4 posts tagged “24”

According to television execs, we're supposed to be excited Excited EXCITED. Because it's Upfronts! week. Didn't ya know?!?! Was that a 'meh' I heard? Yeah, thought so. 

I know, I haven't been around for a while. Actually, I've written several posts just in the last week that I haven't made public because I wanted to proof (and edit out some rambling--I know, hard to believe). But it's time for the Upfronts! Which means very little but the network execs like to think the Upfronts! are thrilling and imperative to the world spinning right round, even though all the confetti-tossing is really to attract ad moola that will hopefully trickle down and keep them employed and out of personal bankruptcy. So the thrill is really just for network honchos to show their competitors what big money they can draw for mediocre programming on as little budget as possible. Huzzah for Hollywood! But it does offer a chance for tv-geeks to rant and rave about what the evil networks are doing to their precious couch-tater time. So I am going to jump back into blogging, despite being on deadline for a project, and post to my heart's content since it's time for the Upfronts! Upfronts! Upfronts! Well, except for NBC which had it's Infronts? two weeks ago (blogged about it but wanted to edit a tangent about Chuck, which got picked up this weekend! Yay for announcements made two weeks after the Infronts? to try and upstage the Upfronts! Silverman, you are so you.)

So, here is FOX's 2009-2010 lineup. Pairing Bones with Fringe makes superb sense, although Fringe is still opposite NBC's funnies and my Thursday-night-addiction, Supernatural, so still won't be watching it live (and still have to catch up on a lot of season one). Bones got two seasons. I've never really been a big fan although I do watch from time to time. It often falls flat for me and I don't see the chemistry between Boothe and Bones (think I'm just not a big fan of Emily Deschanel), but good for David Boreanz. Let's see, what else do I care about? They canceled The Sarah Connor Chronicles which is lame because the show really improved after limping along early on in the season, at least the finale was spectacular. And, as someone pointed out somewhere on a message board (don't recall, sorry), with Terminator:Salvation coming out this summer it would be perfect promotion for the show. I always hoped Sci-Fi (oh, wait, is it Sy-Fy?) would give it a good home after BSG ended. Let's see, what else? Dollhouse was picked up, which I am ambivalent about. I'm a big goofy fan of Whedon shows (Firefly has ended up being my favorite with Angel and Buffy respectively following, probably because I can still see Angel in syndication every morning on TNT), but I just cannot get behind the premise of this show, for many reasons, or believe Eliza Dushku can carry it on her shoulders. It's just often subpar, and that's disappointing. But Whedon shows do often get better with time, so maybe it will improve, I just don't know if I'll ever be on board. Alan Tudyk was the best thing I've seen on the show as Alpha, truly enjoyable to watch, but was that the actor or the show? And how often could he be back since ABC is going to pick up V?

As for the newbies, I have to do a little research, considering how FOX likes to yank shows that I enjoy. FOX did add six shows to the lineup, four pilots in addition to Glee and The Cleveland Show. I'm really interested in Human Target, FOX's attempt to cash in on graphic novels. As I recall, Mark Valley hasn't been lead in a show since (the truly underrated and unwatched) Keen Eddie. Add Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Haley, I'll give it a shot.

I was going to talk about season finales here too, but I kind of said all I wanted to say already about FOX's. I gave up on 24 a few episodes ago, although I will probably watch the finale to see how it ends, what happens with Alameda, how it sets up for the next season. A show I used to never miss for fear of not being able to catch up, now I have no trouble just jumping in whenever I wish. I guess my Lost:Don't Give a Rat's Rectum theory works for other shows as well.

I have been in car repair hell for the past few weeks. Totally distracted by it and other crappiness of life which is why I haven't rambled lately, or finished and/or made a ramble public.

- Did you hear the WGA Strike ended? Yeah, I am so behind that I didn't even post a proper huzzah for the picketing scribes last week. Is a late huzzah better than no huzzah at all? If a huzzah falls in the blogosphere and nobody hollas a huzzah back, um, who cares. Word of the day: huzzzzzaaah. And, no, I am not committing am HUI, huzzah under the influence. Just like the word. Anyway, it's over and time will tell if the writers are truly happy with their deal, but I'm most stoked for all of those below-the-line crew members who can now step away from the Top Ramen with the production frenzy.

