Wings First Aired: Tuesday October 8, 2002
Bridget continues to hound Paul about getting her license. Also, Carrie decides to enter an art competition on Paul's urging but is denied.
After being 16 for two months now, Bridget really wants to get her license. Paul is too worried to allow that and tells her that she needs to know everything there is to know about cars before doing so. In a huff, she hijacks the Henesy car. She is brought home by a cop and Paul continues to worry further. Cate asks Paul why he is so worried and he reveals that it is because he doesn't want his eldest one to grow up. The next day, Cate take Bridget to get her license and, after passing, Paul relents his overbearingness. He allows her to drive to the store for milk. The other storyline involved Carrie and an art competition. Paul urges her to join but she is denied entry. She then decides that perhaps art is not her thing. As Paul goes to find out why she wasn't accepted, he sees her painting and, though brilliant, isn't appropriate to the sponsor of the showing. Carrie becomes happy when she knows that he painting caused a stir.
This was an above average episode with a good story to work with. While nothing ground breaking for either children in terms of sitcom material, it is presented well in script and by the actors/actresses. I enjoyed Carrie more than I had in previous episodes, which I liked. I also enjoyed having Kyle around again because him and Paul are fun foils for each other. The running gag about the milk was also good because I know how that happens. All around, a decent episode.
Score: 8.5 / 10
Bridget's First JobFirst Aired: Tuesday October 1, 2002
After Paul tells Bridget to get a job, things to go exactly as Bridget planned.
Bridget had decided to take back some clothes from Carrie so that she could cut them up and use them for a car wash. When Paul finds out about this, he tells Bridget that she needs to get a job so she can learn the value of a dollar. She ends up taking a job at the local clothing store that caters to Bridget's crowd. Paul and the rest of the family show up to see how she is doing on her first day. It turns out that she is handling the job really well. For the rest of the week, she works a lot and is able to get the clothes at a 40% discount. This becomes a problem when her first paycheck shows that she actually owes the store over $400 because of these purchases. She decides to use the emergency credit card, but Cate finds out. When it is revealed what Bridget did, Paul and Cate are disappointed but are still proud that she is able to work the job. They cover the bill until Bridget can pay them back.
This was an average episode with a couple of good lines. The plot line was predictable and, though her acting was good, I am not a fan of Bridget-centric episodes. Rory's side story was really good and I wish they could have fleshed that out a bit. Overall, it is nice to see Bridget working a job, which I hope they keep her doing since it would build some character for her.
Score: 7.8 / 10
Wall of Shame First Aired: Tuesday September 24, 2002
It's the biggest college football game of the season for Paul, but when Cate has to go to her first day of graduate school, he is left having to watch after the children.
Michigan vs. Ohio State. Man, that is always a big football game that usually ends with a spectacular finish. It turns out that Paul is a Michigan alumni and has also been waiting for this game. Though he goes to the game ever year when it is in Michigan, this year he can't because Cate has just started graduate school (on a Saturday?). This leaves Paul trying to watch the game while watching after the kids. Of course, problems ensue. The minor one includes trying to keep Rory from being inside all day playing video games. The major one involves Bridget apparently shop lifting at the local drug store. When Paul makes a quick judgment, Bridget becomes angry. Eventually Paul listens to her story and takes her side, but she would like him to get her picture down from the "Wall of Shame". He does this, but ends up on the wall himself when Cate goes to pick up her medicine.
Altogether, this was a fun little episode. While it got a little tired with the Carrie side story, I think the main one was pretty well handled. Bridget's acting was very good and, as usual, Ritter was awesome in his lines and delivery. It was a little bit slap-stick (in a good way) because one problem would exit the room and another would enter from the opposite end.
Score: 8.2 / 10
The Friendly Skies First Aired: Monday February 3, 2003
Paul has now come to Alva Keel to see what him and his organization does. Though he doesn't seem to be interested at first, he joins Alva and Evelyn on an investigation into a plane that went missing for 64 seconds.
In this second episode, Paul Callan is still hesitant to join Alva Keel's cause, especially after he feels Alva has been following him. However, he does decide to join Alva and Evelyn as they investigate a problem at Logan Airport. It seems that a flight went missing as it was coming in to land. The people now have strange issues. One little girl saw her whole life laid out for her. A couple who never met before are now lovey-dovey with each other. A woman was burned to death in the bathroom. A woman who can't walk or speak suddenly can. A steward begins to babble about a possible way to destroy the world. As the group investigates further, it seems like the people are slowly reverting back to normal. By the end of the night, the various anomalies correct themselves, though Paul is particularly effect by the handicapped woman. Allowed not to see her husband, Paul swipes the video recording to give to the man after so he can see and hear his wife express her gratitude.
