I reviewed Women's Murder Club the other day, and I wanted to further describe the horrendousness of this TV show. My opinions after watching the first two episodes and reading a bit about the third:

1. The title: In theory, there is nothing wrong with the title. But the fact that the title ties the show to the book series by James Patterson is infuriating because they aren't alike. Somebody out there liked his idea of women solving crime, so they negotiated with Mr. Patterson (using $$$$) to use the idea, the character names, and a few other details from his book, and turned it into their television show. They did this for themselves, not for love of the book series. TPTB just wanted to fool the fans of the books to watch the show, so the show wouldn't have to prove itself in order to get its own fan base. The creators of the show just decided it would be easier to use Mr. Patterson's name and fame to get fans, not quality TV. (This is not verified, JP acts like it isn't true, but I don't doubt this is the truth anyway. Remember... $$$$$)

I would probably feel better about the show being associated with the books if it resembled them more. A few things they could do to make it better: Lindsay's ex isn't her boss, Jill is married to an abusive husband, and Claire is happy with her husband who isn't an ass. And they all should whine and wangst less. Oh, and Jill dies to make way for another lawyer to enter the group.

2. There is nothing original about it: The Kiss-Me-Not Killer elludes Lindsay Boxer... Oh, hey, a cop with a crime that haunts them, what a novel idea!! Been there, saw that, let's try something else. A character that is a commitaphobe? Wow, where have I seen that before? Everywhere. In the first episode she cheats on the boyfriend that just asked her to move in with him, then she moves in with him! What a way to get me to like a character. Wait, it gets better, she was in foster care, so she seems to have problems with authority! Two clichés in one character, and this isn't even a small cast! I could go on. Certain storywriters need to get their own ideas.

3. It really is women instead of men: As a female, I really liked the idea of a show dominated by career female characters. But that isn't what this is. It's female actresses portraying cross-dressing male characters. Seriously though, there is nothing uniquely female about the four leads, they seem more male than female. Change the names and the main relationships and the characters could be portrayed by men as well or better. How lame is that?

These characters don't seem to react to situations as only a woman would. And there is nothing unique or at least interesting about their personalities. I think those two things are my main issue with the show.

4. It needs more crime and less whine: When was the last time you watched a show about cops and wondered what the case was? A cop, an ADA, an ME, and a crime reporter leave an autopsy and walk into a bar and for their conversation they wangst about their romantic relationships. Tada! I just wrote the summary of all your future episodes, Women's Murder Club writers!

How about having the characters actually discuss a crime?! In both episodes I watched I had to actively think about the "happenings" to remember what Lindsay's case was. Excuse me, but you shouldn't have to do that with a show about women solving crimes!!!! When the show is so bogged down with relationship drama and whining that you can't remember the actual crime that they were investigating, you need to rethink things.

5. Give me more (crime) drama please: I never ask for this, but I am here. I hate wangsty drama. I don't hate crime drama. I want crime drama. I want to wonder if they'll get their guy. I wanna be on the edge of my seat while someone negotiates a gun out of their face, or tricks a confession out of a perp. I wanna watch the characters scramble for evidence, hunt for a witness, struggle with an in-court testimony.

I don't want to watch someone whine because their ex-husband is their boss. I hate it when a "good" character does something stupid just to do it and whines about it later. I HATE WANGST. I don't want to see people cry about having been abandoned and adopted, whine because they were stood up by a blind date. I don't want whiney wangsty woe-is-me time. I want "edge of my seat" drama, not "I hate my life" drama.

6. It's completely miscasted: Obviously this is worse because I've read the books and have my own image of the characters, but the casting still sucks. Angie Harmon may look nice, but she has only one way of acting: Abby Carmichael. Lindsay Boxer is whiney Abby Carmichael with a gun. Aubrey Dollar can't seem to pull off the eager, in-your-face reporter that they want Cindy to be. The same goes for Laura Harris. Jill just isn't an ADA. I don't see it because she can't portray it properly. I hope my problem with Claire isn't the actress's fault, but I'm not sure. She isn't like the book Claire, her personality isn't as big as it should be; she isn't as mothering and dominate, or as friendly. They just didn't cast people who can act.

Wrapping up. Honestly, even if the show wasn't associated with the books I'd still not like it, but I freely admit that I hate it more because it is. It butchers a great book series while still being nothing like it. That takes talent.

Compared to this show, I adored the TV movie that was based on the first book, First To Die. It had its issues, but I would believe you if you said that TPTB who were in charge of it actually read the book and tried to be faithful. I'd laugh in your face and call you a liar if you said that about the TV show's PTB. Laugh out loud.

That is all.

Yes, I watch a good amount of TV, but only a few of my shows are actually must-see.

Supernatural
Shark
Avatar: The Last Airbender
My Boys
Burn Notice
Criminal Minds

I watch them, I record and keep every episode, and I can't get enough of them.

That is all.

I give new television shows 2-3 episodes before I decide how I feel about them. I've done so with the new fall season shows, so I'm posting this update. You'll also notice some new additions that aren't new this season. I'll never get this list to shrink.

SUN
10pm: Shark (CBS)
MON
8pm: Prison Break (Fox)
9:30pm: Samanth Who? (ABC)
TUE
8:30pm: Carpoolers (ABC)
9pm: Cashmere Mafia (ABC) (Mid-season)
9pm: House (Fox)
10pm: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC)
WED
9pm: Private Practice (ABC)
9pm: Criminal Minds (CBS)
THU
8pm: My Name Is Earl (NBC)
9pm: Supernatural (CW)
10pm: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA)
FRI
8:30pm: Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nick)

Cable shows I watch but don't know when they will be back:
Burn Notice, The Riches, State Of Mind, Monk, Psych, My Boys, The Closer, My Boys, Saving Grace, Dirt

Quit watching:
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: I'm sick and tired of the ridiculous relationship between Sara and Grissom. ::BARFS:: And since there will be no more Sara soon, and there isn't Sofia anymore as of already, I'M DONE.

Second chance:
I Un-quit watching Law & Order: SVU because I can't be without my Casey fix. It seems to have improved a bit, hopefully that'll stick.

Prison Break got a second chance too. I like my Linc eye-candy too much to give up. I'm pissed that Sara died, but I'll get over it. I totally knew it was her head in the box.

Started watching this season but quit:
Cavemen: It sucks. It isn't funny. That is all.

Women's Murder Club: I'll save that rant for another post. To sum it up, It's really nothing like the books, and I hate that. And it sucks, anyway, even if you ignore that fact. This show sucks. I hope it gets canceled.

Guilty Pleasures: Law & Order: SVU, Private Practice, Saving Grace, The Riches, State Of Mind, and Dirt. Just wanted to say that.