Two Guys, a Girl and a Blog

 It’s funny, because I was just having this discussion with bunnyfear the other day. I was telling her that while I felt Keenu Reeves did a good job portraying John in Constantine(this admission probably revokes my comic book geek card), at the end of the day, the casting was just 100 percent wrong, seeing as how one of John’s defining traits in the comic book is that he’s A) British, and B) looks like Sting.

I was trying to come up with a good anology of why casting an American for the role was wrong, when I posed the question of how she would feel if an American started portraying Doctor Who. She then schooled me on the fact aht seeing as how Doctor Who changes bodies every so often, she wouldn’t have a problem with that.

And now comes the rumors that BBC might actually be thinking of having some Doctor Who specials set in America, with an american cast and crew. The Hollywood reporter has an article up of how BBC is looking to set up a US division early next year. The person heading up this division would be Jane Tranter, responsible for some of the latest British hits such as Doctor Who, Life on Mars, and Spooks: Code 9. The article also details how one possible person to make the move to the US along with Tranter is Julie Gardner, who is a Doctor Who executive producer.

I’m curious if all of this pans out, what route woudl they take. Would it be just one or two episodes that are still cannon to the original show, or perhaps actually attempt to “americanize” Doctor Who, as they did with The Office, and Life on Mars.

and sucks at it. I respect that its in beta testing but it seems far more like alpha with its consistently breaking down. Though I know all online players have this weird thing where the commercials are louder than the show itself, The WB takes it to a whole other level. I’ve had to decrease my volume by over 75% just to stop it from blasting me and my speakers away. Of course the program resumes and I have to turn it back up.  Perhaps this is just a new fun level of interactive TV! Regardless I am not impressed. Their lineup is decent but there’s a few WB classics missing like Dawson’s Creek, Felicity and Can I get some Unhappily Ever After?  The issues with the  player are apparent. In my day and a half using the program I’ve got to know this screen well.

Their lineup includes Veronica Mars,  Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., and more.   If you’ve not seen any of these shows then here’s a venue to try to catch them. The most important being Veronica Mars. You should’ve seen its genius by now but just in case you haven’t its available for viewing here and is the only show on the lineup worth slogging through the issues.  Other than VM most of the shows can be found elsewhere on already established and way less buggy websites.  The site offers an Adobe Premiere Express interface called WBlender to remix bits of the shows into new clips but this cute little inclusion isn’t quite enough for me to finally make that Buffy/Veronica Mars crossover I’ve dreamed about.  Also sorry foreigners the player doesn’t work outside the states.  As a competitor for Hulu, TheWB.com falls far from the mark but maybe soon it’ll work out the kinks and be a true alternative with great programming.  For now I’ll try to play this episode of Gilmore Girls for the 4th time today. *fingers crossed*

