Thursday, November 10, 2005
consumptive media
TV takes much more than it gives. I look to a few certain shows to kill the guilt of watching too much tv. In addition to the shows I actively want to watch, I wind up passively staring at VH1 Classic and Jeopardy and CNN more than I'd care to admit. It devours my time, and only the few shows I truly care about can tip the balance and make it worthwhile. I know it's only Thursday, but I'm done with can't-miss shows for the week. I don't care about any of the stuff on tonight or tomorrow, and since my parents are coming up I wouldn't be able to watch anything anyway.
1. The Simpsons: Predictably I've seen a lot of shit-talking about this episode around the internet, folks calling it the worse Treehouse of Horror ever, etc. The Halloween episodes have been kind of weak for years now, but I thought this particular one was the most enjoyable in a long while. It wasn't great, but I didn't feel disappointed at 8:30. I'm 1 for 1 on the week.
2. Arrested Development: I can't remember the last time I've laughed so hard at anything on tv. I don't know if the playoff hiatus left me desperate, or what, but these two episodes were easily the best of the season thus far, and both might make my all-time top-ten AD list. Pretty much perfect in every aspect. 2 for 2.
3. Viva Blackpool: Didn't watch it. Last week's episode sort of sucked, so I've bailed. Goodbye, show. Didn't see, so till 2 for 2.
4. My Name is Earl: Caught the second half, and dug it fairely well. The burning golfclubs twisting into various symbols of racism and hatred was nice, and Lee and Supley both remain amazingly charismatic. 3 for 3.
5. The Office: Okay. Of course they need to distance themselves from the original somewhat, but I think they're going too far to make Michael Scott not entirely pathetic and unlikable. The first episode of the season, the one with the award ceremony at the Chili's, did a good job of making you feel sorry for Scott, something the British version was too cynical to ever do, while still portraying him in a negative light. This week's episode, though, was just unbelievable. Yeah, he's still incompetent, but winning the big account and bedding his hot, serious-minded boss despite (or because of) his incompetence is taking it a bit too far. David Brent never won; he's a sad, depressing, pathetic man whose many faults are amplified by his own delusions of grandeur. It's okay to lighten Michael Scott up a little bit, have things go his way occasionally, but having that happen twice in fairly major ways in one episode stretches credulity. Of course it was funny, especially Scott's movie script, but it still lacks the realism of the original. Hopefully some day I'll be able to stop comparing the two, because on its own the American version is great. Any way, I still laughed a lot, so another point. 4 for 4.
6. America's Next Top Model: So Lisa's crazy, Jayla's a bitch, and Kim apparently talks too much about everybody. Big whoop. I fuckin' hate Steve-o, and not sending somebody home was a gyp, so no point this week. 4 for 5. Oh yeah, I like Kim, but she looks like a horrible actor in those clips.
7. Lost: As discussed elsewhere, I was underwhelmed. The flashbacks were a waste of time, trying to make us feel sympathetic for a character that they were just going to kill off immediately afterward. They should have done a better job softening her edges over the last year or so, and not cram it all in to one episode. Glad to see no Jack or Kate, but still, not a good episode. 4 for 6.
Okay, four good shows out of six. Decent ratio. TV has justified itself again. Thanks, old friend.
TV takes much more than it gives. I look to a few certain shows to kill the guilt of watching too much tv. In addition to the shows I actively want to watch, I wind up passively staring at VH1 Classic and Jeopardy and CNN more than I'd care to admit. It devours my time, and only the few shows I truly care about can tip the balance and make it worthwhile. I know it's only Thursday, but I'm done with can't-miss shows for the week. I don't care about any of the stuff on tonight or tomorrow, and since my parents are coming up I wouldn't be able to watch anything anyway.
1. The Simpsons: Predictably I've seen a lot of shit-talking about this episode around the internet, folks calling it the worse Treehouse of Horror ever, etc. The Halloween episodes have been kind of weak for years now, but I thought this particular one was the most enjoyable in a long while. It wasn't great, but I didn't feel disappointed at 8:30. I'm 1 for 1 on the week.
2. Arrested Development: I can't remember the last time I've laughed so hard at anything on tv. I don't know if the playoff hiatus left me desperate, or what, but these two episodes were easily the best of the season thus far, and both might make my all-time top-ten AD list. Pretty much perfect in every aspect. 2 for 2.
3. Viva Blackpool: Didn't watch it. Last week's episode sort of sucked, so I've bailed. Goodbye, show. Didn't see, so till 2 for 2.
4. My Name is Earl: Caught the second half, and dug it fairely well. The burning golfclubs twisting into various symbols of racism and hatred was nice, and Lee and Supley both remain amazingly charismatic. 3 for 3.
5. The Office: Okay. Of course they need to distance themselves from the original somewhat, but I think they're going too far to make Michael Scott not entirely pathetic and unlikable. The first episode of the season, the one with the award ceremony at the Chili's, did a good job of making you feel sorry for Scott, something the British version was too cynical to ever do, while still portraying him in a negative light. This week's episode, though, was just unbelievable. Yeah, he's still incompetent, but winning the big account and bedding his hot, serious-minded boss despite (or because of) his incompetence is taking it a bit too far. David Brent never won; he's a sad, depressing, pathetic man whose many faults are amplified by his own delusions of grandeur. It's okay to lighten Michael Scott up a little bit, have things go his way occasionally, but having that happen twice in fairly major ways in one episode stretches credulity. Of course it was funny, especially Scott's movie script, but it still lacks the realism of the original. Hopefully some day I'll be able to stop comparing the two, because on its own the American version is great. Any way, I still laughed a lot, so another point. 4 for 4.
6. America's Next Top Model: So Lisa's crazy, Jayla's a bitch, and Kim apparently talks too much about everybody. Big whoop. I fuckin' hate Steve-o, and not sending somebody home was a gyp, so no point this week. 4 for 5. Oh yeah, I like Kim, but she looks like a horrible actor in those clips.
7. Lost: As discussed elsewhere, I was underwhelmed. The flashbacks were a waste of time, trying to make us feel sympathetic for a character that they were just going to kill off immediately afterward. They should have done a better job softening her edges over the last year or so, and not cram it all in to one episode. Glad to see no Jack or Kate, but still, not a good episode. 4 for 6.
Okay, four good shows out of six. Decent ratio. TV has justified itself again. Thanks, old friend.
