Drop Dead Diva: The Complete First Season (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this show and hope it comes back for a second season. The premise will be familiar to readers of paranormal romances--a woman dies unexpectedly and comes back in another form that gives her a new perspective on life, society, romance, and, ultimately, her own self.
In this case, the diva that drops dead is a shallow, self-absorbed, not all that bright, but not mean, hot blond with a hot lawyer fiance. Refusing to accept death, she defiantly presses a "return" button while being processed in the afterlife, and whammo, she's back on earth, resuscitated in the body of a very smart, but very chubby brunette lawyer ( looks reminiscent of Delta Burke, but less kittenish).
And off we go. Deb, the dead diva, has to adapt to a new reality as Lane-Bryant-clad plus-size plain Jane. She has her own personality with Jane's brain--so she has a boatload of legal know-how. And, oh oh, her fiance is now a lawyer at Jane's firm. Another female lawyer--one with a slim physique and icy demeanor and high-level ambition that contrasts with Janes's plumpness and subdued prettiness and bit of Deb-ditziness. They sometimes clash, sometimes cooperate, and they are each refining the other, which is cool to watch. Everyone is fated to learn and grow.
The humor and drama are well-balanced, and it's fun to see Margaret Cho as the deadpanning snarky but capable assistant to Jane. The actor who plays Deb's fiance is very appealing and quite handsome (reminds me of the late Edward Albert when he was young with a dash of that guy who was Quentin in DARK SHADOWS, for those who remember). He effectively conveys his loss of Deb as heartrending, and his moments with Jane (where they build a friendship) are so touching and lovely, that I long for the next one where they sit together intimately.
There are shades of LEGALLY BLONDE (with Deb/Jane as a sort of Elle, but with the blonde super-fashionista on the inside). Others refer to Ally McBeal, but this show seems to have a kinder heart and less cynicism than that one.
The guest stars in this first season have been a hoot, including Rosie O'Donnell as a judge, Liza Minelli with Delta Burke as feuding sisters, and Paula Abdul.
It may not be a ground-breaking or uberbrilliant show, but I always look forward to it and my hubby likes to watch with me, too. It's fun, it's got romance, and the actress who plays Jane/Deb is very appealing and likable, with an expressive voice and a wonderful ability to switch deftly from ditzy Deb to on-the-job Jane---and you root for her to win her cases and, we hope, get her man...back!
Thumbs up.

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Life can really throw you curves — especially in this breakthrough Lifetime TV comedy! After beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb (Brooke D\'Orsay) has a fatal car accident, she finds herself in the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott), a brilliant plus-size attorney. By a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb can no longer rely on her fabulous looks to pull her through. Now, the new Jane must confront the challenges of her adventurous new life, love, and career — as well as her curvier frame — in the ultimate showdown of brains and beauty. Featuring a host of celebrity guest stars including Kathy Najimy, Delta Burke, Rosie O\'Donnell, Paula Abdul, Liza Minelli and Tim Gunn.

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Will & Grace - Season Two (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)Here is the Will & Grace Season Two Episode Guide. I have yet to see the DVD. Now where's The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season Two?
Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner: The platonic pair find life even messier without each other after Grace moves...across the hall. Meanwhile, Karen informs Jack that his marriage-for-show to Rosario must go on in order to keep her maid in America.
Election: Grace gives Will a run for his money when she enters his unopposed race to be named tenant-board president. Meanwhile, Jack hits the jackpot when Karen tries to buy his forgiveness after she loses his bird, Guapo.
Das Boob: A flattering newspaper photo gains Grace the attention of an old crush (Scott Patterson) who was never one to keep abreast of her before. Meanwhile, Jack is destroyed to learn that Will had a thing with his former fling (Anthony DeSantis).
Whose Mom Is It, Anyway?: Grace hits the roof when her matchmaking mom (Debbie Reynolds) visits with yet another man in tow. Unfortunately, he's perfect...for Will. Meanwhile, Jack and Rosario meet with an INS agent who's well acquainted with Jack's past.
Polk Defeats Truman: Grace teaches Karen about budgeting by taking her outlet shopping, while Will sells himself short to land a fickle, filthy rich client (Gary Grubbs). But when the bottom drops out, a vindicated Grace feels bad about coming out on top.
To Serve and Disinfect: After closing his office, Will accepts a dare to work as one of Jack's cater-waiters. Meanwhile, Grace catches Karen at work - in an adult film.
Homo for the Holidays: Jack tries to come out to his mom (Veronica Cartwright), who shows up for Thanksgiving dinner at Will's armed with a secret of her own. But before any secrets are spilled, Karen and Grace duke it out over their make-believe ex-lover, namely Jack.
Terms of Employment: Grace enlists an out-of-practice Will to sue one of her clients (Gregory Hines), a hotshot lawyer who kills her case, but saves Will's career. Meanwhile, Jack and Karen turn a training film set into an adult entertainment experience.
I Never Promised You an Olive Garden: Bored with Rob and Ellen's low-rent tastes, Grace and Will dump them for a pair of highbrow downtowners (Tamlyn Tomita, Steve Valentine). Meanwhile, Karen helps Jack face his painful past during a trip to her kid's grade school.
Tea and a Total Lack of Sympathy: Will kisses up to Karen to appease his new boss (Gregory Hines); Jack and Grace get into hot water over an antique teapot.
Seeds of Discontent: When an old school chum (Megyn Price) asks Will to father her child, a jealous Grace tries to thwart her baby-making plans.
He's Come Undone: Will's sexy dreams about Grace land him in therapy and send her on a couch trip with his hunky shrink (Markus Flanagan). Meanwhile, Jack and Karen clash over her treatment of Rosario.
Oh Dad, Poor Dad, He's Kept Me in the Closet and I'm So Sad: Will and Grace are forced to pose as married at his father's awards dinner; Jack's blind date may have a surprising connection to his past.
Acting Out: Will and Jack appear on Today to protest NBC for yanking a gay kiss from a sitcom episode; Grace seeks Karen's advice on dumping a weirdo beau. Al Roker guest stars as himself.
Hey La, Hey La, My Ex-Boyfriend: Will has designs on Grace's newest interior-decorating client - his ex-boyfriend (Chris Potter); Karen tries taking her "career" more seriously.
The Hospital Show: When Karen's husband, Stan, suffers a heart attack, the gang takes bets on whom the sassy socialite will turn to for emotional support.
Sweet (and Sour) Charity: As the gang plunges into charity work, Will and Grace direct a kids' play, while Jack infuriates Karen by giving away her favorite pair of pumps.
An Affair to Forget: When two pals ask Will and Grace to be the best man and maid of honor at their wedding, Grace's sexy past with the groom is exposed.
Girls, Interrupted: Grace befriends a sassy kleptomaniac (Molly Shannon); Jack has a crush on the leader of a group of "ex-gays" (Neil Patrick Harris).
There But for the Grace of Grace: Will and Grace are alarmed when the friendship of two bickering oldsters mirrors their own; Ben (Gregory Hines) impresses Jack and Karen with his hidden talents.
Best Friend's Tush: A catty socialite (Joan Collins) of Karen's acquaintance vies with Grace for a client; Jack tries marketing an odd invention.
Ben? Her? Conclusion: After his legal tussle with Karen, Jack moves in with Will, who is reeling from reversals in his career and love life

