televisionary

Fall Shortlist

Having watched a whole bunch of pilot screeners (but not all of 'em), I have to say I'm not entirely excited about this year's new shows. But fun they are! Unlike last year's mixed bag of overly ambitious high concept serious dramas, this year is all about the light and fluffy. From the top of my head, here are some shows that might not be a masterpiece yet, but they're definitely worth a peek or two:-

Pushing Daisies (ABC)- Bryan Fuller is da man!

Reaper (CW)- Ray Wise is delicious as the devil.

Aliens in America (CW)- A Pakistani foreign exchange student and a geeky loser tries to defy stereotypes in the birthplace of most stereotypes - high school.

Chuck (NBC) - Alias turned geeky chic.

Dirty, Sexy, Money (ABC)- the new Dynasty?

Gossip Girl (CW)- I'll take Kristen Bell (she's the voiceover narrator)anyway I can.  BTW, old news now, but Kristen Bell will be in Heroes this fall, and that is flipping fantastic!

Bionic Woman (NBC)- If only for the first couple of episodes where Katee Sackhoff (otherwise known as Starbuck)kicks ass as the first Bionic Woman.

I'll have more on the new fall shows and returning favorites on another post. In the meantime, check out these newbies and see what's to your liking!

Summer Shows, Part Deux

I know it’s September already, but just to add a few surprisingly good dramas and one good but could be better comedy onto the summer show list (and are still on air):-

Mad Men (AMC, Thurs?)

Beautiful, beautiful show on the golden era of the 1960s-70s. That is, if you’re a Caucasian Male who’s not Jewish. Not so much for anyone else. There are loads and loads of inner conflict and confusion in each character as they sail through the social and sexual inequities and the small rumble of the change in the seventies. Entertaining and sometimes painful (but in a delicious way) to watch, but a surprisingly good show from an otherwise off the radar channel. For Angel fans out there, Angel’s son Connor does a mighty fine job here!

Damages (F/X, Tues?)

Another daring attempt by F/X, known for its other daring crazy dramas like Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me. Not your average Law and Order, it follows (in its flashbacks) a young brainy woman (The actress whose name I’ve forgotten – she looks a bit like Robin Tunney in Prison Break, but a better actress in a way better role)newly hired by a well-reputated law firm, headed by one very ruthless lawyer (Glenn Close). It’s all down to this one rather nasty case concerning a rich tycoon of sorts (Ted Danson), who was believed to have swindled the retirement fund out of thousands of his employees. Back in the present, the protégé is accused of murdering her fiancé, and each week we get a little more of how that’s all tied in with the tycoon case. It’s a very engaging show, and my only request is that they end this season with all the answers. Of course, I have no idea how they would have a second season given the structure, but I would be pissed if they don’t resolve the storyline by the end of this season. Oh, and Tate Donovan (yay!) is in it as well, as Glenn Close’s shady right hand man.

Californication (Showtime, Sun?)

David Duchovny on TV again is always a good thing. But I do have my reservations on this show. While it can be pretty funny at times, I’m not sure if some parts of the show are purely there for a ‘shock’ value with a kind of a ‘nudge nudge, we’re so edgy, sexy and cool’ sentiment to it. But hey, you’ve got Mulder, and that is enough for me (for now) to watch – at least for the summer. Mulder is Hank Moody, a one hit wonder in the world of literature, whose life has gone out of whack ever since his book was being made into a (crappy) movie. His ex (Natascha McElhone) is getting married to some other guy , and I guess the series follows him trying to either get the love of his life back, or at least rebuild a new relationship with her and their daughter. Basically, Hank is a good guy who does a lot of damaging and terrible things while he tries to get a footing on his life. If you like Duchovny’s sense of humor, you’ll probably enjoy his self deprecating type humor enormously. But as far as the storytelling is concerned, it’s a bit choppy at times and in some episodes, a bit aimless. Evan Handler (i.e. Charlotte’s hubby in Sex and the City) plays Duchovny’s agent as well in this uneven comedy.

For those of you who like watching mini-series, I would suggest The Kill Point and The Company. I have not watched either of them yet (because though I watch a lot of TV, I do need a break during the summer), I cannot say if they’re good or not, but they are getting more or less positive reviews, and they’re at most a 6 hour commitment anyway!

Hot, hot weather

Yep. Most series you've been following all year are on hiatus. It's that time of the year.

There's no way around it. Despite the numerous old and new TV shows being shown or about to show in the summer of 2007, I have yet to sink my teeth into anything substantial.