Every time I see ads for the new drama “Raising the Bar”, I think “really? another one?” It seems to follow the same formula for every other Steven Bochco drama.  Take a guy who just wants to do whats right in this world, throw in some cops or lawyers, add in a pinch of corruption here and there. Add in a need for redemption and there we go. Overdramatized events that to this day make me wonder why court TV never cuts to the two opposing laywers sleeping together or cops raising their fist to the gods for not being able to save this victim.   Steven Bochco, a four decade TV vet,  has wrote for or produced a variety of dramas including Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, Murder One, and a variety of Columbo movies. His dramas have each received numerous Emmy nominations, high critical praise, and good ratings. However that was then…this is now. His last few projects have been ridiculous with a dash of boring drama. Blind Justice was about a cop blinded in the line of duty who returns to the force.  The tag line reads “Blinded in the line of duty. His partners don’t respect him. His wife lacks faith. Nobody believes in Jim Dunbar except himself.” Laughable at best. Pretty much like the show. I can respect that “Over There” was an ambitious project and perhaps  that is why it failed. Add in the hands of people who focus on showing the same dramatic situations they’ve worked with before just placed in a war zone and you get failure.  Commander in Chief was also a project doomed to failure. The only right thing that show did was hire Donald Sutherland.  So he’s had  3 failed projects recently. This isn’t by far the most any producer or writer has had but I’m supposedly being sold Raising the Bar based on the fact that its a Steven Bochco drama. What has he given me lately? Here we are now, entertain us. Will he with this? Doubtful. The series revolves around a group of law school classmates who find themselves on opposite sides of the criminal law. Does this sound interesting to you? It doesn’t to me. Based on the mere idea mixed with Steven Bochco I can guess that someone will inevitably sleep with someone on the opposite side. Old classmates will realize the idealistic guy they used to know is now jaded with money. There will be moments of redemption when an opposing counsel turns over hidden evidence that will lose them the case. Justice will be carried out more often than not but when it fails we’ll get close ups of perhaps pretty lawyers looking crestfallen. Tight close up on Mark Paul Gosselaar’s eyes staring off trying to understand this decision. Someone will lose faith in the system. Someone will be shot.  There will also be sex, sex, sex and a maybe some ass shots.  I’d love to be proven wrong. I wouldn’t be shocked if the first episode proves all those predictions to be correct.   What bothers me is when scripted television should be trying new ideas they’re banking on  a “10 time Emmy winner” to bring them creativity.  I just don’t think that old dog can show me a new trick. So tune in, see if I’m wrong, find me proven right, and if you’re still yearning for a legal drama by a TV vet then turn to ABC and watch Boston Legal which isnt recycled TV.  Raising the Bar premieres Monday 10/9C on TNT.

We’ve all heard the slogan “It’s not TV, It’s HBO”.  Any of those who’ve watched an HBO series completely understands that phrase. Television shows, movies,  and events that never would’ve found their way onto television found a home on Home Box Office. HBO has continued each year to be innovative while producing the best of television. HBO’s reputation for offering high quality original programming is deeply founded in its original programming, producing choices,  & development.  Never shying away from trying something new, taking on controversy, or producing the unproducable; HBO continues to impress even the toughest of critics  Here’s a brief history of the shows and events that have made the premium channel worth every penny and more.

1) The Sopranos

• The Sopranos has been acknowledged by critics as one of the greatest and most ground-breaking television series of all time.  Spanning 86 episodes the show follows the life of mob boss Tony Soprano and both his families.

2) Tales from the Crypt
3) Tell me you Love me
4) The Wire
5) Arli$$
6) Curb your Enthusiasm
7) Da Ali G Show
8 ) Entourage

• A-list movie star Vincent Chase’s rise through Hollywood is seen on Entourage. Although the premise threw me at first “Who cares about some douche in Hollywood?”, I later realized my mistake. My only beef with the show is that Medellin will never be made.

9) Extras
10) Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
11) Inside the NFL
12) Sex and the City
13) Def Comedy Jam
14) John Adams
15) The Comeback
16) Epitafios
17) Angels in America

• God has abandoned Heaven. It’s 1985: the Reagans are in the White House and Death swings the scythe of AIDS. This miniseries based on the play tells a tale     of aids, bigotry, racism, diseases, self-hatred, power, sexless marriages, shame, religious turmoil, drug abuse and more. If you’ve never seen this, then find you way to it and prepare to be moved.

18) Flight of the Conchords
18) The Larry Sanders Show
20) Lucky Louie

• The only time I disagreed with HBO. I thought this show was fantastic. A father who calls his kid an asshole while trying his best to keep the lights on and food  on the table. It was Roseanne on crack and gritty in all the right ways. Unfortunately it was canceled but at least it had a chance, something no other network would’ve gave this very funny TV show.

21) Mr. Show
22) Tracey Takes On
23) Hard Knocks
24) Real Sex
25) Autopsy
26) Thrilla in Manila boxing match
27) Fraggle Rock

• My gushing love for this show would allow me to write far too much so I’ll let wikipedia say it best….. The vision of Fraggle Rock articulated by Jim Henson was to depict a colourful and fun world. Also a world with a relatively complex system of symbiotic  relationships between different “races” of creatures, an allegory to the human world, where each group was somewhat unaware of how interconnected and important they were to one another. Creating this allegorical world allowed the program to entertain and amuse while seriously exploring complex issues of  prejudice, spirituality, personal identity, environment, and social conflict. Fraggle Rock generally refused to over-simplify any individual issue, instead simply illustrating the consequences and inherent difficulties of different actions and relationships.

