Two New Shows About Girlfriends

Two new series recently premiered featuring female best friends, one set in high school and the other set in the adult world of careers and marriage.  

The first from MTV is called Faking It, which premiered last Tuesday (April 22).  Think of this new show as Awkward with more gay characters.  The basic story line is two friends want to stand out in high school and when they are mistaken as lesbians they play along to see what it will do to their social life.  The only problem is that one of the friends may actually like the idea of a relationship.  

The first episode explored a fair amount of territory with estranged parents, bratty blondes, and social misfits.  And yet it also has some fun twists that introduced present day political issues.  The high school is set in Austin, Texas, and the liberal student body is at odds with some of the more conservative students spouting "family values."  The other key pairing besides the two girlfriends is a school jock and his gay buddy.  MTV has not been afraid to take on teenage angst, and this version is worth watching.  You can catch the first episode on MTV's website. 

The second show, called Playing House, premiered on the USA Network last night (April 29).  This story is about the relationship between a successful career women working in Asia and her best friend back in their hometown dealing with a pending child and a cheating husband.  As one might expect, the choice for the career woman is to stay on the fast track for be there for her friend.  Three guesses what happens.  Okay, one guess.  Its a well played comedy with enough outlandish characters and incidents to keep you interested.  And as odd as it sounds, the TV comedies to date have been more about guy friends raising kids than girlfriends, so this is just a little bit of equal opportunity zaniness.  You can catch up on the episodes by visiting the USA Network website. 

Viewing Viking Artifacts For Yourself

With the popularity of the History Channel's Vikings, already slated for a third season, it may be worth learning a little more of the era online and in-person.  The British Museum would be a great place to start.  Its ongoing exhibit, Vikings: Life and Legend, runs from March 6th to June 22nd and provides a comprehensive collection and story that fills in some of the gaps in our understanding of the people and period.  You can see a recovered viking ship (the Roskilde 6 pictured below), a mass grave, amulets, idols, and more. 

The Museum's press release states it better:
 

Discover the world of the Vikings in this major exhibition – the first at the British Museum for over 30 years.

The Viking Age (800–1050) was a period of major change across Europe. The Vikings expanded from their Scandinavian homelands to create an international network connecting cultures over four continents, where artistic, religious and political ideas met.

The Vikings’ skill in shipbuilding and seafaring was central to their culture and achievements, and at the heart of the exhibition will be a 37-metre-long warship. Found in 1997, and dating to around 1025, it is the longest Viking ship ever discovered. Many other new discoveries, including part of a mass grave of Viking warriors, will be on display for the first time showing how our understanding of the Vikings is still being changed by new excavations and recent research.

The exhibition will also present personal objects, including jewellery, amulets and idols, which help to reveal more about how the Vikings saw themselves and their world. Exquisite objects, including the magnificent Vale of York Hoard, demonstrate the global reach of the Viking network of trade, plunder and power – a network that left a lasting legacy in countries from Ireland and the UK to Russia and Ukraine.

Enter a world of warriors, seafarers and conquerors to discover the many fascinating aspects of a history that is both strangely alien yet remarkably familiar.

London's newspaper The Guardian direct attendees to the longship first since it represents the best of the vikings:

The Vikings created something that went beyond any civilisation of their age. The greatest work of art here is the longship. It is a great human image of endeavour and exploration: these were not just killers but intensely curious pathfinders who even colonised the icy wastes of Greenland. A clever Viking called it that, according to the sagas, to make it sound more attractive for settlers.

And while the writer at The Guardian was not as impressed with the narration related to the rest of the exhibit, viewers of Vikings on the History Channel already have enough images to go with the remaining artifacts to bring it all to life again. 

Supernatural Spin-off Premieres Next Week

On April 29th we will finally get a look at the characters from the new Supernatural spin-off called Bloodlines.  Yes, I know I called it Tribes in an earlier posting, but trying to pin down this new series has not been easy.  

The new series, set in Chicago, is being pitched as a Romeo and Juliet story between a shape shifter and werewolf, with a young hunter on their tails (or at least one tail).  And this is where the Winchester brothers come in to mentor this younger hunter.  On Tuesday night we shall see the episode that introduces the new characters and hopefully sends the new series on its way.  You can see the trailer here. 

And the additional good news is that the Winchester brothers will be with us for a tenth season.  A recent article in The New York Times stated Supernatural is the "sixth-longest-running drama currently in prime time."  The article goes on to discuss a number of factors on the show that continue to intrigue viewers, from Sam's long hair to the focus on the battle in heaven.  Jensen Ackles added "I’m fairly certain that that mop is solely responsible for the 10th-season pickup.”

