As part of my New Year’s Resolution to be more “active” I’ve decided to use my soapbox to champion The Wire. Unfortunately The Wire isn’t a “lock” for next season. So please visit Save The Wire and help keep the best show on television, on television.
I’m pretty excited about what TV has in store for 2005. There are a few programs that are premiering soon that I’m intrigued about.
I’m very curious about how 24 is going to look, especially since Jack Bauer is the only returning character. Sure Jack is a compelling character, but can he fill up 24 hours of television?
Carnivale looks interesting. I watched most of the first season (sure, I missed a couple episodes and fell asleep on an equal number, but I said most.) Could I name a character on the show? Nope. Do I remember any of the dangling plot threads? No. Could I even tell you which character is “good” and which is “evil?” Nah, but what else am I going to watch on Sunday nights?
How about Numb3rs. Despite the absurd title/logo the show looks promising. Who doesn’t love serial killers and the folks who track them down? And doesn’t everyone enjoy an eccentric genius who can’t deal with personal interaction? My only qualm about the show is the network that it’s on. CBS doesn’t instill me with faith.
For instance I was watching Without a Trace and it seems like most of the stories end happily. That just rings false to me. Maybe it’s because the show is followed immediately by the local news, where there are tales of abductions and missing people that don’t end with pleasant reunions. Or maybe it’s because I receive mail, where I see new missing kids ever week. Either way this reminds me of Touched By An Angel where “good” won ever week, depriving the viewer of any actual “drama.”
But back to what I’m looking forward to.
The Shield starts in March and I’m really pumped about that. It’s the best show on television”¦when The Wire isn’t on.
ESPN’s Tilt looks very interesting. I really enjoyed their previous foray into the field of scripted television, too bad they got pressured into canceling the show. Anyway, Tilt has me very intrigued simply because I can’t tell who the protagonists and antagonists are. I often find that ambiguity is a sign of quality.
HBO is putting Deadwood on heavy rotation, which means a new season is right around the corner. Now that was a show that I couldn’t turn away from last year. Is there anything better than constant cursing in the Wild West? Yup, brutality. Fortunately Deadwood has both. It’s also got some great writing.
Enough about what I want to watch. It’s time for what I actually watched.
Mathan’s Last Seven Days of Viewing
Well nothing came on Sunday Night. No Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Boston Legal, or Desperate Houswives.
Monday marked the return of Pardon The Interruption, and not a moment too soon either. I could literally feel my testosterone levels dropping without the show. Teams were trying to make the playoffs, it was Bowl season, and without Kornheiser and Wilbon to provide me with Sports Cliff’s Notes, I was lost. I had no opinion to offer. If anyone asked me anything remotely sports related, I would stammer on and try to muster up a coherent comment to utter with confidence like; “Um, Philly really needs T.O. if they are going to do anything” or “Man, that B.C.S. is just bad business.” Thankfully my personal nightmare is over.
Let’s cut to the chase, Lost was like the only show that I watched this week. It was a very decent episode. I still hate Jack. He’s annoying. I’m still pissed Charlie’s not dead. Kate had a huge gain in cool points for remaining silent this week. She refused to answer any questions and didn’t really give in. And “my name’s not ‘Maggie'” was a killer retort.
However she did get a deduction of cool points for crying. That breakdown was a break in character as far as I’m concerned. I didn’t like it. Thus Sawyer was the most likeable character this week. Sawyer is full of wit and charm, in a jerkish kind of way. Anyway he’s the only character who manages to hold my attention.
Greatest Show Ever”¦this week: Oz – Any show that devotes an entire episode to shanks deserves that honor. Again for the sake of Joe Reid I’ll edit my thoughts. Who would have thought that ______ and ______ would actually kiss and make up? While I was kid of sad to see _______ leave Oz, I think that it’ll be better for ________ without him there. What’s really odd is that ________ has a beef with ________. The real question is; has “Eddie Kane” ever not played Eddie Kane?
Entertaining Power Play
So when I got home from work on Wednesday, I discovered that my roommate had a new flat screen TV. And by discovered I mean I saw that it was sitting on the floor in the living room.
Now my roommate had been “talking” about how she was going to be getting a TV from relatives for a while now. But I had always chalked that talk up to “things I say to assuage Mathan.” It was right up there with “Yes, Mathan, I am going back to school” and “sure, I’ll tape P.T.I. for you.”
With the addition of a new TV, the structure of the whole house changes. For one thing, since it’s the largest TV it of course gains dominance over every other TV in the house. This means it takes its rightful “throne” of prominence as the center of attention in the living room.
But it was way too large, in every regard, to fit in the Tower of Entertainment. Thus every piece of technology in that tower had to be removed, which meant a bevy of cords. I swear to you, those cords and me were like Charlie Brown and wire coat hangers. And it was as frustrating as sitting through Entourage season one.
When the dust had settled the landscape of the living room had changed. And the my TV and VCR, who were once two of the most beloved pieces of entertainment, where now without a home. It was clear that I was going to have to take them into my room. But again, a delicate balance was disrupted.
The TV in my room could best be described as “dinky.” My computer and stereo both looked down on it as inferior. It didn’t really get too much attention. But now with the addition the displaced TV and VCR there is a potential play for power going on.
Y’see my TV is too large to just sit there. If it’s not on, then it just looks awkward. And I had to put the VCR atop my stereo. Clearly, nothing is going to get more love than my stereo, but the placement of the VCR is a clear sign of disrespect.
My computer can’t help but feel threatened by the presence of a larger screen. Plus the new TV is placed in a position where it’s much more convenient to watch while I type, or cyber-stalk Coogan surf the net.
I don’t know how things are going to turn out, but I’m pretty sure that a fuse will be blown.
Well it’s time to read something else.
Didey makes me wish I had Showtime, as she details what she watched.
Mark gives a splendid recap of the highs and lows of 2004, TV wise. It’s a very enjoyable read.
Patrick gives you a reason to watch Raymond.
J.A.M.
Aaron manages to squeeze his love for Transformers, into his column. Aaron’s Bootleg is awfully full of TV bits, and what a better way to start the New Year, than with Cam?
Joe deprives us of his FCC approved comedic stylings (well maybe you, I actually caught him on AIM, so I’m good.) But he does encourage everyone to vote.
Greatest Video Ever”¦this week
Hall & Oates – One on One
Man, is this video fun. Hall & Oates live out their doo wop fantasies in the video for this slow jam. It’s clearly got a dated look, but everyone is doing their best to pretend that they are actually performing the song. Every sound is accounted for, even the sax solo. This may be the coolest these dudes ever looked.
