TV Slut Report
Oct. 19th, 2007 12:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatOkay posting past my bedtime again - this always happens. Sleep has been elusive of late.
Saw Viva Laughlin tonight - they put it in Without A Trace normal spot to get viewers. Sunday at 8pm is a tough spot for a new show. And this show has a heck of a lot of money poured into it. What with Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith.
Did I like it? Not really. Course I wasn't overly fond of the BBC TV show in which it was based - entitled Viva Blackpool. By the way, Blackpoole - the one or two episodes I saw of it? Was a lot better. It had the actors sing the songs, not sing over the actual singers singing the songs at the same time in some weird sort of music video meets Karoke way. While I appreciate the creativity behind the idea, it felt awkward and jarring whenever it was done. Out of sync to such an extent that I found myself pulled out of the story or worse, waiting for the Karoke moments and disappointed there weren't more, so losing the moments in between.
I've also discovered something - I no longer find Hugh Jackman that interesting as a performer. Not sure why. This started with the Prestige, no wait, before that with X-Man Last Stand. Didn't feel he did much here either. Sort of wish they'd gotten Mick Jagger instead - then at least we would be looking at Jaggar and hearing his voice at the same time.
Will state that for the first time, I liked DB Woodside. Haven't liked him in any of his other roles. Hated him in 24, despised him in Buffy, but here - I actually found him interesting and very attractive. For a while I was thinking that I just didn't like the actor, but no, he just isn't good in certain types of roles - particularly ones which the writers have not figured out yet. He had no clue who Robin Wood was until literally the twelth episode of that season. Or for that matter Wood's motivation or history. Devilish hard for an actor. Same deal with the President's brother on 24. That character was oddly written.
I'm not saying this is any better written, just that I think the actor has a better idea of what he is supposed to be doing and looks less confused and annoyed.
The plot? Didn't interest me that much and there's far too many tv shows that are interesting me this season for me to bother with one that doesn't. If there were less? I might stick with it a bit longer. Am I disappointed? Not really. I went in with low expectations - the critics did not like it and for once? I agree with them.
In other tv news? I'm this*close to calling it quits on Grey's. If it weren't for my emotional investment in Alex, Cristina, Callie, Mark Sloan and Bailey? I'd call it quits right now. I cannot stand Derek Shepard - who has got to be the most manipulative, passive aggressive jerk I've ever seen depicted on a tv show, which I wouldn't mind if the writers were aware of the fact that they've created this type of character and wanted us to feel this way about him. But they don't. They think they've created a dream boat, the guy every woman wants. Ugh. George is becoming a Derek Shepard in training...manipulative, passive agressive, and whiny. Can't stand him either. Izzy...sigh, I don't mind Izzy so much - except when she is with George. And Lexie Grey? Ugh. If the writers put her and Derek together, I really am gone. I don't think they are that stupid. I'm not fond of Lexie Grey - she's too sugary for my taste. We'll see how long I stick with it.
Ugly Betty? Mildly entertaining. I loved Victor Garber. But the whole writing class subplot made me cringe. Could barely watch it. It's funny - but the plots that I enjoy on that show have zip to do with Betty - those are: Wilhemina's desire to run a fashion mag, Amanda's hunt for Daddy, the Alexis and Daniel relationship, and Justin's struggle with his father's death. Everything else sort of bores me or grates on my nerves.
Before I watched those shows, I watched Pushing Daises - which was by far my favorite tv show of the evening. It certainly is endearing. I think Fuller has finally found the right mix, having struck out with both Dead Like Me (I loved it but Showtime subscribers didn't) and Wonderfalls (again I enjoyed it, but other people didn't). This show is a little less cynical and sarcastic than those two were. It's more hopeful and the humor is nicer with a sardonic twinge. My pal Wales tried watching it and did not take to it - she found the voice-over narration grating. I get that. It grated on my nerves during the first episode, but now has oddly grown on me. It reminds me of some of the Ronald Dahl films - The Witches, Matilda, and James and The Giant Peach - it has that same humorous tongue in cheek tone. Also has a touch of Doctor Seuss in the rhyming. It is apparently doing quite well - far better than anyone expected. Has won it's time slot repeatedly. What intrigues me about Daisies is that it improves with each episode. Giving me a bit more of the characters. Resolving issues I was sure it would annoy me by leaving me hanging for weeks on end. The characters are actually evolving on a weekly basis along with the mysteries. This may well be the best new series of the season. With Life a close second in my opinion - it's not doing well in the ratings by the way and is predicted to be a goner by January, we'll see if NBC saves it the way it did Friday Night Lights.
