What. Is up. With. 90210?

First, let me say that I’m excited that Rebecca Rand Kirshner (of Buffy and Glimore Girls writing staff fame) has been given free reign as the showrunner over there. Already the show has a way different feel than it did before. I certainly didn’t expect brilliance in the first episode back from the looooong break. I will give it time to settle. But last night’s episode?

Odd.

I am all about the crazies on TV. (Please excuse my lack of PC.) But in all seriousness, having Silver afflicted with bipolar disorder can be a great storyline and this particular actress is more than skilled enough to pull it off. She was pretty amazing last night. But she went from zero to INSANE in .6 seconds. Granted, that might be reflective of how the disorder takes place in real life, but this is television. The audience needs to wade into those stories, not get all fast and furious with the development. (And yes, I’m pointedly ignoring the drag racing subplot.) I know the writer and the actress can pull this one off, so I’m not worried. Not too worried.

In other news, why do the network scheduling people hate us? Greek returned on ABC Family Monday night at 8 where it is up against Gossip Girl, Chuck, AND How I Met Your Mother. Thankfully, now that Holly’s off Dancing with the Stars (Sorry, Holly!) I don’t have to watch anymore. Yes. I was watching. And I voted! Once. But, come on! How many times will someone I know be on a reality competition show? Actually, this is the second time someone I know was on a reality competition show, so I guess the odds on that one are pretty good.

The odds of me missing out on one of my Monday faves in this stiff competition are even better. Especially since I keep forgetting to reset the clock on my backup VCR. You know. From the time change. Almost a MONTH ago. And some people wonder why I don’t have TiVo. Seriously. I can’t even manage to CHANGE ALL MY CLOCKS! You want me to add even MORE technology to my life?

And now a rave (with a minor concern): YES! Friday Night Lights will be back for TWO more seasons. This is awesome to the awesomest degree! I love that the show is not afraid to let our favorite characters leave (with touching sendoffs) and bring in new characters. Thought I’d hate the new QB. Color me surprised, I’m kind of digging him and his messed up family.

One of the challenges of setting a show in high school is that everything changes when the kids graduate. That’s when you wind up with everyone going to the same college, like in the original 90210. The funny thing is Friday Night Lights is kind of experiencing the exact opposite issue. Suddenly ALL their seniors are getting into college and heading out of town. It strikes me that a one car dealership town like Dillon, TX is one of those places where, like Tyra fears, the residents are trapped for life. I certainly want see all these characters I’ve grown to love get all that they dream of. But, really? Isn’t this the one show where it would be fitting for the characters to hang around their old high school forever, like Danny Amatullo in Fame? (The TV series, not the movie. Just saw the trailer for the movie “remake.” Can’t wait! I’m not so much a purist about these things. You want to bring back one of my childhood faves in a new form? Go right ahead. Just make it good. Fingers crossed.)

And now, a bit of a rant: With disclaimers: I don’t usually criticize television. Producing a TV show with dozens, if not hundreds, of episodes over several years has got to be one of the most challenging creative endeavors anyone can undertake. I have the utmost respect for (almost) everyone in the business. So long as they respect me as an audience member in return.

Let us now discuss breaking the fourth wall. I love a good inside joke. Lord knows DRAMA! is filled with them. Jokes that totally pull you out of the story because you make a connection that isn’t necessarily necessary to the plot. But DRAMA!’s a comedy. So when Bryan starts quoting the theme song to Veronica Mars when describing his past with Drew, well, it’s kind of natural. Sure, if you get the joke, you’re all “Hey, That’s the theme song to Veronica Mars,” which does pull you out of the story in that moment. But it’s kind of fitting for Bryan to do. At least I think so.

What’s not fitting? Executive Producer Ron Moore showing up in the last 30 seconds of the Battlestar Galactica finale. I realize most of the audience won’t recognize him. (He was the guy reading the newspaper—or was it magazine—that the Six and Baltar angels [don’t get me started] were reading over his shoulder.) But for those of us who do know what he looks like, this drove me batpoop insane! I’m talking Silver level zero to crazytown and absolutely destroyed the entire series for me.

Okay. Maybe I’m being a tad overdramatic. The series was destroyed for me way earlier. But that’s not the point here.

To any aspiring writers out there, I offer the following advice: When you are following up your big, climatic resolution to a several years long, heart-wrenching story DO NOT put an in joke in the denouement. Don’t end your series on YOUR OWN FACE! It takes your audience out of the moment and ENTIRELY DESTROYS the entire message that you have been building years to reach. Seriously. Cutting. Room. Floor.

Whoopi Goldberg style awkward segue: Speaking of robots, what is up with the judges on American Idol this season? They’re offering really useful, constructive criticism. This cannot solely be due to the addition of Kara, who I am liking more than I thought I would. Although they do lose points for the silly games they play. I’m looking at you Paula and Simon.

Oh, and to the in house audience. Stop booing! You’re usually wrong.

Breaking News: After 72 YEARS, Guiding Light is going off the air this fall. I never watched the show, but that is an amazing accomplishment. I can only hope that something I create in my life will still be remembered 72 years from now. Somehow, I don’t think The Girls Next Door episode guide will have that kind of longevity.

And one final word.

Dorota.