In no specific order...
DVR (recording, pausing, rewinding, etc...)
Expanded Basic Cable TV
On Demand
Lost
24
Fringe
Life on Mars
Law and Order: SVU
Criminal Intent reruns on USA
Cinemax OnDemand
The Office
30 Rock
MSNBC evening programming
The NFL on FOX and CBS and NBC and NFL Network
The Big Ten Network on Comcast
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPNNews
The Family Guy
HDTV
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Entourage Season Review
I gave up HBO so I have no idea how it went. But my guess is, based on the previous five+ seasons that I paid for, that it goes something like this:
Very hip, very choppy, nothing happens, girls stay clothed, someone smokes pot, Drama says something funny, a celebrity or two make a cameo, Vince either loses a job, takes a job, quits a job, or something he made bombs. The End.
Am I close?
Very hip, very choppy, nothing happens, girls stay clothed, someone smokes pot, Drama says something funny, a celebrity or two make a cameo, Vince either loses a job, takes a job, quits a job, or something he made bombs. The End.
Am I close?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday Night Live Sucks + SNL Sucks + Banana Republic Coupons
Hello faithful SNL supporters who were once again disappointed. And hello to Banana Republic bargain hunters disappointed that this blog does not offer discounts - only opinions on lousy sketch comedy.
I actually thought the automakers bailout sketch was clever. They could have taken an easier route and just rehashed the actual preceedings from this past week - they were funny enough. Instead, they looked again to the proposed plan from the Big-3 and I give them credit for a sketch well played -- if not funny HA, it was at least funny HMMM....
Then Tim McGraw came out and the show lost me. I'm not say Kristen Wiig can't hold this show together, but maybe that is exactly what I am saying. And really there is no one or two strong male leads, just some good secondary talent.
I am not going to call out any of the sketches indivudally, as its not worth it and I cannot remember them. If there was anything worth watching post-weekend update, let me know -- I didn't bother to stay up for it.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
I actually thought the automakers bailout sketch was clever. They could have taken an easier route and just rehashed the actual preceedings from this past week - they were funny enough. Instead, they looked again to the proposed plan from the Big-3 and I give them credit for a sketch well played -- if not funny HA, it was at least funny HMMM....
Then Tim McGraw came out and the show lost me. I'm not say Kristen Wiig can't hold this show together, but maybe that is exactly what I am saying. And really there is no one or two strong male leads, just some good secondary talent.
I am not going to call out any of the sketches indivudally, as its not worth it and I cannot remember them. If there was anything worth watching post-weekend update, let me know -- I didn't bother to stay up for it.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
24 MOVE IS TONIGHT.
Friday, November 21, 2008
And Here's To You, Steve Martin
You were great last night on '30 Rock'.
You should be on TV every week. Find a way. If we can put a man on the moon supposedly (shout out to OJ Simpson and the boys at Capricorn 1), we surely can find a way to get Steve Martin on TV more often, right? Movies come and go, his art was meant for Vegas, but his talent belongs on TV, where the common man can turn on the free tele and see a man spill scotch all over himself with complete and total dignity and class.
'The Office' was pretty damn good too. I once spent $500 on a bag of Capriese Salad when I thought it was pot, so I know how Michael Scott feels.
You should be on TV every week. Find a way. If we can put a man on the moon supposedly (shout out to OJ Simpson and the boys at Capricorn 1), we surely can find a way to get Steve Martin on TV more often, right? Movies come and go, his art was meant for Vegas, but his talent belongs on TV, where the common man can turn on the free tele and see a man spill scotch all over himself with complete and total dignity and class.
'The Office' was pretty damn good too. I once spent $500 on a bag of Capriese Salad when I thought it was pot, so I know how Michael Scott feels.
Cancellations?
DirtySexyMoney -- not picked up beyond initial 13 episodes.
Pushing Daises - not picked up beyond initial 13 episodes.
Eli Stone - not picked up beyond initial 13 episodes.
None are cancelled, but none will see air time beyond January/February 2009.
The odds of them coming back next year? Probably not so good.
ANALYSIS:
I don't think DSM was ever going to get back on track, I do like the show but I won't miss it.
