More Computer Geeks Coming Your Way

The computer industry and all its developmental quirks appears to be the new hot topic.  In addition to Amazon's Betas and HBO's Silicon Valley showing the state of the present day industry, the latest season of AMC's Mad Men had a storyline that included the installation of an IBM 360 computer system in the heart of the advertising agency during the late 1960s.  And now AMC has Halt and Catch Fire, premiering June 1, covering the personal computer industry battles from the 1980s.  You can watch the pilot episode on Tumblr if you cannot wait until Sunday.

Here is the basic story from AMC:

Halt and Catch Fire is set roughly one year after IBM all but corners the market with the release of its first major product – the IBM PC. In this fictional drama, a former IBM executive, Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace) plans to reverse engineer the flagship product of his former employer and forces his current company, Cardiff Electric, into the personal computer race. MacMillan enlists the help of Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy), a great engineer whose unrealized dreams of creating a revolutionary product have created tension in his marriage to Donna (Kerry Bishé), and Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis), a volatile prodigy who puts her future in jeopardy to join MacMillan's rogue PC project.  Halt and Catch Fire thrives on the spirit of innovation and explores what it's like to stand at the forefront of something world-changing and work towards it, no matter the risk. 

I watched the first episode and look forward to seeing more.  In some ways I wish this was a real tale since I expect the PC battles were pretty fierce, with the nasty match up between IBM and Apple taking front and center.  However, this fictional approach may allow AMC to bring together the best stories into one show.  Also, I expect most of the industry players do not want their dirty laundry exposed.  As we see in the last few minutes of the pilot, the computer industry can be pretty litigious.  

Note:  "Halt and Catch Fire" is a computer term and not a rip off from the Hunger Games.

More Pirates on the Horizon

If you were not thrilled with Starz's Black Sails, and I was not, then you may be reluctant to commit to another pirate series.  But then I saw the new NBC series Crossbones, starting May 30th, stars John Malkovich, and that makes all the difference.

Here is the basic story (and the trailer shows even more of the story):  

It's 1729. On the secret island of Santa Compana, Edward Teach, better known as the barbarous pirate Blackbeard (Emmy winner John Malkovich, "Death of a Salesman," "Red"), reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreants. Part shantytown, part utopia, part marauder's paradise, this is a place like no other. 

Blackbeard has designs on the longitude chronometer, an invention that will change the world. During a massive attack on an English vessel, his most trusted pirates attempt to steal the device. But on board is Tom Lowe (Richard Coyle, "Covert Affairs"), an English spy working undercover as ship's surgeon. Lowe's mission is to prevent the chronometer from falling into the hands of pirates - and to assassinate Blackbeard, should the opportunity arise.

Taken as prisoner to Santa Compana, Lowe must find a way to reassemble the precious chronometer, all while trying to uncover Blackbeard's master plan - a plan that includes a greater threat to the English throne than merely pirates...

So far, the story looks a little too familiar to Black Sails.  In Black Sails you had a pretend cook stealing a secret map and then memorizing the details to save his life.  In Crossbones you have a pretend cook stealing secrets related to a chronometer and then memorizing the details to save his life.  Black Sails became tiresome with the battle over the map and the rest of the story seemed to disappear into nothingness.  Maybe NBC can do better.  One thing NBC cannot do is turn the show into soft porn since it is a major network, which may work to its advantage since they will have to do some work to keep viewers interested. 

Ten episodes were ordered and it should be a fun show for the summer.  Buried treasure?  We shall see.

The Forgettables: Crooked Cops, Doctors, and Bad Dates

If you missed the May 22nd premiere of Fox's new show Gang Related, don't get too upset.  I saw it and was upset with the bad acting and boring plot.  The only redeeming quality was the acting by Terry O'Quinn, which is always on the mark.  What set my off was the death of the main character's partner and friend at the start of the first episode (I would say SPOILER ALERT, but who really cares?).  This plot device has been overdone. If you want to do something unique, save this scene for the end of the season or even the end of the series as was done in Southland.  Then you have something different for the audience (and mind-blowing in the case of Southland). 

And this week we have a new medical show on NBC called The Night Shift, premiering May 27, and another dating show on NBC called Undateable, premiering May 29. 

Here is the quick set up for The Night Shift (it goes on and on, but this is the highlight on the main characters):

At San Antonio Memorial, the men and women who work the night shift are an irreverent and special breed, particularly adrenaline junkie TC Callahan (Eoin Macken, "Merlin"). After three grueling tours of duty in Afghanistan, TC is about to learn that his toughest battles will be fought right here at home.

He and his irreverent team of late-night docs, including his best friend Topher (Ken Leung, "Lost") and protégé Drew (Brendan Fehr, "Roswell"), know how to let off steam with the casual prank or two, but when lives are at stake, they are all business.

The New York Times did not have much praise for the new show, stating: 

In short, don’t look for the depth of “House,” “Grey’s Anatomy” or other top-flight medical dramas here. But if preposterous, pulse-pounding pileups of bizarre accidents and obscure medical conditions appeal to you, sure, put the trashy beach novel aside and help yourself.

As far as Undateable, it is still debatable if this is worth getting off the couch or even reaching for the remote (getting it online is even more work, so just forget about it).  Here is how NBC tries to sell the new show:  "Whether it's due to a lack of style, the wrong job or even just a bad haircut, everyone goes through a time in their lives when they're undateable."  Really?   All I can add is:  Whether it's due to a lack of good writing, the wrong actors or even a bad camera angle, every show goes through a time in its life when its unwatchable.  Enough said.

