Here’s a look back at the best and worst of TV in the past week (May 21-27), and a peek at what’s coming up next week.
Highlights
She's a doctor, she can buy. (ABC photo)
1. “Lost” (ABC). It wasn’t perfect, but it was a fun final ride. When following a series like this, it really is the journey, not the destination, and I’m not going to let a lackluster final 10 minutes ruin six seasons of greatness. Just don’t get me started on all the unanswered mysteries.
2. “Chuck” (NBC). The action-packed finale was “Chuck” at its best, with a high-stakes mission and a lot of heart. And don’t forget a rockin’ dose of Jeffster. There was nice closure in taking down The Ring (who never seemed like great villains anyway) and an intriguing twist to reboot the series for next season.
3. “Breaking Bad” (AMC). “The Fly” was like a two-man stage performance, absolutely engrossing as the tension ratcheted higher and higher as Jesse balanced precariously atop a wobbly ladder and Walt came thiiiiis close to revealing the secret that would send his whole operation crashing down.
Honorable mention: How sweet was it when Buddy Garrity stood up for Tami and renounced Dillon High on “Friday Night Lights” (NBC)? That was a stand-up-and-cheer moment, which is what “FNL” does best.
Lowlights
Seriously, what happened to her pretty hair? (ABC photo)
1. “The Bachelorette” (ABC). This was awesome in its awfulness. My favorite worst moments: The TMI guy who told Ali (and the nation) how he got his nickname “Shooter” (it’s not entirely appropriate to explain it here — watch it here instead — but suffice to say it was even more awkward than the “landing strip” line that fell flat last season), the guy from Clovis who sounds like Kermit the Frog, and Ali’s nasty, flat, bleached-out hair. And her extensions. (What happened? She was totally cute last season!)
2. “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS). Robin’s situation bugged me. So we haven’t seen Don in weeks, but we’re supposed to care that he’s leaving? (And for that matter, what happened to — oh I don’t know — telling your significant other you got a great job offer?) Besides, we know they end up together, so big deal, they’ll work it out. Over in Marshall and Lily Land, it seemed a little frivolous, even for them, to decide to have a baby based on a doppelganger sighting. Especially when it wasn’t even a doppelganger.
3. “Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to ‘Lost'” (ABC). A wasted hour. The cast of “Lost” had zero insight and seemed to have even less clue than the viewers as to what just happened on the finale, and no one said anything worthy of remembering five days later. The alternate endings which I thought would be cool turned out to be jokes. I should’ve gone to bed earlier.
Looking forward to . . .
1. “Burn Notice” (9 p.m. Thursday, USA). If it’s summer, it must be time for Michael Weston. Sweet!
2. “Breaking Bad” (10 p.m. Sunday, AMC). Only a few episodes left. You just know it’s all going to start falling apart, probably sooner than later. And when it does . . . . watch out.
3. Scripps National Spelling Bee (8 p.m. Friday, ABC). Nerds on parade. How can you not love this? (I’m still haunted from when I got ousted from my school spelling bee in sixth grade for misspelling “rhythm.”)
