Stuff @ the Start
You must hurry and vote for in the Best Show Tourney over here with the one caveat being that you’ve got to vote for shows that I watch.
I really hope that everyone caught The Office “the more you know promos” where were possibly the funniest thing on TV last week. If you missed out do yourself a favor and check them out. It seriously gets no funnier. (Thanks Joe Reid!)
What I Watched Last Week
Prison Break (FOX) – Boo. I dislike how likeable everyone was before they got to Fox River. I hate the amount of suspension of disbelief this show requires (Lincoln literally not waiting enough time for Michael to check his voicemail before continuing on, Sucre’s cousin calling the police, and them responding immediately with that many cars). It was extra to have Michael hooking up with Lincoln’s ex.
If this episode had given us a peek of D.B. Cooper sitting in his cell and stroking his cat, it would have rocked. T-Bag is still my favorite, but this show just seemed damn ass extra.
24
I dig that he’s a forward thinking type of guy who wonders how history will remember him. I certainly dig that. He knows that Palmer will be dogged by his “dating a white woman” scandal, but Logan dealt with two incredibly difficult crises very extremely well. I’m calling for four more years of Logan.
The Unit (CBS) – This is such an incredibly well written show. I’m not really a fan of shows that get are overly hyped, but this show deserves it. How the team handled the situation was cool to see, though I’m tired of the newbie hogging the entire spotlight.
The stuff at home this week was tolerable. I appreciated the swerve about daughter, and her struggling to fit into a less structured society. Dope show, give it a chance.
Thief (FX) – What a wonderfully crafted show. Braugher is really playing Nick as a guy who internalizes, but it’s ready to explode. He just deals with the stress as part of the equation, but doesn’t buckle.
I was sorry to see Roselyn go, but the fact that she held out and didn’t give Nick and his crew up was so admirable. For some reason I don’t hate Tammi. Maybe it’s because I’ve got lingering affection left over from Arrested Development, but Tammi’s kind of sympathetic as a character. Hell even the guy who offed Roselyn has some me feeling some sympathy for him. This is an amazing show. Watch it!
Weeds (SHOWTIME) – Ok, so Showtime finally decided to take my advise and began to show Weeds first season from the start (thus I’m more likely to watch it when it’s second season begins airing). I caught the first two episodes and it really is a good show.
Both my roommate and I agreed that Shane (the younger son) is adorable. He’s weird in an awkward way, not a creepy way. I really feel for the kid. Celia on the other hand is such a horrible mother. Lamenting not getting an abortion, picking on her daughter for being too chubby, terrible mother, great role.
I’m really glad that I gave this show a chance, as now I’m in for the long haul.
Huff (SHOWTIME) – This was a two hour premiere, and I was kept pretty riveted. When Craig actually got to Mexico I was completely enthralled. Teddy is both loony crazy and “scared he might hurt himself” crazy. Wonderful cast, wonderful writing; this is possibly the best dramatic ensemble on TV today.
Penn & Teller’s Bulls#it (SHOWTIME) – Who doesn’t love debunking? I know I do, so I love this show. Funny as usual, but I really can’t wait for the reparations episode.
Lost (ABC) – Boo! Ok, so the actual cliffhanger from last week, gets what, two scenes and relegated to C Story status? This episode dealt with a character that I don’t really care about (Hugo) in a kind of off kilter way.
I’m kind of confused over what triggered Hugo’s episode (his bout with craziness, not the actual show). Was it the arrival of the new food, because wouldn’t it’s dispersal have alleviated the situation? The idea that Hugo had an imaginary friend is so cliché at this point, it was weak. Even the reveal felt cheesy after I thought about it.
The only way the reveal works for me, is if she’s actually stalking Hugo. Imagine how creepy it would be to be stuck on an island with someone who was stalking you? If it’s just another coincidence I’m calling rubbish.
Big Love (HBO) – Solid episode. Roman is no joke. But I dug how Bill really stepped up his parental-ness at the end. Nikki is certainly kind of the character that you’d love to hate. I enjoyed hearing about how Barb and Bill got into the way of multiples. That was the perfect placement for it. I’m enjoyed this show, but I can’t wait to watch the season in it’s entirety.
Desperate Housewives (ABC) – I’ve officially put my roommate on notice; I’m not coming back to this show next season. It sucks, it’s boring. I don’t care about any of the characters. I hope it gets moved to Fridays and cancelled.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – I’m glad that George finally got a haircut. I don’t think I like the idea that everyone knew about Meredith’s sister before she did. Before I forget, I’m really going to need a timeline on the Gray’s Marriage. If Meredith’s sister is 22, and she’s also got a middle sister, then a) how old is Meredith and b) when did her dad leave?
Oh and the scene between Webber and Meredith’s pop was brilliantly done by everyone involved.
Black. White. (FX) – The hilarity continues. Like seriously, is there anything more white than touching someone else’s hair? Carmen really doesn’t get it, not the way Bruno doesn’t get it, but it’s still not gotten just the same.
