A Pretty Good Year in Television

I cannot say I like year-end lists, yet I would like to highlight a few shows that demonstrated to me at least that television is alive and well.  Here are some of the new shows of 2010 that I believe are worthy of mention (and watching) in no particular order: 

-- Caprica - This Syfy series sets up the framework for the fine series Battlestar Galactic.  It has been a terrific series of story lines with fine acting from stars such as Eric Stoltz, Paula Malcomson, Esai Morales, and others.  It is worth watching just to see the virtual world created by the young people in the Caprican society, a very real and scary portrayal of how this such a technology may be used in the future by our own young people.  The final episodes of season one will be shown next year starting on January 4.  Sadly, the show is not expected to see a second season.  You can follow the future of the show at The Caprica Times.

--  Justified - Visit my past comments on this FX show.  Season two starts February 9.

-- How to Make it in America - Visit my past comments on this HBO program.  Season two is scheduled to start sometime next summer.

-- Louie C.K. - Visit my past comments here and here on this FX show.  It has been renewed for a second season to be shown sometime next summer.

-- Terriers - Visit my past comments here and here on this FX show.  Unfortunately, FX decided to kill the show, so one season is all we get.  The network executive who canceled the show had this to say: "I don't know if subtlety is something the American public is buying in droves." He added, "When I look at 'Jersey Shore' and the Kardashians and 'Sons of Anarchy' and 'Walking Dead'... I wouldn't say that subtlety and nuance describes the most successful kind of pop content in America today."

-- Rubicon - View my past comments on this AMC show.  The network has officially announced that a second season will not be produced.

-- Raising Hope - View my past comments on this Fox show.  This is the only major network program I included in my list.  It has already been renewed for a second season and new episodes will be broadcast in February.

-- Southland - View my past comments on this TNT show. Season three begins on January 4.

That's it.  Nine new shows in 2010, though three are already dead after their first season, while a lousy show such as The Bachelor is in its fifteenth season.  I would like to say it is the networks that are dumb here, but I am starting to think it is primarily the audience. Nonetheless, I will continue to highlight good TV here.

The New Alf?

Remember the TV show Alf?  Running from 1983 to 1990, the network put out more than 100 of these alien life form (ALF) episodes about a visitor from the planet Melmac who decides to stick around in the Tanner family's living room.

I never believed that prime time could support a puppet show, but I was proved wrong.  In fact, prime time also works for cartoons (e.g., The Simpsons, American Dad,  The Family Guy, etc.).  So I guess anything is possible.

And it appears that Elijah Wood will test that theory.  His new FX series, called Wilfred, will premiere soon.  It is basically an Australian transplant about a man who sees his dog as a man in a dog suit while the rest of the world simply sees a dog.  Elijah has been striking out as a leading man in a number of films, such as Oxford Murders, so he is hoping TV will offer him a new venue.  I cannot say the plot sounds all that intriguing.

Australia just finished viewing season two of their version, so some people seem to like it.  I just read a review of about the Australian version and already know the U.S. may not be ready.  It is defined as "a comedy series about a bong-smoking dog that has sex with a cat and a teddy bear." It is also "peppered with profanity, full-frontal nudity and jokes about rape."  Maybe FX can get away with this.  Stay tuned.   

Update:  The show premieres on June 23, 2011.

Southland Worth Another Look

I recently finished viewing the second season of TNT's Southland series (you can obtain free online episodes at TNT).  Originally broadcast on NBC, it was picked up by TNT when NBC was too dumb to know what it had (this seems to be pretty common with the dinosaur networks - large stumbling beasts with tiny brains).  The first season consists of seven episodes, followed by six episodes in the second season.  Technically, this is not even enough shows for a full season (which is usually 15-25 episodes), but this is what they decided to do.  Nonetheless, I have enjoyed each and every show.

The two leads on the show, rookie Ben McKenzie (officer Ben Sherman) and his partner Michael Cudlitz (officer John Cooper) make a great centerpiece to the show, being the present day Adam 12 team.  Ben McKenzie is a great fit as the "spoiled rich kid" who took to the streets, the modern day version of Platoon.  It's a nice role for McKenzie, who we last saw playing to down-and-out, adopted toughie on The O.C.  The rest of the cast, most as plain-clothed detectives, round out the show and provide the depth we come to expect from such law and order programs.  However, interestingly enough, there has been no courtroom order on this program.  You see what the cops see and that is all.  The only other competing interest is the public relations team, always sure to reroute resources too keep the taxpaying, connected well-to-dos happy.

I was surprised to see C. Thomas Howell in the series.  I did not recognize him at first given the amount he has aged. While he is only about 43 in the show, he looks about 60.  I don't know what has happened to him over the years,* but he gives a great performance as an annoying alcoholic who almost kills his partner.  While I thought he was only going to appear on the pilot, he has been a continuing character.

The last I read, TNT ordered 10 new episodes for season three, which is slated to start in January 2011.   The TNT website advertises a start date of January 4.  I look forward to seeing the cast of characters again for another season.  At least TNT seems to realize what they have here.

* Note:  According to comments in IMDB.com, C. Thomas Howell suffered problems back in 2003:

In 2003 he was hospitalized for 4 weeks because of a ruptured appendix, a very serious illness, fatal if not treated on time. He lost 45 pounds and surgeons had to take out 3 feet of his intestine among other things in order to save his life. That's the real reason behind his gaunt look in all his movies between 2003 and 2005. As of today he has fully recovered. He's currently working out with a trainer and he has already gained 12 pounds of muscles and his face has filled back. He's also following a strict protein and carbohydrate diet.

