Olympic Nightmare

First a guy dies on a Luge practice run and the IOC quickly tries to pass it off as user error...then they adjust the track so its not so fast...which by the way did end up pissing off a lot of people who actually wanted the start to be in the right place, but just not have a track that was designed as a death trap.

Then the opening ceremonies, which sucked by the way, were marked by a malfunctioning indoor cauldron and an outdoor one lit by Wayne Gretzky in the back of a Pick Up truck and no security (and no fans).

Then the screwed up by putting up an ugly fence to block people from getting to, or taking good pictures of, the outdoor cauldron.

Then a concert went haywire when fans crashed down from some rafters that collapsed.

Then they had to refund 28,000 tickets to fans who couldn't stand to watch skiing because they hay bails they were standing on kept giving way and the patrons were sinking in the slush.

BUT FOR ALL THE CRAP VANCOUVER SCREWED UP, NOTHING IS WORSE THAN NBC PRETENDING THE OLYMPICS ARE LIVE IN PRIME TIME.

Its the age of Twitter, the internet, 24 hour news and cable stations with scrolling tickers...we all know what happened already, just admit it, embrace it, and run an evening highlight package of the days best work... but still show the events live during the day as the happen. Enough of this bullshit NBC.

Where did this Blog Go?

I have no idea.
You should know I still watch tons of TV, and I have lots to say about it -- maybe I am on my writers strike right now? Not sure. But the motivation to blog just hasn't been there, call it a small peak in an endless valley. But now that 'Lost' and '24' are back, maybe I will find my inspiration. For now, know this:

-24 sucks this year. I am just growing tired of the formula and I feel like I have seen this season four times already. Even the undercover risk your life bullshit comes from Jack in Mexico in season 2. I do love crazy Renee Walker though -- only saving grace so far.

-Lost kicked off in incredible fashion. Wow. The only thing I need to tell you is this...to fully enjoy the experience, you need to read Jeff (Doc) Jenson the next day at www.ew.com. Just click on 'Lost' in the header and wait for his day after recap...its usually about seven pages and its amazing. Its the solid supplemental reading to any good college class. Amazing work. Makes the show that much richer.

-SNL continues to be the biggest piece of shit on television. Jon Hamm wasn't terrible, but it was pretty bad.

More to come...I can feel it happening.

Wow, January Jones Sucked

I love me some Betty Draper, what a great character and so well acted. And guess what, January Jones should get an Emmy this year. What she shouldn't get, is another chance to ever appear on live TV trying to be funny. She can't do it. And you no what? Some actors just cannot work in that format, and she is one of them.
Even worse, SNL is still a god-damn fucking disaster. Did you count the fart/shit/potty jokes last night? Major double digits...come on guys....
Also this, does anyone else fast forward anytime Seth Meyers turns over the Update desk to a 'performer'? I do. And Jon Bovi is the biggest offender. Argh. Other than Jean K. Jean which is only funny because its so bad, I get so mad when we lose valuable headline time for that crap.

Long story short, here is the final math:

Awful host + Terrible overall writing + mediocre female cast / easy fart jokes = Wanda Sykes show. Yep, that's where I am taking my eyeballs next Saturday night.

SLOW THE F**K DOWN 'V'

Holy crap...in only one hour, the V's showed up, announced themselves, were given the name 'V' or 'Visitors', organized a meeting with the UN, came down to meet the UN, started some street clubs with brochures, integrated into our marketing culture, organized spaceship tours, and did TV interviews. Oh, and they already have a resistance movement that knows about them, and many key players already know they are lizards. HOLY SHIT, that was one hour? Watch 'The O.C.' season one much?

You don't HAVE to give us everything in one hour -- that could have easily been played out with huge reveals and suspense over 3-4 shows and no one would have minded. There were no ooh-ahh moments, they just gave it to you. NO FUN AT ALL. We're only into the pilot and it might as well be episode 6. The mini-series didn't get this far after six hours. SLOW DOWN, give us some information to digest perhaps.

On a different note, 'Modern Family' is so damn good it should be criminal. Sometimes a new show comes along and reminds you how good TV comedy can be. 'The Office' and '30 Rock' showed us how workplace comedy could be funny again, and now this show takes dysfunctional family to a whole new level with a nod to 'Arrested Development' for setting the blueprint.

And remember, Always Be Closing. Don't Ever Forget Great Home Ideas Just Keep Lurking...

New Hires...

Let's just move forward to the press release where we announce our formal new hires for 2009-2010

1. Modern Family
2. FlashForward
3. Community (contract-to-hire)
4. V (hired w/o interview...strong letter of recommendation

That's it. This is all we added this fall -- lots of retention at DVR, Inc...

