01/06/2008
The return of The Wire
Wow. When I saw David Simon’s statements that all stories will be resolved, I didn’t realize how serious he was.
The Season 5 premiere of The Wire dug deep into the history of the show, and even though this is going to be a shorter season, this one’s going to be the bomb.
Ellis Carver is the SIC of the Western District, and it may be too much for him to handle. The school district’s budget problems are so bad it’s destroyed police morale. Budget cuts have eliminated overtime pay, court pay, vehicle repairs, and anything else that costs money.
The school district’s budget problems are so bad it’s destroyed police morale. Budget cuts have eliminated overtime pay, court pay, vehicle repairs, and anything else that costs money.
Our beloved Major Crimes Unit started by working for free on the tail of Marlo, and by the end of the episode had been disbanded as another cost cutting measure. Kima and McNulty got bounced back to Homicide, prompting Sgt. Landsman to see Jimmy and make a prodigal son comment. Sydnor and Freamon were sent to the DA’s office to assist in the grand jury proceedings against Clay “Sheeeeeit” Davis. And Herc, banished from the department as a result of Bubbles’ payback and a lost video camera, is working for Levy, the slimy attorney for the Barksdale clan.
We only saw two of the child stars from last season. Michael is still working for Marlo, and Dukie is still with him, now apparently relegated to being Bug’s ‘manny.’
The Baltimore Sun cast was also introduced, but since I’m not entirely sure of who is who yet, I won’t go into much detail. Budget cuts are hurting there, too. And some of the higher ups don’t seem that interested in being good journalists.
I was somewhat surprised to see Amy Ryan return in her role as Beadie, otherwise known as McNulty’s new woman. Glad to see her, though. I was afraid that she’d be too busy with her movie career after all the good press she got after Gone Baby Gone. Sadly, it looks like she’s going to be going down the same path as the first Mrs. McNulty.
22:25 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
12/07/2007
Why I hate EW.com
It's been growing and growing for over a year now, and I've just had enough.
I hate EW.com.
For one reason, I hate EW.com because it now has everything that is in the magazine, plus more, for free. Why the hell do I bother subscribing to the magazine? I don't know when our subscription runs out, but I'm already trying to convince my wife to cancel the next time it comes around for renewal.
The other reason is all the dolts who write the TV Watch entries for gobs of shows. They write them for reality shows, which I don't watch, so I don't read. And they write them for certain scripted shows, many of them just pop culture fodder. But then there's the precious few shows they write TV Watches for that I actually watch. And all these writers do is bitch and moan about how terrible the show is. They appear to want every show to cater to their every desire, all the time, with all the characters, and all the nuances and plot twists to please them. And if this doesn't happen, the writers bemoan the awful characters, unsatisfying plot lines, unanswered questions, decor, costumes, time slots, and on and on and on.....
You know what? If these idiots think they're some special critic, I'm here to tell them they aren't. Critics are good when they can see the picture as a whole, and then deconstruct it to point out strong points and flaws. This is more and more apparent because the dolt who has been hammering a show for weeks on end will turn around after one episode and proclaim what a great show this is, that all the plotlines that they've accused of being pointless and meandering now make sense.
A great example of this, especially concerning EW, was the HBO comedy "The Comeback." From the get-go, the official TV critic didn't think much of the show. Then it didn't get any attention from the magazine. Then, at the end of the show, they started writing about what a great show it was. And you know what? All that bad-mouthing and lack of coverage resulted in the show being cancelled. And then the EW morons started lamenting the loss of the greatest show ever to be on television.
So shut up already. TV shows that stretch out over the course of a season, or have continuing plotlines, aren't designed to give the viewer complete and total gratification at the end of each and every episode. If you don't understand that, you're a moron. And you need to shut up.
17:58 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
09/23/2007
One of my new favorite TV shows
I am saddened to know that one of my new favorite shows is almost over.
HBO's The Wire is one of the best shows I have ever seen. Like a moron, I didn't start watching until Season 4, which wrapped earlier this year. I've gone back and purchased Season 1 on DVD, and tore through that in a week. Then, I got my wife to watch it, and now she's hooked. We're currently shopping for Season 2 (e-bay is the cheapest place to find this show online).
What stinks is that '08 will be the final season. And probably by next summer, one of my other favs, The Shield, will have concluded its run. So I'll be down to LOST and Heroes.
14:41 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
07/25/2007
Teaching Network TV a lesson
With the series premieres of TNT's Saving Grace and F/X's Damages, and SpikeTV's The Kill Point this week, we now have three more reasons why the major networks are bowing to the almighty dollar instead of seeking out quality scripted television to put on the air.
Given the choice between reality programming and scripted shows, I will choose a scripted drama almost every time. It's sad that the major networks prefer to cater to the lowest common denominator rather than use the summer season to try and find new shows that pack a punch, or in The Kill Point's case, air a miniseries that might actually be worth watching.
If you want something new this summer that won't rot your brain, try some of these shows out. You won't be disappointed.
20:02 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
12/01/2006
A Fall TV Update
Since my last post about the new shows this season I watched, new news has emerged.
As previously mentioned, 'Smith' got cancelled. No loss there.
Now, ABC has cancelled 'The Nine.' Not missing it, either.
NBC has picked up full season orders for '30 Rock.' I like this show pretty well, and think it's a wonderful portion of the Thursday night comedy block.