Didn't watch Supernatural tonight - am saving it for daytime watching. Why? Well last week's episode gave me nightmares. I don't do well with horror at night. Have far too vivid an imagination. But something tells me I'll enjoy Supernatural a heck of a lot more than I enjoyed Grey's. The other reason watched Grey's live instead of Supernatural - was I started with Pushing Daisies, then drifted to Ugly Betty and somehow Grey's fit better. It's a bit jarring to go from Pushing Daisies to Smallville or to go from Ugly Betty to Supernatural.
DVR's are lovely things and much less expensive than buying tapes and a VCR. Odd I know but true. (Doesn't matter - VCR's don't work with my tv anyway, so really had no other choice in the matter).
Saw Viva Laughlin tonight - they put it in Without A Trace normal spot to get viewers. Sunday at 8pm is a tough spot for a new show. And this show has a heck of a lot of money poured into it. What with Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith.
Did I like it? Not really. Course I wasn't overly fond of the BBC TV show in which it was based - entitled Viva Blackpool. By the way, Blackpoole - the one or two episodes I saw of it? Was a lot better. It had the actors sing the songs, not sing over the actual singers singing the songs at the same time in some weird sort of music video meets Karoke way. While I appreciate the creativity behind the idea, it felt awkward and jarring whenever it was done. Out of sync to such an extent that I found myself pulled out of the story or worse, waiting for the Karoke moments and disappointed there weren't more, so losing the moments in between.
I've also discovered something - I no longer find Hugh Jackman that interesting as a performer. Not sure why. This started with the Prestige, no wait, before that with X-Man Last Stand. Didn't feel he did much here either. Sort of wish they'd gotten Mick Jagger instead - then at least we would be looking at Jaggar and hearing his voice at the same time.
Will state that for the first time, I liked DB Woodside. Haven't liked him in any of his other roles. Hated him in 24, despised him in Buffy, but here - I actually found him interesting and very attractive. For a while I was thinking that I just didn't like the actor, but no, he just isn't good in certain types of roles - particularly ones which the writers have not figured out yet. He had no clue who Robin Wood was until literally the twelth episode of that season. Or for that matter Wood's motivation or history. Devilish hard for an actor. Same deal with the President's brother on 24. That character was oddly written.
I'm not saying this is any better written, just that I think the actor has a better idea of what he is supposed to be doing and looks less confused and annoyed.
The plot? Didn't interest me that much and there's far too many tv shows that are interesting me this season for me to bother with one that doesn't. If there were less? I might stick with it a bit longer. Am I disappointed? Not really. I went in with low expectations - the critics did not like it and for once? I agree with them.
In other tv news? I'm this*close to calling it quits on Grey's. If it weren't for my emotional investment in Alex, Cristina, Callie, Mark Sloan and Bailey? I'd call it quits right now. I cannot stand Derek Shepard - who has got to be the most manipulative, passive aggressive jerk I've ever seen depicted on a tv show, which I wouldn't mind if the writers were aware of the fact that they've created this type of character and wanted us to feel this way about him. But they don't. They think they've created a dream boat, the guy every woman wants. Ugh. George is becoming a Derek Shepard in training...manipulative, passive agressive, and whiny. Can't stand him either. Izzy...sigh, I don't mind Izzy so much - except when she is with George. And Lexie Grey? Ugh. If the writers put her and Derek together, I really am gone. I don't think they are that stupid. I'm not fond of Lexie Grey - she's too sugary for my taste. We'll see how long I stick with it.
Ugly Betty? Mildly entertaining. I loved Victor Garber. But the whole writing class subplot made me cringe. Could barely watch it. It's funny - but the plots that I enjoy on that show have zip to do with Betty - those are: Wilhemina's desire to run a fashion mag, Amanda's hunt for Daddy, the Alexis and Daniel relationship, and Justin's struggle with his father's death. Everything else sort of bores me or grates on my nerves.
