Weeds - The Fourth Season is Quite "Kind"

Last night was the Season 4 premiere for one of my favorite television shows, Weeds. The program that follows the blustering mother/drug dealer Nancy Botwin, played effortlessly by Mary Louise Parker, and her interaction with her business partners and wacky family after the sudden death of her husband. The Fourth Season begins with the Botwin family running from the fires that engulfed their picturesque town of Agrestic/Majestic and to a change in scenery. They are now holing up with Nancy’s father in law, played by Albert Brooks this season in a seaside town in Baja, and she is looking to work with Guillermo, the man most likely behind the fires of Agrestic, and trafficking over the border. We also got a sneak peek of the arrest of Celia for being the alleged ring leader for the marijuana crops found in last season’s finale. And of course the love lost between Celia, Elizabeth Perkins and her ex-husband will not help the situations. Here is a great interview TV Guide did with Parker and Perkins in preparation for this season. As to not spoil anymore of the show for those who have yet to see it, Variety is offering a free screening of the episode in full on their website.

In preparation for yesterday’s premiere, I began watching the previous seasons again. I have really appreciated this program from the get go. Mainly because I really find Parker to be a stellar actress and I am glad that she has finally been given a role she can sink her teeth into and something that more a million people are watching. The Nancy Botwin character is a complete departure from many things Parker has done in the past, but more so, she is a change to the typical mother role we have so often seen on television. Usually when we see a female character that lives a life of conflict, i.e. being a drug dealer and a suburban housewife, she is usually found to be apologetic for her chosen path. In the beginning, when Nancy was dealing with the loss of her husband, the resentment from her children and being forced to face the reality of going out there and maintaining the lifestyle the family had grown accustomed to, she did battle with her chosen trade, the drug business. Her children first frowned upon it, then used it as a weapon and then seemed to rally behind it. Her close friends and even family members began participating in the business at all levels and it seemed to not only normalize the “trade”, but actually legitimize it. What I found so appealing about Nancy and the gusto that Parker brings to the role is there are no longer any apologies for herself, she is who she is and she has her reasons. She is calculated to protect herself and in turn, her family. This honesty has felt so real and true to a viewer like myself since Tony Soprano took to the screen, playing the gangster who loved his family.
So I would like to say Bravo to Showtime for not only continuing to create interesting parts for women, but making sure they do not fall in live with the archetype female character. And I can not wait to see what happens, wrong or right, in Nancy Botwin’s life during the Fourth Season.

Daily Rounds

It's muggy and gross here in NY and I am ready for my long weekend in Vermont. And I am predicting now that Superbad will be number one in the box office this weekend. Its the end of summer so college and high school are having their last bit of fun together and this weekend seems pretty timid with the new releases. It really is turning into the summer of Seth.

And now lets get to the morning news:

Earthquake in Peru kills 337 people. Almost 900 people have reported injuries from the 7.9 magnitude quake that hit right outside of Lima yesterday. The Red Cross expects the numbers on both sides to increase within the next few days.

Phil Rizzuto, beloved Yankee, passed away. The legendary player and announcer died on Monday at age 89. The one time Yankee who played with the record breaking team that won seven World Series in the 40s & 50s was probably more famous for his love of the game then his prowess on the field. Rizzuto will be greatly missed and the world of baseball has lost one of its greatest supporters!

Maybe she thought he "could work some magic" on her career? Britney, on the heels of a huge custody battle, decided to not stay home with the kids, but go and hang out with “
Mindfreak” Criss Angel until 4am last night in Beverly Hills.


Image courtesy of INF Daily

NY Film Festival announces full lineup. Wes Anderson's long awaited latest "The Darjeeling Limited," opens the festival on September 28. Other directors whose films are in the 17 day festival are Brian DePalma, Julian Schnabel and Todd Haynes. Here is the trailer for Anderson's film, featuring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman as American brothers who go to India to "find themselves".

Amy Winehouse leaves rehab. She was just having fun on that 3 day bender – she does not have a problem.

Cheating Husband sues 1-800 Flowers for sending the flowers meant for his mistress to his wife. The man, whose lawsuit against the florist is in the millions of dollars, went on the TODAY show to discuss his situation and Meredith Viera told him over and over again he got what he deserved and had no right to sue. I totally agree – How scummy can you be dude? You are the moron who cheated on his wife and got caught red handed - live with the consequences.

"Weeds" makes it best debut yet. Showtime saw almost one million viewers tune into the 3rd season premiere of Weeds. I am so glad Mary Louise Parker is finally getting the credit she so deserves. The compelling and scene stealing natural has been a favorite of mine for years, since I saw her in Fried Green Tomatoes. There is also a great profile on the actress in New York magazine this week. I can not wait to see where this season goes!!!!!!

VH1 heads further into celeb/pop culture hell. "Star Stories.", a new version of the British celeb spoof television program is in the beginning stages at Vh1. What sounds like an “adult” version of “Punk’d”, Vh1 is looking to get closer and closer to E!’s programming and celeb obsessed culture.

Top Chef's get a chance to recover. In the “Restaurant Wars” episode last night, the judging panel, which Daniel Boulud, allowed the chefs to come back the next day to run their restaurants another night because of the paltry service both gave their diners. Madonna\'s brother makes his opinions known as a patron of "The Garage", where the smell of scented candles (yep you read that right!) ruined any chance of enjoying the half assed menu. I am excited the chefs get another chance since the major issues last night were service and décor – not exactly reasons to send a chef home. Madonna\'s brother makes his opinions known as a patron of one of the two chefs. Also, the judges will be making sure that at the next panel the chefs had listened to their critiques and made the necessary corrections.

Kathie Lee returns to Regis. The ex-costar of Live with Regis and Kathie Lee Kelly, will return to the program for the first time since she left seven years ago. The visit will mark the program’s 20th Anniversary on September 14th.

Surprise - Heidi Montag's new album stinks! The bitch from The Hills is about to put an album out on David Foster's record label. This guy just happens to be the stepdad to Brody Jenner, Montag's "fiancee" Spencer Pratt's best friend.

Chinese couple are fighting to name their child @. Man I hate humans!