The TV Discussion Thread

[Qrazy]

Cool, I was just going by the billboards, which, since they're everywhere, have that damn rhyming phrase stuck in my head. Glad to hear it's good since I love me some Krysten Ritter.

Well it's B... in the credit sequence so I'd say you were right the first time.

[Henry Gale]

Not sure if anyone's been watching Delocated this season, but my god, those last two episodes were glorious. One of the most underrated comedies on TV.

[number8]

All of Dawson's Creek is apparently on Amazon Prime streaming. So I'm watching it from the beginning.

Man, this dialogue.

"Sex sex sex! it's all anybody ever talk about! Why are we so obsessed with sex?"
"Well, sex is a very important part of life, Dawson."
"If sex is so important, then how come Spielberg never had a sex scene in any of his movies? Huh? He knows where sex belongs in film as it is in real life."

[number8]

Somehow it never occurred to me when I was watching this show over a decade ago how unsettling it is to watch 15-year-olds make out in front of giant side-by-side posters of Schindler's List and The Color Purple.

[number8]

"You're going to have to kiss him. A movie doesn't work without a kiss, Joey. It's a love story."
"It's a horror movie!"
"It's an homage, with an allegorical slant."

[MadMan]

When TBS aired reruns of Dawson's Creek on a regular basis back when I was in high school, I watched them. I enjoy the show quite a bit, actually.

[Thirdmango]

Yeah, back in 05 or so Dawsons Creek was on at like 7 in the morning and I noticed it was starting at the beginning so I watched I think about two seasons. It was better then I expected it to be though being a film major at the time I thought it was weird that he was a film major because of Spielberg.

[number8]

It's deliberate. There's a scene where he complains that Close Encounters should have won an Oscar over Gandhi because they shouldn't give awards to movies you can't even sit through. Also when he enters the film festival and says out loud that his favorite director is Spielberg, the other student filmmakers laugh at him.

[EvilShoe]

Just watched the finale of Rescue Me. It's definitely a show that was on the air once... Yup.

Quite enjoyed the show until it became all about Leary's character, and the rest of the characters had little left to do.

Next on the pile of "shows I've wasted enough time on to watch the final season" (after this, Hung and Bored to Death): Big Love.

[Ezee E]

Just watched the finale of Rescue Me. It's definitely a show that was on the air once... Yup.

Quite enjoyed the show until it became all about Leary's character, and the rest of the characters had little left to do.

Yeah, eventually all the secondary characters were limited to improv scenes, and Leary was dealing with conflicts that he had in Season 1 & 2. Huge dropoff, and a rather predictable finale for a firefighter show. Blegh.

[Irish]

Oh god please don't tell me they ended that show by --

-- having him die in a fire.

I was a huge fan the first few seasons, then stopped watching around season fourish because of the problems EvilShoe noted.

[Ezee E]

Oh god please don't tell me they ended that show by --

-- having him die in a fire.

I was a huge fan the first few seasons, then stopped watching around season fourish because of the problems EvilShoe noted.
Close enough.

Lou dies in a fire the episode beforehand. Firefighter funeral, Leary has guilt that it should've been him. Eventually is comforted by the ghost of Lou, and becomes the instructor at the next FDNY Probie Academy.

[Mara]

Holy crap, "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23" is genuinely funny. Thanks, guys. I'm going to call it DTtBiA23 for fun.

Also, holy crap, James Van Der Beek is genuinely funny. And handsome. I never thought he was handsome when he was popular, probably because the frosted tips. (Oh, frosted tips. WHY?) I never watched "Dawson's Creek" so I'd never really formed an opinion on him before.

And what's-her-name from "Dollhouse" is on here, too.

[number8]

Yep. Did you watch the second episode?

[Mara]

Yep. Did you watch the second episode?

I did. I didn't really see the "Better off Ted" comparisons until someone showed up in a wheelchair. That was a very BoT moment.

[DavidSeven]

Also, holy crap, James Van Der Beek is genuinely funny. And handsome. I never thought he was handsome when he was popular, probably because the frosted tips. (Oh, frosted tips. WHY?) I never watched "Dawson's Creek" so I'd never really formed an opinion on him before.

Van Der Beek has a wonderful performance in The Rules of Attraction. A darkly charismatic and hilarious turn. I never watched Dawson's Creek, but I can only assume the role was completely against type for him. I've been hoping forever that someone else would tap into this side of him. I'm probably going to give this show a shot at some point soon.

[number8]

He's the reason I first noticed the show. You know why? Because James Van Der Memes (JamesVanDerMemes.com) is one of the most important websites of our times.

[Lucky]

Alright, it's officially on my DVR. I'll watch the pilot tonight.

BTW, Mara, I know you gave up on Ringer but check out the episode from last night if you want to see how batshit crazy the show has gotten. I think you'll be able to catch on pretty quickly to what's going on if you pay attention to the "previously on..." segment. I can fill you in on the major details if you're interested.

[Lucky]

Has potential. Frantic pace, even for a comedy pilot. Will be interesting to see how it evolves as it is given time to breathe. Definitely on my radar and I'll stick with it for awhile. Ivy from Dollhouse is pretty funny.

[Saya]

Just finished the first season of Adventure Time. This is really fun. I love it. Hope the next seasons are just as good.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Just finished the first season of Adventure Time. This is really fun. I love it. Hope the next seasons are just as good.

My younger sister loves that show and keeps trying to get me to watch it. I'll probably give it a go this summer.

[number8]

It's absolutely demented. None of the shows on Adult Swim can hold a candle to Adventure Time's insanity.

[Mara]

Upon reflection, the moment that shocked me the most about the first two episodes of DTtBiA23 was that we have a main (fairly likeable) character get an 11-year-old disabled boy drunk on purpose as a throw-away gag, with zero repercussions.

[number8]

I suppose when you lay out the fact that she's a bitch from the get go (it's in the title!), anything goes.

[Mara]

I suppose when you lay out the fact that she's a bitch from the get go (it's in the title!), anything goes.

I hope they don't castrate her character, actually. It's not unusual in a Wacky Ensemble Piece like this, especially with female characters, to tone down the crazy to make the character more sympathetic. (Veronica on "Better Off Ted" is a good example where they didn't do this.)

I'm also glad that June isn't played as being the "normal" one. Rather like Michael in "Arrested Development," functional does not equal sane. In the second episode especially, they are letting her quirk flag fly.

As far as secondary wackos go, I hope Scott remains as a character, Mark is hilarious and I like Robin (who I keep calling Ivy) mostly on potential. Eli the perverted neighbor, though... why? It feels like they're trying to subvert the always-present neighbor trope from traditional sitcoms and crossing him with The Todd from "Scrubs," but it's not really funny. Just sort of invasive and gross.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Upon reflection, the moment that shocked me the most about the first two episodes of DTtBiA23 was that we have a main (fairly likeable) character get an 11-year-old disabled boy drunk on purpose as a throw-away gag, with zero repercussions.

Yeah, Val and I watched the first two episodes last night and it's great fun, if only for the moments such as this, where the episode just goes for broke without worrying about the consequences from an audience perspective. I'll be regularly tuning in for as long as it lasts, which I don't expect to be terribly long.

[Ezee E]

He's the reason I first noticed the show. You know why? Because James Van Der Memes (JamesVanDerMemes.com) is one of the most important websites of our times.
Van Der Beek is a good looking man.

[Mara]

Van Der Beek is a good looking man.

I think I'm a little smitten, actually. I found myself seriously contemplating watching some "Dawson's Creek" and had to give myself a get-a-grip slap.

[number8]

Do it.

[Mara]

Do it.

Is it actually good? Because that would astonish me. It looks terrible.

[Raiders]

Is it actually good? Because that would astonish me. It looks terrible.

Not terrible by a long shot and I think it was better "in the moment" of its premiere and first couple seasons than it is now, if that makes sense. Still, it grew tiresome very fast. Not sure it was any better quality-wise, but I got my fix in those days from Felicity instead.

[Irish]

Van Der Beek is a good looking man.

You might think that, until someone points out his strangely ENORMOUS head and then that's all you can ever notice about him.

[Mara]

Then again, I went on and on about how terrible Gilmore Girls looked, and I finally watched it because I lost a bet, and... well, it's not terrible. It's actually pretty watchable.

[Qrazy]

You might think that, until someone points out his strangely ENORMOUS head and then that's all you can ever notice about him.

Funnily enough a lot of actors have enormous heads. My uncle met Donald Sutherland at a grocery store once and said he had to do a double take before he was sure he was actually seeing Sutherland and not a giant walking watermelon.

[Mr. McGibblets]

Eli the perverted neighbor, though... why? It feels like they're trying to subvert the always-present neighbor trope from traditional sitcoms and crossing him with The Todd from "Scrubs," but it's not really funny. Just sort of invasive and gross.

This is the only thing I didn't like about the show. More than the type, the actor has incredibly poor delivery.

[Irish]

Funnily enough a lot of actors have enormous heads. My uncle met Donald Sutherland at a grocery store once and said he had to do a double take before he was sure he was actually seeing Sutherland and not a giant walking watermelon.

:lol:

[EyesWideOpen]

Just watched the first episode of this early 00's British show "Teachers" and it was awful but it was neat picking out people I recognized. Besides Andrew Lincoln who is the lead, Ashley from Revenge plays one of the students and one of the main lead women was on Doctor Who.

[Sycophant]

First two episodes of "Don't Trust the B" were alright. I'm looking forward to finding out what the show is when it settles into itself. This James Van Der Beek thing could get old, and Eli grinds the show to a gross, creaking halt (I probably blame the actor more than the writers, but they're both at fault).

