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My new TV season, so far
I usually try to give a series at least a couple episodes before I decide whether or not to keep watching -- most series pilots are shot long before the rest of the show and frequently they betray their cast and crew by trying to find a rhythm or discover the characters. I go carefully through the TV Guide and EW and online resources, too, marking off what I'm interested in. I'm an early adopter; I gotta start watching on the ground floor or I tend not to ever get hooked (Due South being the only time that didn't hold true for me).
So these were the ones I decided to give a try to.
My Name Is Earl: My hands-down winner for this year. I laughed at the pilot so hard that I cried -- by the time Earl got to ticking off the things about Kenny he'd discovered while stalking him ( "a powder-blue Le Car that he was quite proud of") and Patty proclaimed that she "even pulled out my good boob," I was in tears. And then the 99 Luftballoons in German and the line "I realize now the running probably wasn't necessary" had me on the floor. And it just keeps getting better. Jason Lee is fabulous, the supporting cast is wonderful (how great is it that Kenny keeps coming back?), and the comic timing is impeccable. I love this series so much.
Prison Break: ZZZZZZzzzzz. I didn't think it was possible to make a show that featured someone getting their toes threatened with bolt cutters, and men in prison could be so boring, but it is. I watch sporadically, but despite the prettiness of Wentworth Miller, it's not worth keeping up on. He's a strange actor, really unengaging despite his looks, and a show hinging on his distanced, comatose persona seems very odd.
Threshold: Yowza! I was not expecting this one at all, mostly tuned in for Peter Dinklage and Carla Gugino, not to mention Charles S. Dutton. But it's gorgeous to look at, and while the plots after the pilot are somewhat overdone and stale at the same time, I like the energy of the group, especially Brent Spiner. And Peter Dinklage... man, he just gets better all the time. His line readings are stupendous (the poetry line in the third ep is a standout) and I like the weird bonding he has going on with Black Ops guy. Very interested to see if they can sustain this.
Invasion: Now here's a show I do wonder about sustainability for, a lot. By far the creepiest of the aliens are coming series, I'm somewhat comforted by the fact that they said at end of season, only 8 weeks will have elapsed since the pilot, so maybe they are going for the Lost factor in terms of time. My beloved Fichtner is remarkably ooky, and I like the fact that people are actually acknowledging the whole X-Filiness of it all, as if this has pervaded the culture so much no one questions it at the level other invasion type series do. It's on and off, but I think it's definitely worth keeping up for for more than just Fichtner.
Commander in Chief, and Chris: Neither has grabbed me, but with Commander, that might be because I only get to see the second half and so much of it doesn't make sense (sorry, Geena and Kyle, but Earl is first in my heart). Comedies, like Chris, have to work extra hard for me, and somehow I didn't click with this one, but it seems like a decent little show.
Surface: I didn't hate the lead actress as much as I thought (her face just bugs me), but I didn't like the show as much as I'd hoped. It doesn't seem to offer much that's fresh, considering there are two other alien invaders series this fall, both of which have staked out their own territory.
Rome: I see this quite a few weeks after most people with HBO, so I have a hard time keeping up with stuff because we go a couple weeks in between each viewing of two eps. But I like a lot of it. I can't keep any of the character names straight, they are all a mishmash to me except for Julius Caesar and Pullo, but I still enjoy them. Unfortunately a lot of the actors also look somewhat alike to me, so I have to work to differentiate them. When this comes out on DVD, I think I will sit down with it and really try to focus.
E Ring: gah. I love espionage, military stuff, but this is just... gah. Every awful cliche known to man. Did they also have to have a main character named McNulty? Geez.
Kitchen Confidential: Willage! The show is okay, Bradley Cooper is lovely, Nick Brendon is Xandery, and it's fun to see the kid from Freaks and Geeks, but... it's more to see Bradley Cooper. Especially if they could put him in boxer briefs again.
Gilmore Girls: I have discovered something awful. I hate Rory. I mean, I hate her. I used to like her. But ever since she went to Yale, I have hated her -- the stupid things she does, the wishy washiness, the way she rejected a good boyfriend opportunity for Future Rapists of America club member Logan (what is with that name these days?)... and the unspeakable way she treated Lorelai and now whines ceaselessly about it. I hate her! And it's spoiling the show, when I should be happy that Lorelai and Luke are finally getting together. I wish that someone would literally slap the shit out of her and send smarmy boyfriend packing.
