WARNING: The free form ramblings continue, be prepared for run-ons, incomplete thoughts, and atrocious punctuations. This is what happens to a mind on TV, it's not pretty, but kind of fun.
Fox gets a head start on the new season, having started rolling out many of it's new offerings this past week. Among them are the good the bad and the ugly. Read on my faithful viewer.
Sunday 9/11.
- The Simpsons. The family is back, too bad I can't say I'm glad for it. This series has been on a slide for a number of years and I feel that it probably should have been canceled. The season opener has Homer screwing up again with some football bets, to repay he has to let an adult film be shot in his home, which ticks off Marge, who runs off and joins up with a rugged man helping manatees. Can Homer win back his love? Who cares, we know how this ends. Not funny. *
- The War at Home. Michael Rapaport must be hurting for a paycheck to be in this junk. This was so not funny. It's trying to be clever and just falls flat on it's face. uninteresting characters, too many problems crammed into one family. Man it is just an absolute mess. *
- Family Guy. Finally something funny. Not one of the better episodes, but still the best of the evening so far. This time out Brian starts dating one of Meg's teachers and leads a crusade to change the school's name from James Woods to Martin Luther King. Peter shows up with James Woods just in time to stop that from happening. Peter and James become quick friends, which leaves Brian out in the cold. We need more Stewie, maybe next week. ***
- American Dad. Falling somewhere in the middle of the evening's comedies, we have this dysfunctional CIA family. We do get a goofy guest star in Patrick Stewart (who's Cptn. Picard was spoofed in Family Guy) as the director of the CIA, who starts dating Stan's daughter. This sets Stan off into a rage, leading to knockdown drag out fight to the finish, while the German fish narrates it all. **.5
- Wanted. This was a decent watch, it sort of held my attention. The team has to track down an escaped Hispanic gang member who may end up being the trigger to a large scale race war in LA. But instead of just tracking him, they decide to use him to take down a high powered white assassin at the same time, that is until a young boy gets caught in the middle. I like the character's, but the show is a bit too episodic at times. Next week is the season finale. ***
Article comments
1 - JohnWStiles
Thanks for the coverage. I can't bring myself to watch TV much these days. Waiting for The Sopranos and Gray's Anatomy and trying to justify a $60 per month cable bill...
2 - Eric Berlin
I thought Bones was terrible, and I'm a big Boreanaz fan. Maybe I just don't have a lot of patience for the very tired procedural model. I fault the writing, mostly, which just wasn't as perky as it was trying to be.
That said, I really do hope they bring back The Inside, which features fellow Whedon vet Adam Baldwin.
It's Always Sunny grew on me over the season to the point where I really started to look forward to it. The cast is wonderfully wacky, and the writing is bizarre, dark, and funny.
I stopped watching Starved after the yark factor got too high for me (I have a fairly weak stomach!). Too bad, as it has potential.
Prison Break achieves what it aspires to: escapist fun (in the clink, of all places!). I'm enjoying it, curious to see where it will go. "Escape is only the beginning," we're told.
We'll see!
3 - Bob A. Booey
Who started this terrible trend of calling the CSI-ripoff shows "crime procedurals"? It's apparently caught on, because EVERY review and critic I've read for the fall season is using the term "procedural." I hate it almost as much as I hate these shows. I want to know which studio executive or TV writer is responsible for this so I can stomp on their boxy black framed glasses.
That is all.
4 - Chris Beaumont
I'm pretty sure that The Inside got canned. They didn't even air all the completed episodes!
I like the Bones leads enought to give it some time to develop.
Did you know Charisma Carpenter will be a recurring character on Veronica Mars? She'll be a trophy wife.
Something I heard about Prison Break: I heard a rumor that once they escape, the show remains in the prison and focuses on another character trying to escape. I don't think that is true though....
Bob,
What term would you use? I have seent he use of procedural since L&O started, probably earlier. It seems to fit, but I am open to other terms to use.
5 - Bob A. Booey
How about "CSI ripoff" or "Law & Order ripoff"? Whichever is most appropriate to the show in question.
That is all.
6 - Eric Berlin
Chris -- They show Carpenter briefly during a V Mars promo. She's the second Buffy/Angel alum to hit the show as Alyson Hannigan was a recurring character during the first season.
Yeah, I think there's gonna be some kind of major twist with Prison Break as the plot line of getting the brothers out of jail will have to climax and be resolved at some point. I'm guessing they're going to go the 24 route and continue to escalate the levels of political corruption. The Martha Stewart evil mastermind character will become more involved at some point, etc.
Somehow it will have to revolve around the prison (I'm guessing), which will be interesting to see.
7 - Chris Beaumont
Haven't seen that promo...
For Whedon fans, Joss himself will be making a cameo in, I believe episode 2.6 of Veronica Mars.
8 - Eric Berlin
Kevin Smith will as well, as a convenience store clerk, I believe!
Looks to be a great season...
9 - Bob A. Booey
It's officially Buffy-sanctioned, the heir to the Buffy chick power genre.
Joss doesn't have anything to do with the show, though, right?
That is all.
10 - Chris Beaumont
No, I just think he really likes it, is all. I think a few former Buffy/Angel writers are working on it.
11 - Bob A. Booey
Like I said before, it's Buffy without the monsters, sex, and kung fu. A lot of the dialogue and the strong female characters remind me of Buffy, but it's obviously less sarcastic, witty and pop culture referential.
That is all.
12 - Eric Berlin
It's a pretty sexy show, Bob, particularly near the end of the season. And I'd venture that the wit and pop culture factors are not that far below Buffy at her/its peak.
13 - Eric Berlin
Salon just honored Veronica Mars with its "Buffy" award for the most underrated yet beloved show on TV.
14 - Joanie
Bones isn't horrible, but it lacks the fire of the original (and Miami) version of CSI. They better do something soon to make it a viable candidate for a full-season run.
Veronica Mars always scores high with me, if only because the show's kept my friend employed.
15 - Temple Stark
Sibling rivalry at an impasse.
TV/Video Editor Joan picked this his pick of the week. Go HERE to find out why. And thank you very much.