[DavidSeven]

I also watched the first two episodes of Apartment 23. I mostly agree with Syco, but my hunch is that Van Der Beek is going to become the best thing about the show. I'm not really sold on the blonde lead. It seems promising enough to keep watching for now.

The guy who played Scott is nine years older than Krysten Ritter. Not a big deal, but I thought that whole thing was stretching plausibility while watching it.

[Lucky]

Girls is far and away the best comedy pilot of the past year. The trailers misled me and I expected more of a traditional Apatow stamp, but what I got instead was completely welcome. The show has a peculiar tone that reminds me of how Louis can be at times with its unapologetic realism. I'm a little put off by the Sex and the City self-comparison, but considering the character who delivered those lines I don't think that was a serious intention from the creators. This has potential to be great, I hope it lives up to my expectations.

[Sycophant]

It's very possible Van Der Beek will become the best thing about the show, which would really be a sad state to get to ultimately. Not that it couldn't be a fun, funny show with him stealing the spotlight, but it seems rather a wasted opportunity.

I guess I see the Sunny comparisons in that Chloe's kind of a terrible person, but in Sunny the terrible people tend to believe they're being good people, or at least are trying to be, which is where a lot of what's really good and funny and compelling about that show comes from. In just two episodes, B has already done a lot of psychologizing and softening of Chloe's awfulness, and I'm wondering how long the show can keep the audience with the belief that Chloe is really terrible and not just quirky.

I was kinda surprised to see some of this content on network primetime! Things are laxer than I thought.

Chloe walking into the room naked and blurred would have been a life-changing experience for me were I a teenager when this aired. What remains of my 14-year-old self was going insane over that.

[Thirdmango]

The naked blur has started happening a bit more on network tv. This week as well, the show Up All Night had nudity blur.

[amberlita]

Girls is far and away the best comedy pilot of the past year. The trailers misled me and I expected more of a traditional Apatow stamp, but what I got instead was completely welcome. The show has a peculiar tone that reminds me of how Louis can be at times with its unapologetic realism. I'm a little put off by the Sex and the City self-comparison, but considering the character who delivered those lines I don't think that was a serious intention from the creators. This has potential to be great, I hope it lives up to my expectations.

Loved it. I haven't picked up a TV comedy to watch regularly in probably a decade or more. (I missed the boat on Louis and have regretted it ever since but not enough to check it out in the off-season) I think the Sex and the City shout-out was meant as a defense mechanism for the inevitable comparisons people will make; as a way to acknowledge it and move on. Other than 4 girls and the city of New York, thank you Jesus there are no other similarities that I can see. I hope it's never mentioned again.

Sundays are ridiculously crowded television for me. Right now it's 4 shows I DVR. It'll be 5 starting next Sunday when I give Veep a chance.

[number8]

Have you guys seen Lena Dunham's movies? Definitely not Apatow material. I'm pretty excited about that show. I'm really stoked at the growing number of comedies with female leads on TV right now.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I'm really stoked at the growing number of comedies with female leads on TV right now.

And yet you never gave Cougar Town a decent chance.

[Mara]

I think James Van Der Beek could really be interesting as a character as long as they don't stick to Dawson jokes. I mean, would the character still be interesting if his fame was fictional? If "Dawson's Creek" had never existed, and it's just a character of a semi-washed-up former Tigerbeat actor trying to redefine his life in his mid-thirties, would it still be compelling? I'd say yes.

[number8]

And yet you never gave Cougar Town a decent chance.

If you want me to take it seriously, stop saying its name.

[Mara]

If you want me to take it seriously, stop saying its name.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/Cougar-Town-New-Years-Title-Card-500x255.jpg

[Kurosawa Fan]

If you want me to take it seriously, stop saying its name.

No can do. The name is part of the charm.

[MadMan]

Lately I've started watching repeats of Batman: The Animated Series on HUB since I get that channel. Ah, memories of watching it on afternoons, back when I was a kid.

The name "Cougar Town" works for the show. I mean after its main lead is by definition a cougar (Courtney Cox).

[Lucky]

Have you guys seen Lena Dunham's movies? Definitely not Apatow material. I'm pretty excited about that show. I'm really stoked at the growing number of comedies with female leads on TV right now.

No, never heard of her until this show. I'm assuming they're worth a look?

[ledfloyd]

Sundays are ridiculously crowded television for me. Right now it's 4 shows I DVR. It'll be 5 starting next Sunday when I give Veep a chance.
indeed, i'm not sure viewing mad men right after game of thrones does the latter any favors. i'm so caught up examining the subtext on mad men i kind of ignore thrones, a half hour or so ago i was thinking 'oh yeah, that scene with tyrion and varys was really deep!' now girls is a must-watch and it's looking like veep will be too. i think i should start saving either GoT or mad men for monday.

also, get caught up on louie. it's worth it. particularly season 2.

[[ETM]]

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[Kurosawa Fan]

:lol:

[Winston*]

Eagleheart is so wonderfully stupid.

[number8]

No, never heard of her until this show. I'm assuming they're worth a look?

Tiny Furniture is on Netflix. It's very similar in tone to the show. It's basically a mumblecore film but with really tight dialogue.

[Mara]

I am training my cat not to dart towards the front door by having an empty can with coins in it that I shake when going out. She dislikes the noise and darts away. The adoption specialist who helped me recommended it.

She didn't include the most important part, which is while shaking it calling out "PENNY CAN!!!!"

[number8]

Are you lost, miss?

[Mara]

Are you lost, miss?

I am not.

[Kurosawa Fan]

I am training my cat not to dart towards the front door by having an empty can with coins in it that I shake when going out. She dislikes the noise and darts away. The adoption specialist who helped me recommended it.

She didn't include the most important part, which is while shaking it calling out "PENNY CAN!!!!"

:lol:

It's even funnier because 8 doesn't get it!

[number8]

I think we're even now, since no one got my Community reference earlier.

[Mara]

We should help him out.

We should help THE WORLD out. Make it a better place.

EfG0oYcc-g0

[Derek]

I think we're even now, since no one got my Community reference earlier.

I'm ashamed I missed that. I should probably start reading all your posts in Jeff and Troy's voices just to be safe.

[DavidSeven]

I caught it, but I watched that episode very recently. This paired with his Community reference in the Random Thoughts thread yesterday ("you still use your cell phone to make calls") led me believe that probably half of number8's posts from the last two years were originally written in Community scripts. I will not bother to verify.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I think we're even now, since no one got my Community reference earlier.

Oh, I got it. I just thought acknowledgement would dilute its inside appeal.

[MadMan]

I caught it, but I watched that episode very recently. This paired with his Community reference in the Random Thoughts thread yesterday ("you still use your cell phone to make calls") led me believe that probably half of number8's posts from the last two years were originally written in Community scripts. I will not bother to verify.Its gotta be true. Without question. Which makes me wonder: what show will he heavily quote next once Community goes off the air?

More Batman TAS viewing recently. In fact, this is currently the only show I'm watching besides Community at the moment.

[Lucky]

I don't think I'm going to like B from Apt 23. I can see the Always Sunny comparisons, but there's no way this show will make it to that wavelength on network television. The ensemble here is too weak to elevate the material, the laughs only come from the scripted lines. Unfortunately, a lot of those lines fall flat. I'm kind of throwing it in the same camp as New Girl for now -- appealing lead actress, weak supporting cast, and inconsistent (albeit sometimes sharp) writing. The difference is I find Deschanel funny and charming enough to stick with her mediocre show, whereas I don't know if Ritter has that level of appeal.

Haven't given up yet, but the second episode didn't fare well with me.

[Raiders]

I don't think I'm going to like B from Apt 23. I can see the Always Sunny comparisons, but there's no way this show will make it to that wavelength on network television. The ensemble here is too weak to elevate the material, the laughs only come from the scripted lines. Unfortunately, a lot of those lines fall flat. I'm kind of throwing it in the same camp as New Girl for now -- appealing lead actress, weak supporting cast, and inconsistent (albeit sometimes sharp) writing. The difference is I find Deschanel funny and charming enough to stick with her mediocre show, whereas I don't know if Ritter has that level of appeal.

Haven't given up yet, but the second episode didn't fare well with me.
I'm sure the joke may get old, but Ritter is second fiddle to Van Der Beek so far for me. His smug-yet-goofy timing is so perfect. I do agree that I don't think the show will persist and I will likely be over it by the end of the first season.

[DavidSeven]

I checked out the "Girls" pilot. HBO is offering it for free on their website right now. It's interesting. Unlike anything I've ever really seen, or would ever expect to see, on television. I like that Lucky drew a comparison to "Louie". The shows don't really share any superficial similarities, but they both have this distinct auteur-ish vibe to them. The pilot definitely got my attention, though I'm not sure if I liked it more for what it was or for what it represented. Unfortunately, I won't be able to keep up with the series as it airs, but I'll be paying attention to the feedback it gets here.

[Henry Gale]

Yeah, I really liked Girls' first episode too. I've seen bits of Tiny Furniture so I had a certain expectation of what the vibe of the show would be, but I guess I didn't expect it to feel as much like a well-formed first act of a film as it did, definitely not like anything approaching the mold of a typical pilot for an HBO series. I mean that in a good way, but I still hope that it only builds nicely from here over the next nine weeks, and it'll be especially interesting once the episodes aren't completely directed and written by Dunham herself (with at least one in a few weeks co-written by Apatow).

[EvilShoe]

I wish I was good at quitting shows that I don't enjoy anymore.

Yet here I am, suffering through season 6 of Dexter. Thought the first 2 seasons were great, 3rd one sucked, 4th one was ok and the 5th was crap. So that means I've enjoyed only 2.5 seasons so far.

