I was listening to the Talking TV with Ryan and Ryan Podcast featuring Maureen "Mo" Ryan of The Chicago Tribune and Ryan McGee (formerly known as Zap2itLost) of Zap2it.com. Ryan McGee mentioned that if he was stranded on a desert island and could only have one season of one television show to watch ever, he would choose season 1 of Veronica Mars.
I tried to narrow my list down to one season of one television show ever and wasn't able to get there. I did manage to whittle my list down to one season of five different shows but have a list of honorable mentions a mile long, so I'm not sure it even counts, lol. Regardless, here is my list (and not necessarily in this order):
Chuck Season 2 - an amazing confluence of action, comedy, drama and pop culture references. I'm not sure anyone could have created a show more tailor-made for my enjoyment. The chemistry between Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski as Chuck and Sarah is amazing and Adam Baldwin can do more with a grunt and a look than anyone I've ever seen.
Veronica Mars Season 1 - I have to agree with Ryan McGee on this one. It's a wonderful combination of hard-boiled mystery complete with private detectives, romance, interesting family dynamics and a really good combination of stand alone episodes and episodes that service the over all arc of the season.
Wonderfalls - The Complete Series I relate so strongly to Jaye, the main character, that it borders on the ridiculous. If you have a taste for funny, quirky and a little odd, give this gem a try. It was originally aired for three or four episodes on Fox before being cancelled.
Pushing Daisies - Season 1 Witty, charming and visually interesting with a snappy dialogue, Chuck and Ned the Pie Maker had me at hello. Each character is fully realized and lovingly written. I just wish ABC had been able to justify keeping it on longer.
Last, but certainly not least, Friday Night Lights Season 3. Why Season 3, you ask? After three seasons with the denizens of Dillon, Texas, I feel like I know these people and their stories intimately. Because the actors have fully grown into their characters, there were fantastic send off episodes for beloved characters, and even though it's only 13 episodes, the writers manage to pack a full 22 episode season's worth of story in. (Don't get me wrong, I love Friday Night Lights. All four seasons are amazing television and permanent parts of my dvd collection. This is just the one I'd most want to have with me.)
I'm not going to go into my list of honorable mentions - I'll save that for another time. What are your favorite shows? What would you have to have with you on that mythical desert isle?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Memos - a strong argument against...
Need a laugh? Check out this episode of Better Off Ted. A mistyped word in a memo causes all kinds of problems...
I still can't believe that more people didn't watch this show when it was on the air. Boo, ABC, Boo.
I still can't believe that more people didn't watch this show when it was on the air. Boo, ABC, Boo.
Monday, June 28, 2010
True Blood Season 3 so far
My thoughts on True Blood season 3 so far:
As I've said many times before, I'd be much happier if it was The Eric and Pam Show or The Eric, Pam and Lafayette Show featuring Jessica. Eric is interesting and Pam and Lafayette are fabulous in the best sense of the word.
The kindest thing I have to say about Sookie and Bill is that they are reasonably attractive. Anna Paquin's and Steven Moyer's acting in TB has not been stellar. (I'd be ecstatic if they'd give up on the accents. I'd rather them have generic American accents than their atrocious Southern-esque accents.) I think I'm most disappointed in Anna's performance. I mean, we're talking about a girl who has talent - she won an Oscar as a nine-year-old for Heaven's sake - and held her own in a movie with Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel.
I know True Blood is supposed to be over the top, but I'd be much (MUCH!) happier if there were no repeats of that final sex scene with Bill and Lorena. There aren't enough negative adjectives for me to use to describe it. It's almost like the show is becoming a caricature of itself, and more so with every episode.
In addition to the eight-million story lines already happening (many of which I haven't even mentioned), Sam's family... completely unnecessary, and the acting and script are so broad that you can spot what's coming from a mile off.
On the bright side, Alcide. YUM. They appear to have cast him perfectly... Also, I'm interested to see how the always fantastic Alfre Woodard fits in as Lafayette's mother.
