17 posts tagged “tv”

I have loved this show from the start.  I watch it, I buy the dvds and watch it again, I talk about it with friends, and push others to watch it. But, this season, it's losing me.  It started off absolutely superb with Andre Braugher, but 13 is still a character (and while I liked her better than most of the other potential team members two/three seasons ago, she now annoys the hell out of me) and Jennifer Morrison is leaving.  I can't watch anymore.  I'm bored by it and I'm not emotionally invested in any of the characters.  House seems static; Cuddy, I dunno where she's gone and Chase w/o Cameron? Please. Why can't Cameron stay and 13 go away? That would be much, much better.
I haven't watched it in a couple of weeks, and I'm okay with that.  Last season and the one before seemed to be the peak of excellent tv viewing, this season, not so much.  Three Rivers? Bring back Moonlight and scrap 3 Rivers and I say that as someone who LOVES Pittsburgh.  I was so excited that there was a tv show set in my favorite American city (outside of D.C., of course), but then I watched it.  Once.
CSI:NY, they pulled back from the precipice, but I gotta tell you, the first time Danny rolled into view in the premiere, I just started to laugh.  Totally cracked up and I nearly turned the computer off right then.  Are you kidding me? But, they saved themselves with Flack and Sid. 
I have started watching Flashpoint, all the way back to the beginning.  I love Canada! This is an excellent show, though I don't know if law enforcement up north is really this empathetic and compassionate, but what a lovely idea. And it doesn't get bogged down in personal crap.  I'm glad they lost the Sam/Jules storyline because continuing that? I probably would have quit watching. 
So, here we begin another year's NaBloPoMo. Let's see if I make it.

I know that the 08-09 season hasn't ended yet, but I thought that I would put some thoughts down anyway.

I am not looking forward to CSI:NY because someone major is supposed to die. If it's Hawkes, I will be so, so sad, well any of them really.  But crushed if it's him. Though if it is, I would imagine it to be for Kal Penn/Kutner like reasons.  He was classmates (I think) with Obama at Harvard and was certainly active in the campaign.  CSI:NY was absolutely superb right before the 07 writers' strike and I feel like it never quite hit that level again.  This season has been fine, but there was an incredible energy in those first few months of the 07-08 season that I wish they could get back to.  Still, I think they need each and every one of the characters to make the ensemble click.  Hawkes and Sid are the two most vulnerable to me and I would have a very hard time with the writers going down either path.

CSI, the original Vegas one, has been a revelation this season.  I think Peterson did the exact right thing leaving.  Not that I didn't cry and miss him, but wow, Laurence Fishborne as a mid-life career change from Doctor/Professor to a CSI Level 1 (entry level) has been amazing.  The choices that the writers have made in terms of storytelling (as in not linear) have really freshened up the show in its ninth season.  After seasons 7&8, the show was a bit fatigued and heavy with its own weight.  I would put this season up against 4,5, or 6 for pure enjoyment.  Rashomama (season 6) is still my hands down favorite episode, but season 9 has been one of the best.

In Plain Sight has just started up its second season.  Mary McCormack as Marshall Mary Shannon is a fabulously written character.  The last episode with the therapist was fantastic. 

CSI:Miami. Argh! I can't believe I've gotten sucked into watching this!  David Caruso drives me nuts.  The former ME drove me nuts (why couldn't they have had someone relatively normal like on the other two, the original woman made me hit the mute button and the new one, while beautiful, is popping pills and therefore not long for this world, I imagine).  The color saturation aside (it is a very beautiful show to watch, I love love love the colors!), I'm pathetic, it's the blossoming romance between Calleigh Duquesne and Eric Delko that has me tuning in every week because it sure as hell isn't the quality of the writing or acting.  But I had caught enough episodes from previous seasons to be excited when I watched a random one in which there were some really cute sparks.

