On that Courteney Cox-Jennifer Aniston smooch
Well, it’s not much, frankly, a fairly chaste peck. So settle down, already.
On tonight’s season finale of “Dirt,” Aniston appears as Tina Harrod, another high-powered editor who, it’s rumored, is up for Lucy Spiller’s (Cox) job at DirtNow. The fractious scene in which Lucy discovers Tina in her publisher’s office is the best between the old friends – claws out, circling one another warily.
Later, they have a lunch; it’s revealed the two had a fling in the past. As they leave their table; Aniston puts her hand almost on Cox’s bottom, then moves in for a mouths-closed kiss. I’ve seen more erotic air-kisses in Hollywood.
But that’s not the point of the episode; it’s just the subterfuge to get people to watch. After doing pretty well ratings-wise the first episode, the show has lost a sizable chunk of viewers.
Here’s “Dirt’s” problem: FX has a pretty reliable template for its dramas – there’s a charismatic anti-hero at their shows’ centers (“The Shield’s” Michael Chiklis, “Rescue Me’s” Denis Leary, “Nip/Tuck’s” Julian McMahon, “The Riches”’ Eddie Izzard) who, no matter how rough the going may be, still manage to enjoy the ride and make with the punchy one-liners. “Dirt’s” Lucy – who easily has the cushiest life of any FX character – is also, oddly, the chilliest, least happy of the bunch and can be fairly humorless.
In tonight’s episode, Aniston’s character, actually, has the glib, edgily easygoing insouciance that the brittle Lucy Spiller could use.
That dark tone carries over into the whole series, which is fairly apocalyptic about a pretty trivial subject – Hollywood gossip rags. Willa’s (Alexandra Breckinridge) ruthlessly going after Lucy, her boss, Lucy is plagued by a stalker (whose identity is revealed tonight) and the crash and burn Julia (Laura Allen) suffered this season felt awfully swift and relentless, even by Britney Spears’ standards (Julia released her own rape tape on the Internets).
Life at a tabloid would seem to lend itself to a wrier, more satirical tone than the pervasively grim spectacle that was “Dirt” this season. And we’re treated to a particularly dour finale if the show doesn’t come back: Lucy’s even willing to sell herself out for her magazine.
- “Dirt:” 10 tonight; FX.
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David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place.
You know, you've kind of nailed what's bugged me about this series (when I remember to even watch it). It's grim. As witty as it tries to be, it just really isn't. And the subject matter would seem to lend itself to many lighter moments that it has.
That whole thing with the wacko photographer falling in love with the dead girl was a major turn-off and went on for way too long. And served no ultimate purpose, other than to get him to take his meds. Big whoop.
David, how can you write about he show without mentioning Don Konkey, the only great thing in it?
I found Ian Hart very compelling as a schizophrenic, and when Carnahan was directing, the Konkey storyline was the best of the elements of this show.
And what about Aniston. When I heard her character's last name was Harrod, I thought they'd at least give her a little Tina Brown UK lilt to her voice.
All in all, I'd watch a second season, but I'd want Carnahan to leave more of his imprint on the show.