Jessica Paré
There's music that sticks with you — like Megan's can't-get-it-out-of-your-head "Zou Bisou Bisou" birthday party bump and grind from Mad Men — and music you can't wait to forget: as in whatever the hell Katharine McPhee was screaming on that revolving mattress-prison during the ambush production number on Smash's worst episode to date.
Which seems an appropriate way to begin our medley of some of the week's notable hits and misses.
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William Mapother
Cheers to Justified for adding another piece of work to its rogues' gallery.
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Faced with the prospect of filling Margo Martindale's Emmy-winning "sh--kicker" boots, FX's down-home crime drama has wisely decided to flood the zone with as many baddies as possible. We've recently been introduced to Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson — both alums of...
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Margo Martindale
If there was one performance that earned almost unanimous praise from both TV critics and viewers alike this season, it was that of Justified's Margo Martindale. So the fact that her riveting portrayal of Harlan County crime family matriarch Mags Bennett earned the stage and screen veteran her first Emmy nomination is, well, justified.
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"I'm truly beside myself with joy," Martindale tells TVGuide.com, giddy with laughter. "It's a whole new world for me. I've been nominated for a Tony, but this whole thing is just joyous."
Although Martindale says she never anticipated the waves of support and critical appreciation she received throughout the season, she instantly responded to Mags on the page...
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Timothy Olyphant and Margo Martindale, Justified
[WARNING: The following story contains spoilers about the Season 2 finale of Justified. Read at your own risk.]
Justified's second season finale, "Bloody Harlan," certainly lived up to its name. But even though there were shootouts that claimed the life of...
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Margo Martindale
Aw, shoot.
Wait, not literally. Them's fighting words on FX's Justified, where even an orphaned teenaged girl is packing heat and means business.
After Wednesday night's intense finale to a thoroughly gripping and enjoyable second season, I'm still trying to cope with the fact that we've seen the last of the mighty Mags Bennett, that mountainous and monstrous backwoods matriarch whose ...
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
This is delightful history." So declared TV's reigning queen of news, Barbara Walters, as the newly wed Catherine, now Duchess of Cambridge, emerged from Westminster Abbey alongside her prince Friday morning to pealing bells, cheering crowds and a gawking worldwide TV audience estimated in the billions, soaking up a jubilant moment in the often rocky life of the British royals. In shared media moments like this, we are all uncommonly privileged commoners, granted a front-row seat to rubberneck at will at a lavish ceremony, festooned with wacky hats, that seemingly went off without a hitch. Watching in high-def (a first for a British royal wedding), I was struck by both the intimacy and grandeur of what the cameras captured: best man Harry's sly look backward at Kate's long approach down the aisle while his brother faced forward — he apparently whispered, "Wait till you see her" — the sideways amused glances between Kate and William revealing that they were keeping it real amidst the pomp, the prince's struggle to place the ring on her finger, all set against sweeping long shots, including staggeringly beautiful aerials of the entire abbey, like something out of a classic movie romance....
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Jeremy Davies
With a domineering mother and his police-chief big brother looking over his shoulder, Jeremy Davies' limping, sneering Dickie may be the most put-upon of the backwoods Bennett clan on this season of Justified. But he's also the most engaging...
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Jeremy Davis
Send questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter!
Question: I don't understand why more people are not watching Fringe. I admit Season 1 was a bit rocky, but Season 2 was great, and so far this season has been the best, in my opinion. It's the only show that seems to fill The X-Files void for me. Last Friday's "LSD" episode was brilliant. I still crack up every time I picture the "How wonderful!" thought bubble above cartoon Walter. And how hilarious was tripping Broyles? He's the only character I've never liked on the show, because he's so rigid, but it was nice to see him loosen up a bit. Too bad it took a bad trip of LSD to do it. Anyway, I know it was renewed for a fourth season despite the poor ratings, but do you think that will be the end? I mean, how can they afford to keep such a low-rated show around?
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Stana Katic, Allison Mack, Emily Deschanel
Every week, editors Adam Bryant and Natalie Abrams satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questions to mega_scoop@tvguide.com.
Will we learn who killed Joanna Beckett in the Castle finale? — Liza
ADAM: No, but you'll get another big clue, which will put someone very close to Beckett under suspicion. Meanwhile, while we've been focusing on this rumored death, we should have also been telling you about the gunshots that ring out in the episode's final moments.
Please tell me you have spoilers on Chloe's return to Smallville! — Andy
NATALIE: Chloe (Allison Mack) returns to Metropolis in the series finale...
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Margo Martindale
On a busy Wednesday of new TV, we hear a familiar sound. It's the numbing drum roll of broadcast-network mediocrity, which beats on into the late midseason as Fox offers up a new comedy titled Breaking In (9:30/8:30c). Because heaven forbid something might actually break out this year.
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This isn't a terrible show, because that might make it memorable. Instead, it falls into that category of being fairly clever without really being funny or all that amusing. A caper series with a high geek factor, Breaking In reminds me of those debates from Chuck's early days...
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