To Be Continued...

Ah yes, we all know the old saying "April Showers bring May flowers." But what does May bring? Obviously the answer is television's season finales. It's a bittersweet time for avid tv viewers like me, where we are excited to see how the season wraps up, however it leavs us wanting more ... and needing it to be September already. So with all the finales that are airing this month, it made me think of some of my favorite season finales in the past. Here are just a few of the best of the end.

PS: One of my biggest pet peeves are SPOILERS, so spoiler alert, if you haven't seen any of these episodes, or are planning on watching any of these any time soon, I might be giving away what happens. You've been warned.

Friends TOW Ross's Wedding



Right up there with Desi and Lucy, Sam and Diane, and Zack and Kelly, Ross and Rachel are one of the greatest tv couples of all time. So when Ross became engaged to Brit chick Emily in season 4, some fans thought they would never see the power couple together again. But when Rachel makes a surprise appearance at their wedding, Ross makes a huge mistake, and of course, the credits roll. Leaving viewers like me screaming "WHAT!?" at the tv screen until that fall. On top of that, we even got the added bonus of Chandler and Monica hooking up. My 7th grade self couldn't handle it. Good thing I had Titanic to get me through the summer.

The OC The Ties That Bind



Remember when The OC used to be good? AKA Season 1? If you don't, let me know, you can borrow the only season I have on dvd. But to recap, SO MUCH DRAMZ happened in that first season that it's ridiculous. So ridiculous, in fact, that I really think it's the reason the show ended so early (besides the fact Misha Barton got killed off). If they had spread out the events from the first season, they would have so much more to work with. I mean, it's really hard to beat investment fraud, alcohol poisoning in Mexico, a secretly gay father, and a crazy secondary homicidal character in just one season. But the first season's finale wrapped up everything so well, bringing the season full circle from the pilot episode. Plus Seth floating away to Tahiti while "Hallelujah" is playing never fails to make me cry.

Weeds Pittsburgh

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I have a love/hate relationship with Weeds. I like that at its core, it's a dark comedy about a family/mother who does whatever she has to in order for her family to survive. But as some of you know, I'm not a big fan of violent scenes in my entertainment, so watching the whole U-Turn scenario play out in the first couple seasons kind of made me uncomfortable. But what I love about Weeds is that it makes me keep wanting more. Although I feel like the last season shouldn't have taken the turn it did, and that it should bring my boy Conrad back, I can only hope that season 5 will get better with season 4's cliffhanger. Anyways, this particular finale is from the second season, where that entire U-Turn confrontation goes down. A series of (unfortunate) events doesn't exactly go in Nancy's way, and we're left wondering if she's even going to get out of it alive.

Mad Men The Wheel

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Oh Mad Men. The one show I tell people to watch the most. It's gotten a lot of critical acclaim, and not to mention a best drama Emmy too, but the fact that it's on AMC deters some people from watching it. I have a special place in my marketing heart for this type of show. But it's so much more than advertising in the 1960's. It's how people lived in the 60s, how they were expected to act, how they react to societal pressures, and the stories behind the suits. Not to mention it has a brilliant cast, outstanding cinematography, and great writing. (No, no one is paying me to say this.) This scene from the last episode of season one blew my mind. Everything about it was perfect. It was one of those scenes where I lost myself in what the main character, Don Draper was saying. I was this close from buying a Kodak slide projector myself. (If you only watch one of these clips, because you actually have a life, make this one it.) A lot more happens in the episode like a surprise pregnancy and hidden identities, but you're just going to have to watch it to see how it all unfolds.

Heroes How to Stop an Exploding Man

Just as I was losing faith in Heroes, this past season redeemed itself, looking much like it did in its first season when everything made (relative) sense, and it left me confused jussstt enough to want more for the next episode. Most people probably remember the whole 'Save the cheerleader, save the world' rhetoric, and this season finale was the last hurrah for this chapter of the show. What I like about Heroes is that it's masterfully split up its seasons into 'chapters,' much like if you were reading a book of short stories that were all interrelated. New characters pop up every season, the main ones are still around, but each chapter they must face a new challenge. Then, at the end of the finale, they show a little preview of what's to come. In this finale of season one, we find out what happens when Heroes collide, and if anyone recovers from it. Some do, and some are just never the same again.

The Office Casino Night



So add on to that list of classic tv couples Pam and Jim. I must say I love them even more than Ross and Rachel, and I don't think I can even pinpoint why. Maybe it's because we were introduced to them as two people who could never be together at the beginning, or that they were best friends from the start, or maybe it's even the smart way the writers decided not to make their storyline too gooey and romantic. Whatever the reason, this finale in season 2 was what every Office fan was waiting for. The moment Jim finally had the chance to change everything and tell Pam how he felt. One of the most 'leave-me-wanting-more-oh-my-god-how-many-days-away-is-the-premiere' finales ever. WHAT WILL PAM DO?? SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING!!!


.... i get too involved. i realize this. accept it.

"1,2,3 SWINE FLU!"

In 2003, when I was a Junior in high school, the SARS epidemic was becoming a worldwide health concern. Luckily for me, most of the people who had contracted SARS were Asian, mainly from China and its surrounding countries. Now, I just realized that my old comedic fall back "It's because I'm Asian" has been a long running joke since 2003, but it still hasn't gotten old 6 years later. But because most people who had SARS were Asian, my friends and I took it upon ourselves to make light of the situation, and use my Asian-ness as a point of reference anytime any one sneezed, or coughed, I would be to blame for the SARS. I believe even during my Junior Prom, we posed for pictures by saying "SARS," instead of "CHEESE." And get ready for it, I'm inserting one of those pictures now, for nostalgic purposes:


That being said, 6 years later we find ourselves in the midst of a Swine Flu pandemic. Instead of Asia, the outbreak originated in Mexico, so that leaves me out of the picture. Yet, somehow, we can all find some humor in this. Mainly because I think it's completely necessary with all the attention it's getting. Yes, I understand it's a serious matter, and that people have died from it, but for the most part, the Swine *sorry, i mean H1N1* (still calling it Swine Flu) Flu cases at least found in the US have been mild and contained. I think what pushed it over the edge and had people freaking out was the intensity of the media coverage every single day. They got into people's minds making them think that anyone who even sneezed in a public place could have the Swine Flu. Prime example: (and as much of a good guy that he is) let's be honest, Joe Biden, let's read our morning memos, shall we? But, people make mistakes.

Now that the Swine Flu is contained for now and the media has toned it down a bit, let's focus on the real stuff. Please see pie chart number 1:



Or you know, switch out Malaria with AIDS, or something. Same idea. Now on to the correlation between information and reaction of the public:



As you can see, the "We're all going to die" reaches a peak if the general public watched the news. Clearly another effect the media has on its readers.

Lastly, I'd like to sum up this Swine Flu post with the following cartoon. Maybe I'll change my stance on this subject. I mean, if Winnie the Pooh thinks so, I should probably agree with him, right?