tv guide wednesday
Ugh. I started, so I guess I have to finish.
Monday || Tuesday
As always, rate any and all of the shows you've seen.
Wednesday
Time (e.s.t.)
Name
Rating
Your Ratings
8:00p.m.
E-Ring
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
One Tree Hill
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
America's Next Top Model
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
Still Standing
Not yet tallied
8:30p.m.
Yes, Dear
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
George Lopez
Not yet tallied
8:30p.m.
Freddie
Not yet tallied
9:00 - 11:00p.m.
Destination America
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
Lost
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
Criminal Minds
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
Veronica Mars
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
CSI: NY
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Invasion
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Law & Order
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Over There
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
South Park
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Drawn Together
Not yet tallied
E-Ring
I've only seen one episode, but it seems like it has potential. And nothing else is worth watching at 8:00 on Wednesdays, so what do you have to lose?
One Tree Hill
Dawson's Creek, renamed. Not that I've wasted any of my time actually watching the show, but I saw a preview for it one time and that was more than enough. What a waste.
America's Next Top Model
Haven't really seen much of this show, either. I flipped it on once or twice to see whether any of the models were attractive, but was disappointed. Not only are most of them average-looking (or worse), but they're also anorexic as shit (you should only be that skinny if you're short, otherwise it just looks weird), and their personalities don't come close to making up for it. What's so appealing about this show?
Still Standing
Just another shitty sitcom. If you love sitcoms, watch it. If not, don't.
Yes, Dear
Yet another run-of-the-mill sitcom. Absolutely nothing unique about it, except that the main male lead tries to play the sensitive, goofy husband role and ends up looking like an extremely annoying dickhead most of the time.
George Lopez
Is Wednesday "sitcom night" or something? Who watches all of these sitcoms? What's the market for this shit?
Freddie
Alright, I think I have the whole sitcom thing figured out. Basically, networks know that sitcoms (somehow) sell. So they say:
"Hey, let's make another sitcom!!!!! How should we put a unique spin on it?"
-"Well, we could do a sitcom about a working-class family with a lovable bear of a husband and a tough wife."
"Oh, like Everyone Loves Raymond did?"
-"Yeah, exactly."
"Can't, Still Standing has that."
-"How about a sitcom with an annoying bitch, but we make the bitch the husband?"
"Already been done - Yes, Dear."
-"Uhh, we could take a Mexican and name a sitcom after him."
"Nope, George Lopez."
-"Oh. Uhhhhh, oh, how about we get a washed-up teen heart-throb?"
"OOOO, good idea! Wait, they just did that with Joey. Make sure he's an old movie heartthrob, not t.v. Check B-movies for your best bet."
-"I've got it! Freddie!"
Fucking sitcoms. They now have the market saturation that reality shows used to have.
Destination America
A four-part PBS program exploring the immigration of migrants. I've only seen parts of it, but it seems like an exploration of cultures and interesting topics, which is always enlightening. Though, admittedly, it's not one of the most engaging PBS specials.
Lost
I stopped watching this show after the second episode of this season. It's always had a ton of potential in terms of intrigue and suspense, but the writers/network blew it with all of the cliffhangers. The use of them is absolutely ridiculous and makes watching the show on regular television unbearable when factoring in commercials (there's a cliffhanger before every commercial) and week-long episode breaks. Plus, ABC has the all-too-common, annoying network habit of taking long breaks in the middle of seasons or postponing new episodes in favor of airing repeats in order to extend a show's season and make more money. Yeah, that's a great way to treat your base audience.
On the other hand, I have a feeling it'll be a lot of fun to watch the entire series all at once when it's finally run its course and I don't have to worry about waiting week after week to find out what the fuck is going on.
Criminal Minds
I haven't seen CSI or Law & Order, and this is probably a clone, but I've enjoyed it so far. On the upside, I really like some of the characters. On the downside, the "brilliant" stuff that the geniuses of the show say doesn't really seem that brilliant. And every time they're playing chess and the camera briefly glimpses the chessboard (always right before checkmate), the setup of the pieces is implausible. They clearly just throw a bunch of chess pieces on a board and start shooting. Is it really too difficult to take 10 seconds and set up the pieces appropriately? Come on.