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WILL & GRACE:SEASON 2 - DVD Movie

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Law and Order: The First Year (1990) Review

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(More customer reviews)The first season of Law and Order lacks the bang-bang short attention span plot advances and twists of the later years, but more than makes up for it by deeper plots and better acting, along with some nice background. Unfortunately, the DVD quality isn't what it could be, which is why this is 4 stars and not 5.
From season 3 or 4 on, the Law and Order formula came into full flower. Every 'donk-donk' signifies a quick advance in the plot as a year-long investigation and trial gets compressed in an hour, except for those delicious times when it reverses in a wild plot twist. Three spinoffs prove this works regardless of who is in the role. Season 1 isn't quite like that. For instance, it often meanders slowly, spending 4 or 5 minutes at the beginning actually witnessing the crime, having the cast walk down the street talking to each other rather than going from one interview to the next. (This actually gives some great background - you finally see the full precinct room and DAs office!) The slower pace even reflects in the way the guest stars seemly act - an L&O trademark is to have an interviewee continuing to do their job while the cops grill them. Not so here. No quick hot dog lunch for meetings between the Captain and the detectives. Logan even complains when someone doesn't give them their full attention!
While not having the formula down means that action slows down, it allows for better acting and better plot development. The 'ripped from the headlines' aspect remains as large as it ever was, with the Mayflower Madam, Tawana Brawley claiming rape, the Lisa Steinberg child abuse case, and city council corruption along with several cop corruption cases. The difference is that because the actors aren't forced to move through hoops they actually get to perform. Robinette gives a soul searing performance in the the Brawley case (Half-Light) and the corruption case (Bagman) as he examines his race versus his job - and race and class in general get explored a lot more than in later years (in episodes like Homeboy Blues and Poison Ivy.) Logan acts like a rookie as he screams at people who don't help him, and nearly comes to blows with Greevey over their views on abortion and morality in Life Choice and Kiss the Girls. Stone shows actual rage in Indifference, and Schiff is a motivated caring boss and not just his normal fun cantankerous let's-cut-our-losses self. Finally, the caliber of the guest stars before they became big (Cynthia Nixon, William Macy, Epatha Merkerson!) helps as the give and take is unrestrained. This is a fair tradeoff for a slower show.
My only objection to the DVD set is the transfer is somewhat mediocre, especially for the first few episodes where you get flecking. I can't believe the original tapes weren't in better shape. Also, the features side borders on the unacceptable. Dick Wolf does talk about the original development of the show, for about 10 minutes. Other than that, nothing - except for an unbelievable ad about the Law and Order game! I can't believe there aren't outtakes or they couldn't get someone from the cast to walk through the episodes ala the Simpsons DVD sets. Definitely worth marking down a star for that.
Still, a great beginning to a great show.

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Law & Order is one of the most successful and criticallyacclaimed series in the history of television.For over a decade thisEmmy Award-winning series has presented the investigation andprosecution of cases ripped straight from today's headlines.With acelebrated cast that includes Michael Moriarty (Along Came a Spider),George Dzundza (Basic Instinct), Chris Noth (Sex and the City), RichardBrooks (The Crow: City of Angels), Dann Florek (Law & Order: SVU), andSteven Hill (The Firm), and featuring such notable guest stars as JohnSpencer (The West Wing), Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City), William H.Macy (Fargo), Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal), Philip Seymour Hoffman (RedDragon), and Christine Baranski (Dr Seuss How the Grinch StoleChristmas).Law & Order: The First Year is a must-have DVD collection.

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