Post by janetcatbird on Nov 8, 2005 14:39:35 GMT -5
Hate to double post, but different topic. Munch fans, we are not alone!
www.abqtrib.com/albq/features/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19849_4221675,00.htm
The Albuquerque Tribune
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URL: www.abqtrib.com/albq/features/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19849_4221675,00.html
What's On Tonight
By Mary-Ann McBride
November 8, 2005
Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) on "Law & Order: SVU" is a little rough around the edges, making him this week's spotlighted kooky, male character.
Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) on "Law & Order: SVU" (9 p.m., KOB-Channel 4) was once described as a man who could "smell a conspiracy from a 5-year-old's lemonade stand."
Not many women would line up for an anorexic-looking, four-time divorced, paranoid dude. But there's just some intangible quality that draws you in.
And that's what makes him this week's spotlighted kooky, male character of Tuesday night.
Munch got his start on the now-defunct "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and was carried over into the "Law & Order" franchise.
Yep, he's a legend.
Apparently, he has been busy, having crossed over to six TV shows on three different networks ("Homicide," three "L&O," "X-Files" and "The Beat").
In the last few seasons, Munch has become completely under-used on "SVU," mere backup for angst-mongers Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). I am outraged on his behalf. Here's a guy who can simplify the horror of the sex crimes unit with a quip but still let viewers see his mushy side. Other characters just aren't that cool.
Creator Dick Wolf needs to rectify this screen-time injustice immediately.
Favorite Munch quote: "Some of us appreciate simplicity. Others of us lost the knickknacks in the divorce settlement."
Tonight, Munch is once again relegated to the background as Detective "Screen Hog" Stabler investigates the remains of a boy found at a construction site. Not that I'm bitter.
"Masterminds" (9 p.m., Court TV) offers insight into the baddies who want to steal your precious vehicle and strip it for parts.
This episode follows an auto theft ring from its inception until the group gets nailed by the coppers. I dare any well-organized car thieves to try to take my Metro. Bring it on!
Mary-Ann McBride, a Tribune page designer and TV addict, can be reached at 823-3631 or mmcbride@abqtrib.com
Copyright 2005, The Albuquerque Tribune. All Rights Reserved.
Eh, farkle, stupid link not working. I tried!
--Catbird
ETA: "Name" (11-8-05). Munch and Fin open the episode with Warner, I had such high hopes. Umm, why was the forensic girl tagging along with Stabler on this case? And of course, she was tearfully and insistantly correct in her detecting while the trained investigators, who presumably have crime-solving skills and not just lab chemicals, are left in her dust. I got a sneaking suspicion that she's being set up as Stabler's rebound girl now that Kathy has filed for divorce. Bad writers! No cookie!
I don't even wanna see Rogers and Warner doing the whole amateur detective thing, much as I love them. They do good work in the labs to help out/bail out/correct our dear detectives, and they're the recurring ones! Although I've seen Millie in a couple of the episodes at the crime scenes this season--she wasn't a complete stranger, for what it's worth--if Warner and Rogers haven't gotten that much screen time and participation in an investigation then certainly some uppity youngun shouldn't either. Yes, I'm territorial.
At least Munch had a presence in the first ten minutes of the episode, although I'm having trouble understanding why Stabler is still in a cast and Munch is walking/sitting just fine as if nothing ever happened. Sitting especially, you'd think they could provide a cushion or something. BD Wong was good in his few scenes with Anna, though I think Stabler was extremely jerkwad to harass Anna like he did when she was obviously sick and Dr. Huang should have yanked his butt sooner. Not that I'm a big fan of Benson, but why wasn't she there? And where was Cragen? You'd think in a big case that got publicity and was never solved, as well as the discovery fo a serial killer, the captain would at least pop up to check progress or complain about the media leak.
