unitedstatesoftara

Only on 'United States of Tara' (Mon., 10:30PM ET on Showtime) could a suicide be a victory. At least, it's a victory to Tara because she's not the one who off'd herself.

"I'm gonna run with it," Tara tells her family. "I'm gonna freak people out ... dress like Napoleon ... pee on everyone ..."

Yeah, she probably won't be getting the "sanest person on the block" award any time soon either.

Watch the video after the jump.

(S02E01) The united part of the 'United States of Tara' was served up handily in the season premiere, with the family looking like the model of normalcy. And yet even as there seemed to be nothing wrong, below the surface was that gnawing feeling that Buck, T, Alice and whoever, might be lurking, ready to pop out. When the pop finally went off, however, it wasn't what we anticipated. It wasn't even in their house. More on that and the purple carnations after the jump.

Showtime's 'United States of Tara' debuted last year with executive producer Steven Spielberg and Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody ('Juno') at the helm. As the show kicks off its second season (Mon., March 22 at 10:30PM ET on Showtime), it's established itself as both a ratings winner and a critical success.

The show stars Toni Collette as Tara Gregson, a suburban mom with Dissociative Identity Disorder, which leads her to experience multiple personalities (known as alters on the show). In season 1, viewers got to know Tara's alters -- from the teenage "T" to the tough-talking Buck -- and saw how her husband Max (John Corbett) and their two teen children dealt with such circumstances alongside the everyday issues that average families face.

'United States of Tara' was nominated for a handful of recent awards, and Collette scored an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance. And while Tara is still the driving personality in the show, Corbett's character reveals new components of his personality this season as the consequences of his wife's disorder begin to take a toll.

Corbett chatted with AOL TV to give us a glimpse of what to expect in season 2, what his reaction was to Max's arc, and why you'll never hear a 'Sex and the City' reference in his other on-camera projects.

After a few weeks off (my fault... don't ask), we're back in the swing of things, talking about everything going on this March on TV. This week, Jason Hughes, Danny Gallagher and Allison Waldman join me to talk about:

• All the new shows that have started this month. 'Parenthood,' 'The Pacific,' 'Justified' and 'Minute to Win It' are discussed (we're especially flummoxed at why 'Parenthood' isn't at all funny),
• How Leno returned to 'The Tonight Show' and no one cared,
• What we think the Conan tour is going to look like,
• The return of 'Breaking Bad,' 'United States of Tara,' and 'Nurse Jackie,' (Warning: spoilers abound during this discussion),
• Picks of the week, and more.

Run time is 1:07:14.

You can listen to the podcast below, or download from here or by subscribing to our RSS podcast feed. It is also available via iTunes. Feel free to leave us feedback in the comments or drop us a line at tvsquadpodcast [at] gmail [dot] com.

As always, the music at the beginning and end of the podcast is "Life" by Justin Trawick.



By the way, the audio problems we had in the last podcast have fixed themselves. Enjoy the non-robotic-sounding voices!

Lock those medicine cabinets: Showtime announced that 'Nurse Jackie' will return March 22, 2010, at 10PM.

Now in its second season, the Edie Falco-driven dramedy follows the exploits of Jackie Peyton, a nurse at New York City's All Points Hospital. The show got off to a hot start last year with Showtime's highest rated debut -- more than one and a half million viewers tuned in for the June 2009 premiere. By bumping it up a few months, Showtime seems to be thinking 'Jackie' has more potential than a summer series.

Controversy arose after the premiere, when subsequent plots revealed a lead character who often violated ethical codes for her patients. At the same time, it depicts a woman who struggles with her own prescription pill habit, and the less than admirable ways in which she obtains drugs.

Let's be honest. There are really only four or five real contenders for this category, and most of them were nominated last year. But it's not like the talented Tina Fey (30 Rock), Mary Louise-Parker (Weeds), Julia Louise-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine) and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) don't deserve the recognition. They all fit the bill, and most of their shows were damn good this year.

I'd be happy to see any one of them go home with the gold on Emmy night. I'd also love to see some recognition for Christina Applegate's work in Samantha Who?, a great show that got the ax earlier this year.

What It's About: Tara Gregson (Toni Collette) has recently decided to treat her dissociative identity disorder (can you say "split personality"?) without medication. In doing so, she's opened herself up to once again randomly passing between several distinct identities, or "alters," at the drop of a hat: rowdy teenager T, violent war vet Buck (a man) and morally old-fashioned housewife Alice. Tara's two teenage children struggle to cope with a life of randomness, while her ultra-patient husband Max (John Corbett, otherwise known as Aidan from 'Sex and the City') deals with -- among other things -- not being allowed to be intimate with any of the alters.

The Buzz: Created by Steven Spielberg and 'Juno' scribe/overnight Oscar winner Diablo Cody, 'The United States of Tara' has been Showtime's stud, averaging 2.1 million viewers and outperforming other network hits like 'Weeds,' 'Dexter' and 'Californication' in its premiere week. It was renewed for a 12-episode second season just four weeks into the first.

