Masters of Sex: Science vs. Society

Showtime's Masters of Sex is not a show for prudes. But it is a show for people who love well-written and well-executed period dramas starring great actors. And if that wasn't enough, it's all based on a true story.

The glorious Michael Sheen and Lizzie Caplan star as Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson, research pioneers who defied social taboos to study and promote the understanding of human sexual response. The show begins at the beginning - Virginia Johnson arrives at Washington University in St. Louis as a secretary in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, which is headed by Dr. William Masters. Masters has been secretly working on research into human sexuality by partnering up with Betty (Annaleigh Ashford), a prostitute who lets him watch her "dalliances" through a peephole. Of course, this is less than ideal, and the increasingly frustrated Masters decides he needs to conduct an above-board, proper scientific study. In the meantime, Johnson discovers the nature of his research work and immediately volunteers to help him run things.

Johnson is much more frank and open about sexual matters than the repressed Masters. She is a divorcee with two kids and is not shy in bed, much to the delight and doom of Ethan Haas, a young doctor who works with Masters. She knows how to talk to the research participants and how to convince people to sign up for the study by ensuring them that this is for the advancement of science and not smut. Masters is married to Libby, a very 50s woman who is unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, and his growing fascination with Johnson lends sexual tension to a show that is already bursting at the seams. However, most of the sex depicted on the show is very clinical: Masters is adamant that the study be conducted in as scientific and professional a manner as possible, so the sex scenes are often quite comical in their complete lack of sexiness.

The show is set in the 1950s and each episode features gorgeous production design and impeccable performances from the leads and supporting players. Creator Michelle Ashford has a majority-female writing staff, a true rarity in television, and this is reflected in the scripts. They feature complex female characters who are never pigeonholed into 50s stereotypes: Master's wife is not some Stepford blonde, and Virginia Johnson is impossible to fit into any mold. Even Betty, the prostitute, is an interesting character study - she isn't the whore with a heart of gold, but she's certainly not a hard-bitten vamp either.

Masters of Sex is the perfect example of a prestige cable drama. From casting to writing to design, this show is flawless. There's nothing else like it on network television so you should certainly seek it out. The pilot episode is available for free on YouTube, so head over there and start watching the best new drama on television.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Assemble in Front of Your TVs

From the latest TV comedies, we now turn to the latest TV dramas. I must confess, I don't watch much network drama, but of course, Joss Whedon is no network stooge. So I sat down with his latest TV offering, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and reveled in the return of Whedon to the small screen.

Superheroes have taken over film, but enjoy mostly sporadic success on TV. So it makes sense that the man responsible for The Avengers, aka the highest-grossing superhero film of all time, should be tasked with furthering Marvel's quest for world dominance on television. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. takes place after the events of The Avengers, with the miraculous survival of Agent Coulson, who (spoiler alert!) died in the movie but is back to work on the show. The means of his survival is shrouded in mystery, and seems to involve some kind of intrigue in Tahiti. Clark Gregg is reliably fantastic as Coulson, who is gathering together a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to investigate various crises involving alien technology, supervillains, and everything in between.

To be perfectly honest, I thought I would stop watching after the second episode. The show seemed a bit too action-focused and formulaic, not Whedonesque enough. However, I stuck with it, and it's winning me back. The allusions to the films in the Marvel franchise are great if you remember anything that happens in those films (sadly I don't) but the show is developing its own identity and ensuring that the Marvel stuff doesn't completely take over. And the motley crew that make up the S.H.I.E.L.D. team are becoming snider, funnier, and cooler by the episode. The corny dialogue in the first few episodes is gradually giving way to snappier chatter, and I'm starting to feel much more invested in these characters and their bizarre missions.

ABC has clearly thrown a lot of money at Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. because each episode offers a blast of cinematic entertainment that makes you feel like it's summer blockbuster season all over again. So if you're looking for something fun and action-packed to enliven your week, this might be your new favorite fall show.

Burton and Taylor: Liz & Dick Revisited

I never bothered to watch the much-mocked Lifetime movie Liz & Dick about the tempestuous romance of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. From what I read, the acting was terrible but the script was equally bad, attempting to cover too much and offering nothing of substance. Thankfully, the Brits have come to the rescue with Burton and Taylor, a well-produced BBC movie starring none other than Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West. Perhaps the title alone should be a clue that they were taking their subject matter more seriously.

The immediately clever decision made by the screenwriter, William Ivory, was to contain the story in a very short period in Burton and Taylor's romantic saga. The movie takes place in 1983, well after the couple had been divorced for years and undertaken other (failed) marriages. In the beginning, Burton is visiting Taylor, who is celebrating her 50th birthday. She asks him to consider doing a Broadway production of Noel Coward's Private Lives, and seven months later, they begin rehearsals.