Who are the Real Zombies?

Is it just a coincidence, or is AMC's The Walking Dead trying to tell us something?  Coming just two days before the national election, I can see some startling parallels to our current situation.  For instance, "zombie" is defined as "...a human being who is being controlled by someone else by use of magic."  Now I don't know if Fox News has any real magic, but I would have to say it has an awful lot of control over a number of scared Americans in this current economy.  In fact, the road sign below was flashing a warning in Texas just last year, so we cannot say we did not see this coming.
And how does one take out a zombie?  Well, I would like to think we can simply break the spell through a more thorough study our current options in this economy and a rational discussion.  I expect tonight's show will have a few more options, as Hollywood always does.  I would also like to think we can simply shame some of the more extreme elements in our society, act like adults, and agree that we all have the same goal but a few different ways to get there.  Yes, reasoning with a zombie, but also taking out the witch doctors controlling them.  I don't even think I am the first one to bring up witches in this campaign season.  So, sit back, enjoy the show, and think about what you can do to break the zombie spell and bring a little bit of sanity to this world.  Hollywood can only do so much.

Rubicon - Modern Day Spying?

I noted in my last update that I enjoy the new show Rubicon.  Well, I have watched the entire season and I hope to see more.  The New Republic had a good article on the show, noting that the show had the feel of a 1970s version of spying rather than our current period:

Yet as that last detail shows, it’s not easy to credibly imagine a '70s-style conspiracy taking place in the 2010s. At a time when the very survival of newspapers is in doubt, the idea that an all-powerful military-industrial cabal would use newspaper crosswords to send a signal feels laughably out of date. Likewise, the show’s attempt to recreate the mise-en-scene of those '70s films meant that practically no one at API—supposedly the most clued-in and powerful part of the intelligence community—is ever seen sending an e-mail or consulting a database; instead, they check out printed reports from a library, or make calls on an (easily traced) landline.  

However, I believe that is part of the charm.  In a time of high-tech gadgets, super computers, smart phones, and twitter, it was a nice change to see a show where the team sat around a conference table discussing motives, geography, and ideas.  You had a sense that each of the team members would be great contestants on Jeopardy.  This came to the surface at the end of the show when the FBI shows up looking for a list of potential terrorist targets and you truly get a sense of how the intelligence teams' collective mind works differently than the "feds" and their predictable approach to a crisis.

The show is unpredictable, well-acted, full of shadows, and always one step ahead of you (similar to their prey).  I will take this over gadgets any day.  I am hoping for a second season, but nothing has been said yet.

The Fall Tsunami

Okay, I am coming out from under the tsunami of fall programming.  I still do not understand the clustering of so many programs.  I probably give up on half of them since I simple do not have time to see them nor room to store them.  To date, I have a list of over 50 television programs that I hope to get back to someday, though I am less than optimistic.

Few of the fall shows have impressed me, and I am still finishing up new shows from the spring and summer, such as Rubicon, which many critics had called slow and dark, and yet it was just what I was in the mood for when it started - a detailed unraveling of a story with a collection of personalities who kept you interested.  TV has not done so well with such stories in the past, but I am glad they are still making them.  I particularly like the main character Will Travers, played by actor James Badge Dale, who was also excellent HBO's miniseries The Pacific, which aired earlier in the spring.

And while we are talking about this pre-fall release of programs, I have already noted my feelings on The Gates, Haven, and Louie.  I liked Louie from the start, whereas The Gates and Haven grew on me a little more slowly.  And this is the point, I had a chance to enjoy these shows in an otherwise boring season of returns.  This is the way to build an audience.

So, as I was saying, this fall season was too much, though I did watch quite a few of the new programs.  As the new season rolled out, I liked Terriers, decided I did not like Nikita, and then found the true gem of the new season - Fox's Raising Hope.  This new show brings together a talented pool of new and known actors to show the modern day mix of Roseanne meets Raising Arizona.  Is it brilliant?  Not at all.  But is it worth 30 minutes at the end of a long day?  Absolutely.  And while it has an odd start with van sex, a baby, and the the execution of the mother, it will grow on you like a fungus (that tickles).

That's about it.  NBC's The Event did not leave me asking "What happens next?"  Instead, I was asking "What were they thinking?"  It was a waste of Jason Ritter's talents, who has not really had a break since Joan of Arcadia.  I was already tired of Lost by the time it ended and I suppose I am not looking for that level of drama again for some time. This is something the networks do not always get.  Just because something worked before does not mean it can be used over and over again.  I believe this was proven with the short-lived FlashForward, which I admit I watched for awhile and yet my interest waned as did that of most viewers.

I have seen plenty of other shows that are worth picking apart for the pure enjoyment of it, but I will try that another time.  Of course, many of these shows are already being canceled, so we shall see which ones will be around to analyze.

The Right Network?

Clearly Fox News is not be enough for the growing Tea Party movement and resurgent Republicans.  As a result, the Right Network is here to add a little more content.  And what does this new network hope to accomplish?  In its own words, we are told:

We seek to present the values and beliefs that America was built upon. We aim to be straight shooters and will always come to the party with a potent point-of-view. But we will not dominate the conversation… we'll stimulate it. And we will listen happily as the many voices of the Right combine. We'll always encourage debate and we will not shrink from the fight, if it's a fight worth having. 

