New year, new opinions
I set aside this blog for a long time because I was too busy with work and too tired of the computer to bust open my laptop at the end of the day. Also, I was peeved about the Veronica Mars cancellation. But I find I miss it; I like having a place to put my thoughts and analysis out there about the TV and movies that I watch. I like having to be analytical and try to identify what makes something divine or crappy, why dialogue sparkles or thuds, why an emotional scene resonates or makes you cringe.
In 2009 I consumed more than my share of great television and movies and books. A few of my favorites follow, based on when I watched/read them, not when they were created, and in no particular order, and entirely subjective, as always.
TV:
- Chuck
- Glee
- Modern Family
- The Good Wife
- Mad Men
- ...and I guess Lost, though I barely remember it at this point! Its return in February will be most welcome.
Movies:
- Julie & Julia (and not just because of the name!)
- Rachel Getting Married
- Star Trek
- 500 Days of Summer
- ...and I really want to see Up in the Air and The Hurt Locker and Crazy Heart.
Books:
- Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
- Eat, Pray, Love
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
- What the Dead Know
- Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance
- ...and I'm very much excited to read Middlemarch, a classic I never got to in school.
What were your cultural highlights of 2009? What are you looking forward to in 2010?
Kiss me, Cupid
The Cupid remake, starring Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson, is on its way!
I've been a longtime Cannavale fan, and I'm on the fence about Paulson -- liked her in Down with Love, didn't like her in Studio 60. The original was great, but I think this could be different and equally good. Really, I'll sign on to at least try anything from the guy who created Veronica Mars.
Actually the first footage from the show is good enough that I'd watch even if there'd been no original and Rob Thomas weren't the man behind it.
Watch the promo, and decide for yourself, then let me know what you think in the comments.
Not again!
It seems to happen almost every time I start to like a show, particularly shows that have the misfortune to be aired on a Friday. Most of the time it's a show targeted at women. It's romantic, but not uncomplicated. An hour long dramedy with a decent ensemble cast.
Miss Match? Set on fire. Men in Trees? Sawed down. Now, The Ex List? An ex-season pass.
I don't get it, CBS. It had a promising premise, a non-cookie-cutter cast, and smart writing. It wasn't squeamish about showing the upsides and downsides of sex and love. It wasn't a mindless procedural that bore no resemblance to actual life. It had potential.
The Ex List wasn't without flaws, but not much out there is. I'm going to miss it anyway, even though we only got 4 dates to get to know each other. Boo.
Surprise surprise
It's no surprise that I loved last week's little Supernatural stunt with Jensen Ackles.
But what I love even more is knowing the backstory -- that it was Jensen Ackles' response to a missed cue: when the cameras just kept rolling, so did he. And we are all the better for it!
What I am watching now
Another TV season, another set of shows to delight in and deride. After a long absence, you get a long post. For this, I'm putting shows in a few categories:
Shows I am definitely watching
- Chuck: if possible, it has improved this year. I love that they have just decided to accept that Sarah finds Chuck foxy and awesome, and to run with that fact in their many storylines. I would like to see more Awesome, though.
- How I Met Your Mother: the first episode was brilliant. It's a way to let Barney be Barney and not have that interfere with the fact that he's in love with Robin. Everything has worked out as it should for them, and for Ted and Stella. Now we must wonder if they'll write Alyson Hannigan's pregnancy into the show!
- Fringe: standard sci-fi fare is improved by great performances from Jackson and Noble.
- Privileged: my favorite this season. Love Megan and her pining buddy Charlie, love the family drama. JoAnna Garcia rocks at showing how being a straight arrow doesn't make you boring or unsympathetic.
- Bones: the chemistry is still there for those two hot leads. And while I don't love the Angela-Hodgins breakup (don't showrunners believe committed couples are interesting?), I think maybe something dramatic could prove to these two that they do trust each other and belong together.
- The Office: one Holly I'd actually like to work with...though the Jim-Pam stuff makes me a smidge nervous.
- Grey's Anatomy: they've continued to keep up the high quality after last season's stellar finale. I'm still invested.
- Supernatural: I think the standalone goofy eps are the best, but with the addition of more religious issues they've reinvigorated the show in its 4th year.
- The Ex List: Elizabeth Reaser gets on my nerves, but the writing is smart, and the show has a mature and realistic look at relationships. The timeslot means it's probably doomed, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Shows I am kind of watching
- The Big Bang Theory: because I thought my boyfriend would kind of like it, and he did, and we spend a lot of time sitting on the couch together.
- House: the thrill is gone; I'll never love this one as much as I used to. But I'll continue to half-watch the eps with alternate amusement and horror.
- Pushing Daisies: half-watching this one on the computer. I got somewhat tired of all of Olive's nun shenanigans, but the circus episode was a quirky delight.
- Private Practice: I don't know why I am still watching this, but I am. This must be the thing that proves I am an optimist -- I still think it could get better.
- Life on Mars: It's early yet, but this is an interesting one. I don't know the Brit original, but it has potential. It does make me miss Journeyman, alas.
- Ghost Whisperer: my not-so-secret shame. This week they're on a haunted cruise ship. Spoooooooky!
Shows I have stopped watching
- Gossip Girl: have missed a lot of eps due to scheduling conflicts, but when repeats are on I'll get back to this, maybe. Maybe.
- Terminator: TSSC: Cameron can be brutal, but not as much as Mondays at 8. Had to cut this, but don't miss it much.
- Heroes: if them bringing on the full casts of The Wire and Veronica Mars can't entice me to stick with this one, nothing can.
- Samantha Who: Not even the occasional promise of romance could keep me in this one. Maybe if they made Timothy Olyphant a regular, I'd come crawling back.
- My Name is Earl: when I stop laughing, I stop watching.
Agree? Disagree? What am I missing -- or dissing -- with good reason?
A Bones to pick
If you didn't watch the Bones season finale last night, better stop reading now.
The revelation of the Gormagon killer was astonishing, unsettling, and frankly, not that well executed.
If you tell me a character I've come to know very well, who has been with the show for a long time, who to all appearances is a mild-mannered is a killer, you better have a damn good reason to back it up. (See, e.g., Beaver from VM.) And for all their "Zach is logical to a fault" talk, they just plain didn't.
I should've known earlier, when they were putting so much suspicion on... Read More
Saturday Night LaBeouf
I have a feeling that some time from now I'll regret how into Shia LaBeouf I am. He could turn out to be irresponsible, too cocky, too one-note, an arrogant hack. He could do unattractive things with his hair. His fast-talking charm could degenerate to the oily slickness of a car salesman. He could date someone I don't approve of. He could lose that hint of lost-boy vulnerability that makes you think underneath his goofy bravado is a beating heart. He could pull a Lohan.
In the meantime, though, I'll just keep enjoying him -- like his performance on SNL manana.
If you ask me, The Beef is cooking.