Cold Case, Bones, NCIS and Criminal Minds.  I watch them, I enjoy them for what they are.  Cold Case makes me cry.  Bones, they're all just so pretty. NCIS, who wouldn't want to watch Mark Harmon do anything.  Even sleep.  And Criminal Minds, Garcia is just way cool. 

Ugly Betty.  I dread watching it. But I do anyway because I know that I will enjoy it.  It really seemed to jump the shark when Colin absconded with all the money.  That was a stupid and hasty plot move.  Now with Ashley Jensen's departure, it will be harder for me to tune in.  But I love the colors, and Horta's take on family is just wonderful, so I continue to watch and hope that they pick up again with the quality.

House, M.D. is long one of my favorite shows.  I was devastated by Kutner's suicide because he seemed like the only undamaged one on the whole show and then Bang! turns out he was more permanently damaged than any of the others.  But if Kal Penn hadn't have wanted to leave, he wouldn't have been.  He was like House, but whole.  And then civic duty took over.  Curses!  I am so glad that Chase and Cameron have finally gotten over the whole real life broken engagement thing to work together again because I sure like them better than anyone on the B team now that Kutner is gone.  I hope that they have a lot more screen time next season.

The Mentalist seems to have lost some of its zip from earlier this season.  Hope it picks up again.  I think its because they're trying to stretch the Red John storyline far longer than they should.  The show doesn't use it quite frequently enough to keep it as a thread, which makes me worry that they want it to last over many seasons.  Grrr. 

Eleventh Hour.  Poor, poor version of the English original which starred, hello, Ashley Jensen (and some bald guy named Patrick Stewart).  Picked up a little when they brought in the kid who voted for the first time on West Wing, but it hasn't been on in so long, did they cancel it and I missed that memo?
(eta: apparently it was only an 18 episode season, so that would be over. I wonder if it will return.)

Fringe.  Joshua Jackson and John Noble are not reason enough for me to continue watching beyond this season, though they do have a natural chemistry as well as some as great lines.  But yeah, chalk this up to Heroes and Lost status.  Too caught up in itself to keep my attention. 

Little Mosque on the Prairie, the only half hour sitcom I make time for.  All the arabic I needed for Morocco, I learned from this show.  I love it. 

Listener, another import from Canada.  Cute, kind of on par with Criminal Minds/Bones/Cold Case.  One of my favorite parts of the Toby's character is just how respectful he is of other people's physical space.  Most likely due to the fact that he can't shut out their thoughts.  And his partner, Oz, is adorable and so funny.  It's a show that succeeds at multicultural without it being in your face.

Dollhouse.  Joss Whedon's new project.  I love Whedon's writing.  Speed, Buffy (movie and tv series), Firefly/Serenity.  But I'm not a fan of all his work.  Never got into Angel and as I'm not a huge fan of Eliza Dushku, I have had a hard time getting into Dollhouse.  I will watch it next season, probably, but we will have to see how this season ends before I actually commit.  Today it felt like Paul Ballard's character was channeling Capt Reynolds, and that the actor was channeling Nathan Fillion.  The voice pattern was totally the same.  And yeah, really just not a Dushku fan. 

Castle. Nathan Fillion's new tv show.  Not totally sold on it.  It only started in March and while I appreciate all the redheads, the lines seem a little forced.  I get glimpses of wit and sparkle, but it's just a flash every now and then.

Numb3rs.  I <3 this show.  The relationship between Don and Charlie, the sons and their father, Charlie and Amita, Charlie and Fleinhart (also known as the Biscuit from Ally McBeal) are so lovingly written.  They're not dysfunctional!!!  And the use of math is just way cool.  Yeah, I love, love, love this show.  Charlie Don't Surf being the best episode of this season. 

Lie to Me.  It's okay.  Another show that works as a diversion, though with the added bonus of making me so much more conscious of body language.