Quick Notes:
You can give dual Emmys right now to Don and Betty Draper (Hamm and Jones) for the 'Don's confessional) episode. Reminded of the time I watch Tony and Carmella fight in the bedroom in the last season the Sopranos -- you knew you were watching television genius unfold before your eyes. It was beyond awesome.

FOX needs to figure out how to make the baseball playoffs go faster. I know, how about playing almost every day like in REAL baseball all season long. Just do it, we will still watch.

I am enjoying 'Castle' and 'The Mentalist' this season a lot. 'Bones' hasn't been appointment TV though by any means.

Both 'Law and Orders' are having very solid seasons. I did delete an episode of SVU where they were going to make some abused kid have dinner with his abusive step dad as some sort of sting. Life it too short to have to sit through that.

I love love love 'Fringe' this year. And the same goes for 'Dollhouse', but I assume its on its way to the cancellation bin after the holidays, so I just hope they can wrap it up in style.

Still have all the episodes of 'Melrose Place' on DVR - may get to them, may not...same goes for 'The Good Wife' -- great reviews, etc...just not compelling right now.

I am also about to start 'The League' on FX.

It's Fun to be Right

Remember when I told you in September that even though Leno's numbers were high, the only thing that matters is whether or not he keeps eyeballs on NBC to increase ratings of local TV news....Do you remember?

Well he isn't. Read it here: The LA Times is considered a quality newspaper too...

Glee = Glum

They need to drop both pregnancy story lines immediately -- this show is not as fun as it should be -- its 'Glee' for f**k sake. Go back to the Pilot episode and make it more like that, only with more Sue Sylvester, like from last night - now that was awesome.

So, in summary: More Sue Sylvester, better songs, more fun, less downer bull-shit.

Where the Hell Have I Been?

Admittedly my blogging has been infrequent. This is no way to build an audience and then sustain it. For that, I apologize. I used to write almost everyday, and now it seems its about once per week (ok, month)....I think its a combination of blog fatigue, TV fatigue, and maybe my job which continues to demand my time...what up with that? I also find myself much, much busier with the kids now that they are, you know, like real people with activities and mouths and legs and wants and needs...when did this happen?

Anywho, no analogies this time about interviews, just some quick and dirty thoughts about the Fall season - unedited and unabridged.

SNL - someone commented on one of my old posts ripping me calling Seth Meyers by Seth Rogen. This cracked me up a bit...you see, my blog is found 100x per month from people typing 'SNL sucks' into Google -- turns out you find me pretty quickly. Well this person was directed to an old post from last year about Seth Rogen and instead thought I was a total jackass who didn't know what I was talking about...well guess what? Who is the jackass now? I digress...this year on SNL is beyond horrible, beyond. Megan Fox (who I love with all my heart) was given crappy material, Ryan Reynolds was barely involved, and Drew Barrymore's episode was unwatchable. The sketches themselves are herrendous this year. Its just subjective opinion, I am not going to cite examples, I am just telling you I tape it every week, watch it every week, and FF'd through it every week while shaking my head. So sad.

Brothers and Sisters - I quit this show two weeks ago. I don't miss it.

Desperate Housewives - I am going to quit this show soon. I am not sure what I am looking for in a dramedy these days, but I know it isn't this crap -- which by the way is recycled plot points year after year after year...oh the new neighbor has a secret past and may have done something bad? You don't say. The son may have killed someone in the neighborhood? You don't say. I saw this season already -- THREE FUCKING TIMES.

HIMYM - I usually write pages and pages about this show. All I will say is that it continues to crack me up every week -- so entertaining, so smart, so well casted. I enjoyed the sexless innkeeper/couples date from last night.

Big Bang - Never has a sitcom I despised so much turned so quickly to be one of the best. It did, it is, and it's awesome. I love you Howard Wolowitz and your mom's Thanksgiving Turbriskfilte...or however you pronounce a turkey stuffed with brisket and gefilte fish.

Mad Men - Continues to kill it, every week. This is the best character study/drama on TV and best since Sopranos and maybe the best ever? Who knows. We're lucky to be living through it.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Great season so far...the Christian Slater bit last night wasn't all that funny, but the whole bit with getting ahold of the doctor and the hot towel was entertaining enough. I love Jeff and Susie and the whole Seinfeld plot is only going to get better - the first one was a great start. And let me say this -- you should always coordinate the tip when splitting the bill.

Greek - OK season so far, not the best. Still watching.