Someone needs to put this show out of its misery. Or me.

[EvilShoe]

After a while I decided to fast-forward through multiple episodes, and now I am at the final episode.

Dexter just helped some Mexicans cross the border. What?

[Kurosawa Fan]

After a while I decided to fast-forward through multiple episodes, and now I am at the final episode.

Dexter just helped some Mexicans cross the border. What?

It's time to walk away. Remember how I stopped watching in season three?

[Mara]

It's time to walk away. Remember how I stopped watching in season three?

The 4th had some good stuff. Season 3 was awful, though.

[EvilShoe]

It's time to walk away. Remember how I stopped watching in season three?
But... the cliffhanger could make for an interesting season 7. And there is a rumour floating around that Calista Flockhart will be in it.

Can't go wrong, K_Fan. Season 8 is supposed to be the last one as well. Only 2 more seasons... 24 episodes. About 20 hours of my life.

[Kurosawa Fan]

But... the cliffhanger could make for an interesting season 7. And there is a rumour floating around that Calista Flockhart will be in it.

Can't go wrong, K_Fan. Season 8 is supposed to be the last one as well. Only 2 more seasons... 24 episodes. About 20 hours of my life.

Let it go. Just let it go.

[EvilShoe]

Let it go. Just let it go.
Which is also the name of a Dexter episode. IT IS ALL CONNECTED.

*pulls out hair*

[Kurosawa Fan]

Which is also the name of a Dexter episode. IT IS ALL CONNECTED.

*pulls out hair*

I guess resistance is futile.

[Thirdmango]

I know how you feel EvilShoe I also have a hard time quitting tv shows. For instance Suburgatory is a show where I want to watch it and every episode I keep thinking, "I don't get this, why do I watch this." But yet every week it airs I still end up watching it.

[dreamdead]

I too watched the first episode of Dunham's Girls. Her engagement with the female figure is interesting, and the sex she and Adam engage gets entertaining quickly as she keeps trying to add humanity to their affair. I wonder how much she is critiquing the "parents should support me" generation... I sense a decent amount of bitterness toward that attitude, but the pilot also seems to celebrate that mindset. I'm predisposed to look at this kind of temperament with distrust, so I'm intrigued to see where Dunham takes it from here.

Certainly the series is suggesting how self-centered these "girls" are, and how far from being women they are, but it's balancing a fine line here between humanizing these figures and celebrating them. How much it works from here likely depends on how it continues to balance this angle.

If HBO keeps allowing me to watch online I'll check out another few episodes...

[MadMan]

The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne was mostly awesome because they just let The Joker do whatever. My favorite part was The Joker sitting and eating popcorn, waiting for the bidding to start-its so random its funny. Also tonight I viewed this one episode where Catwoman actually gets turned into a cat, and I realized I had seen that one. Going back and viewing an old childhood favorite is always fun.

[slqrick]

Randomly at a bar that's showing the Jones/Evans UFC fight.

[[ETM]]

Did anyone see the big-ass curve ball "Fringe" threw in the last episode?
I really admire what they did, being so close to the end, and just saying "to hell with it, we'll just reinvent the show once again, no matter what happens". Bloody hell.

[EyesWideOpen]

;415000']Did anyone see the big-ass curve ball "Fringe" threw in the last episode?
I really admire what they did, being so close to the end, and just saying "to hell with it, we'll just reinvent the show once again, no matter what happens". Bloody hell.

I haven't seen that last episode yet but yeah this whole season has been spectacular. It looks like they filmed two separate season finales (one with a season ender and one with a series ender).

[[ETM]]

Yeah, the season wrapped a lot of the loose ends nicely, but... I would have never expected this episode. I'm not sure if I can say anything without spoiling it.

EDIT: I mean, it was obviously forced upon the writers, since it has absolutely nothing to do with how the previous episode ended. It's like they chose to just show us where they were going with it a bit earlier, and if it doesn't end now, connect through flashbacks.

[EyesWideOpen]

;415004']Yeah, the season wrapped a lot of the loose ends nicely, but... I would have never expected this episode. I'm not sure if I can say anything without spoiling it.

EDIT: I mean, it was obviously forced upon the writers, since it has absolutely nothing to do with how the previous episode ended. It's like they chose to just show us where they were going with it a bit earlier, and if it doesn't end now, connect through flashbacks.

I'm gonna continue this in the Fringe thread.

[Winston*]

The first episode of Veep was pretty good. Definitely in the vein of The Thick of It, but feels comparatively low key. There was an urgency to the position of minister in that show that is lacking in the position of Vice President and I think gave the original show a lot of its comedic energy. A comparable gaff in the The Thick of It would have you thinking that Hugh or Nicola could lose their job.

Also, Scots are just better at swearing than Americans.

[ledfloyd]

the critical raving surrounding the premiere of girls completely makes sense now that i've seen episode 2.

[MadMan]

Randomly at a bar that's showing the Jones/Evans UFC fight.I'm glad that Jones won. Too bad I missed the fight, though.

[Irish]

I really want to push potato-faced Lena Durham out a window. I can't believe she got a development deal out of the awful mess that was Tiny Furniture.

I'm flipping back and forth between watching the second episode of Girls and reading the horribly overblown reviews of this show, shaking my head in disbelief.

[Lucky]

I liked Veep as well. This is a good fit for Tony Hale. I had to rewind and watch Selena's reaction to the news about the card twice. Hilarious.

[Thirdmango]

I'm glad that Jones won. Too bad I missed the fight, though.

It was a great fight. Jones really picked apart Evans. He did these amazing standing elbow strikes in the second round that dazed Evans quite a bit.

[Raiders]

I really want to push potato-faced Lena Durham out a window.

I'm not a big fan of the show either (haven't seen her film), but this sentence makes me want to push you out of a window.

[[ETM]]

Who's Lena Durham? Did you just kill the wrong girl, Irish?

[ledfloyd]

why do so many people panning girls feel it necessary to insult dunham's appearance?

[number8]

I want to raid Irish's kitchen to steal his potatoes (I'm sure he has a ton) because I'd like to fuck them.

[MadMan]

It was a great fight. Jones really picked apart Evans. He did these amazing standing elbow strikes in the second round that dazed Evans quite a bit.I just watched the highlights. I'm surprised it went five rounds.

Wow, Irish had a MadMan moment with his misspelling of someone's name.

[Irish]

why do so many people panning girls feel it necessary to insult dunham's appearance?

In a larger context, it's a cheap shot.

With Girls, though, she's making the show partially about appearance, attractiveness, relationships, and sex. She also positions herself in the most unflattering way possible. So in that context, I think her appearance is fair game.

Think of The Fountain, that short film she made at Oberlin. This was supposed to be a parody of the famous scene from La Dolce Vita (which she had not seen). She shot footage of herself prancing around a fountain on campus in a bikini, posted it on YouTube, and then pretended surprise that most of the comments were about her appearance.

That's an enormous amount of bullshit, because like Girls, she specifically made The Fountain about the way she looked, not so much about the content of what she was doing, or any of its merits.

[ledfloyd]

so if she's positioning herself in an unflattering way you're allowed to say she's ugly? i don't see why it should matter in the first place. does every woman on television have to meet a certain aesthetic standard? it's absurd.

and to say girls is about the way she looks is to short change it, because it's not even on the list of things i took from this last episode.

[number8]

Anyway, the second episode of Girls was hysterical. I laughed harder and more often than I did at the Veep pilot, which I also liked quite a bit.

"I don't have an irrational fear of AIDS. I'm not stupid. I have an irrational fear of the HIV virus which could turn into AIDS."

[ledfloyd]

Anyway, the second episode of Girls was hysterical. I laughed harder and more often than I did at the Veep pilot, which I also liked quite a bit.

"I don't have an irrational fear of AIDS. I'm not stupid. I have an irrational fear of the HIV virus which could turn into AIDS."
haha. that final aids scene and also the job interview both had me laughing. also "the stuff that gets around the edges of condoms" got funnier everytime it was repeated.

i do feel like the way jessa's story resolved was a bit of a copout. otherwise, one of the best episodes of tv i've seen this year. that wasn't mad men anyway.

[slqrick]

Veep was pretty entertaining.

[Irish]

so if she's positioning herself in an unflattering way you're allowed to say she's ugly?

Yes. Because she's making it part of the act. Just like the neurotic nebbish persona is part of Woody Allen's act.


i don't see why it should matter in the first place. does every woman on television have to meet a certain aesthetic standard? it's absurd.

I live in the United States on the planet Earth. Where do you live?


and to say girls is about the way she looks is to short change it, because it's not even on the list of things i took from this last episode.

Then you must not have been playing close attention. Unless you believe Durnam to be a sloppy filmmaker, everything on the show is done with a specific intention. This includes her appearance, down to makeup & clothes.

[DavidSeven]

Re: Girls

Does anyone else find it weird to watch Zosia Mamet play the ditz? She seems like a more natural fit for like any other part on the show. Maybe it's only a problem for people who have seen her on Mad Men, but it's pretty distracting for me.

Some hilarious stuff in episode two though.

Google search: "Diseases that come from no condom for one second."

"You gave me AIDs. So, deal with that. Forever."

[Henry Gale]

Re: Girls

Does anyone else find it weird to watch Zosia Mamet play the ditz? She seems like a more natural fit for like any other part on the show. Maybe it's only a problem for people who have seen her on Mad Men, but it's pretty distracting for me.

Some hilarious stuff in episode two though.

Google search: "Diseases that come from no condom for one second."

"You gave me AIDs. So, deal with that. Forever."

