Date Posted: 6/30/2012 11:31:31 PM Subject: 2011/2012 TV Season Recap
The "traditional" T.V. Season has ended and you have absolutely no desire to hear my thoughts and reviews. Well, I'm bored and nobody seems to want to do anything else (Mo also just had the baby so i'm updating this between diaper changes (I'll learn to use the potty some day) yes. I just used a parenthesis within a parenthesis within a parenthesis) so too fucking bad. Below is a very large portion of the t.v. schedule and an explanation on why or why not I like watching these shows. The sheer volume of shows does help explain my current physical condition as well. I will be grading the shows to show you that, not only have I mastered fractional points, but a rudimentary letter based grading system as well. Lets begin...
The Sunday Night Casualties-There's a glut of quality TV on Sunday nights. It is the main reason people rage that you can only DVR two things at once, and when I say people I mean me and when I say rage I mean complain to Mo for 10 minutes and then immediately apologize to the DVR. These are the shows we've had to cut on Sunday nights to watch everything else.
Boardwalk Empire-Although Boardwalk Empire's 1st season did not live up to the insane hype I bought into it was still solid. When season 2 rolled around there was just too much to watch so we kept saying we were going to watch it on demand and that just never happened. Josh still busts my balls about this on the way to work, (Paraphrasing) "cut out those gay shows you watch and get caught up on Boardwalk Empire you fag...this is unbelievable" You'll see some examples of "those gay shows" below. Grade: Incomplete
The Amazing Race-This is a Mo show (not to be confused with "Fo Sho!"). I watched along, but I don't miss it. I just remember that Mo really wants to be on this show and she always says, "You have to become a more aggressive driver for us to ever win this show." Grade: Who Cares
Family Guy-I Catch up with this On Demand, but it feels like a chore. FOX won't let you fast forward through on Demand commercials. Please reference my rage from above. Grade: B
The Simpsons- Tuned in for the 500th episode in Feb. and it just reminded me how much better the first 250 episodes were. The show has become a non factor. Grade in 1993: A 2012: C
Netflix Gems -The first seasons of both of these shows can be streamed through Netflix. They are both BBC shows and they both yonks the swee down to Suss, they do (That's British for "they both kick ass." I wrote that with a shitty British accent.)
Sherlock-Modern take on Sherlock Holmes. The show is clever, fun, and the old Sherlock Holmes stories are masterfully updated to modern times. The original Holmes story, "A Study in Scarlett" finds Dr. Watson returning home from the "Afghan Wars", wounded, and looking for a place to live. The first episode of the series, "A Study in Pink" finds Dr. Watson returning home from the war in Afghanistan, wounded, and looking for a place to live. Full circle people! The 1st season is only 3 episodes, but they are each 90 minutes long so it's like watching 3 Sherlock Holmes movies. In my opinion they are each better than the Robert Downy Jr. version. This helps reinforce my opinion that at this point in entertainment history TV is far superior to the Movies. I have talked Josh into watching the first season and he gives it two Biggins up. Season 2 was just replayed on PBS and it's even better than the first. Grade: A
Downton Abby-Season one is set approximately 100 years ago in a large British Estate. It focuses on the two groups living in the Manner. The Downton Family and their servants (I don't remember the name of
the family and I don't fell like looking it up. It isn't Downton). The series focuses on the interaction of the family with each other and the staff and the staffs interaction with each other and the family. Lots of secrets, backstabbing, and old timey clothes. The larger story highlights the collision of the old European class system and the progressive thought of the 20th century. This is not highlighted better than in the family matriarch played by Maggie Smith (Old Wendy in Hook, Professor McGonagle in Harry Potter). She is a delight. Season one is on Netflix. I don't know when season two is on Netflix or PBS so we just recently bought the season 2 dvd. Again. Even better than the first with a large focus on WWI. Grade A
I don't think that only One person watching your show is good for ratings-My love affair with an HBO animated Comedy
Life and times of Tim- This was/is a cartoon on HBO that revolves around Tim. A generic office worker who lives in NYC and has a girlfriend, a hooker on call, and raunchier friends the you do. Tim is pretty opinionated and tends to rub people the wrong way. Putting him in the middle of a lot of awkward situations and confrontations. Mo HATES this show and I belly laugh at it. The problem is I think Mo may have the majority opinion. I think Christine watched the pilot and that's about it. I don't know of anyone else who watched this. This season ended with (spoiler alert) a giant "O" from the sign on Tim's office building falling toward him as he says "oh shit." The show is in some sort a of limbo now where if it ends we can assume Tim is dead and will be sad. If it comes back Tim will be alive, but Mo will hate me. For some deep Pryor trivia this show is where I got my 2010 TFTF Snake League team name, "The Salty Jazz". Grade B+
I've heard good things...
