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As I wrote on social media last night: “This is the best Abbott Elementary episode yet for the simple fact that it brings Bradley Cooper back to comedy.” I obviously have more to contribute to my review of this week’s episode, but I still have to give the series credit for doing such an important thing. Bradley Cooper may not be an Academy Award winner, but he will always be “the face of Alias.

Howard Hamlin is right. He didn’t deserve any of this. Yes, he’s privileged. Yes, he’s ambitious. Yes, he listened to Chuck’s biased portrayal of Jimmy. But Kim using him purely as a means to even the most laudable end of defending the defenseless? That requires freezing your soul, convincing yourself that any pain Howard feels is inconsequential—he’ll land on his feet! It’s a temporary setback for one annoying prick!—and celebrating his humiliation.

Rating: 8/10 Created in the mid 90s, Birds of Prey was initially a team-up between Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl and Dinah Lance’s Black Canary. Over the next couple of decades, there have been a variety of different members. In many cases, the line-up drew heavily from Batman related characters. The new Birds of Prey series is taking a slightly different direction and it is looking great. From the first issue of Kelly Thompson’s run, Dinah has been avoiding involving Barbara and instead set up a new team.

While the “binge release” structure may have been the most disruptive influence on the model of reviewing shows on a weekly basis, there are times when the “two episodes a week” model is actually more frustrating. With a binge release, it still feels reasonable to think of each episode as its own unit within the larger whole, but with two-a-week the episodes in question become inextricably linked together, which can make it harder to write about them individually depending on the show.

Maybe I’ve just gotten used to the slightly longer run times, but at 31 minutes, “The Colostomy Bag” feels like a short episode by recent Curb standards. The writing is just tighter here than at least half the other episodes this season, and that’s not just down to the jokes (although the batting average is somewhat high here, with none of the bits getting too cartoony or outstaying their welcome). There’s just a certain efficiency to the writing, with each scene serving multiple purposes and propelling us along to the next scene.

Back in December 2022, I first ate at the then newly opened D’Olier Street. At that time, it felt somewhat austere to me, both in its slick decor and even in the dishes. I could see there was some seriously good stuff going on in the kitchen, but that sense of harmony and cohesion that makes a restaurant truly memorable was lacking for me. Fast forward to February 2024, and the Irish food community applauds as we see James Moore walk on stage at the Michelin Guide UK and Ireland gala to receive a first Michelin star for D’Olier Street.

Tracks: 1) Runaround Sue; 2) Somebody Nobody Wants; 3) Dreamlover; 4) Life Is But A Dream; 5) The Wanderer; 6) Runaway Girl; 7) The Majestic; 8) Little Star; 9) Lonely World; 10) In The Still Of The Night; 11) Kansas City; 12) Take Good Care Of My Baby; 13*) Could Somebody Take My Place Tonight; 14*) I’m Gonna Make It Somehow. REVIEW After the relative success of ‘Lonely Teenager’ came just as relative a lull in Dion’s career: his next three singles all charted, but progressively lower and lower until the third one, ‘Somebody Nobody Wants’, did not even manage to crack the top 100.

When I’m reviewing an episode of TV, I’m always trying to balance my initial gut reaction with a more measured perspective on how the episode might age over time. And that can be a hard thing to sum up. Last week, for instance, I found “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” really frustrating on a first watch, but far more engaging on a second, when I let go of my expectations of its plot and just let its vibes wash over me.

Welcome to Episodic Medium’s 2023 coverage of BBC drama Doctor Who, beginning with the series’ 60th Anniversary specials and continuing with its holiday special. As always, this first review is free for all, but subsequent reviews will be exclusively for paid subscribers. For more information on what shows we’re covering and what your subscription supports, check out our About Page or become a free subscriber for future updates. “I’ve got this friend called Donna Noble.