Kimputer's Weblog

Last time I asked myself, with the bizzy TV schedule I had, if that actually constitutes as an addiction. Now a few months later, I still have time to fit in at least one hour of Counter-Strike: Source online gaming ! Well, THAT answers that question then, not ?
Anyways, here’s an updated list for what YOU should follow if you do not want to drop in the same pitfall of addiction as me:

The MUST-SEE !
Jack and Bobby
Lost
CSI
Smallville
Alias
24
Unscripted
Huff

The Good:
Monk
King of the Hill
Committed
Boston Legal
Everwood

The Sometimes (in that order according to extra time to kill):
NCIS
Kevin Hill
Joey
CSI:NY
Veronica Mars

The Try-out Bench (new series):
Numb3rs

The Axed (either cancelled by the network or dismissed by me):
Star Trek: Enterprise
Point Pleasant
Medium
House
Father of the Pride
Johnny Zero
Desperate Housewives
Medical Investigation
Last Comic Standing
Hawaii
Clubhouse
Drawn Together

The Wait
Blind Justice (new ABC)
Grey’s Anatomy (new ABC)
The Office (new NBC version)

South Park (season 9)
Tru Calling (season 2)
The Dead Zone (season 4)
Battlestar Galactica (season 2)

Off to watch some more TV it is. Intermingled with a bit of Counter-Strike. Naturally.

Everything you expected from the first half (see old review), you get back in the second half. And more. Ending with another two-parter, it proves to be one of the best entries this year, for TV in general. Successfully combining action, drama, politics and even a bit of faith and religion into a highly compacted short season, and still there are no cut corners to be found. Every episodes stands on its own, with a greath wealth of depth, while keeping your heart rate up, and your mouth in the “Aww!” position. With a nasty cliffhanger to boot, the only sad thing will be the waiting for season 2 (filming confirmed, air date not).

Another branch of the alternative programming of Fox, it’s a mix of Charmed and Baywatch with a more serious overtones, but geared to the teen demographics. Outline might have been interesting (Daughter of Satan and human female washes up on the shore of high class suburban town, who will try to find her destiny and mother in the future episodes), but the choppy dialogue and story development can’t be consealed by high production value (directing, production design etc.). You can clearly see where it’s headed, and the umpteenth seduction scene or where something devilish happens isn’t really what I’m waiting for.
As I got my plate full as it is, with a few more upcoming new series on the way, I just don’t have time to wait for the writers to settle in (they had enough time on the pilot, don’t you think).

Another new entry on the Fox line-up, from E.R.’s John Wells, and the evenly seasoned Mimi Leder. This usually means gripping drama with excellent acting, but with Mimi Leder out of control behind the camera (trying out fast paced action), and actors just out of their diapers, it’s chaotic at best. Very unlikely for me to quit after one episode (I usually give them at least 3 chances), but this series shows no promise. No acting, no drama, flimsy action. Story line shows nothing great to be expected. It seems the creators are too eager to sell this to Fox, totally disregarding the high quality shown in their previous shows.

NBC’s first 2005 entry, is, no pun intended, very medium. Starring Patricia Arquette as a psychic who still doesn’t understand her powers, she helps the D.A.’s office solve crimes. To complement that part, episodes also focus on her family life, supposedly adding depth and realism. How far from the opposite can you get. Dialogue and acting is somehow (still can’t figure out if it’s the writers, producers, actors or director’s fault) flat and has a VERY fake feeling to it. Stories so far are a rehash of believer/non-believer stories, very reminiscent to Fox and Scully. On top of that, the opening theme is a complete rip-off of that same show. C’mon, change a few notes, we’re not deaf, y’know.
Anyway, it’s clear this show can be a small hit if it depends on the usually non-demanding NBC viewers. But it definitely holds nothing special for me to keep on watching.

