two girls in love, with tv...

The simple beauty of Friday Night Lights

2011-08-02T11:51:00.010-05:00

(Note there are mild spoilers if you haven't ever seen Friday Night Lights. I have tried to not spoil the last season though, in case UK viewers want to try and track it down.)

A few weeks ago, NBC aired the last episode of Friday Night Lights. That this happened in 2011 and not 2007, should pretty much be considered a TV miracle. After criminally low ratings for two seasons and the Writers Strike of late 2007/early 2008, typical (revenue-driven) wisdom would say it should have been cancelled. But, on the back of critical praise, a small but dedicated fan base, and the fact that in 2008 NBC was suffering from a true lack of quality TV, an innovative deal was struck to keep Friday Night Lights (or FNL to those in the know) on the air. Three 13 episode seasons would be shown first on Direct TV (a satellite provider) and then re-aired on NBC. Nothing like this had really been tried before, and the deal saved what has certainly been one of the best shows in recent memory, and one of the best family dramas ever.

FNL has a lot of strengths, including strong writing, staying away from melodrama (usually), and strong acting anchored by its leads Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler. These two play Tami and (Coach) Eric Taylor and their marriage has been the heart of the show. One of FNL's biggest assets is its ability to bring the drama of everyday life to the viewers in respectful way. Simply put: it does "simple" well.

The Taylor's marriage is one of the most realistic portrayals of marriage that has been seen, and shows how much storytelling you can get out of a happily married couple. When watching, you never feel that the show was making fun of small-town Texas life; those of us from fly-over country (of which I include the South) are used to being portrayed as simple-minded, blindly religious, and naive. In FNL, it was easy to see ourselves and our lives reflected back to us and for those not from small towns to understand why they aren't so bad. Okay, except that everyone was really pretty, but it is TV after all. Football* was important for the show, as a backdrop and as a vehicle for storytelling, but I hesitate to call it a 'football show.' I will always maintain that you don't have to enjoy football to enjoy this show; not all agree with me on this, but I will hold the line on this one.

Of course the show wasn't perfect. Shows never really are, and it is easy to get bogged down in that second season that most want to forget-though I am not actually one of them. Whilst I believe the Tyra/Landry storyline (where they murder someone who was attacking Tyra) was ill-conceived the actors themselves did brilliant work to try and pull it off. And they almost did, but we were all glad when it was resolved. East Dillon, the rough side of town that became the focus for seasons four and five, came out of nowhere. ( We did grow to love it though, I think.) Julie seemed to get a lot of her worth and storylines from boys and I wasn't crazy about her arc in the last season, although it did get her to where she needed to be by the end. The show also still had a mostly white cast, but at least its minority characters were not just someone's best friend, which in the land of Hollywood is pretty big.

The second season also suffered from the aforementioned writers' strike and they dropped at least one character completely and without explanation. The shorter seasons (which is still not the norm in the US) also meant there were times when a plot point wasn't really explored after being introduced, such as the one about a gay assistant coach, which would have been really interesting. Characters were underused and we sometimes got from A to B a little to quickly and easily. The writers had some problems writing for its female characters if they weren't attached to a male in some way. See Lyla's born-again storyline. Although, I would prefer they try and create well-rounded characters even if they fail at it.

So, two (small) paragraphs of missteps and lost opportunities. I could fill two pages of what they got right, starting with the awesome Tami and Eric. Of the generally respectful handling of Jason Street's injury (in my non-disabled opinion, backed up by reading up on it to be sure). He was depressed deeply, tried out denial and almost had life threatening surgery, then moved on to acceptance. He came to understand that he still had a full happy life to live. One that was different than planned, one without walking, but still good. (He even gets to have sex!) Or I could mention the Tim Riggins character growth of selfish screw-up to a man willing to make sacrifices for those he loves. How Lyla played a role in the process, even if they weren't destined to be together forever. Tyra going from a bit of a stock popular girl to a college student. Matt Saracen's puppy dog eyes, his grandmother's dementia, his and Julie's 'one true pairing.' Of Smash making it when he thought he lost it, and his relationship with his mother. The promise of a college education for Vince and the understandable draw of big time football. Of Landry's dry humour, that was always welcome, or Jess' unflappable drive to become a female football coach. The role race and class play in friendships and in Dillon Football, how it shows who the have's and have nots are (clue, it's not always connected to winning) and how a white middle class coach fits in East Dillon. Of a real abortion storyline, where the girl doesn't miscarry as a convenient way around it.

FNL did a good job with phasing out old characters as they graduated and moved on, and introduced new characters. As in real life, each year a class graduates, and even if they stay in town, they aren't really part of high school any more. And you miss them, but you find some Freshmen (or first years) that you like too. And when they brought them back, well, it made sense too, and it happened like it might in real life. The show incorporated a lot of local actors, made Buddy Garrity loveable, and well, made me cry on a regular basis.

And when the end came, the writers and creators, did one heckuva job. Those responsible for this finale knew this time it was the end for sure, and frankly they knocked it out of the park. Or scored a touchdown if we don't want to mix up our sporting metaphors. The finale ensured closure and surely gave us long-time viewers satisfaction. The last 20 minutes were pure TV joy, that provided a brilliant scene between Eric and Tami that encapsulates everything great about the show (here, 1:24 in if you don't mind spoilers), and which I watched through tears. Of course.

I will certainly miss this show. But unlike others that I miss it is the rare one that I feel almost fully satisfied with. It's not Arrested Development only getting a 13 episode order, or Veronica Mars not knowing for sure where it stood as it ended. And it's not Lost where the viewers feel a bit like suckers for buying into the mythology only to find out it really wasn't that complicated. It was in fact, practically perfect in every way, and why we can say good-bye knowing that clear eyes and full hearts really can't lose.

*Football, in the American sense for this posting

Summer Viewing

2011-06-29T11:01:00.003-05:00

For many years, in America at least, summertime has provided us with some great television. Formerly a time for endless repeats on the network channels, cable and the relentless pursuit of another dollar, made networks realise there was money to be made when the temperature got above eighty. I first remember watching new summer tv in the early 90s with Beverly Hills, 90210. I don't remember much, expect Brandon wasn't strong enough to be a lifeguard in the ocean, so he became a pool boy instead. Or something like that. Summer is a great time to run shows with fewer episodes, and because there is still less programming than in the Fall, a lot of buzz can be had. For example, Mad Men made its debut after May sweeps, and we all know how that has turned out.

While I don't feel this summer is the strongest in recent memory, I have found a few shows worth mentioning:

Friday Night Lights (NBC)
The show is in its final season, about halfway through its run on NBC. I have a longer post about FNL once it finishes, but it is always a pleasure to watch.

Switched at Birth (ABC Family)
Okay, try not to make too much fun of me. The name of the show reveals the ridiculous premise of two girls (one, Bay, the daughter of a former baseball player, the other, Daphne, comes from a single mother home) who were, you guessed it, switched at birth. Oh, and Daphne is Deaf. Once you get beyond this concept (and the various contrivances that lead to both families living together) you get an interesting look at, among other things, class and race divisions, Deaf culture, and teenage identity. The show is not perfect, the most recent episode veered dangerously close to being too soapy and characters suddenly seemed to grow different personalities. There is also a tendency for hearing characters to act as though Deaf people are stupid (Do hearing people still really think this? If so, they are clearly the stupid ones.), and Daphne so far has been painted a little "too" perfect. Still, for what could have been too cheesy for words, the show tells these stories in pretty honest way (so far).

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
There is so much reality tv out there, it can be tempting to just dismiss the whole lot of it. But, if you are willing to try and separate the wheat from the chaff, you find shows like this gem. It is the same show as in the UK, where dancers from all various genres compete for a prize. The show has produced some really amazing dances (and I have it on good authority from an actual dancer that there is good technique often times as well) and showcases some of the most innovate choreography around. There are tons of You Tube videos of great dancing. Start here, but be warned, you are likely to be busy for the next three hours once you hit play.

Cardinals Baseball (Fox Sports Midwest)
Not since 2004 have I had the ability to watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball on a regular basis. I forgot how much I enjoy the sport, and how nice it is to have it on in the background when doing other things. Yes, there are lots of criticisms that baseball is too slow, but I like it. In a mid-summer twist, worthy of a sweeps month, the Cardinals have lost more games than they won in June, had to place the best player in basebal l on the DL (disabled list), and have hit into more double plays than any other team by a long shot. Still, they are only a few games back from first place, and I think a late season comeback is, shall we say, in the Cards.

Hulu (online)
Having been out of the US for the better part of three years, there are a lot of shows that I missed. (I got to see some great ones in the UK of course, and am still figuring out how to stay up to date on those). Hulu is this nifty website where you can (legally) watch streaming video from several different channels. I've been able to fully catch up on Parks and Recreation (RIP, Li'l Sebastian), watch last summer's teen drama Huge, and access Arrested Development episodes without having to scratch up my DVDs. While I am a big Hulu fan, I do wish that more shows were available (especially from other countries), but overall a great way to watch a variety of tv.

Any suggestions for shows I should be watching this summer?

The Last Lost Word (for now)

2010-07-29T11:52:00.008-05:00

It's been about two months since the Lost finale aired, two long months in between blogging. I'm not sure what you call that except maybe, bad blogging. Even though Lost has been over for awhile, I can't let it end without commenting one last time. It was such a big part of my tv life and I'm sad it's gone. Its noticeable absence from San Diego Comic Con was one of the first signs that it really is over.

So, what about that finale? As an episode of television it was great; as a series finale, one that resonates, redeems characters, and retains some mystery it was brilliant; as the final word, that last chance for fans to understand the mythology that is Lost, well, on that point, I gotta say, it sucked.

That is in fact my main issue with the finale, and to a greater extent the last season: it just didn't connect the dots very well. Darlton spent five years weaving mystery with character, making us care both about the who and the why of the show. This was done at a consistently good level, and sometimes a great one. "The Constant", many fans favourite episode (including me) is a fabulous example of both. So why then does the last season feel so disconnected from the other five? Why did we meet so many new characters (Drogen, Zoe, Lennon) to have them not really mean anything, whilst barely revisiting Eloise Hawking and Penny? I refrained from complaining about too much during the season, because I had faith the writers would tie it together. But I don't really think they did.

Darlton have said, rightly so, that Lost was their story and they must write it true to their vision. But, I think it's slightly disingenuous to spend five years building a mythology and having incredible attention to detail, to then say it's just about the characters. Still it's hard to not think they realise there were mis-steps when we learn that more 'answers' (such as on Walt, who save for one of Locke's flashes, was not mentioned in the finale) are coming on the DVD. And, I simply wish that those answers would have come through the show.

Anyway, I put that part first because while I needed to say it, I don't want that to be my last word. Because when I let go of that, what I see is a genuinely good episode that made me cry and made me proud to have been a fan since day 1. The emotional payoff for spending six seasons with these characters was amazing. The last 15 minutes to me were some of the best Lost has to offer. From Locke and Ben's final exchange, to Jack being the last holdout, they stayed true to the characters, whilst also showing their growth over the five season. Jack finding his Dad, and seeing all (well most all) our original crew back was great nostalgia. In fact, the best trick of Season Six was making me care about Jack, and by the time his eyes closed (in a perfect framing device), with Vincent at his side once again, I was genuinely moved.

The legacy of Lost will live on, both through websites like Lostpedia, but also as a standard for main stream sci-fi that can appeal to the masses (or at least more than most sci-fi shows). There won't ever be another show like Lost, but hopefully more shows will aspire to be like Lost--and that can only be a good thing for tv fans.

In the end...

2010-05-23T17:58:00.006-05:00

Well tonight (or tomorrow morning for those of us across the pond) is it: the end of Lost. The end of polar bears and time travel (on the same island), and an end to a particular-type of WTF moments. For me personally, so much has changed in the 5.5 years since lost debuted in 2004, it is amazing to think that I went from De Soto, MO to Leavenworth, KS, to Kingston, Jamaica, and London, England. From Cingular, to Saint Mary, to Big Brothers Big Sisters, to UTech & Roehampton, Starbucks, and the National Union of Students. Wow. Lost has truly been my 'constant' for a whole lot of change and jumping around the world (and even and island or two). It's the one show that I never miss, that I have to see as soon as I can. I'm probably more than just a little unreasonably sad about it ending, but when a show has been with you for all that change, when it's helped me make new friends, and when I've spent some great evenings watching it with old ones, it's sad to see it go.

I have high hopes for the finale, that in the end it will be fantastic and fun and yes, I really hope we'll get some answers (they really need to mention Walt). I know they can't possibly answer everything I want, but if it's done well, that's okay. So, instead of focussing on what they better show me, I just want to briefly reflect on what they already have, in my favorite epsiodes.

1) Walkabout--I've mentioned in on the blog before, but the episode where we learn that John Locke was a wheelchair user before they crashed on the island, was the first big moment of Lost for me. It also showed us a powerful and confident Locke on the island, my first favorite character. It was this episode that the flashback device was really used well, and brought suspense.

2) Flashes Before Your Eyes--My current favourite character is Desmond, something that started in this episode. He gets drunk with Charlie and Hurley and tells them what happened when he turned the key and the hatch imploded. It was our first taste of time travel, we met Eloise Hawking for the first time, and we get a hint of the growing importance of Desmond.

3) Greatest Hits--I loved the Desmond and Charlie interactions, and how hard Desmond fought to save Charlie's life. When Charlie finally comes to the realisation that his time is over, he is given once last episode. This one uses the flashback device to show what Charlie considers his 'Greatest Hits.' They are: learning to swim, saving a woman's life (who happened to be Sayid's Nadia), hearing "She's all everybody' for the first time on the radio, getting, his brother giving him a family ring, and meeting Claire. It was a sweet and poignant good-bye, and although Charlie didn't die until the season finale a few episodes later (remember, Not Penny's Boat), it was the perfect ending to a loved character.