I think Pushing Daises will be a great DVD watch, and the whole series will end being like 20 episodes which is a nice palatable number.
I didn't watch Eli Stone, but I am sad to think Katie Holmes won't be making a return, or George Michael for that matter.
I have been told to get back into Chuck -- perhaps there is no time like the present.
Pushing Daises - not picked up beyond initial 13 episodes.
Eli Stone - not picked up beyond initial 13 episodes.
None are cancelled, but none will see air time beyond January/February 2009.
The odds of them coming back next year? Probably not so good.
ANALYSIS:
I don't think DSM was ever going to get back on track, I do like the show but I won't miss it.
I think Pushing Daises will be a great DVD watch, and the whole series will end being like 20 episodes which is a nice palatable number.
I didn't watch Eli Stone, but I am sad to think Katie Holmes won't be making a return, or George Michael for that matter.
I have been told to get back into Chuck -- perhaps there is no time like the present.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
The TV Blahs...
Yeah, I got em. Bad.
MONDAYS:
I look forward to HIMYM and Big Bang, but HIMYM is just not the same this year. It's coming back to form with a single Ted again, but still not there. I guess I still look forward to 'Gossip Girl' as well. This night is still a solid B+
TUESDAYS:
'Fringe' is one of my shows that I look forward to. It doesn't have 'hurry up and get home and put the kids to bed' status, but it has DVR-Triage status. It usually gets watched on its night of airing - that says a lot. Tuesday also gives us SVU, sick and sadistic as ever this year. But in a good way I suppose (whatever that means). I did not enjoy this recent outing about animal trafficking. Yuck.
WEDNESDAY:
I can take or leave the CBS comedy block. I usually take it when I need to fill 22 minutes before falling asleep. I do like me some 'Knight Rider' still. I know, I know, it's crap. Nobody says a little candy in one's diet is going to harm them. And I am back to watching the original 'Law and Order' again, but in three episodes I can tell you this -- still can't finish one in one sitting. Just not compelling TV anymore. But to me, any Law and Order episode is like Diet Pepsi, it's about 90 percent of my daily diet. 'DirtySexyMoney' has been disappointing, that's all I am going to say.
THURSDAY:
This day still gets an A, just for NBC 8-9 PM (central) comedy and 'Life on Mars'
FRIDAY:
I like the 'Numbers' program. What am I, 88 years old? I think I might be. No wonder I am compelled to buy Geritol and buy a health plan from Wilford Brimley or a laxative from Jamie Lee Curits, or some arthritis drug from Sally Field. I see these ads because I watch shows that old people watch I guess. I do however not watch the NCIS which everyone says is awesome.
SATURDAY:
SNL still sucks. It's going to suck this week with Tim McGraw. Book it.
SUNDAY:
Still watching the Housewives and the Bros/Sis bit, but I also get Mad Men (when its in season), Sunday Night Football (in season) and 'The Family Guy' which means I must still be in my 30's, since I really love this show. Read up on the success of Seth McFarlane (FamGuy creator), it is really interesting stuff.
I also probably watch about 10 more shows I didn't list here, but they must be so good I can't even remember their names. Thank goodness for college hoops season -- even more to watch 5-7 nights per week.
MONDAYS:
I look forward to HIMYM and Big Bang, but HIMYM is just not the same this year. It's coming back to form with a single Ted again, but still not there. I guess I still look forward to 'Gossip Girl' as well. This night is still a solid B+
TUESDAYS:
'Fringe' is one of my shows that I look forward to. It doesn't have 'hurry up and get home and put the kids to bed' status, but it has DVR-Triage status. It usually gets watched on its night of airing - that says a lot. Tuesday also gives us SVU, sick and sadistic as ever this year. But in a good way I suppose (whatever that means). I did not enjoy this recent outing about animal trafficking. Yuck.
WEDNESDAY:
I can take or leave the CBS comedy block. I usually take it when I need to fill 22 minutes before falling asleep. I do like me some 'Knight Rider' still. I know, I know, it's crap. Nobody says a little candy in one's diet is going to harm them. And I am back to watching the original 'Law and Order' again, but in three episodes I can tell you this -- still can't finish one in one sitting. Just not compelling TV anymore. But to me, any Law and Order episode is like Diet Pepsi, it's about 90 percent of my daily diet. 'DirtySexyMoney' has been disappointing, that's all I am going to say.
