There are two things about Love Bites that are notable. (1) After major cast and producer turnover, NBC kept pushing the premiere date further and further back until today. (2) It's probably the fifth new comedy this season exclusively focusing on relationships. If there's one thing to take from the two points, it's that Love Bites won't last. NBC surely doesn't care what happens to it, and audiences haven't been receptive to these types of comedies, as they were all canceled (though, to be fair, most shows got canceled).
Even during a normal year in the normal television season, Love Bites probably wouldn't have survived anyway. The pilot features three separate stories and in an hour, they are bite-sized as the show's title suggests. Each story has largely the same patter: guy and girl, friends on the side; there is some deception, but a happy ending for everyone. Basically the plots jump from problem to solution instantly with zero development. There are some funny moments, some groan-worthy moments, but the main failing of the show is that it's kind of pointless. We're watching these characters do things, but we're hardly given a reason to care about them, especially with such generic plots.
Score: 7.4/10
Showing posts with label Other. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Other. Show all posts
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Review - Happy Endings Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot / 2 The Quicksand Girlfriend
In a normal year Happy Endings might seem unique. There is no laugh track and the series begins with a bride leaving the groom at the altar. But this is the 2010-2011 season when almost every new comedy is about a group of people and romantic relationships. We've seen similar setups in Better With You, Perfect Couples, Traffic Light, and Mad Love--friends dealing with relationship issues. The themes of the shows overlap and they all look the same after a while.
Happy Endings had several funny lines and some really cringe-worthy ones, so it's not entirely bad. But it's not something I would watch in the first place, and given he glut of similar shows, it's even less appealing.
Score: 8.0/10
Happy Endings had several funny lines and some really cringe-worthy ones, so it's not entirely bad. But it's not something I would watch in the first place, and given he glut of similar shows, it's even less appealing.
Score: 8.0/10
Monday, November 22, 2010
Buffy without Joss Whedon?!?!?! Put an end to this travesty!
Sorry, excuse my fake outrage.
I'm a Joss Whedon fan. I've watched every episode of all his shows and I've read a good deal of his comics. But let's face it, Joss not being involved in the new Buffy movie isn't the end of the world and shouldn't be garnering so much attention.
Yes, Joss had a grand vision. Yes, it was executed with utter brilliance for seven seasons. It does not, however, mean that Joss Whedon is the end-all for all things Hollywood. Would it be optimal if Joss were involved? Sure, but that's not happening.There are perfectly capable writers, producers, and directors who could do a great job on a Buffy movie. That doesn't mean the movie will be great or even watchable, just that there are talented people everywhere, even some more--*gasp*--talented than Joss, and the end product could be something good. Until the movie is actually created and we see actual content, don't go off bashing anyone. Don't hold a grudge just because Joss isn't involved.
Remember: a franchise is about the title and nothing more. Was the new Star Trek movie faithful to the original series? Not in the least bit. Was it a good sci-fi movie? Absolutely. Was the reimagined Battlestar Galactica anything like the original? Probably less so than the new Star Trek. Was it a good television series? Definitely--one of the best ever. Likewise, just because there's a new movie with the Buffy tag doesn't mean it'll usurp anything Joss did. Buffy the Vampire Slayer the television series will proudly stand on its own and Buffy the Vampire Slayer the rebooted movie will stand on its own, either as a piece of crap, a work of genuis, or something in between.
I'll probably be stepping on lots of toes and maybe get a few angry comments, but Joss Whedon fans are caught in a self-reinforcing cycle. In their circle, they talk about how much of a genius he is and then when news like a new Buffy movie arises, they tighten the circle and attack anyone who dares challenge the great Whedon.
Joss doesn't own the franchise and has no legal right to do anything about it. Let Warner Brothers go ahead with the movie and we'll see what comes out. Then cast judgment.
I'm a Joss Whedon fan. I've watched every episode of all his shows and I've read a good deal of his comics. But let's face it, Joss not being involved in the new Buffy movie isn't the end of the world and shouldn't be garnering so much attention.