'The 81st Academy Awards'
(Sun., 8PM, ABC)
Hugh Jackman's hosting, a Baz Luhrman musical number will pair Jackman with Beyonce and Zac Efron and producers are talking about having new mom M.I.A. perform her Oscar-nominated 'Slumdog Millionaire' song from a bed.

In other words, this Oscar telecast could have us all longing for the days when Rob Lowe did a little song-and-dance with Snow White.

Amongst all the, ahem, unique telecast plans, a few little golden guys will also be doled out, of course, with favorites including comeback kid Mickey Rourke ('The Wrestler') for Best Actor, Kate Winslet ('The Reader') for Best Actress and the aforementioned gem 'Slumdog' for Best Picture.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com, or call and leave a message at (775) 640-8479. Your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: 24, Big Love, Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Lost, Nip/Tuck, Smallville, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and United States of Tara. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

I guess all those good reviews and high ratings haven't gone unnoticed. United States of Tara has only been on the air for a month, but Showtime has already committed to another year of Toni Collette dealing with her multiple personalities. The network has given the green light to a 12 episode second season.

Tara's premiere earned 2.67 million viewers, more than the premieres of Showtime's Dexter, Weeds, Californication and The Tudors. I'm with America on this one. I was charmed by the Tara premiere, and it's quickly become my favorite Showtime series.

'Super Bowl XLIII'
(Sun., 6PM, NBC)
Ten facts about Super Bowl XLIII: 1) It's live from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa; 2) It's a meeting of the 12-7 Arizona Cardinals and 14-4 Pittsburgh Steelers; 3) The Steelers are going for their sixth SB title;

4) The Cardinals haven't won an NFL championship since 1947; 5) Steelers' Mike Tomlin is only the third African-American head coach to lead a team to the SB; 6) Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem; 7) Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band provide half-time entertainment;

8) A 30-second TV ad costs $3 million; 9) Trailers for 'Star Trek,' 'G.I. Joe,' 'Wolverine' and the 'Transformers' sequel are expected to air; and 10) The Cardinals and the Steelers were once the same team, when a World War II roster shortage led to a temporary merger known as Card-Pitt.

(S01E02) Last week we were introduced to T and Buck, and this week we got to meet Alice. While T may be the most outrageous, and Buck the strangest, this first impression suggests that Alice is the most dangerous of Tara's alters. Along with learning about Alice, and her future plans, it was also a big night for guest spots. Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt, and Nathan Corddry were all along for the ride.

(S01E01) My first reaction to seeing the Tara premiere was that this one is going to be very hit and miss with viewers. Diablo Cody doesn't have a long list of credits, but she certainly does have her own unique style. If it's a style you like, you'll be able to fall right in with this one. If you don't ... yeah ... this one could grate on you. Even if that is the case though, I would encourage you to hang in there and give the show a little time. Underneath the occasionally too clever dialog, the Gregson's story has a heart.

'United States of Tara'
(Sun., 10PM, Showtime) series premiere
When Tara (Toni Collette) isn't quite feeling like herself, she does what any other housewife would do ... if that housewife also had dissociative identity disorder.

When being Tara becomes too stressful, Tara switches to one of her alternative personalities, namely T, a wild, pot-smoking teen; Alice, an old-fashioned housewife; and Buck, a beer-guzzlin', motorcycle-ridin' dude.

Tara's family is constantly dealing with the fallout of her switcheroos in this Steven Spielberg-created comedy (which was developed by 'Juno' Oscar winner Diablo Cody), and some of the funniest moments come when her husband (John Corbett) and kids adapt their personalities to appease one of hers.

Some quickie news from Showtime, presented by entertainment president Bob Greenblatt:

• Ilene Chaiken is developing a spin-off for The L Word, which will feature a yet unspecified character from the original show, whose upcoming season will be its last. There will be an open-ended plot in the season finale that Chaiken will continue online, then pick up if the spin-off comes to pass.
• Two more 13-episode seasons of Weeds have been ordered.
• A seventh season of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! has been ordered, making it Showtime's longest-running show.
• A reality/documentary show called Lock 'N Load has been ordered; it's filmed in a gun shop, and it shows the various people who purchase guns and "exploit their right to bear arms," according to the press release.
• Two new pilots have been ordered and filmed. The United States of Tara, produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Diablo Cody, stars Toni Collette as a suburban mother with multiple-personality disorder. John Corbett stars as her husband (yes... it's a comedy). The other pilot is tentatively-titled Nurse Jackie. It stars Edie Falco as a New York City nurse with a painkiller addiction who sometimes crosses moral lines to help her patients (no... it's not a comedy). Tara will begin airing in winter 2009, and Jackie will begin airing in late spring or early summer.