What happens when I don't have cable?
What with “Heroes” airing last night, my 2006-2007 television season is all scheduled. Starting last year, I tried to get back into network television watching after years of almost pure cable, but was stymied by my retail job. Now, I’ve got myself a regular 9 to 5, which while not the most stable in the universe, at least allows me my nights. Finally, I will have another small talk topic other than movies and books. Maybe next year I’ll try to get back into music, though I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Warning: Spoilers under all the cuts.
Monday
Heroes: Yeah, superheroes. There’s no surprise that I would be watching this show. As far as the genre goes, well, there’s nothing that DC and Marvel between them haven’t done, but new characters can make old situations more interesting. We have the beginnings of a crisis, what with a maybe murdered Indian geneticist and a vision of destruction in New York.
There are some pretty good characters. I like the Japanese guy who teleports (named Hiro; yes, you’re so damn clever) because he’s funny, and the invulnerable cheerleader who is still coping with the idea. Guy who may or may not be able to fly will have to grow on me, as will his brother who can fly, because I kind of want to smack them both at this point (though for different reasons). I suspect the son of the Indian geneticist will bring all these people together soon. Though, I have to say about the lady with the violent reflection: that may not be superpowers; it may just be psychosis.
There is still plenty of room for unintentional comedy, however, especially surrounding our mysterious bad guy who will hopefully pick up a motive in the next episode, as the announcer has promised us that, “Evil has a face, and some tacky horn rimed glasses.”
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: This one may be my favorite of the bunch. It’s a “behind the scenes” drama, like “West Wing,” but it’s also got a bit of subtle comedy, which I really like. Of course, a show about the making of an SNL-type show without comedy would be really disappointing. I really appreciate that they don’t show much of the show-with-in-a-show “Studio 60,” however, because I feel that no matter what they did, it wouldn’t be funny enough for the 35 minutes buildup. The Gilbert and Sullivan parody wasn’t as great as it was made to be, for example. The best line was the one from the planning scene; the rest of the song seemed like filler. The best part of these shows still the bustling activity behind the inner workings of a job that is far more interesting than your own.
The cast is good, and has the benefit of being large and talented. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford have surprisingly good chemistry, and it becomes increasingly clear that Chandler was Perry, not that Perry is Chandler. I’m glad Amanda Peet is back in business, even if her eyes are threatening to devour my soul. D.L. Hughley and Sarah Paulson are actors on the sketch show, and Steven Weber is the antagonist who will be won over, along with his incredibly long face, in a couple of seasons.
Tuesday
Standoff: As at least one of my new shows must be cancelled each year, I predict this will be the one that gets cut off midseason (last year it was “Reunion,” which was annoying because there’s absolutely no point to half a series told in flashbacks). Seeing as I am only watching it to support Ron Livingston and Gina Torres, and not for scintillating storylines, it won’t be the most disappointing loss. Despite some occasionally witty banter, I think the hostage negotiation tactics illustrated each week will start to run a little thin, unless there is a major plot arc installed soon. And not the silly romantic difficulties of the leads, either. That won’t hold out for an entire season. Plus, there’s the problem of the show being on at the same time as “Veronica Mars.” I don’t which one I’ll tape yet, but it’ll probably be this one, even though I know it needs the viewers more.
Veronica Mars
Wednesday
Jericho: This show has potential in the positive sense, but it also has the potential to end up hilariously bad. The premise of a small Kansas town caught in the uncertainty of a nuclear war that has decimated major population centers (Denver and Atlanta, as of the first episode) is certainly attention getting, and seems novel, if nothing else. There’s a lot of room to explore the balance of small town American concerns with national catastrophe, and how ordinary people cope.
But then, there’s the execution. These ordinary people could just end up ordinary TV people, which is not quite as novel. Start with Mysterious Past Prodigal Son With No Neck Skeet Ulrich, whom I swear was hot when I was in high school (right? Am I remembering this wrong?). Okay, one character with a shady past that will be gradually be revealed to be not as horrible as everyone thinks it is. But he’s surrounded by cardboard cutouts. There’s Slightly Wacky Old Best Friend; Former Love Interest; Potential Love Interest; Unbelieving Daddy and Brother; Supportive Mom; Outcast with Untapped Potential; and Balding Antagonist Who Has Not Yet Realized the Enormity of the Situation, But Will Later Be Instrumental In Saving the Town, Or Else Will Die. Also, looking at next week’s trailer, I think the show may be rushing into the deadly action too quickly. There’s barely been time to build the psychological dread, and we’re already getting to the explicit danger. And we’ve already had escaped prisoners and a busload of endangered children in the pilot!
Still, I’ll keep watching. If it ends up good, it will be really good; if it ends up bad, at least it will be funny.
Thursday
Supernatural
Shark: I like James Wood. I like James Wood snarking it up with Jeri Ryan, an assorted cast of young lawyers, various scoundrels and ne’er-do-wells on trial, and inanimate objects. I like lawyer dramas, because unlike medical dramas, I can actually watch the entire show without all the blood rushing out of my extremities. Is it a “House” clone? Is it a “True Believer” take-off? Is the preternaturally wise teenager going to drive the unnatural character development, and my patience, straight up a wall? Maybe, maybe, maybe. But, I like James Wood.
