BuzzSugar

TV Tonight: The Reaper Finale

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:30:55 PDT

I'm not happy to see any of my favorite shows end for the season, but tonight's Reaper finale is particularly poignant, as the show was not picked up by the CW for another season and several of the show's people have already signed on for new things (including Tyler Labine and the show's creators Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters). All is not totally lost, though, as there's talk of possibly continuing the show on ABC. Anyway, I have absolutely loved this season - perhaps even more than the first - as we've gotten to know Sam's half-brother Morgan (the ever-dashing/sleazy Armie Hammer) and Ben's demon girlfriend Nina (Jenny Wade). And, of course, my two favorites, the Devil and Sock, have been consistently amusing as well.

In tonight's finale, "Sam (Bret Harrison) and Andi (Missy Peregrym) try to find Tony (guest star Ken Marino) to help them translate the scroll Nina brought back from Hell. . . . Sam challenges The Devil (Ray Wise) to a game of quarters, but they play to a draw and The Devil refuses a rematch, so Andi offers her soul as collateral." Yikes! I can't wait, and yet, I'm also dreading having to part with one of my most beloved shows. Reaper fans, what are your favorite things about the show? We can get through this together. To check out a promo for tonight's finale and share your thoughts,

Photo courtesy of The CW

TV Tonight: The Romantic Side of Reaper

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:30:02 PDT

Basically I just want an excuse to post the funny promo for tonight's episode of Reaper because it makes me laugh every darn time I watch it. Though it's a little silly at times, the writing on this show consistently cracks me up. Like in last week's episode when we learned Sock's (Tyler Labine) "signature" pick-up line: "Excuse me, I think you're standing on my penis." I mean . . . come on!

Tonight's episode promises more sleaziness from Sam's (Bret Harrison) um, half-brother, Morgan (Armie Hammer) as Sam works to win Andi (Missy Peregrym) back. Seriously, though, the promo after the jump is a treat all its own. To watch,

Interview With a Devil (or, You Know, Ray Wise)

BuzzSugar — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:30:25 PDT

Speak of the Devil! No, seriously. Ray Wise brilliantly plays the Devil on the out-of-this-world CW comedy Reaper and I recently got to chat with him one-on-one which, you might imagine, was a little bit intimidating at first. I mean, he's a scary dude! But once we got talking it was clear that Ray Wise himself is just a nice, not-demonic man - though he does have a deep-rooted love of vampires (specifically Brahm Stoker's Dracula). Best of all, though, he's made up a word to describe the genre in which Reaper probably belongs: horramedy! That's horror + drama + comedy. I dig it.

It was a fun conversation with the guy who plays one of my favorite characters on TV right now. Check it out. . . .

Buzz: It seems like you have a lot of fun playing the Devil.

Ray Wise: Oh yeah, I have the most fun.

Buzz: Do you base your performance of the Devil on anything or anyone in particular?

Ray Wise: (chuckling) No. No, I'm very steeped in the mythology of the Devil, and I've seen all the great Devils in the movies. . . . There have been a number of great Devils, good ones, ones that I've enjoyed - and all different. . . . But mine, I think, is probably more different than any of them in that there’s a certain charm to my Devil . . . and also the sense of humor is increased in my Devil, and plus, you know, he's . . . resplendent he likes to wear nicely tailored suits and ties and he takes very good care of himself.

For more of my interview with Ray Wise,

Buzz: I've read that you're a fan of Brahm Stoker's Dracula.

Ray Wise: Oh yeah. Ever since I was a kid, you know, I have a first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula, got it when I was about ten years old and I’ve read it, I don’t know how many times, quite a few times. And I've enjoyed some of the other Draculas over the ages, like Frank Langella’s and some of the others. But I’ve never really felt that they've . . . ever captured, truly, the real Dracula in that book and of course, being half-Romanian myself, I feel a kinship with the character, so it would be my dream to one day soon to play the ultimate Dracula and really do a great job on the book.

Buzz: Does the supernatural stuff on Reaper appeal to you in that sense?

Ray Wise: Yes, yes, all of it, it really appeals to me. . . . Some of these characters and some of the special effects are just incredible. And I enjoy feeling, just momentarily, that sense of power, that one would feel if they did have that ability, some of the abilities that the devil has. It feels very empowering as you’re doing it.

Buzz: Is it fun doing such a silly comedy after doing so many years of so much drama?

Ray Wise: Yeah, boy, yes, it is. And be able to make people laugh and to make myself laugh while I’m working, it’s a gift. It’s a great feeling and I’m really enjoying it. This whole comedy thing is a lot of fun!

Buzz: Yeah, I appreciate the silliness of Reaper so much because it’s refreshingly different from everything else on TV right now.

Ray Wise: It is, isn't it? I mean, it’s pretty much all by itself, I think. I call it a horramedy: It’s horror, drama and comedy, all wrapped into one. . . . And I don't think there are any other horramedies on television! And even in the movies there aren’t many horramedies so we’re pretty much exploring that genre all by ourselves.