But there is a little gem - not a huge huge one, but an understated, little silly,little annoying yet kind of addictive one - Flight of the Conchords.(HBO, Sun, 10:30pm?) 

The two New Zealanders are a pretty established comedy/band duo - they've got gigs in comedy clubs under their belts, and I think they also did some sort of audio series in the U.K. as well as HBO's comedy One Night Stand - but I do like how the TV series are recycling their songs by giving them a really good looking video that fits in well with the tunes, as well as the story of Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (playing themselves), two comedy musicians trying to make it (and meet girls) in New York. Neither of them are traditionally good looking, to say the least, but they are adorable and strangely appealing. I'm kind of hooked after two episodes, and I look forward to seeing the rest of their songs appear on the show.

The other summer shows on my roster are:-

Entourage (HBO, Sun, 10pm?) - Duh. Mindless fun, even though it hasn't been all that entertaining since season 2.

Big Love (HBO, Mon, 9 or 10pm?) - It's kind of interesting sometimes. Too contrived of a theme/concept, but once you get over that you can really enjoy the characters, in particular the three wives and Bill's awesome mother at the compound. Bill himself? Eh, not so much. I'm just surprised we haven't seen his ass this season yet. 

So yup, watching everything HBO, which is a bit odd. Too bad after the huge ratings monster of the awesome (or so I'm told) Sopranos finale, HBO will need to find something big again. And it's not the much hyped show, John From Cincinnati.(HBO, Sun, 9pm?)

Honestly, I can't say anything about this David Milch vehicle that a ton of people (including the execs at HBO, no doubt) had really high expectations of. I've only watch five minutes of it, and it literally put me to sleep. So, no, I don't think I liked it very much. How ever did Milch get HBO to promote the heck out of a show that's really too weird to be a hit show? They'd been better off placing that money on the Conchords. Anyhoo.

Other shows that are on the summer roster:

Rescue Me - Everyone says it's awesome. I didn't watch it at first because I don't really like that David Denis Leary fellow, and now I can't watch it coz I'm way behind. Some day.

The 4400 - Presumably for Sci Fi/ Twilight Zone type fans. I've watched only a handful of episodes at the beginning, and while it was generally good, I found it diificult to be invested in the characters, given the structure of the show.

The Starter Wife - I'm sorry, I really don't like Debra Messing anymore after Will and Grace. Enough said.

The Closer - No. Thanks. I know it gets good ratings and all, but it's just yet another criminal procedural. Yuck.

Traveler - I was going to watch it til I heard it might be cut/end prematurely. I get a little sick of investing time in such shows.

Hidden Palms - Ew. Please, never ever never ever ever.

Kyle XY - I remember those ads:- it's about a boy who has no belly button (and is an alien or something?) According to ads this year, the second season brings in a female XX, who also has no belly button. I've never watched it myself, but I'm told it's not half bad.

There's also a ton of reality TV shows on now, but none that I'm recommending. Perhaps you would like them though:-

So You Think You Can Dance - I heard great things about this one. And it really is kind of entertaining at times. (at least the auditions were, which was the parts I've watched.) It's American Idol with dancing, and they dance much better than those C-list stars on that other dance show. I, however, am not much of a dancer watcher, nor an American Idol fan.

Pirate Master - Burnett again. Survivor meets Pirates (of the Caribbean). Eh. It's pretty stupid. Who wants to see grown men and women decked out in pirate gear and talking (in some cases) the highly annoying pirate talk?

The Age of Love - Bachelor style game with an age twist - half the gals are gorgeous twenty somethings, and half the gals are gorgeous forty somethings. Gross, gross, gross, a la Bachelor style. I couldn't even bring myself to sample the damn thing. I find all shows resembling the Bachelor to be vile and disgusting.*

*except for The Joe Shmoe Show 1 and 2, which was pretty funny.

Big Brother - you know the drill - a bunch of losers trapped in a house all summer and votes each other out to be the last person standing. I only watched last year's all stars because of the awesome Dr. Will of season 2.  (Yes. I've actually watched two - yes two! - seasons of Big Brother. Shame, my friends, that I still bear.) I am never watching this pile of crap again. And this paragraph does not exist at all.

Top Chef - I'm told that this one is the best out of the many competitive food shows at the moment. I'm yet to sample this season - who has a copy of this?

Hell's Kitchen - Watch a guy yell at a bunch of less than great cooks cooking once again green risottos and beef wellingtons. The contestants are a pretty annoying bunch, but you could learn a lot of ways to insult someone from that Ramsey.

The Next Food Network Star (or a title that resembles that) - This I I can't get a copy of, but the premise is this:- they're not looking for a chef, they're looking for a chef who can host a food show.