Yes, Joss had a grand vision. Yes, it was executed with utter brilliance for seven seasons. It does not, however, mean that Joss Whedon is the end-all for all things Hollywood. Would it be optimal if Joss were involved? Sure, but that's not happening.There are perfectly capable writers, producers, and directors who could do a great job on a Buffy movie. That doesn't mean the movie will be great or even watchable, just that there are talented people everywhere, even some more--*gasp*--talented than Joss, and the end product could be something good. Until the movie is actually created and we see actual content, don't go off bashing anyone. Don't hold a grudge just because Joss isn't involved.
Remember: a franchise is about the title and nothing more. Was the new Star Trek movie faithful to the original series? Not in the least bit. Was it a good sci-fi movie? Absolutely. Was the reimagined Battlestar Galactica anything like the original? Probably less so than the new Star Trek. Was it a good television series? Definitely--one of the best ever. Likewise, just because there's a new movie with the Buffy tag doesn't mean it'll usurp anything Joss did. Buffy the Vampire Slayer the television series will proudly stand on its own and Buffy the Vampire Slayer the rebooted movie will stand on its own, either as a piece of crap, a work of genuis, or something in between.
I'll probably be stepping on lots of toes and maybe get a few angry comments, but Joss Whedon fans are caught in a self-reinforcing cycle. In their circle, they talk about how much of a genius he is and then when news like a new Buffy movie arises, they tighten the circle and attack anyone who dares challenge the great Whedon.
Joss doesn't own the franchise and has no legal right to do anything about it. Let Warner Brothers go ahead with the movie and we'll see what comes out. Then cast judgment.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Review - Rizzoli & Isles Season 1 Episode 1 See One, Do One, Teach One
For a show called Rizzoli & Isles, I was expecting some light, buddy-cop action with the two female leads fluidly bantering all the way through. Instead, Rizzoli and Isles--or more aptly, Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander--don't have any chemistry, not that the writing ever tries to alleviate the problem.
The case was actually decent, something I'd expect on Criminal Minds, but fitting with the title of the show and intent? Certainly not.
And that pretty much sums up Rizzoli & Isles, a tonally dissonant show, going back and forth between disturbing and chirpy without much success on either end or in the middle.
Score: 7.3/10
The case was actually decent, something I'd expect on Criminal Minds, but fitting with the title of the show and intent? Certainly not.
And that pretty much sums up Rizzoli & Isles, a tonally dissonant show, going back and forth between disturbing and chirpy without much success on either end or in the middle.
Score: 7.3/10
Monday, July 12, 2010
Review - The Glades Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot
The Glades doesn't do anything to break the formula, but it doesn't disappoint either. Jim Longworth (Matt Passmore) plays a Florida cop who was booted out of the Chicago police force. He's pretty typical as TV cops come. He's talented, snarky, and largely uninterested in his job. He is, however, interested in Callie (Kiele Sanchez) a nurse in medical school who warms up to him quickly.
The case was weird, though not all bad. Too few suspects were introduced for the mystery to be complicated, but the story took a wild turn out of the blue when Jim's partner turns out to be the murderer. It was startling, but not played up. In fact, nothing really caught my attention, which isn't all too bad for a summer show.
Score: 8.2/10
The case was weird, though not all bad. Too few suspects were introduced for the mystery to be complicated, but the story took a wild turn out of the blue when Jim's partner turns out to be the murderer. It was startling, but not played up. In fact, nothing really caught my attention, which isn't all too bad for a summer show.
Score: 8.2/10
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Review - Huge Season 1 Episode 1 Hello, I Must Be Going
I forgot to blog about this show since it kind of passed my mind after watching it., so I'll be brief.
Despite the gimmicky premise, Huge is still a teen soap, and with that territory comes dumb plots and pat, overly sentimental resolutions. Still, I didn't dislike any of the characters or actors, which might make the show worth watching.
