A Week of TV
A new season of network television began about mid-September and, as
normal, I’ve been watching. I’ve been checking in on old favorites,
attempting to see which got better and which
“jumped the shark“.
I’ve also been looking for that new show that can sink its hooks
into me and not let go.
What follows is a quick run down – show by show – of what I’ve sampled
over the last couple of weeks and what I thought about each. It’s high
time I have an entry that delves a bit into pop culture.
Sunday
The Sopranos
The star show of HBO and for
good reason. Season 4 has started a bit slowly but that’s par for the
course. The first three shows have been happy to present conflict after
conflict. However, nearly none of those problems have been resolved.
I like the relaxed pace of the show, season after season. Turn on the
heat, bring the water to a simmer, and then, and only then, let the fireworks
begin. I have no doubt that when the water boils, I’ll be watching.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
A lighthearted comedy about the “real-life” trials of Larry David, the
creator of Seinfeld. It’s quirky and the only show from the Seinfeld
crew (the shows from the individual actors were unbearable) that
is (or was in the case of those other shows) noteworthy. There is
a healthy dose of Seinfeld humor here (Larry himself shares a lot
with Seinfeld’s character George – there’s even an episode about
that fact). From what I understand, there’s is no set script
for the actors, just simple situations. The somewhat improvisational
banter lends the show a different cadence, one that no doubt kept
it from public TV. Oh well, it will have to do as the funniest show
on cable.
The Practice
I haven’t seen this one in a year. I just wanted to waive goodbye to
and old favorite that just doesn’t fit into my time schedule anymore. Buh-bye.
Monday
Drew Carey
I still like Drew’s little show but somehow I feel it is on its way down.
It used to be outragously funny, with cute little dancing numbers and
fun little nuances. Now, it’s just good. I hope the trend does not
continue.
Whose Line is it Anyway?
This is one of those shows that I’ve always had trouble finding time
to watch but always enjoy. This season is no different. Its one of
the few comedies where I actually laugh out loud. I can’t imagine
saying anything nicer.
Tuesday
Frasier
Frasier is still a good, solid comedy. I don’t know if I’ll always set aside
time specifically to watch it but, when I do, I know there will be something
for me. 24, a show that got my
award for best new show last year (you know the wonderful Kensies) may
have something to say about my Frasier viewing schedule when it begins
competing for my time in late October.
Hidden Hills
A show I’ve watched only because it follows Frasier. Ok there’s one more
reason.
It’s surprising cute, with the second show being better than the first. That’s
a good trend.
Wednesday
My Wife and Kids
This is another solid comedy, and one that I rarely fit into the wife and
I’s viewing schedule. Everyone seems to associate this show with the
Cosby show because both families are African American. The association
should be made because both are really great comedies for the whole
family.
Ed
My favorite show after the Sopranos. A quirky town with some
very quirky characters that reminds me a whole bunch of
Nothern Exposure. If you haven’t watched this show before,
do so. You really don’t know what you are missing.
The West Wing
Despite the fact that I’m a republican, I really like this show. Heck,
it features a democrat as president that even I’d vote for (yep,
only in Hollywood is this possible). I think it has something
about the fact that he has a pair of balls. Maybe Al Gore should
look for his. In any case, I was bit worried that recent events
would make any fictional topics basically irrelevant. I hope
(and so far it seems) that fear is unfounded.
Thursday
Friends
Another solid start to the most consistently good comedy of the last decade.
I won’t likely miss an episode for a while but, jeez, Ross and Rachel
get together already. C’mon guys, you know you wanna give us
one more season. You know you do.
Scrubs
One of my favorite new shows from last year (and now one of my
favorite shows, period) returns for another season in a much better
time slot. Hurrah. Maybe this show will get the recognition that
it deserves.
ER
The last couple seasons of this one seem to define the phrase “jump the
shark” (maybe it should be jump the GSW). Most of the main characters
have spent the time jumping ship (I still don’t understand how they
can turn down the weekly paycheck), leaving little in their wake. The first
episode of this season
was great, though. They better keep them coming if they want the wife
to stop nodding off in the middle.
Survivor
Another group of whiners left in the middle of nowhere to fend for themselves.
As the seasons wear on, I feel more shame for enjoying it but I still do.
All reality shows should take an extra cue from this one.
Eating bugs = drama. Take that to the bank.
CSI
The premiere was a typical episode – maybe too typical.
Nonetheless, I grew quite fond of the show last season. Neat take
on an interesting premise equals a modern day mystery.
Push Nevada
Odd, odd show. The story, or really all the stuff they don’t tell you,
is intriguing. Lots of odd stuff is going on and the main character
knows nothing. I may stick with a while; I may not. I’m mostly
concerned that I won’t know any more weeks from now than
I know right now. Stop drawing it out and get to the point already!
