BLOGS
September 2011 Archives
I figure since Modern Family wins every award possible -- looking at you, Emmys -- why not make a weekly Modern Family Awards? The only thing this show ever competes against is itself anyways (see: Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress categories), so let's keep the tradition going. Tonight's episode "Phil on Wire" suffered from the constriction of having to have a plot for every single character in the ensemble, as Modern Family is wont to do, but it had its moments. Here are the winners.
Suburgatory may not have run as many flashy ads as New Girl or have been as in your face as Whitney, but in terms of its actual content, this is one of the best sitcoms of the fall. We just hope that enough people watch it in order to give it a full season, if not more. Given its snug little timeslot between The Middle and Modern Family, it might just have a shot -- though on the other hand, that didn't help Better Together. But that series was terrible, and this one has charm and dry humor to spare.
When talking to Ed Helms (Andy Bernard) and Paul Lieberstein (Toby Flenderson, as well as Office writer and producer) on a media call earlier this week, everyone wanted to know how Andy of all people got the gig, if Andy could ever really be as good as Michael, if the writers are just using Helms' budding movie career to boost Office viewership... all fair(ish) questions, but pretty damn brutal. True professionals, Helms and Lieberstein just wanted to be clear that they're excited for the future of the show, but they managed to throw in a few fun lines about writing in a post-Steve Carell series. They were the highlights of the phoner, along with a few of the choice quotes below.
Someone out at America's Next Top Model, but before you celebrate: It's not Tyra.
Guess who's coming to Sabre.
I'm not sure how many there are of us left, but I know I can't be the only person who has faithfully watched Weeds from day one up until last night's season -- and possibly series, if Showtime doesn't renew -- finale. Even if you haven't seen the series completely through, the fact that you made it through this season is frankly pretty impressive. It's had its high points (everything with Pouncy House, Shane's story arc, shreds of Andy growing up, even some Doug moments) and serious lows (Nancy never ever changing ever, Silas constantly pouting, the whole Stevie thing, as if we're supposed to give a shit), but if what we saw in the final moment of "Do Her/Don't Do Her" truly was the close to seven long seasons of seeing the rise and fall and rise and fall and several more rounds of both of Nancy Botwin... well then I would be sorely disappointed, for more reasons than one.
Shows like Doctor Who and Quantum Leap are entirely based on the premise that they send their lead characters all throughout various points in time. Terra Nova isn't jumping all over the place, but instead just sends a handful of people 85 million years back, in some sort of alternate timeline, in order to save a few members of mankind. While they seemingly can't save the folks in our existence who can't see the sun, or breathe on their own or eat oranges or have more than two children without getting arrested, they do have a plan on saving humans as a race by sending them through a portal back 85 million years to create a new society. Or something. We're a little fuzzy on the details.
Can we just meet the dang mother already?
Simon Cowell: Master Chef?
Last season, Boardwalk Empire was a decent show that had sensational cinematography but some severe pacing problems and characters that were dead weight -- too bad, since it had a lot of hype and a ton of potential. We just dove back into the Prohibition era last night and we're cautiously optimistic that this season will succeed in the places where the series faltered last year. Here's why: