I’ve got to say that I’m disappointed in the new MTV2. To be honest it had been on a steady decline since it merged M2 and The Box. But the new MTV2 really sucks.
However that could be because I’m not in the market they’re trying to tap.
Whatever, it still sucks.
What I Watched Last Week
Saturday Night Live – It was a bit funny, but nothing to write much about.
Carnivale – I had always wondered the best way to follow somebody, and now I know. I can’t believe that the reporter fell for the oldest trick in the book. Sophie and Ben finally shagged. Virgil is slowly becoming my favorite character, but I don’t know why.
Unscripted – I’m really torn about this who. Let’s take the character of Nick. He gets cast in a commercial for an STD treatment (which was really funny about a decade ago when it happened to Joey on Friends.) Now I don’t understand why it’s so hilarious to the characters on the show. I mean, he did land the gig, right? He got paid, and everyone is struggling, right? So where does the humor lie? Would it really be funny to a fellow actor, or is it played as funny because the audience would think that it’s funny? Or is it funny because Nick is a vain character? Maybe I’m just over thinking.
The Simpsons – Funny episode. I liked how everyone was content with the scam. And I’m a sucker for Mr. Van Houten.
Arrested Development – I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I think it was all of Martin Short’s chewing of the scenery. He’s way too hammy for the show.
24 – I’m glad that people were actually questioning the presence of Tony during the investigation. I also kind of feel for Edgar and his mom. But he really needs to suck it up. This is CTU! And is it just me or did anyone else notice the complete lack of CTU Mole and wrongful torture this episode. But that’s why this show rocks; they neglected two lingering storylines and it just occurred to me today.
Scrubs – Amazing episode, and not just because I live my life like a sitcom (I play a cross between J.D. and Chandler), but also because it was handled so damn well. This episode better win some damn award.
Smallville – I hate dogs. Thus I didn’t really care for this episode. I’m also tiring of Lex and Clark throwing subtle jabs at each other. This show needs to start appealing to the comic fan in me again.
Lost – I watched last weeks episode and this weeks as well. Can I continue to express my disgust for Charlie? He sucks. Sawyer, on the other hand is my favorite. I dug his back-story episode. One thing that troubles me; how come some characters have had two back-story turns where others haven’t even had one?
It worries me. I don’t really see how they can develop Michael or Walt any further with back-stories. Or Locke for that matter. It just seems that some characters were more fully realized than others, and as the show begins to age this will become more evident.
Oz (Edited for Joe Reid Somebody) – Whoa. I caught season finale that featured the death of _______. I knew it was coming, but I was still surprised. I felt really bad for ________ he tried everything he could to help his _______ but nothing worked. _______ was convicted and sentenced to death. ______ convinced _______ to testify against ________ sending him to death row. And ________ ratted out _______ to _______. Of course that resulted in the death of ______’s _______. Dude’s had a rough six years. ______ mutilated himself to get back with the Brotherhood. Of course the death of ________ has given us a chance to revisit some other dead inmates like _______. Sadly I know the series is coming to an end. Thus I’ll have to savor every episode.
Jack and Bobby – I actually watched three weeks worth of episodes this week. I’m enjoying this show more and more. Tom is growing on me and Peter is very entertaining.
Tilt – I didn’t really see this coming. When The Matador gave his soliloquy to Miami and Clark, I was thinking one thing; whored. He totally whored them. And then what happened to Eddie, man, that was no joke. Of course that begs the question; where does the series go from here?
Greatest Show Ever”¦this week – Slavery and the Making of America
While the first two hours came on last week, I watched all four this week and words don’t really do it justice. It was brutal and while it wasn’t particularly entertaining it was very informative. I’m very rarely attentive to television, and its even rarer for me to “feel.” But this miniseries caused me to do both.
It was a brutally honest look at an institution that made this country everything that it is today, in every regard. It opened my already widened eyes. But I doubt that the people who needed to watch it actually tuned in.
Black Actors = Rodney Dangerfield
(For this segment I’m actually going to broaden the boundaries of the topic to include film as well as television.)
This country had a race problem, that a given. But one of the subtly overlooked aspects of the race problem in America is the lack of credit given to Black actors.
To me it seems almost as though whites associate Black actors with their characters, much in the same way people often confuse soap opera actors with the characters they play.
Now before you fire off emails listing the actors who’ve had acclaim like Angela Bassett, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Denzel Washington and Laurence Fishbourne, think about the roles they were acclaimed for.
Angela Bassett played Tina Turner
Will Smith played Muhammad Ali
Halle Berry played Dorothy Dandrige
Denzel Washington played Malcolm X
Laurence Fishbourne played Ike Turner.
Ving Rhames and Jamie Foxx both won awards for their portrayals of Don King and Ray Charles respectively.
My point is that, for the most part, when Black actors are recognized they are recognized for portraying a known Black figure. In a way it makes it easier for white audiences to gauge how much they acted. They are aware that Ray Charles and Jamie Foxx are two different people, but Jamie Foxx did such a fine job playing Ray Charles that, for a moment, they forgot. And that is how they measure acting.