28)  Band of Brothers
29) Big Love
30) Carnivale
31) Deadwood
32) From the Earth to the Moon
33) The Hitchiker
34) In Treament
35) Oz
36) Rome
37) Six Feet Under

• Alan Ball’s television masterpiece that many consider to be one of the best dramas ever made for television. The journey of Nate Fisher over 5 seasons invokes every human emotion. HBO gave ball the room to explore some of the most controversial issues including the famed Brenda/Billy semi-incestuous relationship.

38) When the Levees Broke
39) Sports of the 20th century
40) G String Divas
41) From the Earth to the Moon
42) Spawn

• Todd McFarlane’s Spawn is an animated television series which aired on HBO from 1997 through 1999 was nominated for and won an Emmy in 1999 for   Outstanding Animation Program.  The series centered around the story of an ex-serviceman who fought in the Vietnam war as a commando named Al  Simmons. He was betrayed and killed by a man whom he believed to be his close friend. Upon his death, Simmons vowed revenge on Chapel and hoped that he would one day return to his beloved wife Wanda.

43) Taxicab Confessions
44) Dream On
45) The Storyteller
46) Not Necessarily the News
47) The Chris Rock Show
48) Real Time with Bill Maher
49) Generation Kill
50) Tenacious D

Newsarama is reporting that the long gestating Preacher television series has just been canceled. Mark Steven Johnson, best known for directing the Ghost Rider and Daredevil film adaptations announced today that the head of HBO cable network simply thought that the Preacher comic book “was just too dark, too violent, and too controversial.”

The comic book series was optioned by HBO more than two years ago, and very little had been heard from the project since, so for most it’s not a surprise, but still, I’m pretty mad by the news. Yes, Preacher, which revolves around the story of Jesse Custer’s quest to find and kill God is one of the most violent and controversial comic book series, but we’re talking about HBO, who aren’t strangers to neither violence or controversy.

I’m really saddened by this news. Preacher, along with the Song of Ice and Fire series were two of the main reasons I was looking forward to getting HBO. I know that in nerd circles isn’t held in the highest esteem , but I still maintain that Daredevil is one of the better comic book movies(certainly in my personal top five), and in the interviews that he gave, Johnson showed real love for the characters.

Maybe it’s a good thing that Watchmen never went too HBO then…

I’ve watched each episode of The MIddleMan. At first finding it only mildly amusing then later truly enjoying it while laughing at its jokes.  The quick wit and dialogue is similar to that of Pushing Daisies and the story is a Men in Black meets Chuck. That all sounds great but Its easy to turn away from The Middleman for a few issues. The chief issue being  its network. The Middleman seems far too quirky, smart, and fun to have landed on a network mostly known for its reruns of Step by Step. Although ABC Family is an odd network to find this show on, the hope is freedoms of a cable network will be its saviour and the show will continue to be made regardless of ratings.   The other issue is the main actress. From the start I’ve found Natalie Morales to be wooden but I’ve come to think her wooden acting works for the show.  You want her to find the situations interesting but not be so astonished that she isn’t able to fight while making snarky remarks.  Plus her attitude makes her seem less Dr. Who Companion and more Sydney Bristow.  Each episode of The Middle man finds the Middleman and his training replacement Wendy Watson  tracking down a supernatural or otherworldy mysetery to its conclusion. My favorite episode hands down was the recent The Obsolescent Cryogenic Meltdown which included a well used Kevin Sorbo guest star. Its impossible to mention The MiddleMan without mentioning Matt Keeslar who is perfection in his role. I can’t imagine anyone else taking on the role with such charm.  A supporting cast which includes a roomate, boyfriend,  annoying landlord, and mystery friend round out the cast to perfection. If you’re a geek or a just a person looking for a great show to watch on Mondays at 10/9c watch The MiddleMan. I very much doubt you’ll regret it.

