The future of TV is... comics?!? Part I

Okay, so several months ago I was asked to review something and I kept putting it off and putting it off. Over those months I kept thinking about it, mentally writing it but never putting pen to paper (so to speak), but about two weeks ago a new thought occurred to me. There may be more to the story than a simply review, so here it goes....

Over the last half-century we have witnessed the growth of the media entertainment industry as it borrows and sometimes steals out-right from other sources entertainment, especially books and comic books. Now, for much of this last half century comics have been relegated to childish fantasy (Chabon's Kavalier & Clay portrays this quite well, not to mention it is a wonderful novel in and of itself that all should read). Sure we had movie and TV adaptations of Superman, Batman, Spider-man and The Hulk but I'm not sure anyone could claim that those movies and shows ever truly took the source material serious.

Then something changed in the comic industry with the advent and rise of the graphic novel (btw: this history of the comics is incomplete, so please forgive me), in particular the work of Frank Miller. However, by in-large that remained outside the general public consciousness. With Tim Burton's Batman and the later Batman animated television, people got a feel for some of the changes in the comic industry.
But in the 90s something else happened. Following the demise of shows like and the rise in Star Trek: TNG and the rise in Star Wars books and toys, suddenly comics became a new medium for new stories. Just like the novels for these two franchises, the stories were sanctioned by Paramount and Lucas but not written by the scribes of the shows or by Lucas himself.

Then about a decade ago, J. Michael Straczynscki had all but given up on TV. B5 and its telemovies and spinoffs were not great hits. Sure, he was well-loved by his fans, but I can honestly say that apart from myself and a few of my nerd friends few people had heard of him (even now after having a screenplay turned into a movie by Clint Eastwood I bet many have not yet heard of him). JMS had written several comics before this time, including a couple B5 ones, but rather than working occassionaly in comics while writing for TV he turned his attention to comics full-time and signed a contract with Marvel and started writing Amazing Spider-man. I am a comic fan but I've never been a big one. Sure, I bought some of the issues when Todd Macfarlane was working on it, but I got hooked by JMS's take on Spider-man. After Spider-man he has gone on to write Fantastic Four and most recently Thor. And now, like many comic scribes he finds himself writing for DC.
I'm not sure he was the first, but after JMS suddenly comics became a hot place and comic execs actively sought big names in Hollywood to start writing for them. Kevin Smith worked for DC on a Green Arrow mini-series and wrote the first arc of a Daredevil relaunch (a. Smith's work was nothing short of brilliant but is all but forgotten because of the amazing talent that followed, and b. it's not surprising Smith was asked given how everyone knows he owns a comic store).

In my opinion though it was Joss Whedon that really started an amazing cross-polonization. While working on Buffy Joss had pulled together and co-wrote a couple of limited series books based in the Buffy universe: Tales of the Slayers and Tales of the Vampire (I never read the former but the latter was brilliant). In the meantime, the tradition of stories being told in print continued with a Buffy comic. But it was when Whedon decided to write a limited series story set in the Buffy-verse, several hundred year in the future that things really changed. Titled Fray it was the story of the future of the slayers and it was brilliant. Whedon nearly returned full-circle with his female protagonist (Kitty Pryde of X-Men comics to Buffy of movie/TV to Fray of comics). In Fray we also caught sight of a certain scythe that would find its way into season 7 of the show. With Firefly over, Buffy ending soon and the end of Angel around the corner, Joss was approached by Marvel to see if he might be interesting in writing for them. And in 2004, we had Joss writing Astonishing X-Men. It was immediately heralded as one of the best comics of the year, and the storyline directly inspired elements of the third X-Men movie.
By now the flood-gates were open with scribes from Lost and The O.C. joining the ranks of writers going comics. Comics even started to pull from the literary world, with Orson Scott Card eventually writing a couple limited series books about Iron Man.

The real change in the industry happened 2-3 years ago. Heroes appeared on the air and I was an instant fan. I was shocked at first to learn that the creator was not a comic book person. But I was comforted by the familiar presence of a name, a comic book scribe of great reknown who was an executive produce: Jeph Loeb. And I was further comforted and impressed when he also had some writing credits. Of course I was dismayed to the extreme when NBC accounced he had been let go because of the poor ratings. I only hope that this show, which is an homage (and sometimes a rip-off) of great comics like Watchmen, Rising Stars and X-Men doesn't completely lose its grounding. The presence of Loeb's name signaled a change as more comic scribes entered the television world. By now we had seen Frank Miller directing movies, but that felt more like a fluke than a change. I knew something had changed while watching Lost and finding another comic scribe name show up, first with a writing credit and later as a producer: Brian K. Vaughn (who has happened to write some of my favorite Lost episodes not the least because they focused on Desmond).
I can't name any further names but I know more shows are open to the idea of hiring comic scribes. Comics are not just for kids; there are some amazing writers out there who are gain traction in the entertainment industry. And comics themselves are gaining noteriety and popularity. When Captain America was killed in an issue, it was talked about for weeks and features on CNN and in the New York Times. I hadn't even made it to the comic book store and was told about this tragedy by my wife. The author of this issue, Ed Brubaker, had been doing some great stuff and is getting noticed by people like John Singleton.
However, there is one more change that is occurring in the entertainment industry. But that'll keep for Part II.

Something to look forward to on the weekend...other than just looking forward to the weekend in general.

Believe it or not, there are actually some interesting things happening on television this weekend. And so you don’t forget any of them (like I did the Damages premiere last night, d’oh!), I’ve arranged them for you in no particular order. Actually, they are in broadcast order, so whatever.

Neil Patrick Harris on Saturday Night Live (Saturday night, 11:30pm, NBC). I think the NBC studios might implode from containing the awesomeness that is NPH. Especially if he sings something. OMG, what if they do a sketch where he plays Dr. Horrible?!?!

The Story of India, Part 2 (Sunday night, PBS, check PBS.com for your affiliate’s show time). I know it’s hard to imagine compressing the history of an entire country into a mini-series, but this one is beautiful to look at and interesting to watch. And at least it’s a 6 part mini-series, so it’s not like their being chintzy.

