The Idiot Box
Posted by Jeff on September 21, 2010
(A new column.)
I love TV. I’m still not proud of it but I watch a lot of TV. And well, this week is Christmas for TV lovers. It’s the start of the New Fall Season. There are a number of shows that I am excited to see coming back and a couple that I am looking forward to and that I hope are as good as they appear from commercials. Let’s start with what I am waiting to see come back…
Returning Shows
(Show, Channel, Day & Time (CDT))
Glee, Fox, Tuesday, 7:00
I will not stand here and be shamed for watching Glee. This show is good. And it’s good for a lot of reasons.
1. These might be the most talented actors on TV. They bust their backsides to learn songs, record the songs, learn dance routines, and then act it all out every week. I hope that they get a massive raise next season because they deserve it.
Mike O'Malley from Glee
2. The supporting cast (who don’t generally sing) are all great too. Mike O’Malley is the most underrated in the supporting cast. His portrayal of a tough-guy father of a gay son is as much hilarious as it is touching. O’Malley was actually nominated for an Emmy for this role. She’s more than a supporting cast member but Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester did win the Emmy for her work. Sue is given all of the lines that make you laugh and cringe at the same time. She’s a breath of fresh air on the tube.
3. It’s just plain fun. Watch it.
Modern Family, ABC, Wednesday, 8:00
I admit that I only started watching this because Ed O’Neill (family patriarch, Jay) is in it. The Married with Children star makes everything good. (I even liked Dutch!) But then I discovered a slew of impressive actors playing hilarious characters. The best of them has to be Ty Burrell who I, along with most of the world, missed on the short-lived Kelsey Grammar vehicle, Back to You. I’m told he was great on that show as well. Burrell plays Jay’s son-in-law, Phil. He’s a goofy real estate agent with three kids and a harangued wife, played by Julie Bowen (Boston Legal). Jay’s son is a gay lawyer who has adopted a baby girl with his partner, stay-at-home dad/crooning clown, Cameron. The actor who plays Cameron, Eric Stonestreet won an Outstanding Supporting Actor Emmy as did Modern Family for Best Comedy. It is laugh-out-loud funny and usually has a good family-spirit to it.
Jim Parsons with his Emmy for Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory, CBS, Thursday, 7:00
This show would be pretty mediocre without Emmy winner Jim Parsons as one of four nerdy friends. Johnny Galecki plays the much-annoyed roommate, Leonard but he’s never much funnier than he was when he starred in Roseanne as Darlene’s boyfriend. That’s OK though because he’s not supposed to be the comic element. Sheldon, Raj, and Howard are the funny ones and even Penny (Kaley Cuoco) is starting to get some good lines. Chuck Lorre mans this show and he knows how to make hits. But I’ll speak more of him when I preview Mike and Molly. BBT is at times gut-busting and others, laugh-track weak. But it’s worth 22 minutes on a DVR if for no other reason to see Parsons make Sheldon one of the Greatest TV Characters of all time. (Hrmm… I capitalized that. Column Idea!)
Community, NBC, Thursday, 7:00
I started watching this last year because I thought Chevy Chase was going to be cast as a professor at Greendale Community College. It seemed like a perfect choice for casting. It turns out he’s a non-traditional student at the school and his character is one of the few that is consistently cliché. I’m also not a huge fan of Joel McHale (The Soup). He stars as a lawyer who faces disbarment if he doesn’t go back and get a new degree.
OK, the entire premise is shaky, the two known actors are either miscast or marginally unlikeable but Community really works. Why? Mostly because it is just so weird. I’ll admit that it requires a huge suspension of disbelief. But really, most shows do. Take a chance on it and look for Danny Pudi as Abed, a student who tries to place everything that happens into the context of a movie or a TV show that he has seen. Also watch for Ken Jeong as Señor Chang, the nasty Spanish teacher that says what just about any teacher wishes they could.
Others Receiving Votes…
The Office, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Undercover Boss, 30 Rock
New Shows (or not new shows that I want to start watching)
Mike and Molly, CBS, Monday, 8:30
This show is getting a small amount of buzz because it features two lead actors who are obese and because it’s another Chuck Lorre production (Two and Half Men, Big Bang Theory). What caught my eye is that one reviewer said that Lorre will treat the weight issues differently and without typical gags. Also, many have noted that Lorre is notorious for deciding what is not working in his shows and cutting them out. (See also Sara Gilbert’s axing from BBT.) We’ll see. **UPDATE** I watched this last night and it was pretty funny. The first 15 minutes were typical sitcom drudgery but it rallied hard and had us laughing hard at the end. Good start.
Outsourced, NBC, Thursday, 8:30
I may get burned here. The promos for this show had me rewinding my DVR. There’s a great potential for laughs since most Americans get very annoyed when they figure out that their call has been forwarded to India. I mean we’re pissed enough that the new Dell computer is on the blink and now we have to speak to someone named, “Carl” who has broken English and sounds like Apu from the Simpsons? Anyway, as long as they can crank out some laughs without offending the wrong people it might work.
