Blog Entries by Maureen Ryan from 06/2012

'Cougar Town' Season 4: Producer Talks The TBS Move And What Won't Change

Publication 06.01.2012

"Cougar Town's" third season ended Tuesday and after a dramatic rescue by TBS, the former ABC comedy was recently renewed for a fourth season. On Mond...

'Game of Thrones' Finale Recap: Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire

| Publication 06.04.2012

The finale may have been a bit overstuffed, but Season 2 as a whole has been tremendously satisfying, given how well it has distilled George R.R. Martin's themes with coherence, compassion and spectacular visuals.

'Mad Men' Recap: Lane's Tragedy

| Publication 06.04.2012

Was this a great hour of "Mad Men"? I don't know about that, but Lane's story connected with me on an emotional level like almost nothing else I've seen this season.

'Spartacus' Ending After Season 3: Show Creator On Why The Starz Gladiator Drama Is Over

Publication 06.04.2012

"Spartacus" is ending? That sound you hear is a loud "Nooooo!" from the collective consciousness of the "Spartacus" fandom. Starz has revealed th...

'Lost Girl' Renewed: Syfy Orders Season 3, Plus Scoop From Insiders

Publication 06.05.2012

Good news for fans of the Fae: The Huffington Post has exclusively learned that Syfy has renewed "Lost Girl" for a third season, which will arrive on ...

'Burn Notice' Season 6: Michael's Clever Nemesis Returns In Exclusive Clip (VIDEO)

Publication 06.05.2012

"Burn Notice" is back for Season 6 and this time it's personal. When "Burn Notice" returns on USA on Thursday, June 14, the situation truly does st...

'Awake' Musings And Thoughts On New Fall 2012 TV Shows

| Publication 06.08.2012

The big networks can continue to cater to the audiences of a bunch of cult-y shows with passionate viewerships, or they can keep on bland-ifying their offerings, in desperate bids to get everyone -- anyone? -- to keep coming around.

'Mad Men' Season 5 Thoughts: What Was Lacking (And What There Was Too Much Of)

| Publication 06.10.2012

There were a lot of dropped storylines, missed opportunities and depressing developments this year on "Mad Men." There also wasn't much tension or forward momentum to help drive the season forward.

'Bunheads' Review: 'Gilmore Girls' Creator Dances Back To Prime Time

| Publication 06.10.2012

The show isn't quite "Gilmore Girls" plus dancing, but it's pretty close, and that is not a bad thing at all. "Bunheads" comes from "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, and you'll find a lot of familiar elements here.

'Mad Men' Finale Recap: Is That All There Is?

| Publication 06.11.2012

By the end of "The Phantom," I felt the kind of boredom and ennui that the characters have been experiencing.

'Dallas' Review: J.R. Is Back, But Can The Next Generation Compete?

| Publication 06.12.2012

Larry Hagman appears to be having the time of his life ("Dallas" 2.0 is worth watching just to see the evolution of his magisterial eyebrows, which have more personality than some of the greener cast members).

'Falling Skies' Review: Sci-Fi Drama Kicks More Alien Butt In Season 2

| Publication 06.15.2012

"Falling Skies" Season 2 is a different animal, a much leaner and meaner machine that allows sentiment to be present but unexpressed and depicts a darker world in which innocence is a luxury that no one can truly afford.

Why 'Girls' Season 1 Was Terrific And Why It's A Hit With Guys Too

| Publication 06.17.2012

I absolutely love that "Girls" does well among guys in Kansas City and Rhode Island. I am thrilled that men over 50 are among the show's biggest fans. But there's a tone of mild incredulity when discussing the show's male viewers.

'The Newsroom' Review: Aaron Sorkin's New HBO Show Gets Almost Everything Wrong

| Publication 06.19.2012

Ultimately, "The Newsroom" is the worst possible vehicle for promulgating the values and beliefs that the core characters profess. With shrill, self-righteous friends like these, journalism doesn't need enemies.

Let 'Inside Men' Steal A Few Hours Of Your Summer

| Publication 06.20.2012

"Inside Men" has got a smart pace, good performances and it's a relief not to have to commit to something long-term. As summer escapes go, this energetic miniseries looks like a pretty safe bet.

'Wilfred' Review: Dog Bites Man Or Just Bites?

| Publication 06.21.2012

Once in a while I come across programs that appear to be fulfilling their mission statements perfectly adequately -- but I just don't care about those missions. Does that mean those shows are bad?

'Louie' Review: A Brilliant Return For TV's Best Comedy

| Publication 06.26.2012

There can be no doubt that "Louie" is the best comedy on television. It escapes the limitations of the half-hour format: "Louie" gleefully forces the TV comedy to be more flexible.

'Anger Management' Review: Charlie Sheen Up To The Same Old Tricks

| Publication 06.27.2012

"Anger Management" is lucrative spin control disguised as a lazy, unfunny comedy. Charlie Sheen is doing something for himself and his corporate partners. He's being paid to play a character who achieves some kind of personal growth.

'Awkward' Creator Talks Jake, Matty, Jenna And What's To Come In Season 2

Publication 06.28.2012

One of the most refreshing things about MTV's "Awkward" (Season 2 premieres Thursday, June 28 at 10:30 p.m. ET) is how it plays around with the rules ...

'Episodes' Season 2 Review, Plus A List Of The Best Behind-The-Scenes TV Shows

| Publication 06.29.2012

Season 2 of "Episodes" is better than Season 1 -- thanks in large part to Matt LeBlanc's ability to make playing "Matt LeBlanc" look so effortless -- but is this a classic insider Hollywood tale?