As someone that isn't far enough into Mad Men to have seen her, I have no idea what type of character she plays in that show, but here I think she's fit the role perfectly. She infuses just the right amount of prissiness and naivety without coming off as annoying or cartoonish, probably because they've fleshed out a certain amount of innocence with her too.

And even though I liked the first episode just fine, this week's Girls did a much better job of convincing me that I really, truly like it. There were just so many moments (including the ones you spoilered) that manage to be ridiculously funny in such a specific context here that would probably crumble elsewhere. Even if someone tried to reference some parts, like, "She thought she wanted AIDS. Hilarious!"... Response would be a collective "Ummm?" So I guess my biggest complaint at this point would be Allison Williams' looks. They gotta try and tone down her gorgeousness. Just completely distracting, I almost lose track of what's happening in every scene she's in.

And Veep was indeed very good. I think took me until about a third of the way through it to readjust after a particularly dark and equally great Game of Thrones had just ended, but once it started really getting into its own unique groove (pretty much from the speech sequence onwards), I was laughing consistently.

[Winston*]

I haven't seen the show, but if its based around how unattractive she's supposed to be, how does it follow that you should insult her appearance? That doesn't make any sense. If the show was about how irresistible she was, then at least there would be a logic behind insulting her appearance.

If you said "I want to stab that scrawny nerd Woody Allen in the neck", you'd also be being a dick.

[Winston*]

I loved how in Veep that character in the Malcolm Tucker position is a complete inversion of Malcolm Tucker.

[Irish]

If you said "I want to stab that scrawny nerd Woody Allen in the neck", you'd also be being a dick.

Sure. As I said at a macro level, it's a cheap shot.

But then you've got to consider the performance and the work, and the persona these actors are adopting, because that persona is calculated and part of the whole.

If Lena chooses to adopt the face of a frumpy slacker in her work, then I don't think her appearance is at all off limits.

[Winston*]

Sorry. My mistake in looking at your comment at a macro level. Looking at it now from a micro level, I see the trenchant media insight implicit in calling that woman "potato faced".

[Irish]

:lol:

Glad you can finally see reason.

[Morris Schæffer]

I've decided not to bother with alcatraz and touch. That's all I wanted to say.

[number8]

I loved how in Veep that character in the Malcolm Tucker position is a complete inversion of Malcolm Tucker.

I noticed this. It's a great change.

What's disappointing is that Chlumsky plays a different character from the one in In the Loop. Wasted opportunity to bridge universes there.

[number8]

Sign that a TV show is grabbing me is that I've been thinking about it a lot throughout the day and is really interested to find out what people think of it. So yeah, I think I'm obsessed with GIRLS after only two episodes.

I realized that I have the advantage of actually knowing a lot of white middleclass New York twenty-something girls and being able to document their reaction to the show, whatever it may be, just because I'm curious about these things. So far the consensus seems to be that they're unsure if the show is objectively good, and they don't relate to the characters per se, but they relate strongly to the daily situations and conversations, which I as an outsider find incredibly-painfully-mindbogglingly accurate for my generation (I was kind of in awe at the Googling scene), and they apparently agree.

My favorite moment in this endeavor so far is the happy hour hangout I had a few days ago where we brought up the portrayal of the awful men on the show, and one of the girls sighed and said, "We have fucked every one of those guys," and all the girls at the table facepalmed in agreement. I got a good laugh out of it.

[Mara]

Hmm. I don't find Veep funny. I don't hate it or anything, but I'm just not laughing.

[Lucky]

Hmm. I don't find Veep funny. I don't hate it or anything, but I'm just not laughing.

Did you finish the episode?

[Mara]

Did you finish the episode?

I just did. I'm... not sure. I think this might be something that grows on me, but right now it just feels like an oddity.

[Lucky]

I just did. I'm... not sure. I think this might be something that grows on me, but right now it just feels like an oddity.

Heh, I can see that. I think that's a fair reaction.

Like I said above, I thought her reaction to finding out about the condolences card was hysterical, but the rest of the time I was merely smirking here and there. I, too, sense that it will be a show that grows on me. Much like Arrested Development -- I didn't care for that show at first.

[number8]

Yeah, the whole card bit was definitely the funniest part of the episode. I lost it when they were discussing forgery and Matt Walsh bolted to the other side of the office.

[Raiders]

I thought Veep was absolutely hilarious. I can't stand much of Girls. That's really all I have to contribute.

[Thirdmango]

yeah, I liked Veep. Girls I sorta liked but it's middle of the road right now.

[amberlita]

I'm crazy about GIRLS. I think I watched that first episode 3 or 4 times; whenever it was re-airing I'd watch it through. It's not because I find any of them or their situations particularly relatable, but it is feasible to me that these women exist in the world and that's why I like them already, whether I would like them in reality or not. They are bitchy and sarcastic and self-righteous and spoiled and embarrassing and...well, fill in the adjective. I don't have to find any particular nuance about any one of them in order to appreciate their imperfection and enjoy that it is on display. I don't know what life is like living as a twenty-something in NYC, but I can believe that it is as crusty and awkward and de-glamourized as the last couple episodes have shown their lives to be.

It's definitely not perfect, though. There's a couple negative points I could harp on but the internet doesn't seem to be lacking in negative response to the show so I'll opt for just sticking with what I like about it.

I liked Veep but agree that it wasn't quite as funny as I was expecting. Maybe because it wasn't as scathing as In The Loop. It all felt a little forced. Dreyfuss has never been better, though.

[Lucky]

I'm crazy about GIRLS.

I knew it.

[Sycophant]

I liked the first episode of Girls pretty well. The second episode was great.

[DavidSeven]

The Veep pilot was OK. The pilots for Arrested Development, Community, Parks and Recreations, and Party Down were also OK. So, you know, we'll see.

This does, however, seems like a perfect vehicle for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, so that alone will keep me watching. Agree that her reaction to the condolence card news was the best. I'd keep watching for just one moment like that per episode.

[ledfloyd]

I liked the first episode of Girls pretty well. The second episode was great.
indeed.

i'm pretty lukewarm on veep as well. i'll stick with it, but it feels a lot... less crazy? than the thick of it. not so much rapid fire dialogue with everyone talking over everyone else and 5 jokes every 30 seconds. i don't want to say it feels like a toned down the thick of it, but it kind of does.

[amberlita]

I knew it.

har har

[MadMan]

I figured that Veep wouldn't be as strong or as funny as In The Loop. Still I really want to see it (I don't have HBO, alas).

Well I continue viewing repeats of Batman: TAS that air on HubTV. Today I viewed a truly strong one, titled "The Joker's Favor." It had The Joker forcing some poor bastard to do what he wants, two years after he spares his life. Really entertaining episode overall, and this show nails The Joker perfectly. I think that's a testament to Mark Hamil's fantastic voice work.

[[ETM]]

Yup, listening to any of the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack still makes me tear up. Every. Time.

[slqrick]

I like a lot of things about Girls, from the direction, to the acting, and just the overall portrayal of upper middle class white chicks living in NYC in their 20's (had to do it). There's just something that kind of irks me about the dialogue, and the way that Dunham seems to present the characters and situations as shedding this incredible light on this generation of people that are so misunderstood. I don't have a problem with this in theory, but there are points in both episodes thus far where I'm flat out annoyed when the "depth" has to be explicitly pointed out. I'm not the voice of my generation guys, just a voice. I found myself bothered during some of the moments that are clearly supposed to be cathartic for the characters that instead came off feeling the show patting itself on the back for being so damn clever.

That being said, I do recognize the various amounts of backlash, and a lot of it is stupid. Seriously internet, you're taking offense to Lena Dunham being overweight? I do like that none of the characters are easy to like right off the bat, and there definitely does seem to be a lot of thought into making sure they don't fall into Sex and the City cliches. I hope that the tone altered slightly so it doesn't feel smug so smug at times, because that's the main thing that's stopping me from really enjoying the show.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm rewatching through Seinfeld right now along with all the extras and commentaries that are on the dvd's. I just finished seasons 1 & 2 and I had forgotten how strong it was from the very start. Some of the Seinfeld standup bits are a little dated but the voices of the characters were pretty much fully formed.

I just finished my rewatch of the whole series. It held up incredibly well and stands as the most continuously funny show I've seen. I had watched the series originally on syndication so I figured I had missed a bunch of episodes but there were only two that I had never seen (one early on and one near the end of the last season). Perfect finale also, I still don't understand the complaints.

[Irish]

Anyone watch the live 30 Rock? The bits with Jon Hamm & Danny Glover were pretty damned funny.

[number8]

3rd episode of Don't Trust the B and James Van Der Beek is still the funniest part.

[dreamdead]

I knocked out the first seven episodes of Happy Endings this morning. This is really solid writing in terms of its embrace of geekery and contemporary pop culture. At times it feels like Community in this respect, but I find several of the character dynamics even more interesting at this early stage...

[Mara]

3rd episode of Don't Trust the B and James Van Der Beek is still the funniest part.

He and Shipka had some great chemistry.

And she had great chemistry with Slattery on the last Mad Men.

She is really going to be something when she grows up.

[number8]

"It's totally cray-cray."
"Don't say that."

[Mara]

"It's totally cray-cray."
"Don't say that."

"It's totes cray-cray."

Even better.

[Qrazy]

I wish I was good at quitting shows that I don't enjoy anymore.

Yet here I am, suffering through season 6 of Dexter. Thought the first 2 seasons were great, 3rd one sucked, 4th one was ok and the 5th was crap. So that means I've enjoyed only 2.5 seasons so far.

Someone needs to put this show out of its misery. Or me.