Buzz: I’m enjoying this season so far as we see the deepening of the relationship between the Devil and Sam.

Ray Wise: Yeah, and you're going to see the Devil interacting with some of the other characters too, so it's not gonna be just the Devil and Sam anymore. And we're kind of getting a little bit away from that escaped-soul-of-the-week thing and like you said, getting into the personal relationships between the characters which is infinitely more interesting, I think.

Buzz: Personally, I think it's really fun to see the Devil thrown off every once in a while.

Ray Wise: Mm-hm. Or appear to be thrown off!

Buzz: Ah, that's right. Nobody can ever out-Devil the Devil, I guess.

Ray Wise: Yeah, he likes to think of himself as always being in control. And I think, pretty much, he is.

Photo courtesy of CW

TV Tonight: Reaper's Back!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:30:48 PST

It feels like it's been an eternity in hell since we last got to hang out with the Devil, Sam, Sock, Andi and Ben. Have you missed them as much as I have?

Last we heard on Reaper, Tony tried to trap Sam - only to bury alive Sam's dad instead. In tonight's season two premiere, Sam, Ben and Sock return from a long road trip to find themselves fired from the Work Bench and pretty much homeless. Meanwhile, Andi is rather peeved at Sam for not letting her know where he was for several weeks, and the Devil has a scary and challenging soul-catching assignment for Sam. Also, Sock finds an attractive girl living in his mom's house while his mom's away.

I've already seen the episode and while it's nothing too-too different form the same old Reaper goodness, it really does deliver the laughs. I didn't realize how much I was missing these guys - Sock especially - until they made me belly-laugh for an hour. To check out a preview of this season, which kicks off with tonight's premiere, titled "Episode IV: A New Hope" (ha, Star Wars),

Photo courtesy of The CW

First Look: Reaper Season Two

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:30:24 PST

Among the awesome things about TV this Winter is the return of Reaper, the quirky CW buddy comedy about a boy and the devil who rules him. Yup, I love this silly show, and finally, today brings a quick glimpse of the second season.

It's just a little teaser, but I'm at the point where any glimpse of Sock making gross bodily noises or Sam attempting to take out some demon with a frying pan is good enough for me. It's just good to see the Work Bench crew again - not to mention the devilish Ray Wise.

The show returns Tuesday, March 17, but no need to wait - to get a quick taste now, just

Photo courtesy of The CW

TV Tonight: The Reaper Season Finale

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:04:54 PDT

Well, the silver lining around this season finale cloud is that Reaper is definitely getting another season on the CW! This is excellent news, and maybe the summer will provide folks with some time to catch up on the first season of this bizarrely funny, fantastical show.

It feels like just yesterday I was super skeptical about the premise of this show (a bounty hunter for the devil? He uses a vaccuum? What?) and then quickly won over by the quirky humor and lovable cast when I viewed the pilot. I'm thrilled to know that it will live again on the CW for another season.

As for tonight's finale, titled "Cancun," here's the description: "The demons target Sam (Bret Harrison) when they fear he may pose a greater threat to their rebellion than the Devil (Ray Wise) himself. A treacherous trap is set, bringing surprising allies to Sam's side and leading to shocking revelations that could have explosive implications for his future. Meanwhile, Sock (Tyler Labine) falls for a demon (guest star Cindy Sampson)."

You can see a video clip of Sock being devilishly seduced, along with the regular CW preview for tonight's episode if you

Photo courtesy of the CW

TV Tonight: Reaper

BuzzSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:30:56 PDT

One night after Gossip Girl steamed up our TV sets, a very different CW show also returns to the air. Reaper is back - and if trying to figure out when the show was airing has seemed like time slot roulette for the past couple of months, then the best news is that it's right home where it started: Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

The show still has five new episodes left, and tonight's sounds like a good one. For one thing, it guest-stars Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino again. For another thing, it involves their characters trying to set a trap for the Devil. Now, I'm just guessing here, but that sounds like a wildly bad idea. There's also a romantic subplot involving Sock trying to win Josie back, which doesn't seem like the easiest task ever (though possibly easier than outsmarting the Devil). Oh, and there are some developments in the Sam/Andi relationship, some of which you can see previewed in the video clips below.

The CW hasn't renewed Reaper for another season yet, and TV Guide recently placed its odds for survival at a four out of 10. Want to boost that? Tune in tonight. To check out a couple of previews of the episode, just

Photo courtesy of The CW

TV Tonight: Reaper Returns!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:30:00 PDT

My love for this show knows no bounds. I am so totally excited that it's back on TV again tonight, but in case you didn't get into Reaper when it started last fall or if you've forgotten what's going on, allow me to fill you in:

The show revolves around Sam (Bret Harrison), a bounty hunter for the Devil (the absurdly funny Ray Wise). He spends his time working at the Work Bench and capturing souls that have escaped from hell. He sends them back down below by handing them over to a DMV employee named Gladys.
Sam's coworkers and friends, Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez) help him with the capturing. Really, the adorable/funny relationship between the three boys is my favorite part of the show. That and pretty much everything Sock says.
Sam has an undying crush on girl-next-door Andi (Missy Peregrym), but Andi isn't ready to date Sam just yet. So, Sam has found another girl, Cady (Jessica Stroup). Here's the catch: She may or may not be the Devil's daughter.