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
As far as reality shows go, this isn't the worst one out there. I honestly don't think it's as awful as the general public's consensus suggests, at least in comparison to other reality shows. It came across as a clone of the original Apprentice - no more, no less. I say no less because even though Martha comes across as a douche at times (her tag line "you just don't fit in" and her parting letters are seriously retarded), she still isn't no Donald Trump. Now that guy is a douchebag through-and-through. So if you enjoy reality shows, there isn't much of a reason to avoid this one as fiercely as most people are. And if you don't enjoy reality shows, this is just another one of the flock to rail against.
Veronica Mars
If you haven't watched this show yet, don't bother. It's a stupid teen detective/love drama, although, to its credit, the characters aren't as detestable as those on, say, The O.C. While it has its own vibe, along with some fun moments, it just is what it is. A lot of the show's attempts at being geeky or witty or smart fall short due to a stronger desire to be cool than to be legitimate. And the lead actress is a stuck-up, arrogant, stupid fucking airhead in real life, which is a detriment to her character's fictitious visage. If you are a fan of the show, don't ever watch an interview involving her. You'll regret it.
CSI: NY
Never seen this or any other CSI show. However, from what I hear, it is indeed an uninspired rip-off intended to appease mindless t.v. junkies not satisfied with one new episode and twenty repeats of the same show each week.
Invasion
ABC had a hit with Lost, so clearly the next logical step is to make a new show that mimics its "engaging" storyline development process. To be honest, the plot could have been interesting if it didn't meander so damn much. But because the writers (have probably been instructed to) stick to a slowly-developing plot and meek attempts at cliffhangers, nothing ever happens. They interject subplots into every episode that are typically solved during said episode in order to distract the viewer from the fact that nothing actually happened, but the subplots are lame as hell.
To the show's credit, it isn't completely awful. The production is decent, the acting is actually pretty good (...considering) and they casted two, arguably three, very attractive female actresses, along with what I'm sure many consider to be an attractive male lead. As shallow a "positive" as that may seem, it's actually a fairly important aspect for shows such as this - distract the viewer from the shitty writing with a bunch of hot people. Works like a charm.
Law & Order
Never seen it. I think the reason I've never seen any of these long-running, very popular shows is because I don't like to begin watching a show partway through its existence. Maybe someday I'll buy (download) the first few seasons of some of these shows and see just how good they are.
Over There
This show provokes mixed feelings from me. On one hand, it's a hugely missed opportunity to do in depth studies on war, soldiers, other cultures, and the human condition: it focuses too much on appealing to the MTV generation. On the other hand, it does touch upon each of these topics at times. It's unfortunate that this is the only show that steps outside the physical realm of the United States and at least attempts to portray something new. Definitely viewable, not at all bad, and politically unbiased, but expect cliche moments and some mainstream vibes.
South Park
I'm a sucker for this show. I enjoy cartoons, satire, sarcasm, irony and bouts of stupidity, so there's not much for me to dislike. While cartoons such as The Simpsons and Family Guy often feel repetitive with a new joke thrown in here or there, South Park, thanks to its simple animation, can do whatever it wants without ever seeming confusing, allowing more focus to rest on the jokes. The fact that almost every episode these days concerns important current events is awesome, even if I don't fully agree with how the writers address each topic. South Park is, basically, about making fun of society. And because the characters are more realistic than those in other cartoons, when they act like dumbasses, it's easy to imagine a real person behaving in the same exact manner. The only two drawbacks of the show are: 1.) as with any comedy, the jokes do sometimes fall flat, and 2.) I really don't like the creators. But more on that another time.
Drawn Together
This kind of seems like South Park's Colbert Report. I haven't ever paid much attention to the show, but I haven't ever been inclined to, either. I've seen a few bits here and there, and while some parts certainly were funny, the show's flow kind of sucked.