4) The Constant--This is my all time favourite episode, and if you have noticed a theme, you will now: this is the one where Desmond keeps switching consciousnesses between the present and the past. If he doesn't find someone to be his 'constant,' someone to anchor him to a reality, he will die. Well, he realises that Penny must be his constant, and the ending where he calls her (like he told her he would) is one of the sweetest endings endings to an episode ever.

So that's it. All that's left is to watch and enjoy and say good bye!

Treme: A closer look at Post-Katrina New Orleans

2010-05-12T11:43:00.012-05:00

Treme, the new HBO series, takes a look at New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina. The name of the series comes from the neighborhood of the same name which has been home to many musicians that helped make New Orleans so famous. Treme comes from David Simon and Eric Overmyer, who both worked on Homicide: Life on the Streets (one of my favorite shows ever) and The Wire. Both of those shows were critically acclaimed in their time and known for their diverse casts and strong writing. In the first five episodes, I'd say Treme fits right in.

Treme Trailer:

Treme is a slowly unfolding story giving the viewers increasingly deeper glimpses into a large number of characters lives, from (in no particular order) a down-on-his-luck trombone player and his ex-wife and bar owner, a Mardi Gras Indian leader and his son, a lawyer and her Tulane professor/writer husband, a chef, a musical transplant couple, to a hyperactive DJ/musician. It is a large cast, with some big names and Homicide/Wire alums (John Goodman, Khandi Alexander, Steve Zahn, Melissa Leo, Wendall Pierce, and Clarke Peters to name a few). For the most part Treme has done a great job of building each characters story and making you care about them.

A show set in New Orleans, especially after Katrina, will necessarily have to deal with race and class issues. Since the whole show is slowly paced, this has come in fits and starts. We certainly see different classes and different races portrayed in the show--frankly the show would feel false if this weren't the case. There have been hints of commentary about it, mainly through John Goodman's character (the Tulane professor) who posts rants on YouTube about the many failings of the Federal, State, and Local Governments before, during and after Katrina. The show doesn't shy away from showing and commenting on the many racist and classist decisions that were made, from not re-opening some projects that were never flooded, to the pure chaos of the prison system that housed (and still houses) a predominately black male population. As of now, there has been very little tension between the classes and colors in Treme, but I hope that as the show grows, that is shown. Not because I wish tension to be dramatised, but because that tension does exist, but is not generally shown on mainstream television. If the most recent episode is an indicator, I'm confident this will be explored.

Music is used throughout the series, and gives a great excuse to hire local musicians, such as Kermit Ruffins. Music is used to underscore one of the biggest themes in Treme, the idea of 'real' New Orleans. Steve Zahn's character, Davis, is the biggest proponent of this 'real' New Orleans. His hyperactive and often times obnoxious character hits you over the head with it, constantly talking about 'authentic' New Orleans. This is the one area where I think Treme could improve. The idea of what it means to be 'real' New Orleanian is an interesting one to explore--is it the Mardi Gras chief, the Tulane professor, the black trombone player, the white DJ, the bar owner, the chef, the lawyer, or the music playing couple? Is it all of them, or do anyone them actually capture 'real' New Orleans. I suspect the answer is yes and no. A scene early on sees the male member of the music couple berating some church volunteers for going to the French Quarter and coming into his city. In later episodes, we learn he himself is not from New Orleans, originally. This nuanced idea of authenticity is interesting, but Davis yelling at everyone he thinks doesn't cuts it, isn't. I'm hopeful that Davis can show some growth, and I'm optimistic after watching the fifth episode.

Treme is beautifully shot and anytime a television show leaves New York or L.A. its going to get a look-see from me. The fact that is has a strong cast with actual black actors in lead roles with real stories and true character development, just like its white characters, keeps me around. Case in point: Treme takes what could be a sterotypical black character, played by Wendell Pierce, the guy who has three baby mamas, and gives him depth. He not a caricature, but a character. It reminds me of Homicide in that it revels in concentrating on a small detail, or lingers on a scene longer than one would expect a show to do. Treme has already been picked up for a second season, which I think is well-deserved. I know I'll be sticking around, and I hope you decide to give the show, and New Orleans, a chance.

I'm still "Lost" and loving it

2010-04-06T16:03:00.006-05:00

After the most recent Lost outing, the final season of the show about an island, is down to seven episodes. We are at the beginning of the very end my friends, and in about 6 weeks we'll have to say good-bye to one of the most interesting, spooky, suspenseful, and confusing shows ever.

As we push forward to the end, let's take a step back to see where we are. Instead of flashbacks or flashforwards, we are in some sort of 'sideways world' (as coined by Doc Jensen), a sort of altera-universe where Flight 815 didn't crash, but made it all the way to L.A. Our characters are still intrinsically linked in our sideways world--while each episode focuses on one character, there are several interactions between each other. I guess these people just belong together.

Back on the island, the final showdown is brewing between Jacob and the Man in Black, aka Smokey, aka Fake-Locke or FLocke. About half our characters of Team Jacob right now (Jack, Sun, Hurley, Lapidus, Miles, Ben) aided by Ilana and Richard Alpert, the other half Team FLocke (Sayid, Kate, Sawyer, Claire, Sayid, Jin) along with Cindy the flight attendant and those kids that were kidnapped from the Tailies way back when.

So far, in the altera-timeline have learned Richard's backstory (his true love died while he was accidentally killing a mean doctor in the 1800s, was a slave on the Black Rock that crashed on the island, freed by Smokey, and chose immortality since his first two options of being with his wife and saving his soul from hell were off the table); learned that Jack has a son in sideways world (but, conspicuously did NOT see the mother of said child); Kate helped Claire and Aaron when Claire went into early labour; Locke was with Helen, and accepted that some things he just can't do; Ben was a teacher who helped Alex; Sayid was NOT with Nadia ;Sawyer is a cop and Miles his is partner; Jin and Sun weren't married, but together; and Keamy works for Sun's Dad who was trying to kill both Jin and Sayid's brother. We've also seen Charlie, his brother, Daniel Farraday, Charlotte, Boone, Mikael so far.

On the island, Jin and Sun STILL aren't together, Claire wants to kill Kate (encouraged by FLocke), some of characters are 'candidates' to take over the protection of the island, Hurley still sees dead people, FLocke killed a bunch of people in the Temple, there have been many meta-conversations between characters about being in hell and some skeletons in a cave, and Charles Widmore is on Hydra Island (polar bear cage sex could be just around the corner) and Desmond finally made his reappearance.

Confused? Me too. I've just written four paragraphs of what is surely to be gibberish to anyone not watching Lost, and totally incomplete for those that do watch it. It is not often that this far into a show, there is still so much mystery and confusion. After all the point of the final season is to explain not confuse. This my friends, is what makes Lost the ultimate test of faith in television. Not to be too dramatic, but who amongst us isn't just a little afraid that there are too many questions and too little time? Those of us that were burned with Alias's Rimbaldi reveal (I'm still pissed that it was all about eternal life) know all too well how a bad ending can make you wince.

Yet, to me, the reason Lost is still working, the reason I'm not worrying, is more than simple trust in Darlton (which I do) is the characters. I relish the relationships of certain characters that occur in both worlds. Miles and Sawyer, Claire and Kate, Desmond and Charlie. I hope that Hurley gets his peace, that Jin/Sun, and Desmond/Penny, and Sawyer/Juliet (sorry it's all boy/girl couples--we need to take that up with Darlton) get their chance at happily ever after, that somehow Sayid gets redemption and Locke learns his worth. I don't really care about Jack and Kate, unless Kate and Claire end up both raising Aaron. I know all of this might not happen, but I hope some of it happens. That's why I watch, and I suspect why you do too.

I'm sure there will be at least one more post about Lost as it winds up, so until then Happy Watching.

Birth

2010-02-08T15:48:00.003-06:00

I had a baby less than 8 weeks ago and I am offically too busy to keep up with this blog in addition to my other blog. I will try to squeeze in a thought here and there and I am keeping up with my tv viewing, but between feedings, diapers, naps and other baby "things", I am exhausted and BUSY.

Big Boy

2010-02-04T13:56:00.003-06:00

Yesterday Connor turned 7 weeks old and has started to sleep for longer periods at night between feedings (4 to 4.5 hours!) and thus we are going to start the transition from the pack-n-play in our room to his big boy crib. Time is continuing to fly by and he is becoming such a little man. This morning we ran errands to Target and the grocery store and he was as content as can be in his car seat, looking around. His personality is blossoming everyday and he is starting to smile in reaction to my voice, not just from gas. :)

Everyday I continue to be in heaven, staying home with him and taking care of his daily needs. I am already dreading going back to work as I will miss the little daily moments that we currently share. We really don't have a set routine yet, but we are managing to make it day by day. He is still eating like a champ and progressing from one boob at each feeding to both. This tells me that his quantity is increasing and my body is changing once more to keep up with this added production. Luckily, I am still able to feed him and pump multiple times a day to have a nightly bottle ready for Tiff's feeding, as well as a daily freezer bag for future (daycare) use. I am still grateful for my amazing production and Connor seems to be thriving on the milk that I produce. Next Friday the 12th we have his next appointment and I can't wait to see his growth! I think he is at least 12 pounds, if not more.

Our little man is a joy to be around and he is growing up so quickly. I have always heard the cliche from mother's saying, "oh, they grow up so fast".... OR, "they don't stay babies for very long" and it does in fact seem to be true. He is growing so quickly that we have a rubber.maid already full of clothes he has outgrown. Where does time go?

Lost: The Final Season

2010-02-02T15:45:00.008-06:00

Lost kicks off its sixth and final season tonight in the United States, and Friday in the United Kingdom, when I will be watching. And yes, it is going to be nearly impossible for me to wait that long, and I will have to stay far away from the internets in order to avoid being spoiled. Because, man, I don't want to be within 100 feet of a spoiler. I ready to enjoy watching the dominoes fall, and the connections made as I watch the answers to about a billion mysteries come. Or not come, as I suspect.

Lost has been a show that I've been a fan of since Day 1. Actually, I was a fan before it ever premiered. They had me at 'from the maker of Alias,' and they kept me through mystery and intrigue. Even in its weaker seasons, the mystery kept me coming for more. I do love the characters (well some of them) and I certainly care what happens to them, but there were times when we had to sit through episodes on characters I didn't really care about. (Hello, Shannon). And then of course, there were those characters I liked, who's departure from the show (for whatever on- or off-set reasons) disappointed and frustrated me. (I'm looking at you Mr Eko). But there was always the mystery and always the sci-fi, and generally good writing, so there you go. A hat tip to Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse for that. [Also, I'm such a big dork I knew those names without having to look them up. At all.]

Before we enjoy the last season, I thought I'd call attention to ten of of my favorite moments. Interestingly, Lost is not a show I've watched over and over like some others, so these moments are the ones that truly stand out. I remember the main points, but some of the finer ones may have been lost. (he he) (As an aside, I have some theories on why I haven't watched them multiple times, the main one being that, for me, it's the reveal that makes Lost, so once you've seen the reveal it's not as much fun. ) Anyway, without further fanfare here are my 10 favorite moments, in no particular order:

1) 'The Pilot': This episode did what all pilots should--introduced enough characters, gave us some intrigue, gave us some WTF moments (a monster? a polar bear) all with pretty good dialogue and writing.

2) The end of the Pilot part 2: The first truly bone chilling moment for me was when we hear the French distress signal playing over and over, and learn it's been that way for 16 years. We've come a long way from the moment, but it showed us definitely that this island and this show, was different.

3) 'Walkabout': The first John Locke episode (and John Locke is my favorite character, and yes he best get his redemption) and arguably one of the best episodes ever. Learning that Locke had been in a wheelchair until arriving on the island was a spectacular twist, and showed us Locke was special. It also gives some reason for his 'Man of Faith' attitude. And do we know how he caught that boar yet?

4) The character growth of Jin: I'm not sure if there were original plans for Sun and Michael to get together, but once the writers gave Jin more dimensions than just 'mean guy who treats his wife bad' it as easy to see why Sun stuck around. Showing the same story from each of their perspective in Season 1 helped show us why Jin was the way he was. And when he apologised to Sun for not being a good husband in Season 4, you really did believe he meant it. His was a journey worth watching.

5) Desmond: If Locke is my favorite character, Desmond is 1.5 on my list (brotha). We first see the Scottish lad in a Jack flashback in Season 2 when we have no idea how integral he will become. He says he'll see Jack in another life, and boy was he right. Two of my favorite episodes, 'Flashes Before Your Eyes' and 'The Constant', are Desmond episodes. They also happen to be bookends on the Penny/Desmond arc, taking us through their journey of love, separation, and reconciliation.

6)' The Other 48 Days': Or, where we meet the Tailies. We finally see what happened to the tail section of the plane, learn who was on the other end of Boone's radio, and figure out Rose's husband is a white guy. Of course we also meet Ana-Lucia and Mr Eko, lost some kids, and Cindy, the flight attendant. And certainly don't forget, this is where Shannon gets shot. Which made me mad only in that it made all the time spent with Boone and Shannon fairly pointless.

7) 'Greatest Hits': I had a love/hate relationship with Charlie. I loved him, then hated him in that period where all he did was whine, but then kind of loved him again in the end. The final Charlie-centred episode, where he recalls his five greatest moments, was a beautiful swan song. And even though he didn't actually die until the next episode, we all knew it was coming. Seeing his moments and his good-bye to Claire, was the perfect way for him to go out on top.

8) Locke sees Jacob: Another of the truly terrifying moments was in that cabin when Locke sees Jacob for the first time. Or was it Jacob? Well, I guess we don't know about that, but it added a new level to the mythology, and I loved it.

9) Time Travelling: I love sci-fi. Duh. And there's nothing more sci-fi than time travelling. So last season was particularly fun for me when they were bouncing around time. I don't always understand it (so, Locke gave Richard the watch, which Richard gave to young Locke, who then gave it back, or something like that, and anyway, where did the damn watch come from), but I always like it.

