Monday, April 30, 2007

Catalyst or Reporter

Today in TV History: 1997 - The television series "Ellen" made TV history when its lead character "came out" as a lesbian.

This brought about the following question for me. Is TV a catalyst for change? As in, does Ellen coming out as a lesbian as a character on tv spark a change in social acceptability of homosexuality. OR Is TV merely a a commentary on the change already happening within the social climate?

I want to hear your opinions... this isn't a question of whether or not you think homosexuality is acceptable- that is merely one example of a social issue that was brought out into the viewership... the question is TVs role in changing or commentating on social change.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Addition to the Top 8- Now 9

I can be persuaded. I just got this comment:
golfmidatlantic said...

All time favorites? How can you have an all-time favorites list without such classics as Little House on the Prairie, Cheers, The Wonder Years, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Everybody Loves Raymond... and...

I don't know. You want great TV? How about sports! Every game is has a new 'plot.' The actors can't act, but the beer commericals are usually pretty good.

While I can't agree about the sports. The Wonder Years was most definitely overlooked. As for the others- While 90210 did take up an hour each week of my high school career and change my hair style (for the worse don't ever cut your own bangs). I am referring back to my original criteria of whether it was one I hung on to 'til, in this case, the bitter end. I was there for every show for high school, I even went through college without missing too many shows, but the after college... I mean SERIOUSLY... it jumped the shark when Donna lost her virginity. Melrose goes along with the same principle, the couldn't hang on through the end, not the Donna virginity part. Little House isn't considered due to the fact that I wasn't born when it started in 1974, another one of my initial criteria. Cheers I will need to think about, it will definitely be on my honorable mentions list, and Everybody Loves Raymond never made the cut for me. See, I warned you all, totally subjective.

So I am adding on:

The Wonder Years 1988-1993 ABC Dramedy Starring Fred Savage
For tackling social issues of one of the most tumultuous times in US history through the eyes of a child. Children are our future after all, aren't they? For a show that put Kennedy's assassination on about the same level of instability in the world of Kevin Arnold as his first trip to a co-ed party and experiencing "Seven Minutes in Heaven" and/or the destruction of the beloved "Harper's Woods" where the first kiss was shared.

Thanks for setting me straight golfmidatlantic. :)

Second Chance

In today's "This Day in Television History"- 2000 - The final episode of Cosby aired on CBS. At first I thought I didn't think the Cosby Show ran that long, then I realized it didn't, Cosby was that "Second Chance Show" for Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad. It ran for four years, and honestly I can't tell you why. I tried to watch it a few times and didn't enjoy it at all. Seriously why cast a husband and wife from one show as a husband and wife in a new show with a different premise. A bit confusing for those who were great admirers of the original show.

So, what is the difference between a "Second Chance Show" and a "Spin-Off"? A spin-off is a show that takes one or two characters from the original show and starts in with a new plot in a new location. A Different World took Vanessa (correction Denise) from The Cosby Show brought her to college and created a feature to show off the talents of Lisa Bonet. A "Second Chance Show" is where an actor is featured in a successful television show and based on that success gets a shot at a new show with different characters, hence a "Second Chance" at television success. The Seinfeld cast is notorious for taking shots at "Second Chance Shows" that fail miserably- The Seinfeld Curse. Julia Louis-Dreyfus seems to finally have hit a homerun with The New Adventures of Old Christine, about time.

So, here are my questions today. How do you feel about favorite actors who try "Second Chance Shows"? What length of time is needed before they should pursue a "Second Chance Show"? What are your favorite "Second Chance Shows" and/or "Spin-Off"s?

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Friday, April 27, 2007

Top 8

I have been trying to figure out my all time favorite shows. This is a hard task for me since it is completely subjective and I have watched a lot of television in my almost 30 years of life. How do I choose the basis? Well let's first narrow down by only choosing from the primetime television schedule over the last 30 years. I am only including shows that had their first run during my lifetime, so that excludes shows like I Love Lucy and My Three Sons. There is also the problem of shows that the first few seasons were great, but they couldn't hold my interest 'til the bitter end, hence Alias being excluded (however Abrams gets his due). I am also excluding any show still on the air in first run status since I don't know how it will hold out in the end, hence Grey's Anatomy and How I Met Your Mother being excluded.

