Good news: finally got a DVR, opting for the one available through Comcast. Didn't have to buy the box, and the service is cheaper than TiVo (though the functionality is a little less).
Bad news: it's already something like 25 percent full. I'm going to need to go back on vacation just to catch up.
Friday, September 30, 2005
What is odd-looking?
The answer is apparently every Final Jeopardy round this season.
Don't know the technical issue, but every time I've watched Jeopardy! this season, the Final Jeopardy seems like it was filmed differently. Not sure if it's something they have to do to match up with the specs of the ads, but it's very distracting.
Don't know the technical issue, but every time I've watched Jeopardy! this season, the Final Jeopardy seems like it was filmed differently. Not sure if it's something they have to do to match up with the specs of the ads, but it's very distracting.
I didn't see any frickin' dolphins
While I'm a week behind with Lost, I did appreciate that the long-discussed hatch seemed to lead into one of Dr. Evil's former lairs. For those of you who didn't see it, the main room of the place (as far as was revealed) was an underground geodesic dome full of computer equipment from the 1970s. Much of the rest of the complex had a similar feel to it, decor-wise.
All that was missing was Frau Farbissina, who was apparently off shilling for chicken sandwiches while wearing one of Austin Powers' suits.
I will say that the season opener was a nice return to form for the show, as the energy of the early episodes ebbed quite a bit. All the flashbacks don't help. Especially when they feature Matthew Fox wearing some sort of rodent on his head.
All that was missing was Frau Farbissina, who was apparently off shilling for chicken sandwiches while wearing one of Austin Powers' suits.
I will say that the season opener was a nice return to form for the show, as the energy of the early episodes ebbed quite a bit. All the flashbacks don't help. Especially when they feature Matthew Fox wearing some sort of rodent on his head.
It Got Twisted
Ebony, whose wacky catch-phrase I mentioned in my last post about America's Next Top Model, was this week's rejectee. She was the last person to make the finals (last named at least, though Tyra said she didn't originally think Ebony would make the final cut), and I don't think she panned out as the show's resident African-American Contestant With Issues.
The closest we have is Cassandra, the 19 year old Texas beauty pageant entrant who pretty much called herself a sociopath in the previous episode, only to bawl for pretty much the entirety of the last episode after her long, brown hair was hacked off and dyed to approximate Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (and Tyra wasn't happy with how they left it, so it's going to get cut even more - hope they laid in more Kleenex).
We have yet to find the Contestant With Medical Issues, though the Contestant With Sexual Identity Issues is coming to the fore, as the promo for next week suggests that Sarah, who played tonsil hockey with the openly gay contestant, is going back for more. Good times.
The closest we have is Cassandra, the 19 year old Texas beauty pageant entrant who pretty much called herself a sociopath in the previous episode, only to bawl for pretty much the entirety of the last episode after her long, brown hair was hacked off and dyed to approximate Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (and Tyra wasn't happy with how they left it, so it's going to get cut even more - hope they laid in more Kleenex).
We have yet to find the Contestant With Medical Issues, though the Contestant With Sexual Identity Issues is coming to the fore, as the promo for next week suggests that Sarah, who played tonsil hockey with the openly gay contestant, is going back for more. Good times.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
I Suppose There's Enough Drama Already
One thing I forgot to mention about America's Next Top Model that was problematic: the identity of the finalists was available on the UPN website before the show even aired. Which makes a two hour paring down from 36 kind of anti-climactic.
Unless you enjoy squabbling over Chap Stik and the phrase "Don't get it twisted." Sometimes, getting to pick on Jay Manuel isn't enough.
Unless you enjoy squabbling over Chap Stik and the phrase "Don't get it twisted." Sometimes, getting to pick on Jay Manuel isn't enough.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
You Can All Stop Yelling At Me Now
After a couple of seasons being harangued by just about anyone who watches TV, I finally took the time to watch an episode of Arrested Development last night.
It's... unusual.
Which isn't to say that I didn't like it - I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. It's just different. Different enough that I can fully understand why it's not appealing to a mass audience - the comedy is less broad and more... I don't know. Esoteric? Absurd?