Yep, we share the exact same sentiments regarding the seasons of that show. Six was so fucking terrible.

[Qrazy]

My favorite moment in this endeavor so far is the happy hour hangout I had a few days ago where we brought up the portrayal of the awful men on the show, and one of the girls sighed and said, "We have fucked every one of those guys," and all the girls at the table facepalmed in agreement. I got a good laugh out of it.

A distant jocky dick, a nice guy, a latent homosexual, a self-confident smug art dick, the older unemployed pot guy, and a fast talking joker... with categorizations that broad it's hard not to have fucked at least one of them. If every girl at your table has fucked all of them maybe it's time they put the pussy pie in the freezer for a while.

This show like it's characters is at it's core self-involved and lacking in depth of character. Of course this is often a problem with comedy in general. It's hard to round out a character successfully while keeping them the butt of your jokes. That said, while I don't find the show all that interesting as a character study, a lot of the dialogue is quite funny (ex: the tale of hitting a puppy in response to hearing someone's a virgin) and it's certainly much truer to life than most other shows of it's ilk.

[Qrazy]

That being said, I do recognize the various amounts of backlash, and a lot of it is stupid. Seriously internet, you're taking offense to Lena Dunham being overweight?

Yeah, that's moronic. Her being a bit overweight and not overly attractive is one of the things that makes the show worthwhile. It's much more honest and it makes her much more easy to identify with (in a good way).

[Qrazy]

I live in the United States on the planet Earth. Where do you live?

What is wrong with you?

[Lucky]

3rd episode of Don't Trust the B and James Van Der Beek is still the funniest part.

Too bad that's not saying much. The rest of the show ranges from middling to embarrassing. And Van Der Beek's shtick is getting a bit one note. My patience wears thin with this one...

[Thirdmango]

It's taking me a while but I'm almost done with Star Trek: ToS Season 3. This season has been pretty terrible. The latter half of season 1 and most of season 2 were really good.

[number8]

I'm kinda enjoying Girl's Guide to Depravity. It's funnier and better acted than any Skinemax show has any right being.

[Irish]

What is wrong with you?

So listen, earlier I was at the liquor store & a few bottles of Freixenet caught my eye.

Do you think that this stuff never caught on with urban buyers because it says "NEGRO" on the label in bright gold letters? Thus allowing Cristal to gain a foothold in the market place?

Or do you think it's because Freixenet isn't technically champagne, and if you're going to buy sparkling wine, why the hell buy it from Spain?

Thoughts?

[Raiders]

So HBO passed on Scott Rudin and Noah Baumbach's pilot for the TV series adaptation of Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections starring Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dianne Wiest.

I did not see that coming.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Wow. I thought that was a for sure thing. That's quite surprising.

[Lucky]

That is surprising. Were production values too high perchance?

[ledfloyd]

they didn't think it was accessible.

[Sycophant]

Too white?

I was wondering what Noah Baumbach was up to.

[Derek]

Too white?

Probably not enough nudity and sex for their liking. :)

[Lazlo]

Really sad to hear about that. Seemed like it had a real shot at being amazing. And there are plenty of opportunities for sex and nudity in the story.

[number8]

Eh, it's a really high production cost with a limited draw. I don't think it's surprising at all that they passed. That's probably a large part of Luck's cancellation besides the horse issue, too. If HBO is going to make something that's not poised to blow up like Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire, they expect it to be done cheaply with unknowns and character actors, like Treme, which they're willing to commit to multiple seasons despite the fact that no one's watching.

Can you imagine sustaining the movie star salaries of that cast for several years? It's a little absurd.

[Lazlo]

Eh, it's a really high production cost with a limited draw. I don't think it's surprising at all that they passed. That's probably a large part of Luck's cancellation besides the horse issue, too. If HBO is going to make something that's not poised to blow up like Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire, they expect it to be done cheaply with unknowns and character actors, like Treme, which they're willing to commit to multiple seasons despite the fact that no one's watching.

Can you imagine sustaining the movie star salaries of that cast for several years? It's a little absurd.

Yeah, it makes sense. That's why it surprised me that it was planned to be a series rather than a Mildred Pierce-style mini-series. The book isn't that dense.

[Raiders]

But wouldn't HBO know what the relative budget is before even committing to the pilot? Before all the known movie actors were signed on and they had produced a pilot episode? This wasn't some shock to them after viewing, right? I assumed that they were banking on it eventually becoming a Six Feet Under. The cast is not that large for The Corrections so I imagine that huge casts like Game of Thrones which has a ton of veterans, don't really wind up being any cheaper.

Perhaps I have always had the TV series evolution wrong. Maybe HBO and other networks aren't really involved in the pilot generation and casting/production until after they pick up a full series.

[number8]

Sweet interview with Whedon, covering his inexperienced showrunning on Buffy and what went wrong with Dollhouse:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/joss-whedon/all/1

[Raiders]

Sweet interview with Whedon, covering his inexperienced showrunning on Buffy and what went wrong with Dollhouse:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/joss-whedon/all/1

“Honey, I accidentally created a Fox show.”

:lol:

[Mara]

RE: DTtBiA23

James Van Der Beek is my hero. I love him. It's an important thing in my life now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/Dont-Trust-The-B-in-Apartment-23-ABC-The-Wedding-Episode-4-5.jpg










P.S. Eli needs to die.

[dreamdead]

Finished the first season of Happy Endings. I want more. Best current comedic ensemble this side of Community. Damon Wayans Jr. and Eliza Coupe make a great pair...

[Mara]

Finished the first season of Happy Endings. I want more. Best current comedic ensemble this side of Community. Damon Wayans Jr. and Eliza Coupe make a great pair...

I was thinking about catching up on this before the Cutties. I should... get on that.

[Thirdmango]

Finished the first season of Happy Endings. I want more. Best current comedic ensemble this side of Community. Damon Wayans Jr. and Eliza Coupe make a great pair...

Season 2 is even better. I'm excited for you. I love this show.

[Irish]

Sweet interview with Whedon, covering his inexperienced showrunning on Buffy and what went wrong with Dollhouse:

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/joss-whedon/all/1

Wow, that was a lot of fun. I loved how he jumped from Star Trek to Twilight Zone to Galaxy Quest. :P

[EyesWideOpen]

RE: DTtBiA23

James Van Der Beek is my hero. I love him. It's an important thing in my life now.
P.S. Eli needs to die.

"My mother invented Lunchables. Didn't get any credit for it, though. Trusted the wrong people."

This was the best episode yet. And I thought they did a decent job of giving Eli some decent stuff to do and some funny lines in this one.

[Ezee E]

Started the pilot of American Horror Story. Apart from some strange pacing and an always awful McDermott, this looks like something that's going to be constantly entertaining a la True Blood... At least until it gets too ridiculous for its own good. Gonna keep on watching.

[Mara]

Potty Training a 25-Year-Old (With Joss Whedon) (http://www.cracked.com/video_18417_potty-training-25-year-old-with-joss-whedon.html)

Rare Whedon acting footage! He plays a bird.

The only other acting job I can think of is when he played Numfar in Angel.

6XXjj0lNi48

[number8]

Veronica Mars.

[Mara]

Veronica Mars.

Oh, that's right!

[EyesWideOpen]

I was in a gamestop today and they were playing The Big Bang Theory. Holy shit is that show worse then I could have ever imagined.

[ledfloyd]

I was in a gamestop today and they were playing The Big Bang Theory. Holy shit is that show worse then I could have ever imagined.
dude, they were playing it when i was in there like 3 weeks ago. i wonder if it's corporate policy. those poor employees.

[[ETM]]

TBBT is just so, so unimaginably bad right now.

[EyesWideOpen]

dude, they were playing it when i was in there like 3 weeks ago. i wonder if it's corporate policy. those poor employees.

They had it blasting super loud through the speakers too so there was no escape from it.

[Irish]

;417547']TBBT is just so, so unimaginably bad right now.

It's really been hit or miss this past year. Thought last week was decent. At least they had 3 plots going that thematically tied into one another.


dude, they were playing it when i was in there like 3 weeks ago. i wonder if it's corporate policy. those poor employees.

It's probably licensed & sent from HQ. I bet the tape runs on a loop with a half dozen other shows. It's a fair bet the employees have suffered through the same episodes 3 times a day (or more) for weeks.

[number8]

Geez, NBC has picked up 3 new comedies for a series order, and it looks like all 4 Thursday night line-up will get renewed. It's like they're just giving up on dramas already.

[Sycophant]

Here's a link for news: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053617

I'm glad everyone's thinking Community is likely coming back for sure. That article indicates almost everything returning will have an order of less than 22 episodes. A little crazy!

Didn't NBC order a Sarah Silverman pilot? I really hope someone picks up her show.

[Sycophant]

Meanwhile, I'm currently watching so many airing shows:

Community
Girls
Veep
Kids on the Slope
Lupin III: A Woman Called Mine Fujiko

I can't remember the last time I watched this much currently airing stuff. They're all really good, too! And Louie starts next month and South Park just went on mid-season hiatus. Good time for TV!

[number8]

Holy shit, I didn't hear about 1600 Penn and Animal Practice. So FIVE new comedies?

[number8]

Who the hell watches Magic City?

[Lucky]

Don't feel bad about that, I watch that many shows just on Sunday. Here's my current DVR listing:

Parks & Rec
The Office
Game of Thrones
Veep
Girls
Mad Men
Sherlock (just picked up)
Legend of Korra
Downton Abbey (starting this week for me)
New Girl
Modern Family
Don't Trust the B (which I'll be dropping unless this week wows me)

[MadMan]

I'm currently watching Community, Batman: The Animated Series, Sherlock, and I'm a bit behind on Game of Thrones but my friend has all of the episodes on DVR and I just watched the second episode, so I might play catchup some weekend. Netflix wise I'm am viewing Arrested Development, The X-Files, and Buffy although I've taken sabbaticals on all of them for now.