For me it is simply a fun show with a great sense of humor.  It may not be the Sopranos, but it has lasted longer and it has a lot more flexibility since the boys will go anywhere and face anything.  What started as a retelling of small town myths has become instead its own mythic tale of the battle of angles and demons reclaiming heaven.  Whether your favorite is the angel Castiel (Misha Collins) or the King of Hell Crowley (Mark Sheppard), you have a strong set of characters carrying the story forward.  With this group and storyline there is no reason this series cannot continue to keep us interested. 

Update:  The test pilot for the spin-off was not much of a success in my eyes.  The new characters, from werewolves to shape shifters, all merged together and the underlying love story reminded me more of Dallas than the Supernatural we all love.  I guess the network agreed since the idea of a new Bloodlines series has been axed.  Oh well, we still have the brothers and maybe we shall someday see an angel spin-off with Castiel taking the lead.  Now that would be something for the network to consider.  

 

The Purple Wedding: Great Relief for Many (And One Actor in Particular)

If you are not yet caught up on HBO's Game of Thrones, you should ignore this bit.  But if you saw the second episode titled "The Lion And The Rose," then I think you will agree that the world is a better place (or at least the artificial world of Westeros) after the Purple Wedding.  But I think Jack Gleeson is happiest of all.  You may remember his earlier talk on the ephemeral nature of fame.  Well, he has his full freedom now (something the Princess of House Targaryen would appreciate).  

Great Britain's Daily Mail recently noted Gleeson is ready to retire, quoting him saying, "I’ve been acting since age 8. I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to...It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do."

You can catch a clip of Gleeson with the humanitarian organization GOAL in Haiti, a sign that the young actor has other things in store for his future.  As he notes in the clip, Queen Margaery would approve.

And in case you cannot get the wedding scene out of your head, a little bit of humor may help.  I recommend you check out the video George R.R. Martin Shouldn't Plan YourWedding.  Mr. Martin means well, but he is not for everyone.

Showtime: The Years of Living Dangerously

We are a long way from Al Gore in this latest Showtime presentation, not that there is anything wrong with Al Gore.  But the new program The Years of Living Dangerously, which premiered April 13th, has a whole new cast discussing global change while mingling with the victims.  

You have Harrison Ford working with NASA and visiting destroyed parkland as well as hunted elephants in Indonesia.  You have Don Cheadle in Texas looking at drought, the closing of a Cargill plant, and the interplay of science and Christianity. And finally, you have Thomas Friedman visiting the White House and then going to Turkey and Syria to measure the role of drought in the Syrian Civil War.  And this is just the first episode available for free on the site above.  Future episodes will include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Matt Damon, and many others.  

Is this popular science?  No, it is solid science, but the scientific ideas are more than charts and computer models.  The ideas are made flesh in the stories being told.  I was impressed with the overall presentation and look forward to future episodes.  You may want to check it out yourself.

Salem as You Have Never Seen It

The cable station WGN America will broadcast its first series Salem this Sunday (April 20).  Witches appear to be popular even if the desire for vampires has waned, and what better place to tell the story than Salem, Massachusetts (or Louisiana, in this case, for purposes of filming).  

This 13 episode series will take advantage of the period and people to tell its story, but it is not a retelling of history by any means.  

If you have not heard of WGN America, you are not alone since the cable network has focused on sports in the past.  But stay tuned for more dramas from this cable company.  USAToday noted: 

Aside from Salem, the network already has two other hot projects in the cauldron: Manhattan, a period drama chronicling the Manhattan Project scientists as they build the first atomic bomb, slated for a summer premiere; and The Ten Commandments, a 10-part miniseries now in pre-production in which filmmakers such as Lee Daniels and Gus Van Sant put a modern spin on each of the biblical commandments.

Another Stab at Fargo

Tonight (April 15th) the FX network brings another take on the Coen Brothers' Fargo.  Luckily, this is not a remake of the 1996 movie but instead a similar dark story in a similar setting.  And best of all, the Coen Brothers are still involved, insuring it will have some staying power.  Even better, you have an excellent cast that includes Billy Bob Thorton and Martin Freeman (Sherlock and The Hobbit).  Having Mr. Thornton play evil incarnate is easy to envision, but casting Mr. Freeman as a Minnesotan seems like quite the challenge and should be fun to behold.

