Time for some links of note:
7 Great Movie Endings Demolished by Test Audiences.
SFX looks at the Top 20 hottest names working in sci-fi now.
Empire looked at the possibilities of fictional bands playing the Glastonbury music festival.
12 great sci-fi speeches. (Note: if you're catching up on Buffy or BSG, beware SPOILERS). Also, they don't like the "Why I hate X-mas" speech in Gremlins? That's brilliant.
I live in one of the best places to live, apparently. I'll remember that when I'm flying "home" to Georgia every weekend in the fall.
8-Bit Trek. I really need this on a t-shirt. So fucking adorable.
Speaking of Trek, here are "14 things you didn't know about Star Trek." (I knew 10).
Paste lists their Top 10 sci-fi and fantasy shows of all time. And also their Top 11 most villainous sci-fi species.
SFX published the results of their Top 200. Lots of great geeky lists there.
It's rare that I agree with Glenn Beck, but yep, he's right. (Bonus points for the Jefferson quote which nicely sums up my political philosophy).
As you know, Torchwood is coming to US TV via Starz. (WooHoo!). And they've got a writing staff that resembles the '27 Yankees.
FINALLY, Coach and Mrs. Coach get a little Emmy love. About damned time. And the actors are just as adorable as you'd think they'd be.
Fun photo mashups: Firefly crew as original Trek, and Mad Men as Trek:TNG.
Showing posts with label Torchwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Torchwood. Show all posts
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Saturday, June 7, 2008
I'll take potpourri for $1,500, Alex
I enjoyed last night's Doctor Who, though like most Who, it's probably best not to think too hard about the plot mechanics. The fish faced "Hath" were cute, and a decent alien design, weren't they? And what's with all the shots this season of the Doctor's "extra" hand? Surely this is leading somewhere, along with the split second glimpses of Rose we get from time to time. Reminds me of the "Bad Wolf" clues dropped a couple of seasons ago. Here's something to think about: the adorable actress who winningly played the Doctor's "daughter" in the ep last night is the real-life daughter of Peter Davison, who played the Fifth Doctor. And also in real life, she's dating the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. Maybe the Tardis needs a visit to Cleveland, Georgia and a consultation with McNamara/Troy to help them sort all this out.
The Onion AV Club is going through Buffy, starting at season 1.
Pajiba declares the 15 best TV seasons of the past 20 years. Hello, Firefly! Howdy, Buffy Season 2! Greetings, Farscape Season 3! Nice to see ya, Six Feet Under Season 1! There's four I wholeheartedly agree with. There's got to be some room there, however, for Dexter, The Sopranos and Mad Men, no?
I just finished up with Dexter Season 2, and holy shit, what a ride. I watched it all over the course of a week or so, and it was positively electric. The voice overs were dark, deadpan hilarious, and the acting and writing were superb. I've hated few characters on my TV like Lila, though she was a perfect catalyst for the story this season. And though she needs to eat a sandwich, I think I love Debra Morgan, all emotional confusion and shockingly foul mouth. I thought the show would have a hard time topping S1, but this may have done it. Outstanding.
Speaking of Dexter, Jimmy Smits will be joining the cast for the next season.
Always nice to see Julianne Moore talking about fellatio.
Nice roundtable discussion from the showrunners of Lost, Pushing Daisies, HIMYM, House and Mad Men.
More good stuff about How I Met Your Mother here.
Cool sketches of the ships on BSG.
Weird. Torchwood is coming back in 2009, but for only 5 hours. What's up with that?
Buster Bluth coming to Chuck? Yeah, that works.
This poll sums up how I feel about Narnia.
Could Tim Burton direct Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in a big screen Dark Shadows? Awesome.
The Onion AV Club is going through Buffy, starting at season 1.
Pajiba declares the 15 best TV seasons of the past 20 years. Hello, Firefly! Howdy, Buffy Season 2! Greetings, Farscape Season 3! Nice to see ya, Six Feet Under Season 1! There's four I wholeheartedly agree with. There's got to be some room there, however, for Dexter, The Sopranos and Mad Men, no?
I just finished up with Dexter Season 2, and holy shit, what a ride. I watched it all over the course of a week or so, and it was positively electric. The voice overs were dark, deadpan hilarious, and the acting and writing were superb. I've hated few characters on my TV like Lila, though she was a perfect catalyst for the story this season. And though she needs to eat a sandwich, I think I love Debra Morgan, all emotional confusion and shockingly foul mouth. I thought the show would have a hard time topping S1, but this may have done it. Outstanding.
