Because I'm hoping Grey's can recapture some of the magic that lead to this:
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Clip of the Day: For Senator Obama
Because I think picking her would REALLY have been a game-changer:
Friday, August 22, 2008
Clip of the Day: Humiliation is the Best Form of Payback
Because there are people in this office that I would like to do this to:
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Clip of the Day: Run, Children, Run Far Away! She's Coming!
Because it's been far too long since I've thought about She Who Must Not Be Named:
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Quick Look: The Mentalist
Today is August 20th, which means we're roughly one month away from premiere week, and time to start taking a look the new and returning shows. Tonight, I'd like to start with my big bet for the new season, The Mentalist on CBS. Now, I'm going to perfectly honest upfront: I'm basing my opinion on the 30-second spot CBS has running and the minute and a half preview available on the CBS website, so I'm just going on my gut instinct here, but since my TV instincts are good, I'm pretty confident that I'm going to like this show, and that most other people will as well. Here's why:
1) Simon Baker is cool. He's a good actor, the ladies love him, and his character seems like the perfect mix of genius and jackass to be the guy that all the girls want and the guys want to be.
2) A bevy of beauties. Robin Tunney (formerly of Prison Break) and Amanda Righetti (formerly of a number of Fox shows) are hot, so they'll satisfy the male eye-candy requirement.
3) It's a procedural. Not only is this a tried and true format for CBS, but also allows the show to repeat well, which will be important in cementing its fan base.
The show faces some stiff competition in the form of the Dancing with the Stars results show, but I wouldn't be surprised if interest in that show finally starts to wane. The Metalist will also have to contend with the new J.J. Abrams sci-fi-ish drama Fringe on Fox, but I'm betting The Mentalist gets more viewers simply because of its self-contained format (Abrams' shows are esoteric and highly-serialized to say the least).
Take a look below and let me know if you are as excited as I am:
Watch CBS Videos Online
1) Simon Baker is cool. He's a good actor, the ladies love him, and his character seems like the perfect mix of genius and jackass to be the guy that all the girls want and the guys want to be.
2) A bevy of beauties. Robin Tunney (formerly of Prison Break) and Amanda Righetti (formerly of a number of Fox shows) are hot, so they'll satisfy the male eye-candy requirement.
3) It's a procedural. Not only is this a tried and true format for CBS, but also allows the show to repeat well, which will be important in cementing its fan base.
The show faces some stiff competition in the form of the Dancing with the Stars results show, but I wouldn't be surprised if interest in that show finally starts to wane. The Metalist will also have to contend with the new J.J. Abrams sci-fi-ish drama Fringe on Fox, but I'm betting The Mentalist gets more viewers simply because of its self-contained format (Abrams' shows are esoteric and highly-serialized to say the least).
Take a look below and let me know if you are as excited as I am:
Watch CBS Videos Online
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Breaking News
I usually avoid posting while I'm at work, and I'm not really planning on talking about movies very much since they're a little out of the scope of this blog, but this is one of the few times I will make an exception. Michael Ausiello of Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Rob Thomas and KRISTEN BELL have had some informal conversations regarding a Veronica Mars movie. That's right ladies and gentleman, a VERONICA MARS MOVIE!!! Apparently it's the number 3 thing on Rob Thomas' list after his two TV pilots and KRISTEN BELL is definitely open to the idea. There are very few things that would make me happier than seeing KRISTEN BELL play Veronica one more time. I was so angry when the show got cancelled that I sent a series of very nasty e-mails to the CW main e-mail address, threatening to boycott the network and such, but alas they didn't listen to me. I digress. Back to the point: VERONICA MOVIE. The thought of it just makes me tingle with joy. I don't care what the plot is,and I don't care how long I have to wait fo it, I just know I need it, as do you, don't you agree?
To read the EW.com article, click here.
To read the EW.com article, click here.
Clip of the Day: "I Hope You're Happy"
Because my friend Tali needs to see what happens when you ignore someone:
Monday, August 18, 2008
"It's like like this generation's A Tale of Two Cities or Oliver Twist.''
Apocalypse watchers take note: tonight marks the return of the inexplicable MTV phenomenon The Hills. I would give you an overview of the show, but I refuse to perpetuate the imbecility and vapidness that this show creates among teenagers and twentysomethings. In a recent cover story on the show, Entertainment Weekly quoted Tony DiSanto, VP of series programming at MTV, who liked the show to Dickens' great novels. All I have to say is: YOU'VE GOT TO BE (EXPLETIVE) KIDDING ME!!!!! I could list off the myriad reasons why it barely qualifies as a show, but to liken it to classic works of literature? Really? Have we as a country become so stupid and idiotic that we think this is our society's magnum opus? If so, then we are truly like Rome before the fall of the empire. Now this is not to say that I won't watch it, because I will, knowing that it will be water cooler talk tomorrow at work, BUT I will not enjoy it. (Ok, maybe I'll enjoy it, but I certainly WILL NOT think it's wonderful television; I reserve that categorization for only the best serialized dramas and single-camera comedies.) So, ladies and gentleman, if you are going to watch The Hills, enjoy it, but I ask you to think about what that enjoyment is actually costing you and society at large (The answer: many, many brain cells and increasing the likelihood that Spiedi will get that variety show after all, which would truly be the 7th sign of the apocalypse.) Good day.
Clip of the Day: "What is Chandler Bing's Job?"