There were some (brief) good moments: "Twinkies last forever" and Fin daring Munch to eat it, plus Ice-T's facial reactions were funny when he opened the lunch box. I thought that Carlos (was that his name?) and Anna were terrific. To think that you had caused someone's death because you were a scared kid who couldn't do anything to protect them...Maybe stretching credibility that she'd remember him after all these years without even hearing his name, but that adolescent puppy love continuing to adulthood, aww sweet. I know I'm a sucker.
www.abqtrib.com/albq/features/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19849_4221675,00.htm
The Albuquerque Tribune
To print this page, select File then Print from your browser
URL: www.abqtrib.com/albq/features/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19849_4221675,00.html
What's On Tonight
By Mary-Ann McBride
November 8, 2005
Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) on "Law & Order: SVU" is a little rough around the edges, making him this week's spotlighted kooky, male character.
Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) on "Law & Order: SVU" (9 p.m., KOB-Channel 4) was once described as a man who could "smell a conspiracy from a 5-year-old's lemonade stand."
Not many women would line up for an anorexic-looking, four-time divorced, paranoid dude. But there's just some intangible quality that draws you in.
And that's what makes him this week's spotlighted kooky, male character of Tuesday night.
Munch got his start on the now-defunct "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and was carried over into the "Law & Order" franchise.
Yep, he's a legend.
Apparently, he has been busy, having crossed over to six TV shows on three different networks ("Homicide," three "L&O," "X-Files" and "The Beat").
In the last few seasons, Munch has become completely under-used on "SVU," mere backup for angst-mongers Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni). I am outraged on his behalf. Here's a guy who can simplify the horror of the sex crimes unit with a quip but still let viewers see his mushy side. Other characters just aren't that cool.
Creator Dick Wolf needs to rectify this screen-time injustice immediately.
Favorite Munch quote: "Some of us appreciate simplicity. Others of us lost the knickknacks in the divorce settlement."
Tonight, Munch is once again relegated to the background as Detective "Screen Hog" Stabler investigates the remains of a boy found at a construction site. Not that I'm bitter.
"Masterminds" (9 p.m., Court TV) offers insight into the baddies who want to steal your precious vehicle and strip it for parts.
This episode follows an auto theft ring from its inception until the group gets nailed by the coppers. I dare any well-organized car thieves to try to take my Metro. Bring it on!
Mary-Ann McBride, a Tribune page designer and TV addict, can be reached at 823-3631 or mmcbride@abqtrib.com
Copyright 2005, The Albuquerque Tribune. All Rights Reserved.
Eh, farkle, stupid link not working. I tried!
--Catbird
ETA: "Name" (11-8-05). Munch and Fin open the episode with Warner, I had such high hopes. Umm, why was the forensic girl tagging along with Stabler on this case? And of course, she was tearfully and insistantly correct in her detecting while the trained investigators, who presumably have crime-solving skills and not just lab chemicals, are left in her dust. I got a sneaking suspicion that she's being set up as Stabler's rebound girl now that Kathy has filed for divorce. Bad writers! No cookie!
I don't even wanna see Rogers and Warner doing the whole amateur detective thing, much as I love them. They do good work in the labs to help out/bail out/correct our dear detectives, and they're the recurring ones! Although I've seen Millie in a couple of the episodes at the crime scenes this season--she wasn't a complete stranger, for what it's worth--if Warner and Rogers haven't gotten that much screen time and participation in an investigation then certainly some uppity youngun shouldn't either. Yes, I'm territorial.
At least Munch had a presence in the first ten minutes of the episode, although I'm having trouble understanding why Stabler is still in a cast and Munch is walking/sitting just fine as if nothing ever happened. Sitting especially, you'd think they could provide a cushion or something. BD Wong was good in his few scenes with Anna, though I think Stabler was extremely jerkwad to harass Anna like he did when she was obviously sick and Dr. Huang should have yanked his butt sooner. Not that I'm a big fan of Benson, but why wasn't she there? And where was Cragen? You'd think in a big case that got publicity and was never solved, as well as the discovery fo a serial killer, the captain would at least pop up to check progress or complain about the media leak.
There were some (brief) good moments: "Twinkies last forever" and Fin daring Munch to eat it, plus Ice-T's facial reactions were funny when he opened the lunch box. I thought that Carlos (was that his name?) and Anna were terrific. To think that you had caused someone's death because you were a scared kid who couldn't do anything to protect them...Maybe stretching credibility that she'd remember him after all these years without even hearing his name, but that adolescent puppy love continuing to adulthood, aww sweet. I know I'm a sucker.