I also wonder if the learning curve for joining into the show is too steep. While I think I've got the basics sorted out, I know that I'm missing a lot, too, and for someone who may already be on the fence with the show, they may not want to stick around (or get the DVDs) to catch up.
Though I think I'll return. It's not like there's much else on that appeals to me.
I also stuck around to see Kitchen Confidential, which even in a sanitized form (compared to the book) is a decent way to kill a half hour. I'll be interested to see how this develops.
It's... unusual.
Which isn't to say that I didn't like it - I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. It's just different. Different enough that I can fully understand why it's not appealing to a mass audience - the comedy is less broad and more... I don't know. Esoteric? Absurd?
I also wonder if the learning curve for joining into the show is too steep. While I think I've got the basics sorted out, I know that I'm missing a lot, too, and for someone who may already be on the fence with the show, they may not want to stick around (or get the DVDs) to catch up.
Though I think I'll return. It's not like there's much else on that appeals to me.
I also stuck around to see Kitchen Confidential, which even in a sanitized form (compared to the book) is a decent way to kill a half hour. I'll be interested to see how this develops.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Ratings surprises
A couple of notes from Thursday:
Everybody Hates Chris finished in second place for its timeslot, becoming the most-watched sitcom in UPN history (for what it's worth). It managed to beat both Joey and The O.C. in some key demos and in total viewers. This both underscores the trouble Joey is in and that The O.C. may not be the smash hit Fox keeps telling us it is.
Also of interest was that Criminal Minds beat the season premiere of ER, though by slimmer margins. This can't bode for the return of Without a Trace to the timeslot; I suppose we'll finally learn if ER is bulletproof or not.
Everybody Hates Chris finished in second place for its timeslot, becoming the most-watched sitcom in UPN history (for what it's worth). It managed to beat both Joey and The O.C. in some key demos and in total viewers. This both underscores the trouble Joey is in and that The O.C. may not be the smash hit Fox keeps telling us it is.
Also of interest was that Criminal Minds beat the season premiere of ER, though by slimmer margins. This can't bode for the return of Without a Trace to the timeslot; I suppose we'll finally learn if ER is bulletproof or not.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Off With Their Head Cases
Just two weeks into its run, Fox is cancelling the Adam Goldberg-Chris O'Donnell vehicle Head Cases. Its second airing apparently lost half of the audience that tuned in the first time around, which is never a good thing.
Nanny 911, scheduled for mid-season, will take its place until the baseball playoffs start, after which Trading Spouses will pick up the time slot.
Sadly, I did not have this show in my dead pool entry.
Nanny 911, scheduled for mid-season, will take its place until the baseball playoffs start, after which Trading Spouses will pick up the time slot.
Sadly, I did not have this show in my dead pool entry.
New Season, Old Shows
Finally got around to watching some TV this week, and while I still need to watch House, Lost, Apprentice: Martha, and Everybody Hates Chris, here's what's been on the idiot box the last couple of days:
America's Next Top Model started another cycle, and on the plus side they've jettisoned Nole Marin as a judge and brought in J. Alexander, who should have been a regular a while ago. On the slightly negative side, Janice Dickinson is gone, so no more psychotic outbursts from her side of the table. In her stead is Twiggy, who isn't too bad - she's pretty honest in her comments, just less demonstrative. On the bizarre side, Jay Manuel is now about one shade away from Oompa-Loompa.
The show itself was fairly predictable - 36 women were pared down to 20 and then 13 within about 45 minutes. Within the two hour premiere we got two runway "shows" and an aerial shoot, which seems like a lot out of their bag of tricks in a short amount of time. As for the women themselves, it's a pretty generic group more identifiable by stereotype (Beauty Queen, Lesbian, Small Towner, Spoiled Brat, etc.) than name.
Anyway, it doesn't look like this cycle will be any better or worse than any other, a level of predictability which is getting boring - though probably not for UPN, who can use the stability.