Because the Olympics has me feeling all competitive (This one is a bit long, but totally worth it.)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Hmm, That's Not a Bad Idea
Good evening everyone, I hope you're all enjoying the last bit of the weekend. I know I'm savoring every moment. I often find that Sunday nights are a good time to reflect, whether it be about figuring out what I did the night before, getting mentally ready to return to my hamster wheel the next morning, or thinking about my favorite TV shows. The last one inevitably beats out the other two. Lately, I've been hypothesizing about what the new season will bring to my favorite shows. I've found that one of the best shows to do this with is Grey's Anatomy, as the show has already burned through a number of ridiculous storylines, which makes guessing the next one all the more interesting. Sometimes I wonder what exactly Shonda Rhimes was thinking with some of those awful plots (please see Meredith drowning, Crazy Izzie, and Gizzie for further information). If those stories made the cut, it's hard to imagine what didn't, but for tonight I'm going to try. So without further adieu, I give you rejected Grey's plotlines:
1) Helicopter crash on the roof of the hospital: A copter bringing the Chief kidneys for a double renal transplant, crashes on the roof, forcing the staff to not only try to save the lives of those onboard, but also find the missing organs--which miraculously survived the crash--so that the surgery can go on. Meanwhile, two interns give into their lust for each and do it in the supply closet.
2) Freak weather disaster: An extremely rare Pacific hurricane hits Seattle. As the staff deal with the numerous incoming traumas, including a man who gets a stop sign wedged in his skull, tensions brew among the residents as competition for a new fellowship heats up. Meanwhile, an intern and resident realize their mutual attraction and give into their passions in an on call room, causing the resident to miss their first solo surgery and subsequently get put on probation.
3) Vacation, I think not: The entire staff takes a trip to Hawaii to celebrate Meredith and Derek's impeding nuptials. Once there, however, a freak volcanic eruption requires the doctors to perform emergency amputation surgeries on those victims who have come into contact with the lava. Meanwhile, Meredith gets cold feet, requiring McDreamy to calm her down with nighttimes sex on the beach (and I don't mean the drink).
4) All work and no play make Izzie something, something: Having finally gone off the deep end as a result of the patient she had been stalking rejecting her advances (he had a lovely wife after all), Dr. Stevens shaves her head then threatens to jump off the roof of the hospital, only to be talked down by George. Meanwhile, three interns caught in a love triangle realize that three is better than two and give into their desires in OR 1, just as the Chief enters the gallery searching for his missing scrub cap.
Personally, I like 4 the best. How about you?
1) Helicopter crash on the roof of the hospital: A copter bringing the Chief kidneys for a double renal transplant, crashes on the roof, forcing the staff to not only try to save the lives of those onboard, but also find the missing organs--which miraculously survived the crash--so that the surgery can go on. Meanwhile, two interns give into their lust for each and do it in the supply closet.
2) Freak weather disaster: An extremely rare Pacific hurricane hits Seattle. As the staff deal with the numerous incoming traumas, including a man who gets a stop sign wedged in his skull, tensions brew among the residents as competition for a new fellowship heats up. Meanwhile, an intern and resident realize their mutual attraction and give into their passions in an on call room, causing the resident to miss their first solo surgery and subsequently get put on probation.
3) Vacation, I think not: The entire staff takes a trip to Hawaii to celebrate Meredith and Derek's impeding nuptials. Once there, however, a freak volcanic eruption requires the doctors to perform emergency amputation surgeries on those victims who have come into contact with the lava. Meanwhile, Meredith gets cold feet, requiring McDreamy to calm her down with nighttimes sex on the beach (and I don't mean the drink).
4) All work and no play make Izzie something, something: Having finally gone off the deep end as a result of the patient she had been stalking rejecting her advances (he had a lovely wife after all), Dr. Stevens shaves her head then threatens to jump off the roof of the hospital, only to be talked down by George. Meanwhile, three interns caught in a love triangle realize that three is better than two and give into their desires in OR 1, just as the Chief enters the gallery searching for his missing scrub cap.
Personally, I like 4 the best. How about you?
Clip of the Day: "What was wrong with the black one?"
Because it's been a while since I thought about server 47. (Oh, and to answer the question: Absolutely nothing, nothing at all.)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Heroes? Villains? Does anyone still care?
So during my many hours of Olympic watching, in addition to seeing commercials for that god-awful Kath & Kim, I've also seen the "They're villains, Claire" commercial for Heroes an inordinate amount of times. I loved Heroes when it first started and I thought the first season was great, but now these commercials can barely get me excited, and I'm not really sure why. Let's hypothesize:
1) Season 2 sucked so bad that no matter how good 3 may be, its too late to bring me back. Hmm, perhaps, but in retrospect the only parts of Season 2 that I absolutely hated were the Wonder Twins storyline, and on the flip side, Season 2 had KRISTEN BELL and I think I've made very clear how I feel about her. (And in case you're new to our club, WE LOOOOOOOVE KRISTEN BELL. Got it? Good.) Let's keep going.
2) Too much time has passed. This one is a pretty good bet. Heroes, with its intricate and dense mythology, needs a highly-engaged fan base. The problem with the last original episode having aired in December is that that fan base has moved on, not having had any new story, both on TV and in other media, to keep them addicted. They found new stuff to satisfy they're superhero fix, which brings me to my third point.
3) The Dark Knight is a much better meditation on the concept of heroes and villains than Heroes will ever be. I think this is the right answer. There's a reason why the Dark Knight is about to become the second highest grossing movie of all time, namely that it is a timeless work of art that makes the concept of "hero" and "villain" murky and indistinct and leaves the audience with something very real and very big to ponder over. I'm not sure that this show, which did struggle a bit creatively, can even come close to matching that task. Case in point: the trailer for season 3 (see below) asks the viewer to pick sides, whereas TDK leaves the viewer feeling as if there are no sides.
