Show: Army Wives (Lifetime)
Episode: “Goodbye Stranger” – First Season Finale
Originally Aired: Sunday, August 26th, 2007
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Quick Synopsis: The episode title just about says it all.

Long Synopsis: Well, just about everyone is saying goodbye to someone, but to say who is saying goodbye to who might just ruin the fun of watching the episode. I will say that they leave it in such a way that you will be anxiously awaiting the show’s return in 2008, when they say hello again, with 18 new episodes. But, basically the post is on high alert, as some explosives have been stolen from the weapons depot and it is the second such theft to occur recently. As intel is gathered, it is determined that the post could be a terrorist target, so troop deployments are moved up. And, then …

Review: While in this reviewer’s opinion, Army Wives is not Lifetime’s best show; it has been their most successful show. No show has brought a bigger audience to Lifetime on a more consistent basis in its 23-year history.

Army Wives started out as a slightly above average show with a really good-looking cast. But since, the cast has become a cohesive unit, as they have really gelled over the show’s 13 episode first season. Each character has grown both separately and as part of the “harem.” This episode does a really good job of showing that growth.

In comparison to previous episodes though, this one moves along at a bit of a slower pace. All leading up to the final minutes, where … again, I guess you’ll just have to watch. It does do what a good season finale episode is supposed to do, leave you wanting more. If you’re a fan of Army Wives, this episode will do just that. And, the best part is, you already know that it is coming back, so you won’t be left hanging indefinitely.

The first season finale of Army Wives airs tonight, August 26th on Lifetime. What did you think of the episode? Let us know in the comments.

Show: How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Episode: Come On – First Season Finale
Originally Aired: Monday, May 15th 2006
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Quick Synopsis: Ted gets with Robin and Marshall and Lilly split.

Long Synopsis: The episode revolves around Lilly having interviewed for the summer art program in San Francisco and Ted once again wanting to be with Robin. Ted pulls out all the stops and blue instruments to try sweep Robin off her feet. Which doesn’t work. Lilly and Marshall are fighting about the program after he hears a message left on the machine. Ted needs to make it rain so Robin won’t go on the channel one camping trip with her co-anchor. He enlists Barney in his attempt to make it rain getting one of his old hookups to help. He spends the day do a rain dance on the roof of his building. It works and he runs to be with Robin as this is a sign they should be together. Everything looks to be good for Ted until he returns home to find Marshall sitting on the front steps holding Lilly’s ring.

Review: This was my favorite new comedy of the season. It has just the right mix of life, love, sentimentality and comedy. Each episode leaves you wanting to hear more of the story of Ted and his group of friends as he searches for love.

I originally thought the first episode, while not the funniest new sitcom of the season, had the potential to be something that could last. So far so good as it has been picked up by CBS and will be leading off the Monday night comedy block next season.

The show really grew over the season. It has fun characters that you can care about. I have affection for them much like I did the characters on Friends. I want to know more about them and how Ted finally finds his better half. And, who that is for that matter?

This show likes to twist and turn about as they go along. Which they did a great job of in the season finale. They give you Ted and Robin finally getting together only to pull Marshall and Lilly apart. Leaving you to wonder all summer if they will get back together. You still don’t know who the “Mother” is. But they left things so you could speculate until they start things up again in the fall.

What did you think of the first season finale of How I Met Your Mother? Let us know in the comments.

Show: The Office (NBC)
Episode: Casino Night – Second Season Finale
Originally Aired: Thursday, May 11th 2006
Rating: 4 out of 4 stars
Download: This episode at or get a Season 2 Pass

Quick Synopsis: Casino Night where cringe worthy hilarity ensues.

Long Synopsis: The Scranton Business Park is holding a charity Casino Night in the Dunder-Mifflin warehouse. Michael ends up inviting both Jan and his realtor to the event and they both come. Dwight ineptly tries to help him out. Jim finally tells Pam how he feels. They kiss and the episode ends.

Review: This show is amazing at making you wince but laughingly so. Have you ever felt so sad yet are smiling? This is the brilliance that is The Office, a biting satire of pop culture and office’s everywhere.

The subtly of the comedy is fantastic. Like at the end of the episode when you see Jan get in her car to leave and she throws an overnight bag in the backseat. Michael was right, for some reason they do get each other. Yet Michael unknowingly messed things up. You feel sad for her on many levels but the situation makes you smile.

The bit about Michael changing his charity pick to “Afghanistanies with Aids” is classic The Office. It devolves quickly all the way down to an afghan being a dog and then a shawl. Then after Jim makes a joke, Michael back in his office talking about how you can’t make jokes about Aids and other serious topics because it is still too soon and how the Lincoln assassination just recently became funny. This whole scene is wince inducing as you can’t wait for it to be over yet you don’t want it to end.

That is just two examples as there are always just too many funny moments in each episode. This is always the way, as each episode really needs multiple viewings to catch all that is going on. This is the perfect type of series for purchase on DVD as each episode can be enjoyed over and over again because you probably didn’t get it all the first time. How many times in conversation about The Office have you heard someone mention something funny that you missed?

On the cliffhanger side of things Jim finally tells Pam how he feels about her. She tells him she can’t but sounds differently while talking to her mom on the phone. Then Jim walks up to her and kisses her. They stand looking at each other as the camera fades to black. We are left sitting there to wonder all summer long where they will go with the story next season. Where do you think they will go from here?

They really built off a solid first season and have created one of the best half hour comedies on TV right now. The second season just got better and better with each episode. All-leading up to what TVaholic thought was the best episode of the season.

What did you think of the second season finale of The Office? Was it the best of the season? Did you like the cliffhanger ending? Let us know in the comments.

Show: My Name Is Earl (NBC)
Episode: Number One – First Season Finale
Originally Aired: Thursday, May 11th 2006
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars

Quick Synopsis: Earl gives his money all away and gets it all back.

Long Synopsis: Crabman selects the first thing on Earl’s list for him to do next. That being the last bad thing he did before “old lady karma” hit him with her car. He stole ten dollars from a guy at the convenience store. Then used it to buy his beer and a lottery ticket. Turns out the guy was about to buy a lottery ticket but had no money. Earl figures that the money should of belonged to that guy and set out to give it back.

After doing so he tries to check things off his list that won’t cost money. He completes a couple of those but has to end up selling the El Camino in the process. While riding the bus the guy Earl gave the money to, is hit by it. The lady that hit Earl is sitting right behind the driver. Turns out that right after she hit Earl that after turning around to go back she hit this guy also causing him to lose the ticket that he picked up after Earl had gotten hit. Having seen this lady who he calls “old lady karma” each time he was hit he tells Earl to take the money back.

Also in there we get to see the path the ticket took to get back to Earl. The one-eyed mailman couldn’t pick it up, Joy missed it while stealing a video from the return bin, the daytime hooker never saw it and it floated back to Earl at the motel.

Review: This was a fun episode. It wasn’t the best of the season but seeing the story of the ticket was good. They have created a nice bunch of characters and a story that can pretty much go on for however long people keep watching.

The episode was also a nice capper for the season. It brought the story full circle. You got to see the whole story behind Earl and his list. It was great to watch him stay true to his list no matter what the circumstances that tried to get in his way. This is a great jumping off point for next season. They should be able to really have fun with the items on his list.

What did you think of the first season finale of My Name Is Earl?