Joey had an hour premiere, and it was... Joey. They've made some changes (his sister works for his agent now, and he's got a new actor-friend to hang with), but it's still pretty marginal.
The Apprentice has similar issues to both of these other shows - it's formulaic, and the changes made during the off-season don't change things too much. The big innovation this season is that the winning project manager can only get immunity if the team votes for him/her to have it. I'm not sure anyone will get immunity, given that your average contestant would rather have one more person in the boardroom should the next task not go so well. It also takes some of the reward away from the risk of being project manager, though it's not like you can win without taking the role a couple of times, at least.
Future thing to watch for: Carolyn gets to run the show one week. I suppose if Surface doesn't work out, Apprentice: Carolyn could fill in Mondays at 8.
America's Next Top Model started another cycle, and on the plus side they've jettisoned Nole Marin as a judge and brought in J. Alexander, who should have been a regular a while ago. On the slightly negative side, Janice Dickinson is gone, so no more psychotic outbursts from her side of the table. In her stead is Twiggy, who isn't too bad - she's pretty honest in her comments, just less demonstrative. On the bizarre side, Jay Manuel is now about one shade away from Oompa-Loompa.
The show itself was fairly predictable - 36 women were pared down to 20 and then 13 within about 45 minutes. Within the two hour premiere we got two runway "shows" and an aerial shoot, which seems like a lot out of their bag of tricks in a short amount of time. As for the women themselves, it's a pretty generic group more identifiable by stereotype (Beauty Queen, Lesbian, Small Towner, Spoiled Brat, etc.) than name.
Anyway, it doesn't look like this cycle will be any better or worse than any other, a level of predictability which is getting boring - though probably not for UPN, who can use the stability.
Joey had an hour premiere, and it was... Joey. They've made some changes (his sister works for his agent now, and he's got a new actor-friend to hang with), but it's still pretty marginal.
The Apprentice has similar issues to both of these other shows - it's formulaic, and the changes made during the off-season don't change things too much. The big innovation this season is that the winning project manager can only get immunity if the team votes for him/her to have it. I'm not sure anyone will get immunity, given that your average contestant would rather have one more person in the boardroom should the next task not go so well. It also takes some of the reward away from the risk of being project manager, though it's not like you can win without taking the role a couple of times, at least.
Future thing to watch for: Carolyn gets to run the show one week. I suppose if Surface doesn't work out, Apprentice: Carolyn could fill in Mondays at 8.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Spoiled for Choice
Let's see, tonight we have:
* The premiere of the Martha Stewart version of The Apprentice.
* The two-hour season premiere of the latest cycle of America's Next Top Model.
* The two-hour season premiere of Lost.
All starting at the same time! Thankfully, Martha will re-run on CNBC. ANTM is also re-run, but I don't think they're doing the full two hours. Which means I'll likely have to watch that and tape Lost, as I'm the only one in the house who watches it.
Thankfully, the DVR comes Saturday.
* The premiere of the Martha Stewart version of The Apprentice.
* The two-hour season premiere of the latest cycle of America's Next Top Model.
* The two-hour season premiere of Lost.
All starting at the same time! Thankfully, Martha will re-run on CNBC. ANTM is also re-run, but I don't think they're doing the full two hours. Which means I'll likely have to watch that and tape Lost, as I'm the only one in the house who watches it.
Thankfully, the DVR comes Saturday.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Something Different
I did three things tonight I've not done in a while.
1. Watched significant portions of the Emmy Awards. And really, it wasn't too bad. Ellen DeGeneris is a good host (and was used effectively), there were some interesting acceptance speeches (Felicity Huffman and James Spader come to mind), and the Emmy Idol thing wasn't a complete train wreck.
Even if Shatner got robbed.
And on top of everything, it was over by 11. Oscar producers, take note.
2. Watched a new episode of The Simpsons at its regular time. I'd been catching them as reruns mostly, as I can't get really worked up to catch them as they air. As with many episodes in the last few seasons, I was underwhelmed.