My friend Candace has some interesting thoughts about True Blood here.
Finally, if you haven't already seen it, be sure to check out Snoop Dogg's "Oh, Sookie" video.
As I've said many times before, I'd be much happier if it was The Eric and Pam Show or The Eric, Pam and Lafayette Show featuring Jessica. Eric is interesting and Pam and Lafayette are fabulous in the best sense of the word.
The kindest thing I have to say about Sookie and Bill is that they are reasonably attractive. Anna Paquin's and Steven Moyer's acting in TB has not been stellar. (I'd be ecstatic if they'd give up on the accents. I'd rather them have generic American accents than their atrocious Southern-esque accents.) I think I'm most disappointed in Anna's performance. I mean, we're talking about a girl who has talent - she won an Oscar as a nine-year-old for Heaven's sake - and held her own in a movie with Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel.
I know True Blood is supposed to be over the top, but I'd be much (MUCH!) happier if there were no repeats of that final sex scene with Bill and Lorena. There aren't enough negative adjectives for me to use to describe it. It's almost like the show is becoming a caricature of itself, and more so with every episode.
In addition to the eight-million story lines already happening (many of which I haven't even mentioned), Sam's family... completely unnecessary, and the acting and script are so broad that you can spot what's coming from a mile off.
On the bright side, Alcide. YUM. They appear to have cast him perfectly... Also, I'm interested to see how the always fantastic Alfre Woodard fits in as Lafayette's mother.
My friend Candace has some interesting thoughts about True Blood here.
Finally, if you haven't already seen it, be sure to check out Snoop Dogg's "Oh, Sookie" video.
Friday, June 25, 2010
A revelation
As I've mentioned before, about a year ago I gave up my cable t.v. and moved to watching most, if not all, of my t.v. online. (That sounds odd, doesn't it? T.V. Online. lol) Most of my shows are available on Hulu; the ones that aren't are usually available on their network's website.
In most ways, this has been a great thing - it's much less expensive than a cable subscription and frees me to be able to watch my shows at my leisure.
What I hadn't realized until recently was that it also significantly changed what I'm viewing - and for the better. I used to be obsessed with the celeb-reality crap that is VH1. Now I can't tell you the last time I saw an episode of Rock of Love or something of that ilk.
I guess that really shows how meaningless those shows are, if I can go a whole year without watching before realizng that I should be missing them...
In most ways, this has been a great thing - it's much less expensive than a cable subscription and frees me to be able to watch my shows at my leisure.
What I hadn't realized until recently was that it also significantly changed what I'm viewing - and for the better. I used to be obsessed with the celeb-reality crap that is VH1. Now I can't tell you the last time I saw an episode of Rock of Love or something of that ilk.
I guess that really shows how meaningless those shows are, if I can go a whole year without watching before realizng that I should be missing them...
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Summer TV 2010
I'm somewhat ashamed to admit what my favorite new show this summer is. Can you guess what it is?
I was so hoping that Fox's The Good Guys would be it - and I do enjoy that show. TGG has grown funnier as it has found its footing. I'd even go so far as to say that Bradley Whitford's mustache should have its own billing in the credits, lol. In short, Bradley Whitford's throwback to the 80s cop and Colin Hanks' straight man cop are an amusing, if light, duo. Definitely summer fare - little to no thought involved and several chuckles an episode.
I tried ABC's The Gates and Scoundrels. Both had oddly low production values for network television. The Gates was slightly better than Scoundrels but I don't plan on revisiting either. Let's just say that The Gates fares poorly in comparison to its same night competition, True Blood. Scoundrels was already done better by FX - The Riches. If you like the idea of Scoundrels but not the actual execution, check out The Riches with Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver. It's available on dvd.
Believe it or not, ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars is my favorite new show of the summer. It's an interesting teen drama and is filling the hole left by Gossip Girl quite nicely. I'd even go so far as to say that it's better than this last season of GG. (I do miss me some Chuck Bass though.)