Score: 7.7/10
Despite the gimmicky premise, Huge is still a teen soap, and with that territory comes dumb plots and pat, overly sentimental resolutions. Still, I didn't dislike any of the characters or actors, which might make the show worth watching.
Score: 7.7/10
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Review - Memphis Beat Season 1 Episode 1 It's Alright Mama
Memphis Beat has a bit of everything--charm, emotion, a decent police case--but unfortunately, nothing is done particularly well, leaving a bland show which struggles to find exactly what it is. The tone goes from somewhat funny with Earl playing around with a little girl to somewhat emotional as Dwight catches the criminal and interrogates him.
As far as cop shows go, Memphis Beat is very average and there's not much that sets it apart from the rest other than Jason Lee, who I kept expecting to turn into Earl and do something wacky. It was obvious the writers tried to inject the "Memphis" part of the title into various nooks and crannies with Elvis impersonators, accents, but the overall tone of the show didn't reflect any of that. The physical objects the writers can do, but tone--definitely not.
Score: 8.0/10
As far as cop shows go, Memphis Beat is very average and there's not much that sets it apart from the rest other than Jason Lee, who I kept expecting to turn into Earl and do something wacky. It was obvious the writers tried to inject the "Memphis" part of the title into various nooks and crannies with Elvis impersonators, accents, but the overall tone of the show didn't reflect any of that. The physical objects the writers can do, but tone--definitely not.
Score: 8.0/10
Monday, June 21, 2010
Review - The Gates Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot
Was it that bad? Yeah, it was. Bad writing, bad acting, and bad ideas in general. There's a mismatch of mythical creatures and regular humans in a community ominously called "The Gates," which has a "code." Cheesy neighborhood drama and atrociously silly high school drama ensues.
Score: 3.0/10
Score: 3.0/10
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Review - Scoundrels Season 1 Episode 1 And Jill Came Tumbling After
Scoundrels isn't deep enough to warrant any serious summer watching--and it's not funny or clever enough to warrant summer pleasure watching either. At times, the cast, headed by Virginia Madsen, is great, but the lines range from boring to overly ridiculous.
The premise seemed interesting, but fell apart. I kept wanting to know how the family came into their situation. An average suburban family doesn't fall into the life of crime without something big happening. They aren't bad people who hurt people either, but they seem to be fine with stealing. Why? What drove them to this unique lifestyle? This questioned rattled around my head as I watched a largely plotless episode and no hints popped up.
In the end, Cheryl decides to go straight and the disbelieving Sergeant Mack tells her a leopard can't change its spots. The following episodes will probably contain the various family members trying to live normally and goofing all the time. I'll give the show one more chance to see what those episodes are like. Clearly the pilot was a setup episode and not what the show will normally be.
Score: 6.8/10
The premise seemed interesting, but fell apart. I kept wanting to know how the family came into their situation. An average suburban family doesn't fall into the life of crime without something big happening. They aren't bad people who hurt people either, but they seem to be fine with stealing. Why? What drove them to this unique lifestyle? This questioned rattled around my head as I watched a largely plotless episode and no hints popped up.
In the end, Cheryl decides to go straight and the disbelieving Sergeant Mack tells her a leopard can't change its spots. The following episodes will probably contain the various family members trying to live normally and goofing all the time. I'll give the show one more chance to see what those episodes are like. Clearly the pilot was a setup episode and not what the show will normally be.
Score: 6.8/10
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Review - Persons Unknown Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot
Persons Unknown is like the product of a couple of drunk guys getting together and floating the question, "What if...?" They imagine these people randomly appearing in a hotel, an utterly contrived scenario for plot convenience. On the same night, they start working on the script and being inebriated, they write horrible dialogue and characters who only act stupidly. And that's how Persons Unknown was born... or at least how I imagine a show like this would be created.
Honestly, my expectations for the show weren't high. 1) It's on NBC. 2) It's airing during the summer. 3) It's another mystery show. With this mindset, I entered the pilot and found pretty much what I expected: an overdone hour of television intended to frighten and bewilder that was empty on every level.