3. Watched The West Wing, this time the second half of last season's finale that saw Jimmy Smits' character gain the Democratic presidential nod. It was OK; the convention speech where Smits says he was asked to give a speech bowing out, but isn't going to because we live in a democracy was pretty ham-handed, and a little too typical for the show (from what I remember for not watching for the last couple of seasons).
Really, I hope Alan Alda's character wins the election. But he's a Republican, and he didn't get Leo McGarry to be his running mate. Unless they're planning a big mid-season cast change, you should get ready for President Santos (it's a bad sign that it took me 5 minutes to remember the character's last name).
Is it wrong that I want Santos to get elected so he can get hit by a bus and make Leo the president?
1. Watched significant portions of the Emmy Awards. And really, it wasn't too bad. Ellen DeGeneris is a good host (and was used effectively), there were some interesting acceptance speeches (Felicity Huffman and James Spader come to mind), and the Emmy Idol thing wasn't a complete train wreck.
Even if Shatner got robbed.
And on top of everything, it was over by 11. Oscar producers, take note.
2. Watched a new episode of The Simpsons at its regular time. I'd been catching them as reruns mostly, as I can't get really worked up to catch them as they air. As with many episodes in the last few seasons, I was underwhelmed.
3. Watched The West Wing, this time the second half of last season's finale that saw Jimmy Smits' character gain the Democratic presidential nod. It was OK; the convention speech where Smits says he was asked to give a speech bowing out, but isn't going to because we live in a democracy was pretty ham-handed, and a little too typical for the show (from what I remember for not watching for the last couple of seasons).
Really, I hope Alan Alda's character wins the election. But he's a Republican, and he didn't get Leo McGarry to be his running mate. Unless they're planning a big mid-season cast change, you should get ready for President Santos (it's a bad sign that it took me 5 minutes to remember the character's last name).
Is it wrong that I want Santos to get elected so he can get hit by a bus and make Leo the president?
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Bring Out Your (TV) Dead
Another season of the LaPlaca Open, the Internet's best TV dead pool, recently kicked off (so to speak). The premise: pick 10 shows that you think will come a-cropper by the end of the 2005-06 season. You get 20 points per show that tanks, with a bonus based on ranking (top show gets you 10 more points, down to one for your last show).
So who did I pick?
10 - Will & Grace - A slam-dunk given that its in its last season. Earning me 30 points will be the best thing this show has ever done for me.
9 - Monday Night Football - An entry I never would have expected at this point last year, but its move to ESPN next season opens the door for more cheap points.
8 - Unconceivable - NBC's fertility clinic show seems ripe for the cancelling: it's on Friday, has a premise that seems a little too specialized (how many cases of infertility can you follow before things get dull?), and hasn't gotten much by way of positive press from the day it was announced as being on the schedule.
It's also up against Numb3rs and 20/20, which may be problematic even though it's probably the most light-hearted choice of the three.
7 - Rodney - I'll give a shiny nickel to anyone who can tell me the network, the day and time this airs, and who plays the title character WITHOUT looking it up.
6 - Hot Properties - I may be stretching here, given that it has some well known cast members (Gail O'Grady, Nicole Sullivan) and is on ABC's TGIF, which seems pretty tolerant of crap (hello, Hope and Faith). But word is that this show is just awful, so it was hard to pass up.
5 - The Night Stalker - This show was a good idea in its time (mid-1970s): a reporter investigates the unknown, supernatural, and just plain creepy while showing some gumption and often being more lucky than good. The sense I get from the new show is that it'll be moodier, which may take some of the fun out of it. Not to mention that the supernatural became almost passe with The X Files, and is already looking a little thin this season what with the two oceanic alien shows and the WB show actually called Supernatural.
It doesn't help that this is going up against CSI, The Apprentice, and the much-hyped Fox show Reunion.
4 - Related - A show about four sisters that tries to rip off Sisters and Sex in the City simultaneously, and from what I've heard does neither well. It's also up against Lost, E-Ring, and Veronica Mars. I'm also not sure that One Tree Hill is the most natural lead-in; you'd think Gilmore Girls would make more sense... until you realize viewers would start making comparisons.
