But before they go, here’s a quick look at where I stand with the current crop of futuristic, non-realistic, ghostly, ghastly, makes-you-wonder, shows on TV.

Read Part One here.

Dollhouse

What can I say about this one? I’d like to rename it Whedon’s Folly as I feel that the Joss-meister got too wrapped up in his own fantasy and forgot he had an audience to feed.

Dollhouse started off with an interesting concept, a kick-ass set and some great guest stars but even with Joss behind the wheel, this monster kept veering off course. The show was built around two kinds of episodes, the mythology and the fantasy of the week. The mythology was too complex to follow and the fantasies were aimed at men -  that worked wonders for my husband but left me cold. I quickly tired of sexy costume of the week storylines — like a weekly Halloween party at a frat house we had Eliza as a sexy nurse, as a sexy babysitter, as a sexy spy, and let’s not even talk about the dominatrix outfit.

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind the fantasy sex play if there was some real angst and story to go with it. I simply never saw any except in the finale of last season.

I came into this season hoping for more. I heard about all the great guest stars and I thought they’d pull it off. They didn’t. Two weeks in, I stopped watching. The show is heading for cancellation and I want to miss it, but I won’t. (Cr: Carin Baer/FOX)

Fringe

Fringe is an example of how you properly balance mythology with monster of the week. They’ve been doing a great job handing out morsels of backstory along with juicy monster bits in every episode. I’ve been very pleased to see Peter (Joshua Jackson) step up and take a more proactive role, Walter (John Noble) still cracks me up and manages to make me misty when he slips into remorse and sadness. I like Olivia (Anna Torv) but she’s not why I tune in week after week.

What I didn’t like this season was the shapeshifter assassin storyline that ended in the demise of Charlie. There were plot holes and it all came off a little too neat and then bam, it’s over. Are the shapeshifters all gone? Did I miss something? I do like bowling alley guy and the unique way he has of making Olivia see what’s around her. I still dig Astrid and I hope she gets her own episode soon. She’s a smart cookie and I’d like to see her save Walter or Peter’s life.

The whole AU storyline is interesting, but I tune in for the monster of the week stories and they’ve been terrific this year. Season Two and Fringe is still going strong. The only thing I have to complain about is the 9:00 Thursday time slot, it’s killing my DVR and the ratings. (CR: Justin Stephens/FOX)

FlashForward

The fact that I like the monster of the week episodes on Fringe, will probably clue you in to the fact that I’ve given up on FlashForward. I watched the pilot of this series and found it really compelling, but two episodes in I walked away. I’m not a fan of shows that are all mythology based as was the case with Lost. There were too many stories, too many characters I didn’t care for and what about the kangaroo? Did they explain the kangaroo?

FlashForward is one of those shows that I know is well written, creatively directed and properly acted but I still don’t enjoy it. I’m glad other people do, because it is good TV, just not for me.

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Using the communications stones, Lt. Scott (BRIAN J. SMITH) and Camile Wray (MING-NA) use their time back on earth to visit those they’ve left behind. Camile returns home to spend time with her partner, trying her best to make the strange circumstance normal. Meanwhile, Lt. Scott learns a past relationship might not have ended as he thought.

Aboard Destiny, Dr. Rush (ROBERT CARLYLE) supervises the exploration of new areas of the ship. Looking for resources to make their everyday lives easier, the crew stumbles upon a piece of Ancient technology that carries the promise of a way home. While somewhat familiar with the find, Dr. Rush can’t guarantee the safety of using it, bringing him and Col. Young (LOUIS FERREIRA) to a standoff on what to do.

Pictured: (l-r) Ming-Na as Camile Wray, Reiko Aylesworth as Sharon — Syfy Photo: Carole Segal

Sanctuary: “Veritas”

- DIRECTED BY AMANDA TAPPING

Will (ROBIN DUNNE) goes up against the heads of the Sanctuary Network to defend Magnus (AMANDA TAPPING) who is charged with a shocking murder. But as the evidence stacks up against her, even Will has trouble finding a way to convincingly defend her innocence.

Photos: Syfy

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Air Date: Friday, November 20 at 9:00 on Cartoon Network.

In pursuit of Poggle the Lesser, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli descends deep into the catacombs of Geonosis, where she uncovers an even greater threat to the galaxy.

When Luminara disappears while tracking the Geonosian warlord, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker lead a platoon of clone troopers in search of her. Following her trail, the heroes descend deep into the lair of the grotesque Geonosian queen – Karina the Great – where they discover that the hive is alive and teeming with undead defenders.

