Stuff @ the Start
TV I’ve yet to watch – I haven’t even begun to watch Prison Break and I’m way worried because I don’t think that season premiere came in clear. I think I got some of the digital freeze you sometimes get with digital cable.
I’ve also got to catch up on a few episodes of Rescue Me. And I’ve decided to give Justice a shot, based on what I read in EW. So I’ve got some hours of viewing in my future.
More love for The Wire – I’ve been raving about The Wire for what seems like an eternity. But I checked out the two specials that HBO’s been running The Wire: Connected and The Wire: The Game and I’m way pumped about the Fourth Season.
It really seems like the upcoming Fourth Season is going to be a good jumping on point, so I’d highly suggest that you give the season premiere a shot, even if it’s your first time catching the show. Plus HBO is going to have every episode available On Demand the Monday before it airs.
So please, please give the show a shot. I’ve heard that the first two episodes are kind of slow, but after that it’s running on all cylinders. So give the show three episodes. It’s going to be a million times better than anything else on Sunday Nights, plus you can catch it anytime On Demand.
What I Watched Last Week
Entourage (HBO) – Pretty decent season finale. I enjoyed the shake up with the status quo. It was oddly heartbreaking to watch Ari struggle to get Vince his picture back. Bob Ryan’s final scene was very poignant, an off-putting feeling for this show. I’ve still got to say that I side with Ari on this one. I care more about him than I do about Vince. I did enjoyed Drama actually giving good advice for once. I think that Vince kind of rushed things, but watching Ari’s presentation unfold was a wonderful moment, if you’re sadistic.
Deadwood (HBO) – That so didn’t feel like a season (or series) finale. I know we’re supposed to revisit Deadwood with a TV movie or two, but this thing fell kind of flat. I dug the antagonizing Hearst as much as I enjoyed Bullock not taking any of his lip. I did feel bad for Johnny, but I dug how much development he got. But yeah, as a season finale it fell flat.
Lucky Louie (HBO) – Pretty funny episode. Nothing really to remark about.
Monkey Dust (Sundance) – Another hilarious episode. But I was really hurt to know that the show is three years old. I mean I knew it was a BBC thing, so I’d accepted that I was behind the curve. But three years. I feel like a fool for raving about this show so much.
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO) – What a welcome return. I so needed this show to return. Bill’s monologue seemed kind of off. But Max Cleland was weak! He was dying at everything that Bill said, which only made it funnier. I’ve never seen a guest get that weak before.
Monk (USA) – Interesting episode. I’ve realized that I don’t dig episodes that feature the cops to prominently. I did dig that Monk though they were going to a show about rocks and that he was completely out of control. Funny.
Life on Mars (BBC) – Way good episode. I’m a sucker for hostage situations, and this one played out very nicely. I love how the writers tie what’s happening in 1973 to what’s happening in the present. The whole “2:00” thing was played perfectly. And I really liked how Glen was haunted by his past. I really do love this show.
Saved (TNT) – Pretty good episode. I dug how Wyatt’s dad played him. I am curious how you’d have a Black girl in LDS, as I’m guessing that within her lifetime the Mormons still believed that Black descended from Cain. I mean know there are Black LDS but that’s like an uber minority. And her as a love interest for Harper was way telegraphed. But yeah, this was a good episode. Next week’s finale looks to be a good one.
Eureka (Sci Fi) – I’m a sucker for super speed, but I didn’t like this episode too much. I did like the baseball throw at the end and the virtual baseball game. But this was a kind of boring episode.
Weeds (Showtime) – Man, what a roller coaster ride. I’m glad that we got a pretty good explaination from the DEA agent about how Nancy is beneath his attention. And their solution was rather clever (though kind of telegraphed by Nancy’s t-shirt.) The stuff with Conrad and Celia’s husband was nice and pretty believable. As was the stuff with the Muslim. But clearly the highlight was Andy’s speech about masturbation. That may have actually been the highlight of the week.
Brotherhood (Showtime) – Stellar episode. This one seemed more of a build up episode. I’m worried about the potential love connection between Pete and Eileen. That’s not going to be good for business. That’s not going to be good for anyone.
I also kind of liked how this episode showed both Michael and Tommy getting their hands dirty. They didn’t really want to do it, but they were kind of forced into a corner. Good stuff.
