My TV Premiere Week Recap

Oh what a wonderful time of year for TV junkies. Here is my recap of premiere week:

THE EVENT

NBC has been putting a lot of effort into marketing this potential hit show. Some people are hoping that this mystery-thriller will take over the Lost throne. I doubt it will be as good as Lost, but I was pleased with the first episode. I definitely think it has potential as the sizable early audience means it could be around for a while assuming it doesn't significantly drop off.

I do, however, think that The Event will have a harder time keeping people interested in the same way that Lost did. The main difference that I see so far, is that in Lost almost all of the characters had no idea what “the secret” was, while in The Event a good majority of the characters seem to know “the secret.” It is harder to continue on with using that ploy in this manner because it ends up becoming more aggravating.

It is okay to slowly reveal a secret to both the main characters and the audience at the same time, but if you hold the audience out while the characters know, it makes the audience start to hate the puppet masters.

The “secret” in The Event seems less likely to be sustained over the long haul because of this and that may dampen the show's prospects. I am rooting for it to succeed, however.

UNDERCOVERS

This NBC venture backed by J.J. Abrams seems like a cheeky good time, but is really nothing particularly new or inventive. I think the whole balancing-family-life-with-being-an-awesome spy-thing has been done before.

I am also rather distracted by the bulbous shaved head of Boris Kodjoe (Steven). It is tepid fun and I don't know that this is a show that can hold up over time, especially on a broadcast network.

It seems like something the USA network would have better luck with – although it is nowhere near the fun of shows like Burn Notice or Psych.

HAWAII FIVE-O

The pilot featured some pretty high production values, including tons of stuff blowing up, plenty of helicopters and wonderful cinematography.

This may be a pilot spurge, but I think a new audience should always be concerned about the production costs of a show. It is hard to sustain a show in later seasons if it is not economical.

I thought the pilot was relatively fun, but I think a lot of my fun came from the highly-produced action. Take that away and I am not sure I will enjoy it as much.

The biggest treat of the show so far is Daniel Dae Kim (Lost).

GLEE

I was happy to be back in school for another year of watching the Glee kids and visit with Brittany. She had some priceless one-liners, including “Stop the violence” and “People thought I was on vacation but I just got lost in the sewers.”

Overall, it was a decent episode to set up the second season trajectory.

RUNNING WILDE

This show has probably been overlooked already. I didn't notice it until I saw it on Hulu the other day. It stars Will Arnett (Arrested Development) and Keri Russell (Felicity). I liked the pilot and could see myself getting into this show.

I have to say, however, it was significantly helped by David Cross (Arrested Development) who appeared in the pilot. I say check it out. It is worth 20 minutes on Hulu. Also check out, what seems to be a companion series that will air on IFC this fall, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.

That show stars David Cross with a supporting role from Will Arnett.

CHUCK

I am so happy that Chuck is back for another round of mayhem. The premiere hasn't captured me in the same way that it did last season. However, I am excited to see where the show takes us this year.

I very much hope that Chuck and Sarah are together for the entire season. It is time for them to take their relationship to the next level. Maybe a proposal by season's end? Also, Morgan needs a serious love interest for the season (just sayin').

COMMUNITY

Hey, it is America's sweetheart, Betty White doing a guest spot in the season opener of Community! That is a major plus, but the return of last season's breakout hit was sub par.

I was hoping for a little Jeff and Annie relationship fun this year after their make-out session in last season's finale -- doesn't look like we are going to get it though. Still I am glad this show is back because when it is good, it is really good.

30 ROCK

Again, I thought the season opener of this great show was also sub par compared to the standards it has set for itself over the years.

It featured a nice guest spot by Matt Damon, who is Liz's new boyfriend.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE

What can I say about this show which has been so hyped by critics in recent weeks? Nothing much original other than to note that yes it does live up to the hype so far. It is really movie quality entertainment.

It is a must watch.

New Spider-man Director, Neil Patrick Harris is the Man and Paranormal Sequel(s) Coming

Marc Webb, the director of the Golden Globe nominated Best Picture (500) Days of Summer will helm the new Spider-man series. Interesting choice. Can't wait to see who Peter Parker will be played by.

There is a lot of buzz around Glee because of the recent Golden Globes win. Here is some more buzz... well it looks like Glee landed the brilliant Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) for a guest spot. I love it. However, I hope Glee doesn't get over hyped and stretched too far. It is really easy for a show to go from scalding hot to ice cold these days.