10) They mysteries come and gone: Who are the Others (and the other Others)? What's in the hatch? Who stole Walt? Who was on the Boone's radio? Why is there a polar bear on the island? Why do the Others steal children? Who are Paulo and Nikki? Those are just a few that have had their day in the sun. It's seems so funny now that we speculated for an entire summer about what was in the hatch, but at the time who knew it was Desmond? As we gear up for the last season of debate and mysteries it's fun to go back and think about all we already do know.

There are many more moments that could make that list (a big Honorable Mention to the end of Season 3 when we figure out Jack is in the future-that was a near perfect season finale), but I have to stop somewhere.

I'll be rep-visiting Lost often throughout this season, so for now, enjoy the 'LA X, Parts 1 & 2'!

The Next Lost?: Flash Forward

2009-10-02T16:23:00.006-05:00

The latest show to catch my eye is the new American drama, from ABC (shown on FIVE in the UK) Flash Forward. The basics of the story are that everyone on the planet blacks out for 2 mintues and some odd seconds at the same time, and during this time most (not quite all, or so we have been led to believe at this point) people saw flashes of some future event roughly six months in the future. Everything is in chaos when they wake up, as you'd suspect and people are wondering what now? Why did this happen? Can those that saw great futures ensure they happen, and can those that had not so great futures stop them? Flash Forward has all the elements that generally catch my eye in a tv show: an intriguing and mysterious hook with a seemingly sci-fi twist, attractive actors, great cinematography, and decent writing. Plus, the very famous Jett Jackson, of course. The questions is: haven't I seen this all before?

Perhaps it is precisely because I love these kind of shows that it is getting harder to for me to feel like I am seeing something new. Don't get me wrong, I think the pilot was pretty strong and the acting pretty good. All those British actors (three by my count) pretty much nailed their American accents, and I'll take Joseph Fiennes (Ralph's younger brother) any day. But much of the pilot felt familiar. From the opening scene focusing on a man's face, to a seemingly random but endlessly repeated number (the amount of time people were under), to the use of flashes, I felt the show was trying a little to hard to be the next Lost. Add a hobbit in the mix, and it's practically the same show.

Obviously, I am exaggerating. In fact, I can't fault the show for using flashes as it is the underlying premise for the show, a premise that from the second I heard about it I knew I wanted to watch . And better it try and emulate Lost than something of a lesser quality, like According to Jim. Even with its familiarity, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable experience. One of the major critiques that I had was that the audience is supposed to buy that in six months, not only is the relationship of the two main characters going to fail, but that she is going to let another man move into the house. (I'm not using the character names yet as I haven't seen enough episodes to remember them. So to me they are: Shakespeare and Penny are going to separate, and Penny is going to let Steve move in. Don't worry, as the series moves on, that will change.) But, I'm willing to give the show time to explain that better.

I suspect one of the biggest questions surrounding the show will be its sustainability of the pilot and premise. How will they keep the story moving but not get is six months in the future too quickly? (Are they going to emulate Lost once more in making a whole season be just a few weeks?) Can they keep up the mystery and suspense ? Do the writers and producers have a plan? I've been burned so many times by tv shows, that at this point I'm just going to go with the flow. That didn't work so well for Alias. It's worked out so far with Lost, and since Flash Forward so desperately wants to be Lost, then I'll trust there is a direction, at least for now.

I don't want to be too harsh on Flash Forward, as I really did enjoy the pilot. I suspect that within a few episodes there will be more differences between Flash Forward and Lost than there are similarities. And, if the similarities are good writing, good acting, and a great mystery, all with a helping of sci-fi, then I know I will be a Flash Forward fan for the long haul.

Returning Fall Favorite: Fringe

2009-09-20T14:09:00.008-05:00

Fringe, which just started its sophomore season this week, ranked as one of my favorite shows from last season. From J.J. Abrams, Fringe was a lot of sci-fi fun and it was easily addict-able with strong performances from most of the cast, especially from John Noble as crazy-scientist Walter Bishop. The stories were fun and entertaining, and the first season cliffhanger was brilliant. Apparently controversial in the U.S., but brilliant nonetheless. My main issue last year with the show was that it was often predictable; I often knew the outcome of the show or a twist that was coming many scenes before it was revealed. In fact, the best part of the Season 1 finale was that while I knew what was going to happen before each of the two big reveals, it was only a few seconds before, which leads to that great feeling that you figured something out while still getting to be shocked at the same time. So, how did the the second season kick off? I'd have to say about the same as last year--good fun, but alas, somewhat predictable.
***Season two premiere spoiler alert****

Season two picks up close to where we left off, but not in the same place, i.e., we're not getting answers to soon about that alterna universe Olivia visited. We meet a new character, an FBI agent who we know from summer scoops, is going to be Olivia's new partner. The actress has some work to do, she was a little dull for me, though I will grant you that could be tainted by my love for Kirk Acevedo's character, Charlie. Olivia was in a car accident, but she wasn't present when the FBI were first on the scene. In fact it isn't until later that she comes flying through a window. (UPDATE**I've seen it said that this was the almost-accident that happened at the end of last season. I remember when it happened I wondered what the point was. I don't entirely get it, but I sort of do.) The show tries to get us to think that she is brain dead, but as she's the main character, we all knew this wasn't the case. (And this is not the kind of predictability I was talking about--although this was predictable, it is an often used plot device, and well, you can't be groundbreaking every time.) She comes back to life, says some gibberish (or Greek, as we later find out, something Peter's mom used to tell him), and then realises she can't remember where she went.

From there we meet the 'monster of the week,' this one in the form of a shape shifter who communicates to someone (or something) via a typewriter and a magnifying glass, who tells him to grill Olivia and then kill her. Most likely communicating from different universes. Whilst all this is happening, Walter & Co (and please please give Astrid more to do) are figuring out this shape shifter dude and realise that Olivia is in danger. The shape shifter has shape shifted into her nurse, is prevented from killing Olivia, is chased by Charlie, the new girl, and Peter. Charlie shoots her, Olivia is saved. In the B storyline, there is fear that the Fringe Division will be de-funded, but Peter helps to save the day. All's well that end's well.

Or not, of course. And here is the twist I could have told you was coming a mile away. Perhaps it is because I've watched a lot of sci-fi, and maybe even because I watched a lot of Alias, which is another J.J. Abrams show with a similar feel, but when it turns out that the shape shifter killed Charlie, I wasn't surprised. I was disappointed, because I just knew they were going that way, and was hoping I was wrong. In fact, in the earlier scene where Charlie was talking to Olivia, I kept waiting for him to try and kill her. It is eerily reminiscent of the Evil Faux Francie storyline on Alias, and I really hope it doesn't take all season for it to get sussed out. Also, how was it that the dead body looked like the nurse, but then later the dead body was Charlie? I'm a bit confused on that one, but I'll leave it to the internets to help sort me out.

Still, overall it was a promising entry, and I assume we'll get answers to that other universe Olivia visited soon. Also, what was up with that kiss between Nina and Boyles? And is the shape shifting device that most likely will save the Fringe division going to be used for nefarious means by the US Government? I still put this show high on my list, mainly due to the great cast and well let's face it, I watched Charmed for five years. Need I say more?

They have a lot to tackle moving forward: which Peter do we know, what was the new girl looking at the Bible for, what does it mean that the division seems to be on the offensive now. I am optimistic for the future, but I do hope the writing gets stronger, and that maybe it can surprise me now and then.

Glee

2009-09-11T13:23:00.002-05:00

This is a show that totally describes itself in one word...I feel glee when I watch Glee! This week was the season premiere and was much anticipated after the May teaser. In my opinion, it totally came through in both writing and performances and damn, Lea Michelle can SING. I love her from Spring Awakening and now I love her weekly. Her rendition of 'Take a Bow' is better than the original and I am sure it has iTunes hopping. Maybe I love this show so much because I am a muscial theater junkie and any tv show that has musical numbers is automatically a winner. But, the mass audience seems to agree with me.

Before Mad Men: Dreaming of the 1960s with American Dreams

2009-08-20T13:50:00.008-05:00

My internet has been acting up lately, especially in the evening, making browsing a bit difficult. Since I do a great deal of my television watching, especially my American tv watching online, the slow internets have been impeding my ability to catch up on this past season. I'm still getting it done, just a bit slower than I'd like. As an upshot of this, I have dived into my DVD collection. I don't have even half of my DVDs with me, but a large portion of what I do have, are television shows. One of the shows I have with me that I decided to revisit is the first season of the show American Dreams.

If you don't remember this show, it aired on NBC for three seasons, from 2002-2005. It told the story of the very Catholic (and white) Pryor family in Philadelphia just after the assassination of President Kennedy (which occured at the end of the pilot episode), and to a lesser extent the Walker family (who are black). Meg, the oldest daughter dances on American Bandstand, and this is the way the show brings the music of the era alive. The show also tackles racism and civil rights, feminism, Vietnam, and space. (It also happens to be the show that one of my favorite tv columnists Matt Roush answered my question about, relating to its third season. Yes, I am a huge dork, but *spoiler alert* do go and have a look.)

While I like the first season, the show gets much stronger in the second and third season. It is a little predictable in this season, but always enjoyable. It is sometimes not historically accurate, but I can deal with that in the name of poetic licence. I particularly love how everyone talks over each other. It takes a little getting used to, but that's exactly how life is. The actors of all ages are pretty good, and by the end of the series they are all turning in strong performances. I can't decide who is my favorite character, but I think it is down to Sam Walker and Roxanne, who is Meg's best friend.

The reason I like American Dreams so much are the feelings it invokes in me. As I've been watching the first season, I have had to ask: Is it possible to be nostalgic for an era you weren't alive to experience? Oddly, I seem to miss the 1960s, a decade that was long gone by the time I was born. I suspect this is partially because the 1960s have been "done" so much, in movies, on the tele, in novels, and through our history books, that I think we all feel very familiar with the decade. I tend to think of the sixties as a time for activism, a true the "times they are a changin'" period, and frankly it just seems so much more exciting. I have always wished I could have helped to register voters, marched in civil rights parades, and helped make a difference. Also, can you imagine what it must have been like to see color on the tv for this first time? Obviously the sixties weren't perfect, but man, what I time to live through.

The other main reason why I love this show is it makes me think of my parents. The kids in this show, are my parents--especially my mom' as her family, like this one, was a large Catholic family. I think most anyone with a good relationship with their parents, wonder what their parents were like as teenagers. This show gives me a glimpse, and I think in some ways, it is my parents' youth I am missing. That may be a bit weird, but I've always been one to reflect back on the past (look, I was sad when the 80s ended, okay), and really, reflecting on my parents's past makes sense to me.

American Dreams was sadly cancelled in its third season, and it ended without any type of closure. An alternative ending that helped to tie some things up was filmed, but never aired. As of right now the second and third seasons are not available on DVD, mainly due to all the music copyright issues; the latest bit of information I could scrounge up was that the studio was committed to resolving this and releasing the DVDs.

Really, I think American Dreams is simply making me aware of the passage of time, and how quickly we all grow up. I don't want to be a teenager again, but I'd like to do it now and again. I strongly recommend giving this show a go, for those of you who lived through the 60s, and for those of you who wanted to. I think we all, as the theme song says, deserve a chance to "live inside the spark of life" that was the 1960s.

Summer Viewing

2009-08-03T15:10:00.002-05:00

First of all, I really suck. I haven't blogged here ALL summer. My summer itself has sucked though, so I have some excuse. (I was in the hospital twice, had emergency surgery, was put on bed rest and had to campaign to save my job...all while being pregnant and having a horrible pregnancy!) Disclaimer stated, I have been keeping up on my summer shows, especially So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) and Big Brother. We also rented the entire 2nd season of The Tudors.

SYTYCD: This week is already the finale week of my favorite summer show. I am not a dancer, but I respect the artistry and movement. My favorite couple in the beginning was Randy and Evan and their Butt Dance (thank you Mia!!!) is still the best dance of the season. (Mia's dance always is, in my opinion.) But, I can't believe that Evan is in the finale. Where is this cult following and will they continue to help save Broadway? Sure, he has personality, a spark and can move, but, is he better than Ade? No. We have to remember that the basis of the show is America's Favorite Dancer, not BEST Dancer. Of the remaining 4, I think the other three are amazing. Kayla and her snow white appearance is perfect at every dance, Jeanne has a spunk and sass that Kayla doesn't have and still does every dance perfect. Brandon embodies strength, skill and precision. Who will win? Tune in this week.

Big Brother: The show started a few weeks ago and this year is based on high school clicks. I loved the idea that people that hate each other were stuck on "teams" together, but the show already dissolved the concept, so it didn't have much time to get more interesting. Ronnie, the evil-doer of this season grates my nerves and I hope, with Russell as HOH this week, that he will be sent out the door. There are already enemies, a shomance, BFFs and back stabbing! This is why we love BB.

Finally, the HBO series, The Tudors. Based on the drama of Henry VIII, King of England, this show is amazing. The first season set up his failing marriage to Catherine and his quest to marry Anne Boleyn, thus breaking away from the Catholic Church (divorces are a no-no) and creating a religious divide throughout the world. The 2nd season, which we recently watched, continued this storyline, ushering in a new queen and quest to have a male heir. The passionate courting of Anne turns sour as soon as they are married (go figure) and Henry continues to have affairs with women of the court and create more enemies through politics and religion. Poor Sir Thomas Moore is killed for his moral high ground and allegiance to the Catholic Church and Henry is at the onset of going crazy. Anne Boleyn gives birth to Princess Elizabeth, has two miscarriages and goes a tad crazy herself trying to reclaim her king. The climax of the season ends with her death (this is old news....read a history book!) and Henry's proclamation of Jane Seymour to be his third wife. The current season is on HBO, of which we don't have, so I will probably have to wait until next summer to watch season3. The show is amazing though and I highly recommend it. Great acting, historically (somewhat) correct, beautiful visuals and lots of passion.

