A friend of mine recently suggested that “Battlestar Galactica” be nicknamed “As the Basestar Turns.” Although it takes place on spaceships, at times the acclaimed Sci Fi channel series seems more soap opera than space opera, given that plot points have involved terminal illness, adultery, alcoholism, unexpected pregnancy, surprise resurrections and evil twins. Some of the android Cylon characters have, in effect, hundreds of evil twins. Take that, “Days of Our Lives!”
So it’s a relief that the show’s Jan. 30 episode, “The Oath,” proved such a compelling, almost unbearably suspenseful return to form. The third of the show’s final 10 episodes (nicknamed “Season 4.5,” to distinguish it from the 12 episodes of Season 4 that aired in 2008 — got that?), “The Oath” offered a prime example of the show’s ability to embed knotty moral dilemmas into thrilling action tropes. It’s like the Jan. 16 season premiere, with its game-changing revelation about Earth, were just build up to “The Oath.”
Before getting into “The Oath,” however, you may have heard about what happened with the “Battlestar Galactica” season premiere broadcast in Canada: A pivotal moment on the episode was followed immediately by a breathtakingly inappropriate commercial break. A clip capturing the unfortunate juxtaposition has already taken on viral life of its own, known as “Worst Commercial Placement Ever” (both in terms of song choice and dominant image). You don’t have to know “Battlestar Galactica” to appreciate it, but if you’re interested in the show and haven’t seen the episode yet, DO NOT WATCH THIS, because it hinges on a huge spoiler.
To paraphrase “The Simpsons,” it’s currently the start of everybody’s second-favorite TV season: mid-season! “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” returned on Monday, “30 Rock” came back last night (you can watch it now on Hulu) and “24″ launches its seventh season on Sunday, opposite the Golden Globe Awards. For a comprehensive run-down, Ain’t It Cool News has a list in both alphabetical and chronological order, but you might find the CinemaBlend list a little more readable. Apparently you can see the pilot of Showtime’s “The United States of Tara” (starring Toni Collette and written by Juno’s Diablo Cody) online ahead of its Jan. 18 debut. Some notable others include:
“The Office” (NBC) Jan. 15 (with additional episode on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 1)
“Battlestar Galactica” (SciFi) Jan. 16
“Flight of the Conchords” (HBO) Jan. 18 — now available on FunnyorDie.com.
“Lost” (ABC) Jan. 21
“The Closer” (TNT) Jan. 26
“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” (Fox) Feb. 13
“Dollhouse” (Fox) Feb. 13
“South Park” (CC) March 11
“A Raisin in the Sun,” the TV movie directed by Atlanta’s Kenny Leon, artistic director of True Colors Theatre, earned three Emmy Award nominations yesterday. Based on Leon’s 2004 Broadway staging of the Lorraine Hansberry stage play, “A Raisin in the Sun” won nominations for Best Made for Television Movie, Best Actress for Phylicia Rashad and Best Supporting Actress for the particularly worthy Sanaa Lathan.
Coincidentally, I happened to be interviewing one of the Best Supporting Actor nominees while the Emmys were being announced. Rainn Wilson, who plays the sublimely jerky assistant manager/beet farmer Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” was in town promoting his comedy The Rocker, which opens nationwide on August 20. Cool as a the proverbial cucumber (or less proverbial beet), Wilson chatted with me about his work during our interview at the W Hotel, completely ignoring the Emmy announcements being televised in a room away. At some point after chatting with me, Wilson stopped by the CNN newsroom for an impromptu weather report:
