2008 TV
2008 TV by Roxanne McDonald
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God and Goddess willing the writers’ strike can be over and new seasons, new shows, and new episodes will bring back the joy |
Pretty pitiful state of affairs when one would rather go outside and shovel like Sisyphus rather than put up with the ersatz crap taking over while the writers fight for their much deserved compensation and rights.
But somewhat promising is the winter TV lineup, complete with spinoffs, spoofs, and series specials.NOTE: Actually, this list is incomplete, being one comprised of most of my favorites [or favorites-to-poke-fun-at]. For a more unbiased schedule, see The Futon Critic.
JANUARY
Tuesday, January 1
“The Biggest Loser” Season 5 NBC
“Real Housewives of Orange County” Season 3 Bravo TV
Wednesday, January 2
“Wife Swap” Season 4 ABC
Thursday, January 3
“Celebrity Apprentice” [Season 7] NBC
Friday, January 4
“How to Look Good Naked” NEW Lifetime Television
“Matched in Manhattan” NEW Lifetime Television
Monday, January 7
“Paranormal State” NEW [this winter] A&E
“Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” NEW/SHORT [spinoff of “Dancing with the Stars”]
Tuesday, January 8
“Boston Legal” Season 4 [continues] ABC
“Parking Wars” NEW A&E
Wednesday, January 9
“Ghost Hunters International” [offshoot of “Ghost Hunters”] SCIFI
Thursday, January 10
“Make Me a Supermodel” NEW Bravo TV
Sunday, January 13
“I Love New York 2” Reunion Special Vh1
“Scott Baio is 46…and Pregnant” Season 2 [after “Scott Baio is 45 and Single”] Vh1
Fall Season 2007 TV Shows Overview So Far
The 2007 Fall Season TV Show Overview by Mike Liebner
You just never know what a new season of TV shows will bring you. It could be a super good season like when Desperate Housewives and Lost first appeared or it could be a dud.
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So far, this season, with a few exceptions seems to lean more towards duds from my perspective. A few returning shows are great… a few new ones are good… a few are outstanding… |
While I have not watched everything new that has come out, I really try my best to catch at least the first episode (pilot or premiere).
I understand this is not always indicative of a show in the long run, but let’s face it - we can only watch so much tv before it affects us in strange ways (hmmmmm…)
Right out of the box I loved the new NBC tv show Chuck. Fresh and invigorating just like when Austin Powers first hit the scene, Chuck is a great 1 hour show. It’s refreshing how cool and hip this funny thriller is and how larger than life the characters are. It’s not very often I get drawn into a tv show that does not necessarily have a continuing storyline (individual self contained episodes like most tv detective shows), but this one pulled me in. The visuals and high tech editing are in themselves quite revolutionary and top notch. Check out “Chuck” if you haven’t already - it’s a winner!
Survivor China is back and the reality tv series is as good as ever. The challenges are especially good. China adds a whole new backdrop and freshness to the show. It’s a must see show! (read more…)
New Shows that Fill in the Programming Gaps
New Shows that Fill in the Programming Gaps by Roxanne McDonald
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It’s that time of year when finales of favorite shows leave us wanting, yearning, begging for the new season line-up to begin and dreading what we will do in the down time. |
I have a whiteboard calendar, a two-foot blank four-week board I write in my TV-viewing lineup for each day. A few weeks ago, the board held the names of about seventy shows, the majority of them reality-based.
This week, it is with a tear in the eye that I erased more than I left alone or replaced: “Age of Love,” “On the Lot,” and “Hell’s Kitchen” are long gone from the Mondays. “America’s Got Talent,” “Pirate Master,” and soon, “Big Brother 8″ had/have to be removed from Tuesdays. You get the idea. So what does one do while waiting?
Sure, during the interim, between seasons, we get to catch up with TiVoed shows, watch sports galore [which pre-empt our staple shows such as Seinfeld, argh], or indulge in some repeats on the LMN, Lifetime Movie Network that are ironically about women who are battered, beaten, lied to, challenged, and whacked.
The options are not all that exciting. But the alternatives are less than appealing, as well.