When people are sent into an obviously irregular situation where they are being watched by security cameras and unable to leave a certain area, the biggest question is--why? The pilot roughly skims around this questions in the opening sequence in an awkward manner, but never revisits it. The rest of the episode is spent finding a Chinese restaurant, the night manager, and the reading of fortune cookies which say "Kill your neighbor and you'll go free." Is this all it is, a sick, sadistic game for those watching?
I'm sure there'll will be millions of viewers wanting more episodes, and I can't blame them. Part of me wants to see what transpires. It's like Saw or Cube in TV form and for many, that's good enough.
Score: 5.0/10
Honestly, my expectations for the show weren't high. 1) It's on NBC. 2) It's airing during the summer. 3) It's another mystery show. With this mindset, I entered the pilot and found pretty much what I expected: an overdone hour of television intended to frighten and bewilder that was empty on every level.
When people are sent into an obviously irregular situation where they are being watched by security cameras and unable to leave a certain area, the biggest question is--why? The pilot roughly skims around this questions in the opening sequence in an awkward manner, but never revisits it. The rest of the episode is spent finding a Chinese restaurant, the night manager, and the reading of fortune cookies which say "Kill your neighbor and you'll go free." Is this all it is, a sick, sadistic game for those watching?
I'm sure there'll will be millions of viewers wanting more episodes, and I can't blame them. Part of me wants to see what transpires. It's like Saw or Cube in TV form and for many, that's good enough.
Score: 5.0/10
Friday, February 19, 2010
New Commenting System
The default Blogger commenting system is very basic and doesn't have many options, so I switched to Disqus which is more customizable and easier to use.
The downside is that I had to install the code manually, so no one can comment on old posts. If you have something to say on an old post, send me an email and I'll make another post with comments. Test comments below.
The downside is that I had to install the code manually, so no one can comment on old posts. If you have something to say on an old post, send me an email and I'll make another post with comments. Test comments below.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Is "forte" ever pronounced correctly on television?
This is something that bothers me immensely, because I've NEVER heard it pronounced correctly in the media. In tonight's episode of NCIS, Abby refers to something as not her forte. She pronounces it "for-tay" which in musical terms means loud. What she meant to say was forte, pronounced simply "fort." It's pronounced the same way as a fort, a base for soldiers. It's not a big deal, but I don't understand why no one corrects the actors or why the actors don't know themselves.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Updated Scoring Guidelines
I looked back at the scoring guidelines I wrote a while back and I'll admit it. They are bullshit. Scores can't be assigned to episodes simply because of all the factors involved, and I barely have any real reasons for the scores I provide. I score episodes for the novelty of putting a score on something. Everyone loves organized numbers, so I write them. Why IGN, IFmagazine, TWOP, and AVclub assign grades and scores is anyone's guess.
The base for my scores are 8.5/10. It's a nice flat number that isn't in the 7 range which IMO is kind of low. From there it's arbitrary. I don't weigh the scores based on definite factors such as acting or directing, and tabulate the score. Most of the time, I make up a random score based on my general impression of the episode and how I rate other episodes. In recent months, I have tried to keep the scoring stable with fewer fluctuations. If you read my earlier reviews, my scores had a larger range. These days, my scores will go from 8.5 to 9.5. Anything outside of that is unusual. Why? No reason really.
A big part of my scoring is the intent of the show. I don't expect NCIS to be layered and complex like Mad Men. I do expect NCIS to be funny with a good investigation. If a show has a solid concept like a chasing serial killers, etc (Criminal Minds) and sets out to be dark and scary, that's what I'll expect. Therefore, a 9.2 for Mad Men is not the same as 9.2 for Criminal Minds. That's right, 9.2 does not equal 9.2.
If the paragraphs above don't make sense to you, don't feel alone. They don't make sense to me either. Take the scores with a grain of salt, watch the episode, read reviews, and decide for yourself.