Now, tune in tonight to the CW at 9:00 p.m. for a new episode, "Hungry for Fame," in which Jamie Kennedy guest stars as a musician trying to sell his soul to the Devil in order to become a rock star. Love. This. Show. To check out a clip from tonight's episode,

Photo courtesy of the CW

Reaper Rundown: Episode 10, "Cash Out"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:36:50 PST

I can't believe this week's episode of Reaper was our last for a while! I'm not sure what I'll do without my weekly fix of the adorable Sam, sweet dimply Ben, and sarcastic Sock. Most of all, of course, I'll miss the overly tan wisecracking Devil. This show's like candy. Like Red Hots. I'll miss you, Reaper!

For now, some of my favorite things from this week's episode, in which the boys had some moral questions to deal with, in addition to the normal capturing-escaped-souls thing:

I love that they succeeded in trapping one of the souls in the vessel early on in the episode. The formula of getting the vessel, researching the soul, and finally capturing the soul in the final 10 minutes can wear thin. I like that they mix it up sometimes.
Sock calls Katie, possibly the Devil's daughter, "Beezlebabe."
Ben and Sock come up dancing next to Sam and Katie. "We were doing our recon work," Ben later explains to Andi.

More highlights if you

Devil, after pretending to be Katie on the phone: "Aw, come on, admit it. I totally hosed you!"
Sam: "Hi, Gladys. Should I place the vessel on the mat?"
Gladys: "Place the vessel on the mat."
Sam: "Hell is like the worst-run business ever."
Ben resents being Goose in Sock's Top Gun trio. "Goose died. I don't want to be Goose."
Sam, on hearing that Katie's dad might have been a member of Huey Lewis: "So, does that mean you're part of The News?"
Sam: "Oh, my God."
Devil: "Hey, easy on the G-word, buddy. It's rude."
Sock thinks the Book of Revelations stole the 666 symbol from The Omen.
The donut man: "I never stole so much as a mint from a restaurant."
Sock: "They're free."
Sam: "Shut up, Sock."
Escaped soul man, on finding that the bags are full of clothes: "Underpants!"
Sock: "My underpants. My brave underpants."
I often love the music in this show, and the use of Guster's "Satellite" at the end is no exception. Awesome.
Well, we now know that fish and flowers wilt when Katie's around. Is she really the spawn of the Devil?! I can't believe we have to wait so long to find out!

Photo courtesy of CW

Reaper Rundown: Episode 9, "Ashes to Ashes"

BuzzSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:32:10 PST

Okay, on this week's episode of Reaper, I found the escaped soul's tactics for revenge to be truly gross. All those cremated remains flying around gave me a bit of a sick feeling in the tummy. However, I love that the Devil had a romantic interest and I super-love that Sam now has a romantic interest that isn't Andi. She needs to figure out her stuff before messing with Sam's heart. My favorite aspects of this week's show, though, are the moments with Ben and his powerful grandmother (who has "The Eye"!).

Check out some of my favorite parts from this week's episode:

~~Julie Cooper~~ Melinda Clarke as the Devil's gal Mimi looks really good! I'm loving the dark hair. And how funny is it that the Devil's girlfriend is so normal and sweet?
Sock: "I want to be the Prince of Darkness. No, no, what's lower than that?"
Ben: "Duke."
Sock: "The Duke! I want to be the Duke of Darkness. Can you talk to the Devil for me? Maybe set up an internship?"

More funny moments if you

Of course the Devil enjoys spending time at funerals (to provide answers for grief-fueled questions)! I love these little details in this show.
Mimi, about her "Jerry": "He has this old-world charm. He's a real gentleman. That's a rarity these days."
Sock, advising Sam: "You need to be persistent like the ocean, little waves of Sam crashing on the shores of Andi until she eventually wears down."
During the montage of Sock, Sam, and Ben collecting peoples' ashes, we see Sock rubbing a rug against a man's face. Then we see the man rubbing the same rug against Sock's face.
I love that after Uncle Hector got drunk at a wedding, Ben's grandmother insisted nobody talk to him. So now he still lives in the house and nobody can talk to him.

The Devil sewing Sam's mouth shut is so. Very. Gross.
Sock, to Mimi: "Look at how hot you are! You're like a big plate of YES! right there!"
That family party of Ben's looks nicer than my senior prom.
When Ben's grandmother stabs Sam in the hand with a fork, Sock tackles her to the ground!
Is Sam's new love interest Katie the Devil's spawn?!

Photos courtesy of CW