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Monday, September 13, 2004
‘Six Feet Under’ gone with a bang
HBO’s “Six Feet Under” went out with a bang last night. A bang and a splat of blood, to be precise. Written and directed by series creator Alan Ball, it was one of this fabulous series’ best.
I almost didn’t answer the phone when my son called from college. (I answered, but I’m ashamed to say, made quick work of the conversation. Bad mommy!)
In an emotional and action-packed hour, the highlight was Nate’s storyline. The perpetually weird Nate finds a photo of his dead wife, Lisa, in a book given to him by his former sister-in-law’s daughter Michaela.
Lovely photo, but Nate notices that Lisa is wearing an outfit she bought a couple of days before her death. Thus, Nate concludes that whoever took the photo was with her when she died. He goes to visit former in-laws Hoyt and Barb and is shocked to hear Hoyt confess that he had an ongoing affair with Lisa.
Barb overhears her husband’s confession, and quicker than you can say dead-as-a-mackerel, Hoyt whips out a gun and gulps a bullet. Blood on the wall, horror all around. Dead man slumping.
Evidence of just how wacky Nate is comes when he returns home and immediately proposes to Brenda in a three-way hug with baby daughter, Maya. There’s just no accounting for what turns this man on, is there?
Meanwhile, stranger-than-fiction George thrills Ruth with the news that his daughter Maggie is in town for a quick visit. Ruth has been suspicious of George’s lack of communication with his grown children.
But when the three get together for lunch — in a lull in jocularity while George is in the restroom — Maggie darkly inquires about her father’s “state.” The reason for this becomes clear later when Ruth overhears George arguing with an imaginary person. We’ve long wondered about George … now we know. He’s nuts.
In other developments: Claire gets coked up for her first gallery opening and winds up smooching Billy; David confronts his attacker in jail and winds up even more disturbed when the guy suggests they get together after he’s served his time; and Federico begs Vanessa to forgive him, but she asks for a divorce.
“Six Feet Under” is one of the most emotionally complex and truly bizarre shows ever written for television. Add to that the impeccable acting, and you’ve got appointment viewing that can’t be missed.
Unfortunately, like all of HBO’s series, it’s a long time between seasons, so we’ll have to wait many months for “Six Feet” to return. Sigh …
‘LAX’ lacks everything
Heather Locklear might not be the most talented actress around, but she’s good at light comedy (“Spin City”) and campy melodrama (“Dynasty,” “Melrose Place”).
She needs just the right material to shine, and NBC’s “LAX” isn’t it. Not even the slightly more serious Blair Underwood can save this one.
Locklear plays the airfield chief; Underwood plays the airport chief. The two are former lovers, now management rivals at Los Angeles’ mammoth international airport.
”Don’t mess with my terminals, and I won’t mess with your runways,” suave Underwood growls at her.
It’ll make your skin crawl. And with a title like “LAX,” you just know the inevitable cancellation will turn it into “Ex-LAX.”
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