Oh and "The Man Who Killed Batman" was finally aired on The Hub tonight. Fantastic episode, one that truly lives up to its billing. The Joker's speech was a mix of hilarity and brilliance. About damn time I finally saw this episode-I wonder how I missed seeing it originally back when it first aired on Fox.

[Henry Gale]

Didn't NBC order a Sarah Silverman pilot? I really hope someone picks up her show.

We can't know for sure unless they announce anything ahead of time like they have with those other shows today, but recently Deadline articles have been hinting that it hasn't been testing well and that the network has cooled on it a bit. The title is apparently "Susan 313", the cast is great (especially for Earwolf fans with Harris Wittels, Tig Notaro and June Diane Raphael in the mix) with a possible recurring role for Jeff Goldblum, plus Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's producing power can't hurt its chances, but I can't help but be a bit worried about it not being a lock.

But I definitely want to see it get picked up more than most new pilots, along with normal-sized orders for Community and Parks, so if none of those happen then DAMN YOU, NBC!!!

[EyesWideOpen]

I hate when shows put the credits at the start of the episode. The recent episode of Fringe spoiled who was behind all the "bad stuff" this season by listing the actor as guest star fifteen seconds into the episode. His character hadn't appeared all season so it was obvious immediately what his place was.

[Mara]

Let's see. What am I watching? Mad Men, HIMYM, Revenge, Cougar Town, Don't Trust the B, Community, Parks and Recreation, and The Legend of Korra.

I need to finish up Justified. I got halfway through the season and needed a breather. I also kind of want to catch up on Happy Endings before the Cutties, and I'm scared of Girls.

Best series I watched this year that have wrapped up: Sherlock, Homeland, Downton Abbey, and Doctor Who.

[amberlita]

Let's see. What am I watching? Mad Men, HIMYM, Revenge, Cougar Town, Don't Trust the B, Community, Parks and Recreation, and The Legend of Korra.

I need to finish up Justified. I got halfway through the season and needed a breather. I also kind of want to catch up on Happy Endings before the Cutties, and I'm scared of Girls.

Best series I watched this year that have wrapped up: Sherlock, Homeland, Downton Abbey, and Doctor Who.

You should be.

I'm still dying to see Homeland. Not sure I'll get to it before the Cutties though.

[ledfloyd]

and I'm scared of Girls.
doit.

[Irish]

and I'm scared of Girls.

You must watch! I'd be extremely interested to hear your thoughts on that show.

[Mara]

You must watch! I'd be extremely interested to hear your thoughts on that show.

I'm trying right now, but I'm not optimistic. It may be too far outside my comfort zone.

[Mara]

I'm trying right now, but I'm not optimistic. It may be too far outside my comfort zone.

Um, yes. It's sort of fascinating and uncomfortable and I have a lot of respect for what its doing, but I don't think its for me.

[Lucky]

Question of the day: how do you define an ensemble show? Please provide examples.

I bring this up because I've read a few times on this site and elsewhere of shows being referred to as "ensemble" shows that I don't consider fits the category. One of those examples is Buffy. I don't consider Buffy an ensemble show, the main protagonist is clearly defined in episode one and continues on that trek throughout the entire series (see show title for another point). As with any good show, there are strong supporting roles, but they're always clearly defined as just that. My main criteria for categorizing a show as an ensemble is that there is no clear distinction of a lead protagonist and the screentime and thematic material are spread pretty evenly amongst the cast. I find the term is thrown around too loosely, as I believe that the majority of shows fall in the opposite category (however you want to label that -- star driven, maybe).

Examples I would give of ensemble shows: Game of Thrones, LOST, Friends, Modern Family

Examples of non-ensembles: Buffy, Breaking Bad, Veep, Parks and Rec

Your thoughts? Provide examples of both sides, too.

[Mara]

I think if a show has a really great ensemble cast, it's tempting to think of it as an ensemble show. But you're right.

I think The Wire is the most thoroughly ensemble-based show I've seen.

[Lucky]

I think The Wire is the most thoroughly ensemble-based show I've seen.

Indeed. I'm embarrassed I didn't think of that, actually.

[Irish]

Hm. Interesting question, Luck. I think you pretty much nailed it.

To me, it always comes down to whether the fictional universe and the context of the show would still make sense if any given character (including the "star") were absent.

Some shows feel like their ensembles because the writers have had years to develop the supporting cast, but they're really not (eg: MASH, Cheers, Seinfeld).

Buffy wouldn't make sense without the lead. The entire premise of the show falls apart if she's absent.

I think Star Trek (both the original and TNG) work as ensembles. So does The Simpsons, even though they had to put a lot of work into deliberately writing away from Bart early on.

[DavidSeven]

Um, yes. It's sort of fascinating and uncomfortable and I have a lot of respect for what its doing, but I don't think its for me.

Are you giving up on it after just the pilot? I know Raiders and Irish were both initially pretty negative on the show but got turned around by the third episode.

[Mara]

Are you giving up on it after just the pilot? I know Raiders and Irish were both initially pretty negative on the show but got turned around by the third episode.

I'm not negative. I found a lot to admire in it. However, the way it plays out just makes me very uncomfortable. I'm sometimes sensitive to stuff like that.

[number8]

I'm not negative. I found a lot to admire in it. However, the way it plays out just makes me very uncomfortable. I'm sometimes sensitive to stuff like that.

Well, whatever you do, don't venture into the thread.

[EyesWideOpen]

Anybody ever watch The Booth at the End? It's a 2010 web show that started running on hulu in 2011. It's only five episodes long but I'm been hoping they were gonna make more and now it looks like they finally started filming a season 2!

[Mara]

So, I'm breezing through Happy Endings, which at the beginning is inoffensive and forgettable, but I hear it gets better. Anyway, Casey Wilson was making me nuts, because I kept recognizing her but couldn't find anything I'd seen her in before.

Finally, I think I nailed it: she totally reminds me of Alia Shawkat.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/250px-Caseywilson2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/maragirl/55911.jpg

Yes? No? I'm not even sure if it's her face, or if there's just something Maeby-ish in the way she plays Penny.

[Acapelli]

well she was also on snl for a season. it might be from there

[number8]

Those of you who like Cougar Town: TBS bought it from ABC. So if you don't have cable and have been watching it on Hulu, sorry.

[Mara]

Those of you who like Cougar Town: TBS bought it from ABC. So if you don't have cable and have been watching it on Hulu, sorry.

I'm cool with this. I don't think TBS will retool it, and getting more seasons is a good thing.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Those of you who like Cougar Town: TBS bought it from ABC. So if you don't have cable and have been watching it on Hulu, sorry.

:pritch:

[Henry Gale]

Happy that the Cougar Town to TBS rumours ended up being true. Even if for some reason ABC had actually kept it, it just didn't seem like it had nowhere to go audience-wise with the way they were treating it.

In other news, NBC picked up a lot of new shows (especially comedies), and none of them were Sarah Silverman's Susan 313. :frustrated:/:sad:

[Mara]

Amber: you must look through this.

http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/05/ioan-gruffudd-for-treats-magazine.html

[Mara]

Happy Endings renewed for 22 more episodes.

[number8]

The latest Don't Trust the B was goddamn hilarious. The show is getting increasingly ridiculous, which is excellent.

[Henry Gale]

The latest Don't Trust the B was goddamn hilarious. The show is getting increasingly ridiculous, which is excellent.

And it's been renewed!

Saw the third and fourth episodes and enjoyed them. I'll try and catch up on the rest during the summer when there's not so much else on.

[Irish]

Can You Call a Nine Year Old a Psychopath? (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all)

Interesting if you ever enjoyed Dexter, but as this is based on a real kid it's also reaaaaally creepy.

[EyesWideOpen]

The latest Don't Trust the B was goddamn hilarious. The show is getting increasingly ridiculous, which is excellent.

Yeah, loved the Eli line near the end. "Yes grandma Castle has been getting better".

[number8]

Irish, I read that for 3 paragraphs before realizing the article is not about a TV show.

[amberlita]

Amber: you must look through this.

http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2012/05/ioan-gruffudd-for-treats-magazine.html

Jesus he looks really good. Why do men get so much better looking with age and women don't? Not fair.

[Watashi]

I've finally started watching 30 Rock. I blew through the first season. The show is excellent.

[number8]

Yes it was.

[[ETM]]

I'll have to agree with Alan Sepinwall and others, though - this stretch of the current season has been somewhat of a renaissance for the show. I'm truly enjoying so much of the stuff they're doing right now.

[Ezee E]

I've finally started watching 30 Rock. I blew through the first season. The show is excellent.
It is great... Till about the third season? Not quite sure when I tuned out.

[Henry Gale]

Wow. If SNL was trying to set a hypothetical record for most cameos in a single show, then they probably succeeded tonight.

I mean, Ana Gasteyer, Will Forte, Liam Neeson (for Get in the Cage! with Nicolas Cage), and then Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Julian Casablancas, Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm and Michael Bolton all coming back for the Lonely Island's special 100th Digital Short. All great to see except for the misguided, cringe-inducing mugging from Bieber. A triple threat, he is not.
And a pretty solid episode on top of all that. Always nice to see Ferrell back and Usher was alright too, though mainly for "Climax", which still surprises me with how good it actually is.

[Thirdmango]

anyone still watching Person of Interest? The past couple episodes have been really good and next week is the season finale.

