Hello everyone, I apologize for my absence the past two weeks. Schoolwork has gotten the better of me. But heck since Lost and Desperate Housewives disappeared through April so I’ll use that as my excuse for being away.
Let’s start off with the mailbag. Lynn Revette emailed me with some comments about my Survivor column and about Jeff’s quitting. She even brought up other times Survivors had quit that I forgot about.
I just wanted to thank you for pointing out how many people have quit besides Osten. Osten really does get a bum deal. He didn’t quit without a tribal council (a la Susan or Jenna). It was only when the team was forced to go to tribal council that he brought up his name. This is the exact same thing that Shawna, Ashlee, and Jeff did. The only thing that was different about Osten was that Jeff Probst got wind of it and made them all admit before voting that it would be unanimous. I think this was to make an example of Osten. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work, as Sue, Jenna, Ashlee, and Jeff all quit since then.
Thanks for your email Lynn, I totally agree with everything you said. While I do not like to throw our racial accusations very often the fact that Osten is black and the other quitters are white only add to the pile of potentially racist actions by Mark Burnett produced shows.
Since Lost and DH decided to do clip shows I decided that this column should follow that same format….and the Simpson’s song, “Sorry about the clip show,” begins.
So I am going to do a “clip” of how the TV season has gone so far, which is a fancy way of saying I will talk about my 10 favourite shows of the year. I am pre-empting all of those year-end top 10 lists by doing my pre-finale list. I will note though that two of the shows on my list have ended already. The shows will be listed in order of preference.
Lost
Depending on how the last few shows of Lost go this ranking could drop all the way to number five but at this point it is number one. What can I say about Lost that everyone else has not already said? Anyone who watches the show knows how additive the series is. The writers have managed to keep readers intrigued without giving away too much and without annoying the viewer with too many red hearings.
The format of each episode and how it centers on one person is brilliant and innovative. The excellent casting has allowed this to work to its full extent by giving viewers not two or three interesting characters but a plane load full of great personalities.
Carnivale
The second season of Carnivale was near perfect. I could not have asked for anything more. I was seriously worried after the first season, which seemed to go nowhere. This season was much faster paced and I actually started to figure out what is going on. I like being in the dark but not forever. The twists and turns that came about this season were a good mix of things I could see happening and things that came out of nowhere.
Along the way the plot lines not tied to the central theme were well developed. Mainly the marriage of Libby and Jonesy but also the connection developed between Iris and Reverend Norman Balthus.
I eagerly anticipate next year and the continuing battle of good and evil. Now with Sofie knowing her true nature and killing my favourite character (Jonesy) dead, where does she go from here? Also the transformation of Ruthie into Lodz will be an interesting thing to see play out.
The Amazing Race
The best reality show on TV hands down. Sure it does not have the dirty, conniving strategizing that Survivor has or the backstabbing The Apprentice has, but it also does not have the apparent fakeness of Burnett. Maybe I have just had an overload of Burnett-ness.
This year there were two seasons of The Amazing Race and the later has been better then the former but only because of Boston Rob and Amber. But in this ranking the seasons are combined because they fall into the same year’s schedule.
Boston Rob has finally brought some much needed brains into The Amazing Race, even if those brains nearly cost him last episode. In many ways this season has not been as competitive as the earlier version shown this year. If Ron and Kelly had been eliminated last week then it would have been two good teams with one team that has been hanging on for several weeks.
That said though Meredith and his annoying wife have done very well for themselves. Some may say its not earned but they have earned their spot in the final four just as much as Adam and Rebecca did in the previous season. It should be an exciting finish as Ron and Kelly look to be falling apart, Rob’s flub last week (hinting at the earlier flight which cost him big time) shows he is not perfect and Uchenna and Joyce are just hitting their stride and look to have their eyes on the prize.
Deadwood
The second season of Deadwood started off with a bang. The ranking for the season would be higher but the show’s past few episodes have been average. But I expect this is just lull in the storm before the finale. A good last couple episodes could vault this show to number one for the year.
