Television
Opra gives away a car to every audience member in her season opener!
Oh man, did anyone see what happened this week? You always see the commercials for Opra, and the women are always screaming. Mad TV even did a parody of the fact that she finds these really overly excited women. But this time, maybe they have a reason.
I guess Opra found audience members who were all a little down on their luck, and well, gave them a car! She gave her whole stinking audience a car, every member. Pretty crazy. Letterman even did a little poke at Opra last night. So although I would argue Opra’s importance in TV history has been minimal to date, this little stunt has earned her a first in original ideas.
The Apprentice
Oh Jeeze. I love Mark Burnett’s shows. We liked the first season of “The Restaurant”, Survivor is a great idea but is now slop, and of course, arguably his biggest success, “The Apprentice”.
I watched last season some of the time, but it honestly didn’t get interesting until the end when all of the losers were weeded out and all of the interesting tasks were happening with smart people.
This season, Carolie looks more like Diana and acts more bitchy. Donald Trump comes into every scene with self ego inflating sound bytes and trumpet ensembles. But in spite of it all, the tasks are better, the players seem to be better, and the grandeur of everything is just cooler. You have to try it at least once and say that there is some hope for the “reality” genre of TV, to try something truly original once in awhile.
Drew Carey’s Green Screen
I always loved “Drew Carey”. It never expected to be more then it was, and it was always fun and silly.
“Whose line is it anyways” was funny for season one but quickly all of Wayne Bradey’s show dominating sketches sounded the same. I was a little bummed to hear it was cancelled, but then the other night I saw the end of a commercial for “Green Screen”, but gave it not thought. Tonight I saw it again, and it looks like a really fun show.
It is basically “Whose Line” wide 3D graphics. So all of the actions that the guys are acting out will be digitally morphed in, I would guess live. For those of you who don’t like animation on top of live motion, at least this won’t expect to be more than something fun. Plus, they can stretch the medium to use to their advantage, not just support them, but to push it to the limit.
Everybody Loves Raymond
It was the first of an all new fall season on CBS.
Like many shows, I came in on Raymond kind of late in the game. Watching for three years now this is the start of the final season after eight years total. It was a great one.
Marie and Frank are moving, and they “break” it to the kids. The moment every single audience member has been secretly praying for, the celebration that the nightmare of your parents across the street is finally over.
Debra has a moment where she almost messes things up, but Marie grounds her, and nothing like classic style Barone to take the sentimental edge off any touching event. A good lead to what promises to be a final funny season.
Two And A Half Men
Sarah and I watched Raymond last year and got suckered into the TV ploy, hanging on to watch a new show after a well established one. Starring Charlie Sheen as a shovenistic male pig, a real stretch, the show is about him, his brother and his brother’s son who is the humorous child’s perspective on a womanizing household.
A first episode with star talent in Elvis Costello and Sean Penn, this episode didn’t really have a lot to it, but didn’t stray far from the formula that has worked so well in the past. The brother has self esteem issues with his divorce and tries to get into Charlie’s support group. Just as you think there is some kind of bonding between the brothers, the moment is broken with a wedgie.
CSI : Miami
CSI is another show that we were lazy and didn’t turn off one night, and got sucked into. But it is just that, alluring. With Jerry Bruckheimer’s name all over it, this show always keeps you guessing and has enough turns to keep you satisfied to the end.
The season opener started with a bang, with one of the main members of the CSI team, “Speed” getting shot and dying.
The one thing that I don’t like about these dramas is that because they tell such dense stories, they have no time for character development. But having said that, this episode was really touching, and not just a marketing gimmick, to see this character die. Mostly, to see the effect it has on the other cast members.
Family Guy Episode – Road to Rhode Island
This week was the first of two weeks of Family Guy marathons on Fox. This is in preparation of new episodes next fall, and a new show by Seth McFarlane early next year. They did some promotion for that show during the episodes, but not nearly as much as I would have expected. Not to mention, why the episodes, why now, the new ones seem too far off. Is it so people remember what Family Guy was before the new fall lineups come out.
On that weird note, Why Seth picked these two episodes as some of his favorites for the marathon is beyond me. But even sub par funny episodes waste most of what is on TV now. Edgy and intelligent, Family Guy is a nice blend of the over the top offensive South Park and the Simpsons, which has become the bar for any prime time cartoon. From cannibalistic candy trees to misplaced “chin nuts”, these two episodes were two of his apparent favorites before it’s first cancellation in 2000.
