Monday - 11/01/04   Everwood, WB 8:00pm   Tonight featured the word sex at least 25 times in an episode that tried desperately to live up to an after school special.  Its a wonder why the family TV commission would have such trouble with Everwood-  I think that when TV families talk open about things it feels more real.  Sure the scenes of the two dads discussing sex were cringe inducing and those smarmy lectures they give go no-where, but you have to hand it to the writers for treating sex like a subject worth discussing and not just practicing.  Everything else on the WB chooses to lead by visual-  giving teens the wrong idea.  It was a good episode, but Amy needs to chill about the fact that she once went on Prozac- That was last season and no one needs to hear about that for the hundredth time.  Tonight’s episode also featured a lousy back story with Amy’s brother and a geek girl, but it lacked anything special.  Is it me or did Ephraim seem a little to self pleased with getting a check-up.  I just can't wait until Doctor Brown spills the beans to his son that he knows about his son's ex-girlfriend's baby-  That would be enough to send both Ephraim’s and Amy’s relationship out the window. Sunday 11-07-04   American Dreams, NBC 7:00pm   Could have meg's conflict about the Vietnam war been more contrived and in your face.  Though the Pryor family seems to be having a fantastic season and the birth of J.J.’s son will sure be a momentous occasion for the little family- I fear this might be the last season for the nostalgic family drama.  The clips of old Sonny and Cher were classic and incredibly sweet, there was real magic there.  It all works, but then there are times when the show goes syrupy and too predictable.  What was up with Meg’s retarded boyfriend- that was just a pathetic scene.    Desperate Housewives, ABC 8:00pm   This show is becoming a hot ticket for most critics and for my first viewing I have to say that it sure looks like it could be a weekly obsession for me.  The wives are naughty and troubled in perfect suburbia, which is funny and a little Stepfordish, but what’s not to love.  I loved the politically correct “Little Red Ridding Hood” play, but a mom taking Riddelin to finish the costumes was magnificent.  Let’s give it up to the wives and next weeks episode that features a tryst with the gardener.  The Drama!    Wednesday 1-12-05   Alias,  ABC 8:00pm   The second episode of Alias’s fourth season was a non-stop rollercoaster ride of high thrills and deceptive daddy issues.  I feel bad for poor Sydney who can’t even have a cool family party at home chilling with her half-sister- when Jack (dad) stops by for a little conversation.  The work is hard enough- but to have your dad ruin your party with talking about how he killed your mother is a total buzz kill (literally).  Syd went through a dazed and confused car explosion that was set up by good buddy and lover Vaughn.  Though was it me or did Syd look like she was wearing a blond mop on her head when she was dragged from the car.  The rest of the episode went along fine and dandy with the usual case of homicidal-psychopaths and botched CIA operations.  When Nadia killed the killer thinking that he murdered her mom- the moment was sheer cruelness as the guy was peppered with bullets like forty more times than he should have been.  Nadia likes the guns.  I fear though that Jack might have to much on his plate with trying to deceive everyone for the better (again total buzz kill).   Wife Swap,  ABC 9:00pm   This little reality show gem featured a freakish schedule mom and the first time ever single mom switch.  First the freak mom,  um- Who in there right mind schedules Fun time?  I mean its one thing to have set times, but its completely another thing to tell your children when to eat, play, paint, watch t.v., breath, etc.  I feared her kids couldn’t grow up without constantly being told to swallow after every bite of food.  When mom was younger apparently she was a drinking and drugging twelve year old (when I was twelve I was still watching Power Rangers- Pathetic I know.)  So now she runs her house with a cleaning crew of 8 and a babysitter- not to even mention her husband ‘Moose (kind of got stuck with a sucky nickname) who won’t even hug his kids because it freaks him out.  The other mom was your basic my kids need to have fun that’s why their partying until 4:00am, having sex, doing drugs, drinking, mouthing off, and being regular teenagers.  Her kids need to be sent to a psych ward for serious evaluation of just being retarded.  Give me a break- when your kid tells you to F* off every single day, you have to lay your foot down.  The rest of the episode was your basic moms are overwhelmed with creepiness from both families and each learn a valuable lesson- how warm and fuzzy.   Project Runway,  Bravo 10:00pm   The models get the run of the show!  Somebody please shoot them.  This episode featured the designers making dresses for 16 year old models who have control issues.  I felt bad for our reality contestants that had to deal with models who wanted glitter dresses, rose frocks, and leopard print alternatives.  Let’s run down the designs- Alexandra-  Her dress looked like a pure white circus tent with so many ruffles that it could be used as a flotation device. Austin-  Poor Austin, his take on an alternative turquoise wedding dress looked like a slip with a train made from everything you find at a Goodwill. Jay-  It wasn’t the worse dress, but it certainly wasn’t the best-  I mean he had a psycho model who acts like she has ADD and who has Starbucks pumping through her blood all at the same time.  Though it’s a good indication to make a dress shorter if the model can’t even walk in it. Kara-  The winner for the night really made a beautiful simplistic dress that revealed enough curves and had enough shimmer that it looked stunning.  Kara always does good work and she is the only designer to have one twice, not bad. Kevin-  Kevin’s crazy German model wanted so much sequence that she looked like a rejected disco ball from studio fifty four.  Luckily for us and him- he held back on the dress, but his model complained on and on how itchy it was.  Suck it up! Your on cable. Nora-  Sadly Nora had to go- after making the kick ass Lawn chair dress in the first episode her wedding dress looked like a Barbie dress.  There were so many roses on that thing that it could have been its own eco-system.  Nora will be missed. Robert-  After doing a stupid stunt and falling on his head-  Robert comes up with a hip stylish lace dress that has a re-attachable skirt (in case of fire?).  Everything looked fine but the top looked a wee big for the model. Wendy-  The most couture dress of the night was a great take on the traditional wedding dress, but Wendy needs to get over her spat with Austin and stop wearing so much makeup that she becomes the next Tammy Baker.