What was on TV? Sun, Nov. 14, 2004

Boris Johnson was sacked when the tabloids discovered he was having an affair. The Polar Express was terrifying children around the globe. Jude Law seemed unstoppable. Let's see what was on TV.

7:30 Malcolm in the Middle on Fox

6x02 "Buseys Run Away"

I've seen only a handful of Malcolm episodes, but I know the hook of the show is that Malcolm is revealed to be a child prodigy and shuffled off to the gifted class. So it was interesting to see this episode explore the other side of that equation.

Malcolm's younger brother has ended up in the special needs class even though he seems like a very middle of the pack kid. His mother has finally convinced the administration they made a mistake, but his classmates won't let him go. They run away and camp outside his house in the trees like the Swiss Family Robinson. This storyline is sort of insulting, since it portrays the special needs kids as weirdoes who blindly follow the one "normal" kid in their class. But I still liked the way it portrayed these separate classes and distinctions between the kids as mostly driven by parents. Kids find solidarity and community no matter where you put them.

And the storyline is hilarious and surreal and filled with inventive visual storytelling. That makes it easy to be generous.

This episode was written by Michael Glouberman. His first tv writing credit was on Third Rock from the Sun. Since Malcolm, he has written for Aliens in America, Better Off Ted, and The Neighborhood.

This episode was directed by Bryan Cranston, who also stars as dad Hal. Cranston is most famous for playing Walter White on Breaking Bad, but he also directed episodes of that show as well as The Office, Modern Family, and Sneaky Pete.

8:00 American Dreams on NBC

3x08 "One in a Million" (record Arrested Development" on Fox)

This episode featured the birth of a child, Vietnam war action, and Milo Ventimiglia teaching Brittany Snow about stargazing. But my favorite storyline focused on the show's Black cast. Sam's new girlfriend is from old Black money, and Sam is attracted to that. But he's also ashamed of his own background: last episode he avoided inviting her to Thanksgiving and made things awkward back home. This episode he starts to gain access to her circles. But he doesn't like what he sees. He's thrilled that they have connections to Thurgood Marshall, less thrilled when they criticize Marshall for his desire to uplift "all negroes," even the ones backing bad decisions and disturbing the peace in those neighborhoods. Sam stands there silently, but later he goes to a track meet and has to spend hours finding a hotel that will let him in. When he tells his girlfriend about it, she wants to ignore it. That stuff happens "over there" and he shouldn't have to worry about it. He should join her in her bubble. He refuses, and it's very satisfying.

This episode was written by Michael Foley. American Dreams is his first tv writing credit. He has since worked as the showrunner of You and written on Brothers and Sisters and How to Get Away with Murder.

This episode was directed by Jim Chory. He started out as an assistant director and now works primarily as a producer. Credits include Agents of Shield, Legion, and Jessica Jones.

9:00 The Wire on HBO

3x08 "Moral Midgetry" (record Category 6: Day of Destruction on CBS)

Man, I love dramatic irony. You know that feeling, when you've been waiting and waiting for a big secret to be revealed? You imagine all the ways that it might come out, the clues hidden in plain sight, the hapless secondary characters that might spill the beans. The tension builds and builds and builds. And then the secret is revealed, and it's not how you imagined. It's better.

It's the best feeling. And this episode delivers. I've been waiting for the truth about D'Angelo's death to come out. They planted that seed in the very first episode of season 3. But I wasn't expecting it to come out as early as episode 8! And I really wasn't expecting Stringer to just confess to Avon! I was sitting on my couch, gasping, clenching my fists, pointing my toes, and chanting "oh my god oh my god." This is why I love television!

Especially because this is more than a plot twist, more than a shocking moment. Stringer revealing the truth is a strategic move. But it's also a way for him to unload on his boss, to rant about his follies and blind spots. It's violent, it's personal, it's epic. We're watching one of the show's central relationships shatter before out eyes. But it's also just a guy telling off his boss, acting on an impulse that anyone who's ever worked for a living can recognize. It's everything that makes The Wire special.

This episode was written by novelist and screenwriter Richard Price. Price's novels include Clockers and Lush Life. His screenwriting credits include The Color of Money and the adaptation of Clockers.

This episode was directed by Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Holland has been a fixture of international cinema for more than 30 years. Her films include Europa Europa, The Secret Garden, and this year's Green Border.

10:00 Arrested Development (recorded)

2x02 "The One Where They Build a House"

Now that's more like it! Last week I was rewinding to figure out what was going on. This time I was rewinding to catch background gags and to just experience some of these spectacular jokes again. We're introduced to Ann (her?). We get the Bluth boys attempting manual labor, which is comedy gold. The second model home falls apart in one of the show's most comedically and politically potent gags. I laughed a whole bunch. This reminded me why I still love this show.

This episode was written by Jim Valley. Valley got his start on The Golden Girls. He created Running Wilde and wrote on Two and a Half Men and My Wife and Kids.

This episode was directed by Patty Jenkins. Jenkins directed the 2003 film Monster, a really good movie which won Charlize Theron an Oscar. She didn't direct another film until 2017's Wonder Woman. In the meantime, she directed episodes of Arrested Development, Entourage, and The Killing.

Later Peep Show (recorded)

1x03 "On the Pull"

Okay, this episode was too much. Point of view shots of masturbating to porn, lots of close-ups of food, and a swastika drawing...it was too much. I understand that the point of the show is to make you identify with these pathetic men. In this episode I was just gawking. I did enjoy the joke featuring the song "Something Stupid." Part of that was because it reminded me of Better Call Saul. But it was also just good!

This episode was written by series creators Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. Jesse Armstrong is the acclaimed showrunner of Succession, the creator of The Thick of It, and the screenwriter of its Oscar nominated movie spinoff In the Loop. Bain h worked with Armstrong on the film Four Lions and the underrated college show Fresh Meat. He has also written for Rev, Room 104, and the Time Bandits TV show.

This episode was directed by Jeremy Wooding. Wooding is known for the British indie film Bollywood Queen, Blood Moon, and Burning Men.

Record the early morning repeat of Masterpiece Theatre's Henry VIII.

What Else Was On

On the American Music Awards, Gwen Stefani made her tv debut as a solo artist, performing "What You Waiting For." She was on-brand from day one. Kanye West was pissed when he lost to Gretchen Wilson. Anna Nicole Smith became the story of the evening. This was because she presented an award while intoxicated but also because she displayed a level of comfort with her sexuality that freaked people out. ABC used the broadcast to aggressively promote Desperate Housewives, airing a sneak preview scene and making stars present. Nicolette Sheridan and her plunging neckline got a lot of attention, which is annoying since she has nothing to do on Desperate Housewives. And this is not the first time that ABC would use Sheridan to promote their show! Stay tuned for tomorrow's post...

TiVo Status

4 episodes of Everwood, the three hour Masterpiece Theater miniseries The Lost Prince, and The Office Christmas Special from across the pond (I’ll watch that one closer to the holidays, after I’ve rewatched the series), the 2 hour first part of Henry VIII, and first part of Category 6: Day of Destruction (2 hours). 14 hours, 14 hours of space left.