USA Today TV Critic says Desperate Housewives is getting off to a slow start - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 10-10-2005, 06:19 PM

Critic says this season is not as EXPLOSIVE as last season and the show seems to be stuck in neutral. He also said too many scenes were rehashing stories we thought we left behind. And he also had a problem with the fact that the Housewives were not in a scene together at all in Episode 3 last night. Anyone agree with Robert Bianco review of the show so far?

BTW: I enjoyed the 3rd episode last night.

Mr. Television · 10-10-2005, 06:25 PM

I've enjoyed every episode so far this season.

Caffeine King · 10-10-2005, 09:38 PM

I completely agree with everything he said.

spunkygirl · 10-10-2005, 10:43 PM

Critics what do they know

Anyways I would rather have the season start out slow, then go to the big build up and have the explosive stuff towards the end of the season. If you have all the explosive stuff happen now, what's left for later?

Wings#1ShowPeriod · 10-10-2005, 11:02 PM

I do agree what the critic said, but with that said I have enjoyed every episode so far. Even with a slow start, this show still manages to be great.. with great acting, great comedy, and interesting storylines.

Brent88 · 10-10-2005, 11:56 PM

While I agree it's not really "explosive" and that the first 2 episodes were slow, I thought last night was MUCH MUCH better. I think it's all about expectations. I was expecting a lot the first 2 weeks and didn't get it(especially last week). Last night I wasn't expecting much and got a lot.

Think Sweeps for the explosive stuff.

vashti1999 · 10-11-2005, 10:17 AM

New York Daily News critic David Bianculli feels the same way. Here's his article:

Cleanup needed for 'Housewives'

Last year, when one of the opening images in the premiere episode of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" was that of cherry preserves being mistaken for blood, it signaled a sensibility and creativity that was fresh and funny.
Last Sunday, when one of the images in the latest episode of "Housewives" was that of Alfre Woodard's Betty claiming that the blood on her clothing actually was cherry preserves, it signaled something else entirely. In a word, laziness.

We're now three episodes into the second season of "Housewives," and the show still doesn't seem to have any traction. Even the twists aren't as twisted as they used to be: The climax of Sunday's show had George (Roger Bart) passing a lie-detector test, even though we know he killed Bree's late husband, Rex, by slowly poisoning him.

How did he pass the test?

As Norm Macdonald used to say when hosting "Weekend Update" on "Saturday Night Live," "Ripped from the pages of Duh! magazine ..." George has access to every pharmaceutical there is, and certainly one of them would keep him calm under the duress of such a test. It's a no-brainer. It's also a no-exciter.

What's wrong so far this season, for the most part, has been the tone. Seeing Felicity Huffman's Lynette back in the corporate world was a good touch, but not when her boss, played by Joely Fisher, is such a cartoonish shrew. Subtle digs, jabs and thrusts, not cartoon mallets and anvils, should be the weapons of choice. Think of the smug sexiness last season of neighborhood madam Maisy Gibbons (Sharon Lawrence), and her verbal jousts with Marcia Cross' Bree, to recall what's missing so far this sophomore season.

Splitting up the four main housewives, and giving them nothing unified to do, hasn't helped things, but this guy-in-the-basement thing with Betty thus far has wasted not only Woodard's talent, but our time as well. The Gabrielle-Carlos scenes, with Eva Longoria and Ricardo Chavira, have been the best-written this year, but there's only so much you can do when separated by a prison table. Longoria's scenes Sunday with Jesse Metcalfe, as her ex-lover John, close a story line that already ended. She did, however, get a new car - but when an Aston-Martin is more memorable than these leading ladies, the writing's to blame.

Perhaps George can snap, and start killing the residents one by one, and force the housewives to band together, Nancy Drew-style, to catch the murderer. Or the unresolved stories and departed characters from last season can return. Or series creator Marc Cherry can write a script for a change. Anything that would help is needed, before "Housewives" goes from stalled to stagnant.

