I have a problem with Paula Marshall.

Well, actually, I have a problem with directors and producers and casting directors who haven't found a way to put Marshall on the screen week after week. I want to see more of her — in every sense of the phrase.

I had high hopes for Cupid, a witty 1998 comedy starring Marshall and Jeremy Piven. … continue reading

Have you been watching Nip/Tuck, even though Portia de Rossi has been AWOL for so long? I have, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about the recent psycho stalker story line, with special guest star Sharon Gless. [Warning: Spoilers]

When Gless first showed up on the show, I was thrilled. Her character, Colleen Rose, was sassy, smart and funny — just like I like Gless, and like I'm used to seeing her. But things soon took a turn for the criminally insane. We learned that Colleen wasn't really a talent agent; she was just trying to get close to Dr. Sean. And when an actual agent interfered, teddy-bear-collecting Colleen decided to stuff him. It was one of the most gruesome murder scenes — not to mention one of the trippiest — I've ever seen on TV.

Last week, it looked like Colleen met an untimely death at her own hands. I'm not sure whether she'll be back for one last gasp tonight, or will even be mentioned again. But I do know one thing: I don't understand why Gless took the role. (I'm not the only one.) I guess maybe she thought it would be fun to play crazy. But the story line was just plain misogynist — Colleen the capable professional soon became Colleen the desperate, menopausal, lonely, diabolical crone. It seems very far beneath Gless.

I might be overreacting. But most of the women on Nip/Tuck are appallingly two-dimensional, and not just because they're vain moneyed types seeking plastic surgery. Creator Ryan Murphy (who is gay, not that that means anything at all in terms of his attitude toward women) seems to want to destroy his female characters and erase their humanity. Whether it's Kimber (or Eden) the slut — don't even get me started on their violent sex scene last week — or Colleen the psycho or Julia the meat-seeking rag doll or Liz the barely there prudish lesbian or Kate the fat actress, they're easy to sum up and difficult to care about. … continue reading

It's a day of doubles: First Cate Blanchett got two Oscar nods, and now this: Both Sharon Gless and Marlee Matlin will be on Nip/Tuck tonight. Gless plays a talent agent and Matlin plays a studio exec.

And Gless is reportedly going to be topless at some point. Whoa! It's like that song "Centerfold": I don't think I'm ready to see my adolescent fantasies in the flesh. But it's not like I won't watch it or anything. I mean, that guy in the song eventually bought the magazine, didn't he?

Has Nip/Tuck been on lately? I feel like I haven't seen it in weeks. But I can't say I've missed it, really; I still haven't recovered from the hot tub thing. Poor Paula Marshall.

Anyway, Rosie O'Donnell returns tonight as Dawn Budge, and this time she's giving orders on Sean and Christian's TV show. Should be fun.

Meanwhile, American Idol is back tonight at 87c on Fox. Are you ready? Or maybe the better question is, are you even going to bother to watch? Last season I swore I'd never watch again if Melinda Doolittle didn't win, but I think we all know I was just posturing. The show always draws me in — plus, it could be the best thing on TV during the writers' strike.

I'm also hoping against hope that there will be an openly lesbian contestant this year. I mean, it's Season 7. Seven seasons without one out lesbian? That's not reality TV — that's the most unrealistic thing I've ever heard. And I don't want a she-must-be-gay contestant like Briana Ramirez-Rial (or even the much-rumored Kelly Clarkson). I'm looking for the next big lesbian singer-songwriter-superstar. (Hey, there's an idea for a show.)

EW.com has a preview of the season and a whole section devoted to the Idol. For those of you who (like my girlfriend) would rather skip the public humiliation that is the national tryouts, you don't need to tune in until Feb. 12, when the Hollywood round begins.

Tonight on Nip/Tuck, Rosie O'Donnell returns as Dawn Budge, the lottery winner with an attitude.

This time Dawn needs reconstructive surgery after a bird attacks her face. Critics and bloggers are already making jokes about Rosie getting her mouth sewn shut, but I think it's pretty great that Ro still has a sense of humor about herself.

In case you haven't seen it yet, here's the behind-the-scenes video Rosie posted on her blog last week: … continue reading

Paula Marshall, otherwise known as foxy lesbian daughter Regina on the great-but-canceled Out of Practice, will appear in four episodes of Nip/Tuck next season as Sean McNamara's love interest. I can't think of a bigger waste of her talent — not to mention her foxiness. And that's definitely a step down in terms of costars, though almost anything would be after you've worked with Stockard Channing. … continue reading