Numb3rs: Still love it, even if I can see the awful thumbprint of CBS tinkering with the formula. I think CBS is the most evil of all networks, Les Moonves is satan, and he has no clue whatever about why people watch certain shows. It looks like they are trying to tone down the family aspect in favor of more people at the FBI office, and changing relationships for the guys. To me, this is a fatal error, but I get the sense, by their airing of episodes out of order so far and the truly egregious new guy, that CBS is shunting this off to the side. I think it's cute that Charlie is trying for Amita, because I love the actress since her gig on Angel, but I think the prosecutor couldn't be more wrong for Don. If they're going to force a romance (with anyone else but Coop!), then hooking him up with someone like the doctor from Man Hunt would be better, because the prosecutor simpers, and I hate simpery women.
Veronica Mars: Yay! Trauma and stuff. But... Logan, Logan, Logan... what are you doing, you idiot child? I have no idea where they are taking this (and if anyone has any idea, and knows of spoilers for farther into the season, please tell me or tell me where to go! I need to know!), but I much prefer Logan than Duncan if she's going to do the boyfriend dance. Which is a strange thing to say. Still, if I had my choice, maybe I'd choose Weevil for her, just because they look cute together on a motorcycle. Glad to see Wallace getting a little more to do, but that new love interest... I dunno. Jury's out on that one. I hope that some of the fallout with her mom will come back, because I'd hate to see them drop that. My main thing to watch for, though, is still Keith and Veronica, with a hefty side of Wallace, and I hope they will continue to plumb these wonderful relationships. Charisma Carpenter looks great!
Alias: Groan. Yes, my hatred of baby storylines rears its ugly head. I'll stick with it to see where it goes, though, but once they get close to the blessed moment, I'm gone. And people are so up in arms over Yawn being dead? Don't think so. He finally got interesting again, I doubt they'll drop him. I'm far, far more upset over Weiss leaving. I worship at the altar of Weiss.
Without a Trace: Martin! Danny! Jack going all sickhouse on the guy who shot Martin's ass! I hope they return to form, that excellent mix of personal and procedural, now. Some of the stupid storylines at end of year last season left me cold (that one with Jack's dream nearly made me shoot my TV), but I'm looking forward to seeing how wrecked Martin is, and how unstable Danny becomes. Not to mention what happens to Viv.
And can't wait to see what happens on 24.
So these were the ones I decided to give a try to.
My Name Is Earl: My hands-down winner for this year. I laughed at the pilot so hard that I cried -- by the time Earl got to ticking off the things about Kenny he'd discovered while stalking him ( "a powder-blue Le Car that he was quite proud of") and Patty proclaimed that she "even pulled out my good boob," I was in tears. And then the 99 Luftballoons in German and the line "I realize now the running probably wasn't necessary" had me on the floor. And it just keeps getting better. Jason Lee is fabulous, the supporting cast is wonderful (how great is it that Kenny keeps coming back?), and the comic timing is impeccable. I love this series so much.
Prison Break: ZZZZZZzzzzz. I didn't think it was possible to make a show that featured someone getting their toes threatened with bolt cutters, and men in prison could be so boring, but it is. I watch sporadically, but despite the prettiness of Wentworth Miller, it's not worth keeping up on. He's a strange actor, really unengaging despite his looks, and a show hinging on his distanced, comatose persona seems very odd.
Threshold: Yowza! I was not expecting this one at all, mostly tuned in for Peter Dinklage and Carla Gugino, not to mention Charles S. Dutton. But it's gorgeous to look at, and while the plots after the pilot are somewhat overdone and stale at the same time, I like the energy of the group, especially Brent Spiner. And Peter Dinklage... man, he just gets better all the time. His line readings are stupendous (the poetry line in the third ep is a standout) and I like the weird bonding he has going on with Black Ops guy. Very interested to see if they can sustain this.
Invasion: Now here's a show I do wonder about sustainability for, a lot. By far the creepiest of the aliens are coming series, I'm somewhat comforted by the fact that they said at end of season, only 8 weeks will have elapsed since the pilot, so maybe they are going for the Lost factor in terms of time. My beloved Fichtner is remarkably ooky, and I like the fact that people are actually acknowledging the whole X-Filiness of it all, as if this has pervaded the culture so much no one questions it at the level other invasion type series do. It's on and off, but I think it's definitely worth keeping up for for more than just Fichtner.
Commander in Chief, and Chris: Neither has grabbed me, but with Commander, that might be because I only get to see the second half and so much of it doesn't make sense (sorry, Geena and Kyle, but Earl is first in my heart). Comedies, like Chris, have to work extra hard for me, and somehow I didn't click with this one, but it seems like a decent little show.