Gossip Girl - OK season so far, not the best. Still watching. After last night, the plots will have to reset again. About twice per year they resolve all open-ended story lines and begin anew. Last night had a satisfying conclusion that could have doubled as a series finale I suppose in a pinch. Lets move on now.

Law and Order/SVU: All DVR'd up for rerun weeks

The Mentalist and Castle - I really like this show. Everyone should watch. It should just be one show, save me some time.

FlashForward - so far, so good. No jinxing it. Everyone should watch.

Fringe - Getting better by the week, love it.

Dollhouse -- Getting better by the week, love it. Except last week's serial killer ep, that was just stupid. So I guess it took a step back...this show has about a shelf life of 10-12 more episodes. Let's wrap it up in style Joss, because I really like the cast and concept...but its not going to last forever like Buffy did.

Man I watch a lot of shows somehow...

The Office - a very solid season, its comedy gold - so I just enjoy it for the art it is. I think its even better in reruns I am told. No time for those yet :)

I think we're caught up here for now...sorry for the dump...going forward I am just going to opine on a single topic when one needs discussing and save the recap posts for midseason and end of season. OUT.

NCIS Is God

Wow. 22 million viewers last night. And only two of them could have been my parents...if only Jay Leno could follow this show, his numbers might come back up. I don't think a show like this has ever gone from average viewers to no viewers to all the viewers over 8 years -- but this show somehow did. Is Mark Harmon that appealing? It's not fair for me to make fun of a show I don't watch...so I won't mock its content or following, I will only share in my public surprise that it is so successful this late in its run.

Couple Quick Thoughts

I really really really liked the season opener of 'Dollhouse' and 'FlashForward'. Lauren and I are officially quitting 'Brothers and Sisters' because its just too much of a soap opera...I know I know...it is what is has always been. But I believe it started out as a drama, and now its just about medical issues, divorces, and more medical issues. DONE.

I thought the 'Housewives' opener was pretty good actually, it has earned a stay of execution. I think after two more episodes I will decide if its stays or goes, but Sunday night and Monday are so packed right now, this show could go and I wouldn't miss it. Right now its just habit.

Here is my major FLASHFORWARD gripe - and trust me, this is making me angry (and I don't know why)....about half way through the show they went to commericial and the voice-over guy for ABC reminded the viewers of something they just saw and told us it might be an important clue...go to ABC.com for more information. At the next break, same thing..."WHAT YOU JUST SAW IS A CLUE, go to ABC.com AND FIND OUT MORE. DONT FORGET WHAT YOU JUST SAW". I threw-up in my mouth a little bit and shed a little tear. What they were basically saying is: "Hello Viewer, you are dumb. We think you quit watching Lost because it was too confusing to watch TV with your brain. Instead, we will just force-create an online community instead of letting one foster itself, and we will tell you what is important so your tiny brain won't have to hurt. Don't worry...sit back, watch the show, and we won't make it very hard for you.." PUKE. Thanks ABC, but that was a turn-off.

Finally, how are the new shows doing? Here you go:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-09-29-strong-season-start_N.htm

The Interview Process

Someone at work told me this morning that they are interviewing both new medical dramas - 'Three Rivers' and whatever the new nurse show is. I liked that take on watching new shows, it really is an interview process. That being said, here are the candidates whose resumes I have seen thus far:

-Melrose Place: Got the callback for a second interview, but mostly because it was pretty to look at, wasn't too offensive, and reminded me of someone I hired in the past. (Get it? Hired in the past? This analogy is really taking off....). Although I called for a second and third interview, they may be clogging the DVR for quite awhile until I decide how else to hire.

-Modern Family: Hired. One episode, pure comedy genius. Racially, ethnically, and sexually uncomfortable and possibly offensive. Perfect. Great cast. Good to see Ed O'Neil again back as the patriarch with flaws, and I love the gay couple.

-Glee: Hired. I am not interviewing any 1 hour dramas this year, that department is not only full, but its overstaffed at this point. But there is always room for light-hearted simple dramedy. And set in high school with cast members whose average age is clearly 26? Sign me up.

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS:

-The season premiere of 'Old Christine' was laugh out loud funny again. As I have said for years on this blog, I don't want to like this show, I don't why I laugh so hard, but this show is so well written and so well acted, I can't let it go. If I was still working this analogy, I would say that Christine is the employee who you can't believe got hired, you don't know what the appeal is, you don't want them around, but damn...they sure do a good job.

-'Castle' and 'The Mentalist' are back as the zany crime solvers with a quirk...there are so many of them now - writers, psychics, mind readers, mediums, rich people, manics...it is hard to keep them straight. What I do know is that the two I am keeping on board kept me entertained in 2008-2009, and they get one year extensions. Lets hope against the sophomore slump, because the DVR is already filling up.