When it comes to  True Blood I am 50/50.  I can’t quite decide one way or another if its worth my time. I guess thats really how it should be considering I haven’t actually seen one episode. Alan Ball is a genius and has given me not only one of my favorite tv shows but my favorite movie. The way he deftly intersperses humor, life lessons, and the impossibleness of fantasy is a gift that few writers have. His past and current talents have earned him the cred which encourages you to watch anything he produces even if it sounds….not so good.  Also HBO is known for its amazing creative output. Each year typically securing the highest Emmy nominations while trying everything and leaving nothing to chance, HBO defines great entertainment. HBO gives its writers, actors, and producers a level of creative room unknown to any other channel.  If a show fails you never hear anyone complain “the network gave them issues”.  True Blood details the fictional co-existence of vampires and humans in a small Louisiana town after Japanese-made synthetic blood becomes available for purchase. Yes, I know it does not sound interesting but neither did Buffy the Vampire Slayer and we all know it was amazing. So September 7th my TV will be tuned to HBO and I will be waiting for Alan Ball to make me feel that I’m not watching TV, I’m watching HBO.

For more information on True Blood check out the HBO website which features a comic book, cast interviews and merchandise you’ll want to own before it becomes overly trendy.

Venture Bros. is  a weird show. It started off as a parody of the old Johny Quest show, and since then it’s grown in not only one of Adult Swim’s most popular shows, but also one chock full of mythology that at time almost reaches level of something like Lost.

Season 3 just ended last night(although the final episode has been online since early last week) and episode was a mixed bag.  Details, and a bunch of spoilers after the cut.

continue reading »

Thanks to aintitcool we now have the official dates for the premiere of most of fall’s new and returning tv shows. Lot’s of good stuff, and look forward to articles popping up here with our thoughts of what’s going succeed and what will fail.