Burton was a well-regarded Shakespearean actor who didn't live up to his potential because of his battle with alcoholism. Taylor, on the other hand, was impossibly famous and flighty, battling a drug addiction that would see her checking into the Betty Ford Clinic a few months after the events of this movie. Her acting style could not be more different from Burton's - he showed up to rehearsals well-prepared, with every line memorized, while she hadn't even read the play. Theirs was a case of "opposites attract"; the film makes it clear that their relationship had become a compulsion between two people who deeply loved each other but didn't know how to be together without imploding.

Burton and Taylor are such well-known figures that any biopic feels like it can only present caricatures of these two actors. Fortunately, Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West (who are distinctive actors in their own right) are up to the challenge, and half an hour into the movie, I had completely suspended my disbelief. West plays a world-weary Richard Burton, who is trying to move on from Taylor but finds himself continually sucked into her orbit. Carter captures the many contrasts of Elizabeth Taylor, her womanly charm and childish petulance constantly unnerving those around her and providing continual entertainment for the masses. Private Lives was the perfect play for the pair to put on: it seemed to be an insight into their own private lives and the theater was sold out every night just to watch this famous couple in action.

Burton and Taylor is an interesting study of a highly volatile relationship between two incredibly different but passionate actors. It may not present any new information, but it offers a glimpse into their world and tells a good, compact story. With peerless performances from its leads, this is the biopic that Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor deserved.

The Michael J. Fox Show: Back to the Television

Michael J. Fox has Parkinson's Disease, which led to his semi-retirement from acting in 2000. However, he started putting in guest appearances on TV shows a few years ago (most notably on The Good Wife and Rescue Me, for which he won an Emmy) and is now back on NBC with a brand new sitcom. In it, he plays former newscaster Mike Henry, who left work after his Parkinson's diagnosis but is back five years later because his family is sick of having him spend all his time at home. A scenario which accurately mimics Fox's own life.

The writers of The Michael J. Fox Show are savvy enough to know when to make a Parkinson's joke and when to just let it be. The pilot acknowledges Fox's condition a fair amount, but after that, the show has become just another fun family sitcom. The cast consists of a particularly astonishing bunch of TV stalwarts. Mike's wife, Annie is played by Breaking Bad's Betsy Brandt, who flexes her comedy chops and plays a loving but sometimes exasperated wife to perfection. Mike's sister, Leigh is played by Katie Finneran, a brilliant actress who has done great work on Broadway (winning a Tony for her hilarious performance in Promises Promises) but who I will always remember from TV cult favorite, Wonderfalls. And to top it off, Wendell Pierce from The Wire plays Harris Green, Mike's womanizing boss and best friend, who is responsible for getting Mike back to work. 

The show follows the mockumentary format that has become such a staple of TV comedy in recent years. At times this can feel a bit lazy, as though the show can't be bothered to show rather than tell. Oftentimes, the final discussion of the episode's events can become a bit too saccharine, which jars with Fox's more sarcastic style. But these are minor quibbles, and with a cast that is this beloved, I'm willing to forgive a lot. The actors playing Mike's three kids are also a fun group, and as their story lines start to gain more traction, the show will well and truly become an ensemble comedy that hits the perfect balance of sweetness and sarcasm.

The Michael J. Fox Show is a promising sitcom with sharp writing and witty observations about how life goes on, even if you've been diagnosed with Parkinson's. It knows how to mine the humor in every situation and hopefully will continue to do so for many more episodes to come.

Trophy Wife: Don't Let the Title Fool You

You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. However, the name of a TV show can often dictate whether or not it gets viewers. That was the trouble with Cougar Town, a quirky and fun show that couldn't build an audience since everyone assumed they knew what it would be about and wouldn't like it. Now, ABC might have the same problem with Trophy Wife, a show whose cliched title doesn't reflect the heart and humor it contains.

The "Trophy Wife" in question, is Kate Harrison (Malin Akerman), a fun-loving woman who marries a charming lawyer named Pete (Bradley Whitford). The twist is that Pete has been married twice before: first to Dr. Diane Buckley (Marcia Gay Harden), who is an intimidating surgeon and mother to his two kids, Hillary and Warren; and second to Jackie Fisher (Michaela Watkins), a flighty woman who tries her hand at assorted business ventures but is mostly just committed to their young adopted son, Bert. It's a lot for Kate to take on, especially as she has never had kids or many responsibilities. But she is a kind and loving woman, and strives to find her place in this chaotic family.

Early episodes have focused on Kate's struggles to act as a parent. She makes the common mistake of trying to relate to the kids as a friend, but despite her relative youth, she quickly realizes that a generation gap still exists and she needs to act as the responsible adult. She also has a tough time dealing with the other ex-wives, who are obviously a lot more experienced with kids and sometimes get exasperated by her naivete. However, the show never gets mean. Yes, Kate is young and blonde, but it is obvious that she and Pete genuinely love each other and want to make this marriage work. She is certainly not a "trophy wife," and as the season continues, she will continue to carve a niche for herself in this bizarre family.