24 (Sunday, 8:00pm, FOX). I know this is like the twentieth season premiere of 24 or whatever, but would you believe I have never watched the show? Despite being strangely attracted to Keifer Sutherland.

The 66^th Golden Globes Awards (Sunday, 8:00pm, NBC). Let’s all watch and see what other boring and mediocre shows get awards! Hey, maybe someone’s boob will fall out of their gown or something. Bright side!

Who are these "People"?

For those who are unaware (almost everyone) last night was the first in a slew if of award shows. The winners can be found here. I have a HUGE amount of criticism towards the television winners.

I support all things House, which took home the "Favorite TV DRAMA" award and the "Favorite MALE TV STAR." However, almost every other winner is utterly ridiculous. My first issue lies with Heroes winning "Favorite Sci Fi" show. Why are we congratulating a job POORLY done? This season has been universally awful (as I previously posted) so WHY give them awards? I would have much rather former Mighty Ducks star Josh Jackson get some recognition for The Fringe.

In addition, The Mentalist, a blatant rip off of Psych on USA won "Favorite NEW TV DRAMA." As it stands, I know no one who watches this show. Same thing applies to Gary Unmarried (though I am a huge Jay Mohr fan) which won "Favorite NEW TV COMEDY." Though the other nominees in the category are just as bad, especially Kath & Kim. I would have nominated the Life and Times of TIM!

I have more issues, however, I will wait until REAL awards shows post their winners....expect another rant from me!

"I've become deeply superficial, haven't I?"

Last night, I watched my very first episode of Nip/Tuck. And, um... wow. Just. Wow. They definitely earned that MA rating.


Language: Apparently, you can say several four letter words on FX. Good taste prevents me from reproducing them here, but they dropped everything short of the F-bomb. Which, I dunno, they could be saving for sweeps week.

Violence: Beyond the typical gore associated with cutting people open and messing with their insides, this episode featured someone being violently stabbed. We're talking about a man coughing up, and lying in a pool of, his own blood.

Sexual Content: The protagonists pick up a couple of floozies and have Just Shy of Porno sex with them. It boggles the mind that you can't show a nipple on TV, but you can show a boob being clutched in some dude's hand hard enough to leave a bruise. I'm just sayin'.

Many shows on television are designed to link violence (danger, pain, blood) with sexual appeal, in order to best excite and disgust their audiences. Few shows do it as well as Nip/Tuck. The visual effects, all naked bodies and medical procedures, are absolutely stunning. At the end of the episode, you are left with a sense of vulnerability - even the show's tagline, "What don't you like about yourself?" takes on a whole new meaning.

But cinematography alone would not be enough for me to tolerate Nip/Tuck's utterly unsympathetic anti-heroes. Toss in some Adhir Kalyan, on the other hand, and you've got yourself a deal. That's right! Everyone's favorite Alien in America is back in the recurring role of Dr. Raj (how bloody original).

So very pretty ... I know where I'll be Tuesdays at 10pm.

Secret Boyfriend of the Week: Ben Bailey

While winter hiatus is often difficult, (waiting for my favorite shows to air new episodes is such a drag) it does give me the chance to catch up with television programs that often get shoved to the side in favor of more flashy prime time offerings.

One such show is Discovery Channel's Cash Cab. In case you've never seen it, Wikipedia describes it as a reality game show where passengers in a specially designated taxi cab are offered the chance to win money by correctly answering a series of trivia questions on the way to their destination. Wikipedia also provides a helpful link for "taxi cab" in case you are a complete idiot who has internet access but does not know anything about taxi cabs. *eye roll*

In any event, the man who keeps the Cash Cab going (literally) is comedian Ben Bailey. He's cute, he's funny, and most importantly, he can multi-task the shit out of anything.

Think about it. He has to navigate a cab through Manhattan traffic, and at the same time host a game show. He drives the cab while receiving trivia questions from producers through an ear piece, asks contestants the questions, and then cracks wise about their responses. But in a polite way, of course. He's a nice guy.

And if he can do all that with a cab imagine what he can do....no, let's not go there.

Anyway, congrats, Ben Bailey! This Secret Boyfriend of the Week goes out to you!

And look at those arms! Rowr.

The 11th Doctor *spoiler warning*

The new Doctor has dumb hair.

See? Dumb.

Other than that, I don't really have anything else to add. I'm sure they will cut his hair when he begins filming, and if he's good enough for Steven Moffat, he's good enough for me! While I'm sad for David Tennant to leave, I'm excited to have a new take on the Doctor, and I kind of feel that 10's story has just about come to an end.

Here's some more info about the new guy, if you're interested.

Another happy convert

Whitney (fellow tv slut) and I were chatting about how we really didn't have anything to post on the blog lately since nothing much had been going on on television. We're halfway through the winter hiatus and twiddling our thumbs waiting for beloved shows to return (Battlestar Galactica, Lost) and for new ones to start (Dollhouse, Castle, Kings).

To pass the time this Saturday night, we hunkered down with Firefly. Whitney had only seen the movie, Serenity, and her husband had never seen any of it. After the 2 hour pilot and the first hour episode, I'm hoping they are hooked. After all, they went home with the series and seemed excited about watching it. And so I'm walking around with the blush of one who has converted someone to the joys of a loved tv show.

I don't know about you guys, but when I find something I really like, be it a television show, a book, etc., I feel the need to inform as many people as possible and convince them that they will like it too. I'm not really sure why I feel the need to do this; I hope it's because I just want to spread the happiness and it's not borne of some deep-rooted insecurity (other people have to agree it's awesome for me to think I have good taste!), but in the end, it doesn't really matter. It feels good when you turn someone onto something you really like.

So she and her husband walked off into the night, fresh converts to the world of Firefly. I'm hoping to get them into Wonderfalls next, and then who knows? She did ask about The Vicar of Dibley.....*cue evil maniacal laughter*

Don't get too close, or I might get you addicted to Twilight! 5 people and counting! Seriously. 5 people.

Happy New Year!

As we bid farewell to 2008 (which for personal reasons I cannot wait to see the tail end of), I wanted to take a moment from all of us here at TV Sluts to wish you much health and happiness in the coming year.

I don't know about you, but I intend to spend all day tomorrow continuing my The West Wing Season 1 Marathon. Ah, the good old days. When Aaron Sorkin was still on coke and the world was good.

