'The Walking Dead' and 'Homeland' Hit Their Stride

Sunday delivered two of the most satisfying episodes of two of the most talked about shows on TV. Both The Walking Dead and Homeland have really hit their stride. Some complained that while enjoyable, both shows had uneven seasons last year during the 2013-2014 season. They've come back refreshed and with a bang.

First The Walking Dead, which finally answered the question of "Where's Beth"? Beth (Emily Kinney) got the spotlight, stuck in a hospital after being found fighting off a walker on the road. Multiple new characters were introduced in the episode (titled "Slabtown"), further proving that The Walking Dead has a knack for making you invested in new characters in a one hour span. 

Beth herself has instantly become one of the most interesting characters on the show, along with Carol (Melisa McBride). Both characters have been developed from flawed and vulnerable to strong survivors. Carol went from being an abused wife, to now rescuing Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the rest of the survivors by blowing up Terminus. Beth went from contemplating suicide a few seasons ago, to helping newbie Noah (Tyler James Williams from Everybody Hates Chris) escape the hospital. She got caught, but with a smile on her face. Just as she was about to launch an attack against other newbie Dawn, Carol is wheeled in and she stops, realizing a new plan can form. It'll be great to watch these two together, The Walking Dead's version of Thelma and Louise (minus the driving off a cliff part).

Homeland has also returned to form. Carrie (Claire Danes) is back in a vulnerable state following two big revelations at the end of the episode. The biggest addition of the season was Ayan (Suraj Sharma). They built him up all season as a sympathetic character caught in the middle of a battle, and we thought he would be a major factor possibly beyond this season. Then his situation deteriorated quickly, and he was shot dead by his terrorist Uncle Haqquani. Haqquani showed he only cares about using his family and is not afraid to sacrifice them, becoming the fiercest bad guy Homeland has seen. Oh, he also has Saul (Mandy Patinkin) in his grasp, keeping him alive knowing the CIA won't use a drone attack on him.

Brody (Damian Lewis) may be gone, but that was necessary to keep the series moving. It would have been too implausible for him to continue to survive. This season has returned to feeling like Season One, with lots of mystery and not knowing which way it will turn. 

Best Thanksgiving Movies

In October we have plenty of well known Halloween themed movies ("The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Hocus Pocus", "Halloween" series, "Sleepy Hollow", "Casper"). And of course there are hundreds of Christmas themed movies. The animated "Free Birds" is out now to help represent Thanksgiving some more, but Thanksgiving tends to get passed over on the big screen. However, there are plenty of good movies that feature the holiday.

Pieces of April (2003) - "Pieces of April" is one of the best Thanksgiving movie of the bunch. Part comedy, part drama, this indie flick stars Katie Holmes, Patricia Clark, Oliver Platt & Alison Pill. April (Holmes) is the older, rebellious daughter of a highly dysfunctional family, and she's never gotten along with her cancer-stricken mother (Clark). She decides to have Thanksgiving in her apartment on the lower east side of Manhattan. Of course, her stove breaks among other obstacles. It's a quick moving film that has a satisfying ending.

Addams Family Values (1993) - The movie is set during the summer, but one of the best moments of the film comes when the summer camp that Wednesday (Christina Ricci) & Pugsley (Jimmy Workman) were sent to. They are forced to act in a play about the first Thanksgiving. Wednesday doesn't take this lightly, and concocts a devious plan to turn the production upside down, as her and her fellow misfits acting as Native Americans burn the pilgrim village to the ground and take back their land. Joan Cusack also delivers an outstanding performance as the villain you just can't help but laugh with, Debbie.

Tower Heist (2011) - Well you can tell from the title that the film includes a heist. The people who work in a high-rise apartment building find out a wealthy tenant was operating a ponzi scheme and their money is gone. They decide to break into his apartment during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since that is when his hearing is. The comedy stars Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Gabourey Sidibe, & Tea Leoni.

The Ice Storm (1997) - Set across Thanksgiving weekend of 1973, 'The Ice Storm' is a drama that takes a look at life in the affluent suburbs of New York City, taking a look at the political climate as well as the sexual revolution of the early 1970s. Yes, that means a Key Party. It all happens during a pretty nasty ice storm (which, is what much of the country may experience this year). It features Christina Ricci (Queen of 90s movies), Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, Kevin Kline, Tobey Maguire, Elijah Wood, Allison Janney & Katie Holmes. Holmes was also in the Thanksgiving themed bomb 'Jack & Jill' in 2011, making that 3 Thanksgiving set films.

Home For The Holidays (1995) - Jodie Foster directed this film that deals with a woman who was just fired from her job that decides to spend Thanksgiving at her parents. Its a Dramedy in the same vein as "Pieces of April", while also packing quite the cast that features Claire Danes, Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Dunning, Anne Bancroft, Steve Guttenberg & Dylan McDermott.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) - This comedy classic directed by John Hughes and starring Steve Martin & John Candy tackles Holiday travel as Neal Page (Martin) trying to get home to his family in Chicago for Thanksgiving, which is complicated by a run-in with Gel Griffith (Candy).

