So today Rekha and I broached the topic of television. True, this is a film review class. True, there's lots of crap on TV. True, the youth of America are in danger because of the evil box. Does that cover it? Good. Because I love TV, and I'm here to tell you that you should too.There are a ton of great reasons to love TV. When considering the quality and depth of storytelling available to television writers, it's easy to see how TV has the potential to work in ways film can't. Characters' relationships, personalities, and weaknesses can be established early and cashed in on later. Story arcs can be stretched over several episodes, keeping the dramatic tension over weeks, not hours. And finally, writers have the ability to assess viewer response and alter content. If something doesn't work immediately, it can be tweaked, new stars can be added, and new directors can be brought in. Shows that take advantage of their medium really have the capacity to tell stories other forms just can't. So with that in mind, here's a list of essentials, as far as I'm concerned: The West Wing (Seasons 1-4), Veronica Mars, Lost.
* The West Wing: This is a no-brainer. It's simply the smartest, wittiest, fastest-moving, most engaging and relevant thing that's ever been on television. Period.
* Veronica Mars: This one is brilliant for its misdirection. To the untrained, disinterested eye, it may seem like just another show about a girl living in SoCal being snarky. And she is. She's the ULTIMATE snarky girl in SoCal. But she also solves crime while being snarky, clever, and just plain cool. As our friends at amazon.com say, "Veronica Mars is The O.C. as penned by Raymond Chandler. Veronica is Nancy Drew by way of Lauren Bacall, while Neptune makes Peyton Place look like Mayberry."
* Lost: As I mentioned in class, this show is X-Files-meets-Gilligan's Island-meets-awesome. The sci-fi, conspiracy-theory laden, character-driven drama raises as many questions as it answers, some deep, some merely entertaining. The tone and content bounces between high and low, and the way each episode focuses on a single character's backstory pre-plane crash keeps the plots fresh and ensures that we don't have to look at the same dirty people in their fraying clothes every minute of every episode.
These shows are the places to start. I know it sounds like hard work, and maybe you don't think you have the time to devote to such a noble calling, but trust me. It will all be worth the sacrifice.
7 comments:
I highly recommend HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Hi, my name is Danielle and I'm a TV addict lol. There's no point of me explaining why its great to love TV because I'd just be echoing Leslie. Instead I'll just add onto the list of essential TV shows you need to start watching or order from Netflix: The Office (U.S Version), Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy.
*The Office (U.S Version): Two words - Steve Carell. He is absolutely hysterical as the try too hard, awkward, politically incorrect boss Michael. Not to forget his sidekick Dwight or the rest of the amazing cast. If you loved the movie Office Space imagine that in a weekly 22minute sitcom. Fav eps: "Booze Cruise," "Diversity Day," "Christmas Day."
*Arrested Development: No show captures the dysfunction and chaos of family better. Jeffery Tambor shines playing the father and uncle George Bluth Sr. Not to mention Jessica Walter, who plays the Drunken unemotional wife and mother. All you OC Fans Julie Cooper wouldn't be who she is without this woman! Oh and did I mention David Cross is in it too. I could go on and on...but I won't. The writing on this show is fantastic. Its witty, original and full of satire. Sadly though it was axed by FOX after its 3rd season bc...they're idiots.
*How I Met Your Mother: Three words - Doogie Howser MD. Yes! If you loved Neil Patrick Harris in Harold and Kumar than check him out as Barney, the esquential frat boy in a suit with smarts. Each week we get some new Barney-isms that you'll be quoting at your next night out. One of the best new comedies on TV right now. HIMYM is "a love story in reverse."
*Grey's Anatomy: Ever wondered what a dram-edy would look like - here it is. Taking a cue from ER (the earlier seasons) minus the big stars and hype - GA follows five competitve surgical interns at Seattle Grace. Amazon.com reviewer, Ellen A. Kim couldn't have said it any better "the doctors juggle romance and foster friendships while trying not to stab each other in the back over surgeries."
So with summer approaching blast on that AC, accept the couch potato calling and check out these shows...you'll thank me later.
Somehow...my previous comment got deleted which is such a bummer. So I'll give you the condensed version. Here are my Top 4 TV Shows You Need to be Watching:
*The Office (US Version)
- Two words: Steve Carell. He is hilarious as the politically incorrect, awkward, tries too hard boss Michael. If you liked the movie Office Space - than imagine that condensed into a weekly 22minute sitcom. Some episodes to check out: "Booze Cruise," "Diversity Day," "Christmas Time"
*How I Met Your Mother: Did you love Doogie Howser MD in Harold and Kumar? Well he's back and even better as Barney: The suit wearing frat boy playa who has new sayings (Barney-isms) every week. Check out this new "love story told in reverse."
*VMars: Nancy Drew of the 21st century. She's smart, witty and a hellva good detective. Stephen King and Joss Whedon loves it too, so go watch it already.
Grey's Anatomy: Wanna watch a show where 5 Surgical Interns compete with each other, sleep with their bosses, cry, scream, laugh and try to save lives?
Summer's coming up so blast that AC, become a couch potato and catch up on some of the best shows on TV.
Some other great shows are no longer in production, such as "News Radio," "Sports Night," and, well, just about every other show I love.
If you are ever given the chance to watch the aforementioned shows, though, I'd highly recommend doing so.
While I'm here... why DO they cancel all of the great shows? Do the "powers-that-be" get scared when a witty, funny, good show starts to gather a following? Does it make them sad? Do they cry into their schedules, wondering why the show is smarter than they are? Or is that just the way the cookie crumbles?
Have a good day,
Good call on limiting your praise of The West Wing to seasons 1-4.
I love tv as well. I have a select viewing of shows that I keep up with weekly and I am not afraid to admit it. Leslie, when you mentioned that Lost is a little "X-Files," it made me think: What happens when television meets movies? Do you remember the "X-Files Movie"? Actually, at the time, the show ended in May and the movie came out in the summer, when it did it tried to answer some of the questions that were presented in the show's season finale. Needless to say, this didn't work too well. And as I've thought about it more, there haven't been many television movies that have been successful. Ummm...."Dukes of Hazard" w/ Jessica Simpson, need I say more? No. Why is this? If television can be so great, why does it flop when it hits the big screen? --Patrice
Love is a neurochemical conjob. Ignore homeless veterans. Numbers are smarter than letters. Greeks is freaks. 1200 slaves built the Statue of Liberty. Cooties eats cancer for breakfast. Beat kids. The U.S. pissed on Mexico, took three bites out of South America, chewed on the Middle East, birthed three Mexicos in China and ate two of them for breakfast. If a strange squirrel whips an enormous sparrow and then tries to pull you onto his lap, he’s probably a murderous chicken. A pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of brain. Second chances are hard to come by. I’ve suckled from the teat of cosmic truth, now you can too. Wonder Showzen: 9:30 p.m: Fridays: MTV2
-Stuart Black
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