Living in the Past
As I mentioned last week I’ve been watching Six Feet Under‘s first season. I’m actually only four episodes in and it’s a pretty interesting beginning. It’s fun to watch the beginning of a show that’s already ended because you have the benefit of what the future holds. That means you can pay attention to foreshadowing and see things that came into play in later episodes. It’s a pretty fun experience.
But some of the drama is lessened. For instance I know that Fisher & Sons isn’t in any danger of closing. I know how Ruth and Hiram end up. I know how Nate and Brenda end up. Still it’s fun to go along for the ride.
I’ve also been watching Oz‘s fourth season since I purchased it and the fifth season on DVD. I really only bought them because I’ve got my mom hooked on them. I actually buy Oz for the commentary and bonus features. After I’ve absorbed them I send them to my down to my mom who devours them. Sadly she’s still ignorant for the horrors that Tobias will endure. But the fourth season is coming her way soon.
Last Week’s Viewing
Extras – Much like Entourage before it, this show needs more agent. He’s a hilarious character. This who would be better off with at least one visit to the agent a week. But it was still a fun outing.
Rome – I’ll admit to having actual sympathy for Pompeii. I felt for the guy, particularly at the end. Lucius is a character with such strong conviction, at times it’s annoying, but it worked this episode. He and Pullo make a great team. I like how Pullo has his back. I also dig how JC didn’t kill them because he was superstitious. That was a nice touch.
The show is really progressing fast. Again, being ignorant of history I didn’t expect the new campaign to come up so soon. Still it will be cool to see some new venues.
Real Time With Bill Maher – Salman Rushdie is hilarious. That man killed on this show. Ben just short of annoying, but Rushdie was just short of sidesplitting. He was the star of the week in my eyes.
Lost – Hurley is almost as annoying as Jack. This show is bordering on cliché. Hurley constantly finds something wrong with the situation (why they allow him to enter the numbers and why he’s suddenly not reluctant about the numbers is beyond me), Michael is crying about his son, Locke is talking about fate and destiny. I’m eagerly awaiting for Charlie to fall off the wagon and back on horse, just to liven things up.
How Adebisi isn’t on the top of the other side of the island’s food chain is beyond me, but I hope that he show Sawyer what life was like in Oz, because Sawyer too has become a parody. Thus he’s made my personal “death” wish list, which includes; Jack and Michael. I somehow suspect that list will grow as the season goes on.
On one final note, I think that Bernard should have been played by this guy who pioneered interracial dating on television.
Desperate Housewives – I fell asleep half way through the show, but it was a nice restful nap so that should count for something.
Boston Legal – I actually watched this week and last week’s episode just to check some things out. I’ve got to give the writers credit for managing to make the season finale (last week) seem like just another episode. The divorce story was dragged out, but that was necessary because it featured the three new additions to the cast. Obviously Betty White’s frying pan incident was supposed to be the season ending finale with the resolution being the premiere (as show by her speech explaining all of the frying pan murders.) This show if funny and entertaining. Denny Crane is still a personal favorite.
Smallville – Clark got his powers back, yay. It was cool to see the Kents really worried about Clark’s health, expecially Jonathan’s face when he heard that Clark was dead. It was a pretty good episode. Lex is becoming much more of a bastard which I like. But I’m already frustrated that Clark hasn’t shared his secret with Lana, especially considering her encounter with aliens. Whatever.
Everyone Hates Chris
Dude I love this show. I really can’t explain how dope it is to see an actual Black family on TV. They aren’t the Huxtables nor are they Amos and Andy. This is a wonderful show, that is entertaining despite being a typical sitcom. It’s great because not only it is funny, but I can relate to it. I dug how the uptight principal unwound.
Greatest Show Ever…this week – Gray’s Anatomy and Nip/Tuck
I didn’t really want to do this, but both of these shows were amazing this week.
Nip/Tuck had it on lock, because I watched it first. It was the best episode of the season and possibly in the show’s history. Seeing Matt diss Shawn was harsh but wonderful. It was such a powerful scene. Christian’s surgery on the Carver faker was powerful. The mental screams were very effective. I honestly loved this episode and I can rarely ever say that about this show.
However Gray’s Anatomy slayed me when I watched it. The “A” story blew me away. When the senior Dr. Gray was admitted my mouth was open with shock. It was the total worst-case scenario and immediately had my attention. It was painful to watch and really made me cringe (mostly because my greatest fear is losing my mind.)
Alex showing his softer side was nice, but unnecessary. George is always funny. But the Christina/Burke tension was done perfectly. I had been wondering how they were going to deal with the pregnancy, considering my suspicion that abortion was out of the question. Again, it was another case of worst-case scenario played out perfectly. Seeing Burke torn and on the verge of actual emotion was really a testament to Isaiah’s talent.
Both Nip/Tuck and Gray’s Anatomy were on the top of their game this week, thus they both deserve the honor.
Mathan’s Misguided Pilot Ideas
Welcome back to another edition of Mathan’s Misguided Pilot Ideas this week I’ve decided to spin off a TV show from one of my favorite movies Magnolia entitled The Fantastical Wacky Adventures of Frank T.J. Mackey.