Here is the basic story from FX:

 An original adaptation of the Academy Award®-winning feature film, Fargo features an all-new “true crime” story and follows a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humor, murder and “Minnesota nice” that made the film an enduring classic. Oscar® winner Billy Bob Thornton stars as “Lorne Malvo,” a rootless, manipulative man who meets and forever changes the life of small town insurance salesman “Lester Nygaard,” played by BAFTA Award® winner and Emmy®-nominated Martin Freeman. Colin Hanks plays Duluth Police Deputy “Gus Grimly,” a single dad who must choose between his own personal safety and his duty as a policeman when he comes face-to-face with a killer. Allison Tolman also stars as “Molly Solverson,” an ambitious Bemidji deputy.

This ten-part series should be worth a look in these days of overbrimming TV schedules.

The Stories of Some of Our Favorite Comedians

Season four of PBS's Pioneers of Television begins April 15th with "Standup to Sitcom," an episode that discussed the transition from standup comic to sitcom favorite.  It will include interviews with Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, Tim Allen, Ray Romano, and Bob Newhart.  

Here is a quick summary from PBS:

In the later half of the 20th century, a generation of standup comics laughed their way into millions of American living rooms. From early appearances on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show to Emmy-award winning onscreen performances, these comedians used humor and determination to redefine the television sitcom.
 
It takes more than a network contract to bring a comic’s stage act to life on the small screen. The life of a standup comic revolves around a nightly set, a rehearsed routine of jokes told to an unpredictable audience within a network of venues. Each stop on the tour provides a new experience for the comic, new possibilities to interact with a fresh audience, scope out a different comedy scene and hone their craft. Though getting laughs remains the ultimate goal, developing and starring in a hit television sitcom is worlds away from a career as a standup comedian.

Legendary performers like Bob Newhart, Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne Barr took a risk by adapting their well-honed standup personas for mainstream television audiences. As their careers took off, they left the comedy club for the studio lot, learning to transform 20 minute sets into half hour scripts, share the floor with a cast of supporting characters and perform take after take in front of a crew of opinionated writers, producers and directors. Through hard work and endless creativity, these funny folks lead their sitcom families to the forefront of television entertainment and forever impacted the sitcom genre.

Of course, one of my favorite transitional comics not mentioned above is Louis C.K.  The fourth season of his television show Louie returns to FX on May 5th.  In the meantime, I will watch the PBS program and learn a little more about the other great comics of our era.

Mad Man Returns to AMC

Tonight (April 13th) you can catch the premiere of the seventh season of AMC's Mad Man.  This is technically the last season, though it will be broken up over the length of a year with seven episodes this year and the final seven next year.  It is frustrating the way this show has been stretched out, but unlike most shows it can get away with this behavior because we all want to know what happens to Don Draper (or whatever he calls himself these days).

And that's the point.  The perfectly presented and packaged Don came unraveled last season disappointing his daughter (again), friends (if he really has any), and firm (he is now on extended vacation).  What will the new Don do now?  Even his retreat to California has been cut off.  He has been cornered and exposed.

Since Matthew Weiner, the creator of the series, shares little about the upcoming show, all we can do is mine the backstory of the actors themselves.  Jon Hamm luckily has none of the Don drama in his background, as he stated in this AMC interview:

Don’s pursuit of happiness has been a big part of the thematic structure of the show. I usually refer to it as his pursuit of peace. He’s coming from such a crazy, damaged childhood/adolescent life that it’s hard for him to find peace in any way shape or form. It’s easier for me. I come from a relatively stable existence. I, certainly — and everyone — have their stuff that comes from growing up… It serves to define us in many ways. I think I’m a much more happy and peaceful man than our Mr. Draper.

In a day of movie trailers that give away the entire plot and discourage us from spending two hours watching less interesting scenes, maybe this is the better approach.  And unlike House of Cards, we cannot binge watch these episodes but instead experience the slow unwrapping of the story.  Just as well.  Mad Men represents a different time and Mr. Weiner still respects the need for suspense and weekly discussions in the office to discuss the latest episode.  I tend to agree.

RIP: Television Without Pity

Over the years I have browsed the TV commentary on many sites, including Television Without Pity.  Sadly, as the New York Times recently reported, the website has posted its last comment.  Fortunately, the archives will continue to be available for interested readers who may be late to a show but still want some good commentary.

My blog linked to this from almost the very beginning, and I will keep it that way to encourage everyone to check it out.  And just before we move on, I would like to take a piece on one of my favorite shows, Southland, from the site's blog "Brilliant But Cancelled" to demonstrate the site's writing as well as to plug Southland again (much as they did in this piece):

Southland dealt both with the high intensity of bringing down the bad guys -- or of being the bad guys -- and with mundanities, like setting up roadblocks or doling out parking tickets. Obviously, the show had lots of drama, but it didn't pretend that all its characters were superheroes. Most importantly, it looked real. Southland used actual ex-gang members as extras, and shot on location in LA. Additionally, the show was faithful to the actual day-to-day grind of being a police officer; not every case got solved, and even when suspects were caught, it didn't mean that everyone's lives were magically better. All this made the show seem like a slice right out of real life... but for some viewers, real life isn't as good to watch as comfortable TV tropes.

