A very sunny Christmas...this ain't your grandma's Christmas DVD

So, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia released an extended Christmas episode on DVD this past week. It kinda sucks that they couldn't just air it as part of the series so everyone could see it, but I guess they were able to get away with a lot more because it was on DVD, so...I hate paying full price for DVDs but when Sunny is on its game, it's one of the funniest shows on tv so I couldn't *not* buy the thing.

I was not disappointed. This ain't your grandma's Christmas movie, that's for sure. There's a naked Danny Devito, a zombie-like attack on Santa Claus, implied prostitution, an animated elf's junk, and swearing up the wazoo...pretty much everything you'd expect from The Gang uncensored. And I must be sick, because for the most part, it was hilarious. Loved Mac's family Christmas tradition (and kudos to the casting of the young Mac, who looked exactly like a young Rob M.), loved Dennis and Dee's inability to not be selfish, even at Christmas, and using A Christmas Carol to try to get Frank to change, loved Mac and Charlie trying to buy the season's hottest toy on Christmas Eve, definitely.

And the thing is, I would be lying if I said this wasn't a heartwarming story full of the Christmas spirit. Of course, there's the vulgar Sunny twist and you get both the teary eyed Christmas morning scene plus the bonus of still seeing these selfish, twisted, crazy characters get their comeuppance, but still a heartwarming Christmas story, which was a pleasant surprise.

USA orders a fifth season of 'Psych' - From Inside the Box - Zap2it

USA orders a fifth season of 'Psych' - From Inside the Box - Zap2it

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And we finally have our Top Chef top four

Oh, this show was trying to give me a heart attack tonight. I started out thinking they were editing Michael to be cut and then I started to get really, really nervous that Bryan was going to take the fall...which made me make a silent deal with the Top Chef gods that they could take the younger Voltaggio if I got to keep the older one for at least another episode. So even though I was starting to think I was super crushing on Michael, it turns out that Bryan - who, surprise, surprise, knows how to laugh! And did it more than one! - is the Brother Voltaggio I was pining over.

Anyway, Eli got the boot. I wasn't sorry to see him go, especially since it meant the top four I was hoping for way back when will be the ones competing in Napa. TV producers like to throw a dark horse and/or villain into the mix every now and then but I honestly believe that this season's four best chefs are the ones heading to the final and I'm very excited about that. Sometimes seeing the best compete against the best - with little to no drama amongst them, to boot! - makes for the most compelling and satisfying television. We want a winner who deserves to win. And who we like! And by "we" I mean "me."

I'm calling Kevin for the win. He's had this thing locked up since day one and unless he messes up but real good, the crown is his. This contest is his to lose. Though as we all know, as team captain, I'm still pulling for a Voltaggio upset :)

Welcome back, show! How I've missed you!

All season, How I Met Your Mother has been good, better than most shows on tv, but with the slew of new, hilarious comedies that have premiered, it's seemed...a little off its game? I don't know. Something was wrong, and if this past ep was any hint, what was wrong was that Barney and Robin finally got together.

I hate thinking it and I hate writing it even more because I have loved the idea of Barney and Robin ever since the first season episode as bros, but all season long their romance/relationship has felt wrong. I don't know if it was because the characters together just don't work or if it was because the writers were just writing them wrong as a couple, but this week's episode, the first since their break-up, was hilarious. Here, finally, was the show I fell in love with. I felt like I was watching vintage How I Met Your Mother. While HIMYM might not be the funniest sitcom ever, I think it's funniest episodes are easily in the Top 10 funniest episodes of various sitcoms...so as much as I will miss Barney and Robin as a couple (and even now hope that it's not over for good, foolish romantic that I am!), I welcome back my show with open arms and tears of joy.

Welcome back, show!

The little things...

I'm watching the Castle episode from last night right now on Hulu and it's the little things, the little touches, the details that directors and writers and artists and production pay attention to that I love...while all the cops are wearing bulletproof vests that say "Police" on them, Castle, who is not a cop but is an author tagging along for details on his new series of books about a female NYPD detective, wears a bulletproof vest that reads "Writer."

Ha. Brilliant.