Heroes probably would have been able to avoid these comparisons if it was tackling a different storyline, but given the direction of the story this season, I think people are going to watch a few episodes and realize that it just can't compete. I hope I'm wrong, and please tell me if you think I am, but I'd bet that Heroes is going to become another casualty of the writer's strike, which is unfortunate, but not unexpected.
1) Season 2 sucked so bad that no matter how good 3 may be, its too late to bring me back. Hmm, perhaps, but in retrospect the only parts of Season 2 that I absolutely hated were the Wonder Twins storyline, and on the flip side, Season 2 had KRISTEN BELL and I think I've made very clear how I feel about her. (And in case you're new to our club, WE LOOOOOOOVE KRISTEN BELL. Got it? Good.) Let's keep going.
2) Too much time has passed. This one is a pretty good bet. Heroes, with its intricate and dense mythology, needs a highly-engaged fan base. The problem with the last original episode having aired in December is that that fan base has moved on, not having had any new story, both on TV and in other media, to keep them addicted. They found new stuff to satisfy they're superhero fix, which brings me to my third point.
3) The Dark Knight is a much better meditation on the concept of heroes and villains than Heroes will ever be. I think this is the right answer. There's a reason why the Dark Knight is about to become the second highest grossing movie of all time, namely that it is a timeless work of art that makes the concept of "hero" and "villain" murky and indistinct and leaves the audience with something very real and very big to ponder over. I'm not sure that this show, which did struggle a bit creatively, can even come close to matching that task. Case in point: the trailer for season 3 (see below) asks the viewer to pick sides, whereas TDK leaves the viewer feeling as if there are no sides.
Heroes probably would have been able to avoid these comparisons if it was tackling a different storyline, but given the direction of the story this season, I think people are going to watch a few episodes and realize that it just can't compete. I hope I'm wrong, and please tell me if you think I am, but I'd bet that Heroes is going to become another casualty of the writer's strike, which is unfortunate, but not unexpected.
Clip of the Day: Therapy, Jack Donaghy Style
Because I'm still not sure if Tracy is more or less crazy than Ann Curry:
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"A Nasty Piece of Work" Never Looked This Good
I work for a company that does research about marketing and advertising, so I read a lot of newsletters and blogs about media and commercials and what not. Imagine my delight then, when a couple weeks back all of these outlets started buzzing about the new marketing campaign for the CW's Gossip Girl, which I happen to think is one of the best guilty pleasures on television (and if you tell anyone that I watch Gossip Girl, I will have to kill you).
The campaign, in my opinion is brilliant: it takes the criticisms leveled at the show by such bastions of conservatism as the Parents Television Council and pairs them with some fairly suggestive pictures of characters engaging in activities that certainly are "every parent's nightmare," such as this one:
The campaign is basically a giant middle finger at critics, and I have to give props to the CW for being so blatantly ballsy. Its risky, and it certainly has gotten people talking about the show again. It remains to be seen if this newfound buzz will translate into a boost in the ratings, given that there weren't very many people watching the show in the first place. I think the new Monday timeslot will help, as will premiering weeks before most other shows do. Gossip Girl returns Monday, September 1. Look for my thoughts on the show's return over the next few weeks, and to watch a couple of the new promo spots, click here and here, but just don't let anyone catch you.
The campaign, in my opinion is brilliant: it takes the criticisms leveled at the show by such bastions of conservatism as the Parents Television Council and pairs them with some fairly suggestive pictures of characters engaging in activities that certainly are "every parent's nightmare," such as this one:
The campaign is basically a giant middle finger at critics, and I have to give props to the CW for being so blatantly ballsy. Its risky, and it certainly has gotten people talking about the show again. It remains to be seen if this newfound buzz will translate into a boost in the ratings, given that there weren't very many people watching the show in the first place. I think the new Monday timeslot will help, as will premiering weeks before most other shows do. Gossip Girl returns Monday, September 1. Look for my thoughts on the show's return over the next few weeks, and to watch a couple of the new promo spots, click here and here, but just don't let anyone catch you.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Impending Trainwreck--Avert Your Eyes
I've been watching a lot of the Olympics, and I love it. The competition, the pageantry, the blatant overdramatization of the athletes' backstories by NBC--it's all wonderful. Except for one thing: NBC insists on running the same 3 or 4 commercials to promote their fall shows. For the most part, they're fine. I love being reminded that The Office comes back September 25th and that new Christian Slater show doesn't look too too awful; however, if I see one more commercial for Kath & Kim, I may gouge my eyes out.
This show looks AWFUL. I mean A-W-F-U-L. The commercials, they're just not funny. Molly Shannon looks ridiculous in that orange wig, and I saw Selma Blair play an impetuous flighty teen 10 years ago in Cruel Intentions, and quite frankly she did a much better job then than she seems to do now. I get that the show is based on a successful Australian comedy (which actually is pretty funny--check out YouTube to seem some clips), but I don't think it's going to translate well. I think NBC must really be regretting greenlighting this show without a pilot, and I'd bet America will too once it airs. Maybe I'm wrong, but my gut is telling me that I'm right. I think NBC may be in some serious trouble here, b/c that Knight Rider show also looks like it will crash and burn (no pun intended). The sad thing is Molly Shannon deserves better: she was wonderful on SNL, and even on Will & Grace. They could certainly find something better for her (perhaps a spot on that new show from the creators of The Office) and I'm sure they could find something better for us.
You can see a clip here, but don't say I didn't warn you.
