Guilty Pleasure Television: Ringer and Glee

[shadowkat]

Well, the second episode of Ringer is a lot better than the first or pilot, which bodes well for the series. But Hitchcock it's not, more like Jackie Collin's or maybe Hitchcock by way of a Danielle Steele gothic romance (did Danielle do any? Or was that just Victoria Holt and Phyllis A Whitney and Mary Stewart - who, alas, were never mainstream enough to get a tv miniseries. Shame that, they were better writers.) Reminds me a great deal of those 1980s and 1990s Jackie Collins, Danielle Steele and Jacqulaine Suzanne mini-series. Remember those? This was before HBO did it's own programming or AMC figured out how to. If you want smart fare - you watched only PBS' Masterpiece Theater, Hallmark Hall of Fame or the big ABC Mini-series which were often hit or miss.

Ringer is a lot of fun in places. Deep and thought-provoking television, it ain't. No one is going to laud it with emmy's or teach a course on it or analyze it or write meta or fanfic (although stranger tv shows have gotten fanfic, *cough*teletubbies*cough*). I was laughing through most of this episode - which is subtitled, "What to do with that body in the trunk"? (Which clearly was meant to be a rift on Hitchcock's "What to do About Harry"?) But it felt more like Danielle Steele or maybe All My Children's riff on it. Soap Operas can be hilarious if you aren't expecting Shakespeare.

Also Gellar has improved tremendously - she clearly changed hairdressers, colorists, makeup and costume designers since the pilot. Dark colors work much better on her. I also think she may have gotten a tan and figured out to use eyeliner.

Still seems to have three acting modes though - but this episode gave her a lot more to play with.
And we got shiny new characters. I don't recommend it to people who hate soap operas. Let me put to you this way - if you don't like Jackie Collins, Danielle Steele or East Enders, you're not going to like this. Although, it is admittedly more Danielle Steel than Jackie Collins...sort of a really really subdued Jackie Collins.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like network television is borrowing heavily from the early 1980s and late 1970s this year? Pam Am, Playboy Club, Charlies Angels, Ringer, Revenge all remind of things I saw back then, albeit far more risque versions, the 1980s and 1970s tv was little bit more prudish and sanitized (this was before HBO really took off with the Sopranoes).

Glee - has also improved tremendously. It's almost as if Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck read my list of things they needed to change.

* Get rid of Sam and replace him with Blaine who can sing, dance, act and is actually interesting (check)
* Partner Rachel and Kurt as singing partners, not Finn (who is weak vocally, and can barely dance - have Finn play the drums instead) - (check)
* The Glee club tolerating Santana's bitchiness and back-stabbing ways is unbelievable. (check)
* Give Quinn a personality transplant and make her less of a cliche (check)
* Stop with the preachiness and pick up the pace - (check)
* Develop the characters (check)
* Focus on some other characters other than Kurt and Rachel (well we can't have everything, but they appear to be making the attempt.)

Best episode I've seen in a while. Apparently adding new talent helped. Still find it unbelievable and very satirical in places. And the Sue bit is more preachy than satirically funny...but Lynch almost pulls it off.

Other than that? It's moving in the right direction. Oh, and yes, they are definitely doing a riff on West Side Story - apparently that's the high school play this year - which is a much more realistic pick than Rocky Horror Picture Show (which I can't imagine any high school doing.) even if I enjoyed the heck out of that episode.

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and yes, they are definitely doing a riff on West Side Story - apparently that's the high school play this year - which is a much more realistic pick than Rocky Horror Picture Show (which I can't imagine any high school doing.) even if I enjoyed the heck out of that episode.

Nods. Those are the rumors I've been hearing all Summer.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like network television is borrowing heavily from the early 1980s and late 1970s this year? Pam Am, Playboy Club, Charlies Angels, Ringer, Revenge all remind of things I saw back then, albeit far more risque versions, the 1980s and 1970s tv was little bit more prudish and sanitized (this was before HBO really took off with the Sopranoes).

Everyone is trying to capitalize on the success of Mad Men, although I doubt very much if they're going to be as good.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Those are the rumors I've been hearing all Summer.

Not so much rumors any longer - they actually showed them doing bits from it in previews. It won't be an entire episode though, more like smattering bits here and there...I suspect.

Everyone is trying to capitalize on the success of Mad Men, although I doubt very much if they're going to be as good.

That explains Pam Am and Playboy Club but none of the others. Oh well...the Lost story trope failed last year and the year before with Flashforward and the Event, as did the Desperate Housewives copy-cats.
So they're trying Mad Men and 1970's style dramas.

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if I'll be hang in there w/Ringers... I seriously hate this over done heavy handed background music. However I thought it was fun to see Jaime Murray (Lila on Dexter's 2nd season, and H. G. Wells on Warehouse 13), she isn't the greatest actress but she does bring some fun to her performances. I'll give it a few more episodes (I like the noir mystery thing).

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Not sure Ringers will work for you...since I think it will go more the Bette Davis Melo-drama route than noire mystery soon. But I may be wrong, can go either way. But there's a lot of melodrama bits in that story at the moment...the pregnancy, the drug abuse, the kid's death...and sleeping with the best friend. It really does remind me of those Life Time Channel suspense thrillers based on Nora Roberts romantic thrillers. Campy fun.

I'm watching for Ion Gruffold - who plays the husband and played Horatio Hornblower, Mr. Fantastic, and King Arthur - I think. LOL!

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, Ion Gruffold is fabulous!
I'm thinking the dead hit man's disappearing body and other mystery fun (and they are definitely putting a touch of dark comedy in there with that) will keep me interested for a little while... we shall see.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Interestingly, in the second episode Sarah invited people from BtVS team - Cynthia Bergstrom as costume designer, Todd MacIntosh as head of make-up department. :)

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I knew she'd done that...but wasn't sure when or why - when I read the article in EW about it. But after seeing the pilot and second episode?
Obvious.

Now if she could just do something about the direction and writing...shame she can't hire Marti Noxon, Jane E or Rebecca Rand Kirshner.

[moscow-watcher.livejournal.com]

Now if she could just do something about the direction and writing...shame she can't hire Marti Noxon, Jane E or Rebecca Rand Kirshner.

Oh, yes! I wonder if she *actually* could do it. She's an executive producer, apparently has some clout. And I think she's ambitious enough to push the envelope as far as possible.

If Eliza Dushku could hire Joss himself, Smidge could at least try to invite some of BtVS alum in the writing team.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Except I think they all have better gigs and I'm not sure she's on the best terms with them. Marti just got hired for Fox's Glee, Jane Espenson got hired for ABC's Once Upon a Time after Miracle Day, and I think Rebecca Rand Kirshner is show-runner for 90210 which had higher ratings than Ringer and was the lead in.

So, no, don't see it happening unfortunately. ;-)