Monday || Tuesday
As always, rate any and all of the shows you've seen.
Wednesday
Time (e.s.t.)
Name
Rating
Your Ratings
8:00p.m.
E-Ring
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
One Tree Hill
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
America's Next Top Model
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
Still Standing
Not yet tallied
8:30p.m.
Yes, Dear
Not yet tallied
8:00p.m.
George Lopez
Not yet tallied
8:30p.m.
Freddie
Not yet tallied
9:00 - 11:00p.m.
Destination America
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
Lost
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
Criminal Minds
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
Not yet tallied
9:00p.m.
Veronica Mars
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
CSI: NY
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Invasion
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Law & Order
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Over There
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
South Park
Not yet tallied
10:00p.m.
Drawn Together
Not yet tallied
E-Ring
I've only seen one episode, but it seems like it has potential. And nothing else is worth watching at 8:00 on Wednesdays, so what do you have to lose?
One Tree Hill
Dawson's Creek, renamed. Not that I've wasted any of my time actually watching the show, but I saw a preview for it one time and that was more than enough. What a waste.
America's Next Top Model
Haven't really seen much of this show, either. I flipped it on once or twice to see whether any of the models were attractive, but was disappointed. Not only are most of them average-looking (or worse), but they're also anorexic as shit (you should only be that skinny if you're short, otherwise it just looks weird), and their personalities don't come close to making up for it. What's so appealing about this show?
Still Standing
Just another shitty sitcom. If you love sitcoms, watch it. If not, don't.
Yes, Dear
Yet another run-of-the-mill sitcom. Absolutely nothing unique about it, except that the main male lead tries to play the sensitive, goofy husband role and ends up looking like an extremely annoying dickhead most of the time.
George Lopez
Is Wednesday "sitcom night" or something? Who watches all of these sitcoms? What's the market for this shit?
Freddie
Alright, I think I have the whole sitcom thing figured out. Basically, networks know that sitcoms (somehow) sell. So they say:
"Hey, let's make another sitcom!!!!! How should we put a unique spin on it?"
-"Well, we could do a sitcom about a working-class family with a lovable bear of a husband and a tough wife."
"Oh, like Everyone Loves Raymond did?"
-"Yeah, exactly."
"Can't, Still Standing has that."
-"How about a sitcom with an annoying bitch, but we make the bitch the husband?"
"Already been done - Yes, Dear."
-"Uhh, we could take a Mexican and name a sitcom after him."
"Nope, George Lopez."
-"Oh. Uhhhhh, oh, how about we get a washed-up teen heart-throb?"
"OOOO, good idea! Wait, they just did that with Joey. Make sure he's an old movie heartthrob, not t.v. Check B-movies for your best bet."
-"I've got it! Freddie!"
Fucking sitcoms. They now have the market saturation that reality shows used to have.
Destination America
A four-part PBS program exploring the immigration of migrants. I've only seen parts of it, but it seems like an exploration of cultures and interesting topics, which is always enlightening. Though, admittedly, it's not one of the most engaging PBS specials.
Lost
I stopped watching this show after the second episode of this season. It's always had a ton of potential in terms of intrigue and suspense, but the writers/network blew it with all of the cliffhangers. The use of them is absolutely ridiculous and makes watching the show on regular television unbearable when factoring in commercials (there's a cliffhanger before every commercial) and week-long episode breaks. Plus, ABC has the all-too-common, annoying network habit of taking long breaks in the middle of seasons or postponing new episodes in favor of airing repeats in order to extend a show's season and make more money. Yeah, that's a great way to treat your base audience.
On the other hand, I have a feeling it'll be a lot of fun to watch the entire series all at once when it's finally run its course and I don't have to worry about waiting week after week to find out what the fuck is going on.
Criminal Minds
I haven't seen CSI or Law & Order, and this is probably a clone, but I've enjoyed it so far. On the upside, I really like some of the characters. On the downside, the "brilliant" stuff that the geniuses of the show say doesn't really seem that brilliant. And every time they're playing chess and the camera briefly glimpses the chessboard (always right before checkmate), the setup of the pieces is implausible. They clearly just throw a bunch of chess pieces on a board and start shooting. Is it really too difficult to take 10 seconds and set up the pieces appropriately? Come on.
