Seems to me as we get further and further into the new year (yes, I now deem us “far” into the new year), the world has failed to be terribly different than it was in the old year. Am I naïve thinking things will change? What’s so new about this year, anyway? It’s just the number, isn’t it? Other than that, it’s the same old thing, again, and again, and again. For instance, just like towards the end of the old year, here’s a week of PBS’s primetime programming. Sure, maybe some of the particular shows or episodes are different, but I’m listing the programs again. And that’s not new - it just isn’t.
Sunday, January 7:
8:00 - 9:00PM
Nature - “Chasing Big Cats”. I never thought big cats needed to be chased. Doesn’t Garfield pretty much lie there doing nothing, and he’s a pretty big cat. Maybe they mean the Cat in the Hat. He’s big and seems far more mobile than Garfield. Ah, reading my sheet here it appears we’re looking at five different cats from Africa, not Garfield or the Cat in the Hat at all (or Heathcliff for that matter).
9:00PM - 11:00PM
Masterpiece Theatre - “The Virgin Queen”. This is part 1 of 2 in a mini-series exploring the 40-year reign of Elizabeth I. I know, you were thinking it was Elizabeth II and kind of a raunchy exposé on her wedding night. Shame on you.
Monday, January 8:
8:00 - 9:00PM
Antiques Roadshow - “Honolulu (Hour Two)”. Here in hour two we get to witness the police storming the Antiques Roadshow in order to catch a serial killer. Sure, it’s a new twist for Antiques Roadshow, but it allows for the episode to end with those famous words, “book’em, Dano,” and if that’s not worth it, I don’t know what is.
9:00 - 10:00PM
American Experience - “The Alaska Pipeline”. Is Alaska still a part of this country? Isn’t it odd to go from a Hawaiin show to an Alaskan one? I’m American and don’t have any Alaskan pipeline experience, so maybe this whole thing isn’t quite as universal as they thought. Chew on that, PBS.
Article comments
1 - Paul
"Frontline - "Return of the Taliban"
Surprise, surprise. Frontline once again does a piece on either Iraq of Afghanistan.
How many YEARS do we have to wait for new Frontline shows re: social issues???
2 - Bliffle
Seems odd to have people review specific PBS programs who don't like PBS in general. They could save effort by just saying they don't like PBS up front.
3 - TV and Film Guy
Bliffle, I'm not at all sure I understand what you mean.
4 - Bliffle
Perhaps the reviewer lacks a preview tape of the program, or perhaps he didn't bother to view it and then attempts to substitute sophomoric humor for preview and description, but reviews like this are useless:
"Making science cool again, these scientific investigators take a look at fascinating questions: Can you build an elevator into space? Does anyone own the internet? Do robots have feelings? Hold your horses; I apologize. Science was never cool. There’s no way these guys are making science cool “again.” My bad."
5 - TV and Film Guy
Ah, I understand now, it seems as though there's a misunderstanding on the purpose of this piece. The piece exists simply to state what is on, not to (p)review the pieces.
If the attempts at humor are not to your liking though, it seems likely that you are not alone and you should take solace in that fact.
6 - Bliffle
Rather than lame humor, I would like some statement of what the programs will offer, or, what it has offered in the past.
As it is, there is simply too little or no real content in the reviews. After eliminating the humor stuff, that is.
7 - TV and Film Guy
Some of what you have asked for already does exist.
As for there being little to no content in the "reviews." I must again tell you that there are no "reviews" here. Which is probably a pretty good reason for their not being any review content.