orson (Kyle MacLachlan), who she learns may just be an unhinged killer. Consider last season of ``Desperate Housewives'' akin to the season of ``Dallas'' that was all a bad dream. Rarely does a show unjump the shark this well; it's back in fine form, calibrating its humor and its menace just right. And the cast members actually get to interact this season. `Brothers & Sisters' Speaking of a bad dream, or not wanting cast members to interact, or even something that clearly doesn't need TV critics, ``Brothers & Sisters'' premieres tonight after ``Housewives,'' but honestly, they -- or at least their creators -- are more desperate than Susan, Bree and Gabrielle combined. Take a shockingly good cast -- including Sally Field, Rachel Griffiths, Calista Flockhart, Ron Rifkin and Patricia Wettig -- wedded to jaw-droppingly mediocre material (``You could use some sun, maybe some raisins,'' Field's bitter mom tells Flockhart's estranged es·trange tr.v. es·tranged, es·trang·ing, es·trang·es 1. To make hostile, unsympathetic, or indifferent; alienate. 2. To remove from an accustomed place or set of associations. daughter), and you have the season's most extravagant disappointment. Flockhart stars as prodigal daughter Kitty, who returns to Los Angeles after spending years in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of becoming a famous right-wing radio commentator (any number of actresses could fulfill this role convincingly, but for some reason Flockhart got the part). She's sweet on her boyfriend, but this is Debut Episode No. 4,820 that wastes far too much time dissolving a relationship that no viewer has had the time to care a whit about. As Kitty rejoins the rest of her family, Mom (Field), we already know, has semi-impermeable issues with her. Sister Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) has abandoned her fast-track career in favor of a family life that still needs ``fine-tuning,'' and discovers the family business isn't as secure as everyone thought. City of brotherly love? Brother Kevin (Matthew Rhys) is gay, competent and bland. Other brother Thomas (Balthazar Getty) is less competent but more bland. Other brother Justin (Dave Annable) is an addled ad·dle v. ad·dled, ad·dling, ad·dles v.tr. To muddle; confuse: "My brain is a bit addled by whiskey" Eugene O'Neill. See Synonyms at confuse. veteran, but it's hard to tell whether it was his time in Afghanistan or his time with his family that messed him up so badly. One might imagine that the characters could interact on a somewhat meaningful level, but no: All dialogue feels utterly synthetic -- cyborgs might speak this way, but humans don't. And tonight's episode features a scene in which a birthday cake is gaily gai·ly also gay·ly adv. 1. In a joyful, cheerful, or happy manner; merrily. 2. With bright colors or trimmings; showily: gaily dressed in ribbons and flounces. presented while a character crumples terminally from a heart attack. No doubt the show's creators consider that bitter irony. Reasonable viewers will consider it shameless corn. David Kronke, (818) 713-3638 david.kronke@dailynews.com DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - Three stars What: The faded pop phenomenon attempts a rebound for season three... Where: ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. (Channel 7). When: 9 tonight. In a nutshell:... and succeeds. BROTHERS & SISTERS - One and one half stars What: Family members bicker bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. , banter ... Where: ABC (Channel 7). When: 10 tonight. In a nutshell:... and blather. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Who will live and who will die? That question hangs in the rarefied rar·e·fied also rar·i·fied adj. 1. Belonging to or reserved for a small select group; esoteric. 2. Elevated in character or style; lofty. rarefied Adjective 1. area of Wisteria Lane as ``Desperate Housewives'' begins its third season at 9 tonight. (2 -- color) Calista Flockhart and Balthazar Getty are siblings, with Tom Skerritt as their father, in ABC's new ``Brothers & Sisters,'' premiering tonight. |
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