Happy New Year!

"In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, never in want." --Irish Toast

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day." --Edith Lovejoy Pierce

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man." --Benjamin Franklin

True Blood

Sadly, I don't have HBO. This means that I miss out on a lot of great shows the first time around and have to catch them on DVD. Shows like Rome, Deadwood, and Big Love. So I had resigned myself to having to wait months, or maybe years, to catch up on the much buzzed-about True Blood. But, fate intervened! Thanks to my awesome friend Rachel (shout out!) and her on-demand capabilities, last weekend my group of vampire-loving friends got together for a 12 hour balls to the wall full first season marathon of True Blood.

Do you think it's easy watching 12 hours of television in a row? It's not. You have to make sure you move around occasionally to avoid blood clots. The more you know!

First, let me say that True Blood is awesome. Ok, that's the short review. Here's the longer one: what makes the show so great is, like most HBO shows, you can enjoy it on many different levels. Ostensibly, it's a show about a girl and a vampire who fall in lurv, two flawed people (he's a vampire, she reads minds), that find in each other what they've been looking for. So you can love it for that part of it. But you can also love it as a study of how people deal with the unknown and the different.

Vampires in the show clearly stand as metaphors for any marginalized group of people: gays, racial minorities, etc. And while the comparison is obvious, the parallels are drawn in a smart and interesting way. The show is concerned with the characters different reactions to this new marginalized group. And I would say 50% of what makes the show so interesting comes from it's setting in a small Louisiana town and the weird blend of culture that exists in that area of the country. The ingrained hypocrisies of the area influence people's decisions and lives. Just watch the opening credits of True Blood and you'll see what I mean.

In case you aren't aware of the particulars of the plot, here's a brief description from the HBO website:

Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures "coming out of the coffin." Religious leaders and government officials around the world have chosen their sides, but in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. "Cursed" with the ability to listen in on people's thoughts, she's also open-minded about the integration of vampires — particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

Season 1 focuses on Sookie's relationship to Bill (who calls her "Suckie," because of the accent, which I find completely lame), and also the mystery of who is running around town murdering women who have connections to vampires.

True Blood is anchored by the main character Sookie, the mind-reading waitress who falls for vampire Bill. I can't think of a show from recent memory where I was so enamored by the main character. I guess I should have known better, since we're dealing with HBO here, but I was constantly surprised by how much I loved her. She's brave, smart, spunky, funny, and is able to maintain a naivete and joy about her life that is surprising, considering she lives in a swamp and is surrounded by mostly stupid people. Her reactions to events feels real, and she doesn't let Bill get away with shit. Which I like, because sometimes he does things that piss me off.

Perfect example of why I love Sookie. When Bill is sweet-talking her by discussing her juicy femoral artery, she responds with, "hey, you just shut your nasty mouth, mister! You might be a vampire, but when you talk to me, you will talk to me like the lady that I am." Sassy!

My only real quibble with the show centers on its balancing of plots. As a viewer, I was really involved in the serial killer plot, especially since some characters I like were killed. But the other characters didn't actually seem concerned about finding out who was running around town killing people, and it felt like the entire subplot was shoved to the backburner for much of the season to allow for some lameass hijinks from Sookie's brother, Jason.

Sidenote: let me just say, I don't think I have ever encountered a character as dumb or whom I wanted to see get his comeuppance as much as Jason. And when I say he's dumb, I don't mean ditzy, or flaky, but that he is literally the most foolish, borderline non-functioning, easily manipulated person on television. While he sometimes gets in some comic relief and I really like the actor, he is hands-down my least favorite character on the show and spending time with him makes my brain want to leak out of my ears. End sidenote.

Jason: hot, but not the sharpest tool in the shed. Actually, scratch that. He's more like a tool that's been left out in the yard for years and has completely rusted over. Ugh.

I have a feeling that the balancing of subplots will improve with season 2, and it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the show. And it's probably the kind of thing that doesn't get noticed when watching week to week; it's only some crazy person who sits there for 12 hours in a row that would catch it.

So, yeah, True Blood is awesome. And I might have to actually break down and get HBO. Dammit.

Die Hard FTW!

I thought I would take a brief moment on this holiday week Monday (ugh, why am I not still in bed?) to give a Colbert-esque "tip of the hat" to Chuck, who had perhaps the most awesome shout-out homage ever.

In last week's episode, Chuck vs. Santa Claus, the folks at the Buy More found themselves in a hostage situation. One of the police officers on the scene outside the store was Big Mike's cousin, Sgt. Al Powell. Now, those of you who are huge geeks (like me) surely recognized the actor, Reginald VelJohnson, from the movie Die Hard (and Die Hard 2) where he played a cop by the name of, you guessed it, Al Powell! In fact, it was the same character, and he still has a love for twinkies! At least he's given up the pretense of claiming they are for his pregnant wife.

I have to confess, I might have teared up a little when at the end of the episode when Big Mike and Al were reunited and ran together and hugged, all to the tune of Ode to Joy (which is also used in Die Hard).

And yeah, I know Reginald Veljohnson was also in Family Matters as Carl Winslow, but come on, it's all about Die Hard!

Chuck writers/producers/etc., from one nerd to another, I salute you!

Reginald rulz.

Hey, guess what has two thumbs and still gives a crap?

Bob Kelso Monkey Sri! I think we've met.

Sorry for the blog silence! Real life is always getting in the way, you know? Anyhoo, word on the street has is that everyone's favorite Doctor Drama is moving to ABC. Scrubs has been in syndication for so long, it won't be too weird to watch it on another station (see also: Comedy Central, Fox, TV Land and WGN America). You know what is weird?

1. JD's facial hair in the new season. A literal beard to replace is figurative beard, Baby Mama and Mary Sue extraordinaire Dr. Kim Briggs? You're not fooling anyone, guy.

JD loves his Chocolate Bear.

2. Elliot doing underwear commercials. Though Sarah Chalke does bring a certain comedic je ne sais quoi to picking a wedge. Observe:


3. Pur water filtration systems ... a la JD. Zach Braff is lending his power of voice over to Pur for their latest ad campaign. What's up, Braff? Have you been burning your money?