THURSDAY:
This day still gets an A, just for NBC 8-9 PM (central) comedy and 'Life on Mars'
FRIDAY:
I like the 'Numbers' program. What am I, 88 years old? I think I might be. No wonder I am compelled to buy Geritol and buy a health plan from Wilford Brimley or a laxative from Jamie Lee Curits, or some arthritis drug from Sally Field. I see these ads because I watch shows that old people watch I guess. I do however not watch the NCIS which everyone says is awesome.
SATURDAY:
SNL still sucks. It's going to suck this week with Tim McGraw. Book it.
SUNDAY:
Still watching the Housewives and the Bros/Sis bit, but I also get Mad Men (when its in season), Sunday Night Football (in season) and 'The Family Guy' which means I must still be in my 30's, since I really love this show. Read up on the success of Seth McFarlane (FamGuy creator), it is really interesting stuff.
I also probably watch about 10 more shows I didn't list here, but they must be so good I can't even remember their names. Thank goodness for college hoops season -- even more to watch 5-7 nights per week.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Life On Mars Comment
Just something I was thinking about while trying to figure out how I am going to pull some kind of fantasy football win out my rear end...
Last week's 'black power' episode featuring Whopi Goldberg was so damn good. And the cherry on top was when the 'black panther' holding Sam at gun point told him to rhyme or get shot. And how did Sam from 2008 stuck in 1973 save his hide? First verse of 'Ice Ice Baby' of course. Too good. It was great to watch him fumble through it while impressing the hell out of everyone in the room.
In a season of TV that kind of blows so far, this show (along with Fringe) are really standing out.
Last week's 'black power' episode featuring Whopi Goldberg was so damn good. And the cherry on top was when the 'black panther' holding Sam at gun point told him to rhyme or get shot. And how did Sam from 2008 stuck in 1973 save his hide? First verse of 'Ice Ice Baby' of course. Too good. It was great to watch him fumble through it while impressing the hell out of everyone in the room.
In a season of TV that kind of blows so far, this show (along with Fringe) are really standing out.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Reading While Watching
On Sunday nights, when I watch TV with the Mrs., I have found a way to also read the paper and pay attention...follow these simple instructions:
1. During 'Desperate Housewives', every time Susan Meyer (Terri Hatcher) comes on screen, read.
2. During 'Brothers and Sisters', every time Sally Field or Calista Flockhart begin to speak with a sad face over heavy orchestration, read.
Or, as many of my male friends have told me -- just stop watching those shows. Easier said than done my friends...
1. During 'Desperate Housewives', every time Susan Meyer (Terri Hatcher) comes on screen, read.
2. During 'Brothers and Sisters', every time Sally Field or Calista Flockhart begin to speak with a sad face over heavy orchestration, read.
Or, as many of my male friends have told me -- just stop watching those shows. Easier said than done my friends...
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
3rd Hand Breaking News
Ryan is leaving 'The Office'. Maybe.
He is for sure leaving to appear in a new Quentin Tarentino film. I am pretty sure I spelled both his first and last name incorrectly there. I'm not going to look it up though to be sure. But phonetically speaking, you get the point.
Some insiders are telling other insiders who posted stories from which I read and the repeat here, that he might be done for the season - OR - he might be done for good, at least as on-screen talent. Goodbye Ryan -- you were great last year, but honestly - your work here is done. And someone else needs to be sitting in that reception chair. We all know it.
Looking forward to your movie BJ Novak. And for all I know, it was your writing on 'The Office' that made me laugh the most -- I guess we'll see if we can survive without you.
He is for sure leaving to appear in a new Quentin Tarentino film. I am pretty sure I spelled both his first and last name incorrectly there. I'm not going to look it up though to be sure. But phonetically speaking, you get the point.
Some insiders are telling other insiders who posted stories from which I read and the repeat here, that he might be done for the season - OR - he might be done for good, at least as on-screen talent. Goodbye Ryan -- you were great last year, but honestly - your work here is done. And someone else needs to be sitting in that reception chair. We all know it.
