They come in pieces ... always

I'm a day late and a dollar short, but I just got a chance to watch Monday's episode of the CSI Trilogy. Add that with the mystery of "V" and I had myself one heck of a night.

"CSI: Miami - Trilogy Part I" (CBS, 10:00): There are so many moving parts to this story, I wish that CBS would've just made a little movie or put all the shows on one night. On the other hand, I guess I could've just saved all the episodes and watched them on the same night. Shruggsies.

When the severed arm of one girl and the leg of another turns up in the Everglades, one of the body parts traces back to a missing girl from Las Vegas. Enter Ray Langston from the Vegas Crime Lab. It's obvious from their video phone conference that Miami has some serious equipment in their lab - holograms, tabletop computer screens ... Are you telling me Langston had to fly all the way to Florida to tell them they should be looking for a butcher? When Langston arrives, he's treated like a rock star. Pause it: That must have been a really good book he wrote.

The body parts start piling up when the CSIs find a foot. After realizing they may have closed two cases, there's still another one open. Time to make that trip to the Big Apple. Rewind: This plot reminded me of a real-life story where feet started washing up on the shores of Vancouver, British Columbia. At least they were wearing shoes. And how cool was it that Horatio gave a shout out to fallen CSI Warrick Brown. Very nice touch to remind us that the Vegas lab is still mourning their friend.

"V" (ABC, 8:00): I'm not one who really gets into shows about aliens, and I can't explain why I have allowed this one to get to me. I was actually scared watching the opening of this episode. It's not the fear of aliens, but the fear of not being able to trust anyone. The show was driving up my blood pressure.

It's anyone's guess who's a V and who's not. I totally missed the big reveal last week when my tall drink of hot chocolate, Morris Chestnut as Ryan, turned out to be a V. He's a good V, though, having fallen in love with a human and working to stop his alien brothers. I'm going out on a limb and guessing that the high priest (the older guy) is a V. He's much to sympathetic to their plight, even for a man of the cloth. I also think most of the FBI are Vs, too. See how I'm freaking out? They said don't trust anyone, and I don't. My buddy Michael pointed out that their hidden skin looks like cavier. It looks disgusting.

Tyler is one day into his job as a V ambassador and he's already dismissed for fighting. They come in peace, always ... remember? Pause it: Tyler is to this show what Kim Bauer was to "24": an annoying nuisance. Drop this storyline quickly please! I had better not see Tyler going on the run with a kidnapped child and fighting off mountain lions.

Does this show freak you out as much as it does me? Who else do you think is part of the Vs?

Guess who's coming to dinner

I usually don't watch television on Friday and Saturday nights, but there I had nothing to entertain myself. (Sheepishly glancing at stack of books in my "to read" pile).

"V" (ABC, Tues., 8:00): I'm kicking myself for not taping the pilot when it first aired, and I'm karate kicking ABC in the stomach for waiting 5 days to post it online. That being said, "V" sucked me in as soon as that tall drink of mocha goodness, Morris Chestnut, entered the scene. Give me a minute while I enjoy this hot chocolate.

The show opens with what appears to be an earthquake but is really just 29 spaceships settling over New York and every other major city in the world. No big deal, right? Flashback: The scene looked like it was straight out of "Independence Day". A woman's face appears on the bottom of the ship proclaiming that they come in peace. Anna is the Obama of the visitors (or Vs) and wants to offer everything they know to us earthlings. Pause it: The Vs say they can cure 65 ailments. Do stretchmarks count as an ailment cause I need that remedy. I hope they take insurance. At the end of her speech, people were cheering and clapping. Really people? A SPACESHIP is hovering over your city. You stand there clapping. I'll in church repenting and making sure my insurance policies are up to date.

There were a lot of twists and creepy turns that come to a head at a secret meeting called by a man who says we shouldn't trust the Vs. A gunfight breaks out and I can't tell who's a V and who's a human. The only way to know is by the skull ... humans have one, Vs dont. So far I can see that Erica (Elizabeth Mitchell) and the priest are indeed human. But the rest of these people are a mystery.

This show sets up some very interesting conversation on religion, government and terrorism. Can we trust our government leaders at a time of crisis. How do you know if your next door neighbor isn't part of a sleeper terrorist cell (or an alien)? Does God accept those who only come to him in times of turmoil and for nothing else? I want to know the Vs are and I'm along for the ride on this spaceship!

Funny, funny: During her first broadcast interview, the Visitor High Commander Anna says that they want to offer medical care for everyone. The interviewer slowly replies, "You want universal health care?" (Good luck with that, lady!)