Speaking of Dexter, Jimmy Smits will be joining the cast for the next season.
Always nice to see Julianne Moore talking about fellatio.
Nice roundtable discussion from the showrunners of Lost, Pushing Daisies, HIMYM, House and Mad Men.
More good stuff about How I Met Your Mother here.
Cool sketches of the ships on BSG.
Weird. Torchwood is coming back in 2009, but for only 5 hours. What's up with that?
Buster Bluth coming to Chuck? Yeah, that works.
This poll sums up how I feel about Narnia.
Could Tim Burton direct Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in a big screen Dark Shadows? Awesome.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
I'll take potpourri for $800, Alex
Carl Sagan's son looks at inventions of the future.
A video interview with James Callis about an EW photo shoot. Of course Baltar would wind up in Vegas. (poke around that site. There are other good BSG interviews there as well).
Speaking of BSG (which it seems I always am), my crackpot theory for the 5th and final cylon is Zak Adama. I'm staying away from spoilers, so it's just a wild guess. But I strongly believe it won't be PoppAdama or Lee. Or Starbuck or President Airlock. And a heretofore unknown character would be disappointing. We've had mentions of Zak in every season, though he hasn't really shown up. (He's dead, ya know). He has connections to all the central characters (save Roslin) and Leobon did say during the first season "Adama is a cylon." Of course, he didn't say which one. Just a thought.
A good education for the kids. I could have directed them to someplace closer, at only 553 miles, to get the same insight.
Ever pause the TiVo at the end of a Chuck Lorre show to read the vanity cards? They're really funny, and all collected here.
One of my favorite writers, Christopher Hitchens, on the Rev. Wright crap.
A new show coming on USA. The lead character is a federal marshal, named Mary Shannon. That would make her Marshal Shannon. Her partner is named Marshall Mann. Yep, he's Marshal Marshall. They really are asking me to watch, right?
Lost is going out with a THREE HOUR FINALE. Fuck Yeah!
Sci-Fi sound effects. With plenty of fun links to click and listen.
Monk's Dr. Kroger is dead.
Old-time sportswriting describes the Braves win over the hated Mets and Johan Santana.
Last night's Torchwood was spectacular. Full of depth, answers, backstory, drama and great performances. The flashback format has been done to death (and this ep bore a remarkable resemblance to Firefly's "Out of Gas") but when it's done right, it can really soar.
A video interview with James Callis about an EW photo shoot. Of course Baltar would wind up in Vegas. (poke around that site. There are other good BSG interviews there as well).
Speaking of BSG (which it seems I always am), my crackpot theory for the 5th and final cylon is Zak Adama. I'm staying away from spoilers, so it's just a wild guess. But I strongly believe it won't be PoppAdama or Lee. Or Starbuck or President Airlock. And a heretofore unknown character would be disappointing. We've had mentions of Zak in every season, though he hasn't really shown up. (He's dead, ya know). He has connections to all the central characters (save Roslin) and Leobon did say during the first season "Adama is a cylon." Of course, he didn't say which one. Just a thought.
A good education for the kids. I could have directed them to someplace closer, at only 553 miles, to get the same insight.
Ever pause the TiVo at the end of a Chuck Lorre show to read the vanity cards? They're really funny, and all collected here.
One of my favorite writers, Christopher Hitchens, on the Rev. Wright crap.
A new show coming on USA. The lead character is a federal marshal, named Mary Shannon. That would make her Marshal Shannon. Her partner is named Marshall Mann. Yep, he's Marshal Marshall. They really are asking me to watch, right?
Lost is going out with a THREE HOUR FINALE. Fuck Yeah!
Sci-Fi sound effects. With plenty of fun links to click and listen.
Monk's Dr. Kroger is dead.
Old-time sportswriting describes the Braves win over the hated Mets and Johan Santana.
Last night's Torchwood was spectacular. Full of depth, answers, backstory, drama and great performances. The flashback format has been done to death (and this ep bore a remarkable resemblance to Firefly's "Out of Gas") but when it's done right, it can really soar.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
I'll take potpourri for $700, Alex
Cute interview with the talented Jane Espenson, writer for Buffy, Firefly and Battlestar Galactica. After finishing the season with BSG, is there any doubt she'll move to Dollhouse? Because of course, it will be a major hit and FOX won't cancel it.
Wanna keep track of how many are dead on BSG? Here's a handy chart. That's gonna need some updating.