SyFy: The Will Wheaton Project

If you are a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, then the wide-eyed wonder of Ensign Crusher is fixed in your mind.  As much as Jean Luc Picard will forever represent the most capable captain of the USS Enterprise (sorry Kirk), Wesley Crusher stood in for all of us with his wonder and respect for the ship and the crew.  Geeky?  Yes.  But it should ring true to any good Trekkie and will most likely generate an eager audience for Ensign Crusher, aka Wil Wheaton, and his new SyFy show The Wil Wheaton Project.  

The new series premieres tomorrow night (May 27) as a 30-minute review of popular culture with an emphasis on science fiction.  Here is the network's spin: 

The Wil Wheaton Project is a weekly topical comedy show hosted by actor, blogger and champion of geek culture Wil Wheaton. The 30-minute show is a fast-paced, lighthearted exploration and celebration of all things within the realm of science fiction and genre entertainment. Each week, Wil provides his insider point-of-view, sense of humor and genre expertise as he dissects the week’s most popular and trending topics across science fiction film, television and pop culture, video games, viral videos and news. Wil is on his feet for the rapid-fire half hour, delivering witty commentary on the things he knows and loves in this golden age of sci-pop culture. The result is a fun appreciation and celebration of fandom and all things science fiction.  

I have watched Wil Wheaton over the years as he has talked about science fiction in a number of interviews, taken on the geeks in The Big Bang Theory, and expanded upon his views in his writing, including his own science fiction stories.  I do not expect he will have any trouble filling 30 minutes with smart observations and warped humor. 

Here are Wil Wheaton's own words on his new venture as posted on his blog:

I have the same feeling I have before I publish a book, or after I wrap a TV show: I’ve done the best I can to make something I’m proud of, that I think other people will like, but it’s pretty much out of my hands the second we push the beautiful, shiny button … the jolly, candy-like button. Like everything I do as an artist, the best I can hope for is that I don’t get hit by lightning on my way out of the studio. Oh, and that the stuff I think is entertaining and informative lands on the audience the same way.

And now, let the show begin!

Another Gift this Memorial Day

Earlier this week the Fox network announced that the last four episodes of Enlisted will be broadcast starting June 1st.  This is a nice gift for all of us with Memorial Day arriving.  As I noted earlier, I do not think cancelling this series was a very smart move on the part of Fox. 

An Army Times editorial recently called for the return of Enlisted, noting:

The Fox network’s new military comedy, “Enlisted,” appears to have hit its stride, but stagnant ratings after the show’s disappointing pilot episode threaten to torpedo its chances of being picked up for a second season.

That would be unfortunate. The show’s creators have demonstrated a sincere effort to normalize America’s view of its service members. In doing so, they’re forging a better, broader understanding of military life and its most challenging aspects, including difficult topics such as post-traumatic stress.

And Navy Times recently reported on Army veteran Nick Palmisciano who is pushing to get a second season of Enlisted.  His video expanding on his TV views is amusing, and I agree with his comments that the network was also too dumb to understand what it had with the Firefly series.  For multimillion dollar companies, these networks can be pretty dense. 

Check Out the History Channel This Memorial Day Weekend

The History Channel will broadcast a special three-part series this holiday weekend (starting Monday night) to commemorate those who served in the two World Wars.  The series, The World Wars, shares the stories of the leaders of World War II in terms of their stories during World War I.  In addition to the typical historians, narrators include John McCain, Colin Powell, John Major, and others. 

Here is the History Channel's summary:

An assassination in Sarajevo sparks a global war. For the next 30 years, deadly fighting rages across Europe, Africa, China and the Pacific.

Hitler. Churchill. De Gaulle. MacArthur. Patton. Stalin. Mussolini. We know them as legends. But they first learn what it will take to rise to greatness as young soldiers, fighting for their lives on the frontlines.

This is the story of a generation of men who come of age in the trenches of World War I, only to become the leaders of World War II. The lessons they learn on the frontlines shape them as they rise to power—and haunt them as the deadly fighting breaks out again. Some become heroes, forged in courage under fire. Others emerge as the most infamous villains the world has ever seen.

Theirs is one story—the story of a 30-year global struggle. A fight that will either save the world—or destroy it.

This is an interesting twist to an otherwise well-known story. And given the horrible destruction at the start of last century and the trouble brewing in the Russian and Chinese neighborhoods, it should be told again to a new generation.  Someday someone will tell the story of the young Putin of the Cold War in East Germany and the later Kremlin bully annexing parts of Ukraine.  I just hope that is the full extent of his sad and destructive deeds. 

Where Do They Find These People?

How about this as a reality show storyline:  12 women travel to England to meet Prince Harry and potentially become his wife.  Can you find 12 women in America who believe the Royal Family would allow this?  Apparently so.  Fox will be broadcasting I Wanna Marry "Harry" starting this Tuesday, May 20th.  

Will anyone watch this car wreck?  Of course, they will.  Let's just hope everyone learns a little bit about British history as part of this.  We are not talking Downton Abbey here, but at least it is not another set of loud-mouths based in New Jersey.   

Update:  The  May 23rd edition of British magazine New Statesman had a good article by Laurie Penny titled "Who Needs Fox's Fake Royal Reality Show 'I wannan Marry Harry'? The Windsors are the Real Thing," where she writes:
  
The real Harry is terrible marriage material – but a perfect supporting cast member in the longest-running and most successful reality television series on the planet. The British royal family is reality TV incarnate. I mean that literally: the coronation of the current monarch coincided with the emergence of TV culture as postwar austerity drew to an end and was the occasion for which many British families purchased their first television set...The royal family remains, despite setbacks, Britain’s biggest celebrity brand, as useful for distracting the native population from the economic turbulence at home as it is in persuading the rest of the world that British class hierarchy is not only benign but adorable.

I guess we hit a nerve.