The Defenders, CBS, Wednesday, 9:00
It looks like the Jim Belushi vehicle might become another dramedy but that might be OK. The 9:00 hour has been a wasteland to me since ER went off the air. I have never found anything worth watching. That’s sad to me because I loved NYPD Blue, Boston Legal, The West Wing and many other hour-long dramas. I miss them. Maybe this show will fit the bill.
The Event, NBC, Monday, 8:00
If The Defenders doesn’t hook me, maybe The Event will. However, in the past I have failed miserably at following serialized dramas. If this show, which is billed as a cross between Lost and 24 requires that I watch every episode in order, I may be in trouble. Despite a DVR that is cleaned out and ready to start recording, I have trouble with this type of show. Life sometimes does not allow staying on top of TV shows. Doesn’t that stink? Well the hype is legitimate so maybe I’ll give it a shot.
The Good Wife, CBS, Tuesday, 7:00
I know why I didn’t start watching this last year. I love Julianna Margulies. I have loved her since ER. I was just worried that I would get sucked in and then they’d cancel it. Like Sports Night and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Well, they didn’t so here I go. I hope I didn’t miss too much.
Others Receiving Votes…
Raising Hope, Parenthood, Cougartown, Outlaw
Next Week: Reality TV…
27 Responses to “The Idiot Box”
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Brett Kincaid said
Awesome! Many thanks to Jeff for picking up the slack in an area we have been missing on BlogHawgs. It also happens to be a favorite arena for me, so I’m thrilled we’ll have a platform every week to discuss TV.
Surprisingly Jeff failed to include “Boardwalk Empire” in his review. The new HBO drama features Steve Buscemi starring at Nucky Thompson, political boss and bootlegging kingpin in Atlantic City, New Jersey, circa 1920. In the premier episode, directed by Martin Scorcese, prohibition goes into effect as Nucky speaks to the local chapter of the Women’s Temperance Society. Shortly after leaving that meeting, Nucky meets with his gang of thieves – including the mayor and several councilmen – to set the schedule for delivery of hooch during Prohibition.
I won’t go into tons of detail right now because I know lots of folks will wait and hit the DVR tonight or tomorrow to catch up, so suffice it to say – this looks like a Scorcese movie. Big shots, striking sets, and just enough blood to make you slightly unnerved.
I must admit that it took me a minute to get involved in the show. It’s rare that a television pilot can work from beginning to end, but “Boardwalk Empire” delivered as well as you can expect. The biggest surprise to me is Buscemi. As much as I like him, I wondered if Buscemi would be able to hold the screen as the lead. After the first hour, I think we could all be in for a great treat.
Bret with one T said
What about the F/X shows? “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” “The League” They premiered last week, but still deserved mention I think.
I’m kind of hacked that Big Bang will move to Thursday, my DVR can’t handle another Thursday Show.
Jeff said
Yeah, I can’t afford HBO. I’m just a poor teacher.
BWOT: Sunny needs to be on my list. I tried watching it once and wasn’t impressed but I hear I just picked a bad ep.
Bret with one T said
Oh, and “Out Sourced” looks really good. But I missed the first episode of “The Event” last night, and I don’t know if I want to play catch up. Besides my heart is still broken from “Lost” and I don’t know if it can ever love a sci-fi/fantasy major network serial series again.
Jim Gooch said
It’s not tv; it’s HBO. Truer words have never been spoken. It’s that far ahead of the game. I agree with BK regarding Boardwalk Empire. It has all the makings of another grand-slam for the wizards at HBO. I won’t be missing a minute of this first season.
Other shows I will be watching religiously: the long-awaited second season of HBO’s Eastbound and Down, the second season of HBO’s Bored to Death, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (which seems to be getting only crazier and nastier with age), Supernatural (don’t knock it until you try it), and I am going to try like hell to watch more Parks and Recreation.
Jim Gooch said
Oh, and of course Modern Family!
Brett Kincaid said
I have no idea why, but NBC has shelved “Parks & Rec” – one of the funniest shows in their lineup – in favor of “Outsourced”, which is getting mutilated by lots of critics. I read one that said you only laugh a line is delivered in an Indian accent. Hopefully it will die – or exceed expectations – and allow “P&R” to come back soon.
Andy Weidman said
I caught part of Mike and Molly last night. It was okay. It was right after Two and a Half Men which used to be pretty funny. It’s always pushed the boundaries on racy dialogue for broadcast tv, and last night was no different. That seemed to be the focus howewever and it just didn’t work. They tried way to hard to work in a “ball sack” comment.
Jeff said
GOOCH! I was hoping this would bring you back to the table.
Mike & Molly was pretty good for a pilot. I am just glad that I held out to the second half. The first 15 minutes were laugh-track crap.
As to Boardwalk, I get the feeling that I will watch this like I did The Sopranos. On Netflix about one year from now.
Brett Kincaid said
No shame in that. I’m about to finish Season 3 of “The Wire”. Until I finish it I will not feel like a regular part of the world. It’s that good.
JUJU said
Sons Of Anarchy also needs an honorable “cable TV” mention on F/X…its a show u dont have to wear a maxi pad to feel comfortable watching unlike many of the new mainstream TV shows previously mentioned.
