life with more cowbell

So Thursday night, I watched Grey’s Anatomy (CTV – a two-fer night of two episodes) while recording Prime Suspect on the good ‘ole PVR.

Grey’s found our gang in some pretty big turmoil. Meredith was having rough times at both the hospital and at home – due to her fudging Derek’s Alzheimer’s study in order to get the Chief’s wife the real drug, as opposed to the placebo (and destroying the random administration of meds for the study). She and Derek have a visit from the social services lady to see how they’re doing with Zola, the African baby they’re trying to adopt. Who do they think they are anyway – Brangelina? Cristina, on the other hand, does not want a baby and she and Owen are at odds over her impending abortion.

In other hospital goings-on, April, now Chief Resident, is having a tough time getting the docs to mind her – and no wonder, she’s way too soft-spoken and nice. She’s no Miranda Bailey, that’s for sure. Speaking of, Bailey decides to shake the residents up a bit by pulling a “Gunther” on them – putting them on a particularly challenging and complex case together, and seeing who emerges as the leader. Torres is supervising, so they don’t kill the nice lady, a victim of a giant sinkhole that swallowed her, her husband, their car and injured a bunch of other people and property. And she’s had a leg amputated below the knee in the field (and she’s played by King star Amy Price-Francis).

Most of it all works out in the end: the patient is saved, the Chief takes the fall for Derek’s study, and Owen accompanies Cristina to her abortion – and underdog Avery ended up being the Gunther. But not so good for Zola. Derek and Meredith’s situation is too up in the air, so the social services lady has to take the baby.

I watched my recording of Prime Suspect (Global) last night – and it was very good. A lot of ink has been spilt regarding Jane Timoney’s fedora. WTF? If a male character was wearing that hat, no one would bat an eye. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Maria Bello (who was on E.R. back in the day) has some big detective shoes to fill – and she’s very good playing the lone female homicide detective in an extremely misogynistic NYC precinct. The show is an Americanized version of the original, but the same themes and dynamics hold. Timoney is very good at her job, but she’s constantly having to prove herself to the old boys club. Helen Mirren, along with the creators of the Brit series, has given her blessing.

Also starring is Aidan Quinn, as Timoney’s CO and pretty much her only ally.

Both shows are worth a look – and you can catch Prime Suspect again tonight (9 p.m. Global).

I PVRd the final episode of All My Children yesterday – back soon with the wrap on Minx.

What did you see this week?