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Spring TV finale wrap-ups

Posted on Jun 02, 2008 in Opinion

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NCIS
One of the originators of the whole let’s-take-out-a-major-character-in-a-way-you-didn’t see-coming gambits, “NCIS” took out Deputy Director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) early on in the proceedings. Given that Holly was the second biggest name on the show after Mark Harmon, this was fairly risky and unexpected, if not entirely surprising. Fans would have had a fit if it had been Harmon, hunky Michael Weatherly, or Pauly Perrette (the much-beloved goth gal Friday Abby), so it pretty much had to be her, or relative newbies Cote De Pablo (Ziva) or Sean Murray (McGee). Or maybe Ducky (cult star David McCallum), sucky though that might be. (Hey, that rhymed!) Come to think of it, maybe they could stand to weed some more of these people out. Where’s the Sopranos when you need ‘em?

CSI: New York
On the season finale of “CSI: New York,” Mac must prove that a robber did not kill a hostage who was found dead in the vault at the bank. The victim, Walter (bank’s manager), was shot twice in the same spot by a robber. The robber, Douglas Anderson, claims he did not kill Walter, but admits he has been set up. Douglas tells Mac that his wife (who had later been found dead in her house) and child had been threatened and that he complied with Derek James (the real robber’s demand). After Mac believes the story, he and Douglas exit the bank in a car. Douglas pulls a gun on Mac.
 
CSI
Following the recent trend of taking out major characters on season finales, a la “Lost,” “24,” and “NCIS,” “CSI” took the road not traveled by “The Sopranos” with a jaw-dropping finale in which Warrick (Gary Dourdan) was framed for murder. After the crack CSI team recovered the necessary evidence to acquit Warrick they all got together for a celebration at a local restaurant, with a joyous time had by all. If you’ve ever seen the show, you know that can’t be a good sign, and sure, enough, the scene continued on past where a similar scene at the end of “The Sopranos” finale ended, following Warwick to his car, where he was approached by a dirty cop, who then proceeded to take him out Mob-style with breathtaking suddenness. Given Dourdan’s recent real-life troubles- he was arrested for possession and recently barely avoided doing jail time- one can’t help but wonder if the “CSI” guys took a page out of the “Lost” handbook (the show is notorious for killing off characters with real-life troubles, of which there are apparently many) in getting rid of him before things got worse. Whatever the case, Warrick was a great character and will be missed, especially with one major character (Jorja Fox’s Sara) exiting earlier this season.

CSI: Miami
If the other “CSI” season finales had fairly shocking endings, the Miami edition blew them all out of the water by taking out the major character on the show, no less that everyone’s fave redhead underplaying actor, David Caruso, aka the excellently-named Horatio Caine. With a gunshot through his ever-present sunglasses, no less! It would have been the coolest intro beat ever, but it was at the end, of course. (That award would have to go to the season opener, which had Caine gunning down a small army of drug dealers in Columbia to a techno-fied spaghetti western soundtrack.) It seems unlikely that they would actually kill off the star of the show, especially someone as iconic as the much-parodied Caruso, but we’ll see how they worm their way out of it in the fall. Rest assured, they will somehow. Let’s just hope it makes good sense, otherwise, it’ll be the shark wearing sunglasses as the show jumps over it.

Lost
Trying to explain what’s happening on this show to the uninitiated would be an uphill battle, so what’s say we skip it and just hit the high and low points? If you’re not familiar, you could always read this anyway to see how “lost” you’d be if you started watching this so late in the game! So, we finally got to see how those who made it off the island made it off and why those who didn’t, well…didn’t. We also got to see just who was in that coffin…spoiler alert! It was Jeremy Bentham! If you said who, you weren’t alone, at least until his face was revealed and it turned out to be someone nobody expected it to be, including all the online wags. Indeed, at least three major characters bit the dust, one in a most heartbreaking fashion that would have been well-nigh unwatchable if it weren’t for an ill-timed and even more ill-advised commercial break that killed the momentum. Fortunately, there was another heartrending tear-jerking moment to make up for that one. If you didn’t shed at least one tear, you’re made of stone (toes). Yes, friends and neighbors, when it comes to the death and drama (and dharma), “Lost” does not play around. All this, plus what has to be one of my fave lines ever: “If you mean time-traveling bunnies, then yes.” Did I mention this is the best show on television? And yes, I mean that as a compliment, bunnies- time-traveling or otherwise- notwithstanding. Just be sure and stick the landing better than the plane (or helicopter) did, guys!

Ugly Betty
Betty has to choose between her new love interest Gio, invites her on a month-long trip to Rome, and old flame Henry, who comes back and asks Betty to marry him. Meanwhile, Daniel learns that he has a son from one of his trysts in France. Wilhelmina convinces Alexis to make her editor-in-chief of Mode, thereby booting Daniel out of the company. Hilda finds out that Coach Diaz is already married, but decides to keep going with their relationship. The story lines revolve around a charity softball game between Elle and Mode. Lindsay Lohan, Naomi Campbell, Elle Editor-in-Chief Robbie Myers and Elle Creative Director Joe Zee make cameo appearances.