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TWoP 10: Resolutions For TV Shows (The 2010 Edition)

by Angel Cohn December 31, 2010 6:00 AM
TWoP 10: Resolutions For TV Shows (The 2010 Edition)

It's become somewhat of an annual tradition here at TWoP to suggest New Year's resolutions that we wished TV shows would keep. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, but that's about par for the course with resolutions in general, right?

10. Mad Men - Have Don Break His Engagement
Having Don hook up with his secretary was one thing, but having him marry her? That's a ridiculous cliché and we just expect better from this classy drama. Let Don break it off and learn to be alone, or have him get back together with Faye.

9. The Event - Try and Make Sense
It's not asking a lot, we don't think, for a sci-fi show to make a modicum of sense. We're not necessarily dying to know what "the event' is, but it would be nice to understand what's going on at least half the time. This show's gone from ridiculously awesome to just plain ridiculous. Find a way to fill those gaping plot holes.

8. Cougar Town - Find a New Name
The show's title sequence likes to poke fun at its horrible name, but enough already. We appreciate the self-deprecating humor, but we'd be much happier if the show found a new title so we could stop being ashamed that we like this show so much.

7. American Idol - No More Overruns
The show has undergone a lot of changes this year, but we're hoping one of their top priorities is finding a way to wrap up each airing on time. It's not like we're going to care about what J.Lo or Steven Tyler have to say as much as we did Simon, so there's absolutely no reason for any overruns this season.

6. Lights Out - Find Viewers
FX's latest drama is great. Seriously great. But then again, so was Terriers and no one watched it. This show needs to not only produce a compelling drama each week, but to also win over enough of an audience to earn a second season.

5. V - Don't Be Boring
How can a show about aliens put us into a near-comatose state? The producers have lizard people to play with and the best they can do is change the color of the sky and throw dinner parties? That's not exactly scary. Find a way to keep us interested -- and awake -- during Season 2, please.

4. Community - Don't Change a Thing
Community is our favorite comedy these days and we want it to stay that way. We hope that it just continues to bring the funny, doesn't succumb to gimmicks or get suckered into doing hour-long episodes. Just stay weird and wonderful.

3. Walking Dead - Find Better Plots
We love the concept and the look of this AMC series, but we have higher expectations. Like more tightly written scripts and more engaging plots that don't involve people sitting in a boat talking about nothing for 20 minutes. Round out the characters, make them more interesting and give them better things to do and we'll be thrilled to watch Season 2. And when in doubt, add more zombie attacks.

2. The Biggest Loser - Lose Some Weight
Since everyone else is kicking off their diets after New Year's, we'd like it if this show did the same. Instead of being a bloated two hours in length each episode, we'd like it to shed the fat and go back to a slim and trim 60 minutes. Our DVRs would sincerely appreciate it.

1. The Office - No Michael, No Show
When Steve Carell leaves The Office at the end of the season, we'd like the show to sign off, too. It's not as funny as it used to be (the amazing recent Christmas episode notwithstanding), and without its star, we worry that it will only get worse. And besides, that invisible documentary crew must be exhausted by now.

What are your New Year's resolutions for TV? Let us know below.

What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!

23 Comments

December 31, 2010 8:54 AM
Uncle Igmar
Reply

I am not a fan of The Office - I probably know just enough to get by - and that's after watching only a hanful of episodes over it's long run.

One thing that would be cool would be to actually see that "invisible documentary crew". Have Dwight set something up with whoever the producers of the documentary are to flip the cameras - so to speak and have the Dunder-Mifflin staff interview the producers and camera operators.

The questions could be classic - "What have you heard from the D/M staff that never made it onto the show?", "Who if your favorite D/M employee to interview?", etc. Dwight could do a total interrogation, bad cop style.

Instant classic! None of the regular cast is seen - only heard.

On screen they could cast anyone - but it would be great if they could cast well known "personalities" - like having Ryan Howard interwiew the Phillie's Ryan Howard who would be playing cameraman Roscoe McReedy, etc.

December 31, 2010 11:25 AM
ApathyDrops
Reply

Having the Walking Dead do 20 minute-sitting-in-boat-scenes is how you get well-rounded characters. Do you want no character development, or do you want well-rounded characters? You can't have it both ways.

December 31, 2010 11:35 AM
Knittzu
Reply
replied to comment from ApathyDrops

And it wasn't anywhere close to a 20-minute scene, although I suppose it might have felt that way for people watching only for the gore.

December 31, 2010 2:09 PM
Angelfirenze
Reply

I simply want more episodes of Detroit 1-8-7 and the bigger audience it so justly deserves.