3 - Threshold - One of the two oceanic alien shows in my top ten, it does have a cast you've likely heard of (Charles S. Dutton, Carla Gugino, Brent Spiner), but I don't see this working so well given that Friday nights have been hostile towards such shows in the past, and CBS doesn't have much of a track record with the genre. It's also got another new show, The Ghost Whisperer, as a lead-in. That show stars Jennifer Love Hewitt.
How did I not put that in my entry?
2 - Surface - NBC's entry into the watery ETs genre, it's facing competition from comedies (the CBS block and Fox, which is hoping a move of Arrested Development and the new Kitchen Confidential will fare well) and the perpetual viewing machine that is 7th Heaven. What I've heard of the show suggests that it's a bit sprawling, so viewers may not stay tuned in if there are a lot of loose ends with plot and character.
1 - Out of Practice - It's part of the CBS Monday night sitcom lineup, which suggests it'll do well, but I've read some awful reviews. It could come around, but CBS has two mid-season sitcoms - starring Jenna Elfman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, respectively - that could step in should this show about doctors not pan out.
It also has Paula Marshall in the cast, which is like the kiss of death right there.
So who did I pick?
10 - Will & Grace - A slam-dunk given that its in its last season. Earning me 30 points will be the best thing this show has ever done for me.
9 - Monday Night Football - An entry I never would have expected at this point last year, but its move to ESPN next season opens the door for more cheap points.
8 - Unconceivable - NBC's fertility clinic show seems ripe for the cancelling: it's on Friday, has a premise that seems a little too specialized (how many cases of infertility can you follow before things get dull?), and hasn't gotten much by way of positive press from the day it was announced as being on the schedule.
It's also up against Numb3rs and 20/20, which may be problematic even though it's probably the most light-hearted choice of the three.
7 - Rodney - I'll give a shiny nickel to anyone who can tell me the network, the day and time this airs, and who plays the title character WITHOUT looking it up.
6 - Hot Properties - I may be stretching here, given that it has some well known cast members (Gail O'Grady, Nicole Sullivan) and is on ABC's TGIF, which seems pretty tolerant of crap (hello, Hope and Faith). But word is that this show is just awful, so it was hard to pass up.
5 - The Night Stalker - This show was a good idea in its time (mid-1970s): a reporter investigates the unknown, supernatural, and just plain creepy while showing some gumption and often being more lucky than good. The sense I get from the new show is that it'll be moodier, which may take some of the fun out of it. Not to mention that the supernatural became almost passe with The X Files, and is already looking a little thin this season what with the two oceanic alien shows and the WB show actually called Supernatural.
It doesn't help that this is going up against CSI, The Apprentice, and the much-hyped Fox show Reunion.
4 - Related - A show about four sisters that tries to rip off Sisters and Sex in the City simultaneously, and from what I've heard does neither well. It's also up against Lost, E-Ring, and Veronica Mars. I'm also not sure that One Tree Hill is the most natural lead-in; you'd think Gilmore Girls would make more sense... until you realize viewers would start making comparisons.
3 - Threshold - One of the two oceanic alien shows in my top ten, it does have a cast you've likely heard of (Charles S. Dutton, Carla Gugino, Brent Spiner), but I don't see this working so well given that Friday nights have been hostile towards such shows in the past, and CBS doesn't have much of a track record with the genre. It's also got another new show, The Ghost Whisperer, as a lead-in. That show stars Jennifer Love Hewitt.
How did I not put that in my entry?
2 - Surface - NBC's entry into the watery ETs genre, it's facing competition from comedies (the CBS block and Fox, which is hoping a move of Arrested Development and the new Kitchen Confidential will fare well) and the perpetual viewing machine that is 7th Heaven. What I've heard of the show suggests that it's a bit sprawling, so viewers may not stay tuned in if there are a lot of loose ends with plot and character.