<> NBC has also picked up a full season of 'Studio 60,' which in a mirror to one of the early episodes, apparently plays well to wealthy white people. I'm not wealthy, and I'm not entirely white, so I guess that show isn't even trying to appeal to me.18:33 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
10/16/2006
Thoughts on the new Fall TV season
I haven't watched all of the new shows this season, but I've watched a few.
I am grateful that it appears that the glut of reality programming has abated, and now we're only forced to deal with the same old reality shows. The big, controversial season of Survivor lasted 2 weeks, until the race-based teams were broken up. So much for that social experiment. And I quit watching.
CBS served up a new drama, Smith, about the lives of thieves. I watched the first episode, thought FX's Thief was better, and quit watching. Smith has already been canned.
ABC, still believing that another mysterious serial drama is the perfect follow up to LOST (see: last season's Invasion), served up The Nine. I was so thoroughly bored after the pilot episode, I haven't gone back.
NBC, believing that telling behind-the-scenes stories of the now dreadful Saturday Night Live was a good idea, has presented Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and 30 Rock. I watched the first few episodes of Studio 60, thought it wasn't funny, wasn't dramatic, and had gaping plot holes. I'm done with it. The pilot episode of 30 Rock was somewhat funny, so I'm going to give it a few more chances.
<>The one new show that has captured my attention is NBC's Heroes. I know it's yet another attempt to capitalize on the superhero phenomena (X-Men, Smallville, Superman Returns, Batman Begins, Entourage's obsession with Aquaman), but I've found this one interesting, and hope it continues to entertain and leave me guessing.22:58 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
08/13/2006
The stupid Amazing Race trailer
Have you seen the new trailer for the next season of The Amazing Race?
<> At the end, there's a woman who says..."An opportunity to travel around the world. Money can't buy that"
<> Really? Money can't buy the opportunity to travel around the world? I wonder why more people aren't traveling around the world, then.21:48 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/20/2006
I thought Conan had red hair
One of the signs of getting old is that you're never awake anymore to see the late night talk shows after Letterman and Leno.
Last night, I was awake with my wife until after Late Night With Conan O'Brien came on. I haven't seen Conan in years, and I was very surprised that when he came out for the monologue, Conan doesn't have red hair anymore. It's a light brown now. Did he color it? Or is this a natural fade of his hair color?
10:31 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
02/08/2006
Kornheiser to MNF sounds great!
When I heard ESPN announced its Monday Night Football announce team as Joe Theismann, Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser, I was overjoyed.
Kornheiser's national radio show was three hours of joy to my ears, even when he didn't know what he was talking about. The big issues will be how well Mr. Tony deals with the travel (he strongly dislikes flying) and his ability to stay awake (he's usually in bed by 10).
I fully expect him to show up in the booth for the first broadcast, dressed in pajamas, pillow in hand, and announce, "Why is this game on so late? Why can't they start the games earlier if they want me to do this? Just wake me up when it's time to go home."
But if he can stay awake, it should be interesting....
22:23 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
12/18/2005
The Colts played the Chargers? Really?
Golly, I love how CBS set up its NFL programming today.
We here in Lexington got only one NFL game on our CBS affiliate today, and it's the 4 p.m. Bengals-Lions game, which is over before halftime.
Didn't get to see the Colts-Chargers. Hope the local affiliate likes its ratings this week, since they'll be in the crapper.
And I'm not even going to get into why the early game on Fox was 49ers-Jags. Ick.
17:18 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
11/12/2005
FOX errs with 'Arrested Development' decision
I am very disappointed to hear that FOX has effectively put Arrested Development on cancellation notice, having cut its season 3 order and putting the show on hiatus.
This was a truly hilarious, excellently-written, unique comedy that mocked the wealthy white comminity with no fear. Every cast member, from David Cross to the guest stars like Scott Baio and Henry Winkler were hilarious, and Ron Howard's narration deserves some sort of award. Jason Bateman just can't get a break in sitcom land.
I, like many others, hope that FOX either grows more brain cells, or another network picks it up.
17:46 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
09/30/2005
My review of "The Office"
Well, a replay of the 9-27-05 episode of "The Office" was on Bravo last night, so I recorded it and watched it this evening.
I don't fault the WLEX-18 General Manager for choosing to pre-empt the show. It was racy by network standards, though in language only. This isn't a show with buxom bikini-clad models strutting around (but there was an inflatable).
I wonder about the show's creators, and what kind of reaction they wanted from their audience. In most of our situations, we cringe in agony at how inappropriate some behavior can be in the workplace. But I can understand that in the wrong hands (America haters, unrestrained juveniles, people who don't understand the concept of a sitcom) this could encourage the wrong reactions.
But I, and my wife, laughed out loud at the antics on the show and appreciated the efforts of the cast and crew.
20:20 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
09/28/2005
WLEX-18 pre-empts 'The Office'
So I'm watching 'My Name is Earl' on WLEX-18 (the Lexington, KY, NBC affiliate), and when the show ends and it's time for the painfully funny 'The Office,' I'm forced to watch 'EXTRA' instead.
The WLEX-18 website listed 'The Office' as scheduled for 9:30 p.m., but it wasn't on. The crawl at the bottom of the screen stated that the show's content was deemed offensive, apparently too offensive to air.
I sent an e-mail, and got a response from Tom Gilbert, the President/General Manager of the station informing me the decision was the first time this had happened in his five years in his position and that the episode would air Saturday at 2:35 a.m.
I just wonder what's so offensive that the local affiliate decides that a pre-taped program that has passed network censors is too offensive to air at 9:30 p.m. I guess I'll have to record it and find out.
19:29 Posted in Television | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this