On TV

  • Two hot messes …

    5 Comments

    I was actually enjoying last night’s episode of Heroes — until the very end when it was revealed that yet another city (Washington, D.C. this time) is on the brink of explosive destruction.

    So this makes what – three? four? – times that a city/the world at large has either been threatened with destruction or actually blown up since the show started. Any writer will tell you that you can’t keep doing the same things over and over again. There has to be some variation (or advancing of the overall story) or readers will get bored. Which brings me to this:

    Dear Heroes writer dudes,

    Get a new plot device.

    Sincerely,

    Jennifer

    In other TV news, I also watched the first episode of Dollhouse. Now, I love me some Joss Whedon. Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of my favorite characters of all time, and I loved Buffy. Overall, Angel was good too — until they killed off Cordy and turned Fred into that weird goddess chick. 

    But Dollhouse? I thought it was just a big hot mess. And this version was supposed to be easier to understand than Whedon’s original? Okaaay. Basically, Dollhouse strikes me as a cross between The Matrix and La Femme Nikita — and not in a good way. I think I would have liked it better if Eliza (Echo) knew that she was being reprogrammed all the time. But the blank look she walks around with and that childlike innocence she projects was grating, rather than endearing.

    I might give Dollhouse a few more episodes, but unless it gets a lot better, I’ll be watching Friday Night Lights instead.

    What about you guys? What TV shows are you loving right now? Share in the comments.

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    I love it when a plan comes together …

    9 Comments

    So I hope everyone had a good Valentine’s Day this weekend. I did. Wheezley and I went out to dinner, ate way too much food, swapped presents, and watched bad movies on TV.

    As a result, I have several new books to read, including Graceling, The Stepsister Scheme, The Way of Shadows, and Blue-Eyed Devil (which I already started and am loving).

    Now, I love me some books. But Wheezley got me something even better — and cheesier. I am now the proud owner of – wait for it, wait for it – an A-Team T-shirt!

    Yes, I can now wear my T-shirt while I watch the DVDs of my favorite TV show. It’s really sad how happy this makes me. 😎

    What about you guys? Anyone get anything cool for Valentine’s? Share in the comments.

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    Super blahs …

    6 Comments

    Congrats to the Steelers for winning the big game. I feel sorry for the Cards, though. That was a really heartbreaking way to lose. But now, on to the important stuff — the commercials. 😎

    Overall, I thought the commercials were pretty weak this year. I liked the Clydesdale commercials, especially the one with the horse playing fetch. But then again, these are always my favorites. I also enjoyed the Audi commercial with Jason Stratham that was a bit of a spoof of Stratham’s Transporter character. Other than that, though, nothing really blew my socks off.

    The one with Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz started out well, but then, it got a little sappy. And I had no idea what they were advertising. The Olympics? Jewelry? Buying stuff online?

    The beer commercials were lame and not funny at all, along with the car and cell phone commercials. Overall, they were all just … meh. They didn’t even show any cool movie trailers this year. Even G.I. Joe looked cheesy.

    And the commercial for Heroes where they are playing football with all the NFL greats … I hope you got a lot of money for that, John Elway. Because it was lame. :rolleyes:

    I wasn’t that impressed with the halftime show, either. Half the time, I couldn’t even understand what Bruce was saying/singing. And I felt real sorry for the cameraman he slammed his crotch into when he did his run-and-slide move. The NFL should just get Jimmy Buffett to do the halftime show next year. Seriously. Call Buffett now.

    What about you guys? Which commercials did you like? Share in the comments.

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    Is it just me …

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    Or are the large majority of the Oscar-nominated films/actors/etc. this year just depressing?

    You’ve got Milk, where people die. Doubt, which is about a priest who may or may not be abusing young boys. Heath Ledger, who’s dead. The Wrestler, which is about a washed-up wrestler. Rachel Getting Married, about a recovering drug addict who ruins her sister’s wedding. Changeling, about a kidnapped kid …

    It seems to me like the only category that has any uplifting films is the animated category — and even Wall-E has a serious message.

    Geez. Writing this has depressed me. Is it wrong for me to prefer movies that are just fun?

    On the TV front, I’m looking forward to the Super Bowl this weekend (go Cardinals!) and the return of programs like Chuck. I think it’s one of the best shows folks aren’t watching right now. And I’m still loving Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, The Closer, and Leverage.

    Heroes comes back on Monday too. Meh. If it’s not any better than last year, I’ll be tuning out. And please, please, please, can someone kill Sylar for good already? His eyebrows are really starting to creep me out.

    What about you guys? Seen any of the Oscar films this year? Looking forward to February TV? Share in the comments.

  • Back to Dillon …

    3 Comments

    Oh, Coach Taylor. How I’ve missed you and the rest of the gang on Friday Night Lights. And now, I can finally, finally, see what you’ve been up to on NBC.

    There’s Tyra, so desperately trying to get into college and out of Dillon. Poor Matt Saracen with his new QB competition. Injured Smash, still trying to make his dream of playing football come true. Tim and Lyla, who are attempting to be a real couple. Tami Taylor, the new principal. Annoying Julie. Quirky Landry. And, of course, Buddy Garrity and his dreams of a jumbotron.

    Seriously, folks, this is a great show. It’s about real people with real problems who don’t live in New York or L.A. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

    What shows are you guys loving right now? Share in the comments.