OK, I stopped doing the day by day listings because they wound up restating a large portion of the day's events rather than focus on one or two. That and I got bored with it. Sorry.
But sticking with the Olympics, watching has allowed me to see some of the top-rated Super Bowl ads, as companies have been getting some extra life out of them. Having now seen the Bud Light "magic fridge" ad, it appears that the ads for Super Bowl XL were as forgettable as the game itself. I really didn't miss anything by skipping most of the first half.
As for new ads, the bulk of them are pretty forgettable, too. They mostly play off of the usual Olympic themes of striving for goals and success, and whether they be inspiring or "humorous," there's not much about any of them that gets me going. There are two that bear special mention, though:
1. The Chevrolet ad where a guy, the middle man of three spelling out "USA," gets frozen in a pond. Now, the decision to skip medical treatment in lieu of Weekend at Bernie's style hijinx is one thing. But towards the end of the ad, someone makes a sno-cone out of scrapings from the frozen guy's torso.
I didn't know Chevy was pro-cannibalism.
2. There's a DHL ad with Dan Jansen that shows him falling a lot as a backdrop for their "Olympic Spirit" award. Towards the end of the ad, Jansen is shown standing at the door to his home, watching a DHL delivery guy almost slip, and then take a header trying to walk up his snow and ice-covered drive. Jansen's response? "I know what that feels like."
Yes you do, Dan. So why don't you cart your ass out to the garage and break out the snowblower or some sand or something, rather than stand there like a jackass while some guy fractures his coccyx trying to bring you a package.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
OlympicsWatch, Day 8
Top event for me is the US-Sweden semifinal in ice hockey. It'll be shown live tomorrow morning, looks to be around 11 am EST. There'll be curling at various times throughout the day, US women versus Russia earlier in the morning, men later in the day.
The sliding sports also come to the fore as we get two man bobsled and skeleton in the afternoon and in prime time. Also in prime time Lindsey Jacobellis tries to break the streak of hyped Americans going without medals when she competes in this snowboard cross that I've never heard of until now.
Oh, and there'll be ice dancing, too. Woo hoo.
The sliding sports also come to the fore as we get two man bobsled and skeleton in the afternoon and in prime time. Also in prime time Lindsey Jacobellis tries to break the streak of hyped Americans going without medals when she competes in this snowboard cross that I've never heard of until now.
Oh, and there'll be ice dancing, too. Woo hoo.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Bored-room
Among the announcement of the contestants for the upcoming "season" of The Apprentice was the nugget that Carolyn and George, who have been assisting Trump in selecting his new hireling, will be stepping out for some number of episodes this season for two new helpers - Donald Trump, Jr. and his sister Ivanka.
This is the sort of idea that, if a team on the show tried it, would land them in the boardroom. Though I can at least see why Junior is in, he being the likely heir to Trump's yooge holdings. As for Ivanka... well, let's just say I hope to be surprised.
Now let's just hope they spice things up this season by having at least one challenge that isn't related to marketing. Wouldn't that be nice?
This is the sort of idea that, if a team on the show tried it, would land them in the boardroom. Though I can at least see why Junior is in, he being the likely heir to Trump's yooge holdings. As for Ivanka... well, let's just say I hope to be surprised.
Now let's just hope they spice things up this season by having at least one challenge that isn't related to marketing. Wouldn't that be nice?
When Judge Shows Invade Prime Time
One of the recurring themes of any judge show, from Judy to Mathis, is that the folks who appear in those fora tend not to display the greatest judgement. And while I like to chuckle at the legion of people who get cell phones under their own name for deadbeats, it worries me a bit when that lack of judgement seeps into prime time programming.
A couple examples have cropped up of late in ABC's programming. First, take the recent episode of Desperate Housewives where Bree, discovering that the man who was arrested for breaking into the Solis home (and who was the proximate cause of Gabrielle's miscarriage) and who is probably wanted after escaping from that hospital, chooses to call her friends rather than the cops. Huh?
Meanwhile, over on Lost, various castaways decide to place enough trust in Sawyer - the well known hoarder and con-man - that he eventually gets control over the group's firearms. Well done, idiots! You've got a guy who you can't trust as far as you can throw, but by all means let him manipulate you into doing his bidding. I suppose we can forgive Charlie - he's pissed at Locke and not that smart to begin with - but Locke and Kate?
I know, prime time TV programs more or less require this sort of poor decision-making to squeeze out episodes and further plot. But perhaps they could find a way to get to the same end without these decisions that seem out of character?
A couple examples have cropped up of late in ABC's programming. First, take the recent episode of Desperate Housewives where Bree, discovering that the man who was arrested for breaking into the Solis home (and who was the proximate cause of Gabrielle's miscarriage) and who is probably wanted after escaping from that hospital, chooses to call her friends rather than the cops. Huh?
