The television report...
May. 25th, 2025 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Daredevil Born Again is bringing back Luke Cage, Iron Fist (who seriously needs to be recast, but whatever), and Jessica Jones to join Daredevil as the Defenders. They are all in S2 Daredevil. (Basically Daredevil is getting the Disney treatment, which works for me - since I liked The Defenders.)
2. Wheel of Time was cancelled by Amazon after the 3rd season. Cancelled due to ratings and a hefty price tag. (Amazon's head honcho got absurdly political and it has cost him.) I haven't made it past S1. I have too many television shows, and the characters didn't grab me for some reason or other. I was thinking of going back to it - but now? Probably not.
3. Finished watching:
* Etoile (on Amazon) while visiting Mother. We both enjoyed it. It's about the Paris and New National Ballet Theaters - trading lead talent in order to booster each others ticket sales. It's in French and English. And has performances by professional ballet dancers, who are also lead actors in the series. Focuses more on the running of the two theaters, and putting together the performances. It's not a relationship drama, so much as a workplace drama or dramedy? It's written by the same people who did Bunheads and Gilmore Girls - so swings towards witty comedic banter and comedic situations.
Etoile was picked up for two seasons by Amazon, so season 2 is being filmed and the entire cast is returning for it.
* The Residence (on Netflix) (finished yesterday) - it's a satirical mystery series, about an unorthodox detective, who is rather brilliant, and prefer to watch birds. Detective Cupp (a Black woman) is brought in to use her expertise (she can solve any crime) to figure out who killed the Chief Usher at the White House. (The chief usher is in charge of running the facility that houses the President, and all the staff, rooms, etc. And is not politically appointed.) Reminds me a lot of the Knives Out series, except with a Black female detective. The focus is on the detective who is brilliant but quirky. While I enjoyed it for the most part, it rambles a bit, and suffers from long rambling monologues - which seems to be a quirk of Shondra Rhimes' series. This is another one. Some television show-runners have distinctive writing styles. Rhimes' is the fast talking rambling monologue. One monologue went on for thirty minutes, I started feeling sorry for the actress.
The mystery plot itself is fairly standard. I figured it out around the same time as the detective, if not before. It's the parlor room mystery - and appears to be a parody or satire of the trope. If you are worried about politics - it's not political, or rather not in an obvious way? More subtle. Hollywood has become oddly subtle with its political digs of late. Which I appreciate, because I prefer subtle humor, I like to work for my laughs and not be hammered over the head with them. Most American humor falls into the later category. And that's why I find it slightly disturbing that the political humor or satire is more subtle and less blatant? I feel like people who used to laugh loudly are now laughing silently?
Other than that - it's fun and hilarious in places, with a farcical humor, touched with light satire.
This works very well as a stand-a-lone. All the plot-threads were satisfyingly closed. I'm not sure I want a second season?
* The Four Seasons - this is a relationship comedy - it is loosely adapted from Alan Alda's 1981 film of the same name, with Tina Fey taking on the Carol Burnett role, and Colman Domingo taking on Jack Weston's role, except as a gay Black man, with his Italian husband (the original was portrayed by Rita Moreno). It's about three couples that vacation together each season. We see them only on their vacations or trips together. The first or main point of view couple is Tina Fey and Will Forte (Katie and Jack), then Danny and Claude (Colman Domingo and an Italian actor), finally Steve Carrol's Nick (and Anne (his wife) and Ginny (the girl-friend, after he divorces his wife). It reminded me vaguely of the original, but I'm not certain how close it is - because I haven't seen the original version since the 1980s. Also, now, I'm the same age as the four couples, when the last time I saw it - I was much younger.
It's okay. I found the other two television series funnier. Wales liked it better than I did. I'm admittedly not a huge fan of relationship comedy.
4. Buffy Reboot
I could be wrong about this? But I'm becoming increasingly convinced that James Marsters is involved in the Reboot, not sure how big his role will be or how he'll be involved. He slyly refuses to discuss it - other than the fact that it is going to be brilliant, will be picked up, and Sarah Michelle Gellar has made wise choices in picking the people involved. Also, how he won't talk about it in fear of spoiling anything. He's also thinner (and I know it was a choice from listening to Schmactors - to diet for work), and he's wearing a black leather jacket, his hair is almost white now, black jeans and a black t-shirt at the cons (the Q&A is on Youtube - actually this was a good Q&A, the audience asked insanely interesting questions that people haven't asked before.)
But I don't know. SMG states in interviews that she's aiming for comfort over fan service. And she's chosen a young teen actress to play Buffy. So...
Also, now Marsters and Boreanze are doing cons together. I can't find videos of them on Youtube, which is annoying. But it is interesting.
Yes, I'm still a fan of Buffy. It was that rare television series which had perfect casting, good writing, and blending of collaborative creative talent in various sections (makeup, stunt craft, writing, directing, production, casting, acting) that just worked and got better as it went. The first season is okay, but the second season ...was leaps and bounds better in all areas. There's a handful of television series that I've been a fan of, and 98% of them are fantasy and science fiction series.
What this says about me, I do not know.
[ETA:
Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo (Author), Jenny Owen Youngs (Author) -
"Read by the authors and hosts of the hit podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, this memoir reflects on heartbreak, perseverance, building community, and life lessons learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This audiobook features bonus songs, jingles, and clips from the podcast and live shows, and contributions from fans/committed Scoobies.
Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny's favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the terms set, they began a journey that has led them through seven seasons of the beloved genre show, a podcast rewatching the series with their newly minted listenership of “Scoobies,” unexpected success, and a divorce. Through it all, their love for Buffy and their commitment to their community held them together against the odds."
Sigh, I feel old. Buffering the Vampire Slayer - was a podcast they did to rewatch the show in 2016. I watched the show live between 1997 - 2004, and was on the internet with people discussing as far back as the 1990s. The podcasts I listened to - you can't find now. Nor the sites for that matter. Even my own web site is long gone - although all my essays and fanfic can be found on Ao3, but I didn't write much in the way of fanfic. ]
ETA: Apparently "Slayers" the audio book did amazingly well, too well, and Disney stopped it from doing any more and pulled the rights. (Disney owns the rights to Buffy now, not Fox not Whedon. That's important.) The reason was - they were doing the Buffy Reboot and didn't want Slayers to get in the way of it.
Below is the link to the Q&A where Marsters explains it - it's at the very end of the Q&A. (Marsters Q&A's are highly entertaining, because he clearly loves Conventions and has been going to them since he was thirteen with Star Trek. Most actors at these things are kind of boring. Please note? I have NEVER been to a fan convention, I watch it all on youtube or the internet. I found the American Library Association Conventions and the E-Publishing ones to be headache inducing enough. I hate crowds, claustrophobic convention halls, etc. My idea of hell is a convention. The appeal is lost on me. If I wanted to - I could go to the big one - Comic Con in NYC, but it would kill me.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aj5esoZOi8 ]
5. Also saw two filmed theater performances on PBS (Great Performances). PBS is kind of the US equivalent of the BBC, except it doesn't have quite as much money, and is mostly locally supported by subscribers.
* Next to Normal - I saw the original on Broadway ages ago. This is the West End Revival - in London. Apparently it hadn't made it to the UK, so they revived it. What's remarkable is the entire cast is speaking with an American accent, even though they are all British. I'm surprised they didn't make it British - they could. It's a musical/rock opera about mental illness, grief, and it's devastating effects on the family dynamic- I call it a rock opera, because there's no dancing, and most of the lines are sung, and the band is on stage. It has some truly beautiful music and excellent performances.
* YellowFace - the semi-autobiographical satirical play by David
Henry Kwang about racism in the US. It's hilarious in places and overall rather well done. Danial Dae Kim (Angel, LOST, Hawaii 5-0) portrays Kwang, and Ryan Eggold (Blacklist and New Amsterdam) portrays a Russian actor who can pass as Asian. (Actually I think it's a call out to Yul Brunner and they even reference the King and I.) A lot of the play is actors talking to the audience, and sometimes to each other. It breaks the fourth wall a lot -- in that the actors are directly speaking to the audience or step outside the framework of the play - to do so in monologues. Also Kwang who famously complained about the casting of Jonathan Pryce in Miss Saigon way back in the 1990s, has deliberately cast the play with people against racial tropes - as a satirical commentary on racial casting and how we view race and the consequences of identifying people by race and how complicated it is. (Example? A Black actress portrays, Blond/Blue-Eyed Jane Krawski.). Also at one point, Kwang discusses in the play, how racial determinations don't make a lot of sense. You can't get deported or in political trouble for being "white" and "White" doesn't appear to have country or nationality associated with it, but Chinese, African, etc - do. White is just a color.
(These are direct examples from the play.)
2. Wheel of Time was cancelled by Amazon after the 3rd season. Cancelled due to ratings and a hefty price tag. (Amazon's head honcho got absurdly political and it has cost him.) I haven't made it past S1. I have too many television shows, and the characters didn't grab me for some reason or other. I was thinking of going back to it - but now? Probably not.
3. Finished watching:
* Etoile (on Amazon) while visiting Mother. We both enjoyed it. It's about the Paris and New National Ballet Theaters - trading lead talent in order to booster each others ticket sales. It's in French and English. And has performances by professional ballet dancers, who are also lead actors in the series. Focuses more on the running of the two theaters, and putting together the performances. It's not a relationship drama, so much as a workplace drama or dramedy? It's written by the same people who did Bunheads and Gilmore Girls - so swings towards witty comedic banter and comedic situations.