Looking forward to your movie BJ Novak. And for all I know, it was your writing on 'The Office' that made me laugh the most -- I guess we'll see if we can survive without you.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday Rewind - Tuesday Preview
GOSSIP GIRL
This show is losing viewers by the week. My people tell me that last night's was the least watched episode of the year. Maybe it is because as shows often do in the second year -- they get away from what worked and send everybody off into crazy situations outside the canon of what worked. Save for Blair and Chuck -- they still rock. Also, they need to lose that girl who played Marissa's sister on the OC - she is just hard to watch. Good to look at, hard to watch.
HIMYM
Not my favorite episode of the year, but still NPHarris kills, week in and week out. Barney Stinson belongs in the 'Fonzie Hall-of-Fame' for the best TV sidekicks off all time. We'll make room for him right next to kramer, George, Norm, and the ex-husband and brother from 'Old Christrine' - those guys kill me. There are also about 100 people that should make this list. We'll blow it out someday. Two people not on this list - Skippy Handleman and Cockroach. Or Boner from 'Growing Pains'.
Do you live in Minnesota? Do you like sports? Do you like old white fat men in bad sweaters talking about sports on local cable-access quality TV? Then you should be watching 'The Sports Show' starring Mike Max, Sid Hartman, Darkstar, and Pat Reusse each Sunday night at 9:30 on the CW. Just to give you a sense of the production quality - Reusse's dog sits next to him on the set. And know this - Hartman is so old now that he doesn't even watch any games other than the local -- he had no idea the Bears lost this week and the Vikes were in first place. Frustrating yet funny.
This show is losing viewers by the week. My people tell me that last night's was the least watched episode of the year. Maybe it is because as shows often do in the second year -- they get away from what worked and send everybody off into crazy situations outside the canon of what worked. Save for Blair and Chuck -- they still rock. Also, they need to lose that girl who played Marissa's sister on the OC - she is just hard to watch. Good to look at, hard to watch.
HIMYM
Not my favorite episode of the year, but still NPHarris kills, week in and week out. Barney Stinson belongs in the 'Fonzie Hall-of-Fame' for the best TV sidekicks off all time. We'll make room for him right next to kramer, George, Norm, and the ex-husband and brother from 'Old Christrine' - those guys kill me. There are also about 100 people that should make this list. We'll blow it out someday. Two people not on this list - Skippy Handleman and Cockroach. Or Boner from 'Growing Pains'.
Do you live in Minnesota? Do you like sports? Do you like old white fat men in bad sweaters talking about sports on local cable-access quality TV? Then you should be watching 'The Sports Show' starring Mike Max, Sid Hartman, Darkstar, and Pat Reusse each Sunday night at 9:30 on the CW. Just to give you a sense of the production quality - Reusse's dog sits next to him on the set. And know this - Hartman is so old now that he doesn't even watch any games other than the local -- he had no idea the Bears lost this week and the Vikes were in first place. Frustrating yet funny.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Welcome Liz Lemmmmmmmoooooooon!
Oh Liz Lemon and your psychedelic anti-anxiety mood stabilizer pills. The things you think you see.
What a great 30 Rock, so smart and funny. Kudos to you Tiny Fey again for re-focusing the show back on a powerful Jack Donaghy and a centered Liz Lemon -- it makes all the other character's eccentricities work better, when there are two 'sane' people running the crazy house.
The Oprah cameo, like the previous Megan Mullaly cameo were perfect -- understated and not dominant. Appropriate for the storyline and not forced for the sake of the appearance. Me likes the 30 Rock so far.
The Office was on its game this week -- I wonder if its because this is the most screen time Pam-Jim have had together in a year, and their banter and reactions to the goings-0n were front and center again, like they used to be. BRING HER HOME.
I think this episode to me will always be remembered for the sales training -- in fact, I think it might just go down as one of the more classic The Office scenes of all time. In fact, "BUTTLICKER, OUR PRICES HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWER" is probably burned into my cultural lexicon from here until the end.
Fell asleep during 'Gary Unmarried' - I am pretty sure the freshness label on this show expired about 2 weeks ago, I will have to go check.