Let’s see. “Kid Nation”. Now that promised to be a lawsuit in the making. “The Two Coreys.” Yeeuh. The Two Snoreys, is more like it. “The Pick-up Artist.” Eh, a well-intended spinoff of the geek-themed shows, but more obnoxious a “mentor” and more humiliating for the participants.
Turning Predators into Prey
Turning Predators into Prey by Roxanne McDonald
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With a sting operation that lures sexual predators from hundreds of miles around and televises the busts, “Dateline NBC” takes on the sex offenders, the potential sex offenders, and the just plain offensive. |
There is only one small question I have: isn’t some of the operation considered entrapment? But the answers and the protocol far outweigh the undeserved “rights” of these
questionable individuals anyway, so we move to what a remarkable success the operation and the show are.
That is, it is my belief that when you forfeit your privileges, you sign away such rights/privileges to not be set up, to not be televised, and to not be incarcerated for intent…. And what inane excuses [lies] these guys give Chris Hansen, head commentator and facilitator of “Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator.”
Just What We Need
Just What We Need: Another Way for Men to Hit on Women by Roxanne McDonald
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Then again, the new Vh1 show, “The Pick-up Artist,” might just do some damage to the already extant repertoires of the boyz in bars. |
As the pick-up pros at The Seduction Bible tell it, the most important dynamic for the PUA (pick-up artist) is not some clever routine but a “deep inner game.” It is not planning
[though it surely involves plotting], but is improvisation, cum a natural ability to connect with women.For a demonstration [fictional], check out the movie, The Pick-up Artist, with Robert Downey, Jr. in the title role. For lessons for you guys and entertainment and education for us women, we should tune in to the Vh1 premier of “The Pick-up Artist,” airing August 6th.
Creature Comforts Best New TV Animation
Creature Comforts Best New TV Animation by Roxanne McDonald
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Well, claymation, actually. And not so “new”. So lucky are we that Nick Park’s cast has gone from the silver screen to TV. |
Before we were all flying into cyberspace at the flip of a switch, those of us who were big claymation fans had to wait for the yearly animation festival that would come to the Palace of Fine Arts each May.
We were so in love with “Creature Comforts” that when the
award-winning animator Nick Parks made it available on video tape (along with several winning animations from around the world), we snatched it up to watch it more than once a year. (read more…)
The Best Shows Currently on TV
The Best Shows Currently on TV by Mike Liebner
It’s that time of year again! The time of year when my Tivo is stuffed to the gills with great programming.
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There are so many great shows on TV right now! In fact my two Tivo’s are stuffed with too much programming to ever to watch! |
As a result my drive space is shrinking and my recording capabilities diminished.
That means some tough choices need to be made and as a result some TV shows I like will fall to the wayside.
Last year that happened with the O.C. of which I cleared all the stacked up episodes off of Tivo and cancelled my season pass. This year that is happening to The Amazing Race All Stars. Sorry, that show has been starting to get on my nerves! I just can’t take it anymore. I just deleted 3 episodes of Amazing Race which I wasn’t watching anyways and before that, since Rob and Amber got eliminated I had started fast forwarding through episodes anyways. So just now, I went and deleted the Amazing Race season pass. So what! Survival of the fittest!
So what is all that great programming on TV right now? What do I think the best shows currently on TV are?
Well, to do that we need to take a look at my Tivo.
Here are my picks for top shows on television (on my Tivo boxes) right now!
In some sort of order along with brief comments
1. 24 - 24 is without question the best show on TV. I think it’s because the writing is so clever that it keeps getting better each season. What would seem like a constricting factor, I think he 24 hour timeframe actually brings out more creativity from the writers. This show is one of the few shows I MUST watch as soon as I can. Usually the same night it airs! (read more…)
Day Break on ABC is Dumped it Appears
I’m really getting fed up with TV networks and their sneaky little tactics.
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Yet another great new show has fallen to the wayside and in this case ABC hasn’t even mentioned the cancellation of Day Break with Taye Diggs on their web site. |
Finally after scouring the web I find an article with info on the show and it’s apparent demise.
For weeks I have been seeking info… when will it return and it’s depressing how I now find out that ABC has cancelled Day Break yet still has un aired episodes it has no intention of showing (at least not on tv).