Ok, after all that explanation here it goes.
In no particular order here are my top 8:

My So Called Life 1994-1995 ABC Teen Drama starring Claire Danes
Shortest run of all the series on the list, but it came out at the right time for me and it also spoke to my father who watched it with me. Despite Angela Chase being a girl on the outkirts who didn't know her place I wanted to be her.

NewsRadio 1995-1999 NBC Sitcom starring Dave Foley, Phil Hartman, Maura Tierney and Andy Dick
This was a quirky (yes you keep seeing that word because obviously I like quirky) comedy within a radio news office that was laced with pop culture references, intelligent and physical comedy, and a talented group of comedic actors.

West Wing 1999-2006 NBC Drama Created by Aaron Sorkin
If you were living in a hole for the last decade then you might not know of this fictional yet incredibly insightful look at the inner workings of the West Wing.

Sex & the City 1998-2004 HBO Sitcom? Dramedy? Starring Sarah Jessica Parker
This groundbreaking show gave women an outlet to feel comfortable about the real issues surrounding sex, relationships, and growing older. It was fun, set trends, and brought issues to light by tackling them head on.

Amazing Stories 1985-1987 NBC Sci-Fi Anthology Show Directed by Steven Spielberg
There are times 20 years after this show aired that I still think about the story lines that came from this show, "Ghost Train" and "The Sitter" are among my favorites. Each episode contained a story, or book, often with a sci-fi twist.

Felicity WB Drama 1998-2002 Starring Keri Russell created by J.J. Abrams
The entrance of J.J. Abrams into television writing was marked by an incredible grasp of the female psyche as she goes through the changes brought about through living on her own for the first time. The other day I woke up with this need to remember exactly how the series ended since there was a second ending added on after the final season was written. The Wizard of Oz turn of events was a brilliant move and maybe a little insightful as to his future successes with Alias and Lost.

The Tracey Ullman Show Fox Sketch Comedy/ Variety 1987-1990
The second Fox primetime series was an incredibly funny sketch show by and starring Tracey Ullman. One of my favorite reoccuring characters was the teenage daughter of a gay couple. Any show that can be a great success in itself, help create a network, and spawn another show The Simpsons which spawns its own show, has to make the list.

Six Feet Under HBO Drama 2001-2005 Created by Alan Ball
Cable television has truly pushed the bar for programming so high that few networks can meet it. This series pushed the limits of drama and showed how powerful it can be to connect the living with the dead.

There may be a theme that many of these happened to air the same time I was going through the same stage in my life My So Called Life- High School, Felicity- College, but I also believe that the fact that I (and many many many other people) connected with them is part of the reason they continue to live on.

Check back in for my honorable mentions. What made your list that didn't make mine?


Thursday, April 19, 2007

Why I Read Spoilers

There are people out there who are going to read my blog an wonder why I read spoilers. If I truly love tv as much as I say I do, why do I spoil it for myself? I have found that I actually enjoy the show a little more when I am on the inside. I wait for things to come up that I have had spoiled for me and I get a little smile knowing I knew it before everyone else watching. A great show is not spoiled by spoilers.

My spoiler of choice is SpoilerFix. You will note that I even have the RSS feed at the top right side of my site. I get no kickbacks from SpoilerFix, I have never even contacted them, but I think they run a great site for people like me who are, well, obsessed. Most of my favorite shows are covered, so that makes it even better.

Take How I Met Your Mother for an example on how reading a spoiler doesn't ruin the show for me. While the main plot points are often covered in the spoiler, there is no way to spoil the enjoyment of watching the pure acting and comedic genius of Neil Patrick Harris as Barney. Since I am not wait for the major plot points I can enjoy his "Awesomeness" to the fullest and truly appreciate what he puts into the character not just the plot. The episode with Robin's secret was one of the most original television episodes I have ever seen and the writing and acting that came from that show could not be spoiled by a few bits of information that prepared the plot for me ahead of time on a site. There was no way to spoil the effect of the music video at the end.