Now I’d set the show a few years after Magnolia to allow for some changes in character. For instance Frank has since retired from the seminar circuit. In the meantime he’s decided to explore his options by living out his dreams. He’s actually taken the last few years to study a variety of different fields; detective work, nursing, the law. Basically Frank has become wealth of intelligence and he’s experiencing life.
As for the show itself, the title explains it all. After the death of his father he decided that life was too short and made a list of things he wanted to accomplish. Every week we’re going to find Frank in a new set up every week. One week he’s a small town TV reporter, the next week he’s pizza delivery guy. Since he’s independently wealthy he can afford all sorts of fake documentation. It’ll be like My Name is Earl meets Quantum Leap…with Tom Cruise.
As for the supporting cast, I’m torn between Phillip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy and John C. Reilly. I don’t want them all, but I’d like one. It’d be cool to have Macy’s “Quiz Kid Donnie Smith” for his random facts and trivia, which could come in handy. But I’d also like the idea Hoffman’s “Phil Parma” being “inherited” through nutty TV logic. I’m really leaning toward Reilly’s “Jim Kurring” because who doesn’t love a cocky cop and I’d be guaranteed at least one slow motion dive with him yelling “TEEEEEEEJ!”
The way I see it, with Cruise becoming a “father” (in the Michael Jackson sense) he’s going to want a steady gig that a TV show can offer. And this show is a surefire hit!
Chillin’ With Colin and (Aaron) Cameron)
Last week I posed the following scenario;
Good News; you’ve got an interview for a prestigious gig. Bad News; it’s on the 30th floor. Maybe it’s a job at a record label. Or maybe it’s a job with a magazine. Perhance it’s a job in the porn industry. Who knows, the point is you’ve got to get there. Good News; you stand a pretty good shot at landing the gig. Bad News; you’re stuck in the elevator. Good News; you’re not alone. Bad News; there’s one other person with you and he’s kind of hefty and kind of bald.
So, who would you rather be stuck in an elevator with; Dr. Phil (Dr. Phil or Uncle Phil (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)?
Colin chimed in first with;
Let’s see…. Get completely annoyed by a pseudo-Dr who acts like a diva, so I’m told; or be in the elevator with a mountain of a man (and I’m not) who may or may not come on to me, so I’m told.
It’d be interesting to be in the elevator with the doc, as I could yell at him for doing such fluff pieces, and being a general dope. I could ask him why he didn’t ask any real questions of Pat O’Brien, which should’ve been a slam-dunk interview.
But I won’t.
I’m going with Uncle Phil. Maybe I’ll ask him to say “Tonight I dine on turtle soup…”. Maybe I’ll ask if he can turn to metal, like in Fist of the North Star. Maybe I’ll just ask if he could throw me out of the elevator, like Jazzy Jeff. Right on.
(Aaron) Cameron came next with;
I’m going with Dr. Phil on this one. Quite frankly, the Uncle Phil I watched on Fresh Prince was never more than a comic prop for Will Smith’s fat jokes, anyway. No substance, brutha. But in an elevator…all his defenses and pretense out the window…I’m thinking we’d see the REAL Dr. Phil. Just for the chance to hear him say, “I really think parents should slap the little bastards when they get out of pocket. All this touchy-feely crap is just to sell books.” Lots of possibilities there, and even if he decides to play it straight, I could get some advice on how to raise a Black child, by middle class white standards. Y’know words and tactics like “time out”, “quiet time” and other inexplicable claptrap. Plus, he kinda looks like Jeffrey Tambor, and I loved “The Larry Sanders Show”.
(Before I get to my answer, I want to thank Aaron and Colin for not only writing in, but consistently cracking me up.)
As for me, I’m really kind of torn. Colin really sold me on Uncle Phil with the chance to get tossed out of the elevator like Jazz. But I’ve got to side with Aaron and pick Dr. Phil. I rarely ask for advice, though I’m sure I need some. Being trapped in an elevator would provide me with an excuse to actually open up under the guise of a “stressful situation.” Plus I’m betting that I wouldn’t get billed for our time in the elevator, after all Dr. Phil is no Bob Loblaw.
Good News/Bad News/Question of the Week
Good News; you’re a celebrity. Bad News; you’re Black (and before I get any letters, let’s take Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, O.J. Simpson and any rapper into consideration). Maybe you’re a retired athlete. Maybe you’re a world wide musical phenomenon. Maybe you’re an honest to goodness actor. Who knows, the point is; you’re famous. Good News; you’ve got your own show. Bad News; it’s a cartoon.
So would you rather be Mr. T or Gary Coleman?
Links
Romo shares his thoughts on some of this seasons shows.
Matt breaks down Prison Break and Lost.
Farah almost has me interested in Supernatural. Almost.
Kevin breaks my heart with news about one of my favorite new shows, Kitchen Confidential.
Oh and you should really stop by the Forums and check out folks mourning shows that got the axe too soon and those that need to get the axe. It’s a delightful trip down memory lane.
J.A.M.
Aaron has some late breaking American Idol news. Well it was “news” a couple of weeks ago. The new Bootleg has yet to post, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.
Joe shared his thoughts on this week’s Lost. And he may ever appear here this week. Possibly.
It’s been real.
Laters.
