An (extra-specific) look back at the best and worst in the past week of TV, as well as a sneak peek at what’s to come.
Highlights
1. Jay Karnes on “Burn Notice.” For years Karnes played the brilliant but socially awkward Detective Dutch Wagenbach on “The Shield.” But who knew he could be such a great bad guy? He was terrifically creepy as a stalker ATF agent in last fall’s “Sons of Anarchy,” and last week had a guest role as one the most formidable bad guys to ever go up against Michael Weston. Great action storylines require a great villain, and Karnes’ ruthless arms dealer was all that and more, contributing to one of the best episodes in “Burn Notice’s” three seasons. Here’s hoping he makes a return appearance at some point.
2. Wylie Dufresne on “Top Chef Masters.” Who knew the master of molecular gastronomy had such a potty mouth? His boatload of F-bombs after an unsatisfactory Quickfire Challenge had me cracking up. He was exceptionally good-natured overall, but in the heat of the moment, the guy proved to be a dead-serious competitor. I like to see that.
3. Garrity’s song and dance on “Rescue Me.” As cancer-ridden dim bulb Garrity was getting prepped for surgery, he broke into a hallucinatory Broadway-esque musical number, reminiscent of something out of “The Big Lebowski.” Absolutely bizarre, absolutely out of nowhere, and absolutely hilarious. Especially when Garrity’s annoying brother (who I still think of as Freddie Cork from “Brotherhood”) interrupted the whole thing. And yes, that was really Stephen Pasquale singing. He’s actually just released a jazz album. Huh.
Lowlights
1. Artie Lange on “Joe Buck Live.” Mix a filthy-mouthed comedian who’s a favorite of Howard Stern and the dullest sportscaster in America together on live TV and what do you get? A disaster. Otherwise known as the debut episode of HBO’s sports talk show “Joe Buck Live.” The second episode airs in three months. Yeah, don’t ask why.
2. Brett on “Next Food Network Star.” It was nice to see this overblown, egotistical blabbermouth get the boot, especially after he threw a fellow competitor under the bus after offering to help her. Lucky for us the guy had no composure under pressure. It’s becoming pretty obvious that Jamika is going to win. Time to end the misery for the other poor slobs (really, Debbie is the only other one with a chance).
3. The Dead Weather on “The Tonight Show.” This is more of a musical lowlight than a TV lowlight. I don’t get it — I love Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs), I love Alison Mosshart (The Kills). Put ’em together, and shouldn’t you have the rockingest band ever? But this was their second song I’ve heard and been hugely unimpressed with. Too bad.
Looking forward to . . .
1. “Better Off Ted” (9:30 p.m. Wednesday, ABC). Thank God, a quality comedy airing during the summer. Look for fresh episodes over the next six weeks.
2. “Daily Show” (11 p.m. Mon-Thurs, Comedy Central). OK, that’s when Jason Jones’ segments filmed in Iran will air. I guess last Wednesday night was just a preview. Should be good. Let’s just hope there’s not a bloodbath in the streets of Tehran before then. (Or really, after then too.) I read in an interview that Jones figures two-thirds of the people they interviewed have been arrested in the past week. Yikes.
3. “NYC Prep” (10 p.m. Tuesday, Bravo). They’re billing it as the real-life “Gossip Girl” (dream on, Bravo), but it looks more like a “Real Housewives” ripoff about horrible, entitled teenagers. Morbid curiosity draws me to it. Besides, I need something for next week’s Lowlights.
