The Strain
Season 2 Episode 4: “The Silver Angel”
Directed by J. Miles Dale, Guillermo del Toro
Written by Chuck Hogan
Created by Chuck Hogan, Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Rita Gedmintas, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet
FX
Air Date: Sunday August 2nd, 2015, 10pm

Last week on The Strain, Gus (Miguel Gomez) and the rebel vamps make a move on Palmer (Jonathan Hyde), but it does not turn out so well for them. Palmer manages to shock and impress Coco (Lizzie Brocheré) at the same time. Bodyguard Bolivar (Jack Kesy) certainly didn’t help. Silly girl, still believes he is good. We find out that Setrakian (David Bradley) makes a worm potion that does not turn him into a vamp, but keeps him alive and strong. Nora (Mia Maestro) manages to get that out of him, but promises not to tell. Eph (Corey Stoll) has his hands full with bratty Zach, who really wants his mommy. Don’t worry Zach, Mommy’ll find you. Eph tries yelling and scaring him, which never works. One win – they manage to infect their male human guinea pig vamp, and plan to set him free to infect more vamps. Staten Island is vampire free.

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (SDRR)
Season 1 Episode 3: “Lust For Life”
Created by Denis Leary
Directed by Michael Blieden
Written by Denis Leary
Starring Denis Leary, John Corbett, Elizabeth Gillies, John Ales, Robert Kelly, Elaine Hendrix, Josh Pais
FOX
Air Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2015, 10:00pm

Last week on Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, the band plus Gigi (Liz Gillies) tried to get Johnny (Denis Leary) clean and sober, so he could be more productive in the songwriting department. This is after he wrote a killer riff during a bender, that he didn’t remember writing. Gigi is worried about his health though. He signed a contract without reading it, and a few of the stipulations were – Gigi is the singer, Johnny is the songwriter, and he’s gotta write 5 songs sober in 30 days. Johnny went to each and every member of the cast to try to wiggle his way out of it, until finally Rehab (John Ales) relented on some Adderral. Johnny had the last laugh though. He wrote the worst song ever, and they all ran to grab liquor and weed – but that’s it. Johnny Rock is a master manipulator.

The Strain
Season 2 Episode 3: “Fort Defiance”
Directed by Guy Ferland
Written by Regina Corrado
Created by Chuck Hogan & Guillermo del Toro
Starring Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Mia Maestro, Sean Astin, Kevin Durand, Richard Sammel, Jonathan Hyde, Miguel Gomez, Natalie Brown, Rita Gedmintas, Jack Kesy, Ben Hyland, Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet
FX
Air Date: Sunday July 26th, 2015, 10pm

Last week on The Strain, Eph (Corey Stoll) and Nora (Mia Maestro) get the infected couple to be test subjects for their new vampire virus – one that infects the infected. Newly concious vampire Kelly (Natalie Brown), sets the vampire children sniffing for Zach. Bolivar (Jack Kesy) was also awakened, and is helping Eichorst (Richard Sammel) find a new body for The Master (Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Maillet). Palmer’s (Jonathan Hyde) new assistant, Coco (Lizzie Brocheré), wrote a speech for him which at first seems inappropriate, but riles up the crowd. Somehow though, Setrakian (David Bradley) gets near him. He’s only trying to suss out if he knows where the Occido Lumen is. We are shown the backstory for Palmer and Abraham. Fet (Kevin Durand) and Dutch (Rita Gedmintas) start taking back their block.

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (SDRR)
Season 1 Episode 2: “Clean Rockin Daddy”
Created by Denis Leary
Directed by Michael Blieden
Written by Denis Leary
Starring Denis Leary, John Corbett, Elizabeth Gillies, John Ales, Robert Kelly, Elaine Hendrix
FOX
Air Date: Thursday, July 23rd, 2015, 10:00pm

Last week on Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (SDRR) we met Johnny Rock (Denis Leary), an aging rocker in a downward spiral, considering a gig as a frontman for a Bon Jovi cover band. Until his talented daughter Gigi (Liz Gillies) walks into his life (after he creepily hits on her). She’s got money, she wants to be a star, and she wants her daddy’s old band, The Heathens, to get back together. But first, Dad has to apologize to his old guitarist Flash (John Corbett) for the last few decades. Robert Kelly as drummer Bam Bam, John Ales as bassist Rehab, and Elaine Hendrix as Ava, backup singer and Johnny’s girlfriend finish the lineup.

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll premiered Thursday, July 16th on FX, and I loved it. Short and sweet, vulgar and kind, so wrong yet the music makes it so right, if they keep this up – this will be a guaranteed hit. And those that have been with me through pilot shows know that the expectation is lower, without connections or background or a crazy shock factor. But this pilot was a blast.

Do you wanna give it a shot? Watch the Meet the Characters videos below and decide for yourself.