40 Years of Sunny Days

2009-07-24T15:53:00.005-05:00

I grew up in a small town in the middle part of America, the kind of town where the same families have lived generations, and everyone mostly looked like each other, which is to say, in my case, this was white. I point this out because for the most part my exposure until 18 or so to people who didn't look like me came from television, and as a small child, specifically from Sesame Street. In May, Sesame Street turned 40 years old, which makes it older than me, and also certainly make me part of the first generation that grew up with Sesame Street.

As someone who loves TV (obviously) it can certainly be easy for me to overstate the importance of a particular show in political or generational terms. And whilst I certainly do not want to say that, for example, Sesame Street is the only reason that Barack Obama was elected president, I think it is fair to say that Sesame Street played a part. So many of the people who elected him were 35 and under, or the Sesame Street generations.

I was an ideal canvas for Sesame Street I suppose. I grew up in a home not hearing racially motivated slurs of any kind, from a class position that would (especially as a kid) have been no higher than middle-middle class, and was generally taught, both in places like school and church, and by example from my parents, that all people were equal. What I lacked was many if any real life examples of People of Color, or even people with a disability. Sesame Street worked fit what I was being taught, and visually showed to me from a young age that Americans are all sorts of people. I think there were many children like me who were just as influence by this message.

Sesame Street was designed to give pre-K children a television learning experience, teaching us basic numbers and our Alphabet while also showing us life on the "Sesame Street." I somehow always knew that Sesame Street was in New York, and that New York was very different than my small town. But it was okay to be from a small town or a big city or somewhere in between! I can, to this day, count to 10 in Spanish, and know that "Hola means Hello." More importantly, because of Sesame Street, I knew that Gordon was Black, Linda was Deaf, Luis was Hispanic, Bob was White, Kermit was Green, and they all were friends with Big Bird, who is six. (I remember when I was six thinking how we were the same age!) Sesame Street has the most integrated cast in television, one that matches its message of acceptance.

Sesame Street has always gotten the biggest stars from film and politics and music, from Tina Fey to Jesse Jackson to Stevie Wonder. Sesame Street isn't "color blind"; it doesn't try and say there are no differences between us, but rather it says, we are all different in some way, and that's okay. I think the brilliance of Sesame Street is that is shows little kids what America should be like, before they realise that America is not like actually like that yet, and as they grow older these kids question why it is not like that. Sesame Street, and its progressive ideas on what America could be, have become part of our collective memories, and in turn, these attitudes have started to seep into our collective generational consciousness. We begin to believe that we can help make our country a bit more like Sesame Street. We are not where we need to be, but at least, we know we should be somewhere else.

Of course, the other great part about Sesame Street is that it is just so darn good! I could post about 20 clips that I love and remember from Sesame Street. Instead, I will stick to five.

1) This video, Me and My Chair, is one of those that has stuck with me after all these years. I certainly don't know why, but I never knew anyone who used a wheelchair when I was young so maybe that's why. Please excuse the bad video, and the bad voice, as I sing along.

2) I had to include this clip, sung by the Pointer Sisters. It routinely shows up in Best of Sesame Street lists. I can't argue because well, it is great. I warn you, it will get stuck in your head.

3) This is perhaps one of the saddest scenes ever in television. Big Bird can't understand that Mr Hooper (or Looper as Big Bird calls him) has died, and that this means he isn't coming back. I am old enough to remember when Mr Hooper was part of the cast and when he died. For some reason I have a memory of watching this at my Grandparents' house. It is a very pragmatic and real way of teaching children about death, and I sob every time I watch it.

4) The music is one of the best parts of Sesame Street, and there are so many I could include. There are the Bee-tles, Tammy Swine-ette, various musical guests, and a great version of Sing (sing a song). But for me, this one, sung by Ernie (and in this version) Aaron Neville, is one of the sweetest expressions of friendship in the form a very melodic, if slightly melancholic tune.

5) One of my absolute favorites, that I remember watching and singing to. It has the line, "my name is you" that I admit that as a kid, I didn't quite get what they meant but man, I totally wanted to play in that park with those kids. Who are all, like, 40 now. This is the perfect expression of "Sesame Street Values" and I for one think the choppy editing and crazy lip syncing add to its charm.

I really could go on and on, but once again, this post is so very long, and I didn't even talk about the Sesame Street records I used to listen to (like the one where Big Bird has to find the Orchestra). A great website to reminisce about Sesame Street is on Babble, where the author has posted 50 top Sesame Street moments, including the time when the adults finally see Snuffy. As one can see, when I love a television show, it is very easy for me to be idealistic and long winded!

So, I'll wind it up, with just one exaltation left to say: Happy Birthday Sesame Street, thanks for the memories, and keep up the good work.

I'm back!

2009-07-09T09:58:00.003-05:00

After a very long break I am back! I apologise for being gone for so long. The short explanation as to why I've been gone is that I was spending nearly all of my free time applying to jobs, and after spending hours writing applications I just didn't have any thoughts in my brain. Also, I wasn't really watching much television, which is a problem for a blog about TV. As for why I have now emerged the easy answer is: I found a job in London. So, while I be working a full-time schedule, my free time is now mine again. Finally.

I have so much TV to catch up on, and my goal is to be caught up by the time the Fall Season starts in the US. This is probably too ambitious, but my goals generally are. (Remember that one where I was going to blog more often?) Anyway, here is my list of shows to catch up on (I will also take any suggestions if one of your favorites is not on the list):

Fringe
Chuck
Dollhouse
30 Rock
The Office
Ashes to Ashes
Mad Men
Scrubs
True Blood
How I Met Your Mother

Watching these will of course depend much on how easily I can access them, as well as how much time I ultimately have. I love television, but I won't spend ALL of my free time watching it. At least, it won't be healthy for me to do that.

The two shows I have been able to watch are Lost (I've seen the whole season) and Battlestar Galactica (just three more episodes in the series to go for me. I think I haven't finished them as I don't want it to actually be over). So, I will be writing some thoughts on those, most likely making me the slowest blogger on television in the land. I have some other posts in the works as well, and I hope to do my part in making this an actual working blog.

Thanks for your patience.

LOST & Heroes

2009-04-23T14:32:00.003-05:00

Does anyone else think that both LOST and Heroes are FINALLY getting GOOD this season? I almost gave up on Heroes and my patience paid off two weeks ago. The whole storyline of scary secret governmental group hunting down the heroes was getting really old. Then, Mrs. Petrolli has herself a vi son (or dream in her case) and everything perked up by actually doing back in time to 1961...the beginning of everything. Cool. I loved the b/x footage and the details and links that it finally uncovered. And, she has a sister? Nathan and Peter have an aunt? Interesting. More interesting is the fact that she can control weather. WTF?!?! How cool and scary would that be?

Then, the Skyler storyline finally gets interesting as well. Thankfully. Now, a shape shifter, he is unstoppable, and a tad crazy. This week's episode of him becoming his mother was a bit Freudian to me, but interesting none-the-less. And, Rebel is a kid...how will that play out? Especially now that Skyler is working with Rebel. I am gearing up for the finale and I think it will be a Dosey. Let's hope that next season doesn't take as long to pick up before people tend to ship out.

And LOST. Always the crazy, storyline-on-acid, what-the-hell-just-happened moments is picking up as well. Are these writers in cahoots? Ben confronting the smoke was a tad cool, his dead daughter throwing him against the wall as neato-frito. Ben being shot as a kid and saved by Kate, didn't see that coming. Nor did I see the Darma-labcoat leader being the father of the guy who communicates with dead people! Whoa.

Overall, as both shows are wrapping up for the season, they are finally giving something for people to talk about. I just hope that the finales solve some of the mysteries that both shows have been dragging along for awhile.

End of an era, FX rebirth and keeping reality.

2009-04-07T14:03:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday marked the end of an era in the land of television. Whether you watched it or didn't, everyone has heard of ER. (note Sara's great recap of 15 years below!) It was on the air for 15 years, breaking the mold of tv dramas, catapulting stars like George, Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle and Eriq La Salle. I had high, high hopes for the series finale. I am a crier. I always cry at the end of a series. I feel like my friends are no more, my weekly "connection" to these people is no longer on my calendar, or DVR. But, I was slightly disappointed with the finale. I felt like it was disjointed and disconnected from the end of an era expectations. It played much like a typical episode with some old characters thrown in for good measure. The previews made it seem like a cry-fest and that it was not. The only thing that I was pleasantly surprised with and my "ohhh" moment of the 2 hr episode was the addition of Dr. Green's daughter, now an adult about to enter medical school and to continue the craft through the next generation. That was wonderful, a tad teary-eyed moment, as Rachel sneaked across the screen and I recognized her before she was pointed out. But that was pretty much it. I am sad to see it go, but even sadder to see it go without the pomp that it deserved.

My favorite channel on tv is probably FX for its cutting edge dramas and breaking the typical story lines and nature of tv shows. Each episode plays like a mini movie. Last week was the conclusion of Damages Season 2 and it again, left you on the edge of your seat until the end. You never know how something is going to turn out and when you think you have it figured out, well, quite frankly, you will be wrong. Patty was not shot by Ellen but was actually stabbed in the elevator by random trades guy?!?! Who the hell saw that coming? No one. And if you say you did, you lie. The corrupt FBI agent actually gets a bit of karma and is arrested at the end. Yea, not so much of a guess there either. This is probably the best, well written tv show on tv because it throws curve ball every second. Now that Damages is over, it is time for Rescue Me. Finally. It has been a long time since our not-so-faithful, messed-up-in-the-head, firefighters rejoin the small screen. This season brings a new addition of a French female reporter/writer. Anyone watch The L Word? If you do, then you will recognize this sultry bombshell. Tune in tonight to see who I mean.

In the world of reality tv, so much is going on, yet not much is exciting. This season seems hard for me to connect to the "characters" of Survivor, Amazing Race, Dancing Stars and probably something else I am forgetting. The only season I am truly loving is Biggest Loser. I love the people this season and the game-drama is finally starting, although there are record weight losses, so that in of itself is success. And, Allison had her baby, so that makes for good tv too. I do think that Bob needs a break. That poor guy is starting to lose it this season and maybe after years of drama without a break (remember, Jill was gone for 2 seasons) he is becoming erratic and crazy in the head. But, regardless, I love you Bob.

Well, that is about it in a nutshell. I haven't talked this season about 24. Maybe that will be my next post. Jack Bauer probably deserves his own entry because as everyone knows, Jack Bauer is the bomb. if you have missed any of this shows, you can always check out http://www.hulu.com/. It is a great way to catch up without being tied to the couch! Until next time...

Saying Au Revior to ER

2009-03-30T12:41:00.010-05:00

I wrote my first television related article about E.R.; long before blogs, websites, or my family owning a VCR, I compared and reviewed E.R. and Chicago Hope for my high school newspaper, the "Eye of the Dragon." (For those of you not inclined to remember Chicago Hope, it too was a show about doctors in a Chicago hospital, although that is where the similarities ended).

Somewhere between there and here, I blinked, and 15 years went by. I am sure in some ways my 15 year-old self would not believe who she has become, or where she has gone--Jamaica, London, Leavenworth! But, some things have remained steadfast these many years, including, and amongst other things, my wicked laugh, worrying too much what people think of me, and of course my love of watching and writing about television. So, as E.R. officially ends tonight, I thought I should pay tribute to the show that gave me my start.

When E.R. first aired, I hadn't seen anything like it--fast-paced, quick dialogue, and so many cute men in one show (hey, I was 15!). I remember instantly liking the show, and also, instantly liking Dr. Carter. I had a total crush on him, and wanted to, like, marry him. The funny thing about E.R., is that, unlike Arrested Development or Sports Night, I can't really quote it, and I don't remember whole plots. But, I remember moments and, most of all, characters.

Par example:
I remember that Mark had a thing for Susan, but at the time was married to Jennifer, who had an affair with a guy in Milwaukee. Then Jennifer left Mark (taking Rachel, their daughter), but at this point, Susan was leaving, because her sister Chloe had a baby and was a junkie. This led to a great scene on a train but Susan still left (because for some reason Sherry Stringfield thought she'd get a better show?), and I always thought Susan and Mark would someday get together, in a very special episode. But, when she came back, it was too late (because, really, they never thought Sherry Stringfield would be back) Mark had ended up with Elisabeth, who dated Benton for awhile, but not before Peter and Carla had Reece (who was deaf) and Carla died. Not to mention Doug and Carole, who were never together, but always meant to be, but first he left, she had twins (Doug was the baby daddy), she flirted with Luka, but then moved to be with Doug. That is the same Luka, who ended up with Abby, but first Abby dated Carter.All of this from memory, btw, there was no episode guide cheating.

Also, these (in no particular order):

1) Love's Labor's Lost--a frequently cited episode from the first season, where a pregnant lady dies in childbirth because of a Mark Greene error. It truly did make me cry my eyes out, and it also starred Bradely Whitford who would later become a regular on the West Wing.
2) Lucy and Carter get stabbed, and Lucy dies--Long before killing off regular characters became 'trendy' it was a shock when Lucy (Kelly Martin) died from stab wounds inflicted in the E.R. by a patient suffering from a mental illness. It was sad and great and we still miss her. Also, it sort of killed Kelly Martin's career.
3) The evolution of Doug and Carole--Carole, who was supposed to die in the pilot episode, was always more mature than Doug. She knew she loved him, and she knew she couldn't change him. Doug always loved Carole, but he needed to change on his own. And it took five years, his departure, and twins, to get them together. But, boy, when they got together, in Carole's last episode and with a surprise George Clooney at the end, it was great. It probably also marked the end of the best E.R. had to offer.
4) Ewan McGregor on E.R.--He showed up in a 'very special episode' in 1997 as a convenience store robber and Carole totally dug him. He totally had a sexy accent and was conflicted in a sexy way and he died. Of course. It was all very sexy.
5) Dr. Ramano loses him arm. I have to say, this was prob. the beginning of the end for me. When he lost his arm from a helicopter wing, E.R. crossed the line into just too much drama to be in good taste. I had stopped watching by the time he died from being crushed by a helicopter and yet somehow I know he did. So, I guess this moment wasn't good, but it was memorable.

