The Idiot Box Draws Me Back In
So I've been watching more and more television and it seems to me in this age of reality shows and carbon copy crime dramas, the writing has gotten millions better in the other shows, in order to get through. Now, this is the same person who went 4 years without cable because there was nothing worth watching who is now got a regular regimen of shows DVRing. Yes the miracle solution is DVR (Or TIVO) - you don't have to remember to record these shows, go searching for a tape, label a tape or watch commercials (or the 'boring parts' as the Tivo commercials go). So I thought I would let you in on what I've been watching lately, in the name of keeping good programs on (and letting shows like the SIMPLE LIFE go off the air).
Tonight is the season debut of the brilliant comedy central reality show parody DRAWN
TOGETHER. The show follows eight different style cartoon characters (a superhero, a disneyesque princess, an video game elf like creature, a josie and the pussy cat type hottie, an internet download, a ren-like non-sequitor, a 1920's black and white booplike character, and a pokemon type creature) all stuck in a house together and forced to talk to the 'producer' through the p.a. system. Its a hilarious show that goes where you would never expect (first season highlights include a full-on disney ballad by Princess Clara about her first lesbian experience "Some Black Chick's Tongue in My Mouth," the entire house getting addicted to licking Ling-Ling because he secretes some acid like substance when they make him sad, and the apperance of Bucky Bucks, and DOnald Trump character, to take them through a series of challenges for a job that he doesn't have (i.e. Apprentice meets Joe Millionaire).
Another hilarious show is NBC's THE OFFICE. Based on the hit BBC show, it is shot documentry style with interviews and little snippets of office life caught on camera. Now I know there are a lot of people who will want to swear by the original, but they are just wrong. THe US version is much better, first of all the ensemble is much more balanced and we are really getting to know everyone in the office. Second of all, Steve Carrill (40 Year Old Virgin) is a hilarious in a way the Ricky Gervis is not, as I think he is completely incompetent, but I still feel sorry for him. He is at heart a nice guy, not an ego-maniac. The Office has tackled such common issues as Diversity Training, Office Parties, and someone getting fired, almost at random. It's hilarious and the relationship between Pam and Jim is so cute... yes, I'm boy and I just said that. You'll have to watch it to understand.
To switch genres, I must admit that Erin and I were both outraged when the new 'season' of
Battlestar Galactica turned out to only be 10 episodes, so we have to wait until January for more, but it looks like ABC's INVASION is going to fill in nicely. THis is one creepy show and it it is lead by another one of those actors I can never trust, William "It's confederated products, its an entirely different product" Fichtner (Perfect Storm, Black Hawk Down, Go) as the local sherif who may or may not actually be an ALIEN. The rest of the cast is also great (including the Broken Flowers' Lolita Alexis Dziena) and the story in unshakeable. Really sharp and creepy. And brought to you by Shaun Cassidy. Yeah that Shaun Cassidy. Strange, huh?
And then there is my daily standby for sports ESPN's PARDON THE INTERUPTION. If you've never watched the afternoon show, you are really missing out. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon argue through the top sports headlines, dress up as cops for good cop/bad cop, use cut-out heads on sticks for role play and interview great athletes and journalists. Its really all the sports you need in a half an hour, and they are really entertaining. The show is so good they've incorporated it into sportscenter for a few minutes everday and almost every one of the ESPN team has made a guest appearance (Dan Lebatard is the best guest host IMO).
And while we are on news, I have to give a shout out to my new favorite news program. Now I
love The Daily Show as much as the next out-raged anti-Bushie, but sometimes, I do want a little actual news with my laughter. THe solution is COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN. Olbermann was the ESPN new anchor 1992-97 and has been doing this show on MSNBC for the last two years in which he looks at the top stories of the day in order and does actual news. In between he has segments like 'worst person alive,' the story 'my producers made me cover' and 'Oddball' - sort of a news of the weird on TV. He's really funny and he pulls no punches. When he does the 'real' stories he always pushes them places that other people just don't go. Because he looks at news as a common man would. He's not a political pundit, he's a guy who interviewed Dennis DeYoung of Styx on Monday becasue he was the only 'famous' white sox fan he could find. And he hates Bill O'Reilly, so that's gotta be worth something. Give it a try.
