Stuff @ the Start
Promo Fever! – I’m all hyped about The Wire. As much as I don’t want Deadwood to end, I can’t wait to return to the streets of Baltimore. I really can’t wait to see where we are and what happens this season. I’m uber excited.
Emmys – I’m looking forward to the Emmys. I like Conan, so I may have to tape it this year.
Marathons!! – For those of you interested in catching shows that I’m raving about Showtime is having a Brotherhood marathon on Saturday and BBC is having a Life on Mars marathon on Sunday. Set your DVRs or VCRs and catch these shows. I’m pretty sure that you’ll dig them. (Check your local listings for when the marathons begin.)
What I Watched Last Week
Psych (USA) – Boo. I’m tired of the crook of the week being the female that Shawn or Gus was attracted to that week. It’s getting old and the season isn’t that old yet. The Civil War stuff was fun, especially with Gus having to play a role. Apparently I completely missed the point of the flashback this week, which sucks. But what are you going to do?
Monk (USA) – Eh, I didn’t really care about this week’s offering. Sure the stuff with Monk and the freezer was funny, but Monk was much more “pitiful eccentric” and “quirky eccentric” this week. The plot with the decades old suicide note was pretty clever and one of the few mysteries that impressed me.
Eureka (Sci Fi) – One week I’ll give this show at least 75% of my attention (it’s just that I’m usually writing a column when it comes on.) I kind of enjoyed this week’s offering. I liked the idea of a down on his luck scientist getting the power to affect change and alter himself accordingly. I dig how the artifact is now known, sort of. So yeah, this was a pretty good episode.
Lucky Louie (HBO) – Religion is always funny. This was a very good episode. The stuff with confession was hilarious. And the daughter being afraid of Jesus was pure comedy. This may have been the best all around episode thus far. I was lukewarm on this show, but this one made me a fan.
Entourage (HBO) – I really enjoyed this episode. I dug how it was “a day in the life.” I dug E’s adventures with the lonely producer (which was simultaneously hilarious and poignant.) Vince’s story was nice and gave the show a foot into reality that was refreshing. Turtle and Drama’s story seemed the most forced. Rant time
What was the point of Turtle’s foray into management? Did we/he learn anything? It was an arc that didn’t even arc, it went from point to point to point in a straight line! And this was spread out over two seasons! Something big better happen with that avenue in the final episodes or I’ll waste no time in calling “malarkey” on this show.
Saved (TNT) – I truly do love this show. But this week didn’t knock my socks off. It was good episode, but that’s subpar for this show in my eyes. Wyatt playing head games was fun but not riveting. Sack almost shagging his ex was a good advancement. Harper growing a pair was nice to see. Angela showing weakness was good development. But Alice was like nowhere to be seen. It was an episode for build up, but the lack of action and slowdown really caught me off guard.
Life on Mars (BBC) – Tragic episode. I love how the more we see the more we find out that not only is Glen not who he appears to be, but that he wasn’t always the façade either. Glen is getting more realized and fleshed out and I’m loving it.
Sam getting sexually abused was creepy. But equally creepy was him visiting his mom. There was way too much potential for awkward creepy weirdness there. I loved how the director/writers built us up for the girl to live happily ever after and seconds later knocked the wind out of our sales with her dead body. Maybe it’s the pacing, but I honestly didn’t see it coming. Great show.
30 Days (FX) – Eh, I don’t know this one just didn’t blow me away. It was cool/gross to see some of the treatments, but it just didn’t move me. Maybe because I’m already open to the idea of alternative methods and whatnot. But next week’s episode looks promising.
Brotherhood (Showtime) – This was a really solid offering. It’s really good that the writers have us a line that Dec wouldn’t cross so that we could gauge where his loyalties lie. He didn’t want to get in bed with Tommy, but he didn’t want to sell out his partner. What a tough position to be placed in.
I’m very intrigued as how the drug story is being played out. Eileen is clearly getting progressively worse but the daughter dabbling was kind of off-putting. Still it was nice to see Tommy lay down the law, erm, his law. But yeah, I dug how Dec got the spotlight this week.
Weeds (Showtime) – I really, really loved this premiere. I can just envision writers vying for the honor of writing Andy’s dialogue. He’s got some of the best lines, or at least the lines that are uber memorable. My roommate didn’t dig the new version of the theme, but I dug it.
I’ve got to say that our DEA agent seems the relentless type, in that I’ve got to believe that he’ll pursue Nancy (romantically) until she relents. I do love Sanjay; he quietly steals every scene that he’s in.
While I dig the idea of the race for City Council, Doug’s dismissal of Celia seemed a tad too cartoonish for my tastes. While on the topic of Celia, Isabel is perhaps the most darling of TV children. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; this is the best half hour on TV.