Before I watched those shows, I watched Pushing Daises - which was by far my favorite tv show of the evening. It certainly is endearing. I think Fuller has finally found the right mix, having struck out with both Dead Like Me (I loved it but Showtime subscribers didn't) and Wonderfalls (again I enjoyed it, but other people didn't). This show is a little less cynical and sarcastic than those two were. It's more hopeful and the humor is nicer with a sardonic twinge. My pal Wales tried watching it and did not take to it - she found the voice-over narration grating. I get that. It grated on my nerves during the first episode, but now has oddly grown on me. It reminds me of some of the Ronald Dahl films - The Witches, Matilda, and James and The Giant Peach - it has that same humorous tongue in cheek tone. Also has a touch of Doctor Seuss in the rhyming. It is apparently doing quite well - far better than anyone expected. Has won it's time slot repeatedly. What intrigues me about Daisies is that it improves with each episode. Giving me a bit more of the characters. Resolving issues I was sure it would annoy me by leaving me hanging for weeks on end. The characters are actually evolving on a weekly basis along with the mysteries. This may well be the best new series of the season. With Life a close second in my opinion - it's not doing well in the ratings by the way and is predicted to be a goner by January, we'll see if NBC saves it the way it did Friday Night Lights.
Didn't watch Supernatural tonight - am saving it for daytime watching. Why? Well last week's episode gave me nightmares. I don't do well with horror at night. Have far too vivid an imagination. But something tells me I'll enjoy Supernatural a heck of a lot more than I enjoyed Grey's. The other reason watched Grey's live instead of Supernatural - was I started with Pushing Daisies, then drifted to Ugly Betty and somehow Grey's fit better. It's a bit jarring to go from Pushing Daisies to Smallville or to go from Ugly Betty to Supernatural.
DVR's are lovely things and much less expensive than buying tapes and a VCR. Odd I know but true. (Doesn't matter - VCR's don't work with my tv anyway, so really had no other choice in the matter).
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 05:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 06:02 am (UTC)I don't get where that show is supposed to take place. I thought it was somewhere in the middle of the country, but
they had one scene take place in Queens, NY, and then Dean arrived back in time from there to wherever they are in the nick of time. Which was a little hard to buy.
I haven't seen enough of Dean's evolution from before this season to note if there are changes, post lost of eternal life and confined to eternity in hell.
My favorite show so far is Life.
It actually has a metaphor. Damaged man living it up in a cavernously empty beautiful mansion - which is an apt metaphor for his spiritual state. An intriguing love interest who, it's hinted, he can't get together with because he's still too damaged. And maybe other reasons, as well. No connections. His life full of disconnects. He's living a zennish life style in the now, but his entire being is focused on the past, not the present. Which is another area of disjunction between the external and the internal.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 05:02 pm (UTC)Regarding Supernatural - the show takes place in a fictional universe like Buffy did. Where demons, ghosts, ghoulies exist and urban folklore and legends are true (which may explain why I enjoy it - I had a minor in urban folklore and collected these stories). The set-up is that the brothers travel around the country in a beat-up Impala Convertible solving ghost-stories and killing demons - it is in some respects tongue firmly in cheek and owes a lot to B-Westerns and B-Horror movies made by folks like John Carpenter and Howard Hawks and the like. IT is not supposed to be taken literally - high on metaphor, and not realistic.
You can't really compare it to Life which is hyper-realistic - much like Homicide Life on the Street, Sopranoes, and The Wire - a sort of nice guy cop version of House with a bit of the grit of Homicide thrown in.
Comparing Supernatural to Life is a bit like comparing Buffy to well Prime Suspect or Six Feet Under or the Sopranoes. Totally different fruit. ;-)
I love both of them for different reasons. And I well, scare easily or more easily than a lot of people do. There were Angel and Buffy and Doctor Who episodes that unnerved me. I found Blink, for example, scary and it gave me nightmares. Part of it is my imagination - I tend to extrapolate off of things. Last week's Supernatural unnerved me, not sure if this week's would bug me or not, haven't seen it yet. But the cursed rabbit's foot legend reminds me a bit of the infamous monkey's paw that scared the bejeesus out of me as a child. From the previews? I'm thinking its probably not going to be scary and just played for laughs.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 05:11 pm (UTC)Anywho...I agree with you on Greys. They've ruined Burke and George and Callie. I don't like Bailey and Christina's story threads. And Alex appears to be the only sane one in the bunch - what he told Izzy was perfect and I wanted to applaud his attitude towards George - which was "you aren't worth fighting over". (And I used to really like George, now I can barely stand to watch him.)