The World's Greatest School doles out some more awards for the highest achievement in television. Winners include 3 of my favorites: Dexter, 30 Rock and Mad Men.
This is adorable. What if Charles Schultz created Watchmen?
I'm a big fan of Torchwood, but last week's ep about the "night travelers" was plain stupid and full of holes. I'm hoping for a rebound tonight.
New show about advertising on TNT. On the upside, it's got a great cast and is produced by the folks behind The Closer. However, will I watch this the same way doctors do Grey's Anatomy or cops do CSI: Miami, and just say (insert Gob Bluth voice here) "Aw, come ON!"
Speaking of CSI: Miami, I think I've posted several times about my reasons for watching this dreck. And I say that as a fan of CSI: Original Recipe. It's my "go to bed" show, because the plots are relatively self-contained, and I haven't seen many of them, so it's perfect to doze off to. And if you watch it as a comedy, it's just so much better. But I'm just increasingly filled with hate and disbelief with every episode. Is there a more painful actor to watch on TV than Caruso? Every self-important line is delivered head cocked, as he walks off screen holding his shades. Every single fucking one. And he's supposed to be a CSI, not a one man killing machine who has to be the greatest shot since Quigley Down Under. I've seen him take out teams of machine gun wielding assassins and entire moving trucks with a pistol. And I despise the smug, horrible acting of Delko. And the teeth and tits of Boa Vista walked in from a poorly crafted soap opera. If not for the twangy charms of the bald cop and Emily Proctor, I might die in my sleep one night after watching this.
Even when she was too young for the prom, she's just frosted cupcake perfection.
We all Know-Shon. Apparently the rest of the world is starting to take notice, too. (h/t Georgia Sports Blog).
You can put the skank in the minivan, but not much really changes. Speaking of which, Dallas is behind the times. This was happening in Columbus Georgia a couple of decades ago.
Over at Trekmovie.com, they posted some funny "alternative title sequences" to the various Trek shows. This is my favorite:
Mike Hampton goes on the DL. In other news, grass is green and water is wet.
Wanna keep track of how many are dead on BSG? Here's a handy chart. That's gonna need some updating.
The World's Greatest School doles out some more awards for the highest achievement in television. Winners include 3 of my favorites: Dexter, 30 Rock and Mad Men.
This is adorable. What if Charles Schultz created Watchmen?
I'm a big fan of Torchwood, but last week's ep about the "night travelers" was plain stupid and full of holes. I'm hoping for a rebound tonight.
New show about advertising on TNT. On the upside, it's got a great cast and is produced by the folks behind The Closer. However, will I watch this the same way doctors do Grey's Anatomy or cops do CSI: Miami, and just say (insert Gob Bluth voice here) "Aw, come ON!"
Speaking of CSI: Miami, I think I've posted several times about my reasons for watching this dreck. And I say that as a fan of CSI: Original Recipe. It's my "go to bed" show, because the plots are relatively self-contained, and I haven't seen many of them, so it's perfect to doze off to. And if you watch it as a comedy, it's just so much better. But I'm just increasingly filled with hate and disbelief with every episode. Is there a more painful actor to watch on TV than Caruso? Every self-important line is delivered head cocked, as he walks off screen holding his shades. Every single fucking one. And he's supposed to be a CSI, not a one man killing machine who has to be the greatest shot since Quigley Down Under. I've seen him take out teams of machine gun wielding assassins and entire moving trucks with a pistol. And I despise the smug, horrible acting of Delko. And the teeth and tits of Boa Vista walked in from a poorly crafted soap opera. If not for the twangy charms of the bald cop and Emily Proctor, I might die in my sleep one night after watching this.
Even when she was too young for the prom, she's just frosted cupcake perfection.
We all Know-Shon. Apparently the rest of the world is starting to take notice, too. (h/t Georgia Sports Blog).
You can put the skank in the minivan, but not much really changes. Speaking of which, Dallas is behind the times. This was happening in Columbus Georgia a couple of decades ago.
Over at Trekmovie.com, they posted some funny "alternative title sequences" to the various Trek shows. This is my favorite:
Mike Hampton goes on the DL. In other news, grass is green and water is wet.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
"Let's all have sex."
That was Owen's response to the imminent destruction of London, on last night's Torchwood episode, "Sleeper." Can't say that I blame him, though I wonder if that's a bit of residual influence from last week's Captain John visit.