Meanwhile, over on Lost, various castaways decide to place enough trust in Sawyer - the well known hoarder and con-man - that he eventually gets control over the group's firearms. Well done, idiots! You've got a guy who you can't trust as far as you can throw, but by all means let him manipulate you into doing his bidding. I suppose we can forgive Charlie - he's pissed at Locke and not that smart to begin with - but Locke and Kate?
I know, prime time TV programs more or less require this sort of poor decision-making to squeeze out episodes and further plot. But perhaps they could find a way to get to the same end without these decisions that seem out of character?
OlympicsWatch, Day 7
The daytime program has more live hockey (men) and curling (both). The prime time coverage is sure to focus on Yevgeny Plushenko's quest for gold in the men's figure skating long program. Failing that, he could probably get a job as a backup singer for The Darkness. Seriously, what's with his hair?
My main interest in prime time, though, will be speed skating's team pursuit. It seems like just the right amount of chaos for a sport involving ice and bladed footwear (don't get me wrong, I like short track, it just gets a little irritating with all the judge involvement).
Going back to today's programming, I was a little surprised during coverage of the Sweden-Kazahkstan game to hear multiple references to the Soviet Union. In the present tense. I know people don't always keep up with the news, but this seems negligent in the extreme.
My main interest in prime time, though, will be speed skating's team pursuit. It seems like just the right amount of chaos for a sport involving ice and bladed footwear (don't get me wrong, I like short track, it just gets a little irritating with all the judge involvement).
Going back to today's programming, I was a little surprised during coverage of the Sweden-Kazahkstan game to hear multiple references to the Soviet Union. In the present tense. I know people don't always keep up with the news, but this seems negligent in the extreme.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
OlympicsWatch, Day 6
Men's ice hockey kicks off on Wednesday, with 12 hours of live programming starting at 5 am EST. None of the games are between teams considered medal contenders. The most interesting match-up is probably the Czech Republic versus Germany, what with payback for the taking of the Sudetenland and all.
The US will play Latvia in a game that airs in the afternoon - but not live (at least the NBC schedule doesn't list it as such).
There's more curling (US women versus Denmark at 8 am, US men versus Italy at 5 pm).
Prime time coverage should focus on the women's downhill and the luge team of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, who are looking to medal in their third straight Games in doubles luge. But we'll probably get a heaping helping of Apollo Anton Ohno, whose skating in a couple of events. Jeremy Bloom competes in moguls (meaning we'll hear his skiing versus football story again), too.
The US will play Latvia in a game that airs in the afternoon - but not live (at least the NBC schedule doesn't list it as such).
There's more curling (US women versus Denmark at 8 am, US men versus Italy at 5 pm).
Prime time coverage should focus on the women's downhill and the luge team of Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin, who are looking to medal in their third straight Games in doubles luge. But we'll probably get a heaping helping of Apollo Anton Ohno, whose skating in a couple of events. Jeremy Bloom competes in moguls (meaning we'll hear his skiing versus football story again), too.
Monday, February 13, 2006
OlympicsWatch, Day 5
Highlights for Tuesday:
* More live curling in the very early hours of the morning.
* Live women's hockey in the more reasonable AM hours, with the live US-Finland game mid-afternoon.
* The usual plethora of events in prime-time, with the men's singles in figure skating the likely focus.
* More live curling in the very early hours of the morning.
* Live women's hockey in the more reasonable AM hours, with the live US-Finland game mid-afternoon.
* The usual plethora of events in prime-time, with the men's singles in figure skating the likely focus.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
OlympicsWatch, Day 4
Curling, baby!
See skips deliver rocks to the house for 10 ends on the first day of curling. The insomniacs (or unemployed) will enjoy live coverage starting in the wee small hours of the morning (EST), with tape coverage later in the day.
There's women's luge in the afternoon and the pairs figure skaters go tomorrow night. But curling!
See skips deliver rocks to the house for 10 ends on the first day of curling. The insomniacs (or unemployed) will enjoy live coverage starting in the wee small hours of the morning (EST), with tape coverage later in the day.
There's women's luge in the afternoon and the pairs figure skaters go tomorrow night. But curling!
Saturday, February 11, 2006
OlympicsWatch, Day 3
The US women's ice hockey team takes on Germany on USA network, while the NBC coverage will have the men's downhill skiing final, men's singles luge finals, and a raft of short-track speed skating. CNBC will have other women's ice hockey games as well.
We've not watched the entire opening ceremony yet, but we did find one thing odd about the first hour: Turin is referred to as Torino, yet all the other Italian cities are called by their English names. If you're going to use Torino, you should really also use Roma, Firenze, Milano, and the like.
We've not watched the entire opening ceremony yet, but we did find one thing odd about the first hour: Turin is referred to as Torino, yet all the other Italian cities are called by their English names. If you're going to use Torino, you should really also use Roma, Firenze, Milano, and the like.
Friday, February 10, 2006
OlympicWatch: Days 1 and 2
OK, here's my listing of what's worth watching each day for the Olympics. Consult your listings for full info on what's being shown. You could even try the TV listings on the NBC Olympic site, but it's awful. Half the time it doesn't load. I fear this presages future craptaculence by the NBC Universal family of networks, but let's think happy thoughts.