This show looks AWFUL. I mean A-W-F-U-L. The commercials, they're just not funny. Molly Shannon looks ridiculous in that orange wig, and I saw Selma Blair play an impetuous flighty teen 10 years ago in Cruel Intentions, and quite frankly she did a much better job then than she seems to do now. I get that the show is based on a successful Australian comedy (which actually is pretty funny--check out YouTube to seem some clips), but I don't think it's going to translate well. I think NBC must really be regretting greenlighting this show without a pilot, and I'd bet America will too once it airs. Maybe I'm wrong, but my gut is telling me that I'm right. I think NBC may be in some serious trouble here, b/c that Knight Rider show also looks like it will crash and burn (no pun intended). The sad thing is Molly Shannon deserves better: she was wonderful on SNL, and even on Will & Grace. They could certainly find something better for her (perhaps a spot on that new show from the creators of The Office) and I'm sure they could find something better for us.
You can see a clip here, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Blog is Back
Hello out there! It's been a long time. Too long in fact. A lot has happened in the time we've been apart. The writers went on strike. TV went away for a while, then came back. Britney went really crazy then got normal. Lindsay Lohan got a lady friend. Obama and McCain improbably won the nominations. The island moved. Blair was THE crazy bitch. Jim and Pam almost. Kenneth went to Beijing. Izzie went crazy.
Did you notice my show references? Even though I stopped posting, I did keep watching, cross my heart. My life got very crazy during the time between the start and end of the strike, which is why I fell off the face of the earth for a while. Things have calmed down now, so I thought it would be an appropriate time to relaunch. This time I plan to do it right. No more ridiculously long recaps. No more skipping episodes from week to week. Nope, this time you're going to get my raw unfettered reactions--short, sweet, and to the point. I'm not sure what shows I'm going to cover yet this season, but since I have roughly three weeks to decide before the first show premieres, I'm not really in a hurry. Over the next few weeks I'll bring you updates about returning shows and some quick looks at the new ones (I'm already making The Mentalist on CBS one of my big bets for this year).
Valente out.
Did you notice my show references? Even though I stopped posting, I did keep watching, cross my heart. My life got very crazy during the time between the start and end of the strike, which is why I fell off the face of the earth for a while. Things have calmed down now, so I thought it would be an appropriate time to relaunch. This time I plan to do it right. No more ridiculously long recaps. No more skipping episodes from week to week. Nope, this time you're going to get my raw unfettered reactions--short, sweet, and to the point. I'm not sure what shows I'm going to cover yet this season, but since I have roughly three weeks to decide before the first show premieres, I'm not really in a hurry. Over the next few weeks I'll bring you updates about returning shows and some quick looks at the new ones (I'm already making The Mentalist on CBS one of my big bets for this year).
Valente out.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Really Long German Word
I went out after work last night (yes, I have a life) and didn't get to watch HIMYM until I got home this evening. To be honest, I wasn't that impressed. Last night's episode was OK, but a definite step down from last week's Slapsgiving. Here's the rundown:
Ted has one of those moments where he realizes he's out of shape (I have one of those moments every morning when I get out of the shower.......ugghhh), so he decides that its time for all of them to join a gym. This results in the night's two funniest moments, neither of which have to do with the A-plot, so I'll leave them for later. Barney already belongs to gym, but he doesn't work out there. Instead, he "invests"--he chats up overweight girls so that they'll remember him when they get skinny. The man might be an innovator, but he also might be crazy. While ordering a smoothie, Barney encounters Rhonda, his mom's chain smoking friend who he lost his virginity to. There's one small catch: Rhonda has no idea who he is. Apparently Barney wasn't as good out of the gate as he thought he was. We flashback to a grungy, ponytail Barney, who has just been dumped by the girl he was saving himself for. In attempt to get him back on his feet his brother (again played by Wayne Brady, who does a really good job with the not-out-of-the-closet-yet jokes) gets Rhonda to sleep with him and tell him he was great. I think one of those shattering glass noises from a couple of episodes ago would be appropriate here, given how Barney just falls apart as he realizes his entire sexual career is based on a lie.
In an attempt to turn things around, Barney scores three passes to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show afterparty (hey, what do you know! The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is going to air on CBS next week!). He makes a bee line for the first supermodel he sees and totally strikes out. So he moves on the second. And strikes out. And the third. And.....you get the picture. Apparently Barney has a case of "the yips," meaning that he is incapable of hitting on girls. I always thought it was called "horribly awkward in social situations," but I'm not one to turn down a new catchphrase. Barney spots Heidi Klum (who is so freaking hot I thought my computer screen might melt) in the crowd, but instead of talking to her, he just makes noises at her, then goes to a table and cries. Heidi asks Ted if he's ok, and Ted tells her he has the yips. Heidi sympathizes and says that in Germany they call it (really long German word which she will repeat again--it's a good moment). She then cheers him and tells him to get back on the saddle by sleeping with Rhonda and actually "rocking her world" this time. After some standard back and forth between Barney and Rhonda which I don't feel like recounting because it wasn't really that funny, Barney does the deed and gets right back to his old self.
The side plots revolve around the gym and give us the two funny moments I referenced earlier. Funny moment one: Marshall's cut, petite female trainer calling him a little bitch. That was great. Funny moment two: Robin grunting as she does bench presses with Ted looking on. Cobie Smulders can pull off the physical comedy quite well.
And that's the episode. There's only one more left (unless the strike ends this week--keep your fingers crossed!), so I guess I should have savored this one a bit more. But I didn't. Eh.