Of the various returning summer shows I've seen so far, USA's Burn Notice is still entertaining, Royal Pains less so. HBO's True Blood is off to a quick start. I've found the episodes so far quite entertaining but I do wonder if they're introducing to many new characters and plotlines too quickly. Still, I'll watch TB as long as Alexander Skarsgård is on it as Eric Northman. As I've said on facebook and twitter, I really wish they'd just go ahead and make it the Eric & Pam Show (as long as they gave Lafayette a show too, lol.). I'm also looking forward to the return of ABCF's Make It or Break It.
How's your summer tv watching going? Seen anything entertaining or interesting?
I was so hoping that Fox's The Good Guys would be it - and I do enjoy that show. TGG has grown funnier as it has found its footing. I'd even go so far as to say that Bradley Whitford's mustache should have its own billing in the credits, lol. In short, Bradley Whitford's throwback to the 80s cop and Colin Hanks' straight man cop are an amusing, if light, duo. Definitely summer fare - little to no thought involved and several chuckles an episode.
I tried ABC's The Gates and Scoundrels. Both had oddly low production values for network television. The Gates was slightly better than Scoundrels but I don't plan on revisiting either. Let's just say that The Gates fares poorly in comparison to its same night competition, True Blood. Scoundrels was already done better by FX - The Riches. If you like the idea of Scoundrels but not the actual execution, check out The Riches with Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver. It's available on dvd.
Believe it or not, ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars is my favorite new show of the summer. It's an interesting teen drama and is filling the hole left by Gossip Girl quite nicely. I'd even go so far as to say that it's better than this last season of GG. (I do miss me some Chuck Bass though.)
Of the various returning summer shows I've seen so far, USA's Burn Notice is still entertaining, Royal Pains less so. HBO's True Blood is off to a quick start. I've found the episodes so far quite entertaining but I do wonder if they're introducing to many new characters and plotlines too quickly. Still, I'll watch TB as long as Alexander Skarsgård is on it as Eric Northman. As I've said on facebook and twitter, I really wish they'd just go ahead and make it the Eric & Pam Show (as long as they gave Lafayette a show too, lol.). I'm also looking forward to the return of ABCF's Make It or Break It.
How's your summer tv watching going? Seen anything entertaining or interesting?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Need a laugh?
You all know how much I enjoy Glee. Heather Morris' Brittany is one of the many reasons why - she consistently delivers hilarious one-liners. I found a video on YouTube where someone had pieced them all together. If you need a laugh, you might want to check it out.
I can't decide which is my favorite. At the moment I'm leaning towards "I think my cat is reading my diary." and "When I pulled my hamstring, I went to a misogynist."
Do you have a favorite Brittany quote? or other Glee quote?
I can't decide which is my favorite. At the moment I'm leaning towards "I think my cat is reading my diary." and "When I pulled my hamstring, I went to a misogynist."
Do you have a favorite Brittany quote? or other Glee quote?
Friday, June 18, 2010
When it's right, it's amazing...
...and when it's off, it's really bad.
I just saw an article on Hitfix.com about Christina Aguilera singing the national anthem for the NBA championships. They included a clip of her performance, which you can view here:
Our national anthem is an exceptionally hard song to sing. I wouldn't care to try it in front of millions of people.
To me, the classic performance will always be Whitney Houston's 1991 performance. I still get goosebumps. Here it is:
Do you have favorite version and/or performance of The Star Spangled Banner?
I just saw an article on Hitfix.com about Christina Aguilera singing the national anthem for the NBA championships. They included a clip of her performance, which you can view here:
Our national anthem is an exceptionally hard song to sing. I wouldn't care to try it in front of millions of people.
To me, the classic performance will always be Whitney Houston's 1991 performance. I still get goosebumps. Here it is:
Do you have favorite version and/or performance of The Star Spangled Banner?
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