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
As far as reality shows go, this isn't the worst one out there. I honestly don't think it's as awful as the general public's consensus suggests, at least in comparison to other reality shows. It came across as a clone of the original Apprentice - no more, no less. I say no less because even though Martha comes across as a douche at times (her tag line "you just don't fit in" and her parting letters are seriously retarded), she still isn't no Donald Trump. Now that guy is a douchebag through-and-through. So if you enjoy reality shows, there isn't much of a reason to avoid this one as fiercely as most people are. And if you don't enjoy reality shows, this is just another one of the flock to rail against.
Veronica Mars
If you haven't watched this show yet, don't bother. It's a stupid teen detective/love drama, although, to its credit, the characters aren't as detestable as those on, say, The O.C. While it has its own vibe, along with some fun moments, it just is what it is. A lot of the show's attempts at being geeky or witty or smart fall short due to a stronger desire to be cool than to be legitimate. And the lead actress is a stuck-up, arrogant, stupid fucking airhead in real life, which is a detriment to her character's fictitious visage. If you are a fan of the show, don't ever watch an interview involving her. You'll regret it.
CSI: NY
Never seen this or any other CSI show. However, from what I hear, it is indeed an uninspired rip-off intended to appease mindless t.v. junkies not satisfied with one new episode and twenty repeats of the same show each week.
Invasion
ABC had a hit with Lost, so clearly the next logical step is to make a new show that mimics its "engaging" storyline development process. To be honest, the plot could have been interesting if it didn't meander so damn much. But because the writers (have probably been instructed to) stick to a slowly-developing plot and meek attempts at cliffhangers, nothing ever happens. They interject subplots into every episode that are typically solved during said episode in order to distract the viewer from the fact that nothing actually happened, but the subplots are lame as hell.
To the show's credit, it isn't completely awful. The production is decent, the acting is actually pretty good (...considering) and they casted two, arguably three, very attractive female actresses, along with what I'm sure many consider to be an attractive male lead. As shallow a "positive" as that may seem, it's actually a fairly important aspect for shows such as this - distract the viewer from the shitty writing with a bunch of hot people. Works like a charm.
Law & Order
Never seen it. I think the reason I've never seen any of these long-running, very popular shows is because I don't like to begin watching a show partway through its existence. Maybe someday I'll buy (download) the first few seasons of some of these shows and see just how good they are.
Over There
This show provokes mixed feelings from me. On one hand, it's a hugely missed opportunity to do in depth studies on war, soldiers, other cultures, and the human condition: it focuses too much on appealing to the MTV generation. On the other hand, it does touch upon each of these topics at times. It's unfortunate that this is the only show that steps outside the physical realm of the United States and at least attempts to portray something new. Definitely viewable, not at all bad, and politically unbiased, but expect cliche moments and some mainstream vibes.
South Park
I'm a sucker for this show. I enjoy cartoons, satire, sarcasm, irony and bouts of stupidity, so there's not much for me to dislike. While cartoons such as The Simpsons and Family Guy often feel repetitive with a new joke thrown in here or there, South Park, thanks to its simple animation, can do whatever it wants without ever seeming confusing, allowing more focus to rest on the jokes. The fact that almost every episode these days concerns important current events is awesome, even if I don't fully agree with how the writers address each topic. South Park is, basically, about making fun of society. And because the characters are more realistic than those in other cartoons, when they act like dumbasses, it's easy to imagine a real person behaving in the same exact manner. The only two drawbacks of the show are: 1.) as with any comedy, the jokes do sometimes fall flat, and 2.) I really don't like the creators. But more on that another time.
Drawn Together
This kind of seems like South Park's Colbert Report. I haven't ever paid much attention to the show, but I haven't ever been inclined to, either. I've seen a few bits here and there, and while some parts certainly were funny, the show's flow kind of sucked.