So far the programming is thin, with programs such as short cartoon called "Flatbed & Ned" and "Soapbox Guy."  I enjoyed the first part of a documentary program "Do As I Say," where the narrator does a pretty good version of Michael Moore from the Right.  I am all for duking it out with solid research and a bit of humor.  I just hope there is room for moderate voices from the Right rather than the loony-right, which is where I would put flaky Michele Bachmann who wrote a piece on 9/11 posted to the network site.  If you look at the comments to her piece the individuals are not really all that stimulating in their viewpoints.  Time will tell.

Terriers is No Dog

I have to say I enjoyed the pilot of FX's Terriers the other night.  The two main characters, Hank (Donal Logue) and Britt (Michael Raymond-James), made an odd yet interesting couple.  Hank is the crusty, hard-drinking, ex-cop with a heart of gold whereas Britt is the trusty side-kick with a Peter Pan complex.  How they met is not yet clear, nor do we really know much about Britt's past.  But this is the first show and I am intrigued to learn more.  And the pilot's plot involving two murders is either part one of a two part story or the basis of the entire first season.  What I already see going on is Hank charging at windmills while dragging along loyal Britt (who continues to look back at his girlfriend pining for a baby). 

It is clear that not ever enjoyed the show. Slate had its own take on the new series:

That those heels head in so many different directions at once is the show's own Achilles'. A typical episode of Terriers jolts abruptly from cutesy escapades to head-cracking fights, from loud escapism to misty tenderness, from easygoing comedy to strained seriousness. The tonal unevenness feels less like the conscious product of an ambitious design than the unplanned consequence of an exceedingly ambitious one. 

I should add that the Slate critic has already seen the first five shows before penning a review, whereas I only have one show under my belt.  That said, I look forward to watching the next four to formulate a more informed opinion.  I expect I will enjoy my research.

New September Season

This week begins a new, very full season.  In addition to the return of Vampire Diaries, which surprised me with its decent acting and straight-forward story (versus True Blood), two new shows caught my eye.

--Terriers:  The FX network has a new addition Wednesday nights at 10pm ET/9pm CT.  Yes, it is the same old ex-cop, private eye story, but it could have a fun twist and good acting.   Variety magazine says "Tonally more similar to "Justified" than to FX's blacker-than-black crime dramas, and featuring a breezy chemistry between Logue and Raymond-James, 'Terriers' demonstrates it's possible to cobble together something worth watching without most of the usual bells and whistles -- or much in the way of sex and violence, although the language is pretty blue."  Given how much I like Justified, I will give it a try.

--Nikita:  The CW is getting into the assassination business starting Thursday nights at 9pm ET/8pm CT.  While I am not always thrilled with such thrillers, at least it is going beyond the typical cops and robbers.  It appears to have the typical "nice girl until they killed her boyfriend spin" we have seen in Alias and other shows, though I guess a career needs to start somewhere.  Slant Magazine was not impressed: "Nikita is just another bland spy drama, an excuse to put women in skimpy outfits—Alias without a heart, Chuck without the sense of humor, and Covert Affairs without the good casting."  Oh well.

Truly Boring

I have seen enough.  While HBO's True Blood started out interestingly enough, and I more or less enjoyed the first two seasons, it is hard to care about these characters anymore.  It has always been primarily about sex and blood, but now it has so many additional characters and stories that you really forget what you liked about the show.  And I have already seen too many sides of Sookie and Tara to really care whether or not they become the next special on Sam Merlotte's menu.  It was probably the introduction of werewolves, southern politics, and Sam's dysfunctional family that threw me over the edge (not to mention the Nazi flashbacks, random kidnapping of Bill and Tara, and the love affair of Lafayette).  HBO's website shows 11 new characters this season, versus 7 in season two.  Sometimes a show just needs focus and good storytelling, and I no longer get this.  It was a fun idea, but I am ready for a hurricane to wipe out the town of Bon Temps and purge us of this bloodletting.

Final Winners

So how did I do on my Emmy guesses?  I will agree I was far from perfect, but I got half of my choices right.  Here are some of the final winners (and all of them are here).

Best Series, Drama -- Mad Men 

Best Series, Comedy -- Modern Family

Best Actor, Drama -- Bryan Cranston 'Breaking Bad'

Best Actress, Drama -- Kyra Sedgwick 'The Closer'

Best Actor, Comedy -- Jim Parsons 'The Big Bang Theory'

Best Actress, Comedy -- Edie Falco 'Nurse Jackie'

Modern Family received six awards, more than any other regular show, whereas the mini-series The Pacific took in the most awards with eight emmys.  While I did not watch the program, I caught some of the highlights, including the opening skit. It appears Jimmy Fallon did a good job hosting the event.  However, I would rather watch the winning shows than the award show itself. And so, back to our regular programming.

The Emmys

Just one week to go and the Emmy Awards program will be broadcast and awards handed out.  While there are a number of categories and names that I do not follow (I count 104 categories - really?), I have listed some of the more relevant categories (with my choice in red).