Overall, the episode was entertaining, and continued last week's trend of taking an "action" premise, and psychologically disturbing story (the poor sleeper agent! Didn't know what was happening to her, or how she would eventually wind up treating her boyfriend) and suffusing it with a fair amount of wit and playfulness. It's only two episodes thus far in S2, but the producers seem to be hewing more closely to the Whedon model this year, challenging the writers and actors to skillfully balance sci-fi adventure, character development, pathos and devilish humor all in one hour. It all makes for an entertaining romp, and I'm in definitely warming to the rest of the team (besides Jack and Gwen, who I already liked) who are showing more shades and more off the cuff funny.
I also like that Torchwood's more adult bent and the English sensibilities treat sexual orientation and interracial relationships like a mundane point of fact, rather than the "dun-dun-DUN" hammer frequently present on US TV.
Overall, the episode was entertaining, and continued last week's trend of taking an "action" premise, and psychologically disturbing story (the poor sleeper agent! Didn't know what was happening to her, or how she would eventually wind up treating her boyfriend) and suffusing it with a fair amount of wit and playfulness. It's only two episodes thus far in S2, but the producers seem to be hewing more closely to the Whedon model this year, challenging the writers and actors to skillfully balance sci-fi adventure, character development, pathos and devilish humor all in one hour. It all makes for an entertaining romp, and I'm in definitely warming to the rest of the team (besides Jack and Gwen, who I already liked) who are showing more shades and more off the cuff funny.
I also like that Torchwood's more adult bent and the English sensibilities treat sexual orientation and interracial relationships like a mundane point of fact, rather than the "dun-dun-DUN" hammer frequently present on US TV.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
"That was a poodle."
Torchwood returned to the tube last night, and it was worth the wait. The Beeb's oversexed Doctor Who spinoff is the closest thing we have to a modern day X-Files, and the season 2 (or "series 2" as they say across the pond) premiere was everything we've come to expect from the better episodes of the show. Captain Jack was more the saucy adventurer we knew and loved from the parent show, and less the brooding "immortality sucks"enigma that appeared too often in season 1. It helped that he had another time agent, played by James Marsters as a raging id combination of Spike and Adam Ant, to liven up the game.
The central plot was more of a poorly thought out macguffin (SPOILER WARNING/SWIPE TO READ: Captain John was looking for a diamond he killed someone to get. When he finds it, it turns there was no diamond. It was a trap designed to blow up the person who killed her to get the diamond. But if there was no diamond at all to begin with, why make the bomb? She would have never had a need to make a "revenge bomb" if she hadn't come up with the fake diamond story in the first place!) but the ride was fun and all the characters got a chance to shine. Plus, how can you not love a show with a talking blowfish who steals a sports car and an alien the gives lecherous looks towards a poodle?
From USA Today's Pop Candy, here's an audio interview with the gorgeous and talented Eve Myles, who plays Gwen.
Welcome back, Torchwood.
The central plot was more of a poorly thought out macguffin (SPOILER WARNING/SWIPE TO READ: Captain John was looking for a diamond he killed someone to get. When he finds it, it turns there was no diamond. It was a trap designed to blow up the person who killed her to get the diamond. But if there was no diamond at all to begin with, why make the bomb? She would have never had a need to make a "revenge bomb" if she hadn't come up with the fake diamond story in the first place!) but the ride was fun and all the characters got a chance to shine. Plus, how can you not love a show with a talking blowfish who steals a sports car and an alien the gives lecherous looks towards a poodle?
From USA Today's Pop Candy, here's an audio interview with the gorgeous and talented Eve Myles, who plays Gwen.
Welcome back, Torchwood.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The upside of the trade deficit
Television goodness from across the pond: sci-fi trailers from two of our favorite "programmes" on the Beeb:
Teaser for the Doctor Who "Christmas Special" (not sure when it's airing here. But it's The Doctor on a space fairing Titanic, with Kylie Minogue)
And the trailer for Torchwood (One of TNRLM's 10 Best of 2007) Season 2. (Whedonverse fans will recognize a certain "other" vampire with soul)
Teaser for the Doctor Who "Christmas Special" (not sure when it's airing here. But it's The Doctor on a space fairing Titanic, with Kylie Minogue)
And the trailer for Torchwood (One of TNRLM's 10 Best of 2007) Season 2. (Whedonverse fans will recognize a certain "other" vampire with soul)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Canon: Best of Television 2007
With 2007 coming to an end and the supply of new episodes rapidly dwindling, it's time to do a quick review of the Best of 2007.