The cast is full of talented actors who play wonderfully off each other and have impeccable comic timing. The ex-wives are perfectly decent people and it's nice to see a show featuring women who can get by happily post-divorce rather than resort to snide comments and backstabbing. Each episode is insightful and sweet, and the entire show is a joy to watch. So ignore the title and check out Trophy Wife. It's so much more than what you're expecting. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Comic Cop Capers

According to Keats, autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. However, to the modern TV viewer, autumn features the debut of a brand new television season. One month in, I've established my favorite new shows of the season. Let's begin with Fox's cop police comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

The show stars Andy Samberg as Detective Jake Peralta, an NYPD detective in Brooklyn's fictional 99th Precinct. Peralta has a great deal of talent but a complete lack of professionalism. He enjoys goofing off, working on his own, and sporadically solving cases, which is a strategy that has worked until now. However, the Precinct now has a new Commanding Officer in the form of Captain Ray Holt (played by the magnificently sarcastic Andre Braugher) who is determined to whip the 99th Precinct into shape. He has both personal and professional reasons for doing so, and reforming Peralta becomes his pet project. The goofiness of Andy Samberg pairs wonderfully with the dry wit of Andre Braugher and the pair certainly have their work cut out for them.

The cast is rounded out by a diverse set of actors - there are Detectives Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio), Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), Sergeant Terry Jeffords (Terry Crews), and the administrator Gina Linetti (Chelsea Peretti). They all have their little quirks and foibles; Santiago in particular craves the new captain's approval and hates Peralta's ability to brilliantly solve cases without doing any tedious policework. However, the show is already bringing out a warm camaraderie among these disparate people and manages to be clever, witty, and warm all at once. This is not surprising because the show is the brainchild of Dan Goor and Michael Schur, who co-created Parks & Recreation, the warmest and funniest comedy on TV right now.

Starting from the pilot episode, the show throws in unexpected character twists and it's working hard to avoid cramming these people into any narrow stereotypes. They have distinct personalities, but more facets are revealed with each episode. Like any great comedy, the hope is that these characters will grow into fully three-dimensional people who can entertain audiences for years to come. The show also does a great job of coming up with clever cop stories each week - nothing too procedural, but something just inventive and silly enough to round out each episode. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is off to a strong start, and with such a fine comic pedigree in terms of its creators and stars, the show has the potential to stay on air for a while. Let's hope it fully embraces that potential and carves out a nice spot on the Fox comedy line-up.

Brooklyn Castle: Champions of Chess

Documentaries about American public schools tend to focus on the horrors of the education system. However, if you tuned in to POV on PBS this week, you were treated to Brooklyn Castle, a wonderful movie about I.S. 318, an inner-city junior high school with a chess team that has won more national chess championships than any other school in the country.

Directed by Katie Dellamaggiore, Brooklyn Castle follows a select group of I.S. 318 students who are dedicated members of the school's after-school chess program and determined to continue their winning streak at the national championships. Their chess coaches are an incredible woman named Elizabeth Vicary, who spends long hours teaching and devising lesson plans, and John Galvin, the tough but kind assistant principal who holds all the students to a high standard. We follow these students as they enter various local and then national tournaments and experience their bitter disappointment with each loss and triumphant joy with every win. It is particularly lovely to see these kids motivate each other and derive just as much pleasure from winning the team trophy as they do from an individual win. 

I.S. 318 is a Tier 1 school, which means that nearly 70% of the students live below the federal poverty line. Each member of the chess team comes from a low-income family and they have incredibly supportive parents who fervently believe in the importance of an education. The film documents the pressure that these students are under: the one girl, Rochelle, is determined to win the Girls' National Championship because first prize is a full-ride college scholarship and her mother can't afford to pay for a college education. She loves chess and wants to improve her rating so that she can become the first female African-American chess master, but now that she has entered high school, she is finding it increasingly challenging to balance schoolwork and chess. Similarly, there's Alexis, the son of South American immigrants who have put by every spare cent for his college fund. As the admissions test for specialized high schools approaches, he is racked by anxiety, determined to get into a good school but terrified that he might not make the cut.

Brooklyn Castle does an excellent job of weaving the students' personal stories and ambitions with their chess progress over the school year. By the end of the movie, it is amazing to see how far these children have come, not just in chess, but in life. One boy has been elected to student government and is doing impressive things to help with the school's budget and ensure that the chess program has funding. Another student, who struggles with ADHD, has made great academic strides and has improved his focus along with his chess rating. The threat of budget cuts is constantly looming on the periphery and the future of I.S. 318's chess program is never certain.  However, the teachers, administrators, and parents are fiercely dedicated to these students and they won't go down without a fight. 

You can watch the entire movie at the POV website or at Amazon. After you do, you'll really wish you had learned to play chess properly.