Showtime’s only new entrance this year was renewed for a second season even before the first episode ever aired. Headlined by Hank Azaria as a psychiatrist, it’s one of the few dramatic roles he’s had. Including producer credits, you could say this is THE true vehicle for him to show his talents (besides voicing for the Simpsons and walking the dog in Mad About You, he did have a nice dramatic role in Shattered Glass). The pilot had promise, a dark mix between humor and drama. The second episode was almost mediocre, churning out a few cliches, but the episodes afterwards showed strength. Building on characters, story archs, fleshing out the relationships, and a few dark themes along makes the way this series a drama series that has more potential than meets the eye (as the current dourly ratings will attest). Touching different aspects continuously (family, patients, friends etc.) combined with strong writing has kept me watching, and probably will for a long time to come.

In the sci-fi world, Ronald D. Moore is a force to be reckoned with. He turned Star Trek: The Next Generation into a fun episodic series. Moving to Deep Space Nine, he made it a character driven show that was fun, had depth and kept evolving throughout its seven years. And this year, he’s given us a Battlestar Galactica revival.
The original series was easy to digest, simple formula in a simple format. It was a nice setup from Glen A. Larson (who later on gave us a decade of TV fun with Magnum P.I. and Knight Rider), but the finishing touch that makes this one special is definitely from Ronald D. Moore’s hands. The magic trick is hard to describe. Just writing the characters like they are isn’t just it. He’s able to make every episode stand on itself, while part of a whole arch. Some episodes are filled with intrigue and moral dillemmas while others have action paced special effects and nailbiting suspense. Twists and turns has every episode pegged as special, nothing alike any other show, sci-fi or not, not even itself. It’s too bad we’re already passed the first half, with only a few more episodes to go this year.

When a series’ highlight of over no less than 4 years is the slight change in the opening tune (a rhythm bass riff added for extra hipness), you know something is awfully wrong. If it wasn’t supposedly Star Trek, I’d drop it like a stone during season 2. But somehow, I keep giving it a second chance (by now, it’s the 47h time already).
Last season had a long story arch, with intermittent “reset” stories woven in. It drew hope, but as a whole, it finished below a mediocre grade. This season, after finishing off the story line, they’re trying another trick. Shorter, more focused story archs. Again, drawing hope, but also again, below mediocrity. Unlike story archs on Deep Space Nine, stories flow naturally on character development, but here it’s glued together with the same cliche bullcrap we’ve seen before. Added bonus is the extra eye candy on special effects, big sets and scenery, trying to please the big crowd. However, the sensationalist mindset, gets the worst out of the writers (now turning Vulcans into a bunch of warfaring emotional raving madmen). So this is the end, I’ll just pretend the last 4 years didn’t happen. You with me ?

A late entry for Fox, with almost the same formula as NBC’s Medical Investigation. While I scrapped MI off my list weeks ago, I’m pretty sure I can scrap this show off right now, instead of waiting a few more weeks.
This show features a, what seems to be, brilliant MD (doctor House, played by Hugh Laurie) with some serious bedside manner problems (right, like we haven’t seen that before). Serving under him, is a self-chosen team of talented doctors. The formula is instantly visible. Opposed to MI, where they fly off to locations all over the country to stop supposed outbreaks, House will get special unsolved mystery cases coming to him. This is the first sign of monotony. With one location to film week in, week out, the stories must be pretty good, you’d think. But sadly, these are also heavily formulised, with the patient coming in, then the first diagnosis. Then it appears the diagnosis was wrong and everything seems worse. Without a diagnosis, the next step is to treat a theory, rather than wait for lab results. Repeat this step a few times, till almost the end they finally do solve it. After three weeks, it’s pretty tiresome, like you’ve been admitted in a hospital yourself for a few weeks.
It’s pretty strange why the usually sharp Bryan Singer (from the X-Men movies fame, executive producer of this series and director of a few episodes) didn’t have deja-vu feelings filming his second episode, as even the dialogue follows the same repetitive path the rest of the series does.
With no hope for any character development so far, I confidently declare this series DOA (dead-on-arrival).