No vampires this season.  I hope that next season there are some new and exciting shows to watch.  I won't watch all nineteen of these next season.  I will keep House, Numb3rs, CSI and CSI:NY, Little Mosque, In Plain Sight and Ugly Betty for sure.  Anything else better have a bang up (preferably not literally) end to the season.    

which is exactly like Buffy, but a boy as the main character.  They're dressing Luke in West Ham colors.  What's up with that? 

It really isn't all that good.  I keep interrupting it to do other stuff.  My paper not being one of those things. 

I was watching Sanctuary, but I stopped.  This is a couple steps above that.  I really like Amanda Tapping, but there was just something about the show that I couldn't get a bead on.  Thankfully, Demons is only a six show series.

(edited to add:  some of the dialogue is excruciating)
(edited again to add: but the theme song is catchy)

Drives me nuts.  Such short seasons. 

And it's Lafayette in the back of the damn car. 

Not til next summer?!  grrrr.

In my conversation with Emjay in the comments section of a post somewhere below, I realized that I watch a *%&^load of television.  It's an easy way to unwind after school.  And when I'm doing stuff that doesn't require my full attention.
I've never been keen on blondes.  I was one as a child, but for some reason, in my pop culture stars, I have never dug the blond hair.  I think part of it is societal conditioning, I tend to view blondes as vapid and superficial.  Part of it is probably envy, the brunette or redhead best friend never gets the sexy vampire, but rather the adorable, though slightly geeky werewolf or shapeshifter.  And it's no credit to this tv season that that statement covers TWO different shows.  (all right not in the same season, but in a third show even Elizabeth was a blonde in Moonlight)
I don't recall a tv season before this one where I was annoyed by the blondes to the extent that I am with this one.  Cath Willows is fabulous.  Allison DuBois, Ainsley Hayes/Calleigh Duquesne (no, I don't watch that show all the time, but I do hope she and Eric eventually get together) and Brenda Leigh Johnson are excellent, well drawn characters.  But this season!  There's no contest between Garcia and JJ on Criminal Minds, and thankfully it's enough of an ensemble cast that I can deal with the fluffy, insubstantial JJ.  But it's Sookie and Olivia and Rachel who are just doing my head in. 
I know, why do I keep watching?  And yet, I do; I'm bored and need to put my foot up.  Would somebody please cancel these shows already?!  I don't have anything against these women aside from not being keen on their haircolor, it's not that any of these actresses are bad, it's the material they're given to work with.  Oh my word!  They're written to need rescuing even when they're capable women.  Not all the time, and not always obviously, but rescued.  And though it does seem that Sookie needs rescuing in an almost Dawn's in trouble, must be Tuesday kind of way, she at least likes to think that she's capable when in fact she's just incredibly stupid.  True Blood is really just cotton candy, but Fringe and Eleventh Hour?  Oh, way past time.  Eleventh Hour should not have been remade and Fringe, (sucks on teeth), yeah, Joshua Jackson can't save it.  He and Walter are the brightest spots on the show and play really well together, but then Olivia Dunham shows up and mmmm, no.  Let it go.  Just let it go.
Maybe next season.

Eeeek.  This might end up being a placeholder post that I take down.  It's 18.30 and I need to go to dinner and I'm worried that I won't get a post up.
I am so glad it's Friday and I really really want to spend the weekend on the couch (with my ChildLit books), but first I will got to dinner with friends.  Lebanese food.  Yum.  

Okay, it's now after 10 and I'm home from a lovely evening out. 

I had started an Ugly Betty episode before I left and just finished watching it.  I really love this show.  It's somewhat over the top, but the characters are so human in their complexity.  The first two seasons, I cried at some point in pretty much every episode.  This season isn't choking me up quite as much, but it's still an excellent, excellent show.  I started watching because I loved America Ferrera and Selma Hayek, but there are so many other great women on the show, too.  It is the only tv show I watch that isn't a crime show.  Oh, I take that back.  I don't particularly like sitcoms, but I do watch Little Mosque on the Prairie.  It's really cute and it's set in Rosie's home province of Sasketchewan.  But otherwise, it's Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI, CSI NY, Bones, Numb3rs and NCIS.  Oh, I watch House, M.D.  I hate medical shows like ER and Grey's Anatomy.  Hate might be too strong a word, but I don't bother with them.  House, though, rocks. 