The base for my scores are 8.5/10. It's a nice flat number that isn't in the 7 range which IMO is kind of low. From there it's arbitrary. I don't weigh the scores based on definite factors such as acting or directing, and tabulate the score. Most of the time, I make up a random score based on my general impression of the episode and how I rate other episodes. In recent months, I have tried to keep the scoring stable with fewer fluctuations. If you read my earlier reviews, my scores had a larger range. These days, my scores will go from 8.5 to 9.5. Anything outside of that is unusual. Why? No reason really.
A big part of my scoring is the intent of the show. I don't expect NCIS to be layered and complex like Mad Men. I do expect NCIS to be funny with a good investigation. If a show has a solid concept like a chasing serial killers, etc (Criminal Minds) and sets out to be dark and scary, that's what I'll expect. Therefore, a 9.2 for Mad Men is not the same as 9.2 for Criminal Minds. That's right, 9.2 does not equal 9.2.
If the paragraphs above don't make sense to you, don't feel alone. They don't make sense to me either. Take the scores with a grain of salt, watch the episode, read reviews, and decide for yourself.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Don't hate the crime procedural
I wanted to add "hate the game" to the title but I think that would be too cheesy.
Every week when the ratings for the previous night come out, they are accompanied by incredulous comments about how many viewers the various CBS crime shows (NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds, etc) get. There are also some comments attacking the viewers of the shows complaining about how brain dead the audience is. Sometimes even a Heroes fan attacks crime shows and their fans.
Critics like attacking crime shows for their formulaic nature. But the writers are still talented and the actors are still talented. What more can be done with a show whose intent is to show crimes and people solving them? I would agree that the interpersonal relationships are weak compared to other shows, but the format itself isn't that bad.
First, there is the murder or people finding the body. The crime can be directed to show the total brutality of murder in a way cable shows are praised for. People finding the body can be humorous in the case of Bones or thrilling in the case of most other shows. Then the police/FBI/other group goes about solving the crime using cool technology, interrogation techniques, logic, and maybe some shooting/fighting until they catch the criminal. Along the way the audience may learn something about the characters and the characters develop distinct personalities and traits. It's an easy way to engage the audience and keep them watching the show.
The purpose of television is to make money and the formula of the crime procedural is perfectly suited to bring in viewers. Most people don't have time to watch a continuous story week after week at the exact same time. With the growing popularity of internet viewing and DVR, that is changing, but for now the public at large watches shows they can miss on random weeks.
Therein lies the greatness of crime procedurals. For all the critics and haters out there, the audience keeps returning to these crime shows, and to prove the audience is not one large blob, some shows even do much better in the ratings than others. I know it's hard concept to swallow, but not all crime procedurals are the same. That's why NCIS does at least twice as well as The Forgotten. There is a difference in quality between all the various crime shows and the audience recognizes that.
Next time you see the huge ratings of a crime procedural, don't whine and bitch. And please don't attack the viewers. Accept that not all people watch television as obsessively as you and get over it.
Every week when the ratings for the previous night come out, they are accompanied by incredulous comments about how many viewers the various CBS crime shows (NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds, etc) get. There are also some comments attacking the viewers of the shows complaining about how brain dead the audience is. Sometimes even a Heroes fan attacks crime shows and their fans.
Critics like attacking crime shows for their formulaic nature. But the writers are still talented and the actors are still talented. What more can be done with a show whose intent is to show crimes and people solving them? I would agree that the interpersonal relationships are weak compared to other shows, but the format itself isn't that bad.
First, there is the murder or people finding the body. The crime can be directed to show the total brutality of murder in a way cable shows are praised for. People finding the body can be humorous in the case of Bones or thrilling in the case of most other shows. Then the police/FBI/other group goes about solving the crime using cool technology, interrogation techniques, logic, and maybe some shooting/fighting until they catch the criminal. Along the way the audience may learn something about the characters and the characters develop distinct personalities and traits. It's an easy way to engage the audience and keep them watching the show.