[Irish]

anyone still watching Person of Interest? The past couple episodes have been really good and next week is the season finale.

Yeah. I watch it every week. For awhile it felt like they were in something of a rut, and I found the Elias storyline to be really boring. But the last 2-3 episodes have been fantastic.

Particularly like how nobody on the show fully trusts anyone else, they're all casually snooping around one another.

Also liked how they represent Reese as a hero type who doesn't hold back from murder, or how they revealed that Harold knew about Reese's girlfriend long before he and Reese met.

Basically, the better episodes used backstory to fuel the present day storylines (like Reese and his partner in China, etc).

Great stuff.

[Winston*]

I watched an episode of Person of Interest and didn't understand why everyone was speaking as though they were robots pretending to be people. Maybe they explained that in the pilot.

[Hugh_Grant]

I like Person of Interest enough, but Michael Emerson reminds me so much of Klaus Nomi that I now call him Klaus Nomi. I keep waiting for him to break out into operatic new wave.

[Mara]

Can You Call a Nine Year Old a Psychopath? (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.html?_r=1&ref=magazine&pagewanted=all)

Interesting if you ever enjoyed Dexter, but as this is based on a real kid it's also reaaaaally creepy.

This was an interesting, sad, thought-provoking article. Thank you for posting it.

Now I'm going to destroy it, BECAUSE I totally want to turn this into a trashy premise for a film or series. See, there's an evil cadre that keeps performing seemingly random, cruel acts of violence and profit all over the country, and our intrepid, preternaturally attractive federal agents with UST are trying to find a connection between the crimes and they can't because the people who profit from them never seem connected to the crime itself, and they finally find out-- DUN DUN DUN-- that all conspirators met as children being treated for C.U. in a very successful study in which they were all "cured"-- when in fact they were just taught how to mimic human behavior and emotion for rewards and all decided that they would mass-manipulate the world once they were old enough as a cabal of emotionless, dead-inside psychopaths.

I would watch the hell out of that.

[Acapelli]

This was an interesting, sad, thought-provoking article. Thank you for posting it.

Now I'm going to destroy it, BECAUSE I totally want to turn this into a trashy premise for a film or series. See, there's an evil cadre that keeps performing seemingly random, cruel acts of violence and profit all over the country, and our intrepid, preternaturally attractive federal agents with UST are trying to find a connection between the crimes and they can't because the people who profit from them never seem connected to the crime itself, and they finally find out-- DUN DUN DUN-- that all conspirators met as children being treated for C.U. in a very successful study in which they were all "cured"-- when in fact they were just taught how to mimic human behavior and emotion for rewards and all decided that they would mass-manipulate the world once they were old enough as a cabal of emotionless, dead-inside psychopaths.

I would watch the hell out of that.
the new hellfire club in one of the x-men books is made up of a bunch of psychopathic children

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2011/09/schism07.jpg

[Mara]

This was an interesting, sad, thought-provoking article. Thank you for posting it.

Now I'm going to destroy it, BECAUSE I totally want to turn this into a trashy premise for a film or series. See, there's an evil cadre that keeps performing seemingly random, cruel acts of violence and profit all over the country, and our intrepid, preternaturally attractive federal agents with UST are trying to find a connection between the crimes and they can't because the people who profit from them never seem connected to the crime itself, and they finally find out-- DUN DUN DUN-- that all conspirators met as children being treated for C.U. in a very successful study in which they were all "cured"-- when in fact they were just taught how to mimic human behavior and emotion for rewards and all decided that they would mass-manipulate the world once they were old enough as a cabal of emotionless, dead-inside psychopaths.

I would watch the hell out of that.

Better yet, the institution to "cure" the children is still functioning, and has been taken over by one of the "cured" adults, who is in fact building his own sociopathic child army!




Yeah, so I'm still having fun with this. This is my favorite bad fantasy plot since we came up with that Jason Statham / Michael Cera odd-couple-action-comedy buddy film about bra fitting.

[number8]

GREATEST NEWS EVER?

https://twitter.com/#!/stephenfry/status/201994441400123394

[[ETM]]

GREATEST NEWS EVER?

https://twitter.com/#!/stephenfry/status/201994441400123394

http://i43.tinypic.com/2w4czs7.jpg

[number8]

Full first episode of TRON: UPRISING is on YouTube (this is official, uploaded by Disney).

hjbwVzJR8w4

[Mara]

I've finally started watching 30 Rock. I blew through the first season. The show is excellent.

I'm listening to Fey's Bossypants and listening to her descriptions of the difficult first season really makes me want to watch it again.

Also, she has surprisingly kind things to say about Palin.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm listening to Fey's Bossypants and listening to her descriptions of the difficult first season really makes me want to watch it again.

Also, she has surprisingly kind things to say about Palin.

The audiobook is definitely the way to go on that. I'm obsessed with Tina Fey and I loved it. Sad to read though that she doesn't like animals.

[Dead & Messed Up]

That Tron cartoon is lovely to watch, and the voice cast is insane, but it sounds like the dialogue was written by movie trailer authors.

[Mara]

So, I don't talk much about How I Met Your Mother in here because there's not much to talk about. The cast is talented and the loopy, intricate, non-linear storytelling is fun, but there's just not that much going on to discuss.

But I have to complain: the show must must must stop going back and mining dead-and-buried relationships. They did it twice last night, and at least two or three other times this season. It's boring and sloppy. Cut that crap out right now.

[number8]

Is there a deadline to that show where he has to meet the mom in time for the kid to be the right age in the future year it's set? Also, did they ever have an explanation as to why he's telling his kid inappropriate stories in certain episodes?

[Mara]

Is there a deadline to that show where he has to meet the mom in time for the kid to be the right age in the future year it's set? Also, did they ever have an explanation as to why he's telling his kid inappropriate stories in certain episodes?

Ted is telling the story to his kids in 2030, and they look to be teenagers. There has been one flashforward (shown this year) to 2015 with Ted holding his baby daughter. During the course of the show so far, he has also bought the house the kids eventually grow up in, and been in his future wife's presence two or possibly three times. (They were at a St. Patrick's Day party without meeting, she was in a class he was teaching erroneously, and he may have seen her leg while dating a woman who ended up being her roommate.)

And I don't really have an explanation for the second, except that Ted is a doofus. (He is, so easily, my least favorite character on the show.)

However, with all the twists and turns, the writers have actually done a really great job of setting up the cause-and-effect relationships between what Ted is telling his kids and how it relates to the ultimate story. All the flash-backs and flash-forwards actually do pay off, often hilariously.

[number8]

But that means he has to meet the mom basically within the next 2 years, no?

[Raiders]

I remember everyone saying how it would end at the end of next season (season 8) because it was renewed for two years prior to season 7 but then Carter Bays shot that down saying he had no set end date.

I think it will be tempting for them to keep spinning the wheels until it is no longer drawing ratings (and it is still at its peak power), but I think the backlash would be pretty damn great if they tried to continue beyond him meeting and revealing the identity of the mother. I predict season 9 will be the last season.

[Mara]

But that means he has to meet the mom basically within the next 2 years, no?

Well, he's going to meet her-- properly, like speaking to her and everything-- at...

Barney's wedding, which we found out last night will be to Robin. They've been teasing the wedding in flashforwards for years, dribbling out information about it. Given all the information we have, the wedding must be coming sooner rather than later, though we don't have a date-- I would guess it to be the season finale next year.

There are probable rumors that the mother is...

Barney's half-sister Carly, who has never been seen. Barney's search for his father took years, and it was finally revealed to be John Lithgow, who went on to raise a different family and has a daughter in college. She would likely be at Barney's wedding, which would match, and would also explain why Ted always calls his friends "aunt" and "uncle" to his kids in the narration: Barney would be the kid's biological uncle, and Robin (since they are going to get married) would be their aunt by marriage.

[Mara]

I personally don't care if the show goes beyond the meeting of the mother, and I don't get why anyone particularly does. Obviously, Future Ted is just obsessed with telling his stories, and if he continues beyond "meeting" the mother and into their courtship and marriage, who cares? In fact, I'd feel a little cheated if we only met her for a half-second and then the series ended, because that's unsatisfying.

[Raiders]

I personally don't care if the show goes beyond the meeting of the mother, and I don't get why anyone particularly does. Obviously, Future Ted is just obsessed with telling his stories, and if he continues beyond "meeting" the mother and into their courtship and marriage, who cares? In fact, I'd feel a little cheated if we only met her for a half-second and then the series ended, because that's unsatisfying.

I think you'll get a whole season of it. You'll meet her in the finale next year (and your theory seems highly likely) and at the end of season 9, she'll be pregnant. I don't think anyone is saying that they should end with the reveal (I did say that, but I meant "much beyond" as in keep going with after the children are born), but it doesn't make much sense to me to continue beyond pregnancy/birth of the first child.

[number8]

I dunno, I heard somewhere that back in the first season they actually shot a future sequence with the kid actors that reveals the identity of the mother meant to be the last scene of the series finale, and they've been keeping the footage in a can for like 5 years now.

By the way, I don't even watch this show.

[Mara]

I think you'll get a whole season of it. You'll meet her in the finale next year (and your theory seems highly likely) and at the end of season 9, she'll be pregnant. I don't think anyone is saying that they should end with the reveal (I did say that, but I meant "much beyond" as in keep going with after the children are born), but it doesn't make much sense to me to continue beyond pregnancy/birth of the first child.

I'd be fine with this. In fact, given the abbreviated courtship they're bound to have given the time constraints, I wouldn't be surprised if the relationship is fast-forwarded because of the pregnancy.