There are many more than these, but if I wrote all my E.R. memories, this already way too long post would stretch the limits of blogspot's bandwith. I watched E.R. for many years, because first it was great and then it was good, and then because it was habit. I really only quit when I moved to a place where I couldn't watch as much television as I used too, and some things had to go. But I still checked in occasionally, like when the girl from Bend it Like Beckham was added to the cast, or the cute kid from Once and Again. Now that there is only one more episode, I have to check out the return of George Clooney and Julianna Margulies and Eriq La Salle and Noah Wyle. It will be 1994 all over again.

E.R. always was able to make me laugh, but more often, it sure could make me cry. All of my favorite episodes/moments made me cry. (Okay, except for that Ramono one.) E.R. brings the emotions like no other show ever has, and for that it will always have a place in my heart. It still does, evidenced by the fact that within 10 minutes of the most recent episode I watched, I was bawling.

All of this is then, a really long, convoluted, way of saying good-bye to E.R. Good-bye to a show that saw me through high school and my 10 year high school reunion. Good-bye to a show that started when wearing flannel was cool. It is part of my television history, and part of the history of television. And also, just in case you think I am waxing just a wee bit too much poetic for a television show, let's not forget-- it also made George Clooney famous--and for that we must truly be grateful.

So, good-bye E.R. and your crazy, very special, extra dramatic story lines. We'll miss you!

(No Longer) Weekly Video Clip: The West Wing

2009-03-19T05:59:00.009-05:00

I've been spending a lot of time doing research, looking for jobs, etc. on the Internet; in my flat I can only get the Internet downstairs, which is bad news when I need to be in a quiet space to get stuff done. But, it's good news when I want to watch some TV while I sit on the computer. I've been itching for something familiar and good and lately, I've been watching old episodes of the West Wing.

A long time ago, when the West Wing was still on the air and TV on DVD was in its infancy, I decided that I really really wanted the West Wing on DVD. Except that there was no option for it in the United States. The U.S. was in fact, a little bit behind on this phenomenon in regards to other countries, especially the United Kingdom. So I did some checking and found that the U.K. had the first two seasons on DVD. I think we were probably in the midst of the third season, so this is how long ago it was. Of course the problem was the DVDs were encoded for Region 2, and I was living in a Region 1 world. But, after even more checking and research (thank goodness for slow days and Internet at Cingular Wireless in the early 2000s), I purchased a region free DVD player. Which then allowed me to spend a God-knows-what-and-I-don't-want-to-even-try-to-remember amount of money on said first two seasons of the West Wing from Amazon UK. Of course eventually, about a year or two later, they did finally release the West Wing on DVD in the U.S. I never bought the other seasons, and then my DVD player stopped working, and thus the DVDs started gathering dust.

So flash forward about eight years and I find myself living in a Region 2 world, with a bunch of Region 1 DVDs. Except, and I am sure you have guessed it by now, my lovely lovely West Wing DVDs. So, I brought them back to the U.K. after Christmas and to bring it back to the first paragraph, started watching them.

The West Wing in its heyday makes for some of the best television ever. It is dramatic and funny and well-acted. It is of course, well-written, and I am sure it comes as no surprise that I love it. It was after all, created by Aaron Sorkin, one of my favorites, who will always have a special place in my television heart because of Sports Night. The first two seasons were its heyday, before season three which began its slow drop off. It regained some of its grandeur in the last season, but nothing can match the first two.

I love the show for its fast talking and walking, its look at politics, and for its late '90s, early '00s fashion. I also love it for its ability to make me cry. The clip below is from the second season, "The Stackhouse Filibuster." It is one of my favorite episodes of TV ever. It brings politics, dorky rules and procedures like the filibuster rules, and heart-string pulling all together. The short synopsis is that the White House is about to pass a health care bill, but Senator Stackhouse, a 78- year-old Democrat whom the White House doesn't take seriously, is holding up the vote. The story is told with voice overs of various staffers (CJ, Josh, and Sam) writing their parents. It is finally figured out that he simply wants autism research added to the bill, because he has an autistic grandson. When the White House finally comes to this conclusiont, they decide to help him, which leads to the resulting scene:

Ok, I suck AND I have a problem.

2009-03-04T13:52:00.004-06:00

I maintain 3 blogs; 2 for personal use, 1 for work and this is the blog I have the hardest time keeping up with. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my DVR, let alone write about everything I am struggling to watch. Here is a current list of "my shows" that I watch every week and it is too vast for one person...is there a 12 step program?

Brothers & Sisters
Amazing Race
24
Gossip Girl
Heroes
Biggest Loser
Nip/Tuck (one down, although it will soon be replaced in my schedule with Rescue Me)
Idol
Lost
Top Chef (yet another now off my programming)
Damages
Lie To Me (a newbie to the season and we really like it in my household)
Bones
Ugly Betty
L Word
Grey's
Private Practice
ER
Survivor
Hell's Kitchen
CSI (original, Vegas baby)
Numbers
Doll House (another newbie from genius Joss of Buffy...still on the fence about this one)

I am sure I have missed at least one or two, but do you now see my problem? I do work fulltime, "run" my household, try to exercise on the Wii Fit and I do love to read. (finished the entire Twilight series since Christmas) I need more hours in the day. Reality is my priority in my viewing order, next is FX dramas (because they are SO good), followed by network dramas. As you can see, comedies fall no where on the list...not one sitcom b/c I can only record so much. And, obviously, as I know, it is too much.

In explanation of...

2009-02-01T08:48:00.005-06:00

...why I don't post as much as I'd like. It's mainly because right now I'm really busy, but it's a bit more than just busy. The short of it: I'm still living in London, and trying to find a job in the charity sector. I'm working full-time someplace else, and trying to apply for jobs and volunteer all at once in my 'free time.' I really want to post, and I have great 'future post' ideas, but sometimes I'm just not physically able to get to it. I'm hoping that I get a job soon, so that I don't have to apply for jobs. And boy with that time, you better watch out!

I know I've promised Lost and Battlestar, and I hope I get to write it soon. I've been watching Lost, and I am loving it. I actually haven't managed to see any of the BSG yet, but I'm hoping to work that at soon.

But, for now, I've posted a clip for the weekly video clip. This one is from Sports Night, which holds the title of Co-Favorite Television Show EVER in my book. It's just a short clip where Dan realizes that someone he thought was crazy, wasn't actually crazy. The short story behind this clip is that Bobbi (the girl in the clip) always claimed that Dan spent a 'night of passion' with her in Spain, but then he never called. Dan has always claimed he never went to Spain, and thus couldn't have done this. This clip exposes some of Dan's "misconceptions" of the situation.

Here's the clip

This clip doesn't actually show my favorite part, the part which showcases why I love this show so much. Sports Night has a great way of showing a character being wrong, realising it, apologizing, and actually be a better person because of said apology. It's the part where Dan apologizes: "What a jerk I was. I should have called you. If my not calling you made you feel like any less than what you are...I'm sorry." To which Bobbi simply says, "Thank you."

Weekly Video Clip: Tobias Funke

2009-01-23T06:13:00.000-06:00

Welcome to a new addition on the blog: the Weekly Video Clip, or WVC. This is, obviously, where I (and Jen) put a video on the blog. Also, we reserve the right to show more than one clip a week. Plus, if you can think of a better than that "Weekly Video Clip" do give me the suggestion.

You Tube is a great thing because it allows us to see clips of things that we thought we might never see again, like great old commercials. It is also a venue for people to show their creativity with editing.

So, to start of this feature off, here is one of my favorite characters, in one of my favorite shows of all time. Yes, you had to know I was going to start of with Arrested Development. Specifically, Tobias Funke and his, shall we say, peculiar way of speaking.

15 hours in one day.

2009-01-20T21:15:00.004-06:00

What can make a person watch 15 hours of tv in one day? The election of a new president. The election of hope. A season of change.

Today's coverage is unprecidented and I took the day off from work to revel in history and soak in the festivities. I watched NBC from 7am-7pm and for the past two hours I have been watching ABC for the Neighborhood Ball. Now I am watching a recap of the day with Diane and Charlie. Today was a day to be proud to be an American, proud to witness progress and proud to be a tv junkie. I love it all.

BSG is here! Lost is almost here!

2009-01-17T13:23:00.008-06:00

The last season of Battlestar Galactica got underway yesterday in the States, and while I haven't seen it yet, I hope to soon. I just need to find it (in ways we aren't going to speak of), and then we'll chat. Lost starts up next week for its penultimate season, and let's just say, I CAN NOT WAIT. I have already purchased my Season's Pass on iTunes (thanks in large part to a gift card someone gave me), and am ready for the shows to begin downloading. Let's hope iTunes is better at it this year, than they were last season.

I love both of these shows for their suspense, their quest for answers, and let's face it, for their sci-fi-ness. I haven't opined a great deal about these two shows, other than that I love them. I'm going rectify that (hopefully) each week as I see the new episodes, and try and explain what it is that is great about them. Maybe I can even get some of you who won't watch BSG because you think that people in space is just where you have to draw your sci-fi line, to change your mind.

I'm also looking forward to the new Joss Whedon show, Dollhouse, and seeing if it lives up to Buffy, Firefly, and Angel.

A lot more to come as the real tv season for me heats up!

A week of new tv...

2009-01-09T13:17:00.002-06:00

I am ashamed to say that I have hardly watched ANY tv this week, a week full of new episodes and the return to some favorites. I know my DVR is full to the brim, but I just haven't been home... I was so looking forward to Damages on Wednesday, but have not watched it. Nor I have watched Top Chef, Grey's, Private Practice, ER, and I know there are others. I hope to have time to catch up, but with my work schedule this weekend, it looks like Monday will be the soonest I can get to it. OH, and 24 offically returns this Sunday. I *heart* Jack Bauer and can't wait to him in action once more!!!

Damages Returns....

2009-01-06T13:29:00.002-06:00

One of the best shows on tv, starring an amazing cast led by Glenn Close returns for its second season Wednesday (tomorrow!) at 10 p.m. EST on FX. I will be sure to post my thoughts after the season premiere.

Better Late Than Never: Sara's Best of 2008...

2009-01-02T23:04:00.002-06:00

I’m a little late to the “Best of 2008” game, but I decided to go ahead and join in on the fun. I picked my Top 5 TV shows/moments this year, and while admittedly, I did not get to watch as much television as would have liked to, I think it’s a pretty good list. So, for what it is worth, here they are:

1) Lost
I have always been a big supporter of Lost, never missing an episode. I watched this entire season via iTunes, which was sometimes frustrating as I waited for each new episode to become available. This was the season that Lost showed its true sci-fi feathers (and I for one couldn’t be more happy), picked up the story telling pace, gave us a few answers and more mystery, got Penny and Desmond back together, and generally got its groove back. All those that left came crawling back, and those of us that stayed go to be smug about staying. He he. I can’t wait for the new season, and I suspect it will be one of the things that will get me through the dreary London winter.

2) Summer Heights High
My most recent post tells you why I love it, and it ranks as my best find of 2008. It also is my first non-American or English show to fall in love with, and is indicative of what I get see while in England. Hopefully this will lead to some exciting new posts.

3) The calling of California, Washington, and Hawaii for Barack Obama on the BBC, and the subsequent election coverage…
On a cold November morning, at 4 am GMT, thousands of miles away from my country, and in the quiet of my living room, I watched history being made. The BBC had a countdown, the calling of the win, and then just showed the jubilation, sans commentary for a few minutes. It was the best way to cover it since the election itself had all the pieces to a good drama, with suspense, a history making aspect, and most of all great dialogue. I was glued to the television that night through Obama’s speech, and after some sleep, all the next day. I can say it is a television moment (and a life moment) I will never forget.

4) Battlestar Galactica
While not its best year, it still delivers better than most. With great acting, generally great storytelling, and the weight of a penultimate season, it, like Lost, has me biting my nails to see what’s next. This leads me to ask of you, once again, please rent the DVDs from previous seasons, realize what a great show this is, and give it the send off it deserves.

5) Comparing the two Life on Mars
I tried not to do it, but do it I did. As a major fan of the BBC’s Life on Mars, I just couldn’t help comparing the American version to the original. Once I realized I was going to compare, I embraced it, and went all out. It was fun to be in the know on many storylines, to wonder about the differences in the two shows and why they were made, argue with myself on the merits of John Simm v. Jason O’Mara, or more importantly Philip Glenister v. Harvey Keitel, and to wonder just how different the ending will be.

A television related highlight for me, that didn’t occur on TV, was being a featured blogger on TV Guide.com. Unfortunately, TV Guide.com has ended that community, but it was fun while it lasted! It was for my post, originally published here, about how hard it is to watch tv legally. I was going to link to it, but it seems to have disappeared. In fact I see there are a lot of changes at that website, and I'm not sure I like it. But, that's another whole post!

I should also give Ashes to Ashes, Lost in Austen, The Bill, Fringe, and SNL’s election coverage aHonorable Mentions, for entertaining me greatly this past year.

I also cannot let the new year pass without some Two Girls in Love, with TV resolutions. The first being: BLOG MORE OFTEN. The rest are a little more nuanced, and start with watching Mad Men, catching up with 30 Rock, discovering new British shows, and oh did I mention, BLOG MORE OFTEN.

I am also really going to work to increase the readership of the blog, so if you read please comment and send your friends on over here. I promise there will be posts on a more regular basis.

I will see you all soon. Happy New Year!

The Best (or Worst) of British, (or in this case Australian on British), TV: Summer Heights High

2008-12-18T14:29:00.027-06:00

No offence, but the best show I've seen lately is Australian. To be specific, Summer Heights High, which is a fabulous faux-documentary from creator, writer, actor, and all around funny man, Chris Lilley that is playing in London right now. Summer Heights High tells the 'story' of one term at the high school of the same name, specifically focusing on three characters: Ja'mie, Mr. G, and Jonah.