By the way, this isn't knee-jerk-reaction, sophomore-season sour grapes. ABC's "Lost" is in its sophomore season, too, and it knocks my socks off. "Lost" isn't lost at all, but "Desperate Housewives" is leaning dangerously in that direction.

Originally published on October 11, 2005

IAlsoLoveRaymond · 10-11-2005, 01:11 PM

Since when does anyone care about the critics; IT'S THEIR JOB TO RIP SHOWS TO PIECES! If I had a dollar for every time I heard a critic call what I thought was a good movie bad (or the reverse for that matter), I trully believe I would own half of Hollywood!

It's all subjective. I think that Edie trying to muscle in on Susan's daughter will only result in more of the classic Susan/Edie cheap-shotting that we have come to know and love.

I do agree that there does not seem to be much of the ladies all together, but I think it's coming. Susan has to be getting suspicious of Betty's weirdness which can only fuel the gossip fire. And who knows what rumors will start if George stays on (although I do think they got rid of Rex's mother too soon).

And lie detectors are hardly credible. They are easily manipulated and just as easy to fool. This is why most courts do not allow them as evidence.

vashti1999 · 10-11-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAlsoLoveRaymond

Since when does anyone care about the critics; IT'S THEIR JOB TO RIP SHOWS TO PIECES! If I had a dollar for every time I heard a critic call what I thought was a good movie bad (or the reverse for that matter), I trully believe I would own half of Hollywood!

I can't agree with you there. That may be true of some critics but I read Bianculli's column all the time and he's rarely said anything negative about DH. It's a show he's constantly praised. If you read him often enough, you'll know he's a fan of the show so I'm sure he's not simply out to rip the show to pieces. He's simply saying the show has gotten a bit lazy and off track, which it has.

db108108 · 11-26-2005, 12:07 PM

I think the start of the season was extremely wobbly, nowhere near as good as last season. That said, I've enjoyed the last two episodes immensely, especially the comedy bits (like when George threw the doctor off the bridge, my friend and I were in hysterics for 10 minutes).

It's interesting because I started watching this show first, then Lost around November or last season, and then Veronica Mars in June, arguably the 3 best series on network tv. I love DH right away, but my love for Lost esclipsed that for DH by February, and then my love for VM esclipsed both of them by late August. Given VM's sort of shakey season so far, Lost is back on top again.

10-10-2005, 06:25 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I've enjoyed every episode so far this season.
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10-10-2005, 09:38 PM	#3
Caffeine King I Love Rayanne Graff Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 01, 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 622	I completely agree with everything he said.
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10-10-2005, 11:56 PM	#6
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	While I agree it's not really "explosive" and that the first 2 episodes were slow, I thought last night was MUCH MUCH better. I think it's all about expectations. I was expecting a lot the first 2 weeks and didn't get it(especially last week). Last night I wasn't expecting much and got a lot. Think Sweeps for the explosive stuff.
	__________________ Brent