Maybe I'm been too harsh. Maybe he just loves water.

But even with sell-out stars and questionable personal grooming, Scrubs remains one of the most enjoyable things on television. So you know I'll be making the transition to Tuesday at 9pm (we get hour-long double eps for a couple of weeks before switching to half an hour starting a 9:30) on - say it with me now - ABC.

The Best/Worst Show You Aren't Watching

Sunday on HBO has become a dumping ground for the WEIRDEST and most entertaining shows. I previously blogged about the Life and Times of Tim that was on HBO (though the season has ended). HBO is currently showing Summer Heights High our newest import from New Zealand. This show perplexes the mind.

It is about a high school and the central story revolves around three characters: Ja'mie (not Jamie), Jonah and Mr. G. Ja'mie is my favorite character, she is a Junior in High School and is a complete stuck up snob. Last weeks episode she pretended to be a lesbian so she is the center of attention. Jonah is a freshman who is a "poly." Apparently that's a normal way to refer to a polynesian boy. Finally, Mr. G is an over the top drama school teacher. The quirk is all three characters are played by Chris Lilley, a 34 year old Comedian originally from Sydney. Lilley is also the write and director of the show.


The show is weird, but INCREDIBLY addictive. Overall it is a comedy and I really enjoy it. Keep in mind it isn't deep. You will not be moved or learn anything, however, I enjoy Lilley's commentary on these age groups and characters.

Check it out 11pm on HBO.

Winter Hiatus Blues

I remember when I used to look forward to winter hiatus, mostly because it gave me a chance to catch up on my DVR backlog. But now that the DVR has dropped below 30% (I refuse to delete this season's episodes of Pushing Daisies and Supernatural) and I'm not recording hardly anything anymore...I find myself getting kinda sad. And kinda twitchy.

I miss the anticipation of the latest episode of my favorite shows! And the hustle and bustle of trying to keep up with the latest happenings. It's like how excited you are the night before a big event: your birthday, Christmas, a vacation, etc. etc. etc. And then you wake up the day after and realize it's all over and you have nothing else on the horizon to look forward to. And then you get depressed.

So I guess I have winter hiatus depression. With nothing but weeks and weeks ahead of repeats to look forward to, what am I going to do to fill my time? Read? Interact with people? In the words of Emerson Cod, "oh, hells no."

No new episodes makes Maggie a sad snowman. *cries*

What happened to my DVDs?

So in May I moved to VA with my wife. And one of the perks for us was being close to her family. One of the perks of the family was my DVD collection. While in college people constantly raided my VHS movie collection, well, now it's movies and TV shows. Having arrived I found Veronica Mars, West Wing and others constantly being raided. Then in Sept my sis-in-law took off for Boston and somehow some DVDs disappeared, including Sports Night.


I feel in love with that show during its second and last season, and was thrilled first when it reran in its entirety on Comedy Central and later when it came out on DVD. Recently I noticed they released a new version, the 10th Anniversary DVD with commentaries, special features, and interviews. I'm not sure why, but I soon forgot all about the show. But then two weeks ago I started really wanting to watch it. Don't get me wrong, when I want an Aaron Sorkin fix West Wing is my choice but I was a little burnt out on the the political angle and I wanted to relax in the embrace of wit, charm and a never-ending parade of words that characterized Sorkin's first real TV show. And what's not to love about Krause before Six Feet Under and Huffman before Desperate Housewives and Charles before In Treatment and Malina before West Wing? But of course, I could not watch this behind-the-scenes show because my DVDs were gone. So I settled for Studio Sixty.

I don't mean to denegrate Studio Sixty because when the show was on I loved it. And I could never understand why the critics were so critical of it. Sure it premiered around the same time as 30 Rock and I freely admit the sketch portions of the Studio were never as funny as but the show was never the show. It was about the people behind the show. And being aware as I am of the inside-baseball I knew that Danny and Matt were stand-ins for Tommy Schlamme and Sorkin I sometimes found the shows a little too apologetic. But it was good. It was funny. At least it's on DVD, but it makes me miss Sports Night even more.

I only hope that for Christmas instead of getting my old DVDs back I have something new to check out. And maybe wish that when Sorkin stated recently that he would snatch up Krause and Huffman for another season that it might actually happen. Well, TV can make us all dream.

Golden Globes

The Hollywood Foreign Press announced the nominations for Golden Globes this morning, and as usual all I can say "really?!" followed by a "meh." Usually the Golden Globes come closer to the mark than the Emmys, but really, they both seem so out of touch that all you really do is shrug you shoulders and carry on with life.

The only thing that really got my goat this time was the lack of a nomination for Pushing Daisies (and Kristin Chenoweth). The nominations for best television show comedy or musical are 30 Rock, Californication, Entourage, The Office, and Weeds. Really? Entourage? By all accounts that show is breathing its last, and while I enjoy Californication and Weeds, I wouldn't say they're the BEST. But to not include Pushing Daisies really pisses me off. I understand that the show is not for everyone, but COME ON. And don't even get me started on the lack of a nomination for Kristin Chenoweth (although I get that all the actresses get lumped into one category--there's no supporting category like with the Emmys).

As for best drama nominations there was one surprise. HBO's In Treatment (which I have barely heard of and never seen) got a nod, as did Dexter, House, Mad Men, and True Blood. That makes only one nominated non-cable network drama. Shocking! Or not. With the glut of crime procedurals on network tv right now, it's hard to distinguish them. Especially NCIS and CSI. Get some new letters, people!

I would like to say "yay!" to nominating January Jones for her work as Betty on Mad Men. I think she is really under-appreciated, but does a fantastic job.

Anyway, here's the complete list of nominations if you care. If not, you can tune in like me and watch for the pretty dresses.

Secret Girlfriend of the Week: Tina Fey

This season I finally got into 30 Rock. I remember when it premiered; I watched the first few episodes, but wasn't impressed. But after it's run at the Emmy's this past year, I decided to give it another shot. And I have been pleasantly surprised.

The wacky characters, who seemed jarring and disjointed when I first watched the show, have gelled, and the show has settled into a good rhythm. While the comedic highlight of the show is still Alec Baldwin, who can make my knees turn to jelly with the timbre of his voice, it's Tina Fey's Liz Lemon, who sits at the eye of the storm, that I have really connected with this year.