Surface: I didn't hate the lead actress as much as I thought (her face just bugs me), but I didn't like the show as much as I'd hoped. It doesn't seem to offer much that's fresh, considering there are two other alien invaders series this fall, both of which have staked out their own territory.
Rome: I see this quite a few weeks after most people with HBO, so I have a hard time keeping up with stuff because we go a couple weeks in between each viewing of two eps. But I like a lot of it. I can't keep any of the character names straight, they are all a mishmash to me except for Julius Caesar and Pullo, but I still enjoy them. Unfortunately a lot of the actors also look somewhat alike to me, so I have to work to differentiate them. When this comes out on DVD, I think I will sit down with it and really try to focus.
E Ring: gah. I love espionage, military stuff, but this is just... gah. Every awful cliche known to man. Did they also have to have a main character named McNulty? Geez.
Kitchen Confidential: Willage! The show is okay, Bradley Cooper is lovely, Nick Brendon is Xandery, and it's fun to see the kid from Freaks and Geeks, but... it's more to see Bradley Cooper. Especially if they could put him in boxer briefs again.
Gilmore Girls: I have discovered something awful. I hate Rory. I mean, I hate her. I used to like her. But ever since she went to Yale, I have hated her -- the stupid things she does, the wishy washiness, the way she rejected a good boyfriend opportunity for Future Rapists of America club member Logan (what is with that name these days?)... and the unspeakable way she treated Lorelai and now whines ceaselessly about it. I hate her! And it's spoiling the show, when I should be happy that Lorelai and Luke are finally getting together. I wish that someone would literally slap the shit out of her and send smarmy boyfriend packing.
Numb3rs: Still love it, even if I can see the awful thumbprint of CBS tinkering with the formula. I think CBS is the most evil of all networks, Les Moonves is satan, and he has no clue whatever about why people watch certain shows. It looks like they are trying to tone down the family aspect in favor of more people at the FBI office, and changing relationships for the guys. To me, this is a fatal error, but I get the sense, by their airing of episodes out of order so far and the truly egregious new guy, that CBS is shunting this off to the side. I think it's cute that Charlie is trying for Amita, because I love the actress since her gig on Angel, but I think the prosecutor couldn't be more wrong for Don. If they're going to force a romance (with anyone else but Coop!), then hooking him up with someone like the doctor from Man Hunt would be better, because the prosecutor simpers, and I hate simpery women.
Veronica Mars: Yay! Trauma and stuff. But... Logan, Logan, Logan... what are you doing, you idiot child? I have no idea where they are taking this (and if anyone has any idea, and knows of spoilers for farther into the season, please tell me or tell me where to go! I need to know!), but I much prefer Logan than Duncan if she's going to do the boyfriend dance. Which is a strange thing to say. Still, if I had my choice, maybe I'd choose Weevil for her, just because they look cute together on a motorcycle. Glad to see Wallace getting a little more to do, but that new love interest... I dunno. Jury's out on that one. I hope that some of the fallout with her mom will come back, because I'd hate to see them drop that. My main thing to watch for, though, is still Keith and Veronica, with a hefty side of Wallace, and I hope they will continue to plumb these wonderful relationships. Charisma Carpenter looks great!
Alias: Groan. Yes, my hatred of baby storylines rears its ugly head. I'll stick with it to see where it goes, though, but once they get close to the blessed moment, I'm gone. And people are so up in arms over Yawn being dead? Don't think so. He finally got interesting again, I doubt they'll drop him. I'm far, far more upset over Weiss leaving. I worship at the altar of Weiss.
Without a Trace: Martin! Danny! Jack going all sickhouse on the guy who shot Martin's ass! I hope they return to form, that excellent mix of personal and procedural, now. Some of the stupid storylines at end of year last season left me cold (that one with Jack's dream nearly made me shoot my TV), but I'm looking forward to seeing how wrecked Martin is, and how unstable Danny becomes. Not to mention what happens to Viv.
And can't wait to see what happens on 24.
no subject
My Name is Earl is my favorite new show, and quite frankly the only show I know I'll be sticking with.
Re: Numb3rs, I really didn't enjoy the premiere, though I thought the second episode showed some improvement. But it just doesn't feel the same, and if CBS is meddling then I can see why. I'm hoping CBS loses interest in making it a crowd-pleaser and just focus on other shows so Numb3rs can go back to the family stuff again, which was the reason I liked the show in the first place.
As for VM spoilers, I am not spoiled, nor do I want to be. However I have friends who are and they're saying spoilers are practically impossible to come by.
no subject
Thank god for Numbers, but... I'm so afraid it's going to go bad with their meddling.