10-11-2005, 10:17 AM	#7
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	New York Daily News critic David Bianculli feels the same way. Here's his article: Cleanup needed for 'Housewives' Last year, when one of the opening images in the premiere episode of ABC's "Desperate Housewives" was that of cherry preserves being mistaken for blood, it signaled a sensibility and creativity that was fresh and funny. Last Sunday, when one of the images in the latest episode of "Housewives" was that of Alfre Woodard's Betty claiming that the blood on her clothing actually was cherry preserves, it signaled something else entirely. In a word, laziness. We're now three episodes into the second season of "Housewives," and the show still doesn't seem to have any traction. Even the twists aren't as twisted as they used to be: The climax of Sunday's show had George (Roger Bart) passing a lie-detector test, even though we know he killed Bree's late husband, Rex, by slowly poisoning him. How did he pass the test? As Norm Macdonald used to say when hosting "Weekend Update" on "Saturday Night Live," "Ripped from the pages of Duh! magazine ..." George has access to every pharmaceutical there is, and certainly one of them would keep him calm under the duress of such a test. It's a no-brainer. It's also a no-exciter. What's wrong so far this season, for the most part, has been the tone. Seeing Felicity Huffman's Lynette back in the corporate world was a good touch, but not when her boss, played by Joely Fisher, is such a cartoonish shrew. Subtle digs, jabs and thrusts, not cartoon mallets and anvils, should be the weapons of choice. Think of the smug sexiness last season of neighborhood madam Maisy Gibbons (Sharon Lawrence), and her verbal jousts with Marcia Cross' Bree, to recall what's missing so far this sophomore season. Splitting up the four main housewives, and giving them nothing unified to do, hasn't helped things, but this guy-in-the-basement thing with Betty thus far has wasted not only Woodard's talent, but our time as well. The Gabrielle-Carlos scenes, with Eva Longoria and Ricardo Chavira, have been the best-written this year, but there's only so much you can do when separated by a prison table. Longoria's scenes Sunday with Jesse Metcalfe, as her ex-lover John, close a story line that already ended. She did, however, get a new car - but when an Aston-Martin is more memorable than these leading ladies, the writing's to blame. Perhaps George can snap, and start killing the residents one by one, and force the housewives to band together, Nancy Drew-style, to catch the murderer. Or the unresolved stories and departed characters from last season can return. Or series creator Marc Cherry can write a script for a change. Anything that would help is needed, before "Housewives" goes from stalled to stagnant. By the way, this isn't knee-jerk-reaction, sophomore-season sour grapes. ABC's "Lost" is in its sophomore season, too, and it knocks my socks off. "Lost" isn't lost at all, but "Desperate Housewives" is leaning dangerously in that direction. Originally published on October 11, 2005
	__________________ .

10-11-2005, 01:11 PM	#8
IAlsoLoveRaymond Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 04, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 710	Since when does anyone care about the critics; IT'S THEIR JOB TO RIP SHOWS TO PIECES! If I had a dollar for every time I heard a critic call what I thought was a good movie bad (or the reverse for that matter), I trully believe I would own half of Hollywood! It's all subjective. I think that Edie trying to muscle in on Susan's daughter will only result in more of the classic Susan/Edie cheap-shotting that we have come to know and love. I do agree that there does not seem to be much of the ladies all together, but I think it's coming. Susan has to be getting suspicious of Betty's weirdness which can only fuel the gossip fire. And who knows what rumors will start if George stays on (although I do think they got rid of Rex's mother too soon). And lie detectors are hardly credible. They are easily manipulated and just as easy to fool. This is why most courts do not allow them as evidence.
	__________________ I'm IAlsoLoveRaymond, and I approved this message.

10-10-2005, 06:19 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,136	USA Today TV Critic says Desperate Housewives is getting off to a slow start Critic says this season is not as EXPLOSIVE as last season and the show seems to be stuck in neutral. He also said too many scenes were rehashing stories we thought we left behind. And he also had a problem with the fact that the Housewives were not in a scene together at all in Episode 3 last night. Anyone agree with Robert Bianco review of the show so far? BTW: I enjoyed the 3rd episode last night.

10-10-2005, 10:43 PM	#4
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Critics what do they know Anyways I would rather have the season start out slow, then go to the big build up and have the explosive stuff towards the end of the season. If you have all the explosive stuff happen now, what's left for later?

10-10-2005, 11:02 PM	#5
Wings#1ShowPeriod Boo Lois, Yay Beer. Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 03, 2005 Location: Inside the Big Brother House Posts: 797	I do agree what the critic said, but with that said I have enjoyed every episode so far. Even with a slow start, this show still manages to be great.. with great acting, great comedy, and interesting storylines.

11-26-2005, 12:07 PM	#10
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	I think the start of the season was extremely wobbly, nowhere near as good as last season. That said, I've enjoyed the last two episodes immensely, especially the comedy bits (like when George threw the doctor off the bridge, my friend and I were in hysterics for 10 minutes). It's interesting because I started watching this show first, then Lost around November or last season, and then Veronica Mars in June, arguably the 3 best series on network tv. I love DH right away, but my love for Lost esclipsed that for DH by February, and then my love for VM esclipsed both of them by late August. Given VM's sort of shakey season so far, Lost is back on top again.