Canada's Next Top Model - You know the drill. For those who enjoy the intellectual pursuits of skinny (and in some cases, actually pretty!) girls that wanna be models, CNTM is no different than the parent show. Weirdly enough, it's hosted not by a model (like Tyra) but Jay Manual, that orange colored man from the parent show. One funny bit - the CNTM house is decked out in everything Jay, just like Tyra did with her ANTM house. It's pretty creepy.

Hey Paula - No, I haven't watched this one yet.I have absolutely no idea what it is. It's probably about Paula Abdul ... ... and that's all I got.

"I can't believe

that I'm sharing a kebab

with the most beautiful girl

I have ever seen with a kebab"

- flight of the conchords

3x25 Didn't We Almost Have It All?

Season Finale.

Blech.

It really wasn't very good, compared to the other finales. One of the things that bugs me most is for characters to act out of character with no genuine reason. And that happened a lot in this episode, even though there were no real surprises in the story.

I WAS surprised that George failed the test. No more Macy West. And maybe no more Seattle Grace! Poor guy. And I thought he would make a pretty good doctor. I liked how Bailey comforted George despite her own disappointment in not making Chief of Residence. That scene was probably one of the few scenes I enjoyed. What's happening to George? Is he going to retake the program? Maybe he'll be off to EMT school instead? I'm sure I'll still like this guy no matter what happens, as long as he never makes out with Izzie.

I WAS surprised that Derek got offered Chief. That's ridiculous. Granted he was a good doctor, I have yet to see him have any managerial skills at all. He's no Burke in that department. I hate the fact they're trying to make Derek the 'good' guy again to have him stupidly refuse the offer. It didn't even make any sense, his refusal. Yuck.  Now that the Chief and the wife seem to have a shot, Derek might have ruined things by telling the Chief to, well, be the Chief again.  But Derek is right on track with his wishy washy self. What a chicken. He basically refuse to take charge of the relationship and gave Meredith an ultimatum (and a really lame one at that -I'll only stay with you if you're sure I'm the one coz I can't take the pain of losing you? Bullshit), when Meredith had all sorts of other things on her mind (death, depression, test, wedding) to really have time to digest his stupidity. What a wuss. Not at all engaging character.

And Meredith. She really is having a terrible year. I bet she's kicking herself for not choosing that Chris O'Donnell instead of McWuss. You can be sure that next year would involve more drama with her half sister intern hanging around Derek. Time for a NEW real love interest! Maybe then we'll get less whining.

Yuck. That whole Izzie and George thing still bugs me. This needs to die very soon. It is NOT in their character to be attracted to each other romantically in the first place. Just call it a failed experiment and put us out of our misery. They are NOT a couple. Can't you see that, Shonda?

Alex needs to have a bigger role in the hospital. He's becoming more and more likable. As much as I liked Jane Doe/Rebecca, I didn't really like the conclusion of it though. But his rejection of Jane Doe is similar to his rejection of Addison, and I liked that he remained in character. So, next year, how about getting Alex and Christina together or something? Heh.

Oh, Burke. How I love the character and hate the actor. Upon being fired, Isaiah's response was what? "The network shouldn't have made me jump through hoops (don't discriminate gays, or at least not call them the f-word and laugh about it seminars) if I were to be fired anyway". Yes, Isaiah. So the whole point of you going to said seminars was merely to keep your job and not a sincere apology about your own prejudice against gay people? Nice.  Loser.

But, back to Burke. Totally illogical behavior for him. I knew the wedding wasn't happening, but this is a terrible way to write it out. The expected Christina quibbles, but then to have Burke suddenly pull the rug from under her? For a while, we have seen Burke accepting Christina's form of affection and compromise already, and I thought Burke understood how much Christina loves him through her compromises (I mean, this is a character who always gets her way. She's given up a lot already.) I know they have no choice but to write the end of Burke, but I actually rather have him die instead of running away. He's not Derek, and he wouldn't have run away to be some crazy trumpet player and surgeon. But again, I suppose this opens up Christina's character now that Burke's not in the picture.

Not a good finale. It was depressing, which is fine if you're going for a cliffhanger type of finale, if only I gave a flying fuck about most of the characters. That, is worrying. Season four better be better.

Goodbye, Ms. Mars

Before I saunter off to dinner, let me be devastated over the sad, sad, sad news:  Veronica Mars is dead.

Boy, and I was getting my hopes up on Special Agent Mars. Oh, dear.

I'm so sad. Yes, over a tv show. Suck it.