[Mr. McGibblets]

How I Met Your Mother:

I really don't like the idea that Barney's sister is the mother. When Ted got his job at Columbia, he made a fairly big deal that that was one of the steps directly leading to meeting the mother. If it's Barney's sister, then his job had nothing to do with it.

[Mara]

I dunno, I heard somewhere that back in the first season they actually shot a future sequence with the kid actors that reveals the identity of the mother meant to be the last scene of the series finale, and they've been keeping the footage in a can for like 5 years now.

I heard about the scene, which makes sense, because those future kid actors are getting ridiculously old. So, as I understand, they shot a bunch of reaction shots and voice moments ("Get on with it, Dad!") that they've been recycling since season 2.

Here's what research turned up (from 2008):


However he did reveal that more than two years ago, he and Carter filmed a scene that will air when "HIMYM" ends for good. With only the two kids who play Ted’s future children, a cameraman and executive producer/director Pamela Fryman present, they shot a scene that directly relates to the identity of the mother. That scene will be included in the show’s series finale, which Thomas said he hopes “people will see in 2012.”

“We know” who the mother is, he said. “We have a whole plan.”

What I gather from that is that it doesn't have the actual mother in the shot, because it wouldn't make sense to cast her that early. Instead, it's probably his interaction with them where he names her name, or gives away a key detail. I'm fine with it being in the finale, but I kind of hope it wouldn't be the last shot. We'd want a shot of the friends together, not the kids. We don't care about the kids that much.

[Mara]

How I Met Your Mother:

I really don't like the idea that Barney's sister is the mother. When Ted got his job at Columbia, he made a fairly big deal that that was one of the steps directly leading to meeting the mother. If it's Barney's sister, then his job had nothing to do with it.

I wondered about that, too.

It's possible that thread (Ted's drunken night that leads to the butterfly tattoo, which leads to going to a dermatologist (Stella) to get it removed, which leads to Stella dumping him at the altar for her ex, which leads to him running into a married Stella in the rain, which leads to her getting him an architectural professorship through her husband's connections, which leads to the mother) ended when he accidentally taught her in the class. Which, I admit, would be pretty lame.

[Mara]

Wait, maybe...

Whether she's Carly or not, if she's at the wedding and she recognized Ted from teaching the class and that's the reason she approaches him and introduces herself. That would tie in the teaching at Columbia plot with the wedding plot nicely.

And I just found a theory online I'm really enjoying:

That, in addition to marrying Carly and thus legitimizing "Aunt" Robin and "Uncle" Barney, Ted's divorced dad might marry Marshall's widowed mom, or else Ted's divorced mom might marry Lily's divorced dad, making "Aunt" Lily and "Uncle" Marshall literal as well.

And then one more thing before I'm done talking about this show, relating to last night's episode:

Ted is such an unbelievable douche. I can't believe he broke up Victoria's wedding. SHAME.

[Mr. McGibblets]

I still think if she's Barney's sister they would have met anyway, but recognizing him would probably be enough for the writers.

Clint is 'Grandpa Clint', so Ted's mom is probably not getting remarried, at least not in the time frame of the series. I think it'd be more likely that Ted's dad marries Lilly's (now conspicuously absent) mother. He doesn't seem like he'd fit with Marshall's mom.

[Mr. McGibblets]

During the whole episode, I figured the only point of the Victoria thing was Robin feeling bad about letting Barney get away and using Ted to work through that. I didn't even consider that it would actually go anywhere.

[Qrazy]

HIMYM

I think the last scene of the last episode could well be misdirection on the part of the creators. They don't say that that flash forward wedding scene is Barney's wedding. It could be Robin's separate wedding. I'm guessing Barney marries Quinn and Robin marries Don who they were supposed to come back to eventually (that isn't the last we've heard of him kids).

That would tie in well with Robin trying to get Ted to run off with Victoria. She is projecting her desire to rekindle an old relationship onto him.

[Thirdmango]

Besides the good Robin episode there really hasn't been much to talk about with the show. I haven't watched the finale yet otherwise I'm caught up. I forget where it was but there's a good interview with Marshall where he says he pitched the last scene to be Bob Saget getting up and opening the double doors to find a nuclear wasteland.

[number8]

I think EWO called this first, but ABC predictably passed on Marvel's Alias adaptation.

[Henry Gale]

I think I missed most of the last five or so HIMYM episodes (majority of the Quinn stuff), so I had friends and family catch me up as to why their apartments switched and things like that, but last night's finale was still fairly easily to jump into, and it was a solid episode brought down by a few major plot turns.

The Victoria stuff just isn't interesting, especially with it being the second time they've reintroduced her this season (another episode I missed this year was the one where she came back), and we since we basically know she isn't really going to factor into anything other than a diversion from Ted's mother quest (unless she's still with him when Barney's wedding comes along), I don't know how long they can keep it going for very long. It's like when they told us Jennifer Morrison's character wasn't the mother, but still kept her around for another half-dozen episodes. I just couldn't care about their relationship.

But I never considered the mother being Barney's sister, It would be nice since it really would tie everyone together in an even closer way, giving more importance to the misadventures of everyone outside of Ted. It also already made perfect sense with them being referred to as "Uncle" Barney and "Aunt" Robin since people tend to do that with close family friends anyway, but having them be related for real would be a nice twist on something that's been right there for almost every episode to this point. I like the idea quite a bit. At the same time I think that Qrazy's idea of the double misdirect would be a bit too far, even for this show. If they're going to end a whole season on revealing (at least the implication of) who Barney's groom is, then we should probably just accept it.

It's always an odd thing picking apart a CBS multicamera sitcom for its twists and story arcs. It's still a really enjoyable, funny show, and that's what should matter. It just also chooses to incorporate these long-term stakes to make us frustrated, though we probably wouldn't care about it nearly as much if they weren't there.

[Qrazy]

I think I missed most of the last five or so HIMYM episodes (majority of the Quinn stuff), so I had friends and family catch me up as to why their apartments switched and things like that, but last night's finale was still fairly easily to jump into, and it was a solid episode brought down by a few major plot turns.

The Victoria stuff just isn't interesting, especially with it being the second time they've reintroduced her this season (another episode I missed this year was the one where she came back), and we since we basically know she isn't really going to factor into anything other than a diversion from Ted's mother quest (unless she's still with him when Barney's wedding comes along), I don't know how long they can keep it going for very long. It's like when they told us Jennifer Morrison's character wasn't the mother, but still kept her around for another half-dozen episodes. I just couldn't care about their relationship.

But I never considered the mother being Barney's sister, It would be nice since it really would tie everyone together in an even closer way, giving more importance to the misadventures of everyone outside of Ted. It also already made perfect sense with them being referred to as "Uncle" Barney and "Aunt" Robin since people tend to do that with close family friends anyway, but having them be related for real would be a nice twist on something that's been right there for almost every episode to this point. I like the idea quite a bit. At the same time I think that Qrazy's idea of the double misdirect would be a bit too far, even for this show. If they're going to end a whole season on revealing (at least the implication of) who Barney's groom is, then we should probably just accept it.

It's always an odd thing picking apart a CBS multicamera sitcom for its twists and story arcs. It's still a really enjoyable, funny show, and that's what should matter. It just also chooses to incorporate these long-term stakes to make us frustrated, though we probably wouldn't care about it nearly as much if they weren't there.

They've already done these misdirects with Robin, Ted and Barney though. We thought Robin and Barney were going to get back together and then they didn't. Then we thought perhaps Robin and Ted would get back together and they didn't. Plus remembering how miserable Robin and Barney made each other I just can't see them ending up together.

[Lucky]

I think EWO called this first, but ABC predictably passed on Marvel's Alias adaptation.

Wait, what? They turned Sydney Bristow into a superhero?

[Mara]

I think I missed most of the last five or so HIMYM episodes (majority of the Quinn stuff), so I had friends and family catch me up as to why their apartments switched and things like that, but last night's finale was still fairly easily to jump into, and it was a solid episode brought down by a few major plot turns.

I would really recommend going back and watching "Trilogy Time." It's one of the best of the season, and an excellent showpiece for the series' unique, oddball plot structuring.


It's always an odd thing picking apart a CBS multicamera sitcom for its twists and story arcs. It's still a really enjoyable, funny show, and that's what should matter.

Although why it is multi-camera is anyone's guess. They were already unfashionable when the show started airing, and the supposed "studio audience" is a tangled web of lies. Plus, many of the recurring jokes (think Lily's "You Are Dead To Me" eyes) would be much easier in a single camera show.

[Henry Gale]

I would really recommend going back and watching "Trilogy Time." It's one of the best of the season, and an excellent showpiece for the series' unique, oddball plot structuring.

Yeah, I should rewatch that. I liked the bits of it that I saw, but something about that stretch of episodes just couldn't hold my attention. If I didn't miss them completely, I either ate during them or heard them from another room.


Although why it is multi-camera is anyone's guess. They were already unfashionable when the show started airing, and the supposed "studio audience" is a tangled web of lies. Plus, many of the recurring jokes (think Lily's "You Are Dead To Me" eyes) would be much easier in a single camera show.

Honestly, I think CBS is just can't stand the idea of a single camera show at this point. Last year, David Hornsby's How To Be A Gentleman was developed with the network (and the Always Sunny guys as Executive Producers) to be apparently be shot single camera, but along the way it got shifted towards the live, laugh track format. The final product felt extremely awkward, despite its great supporting cast, and it was infamously cancelled after two episodes. And even this pilot season, CBS had a show written and directed by Nick Stoller, starring Brie Larson and Michael Angarano that apparently tested really well and every insider-y person I read that saw it said they loved, but they didn't pick it up. Guess how it was shot?