The Amazing Race (CBS) Sept. 28
Amazing Wedding Cakes (WE) Sept. 7
America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC) Oct. 5
America’s Most Wanted (Fox) Sept. 6
America’s Next Top Model (CW) Sept. 3
America’s Toughest Jobs (NBC) Aug. 25
American Dad (Fox) Sept. 28
Apprentice U.K. (CNBC) Aug. 25
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? (Fox) Sept. 5
Big Bang Theory (CBS) Sept. 22
Biggest Loser (NBC) Sept. 16
Bones (Fox) Sept. 3
Boston Legal (ABC) Sept. 22
Breaking The Magicians Code (MyNetwork) Oct. 6
Brothers & Sisters (ABC) Sept. 28
Californication (Showtime) Sept. 28
Celebrity Expose (MyNetwork) Oct. 6
Chocolate News (CC) Oct. 15
Chuck (NBC) Sept. 29
Cold Case (CBS) Sept. 28
Comics Without Borders (Showtime) Sept. 11
Cops (Fox) Sept. 6
Crash (Starz) Oct. 17
Criminal Minds (CBS) Sept. 24
Crusoe (NBC) Oct. 17
CSI (CBS) Oct. 9
CSI Miami (CBS) Sept. 22
CSI: NY (CBS) Sept. 24
Dancing With The Stars (ABC) Sept. 22
Dancing With The Stars (ABC) Sept. 23
Deal Or No Deal (NBC) Aug. 25
Desperate Housewives (ABC) Sept. 28
Destination Truth (SciFi) Sept. 3
Dexter (Showtime) Sept. 28
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) Oct. 1
Do Not Disturb (Fox) Sept. 10
Don’t Forget The Lyrics (Fox) Sept. 12
Easy Money (CW) Sept. 21
Eleventh Hour (CBS) Oct. 9
Eli Stone (ABC) Oct. 14
Entourage (HBO) Sept. 7
ER (NBC) Sept. 25
Everybody Hates Chris (CW) Oct. 3
Ex List (CBS) Oct. 3
Extreme Makeover (ABC) Sept. 28
Family Guy (Fox) Sept. 28
48 Hours Mystery (CBS) Sept. 27
Frank TV (TBS) Oct. 21
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV 101) Oct. 1
Fringe (Fox) Sept. 9
Funniest Moments (MyNetwork) Oct. 8
Game (CW) Oct. 3
Gary Unmarried (CBS) Sept. 24
Gavin & Stacey (BBCA) Aug. 26
Ghost Hunters (SciFi) Sept. 3
Ghost Whisperer (CBS) Oct. 3
Gimme My Reality Show (Fox Reality) Oct. 11
Gossip Girl (CW) Sept. 1
Greek (ABC Family) Aug. 26
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) Sept. 25
Grizzly Man Diaries (Animal Planet) Aug. 29
Heroes (NBC) Sept. 22
Hole in the Wall (Fox) Sept. 9
House (Fox) Sept. 16
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) Sept. 22
In Harm’s Way (CW) Sept. 21
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) Sept. 18
Jail (Fox) Sept. 9
Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Oxygen) Aug. 26
John Edward Cross Country (WE) Sept. 6
Kath & Kim (NBC) Oct. 9
King of the Hill (Fox) Sept. 28
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox) Sept. 4
Knight Rider (NBC) Sept. 24
Law & Order (NBC) Sept. 23
Life & Times of Tim (HBO) Sept. 7
Life (NBC) Sept. 29
Life On Mars (ABC) Oct. 9
Lincoln Heights (ABC Family) Sept. 16
Lipstick Jungle (NBC) Sept. 24
Little Britain USA (HBO) Sept. 28
Locater (WE) Sept. 6
MadTV (Fox) Sept. 13
Manswers (Spike) Sept. 17
The Mentalist (CBS) Sept. 23
My Bare Lady (Fox Reality) Nov. 8
My Name Is Earl (NBC) Sept. 25
My Own Worst Enemy (NBC) Oct. 13
My Super Sweet 16: Exile (MTV) Aug. 25
NCIS (CBS) Sept. 23
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) Sept. 24
NextWorld (Discovery) Aug. 27
90210 (CW) Sept. 2
Numb3rs (CBS) Oct. 3
Office (NBC) Sept. 25
One Tree Hill (CW) Sept. 1
Opportunity Knocks (ABC) Sept. 23
Primeval (BBCA) Sept. 20
Prison Break (Fox) Sept. 1
Private Practice (ABC) Oct. 1
Privileged (CW) Sept. 9
Pushing Daisies (ABC) Oct. 1
Rachel Zoe Project (Bravo) Sept. 9
Raising The Bar (TNT) Sept. 1
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO) Aug. 29
Samantha Who? (ABC) Oct. 6
Samurai Girl (ABC Family) Sept. 5
Sanctuary (SciFi) Oct. 3
Sandhogs (History) Sept. 7
Saturday Night Live (NBC) Sept. 13
Scare Tactics (SciFi) Sept. 30
Shield (FX) Sept. 2
Simpsons (Fox) Sept. 28
60 Minutes (CBS) Sept. 28
Smallville (CW) Sept. 18
SNL Weekend Update Thursday (NBC) Oct. 9
Sons of Anarchy (FX) Sept. 3
South Park (CC) Oct. 15
Starter Wife (USA) Oct. 10
Street Patrol (MyNetwork) Sept. 9
Stylista (CW) Oct. 22
Summer Heights High (HBO) Nov. 9
Supernanny (ABC) Oct. 3
Supernatural (CW) Sept. 18
Surviving Suburbia (CW) Nov. 2
Survivor (CBS) Sept. 18
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox) Sept. 8
Testees (FX) Oct. 9
30 Rock (NBC) Oct. 30
Til Death (Fox) Sept. 10
Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style (Bravo) Oct. 2
Tony Rock Project (MyNetwork) Oct. 8
Top Design (Bravo) Sept. 3
True Blood (HBO) Sept. 7
TV Land Myths & Legends (TV Land) Oct. 8
20/20 (ABC) Sept. 19
Two And A Half Men (CBS) Sept. 22
Ugly Betty (ABC) Sept. 25
Ultimate Fighter (Spike) Sept. 17
Under One Roof (MyNetwork) Oct. 8
Unit (CBS) Sept. 28
Valentine (CW) Sept. 21
Wife Swap (ABC) Oct. 3
Without A Trace (CBS) Sept. 23
Worst Week (CBS) Sept. 22
WWE Smackdown (MyNetwork) Oct. 3