I guess maybe this is just another tell of my addiction. Anyone who spends 20 hours a week watching tv and then spends her time away from the tv looking up more information about the shows she watches obviously has a problem... but that has already been established.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The End to DeathWatch - My own thoughts on the season

Fans of Brilliant But Cancelled-DeathWatch can catch up on past posts until the new season. My fingers are still crossed that in the cancelled line will be The Class (sorry Adrienne) and In Case of Emergency. I guess it really is harder to write comedy these days because this year's tries were mediocre at best. I even sat through 6 episodes of 30 Rock without cracking more than a smile before giving up. The exception to this is Ugly Betty. Probably the best new show of the season. America Ferrara is extraordinary as Betty Suarez, she brings in all the necessary elements to hold this show together- physical and intelligent comedy, believability, and emotional connection. However, it is really a dramedy which seems to be the new norm for the big and small screen, so does it count?

Last year we were graced with How I Met Your Mother a brilliant comedy that is original, quirky and amazingly brings innovative story lines into the mix. Between the absolutely fabulous cast and fantastic writing this is truly the best comedy on tv.

I am a sap at the core so Grey's Anatomy leads the drama pack for me. It pulls at the heartstrings unabashedly. New for this year Studio 60 was fantastic, but then again what by Aaron Sorkin isn't. The problem is that there wasn't enough time between West Wing and Studio 60 for people to forget how brilliant Sorkin is and appreciate his bringing his talent back to the ring. I know, I know, the end of West Wing wasn't Sorkin, but the concept was and Studio 60 reminds us just how good the beginning of West Wing was. The actor I truly hope is catapulted by this show even if it ends up with a short run is Sarah Paulson. Studio 60 offered her a great opportunity to show how versatile she is, but then again I have been a fan since Jack and Jill.

Other new shows that I completely enjoyed and hope return Standoff didn't get a full enough run to build its base. Psych was enjoyable for its sheer quirkiness and as I have already stated I was a big West Wing fan so seeing Dule Hill back on the small screen is nice. Shark keeps me watching because James Woods is so perfectly cast in that role. I don't think I would return if it were anyone else. He is such a great asshole.

How long until next year's schedule is announced? A month? I don't know if I can wait.

A few shows I realized I left off the last list:
Veronica Mars, Standoff, Men in Trees

So Just How Much TV Do I Watch?

So, just how much tv do I watch? Well, I decided to attempt to figure that out. This is the beginning of the list that I have assembled. Yes, the beginning. I know there are many many more shows out there that I flip on, or try out a few times. This is an alphabetical list, except of course, my favorite. Even scarier, there is only 1 half hour show on this list, so that means if it is say sweeps and all the shows are first runs then I watch around 26.5 hours of tv in a week. I do have a DVR, so I am selective and choose when to fit in my habit and I get to skip commericals. So let's say 45 minutes for a regularly hour long show and 20 minutes for a half hour show. That puts me around 20 hours of scheduled viewing. Yes, I am a TVaholic. The first step is admitting it, Right?!?

Grey's Anatomy
Amazing Race, The
Bachelor, The
Brothers & Sisters
Cold Case
CSI
Desperate Housewives
ER
Gilmore Girls
House
How I Met Your Mother
L Word, The
Notes From the Underbelly
October Road
One Tree Hill
Project Runway
Psych
Shark
So You Think You Can Dance
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Survivor
Top Chef
Top Design
Tudors, The
Ugly Betty
Weeds
Without a Trace

Saturday, April 14, 2007

At My Husband's Pushing/ Prodding/ Pursuading

For months now my husband has been saying I need to take my tv watching habit and makes something out of it. So, I have taken the first step, creating a blog for the world to see exactly how much television I watch a week. Honestly, I don't know how much I watch so this will be revealing to both of us.