Best Series, Drama

• 'Breaking Bad'
• 'Dexter'
• 'Lost'
• 'Mad Men'
• 'The Good Wife'
• 'True Blood'

Best Series, Comedy

• 'Nurse Jackie'
• 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
• '30 Rock'
• 'Glee'
• 'The Office'
• 'Modern Family'

Best Actor, Drama

• Bryan Cranston 'Breaking Bad'
• Michael C. Hall 'Dexter'
• Hugh Laurie 'House'
• Jon Hamm 'Mad Men'
• Matthew Fox 'Lost'
• Kyle Chandler 'Friday Night Lights'

Best Actress, Drama

• Connie Britton 'Friday Night Lights'
• Glenn Close 'Damages'
• Mariska Hargitay 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
• Kyra Sedgwick 'The Closer'
• January Jones 'Mad Men'
• Julianna Margulies 'The Good Wife'

Best Actor, Comedy

• Alec Baldwin '30 Rock'
• Tony Shalhoub 'Monk'
• Jim Parsons 'The Big Bang Theory'
• Steve Carell 'The Office'
• Larry David 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
• Matthew Morrison 'Glee'

Best Actress, Comedy

• Tina Fey '30 Rock'
• Lea Michele 'Glee'
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus 'The New Adventures of Old Christine'
• Amy Poehler 'Parks and Recreation'
• Toni Collette 'United States of Tara'
• Edie Falco 'Nurse Jackie'

Beware the Angry TV Writer

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal had a good article on writers' revenge in TV episodes.  My favorite relates to Matthew Weiner's revenge on a former employer.  The creator of "Mad Men" got even when he put the man's name on a gravestone in a cemetery scene as part of an episode of "The Sopranos." 

In another case, Seth MacFarlane also got even with the folks at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for never providing him with an award when one of his show's characters is murdered with a Golden Globe statuette.

Check out the article.  It has a number of good stories and may make you a more careful viewer (just in case an old girlfriend or boyfriend is getting even with you).

The Return of Mad Men

The fourth season of AMC's Mad Men is off to an interesting start.  Don Draper is without a family, without an established office, and without a sense of humor.  And his uncharacteristic outburst with clients towards the end of the show makes you wonder if he is approaching a nervous breakdown.  Without his familiar moorings, as well as his irritable disposition, it feels as if anything is possible.  Gone is our cool and calm Don.

I noticed one new addition to the cast - Matt Long, from the earlier WB series Jack & Bobby, is now assisting Peggy.  I expect we may see new additions as the show moves along, though some of the old cast may not be returning (such as Sal the art director).  I was also happy to see Joan back in the office.  While she had a very small part, she may represent the little bit of stability in the new firm.

A few web sites that are starting to faithfully track the fourth season. The New Republic has started a new series, and Slate is back with an ongoing discussion.  Slate had great commentary on the last season of Lost, and it is now faithfully following Friday Night Lights.  I look forward to following both of these sites.

By the way, here is a fun video making fun of Betty's parenting that was highlighted by Slate in its first installment.  And here is an excerpt from "Mad Men and Philosophy, Nothing is as it Seems," should you want to catalog some of the terrific dialogue to date.  I love this quote from Roger, which really sums up the man:  ” On lasting commitment: “I’ll tell you the same thing I told my daughter. If you put a penny in a jar every time you make love in the first year of marriage and then you take a penny out of the jar every time you make love in the second year, you know what you have? A jar full of pennies.”

The Latest Louie

The show just gets better and better. In the latest episode Louie takes on the airlines and the absurd security policies. Trying to bring personal lubricant on the plane, he asks a question we should all ask when told it would have been fine in checked luggage: If the substance is so dangerous in a carry-on, why let it on the plane at all? This is the value of good writing and sharp jokes - we laugh and think at the same time. While simple jokes may have their place at times, give me the thinking man's joke. It is basically an animated political cartoon. Americans are starting to understand Russian humor where you make the best of a crazy and unthinking bureaucracy. Fear has made us dumb, yet such humor shows we still have a chance to get through this period. Slate magazine calls him an "existential hero," stating "having meditated on the world's absurd injustices, he greets them with absurdity in kind."  Go Louie!

Haven: A Weak Version of Fringe

I have now watched the first two episodes of SyFy's new series Haven and the show is barely working for me.  It is a pretty simple story.  An independent female FBI agent, supervised by a secretive African American boss, starts to encounter strange happenings and decides to partner with a loner who has his own secrets.  Sounds a lot like Fox's Fringe to me.  And yet the acting and writing is only half as good, and the story lines are pretty weak.  The second episode starts with a large metal ball crashing into a local bar.  Not exactly as thrilling as Fringe's parallel universes.  With the addition of strange town folk, who are most likely a permanent part of the show since the female lead decided to stick around, it looks like the program will be a mix of Northern Exposure and The 4400 (yes, it appears that many of the townies have unknown special powers). I am not hopeful, but I may watch one or two more before a final verdict.

The End of a Bully

Remember the story about threats to the creators of South Park after they portrayed the Prophet Muhammad in one of the show's episodes?  Well, Zachary Chesser, also known as Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, has been arrested for providing material support to Somali terrorists.  Employees at Comedy Central can now sleep a little better at night.  I wonder if the prison's television will be broadcasting episodes of South Park.

Louie, Louie, Louie

I have now watched the first three episodes of Louie on the FX network and enjoyed each episode.  While the pilot was probably the best, with its monologue on milk cartons and the most obnoxious bus driver in TV history, the next two shows had their moments.  The language can be crude, yet you do feel you are watching real conversations between a divorced dad and his friends on everyday life.  For instance, a fight broke out between Louie and his friend in the third episode where Obama was the topic.  The tension and fight that ensued was scary yet laughable and real.