December 31, 2010 4:42 PM
AmyGal
Reply

Survivor: BE INTERESTING again! And do not devote 75% of your show time to one single player.

December 31, 2010 5:14 PM
lanter
Reply

I liked Walking Dead's "sitting-in-a-boat scene." It gave a lot of insight into Andrea & Amy's relationship. Without that, Amy's death scene might not have been so powerful. YMMV.

December 31, 2010 6:38 PM
Kris
Reply

The reason that the boat scene was so universally hated wasn't because there wasn't any zombies or gore, it was because a) It featured two characters, one we barely knew and the other we didn't know, talk about nothing. B) It wasn't character development but a transparent ploy to make us care when a nobody character died. C) It was horribly written.

Walking Dead, be better!

December 31, 2010 6:59 PM
Brady
Reply

I completely disagree that the boat scene was horribly written. It need to happen and was handled mostly well. I don't understand why so many whine.

December 31, 2010 8:52 PM
Kris
Reply

Probably because Walking Dead is based on something awesome yet isn't very good.

December 31, 2010 10:18 PM
tvgirl48
Reply
replied to comment from Kris

Perfectly said. It was so obvious in its intentions to make us CARE about a random character we barely knew just because something bad was obviously going to happen to her and it was supposed to be sad. If something like that scene came earlier, or more "getting to know the second-tier character" scenes actually happened now and again, then it would be character development. But it really was just a ploy.

January 1, 2011 2:02 AM
Jeramy
Reply

I really don't understand the Community lovefest. This season has been hit-or-miss at best, and none of this season's episodes have reached the peaks of the first season. 30 Rock, Couagr Town and Raising Hope are all more consistently funny and brilliant.

January 1, 2011 2:06 AM
Jeramy
Reply

Oh, and that boat scene from 'The Walking Dead' was truly cringe-worthy. An interesting concept is not good enough. Find some decent writers.

January 1, 2011 8:42 AM
Kenny Banya
Reply
replied to comment from Jeramy

Completely disagree. I've been watching the reruns and they hold up. The coolest thing about COmmunity is that you always see more stuff the second or third viewing.

But ITA that the Walking Dead boat scene was cringeworthy. Great idea, clunky writing. I'm all for exposition but FFS more realistic writing would have helped.

January 1, 2011 2:21 PM
Kendra
Reply

I agree with your number 10 resolution but disagree with the reasoning.

I don't think Mad Men is too "classy" for the move at all because I don't think Don is above it. MM frustrates me but they're pretty consistent that Don isn't above becoming engaged to his secretary. Isn't Weiner's mantra "people don't change?"

I also disagree with your Cougar Town resolution. The fact that it does change names is one reason to NOT be ashamed of loving it.

January 1, 2011 2:53 PM
Greg
Reply

In fairness, Jeramy, the season's been quite strong (and varied) and is not over yet--we're only halfway through--and two episodes from season 1 are almost impossible to match--"Modern Warfare" and "Contemporary American Poultry."

Also, the season premiere of this season had that great moment with Ken Jeong at the end of the episode.

January 1, 2011 5:38 PM
Dave
Reply

I find Michael's endless immaturity to be the most tiresome thing about The Office these days. I'm hoping some new blood might freshen things up. The Christmas episode showed they can still write a decent episode.

January 2, 2011 7:31 PM
Eric
Reply
replied to comment from ApathyDrops

Seriously. And since Andrea is the only awesome character on that show, devote all of your time to her.

January 2, 2011 8:13 PM
Sam
Reply

The Office = Steve Carell (end of story)

January 2, 2011 8:47 PM
stefan
Reply

community sucks i've got no idea why people like that show. The acting is terrible the plots unbelivably retarded. I think people like it because idiots like the person who wrote the article talk about how great it is. It sucks balls.

January 2, 2011 9:02 PM
sashay
Reply
replied to comment from Greg

I agree. The Christmas episode was a little disappointing (although the stop animation was great) and a few have been a bit meh, but still head and shoulders above other comedies. Find it is more consistently funny than 30 Rock and The Office.

January 2, 2011 10:49 PM
Ahelili
Reply

Raising Hope is hilarious. I hope to see much more it. Genius!

January 15, 2012 5:32 PM
Betsey Garf
Reply

Yep same story here Fredy , have emailed and emailed but have yet to receive my product , have even sent Jordon my mobile number, please Jordan call me so i can explain to you how impressed i am. This is a SCAM for sure everybody -do not buy this product period!!

February 10, 2012 10:12 AM
Nicholas Dutter
Reply

Of whatsoever number a fleet of ships of war is composed, it is usually divided into three squadrons; and these, if numerous, are again separated into divisions.

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