-'Fringe' second season premiere was awesome. Tonight should help set the tone for the season. It's not too late to join, and if you need to me fill in the backstory, just let me know.

-'Dollhouse' comes back tomorrow night. I am so excited but afraid I won't enjoy it as much as Season 1 because I was able to watch it all in 2 weeks...As I have said before, once a show is watched consecutively and quickly, its hard to go back to watching a season over 40 weeks...but hopefully this show will sustain the momentum I think it has.

I have an interview tonight with 'FlashForward' - based on the all the kudos coming out from critics, I think this one will be hired on site.

In Case You are Wondering if Jay Leno Sucks...

Monday hour by hour:

8 p.m.
ABC: “Dancing with the Stars” season premiere (17.4 million viewers, 11.0/17 households)
FOX: “House” season premiere (15.8 million, 9.2/14)
CBS: “How I Met Your Mother” season premiere (9.2 million, 5.7/9)/”Accidentally on Purpose” series premiere (9 million, 5.7/8)
NBC: “Heroes” season premiere (6.3 million, 3.9/6)

9 p.m.
ABC: “Dancing with the Stars” (17.6 million, 11.3/17)
FOX: “House” (17.2 million (9.8/14)
CBS: “Two and a Half Men” season premiere (13.6 million, 8.5/12)/”The Big Bang Theory” season premiere (12.8 million, 7.8/11)
NBC: “Heroes” (5.8 million, 3.4/5)

10 p.m.
CBS: “CSI: Miami” season premiere (13.8 million, 8.7/14)
ABC: “Castle” season premiere (9.4 million, 6.2/10)
NBC: “The Jay Leno Show” (5.7 million, 3.8/6)

He does -- and America knows it. The problem is that his show is so cheap to make, they could sell local ads for sex hotlines or cheap auto insurance or Montgomery Flea Market (YouTube it) and still make a bunch of money. They real verdict comes during November sweeps. If Leno can get eyeballs to the 10 PM local news, he stays. If the NBC local news stations across the country get killed in Sweeps (which btw is the only reason we still have sweeps, to measure local news), then he goes.

NEW SHOWS THIS FALL

Here are new shows I am going to try this year...
**I think Melrose Place is terrible so far.
**I enjoyed Community, I look forward to the second week
**Glee is great

Monday, September 21:
Castle, 10 p.m. (ABC) - I watched some re-runs this summer, as far as one hour crime shows go, this one is easy to watch and clever. Its like good background.

Tuesday, September 22:
The Good Wife, 10 p.m. (CBS) - Lauren wants a new show that I wouldn't mind watching -- we will try this one, it's Julianna Margalues as a lawyer whose husband is a cheating politician in jail

Wednesday, September 23:
Cougar Town, 9:30 p.m. (ABC) - new Courtney Cox comedy, I will try it once
Modern Family, 9 p.m. (ABC) - this is the NEW COMEDY SHOW OF THE YEAR according to critics. Ed O'Neil and a bunch of people, supposed to be great.

Thursday, September 24:
Flash Forward, 8 p.m. (ABC)

Friday, September 25:
Brothers, 8 p.m. (Fox) - new Michael Strahan comedy
Dollhouse, 9 p.m. (Fox) -- I love this show in case anyone is looking to jump in. Watched it this summer and loved it.

Sunday, September 27:
The Cleveland Show, 8:30 p.m. (Fox)

Monday, September 28:
Lie to Me, 9 p.m. (Fox) - I like this show too, its another easy hour of one hour murder solving...Tim Roth, good cast. Easy to watch.

Tuesday, November 3:
V, 8 p.m. (ABC) -- this is going to be great (I hope)

Saturday, November 7:
The Wanda Sykes Show, 11 p.m. (Fox) -- she has a new Saturday night variety/talk show.

Is the Blog Back?

To be honest, I'm not really sure...after three seasons, I might have to hang this up for awhile. It's not like I'm done watching TV - that will never happen. It's not like I have nothing to say - that will never happen. I just don't have the motivation yet to sit down and write a post...I think it might be the long summer hiatus.