The purpose of television is to make money and the formula of the crime procedural is perfectly suited to bring in viewers. Most people don't have time to watch a continuous story week after week at the exact same time. With the growing popularity of internet viewing and DVR, that is changing, but for now the public at large watches shows they can miss on random weeks.
Therein lies the greatness of crime procedurals. For all the critics and haters out there, the audience keeps returning to these crime shows, and to prove the audience is not one large blob, some shows even do much better in the ratings than others. I know it's hard concept to swallow, but not all crime procedurals are the same. That's why NCIS does at least twice as well as The Forgotten. There is a difference in quality between all the various crime shows and the audience recognizes that.
Next time you see the huge ratings of a crime procedural, don't whine and bitch. And please don't attack the viewers. Accept that not all people watch television as obsessively as you and get over it.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Facebook Page
This is just another way to access content from my blog (assuming anyone cares). I know there's tons of people out there that use Facebook, so I'll post links there to new posts.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TV-Obsessed/188906402625
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-TV-Obsessed/188906402625
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
What I want for Christmas - TV Version
DVDs aren't the only TV gifts we can get, so here's a list of what I want to see from my TV shows for Christmas.
1. Better Off Ted viewers
I'm almost 100% sure the show will be canceled, and barring a truly magnificent Christmas miracle, the show will be canceled. The ratings for the season premiere sucked, even compared to the lower end ABC shows, and the ratings were just as bad last spring. It was a miracle even then that the show was renewed for a second season so I guess we can be grateful about. The biting satire of the show is beyond anything on television right now, and the acting is above average. Why won't people watch?
2. 24 Season 9
The eighth season of the action thriller is starts on January 17, but there no word whether the show will continue beyond the next season. The show still pulls in decent ratings and does incredibly well for a show that has been on air so long, but the producers and actors don't seem to be that interested in continuing the show. While they continue making compelling stories full of twists year after year, they would be fine if they don't come to an agreement with Fox. But I and many others want more. Even if there isn't Jack Bauer, I'd watch.
3. Fix FlashForward
After ABC promoted the show so much during the summer, I was expected something great, and instead was handed disappointment after disappointment. There are fundamental flaws with the show that need to be resolved that I've talked about in my reviews. Hopefully it'll get better when it comes back in March. Fingers crossed!
4. Ending of Lost not like the ending of Alias
The final scene of Alias was sweet, but lame as hell. It was a happy ending with Sydney, Vaughn, and a random appearance of Dixon on an island. After all the craziness of five seasons, all the writers could come up with was a scene with no real meaning. Speaking of spy shows, I thought La Femme Nikita's ending was better by 100 times. It was bittersweet and fit well with the theme of the show. With Lost winding down, I hope Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse don't take the route of Jeff Pinkner. Luckily the only constant is J.J. Abrams.
5. A renewal for Chuck
The new season hasn't started yet and this may seem premature, but I'm kind of a pessimist, so I don't have high hopes for the show. The ratings stabilized very low last season despite high hopes and promotion during prime events. The season two finale pushed the show to the next level and from what we know about season three, the stories will be even better.
1. Better Off Ted viewers
I'm almost 100% sure the show will be canceled, and barring a truly magnificent Christmas miracle, the show will be canceled. The ratings for the season premiere sucked, even compared to the lower end ABC shows, and the ratings were just as bad last spring. It was a miracle even then that the show was renewed for a second season so I guess we can be grateful about. The biting satire of the show is beyond anything on television right now, and the acting is above average. Why won't people watch?
2. 24 Season 9
The eighth season of the action thriller is starts on January 17, but there no word whether the show will continue beyond the next season. The show still pulls in decent ratings and does incredibly well for a show that has been on air so long, but the producers and actors don't seem to be that interested in continuing the show. While they continue making compelling stories full of twists year after year, they would be fine if they don't come to an agreement with Fox. But I and many others want more. Even if there isn't Jack Bauer, I'd watch.
3. Fix FlashForward
After ABC promoted the show so much during the summer, I was expected something great, and instead was handed disappointment after disappointment. There are fundamental flaws with the show that need to be resolved that I've talked about in my reviews. Hopefully it'll get better when it comes back in March. Fingers crossed!