Day 1, Friday 2/10: Opening Ceremonies, 8 pm EST, NBC
Brian Williams steps in for Katie Couric. No word if he'll deliver the inane banter or if he'll leave it to Costas. They could make for an interesting pairing if they don't force Bruce Vilanch-type material on them.
There's a repeat airing at 2:30 am if you can't catch it in prime-time.
Day 2, Saturday 2/11: Women's ice hockey, USA-Switzerland, 12 pm EST, USA Network
The capper of 7.5 hours of women's hockey, with the previous two games (Finland-Germany and Sweden-Russia) kicking of at 7 am on CNBC.
The afternoon show on NBC (3-6 pm EST) will feature men's singles luge.
Prime time on NBC features the men's 5000 meters in speed skating. There's also moguls, pairs figure skating, and a men's downhill preview.
Day 1, Friday 2/10: Opening Ceremonies, 8 pm EST, NBC
Brian Williams steps in for Katie Couric. No word if he'll deliver the inane banter or if he'll leave it to Costas. They could make for an interesting pairing if they don't force Bruce Vilanch-type material on them.
There's a repeat airing at 2:30 am if you can't catch it in prime-time.
Day 2, Saturday 2/11: Women's ice hockey, USA-Switzerland, 12 pm EST, USA Network
The capper of 7.5 hours of women's hockey, with the previous two games (Finland-Germany and Sweden-Russia) kicking of at 7 am on CNBC.
The afternoon show on NBC (3-6 pm EST) will feature men's singles luge.
Prime time on NBC features the men's 5000 meters in speed skating. There's also moguls, pairs figure skating, and a men's downhill preview.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Do I Love Monkey? Meh.
"Meh" is about the most insightful thing I have to say about Love Monkey after watching the two episodes that have aired so far. It's not a bad show, but it's not particularly good, either. Which is too bad, as the set-up - Tom Cavanagh plays an A&R guy who is transitioning from a large label to an indie - is a nice break from the crime procedurals that clutter up the prime time landscape.
But I'm not sure this is going anywhere. The music-related subplots are OK - the first was a Jerry Maguire-inspired dash to sign a new talent, the most recent involved getting a star from Tom's old label to play a benefit sponsored by his new one - but there's a fakeness to it. I think it's the musician cameos, which seek stuck in to draw viewers. The second episode had both Ben Folds and LeAnn Rimes in very small speaking parts that had nothing to do with the show (outside, I suppose, showing that Tom knows all these big names).
That and Tom's apparent genius seems a little suspect to me. Take the last episode. The pop star wants to play one of her own songs at the benefit - an awful dirge called "My Inner Pain." She first plays this at a studio while interrupting a session with the hot new talent. To me the answer seems obvious - get the new kid, who says he's a fan of the pop star, to work with her. But when this eventually happens, it's hailed as visionary.
Perhaps I just watch too much TV and could see it coming.
The supporting cast is good but unexciting. There are some recognizable names among them (Jason Priestly, Larenz Tate, and Jane Greer most notably), but none of them have had much of anything interesting to do. Though there is promise in the friend who is a former baseball player turned sportscaster. At the end of the pilot he's seen bringing flowers and wine to someone's house - a male someone's house.
(Insert your own Mike Piazza joke here.)
Of course, this show may not last long enough for us to see how this - or anything else - plays out. We can only hope, given the likelihood of CSI: Bozeman if this doesn't get picked up for next season.
But I'm not sure this is going anywhere. The music-related subplots are OK - the first was a Jerry Maguire-inspired dash to sign a new talent, the most recent involved getting a star from Tom's old label to play a benefit sponsored by his new one - but there's a fakeness to it. I think it's the musician cameos, which seek stuck in to draw viewers. The second episode had both Ben Folds and LeAnn Rimes in very small speaking parts that had nothing to do with the show (outside, I suppose, showing that Tom knows all these big names).
That and Tom's apparent genius seems a little suspect to me. Take the last episode. The pop star wants to play one of her own songs at the benefit - an awful dirge called "My Inner Pain." She first plays this at a studio while interrupting a session with the hot new talent. To me the answer seems obvious - get the new kid, who says he's a fan of the pop star, to work with her. But when this eventually happens, it's hailed as visionary.
Perhaps I just watch too much TV and could see it coming.
The supporting cast is good but unexciting. There are some recognizable names among them (Jason Priestly, Larenz Tate, and Jane Greer most notably), but none of them have had much of anything interesting to do. Though there is promise in the friend who is a former baseball player turned sportscaster. At the end of the pilot he's seen bringing flowers and wine to someone's house - a male someone's house.
(Insert your own Mike Piazza joke here.)
Of course, this show may not last long enough for us to see how this - or anything else - plays out. We can only hope, given the likelihood of CSI: Bozeman if this doesn't get picked up for next season.
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