What a great 30 Rock, so smart and funny. Kudos to you Tiny Fey again for re-focusing the show back on a powerful Jack Donaghy and a centered Liz Lemon -- it makes all the other character's eccentricities work better, when there are two 'sane' people running the crazy house.
The Oprah cameo, like the previous Megan Mullaly cameo were perfect -- understated and not dominant. Appropriate for the storyline and not forced for the sake of the appearance. Me likes the 30 Rock so far.
The Office was on its game this week -- I wonder if its because this is the most screen time Pam-Jim have had together in a year, and their banter and reactions to the goings-0n were front and center again, like they used to be. BRING HER HOME.
I think this episode to me will always be remembered for the sales training -- in fact, I think it might just go down as one of the more classic The Office scenes of all time. In fact, "BUTTLICKER, OUR PRICES HAVE NEVER BEEN LOWER" is probably burned into my cultural lexicon from here until the end.
Fell asleep during 'Gary Unmarried' - I am pretty sure the freshness label on this show expired about 2 weeks ago, I will have to go check.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Best Political Team on Television
It's my own personal dream-team, and the recipe goes like this:
Over the course of 6 hours give me:
3 hours of ABC and NBC -- real 'hardcore' network news / I enjoyed their coverage and their anchors equally. I also enjoyed the giant Chuck Todd green-screen US Map and Greek Columns motif.
1 hour of MSNBC -- I love me some Keith and Rachel
1 hour of CNN -- I just love the top-of-the-hour projections-by-state like its Deal or No Deal
15 minutes of CBS -- for purely intentional comedy and sadness
30 minutes of Northwest Community Television -- I love me some school referendum updates
15 minutes of Comedy Central -- funny, but I will watch the rest tonight or tomorrow.
15 minutes of FOX News at the end of the night to see Rove and Coulter talk about how big of a D-Bag McCain is and how this election was unwinnable because of it.
Over the course of 6 hours give me:
3 hours of ABC and NBC -- real 'hardcore' network news / I enjoyed their coverage and their anchors equally. I also enjoyed the giant Chuck Todd green-screen US Map and Greek Columns motif.
1 hour of MSNBC -- I love me some Keith and Rachel
1 hour of CNN -- I just love the top-of-the-hour projections-by-state like its Deal or No Deal
15 minutes of CBS -- for purely intentional comedy and sadness
30 minutes of Northwest Community Television -- I love me some school referendum updates
15 minutes of Comedy Central -- funny, but I will watch the rest tonight or tomorrow.
15 minutes of FOX News at the end of the night to see Rove and Coulter talk about how big of a D-Bag McCain is and how this election was unwinnable because of it.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
SNL Sucked....Shocker
Admittedly I watched it very late last night after a halloween party and I was pretty tired (see: wrecked) and it still wasn't all that funny. The opening skit with McCain and Fey was great, it really was. I paused it right in the middle to take a moment. There he is - John McCain, 7 points down, 3 days to go, in the biggest election of our lives (probably), standing next to Tina Fey flat-out mocking the woman John McCain risked his maverick status to choose for the VP. And there she is, off to the side of the camera selling her Palin 2012 T-Shirts....If I am McCain, I am sad that I did this skit. Sad that I smiled through it, and sad that I had to do it in the first place to try and garner some undecided votes -- all the while, the swingers are polling against Palin hard, and this skit didn't help one bit. I digress. Back to comedy....
The 'View' skit wasn't funny to me, sorry.
The Olbermann skit was actually very clever, and Affleck was very good, but it ran on way to long, right? Maybe I was tired.
I passed out during Weekend Update after McCain came back on talk about his strategies for the next couple of days. I can't judge weekend update yet, again...passing out...eyes closing....sleep.
Kids up already? Daylight Savings what? Oh crap...
The 'View' skit wasn't funny to me, sorry.
The Olbermann skit was actually very clever, and Affleck was very good, but it ran on way to long, right? Maybe I was tired.
I passed out during Weekend Update after McCain came back on talk about his strategies for the next couple of days. I can't judge weekend update yet, again...passing out...eyes closing....sleep.
Kids up already? Daylight Savings what? Oh crap...
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