I keep hearing that TV is terrible. Or TV is dead. Or “I don’t have cable”. Or “I don’t even own a TV and I’m proud of myself”.
Hmmm, if you’re one of ‘those’ people, you probably don’t need to read this. You can go ‘read your books’ or ‘get outside’ or ‘see the world’ or ‘rock a concert’ or whatever it is you do without a TV. Have fun, I’ll do those things right along with you, and yet I happen to think TV can be fabulous. Don’t own a TV? Sorry, no soup for you! One year!
Now let’s be clear. It’s not all rosy. There is a considerable amount of crap on TV. More then considerable. There are rather epic amounts of stinky, pointless mind-numbing dreck. There are also too many options. No one (still sane) has the time to watch everything. Plus why? It’s not worth it.
On the other hand, there are more excellent shows available now with richer characters, smarter writing, more compelling and deeper plots, and finer acting than most of what’s on offer in movie theaters these days. Many serialized dramas are brilliant. Many sitcoms are hi-lar-ious. Can’t get to Italy this week? The Travel Channel and Anthony Bourdain will get you warmed up. Can’t afford those $1000 tickets to the game? No problem, ESPN’s vast armada of sports channels will overstimulate you and save your wallet. Ravenously hungry and like to be teased? The Food Network will dangle goodies right in front of your salivating face. Need an explosive belly laugh? Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are ready to stage dive onto your lap each night. Just want to catch up on Seinfeld? Jerry is on almost every channel, or you can rent/buy/steal the DVDs. Etcetera, etcetera, the list goes on.
After all that build up, here are a few new shows I’ve been watching (and enjoying) this year.
Community (NBC) – absurdity, wit, Spanish class, too small gym shorts, Señor Chang, an ass whopping by grandma, pottery class, smartassery, and Chevy Chase. A fool-proof combination.
Caprica (Syfy Channel) – with Battlestar Galactica having run its course (frack!), what better way to overcome the gaping hole in your soul, then a prequel? Set 50 years before the events of BG, this soap opera tells of the origin of the Cylons, William Adama as a boy, an immersive virtual reality world, the mob, corporate greed, terrorism, living in what appears to be the 1950’s (with spaceships and bowler hats), and much more.
Stargate Universe (Syfy Channel) – I never watched any of the other Stargate shows, but this one has a similar construct to Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: Voyager, so I thought I’d give it a look. And it has Lou Diamond Phillips scamming on ex-wives and Robert Carlyle leading a mutiny. Not bad.
FlashForward (ABC) – It has an interesting premise, that I’m still not sure can sustain multiple seasons, but the acting is pretty good and the story line is interesting so far. We’ll see how it all plays out.
V (ABC) – For anyone that watched the original TV mini-series in the 80’s (and enjoyed watching Diana eat that hamster)…checking out this updated version is a no-brainer. So far, it’s been good and has potential. Although some of the acting sequences aren’t completely brilliant, it works.
Other new shows I want to check out: Modern Family and The Pacific
What is the lesson for today kids? Be selective, be smart, and most all enjoy yourself.
P.S. I do not condone hanging out with MTV’s Jersey Shore. Nor should you under any circumstance be Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
P.P.S. I love being right about TV: ‘Modern TV shows like “The Sopranos”, “The West Wing”, “Mad Men” and “Modern Family” are so superior to what went before—so much better written, better acted and better shot—that they almost seem to belong to a different medium.” – The Economist
http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15980859&source=hptextfeature
A Random Journey 