Though the episode finds Luminara confronted by agents of evil deep within the darkest bowels of Karina’s underground nest, actress Olivia d’Abo saw her character’s strength reflected by the grave nature of the circumstances. Rather than succumbing to despair, Luminara embodies the teachings of the Jedi Order even in desperate times. Despite her thoughtful and meditative nature, she is nonetheless a dedicated protector of peace and justice – and a formidable warrior when called to action. Faced with the potential escape of her quarry, she doesn’t hesitate to follow Poggle into the heart of darkness. Devoted to her noble cause even at the risk of life and limb, she is the quintessential Jedi Master – brave, strong, sage and selfless.

“Luminara is a Jedi, so she’s always going to have that ability to focus and remain calm,” says d’Abo “I’m thrilled to be playing a role that requires such wisdom and strength; it is really empowering.

Despite Luminara’s seemingly desperate plight, d’Abo relished the opportunity to tap into imagination and celebrate the creative spirit of the “galaxy far, far away.”

“The themes and characters in the [live-action] films have had such a major influence on me and everyone I know,” says d’Abo. “As a child, Star Wars allowed me to fall into another world that was more vivid, more defined, more authentic and so much more exciting. There’s nothing lightweight about the philosophy of the films, and I am finding that The Clone Wars series is just as timeless.”

Though perhaps best known for her role as Kevin Arnold’s older sister in TV’s The Wonder Years, d’Abo boasts a career that has included such iconic genre properties as Conan the Destroyer, Green Lantern: First Flight and Ultimate Avengers.

“I love science-fiction, the fantasy genre, and comic books,” she says. “They tend to stand the test of time because of their marvelous content; these kinds of projects will always capture people’s attention by providing far-away settings we’d like to escape to. I’ve been really lucky with all my roles and projects because I have an innate understanding of what they require. I just jump in and make them my own.”

Photo:
Jedi Master Luminara Unduli sets off in pursuit of Poggle the Lesser in “Legacy of Terror,” an all-new episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS premiering at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, November 20 on Cartoon Network. TM & © 2009 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Air Date: November 19 at 9:00 on Fox

When a peculiar abduction occurs in Boston, the Fringe team uncovers details of the mysterious man known as The Observer. While the bizarre case takes center stage, Walter, Peter and Astrid hit the lab to analyze unusual evidence and deal with Walter’s insatiable appetite for a milkshake in the all-new “August” episode of Fringe.

CR: Michael Courtney/FOX

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It’s not paranoia. It’s The Observer from Fringe and he’s been out and about, watching modern Americans going about their business — and no, I don’t just mean in the fictional sense.

As part of a plan to hawk this week’s revealing episode of Fringe, Fox has planted Observer lookalikes in major cities all over the US. If you see one, say hello and he’ll offer you a bottle of Tabasco sauce. They’ve also sent The Observer to watch Sunday Night Football and check out the kids on So You Think You Can Dance.

This giant Fringe version of Where’s Waldo may leave you feeling a little paranoid if you watch a lot of shows on Fox. Rumor has it that they’ve even included some sublimnal frames of the bald one as well as some longer, more easily spotted flashes throughout their other TV shows.

It’s all a huge game with the end goal of getting more viewers to tune in to the ratings challenged series (thanks to an unnecessary move to Thursday night.)

But Fringe execs Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman aren’t worried. On a conference call with reporters earlier today, they said that shows such as Lost, Alias and Fringe are designed to appeal to a specific niche audience and so they often fly below the ratings radar.

Says Pinkner, “These shows are like licorice and not everyone likes licorice.” But if you do enjoy the chewy treat, then you’re going to love what’s coming up on Fringe.

Fringe airs Thursday nights at 9:00 on Fox.

CR: Michael Courtney/FOX

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Director J.J. Abrams was joined by stars Zachary Quinto (“Spock”), Leonard Nimoy (“Spock Prime”), Zoe Saldana (“Uhura”), Karl Urban (“Bones”), John Cho (“Sulu”), Bruce Greenwood (“Capt. Christopher Pike”), Jennifer Morrison (“Winona Kirk”), Clifton Collins (“Ayel”), Faran Tahir (“Captain Robau”), Jacob Kogan (“Young Spock”) and Jimmy Bennett (“Young Kirk”).

Red carpet arrivals were followed by an elegant party under the stars where guests were able to fraternize with green girls, sample some red matter and get a close up look at the “final frontier” through the Observatory’s famous telescope.

Photos courtesy of Paramount

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Air Date: November 17 at 8:00 on ABC

AS 100 DIPLOMATIC VISAS ARE BEING ISSUED TO THE NEW VISITORS — ANNA AS THE 1ST — ERICA STARTS TRACKING A DEATH THREAT WHILE PAIRED WITH A V OFFICER, ON ABC’S “V”

“A Bright New Day” — Chad reports from the Peace Ambassador Center as 100 diplomatic visas are being issued to the first wave of American Visitors, with Anna getting the 1st, but not everyone agrees with the decision. Meanwhile Erica has started tracking a death threat while paired with a V officer, as she actually has to protect the V’s, and Ryan starts reaching out to his old friends to build up opposition forces and help fight-off the V’s.

