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The Mentalist: Pilot (2008)
Brilliant series that explodes from the starting gate
Within the first few minutes, Patrick Jane's character is established with a startlingly funny line that sets the tone for the series. There are more surprises to come, and the premise that the show hangs on for its duration is firmly established. Early shadings of the great supporting cast are introduced, and those will be developed throughout the series. Characters are likeable from the outset, and the show balances drama, humor and clever plotlines 'til the end. The episode with which I was least satisfied, turned that dissatisfaction on a dime with its final line... and was made into another favorite. Patrick never fails to surprise.
Houdini (2014)
A sad, sad excuse for "history"
It is a travesty that this production is from "The History Channel"- there's more factual content in stories front The Onion. There's more fantasy in this production than in Houdini's own self-made mythology... And he was the king of self-promotion, creating a much better fictional background than creators of this junk food television. I shudder to think of the people who are "learning" history from this network... When the Tony Curtis movie came out in the 50's, America "learned" how Houdini died performing the Chinese Water Torture Escape- an illusion not even on the bill the night he received the blows to his stomach that ultimately proved fatal. He died in the hospital a week after his final performance of peritonitis, brought on my a ruptured appendix. And, yet, that is now part of popular culture. But at least that one was a theatrical release. This masquerades as fact, and that's disturbing. The fact that is so poorly written just exacerbates the problem. I feel bad for Adrien Brody's participation; he's much too fine an actor to be associated with this sad piece of theater.