Eleventh Hour, I'm not totally sold on, but I'm watching the 4 episode British version as well as the American to pass the time.  Ashley Jensen from Ugly Betty played the government handler in the British version.  That role is played by Marley Shelton for the U.S. team.  She's the second annoying blonde of the season.  I recognize that the material is not fantastic, but there is something in the role that isn't quite working for me.  The first annoying blonde of the season is on Fringe, a show that I truly am only watching when I'm looking to procrastinate.   Agent Olivia Dunham, Dunn, Done, whatever, really irritates me.  I know, I know, Joshua Jackson is in it, how dare I complain, but you know what, I rarely saw more than snippets of Dawson's Creek and I felt let down that Joey ended up with Pacey and not Dawson, so I think there's some residual angst there.

And I wonder why there are dishes in the sink... 

So, Sasha the wine bringing waitress told us that just two years ago, her dad would never have let her get a job in downtown Fayetteville.  Apparently, there was very little going on that was on the positive side of things and a lot going on that was on the not so good side.  While I could see a lot of empty storefronts last week, I imagine that a couple of years ago, there were even more.  What Jenna and I were seeing was a Main Street on the upswing.  I hope it works.  While we were drinking our wine, we saw a news crew (okay, the reporter and the cameraman) interviewing people a little further down the street.  We wondered what they were up to, but enh, we were more interested in getting our glasses re-filled to pay it much mind.  Eventually, they got to us and asked if they could interview us about the trains.  We laughed and said that we had gotten caught by one today but far more inconvenient was the oh so considerate driver in front of us.  Jenna declined forty-five seconds of her fifteen minutes, opting to save it for a more illustrious opportunity, I am sure.  I said, yeah, sure, film me.  Gavin MacDonalrobertbride (whatever his incredibly Irish last name was) sat down next to me and said, "please say your name into the microphone and spell it."  Without missing a beat, I said, "My name is Rosie O'Grady. R_O_S_I_E  O apostrophe G_R_A_D_Y."  Jenna nearly spit out her wine. 
Rosie O'Grady as my bar name dates back to 2001.  I answer to it as easily as misskate or Kate or Katie or KATHRYN ELIZABETH!!!! I was christened Rosie O'Grady by Gracie Fall (not her real name) and in the post-9/11 world, Rosie developed an entire backstory of being from Saskatoon, Sasketchewan.  But all that is for another post.  Save for Jenna's new bar name, Stella Burns.  Takes some getting used to, but it suits her and she remembered it most of the time the first night we took it out. 
SO, I was interviewed about the trains, don't think I sounded too much of an idiot and let me tell you the cameraman has a gift.  I wasn't thrilled that he was getting the right side of my face because I had two huge spots left from a three punch combo of my period, change of water and change of moisturizer.  But he was good, he made me look not horrific.  AND, he liked my t-shirt.  Unshelved.com is a webcomic about the Mallville Public Library.  They sell some totally awesome t-shirts, one of them being the purple "Frequently Asked Questions" that I sport in this tv clip. 
After I have expressed my opinions about the trains in Fayetteville (because really, I don't have to know anything about topic to have an opinion on it), the news duo leave and eight trains promptly run through the downtown area.  Jenna and I were both saying things like, "holy shit, is that, like, ANOTHER train?!? They really do have a problem, he wasn't just asking leading questions!"
Rosie O'Grady on Channel 14
After a while, we moved on down to Circa 1885.  We have a couple of beers and I start chatting with a 13 year old who knows a lot about politics and loves Bush.  Yeah, I'm not going to say too much more on this topic except, I'm glad Jenna took over, she was a far more rational conversation partner for him.  I chitchatted with his mom and the bail bondsman from down the street.  Many, many beers later, it poured rain and they closed 1885.  We were told that they were having dueling pianos at what I call the Tiki Bar because that's what it looked like to me, but its real name is Keys.  We welcomed to town some new kid named Keith, maybe, and hung with a girl who's a DJ for one of the radio stations.  She was awesome.  Just a really cool girl who has her shit together and totally sparkles. 
At Keys, I moved onto SoCo and ginger ale (I'm sure many of you see where this is going) and finally around midnight, my driver Stella says "all right, we're leaving on a high note"  which is really always the best plan.  As we drive away, I can already tell that I haven't been the cleverest girl, but Stella hands me a rice krispie treat and I swear while sugar is the last thing I wanted at that point, it was the best tasting rice krispie treat I've had in ages.  (visit Just Desserts!) We get back to the hotel and crack out the last two pieces of pizza and this is where Jenna proves her worth as a friend.  I chow my piece down not caring that it's so cold it's almost frozen.  She microwaves hers and while I stand over her shoulder as she looks for my news clip, she lets me steal bites of it until whoops, I finished it off.  Is that not a great friend!?!  We did not, however, crack open the beer and I'm hoping she pulled them out of the fridge to take with her.  We crashed pretty hard that night, though we did stay up long enough to see the 1am repeat of the 11 o'clock local broadcast so I even got to see myself on real television. 