What is it about comics getting their own show?  Be it Roseanne, Seinfeld, or Tim Allen, it seems to be a smoother path than I would expect.  And like Seinfeld, Louie C.K. integrates his act into the program.  Of course, this is not Louie C.K.'s first attempt with television.  He was perfect as a shy police officer dating Amy Poehler in Parks & Recreations on NBC. 

I expect the show will do well, and so far the critics seem to agree.  As Scott Wampler writes in the Chicago Examiner:

FX's Louie immediately becomes one of the best comedies on television and it's only two episodes into its first season.  Here's a show pitched precisely between the banality of Seinfeld and the misanthropy of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.  There were moments during the opening two episodes where I was laughing too hard to hear the next three punchlines, and moments I genuinely have never seen anything like on TV before (how many leading men are lining up to get Jiggy with a "plus-sized" woman?).  Louie is everything fans of Louis CK hoped it would be.

More Vampires? Really?

I have watched the first two episodes of ABC's new series The Gates and it is not as bad as I thought it would be.  It is basically Desperate Housewives with monsters.  The real question is why ABC went this route at all.  Talk about coming to the party late!  Currently, we already have True Blood on HBO, Being Human on BBC America, and Vampire Diaries on CW, not to mention Twilight in the theaters.  And while I will not speak for the quality of the film, all three television series have merit and variety - the Deep South (True Blood), high school (Vampire Diaries), and British society (Being Human).  And what is interesting is that all of these shows also have another common theme, this being werewolves and witches.  I did not know all the creatures needed to travel in packs, but this seems to go all the way back to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the friendly werewolf played by Seth Green.  In Being Human the vampire and werewolf are so comfortable with one another that they share a flat.

And what does this say about America (and Britain by extension) and our need for bloodthirsty entertainment?  Well, first of all I think it is just plain fun, and it is not so new.  Just think of Angel, Blood Ties, and Moonlight, and you will see this vampire pile-up is pretty common.  However, something else may lie beneath the surface.  The New York Times may have been onto something last year when the paper noted the following:

The vampire’s attraction is “all about the titillation of imagining the monsters we could be if we just let ourselves go,” suggested Rick Owens, a fashion bellwether whose goth-tinged collections sometimes evoke the undead. “We’re all fascinated with corruption, the more glamorous the better” and, he added, with the idea of “devouring, consuming, possessing someone we desire.” 

I think it may be even more basic then that.  Americans have always liked heroes - especially super heroes - and all of these shows have "good" vampires who protect innocent women or society at large from other big, bad monsters.  It is the same old tale with new wrappings.  If these creatures were simply feasting with no love interest and no real point would we care?  No more than watching a lion at the zoo, which is interesting for about 3 minutes.  So sit back, enjoy the show, and know you are part of a long line of viewers looking for a good story where our hero vanquishes the "real" evil out there.

Historical Shows on the Way - The Pillars of the Earth

If you enjoyed HBO's Rome and John Adams, you will be happy to read we are in for more historical series.  The Starz network, which recently brought you the provoking series Spartacus, is now finalizing work on its 8-hour series that will bring Ken Follet's best selling book The Pillars of the Earth to life.  Having read the book, I will be very interested in seeing how this 12th Century story will look on TV.  The new series is slated to begin on July 23 at 10pm EST.  I am already impressed with the actors lined up to perform in this series, including Ian McShane and Donald Sutherland.

 Here is how Starz describes the epic:

This epic tale of passion and greed begins when a mysterious secret disrupts the succession to the English crown and an unlikely member of King Henry’s family takes the throne. A power struggle between Henry’s daughter, Maud, and nephew, Stephen, causes England to be torn by war as battles rage for the rightful heir. Meanwhile, Bishop Waleran Bigod and the Hamleigh family manipulate the conflict to satisfy their own ruthless ambitions. Within this tumultuous setting, Prior Philip fights insurmountable obstacles to keep Kingsbridge and his dream of building a magnificent cathedral alive. The task is daunting, but master-mason Tom Builder, his gifted stepson, Jack, and noblewoman Aliena work together to achieve their dreams. And in the process, the long-hidden secret is revealed.

Visit here for more information and here for a trailer.

Are You Lost?

We have left the month of May and the concluding drama of Lost.  While the networks have a number of interesting shows on the way this summer, it is unlikely anything will capture our imagination as did Lost.  And this may be just as well.  Lost was draining in many ways.  At times I felt I needed a large board with lines connecting photos to remember and understand the plot - something like the board in Flash Forward (which if anything is another failed attempt to mimic Lost).

I watched each and every episode to the bitter end.  And it was bitter at times.  While I am not disappointed in the ending, I am somewhat dismayed as others may be.  And the Jimmy Kimmel Special did not help.  The show periodically wandered too far, such as the Temple of Doom staging at the end of the series, but most of the characters stayed true.  And when they did not remain the same person, as with Locke, at least the changes were subtle and some of the former character was still there.  Of course, if you want to dissect every scene you will always have Lostpedia and thousands of other such sites. 

At this point much of what needs to be said about the series has been said, but I do hope this is truly the end.  I heard talk about a second series with Hurley and Ben running the next phase of the island.  Bad idea, unless you truly want to go the route of Gilligan's Island or Fantasy Island.  Let it go, and enjoy the reruns.