While it has been speculated the un-aired episdoes of Day Break will be “aired” online, ABC has no info about this on their site.
So, I’ll just close this rant by saying that network TV has hit an all new low. It seems each season shows are getting axed earlier than ever.
Whatever happened to allowing a show to gain it’s audience???
If anything, this kind of executive game playing may just be hurting the networks more than helping them.
If they want to be more than simply online download shops they should pay a olittle more attention to nurturing well received shows like Day Break. The payoff can be good as proven by floundering shows that became huge hits (Seinfeld for example).
I hope they do air the 9 remaining episodes of Day Break, but I will not hold my breath as my faith in ABC and the big networks is at an all time low.
Tivo Spring Cleaning (but it’s Fall)
OK, I have two Tivo DVR’s and they are stuffed to the gills with excellent tv shows and programming I have yet found time to watch.
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There is so much recorded on Tivo I am running out of room to adequately record new shows. |
Sure, I just bought a Panasonic DVR Recorder to archive some of the great tv shows on DVD (lots of funny Borat stuff - like on Leno and Daily Show), but I haven’t wired it up properly to archive.
So, as an interim measure I had to make some decisions… I guess you could call it forced CANCELLATIONS.
On the chopping block were a few shows I have been meaning to watch but just never got around to…
The O.C. is one of those shows. Last night I finally wiped out and deleted around 20 or so episodes I have not watched yet. Most of them from last season. It just hasn’t been interesting enough for me to invest time watching those 20 hours of The O.C. Sorry Mischa and Rachel (I still love you both!). (read more…)
Boston Legal: Verility, Verisimilitude, and Vengeance (er, Justice)
Boston Legal: Verility, Verisimilitude, and Vengeance (er, Justice) by Roxanne McDonald
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It’s about time sexy went to smarmy and courtroom came to realism in a great TV show with great characters, great dialogue, and greater acting. |
What a terribly fun, delightfully dark show is Boston Legal. I typically steer clear of law dramas, but was drawn to investigating how the delicious James Spader works out performing in a antithetical manner as a character that while on the dark side—like many of his characters–is less likeable or intriguing as a “bad boy” but a bloated bad boy. Tsk.
We remember him as the stuff of our wet dreams in the early eighties, as the gorgeous cool one on the fringe of the Brat Pack,
as the elitist snob Steff in Pretty in Pink; the auto-eroticist Graham Dalton in Sex, Lies, and Videotapes; as the worst kind (attractive) of sociopath, Michael Boll, in Bad Influence. Now we get him as the pompous, even foppish caricature of a lawyer, Alan Shore. He is flip, nasty, and smarmy both sexually and in the courtroom; and as one traipsing the razor edge of the dark side, his quips land courtroom opponents on their asses as he wins with irreverence, iconoclasm, or the occasional self-effacing or beneficent gesture.
Boston Legal is made all the better, too, by the seasoned and sharp Candice Bergen playing Shirley Schmidt, the no-nonsense dynamo who brings another layer of absurdity to the auspices of high litigation.
And Captain Kirk all but put to sleep now, pretense is displayed with a self-centered, dismissive pride in William Shatner’s Denny Crane. The legal aptitude and rare burst of sensitivity notwithstanding, Denny is so repugnant that viewers are sure to keep watching, if only to seek out the possibility of at least a modicum of humanity in a character that proves Shatner’s acting reach goes much further than his arms—which after holding down the hokey but innovative Enterprise have since held a 2004 Emmy for his role.
Ted Danson’s Personas Integrated in One Fantastic, Funny, Fun New Show—Help Me Help You
Ted Danson’s Personas Integrated in One Fantastic, Funny, Fun New Show—Help Me Help You by Roxanne McDonald
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Snarky egotist Sam Malone meets crabby curmudgeon John Becker, MD—to bring us another hilarious character, Dr. Bill Hoffman. |
It’s no wonder that when Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza collaborate on a pilot for NBC that George relentlessly alludes to Ted Danson—to how Ted Danson is treated, to how much per episode Ted Danson makes ($800,000/episode on Cheers)….