Ted has one of those moments where he realizes he's out of shape (I have one of those moments every morning when I get out of the shower.......ugghhh), so he decides that its time for all of them to join a gym. This results in the night's two funniest moments, neither of which have to do with the A-plot, so I'll leave them for later. Barney already belongs to gym, but he doesn't work out there. Instead, he "invests"--he chats up overweight girls so that they'll remember him when they get skinny. The man might be an innovator, but he also might be crazy. While ordering a smoothie, Barney encounters Rhonda, his mom's chain smoking friend who he lost his virginity to. There's one small catch: Rhonda has no idea who he is. Apparently Barney wasn't as good out of the gate as he thought he was. We flashback to a grungy, ponytail Barney, who has just been dumped by the girl he was saving himself for. In attempt to get him back on his feet his brother (again played by Wayne Brady, who does a really good job with the not-out-of-the-closet-yet jokes) gets Rhonda to sleep with him and tell him he was great. I think one of those shattering glass noises from a couple of episodes ago would be appropriate here, given how Barney just falls apart as he realizes his entire sexual career is based on a lie.
In an attempt to turn things around, Barney scores three passes to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show afterparty (hey, what do you know! The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is going to air on CBS next week!). He makes a bee line for the first supermodel he sees and totally strikes out. So he moves on the second. And strikes out. And the third. And.....you get the picture. Apparently Barney has a case of "the yips," meaning that he is incapable of hitting on girls. I always thought it was called "horribly awkward in social situations," but I'm not one to turn down a new catchphrase. Barney spots Heidi Klum (who is so freaking hot I thought my computer screen might melt) in the crowd, but instead of talking to her, he just makes noises at her, then goes to a table and cries. Heidi asks Ted if he's ok, and Ted tells her he has the yips. Heidi sympathizes and says that in Germany they call it (really long German word which she will repeat again--it's a good moment). She then cheers him and tells him to get back on the saddle by sleeping with Rhonda and actually "rocking her world" this time. After some standard back and forth between Barney and Rhonda which I don't feel like recounting because it wasn't really that funny, Barney does the deed and gets right back to his old self.
The side plots revolve around the gym and give us the two funny moments I referenced earlier. Funny moment one: Marshall's cut, petite female trainer calling him a little bitch. That was great. Funny moment two: Robin grunting as she does bench presses with Ted looking on. Cobie Smulders can pull off the physical comedy quite well.
And that's the episode. There's only one more left (unless the strike ends this week--keep your fingers crossed!), so I guess I should have savored this one a bit more. But I didn't. Eh.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Chicken Soup Has Returned!
I love Thanksgiving. The food is always good, the company is always interesting (especially if you spend Thanksgiving with my family--think "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" but with Italian people), and I always go to sleep happy. Especially this year, since TV gave me a little surprise--the return of "October Road." I had no idea that I when I turned on the TV at home Thursday night, I would find the show that I defended so vehemently last spring. Now, don't get me wrong, I know "October Road" is NOT good TV. The plotlines are silly and bordering on saccharine, and the dialogue is so melodramatic that sometimes I want to vomit. But sometimes, saccharine and melodramatic are exactly what I need from a TV show. When friends used to ask why I would ever watch such a crappy show, I would say "It's like chicken soup" (because it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside--I'm a clever one, aren't I?). So for all of you out there who think that I'm completely insane, I can only say: (1) Shut up, b/c I won't be blogging about it b/c I know I'm the only fan and (2) What do you have against chicken soup, hmm? Don't you like feeling happy? And with that, I'll leave you to enjoy the few remaining hours of Thanksgiving weekend.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Toeing the Line
Since I was out of town all weekend, I didn't have a chance to catch Friday Night Lights (aka The Perfect Show) until tonight. As many of you that have been watching know, the show has been good this season, but there have been some problems (Tyra and Landry, I'm looking at you). In the past couple weeks, the show has gotten back on point, but this last episode concerns me. Here's why: FNL has always (and when I say "always" I mean "the perfection of Season 1") been about subtle drama. The things we loved were the little things: the nervous way Matt used to talk to Julie, the small moments between Coach and Mrs. Taylor, that one episode where Tyra has dinner at the Taylor's house and she's both delighted and disappointed at the same time, etc., etc., you get the idea. By contrast, this past episode hits you over the head with exposition. Here's the rundown:
The small town event of the week this episode is Pantherama, which from what I can gather is some kind of pep rally on steroids. Mrs. Taylor, who planned the whole event last year, is far too busy now with the new baby to be able to do it again this year, so she enlists the help of Tyra and Lyla to plan the entertainment portion of the event. The girls, making great use of their natural gifts, i.e. their hot bodies, get the football team to perform a striptease at the event, pushing the boundaries of decorum for many of the adults in attendance, who ultimately seem to like it, and Mrs. Taylor, who does not. Matt, who for the first half of the episode interacts cutely with his new girlfriend (although I'll be damned if I can remember her name.....Leslie, maybe?), has trouble with the dance and gets help from his grandmother's sexy Latin nurse. Her reward? A kiss from our QB 1, which should be totally inappropriate, but doesn't seem to be given the looks they were shooting each other the next morning over breakfast. Yeah, that relationship definitely ain't kosher and is way too soapy for my liking. There's enough of a story with Matt just dating the new girl and getting over Julie, no need to add the older hot Latina into the mix.
Speaking of Julie, she's apparently part of the school newspaper, where her assignment this week is to write an article about Pantherama which is supposed to focus on the seedy underbelly of the event. You know what I'm talking about: one of those articles that's supposed to expose school corruption that would definitely never get published in the real world b/c the faculty adviser would be too afraid of pissing the administration off. Speaking of the faculty adviser, he's a new young teacher who went to Columbia and worked at a newspaper and is supposed to be all cool and interesting. He and Julie become friendly after she ducks into his classroom to avoid Matt and his new girlfriend and then starts crying and tells him the whole story, blah, blah, blah, we all know where this is going. In fact, I knew where this was going as soon I saw her go into that room. I swear I could "Don't Stand So Close to Me" by The Police playing in the background. It wasn't? Well it should have been. Even Mrs. Taylor thinks so because she does not respond well to finding the two of them talking alone together in his classroom. Have I mentioned how awesome she is?