And don't forget these favorites: 'Grumpy Old Men', 'Hannah & Her Sisters', 'Alice's Restaurant', 'Funny People', and 'The House of Yes'.

'Homeland' Season 3 Trailer

'Homeland' returns with the highly anticipated Season Three premiere on September 29th, and Showtime has released the official trailer! It starts with a scene from the end of Season Two with Brody (Damian Lewis) & Carrie (Claire Danes) going their separate ways before taking us into a look at the upcoming season. 

We see interspersed scenes that give a hint at the action, but not many spoilers. We know Carrie and Saul (Mandy Patinkin) are going to be questioned about what happened with the bombing in Season Two, as we see in the clip. Brody also seems to have gotten himself in yet another predicament, being captured yet again. And they shaved his head this time. Can't he ever just enjoy a quiet night alone? Carrie was spotted in a hospital gown, because it wouldn't be a season of 'Homeland' without two things: 1. Carrie in a hospital at some point and 2. Carrie having an epic crying scene, which we also see.

Brody's daughter Dana (Morgan Saylor) up to no good seemingly taking a nude cell phone pic, and then looking like she might be doing a Muslim prayer. Those two things clearly don't mesh well...poor girl doesn't know what to do. Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) is shown looking as serious as ever, building a bomb and carrying a gun. Just like Brody needs a quiet night, Quinn really needs some laughter in his life.

Fall can't get here soon enough! 

The Americans Invade FX

Do you think you know your neighbors, or even your family? That is one of the themes of the new FX show "The Americans", which premiered tonight on FX. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys are our stars, secret KGB spies for the Soviet Union in 1981. Yes, Keri Russell from "Felicity". Who knew she could do an outstanding job as a devious, thrilling spy? Both her and Rhys were clearly perfect for the roles, and manage to make us cheer for them, even though they are Soviet spies.

As a fan of "Homeland" currently in withdrawal, this show couldn't come at a better time. The first episode was action packed, thrilling, sexy, and gave a good amount of character development. Russell certainly reminds me of Claire Danes in her role as Elizabeth Jennings, at least in terms of her persistence. Rhys, as Phillip Jennings, expertly showcases his conflicting emotions of wanting to continue as a KGB spy, yet having thoughts of defecting as he increasingly enjoys the American lifestyle. Their relationship with each other, and their American born children, works well in the story. You actually care about them, and they managed to make it happen in one episode. By the time they have a steamy sex scene in their car after dumping a defected Soviet's body, you're just waiting for it to happen. And they do it to the tune of Phil Collins' 1981 hit "In The Air Tonight". See what I mean by sexy?

The storyline also takes place in 1981 not just to throw in some 1980s style & music, but because it was the start of the Reagan administration. The Cold War escalated when President Reagan took office, so it was the perfect starting point. We do get a few much welcome flashbacks to the 1960s, with hopefully more to come.

Jump on board now, "The Americans" is already proving to be a wild ride.

September 2012: Out with a Bang

The regular NFL referees made their return this week after the Seahawks-Packers Monday Night Football controversy. There were still complaints and boo-birds brought out, including a "refs still suck" chant in Green Bay. Though it was a welcome sight that the NFL got this done. By the way, the Packers won and Seahawks lost, which probably made a few people happy.

The Miami Dolphins lost to the Arizona Cardinals in overtime, even after setting records. Ryan Tannehill broke Dan Marino's Dolphin record for most passing yards in a game by a rookie, and fell 1 yard shy of the NFL record. A week after missing two make-able field goals against the sloppy Jets, kicker Dan Carpenter missed another. It was a 51 yard try, no easy feat, but it was inside a dome without any wind. Someone call Ace Ventura, it looks like Ray Finkle is back and terrorizing us Dolphins fans. The luck ran out for the Jets though, who could be heading for last place after getting destroyed at home. The Dolphins need to find more points and learn how to pull away from teams. You can't have the #1 Run Defense, #5 Run Offense, #1 Wide Receiver (surprisingly & temporarily) and keep losing.

Some TV shows made their returns. Homeland, which dominated the Emmy Awards, returned to Showtime with its biggest ratings ever and didn't miss a beat. Claire Danes & Damian Lewis proved why they won the Drama Awards, picking up right where they left off. I've anointed Claire Danes as the "Charlize Theron of Television" for her rapid rise as an actress who can do anything. Her character Carrie is back on a mission for the CIA, and back to (almost) normal, after her mental breakdown that ended last season.

Revenge, ABC's guilty pleasure, came back with a bang as if there was any other way. Victoria is alive in the witness protection program, though still plotting against people, and nobody should be surprised. Also, the dude who played Shang Tsung in the Mortal Kombat movie (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) took over the role of Takeda. So that's where you probably recognized him from. They should let him say "your soul is mine" at least once.

And props to The Simpsons for starting their 24th Season, going to New York City for the first time since Season 9. They made the Metro North platform look way too clean though.

Also, Lindsay Lohan got in a fight with some guy over cell phone pictures taken of her. Why is she out at 4 AM anyway? She doesn't even deserve a career at this point. If Lohan really wants to shock people, go home and read a book or something. Nothing good will happen to you after midnight.