Greatest Show Ever…this week – When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (HBO)
This was just an amazing documentary about an American tragedy that’s still sadly topical.
Emmy Afterthoughts
It was kind an enjoyable affair this year. I thought that Conan did a great job, especially with the opening bit. That Dateline part was pure comedy!
I was pretty disappointed that Six Feet Under and Arrested Development were shut out. I thought that both could have taken home something. Six Feet Under should have swept the dramatic leads categories, and Huff should have taken home both drama supporting categories.
That said, I can’t be too mad at Kiefer for winning; he did a pretty good job this season. I mean I really believed he was torn about killing the President.
I really loved that Andre Braugher took home an Emmy for his performance in Thief. I was so used to guessing wrong that I was as shocked as he was that he won. Now if only FX could give us a second season or even a DVD of the first one I’d be much happier.
The tribute to Dick Clark hit me in the heart. I know that public appearance was necessary, but it really kind of depressed me to see Clark so ravaged by his stroke. It had a pronounced effect on him and I barely recognized him. It really kind of brought me down.
All in all, it was a pretty good show.
Jury Duty!
Last week I posed the following scenario;
Good news; you’re an American. Bad news; jury duty is part of American life. Good news; you don’t have to go to work. Bad news; you’ve been selected to be part of the jury. Maybe it’s a capital case. Perhaps it’s simple assault. Who knows? The point is that you’ve got to sit on a jury and deliberate a case. Good news; you’re not sequestered. Bad news; you’re the foreperson.
So would you rather sit on a case being tried by Crane, Poole & Schmidt (Boston Legal) or by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (Law & Order)?
Stimpy has his mind made up;
Well as entertaining as it would be watching Denny Crane hamming it up in a court room, I’d probably choose to be a juror in Manhattan hearing a case tried by Jack McCoy.
The twists and turns that occasionally pop up would keep things interesting AND watching Jack potentially whore himself to end to get a conviction he feels is justified would be as entertaining as Denny Crane.
Plus, you’ve got the chance of seeing a very entertaining Det. Joe Fontana on the stand.
And, it would only make it better if Elizabeth Rohm came back to second chair for Jack again….she may not have been everyone’s favorite assistant in the history of Law & Order, but damn she was nice to look at.
Sooo, with all due deference to the folks at Boston Legal, I gotta go with the Law & Order crowd.
Thomasina taps into her own life;
Boston Legal I’ve been on a jury before and it was soooooooooo boring. Of course I had to stay awake and it was mighty difficult with some expert. Crane, Poole & Schmidt would keep it interesting.
Colin hits below the belt;
I’d much rather sit on a case on L&O, no question. First off, the lawyer bit is only 30mins of the show, rather than a whole hour on Boston Legal. I can handle half an hour of jury duty; if only my first stint at jury duty was that short.
Second, how can you listen to Bill Shatner plead a case, when he got away with killing his wife? Oh yeah, I went there.
Wow. If we were talking about Ben Stone or Paul Robinette or even Claire Kincaid, yeah, I’m that old school L&O, I’d be all over Manhattan, like the Muppets. However my favorite DA’s haven’t been anywhere near the show in like a decade, so I’ve got to go with the theatrics of Crane, Poole and Schmidt. It’d be worth it to hear Denny introduce himself. Denny Crane.
Naturally this brings us to…
Good News/Bad News/Question of the Week
Good news; you’re a celebrity. Bad news; you’ve got something to promote. Maybe it’s a new movie? Perhaps it’s a brand new album? It might even been a new workout video. Who knows, the point is you’ve got to make a very public appearance. Good news; your agent’s got a gig lined up. Bad news; it looks like you’re probably going to have to humiliate yourself. Good news; TRL. Bad news; it’s a sketch comedy show. Good news; it’s not Mad TV because…Bad news; it’s 1978.
So would you rather appear on Saturday Night Live or The Muppet Show?
Links
Josh gives a rundown of Summer shows.
Kevin offers some insight on race and Survivor.
Matt runs down Summer finales.
Kevin later explains how unoriginal Heroes is.
For Joe (Reid)
On his blog Joe tackles tennis, the Emmys and even Justin Long.
And I’m going to bed.