How else do you explain the lack of recognition given to the critically acclaimed show The Wire? I think that Will Shatner does a fine job on Boston Legal week in and week out. However I know that Andre Royo has me convinced that he is actually addicted to heroin as Bubbles on The Wire. By the same token Idris Elba, Wood Harris, and Larry Gilliard, Jr play some of the most complex characters on television, but since they’re Black and playing criminals in the drug trade, there is no separation from real life.
Even Oz was neglected Eamonn Walker played the eternally conflicted Kareem Said with vigor throughout the series, but apparently no one noticed.
It’s possible to be cast in a stereotypical role and still give a nuanced performance, just witness Morgan Freeman in Street Smart. The problem lies with an audience that can’t tell the difference between an actor playing a role and a preconceived notion of how Blacks behave. But there are those can’t distinguish between turning on the local 6 O’clock news and two of HBO’s least awarded dramas.
So while some people may have been offended when Halle and Denzel took home Oscars for “unflattering” roles, I was happy, because they won based on performance rather than mimicry.
Radio Personalities Galore
Last week I posed the following scenario;
Good news; after years of trolling away at your college radio station, you are about to graduate! Bad news; the job market is tough, especially for radio personalities who don’t graduate at the head of their class. Maybe you slacked off too much during the spring when females are wearing less clothing. Maybe you majored in “Bridge-ology.” Or maybe you just aren’t that bright. But you did manage to get three job offers.
Are you going to accept the position at WZUP (Martin), WKRP (WKRP in Cincinatti) or WNYX (Newsradio)?
Sadly I only received three replies (are you happy Coogan?)
The first came from Colin who wrote;
Without a doubt, WNYX. Phil Hartman is always on. You could bully Andy the Spaz. Stephen Root is the most hilarious boss, ever. Khandi Alexander is a piece. And it’s always good to see Dave Foley (give it up for Kids in the Hall!!!!!!). He’s a great sarcastic comedian. Very snarky.
Thankfully Aaron Cameron always has at least two cents to add;
Easy call, kid. I’m workin’ for WZUP in Detroit. I know, I know…you’ve made your anti-Martin stance well known to the masses, but I stand by my decision. Check out those reruns on USA…but, only the first two seasons. Remember, after that, the writers eliminated Garrett Morris’ character (after he got shot, for real, in L.A.) and the radio DJ job.
In the early years, Gina and Pam hadn’t yet turned into men with thick calves and might be likely to pop up at the station from time to time. Besides, remember the stereotypical uncool white guy that worked there? Man, I’d be rubbing elbows with a real life Caucasian caricature that *didn’t* involve Matthew Michael *or* rubbing his elbows!
Not to be outdone IP Movies’ own Michaelangelo had a noticeable difference of opinion;
Well, it becomes a tough call between WKRP and WNYX. No way in hell I’d work at WZUP. I wouldn’t last 5 minutes before beating Martin till the white meat showed. WKRP would be by far the cooler working environment. Johnny Fever, Venus, Les Nessman, Jennifer back when Loni Anderson was STUPID smokin’. But then I’d have to live in freakin’ Cincinnati. I mean, come on. Who would voluntarily want to live there? They don’t even have a decent sports franchise, for crying out loud, unless you count the Bearcats, and they’re having an offseason. So, by process of elimination, I’d have to take the gig at WNYX, as long as I had a rider in my contract allowing me to beat the everloving (censored) out of Bill once a day.
As usual, I thank everyone for responding.
My choice would actually be WKRP. First off, I hate Martin. Secondly New York is a huge market, and I don’t really know if I’d shine as brightly there. Plus can you imagine what sort of rough draft Fear Factor stunts Joe had going on over there?
WKRP is logical for many reasons. 1) I’d get to work with Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap, two of the coolest DJ’s ever. Can you imagine the type of parties those two were having? And I’d be invited to all of them! 2) Despite the huge stars that were Fever and Venus, I’d still have a shot at being a star. 3) It had a great theme song, and I’m a sucker for a good theme song.
Of course this leads us to;
Good News/Bad News/Question of the Week
Good News; you found a magical entity. Maybe it’s a leprechaun. Maybe it’s a genie. Maybe it’s a magic nose goblin. Who knows, the point is it’s got magical powers. Bad News; as usual there’s a catch; in order to receive you wildest wish you’ve got to spend a year in a Sherman Hemsley® sitcom.
Where are you going to go; The Jeffersons or Amen
Plugtastic
Carlos actually did write a column about SNL. My bad.
Mark voices his disgust at Fox and American Dad.
Steve gets all religious on us.
Laura has news on a Lindsay Lohan Barbie. Seriously.
Romo digs poker.
J.A.M.ology
I don’t know what happened to Joe this week. But frankly I’m worried. We didn’t have our talk about Carnivale. I didn’t see his column this week. I just hope everything is cool.
Aaron references “field Cubans”, a Black History Month Potluck, and Hatemail. Oh yeah, he also has loads of music news.
Greatest Video Ever”¦this week
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
This video is amazing. It’s stylistic, yet simple. It’s bold, yet stark. It perfectly mirrors the song, yet adds so much. It’s one of the few videos that grab my attention with its simplicity. The song itself is classic, and the video does justice to it.