And here is where it gets funny. Lilley plays all three characters, and he plays them to perfection. Ja'mie is spending the semester at Summer Heights High in an exchange program with an exclusive private school. In Ja'mie (pronounced Ja-may, btw) Lilley has perfected that popular girl, "I'm better than you" stereotype. Her favorite phrase is, "no offence, but...(insert totally offensive phrase such as, "private school kids are smarter than public school kids") and "That's so totally random."

Mr. G, has been newly appointed as the Head of Drama, ahem "Head of Performing Arts, spread it" and he is over-the-top. He thinks he is teaching the most important subject, and is the most popular teach on campus. Please don't confuse him with the truth. He is currently producing and directing a play he wrote on an unfortunate death of a student, Annabelle Dickinson, due to a drug overdose ("She's got a bad habit, a bad habit for drugs"). Although he could barely remember her, he found that "the character of 'Mr. G' has become a larger role in the musical than originally planned." He also owns a little Pomeranian, prances around talking about the Centre for Performing Arts he wants to build (multi-million dollar, glass windowed, state-of-the-art, facility), and reserves the gym at all hours of the day, making him not the favorite person of the P.E. teacher.

Jonah is a "troubled Pacific Islander" who has been expelled from several schools. He's the 'smart but not living up to his potential' character, from a minority and marginalised group. He meets with the counsellor on a regular basis, and has written his own "behavioural contract," which he always breaks. Jonah has some of the most awesome lines, including "Puck You" and "Are you on your period, miss."

Lilley has captured typical high school life in Australia (which is similar to what I remember from my high school life in the U.S.) and has in the spirit of Arrested Development (because you know I had to go there) taken it to the extreme. Ja'mie regularly cracks me up at just how self-centered she is, and yet there is much truth to her relationship with the girls at the public school. The story line where Ja'mie was trashing the 'bogan' public school girls to her private school friends via MSN, and the ensuing fight, was eerily reminiscent of my high school years. It also shows the weird kind of power the leader of a group of girls has over her 'posse,' for whatever reasons. Mr. G, is just the poor, self-centered, over-confident, soul who is teaching drama instead of performing on Broadway, but he makes the best of it by being the cattiest teacher out there. Jonah is actually the most realistic portrayal, the way he lowers his eyes when not telling the truth, acts out when he is uncomfortable, and is always causing problems. All three characters make me laugh out loud, and I can't say that I have a favorite, though I know I have a soft spot for Jonah. I just want him to get it together, and be loved. And to answer your question: yes, I know he is fictional, and that if he actually got it together he wouldn't be half as funny.

Lilley is extremely talented and previously produced the television series We Can Be Heroes where the character of Ja'mie was introduced. (As soon as I can get my hands on that series, I'm sure I'll be writing about it too). I have to thank my Aussie flatmate for pointing out the series that has become "Sara's Latest Obsession." Summer Heights High is currently being aired in England, at 9:30 pm on Mondays, on BBC3, and in the United States, at 9:30 pm central time, on HBO. I wanted to include a clip montage of all the characters, but I couldn't really find one that was appropriate. I've embedded one of my favorite Jonah exchanges, from the first episode, which has the "I said puck you, miss, with a p." I will warn you that this clip is unedited and contains some choice words that sound like puck, but begin with a different letter.

On an unrelated note, I really must apologise for the total lack of posting in the past month or so. I've been having a tough time work wise and just simply didn't have the energy for posting. Things are calming down in that regard, and I really hope I'm through the worst. So, that coupled with the imminent return of Lost, means more posting for Sara.

Ok, enjoy Jonah, and go watch (however you can, I don't judge) Summer Heights High. And, "spread it" to all your friends. Otherwise, and "no offence," but "puck you."

A big week in reality.

2008-12-17T20:54:00.002-06:00

I must confess that I love reality tv. Not the crass, attention-seeking losers that adorn the hours on MTV or VH1, but the "quality" shows of the main networks; Biggest Loser, Survivor, Amazing Race, etc. I LOVE competition shows! Not competitions to sleep around or fall in "love" with strangers but real competitions/challenges that these 3 shows thrive on. Now all of my shows have ended the fall season and 2 out of the 3 shows ended with my favorite people winning!

First of all, I *heart* Bob from Survivor. I am so glad that the good guy finally won. Not only the oldest ever winner, but the most (as it appears) intelligent, kind-hearted, crafty (in a good way), humble and honest. I have watched Survivor for years and I have never been so happy to see all of the drama unfold and the best person win. Suzie is nice, but just that, nice. Not much game play, no out-witting, no out-playing. Only out-lasting. Sugar was a great competitor and actually one of the strongest players, but she burned many of bridges to get there and didn't receive one vote. Not even a pity vote. Bob won both the competition and the viewer vote, walking away with not only a million, but a million, one hundred thousand. I think that is the first time that one person won both. Very telling. Bob, if you were my physics teacher, I may have liked science.

Amazing Race, my all-time favorite show ended, and pouting Star and her brother won. Not my favorite. But, out of the top three, I guess they were the best competitors. My favorite team ended up in forth place, not good enough for the finale. I still think this is the best reality show on tv and the Emmys consistently agree. I always cry at the finales, with the teams running in through the past competitors; cheesy, but good tv.

And lastly, Biggest Loser ended last night. I am SO thankful America for not voting Heba in the finale. I voted for Ed because both wanted Heba to win. Therefore, she did not deserve it, in my opinion. Ed blew the last challenge to allow his wife an easy in. Not so fast buster. You deserved it to! Vicki is reality tv's Satan; evil-playing, down-right mean, crass and did I say evil? Amy should have voted her out when she had the chance. Therefore, Michelle was my fav to win, and win she did!!! The girl lost 110 pounds, but more importantly, found her voice, her confidence and self-esteem. Reality tv at its best!

Mackey, I miss you.

2008-12-08T14:37:00.003-06:00

Last month The Shield ended its series. I already miss my illegal, crupt and twisted friends from one of FXs (not to mention any channels) best shows. Mackey was the perfect 21st century character; a villian who every once and awhile, pulled at heart strings and makes the viewer actually feel sorry for the money-stealing, gang befriending, killing icon. The gritty, well directed, well acted, well written show broke the way for hour-long cable drama. Since then, it paved the way for Rescue Me, Damages, Nip/Tuck and all other excellent FX dramas. (Damages starts back up in January and I CAN'T WAIT!)

The Shield was tv acting at its best. The series finale left my jaw open, as his web of decict and stabbing left him exactly where he should be; alone. What a tangled web you weave Mackey, when first you practice to deceive. Good-bye my evil friend. Have fun working for the Feds in a small cubicle with no family, no friends and no issued firearm.

Thanks

2008-11-27T03:02:00.004-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, with some extra special Thanksgiving love to my Two Girls blogger, Jen, because (especially of late) she's kept this blog going.

Have a safe, warm, and fulfilling Thanksgiving if you are American or living in the U.S., and well, a safe, warm, and fulfilling normal day if you aren't!

More cancelations.

2008-11-23T09:44:00.002-06:00

It was announced on Nov 22 that three additional shows have been canceled, one of which I think is one of the best shows on tv. It should be a crime. 'Dirty Sexy Money' and the wonderfully dysfunctional Darlings will no longer grace my Wednesday nights. Boo hoo. Another show with great writing, great characters, and a fab storyline is on the chopping block. What is wrong with people? The additional shows that NBC has announced as canceled is Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies. Private Practice, the Grey's spin-off is moving time slots to Thursday night from Wednesday night. I think that is a good sign that the show will continue as it is now the follow-up to the most popular show on tv, Grey's Anatomy. I anticipate there will be more big studio cuts in the weeks that follow, but hopefully no more of my regular programming will be tinkered with.

To cancel or not to cancel

2008-11-20T19:32:00.002-06:00

Last week I was mildly upset at the news that 'lipstick jungle' had been canceled. We have been fans since it premiered last year on NBC and actually look forward to the progressive, successful, sassy and beautiful ladies. The three main characters have wonderful story lines, great wardrobes and drama, drama, drama. So, what's the problem? Why do they not have a fan base? Of all the chickflick books out there, including "Lipstick Jungle" you would think that those loyal readers would also view the tv shows. Guess I am the only one.

Today on people.com I read a story that Brooke Shields said that the show has not yet been canceled. So, what's the deal? Is it canceled, or is it not? Accordingly to the article, the show was guaranteed 13 episodes and they are simply continuing to tape those remaining episodes. I would like to know one way or another if the three women that we tend to send our Friday nights with are in fact, going away into tv heaven.

Guilt and Politics

2008-11-10T19:31:00.004-06:00

I am offically a bad blogger. I intended to blog AT LEAST every week, but alas, I have not kept up with my end of the deal. I do love tv, and I do watch too much. I just need to type more.

Less than a week ago I was watching the election results, counting up electorial votes, red/blue states and biting my nails. Happily, it seemed to end early around 10pm central time...no hanging chads, recounts or shadiness. I, once again, am proud to be an American, it has been awhile. Although, even as a midwest girl, I am vastly disappointed in the citizens of California and the crazy power of crazy christians. What does gay marriage have to do with heterosexual marriage? It's about equality and second-class citizens. But, I digress.

I am currently watching "Dancing with the Stars" as I type this, and I am so glad that the remaining duos can actually dance. After this, will be Gossip Girl, which I am LOVING this season. I heard rumors that Jenny's character is being groomed for a break-off show. Not loving the crazy black eye make-up or prep girl turned grunge, but I love the storyline. I still feel like it is too mature for a highschool show and I am not sure how I feel about my much younger sibs watching it, but in this case, bad is good. (btw, who in high school was clubbing at martini bars?)

VOTE

2008-11-04T13:48:00.002-06:00

Because it is finally Election Day in the United States, and because the election will be covered on television, then consider this your twogirlsinlove friendly public service message: PLEASE VOTE.

Oh, and believe in hope. I know we do around here.

Is the "Life on Mars?"

2008-10-18T15:54:00.004-05:00

I hope you will forgive me for the bad pun that is the title, and if it hasn't made you roll your eyes too much, I hope you will continue reading. I do also realize the title is in reference to the David Bowie song not the red planet that is our neighbor in this universe, but not being one to pass up obvious puns, I just couldn't help myself.

What follows is a fairly lengthy post that covers generally the first two episodes of the U.S. Life on Mars. It isn't too spoilery, but if you don't want to know anything about the second episode please proceed with caution.

We are now two episodes into the new Life on Mars staring Jason O'Mara, Harvey Keitel, and Grethen Mol. Oh, and that Soprano's Guy. This has been the new show I have been most excited to watch, and in the interest of full disclosure this is partially because I loved the UK Life on Mars. And, despite my best efforts to NOT compare the two, I realize that was sort of impossible. (Just like if the UK decided to do a TV show called Lost about survivors of a plane crash, there is no way I couldn't compare it to you know, Lost). So, I decided to stop fighting this desire to not compare. Hopefully, I have at least compared on merit and not because it isn't the UK Life on Mars.

In answer to my title, yes I think there is Life on Mars. If you are not familiar with the story line the gist is that a modern-day New York City cop, Sam Tyler, is somehow transported back to the early 1970s after a car accident. The first episode was nearly a carbon copy of the original, but it was done well. The one part near the end, that was not a carbon copy is a very interesting change; I am withholding judgment on this change until later in the season to decide if this change is indicative of a larger one in the overall premise of the show. For now I will file it under the "Things that make you go hmmm" category, and I promise to revisit it at a later date.

Life on Mars is well shot, well-acted, and at least so far, well-written. I have not had any moments where I thought something happened too conveniently or was used as a plot device. In short, it as all seemed very organic. I liked it and I want to see more.

At the basic level this show is about relationships; the crime of the week is a way of examining the relationships Sam has with people both present and past (or present and future depending on how you want to look at it). The most interesting and important of these, in my opinion, is the one that develops between Sam and Gene Hunt, the Lieutenant in charge of the 125 Division. They are certainly a ying and a yang; Sam is meant to be more nuanced and a thinker, Gene is more simply brute force. That the technology (or lack thereof) of the 1970s dictates a different way of policing than it does in late 2000s has a lot to do with these basic differences. Sam and Gene are at first very antagonistic toward each other, but as shown in the second episode, are growing to respect each other. Gene's character is very revealing of Sam's inner-character in the UK edition, we'll see how it is in this one.

The other relationship I was most drawn to in the UK series is that of Annie the 1970s woman who wants to be in the force at a time when women were not doing this. As a feminist, I always loved Annie's character, and was often frustrated at the obstacles she had to face. Sam, being from a world where women are very involved (if not yet completely equal) in the force, more naturally believes in Annie's abilities. They grow quite close and I will be interested in to see where this relationship goes in the new one.

There are two major differences I have found between the editions, outside of the fact that the original is only a little over 20 episodes total. (I've already talked about what this means for UK shows versus American ones, so I won't bore you again.) The first is the character of Gene Hunt. Phillip Glenister has done a wonderful job of portraying this man first in Life on Mars and now in the current series Ashes to Ashes. Gene Hunt is the only character I've really ever seen this actor in, so for me he is Gene Hunt. This makes it difficult for me to form an opinion of Harvey Keitel's portrayal of Hunt. First off, being more familiar with Keitel's resume and the type of characters he plays, I find it hard for me to warm to him. After the first episode it was sort of difficult for me to see how Sam and Gene were going to build the relationship they had in the UK edition. The lines were the same in the two editions, but the feeling was different. However, I was much more pleased with how he was written and played in the second episode, and I am slowly getting into the new Gene Hunt. In the interest of not writing off anyone who is not Phillip Glenister, I am trying to keep that mind open.

