Revolution/ER/Brothers & Sisters Connections

Pretty much watching nothing but ER these days...but I have slowed down a little bit. I've just finished season 7. Which has some great Abby stuff with Sally Field guest starring as her crazy mother. 
It also means I've finished with Elizabeth Mitchell's eps, so that will make it easier watching Revolution. Not that she was in ER that much anyways for being in 17 eps....but it was still good. But not her best character, and all the making out with Laura Innes was weird.
Now I'll have to drag out season 8, cause I don't want Mark Green to die!

Speaking of Revolution. It is still awesome after the 1st ep back. Plenty of good Rachel stuff, but also good Miles, Charlie and Aaron stuff. I don't care so much about the Neville family stuff. But the line from this week's ep by Jason was my fave line of the year. "What's a boy band?"
It was good to get an explanation of what made the power go out, but it still didn't exactly say why...and I'm more interested in the why...and the flashbacks that should tell me. I want to know what went on with Miles and Bass, and why Rachel went willingly as a prisoner?!

Raising Hope has wrapped for the season. The finale was okay, but it was the 2nd last ep that I loved. The not really a musical musical ep. "I'm gonna rock the Torah" is still stuck in my head.

Smash finally got better...meaning Ivy is back as Marilyn, but it looks like season 3 is a pipe dream. But this season has not been great. I blame Hit List...2 musicals is fun in theory, but Smash was at its best when it was about building Bombshell, and Ivy vs. Karen.

Here's hoping Nashville gets a 2nd season. The last few eps have been great. If only they could get rid of Avery...he's annoying and there are way too many characters with non-connecting storylines.
Yay for more Lennon and Maisy Stella singing. Those little girls kick ass!

The Good Wife and Once Upon a Time are off for a few more weeks. But my comedies are starting to wrap up too.

Mad Men is back, the first ep was kinda boring. I don't like Megan. Betty bores me.
I liked having Kerris Lilla Dorsey in an ep. Thought it was cool having her and Max Cotton's little brother in a scene together...almost a Brothers and Sisters reunion. 
I also didn't recognize Linda Cardellini  at first, which seeing as I'm watching ER.....I felt bad about.

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-Carlie

Emmys 2011 Verdict

Well I wasn't that excited for this years Emmys I must say. I wasn't sure about Jane Lynch hosting....but she was actually pretty good...and WAY better than the last time FOX hosted them - anybody remember that round stage with the people sitting ON the stage itself? TERRIBLE! But I would have rathered had Jimmy again.

My fave fave fave part was the Lead Actress in a Comedy pageant! When Amy Poehler rushed up on stage, I almost died of laughter! And then when the rest of them got up...it was just pure awesomeness! I would have loved any of them to win...I am SO glad that Melissa McCarthy (or Sookie St James as she will always be to me) won....I love her, even though I don't watch her show....but I kinda wanted Amy Poehler to have her turn! Maybe some day she will win. I also was rooting for Martha Plimpton, but she'll get more chances...just look at Kristin Chenoweth!!!
-Also I totally vote that those 6 ladies host next year's Emmy's. They'd be unstoppable!

I feel bad for the people in the categories with Maggie Smith and Martin Scorsese...your odds are pretty damm slim! 

I was also excited to have such a large SNL presence at the emmys. Kristen, Seth, Andy and Lonely Island, Lorne, Jimmy, Amy and Tina....its weird seeing Seth out and about now...and getting interviewed on the red carpet.

While I have been grizzling about the PPP and Parenthood not being recognized this year - when they really really deserved to be, I did give them points for at least including them in their drama show clips - PPP especially, cause it never gets as much attention.

As for the Red Carpet - I wasn't stunned by any of the dresses particularly...nobody really stood out this year.
My faves are all just people I thought looked really nice. Aubrey Plaza looked really pretty all dressed up...she cleans up nice when she's not April. Jayma Mays looked really nice too. I even thought Amy Poehler looked good in her blue number...or maybe there's something wrong with me. -Oh and I was disappointed in Dianna Agron this year, she's normally one I LOVE for fashion, but she still looked nice.

The interviews all sucked too, except for every Amy Poehler and Will Arnet one! Those two should have a talk show someday...or you know...host an awards show.

So overall....yay for the Modern Family awards! yay for Julie and Ty...I loved that Phil and Claire got awards...and that the show won. Yay for Mad Men...but maybe next year a different show will win, starting to get sick of those two hogging all the awards!

That is all.

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-Carlie

The Emmys - Part 1

Ok so the Emmys were monday....I had to work so I couldn't watch them till later, and due to a technical mishap, I had to download the awards part. So I watched the abridged version on channel 10.....and am catching up on the bits I missed.

I'll comment on the red carpet and best/worst dressed later, but for now I've got comments on the awards part.