4. Ending of Lost not like the ending of Alias
The final scene of Alias was sweet, but lame as hell. It was a happy ending with Sydney, Vaughn, and a random appearance of Dixon on an island. After all the craziness of five seasons, all the writers could come up with was a scene with no real meaning. Speaking of spy shows, I thought La Femme Nikita's ending was better by 100 times. It was bittersweet and fit well with the theme of the show. With Lost winding down, I hope Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse don't take the route of Jeff Pinkner. Luckily the only constant is J.J. Abrams.
5. A renewal for Chuck
The new season hasn't started yet and this may seem premature, but I'm kind of a pessimist, so I don't have high hopes for the show. The ratings stabilized very low last season despite high hopes and promotion during prime events. The season two finale pushed the show to the next level and from what we know about season three, the stories will be even better.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
UPDATED - Next Week in Preview (The X-Files
Ok...I guess I didn't have as much time as I expected, so the X-Files list will be pushed back to the weekend. I'm hoping to get the Buffy stuff done by the middle of next week.
Since I have lots of time the next few days, I'll finally be working on some lists that I've wanted to get to for a while.
First is my list of top X-Files episodes. I was choosing episodes earlier, and there were way too many great episodes, so I'm going to do a top 25. I know that's more than a tenth of the entire series which kind of puts a damper on the significance of the list, but I'll be doing a write-up for each episode.
As a teaser, here's one episode from each season that will be on the list: Beyond the Sea (S1), One Breath (S2), Nisei/ 731 (S3), Momento Mori (S4), The Post-Modern Prometheus (S5), How the Ghosts Stole Christmas (S6), X-Cops (S7), Trust No 1 (S9). I know these are picks usually aren't on top lists for X-Files, especially top 5 and top 10, so I hope you're enthused for my explanations.
If you noticed, I didn't included any season 8 episodes, and the season 9 episode is the only of the season. I was hesitant to add anything from the last two seasons because quite frankly, they were terrible. Trust No 1 was unique in that is was Scully-centric, and Gillian Anderson gave a brilliant performance.
The other project I'm working on is ranking the seasons of Buffy. They each have standalone stories, so it's easy to separate them from each other to compare. I know there is lots of contention over the series with all sorts of reactions to seasons 4 through 7, so if you disagree, I understand; just don't hurl insults. I'll also be adding the notable episodes for each season.
Since I had a teaser for The X-Files, here's some of my thoughts which will indicate possibly what my list will look like. I do not like season 6. There are very good individual episodes, and a different and interesting initial concept, but the overall story for the season was average — in Buffy context, bad.
Since I have lots of time the next few days, I'll finally be working on some lists that I've wanted to get to for a while.
First is my list of top X-Files episodes. I was choosing episodes earlier, and there were way too many great episodes, so I'm going to do a top 25. I know that's more than a tenth of the entire series which kind of puts a damper on the significance of the list, but I'll be doing a write-up for each episode.
As a teaser, here's one episode from each season that will be on the list: Beyond the Sea (S1), One Breath (S2), Nisei/ 731 (S3), Momento Mori (S4), The Post-Modern Prometheus (S5), How the Ghosts Stole Christmas (S6), X-Cops (S7), Trust No 1 (S9). I know these are picks usually aren't on top lists for X-Files, especially top 5 and top 10, so I hope you're enthused for my explanations.
If you noticed, I didn't included any season 8 episodes, and the season 9 episode is the only of the season. I was hesitant to add anything from the last two seasons because quite frankly, they were terrible. Trust No 1 was unique in that is was Scully-centric, and Gillian Anderson gave a brilliant performance.
The other project I'm working on is ranking the seasons of Buffy. They each have standalone stories, so it's easy to separate them from each other to compare. I know there is lots of contention over the series with all sorts of reactions to seasons 4 through 7, so if you disagree, I understand; just don't hurl insults. I'll also be adding the notable episodes for each season.