Liz Lemon is the lone voice of reason in the mayhem, but she is also flawed. And that's what I love. She uses her sharp wit as a weapon, is desperate for approval from almost everyone she meets, and really needs to work on her social graces, but you know what? That's what makes her real. If she was just some typical middle-management woman running around, throwing her arms up at the circus around her, and giving the audience a wink everytime she got embroiled in a wacky plot, that would get boring. We root for Liz, but we also know that in her own way she is just as crazy as everyone else around her. And I kind of feel that's how Tina Fey is in real life.

She's definitely willing to make fun of herself, which is always attractive, and she is the creator and head writer of 30 Rock. Which is actually really badass. She's a woman in charge! In all her interviews, she comes across as witty, self-deprecating, and smart. Also, I think she's really pretty.

See? Funny and smokin.

There's also an air of mystery about her; I'm sure you noticed the scar on the left side of her face. She never talked about in interviews until recently (basically saying she didn't like thinking about it and it's nobody's business so STFU nosy people), so it lent this whole aura of secrecy. Like maybe she used to work as a government assassin and she got in a fight with a ninja and went through a plate glass window...or maybe I need to not watch Grosse Pointe Blank while writing blog entries. There is even a whole blog devoted to that scar!

In any event, Tina Fey rocks my world, I have definitely developed a girl crush on her, and she is therefore the Secret Girlfriend of the Week.

Happy Birthday, Monkey!

Ah, the joys of growing older. Here at tv sluts we are celebrating the birthday of one of our contributers, Miss. Monkey Sri. I won't say how old she is, because I value my life, but I am sure you can all join me in saying, Happy Birthday!

Here is a TARDIS cake, all for you, Sri! Maybe there is a cute, lonely, 900 year old Time Lord inside. Hey, at least you would know there is someone out there older than you. Hahaha...ha?

And you can check out other fun cakes (with lots of tv themes) at the Coolest Birthday Cakes website.

Boston Legal: Breaking Down Walls

Last night, ABC surprised us with a rather entertaining episode of Boston Legal. I will admit that Boston Legal is not one of my shows. Its one of my husbands rare shows. However, I was thoroughly entertained by last night's episode. Boston Legal not only mocked the ABC but Television as a whole.

A section of last night's show included an elderly woman (played by DARLING Betty White) suing the network broadcasting companies for not providing entertainment for people of 50. Though to quote my lawyer husband the "lawsuit was Ridiculous" the premise wasn't. I may only be 26, but ever so slowly the shows I can tolerate are lessening in numbers. Reality and brainless television are winning the ratings wars and shows with genuine plot and witty banter are falling by the wayside.
The episode of Boston Legal last night came out and said the only show with a prominent cast over fifty was "Boston Legal." Though to more accurately quote David Arquette he said "B...well that would be breaking down the wall." His, well the character's but you get the drift, argument continued to state that the over 50s make up half of the retail market and half of the television watching community. So where are the shows for the Blue Hairs? There hasn't been a REAL show about people over 50 since Golden Girls (which I have several friends who remain devoted fans, thought they are in their late 20s and gay, beside the point). Where are the shows about growing older? I feel today, at 26, I am older than most of the characters on television.

Boston Legal continued to poke fun at ABC by stating that "we don't get any advertising." Which when I thought about it...is true.

Try to catch last night's episode on ABC.com It will make you think!

Distraction TV

As the holidays creep inevitably closer, the amount of work around the house seems to get exponentially higher. Decorating, baking, cleaning, wrapping gifts; all these things need to get done, and like most people, I have my go-to shows for just such occasions.

You know what I mean, something that will keep you entertained, but that you can keep one (or both) eyes off the television and still know what is going on. The obvious choice is something you have seen a million times, like your favorite Buffy episodes, reruns of a sitcom, etc. But when the DVR is stacked up above 80% and you just need to get it cleared, these are the shows I have found do not require 100% of your attention.

Law and Order (SVU): I have a strong preference for SVU, but any of the Law and Orders will do. The acting isn't really subtle, you can pretty much understand what is going on by just listening, and there aren't any real exciting fight scenes or anything you need to run into the room to see. Actually, the same thing applies to the CSIs. And then you don't have to actually see the gratuitous gore and violence against women.

How I Met Your Mother: Maybe it's because a lot of the humor from this show comes from the zingers, but I don't need to give it my full attention.

Fringe: This is a show that I probably should be watching closely (it is J.J. Abrams after all), but I just can't being myself to do it. In fact, I usually end up emailing, playing online bridge, etc. while it's on. I get the gist...the Dad acts crazy, Pacey is adorable, Olivia is robotic, yadda yadda. I do like trying to spot the weird bald guy though. But still, I tend to wander around the house when Fringe is on.

Any awesomely bad Sci-Fi Channel movie. The parts you watch = awesomely bad. The parts you don't watch = awesomely bad. It's a win win!

So, what shows do you all put on when you need to get some chores done! Comment away!

Bromance is the new Black

So a few weeks ago I was watching House (a show I admit, once upon a time was huge turn off to me because he is such a jerk). For all of you following the show (which should be everyone because Hugh Laurie is phenomenal), the House-Wilson friendship took a HUGE hit last season and there was no reason to see that changing in the nearby future. And then House's dad died, and the ensuing trip to the funeral sparked a friendassance (thank you Joey and Phoebe for that word!). While great for the show, what struck me was the publicity the show got and how suddenly I was seeing the word bromance everywhere. Now House is certainly not unique in this regard with two male leads who act and at times are a de facto married couple. But bromance seems to be on the rise in shows, and many shows are embracing this fact.

Perhaps one of the more popular examples in recent history has been Joey and Chandler. I mean, who really would argue that Monica knew Chandler better than Joey. Certainly not me. Since Friends went off the air I can think of only two good examples, other than House and Wilson (although I'm sure there are more out there and I encourage any and all of you to provide some additional examples): Alas Shore and Denny Crane in Boston Legal ('nuff said) and my personal favorit JD and Turk in Scrubs (I've been missing this show so much I've started watching it on DVD; I'm only up to season 4). And I would argue that the JD-Turk bromance is the ultimate example in modern TV. Season 4 begins with this chasing each other all over the hospital as Turk returns from his honeymoon. Carla speaks to their daughter, describing JD as the man who will compete for her father's love and let us not forget the season 6 musical episode where they express their "Guy Love."