Tonight is the season debut of the brilliant comedy central reality show parody DRAWN
TOGETHER. The show follows eight different style cartoon characters (a superhero, a disneyesque princess, an video game elf like creature, a josie and the pussy cat type hottie, an internet download, a ren-like non-sequitor, a 1920's black and white booplike character, and a pokemon type creature) all stuck in a house together and forced to talk to the 'producer' through the p.a. system. Its a hilarious show that goes where you would never expect (first season highlights include a full-on disney ballad by Princess Clara about her first lesbian experience "Some Black Chick's Tongue in My Mouth," the entire house getting addicted to licking Ling-Ling because he secretes some acid like substance when they make him sad, and the apperance of Bucky Bucks, and DOnald Trump character, to take them through a series of challenges for a job that he doesn't have (i.e. Apprentice meets Joe Millionaire).
Another hilarious show is NBC's THE OFFICE. Based on the hit BBC show, it is shot documentry style with interviews and little snippets of office life caught on camera. Now I know there are a lot of people who will want to swear by the original, but they are just wrong. THe US version is much better, first of all the ensemble is much more balanced and we are really getting to know everyone in the office. Second of all, Steve Carrill (40 Year Old Virgin) is a hilarious in a way the Ricky Gervis is not, as I think he is completely incompetent, but I still feel sorry for him. He is at heart a nice guy, not an ego-maniac. The Office has tackled such common issues as Diversity Training, Office Parties, and someone getting fired, almost at random. It's hilarious and the relationship between Pam and Jim is so cute... yes, I'm boy and I just said that. You'll have to watch it to understand.To switch genres, I must admit that Erin and I were both outraged when the new 'season' of
Battlestar Galactica turned out to only be 10 episodes, so we have to wait until January for more, but it looks like ABC's INVASION is going to fill in nicely. THis is one creepy show and it it is lead by another one of those actors I can never trust, William "It's confederated products, its an entirely different product" Fichtner (Perfect Storm, Black Hawk Down, Go) as the local sherif who may or may not actually be an ALIEN. The rest of the cast is also great (including the Broken Flowers' Lolita Alexis Dziena) and the story in unshakeable. Really sharp and creepy. And brought to you by Shaun Cassidy. Yeah that Shaun Cassidy. Strange, huh?
And then there is my daily standby for sports ESPN's PARDON THE INTERUPTION. If you've never watched the afternoon show, you are really missing out. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon argue through the top sports headlines, dress up as cops for good cop/bad cop, use cut-out heads on sticks for role play and interview great athletes and journalists. Its really all the sports you need in a half an hour, and they are really entertaining. The show is so good they've incorporated it into sportscenter for a few minutes everday and almost every one of the ESPN team has made a guest appearance (Dan Lebatard is the best guest host IMO).And while we are on news, I have to give a shout out to my new favorite news program. Now I
love The Daily Show as much as the next out-raged anti-Bushie, but sometimes, I do want a little actual news with my laughter. THe solution is COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN. Olbermann was the ESPN new anchor 1992-97 and has been doing this show on MSNBC for the last two years in which he looks at the top stories of the day in order and does actual news. In between he has segments like 'worst person alive,' the story 'my producers made me cover' and 'Oddball' - sort of a news of the weird on TV. He's really funny and he pulls no punches. When he does the 'real' stories he always pushes them places that other people just don't go. Because he looks at news as a common man would. He's not a political pundit, he's a guy who interviewed Dennis DeYoung of Styx on Monday becasue he was the only 'famous' white sox fan he could find. And he hates Bill O'Reilly, so that's gotta be worth something. Give it a try.
posted by Bears Fonte @ 9:12 AM
2 Comments:
At 4:42 PM,
Our Man In Chicago said…
The US and UK versions of The Office have different tones. If you compare the pilot of the US version of The Office with the UK version (the scripts are almost identical), the U.S. version falls flat. But by the 2nd and 3rd eps, the US version found its voice.
The UK version is more character-driven whereas the US version is more plot-driven, I think. The Michael Scott character genuinely believes he has a head for business where the character played by Gervais was more of a personality: he wanted to be the funny guy or your buddy.
Still, both shows rock a camel's ass.
I'm also very partial to How I Met Your Mother. I know it's basic and sort of formulaic but Neil Patrick Harris makes that show worth watching. Also, Alyson Hannigan wants to have my babies.*
* Unconfirmed
At 8:26 AM,
Bears Fonte said…
BRENT 1) its my fault for not reminding you - I've still got a chance to send Johnboy after it in March
2) you've got me curious as to which ex and how you ran into her - but I'd say being back in an old place its easy to slip in to old patterns
SCOTT - yeah that first Office episode was odd, its the only one that was a line by line rewrite - but I did see that one before I saw the BBC version, and I loved it. I started watching the BBC version about half way through the first season of the US version. And it was painful at times, like, me hiding my face in my hands.
Post a Comment
<< Home