Etoile was picked up for two seasons by Amazon, so season 2 is being filmed and the entire cast is returning for it.
* The Residence (on Netflix) (finished yesterday) - it's a satirical mystery series, about an unorthodox detective, who is rather brilliant, and prefer to watch birds. Detective Cupp (a Black woman) is brought in to use her expertise (she can solve any crime) to figure out who killed the Chief Usher at the White House. (The chief usher is in charge of running the facility that houses the President, and all the staff, rooms, etc. And is not politically appointed.) Reminds me a lot of the Knives Out series, except with a Black female detective. The focus is on the detective who is brilliant but quirky. While I enjoyed it for the most part, it rambles a bit, and suffers from long rambling monologues - which seems to be a quirk of Shondra Rhimes' series. This is another one. Some television show-runners have distinctive writing styles. Rhimes' is the fast talking rambling monologue. One monologue went on for thirty minutes, I started feeling sorry for the actress.
The mystery plot itself is fairly standard. I figured it out around the same time as the detective, if not before. It's the parlor room mystery - and appears to be a parody or satire of the trope. If you are worried about politics - it's not political, or rather not in an obvious way? More subtle. Hollywood has become oddly subtle with its political digs of late. Which I appreciate, because I prefer subtle humor, I like to work for my laughs and not be hammered over the head with them. Most American humor falls into the later category. And that's why I find it slightly disturbing that the political humor or satire is more subtle and less blatant? I feel like people who used to laugh loudly are now laughing silently?
Other than that - it's fun and hilarious in places, with a farcical humor, touched with light satire.
This works very well as a stand-a-lone. All the plot-threads were satisfyingly closed. I'm not sure I want a second season?
* The Four Seasons - this is a relationship comedy - it is loosely adapted from Alan Alda's 1981 film of the same name, with Tina Fey taking on the Carol Burnett role, and Colman Domingo taking on Jack Weston's role, except as a gay Black man, with his Italian husband (the original was portrayed by Rita Moreno). It's about three couples that vacation together each season. We see them only on their vacations or trips together. The first or main point of view couple is Tina Fey and Will Forte (Katie and Jack), then Danny and Claude (Colman Domingo and an Italian actor), finally Steve Carrol's Nick (and Anne (his wife) and Ginny (the girl-friend, after he divorces his wife). It reminded me vaguely of the original, but I'm not certain how close it is - because I haven't seen the original version since the 1980s. Also, now, I'm the same age as the four couples, when the last time I saw it - I was much younger.
It's okay. I found the other two television series funnier. Wales liked it better than I did. I'm admittedly not a huge fan of relationship comedy.
4. Buffy Reboot
I could be wrong about this? But I'm becoming increasingly convinced that James Marsters is involved in the Reboot, not sure how big his role will be or how he'll be involved. He slyly refuses to discuss it - other than the fact that it is going to be brilliant, will be picked up, and Sarah Michelle Gellar has made wise choices in picking the people involved. Also, how he won't talk about it in fear of spoiling anything. He's also thinner (and I know it was a choice from listening to Schmactors - to diet for work), and he's wearing a black leather jacket, his hair is almost white now, black jeans and a black t-shirt at the cons (the Q&A is on Youtube - actually this was a good Q&A, the audience asked insanely interesting questions that people haven't asked before.)
But I don't know. SMG states in interviews that she's aiming for comfort over fan service. And she's chosen a young teen actress to play Buffy. So...
Also, now Marsters and Boreanze are doing cons together. I can't find videos of them on Youtube, which is annoying. But it is interesting.
Yes, I'm still a fan of Buffy. It was that rare television series which had perfect casting, good writing, and blending of collaborative creative talent in various sections (makeup, stunt craft, writing, directing, production, casting, acting) that just worked and got better as it went. The first season is okay, but the second season ...was leaps and bounds better in all areas. There's a handful of television series that I've been a fan of, and 98% of them are fantasy and science fiction series.
What this says about me, I do not know.
[ETA:
Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo (Author), Jenny Owen Youngs (Author) -
"Read by the authors and hosts of the hit podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, this memoir reflects on heartbreak, perseverance, building community, and life lessons learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This audiobook features bonus songs, jingles, and clips from the podcast and live shows, and contributions from fans/committed Scoobies.
Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny's favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the terms set, they began a journey that has led them through seven seasons of the beloved genre show, a podcast rewatching the series with their newly minted listenership of “Scoobies,” unexpected success, and a divorce. Through it all, their love for Buffy and their commitment to their community held them together against the odds."