The Canon: TNRLM's Top 10 TV Shows of 2007
1. Battlestar Galactica
The season started with a bang (the flash forward to occupied New Caprica, capped by one of the most remarkable and stirring images ever to grace a television screen - Galactica dropping through the atmosphere to aid in the Exodus) and ended with a bang (Cylons revealed! Baltar not guilty! Starbuck returns! And All Along the Watchtower!). In between we had gut wrenching boxing matches, sacrifices, backstories, great character moments and some of the best writing, acting and directing TV has to offer. With only one real clunker ("The Woman King") and a captivating "extra" ("Razor"), BSG remains a hidden gem. If you don't like sci-fi in general or only remember the cheesy 70s show, you owe it to yourself to check out The Best Show on Television.
2. Mad Men
This instant classic came out of nowhere (AMC? Really?) to suddenly become one of the small screen's most intriguing tapestries. Set in the smoke and booze filled world of advertising in the 60s, Mad Men carves out a period of American history and explores the cultural mores of the time and fills it with fascinating characters. Former Sopranos producer Matthew Weiner has assembled a top notch ensemble to evocatively draw us into this world, anchored by Jon Hamm as complex adman Don Draper.
3. Big Love
Often overshadowed in HBO's stable of dramas by legends (The Sopranos) and spectacular flameouts (John From Cincinnati), Big Love only got better in its second season. While the audience may not always sympathize or agree with protagonist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton), it's the three sister wives played by Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin that truly give the show heart and nuance. All three upped their games in this season and delivered outstanding performances that should be recognized at Emmy time.
4. House
Coming off an uneven third season (good riddance to the Tritter debacle), House rebounded in a spectacular way, upending the supporting cast dynamics with House's amusingly cruel game of professional "Survivor" as he selected three new associates to replace Chase, Cameron and Foreman (who stayed with the show, only on the periphery). The medical mystery of the week was still there, but the competition for staff positions was inspired, entertaining and gave TV's best asshole ample time to unleash an endless stream of bon mots. Plus, where else can you find Kumar and Cutthroat Bitch on a regular basis? Extra bonus: our first case of Lupus!
5. 30 Rock
While The Office got the awards previously, and rightfully inspired cultish fanaticism, 30 Rock did what few sitcoms do: deliver consistent laughs. A surprise winner for Best Comedy Emmy, Tina Fey and company skillfully walked the tightrope between high concept lunacy and workplace chuckles. While all the performances are top notch, it's Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy who is without question the funniest character on the small screen today. 30 Rock deftly weaves in pop culture references, political satire and flat out absurdity, all in one whip-smart package.
6. Lost
The less said about the opening "pod" of "cage episodes" (or Jack's tattoo story) the better, but once that meandering beginning was over, Lost kicked up the suspense, drama and mystery, all building to a mind-blowing finale. Elizabeth Mitchell was a fascinating addition as Juliet and no one on TV is as creepy as Michael Emerson's Benjamin Linus. Even though it divided fans, I found the Nicki and Paulo story funny, entertaining and delightfully morbid. Lost remains unlike anything else on TV, and the finale only ups the ante for the heights it can reach. I'm still firmly on the island.
7. The Sopranos
The television legend came to a close this year with an ending that will be debated for some time. What can't be debated, however, is the quality of the show (and the writing, acting, directing) that will go down in history as one of the all time greats.
8. The Closer
A simple set up (crime, investigation, Brenda gets a confession) yields far greater results than you would expect. Kyra Sedwick's central performance as Brenda Leigh Johnson (true southern quibbles with accents not withstanding) is a revelation, and she's surrounded by a taut, smart ensemble. Many times, it's not that hard to figure out "whodunnit," but the true joy of The Closer is watching Chief Johnson figure out how to get that "who" to admit it.
9. Bones
Another procedural, lifted from the ordinary by the effortless charm and palpable chemistry between leads David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. The show features the best "will they or won't they" since Mulder and Scully and has a great supporting cast of intelligent and richly drawn characters.
10. Torchwood
Speaking of Mulder and Scully, this BBC America import is an X-Files for a new generation. Originally positioned as a more "adult" Doctor Who spinoff, Torchwood really came into its own toward the end of its maiden season. The aliens and monsters of the week are fun and creepy, but the real drama of Torchwood lies in the toll these battles take on team fighting them. And John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness is a character for the ages (literally).