I still haven't see Paranormal Activity but apparently it is going to have a sequel, which will no doubt be less cool than the first. Before we know it we will be watching Paranormal Activity 5 -- mark my words.

Record Deal for Mr. Schue, @shitmydadsays Gets A TV Show and Avatar's Oscar Chances

This is old news, but it is relatively new news to me. If you are a fan of @shitmydadsays you may know that the author, if you want to call him that, has a forth coming book, but you may not have known that he has a deal with CBS for a TV show.

I am still a little flummoxed by Avatar's big wins at the Golden Globes. It won Best Picture and Best Director for James Cameron. It is a good movie, the box office recites are amazing, but it is not the best movie to come out this year. Here is an opinion piece talking about it's Oscar chances. Let's hope common sense prevails.

Hey Glee fans, Mr. Schue has signed a record deal. This could be a crazy awesome idea or a crazy bad one -- only time will tell. Remember when Brian Austin Green tried to have a rap career.

13 Great GLEE Club Moments for 13 Great Episodes

The first 13 episodes of Glee were a wonderful ride. Unfortunately, the show is on a four month hiatus while the back nine episodes of Season One are being put together.

As a way of remembering and a way of putting off the fix for new episodes, I put together a list of 13 great Glee moments in honor of the program's first 13 episodes.

1. Don't Stop Believin'
The fledging New Directions show choir bands together to perform the Journey classic “Don't Stop Believin.'” This is when a lot of people fell in love with the show at the end of episode one.
(Watch Here)

2. Mashups
To keep the kids fresh Mr. Shue challenges them to do Mashups of two different songs combined into one. To make it even better it becomes a battle of the sexes. Plus there is the fact that all the kids are hopped up on drugs courtesy of Mrs. Shue. (Watch Here)

3. Sue and the Kitty Kat
There are so many priceless one-liners from Sue Sylvester but this one, when she threatens Mr. Shue, is one of the most random and funniest. “I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. Then on some dark, cold night I will steal away into your home, and punch you in the face.” (Watch Here)

4. Sweet Caroline
Shit, Puck can sing – thats what we learned from his tribute to a Jewish musical icon. (Watch Here)

5. Iron Tablet?
Did everybody else catch this startling exchange between Mr. Shue and Sue?
SUE: “Iron tablet? Keeps your strength up while your menstruating.”
WILL: “I don't menstruate.”
SUE: “Really? Neither do I.”

6. Sue's Corner
Local TV was changed forever when we all saw how Sue “Cs it.” Unfortunately for everyone I can't find these clips anywhere.

7. Sue the Wrestler
OK – so this has happened a bunch of times and each time it is hilarious. By my count I have seen it happened at least three times. Every time Sue storms off after an argument she chucks a student out of her way, sometimes going out of her way to push a student. Priceless.

8. Shue's Got Some Moves
Shue's rendition of “Bust A Move” was definitely an early highlight. Will's cool factor tripled in lest than three minutes. (Watch Here)

9. The Glee Kids Sex It Up
New Directions spices up their performance at a school assembly. The group is trying to get more recruits and they decide that sex sells. Therefore they do an incredibly explicit performances of “Push It.” I was in stitches. (Watch Here)

10. Pep Talk
I may have pumped a fist after Mr. Shue's pep talk to Finn in the locker room at school during Sectionals.
FINN: “Mr. Shue, you left your keys.”
WILL: “No, I didn't.”

11. Acafellas
Mr. Shue starts a boy band. (Watch Here)

12. Santana and Brittany Sitting in a Tree
Brittany sure dropped a bomb in episode 13. This was one of the best laugh out laud moments so far. Here was the exchange.
SANTANA: “Sex is not dating.”
BRITTANY: “If it were, Santana and I would be dating”

13. Sue Loves Minorities
Remember when Sue tried to break up the glee club by pitting the minority students against the white students. Her best line in the episode: “I love minorities so much I might move to California and become one.”

What did I forget. Let me know.

Initial Thoughts on the Golden Globe Nominations – TV Edition

It is hard to make projections about the Golden Globe motion picture awards, but when it comes their small screen counterparts it is a lot easier.

The biggest question in my mind is whether this is, indeed, the year of Glee. The breakout hit on FOX leads the way with four GG nominations. Several other shows have three nominations.

It is hard to imagine the show, which has only aired 13 episodes, taking all four. And judging by its competition its seems more likely that it will only take one of the awards – that said I am not the judges.

It did lead the way in nominations, so someone obviously likes it. To me, however, it may be more likely that Dexter takes the cake – after another amazing season.