In a plotwise unrelated but episode-theme related coincidence, this week also happens to be the first week that college recruiters can talk to senior Panther players about scholarships and the like. Smash is as excited as a geek on a visit to the Lucas Ranch (what, you thought I was going to make a sports reference?) He sees this as his first step towards the pros and he'll do anything to make it happen, even if it means going against Coach's instructions and possibly damaging his high school eligibility. Some might say Smash crosses a line here. Are you sensing a theme yet?
Tim decides to move out his house because his brother and the older lady from next door that he used to do the nasty nasty with have been spending too much in the house. He stays with Tyra for two nights, but she makes him leave after that because if he stayed any longer it would be crossing the line (did I just say that again?) So he moves in with some guy with ferrets. Yeah.
And finally we have Santiago (Lyla's project, remember?). It turns out he has no legal guardian, which just makes me feel even worse for this guy, because he seems ok. Until he gets one, Mrs. Taylor won't clear to play on the team as Tim's replacement. Coach's solution? Let Buddy Garrity become his legal guardian. Great idea coach, given how much his other kids still like him. The episode ends with Santiago moving into Buddy's apartment and Buddy apologizing for the room being so small. Santiago doesn't mind, though, because it's his first real bed. Way to make choke up, show, way to make me choke up.
I think the Santiago and Lyla/Tyra storylines were the strong ones tonight, as they were believable but not over the top (some might say the Santiago one is, but given that Buddy's always been over the top, I think it fits). The Smash plot was also fairly realistic, but I didn't like b/c I don't want Smash screwing things up for himself. The weak storylines: Julie's and Matt's. Can we stop having these two hook up with inappropriate people, please? This is not The O.C., thank you very much.
So what do you guys think? Is the show staying too soapy? Would you like if it did? (If you answer yes to this question, we can longer be friends). One final piece of good news: FNL will have 15 episodes completed once they finish filming all of the scripts that were written before the writer's strike, meaning that the show will stick around for a while after all of your other favorite shows go off the air. That's something to make sure your thankful for as you gorge yourself on turkey on Thursday.
The small town event of the week this episode is Pantherama, which from what I can gather is some kind of pep rally on steroids. Mrs. Taylor, who planned the whole event last year, is far too busy now with the new baby to be able to do it again this year, so she enlists the help of Tyra and Lyla to plan the entertainment portion of the event. The girls, making great use of their natural gifts, i.e. their hot bodies, get the football team to perform a striptease at the event, pushing the boundaries of decorum for many of the adults in attendance, who ultimately seem to like it, and Mrs. Taylor, who does not. Matt, who for the first half of the episode interacts cutely with his new girlfriend (although I'll be damned if I can remember her name.....Leslie, maybe?), has trouble with the dance and gets help from his grandmother's sexy Latin nurse. Her reward? A kiss from our QB 1, which should be totally inappropriate, but doesn't seem to be given the looks they were shooting each other the next morning over breakfast. Yeah, that relationship definitely ain't kosher and is way too soapy for my liking. There's enough of a story with Matt just dating the new girl and getting over Julie, no need to add the older hot Latina into the mix.
Speaking of Julie, she's apparently part of the school newspaper, where her assignment this week is to write an article about Pantherama which is supposed to focus on the seedy underbelly of the event. You know what I'm talking about: one of those articles that's supposed to expose school corruption that would definitely never get published in the real world b/c the faculty adviser would be too afraid of pissing the administration off. Speaking of the faculty adviser, he's a new young teacher who went to Columbia and worked at a newspaper and is supposed to be all cool and interesting. He and Julie become friendly after she ducks into his classroom to avoid Matt and his new girlfriend and then starts crying and tells him the whole story, blah, blah, blah, we all know where this is going. In fact, I knew where this was going as soon I saw her go into that room. I swear I could "Don't Stand So Close to Me" by The Police playing in the background. It wasn't? Well it should have been. Even Mrs. Taylor thinks so because she does not respond well to finding the two of them talking alone together in his classroom. Have I mentioned how awesome she is?
In a plotwise unrelated but episode-theme related coincidence, this week also happens to be the first week that college recruiters can talk to senior Panther players about scholarships and the like. Smash is as excited as a geek on a visit to the Lucas Ranch (what, you thought I was going to make a sports reference?) He sees this as his first step towards the pros and he'll do anything to make it happen, even if it means going against Coach's instructions and possibly damaging his high school eligibility. Some might say Smash crosses a line here. Are you sensing a theme yet?
Tim decides to move out his house because his brother and the older lady from next door that he used to do the nasty nasty with have been spending too much in the house. He stays with Tyra for two nights, but she makes him leave after that because if he stayed any longer it would be crossing the line (did I just say that again?) So he moves in with some guy with ferrets. Yeah.
And finally we have Santiago (Lyla's project, remember?). It turns out he has no legal guardian, which just makes me feel even worse for this guy, because he seems ok. Until he gets one, Mrs. Taylor won't clear to play on the team as Tim's replacement. Coach's solution? Let Buddy Garrity become his legal guardian. Great idea coach, given how much his other kids still like him. The episode ends with Santiago moving into Buddy's apartment and Buddy apologizing for the room being so small. Santiago doesn't mind, though, because it's his first real bed. Way to make choke up, show, way to make me choke up.