What I need is a reason. A compelling moment of television that deserves to be written about...and to be honest, I am not sure where this season is headed yet -- so much promise, most promise in a long time. So before I go...for now...here are a few random thoughts:

-I love 'Glee'. It's working out its kinks, but its great.
-I love 'Shark Tank'. Love watching these people try to sell business plans.
-I can't wait for 'Flash Forward' next week
-'Gossip Girl' was not so good so far
-'Greek' is not so good so far
-I hope 'Community' doesn't suck. Premieres tonight.
-'Fringe' is back tonight, yeah!
-'Dollhouse' is great, watched it this summer -- very very good.
-'Curb' starts next week, yeah!
-'The Office' starts tonight, yeah!
-'Mad Men' as usual is frickin fricktastic

SUMMER UPDATE: Solving 'Entourage'

I am breaking from my summer hiatus to post some great news. I finally figured out how 'Entourage' works as a show. I used to get so annoyed at how nothing ever happens and before you know it, 22 minutes is over, and you got nowhere. Well....DUH! Watch a whole season at once, and then its just like watching 3 episodes of a real show.

Lauren and I started all of season 5 the other night since we now have HBO back ($5/month for the next six months, hell yes).

So we got through about 4 episodes and I realized I was enjoying it -- because I didn't have to wait seven days for the next set of nothing to happen. But it turns out if you put a whole lot of nothing together, you get a little something.

So there you go. I am recommending 'Entourage' in large doses -- in the end, you will get a little something.

Back to Hiatus.

SUMMER VACATION

See you all for the Fall TV preview around Labor Day. Until then, be well...be safe..and enjoy your summer.

Sumertime? Feels like April.

The weather has been chilly since Saturday so the only think I know how to do when its cold is watch TV. So I tried to catch up some episodes of 'Earl', but the novelty has worn off that show.

I tried to watch some 'Dollhouse' -- but that seems like July television.
I have been knocking out old 'Rules of Engagement' episodes, and if you've been reading this blog, then you know how much I love Patrick Warburton. He could read the dictionary and I would crack up. Strangely I recently suggested that Megan Fox could read the dictionary too -- but that would elicit a totally different response.

We're also finishing up this season of 'My Boys'. I like the show and I like Jordana Sprio, but something about this show makes it feel like it was made for like $12 in a high-school theater. Maybe its the massive TBS budget, or the writing, but its a quick 22 minutes to fall asleep to.

I still think this summer will be the one where I rent season 1 and 2 of 'Friday Night Lights' -- we'll see what happens.

Summertime...

I think I will keep on posting for a few weeks until the summer really kicks in, and then as always, I will rejoin you all in the Fall ahead of the new season.

I watched the finale of 'SVU' the other night and it sucked. They teased a major death and of course it was a bit character. And admittedly the plot was a little predictable -- but that might be because I watch a lot of TV, originality is hard to find. That's why I love 'Lost' and 'Fringe' so much. You can only do so much on the 'Gossip Girls' of the world that hasn't been done before. Same for the B+S and the Housewives and pretty much everything else.

God Bless good and creative and clever TV writers. The JJ's and the Joss's and the BJ + Mindy's...and the Damon's and Carlton's and Tina's and Eddie and Adam....

I am going to try out 'Royal Pains' on USA and provide you a list of anything else that might be interesting this summer...then I am checking out. TTYL.

Conan Night 2: Didn't See It

Nope. Stuck in the ER until 12:15 AM, and not for pleasure. Cousin.TwinsGameBuddy decided to reach up for a T-shirt coming out of a canon launcher. He lost the T-shirt and his pinky knuckle in a larger man's hands.

3 hours later and the knuckle was casted and I got back to my car. Twins Win!

I will watch the third night tonight and catch up on what I guess was a great Conan bit about Twitter. More to come, but let me say this -- no one is more happy that Conan and Andy Richter are back together than I am. They play off each other so well, and its a great comedy team. The real winner here is us, the late-night viewer.

More to Come....


Get it?

The Debut of Conan

The critics are unanimous, Conan's new Tonight Show is a 'work-in-progress'. Wow, they really stepped out on a limb with this one. I was surprised they didn't call it polished and television perfection. I assume most of them turned in their column before the show aired.

I know, I know, there really is no other review -- but its just funny because they have to do it, and the obligatory default thesis is 'work-in-progress' -- what else could it be?

I liked it. It's a work-in-progress.

The first full week+ of no new TV has been an interesting one filled with reading, parenting, baseball and more baseball. And now that 'Baseball Tonight' on ESPN pretty much runs live all night, every night on the MLB Network in the form of three different shows with three different names that are all on the same set with the same talking heads -- my plate is full.

This summer I will look forward to the burn-off episodes of 'Dirty/Sexy/Money' and one or two new shows on TNT. We still have a full season of L+O: Criminal Intent, the season finale of the other to Law and Orders, the remaining episodes of 'Greek' and I believe Lauren and I are going to try the first two seasons of 'Friday Night Lights'.