Whether the writers had a thing for Danson or a grudge ( which I doubt) or whatever,
he is also mentioned (as wikipedia contributors note) numerous times throughout the Seinfeld series and brought in once more in the second to last episode, with George again grousing how Ted Danson gets a better plane than they who are being flown to LA to air the pilot do.
And while Costanza is (in the postmodern sense) just as valuable/marketable, Ted Danson is one enduring performer who has come full circle with two TV characters who share commonalities to offer us a third who is a composite of the two and more.
Sam Malone (Cheers, 1982-1993; now in re-run) A former Red Sox pitcher with a continuing following, Sam was the hottie who knew it. He womanized and seduced his way through almost every episode, save those wherein he was in a committed relationship—and then was a frustrated playboy toy boy struggling to abstain from adventures that aggrandized his already bloated ego. Charmer, lover, and foil and fumbler when the comedy called for it, Ted Danson made himself a household name—swoon—early on through this cocky alter ego.
Dr. John Becker (Becker, 1998-2004, in re-run) The character was such a stretch in so many ways from the Sam character, that it is a wonder the pilot of Becker took. But it not only took but flew—with the versatility Danson showed in a character that was perpetually disgruntled, purposely antisocial (save his daily visits to the local coffee shop where the only ones who would tolerate him longer than his medical assistant hung out for hours on end), and predictably obsessive…about the crime, the degeneration, and the decadence of his home and work environs.
An Homage to the Best of Detective/Investigator Shows–CSI:Miami
An Homage to the Best of Detective/Investigator Shows–CSI:Miami by Roxanne McDonald
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This piece is not about the psychological underpinnings of a dreamer but is rather an homage to the addictive show, CSI: Miami, to the actors on CSI: Miami, especially the brilliant, darling perfectly balanced star of the show, David Caruso. |
When you wake up and realize you have been dreaming about David Caruso and Tom Cruise and other high-end players in Hollywood, you know it’s time for some self-analysis. Some assert that to dream of celebrities (when you are not one yourself) is to suffer from an over-inflated ego. Others, myself included, believe that such dreams are powerful testaments to having a healthy and positive self-esteem.
Anyway, this piece is not about the psychological underpinnings of a dreamer but is rather an homage to the addictive show, CSI: Miami, to the actors on CSI: Miami, especially the brilliant, darling perfectly balanced star of the show, David Caruso.
First, while the concept and design of the show is nothing new—detective/investigation shows being a hugely popular viewing genre as far back (and further) as Perry Mason, the Green Hornet, and even Batman—the special effects employed raise the bar on such types. CSI: Miami is Miami Vice (obviously) on megavitamins (thought I was going to write “steroids,” right?).
Following, usually, two story lines which take us viewers through two crime scenes, as the crime scene investigators study evidence, deductively evaluate possibilities, and track potential suspects, they will 1) define and describe forensic processes to each other, as if educating a colleague but at the same time actually educating us; and 2) will reconstruct likely scenarios.
As one of these two things is happening, the visuals parallel the dialogue…so that not only if the suspects are thought to have poisoned, fought with, or somehow hurt another, the scene cuts to a grainy or shadowy narrative re-enactment as the CSI discusses or tells it, but also, the technical and physical harm incurred is replayed: if the victim is asphyxiated, for example, the image is of an open and gasping mouth, then of the throat, then of the air passageways (as they might really look if were inside them) speedily constricting.
The sound effects are equally moving, enhancing the visuals in a way that makes us viewers feel like we are back on that kid ship that journeys inside the human body, in that Dennis Quaid flick where he is accidentally injected into Martin Short’s ass (though CSI: Miami is by no means in the same humor as Innerspace).
America’s Got Talent Finale and Props to Regis
America’s Got Talent Finale and Props to Regis by Roxanne McDonald
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I know I was pretty hard on the show in general, given its tacky middle America pandering and not so successful panning of The Gong Show and other mock games, and I am sorry to say I have to be equally harsh about America’s Got Talent grand finale. |
But if to show respect at least is to write about it, to give it air, okay, then the very writing here should suffice.