I think the Santiago and Lyla/Tyra storylines were the strong ones tonight, as they were believable but not over the top (some might say the Santiago one is, but given that Buddy's always been over the top, I think it fits). The Smash plot was also fairly realistic, but I didn't like b/c I don't want Smash screwing things up for himself. The weak storylines: Julie's and Matt's. Can we stop having these two hook up with inappropriate people, please? This is not The O.C., thank you very much.
So what do you guys think? Is the show staying too soapy? Would you like if it did? (If you answer yes to this question, we can longer be friends). One final piece of good news: FNL will have 15 episodes completed once they finish filming all of the scripts that were written before the writer's strike, meaning that the show will stick around for a while after all of your other favorite shows go off the air. That's something to make sure your thankful for as you gorge yourself on turkey on Thursday.
Picking Up Steam
I'm glad I waited until this morning to write this post, because it gave me the opportunity to have a nice, insightful conversation with one of my friends about what's been going on with this show lately. I think some poor choices were certainly made early on in the season (which fyi Tim Kring has apologized for), but I think it's still going to take some time for people to get back on aboard. That being said, I think the last two episodes have gone a long way to making that happen. That and the fact that Kristen Bell is smoking hot. Yeah.
I think the main reason last night's episode was much better is that (a) we're starting to move towards the resolution of the virus/old heroes dying plots which means (b) our characters are starting to cross paths again. The Bennet family is preparing to flee since Mr. Bennett can't deal with the fact that Claire has a boyfriend and is making friends at school (albeit by faking her own death to make another girl look stupid and thus exposing herself, but who's keeping track?) Mr. Bennett is not without reason, though, as Bob, Mohinder, and Veronica Mars (ok, I'll call her Elle from here on out) are hot on their trail. Mohinder wants to find Claire so he can save Niki from the virus, although I think we would be better off letting Crazy just pass on, because frankly I'm sick of her. Bob, on the other hand, is out to get rid of Mr. Bennett. Apparently we can only have one middle-aged, glasses-wearing white guy on this show. The three want to set a trap for Bennett which involves Elle shooting lighting, which is never a bad thing. Claire's boyfriend West, who has recently figured out that he was abducted by Mr. Bennett as a child, confronts him but then offers his help when Claire is in danger. One might say he wants to "play the hero." (Wop, wop) When the two are confronted by Elle and Mohinder, some quick work on their part allows them to take Elle hostage and use her as collateral to get Claire back. And given that we've all seen Isaac's paintings, we know how this plays out: Bennett gets shot in the eye and dies. End scene.....wait, it's not over? No it's not: Mohinder uses some of the blood Bob collected from Claire to revive Bennett, who wakes up in a company holding cell in shock and says 'Holy ---," just like his daughter did a year ago in the medical examiner's office. Nice touch, show, nice touch.
In the B-plot, Hiro can't deal with his father's death, so he decides to go back in time to stop it, but instead Papa Nakamura teaches him that just because one can change time, one shouldn't. This would have been a useful lesson four episodes ago when Hiro was still acting idiotically in Japan. And in the C-plot, Parkman realizes that not only that he can hear other people's thoughts but he call also transmit mental commands to them as well. He uses this newfound ability to interrogate Mama Petrelli as to why Adam/Kensei is killing all the old-people (they locked him up, and oh, p.s. he's immortal) and the identity of the unknown woman in the old Heroes photograph (her name is Victoria Pratt, and she will eventually played by Joanna Cassidy, who was in lots of things but whom I can only remember as the boss from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead).
Noticeably and welcomely absent from this episode were the Wonder Twins, whom I can only hope are dead in the desert somewhere. Seriously.
Ok, that's it for this week. I'd like to hear thoughts about the way people feel about Heroes lately, since I'm beginning to get way too biased to be objective (although you have to give me props for cutting down on the Kristen Bell rhetoric-although you should all know that she is the Best. Actress. Ever.)
I think the main reason last night's episode was much better is that (a) we're starting to move towards the resolution of the virus/old heroes dying plots which means (b) our characters are starting to cross paths again. The Bennet family is preparing to flee since Mr. Bennett can't deal with the fact that Claire has a boyfriend and is making friends at school (albeit by faking her own death to make another girl look stupid and thus exposing herself, but who's keeping track?) Mr. Bennett is not without reason, though, as Bob, Mohinder, and Veronica Mars (ok, I'll call her Elle from here on out) are hot on their trail. Mohinder wants to find Claire so he can save Niki from the virus, although I think we would be better off letting Crazy just pass on, because frankly I'm sick of her. Bob, on the other hand, is out to get rid of Mr. Bennett. Apparently we can only have one middle-aged, glasses-wearing white guy on this show. The three want to set a trap for Bennett which involves Elle shooting lighting, which is never a bad thing. Claire's boyfriend West, who has recently figured out that he was abducted by Mr. Bennett as a child, confronts him but then offers his help when Claire is in danger. One might say he wants to "play the hero." (Wop, wop) When the two are confronted by Elle and Mohinder, some quick work on their part allows them to take Elle hostage and use her as collateral to get Claire back. And given that we've all seen Isaac's paintings, we know how this plays out: Bennett gets shot in the eye and dies. End scene.....wait, it's not over? No it's not: Mohinder uses some of the blood Bob collected from Claire to revive Bennett, who wakes up in a company holding cell in shock and says 'Holy ---," just like his daughter did a year ago in the medical examiner's office. Nice touch, show, nice touch.