1 - Out of Practice - It's part of the CBS Monday night sitcom lineup, which suggests it'll do well, but I've read some awful reviews. It could come around, but CBS has two mid-season sitcoms - starring Jenna Elfman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, respectively - that could step in should this show about doctors not pan out.
It also has Paula Marshall in the cast, which is like the kiss of death right there.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
It Sings for Itself
From the CBS website, a wrinkle for the upcoming 57th Emmy Awards broadcast:
Get in tune with this year's Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast with a new contest in tribute to television's favorite theme songs entitled "Emmy Idol," with performances by Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars"), Gary Dourdan (CSI:), Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Macy Gray, Emmy Award winner and current nominee Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"), Emmy Award winner and current nominee William Shatner ("Boston Legal"), real estate mogul and current Emmy nominee Donald Trump ("The Apprentice") and famed opera star Frederica von Stade.
Throughout the Emmys broadcast, in an "American Idol"-esque contest, these television and music personalities will trigger fans' memories of some of their favorite television theme songs. Bell will perform the theme song from "Fame;" Dourdan and Gray will join forces to perform "Movin' On Up" from "The Jeffersons;" Mullally and Trump will together perform the theme song from "Green Acres;" Shatner and von Stade will team up to perform the theme to "Star Trek." During the live broadcast, viewers can return here to vote for their favorite of the theme songs performed during "Emmy Idol." They will also be able to vote via text message. The winner will be announced toward the end of the broadcast.
Get in tune with this year's Primetime Emmy Awards broadcast with a new contest in tribute to television's favorite theme songs entitled "Emmy Idol," with performances by Kristen Bell ("Veronica Mars"), Gary Dourdan (CSI:), Grammy Award-winning R&B artist Macy Gray, Emmy Award winner and current nominee Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"), Emmy Award winner and current nominee William Shatner ("Boston Legal"), real estate mogul and current Emmy nominee Donald Trump ("The Apprentice") and famed opera star Frederica von Stade.
Throughout the Emmys broadcast, in an "American Idol"-esque contest, these television and music personalities will trigger fans' memories of some of their favorite television theme songs. Bell will perform the theme song from "Fame;" Dourdan and Gray will join forces to perform "Movin' On Up" from "The Jeffersons;" Mullally and Trump will together perform the theme song from "Green Acres;" Shatner and von Stade will team up to perform the theme to "Star Trek." During the live broadcast, viewers can return here to vote for their favorite of the theme songs performed during "Emmy Idol." They will also be able to vote via text message. The winner will be announced toward the end of the broadcast.
Friday, September 02, 2005
So Tell Us What You Really Think
We've got the Hurricane Katrina telethon on now, and Kanye West just had a meltdown.
At first, it was stuff I'd heard in places before - the media labeling African-Americans as looters and white people as just looking for stuff, the use of force against the folks stuck in New Orleans, etc. Mike Meyers, who was on screen with him, did his best to stick to the script.
When they went back to West, he led with "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
They cut really quickly to Chris Tucker after that. Meyers, for his part, managed to remain fairly professional while still having a "what did he just say?" air about him.
Interestingly, Meyers once had a similar role on a Saturday Night Live skit. He was an inventor of a pasta machine, and Heather Locklear played the host of an infomercial for it. As it progressed, Locklear's character became increasingly racist, calling out all the major (and a couple of minor) ethnic groups. Once again, life imitates art.
At first, it was stuff I'd heard in places before - the media labeling African-Americans as looters and white people as just looking for stuff, the use of force against the folks stuck in New Orleans, etc. Mike Meyers, who was on screen with him, did his best to stick to the script.
When they went back to West, he led with "George Bush doesn't care about black people."
They cut really quickly to Chris Tucker after that. Meyers, for his part, managed to remain fairly professional while still having a "what did he just say?" air about him.
Interestingly, Meyers once had a similar role on a Saturday Night Live skit. He was an inventor of a pasta machine, and Heather Locklear played the host of an infomercial for it. As it progressed, Locklear's character became increasingly racist, calling out all the major (and a couple of minor) ethnic groups. Once again, life imitates art.
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