Caveats:
Due to the relocation issues and horrors of Comcast (and their Hal 9000 TiFaux), I wasn't able to watch Dexter, which almost assuredly would have been toward the top of this list. I hope to catch up on Season 2 shortly, through Showtime repeats or DVD. (Same with Weeds and Californication). I also understand Pushing Daisies to be quite good, and look forward to watching that from the beginning. Finally, my low tolerance for kids on my TV keeps me from watching Friday Night Lights, though I may check my prejudices at the door and give it a try during the strike (if I can convince non-geeks to give BSG a shot, it's only fair that I follow my own advice about preconceptions).
Honorable Mention:
Psych
Eureka
Burn Notice
Doctor Who
Chuck
The Office
How I Met Your Mother
For other year end wrap ups, check out my two favorite critics: TV Guide's Matt Roush and the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan.
The Canon: TNRLM's Top 10 TV Shows of 2007
1. Battlestar Galactica
The season started with a bang (the flash forward to occupied New Caprica, capped by one of the most remarkable and stirring images ever to grace a television screen - Galactica dropping through the atmosphere to aid in the Exodus) and ended with a bang (Cylons revealed! Baltar not guilty! Starbuck returns! And All Along the Watchtower!). In between we had gut wrenching boxing matches, sacrifices, backstories, great character moments and some of the best writing, acting and directing TV has to offer. With only one real clunker ("The Woman King") and a captivating "extra" ("Razor"), BSG remains a hidden gem. If you don't like sci-fi in general or only remember the cheesy 70s show, you owe it to yourself to check out The Best Show on Television.
2. Mad Men
This instant classic came out of nowhere (AMC? Really?) to suddenly become one of the small screen's most intriguing tapestries. Set in the smoke and booze filled world of advertising in the 60s, Mad Men carves out a period of American history and explores the cultural mores of the time and fills it with fascinating characters. Former Sopranos producer Matthew Weiner has assembled a top notch ensemble to evocatively draw us into this world, anchored by Jon Hamm as complex adman Don Draper.
3. Big Love
Often overshadowed in HBO's stable of dramas by legends (The Sopranos) and spectacular flameouts (John From Cincinnati), Big Love only got better in its second season. While the audience may not always sympathize or agree with protagonist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton), it's the three sister wives played by Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin that truly give the show heart and nuance. All three upped their games in this season and delivered outstanding performances that should be recognized at Emmy time.
4. House
Coming off an uneven third season (good riddance to the Tritter debacle), House rebounded in a spectacular way, upending the supporting cast dynamics with House's amusingly cruel game of professional "Survivor" as he selected three new associates to replace Chase, Cameron and Foreman (who stayed with the show, only on the periphery). The medical mystery of the week was still there, but the competition for staff positions was inspired, entertaining and gave TV's best asshole ample time to unleash an endless stream of bon mots. Plus, where else can you find Kumar and Cutthroat Bitch on a regular basis? Extra bonus: our first case of Lupus!
5. 30 Rock
While The Office got the awards previously, and rightfully inspired cultish fanaticism, 30 Rock did what few sitcoms do: deliver consistent laughs. A surprise winner for Best Comedy Emmy, Tina Fey and company skillfully walked the tightrope between high concept lunacy and workplace chuckles. While all the performances are top notch, it's Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy who is without question the funniest character on the small screen today. 30 Rock deftly weaves in pop culture references, political satire and flat out absurdity, all in one whip-smart package.
6. Lost
The less said about the opening "pod" of "cage episodes" (or Jack's tattoo story) the better, but once that meandering beginning was over, Lost kicked up the suspense, drama and mystery, all building to a mind-blowing finale. Elizabeth Mitchell was a fascinating addition as Juliet and no one on TV is as creepy as Michael Emerson's Benjamin Linus. Even though it divided fans, I found the Nicki and Paulo story funny, entertaining and delightfully morbid. Lost remains unlike anything else on TV, and the finale only ups the ante for the heights it can reach. I'm still firmly on the island.
7. The Sopranos
The television legend came to a close this year with an ending that will be debated for some time. What can't be debated, however, is the quality of the show (and the writing, acting, directing) that will go down in history as one of the all time greats.
8. The Closer
A simple set up (crime, investigation, Brenda gets a confession) yields far greater results than you would expect. Kyra Sedwick's central performance as Brenda Leigh Johnson (true southern quibbles with accents not withstanding) is a revelation, and she's surrounded by a taut, smart ensemble. Many times, it's not that hard to figure out "whodunnit," but the true joy of The Closer is watching Chief Johnson figure out how to get that "who" to admit it.