In the B-plot, Hiro can't deal with his father's death, so he decides to go back in time to stop it, but instead Papa Nakamura teaches him that just because one can change time, one shouldn't. This would have been a useful lesson four episodes ago when Hiro was still acting idiotically in Japan. And in the C-plot, Parkman realizes that not only that he can hear other people's thoughts but he call also transmit mental commands to them as well. He uses this newfound ability to interrogate Mama Petrelli as to why Adam/Kensei is killing all the old-people (they locked him up, and oh, p.s. he's immortal) and the identity of the unknown woman in the old Heroes photograph (her name is Victoria Pratt, and she will eventually played by Joanna Cassidy, who was in lots of things but whom I can only remember as the boss from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead).
Noticeably and welcomely absent from this episode were the Wonder Twins, whom I can only hope are dead in the desert somewhere. Seriously.
Ok, that's it for this week. I'd like to hear thoughts about the way people feel about Heroes lately, since I'm beginning to get way too biased to be objective (although you have to give me props for cutting down on the Kristen Bell rhetoric-although you should all know that she is the Best. Actress. Ever.)
Monday, November 19, 2007
Happy Slapsgiving Everybody
So its been a loooong time since my last post. Every time I sat down to write another update something would come up and I would put it off. I wasn't even planning on writing an update tonight, but then something magical happened. what was that magical thing, you ask? Slapsgiving.
This was, by far, the best HIMYM episode of the season, in my humble opinion. It had all of the required elements: generic life event (first Thanksgiving with friends), funny catchphrases (relapse five--that's a high five, then an awkward pause, then another high five), inside joke (the title of the episode pretty much sums it all up), and that moment that makes you say "Aww, I wish these were my friends" (I'm looking at you Robin and Ted).
The quick rundown: Lily's is cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the group as its her and Marshall's first holiday together. She wants everything to go perfectly, but the others, lord bless them, make sure that that doesn't happen. Marshall chose Thanksgiving as the day when he would deliver his third slap to Barney (you remember slap bet, don't you?) and as such has rechristened the holiday as Slapsgiving. Robin, who thinks of Canadian Thanksgiving as the real Thanksgiving, invites her current beau, Bob, to spend the holiday with the group. Bob happens to be 41, which means Ted can make lots of jokes about him being old as dirt, which Ted of course does. Coincidentally, Ted does so when making pies alone with Robin. This leads to an argument, which then leads to sex. The next day at Thanksgiving, Robin and Ted gossip with Lily and Marshall and Barney, respectively. Robin, like a normal, healthy adult would like to talk about what happened. Ted, like a man, would rather pretend that nothing happened. If I had a dollar for every awkward hookup that I pretended didn't happen the next day, I would have a lot of dollars. Well not a lot, but several. Well, actually a lot. But enough about that. After Lily locks the two of them in Ted's bedroom, they decide that they're not really friends and haven't been since they broke up, so they decide that after dinner, they'll stop pretending to be and go there separate ways. Sniffle, sniffle. That is until Marshall's speech at dinner which leads the two of them to do that thing that really good friends do: say something at the same and look at each other and giggle. That leads to the best voiceover ever: "Friendship is like a reflex. It just happens." Do you hear that sound? It's my heart inflating by three sizes. Sigh.
What, I'm forgetting something? Oh yeah Barney get SLAPPED as the slap countdown clock runs out. Afterwards, Marshall sings a very Manilow-esque ditty about getting slapped and all is right with the world. Happy Slapsgiving everybody.
This was, by far, the best HIMYM episode of the season, in my humble opinion. It had all of the required elements: generic life event (first Thanksgiving with friends), funny catchphrases (relapse five--that's a high five, then an awkward pause, then another high five), inside joke (the title of the episode pretty much sums it all up), and that moment that makes you say "Aww, I wish these were my friends" (I'm looking at you Robin and Ted).
The quick rundown: Lily's is cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the group as its her and Marshall's first holiday together. She wants everything to go perfectly, but the others, lord bless them, make sure that that doesn't happen. Marshall chose Thanksgiving as the day when he would deliver his third slap to Barney (you remember slap bet, don't you?) and as such has rechristened the holiday as Slapsgiving. Robin, who thinks of Canadian Thanksgiving as the real Thanksgiving, invites her current beau, Bob, to spend the holiday with the group. Bob happens to be 41, which means Ted can make lots of jokes about him being old as dirt, which Ted of course does. Coincidentally, Ted does so when making pies alone with Robin. This leads to an argument, which then leads to sex. The next day at Thanksgiving, Robin and Ted gossip with Lily and Marshall and Barney, respectively. Robin, like a normal, healthy adult would like to talk about what happened. Ted, like a man, would rather pretend that nothing happened. If I had a dollar for every awkward hookup that I pretended didn't happen the next day, I would have a lot of dollars. Well not a lot, but several. Well, actually a lot. But enough about that. After Lily locks the two of them in Ted's bedroom, they decide that they're not really friends and haven't been since they broke up, so they decide that after dinner, they'll stop pretending to be and go there separate ways. Sniffle, sniffle. That is until Marshall's speech at dinner which leads the two of them to do that thing that really good friends do: say something at the same and look at each other and giggle. That leads to the best voiceover ever: "Friendship is like a reflex. It just happens." Do you hear that sound? It's my heart inflating by three sizes. Sigh.
What, I'm forgetting something? Oh yeah Barney get SLAPPED as the slap countdown clock runs out. Afterwards, Marshall sings a very Manilow-esque ditty about getting slapped and all is right with the world. Happy Slapsgiving everybody.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Apologies
So my life has gotten a little out of control lately. Work got busy, friends came to visit, and I didn't have time to blog. But due to popular demand, I feel compelled to resume blogging. So I will, starting tonight. HIMYM and Heroes updates to follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