Greatest Show Ever…this week Deadwood (HBO)
No one can deny the greatness of this episode. This episode was so tense yet equally funny. It was dead serious yet lighthearted at times. What a great balance that was met this week.
Obviously an episode that center around Al is going to rock. Al had an epic turn and a return to the ruthless character that we’ve grown to love over the seasons. The interrogation scene was brutal, yet I found myself cheering for Al’s renewed vigor. And I was completely surprised when the neck was slit; I’d grown accustomed to the kindler gentler Al.
Dan’s explanation to Elsworth about what happened was a good scene. And Alma deciding to take the walk alone was equally powerful. Of course Hearst’s scenes were equally great, whether he’s dressing down his guard, spitting in Farnsworth’s face or pacing about how his schemes failed.
And of course Bullock’s frustration to the point of not being able to speak was pure comedy. This was quite possibly a perfect episode.
Mathan’s Misguided Pilot Showcase
So, this past week I caught Gummo. That movie scarred me to my very core. It felt so real, in a horribly bad way. It was had all of the squirminess of watching the final act of Requiem of a Dream only stretched out over the entire film. It’s perhaps the most disturbing thing that I’ve seen in quite a long time. The “hair washing scene” alone will haunt me for the rest of my life. That said, I’d really like to watch a show based on this flick.
Sure the movie didn’t really have a plot, but it was a slice of life (as bleak as it was), and I think that there’s probably room for at least a season of this show based on it. Ok maybe a miniseries.
I guess the movie just left me wanting to find out more about these people, despite how horrifying it might be. I really want to see how Tummler and Solomon live beyond that slice of life. I’m curious if those kids play cowboys every day? I want to know more about Dot, Darby and Helen. I honestly believe that there should be a show to revisit these characters.
I mean if Dead Ringers is getting a show why not Gummo?
Slangin’ Them Thangs
Last week I posed the following scenario;
Good news; um, you’re alive? Bad news; you’re down on you’re luck. Good news; you’ve got your health. Bad news; you’ve been downsized. Good news; you’ve got other prospects. Bad news; they’re a tad less than legal. Maybe you’ve got cousins who have connections. Maybe you’re best friend from kindergarten chose a life of crime. Who knows, the point is you’ve got options.
So, would you rather be a drug dealer in Baltimore (The Wire) or the community of Agrestic (Weeds)?
Michaelangelo quickly replied;
Come on, dawg, it’s no contest. Agrestic wins hands down. You’ll never have to worry about getting popped in Agrestic. Barksdale and his crew keep getting capped and sent to jail. That’s no fun. Plus, the suburbanites pay primo dollar for weed, thus allowing myself to stay in a decently lavish lifestyle. The smack game doesn’t pay that well, and it’s hella dangerous. Gotta go with Agrestic on this one.
Thomasina is using a different business plan;
Agrestic would be a low-key, probably eaiser place but Baltimore would be more lucrative, especially if I got into crack. Why are you hypothetically encouraging ruining fictional comunities, Mathan? Is next week hypothetcal racketeering? Have you gone gangsta?
While Agrestic may be a bit safer (ooh, dodging pennies rather than bullets), I’ve got to go for Charm City. I mean I went to college in Bodymore Murdaland. I know all the places to eat, all the spots to hit to chill out. I’d be much more comfortable in Baltimore than in Agrestic. Yes, I’d be missing really good Mexican food, but I’d be in a “brown town.” Plus I don’t drive and I don’t even know if Agrestic does mass transit. Really, who wouldn’t chose to sell drugs in Baltimore. Plus, who’s it wouldn’t be doing a repeat performance?
Naturally that leads us to…
Good News/Bad News/Question of the Week
Good news; you’ve got a date. Bad news; it’s a double date. Good news; you know the other female. Bad news; you’ve got no idea about her date. Maybe he’s an ex-con. Maybe he’s a serial killer. Maybe he’s a dashingly charming chap. Who knows the point is that you’ve got to deal with a mystery guy on your double date.
So would you rather go on a double date with Arthur Fonzarelli (Happy Days) or Sam Malone (Cheers)?
Links
Josh thinks he’s psychic. I think he’s just crazy.
Matt finally didn’t watch Windfall. Unfortunately my roommate did, which means a net gain of zero. But he also fills you in on the 4400.
Kevin is living in a fantasy world. But he references Tony Kornheiser, which should make the column a “must read” for everyone.
What’s Up Joe Reid?
In his blog Joe professes his love for Justin Timberlake and continues with the face off of great actresses.
And thus I’m done for another week. I’ll be back here in seven. Laters.
