20 Days

That's how many days are left until we find out Eddie R.'s fate. Or what Boris is going to do with Hank and Evan. The TV Guide for next week came and once I saw that the cover was all about winter premieres, I may have grabbed at it like a drug addict and flipped feverishly through it to find "Royal Pains". My excitement could not be contained. The little blurb gave very little away, but it did entice us with a Jersey Shore-like beach house suffering from botulism and the fact that Eddie R. lives to scheme another day.

So for your enjoyment, here are a few links to information regarding Season 2.5.

Monsters & Critics

TV Guide

I can explain...

I know I said that I would be updating this blog regularly, but as of today I have not. Let me explain myself.

Folks, I am a procrastinator. A BIG one. And it's a truly terrible thing to be. Life just blows you by while you "I can do it tomorrow" or " Eh, it can wait". But what if it can't? I've learned a few lessons in the uncertainty of tomorrow in 2010 and I want to not wait until tomorrow to start living my life, doing what I'm passionate about and living a full and happy life. And that means no more procrastinating. And yes, in case you were wondering, that is a New Year's Resolution. One that I actually intend to keep.

The meaning of this post? I intend to post something here each day that is "Royal Pains" related. It may just be a quote or a tweet or an actual post. But I promise to post SOMETHING here every single day. So if you find my blog by happenstance, Hi and Welcome. I'm not asking anyone to keep me honest on my resolution. Other people can't keep you honest. You have to keep yourself honest.

And that's my explanation. So, without further adieu... 

"Lines are for the Citiots."

Let me first preface this post by saying that I have seen the "Pilot" episode of Royal Pains more times than I care to admit. Thanks to USA, iTunes and the release of the DVDs, I've had the ability to see it as many times as I have wished. And it remains my favorite episode of Royal Pains to date. It runs more like a movie than a television show.

I mentioned in a previous post that I would review the Season One eposides of Royal Pains and I have decided to do that each Sunday. So let's get to it.

Here's what happened:
A beautiful day and a bunch of guys playing basketball in New York City. One of the players collapses and we meet the protaginist of the show, Hank Lawson, M.D. He manages to stabilize the guy with whatever he can find and gets him to the hospital. While he is tending to the basketball player, a wealthy hospital benefactor, Mr. Gardner comes in to the ER, having a heart attack. Hank treats Mr. Gardner and heads back to work on the basketball player, who isn't doing so well. The hospital administrator is extremely displeased.

Opening titles, some jazzy music and more aerial shots of New York City, and we meet Hank's fiancee Nikki when he meets her for dinner. They head home for some lovin', skipping dinner. Hank then gets the phone call that changes his life. Mr. Gardner died and he is being held responsible. He is fired. His downward spiral into depression and financial ruin begin. He's up to his eyeballs in lawsuits and Nikki has left him.

Enter Evan, Hank's younger brother. Evan talks Hank into going to a Memorial Day weekend party in the Hamptons (using two of the best reasons I think I've ever heard: "You're out of booze and 2. Netflix froze your account."). Evan and Hank set off. After Evan lies his pants off, the two brothers find themselves at a huge party in a palatial estate. Surrounded by the wealthy and women who are only interested in how many planes he owns, Hank starts to look a little downtrodden. His moment comes when he catches the eye of Boris, who's estate he's partycrashed, after he saves a wealthy partygoer.

Hank then saves a sixteen year old hemophiliac. His name has been spread around the Hamptons as the new concierge doctor. He finds himself with a Physician Assistant, Divya and a potential friend/love interest in the local hospital administrator, Jill. But he's still not sure if this what he is meant to do. After a discussion with Jill and a long walk on the beach, Hank makes his decision. He contacts Boris and he and Evan move into Boris' guest house to start a new chapter in their lives.

Here's what I think:
Everything just seems to fall into place for this pilot. It is very well-cast, the cinematography is gorgeous and the music is spot-on. The characters are interesting and you want to see what will happen with them in the future. The writing is excellent; witty and smart.

I wish there were one thing that they could have done to make this episode even better. Leave in the deleted scene where Evan convinces Hank to stay in the Hamptons. It's a bonus feature on the DVDs and it really sheds light on the character's backstory and the bond they share. Mark Feuerstein and Paulo Costanzo, despite this being the first episode, are pitch perfect as brothers. Their chemistry is evident from the first time Evan walks into Hank's apartment.

