Wherein I Hate on Fall 2007 TV
So, when it's all said and done, I have formed no new TV relationship with any of the autumn offerings. Luckily, there has been much in the way of sports to keep me occupied (college football being the nervous mess of upsets that it is and Grady Sizemore being the cutie that he is) but I suspect that might've been part of the problem.
(Couldn't resist-LOOK at that smile)
Sports are exciting. You've got team loyalty, you've got suspense, you've got people fighting for something. This crop of Fall programs? Not so much. Like easy-listening for the eyes. Tried to get into Chuck for Mr. Baldwin's sake but the technical foundation is so weak that there's no real excitement, no gambit on which to build: everything's gonna be all right because nothing is risked. Tried Reaper, but it is actually the exact same show (right down to keeping the budget down by setting all the action at a gargantuan chain retailer) and without Baldwin. Good-natured but, like that teddy bear friend who tries to make out with you when he's drunk, ultimately not interesting enough to keep you on the couch.
And I hated Pushing Daisies. The sister walked out, unable to watch. I'm really weirded out that everyone outside my family seems to like it so much. I felt like the whole thing was some dead-eyed Amelie blow-up doll, stylized to the point of losing all humanity and there for pleasant masturbation. I suppose I could excuse the project as boring if they hadn't actually made an Amelie blow-up doll our star female protagonist. It's... It makes me speechless how everyone can accept her. She's a plaything. It's not even subtle. The tone of the show is peppy and cavity-sweet, but for God's sake. The recluse "hero" selfishly brings her back to life after 10 years of obsessing over her and she happily falls into his life and into love with him and is all harmlessly cute and spunky and DEAD IN THE EYES OMG.
...But it's not worth getting all worked up over it. It's another low-impact show, in the end, like Chuck or Reaper. The over-stylization and dominating narration override whatever weak characterization there might have been and it all feels the same. How can they expect me to build a bond with any of the characters in these shows-any of these shows-if they go out of their way to make the experience so easy there's nothing in which to invest emotionally?
TV trends are weird. Networks compete to the best at the exact same thing. I guess I can only expect something different from the same place they serve up my beloved sex and violence: Oh, Cable, I treasure you.
P.S. Is it just me, or is the "SPN" designation for Supernatural confusing? I always, always think Sports Night first (although I do hear that Supernatural actually manages to be... gayer. um. even slashier?). The abbreviation would make just as much sense.... How do they abbreviate Sports Night, in fandom, then?
(Couldn't resist-LOOK at that smile)
Sports are exciting. You've got team loyalty, you've got suspense, you've got people fighting for something. This crop of Fall programs? Not so much. Like easy-listening for the eyes. Tried to get into Chuck for Mr. Baldwin's sake but the technical foundation is so weak that there's no real excitement, no gambit on which to build: everything's gonna be all right because nothing is risked. Tried Reaper, but it is actually the exact same show (right down to keeping the budget down by setting all the action at a gargantuan chain retailer) and without Baldwin. Good-natured but, like that teddy bear friend who tries to make out with you when he's drunk, ultimately not interesting enough to keep you on the couch.
And I hated Pushing Daisies. The sister walked out, unable to watch. I'm really weirded out that everyone outside my family seems to like it so much. I felt like the whole thing was some dead-eyed Amelie blow-up doll, stylized to the point of losing all humanity and there for pleasant masturbation. I suppose I could excuse the project as boring if they hadn't actually made an Amelie blow-up doll our star female protagonist. It's... It makes me speechless how everyone can accept her. She's a plaything. It's not even subtle. The tone of the show is peppy and cavity-sweet, but for God's sake. The recluse "hero" selfishly brings her back to life after 10 years of obsessing over her and she happily falls into his life and into love with him and is all harmlessly cute and spunky and DEAD IN THE EYES OMG.
...But it's not worth getting all worked up over it. It's another low-impact show, in the end, like Chuck or Reaper. The over-stylization and dominating narration override whatever weak characterization there might have been and it all feels the same. How can they expect me to build a bond with any of the characters in these shows-any of these shows-if they go out of their way to make the experience so easy there's nothing in which to invest emotionally?
TV trends are weird. Networks compete to the best at the exact same thing. I guess I can only expect something different from the same place they serve up my beloved sex and violence: Oh, Cable, I treasure you.
P.S. Is it just me, or is the "SPN" designation for Supernatural confusing? I always, always think Sports Night first (although I do hear that Supernatural actually manages to be... gayer. um. even slashier?). The abbreviation would make just as much sense.... How do they abbreviate Sports Night, in fandom, then?