Rose is like white America’s nightmare come true; a precious white girl who become completely enamored with Black culture and eventually with an actual Black male. How stereotypical. It’s just funny how if this show was scripted, people would think that it’s absurd, yet there it really it.
I’m glad that Renee finally got into the make up and made a friend. Not really funny, but refreshing.
Scrubs (NBC) – I really don’t know if there’s a funnier (scripted) show on the air today. I watch this show week in and week out and I marvel at how perfectly it’s put together. The pencil bit in the bowling alley were such a goofy laugh. NBC really needs to move this show back to Thursdays, in an attempt to bolster that comedy line up.
Teachers (NBC) – Oh my god is this show still bad. Words really do fail me. I feel pretty bad for Bud/Kenny. He fell of the face of the planet (and into Black teen comedies) and now he’s back at NBC and stuck on a bad sitcom with weird wardrobe. You, sir, deserve better.
Greatest Show Ever…this week – City of Men (SUNDANCE)
Ok, so I just saw City of God this year (I’m behind the curve, sue me; I don’t like to read), but this show, a thematic spinoff is masterful. Featuring many of the same actors from the movie (but as different characters) and the same director, this show set in modern day Brazil slums its as entertaining as it is unflinching.
The scene were Acerola steps up in front of his class and uses his knowledge of drug lords to explain the campaign of Napoleon was very well done. But the scenes were the actual actors detail the violent acts they’ve witnessed is as brutal and heart wrenching as any dramatization.
If you dug City of God you’ve got to check out City of Men. Trust me when I say that it’s 45 minutes well spent. (It’s going to air again Saturday Night/Sunday Morning at Midnight on Sundance. Check it out!
The Meat of the Column
Nothing to see here. I’m really sorry, but apparently I watched four pages of TV this week, so my fingers (and brain) are tucked out. I promise next week will be better.
Huge Head vs Skinny Body?
Last week I posed the following scenario;
Good News; you’ve got a date! Bad News; it’s actually a blind date. Good News; she’s not overweight. Bad News; there’s a chance she could severely beat you down. Perhaps she’s a member of a covert secret organization. Maybe she’s a clone. There’s even a chance that she’s Bea Arthur. Good News; you don’t have to worry about cost. Bad News; it’s actually a Blind Date
So would you rather be on Blind Date with Max (from Dark Angel) or Sydney (from Alias)?
Methinks Thomasina doth protest too much;
If I were to play for the other team, it would have to be Max she seems like more fun. Also between the two she’s hotter. Very much so. Really, I’m not gay. Not even curious. Seriously.
Colin concurs;
It would have to be Dark Angel. The show itself seemed more interesting, and Garner often has a horseface. She looked good in Daredevil and 13 Gwaan on 30, but in Elektra she looked all craggly and a face made of stone.
Now normally I’d agree with both of you; Jessica Alba is the hotter of the two. Hell, I would have agreed with both of you two months ago, before the Oscars®. However two things happened Oscarâ„¢ night; Jessica Alba looked like a skeleton and Jennifer Garner almost bust her ass. I’m serious Jessica was damn skinny. Like way skinny.
Jennifer Garner on the other hand almost made me laugh. Making me laugh is not easy to do, but gravity affecting a person will do it almost every time.
I’d love nothing more than to insert a “I’d never do anything that Affleck’s done, and that includes Garner” line in here, but I can’t bring myself to do that.
The way I see it, if I’m on a date, Alba and her eating disorder will be the cheaper of the two, but if Garner gets enough liquor in her I’m almost guaranteed a funny story to tell, involving gravity affecting a person.
Naturally this brings us to…
Good News/Bad News/Question of the Week
Good News; you’re getting your own show. Bad News; it’s a reality show. Good News; you get to be yourself. Bad News; there’s no prize to win. Maybe it’s a show where cameras follow you around. Maybe it’s a show where members of the opposite sex are involved. Who knows, the point is you’re about to be on TV. Good News; it’s going to be on a cable network. Bad News; it’s not the most respectable cable network.
So would you rather have your reality show on VH1 or E!?
Links
Last week, Josh the evil mastermind behind the TV Tourney, actually checked out two shows based on my glowing praise. Find out which ones he chose and if they made his cut. He’s also got a killer Seinfeld quote. His new column should be up shortly.
Farah tackles small ideas on big canvases.
Kevin gets on IAD’s back. Kevin, you don’t know anything about IAD until you check out The Shield.
Joe (Reid) Stardust
On his blog Joe holds onto a narrow lead in his American Idol contest. He also alerted me to all of those lovely promos for The Office and completely weirds me out in the very same post.
Elsewhere Joe discuses serious current events
Every week, the title of Joe Reid’s column over at The Film Experience gets more appropriate and thus more hilarious.
And, yeah, I’m going to go to bed. I’ll catch you next week. Laters.