Unfortunately, the current ratings may never allow the mystery
to be revealed. Now that would be a bummer.
Friday
Firefly
Mix the some old west bandits with spaceships. It was surprisingly decent,
as these types of shows go. I wouldn’t mind catching another episode but,
given that it’s shown on Friday night, I may never do so.
John Doe
The episode I caught (which was the first) was pretty decent. The only
problem is that it looks like a show you may need to follow to fit the
pieces together. Like Firefly above, its timeslot virtually assures
me that I will do nothing of the sort.
For those wondering how I could possibly watch all this stuff, I wonder myself.
My poor VCR gets quite a workout. Let’s just say that we don’t watch much
miscellaneous television. There’s always too much waiting on tape.
It’s about high time I get myself a
Tivo.
Laura
October 3rd, 2002 at 10:11 am #
What? No “That 70’s Show”?
You’re missing a good one…
Have to agree Friend’s was good, but I spent 20 minutes agonizing WHY don’t they ever just talk to each other! Hopefully the rest of the season will be more on the funny side and less on the suspense.
Stupid TV be more funny!
dan the man
October 4th, 2002 at 1:48 pm #
(cough.. ahem)
Star Trek Enterprise?
I wouldn’t watch west wing at all if Enterprise weren’t on at 8:00. Its the same old thing, next generation slightly reworked and slightly modified, with campy jokes and minor variations of makeup for each new alien that comes along, exactly what I want from television when I am not asking it to shock and horrify me (e.g. the first episode of ER this season which *was* great, but if I had some warning about the helicopter scene, I might have waited for reruns – it just wasn’t my time to see that episode on that particular night)
Another issue I have here: ommission of the Simpson’s (speaking of my being satisfied with the same old material repeated over and over again, but then I did group up watchin reruns of 50’s shows…), as far as I can tell they are still on the air… though I am getting the feeling from the recent sunday night showing of the Matrix (of all things – who hasn’t seen that over and over again on DVD by this point?)on FOX that they are trying to faze out new episode’s and hoping somehow people won’t notice – just like they did to Futurama apparently – a true comic classic (a reworking or reworking of old simpson jokes and a cranky alcholic robot, who could ask for more? And last year Bender was a universe all to himself for almost a whole episode – it was truly philosophic, I mean they were just getting into their groove.. its so sad..)
but then I was a Quantum Leap fan too, so I am probably hopeless (I probably shouldn’t even mention that I used to own a macintosh?)
ok, I suspect Ken, at least, is fairly disgusted by now with my ultra-geeky stodgidly conservative retro-90’s Television philosophy (if he has even read this far)
So I’ll stop, its just that Some things have just got to be said sometimes and “Simpson’s and Star Trek are not dead yet” seem to have been some of them (Then again, some things are better said silently I suppose, but thats not the way this new millenium seems to work – good news for the incurably garrulous such as moi? “only *time* will tell…”) (cough.. ahem)
Star Trek Enterprise?
I wouldn’t watch west wing at all if Enterprise weren’t on at 8:00. Its the same old thing, next generation slightly reworked and slightly modified, with campy jokes and minor variations of makeup for each new alien that comes along, exactly what I want from television when I am not asking it to shock and horrify me (e.g. the first episode of ER this season which *was* great, but if I had some warning about the helicopter scene, I might have waited for reruns – it just wasn’t my time to see that episode on that particular night)
Another issue I have here: ommission of the Simpson’s (speaking of my being satisfied with the same old material repeated over and over again, but then I did group up watchin reruns of 50’s shows…), as far as I can tell they are still on the air… though I am getting the feeling from the recent sunday night showing of the Matrix (of all things – who hasn’t seen that over and over again on DVD by this point?)on FOX that they are trying to faze out new episode’s and hoping somehow people won’t notice – just like they did to Futurama apparently – a true comic classic (a reworking or reworking of old simpson jokes and a cranky alcholic robot, who could ask for more? And last year Bender was a universe all to himself for almost a whole episode – it was truly philosophic, I mean they were just getting into their groove.. its so sad..)
but then I was a Quantum Leap fan too, so I am probably hopeless (I probably shouldn’t even mention that I used to own a macintosh?)
ok, I suspect Ken, at least, is fairly disgusted by now with my ultra-geeky stodgidly conservative retro-90’s Television philosophy (if he has even read this far)
So I’ll stop, its just that Some things have just got to be said sometimes and “Simpson’s and Star Trek are not dead yet” seem to have been some of them (Then again, some things are better said silently I suppose, but thats not the way this new millenium seems to work – good news for the incurably garrulous such as moi? “only *time* will tell…”)