You know what they say, when you’re thirty, you will go downhill. Same goes for TV I guess. Since 1975, SNL spawned funny men like Eddie Murphy, Dan Akroyd, Mike Myers, Chevey Chase, Chris Rock and Billy Christal. These were of course creme de la creme (as they also took on writer duties), but comparing it to the current batch, it’s quite saddening. With the current crop of episodes, you can bet your life on the not funniness of the show. Guests like Ben Affleck and Kate Winslet can’t save an episode, and even natural comedic talents like Luke Wilson will fail with every attempt. While the sketches themselves aren’t too enjoyable, the consistent cue card reading is kind of too obvious and annoying. I know it’s live, but come on, try to remember at least a few lines. Too late for the “quite while while you’re on top” scenario, but still, 30 is a nice number to quit on.

With two brethren on the air, it’s still clear the original remains the best. While the main stories are basically the same, CSI has a great lead on continuity, slight character development and more likable characters. On screen chemistry feels more natural and dialogue is still flashy, basically radiating more fun. With the sweeps going on, a few more intricate (and darker) stories (delving more deeply into the psyche of the suspect) are a welcome fresh breeze, and a continuing reminder it will stay on top for a few more years to come.

Plagued by sliding ratings, the numbers don’t reflect the quality of this show at all. The WB’s faith in this series made it the first time slot swapper, but ratings are still anything but uplifting. While not reaching the excellence of the first four episodes, it proves the creative team behind it has things under control. Different writers and directors deliver solid episodes in the same style every week. Already past a third of the season, it’s clear it will finish it with the same high quality it has already shown. And that’s the only consolation, if the inevitable axe comes down.

This is UPN’s first legal drama entry headlined by actor/producer Taye Diggs. The simple outline is an upperclass lawyer (and a party-hopper at night), “inherits” a ten month old cousin, a baby girl. The following stories cover parenthood and dating (predictable fiascos) mixed with a new law suit every week. It’s not high profile writing, beneath the good looks and superficial glitter, the drama is simmering at best, and the humor isn’t that sophisticated either. Stories follow a pretty strict line, and it’s quite predictable. For now, it’s on the edge of repeating the same themes too often, and the cases aren’t too intricate. While it’s not really must-see TV, it’s an able time-filler.

With some 6 new episodes in my download queue for just today, I figured I may benefit from finding out what exactly constitutes as a TV addiction. First, here’s my current schedule:

Sure hits:
Jack and Bobby
Lost
South Park
Battlestar Galactica
CSI
Smallville
Everwood

Try-out bench (new series):
Boston Legal
Veronica Mars
Kevin Hill

Dangerzone (weak writing or due to repetitiveness repetitiveness):
CSI:NY
NCIS
Star Trek: Enterprise
Joey
Father of the Pride

Axed (either cancelled by the network or dismissed by me):
Medical Investigation
Last Comic Standing
Hawaii
Clubhouse
Drawn Together

Waiting for a 2005 continuation:
24
Tru Calling
Alias
The Dead Zone

Try-out bench, Waiting for a 2005 premiere:
Johnny Zero
Numbers
Blind Justice
Ricochet
The Office (NBC version)

As you can see, it’s pretty crowded, and I didn’t even include the occasional late night show (Jay or Conan or Jon).

So on to the exact definition. Well, I don’t have one. I stumbled upon this article, and then I stopped. It’s a pretty interesting read, and an excerpt goes like this:
those who are committed to their work cannot become addicts to television
Well, that satisfied my curiosity. Off to watch some more TV it is.

I always had a predisposition to liking almost all series coming from David E. Kelley, and this show proves again he’s able to create something new and fresh time and again. This new show is a mix of the darkness of The Practice and the lightness of Ally McBeal. Lead by two loose cannon characters (William Shatner and James Spader, both Emmy winners for their previous year on The Practice) the rest of the roster is filled with more normal people. For now this weird mix works just fine and guest spots are top notch. But without any real depth, it might enter the danger zone in a few weeks.