Nip/Tuck: Teacher failing student

This second half of the season for Nip/Tuck is turning out to be a masochistic affair. Cutting off your breasts with a bread knife, now a promising surgeon destroys his dominant hand to get out from under his father's will. The series is running out of ways for people to destroy themselves, so we must be coming it's end.

The prominent theme here was teacher and student, and the musical choice to repeatedly back the scenes was Mancini's "Dreamsville." Not only was it a love theme for the tv show Peter Gunn (oh, Edie!) but it also featured a young John Williams on piano in Mancini's orchestra. Williams, of course, would go on to fame scoring Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Close Encounters, etc., but at the time he was kind of a student to Mancini's teacher. In this episode, all the teachers ultimately fail their students (Christian, Sean, Raj's dad and Carrie May all blow it with their students,) but I've not heard any stories that parallel that with Mancini and Williams' time together.

Meanwhile, there was also the affairs of Christian Troy to cover, and that went to "Hercules Theme" by the aptly named Hercules and Love Affair, along with Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out." And normally, I'd get all excited about hearing R.E.M.'s cover of "Superman," but I'm too worn out with masochism to care.

Stay classy, N/T.

Playlist: Nip/Tuck - Episode 5.18
1. "Dreamsville" - Henry Mancini - Used throughout episode to underscore teacher/student scenes
2. "Superman" - REM - Sean and Raj perform Christian’s pectoral reconstruction/Matt visits & Sean suggests Raj tutor him/Vijay Paresh tells Sean why he’s visiting Raj
3. "Hercules Theme" - Hercules and Love Affair - Liz spruces up/Christian has sex over and over…/Liz walks in on Christian
4. "Steppin Out" - Joe Jackson - Sean takes Raj out for wings and beer/Matt calls Raj/Christian has more sex and his implant moves
Compiled by Avalon at niptuckforum.com

Previously: Love is Hot (Truth is Molten) [Episode 5.15]

War of the Womb

In last night's The O.C., the gang fears that there's been an alien invasion and are frantic to find out for sure before the New Year, because, like, who wants that hanging over your head? Ok... really it's just a pregnancy, but the setting of an Alien-themed rave party in a hangar is symbolism not lost on us.

You see, Summer's uteris is like Area 51 - conspiracy theorists (ie, Taylor) believe there to be an alien housed there, and will stop at nothing to prove it. When Seth discovers the pregancy test that Taylor has smuggled with her (on their New Year's trip to Lost Wages,) Three's Company-like confusion ensues, and unwarranted fear spreads like Orson Welle's War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Backing this portion of the events is John Digweed's "Warung Beach," a sweeping electronica track which serves as a great transition as they follow a woman dressed as an alien to the rave party. Of course that 'alien' stole the proof that Summer and Taylor had on the alien invasion - the home pregnancy test result in Taylor's purse. In the end, though, just like the alien kept at Area 51, the pregnancy turns out to not be there at all (sorry Mulder and Scully.)

And since I'm talking blue in the face about pop-culture symbolism in the episode, I certainly need to mention a song that was played at the Yacht Club party, where Julie's prostitution business was booming. One of the most famous movies to deal with 'the escort' profession is of course Breakfast at Tiffany's and Henry Mancini's "Something for Cat" makes for a nice sideways glance to that classic from 1961, even as they slide into 2007.

Playlist: The O.C. - Episode 4.08
1. "Warung Beach" - John Digweed - When the Range Rover pulls up to a gas station. Picks up again as the Range Rover chases a woman dressed as an alien. Heard finally at a warehouse where there's an alien rave party.
2. "Smile Like You Mean It" - Tally Hall - You hear this song as Ryan, Seth, Summer and Taylor head out to Las Vegas for New Years Eve.
3. "Desafinado" - Si Zentner - Played at the New Years Yacht club party
4. "Dogzilla" - Dogzilla (iTunes) - At the alien warehouse rave... then used again at end of the episode.
5. "Something for Cat" - Henry Mancini - At the Yacht Club party

Previously: It's a wonderful (alternate) life

tags: music, television, soundtrack, the oc, henry mancini, breakfast at tiffanys, area 51, john digweed, aliens, rhapsody