(After all, bad publicity is still publicity and all that….)I like Regis Philbin. I give him props for being angry and bitter and hateful and getting away with it, expressing it, giving vent, by way of cheesy and acceptable humor. (read more…)
BB7 All-Stars - Gamut of Emotions
BB7 All-Stars - Gamut of Emotions by Roxanne McDonald
Big Brother 7 All Stars, August 17th, 2006
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Big Brother 7 All-Stars puts BB devotees through the gamut of emotions—or emotional responses. |
First, we are getting fed up with the Janelle thing, especially once she “scumbagged” (as Marcellas would say) her supposed “friend”.
Yep, she put Marcellas up for eviction, pretentiously confiding in him that she had to do it but that she would ensure he was only a pawn and going nowhere. (read more…)
Is the Last Comic Standing Really Funny?
Last Comic Standing is Josh Blue!
It’s not that you need a PhD in the psychology of humor to write about such television programs, but it is tough to capture or encapsulate the appeal of really good comedic shows.
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I mean, if I could translate with any accuracy and effectiveness the likes of, say, Seinfeld, with its hallmark repetition of lines for comic effect or its relatedness of events, instances, and issues the characters share, for example, then I would be ON the show…or WRITING it. |
So it goes with a blockbuster entertainment show like Last Comic Standing.
Still, I feel impelled to sing the praises of the efforts to bring back some damned levity (if not outright raucous laughter) to our pitifully stressful, overworked, overburdened, overwhelmed lives. (read more…)
Racially Divided Survivor: Cook Islands premiers on Sept. 14
Are you ready for a Racially Divided Survivor: Cook Islands???
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Sure, why not???
Survivor Cook Islands is just a reality TV show!
And Survivor is a damned good one at that! |
Commentator Tucker Carlson was trying to make a case last night on his show Tucker (why did they change it?) on MSNBC,
that he was terribly offended by the new season of Survivor dividing it’s contestants into tribes, er groups by race. No one else on the panel seemed as offended and Tucker just beat it to a pulp whining about how he will not watch it. (read more…)
Big Brother All-Stars is an Exercise in Arrogance!
BB7 Article by Roxanne McDonald
I was speaking with an associate (or emailing back and forth with him) today, and as usual we were discussing one of our favorite pastimes, reality TV.
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We agree on many points and about most characteristics when it comes to the granddaddy of reality TV shows, Big Brother, or as it is this season, Big Brother All-Stars (BB7). |
We two, like many viewers, imagine Will and Jase are gonna tear up the game,
tear apart weaker (but seemingly stealthy) alliances, and will likely, if they stay in “character”, tear new ones for those competitors they see as the greatest threat. (read more…)
America’s Got Talent and the Gong Show!
I couldn’t stand The Gong Show when I was growing up and it was on in syndication, and I’m having an equally hard time staying as faithful to America’s Got Talent as I am to umpteen million other reality TV shows I am utterly hooked on.
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America’s Got Talent, though, is apparently another much-needed show by middle America (get the name similarity, which is dubbed for a reason).
The Gong Show and Star Search hybrid is not as silly, nor is it as savvy (up on and aware of its nature as panning other talent shows) as I would assume. |
In fact, yesterday on Reality Remix, they posted the top six episodes of the week (July, 2006) and
America’s Got Talent was Number One, with so many more million viewers than So Think You Can Dance (which took two places) and Rock Star Supernova (which of course took last as there are fewer rockers than bible thumpers in the nation—ugh). (read more…)
The New TV Shows for Fall are here in Summer!
New TV Shows for the fall season are almost here!
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Actually I just watched a new one last night (August 23rd) called Vanished which is really good!
The new fall season just started in Summer! More on Vanished in a future review of the season premiere episode from last night! |
When fall “really” comes, you can expect to see a lot of the new TV shows working their way into our consciousness.
The Fall season used to be the only time a network would premiere new TV shows, but that is finally changing.
The change is due to the changing habits of viewers in general. Some networks now put new shows on in the spring, or replace shows that are not doing well in the middle of the season. No matter when they debut, the networks are always fighting to get you to watch and embrace their new shows.
The new Fall TV shows come and go. Get ready for some that you like to quickly disappear like the Heather Graham show that bombed last year. Gone in 60 seconds (practically!) (read more…)
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