And if you are interested in learning more about someone who worked at Television Without Pity, you can visit Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic's blogpost,"Recapping for Television Without Pity Turned Me Into a Writer."  All I can say in the end is, brilliant but cancelled.

AMC's Turn Brings an Earlier War to our Living Rooms

With all the attention on modern wars and related security risks in the news, we still lack television programs that discuss America at war, be it Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea, the World Wars, or the Civil War.  Where is the new MASH, China Beach, or even Hogan's Heroes?  We seem to be recreating the Civil War in NBC's Revolution, but I am talking about the past stories and not our fears of the future.  

Maybe things are changing with tomorrow night's (April 6) broadcast of AMC's series Turn.  This new program, starring Jamie Bell, is a look at America's Revolutionary War, with specific focus on American spying in British-occupied Long Island.  History knows this small group of American spies as the Culper Spy Ring, which was set up under the order of General George Washington to monitor British activities.  

What is also also interesting is that the spy ring was so secret that Americans did not really learn of it until the 1930s when a trunk of old letters was found in a family home.  The letters are now in the Library of Congress. 

And if you are interested in the book that inspired the series - Alexander Rose's Washington's Spies -  you can learn more about the author and his writing here. You may also want to read a short article on the spy ring in John A. Burke and Andrea Meyer's article "Spies of the Revolution."

A Full Weekend of HBO: Dragons, Geeks, and a Veep

This Sunday (April 6) will be a busy night of new and returning shows on HBO.  Here is a quick run down so you can prepare yourself and clear your schedule:

-- Game of Thrones:  Season four is back and darker than ever, which is pretty scary given the events of last season.  Can the Starks recover after more bloody losses?  Will King Joffrey ever get what's coming to him?  Will the growing dragons ever cross the sea?  Can man stop the coming carnage of winter from beyond the wall?  And can we remember all of the past stories in time to pick it up again on Sunday?  Well, there is an answer to the last question already.  HBO provides a viewers guide to help summarize the events to date, TV Guide has catch-up articles on the Starks and Lannisters, or you can simply watch Honest Trailer for a humorous summary of the action to date.  

-- Silicon Valley:  So we get a new shows about geeks in Silicon Valley trying to convince investors to pony up money for their great idea.  Sound familiar?  It should, since Amazon has already blazed the trail with Betas, though there is always room for another version of the story. 

-- Veep:  If you need simple comedy in a warped Washington way, the return of Veep will satisfy your needs.  Unlike the over-the-top seriousness of House of Cards, Veep is primarily about the upset and ignored rather than the movers and shakers. 

Another Comedy Entry by James Van Der Beek

On  Monday (March 31) I watched the premiere of CBS' Friends with Better Lives, a new comedy vehicle for James Van Der Beek.  You can watch the pilot for yourself on the CBS website. 

Overall, it was not a bad combination of friends with relationships in various stages.  I am just not sure any of them have a life that I want to follow on a weekly basis.  Here is the basic set up:

FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES is a romantic comedy about six friends at different stages in their lives - married, divorced, newly engaged and single - who are outwardly happy, but secretly questioning if their friends have it better. Andi and Bobby are happily married with a toddler and another baby on the way, but at times long for the days when they had less responsibility and more fun; Will is newly single and preaching the bachelor lifestyle, but still pining for his ex-wife; Jules and Lowell are high on their passionate new relationship; and Kate has a successful career but may have a breakdown when she finds out her last remaining single friend, Jules, just got engaged. When it comes to relationships, these six friends are finding it a challenge to look at each other without wondering... who really has the better life? 

Much attention has been given to James Van Der Beek, whose earlier attempt at comedy after the long ago Dawson's Creek was Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.  In the Monday night pilot he did okay playing the divorced Will and best friend of Bobby.  But  Kevin Connolly's Bobby is a solid character that I find more interesting, if only because Connolly plays him so well as with a little bit of Michael J. Fox and Bob Newhart blended in.  And it is nice to see him outside of HBO's Entourage with a new set of friends, though he is still one of the few adults in the room.  

I also liked Zoe Lister-Jones' character Kate, the overworked single female finding every man falls short of her expectations.  Her dramatic facial expressions, thin skin, and interplay with Van Der Beek's Bobby is fun to watch.  

So I guess the show had its moments, but I probably won't watch many more of them.  Given the disappearance of new shows before they get their legs, it will be interesting if this series makes it through a first season.  Check it out while you can.