Sigh, I feel old. Buffering the Vampire Slayer - was a podcast they did to rewatch the show in 2016. I watched the show live between 1997 - 2004, and was on the internet with people discussing as far back as the 1990s. The podcasts I listened to - you can't find now. Nor the sites for that matter. Even my own web site is long gone - although all my essays and fanfic can be found on Ao3, but I didn't write much in the way of fanfic. ]
ETA: Apparently "Slayers" the audio book did amazingly well, too well, and Disney stopped it from doing any more and pulled the rights. (Disney owns the rights to Buffy now, not Fox not Whedon. That's important.) The reason was - they were doing the Buffy Reboot and didn't want Slayers to get in the way of it.
Below is the link to the Q&A where Marsters explains it - it's at the very end of the Q&A. (Marsters Q&A's are highly entertaining, because he clearly loves Conventions and has been going to them since he was thirteen with Star Trek. Most actors at these things are kind of boring. Please note? I have NEVER been to a fan convention, I watch it all on youtube or the internet. I found the American Library Association Conventions and the E-Publishing ones to be headache inducing enough. I hate crowds, claustrophobic convention halls, etc. My idea of hell is a convention. The appeal is lost on me. If I wanted to - I could go to the big one - Comic Con in NYC, but it would kill me.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aj5esoZOi8 ]
5. Also saw two filmed theater performances on PBS (Great Performances). PBS is kind of the US equivalent of the BBC, except it doesn't have quite as much money, and is mostly locally supported by subscribers.
* Next to Normal - I saw the original on Broadway ages ago. This is the West End Revival - in London. Apparently it hadn't made it to the UK, so they revived it. What's remarkable is the entire cast is speaking with an American accent, even though they are all British. I'm surprised they didn't make it British - they could. It's a musical/rock opera about mental illness, grief, and it's devastating effects on the family dynamic- I call it a rock opera, because there's no dancing, and most of the lines are sung, and the band is on stage. It has some truly beautiful music and excellent performances.
* YellowFace - the semi-autobiographical satirical play by David
Henry Kwang about racism in the US. It's hilarious in places and overall rather well done. Danial Dae Kim (Angel, LOST, Hawaii 5-0) portrays Kwang, and Ryan Eggold (Blacklist and New Amsterdam) portrays a Russian actor who can pass as Asian. (Actually I think it's a call out to Yul Brunner and they even reference the King and I.) A lot of the play is actors talking to the audience, and sometimes to each other. It breaks the fourth wall a lot -- in that the actors are directly speaking to the audience or step outside the framework of the play - to do so in monologues. Also Kwang who famously complained about the casting of Jonathan Pryce in Miss Saigon way back in the 1990s, has deliberately cast the play with people against racial tropes - as a satirical commentary on racial casting and how we view race and the consequences of identifying people by race and how complicated it is. (Example? A Black actress portrays, Blond/Blue-Eyed Jane Krawski.). Also at one point, Kwang discusses in the play, how racial determinations don't make a lot of sense. You can't get deported or in political trouble for being "white" and "White" doesn't appear to have country or nationality associated with it, but Chinese, African, etc - do. White is just a color.
(These are direct examples from the play.)
no subject
Date: 2025-05-25 10:00 pm (UTC)Although I would have thought JM aging would be a bit of an issue.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-26 01:24 am (UTC)Only if you are doing the hot vampire/slayer plot, which from all reports, they have no interest or plans to do. They didn't hire a sexy young 18 year old to play the slayer, they hired the fifteen year old breakout star from The Skeleton Crew. And Gellar is no longer sexy either. Nor is either Marsters nor Boreanze.
Also, there's lots of ways around the aging issue, even if you don't go down the special effects/makeup/photoshop route. He could have gotten the shanshu or became human. He could have gotten an ailment which caused him to age. Any number of ways around it without using special effects.
Also, since SMG as Buffy is going to be just recurring, I have a feeling others may be too. They could do something similar to what they did with Star Wars, which is have various members of the original cast have guest roles or cameos.
If I were writing this? I'd make him and Angel human - a result of the whole LA going to hell business. That takes care of the aging issue for both actors, opens up new storyline possibilities/character possibilities, and removes them from the actions scenes, which frankly both are too old to do now anyhow (Marsters is 62, and Boreanze is 55 and they both look it). And have Buffy rope Spike into being a co-Watcher, which means he could end up with the Giles role or she might have it with him assisting.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-26 04:04 pm (UTC)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aj5esoZOi8
He also says things like this:
"All the writers in Hollywood are huge Buffy fans, many of them became television writers because of it - and right now they are angling to write for it. It's like a feeding frenzy."
And someone asks him what role he'd want to play on it, or how would he envision Spike on it.
He states: "Nice try. I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole - I'd get into so much trouble if I answered that question."
If he wasn't involved, he wouldn't be saying any of that. When Whedon was doing his reboot? Marsters just said - "I hope it's good but no, I'm not involved...blah, blah.. "
no subject
Date: 2025-05-26 08:09 am (UTC)I need to catch up with DareDevil. I never seem to have enough time!
no subject
Date: 2025-05-26 02:13 pm (UTC)