Here are my early predictions:

Best Television Series – Drama
Big Love (HBO), Dexter (SHOWTIME), House (FOX), Mad Men (AMC), True Blood (HBO)

House was amazing last year, but with all the buzz surrounding the recent Season Four finale of Dexter. This could be a good year for the cable show.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Glenn Close (Damages), January Jones (Mad Men), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Anna Paquin (True Blood), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Nobody owns their show more than Kyra Sedgwick owns The Closer. She is the heavyweight in this division.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), Bill Paxton (Big Love)

I think Michael C. Hall will get the win. Hugh Laurie should probably get a GG every year – he is that good, but Dexter is hot this year.

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
30 Rock (NBC), Entourage (HBO), Glee (FOX), Modern Family (ABC), The Office (NBC)

Glee. No doubt.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Courteney Cox (Cougar town), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Lea Michele (Glee)

Toni Collette was wonderful in the United States of Tara. She deserves the GG, but I could see Edie Falco getting some love in the lead role of Nurse Jackie. Lea Michele is the sleeper.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), David Duchovny (Californication), Thomas Jane (Hung), Matthew Morrison (Glee)

This is a real toss-up. The GG could easily go to Baldwin, Carell or Duchovny, but the 30 Rock star is the most deserving for his work. Although Morrison did some awesome break dancing on Glee this year it is hard to see him taking home a GG. My big prediction, however, is this: if Morrison wins, Glee with have a clean sweep of four GGs.

Best Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Georgia O'Keefe (LIFETIME), Grey Gardens (HBO), Into the Storm (HBO), Little Dorrit (PBS), Taking Chance (HBO)

I am pretty ambivalent about this category. I will only say that I enjoyed Into the Storm.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Joan Allen (Georgia O'Keefe), Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens), Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens), Anna Paquin (The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler), Siqourney Weaver (Prayers for Bobby)

Drew Barrymore got a lot of props when Grey Gardens premiered on HBO and I think that gives her a leg up against her serious competition, Joan Allen, whose film premiered on (scoff) Lifetime.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Endgame), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), Jeremy Irons (Georgia O'Keefe)

See above about Into the Storm.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Adams (HUNG), Rose Byrne (Damages), Jane Lynch (Glee), Janet McTeer (Into the Storm), Chloe Sevigny (Big Love)

Let's keep the Jane Lynch love train rolling. This is definitely her time in the sun.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Michael Emerson (Lost), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), William Hurt (Damages), John Lithgow (Dexter), Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

It's John Lithgow as a serial killer. How could he lose.

Is GLEE the Best New Show of 2009?

It is a sad thing when favorite TV shows get senselessly hacked up by heartless executives, but it is the way of the world. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, right?

As painful as it is to lose shows there is the chance to fall in love all over again every TV season. The following are my five new favorite shows of 2009.

5. White Collar (USA)

The USA Network scored another hit with its slick new character Neil Caffrey, a con-artist turn FBI helper, in White Collar. It is like the Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg movie Catch Me If You Can, except smoother and and sexier.

4. Royal Pains (USA)
This show, about a doctor who lands himself a sweet gig as the personal doctor to the rich in the Hamptons shortly after getting fired from a steady job at a New York hospital, is bright, charming and funny. There is no doubt that the show is a little fluffy, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Watching the show is sort of like being on a vacation from meaty shows like Lost, Fringe and House – and I am more than happy to take this vacation in the Hamptons.

3. Community (NBC)

Laughs abound in this witty new addition to the NBC comedy line-up that already includes The Office, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock. Community, with Joel McHale (The Soup) in the lead, is just as good as any of those aforementioned gut-busters. The ensemble cast of Community has been brilliant -- especially Donald Glover as Troy and Danny Pudi as Abed. (see what I mean here)

2. Dark Blue (TNT)
I wasn't sure what to make of this new series starring Dylan McDermott. I didn't really believe that McDermott could pull off the gritty bad ass cop thing. Yet, he does, and he does it well. Even though McDermott is great, the supporting cast (if you can call them that, because they get the more screen time than McDermott) are even better. Somebody deserves a pat on the back for the amazing casting job.

1. Glee (FOX)

I didn't want to like this show at first. I thought it was all camp, melodramatic, after-school special-like, general waste of TV time. Then I realized that it was all camp, melodramatic, after-school special-like, generally great TV time. The camp is the point. The show is nothing less than fun and even a little sinister underneath. If for no other reason, this show is a must-watch because of the comedy stylings of Jane Lynch (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Role Models) as the evil Sue Sylvester.