The other major issue is not so much a fault of the show as it is an overall problem I have with Hollywood, which is the need for everyone to be so good-looking. I love John Simm, the original Sam Tyler, and certainly he is attractive. However, he is no Jason O'Mara, he of the piecing blue eyes and strong jaw. Similarly, one of the areas that I most loved about UK Annie (Liz White) is that she was a very attainable beauty. Good looking, but not Hollywood. But, the U.S. had to go and make her blond, and skinnier, and more glamourous. Now, I don't have a problem with Gretchen Mol, I think she has done an admirable job. In fact, she is in her later 30s, which I find to be refreshing over all the 20-something young things out there. But, every single cast member is more conventionally attractive in this cast, (than the other one) and I am sort of over Hollywood's narrow idea of beauty, especially in women. I think deep-down I always knew that the actress playing the UK Annie would never have been cast in that role in the US, and I suppose I was just disappointed to have that theory proven.

There are other small differences, including a new character that did not exist in the first, but these don't detract from the show at all. I love seeing 1970s New York. There was another pilot done for this show, with a mostly different cast that was set in Los Angeles. I have to say that the choice to change the location to New York makes so much sense to me. I think all of us can be in agreement that 1970s NYC is more interesting than 1970s L.A.

To end a really long post, Life on Mars has stayed on my list of American shows I will make an effort to watch in the U.K. Considering how much effort this sometimes means this is tantamount to "two thumbs up." I'll be back mid-season to discuss it some more. In the meantime, please (please please) tell me your thoughts in the comments section.

political mayheim vs. entertainment

2008-10-15T21:14:00.002-05:00

The US national election is in 3 weeks and the last of 3 presidental debates is currently on television. I know who I am going to vote for (Obama all the way), yet I am still watching the debate, not for the issues or entertainment, but because it is the only thing on tv. Typically Wednesday's nights in our house are full of tv, so much so that my dvr can't record it all: Bones, ANTM, Private Practice, Lipstick Jungle, Dirty Sexy Money, CSI New York, Project Runway...yes, I actually watch ALL of these shows from ONE night. (Thanks for whomever invented the DVR, you are my god) But, noooo, all of these *quality* programs are not available because our country can't figure out the issues for themselves, and enjoy watching a verbal banter of politicans. (one who is becoming more old and pastey as the weeks go on) I realize I am being narrowed minded and slightly joking, but I am hormonal (tmi) and I want my tv.

The Best (or Worst) of British Television: Lost in Austen

2008-10-02T06:04:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the first edition of The Best (or Worst) of British Television, starting with the series Lost in Austen, which recently aired on ITV here in the UK. This column is the beginning of a semi-regular look of the happenings of British television. I will cover both series currently airing and plan to delve into the annals of British TV (covering such gems as The Office and Coupling, amongst others). There might even be a guest columnist or two on this topic. Before I begin it may be helpful to point out a few differences between British TV v. American TV. The major one being that unlike in American TV, most seasons of television that air across the pond usually consist of, at most, 13 episodes. They also tend to have less seasons, with the exception of the soap-style dramas, which go air each night and go on forever, just like our soaps. These two facts lead to tighter stories than perhaps happens in American television. Another fun fact is that the Brits call their seasons, series, such as Series One of Lost rather than Season One of Lost.

"I'm having a truly post-modern moment."-Lost in Austen

Lost in Austen is the tale of a modern-day London-ite, Amanda Price, (who lives in Hammersmith, where I work!) who is in love with the novel Pride and Prejudice. She is suffering at a job she doesn't like, and stuck in an unfulfilling relationship. She escapes into her tattered copy of Pride and Prejudice, and loves the fictional Mark Darcy. Her boring life changes in a big way when Elizabeth Bennet shows up in her bathroom. Yes, you read that correctly, her bathroom. As is true with fantasy/sci-fi dramas, one must just accept the premise without questioning too much, because otherwise one may get bogged down in reality.

What follows are four episodes that grow increasingly stronger in the story telling. I must admit that after the first episode I was a bit skeptical of where the story was heading. There was something a little contrived in how Amanda just happened to be reading Pride and Prejudice when this story began. [Again, though, for the purposes of storytelling, it necessarily has to be this way.] Nearly everything that happened in that first episode was fairly predictable (would you be surprised if I told you the boys of the novel were falling in love with the wrong people? I suspect not.), and had many classic "fish out of water" scenes. The one where Amanda curses and smokes when a lady of that time does not and one where she tries to figure out how to brush her teeth. One of the best moments in the whole series however, is when a certain scene from a very famous Pride and Prejudice movie is recreated. I won't spoil it for you, but if you want a clue read Bridget Jones's Diary.

The show began to shine when it moved away from what we "know" from the books and fleshed out the characters into real people. To wit: we all know the creepiness that is Mr. Collins, but we didn't know he had three equally as creepy brothers! Or, if you are familiar with the novel (and really that is who this series is made for), you know all about the dishonorable character of Mr. Wickham. But Lost in Austen manages to make Mr. Wickham more real and nuanced, and we learn there may be more to Mr. Wickham; I would even bet that the audience might even like him. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy do not disappoint either. It is quite fun to see more of these characters and even though Amanda admits that Jane Austen must be turning in her grave at some of the things happenings, but I hope Jane would enjoy these versions of her characters.

A show based on such a loved and read novel is most likely always going to be inherently predictable, and admittedly, Lost in Austen in the end is predictable. To its credit, I was not entirely sure how it was going to end. While the ending may not be surprising, the writers had at least laid out a few different options, so it did not seem completely obvious. I do feel the ending was perhaps a little bit rushed and while things are pretty much tied up, I would have like a little bit more. Still, I quite enjoyed the series despite some of the inevitability in it, and definitely recommend watching it.

I won't give away the ending, because I suspect it may show up on BBC America sometime soon. If you don't want to wait, start here, and I trust you can figure out what to do after that. After you watch it let me know what you think and if you agree of disagree with my assessment of it.

Happy 10th Sports Night

2008-09-30T12:39:00.005-05:00

There are many things I find hard to understand: Why women don't get paid as much as men, why people always fly-over the Midwest without stopping to see its beauty, etc., but right now, I am finding it very hard to understand how it has been TEN YEARS since Sports Night first aired on television.

Sports Night will forever be one of my favorite television shows; it features such wonderful writing, interesting characters, and of course that now-patented Aaron Sorkin walking and talking trick. It had Peter Krause before Six Feet Under, and Robert Guillaume after Soap & Benson. It gave Josh Charles, an all-time favorite of mine, his best role, introduced us to Joshua Molina and made me forget that Sabrina Lloyd was ever in that show called Sliders. Most importantly through Sports Night I grew to love one Ms. Felicity Huffman, a love that culminated to me screaming in joy when she won the Emmy a few years back. [View that video, in which she mentions Sports Night here]

One of the things I love best about Sports Night is that it showcases women in positions of power the show is run by an African-American man. I would wager that this combination doesn't actually occur that often. Mostly what I like though, is Dana; I always felt a kinship to her, and as I get older I can relate to her more and more. She loves her career, it makes her who she is, and really doesn't want to comprise it. Still, she does have a desire to settle down. How she tries to negotiate these complex feelings are messy and it doesn't always work out. But, I feel that especially at the end of Season 1, she stays true to herself.

I won't wax poetic anymore for today on the topic of Sports Night, but rest assured the topic will be revisited again (and again!).

Cheers, Sports Night. Thanks for 10 great years.

thursday night premieres

2008-09-28T09:27:00.002-05:00

This past Thursday night was season premiere's for many fan favorites; Survivor, Ugly Betty, Grey's and ER. Reality TV's King started up another season in Eden...African style. The tribes were decided by the standard school-yard pick. There could be some great characters this season, although my favorite was voted out in the second hour; Gillian. There is a new twist this year related to exile island and it will be interesting to see who will be strong and pick the clue for the idol and who will be weak and overally secure and pick the luxury. Right now the teams do not seem evenly matched so it might be a killing at every challange.

Ugly Betty picked up right where it left off, with a short recap of her love woes and a random escape trip, complete with postcard images and pictures from her "vacation." Cute, as always. LiLo herself made another appearance as Betty's childhood rival and super-duper burger joint manager. Overall the episode was kind of lame with the standard Mode family drama. Hopefully Betty's new found freedom with her own apartment in the city will bring some new adventures.

Grey's brought some interesting storylines, a new hottie-army medic who makes out with Christina after she was stabbed by a falling icicle (dramatic and not expected) and Bernadette Peters as guest star. Broadway diva's own star made her way to prime time and I love me some Bernadette! It was a standard cat and mouse game between Meredith and McDreamy and I am personally tired of this storyline. My favorite scene in the entire 2 hour episode was when Rose told McDreamy that she was pregnant with his child, but unforunately it was just a joke. I thought there was finally be a new component between the Grey-Dreamy drama, but no-go. I hope that this season brings some closure to romance-less drama.

ER is in it's last season and it started with a boom, literally. In ER-like drama they killed off a main character in the first episode, and I cried like a baby. Many characters are leaving before the final curtain, but a few favorites from the past 15 years are returning, including Dr. Green who died years ago from a brain tumor. Noah Wyle will also be returning as fan favorite Dr.Carter, but no word yet from Clooney. I love ER, but it is time for its pulse to flatline.

with love, from Emmy

2008-09-22T07:44:00.002-05:00

Last night was award night for television; the Emmy's were on in prime time. It was the 60th anniversery of the award show and there were some cool, and not so cool, montages to the history of television. I loved the stage sets from various shows, the musical montage of 30 tv theme songs by Josh Groban (who knew he could do a south park homage) Betty White and Lily Tomlin.

It was night of 30 Rock, Mad Men and Damages. I don't watch 30 Rock; not big on sitcoms and comedy skits although I believe the critics when they say it is genius. Mad Men, a AMC drama set in 1960s NYC advertising mayhem is the new kid on the block and it can beat up any other kid on the playground! It is freakin' amazing. T and I just watched the 1st season on DVD and it is amazing, did I just say that. The sets, fashions, acting and storylines are top notch and them winning the Emmy for Best Drama atests to that. They are currently in their second season and I believe Mad Men will be around for awhile. Way to go, AMC.

Damages, a FX thriller new last year, won multiple acting awards. They won because it was, in my opinion, the best acting on television. Damages is a legal rollercoaster of death, lies and videotapes, and I personally can not wait for the 2nd season to return. Simply Fab.

This week starts up many of the new fallseasons for the big networks. Heroes, Dancing with the Stars, Survivor, Grey's and ER return throughout the next 4 days and you can be sure I will be watching!

One more Olympic post...

2008-09-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

After a long break, I am back, and I promise to start posting with a vengeance, so watch out! I've finished up some things and now have time and a television. Whee.

As the new fall TV season is just getting started in the U.S. I don't have too much to say on American television. Yet. But, I have a list of shows I want to give a chance, and a color coded schedule will be coming soon. But, I have been watching some stuff here in Great Britain--namely the Olympics. I know this post is a little outdated since the Michael Phelps Games (ahem, the 2008 Summer Olympics) finished about three weeks ago or so, but I hope you will indulge me for just one more Olympic post.

I did most of my watching via the internet, which I think is the wave of the future (or, I guess the wave of the present). There were several things that I liked, both about watching on-line and with the BBC broadcast. The obvious one being that it was great to be able to watch the Olympics without owning a television, because I had been worried about that, as I am AN OLYMPIC FREAK. The other nice thing about watching on the internets was that I had several different streams of sports available to me at any given time, and I could watch highlights (of say, the swimmer boys) over and over if I wanted to. Not that I did, of course.

Specifically to the BBC broadcast, first and foremost were the English, Scottish, and Irish accents. Seriously, that was fun. I also got to "meet" athletes that weren't American or have the required sob story needed to make it on American coverage. There was still plenty of "American" action, and Michael Phelps was covered in great detail.

The parts that I didn't enjoy so much included:

Losing the element of surprise. Events were shown live around 3 am in the morning and generally I woke up, opened my computer, and found the results are displayed all over my screen. I have to say, the events I managed to not know the outcome (such as the Men's 4x100 Medley Relay) were much more exciting than when I did know the results. (such as which American gymnast won the gold). I also missed not getting to see American athlete interviews: I admit it, I am a homer. I root for Americans (often, though not always) and I like to hear what the athletes have to say. Even if it is just so I can make fun of them.

The idea of showing events live is an interesting one, and I get that generally this is a good idea, but I'm not sure about it in practice. Beyond what I mentioned above, doing this meant that sometimes I only got to see highlights: if I didn't catch the event live or on rebroadcast, I didn't always get to see it, if the BBC decided not to upload the full coverage.

I do think, however, that this practice points to a more general difference in the BBC experience versus the NBC one. In the U.S., it is all about ratings, and we are fed one feature story after another, barely seeing athletes or events that aren't either American or high profile, and have lots of commercials, albeit cool ones. The Olympics are a "viewing event" so to speak, much like an extended Super Bowl. Here the Olympic coverage is much more practical and no-nonsense. Because it isn't all about ratings (as the BBC does not need commercials or ratings to survive) there isn't the sense that one needs to pull out all the stops. I saw literally, no features stories, and no commercials. I can't necessarily say that one is better than the other, as I think they both have their good and bad points. I suppose the perfect experience would be somewhere in the middle, with some features, and more events and athletes shown. Maybe in 2012 I will broadcast Sara TV with this combo of coverage.

There is just one other point I'd like to mention, mainly because I find the contrast interesting and discussion provoking. If anyone watched the diving events, and more specifically the Men's Platform Final, you know that Matthew Mitchum from Australia won. It was a very emotional victory and his final dive was beautiful. Throughout the competition, the British commentators mentioned that he had recently been through a rocky time, and that was mainly due to the fact that he had recently come out as a gay man. This was said in a very matter of fact tone, and as part of the general info on the diver, but it was pointed out doing this has been the cause of a lot of pressure on him. I remember wondering at the time if this fact was mentioned on the U.S. broadcast. I did some digging after the event and found out that this little fact was not mentioned, but other athletes' heterosexual relationships were mentioned. You can read about it here if you like, from Yahoo Sports. I am not writing this to stir up things, but because I found the contrast interesting. I'm not entirely sure as to all the reasoning behind this, but I would wager that part of it is because NBC relies upon adverstisers and high ratings to survive.

