‘Nip/Tuck’ cuts into season five
By Kelly Vormelker, Staff Writer
November 6, 2007 | 5 p.m.
The first episode of this new season finds McNamara-Troy relocated from Miami to shiny and sexy L.A. The two doctors find business lacking in this city and decide to perform a much-needed face-lift on it and themselves.
McNamara and Troy go out on the town and search unsuccessfully for un-cut flesh. They instead meet a publicist (Lauren Hutton), who quickly scores the doctors a roll on the over-the-top drama, “Hearts ‘N Scalpels.” As a result business begins to pick up and McNamara and Troy finally find themselves some fresh L.A. flesh.
The premiere episode did not fall short in regard to the doctors' carnal cravings. Troy was able to seduce actress Carly (Daphne Zuniga) into his bed and into a full-body overhaul in his office.
Also, the practice’s first patient’s chest has to be constantly reconstructed from damage caused by his dominatrix who comes into the office and continually pulls on his chest with a fishing pole.
This first episode was virtually free from former seasons’ melodramatic and haunting plots. It was, however, comical, a trait the show rarely boasts. “Hearts ‘N Scalpels,” the show in which the doctors appear, seems to satire the series possibly in an attempt to boost ratings as the show ages.
“Hearts ‘N Scalpels” also reenacts a scenario from a former “Nip/Tuck” episode where a patient’s lips are burned off and replaced with skin from her vagina, deeming her “pussy lips.”
This episode did throw back to the other seasons as the so-called competition between McNamara and Troy continues. As McNamara takes the spotlight in the drama “Hearts ‘N Scalpels,” Troy inevitably becomes jealous. In upcoming episodes Troy will pose for a magazine, perfectly-pulled skin exposed, in an attempt to regain the spotlight.
Still to come this season is the relocation of main characters Julia (Joely Richardson), Kimber (Kelly Carlson) and Matt (John Hensley) to L.A. McNamara will have a sure-to-be-scandalous affair with his costar in “Hearts ‘N Scalpels,” (Paula Marshall). S&M plots ensue. Kimber and Matt, who were married in the last season, make another sharp move and go through an addiction to crystal meth.
Guest stars this season will include Oliver Platt, Lauren Hutton, Bradley Cooper, Paula Marshall, Portia de Rossi, Jennifer Coolidge, Craig Bierko, Daphne Zuniga, Tia Carrere, John Schneider and Rosie O’Donnell.
One twist that may be too over the top will be when “I Love New York” star, Tiffany Patterson, guest stars as herself. She comes into the mix after McNamara and Troy agree to do their own reality show.
It is yet to be determined if "Nip/Tuck" still has its razor sharp edge intact. They may have finally run out of controversial, shocking story lines. In the past such story lines on "Nip/Tuck" have been smoothly seductive. They have featured an organ stealing, seductive, murderess; a killer called ‘The Carver’ who worked to reverse plastic surgery procedures; a transvestite involved with a drug lord who came in to the office with a vagina full of poisonous fluids, and various other outrageous plots.
The past seasons of "Nip/Tuck" have been wickedly popular. It is yet to be seen if this season can live up to the past’s irresistibly disgraceful characters and content. Those curious can catch “Nip/Tuck” on FX, Tuesday nights at 10 p.m.
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