Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Nip/SUCK!!!!!!! hahahahahahah
So, of course, like all right-thinking people, I knew, instinctually, without ever having seen an episode, that Nip/Tuck was the worst show on tv. Every commercial, all the articles I'd read (which is a ton, since the critics go nuts for it), and basically just every single thing I had ever heard or seen about this show made it look like the worst thing since Sex in the City. Until last night I'd never watched even a second of the program, though, so its unmitigated awfulness was merely conjecture on my part. Informed conjecture, but lacking in experiential proof nonetheless.
Last night, after getting fitted for a suit, I popped open a bottle of Three Philosophers, and kicked back for some good televisual enjoyment. My Name is Earl was solid, more likable than funny, but a show doesn't have to make me laugh out loud to be pleasing, even a sitcom. And that's what Earl was, a pleasant sitcom. The Office was pretty great, the best American ep after the diversity day one from last season. The show is more sentimental and sympathetic than the original, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it helps to separate the two, providing the US version with a distinct enough identity.
So one good hour of tv down, and another one and a half or so to go before dreamtime. I was flipping the channels, past the early local news on Fox 25, past Aaron Brown, past the Tom Petty video on VH1 classic. I came upon the woman from 101 Dalmations writhing between the sheets; the info bar said it was Nip/Tuck, and I figured, what the hell, I'll give it a shot. Prove to myself that it is as awful as I've always known it to me. What do I care, I'm drunk, and on my way to only being drunker.
So I watched the damn thing, steady, for about 45 minutes. I realized that it's not as awful as I thought it was. Still, though, it's really fucking bad. It's basically a semi-soft-core soap opera for Maxim readers, as far as I can tell, and a poorly acted one, at that. I'd think there'd be enough story potential in plastic surgery without having to resort to crazy sex and stupid slasher-film boogeymen, but I guess it's easier to be sensationalistic. I've read how all the bizarre medical cases are based on fact. The most interesting and effective aspect of last night's episode was the storyline with the monstrously obese woman. Of course it was undermined by the somewhat hackneyed presentation, but for what it was it was okay. It also indicated that you could make a good show out of the premise without resorting to all that other silliness.
I started switching around after those first 45 minutes, caught a few minutes of Glory, a little bit of news, some videos. When I put it back on Nip/Tuck, a threesome was about to break out between Dr. Doom, his porn-star fiance, and the detective who was investigating his rape and mutilation. That sentence, right there, describes why this show blows. It tries way too hard.
Anyway, My Name is Earl and The Office are both worth catching. Arrested Development was good on Monday, and Kitchen Confidential shows some promise. I have to tape Lost tonight, due to the Nurse and Soldier show, but hopefully I'll be able to watch that and maybe Invasion before Friday. Magnificent!
So, of course, like all right-thinking people, I knew, instinctually, without ever having seen an episode, that Nip/Tuck was the worst show on tv. Every commercial, all the articles I'd read (which is a ton, since the critics go nuts for it), and basically just every single thing I had ever heard or seen about this show made it look like the worst thing since Sex in the City. Until last night I'd never watched even a second of the program, though, so its unmitigated awfulness was merely conjecture on my part. Informed conjecture, but lacking in experiential proof nonetheless.
Last night, after getting fitted for a suit, I popped open a bottle of Three Philosophers, and kicked back for some good televisual enjoyment. My Name is Earl was solid, more likable than funny, but a show doesn't have to make me laugh out loud to be pleasing, even a sitcom. And that's what Earl was, a pleasant sitcom. The Office was pretty great, the best American ep after the diversity day one from last season. The show is more sentimental and sympathetic than the original, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it helps to separate the two, providing the US version with a distinct enough identity.
So one good hour of tv down, and another one and a half or so to go before dreamtime. I was flipping the channels, past the early local news on Fox 25, past Aaron Brown, past the Tom Petty video on VH1 classic. I came upon the woman from 101 Dalmations writhing between the sheets; the info bar said it was Nip/Tuck, and I figured, what the hell, I'll give it a shot. Prove to myself that it is as awful as I've always known it to me. What do I care, I'm drunk, and on my way to only being drunker.
So I watched the damn thing, steady, for about 45 minutes. I realized that it's not as awful as I thought it was. Still, though, it's really fucking bad. It's basically a semi-soft-core soap opera for Maxim readers, as far as I can tell, and a poorly acted one, at that. I'd think there'd be enough story potential in plastic surgery without having to resort to crazy sex and stupid slasher-film boogeymen, but I guess it's easier to be sensationalistic. I've read how all the bizarre medical cases are based on fact. The most interesting and effective aspect of last night's episode was the storyline with the monstrously obese woman. Of course it was undermined by the somewhat hackneyed presentation, but for what it was it was okay. It also indicated that you could make a good show out of the premise without resorting to all that other silliness.
I started switching around after those first 45 minutes, caught a few minutes of Glory, a little bit of news, some videos. When I put it back on Nip/Tuck, a threesome was about to break out between Dr. Doom, his porn-star fiance, and the detective who was investigating his rape and mutilation. That sentence, right there, describes why this show blows. It tries way too hard.
Anyway, My Name is Earl and The Office are both worth catching. Arrested Development was good on Monday, and Kitchen Confidential shows some promise. I have to tape Lost tonight, due to the Nurse and Soldier show, but hopefully I'll be able to watch that and maybe Invasion before Friday. Magnificent!