Since I had a teaser for The X-Files, here's some of my thoughts which will indicate possibly what my list will look like. I do not like season 6. There are very good individual episodes, and a different and interesting initial concept, but the overall story for the season was average — in Buffy context, bad.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Interview with SciFi Surplus
I did an interview with SciFi Surplus over the weekend. You can here me talk about Chuck here either streaming or you can download the MP3. I'm mixed in among the other topics that are discussed on the podcast. I know I have lots of verbal filler, so there's no need to tease me. The rest of the podcast is very well-made and professional, so if you think my segment is terrible, there's plenty of good stuff to listen.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Major changes coming to the site
If you haven't noticed, the last show I review was Mad Men which aired on Sunday. With CBS and Fox not having any new episodes, I had lots of time to do other things, and it made me realize how much time I was spending reviewing episodes. I don't really want to get into specifics, but it takes me a long time, especially on Fridays when I have to review the loaded schedule on Thursday.
That got me thinking, and I've decided the change the purpose of this blog. Instead of reviewing certain shows with lots of recapping, I've decided to review all the shows I watch with much shorter reviews. No more recapping and almost all review. They'll be much shorter and faster to read.
In addition, I'll be making more random posts about television. I have a list of top 5s that I've always wanted to get to. I'll be posting spoilers for shows along with commentary, and I'll make sure to hide the text for people who don't like to be spoiled.
I you have any suggestions, please post them, and vote in the poll.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The double-edged sword of an October Chuck return
When Ausiello first reported that NBC was considering moving Chuck's premiere date from March to October, many people were ecstatic, and rightfully so. Chuck is a great show that is highly entertaining to watch; watching it now is surely better than watching it in 5 months. There are many problems with Chuck's early return that people need to consider. The ultimate goal of course is a fourth season, but a return in October may pose a threat to that goal.
NBC was hoping to advertise Chuck during the Winter Olympics and build the hype. There certainly is a lot to look forward to. Chuck is at the top of its game in terms of creativity and acting, and with good advertising, could have returned in March with relatively big numbers, assuring success. If NBC wants to start airing Chuck by the end of October, they need to start promoting the show now.
As it stands now, NBC is doing horribly. Other than The Office, Law & Order: SVU, and unscripted shows people aren't tuning in to NBC. They've heard how bad NBC is. They've seen how bad some NBC shows are. What would make them tune into NBC for a random program they've never seen before?
There is also a problem with scheduling. With Jay Leno eating up the 10 PM slot every night of the week, Chuck has almost no slot to be in. Assuming NBC doesn't want Chuck on Fridays which would be certain death, there is only Monday and Wednesday.
Trauma on Mondays will most likely be the first to go. Each episode is very expensive to produce and the ratings are lower than that of Chuck's last season. Once again, the Monday slot at 9 PM has heavy competition with DWTS, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and Lie to Me - all shows that do much better than Chuck did last year.
Wednesday would be the preferable spot for Chuck, replacing Mercy at 8 PM. As of last week, the other shows in the timeslot are doing about as well as Chuck did last season. Mercy is still hanging in with the other shows in the timeslot, so NBC probably won't cancel it too soon. If I had to guess, Mercy would be moved to Friday to accomodate Chuck if NBC wants it on Wednesdays.
I do not think Chuck would succeed on Mondays. It would probably do marginally better than Trauma, and with NBC currently with its finger on the trigger, we should be worried if Chuck does end up on Mondays. Wednesday would provide Chuck with the best chance to succeed. The competition is very weak, and Chuck could easily destroy them. If it does, NBC will probably give it a back 9 with just a 2.2-2.5 which should be doable.
I know this is all hypothetical, as shown by the number of times I used 'if,' but if Ausiello's sources at NBC are correct, there are realistic problems we must acknowledge. The situation at NBC is not good and they are going down the path to eliminating all scripted programming. Chuck is certainly not untouchable and after the surprising and abrupt cancellation of Southland, anything can happen.