There were SO many people I liked up for the same awards it was hard not to be pretty happy with the result.
-I was happy for Jane Lynch. She ROCKS. But I would have loved for Kristen Wiig to get an emmy....but I have a feeling they are never gonna give out awards for SNL unless for hosting.
-Yay for Edie Falco! I mean....I would have loved Lea Michele or the others to win....but I love Nurse Jackie too.
-I really wanted Elisabeth Moss to win best supporting actress drama....But if someone else had to win, I'm glad I was Archie Panjabi from The Good Wife. -And how IS Rose Burne only a supporting actress for Damages?
-really thought Julianna Margulies would win for The Good Wife....I wasn't so fussed about the rest.
-yay for Mad Men and Modern Family winning! I had this feeling all day that Mad Men would win....I love Glee, but it kinda lost something in those last 9 eps...I hope it finds it again in season 2. (Not that those eps were not awesome).

Lauren Graham and Matthew Perry presenting award together was both SO cute....and also terrible. Bad jokes, bad jokes. But it was nice to see them together again, since they are friendly....

Loved the Modern Family with George Clooney thing! I just love him!

Julianna Margulies and Jimmy Fallon did a really bad fake-slap 1st go....2nd go was spot on.

Overall I thought Jimmy Fallon was a great host. Lots of musical stuff too!
I think its gonna be hard to get "The island it was mystical, but in the end they died....I didn't understand it, but I tried!" out of my head anytime soon!

Oh and it now feels sad to me, that after all the nominations the cast of The West Wing got over the years....that none of them are even anywhere near the emmys anymore....Matt Perry and Connie Britton representing....

Oh and one thing that really annoyed me...was the "coming up in...." warnings across the screen.....we don't need warnings all the time!

More to come.

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Carlie

Election Time and Election Episodes

Oh The West Wing how I have missed you!!!!!

Okay so I've been saying for a few weeks now that I wanted to watch the election eps of TWW, since we're having an election this weekend. I finally got time last night to watch Election Night, and am in the middle of Process Stories right now. - I probably won't have time for Election Day part 1 and 2, but I can watch them after saturday.

You know the weirdest thing? Even though I've been watching more recent Bradley Whitford (and others) in stuff....they all looked weird in season 3....but not in a 'young' way, but I guess more of a 'wow it has really been too long' way.... I honestly don't remember when I last watch any West Wing.

Anyways.....moving on.
I'm enjoying Mad Men...and Community, but since Alison Brie is in both shows, I cannot watch them on the same night. It weirds me out too much. So glad there is plenty of good Peggy stuff this season! (Hey no Zoey in these eps of TWW....)

What was that about moving on?.....oh yes.

Hot in Cleveland is finishing up soon....and its getting better.....or at least showing off the talent a little better. However I still find Valerie Bertinelli really really annoying. But the others are funny.

I've only got 2 eps left of Las Vegas season 4....and omg no wonder I had forgotten about the end of season 4. I knew Mary left....but I had completely no recollection of how or what happens to Mary.
I'll talk about Las Vegas more when I've watched the last 2 eps of s4....and then its onto the crappy season 5.....maybe it won't seem so bad this time around! lol


wow....how did I forget Joanna Gleeson's characters name in The West Wing?......okay the ep is over now....I'll move on, and finish up.


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-Carlie

Catch Me Up!

So.......it sucks that these days I have very little time for TV....I miss it!

So Mad Men is back...I've watched 3 eps and am enjoying it. Its the kind of show I love to watch, but wouldn't obsess over it and watch the eps multiple times.
-Oh and after all the things I've been watching lately, I'm so glad Christina Hendricks grew up and got not-annoying. -Like Amy Adams! They both just used to play annoying characters on tv in the early 2000's.

I finished season 1 of Damages....and boy that show surprised me! I had no idea just how epic it was in terms of storyline planning. I can't wait to see where they go in season 2....they've got some interesting things to explain.

And now that I've finished Damages, I'm finally catching up on the rest of United States of Tara. Its not that I didn't want to watch it - but it was taking forever to download. And its not the kind of show I like to watch tons in a row....it messes with my head too much.

I'm almost done with season 4 of Las Vegas now, hopefully I'll have finished season 5 by the time I leave for the US in Sept....Not that it really matters where I leave it since it never got an actual finale cause of the writers strike not working out well for a lot of shows. (not that I don't support the writers).
The problem will be not hating season 5....Its just not the same without Ed.....and I guess Mary, but Mary wasn't the same since season 3....she lost all her good character traits....and got super annoying and weird. (Nikki Cox's uber-skinniness season 3 didn't help...)

There's a few new shows starting up soon, and some oldies coming back, so I'll have to try and make room for them in my limited tv schedule....


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Carlie

TV Viewing Update

So...as of today, I have finished season 2 of Mad Men, and have watched the first 4 eps of season 3.
If you ask me, season 3 is a little more interesting than season 2. I found season 2 a little boring, or dragged out or something.

I'm 5 episodes into season 3 of Weeds. Really enjoying the show. Its nice to finally be getting to the rest of it, having only see the first season and a couple of eps from the 2nd season back when channel 9 was airing it.