9. Bones
Another procedural, lifted from the ordinary by the effortless charm and palpable chemistry between leads David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. The show features the best "will they or won't they" since Mulder and Scully and has a great supporting cast of intelligent and richly drawn characters.
10. Torchwood
Speaking of Mulder and Scully, this BBC America import is an X-Files for a new generation. Originally positioned as a more "adult" Doctor Who spinoff, Torchwood really came into its own toward the end of its maiden season. The aliens and monsters of the week are fun and creepy, but the real drama of Torchwood lies in the toll these battles take on team fighting them. And John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harkness is a character for the ages (literally).
Caveats:
Due to the relocation issues and horrors of Comcast (and their Hal 9000 TiFaux), I wasn't able to watch Dexter, which almost assuredly would have been toward the top of this list. I hope to catch up on Season 2 shortly, through Showtime repeats or DVD. (Same with Weeds and Californication). I also understand Pushing Daisies to be quite good, and look forward to watching that from the beginning. Finally, my low tolerance for kids on my TV keeps me from watching Friday Night Lights, though I may check my prejudices at the door and give it a try during the strike (if I can convince non-geeks to give BSG a shot, it's only fair that I follow my own advice about preconceptions).
Honorable Mention:
Psych
Eureka
Burn Notice
Doctor Who
Chuck
The Office
How I Met Your Mother
For other year end wrap ups, check out my two favorite critics: TV Guide's Matt Roush and the Chicago Tribune's Maureen Ryan.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Season Premieres and Entertainment Nuggets
Fall TV season has started, and here are a few initial thoughts:
I watched the premiere of Chuck (one of my "others to watch" recommendations) and was entertained. They didn't exaggerate the "nerd" angle to the annoying degree that the CBS comedy Big Bang Theory did. (I only caught about half of that, and while it elicited a few chuckles, it was far too broad and didn't seem interested in servicing the characters. "Klingon Boggle" made me laugh, though). The central character, Chuck, was likable and it sets up a decent enough premise. Chuck's sister was sweet, and her boyfriend, Captain Awesome, was well, awesome. And it's always good to see Jayne on the TV. I'll watch again.
I finally caught up on the first three episodes of Torchwood. I guess the fact that I watched them all back to back would signal that I'm on board with this English X-Files. Captain Jack isn't quite as devil may care and insouciant as he is on his Doctor Who appearances, but the plots move along nicely and I'm oddly attracted to the main detective despite the Letterman like gap in her teeth.
The returning shows were solid, if not spectacular. Heroes opened up a whole new can of issues for our genetically altered protagonists, but maybe I've fallen prey to overhype. I enjoyed the hour, but wasn't quite as smitten as I was last year. Maybe it was the lackluster season finale. Maybe I'm looking forward to Kristen Bell's appearance or Sylar's return. But the only standout moments in my book were HRG's approach to "manager management" at the copy store and David Anders' drunken turn as Hiro's hero, Kensai.
Shark is still an entertaining procedural, and Kevin Pollak (as the new DA) does sleazy and condescending well. Several Whodats from Sunday's premiere (in addition to Lt. Weinberg): character actor Dakin Matthews was the judge, and I recognized him as the headmaster of Rory's prep school on Gilmore Girls. Arnold Vosloo was the Russian mobster, and is best known as The Mummy. Kevin Alejandro is the new DA, and he was the bad seed brother on Fox's dear, departed Drive.
Bones also had a nice return to the air. It was good to see Patricia Belcher as the fiesty US Attorney, and Zack and Hodgins both had much needed haircuts. Angela's vacations sound fun, too, if a little complicated.
Mandy Moore was fun as a tatooed tart on How I Met Your Mother, where the show was once again stolen by Barney.
The best return I've seen this season was on House. Oh how I've missed your snark, Dr. House. The case was intriguing and I didn't figure it out until the end, which is always nice. But the good doctor had too many great lines to write down. Perhaps the best laugh out loud moment was "Dr. Buffer" suggesting "lupus." I didn't really miss the rest of House's team.
Great News: Mad Men has been renewed for another season!
Sad News: the rumors about Jan and Marcia having a lesbian fling don't appear to be true.