Anyway, that was my Olympics. If anyone is reading this, let me know what you think, and what you thought of your Olympic viewing experience in whatever country you are in.

I'll be back soon with many thoughts on the new Fall TV season, one of my favorite times of the year!

Labor of Love

2008-08-29T15:55:00.002-05:00

The upcoming Labor Day weekend means one thing in tv land...it's time for fall tv to begin! I am so excited for many favorite shows to return next week; ANTM, Gossip Girl (a guilty pleasure), Bones. Pretty soon it will be time for Biggest Loser, Survivor, Grey's, the final season of ER (finally), Heroes and CSI. I am most curious about the new spin on Heroes Villians; a new expanded cast, new plots, oh my! It will still be awhile until LOST or 24 (I missed you last year Jack Bauer) reappears, but most of us will have plenty to fill our evenings! Big Brother is still in full swing, with a double elimination last night Good-bye Michelle and Olie. Even though I don't know you, you will not be missed. Dan, one of the most genious player of BB all time, is making enemies, but playing quite a game!

End of summer

2008-08-22T20:54:00.003-05:00

Okay, I will be the first to admit that I have not been very good at keeping up with this blog. My life has been hectic and although I have been watching tv religiously, I haven't had the time or desire to blog. The end of summer tends to see a slow-down in new tv and without Big Brother, Olympics or my Bravo show's, there wouldn't be much to watch. Shear Genius (Bravo) is nearing the end of the season but that's okay, but Project Runway is in full swing. I LOVED the last episode with the designers creating appeal for a colorful set of drag queens. It was absolute fab!

The Olympics are nearing the end of its 2008 run as well and it has been quite a show. It was the year of Phelps, Nastia and Shawn Johnson and we watched the majority of prime time coverage. My only negative comment is that the prime time" coverage ends so late at night. The night of the women's overall in gymnastics ended around midnight and I could not stay up to watch it all. Granted I DVR'ed it, but still. One of the biggest competitions and most of our country was asleep. Shame. I am looking forward to the Closing Ceremonies and I am sure I will have something to say about it.

Olympics, American Style

2008-08-11T21:26:00.004-05:00

It is the year of Michael Phelps. At least if you watch NBC. There has always been vast coverage of American athletes, but I do not remember anything of this extreme, directed towards one person. He is freakin' everywhere! (I think that NBC forgets at times that there are over 600 American Athletes competing) There is even a Phelps Phan commercial, and as I watch the prime time coverage of the Olympics tonight, he just won his third gold metal in three days. No matter how much coverage there is, I have to admit that he is amazing.

To sound off from Sara's excellent post on Olympics, London-style, I have to admit that I am glad to be home during the coverage. I do love, and cry, at the human interest stories that are abundant during prime time coverage. I love the sappy music that plays in the background and for a non-sporting person, it makes it easier to connect to the sport, through the person. And, yes, Bob Costas is a legend in American Olympics coverage...his commentary at the Opening Ceremony adds to the drama. His voice is iconic, whether you like it or not.

Every night from 7-10p.m., I watch the daily coverage. I do love that NBC covers the major events in a consolidated time frame so that we get a nice taste, but can still work, eat and carry normal life for the 16 days. And, I watch the TODAY show every morning at 7am, so I get a nice bookend to my days.

Side Note**Not sure if anyone has noticed the new line of United Airlines commercials running through the Olympics coverage, but it is artistic-genius-inspirational and simply beautiful. I am so impressed with their campaign, that I want to take a trip. I guess their marketing did their job. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzvamSr3lec

My first Olympics away from home

2008-08-10T12:12:00.004-05:00

Before I get going, I must say in the interest of full disclosure, I LOVE THE OLYMPICS. I love everything about them: the sports, the athletes, the outfits, the cheesy commentary, the tear-at-your-heartstrings features, the commercials...literally everything. But, for the interest of a blog about TV, I am going to focus (as much as possible) on the television aspects of the Olympics and the overall viewing experience.

One of the big differences that experience this year, more so than ever before, is the proliferation of streaming internet video. I have to say it makes it so much easier for someone who does not have an actual TV set to stay connected, and it also gives quite a bit of choice on what to watch. Obviously the jury is still out on how effective it will be, but it definitely adds a new dimension to the event.

For me most importantly, this is the first time I will ever watch the Olympics from a different location than the United States. Here in London all the coverage is from the BBC--and there is a great deal of it--especially since London will be the host in four years. The city (and country) definitely have Olympic fever. As eager as I am to see the Olympics from a different perspective, I will cop to the things I will miss: the NBC Olympic theme, Bob Costas, and the Chevy Olympic Moment they do every night. What I won't miss--the blatant focus on American athletes at the expense of other interesting people from around the world.

So, on to my thoughts, which is mainly a comparison of what I am used to and what I see now. The first major difference so far is that the main coverage is shown between 2 pm and 6 pm each day. I've been trying to work out why this is done, but I haven't figured it out. I thought it was maybe so events could be shown live, but I think China is 8 hours ahead of London, so I don't think that is why. Since I don't know when the coverage has traditionally been shown in the past I'm not sure if this is typical or not. What I do know is how unusual it is for me! I am used to the U.S.-style of coverage where all things important are shown in prime time. Lucky for me I am able to watch the coverage (for the most part) during the day, but I think I would be quite frustrated if I was working full-time. Then again, if this is how it has always been done, other people probably don't give it a second thought.

When watching the Opening Ceremony the coverage was pretty similar to what I am used to, with the major exception being the British accents (don't you know the Olympics are being held in Chiner?). Though Michael Johnson, he of the 1996 Olympics, Nike golden shoes, and two gold medals in the 200m and 400m, is a commentator so I did get an American accent fix. Also, I think I was sort of expecting there to be a heavy concentration on Great Britain and its athletes, but not so much. Of course during the Parade of Nations there were quite a bit of discussion on the team, but there was also as much discussion about President Bush. Granted this is a very controversial Olympics, but still it constantly amazes me how often American culture, politics, and people are mentioned in international broadcasts. I'm not sure this is entirely a good thing, and sadly, our coverage never reciprocates. I mean seriously, can you imagine the U.S. coverage having a British person on the commentating team talking about all the British athletes and their chances. No? Me either.

The other major difference I noticed, thus far, is the absence of the "special features" so to speak. We are all aware of those Olympic Moments (the ones I love) and how they are designed to make you cry. Or manipulate you, depending on your perspective and willingness to cry. And how you can't really get through an entire night of coverage without at least two of these stories. I didn't see a single one of those in the 4+ hours of coverage I saw. But, I am actually totally okay with that. It doesn't seem like a very British thing to do, and my tear ducts will enjoy taking some time off.

What I am excited for is the chance to see athletes that aren't American participate in events. I have already seen more gymnastics coverage of British athletes in a short 6 minute video than I probably have seen in all of my other Olympic gymnastics viewing; and believe me I have spent many (many) hours watching Olympic gymnastics. I am excited to hear different commentary and different points of view and hear different anthems.

As the coverage goes on I will try and talk about the similiarites and differences some more and let you know if anything else exciting happens, by way of the TV. So please enjoy the Olympics! I know I will.

To Love TV From Afar...

2008-07-24T18:13:00.006-05:00

Of all the complaints I may or may not have about the United States, one thing is for sure: we make great television. From writing, acting, execution, location, down to the general look we have definitely set the standard of TV. Don't misunderstand (or is that 'misunderestimate?') me. I like television from other countries, BBC America for one, has shown some of the best of British TV (Life on Mars, Dr. Who, Coupling, etc). I certainly don't like American TV at the expense of other TV...I am an equal opportunity television watcher.

But, what's difficult, is trying to watch that great, well-made American television when you are in a foreign land, without actually owning a TV. Yes, my friends, a (new) television blogger without a TV. I swear it is not because I'm one of those people (you know the kind) who say, "I don't watch TV" or "I have no need for a television." No, it is because I am a poor graduate student living in London, who can't afford that TV.

So, I've been forced to be creative in how I watch television--and it generally involves watching it on my 13" Mac computer. I was able to watch all of Lost, for example, thanks to iTunes. I downloaded each episode as soon as it was available (which was never as fast as I liked). Unfortunately, that has been the exception to my general experience here. I would be more than happy to watch episodes streaming from network websites like NBC, ABC, etc, but those are, sadly unavailable to customers outside of the US. Oh, what about Hulu you say? Again, I'm still waiting for Hulu to allow people outside of the United States use it. But, it looks cool. [I can't even watch clips posted on other websites from Hulu!] I would have also gladly paid to get my Battlestar Galactica fix on iTunes this season. But, thanks to Universal/NBC yanking all their shows from iTunes, I couldn't do that. I even tried Amazon Unbox, but what do you know? You not only have to have a PC (which I could have worked around as annoying as it is), but you guessed it: you have to be in the United States.

My point being: I have explored all the known legal ways to watch these shows, outside of watching them on a regular television. And, since at this point I can not only not afford a television here in Britain, but I can't afford the cable it would require to watch American-network TV imported, I have had to resort to the more "gray area" of streaming video. Honestly, I don't know all the copyright rules, if they are valid in different countries, or if what I am doing is actually shady; frankly I'd rather not know--I figure if it works it's fine, and if it's not fine, it will stop working.

This route is frustrating. Often times links are dead, or don't load, or only work on this browser or that browser. I just think it is kind of weird that someone who wants to watch TV , has tried to do it in an up and up legal fashion, and is even willing to (sometimes) pay has to even worry if he or she might be in a legal gray area. There seems like there must be a happy medium between honoring the right to sell a product, having things be a bit more available. At least one would think there could be. [And the studios claimed they make no money from the internet when the were fighting with the Writers Guild.]

On the plus side I now have access to the BBC iPlayer, so I get to watch lots of new television that has been previously not only unavailable but unknown to me. So, um, don't be surprised if I blog about a lot of British TV.

Despite all the troubles I have managed to watch a fair number of the shows I love; not all of them, but I am trying to catch up. I do wish there was a way for me to do it right, so to speak, but I'll just have to make due. So, don't worry come fall I'll be watching and commenting on all the great TV. (Just don't ask me how i watched it.)

Reality of Summer TV

2008-07-16T19:23:00.001-05:00

The summer season brings a whole 'nother creature to t.v. programming. Although Big Brother made a late winter/spring appearance, summer is home for the king of reality! BB 10 started this week with a bang and another slew of reality stars. The oldest reality star ever, great-grandpa Jerry, is a nice change of pace to the back-stabbing young bombshells. BB is always a rollercoaster of good and bad tv, but I will be the devoted fan, watching all three episodes a week. Renna and the early player Brian are nominated for eviction. Will the house carry through their plans to evict Brian, or will his BB skills be put to the test, and succed? Guess we we'll know on the next episode.

The mainstream giant of the summer season, in my opinion, is So You Think You Can Dance? I love everything about this show, except for Mary's screams and ear-popping voice. This show catapolted the art of dance to the general public and brings multiple styles and genres into living rooms. How many average people knew about West Coast Swing, Mia Michaels, Lyrical and Cat Dealy? I love Mia Michael's routines week after week; their power and artistry pull emotions through the tv onto my couch.

On the cable front, two popular shows are Design Star on HGTV and The Next Food Network Star, on duh...the Food Network. Both are great, dramtic competitions that showcase talent and skill that most wish to have. Design Star has a Kansas City local, Jennifer from Olathe, so I definately watch the home girl. She is in the top three, and I hope she continues!

Television programming used to take a break during the summer, but with the birth of reality, it is alive and kicking!

About Sara

2008-07-01T17:04:00.016-05:00

Sara has loved TV as long as she can remember. From early morning viewings of Romper Room and The Muppet Show she was hooked on the 'idiot box'. As a kid she audio-tape recorded shows (no VCR for her family in the 80s) like Bewitched and Little House on the Prairie and then, listened to them over and over, much to the bemusement and dismay of her family. Thankfully, her tastes have gotten much better over the years (though she still loves Bewitched and Little House), but some things never change. She has been known to watch episodes of Sports Night and Arrested Development over and over, much to the bemusement and dismay of her family (and friends!). Her current favorite show on TV right now is Lost, followed closely by Battlestar Galactica (which is the best show you're not watching because you're afraid of sci-fi), and generally thinks her taste in television is not only excellent, but always right. Except when it's, um, you know, not.

Sara also blogs at http://issarainteresting.blogspot.com/

About Jen

2008-07-01T08:46:00.002-05:00

Everyone that knows me, knows that tv is my altar. As I am not a religious person, I worship each night to the lighted box in my rec room, on my comfy couch with my pug Lulu curled up beside me. (note, I am married, with a personal life...so I am not a total hermit) I am a devoted fan of the DVR and have owned one since they first came out. Now, not only can I watch a tv program, I am no longer responsible enough to know when it is actually on tv, what channel or if it is a dreaded re-run. The DVR puts the "L" in lazy! Once you have one, I dare you to go back.

I have been a tv junkie since the days of Who's the Boss, Growing Pains, Full House, Smurfs and The Cosby Show. Whenever I was in trouble, I was the kid that was grounded from tv, because that was really the only thing that hurt.

My spouse and I have "conversations" regarding my tv lifestyle and how it will affect our future children. (we are in the fertility process..not fun) My theory is with the DVR, I will watch my shows when the kid(s) goes to bed. I have to admit, I do not want my children to be tv junkies, and I will have to lead by example, or so they will think! Maintaining a tv lifestyle can at times, be stressful. (don't laugh) There is only so much tv a girl can watch in a week, and then trying to maintain upkeep of a house, job (yes, I work full time and watch tv full time), family, etc. it can be overwhelming. But, my tv is here to stay, I will be try my hardest to provide commentary and some mild entertainment.