Or so it seemed. 
My parents kicked my ass at Hand and Foot, I'm not playing with them again unless my sister is my partner. 

So, that first night in Fayetteville, Jenna and I enjoyed a couple of beers at Circa 1885 and decided to order pizza back at the hotel.  She grabbed a six pack of Yuengling from the gas station next door while I waited for the pizza.  Dominos, it was right on our card keys for the hotel room.  We were a little taken aback by Fayetteville, I think.  They have a downtown area with some new construction going on, but a lot of empty storefronts.  There were some cute boutique shops and little bistros, but it was really just the one strip.  We saw some homeless roaming around, as well.  There was a train station and once you get out of the downtown area (which seemed just a few blocks square), Jenna said "we could be in fucking Jersey"  And it's true, we could have been in any sprawled out exurb off 95 or route 1.  All the big box stores were there, I think she counted at least six Burger Kings and lots of pawn shops. 
Our pizza arrived.  We didn't finish it or the beer and fell asleep to the John Adams miniseries which HBO seemed to be playing backwards.  When we first started watching it was 1775 and the Continental Congress.  When I woke up around midnight, we were back in 1770 with the Boston Massacre. 

I'm being asked to empty the dishwasher, so I will continue this in a bit. 

I have been awake since 2.  It's quarter to four.  I am caught up on Bones and Cold Case.  Kim Coates is a male actor from my favorite city in Canada, Saskatoon.  I haven't been there, but occasionally I would get tired of dealing with the crap that comes with saying in a Dutch bar, "yes, I am American" and I would suddenly be from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and majorly over-enunciate my vowels.  I will, one day, go to my native place and enjoy a beer. 

Tonight's wakeful episode is partly self-inflicted.  I mis-set the timer on the washer, so it started an hour early and is in the room right next to mine.  It's kind of loud. 

One of my favorite films is Practical Magic.  As I ate a piece of the fab German Chocolate Cake Gabriella made for book club, this line passed through my head.  I love being a grown-up! 

I like the tv show Cold Case.  Normally, I get choked up at least once an episode and this most recent one is no exception.  I have a very difficult time with aspects of my country's past.  The Japanese internment camps break my heart.  But at a supposed poignant moment in the episode, there was this and its natural follow on. 

Lily Rush: Isn't this who we speak for?  People like Billy? Ray?
Kate: Cyrus