I watched the premiere of Chuck (one of my "others to watch" recommendations) and was entertained. They didn't exaggerate the "nerd" angle to the annoying degree that the CBS comedy Big Bang Theory did. (I only caught about half of that, and while it elicited a few chuckles, it was far too broad and didn't seem interested in servicing the characters. "Klingon Boggle" made me laugh, though). The central character, Chuck, was likable and it sets up a decent enough premise. Chuck's sister was sweet, and her boyfriend, Captain Awesome, was well, awesome. And it's always good to see Jayne on the TV. I'll watch again.
I finally caught up on the first three episodes of Torchwood. I guess the fact that I watched them all back to back would signal that I'm on board with this English X-Files. Captain Jack isn't quite as devil may care and insouciant as he is on his Doctor Who appearances, but the plots move along nicely and I'm oddly attracted to the main detective despite the Letterman like gap in her teeth.
The returning shows were solid, if not spectacular. Heroes opened up a whole new can of issues for our genetically altered protagonists, but maybe I've fallen prey to overhype. I enjoyed the hour, but wasn't quite as smitten as I was last year. Maybe it was the lackluster season finale. Maybe I'm looking forward to Kristen Bell's appearance or Sylar's return. But the only standout moments in my book were HRG's approach to "manager management" at the copy store and David Anders' drunken turn as Hiro's hero, Kensai.
Shark is still an entertaining procedural, and Kevin Pollak (as the new DA) does sleazy and condescending well. Several Whodats from Sunday's premiere (in addition to Lt. Weinberg): character actor Dakin Matthews was the judge, and I recognized him as the headmaster of Rory's prep school on Gilmore Girls. Arnold Vosloo was the Russian mobster, and is best known as The Mummy. Kevin Alejandro is the new DA, and he was the bad seed brother on Fox's dear, departed Drive.
Bones also had a nice return to the air. It was good to see Patricia Belcher as the fiesty US Attorney, and Zack and Hodgins both had much needed haircuts. Angela's vacations sound fun, too, if a little complicated.
Mandy Moore was fun as a tatooed tart on How I Met Your Mother, where the show was once again stolen by Barney.
The best return I've seen this season was on House. Oh how I've missed your snark, Dr. House. The case was intriguing and I didn't figure it out until the end, which is always nice. But the good doctor had too many great lines to write down. Perhaps the best laugh out loud moment was "Dr. Buffer" suggesting "lupus." I didn't really miss the rest of House's team.
Great News: Mad Men has been renewed for another season!
Sad News: the rumors about Jan and Marcia having a lesbian fling don't appear to be true.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Coming to America. But it's not Neil Diamond.
I'm not the biggest Doctor Who fan in the world. I tried watching a few of the "classic" episodes, but was always taken out of the plot by the extra cheesy special effects (and I'm saying this as a huge fan of "planet of the paper mache rocks" and "run back and forth across the bridge" of the original Star Trek), sometimes impenetrable British idioms, generally childish plots and labyrinth mythology. So when the Sci-Fi Channel picked up the recent version of Doctor Who, and the advance press promised it would have better production values and be accessible to new viewers, I gave it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised, and it was quickly added to the Tivo Season pass list. (Or, as it's known here in Comcast-land, the list of shows that you want to watch that are either recorded occasionally, leaving out key episodes, or recorded over and over including repeats until you want to bash your forehead onto a juicer). The plots were well crafted, and though the subject matter and execution can trend a bit young for my tastes, the central performances of the two Doctors (long story), Christopher Eccelston and David Tennant, are spectacular.
A character that appeared in several episodes, the "omnisexual" time traveler Captain Jack Harkness, was given a spinoff called Torchwood. The first season of this intriguing new show pops up on BBC America this weekend. It promises to be darker and edgier, dealing with more adult themes, and sounds like a British X-Files combined with a Whedon show. In fact, I ran across this article today (h/t Whedonesque) featuring interviews with the writers. When they speak of their influences and favorite shows, all the Whedon shows come up (naturally), along with Farscape, Battlestar Galactica, Lost and Heroes. That's good enough for me to give it a try. We'll see if favorably compares.
A character that appeared in several episodes, the "omnisexual" time traveler Captain Jack Harkness, was given a spinoff called Torchwood. The first season of this intriguing new show pops up on BBC America this weekend. It promises to be darker and edgier, dealing with more adult themes, and sounds like a British X-Files combined with a Whedon show. In fact, I ran across this article today (h/t Whedonesque) featuring interviews with the writers. When they speak of their influences and favorite shows, all the Whedon shows come up (naturally), along with Farscape, Battlestar Galactica, Lost and Heroes. That's good enough for me to give it a try. We'll see if favorably compares.
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