Bromance is in the air. But what about 'womance'?

RIP Daisies & Stone

Dearly Beloved,

We have gathered here to pay our greatest respects to two shows, who despite valiant effort, have been victims to the ABC show axe. Our beloved Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone were axed this week. This is all due to the fact both shows ratings plummeted this season. It is possible that due to the writer's strike that the high ratings of these two shows last season may have been artificial.

Pushing Daisies was born October 3 2007 and in its brief lifetime was nominated for 10 Emmy awards.

Eli stone was a mid season replacement in 2008 and its first season is currently out on DVD.

I know I will miss these shows a lot.

In lieu of flowers please send letters of disappointment to ABC!

Private Practice should never have gone public

I should have known. When I saw my very first episode of Grey's Anatomy, I spent the entire hour yelling at the TV. My friend Emily, who is a fan of the show, spent the entire hour hating my guts. I can't help it - when medical dramas don't even attempt accuracy, it makes my blood boil. Especially when they use genetics purely for dramatic effect. During Grey's, my breaking point was when McDreamy called the BRCA1 gene "braca." During Private Practice last night, it was when Addison "diagnosed" a fetus with a 22q11 deletion after a five second ultrasound.

I hate you and everything you stand for.

I won't get into how bass-ackwards the writers got this situation - frankly, I don't have the time. See me later if you want the full diatribe. Needless to say, within ten minutes I was severely pissed. And it just got worse from there. There was unprofessional conduct, irrationality and schmaltz as far as the eye could see.

The problem is that everyone on this show is just so damn pretty. The doctors are pretty, and they wear fabulous outfits. The receptionist is played by Chris Lowell, of Veronica Mars fame. For crying out loud, they've got Taye Diggs running around the place! No wonder everyone is too distracted to practice medicine.

Piz - What happened to you, man? You used to be cool.

And yes, I know it's all part of the fantasy. Tons of medical professionals love these shows (witness my friend Emily, one of the smartest people I know). I'm sure it's largely because they are pure fluff that is completely detached from a somewhat depressing reality. But to me it just feels dishonest and so very, very wrong.

On the other hand ... maybe I can just watch it on "mute."

Crossovers of quirky fantasy shows make me want to say "squee!"

Pushing Daisies. Wonderfalls. Both whimsical, fantasy-based television shows that have struggled to find an audience but have been embraced fully by a small percentage of television viewers. And now fans of both are getting a treat!

Crossover!

Mary Ann Marie Bettle, played by Beth Grant in the Wonderfalls episode, Muffin Buffalo, will appear as a character on Pushing Daisies. Beth Grant is a total, "hey, it's that girl!" so I'm sure you've seen her around, but having a shout-out to Bryan Fuller and Lee Pace's other fun, albeit short-lived series, will be neat.

Plus think of all the wacky trouble she can cause around the Pie Hole with her muffins!

This show is seriously conspiring to ruin my "get healthy" campaign. Why all the baked goods, show? Friends are supposed to help each other out, not tempt!

Comfort tv

It's come to my attention that certain people have had a crappy past couple of days. Make that a crappy past couple weeks. I've been struggling to think of ways to help them, suggestions to offer, etc., and so the best I can come up with is a list of my comfort shows. You know, the ones that you return to when you need to feel uplifted, or simply don't want to think.

So, unnamed people who have had crappy weeks, this one's for you! And feel free to name some of your favorite comfort tv shows in the comments.

1. Firefly: Joss Whedon's sci-fi show is ostensibly an adventure space western. But what it's really about is family. And when I'm feeling down, sick, or just not able to be with my family, I can sit down with 13 episodes of one of the best television shows ever made. It's got everything: action, romance, comedy, escapes, swordfights, pirates (that's a Princess Bride reference, but it really does have escapes, swordfights, and pirates). But the show is really about how families are created and how you don't have to be related by blood to care about a group of people.

2. The West Wing: sometimes you just want to be inspired, and Aaron Sorkin's political drama is the best way to restore my faith in humanity, and in the system, when I'm running on faith fumes. Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world. Because it's the only thing that ever has.

3. America's Next Top Model: there are times when I just don't want to think. When what I want is pure mindless entertainment. For my money, ANTM is the best bet. Seek out a marathon on VH-1 and you will understand.

4. My So Called Life: you think your life is angsty? Try Angela Chase's. Remember, things could always be worse. You could still be in high school.

5. Veronica Mars: Veronica is someone who doesn't take crap from anyone and can save her own ass (except for when she needs Logan, but hey, I'm not gonna begrudge girlfriend getting rescued by Jason Dohring once in a while). When I'm feeling blue or powerless to control events in my life, it's nice to see a heroine who fights back, always gets revenge, and can save the day using her brain, especially her powers of deductive reasoning.

One more thing. Below is quite possibly the most powerful vignette ever told in the history of television, and it comes from John Spencer, as Leo McGarry. It never fails to make me tear up, but it also never fails to remind me that no matter how bad things are, I can always count on my friends.

This guy's walkin' down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, "Hey you! Can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole, and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, "Father, I'm down in this hole; can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey, Joe, it's me. Can ya help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are ya stupid? Now we're both down here." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.

Astrophysicists do it with heavenly bodies

A friend of mine recommended The Big Bang Theory to me some time ago. This show combines two of my favorite things - science humor and cute nerds - into one adorkable package. But I was hesitant to get involved with Big Bang. I assumed that something that seemed so perfect for me was unlikely to tickle the fancy of anyone else. Honestly, I didn't want to fall in love and have my heart broken by a mid-season cancellation.


Now, with Big Bang in it's second season and going strong, I finally felt safe enough to start watching. And it's everything I dreamed and more. Big Bang concerns itself with the lives of two roommates (Leonard and Sheldon), their fellow post-doc buddies (Howard and Koothrappali - homeboy represent!) and their across-the-hall neighbor (Penny). You may recognize Leonard as Johnny Galecki, who played Darlene's shiftless boyfriend David on Rosanne and Howard as Simon Helberg, who played Moist on Dr. Horrible.