This was a really good episode with an interesting plot. It was a bit of a guessing game up until you realized the woman that burned had been thinking about it. While I mentioned that I liked the acting of the principle cast in the first episode, this one was really a stand out because of the guest stars as the passengers. The little girl and the handicap women were of particular interest. It was a sad ending until you figured out that Paul and Evy had managed to smuggle the tape out for the husband. A good follow up to the pilot episode.
Score: 9.1 / 10
The Ferguson Syndrome First Aired: Monday January 27, 2003
Paul Callen is a priest who investigates miracles. When he decides to take a leave due to a question of faith, he investigates a young boy. Tommy's powers push Paul to the edge.
In this first episode of the show Miracles, we are introduced to Paul Callen, an orphan who became a catholic priest. He currently works special assignments to prove or disprove miracles. He begins to question his faith, since he has never seen anything to reassure his faith. While working in the desert, his old confidant Father 'Poppi' Calero calls him with a request to check out a young boy not far from him. Paul assents and meets with Tommy Ferguson. It turns out that Tommy can heal people, but for every heal he does, he becomes sicker himself. As Tommy's father continues to push him, his mother tries to take him away. Paul sees this and pursues them during a rain storm. Not paying attention to the road, Paul goes onto some train tracks and is hit by a train. Seeing this, Tommy's mom goes for help. Tommy ends up going to check on Paul. As Tommy tries to help, Paul sees written in blood the words "God is now here" as well as a dark figure looming behind Tommy. Despite Paul's pleas not too, Tommy uses his power to save Paul and he dies in the process. Reporting his findings that a true miracle had happened, the monsignor sees no scientific proof and Paul quits in a huff. Seeing Poppi on the way out, he becomes flustered when Poppi claims he never called Paul. Later, Paul sits contemplating the events in a diner and is confronted by Alva Keel, a freelance miracle investigator who had seen 16 other people who had seen blood writing before. Theirs, though, all said "God is nowhere." Alva says something big is coming and gives Paul his card as an invitation to come visit him. The episode ends when Alva's assistant answers the door for Paul and he enters their office.
This was a very good beginning for the show, though nothing is really revealed about Alva's organization. I really like how the show felt more like a mini-movie in tone and cinematography then an pilot episode. I really like the characters of Paul and Alva. Paul is a priest, but he has to question his faith because he is very unsure. I also like Alva, though little of him is shown here, because of his demeanor that he wants to know what is going on. I am hoping that the following episodes continue to same acting and cinematography as this one.
Score: 8.6 / 10
Episode ElevenFirst Aired: Monday May 22, 2000
In the first season finale of Titus, the gang is called to the hospital when Ken suffers another heart attack. Titus blames himself, but something turns up that makes him question his hand in the medical emergency.
Titus starts the episode with a narration about how his father has suffered three heart attacks. Now in the hospital again, the gang comes to his aid. When Ken tells Titus that it was his fault, Titus decides that he should act nice to his father. He even agrees to build him a new car. When the cops come to question him, since he got into an accident on the way to the hospital, it is revealed what the real reason for him being there. It turns out that he was getting a blow job while driving. Naturally, the Dave and Titus decide to mess with their father for revenge. They end up getting the hospital to shave Ken's privates in preparation for a very long and arduous test. However, Ken confesses to Titus and they get into an argument. Ken does end up having a heart attack, but the doctors are able to revive Ken.
This was an amazing episode from start to finish. The middle part was especially good with how the boys were finding out and trying to devise their revenge. Dave was the funniest he has been so far in the series, I believe. While this was a very funny episode, I think it was also very dramatic at the end when his father did have the heart attack. Watching makes me think of the "Mom is Nuts" episode ending and it feels like a precursor to other dramedys I watch now like Rescue Me. This was a good way to end their initial season and I look forward to more episodes soon.
Score: 9.4 / 10
InterventionFirst Aired: Monday May 15, 2000
Titus and the others have become concerned about Ken's drinking problem and have staged an intervention. All goes well until Ken starts revealing secrets about the group to each other.
In this Ken-centric episode, the group has gotten together so they can address the issue about Ken's drinking issue. Actually, it is because he ISN'T drinking that the family is concerned. When off the wagon, Ken is lazy, unresponsive at work, and has stopped his womanizing ways. Titus is successful in getting him to drink again, but in response Ken starts telling the others about how Titus had taken money from the business to get a car. That ended up getting smashed by Dave. Other secrets revealed include Tommy having a naked dream about Titus and about how Erin fears Titus will snap like his mother as well. The episode ends with Ken leaving and laughing at the pain he has caused while the others look dumbfounded.
This was a very awesome episode where, as I have mentioned before, it was good because of being about Ken Titus. Stacey Keach is a riot and every episode needs to use him to a decent degree. The last five minutes really were laugh out loud funny, especially Tommy's dream problem. I highly recommend this episode.
Score: 9.3 / 10