I can't say much for either Jill or Divya in this episode. Jill is understanding and clearly shares Hank's morals and ideals, but she just doesn't say or do anything ground-breaking. Divya has the potential to be an interesting character, but isn't really given a chance in this episode. As most pilots are, it's introductory. Glimpses of what characters will become and how they will act.

As the season progresses, as a woman, I do take exception to the way that some female characters are written. But not in this episode. This episode is about Hank, and that's who it should be about.

The idea that Hank can take everyday objects, like a Bic pen and sandwich baggie and save a person's life  is pretty fantatsic. Royal Pains is not your typical medical drama and the idea that Hank can save lives without a hospital and conventional medicine sets it apart.

So, needless to say I was sucked in starting at episode one. And I was not disappointed. The show has grown and the characters have evolved so much since the pilot episode.

Anyone out there reading this, what did you think of the pilot episode of Royal pains? Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it?

Here's some other stuff:

Best song of the episode: "Ain't No Love in the Club" - The Wylde Bunch. Because let's face it; this song is awesome. It plays when Hank and Evan are rolling up to Shadow Pond, Boris' estate.

Best quote of the episode: This one was hard but I'm going with -
Evan: Hey. Ok, how do I look?
Hank: You look like an Olympic swimmer from Queeristan.
Evan: Is that a good, or a bad thing?

Best location in the episode: Without a doubt, Oheka Castle. It is absolutely beautiful. Seriously.

And on that note, this concludes the first review for Royal Pains. Until next week. Have a great week everyone!

Note: Please bear with me while I find a feel for these reviews and posts. This is my first shot at blogging. I'm still trying to find my voice and style.

"I didn't know a brainstorm could happen in a vacuum."


In honor of the Paley Center's event with Royal Pains tonight, I thought I might make a post listing some of the best Evan and Hank banter heard on the show so far this season:

Evan: Let the record show that you were wrong.
Hank: The record will reflect that.
- Episode 2.2 "Lovesick"

Evan: It's your classic existential dilemma.
Hank: I don't think you know what 'existential' means.
- Episode 2.3 "Keeping the Faith"

Evan: Fashion is the vocabulary of kings.
Hank: Then you are wearing some very big words.
- Episode 2.12 "Open Your Yenta Mouth and Say Ah"

Evan: So we agree to disagree?
Hank: Like we always do.
- Episode 2.1 "Spasticity"

Looking forward to more once Royal Pains resumes it's second season on January 20, 2011.

HankMed Head

I am currently experiencing a serious summer withdrawal. The weather is cold and I'm still in disbelief that we're nearing Thanksgiving. Not long until Christmas. And I find myself yearning for summer sunshine, flip flops and the general laid-back feeling that summer brings. Everytime I look out a window and see nearly-bare trees, I close my eyes really tightly and think about beaches. If Ididn't love the Northeast so much, I'd be gone.

I not only lament summer's ending, I also lament the loss of Royal Pains. Even though it is scheduled to return on January 20th, I find myself in serious withdrawal. As a fierce Hankmed Head, I miss tuning in each Thursday night to catch my favorite characters romp around the Hamptons. There are few shows that I have become attached to in the way that I have become attached to Royal Pains.

I am a huge Mark Feuerstein fan. I think he's an amazing actor who is fiercely underrated. I also respect the man, as he seems like a genuinely nice person. But what I most admire about Royal Pains is the writing. Many of the shows that I watch, I watch because the writing is good. On Royal Pains, it's excellent. I love the balance of comedy and semi-dramatic moments. I love the banter between Hank and Evan; Divya and Evan; Hank and Jill. I think it's perfectly written and I greatly respect the writers of Royal Pains.

So, as I am in withdrawal and in serious need of warmth, I plan on re-watching season one of Royal Pains and posting a review each week. If anyone out there is reading this and is a Royal Pains fan, I encourage you to comment. I'd like to use this blog to meet other fans and discuss the show. So few people I know watch tv, let alone Royal Pains.

Finally, I am aware that "HankMed Head" is the name Evan used to refer to the Hank bobbleheads that he had made in the second episode of the second season, "Lovesick". But I think Royal Pains fans deserve a name to set them apart. If there is an existing name that I'm not aware of, please let me know.

Scope of Blog

This is just a short post to determine the scope of this blog. I have a fascination with The Hamptons that is bordering on obsession. I have never been there. I have never been closer to The Hamptons than New York City. But my favorite show "Royal Pains" is set and filmed there so I've gained an even bigger interest. So, this blog will focus on not just The Hamptons, but also "Royal Pains".

I plan to change the theme and get into more detailed posts about The Hamptons and "Royal Pains" in the future.