The basic conceit of the show is the difference between Book Smarts and Street Smarts. Each character pairs academic brillance with total incompetence when it comes to basic human interaction (or in Penny's case, vice versa). As such, it is chock-a-block with nerd humor (see: Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock), awkward moments, and geniuses making fools of themselves.


Have I piqued your scientific interest? You can catch The Big Bang Theory Monday at 8pm on CBS, or online at the official website.

Maybe I should start watching SNL again...

I know SNL has been in the headlines a lot recently (with all the election parodies, especially Tina Fey's Sarah Palin), but I haven't been watching. I was just getting sick of the election anyway (it was kind of "OMG would Obama hurry up and win, already?" kind of mentality).

But if they are going to have sketches like this, I am so there.

Justin Timberlake in Spanx people. If he keeps this up, he is going to rank up there with Alec Baldwin as one of the best guests EVER. And props to Beyonce for making such a kickass song and video and being willing to be a part of the joke.

They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

As I have mentioned before, I come home after a hard day at work really looking for some comfort television. Lately I've been curling up under a fuzzy blankie with a hot cup of cocoa and the good people of the 4077. That's right ... thirty-odd years later, and I'm still watching (and blogging about) M*A*S*H.


This is a show that consistently makes me laugh and makes me cry ... often within the same episode. It will always be topical, because it captured something essential about the human reaction to the horrors of war. Set in a medical unit close to the front lines, M*A*S*H shows us that the real enemy in any conflict is Death. And in the end, he always wins. Some people crack under the pressure. Some people just crack wise.


The hero of this series, Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce, is one of my favorite characters of all time. He paved the way for sarcastic sawbones everywhere. Every smart ass M.D. from Perry Cox (Scrubs) to Gregory House (House, M.D.) owes a debt of gratitude to old Hawkeye.

You know who else I love? Maxwell Q. Klinger. He was one of the first Arab Americans on television, as well as one of the first cross-dressers. Basically, every character on this show would become an icon in his or her own right. It's a classic, an American in-joke we all understand. M*A*S*H shows us what television can be - no less than life-altering.

Legend of the Seeker

Whenever someone mentions "syndicated tv shows," the first examples that spring to my mind are The Lost World (yay), Xena (meh), and Hercules (ick). The later two were created by Spiderman director, Sam Raimi, who has basically cornered the market on first-run broadcast syndication television.

Unfortunately, first-run syndication has kind of fallen by the wayside for the past couple years. There have not been any new dramatic first-run syndicated series since the show She Spies debuted six years ago, and I think we all know how that one ended up. You've never heard of it? My point exactly.

But things are changing! Sam Raimi has brought us a new dramatic first-run syndicated television series based on Terry Goodkind's fantasy book series, The Sword of Truth, called Legend of the Seeker. It premiered two weeks ago, but I can't tell you when or where since you have to "check local listings" to determine when it plays in your tv market.

Ah, the plight of the syndicated series fan...having to search through newspaper tv grids to find a show. Or you could use the show's website. Whichever.

I blogged briefly about Legend of the Seeker back in April, and I have been waiting eagerly for it to premiere. Three episodes (counting the two hour premiere as two episodes) have aired and so far, I've enjoyed it. Saying it exceeded my expectations might be praising it a bit too highly, since my standards for syndicated series are not that high, but it's clear they have put a lot of time and money into the show and it certainly looks good. The acting's not bad, the scenery is gorgeous (what up, New Zealand?), the people are pretty, and as a fan of the books, I don't have any major quibbles with its treatment of the story.

You say you want a brief plot summary? Fine. So there's this dude Richard.

Hi, Richard! *waves*

He lives in a land called Westland, which is separated from this other place called the Midlands by a boundary that prevents the magic in the Midlands from getting to Westland. Richard is a woodsguide and a normal guy. One day, he comes across this hot chick in a white dress being attacked by a group of burly guys and he comes to her aid. Although she's pretty badass and ends up saving him.

Hot chick, white dress, any other show she would totally be monster chow.

Richard discovers that the hot chick, named Kahlan, had crossed the boundary from the Midlands, and was searching for him because he is The Seeker. The Seeker carries a magic sword, called The Sword of Truth, and is, according to prophecy, the only person who can defeat the Main Villain with a British Accent, named Darken Rahl. Richard's best friend growing up, Zedd, is actually a super powerful wizard who knew all along he was the Seeker, but wanted him to live a normal life for as long as possible. So the three of them, Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd, embark on a quest to defeat Darkan Rahl and save the world.

Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd will save the world! And look hot doing it.

I'm already psyched that Ted Raimi has put in his obligatory guest appearance (the creator is his brother after all), and I hold out hope that Bruce Campbell is not far behind! Every show can be better with a little more squared-jaw in it.

My only concern is that the show will have difficulty balancing its overall arc vs. plot of the week. Last week, when there was a little side adventure rather than anything epic like in the premiere, was kind of boring, and we still have 19 episodes to go. But I'm a big fan of the books, the guy playing Richard is hot, and there is the lure of a possible Bruce Campbell appearance, so I'm on board, at least for now. And if you are a fan of the whole sword and sworcery genre, I definitely recommend you check it out. Your best bet for finding it is to check your local CW affiliate on a Saturday afternoon/evening.

Fox hates the Whedonverse

So, remember how everyone and her sister were getting all keyed up over Fox's new Joss-Whedon-helmed series Dollhouse? Like, even though it stars Eliza Dushku and had to go through extensive re-writes because Joss didn't think the pilot was strong enough? Remember how you were all so excited because our televisionary overlord Joss would lead us all to the happy place again?

Yeah. Don't hold your breath.

According to the official Fox website, Dollhouse finally has a premiere date: set your TiVos for February 13, 2009. Which, as you may notice, is a Friday. Its lead-in? Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. This show, although well-loved, was earlier this season rumored to be on the chopping block itself.

As you may know, Terminator: TSCC features one Summer Glau, who we all loved as River Tam on Firefly. Which was epically mangled by Fox and prematurely yanked from its primetime lineup. Its timeslot? Friday, 9pm.