Bad TV - Party Down

I thought it was time to warn you away from a few programs, starting with this first article.  As we all know by now, the television industry produces a lot of dreck, but I guess I expected a little more from STARZ since they put out the successful Spartacus series.  In the case of Party Down:  I watched the first episode of the second season and found out what it needs - a laugh track and a good writer.  Watching the bumbling antics of food service employees could have been fun, but that was not the case in this show.  If it was a reality show it would be typically sad, but at least understandable.  And I really get tired of the quotes attached to promos, such as the San Diego Union Tribunes "Laughter in belly busting proportions."  Really?  I went to the source of this tag, and found it was a one paragraph review thrown out by the author who clearly needed to keep pumping out material to keep the newspaper happy.  Notice, the laughter is defined as "inappropriate" and the short piece also mentions"bite-sized humiliations."  Humiliated about summarizes my feelings after watching the show.

By the way, I am glad that Jane Lynch moved onto Glee where her talents are truly appreciated.

Oh No...They Killed South Park! (Or At Least They Tried)

The story regarding threats to the creators of South Park is scary and sad. First, why anyone is taking this program seriously was my initial question. The show has its moments, but let's be realistic. It is a badly drawn series with sharp, juvenile jabs at everything under the sun. Think of it as a 13 year-old saying dumb things to his parents until they are provoked into action. It is meant to provoke, and so it has.

It appears Zachary Adam Chesser, a convert to Islam, has nothing better to do than watch bad TV and send out ridiculous emails. He basically threatened South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone because of their 200th episode that purportedly portrayed the prophet Muhammad. Mr. Chesser stated the following on his website: "We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are doing is stupid and they will probably wind up like Theo Van Gogh for airing this show." As you may recall, the Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh was brutally murdered in 2004 for his depictions of Islam.

Having watched the episode, it is clear that Trey and Matt knew what they were doing by pushing the issue to the edge, but that is what they do every week. In fact, an earlier episode of South Park had fully portrayed Muhammad (among other religious figures) without hiding him in a bear suit or U-Haul truck, but that never received such attention. However, Comedy Central apparently overreacted after this recent threat and started censoring a follow-on episode. This has created problems between the creators and the network, but this struggle is not new (at Comedy Central or anywhere else involving differing ideas on appropriateness). The first amendment right to free speech certainly applies here, and it would be nice if the networks would stand up for the Constitution.

So should Trey and Matt be concerned? Probably not, but that does not prevent others from providing advice. Ayaan Hirsi Ali's article in the Wall Street Journal basically counseled hiding. Ms. Ali said the South Park creators should be "very" worried about the threat and suggested the two consult with experts to learn how they can protect themselves. Ms. Ali notes that the U.S. Government may need to help with these protection costs, which could run into the millions of dollars. A better suggestion made in this same article is greater solidarity in the entertainment industry to protect free speech. Makes sense to me.

If you are interested in more on this topic, here is a clip where Trey and Matt comment on this controversy and show an earlier episode with images of the Prophet Mohammad. And while I support loud cartoonists everywhere, I think I will simply go back to my favorite evening cartoon - The Simpsons.

Saving the Great Shows

Awhile back in my blog (click here) I wrote about the fate of Friday Night Lights and how it was saved by Direct TV. At the time I had mixed feelings, but I am starting to like the idea even more.

It seems that FX's Damages, now completing its third seasaon, is now facing a similar decision; go off the air or cut a deal with Direct TV where the subscribers get the show earlier than the rest of us. As with FNL, I would like to see more of Damages, a quality, well-acted program. So I certainly support this move. Apparently other venues are being approached as well. I hope it works out.

This reminds me of other attempts to save flagging shows. Of course, the major network definition is all about 'eyes on the TV," which often fails to capture DVR and other viewing habits (i.e., free TV on Hulu and Fancast). I am all for saving good TV stuck with bad networks. This recently happened with Southland, which was dropped by NBC after its first season (in a very sloppy way, I might add) and picked up by TNT. It is doing well on TNT and is now slated for a third season. And this is even better than Direct TV since we all get to see the new shows at the same time.

Now if we can only find a small TV network to pick up Kings.

Note: FNL starts up again on May 7th on TNT.

The Future of Your Favorite Shows

Here is the latest list for the current TV programs you might be watching:

ABC Renewed Shows: Modern Family, Cougar Town, The Middle
ABC Shows on Life Support: Better Off Ted, The Deep End, Flash Forward, The Forgotten, Scrubs
ABC Canceled Shows: Hank, Ugly Betty

CBS Renewed Shows: How I Met Your Mother, The Good Wife, NCIC: Los Angeles, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men,
CBS Shows on Life Support: Accidentally on Purpose, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Numb3rs
CBS Canceled Shows: Three Rivers

CW Renewed Shows: The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, 90210, Smallville, Supernatural
CW Shows on Life Support: Life Unexpected, Melrose Place, One Tree Hill

Fox Renewed Shows: Glee, Fringe, Bones, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, The Simpsons
Fox Shows on Life Support: Brothers, Human Target, Lie To Me, Til Death
Fox Canceled Shows: 24, Dollhouse, Past Life

NBC Renewed Shows: Parks & Recreation, Friday Night Lights, Law & Order, 30 Rock
NBC Shows on Life Support: Chuck, Heroes, Mercy, Trauma

Merlin and More - April Shows

April is shaping up to be another busy month of new shows and returning favorites. A few new shows include HBO's New Orleans-based Treme (April 11), History Channel's America: The Story of Us (April 25), and ABC's Happy Town (April 28). The papers have been full of glowing stories about the making of Treme, so hopes are high. And given creator David Simon's past success with The Wire, the hopes appear warranted. Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker stated:

Hoo boy, are you going to have fun watching this. It bursts with great rhythm & blues, funk, and jazz music (bouncing covers of everything from George Clinton's ''Pumpin' It Up'' to Bobby Womack's ''It's All Over Now''). It's got superb performances from two Wire vets, Wendell Pierce (as devilish trombone player Antoine) and Clarke Peters (as the leader of a Mardi Gras Indian tribe). There's also Steve Zahn, in his first TV series, playing a ditzy DJ; John Goodman as a righteous English professor; and Khandi Alexander (forget CSI: Miami — this is her best work since 2000's The Corner, another Simon project) as Ladonna, a bar owner. Add cameos by Dr. John, Elvis Costello, the genius record producer Allen Toussaint, and many lesser-known but terrific musicians as both players and actors (go get Trombone Shorty's new album, Backatown, now!), and Treme explodes with pleasure.