Jeff said
JUJU:
http://bit.ly/ae3NXe
and…
http://bit.ly/d6zU1D
There’s your Maxi Pad. Sorry to those who don’t get the inside jokes. Trust us, he deserves it.
The New Life of Old Kristen said
-Modern Family is THAT good. Jeff is right. Laugh out loud funny.
-I DVR’d “The Event”. I just hope it is better than the really bad “Fastforward” which I watched every episode of last season.
-I have tried to get into three shows which “everyone” says are great: Sunny, 30 Rock and Friday Night Lights. Sorry “everyone”. I have failed you. I do not like them. I will not watch them with a fox. I will not watch in a box.
-I have found myself not DVR’ing “The Office” and not caring. Please writers… do something and bring me back to the (what used to be) funniest show on TV.
-All of my favorite shows are now on The History Channel. I can’t get enough of Monsterquest, Mysteryquest and American Pickers. American Pickers is my favorite show on TV right now. The series The History Channel did during the summer “America: The Story of Us” was one of the best things that has ever been on TV. I am also a sucker for the “truth seeking” shows like Destination Truth and Paranormal Files (along with the M-quests as mentioned above).
Jim Gooch said
Glad to be back, Jeff.
BK, I am gonna get Wired as soon as I can.
Adam Butler said
Where to start?
–First, lemme say that this was an epic, phenomenal, Tour De Force Column. I even love the Title and Nominate it to Remain.
–You have convinced me to try “Glee”.
–Ok, wait–you cram on me for hating internet pay walls, but you won’t get HBO? C’Mon, man. You love TV way too much to not have HBO. Their original programming is awesome. Just phenomenal. Often ten times better than anything on regular TV.It’s like $5 a month. We can start a BlogHawgs fund to get HBO for you.
–You guys should really check out “Louie” on FX. It stars Louis C.K. who, for my money, is one of the best comics going. It isn’t the prototypical sitcom. I love it. It is probably going to be cancelled and I will be sad.
–Anything with Jim Belushi should be cancelled post haste.
Bret with one T said
Wow! I can’t believe I forgot to mention Louie. Probably because they just had their season “finale” and the topic was new shows. But, you are correct, AB. It’s probably just too good to stay on TV. But if anybody can pull it off F/X can. Talk about a show that pushes the dialogue envelope. Louie makes Two and a Half men look like a Disney Channel program.
Jim Gooch said
Louie is awesome. That’s another show I DVR every week. It’s not for everybody though…. It’s dark, blunt, and mercilessly truthful.
Jeff said
Come on. K-9 was a good movie! You are right about Belushi though. The promos look good and yes, I am THAT desperate for something good at 9:00.
I’m all about you funding my HBO. Send a check.
Brett Kincaid said
I’ll say this – and I cannot believe it’s happening: “The Defenders” is getting some love from people who, like us, think Jim Belushi should be shot in the back of the head. This show is unlikely to win an Emmy, but the reviews are solid. I suspect we won’t watch it, largely because our DVR has already started flipping me off when I walk in the room. One more show, and our daughter may start walking with a limp.
But if you’re looking for something mindless and entertaining, “The Defenders” could be your huckleberry.
BlogHawgs Senior "The Event" Coverage Correspondent Kris Boyd said
So I watched “The Event” on DVR today at home while eating lunch. It is intriguing, but I also said that after watching a few episodes of “Flashforward”. I ultimately think it will fail. Why? Unlike “Lost”, and like every other show which has tried to copy “Lost”, “The Event” is about “something supernatural” and not about the characters. “Lost” was character driven. “Lost” had you hooked after the very first episode. Why? Because the very first episode had 55 minutes about characters and 5 minutes about “something supernatural”. “The Event” is following a dangerous path of trying to create “something more supernatural” than “Lost” and not concentrating on the real reasons why television shows are successful: characters and writing.
Brett Kincaid said
That was a super, natural review.
BlogHawgs Senior "The Event" Coverage Correspondent Kris Boyd said
I see what you did there.
Jeff said
I think you have a career in TV Reviews. Why? I just think so.
JUJU said
Did anyone catch Louie’s original show on HBO a few years back featuring Jimmie Norton? That got cancelled after one season and was great…
Brett Kincaid said
The critics, both pro and amateur like me, will pan The Outlaw with Jommy Smits. And it is justified. The premise is as unbelievable as you can imagine. And the acting is no better than a solid B- at best, grading on a standard TV scale.
But I’ll be damned if I wasn’t entertained. Think of Law & Order combined with The West Wing with a dash of every generic legal drama that tries to make you care (unsuccessfully) about the characters. Now imagine that it is enjoyable.
Jeff said
A former supreme court justice with a gambling problem reverts to private practice? I can buy that. I saw the pilot. It was OK.
The Idiot Box « The Blog Hawgs said
[...] couple weeks ago, I lamented the loss of traditional, hour-long dramas on TV. I still remember trying to stay up late to watch Hill Street Blues. My parents were actually [...]