Why you gotta hate the Whedonites, Fox?!

Still Behind

Maybe I was naive. Or more likely, just plain dumb. But for some reason I thought that going out of town for 3 weeks in September during fall-launch season and for a week in November during sweeps would not impact my tv-viewing too much. I would just catch up on what I missed, right?

Wrong.

Here we are, the middle of November and my DVR remains at 85% capacity. Some shows have already been sacrificed to the alter of time management (see you in reruns, Numb3rs!), and some have just been languishing on the DVR back-burner (Crusoe and Stylista, I'm sorry!), but in any event, I am behind. Way behind.

Times like these really highlight your priorities. I thought I was tired of Heroes, and yet I have managed to stay up to date. And while I thought I loved Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles I find myself avoiding the most recent episode. Same with Chuck. I'll get around to it eventually....but I don't seem in too much of a rush.

Anyway, I'm back to my normal schedule now and I promise many excellent tv-related blog posts this week including some notes on the election night coverage and the new fantasy series Legend of the Seeker from Hercules and Xena creator (and Spiderman director), Sam Raimi.

The Life and Times of Tim

The time slot after Entourage has been the BLACK PIT of time slots for the past five years. Looking back, I have given every show in the slot a solid chance. If you recall, Lisa Kudrow's show"The Comeback" lived there in 2005. Though it was mildly entertaining there was no lasting power. In 2007, we were graced with "Lucky Louie", which had a following but not enough to remain in the slot. Too many folks felt the blue collar/ poverty stricken cast were merely crass and not funny. This year HBO gives us "The Life and Times of Tim."First of all, I have seen little to no advertisement for this show HBO is airing. I have only caught it at random times while watching TV in bed, however, I truly enjoy this show. Unlike this season of Entourage, I actually hear myself laughing out loud. This show is Dilbert meets the dry humor reminiscent of Paul Rudd. The basic premise is that "Tim" works in an everyday office and has the everyday girlfriends and he gets put in the these random yet entertaining and plausible situations. Though the plot lines are not stimulating at all the one liners that come out of the show make it worth it. Last night I found myself laughing about one line in the show for over an hour.Now, no, I do not think this show will last. Especially since Entourage itself is spiralling into oblivion, however, if nothing else is on, give "The Life and Times of Tim" a try.

Its on at 10:30 on Sunday evenings on HBO.

MSCR: Total Drama Island

It's time once again for Monkey Sri's Cartoon Round-Up! Today I'll be blogging about Total Drama Island, a cartoon parody of Survivor-type reality shows. It details the adventures of eighteen teenagers at Camp Wawanakwa, the summer camp from hell. Every episode the campers are faced with a new challenge - often something reminiscent of Fear Factor.

The theme song, "I Wanna Be Famous," is nothing short of inspired.

There are a couple of things that make this show way better than actual reality TV. For one, creators don't have to worry about safety issues. And neither do we - it's easier to enjoy death-defying stunts when it's not a real person on the line. Secondly, the online content is pretty impressive. Website visitors can create their own avatar and play games based on each week's episode. At the end of the season the top twenty-two scorers will be entered into a drawing, and their avatar will be edited into the season finale. Lastly, the characters on TDI are about a thousand times more likable than any reality show star. Even the bitchy ones.

Still, Heather better not win.

Fair warning, the show originally aired in Canada, so internet spoilers abound. On the upside, a sequel is already slated for Spring 2009: Total Drama Action. Fifteen campers will return, and this time the battleground will be a deserted studio lot. It will be interesting to see how that show shapes up. Until then, you can enjoy TDI Thursdays at 9pm on Cartoon Network.

What, too soon?

When I was in high school, SNL was what all the cool kids were watching. Nowadays, college students proudly proclaim they get their news from the Daily Show. And there isn't a twenty-something alive in the US that hasn't seen at least one full episode of the Colbert Report. So when the big names in topical comedy both promised live election coverage, you can bet the young voters turned out in droves ... myself included.


But was I the only one who found SNL's Election Coverage and Comedy Central's Indecision 2008: America's Choice less than hilarious? SNL's primetime coverage was largely a clip show - while funny, it didn't have nearly enough new material for me. In contrast, Comedy Central paired up Colbert and Stewart for a night of witty banter - it was new material, but a lot of it flopped.

Stewart: Yes, the Bradley effect ... named after Milton Bradley, whose popular board game "Poll Tax" entertained and disenfranchised millions.
Audience: *cricket chirps*

I think the gravity of the situation dampened the comedic effect of these shows. Everyone was on edge - if the formula for comedy is tragedy plus distance, on Tuesday we were way too close to potential tragedy to enjoy ourselves. Maybe now that the election is over, we can catch the reruns (or the online content) and have a proper laugh.

We come in peace! (Shoot to kill.)

It happened on a twenty-hour, transatlantic flight. I had read every book I brought with me (twice) and my mother was too busy playing Sodoku to chat. I turned to the in-flight entertainment - happily, I was on one of those planes with personal consoles on the back of the seat in front of you. Browsing through the selection of television and movies, I stumbled upon Life on Mars. I had heard tell of this series from the Doctor Who fandom (John Simms, who plays The Master in the new series, stars in the British version of Life on Mars). So I gave the show (specifically, the 1st episode of the 2nd season) a try.

I am so glad I did.

It makes sense that Life on Mars originated in the UK. We just don't get creative plot lines like this in the US anymore. Sam Tyler is a modern-day cop who gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. Is it time travel? Is he dead? Is it a dream? Sam (and by extension, the audience) doesn't know. This uncertainty creates a dramatic tension that is more psychological than situational. Sam must navigate this new world without the benefit of knowing what is real and what is not. This strips him down to the very essential elements of his nature - he can't be certain of the consequences (if any) of his actions on the world around him, so he must focus on their effect on him as a man. In this way, his alien surroundings help him become more like himself than ever before.

Confused yet? I certainly was.

This goes back to what I was saying before, about giving "strange" shows a chance. I find the American version to be quite as delightfully quirky as its British predecessor - possibly moreso with the addition of Sam's neighbor, hippie love-child Windy ("I don't believe in coincidence. I believe in the curlicue whimsy of Fate."). So keep an open mind about Life on Mars - it may surprise you.