Returning shows include SyFy's Merlin (April 2), Showtime's Tudors (April 11), and Fox's Glee (April 13). Merlin was on NBC last year, but it has been moved to NBC's specialty network to a more targeted audience. It may just work. BBC has already ordered a third season of the program, so it has done well overseas. For some reason, the American audience is not taking to the show in the same way. Then again, American networks are notorious for sloppy roll-outs of programs. HBO and Showtime have a certain professionalism almost completely lacking in the "major" networks, which is becoming an oxymoron if there ever was one.

One more point. Last year BBC History Magazine had an interesting article titled The Tudors: This Time it's Political, which looked at the historical accuracy of the program. Michael Hirst, the creator of the series, says it is 85 percent accurate with a few extra twists. It is certainly fun to watch, and it's nice to know that we might actually learn something as well, but how much? The battle goes on. Two years ago, the New York Time's wrote:

If “The Tudors” fails to live up to the great long-form dramas cable television has produced, it is not simply because it refuses the visceral messiness of a “Rome” or a “Deadwood” (the corpse-eating pigs!) but more significantly because it radically reduces it’s the era’s thematic conflicts to simplistic struggles over personal and erotic power. “The Tudors” makes it seem as if the entire creation of the Anglican Church boiled down to Henry’s wish to remarry and sire a male heir. (When Anne gives birth to a daughter this season, the future Elizabeth I, Henry looks as if he were a little boy who got the wrong kind of tricycle at Christmas.) “The Sopranos,” “The Wire” and “Big Love” all have derived their potency from dramatizing the preservation of failing institutions. The paradox of “The Tudors” is that it takes on one of the most powerful and protested institutions in human history — the Catholic Church during the Renaissance — and provides little sense of what the English people have to gain or lose by breaking with it.

Ouch!

And it gets worst. Later on, British historian Dr. Starkey and others made the following observations in the Telegraph:

• Characters wear costumes from the Elizabethan era and travel in Victorian carriages, suggesting that the modes of transport in the series were bought "lock, stock and barrel" from a "Jane Austen leftover".

• The program makers twisted history to show Henry VIII's sister, Margaret, being sent away to marry the King of Portugal instead of the King of Scotland.

• The series depicts Pope Paul III as the man who opposed the move that led to the creation of the church of England. However, the pope who refused to let Henry VIII divorce his first wife was Paul's predecessor, Clement VII.

The final quote was pretty mean: "The series was made with the original intention of dumbing it down so that even an audience in Omaha [in Nebraska] could understand it"

Ouch, again!

Check Out Justified

You are missing on out some great TV if you are not tuning into FX's new show Justified. From the very first scene, the story captured my interest and continued to sustain it. And it's all due to the terrific acting by Timothy Olyphant, who plays U.S. Marshal Raylan Given. You may remember him as the Sheriff in HBO's Deadwood, another great performance (see photos to right). In his new show he wears the white hat, but in both shows he was a lawman dealing with the dregs of society - first the frontier town of Deadwood and now current day backwoods Kentucky. Another character to watch in this show is Boyd, played by Walton Goggins from The Shield. When Olyphant and Goggins are on screen, playing old coal mining friends and now foes, the show has increased interest. In fact, Goggins was supposed to die in the first episode, but fortunately he will be around for awhile (see the full story here). I think we have a hit on our hands. Olyphant continues to put on a great performance and, like many great actors, so much of his acting is in his pauses or the furrow of an eyebrow. While this may not work on the stage, its is very effective with the intimacy allowed by TV. If you need to catch up, episodes are already available on iTunes.

March TV Madness

March is shaping up to be good month for new and returning programs. I tried out Fox's The Sons of Tuscon on Sunday night and thoroughly enjoyed this odd show. The key ingredient is Tyler Labine, who I first remember as a terrific co-star on The Reaper. I miss the antics of The Reaper, but Labine is back in form in his new show. While the premise is a little strange - he is being paid by three kids to be their dad while their real one sits in prison - it becomes a blank slate for Labine. Whether this show can keep its steam through more than one season remains to be seen, but it will be a fun ride while it lasts.

Some other shows starting in March include HBO's The Pacific, FX's Justified, and Disovery's Life. Returning shows include Showtime's Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara, as well as ABC Family's 10 Things I Hate About You. Plenty of good TV this month.

Another note: If you are a fan of the TV show Lost, I recommend you check out this Slate site that follows the series closely. You will find some fun insights to the show.

February TV - How to Make it in America

The only show I saw worth mentioning last month was HBO's new How to Make it in America. The star of this show is Bryan Greenberg, who I think is a talented actor and yet he has somehow been used primary on cheesy programs, such as One Tree Hill and the too long series October Road.

That being said, this latest program has some promise. It is a bit like Entourage in NYC, but these guys are gritty and real rather than spoiled and preening, which makes all the difference (of course, this is not to say NYC lacks in spoiled and preening shows; think Gossip Girl). So far, it is the tale of two guys trying to make their own line of jeans while dealing with a very cynical system, including questionable sources of cash and material. I was skeptical myself about this show, but so far it has enough interesting characters and varying storyline that I may stick around for more. Take a look for yourself.

More on Free TV

Just a few more thoughts. I recently missed a 60 Minutes piece (due to a football game running over) and went to the CBS.com site to see if I could catch up. In fact, it was easy to do. This is the great part of the Internet in that it acts as a back-up to television since we are not always home nor does our DVR always work (or at least, the network does not follow its own schedule). Of course, this convenience is the same for Rachel Maddow and Glenn Beck. Whatever your politics, it's out there. This is a great benefit for all you news junkies out there.

Other sites:

- Face the Nation
- Meet the Press
- This Week
- Washington Week

The End of Free TV on the Internet?

We have been hearing from a number of Chicken Little's about the end of TV on the Internet, or at least free TV. First, I do not think this is true. As more and more cable channels realize the need to grab larger shares of audiences (and Neilson learns how to count them), we shall see more free offers. Second, some changes may be in order to expand the selection of TV programs available to those of us who see the Internet as a good window onto all aspects of Hollywood. For instance, I see iTunes as a plus for Internet users and not a minus. The fact that you can get your favor program for $1.99 to $2.99 is not so horrible when you consider that in the past you would have had no real options for seeing these programs if you missed them on TV, unless you waited for reruns a few months later. Is it free? No. Is it damn convenient? Yes.

For instance, two shows I can easily pick up on the Internet as hosted by the cable channels are NBC's 30 Rock and Starz' Spartacus. Of course, you also have vehicles such as Fancast and Hulu, but this is where the angst comes in. Since Comcast bought NBC, the future of Hulu has been in doubt since it is partly owned by NBC and in direct competition with Comcast. In addition, Comcast lost about 233,000 subscribers in the last quarter of 2009 and its future is not so sunny. How much is due to Hulu and its imitators versus the monopolistic pricing of Comcast in a recession is anyone's guess, but I expect to see some blood in the water. Even so, the pricing strategies I am reading about are not absurd. For instance, Hulu is discussing providing the five most recent episodes for free and then you pay $4.99 per month to watch older episodes.

This said, some thought the DVD would lead to the end of movies, and yet what it did was bring back thousands of movies and television programs from the archives. The Old Guard always screams when change is marching down the avenue, and we are seeing it again. Of course, this is not to say the adjustment will be pretty. Just ask the record companies how they are adjusted to 99 cent songs on Amazon and iTunes. But again, these companies had a chance to be innovative and instead they simply sent lawyers after college kids. So much for embracing the future.

I am hopeful that free content will not only remain but grow as other parties find ways to enter the game. In addition, for a small fee, one will see new things they did not have access to before. The barriers to entry are low, and the skies the limit. So cheer up, kick back, and enjoy the show.

January Programs

January has been quite a month for new shows. And my hope has been restored concerning SciFi now that Caprica is up and running. It's a great show with a lot of potential. Here are just a few of the new shows:

- Caprica, SyFy, Fridays at 9pm ET/8pm CT
- The Deep End, ABC, Thursdays at 8pm ET/7pm CT
- The Inbetweeners, BBC America, Wednesdays at 9:30pm ET/8:30pm CT
- Life Unexpected, CW, Mondays at 9pm ET/ 8 pm CT
- Spartacus, Starz, Fridays at 10pm ET/9 pm CT

And Damages also returned in January for its third season. Yes, it has been a great TV month and staying on top of all these shows is not easy. However, I have already dropped The Deep End as too sophomoric to merit additional attention. Misbehaving lawyers? Nothing new here, folks. But the others have a lot of promise. Of course, The Inbetweeners is already in its third season over in the UK, so we are a bit behind the curve in this country (as is the case with Merlin and other shows). I am already surprised with the quality of acting as well as the decent storyline in Life Unexpected, and even Spartacus is full of heart (and blood, of course). While the acting and sets in Spartacus are not those of HBO's Rome, it has its own qualities (think 300) that may keep it around for awhile.

What Should We Remember?

This is a time of lists, and we all have our own set of special TV shows from the past. For my part, I want to highlight a few sci-fi shows that ended last year and will be missed. While there may be more, these are the ones that stuck with me. They include the following:

-- Battlestar Galactic (my earlier comments)
-- Kings (my earlier comments)
-- Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
-- Kyle XY (my earlier comments)
-- Defying Gravity (my earlier comments)

I have mixed feelings about each of these, but I would have liked to see more of each. I tend to agree that Battlestar Galactic ended at a good time, and with spin-off series as well as movies it is not really gone. However, Kings was prematurely killed, Terminator lasted only two seasons but restarted itself in the last episode (so there may be hope), Kyle XY fell off a cliff, and Defying Gravity was never really given a change (except in Canada). And I did not even include Virtuality, a show that never went past the pilot stages. Very odd.

I cannot say the new shows V or Dollhouse gets me excited, but at least we have Fringe to keep all of us sci-fi fans interested. Not much else of this genre that is still alive and worth watching. And yet I remain hopeful (and still somewhat saddened by the treatment of sci-fi in 2009). As always, stay tuned.