(ABC/MICHAEL COURTNEY) MORENA BACCARIN

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But before they go, here’s a quick look at where I stand with the current crop of futuristic, non-realistic, ghostly, ghastly, makes-you-wonder, shows on TV.

V: The Series

We’re only a few episodes in but I’m into V for the long haul (which means waiting until Spring of 2010 for the second half of the season.) I’m enjoying the pace of the reveals, I like the characters a lot and I see Visitors everywhere I look. I think this show is so fitting for the climate we live in today, even more so than when the original was made. The idea of sleeper agents among us, living next door, ready to turn on us at any moment. No one is safe and I really feel that from Elizabeth Mitchell’s character. I’m also very intrigued by the idea of a priest as one of the story’s main heroes. Religion keeps cropping up in all of my favorite shows and that, I believe, is also a sign of the times. (ABC/JEFF PETRY) JOEL GRETSCH, ELIZABETH MITCHELL)

V gets an A

The Vampire Diaries

Damon Salvatore is the coolest, hottest villain on TV right now. His patented mixture of snark and smarm keeps me coming back week after week. It’s kind of like a modern, teen version of Dark Shadows, with Elena as Victoria Winters. I’m glad that Elena learned the truth this early in the run. She’s a bright girl and to drag it out any further would have been unbelievable. Now, how they’re going to keep a vampire story going in one town for a whole season without it getting ridiculous — that’s the big question.

The downside of this series is the teen angst portion. I can barely sit through another one of Jeremy’s pout-fests or the all-girl gossip sessions. I do like the town vampire hunting council and the fact that they’ve taken Damon under their wing. Last week’s unexpected murder of the visiting vamp was a solid stamp that this show is prepared to go for the jugular anytime they want to. (Photo: Guy D’Alema/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.)

The Vampire Diaries gets a B

Warehouse 13

Currently on hiatus, but renewed for a second season, this series was an early favorite. Yes, I know there are plot problems and it is formulaic, but the characters make up for the flaws. Pete and Myka have that perfect relationship where they compliment each other, filling in where the other lacks. Eddie McClintock gives Pete that goofy smile and that childlike sense of wonder — he’s a character I’d love to spend the day with. . . and can we spend it in the warehouse? Like a softer version of Friday the 13: The Series which cursed objects running amuck, there’s no end to the stories that could be written. Saul Rubinek steals the show each week as Artie and paired with Allison Scagliotti’s Claudia, he’s even better.

What would I like to see in the new season? A little more danger. We got some of that near the end of last season and it helps balance out the more humorous tone of the show. I also hope they stick with objects from actual historical characters. Poe was a great one. Now let’s see H.P. Lovecraft left behind.(Photo: Syfy)

Warehouse 13 gets a B

Come back later this week as I deliver grades to Supernatural, Fringe, Stargate Universe and more.

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The first two parts will air tonight, then two more parts for the next three days. Plan on paying attention because this isn’t a fluffy, action series. The Prisoner is loaded with twists and turns and clues are left like breadcrumbs all along the way.

Jim Caviezel stars as Number Six. We’ll travel with him to The Village and we’ll learn what happens when one tries to escape. But why would you want to? The Village is a lovely place where everyone is all smiles and sunshine. But series co-star Jaime Campbell Bower says that all smiles all the time is kind of creepy and we must agree.

The Prisoner has this off-kilter feel to it that leaves you wondering if something dreadful is going to happen at any moment. A happy reunion is tinged with darkness, and what about that family who won the trip to “Escape Resort”? It makes me think about the movie Running Man, where Richard Dawson shows the clip of the “winners” living it up on an island when the truth is their both well-past dead.

The Prisoner is a terrific reboot with a stellar cast and a beautiful cinematic style. The only downside is the two hour block. That’s a lot of information to absorb. If you can do it. Watch one hour and save the other for tomorrow. Time shift the whole series an extra three days and I think you’ll really enjoy this unusual show from AMC.

Remember, there are still a few more days to enter to win the original The Prisoner on Blu-ray. Click here to enter.

Photos: AMC

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You may know Mark from his recurring role as Sterling, Nate’s biggest foil on Leverage, which is already a six-degrees-of-Supernatural because of Aldis Hodge and Chris Kane. Mark also played Romo Lampkin on Battlestar Galactica and we love, love, love seeing him on TV.

Now for the bad news: this will be the last new episode of Supernatural until January 14 2010. It’s true. Got it straight from The CW and I’m not happy about it either. We usually get one or two new episodes between now and the holiday break but I guess since they premiered the show so early this year, they have no choice but to break early.

Forget the bad news for now and enjoy this clip from Supernatural: Abandon All Hope which comes to you from The CW.

Photo: Jack Rowand/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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