I'm really enjoying the new shows Glee and Cougar Town. Glee is full of musical fun and has me downloading the songs and playing them when I drive anywhere now!
Cougar Town with Courteney is fun, a little crazy and kooky, but quite amusing.

I've got a few other new shows I might try and get to when there's a break in the episodes of other stuff.

-I dunno how I feel about new Private Practice...its very depressing...good, but depressing. All the ABC dramas seem to be very depressing this season. Brothers and Sisters is just gonna keep getting more and more depressing I imagine with all the Kitty stuff. -At least it hopefully means Robert will be around more, and be less annoying. Dunno about the rest of them, but I am still enjoying the show, they seem to be getting back on track...whatever the track is exactly I don't know.
Grey's Anatomy is good, but really needs to start wrapping up. Its gonna be losing people all over the place this season with everyone having babies and stuff in real life. I feel bad that I don't miss George that much...He was seriously under-used in the last few seasons. I miss the good old days of the first 3 seasons. But for now I'll keep watching.

Really looking forward to Lost coming back in 2010. Although I am dreading getting to the end. Its gonna be sad. But I also can't wait to see what they do with it next year!

Current TV Watchage

So...I'm halfway through season 6 of The West Wing already...makes me very sad. lol. But I am working on making my very own Josh/Donna fanvid...could be interesting.

I finished Scrubs. I really liked the way it ended.
I finished season 4 of Will and Grace...which is all I have...for now.

I've started Freaks and Geeks. And there are a few others that I can borrow from Ness after that...

In terms of downloaded shows...I'm enjoying new Showtime show Nurse Jackie. -A little weird, but entertaining.
I'm loving In Plain Sight....Course once we get through season 2 we'll be screwed!
I'm still behind on Brotherhood, and NCIS. I've got 2 more eps of NCIS left to download...I just can't be bothered..I think I'm losing interest in that show.

Still gotta catch up on Mad Men too...I haven't watched season 2 yet and season 3 is starting. oops. Maybe I can track that down soon.

Oh well...before I know it, september and the Emmy's will be here. Maybe Kristin will win this year. :)

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Carlie

What Happened to The TV Viewers?

Did they all suddenly get dumber, and stupid - unable to appreciate good writing, directing, performance and overall creativity???? It feels like it. Maybe they just became jaded.


Over the last few years, ratings keep dropping for new shows. People are just not tuning in for the good stuff. There could be a billion different reasons why shows are not lasting anymore.

I grew up on shows that were institutions. They lasted at least 3 seasons and often went to 5 or more. So what has changed? Is it the audience? The content? Or are the networks just not giving things a go anymore?

I argue it's a bit of all three.



Firstly, I think the popularity of the internet gave people something else to do. It got people away from their televisions. I also think that the introduction and excess of reality programs has really dumbed down the audience. Additionally, those shows are cheaper to make and easier to sell.


There are very very few shows begun after 2002 that really were good! There are always exceptions and we have seen them. In the 20th century somehow there were more shows being given a chance by networks. Nowdays its all about ratings. If something does not rate high straight off the bat, it is doomed. If they had thought that way in the old days, The Brady Bunch and many other iconic shows would never have made it! -Just something to think about.



I think that nowadays the audiences EXPECT new shows to not last. So they are not tuning in in the first place! They would rather wait till it has a good shot, and catch up by watching online or dvd. I find even I think that way. I know what is coming, I know who is in it and sometimes I really really like it (eg. Pushing Daisies, Better Off Ted), and want it to do well, but sometimes even though I want to....I just automatically expect that anything new will not last. (eg. Cupid)

Even with TIVO, people are still not watching the new stuff.
DVD's I think are also to blame. Now people can watch their old faves over and over and over again without having to care about the new stuff that isn't going to last more than a season. Not that there is anything wrong with watching old stuff.....I'm all for it. -You've seen my dvd collection and read my ranting about The West Wing. But its a factor nonetheless.



It really makes me worry about the future of tv. A lot of the BIG shows (in my lifetime) ended from 2004-2006. Today's big shows started around that time...but they are just not quite at the same standard of excellence and consistancy of quality that the old ones were. -Seriously, you cannot argue that season 5 of Grey's Anatomy is as good as season 5 of Friends. (or for a better example the first 12 seasons of ER vs. the last few)
I wonder what will happen when these big shows we have now call it quits. What will the landscape of American television look like when Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, Heroes, LOST etc. end. I doubt Mad Men will go for more than a few more seasons. Maybe by that time we will be ready to accept some of the old quality back again. Maybe by then we will see some more top shelf stuff make it past season 1, by the likes of J.J Abrams, Aaron Sorkin, Amy Sherman-Palladino, John Wells, the creators of Friends, Will and Grace, and other sitcoms, and any one of other greats I'm sure I've forgotton.


Stay tuned for my next rant.....on the death of the Sitcom!

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Carlie