Lillehammer-This is a Netflix exclusive staring Steven Van Zant as a Mob boss turned rat who asks to be witness protected in Noway. Specifically Lillehammer. I kept telling Mo this show was called Barcelona. When she corrected me I told her "it was one of those cities that had the Olympics." I plan on checking this out and hopefully if it isn't any good it will give Netflix some production experience before they bring back Arrested Development for 2013.
Parks and Rec-Consistently on critics top ten lists. Many call it the best show (or at least the best written show) on TV, but we could never get into it. The very little i've seen has not impressed. Maybe I'll catch it on re-runs but probably not.
Newsroom- AKA Aaron Sorkin's Diary. I have the pilot dvr'd, but I haven't gotten around to watching. Josh liked it. Many critics hated it. Probably won't be a regular viewer. UPDATE Watched the pilot. Enjoyed it. A lot of Monday morning quarterbacking (it's set in 2010), but i'll keep watching.
Breaking Bad and Mad Men- I will watch these at some point with Netflix. Good think Netflix has old episodes and British TV to stream or we would have cancelled our subscription long ago.
2 Shows + the same concept = my wifes devotion
Grimm and Once Upon a Time- If it wasn't for shows like this to ignore I'd have no time to write these dazzling articles. Grade (from what i've seen as I glance above the laptop) C- and C
Just got back to town
True Blood-I have actually never seen this show. I just lie to you guys about it and participate in the conversation using talking points Mo feeds to me. If I had to guess I'd give this season a B+ so far.
Weeds- Not actually back on yet, but I don't know where else to put this. I usually don't like pot humor (I hate cheech and chong movies and didn't care for pineapple express), but this show is funny and you get to see Mary Louise Parker's tits. Win/Win. This past season was "eh", but i'm looking forward to the final year. UPDATE watched the season premiere tonight. Better than most of last years episodes. No naked Mary Louise Parker though.
Old Shows we watched a lot of this year-Gotta love syndication
Frasier-Still the smartest show on TV. Grade B+
Friends- Not holding up very well. I mentioned this to Josh and he told me not to admit that to Justin. No worries. Nobody will read this.
Seinfeld-Still the best comedy ever, but the title "Best Show Ever" that TV guide consistently gives it might be in jeopardy. Grade A+
Slowest show on TV: The walking dead. Season one was beautifully paced with action and drama mixed in. Season two saw the band of walking zombie food go to a farm and then debate morality and search for a missing girl for 6 episodes. 6 episodes. Nothing else happened. It was like Lost meets the Blair Witch project with some I am Legend sprinkled in. I still like the show, but I needed to vent. Grade B
We've forgotten why we watch-Actually I explain below exactly why we still watch.
Up All Night-This NBC comedy has Will Arnett and Christina Applegate playing new parents trying to cope with the stresses of bringing their first child into the world. This show premiered on Wed, September 14, 2011. We watched it on DVR on Thursday the 15th and on Friday the 16th we found out Mo was pregnant. This kind of tied us to this show forever. From the pilot to the season finale the show has drastically reduced story lines involving the new baby (baby Amy appeared in one 1http://www.manvolve.com/bbeditor/images/bold.gif5 second shot of the Finale) and increased story lines involving Christina Applegate and Mya Rudolph (Applegate is a producer for the Oprah like Rudolphs's talk show). I would not even call this show a comedy anymore. It's not a drama either. It's like if a show died and went to purgatory. 50/50 chance we start up again in the fall. Current Grade C-
Old Faithfulls-Shows that deliver quality week in and week out.