- With the strike over, a few of the networks were itching to announce happy news of the renewal-kind:
 
    CBS: Yeah, I don't really watch the eye network which is why I'm sadly not surprised shows like The Big Bang Theory or Ghost Whisperer were renewed. And that's why I don't watch. The cheestastic Moonlight was not picked up but is going back into production. Same for How I Met Your Mother, the only other show I sometimes catch. Scratch that, I also have been charmed by the underrated The New Adventures of Old Christine from time to time (such a great cast). Obviously, execs will wait to see if Jericho's fans really can bring the ratings to keep it from facing the chopping block again. Liked it, didn't love it, but I wish any show with a devoted fan base much luck. Always root for the underdog!

    NBC: Well, NBC decided to give newbies Life and Chuck another shot. Excuse me for a sec. Hell YEAH, Bartowski! And it will be lovely to see Damien Lewis get another chance too, ahem. Surprise, surprise they also picked up their only ratings hit, Heroes. As for Friday Night Lights, things look dim (never pardon my puns) for one of the best shows on the telly roster. But televisionaries Ben Silverman and Jeff Zucker know what they're doing, right? American Gladiators, Knight Rider, and Bionic Woman are the future of television. But those remakes, um, wouldn't that be, aren't they, is there such a thing as a re-future? Bionic Woman didn't work out so well, huh? Rewarmed 80s shows might not be the future after all. But then American Gladiators is a hit and gets another season (sigh). Way to uphold that shiny reputation, Silverman. Did we just update our spring wardrobe to the Sonny Crockett collection too?

    ABC: The alphabet network renewed the usual ratings grabbing suspects: siblings, housewives, slutty surgeons, and flight 815. Newcomers include Dirty Sexy Money, Samantha Who?, and Pushing Daisies. Not a surprise that the Piemaker and his merry band of darlings will return, but I am interested to see if the show can continue to be charming without being gimmicky.

    CW: Not to be outdone by the big boys, the CW announced when new episodes will air of its current shows. Wait, what? Did I miss the announcement? Other than the cancellation of CW Now, anything else, former-frog-now-just-green network? New episodes soon, alrighty.

-There are two online petitions to save Friday Night Lights. Click on the shiny light bulb at the bottom of my sidebar to head over to Best Week Ever's blog devoted to saving the show and sign their petition. They have tons of suggestions for showing your support as a member of the Dillon Panthers Booster Club (what will the assistants at NBC do with cases of light bulbs?). The folks at Save Friday Night Lights also have a petition and are raising funds for customized mini footballs to send to the network.

- Joel Surnow left 24. The show was its worst last season (hell, I can't even remember most of it) so maybe it's time for a little new life to creatively revitalize it. Probably the best for Surnow and the show. Wonder what it will be like without the ultra-conservative steering the wheel? Time will tell, dink dank, dink dank.

- Ausiello's strike chart is now being regularly updated as a post-strike chart for the RETURN of shows to the telly. Five new episodes of Gossip Girl.Oh, Little J, feel the wrath of B.

-Coming Soon: my Pro/Con list for watching Rock of Love II: Barbie Hair and Botoxxx Club for Middleaged Dirtbag and Women With Rock-Bottom Low Self-Esteem. Spoiler: much like the bimbos on this show, the Pros lose.

My random thoughts on TV that aren’t long enough to stand alone but combined make for one long-ass post:

• Did you watch the Emmys on Sunday? Yeah, nothing else was on but Tell Me You Love Me, so the Emmys it was. Did you also find them boring while still reminding the viewing public how out of touch voters are? Sure, sure, no surprise, especially after six years of Lauren Graham snubs, but you can't blame them for dissing her for last season. Maybe that will change with her new development deal at NBC. So, did you hear a chorus of "Are you f*cking kidding me?" in bad faux-Jersey accents sweep the country when Sally Field won? Followed by "You gotta be f*cking kidding me." when James Spader took the stage? Oh, right, ratings sucked, not enough viewers for it to be audible. Well, at least Spader seemed genuinely befuddled, more so than usual. Okay, so I've crushed on Spader since he was typecast as '80s elitist sleezoid, and he's a fine actor even though the other Jimmy really did deserve the statue, but who watches Boston Legal besides my stepmother and William Shatner? Sally Field reminded me why I don't watch Brothers & Sisters, not for what she said but the shrill rambling (Brain fever, Celeste?), I don't care if Everwood's Emily VanCamp is a cast member now. Give me a Chris Pratt guest stint, maybe I'll reconsider for a few. But what's up with Katherine Heigl actually winning? Did the other gals split the votes? I've always liked her, but, really? Nah-ah, the S-word is not allowed here. Eh, I'm so tired of the Shondafication of the small screen, I'm elated Grey's didn't take more statues. Huh? I agree, Seacrest is a manscaped asshat. But thankfully Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Steve Carrell were on the recycled stage to give us one worthy laugh.
  

• Oh, Tell Me You Love Me. Sorry, I just can't make that commitment. No, no, it's not me, it's you. Who wants to watch a show about annoying people going through couples therapy for intimacy issues? Agony. It's as if thirtysomething stopped taking its antidepressants and ditched the fun-fun-fun storylines that dealt with kid barf, money matters, soul-sucking bosses, death, and cancer. I tried watching the second episode but my muttering "ShutupShutupShutup" followed by "Uggggh" repeatedly drowned out dialogue. I had issues with the promos that showed creator Cynthia Mort saying something about not even thinking about the sex when she conceived the first script; it just didn't occur to her. I don't remember exactly what she said because my brain imploded on that statement. A show with sexual intimacy as the central theme yet nookie didn't cross the mind? So when it was pitched to HBO, they weren't interested in all the "ground-breaking" nekkid, it was greenlit just because of issues, issues, issues, yay! Riiight. Do airlines service your island of delusion yet? Because I'd love to visit.

• Mad Men was renewed. I thought it would be, but after last week's ending, I would  toss my telly if it wasn't. It rocked my socks. Betty mid-afternoon still in her pink nightie ensemb, perfect hair, cigarette a dangling, using live pigeons in her front yard as skeet just left me giddy and speechless but for a "Hell Yeah!" Housewife Barbie has a dark side, now please let Mouse Ears cross over too. It's a repeat of "5G" tonight, but that's okay. Now that I have renamed the day Mad Men Thursday, I'll be back.
  

• Top Chef, why are we just now becoming friends? We’ve met once or twice, passing primetime acquaintances, and I got your messages about meeting up again but never returned the calls. Now, I look forward to our weekly sit-downs to see what detail Colicchio will nitpick; how Padma can be both goofy and condescending in one breath; if Queer Eye's delightful Ted will judge or that Food & Wine whiner Gail instead; how the camera will catch Hung in some obnoxious act which he will completely deny during a confessional; what Big Gay Chef comment Dale will make this week; how overblown Casey's hair will be during her talkingheads; if Brian will incorporate seafood into a dessert; will Sara expertly roll her eyes while making couscous; and what inane Quick Fire challenge our little cheftestants will face. Sadly, Sara will not get the chance to roll her eyes in Aspen. But maybe she can get an investor now to exhibit her mad skills on a Jamaican cheese farm.

• The new Fall season starts next week. Okay, so Fox launched new shows this week, as has The CW. Again, never got around to commenting on their upfronts either, so meh. Don't really plan on watching Fox much besides 24 anyway. If it weren't for Keifer, sweeeeet Keifer, I would ditch it, although I heard today that Tony "Soul Patch" Alameda will very briefly return. Sneaky rat bastards. Oh, and I will probably catch The Sarah Connor Chronicles whenever it shows up. I did watch Back to You for some inexplicable reason. Kelsey Grammar was trying not to be Frasier Crane, Patricia Heaton the anti-Deborah. I'm a sitcom snob, so studio audiences and laugh tracks don't often reel me in, and I don't think it worked this time either. That said Fred Willard is comedy gold even with a mediocre script.