Warning: Spoilers under all the cuts.
Monday
Heroes: Yeah, superheroes. There’s no surprise that I would be watching this show. As far as the genre goes, well, there’s nothing that DC and Marvel between them haven’t done, but new characters can make old situations more interesting. We have the beginnings of a crisis, what with a maybe murdered Indian geneticist and a vision of destruction in New York.
There are some pretty good characters. I like the Japanese guy who teleports (named Hiro; yes, you’re so damn clever) because he’s funny, and the invulnerable cheerleader who is still coping with the idea. Guy who may or may not be able to fly will have to grow on me, as will his brother who can fly, because I kind of want to smack them both at this point (though for different reasons). I suspect the son of the Indian geneticist will bring all these people together soon. Though, I have to say about the lady with the violent reflection: that may not be superpowers; it may just be psychosis.
There is still plenty of room for unintentional comedy, however, especially surrounding our mysterious bad guy who will hopefully pick up a motive in the next episode, as the announcer has promised us that, “Evil has a face, and some tacky horn rimed glasses.”
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: This one may be my favorite of the bunch. It’s a “behind the scenes” drama, like “West Wing,” but it’s also got a bit of subtle comedy, which I really like. Of course, a show about the making of an SNL-type show without comedy would be really disappointing. I really appreciate that they don’t show much of the show-with-in-a-show “Studio 60,” however, because I feel that no matter what they did, it wouldn’t be funny enough for the 35 minutes buildup. The Gilbert and Sullivan parody wasn’t as great as it was made to be, for example. The best line was the one from the planning scene; the rest of the song seemed like filler. The best part of these shows still the bustling activity behind the inner workings of a job that is far more interesting than your own.
The cast is good, and has the benefit of being large and talented. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford have surprisingly good chemistry, and it becomes increasingly clear that Chandler was Perry, not that Perry is Chandler. I’m glad Amanda Peet is back in business, even if her eyes are threatening to devour my soul. D.L. Hughley and Sarah Paulson are actors on the sketch show, and Steven Weber is the antagonist who will be won over, along with his incredibly long face, in a couple of seasons.
Tuesday
Standoff: As at least one of my new shows must be cancelled each year, I predict this will be the one that gets cut off midseason (last year it was “Reunion,” which was annoying because there’s absolutely no point to half a series told in flashbacks). Seeing as I am only watching it to support Ron Livingston and Gina Torres, and not for scintillating storylines, it won’t be the most disappointing loss. Despite some occasionally witty banter, I think the hostage negotiation tactics illustrated each week will start to run a little thin, unless there is a major plot arc installed soon. And not the silly romantic difficulties of the leads, either. That won’t hold out for an entire season. Plus, there’s the problem of the show being on at the same time as “Veronica Mars.” I don’t which one I’ll tape yet, but it’ll probably be this one, even though I know it needs the viewers more.
Veronica Mars
Wednesday
Jericho: This show has potential in the positive sense, but it also has the potential to end up hilariously bad. The premise of a small Kansas town caught in the uncertainty of a nuclear war that has decimated major population centers (Denver and Atlanta, as of the first episode) is certainly attention getting, and seems novel, if nothing else. There’s a lot of room to explore the balance of small town American concerns with national catastrophe, and how ordinary people cope.
But then, there’s the execution. These ordinary people could just end up ordinary TV people, which is not quite as novel. Start with Mysterious Past Prodigal Son With No Neck Skeet Ulrich, whom I swear was hot when I was in high school (right? Am I remembering this wrong?). Okay, one character with a shady past that will be gradually be revealed to be not as horrible as everyone thinks it is. But he’s surrounded by cardboard cutouts. There’s Slightly Wacky Old Best Friend; Former Love Interest; Potential Love Interest; Unbelieving Daddy and Brother; Supportive Mom; Outcast with Untapped Potential; and Balding Antagonist Who Has Not Yet Realized the Enormity of the Situation, But Will Later Be Instrumental In Saving the Town, Or Else Will Die. Also, looking at next week’s trailer, I think the show may be rushing into the deadly action too quickly. There’s barely been time to build the psychological dread, and we’re already getting to the explicit danger. And we’ve already had escaped prisoners and a busload of endangered children in the pilot!
Still, I’ll keep watching. If it ends up good, it will be really good; if it ends up bad, at least it will be funny.
Thursday
Supernatural
Shark: I like James Wood. I like James Wood snarking it up with Jeri Ryan, an assorted cast of young lawyers, various scoundrels and ne’er-do-wells on trial, and inanimate objects. I like lawyer dramas, because unlike medical dramas, I can actually watch the entire show without all the blood rushing out of my extremities. Is it a “House” clone? Is it a “True Believer” take-off? Is the preternaturally wise teenager going to drive the unnatural character development, and my patience, straight up a wall? Maybe, maybe, maybe. But, I like James Wood.