Moderne Familiy-Consistent comedy throughout every episode with consistent heart at the end. Strongest ensemble (comedically) on TV, except for the little girl, Lilly. They need to change her again. Grade A
30 Rock-Renewed for a 7th season next year which will be it's last. On the joke per second meter (just made this up) this show is among the best. Grade A-
Dexter-Hell of a cliffhanger last year (SPOILER ALERT) Dexter is finally caught murdering a baddie by his kid "sister" Deb. Who may or may not have sexual feelings for "Dex" (For those who don't know the show: Dexter is adopted so it isn't AS creepy). Oh and the two actors fell in love on set, got married and have since divorced with rumors swirling that they can't stand to be around each other. Renewed for at least 2 more seasons hopefully the series end better than their marriage. Just announced this week that the show will end after the 2013 season. Seems to be the right time. Grade A-
Glee-I HATE musicals, but I love this show. I think because they use contemporary music that isn't original to that show. Don't Stop Believin is much more catchy thatn anything Rogers and Hmmerstein have come up with. (this is one of those "gay shows" Josh was talking about). Grade B+
Community- The most reference heavy show on TV (and that's saying something in 2012) is one my favorites. I keep trying to get Justin to watch since we sometimes devolve into speaking in references, but I don't think it's going to happen. Probably for the best since the show has been moved to the "Friday death slot" for next year, and the showrunner Dan Harmon was fired after last year. Community will be missed. Grade A-
I won't Admit it's over
The Office- This season was torture. No cohesiveness. Promising story lines fell flat and James Spader's character was weird and unfunny. The season's best episodes would have just been considered fair in previous seasons and the future looks even worse. one of the best writers and supporting players is leaving to do her own project for fox (Kelly), the show runner and dunder mifflin HR hero (Toby) is leaving to work on the Office spinoff (Dwight's life for some reason), and they barely got Jim, Pam, and Andy back for next year. Let's hope it's the show's swan song. Grade for this season B- (I will not go any lower)
Rookie(s) of the year-Pretty sad indictment of the networks that someone who watches so much tv only liked 2 new shows this year.
New Girl-Staring the adorkable (Their word not mine) Zoey Dechane, New girl was fun and awkward from the start (just like me). It was about an awkward girl who moved into a pretty cool loft with 3 guys. Winston, Nick, and Schmidt. As the season progressed the guys in the apartment became just as big a part of the show as the girl and hilarity ensued. (another of Josh's Gay Shows) Grade B+
Homeland-An Intricate, taut, thrilling show about an American POW who returns home to a heroes welcome and the CIA agent who doesn't trust his motives. That agent is played by Clare Danes who might as well collect her Emmy now. Danes vs Dinkledge would be the ultimate end to a TV performance bracket (at least this year). Grade A
Its a time slot hit
Happy Endings-The only reason we watched this show was because it was on after Modern Family and we were too lazy to change the channel. Its a show about 6 funny, good looking 20 somethings, but unlike its predecessor you don't have to put up with that pesky Ross and Rachel storyline. What you do have to put up with is banter that rolls faster than me down a hill. Because of this its jokes per minute rivals 30 rock. Another show that is so funny you don't care about the ridiculousness of the storylines. Grade A-
Slimy fucking walrus-looking piece of shit!