The show has used the depth of its cast very well this year by exploring more secondary storylines. I really like how Charlie Utter has been developed this year. I figured after Wild Bill was killed off his character would just fade away but instead the writers have made him an ally of Bullock and Star, thus giving him more life.
Desperate Housewives
Earlier in the season this show would have been higher but it has dropped recently and may drop even further. While I do like the stories that have been developed for each character the thing that brings viewers back is the mystery that sparked the series.
I feel that the writers have dropped the ball on the whole mystery of Mary Alice. At times I am bored with it, other times I am annoyed by the lack of development of this story line. And what has happened to Mike the plumber? I mean he is the only interesting male character in the whole show and since he got dumped he has been a bit character.
Hopefully the writers do something to pick up the pace for the finale but I fear this show does not have the legs to keep me interested for much more then one or two seasons without becoming repetitive or boring.
House
The surprise hit of the season, a Fox medical drama. I love Hugh Laurie, he is by far the best new addition to TV this season. Heck the show also has Omar Epps!! I am annoyed though that the cute brunette, Dr. Cameron. I hope her leaving the show is just temporary. Otherwise the hotness factor on the show is drastically reduced.
I am really annoyed with how the writers have handled Dr. Chase, with his betrayal of House. I don’t feel it was well explained as to why he would do that. Now he just seems to becoming an annoying one-dimensional prick.
Regardless though Hugh Laure’s portrayal of House carries this show week in and week out.
24
I was surprised as well that this show was so lowly ranked. But when I look at the season as a whole big holes shine through. Not that I want to be critical but the terrorist plots this season have become ridiculously complex. I mean how many different plots have there been so far? 4? 5? Honestly if blowing up every nuclear power plant in the US is not your big plan then there is something wrong. How is that the decoy for stealing one nuclear warhead?
I feel like 24 is on speed or that it is written by people with ADHD. I understand the pressure to have every week be exciting, heck just listen to Murtz’s comments after an episode where no one died in a big gun fight. It would just be nice though if I did not have to suspend my disbelief to the point of shutting off my brain.
Jack & Bobby
Another surprise top ten selection. I will admit that my love for history probably ties into why I like this show. Heck I learned to read by memorizing the US Presidents and Vice-Presidents (oh yeah I am Canadian which only makes that fact even more weird).
I really like the parts where the episodes where they tie in something in the future McCallister presidency with what is going on in current time. Sometimes however they drop this concept and others they tie it in badly. I like both of the young actors who portray Jack and Bobby.
Arrested Development
Have you noticed something? This is the first comedy on my list. I will admit though that if I watched Scrubs more it would probably have made the top ten but it is up against The Amazing Race and House so I never really catch it.
The fact that the funniest thing on TV is in danger of being cancelled says something both about the state of network comedies and how stupid the average viewer is. Yes I am calling out the masses for actually watching the other comedic garbage on TV. Arrested Development has churned out another solid season yet viewers ignored it. Sigh…
Survivor
I know many people will tell you this is the best season of Survivor in a while but to me its been boring. Sure Ulong threw a perfect game but it was like watching Randy Johnson pitch against a little league squad. The lack of competitiveness of Koror made the show boring through the middle section. I mean everyone knew Koror was going to lose and they did. How does this make for good TV? Hopefully things will pick up now that it is individual and Ulong starts to eat their own.
Knowing Survivor history though some sketchy players will end up in the final two, by sketchy I mean those who just hung on the coattails. Yes I am talking about you Katie.
Honourable Mentions:
Simpsons, The Contender, Family Guy
The Simpsons has had a down season but I am still devoted to the show too much to not have it on the list somewhere. The Contender could have been so much better if Burnett dropped the Survivor-like challenges and had developed challenges based on actual boxing skills. Family Guy has only had one show and I was tempted to put it number one.