• I probably won't watch the CW much either but I must admit, I did watch Gossip Girl. Teen dramas are an oxymoron and I am a skosh TV snob. But we've all got guilty pleasures, and these are my guiltiest of TV guilty pleasures. I rarely stick around for a whole season, but I am compelled to check them out once if only to mock. I said I wasn't going to watch GG, but I couldn't help myself. Josh Schwartz, people; no matter how far The O.C. sank, it still hooked my shallow soul in the beginning. As for GG, I have not read the books, nor do I plan to do so. So it's all new to me, and yes, reminds me of Cruel Intentions, but thankfully nobody monotones dialogue like Ryan Phillippe for the small screen. Honestly, it was one of the longest hours of TV I've seen in a while, meaning I checked the clock at the half-hour thinking things must be winding up. Wrong. I miss the comedy of The O.C. because poking fun at itself was incredibly charming. The acting isn't completely wretched. The story is completely predictable. The Humphrey kids are likable, which is good since they are the characters we are supposed to identify with the most as average folk. And Dan already slammed a Ryan-Atwood-new-kid-punch to date-rape-is-fun richie-rich asshole, Chuck. As for the music, not a fan. Although they did work an Air song into the popfest, I've had Peter Bjorn & John's "Young Folks" in my head all damn day now and I have no patience for the whistle in any tune. I forgot that Kristen Bell narrates the show and although her voice doesn't have Veronica's specific snarktastic edge, it was disconcerting having listened to so many VMVOs. But then I thought of it like a big F U to the C-double-U. Bank on my popularity for publicity yet cancel my show, fine, but I will still be narrating what you think will be your biggest hit yet while I kick your ass Monday nights on Heroes. Will I watch again? If I'm home, and not busy, and nothing else is on, maybe, um, okay, probably.
  

• I had planned on a bullet for the shows I'm stoked to see in the upcoming weeks but that's just way too much for a wee bullet to support. That last bullet is on roids so it can handle the wordy weight. So, that will be up later in a separate post. I know, it's like the worst cliffhanger ever, right?
  

I meant to post this yesterday but didn't get to it. So I'm a day late and a gripe short . . .

Last week, Fox cancelled Drive after only four episodes of six aired. Evidently ratings were not stellar. And obviously replacing the show with repeats of House on Mondays is the way to conquer sweeps. If you say so. Oh, I'm being too hard on Fox. I'm sure they also needed to make room for Are You Smarter Than A Meerkat? I understand ratings are important, but Fox didn't give the show a shot. I guess they hoped for better numbers with the major promotional push Drive got. I read somewhere they even had the cast pump free gas one morning, for Nielsen's sake! True, the show was not groundbreaking television. It was a little clunky, a few of the characters were grating and/or boring, average writing. Okay, the scenery never matched where the racers were supposed to be--last epi., tall palm trees in northwestern Georgia, um, no. But it was escapist fun. Pure entertainment, no thinking cap required. It's too bad because it seemed like the show was getting better. Maybe I would've given up on it after a few more episodes, who knows. But it had Firefly/Serenity's ab-fab Nathan Fillion as the lead, playing a good guy with a bad boy past. Driving a badass 70s Dodge Challenger (having seen Grindhouse twice, I thought that was perfect timing). Anyway, I kind of hope that showrunner Tim Minear (that's three of his shows killed by Fox, right?) and Fillion both flip Fox the bird and never return. If it weren't for 24, I'd be done with those motherfoxers.

Actually, 24 is losing me quickly. I still haven't even watched last week's episode yet, recaps sadly seemed to suffice. There was a time when I did not miss 24. People knew why I didn't answer the phone Monday nights. Now I haven't even been home the past two Monday nights. There have been like seventy storylines this season and then they bring back Audrey and the Chinese. I was looking forward to the exploration of how Jack may have changed after two years in a Chinese prison, and we saw his reluctance to work with CTU again early on. But they yanked him right back into his old vigilante patterns, complete with torture and disregard for the powers that be. So, I started wondering what was different. Something was off, other then the fact that we could live in a country that would elect Wayne Palmer president. And it hit me like Jack bitchslapping the terrorist of the week. The Bauer Bag. Jack no longer carries his trusty James Bond-meets-Marry Poppins man purse. I actually have this bag (in army green). No, I didn't buy it because it was the Bauer Bag, but when I realized they were one in the same, I understood his loyalty to it. I would be lost without it, it really is the most awesome bag. And I bet Jack misses his too. Probably more than Kim.