Whitney- Watched the pilot. Even worse than I could have imagined. She is funny on Stern. Not on NBC. Guess where the title of this category comes from without using the internet and win a cookie. Grade F
Spring Replacements
Awake-The pilot put me to sleep (Now that's a Doug Pryor Joke, that's what that is). It's been cancelled already so I don't really know why it's on the list. Grade C-
Smash- Mo heard good things from Teddy so she gave it a try. Watching the entire season in the time since the baby was born. She loved it. I saw probably 1 hours worth of show so I let mo grade this. Mo Grade-A
HBO tries to outdo Entourage
Veep- Political comedy starring Julia Louis Dreyfus as a clueless VP as she deals with the pointlessness of the office surrounded by her dysfunctional staff. Funny. Not Life and times of Tim Funny, but funny. Grade B
Girls-Apparently HBO can only produce comedies with one syllable titles. This show follows a group of NYC twenty something ladies and their failures in love and life. It's the anti-Sex and the city. I gotta say I have watched many shows with unlikable characters that I have still loved, Seinfeld, Curb, The Sopranos, Oprah, but these "Girls" have no redeeming qualities. I cannot pull for them at all. I don't think I've ever rooted for a mass killing in a comedy before. But I am now. (Definitely a Gay show for Josh. Look at it's name, "Girls." Josh's expected response, "Look at the name of the show, Girls. They can't carry a show by themselves. They are so fragile and cannot think on their own. What a quaint show.") Finale showed promise, and Donald Glover joins the cast next year so I'll keep watching. Grade C+
Never watched on network, but i'm enjoying the re-runs on cable
Big Bang Theory-Mo's dad loves this show and watched a lot of reruns when they were here over Christmas. Always commenting on Sheldon (Jim Parsons) saying "That funny little queer makes the show." Apparently he was right as he came out in a May 2012 New York Times Article. Mr. Brack you've got some lovely gaydar...ANYWAY. This got me watching it and dvring it off of TBS. I recommend the episode "The Benefactor Factor" as Jessica Walter guest stars as a well to do college booster show seduces Leonard. Yes. That Jessica Walter. The mom from Arrested Development who I said I would bang that caused Ed to have a laughing fit the night of the fantasy rules debate. I guess some Hollywood producers were looking for an older lady that would still believably be able to seduce a young, handsome man. I stand by my statement. Grade B
Reality Round up-As close to "real life" as tv gets.
America's Got Talent-Never watched before, but in case you didn't hear, Howard Stern is on it this year. I watched dancing with the stars the season Hines Ward was on. Enjoyed it. Haven't watched it since. I think it will be the same scenario if/when Howard leaves the show. Grade B-
The Next Food Network Star-I like food and I like TV so this shows got it all. Not much else to say. I just like this show. Grade B
Late Night Tweets-Going to comment on these shows in 140 characters or less.
Leno-Luckiest hack in show business. Grade-D-
Letterman-Great wit with wonderful cynicism. Gotten a little lazy in recent years. Grade B
Conan-Wish he was as edgy as he was at Late Night. Some of his safeness is lingering from his Tonight Show stint. Grade B+
Stewart-Great format with a great host. Who cares about the extreme lean to the left. Grade A-
Colbert-Colbert has created a great character who shows the ridiculousness of both parties (mostly the repubs, but that's ok). Grade B
Kimmel-Anyone who punks Leno is great in my book. Grade B-
Fallon-I've seen this a few times and he is carrying the torch well for Conan at 12:35 Grade B
Fergason- Speaking of carrying torches, I'd have never thought that Craig Fergason would out Letterman Letterman. Grade B
Tugging on Tony Soprano's cape-HBO reinvented TV with the New Jersey Mob Drama more than a decade ago. Now it reinvigorates it with the most ambitious and incestuous show ever.
Game of Thrones-Sometimes the most expensive is the best. I love everything about this show. The epic scale, the multiple storylines, the huge cast of characters, and the nudity. Oh the nudity. I analyze the opening credits each week for God's sake. If you have HBO and you aren't watching this it's like having the internet and never looking up porn. If you don't have HBO...Edited: I actually posted this with the largest spoiler in the shows history, but felt bad and removed it. Those who have seen the show know exactly what I am talking about. Grade: A+
Post Edited on 7/2/2012 10:52:10 PM
