The Onion News Network – “Asteroid Heads to Earth”
The Onion News Network – “Asteroid Heads to Earth” The 24-Hour news cycle is really killing intelligent discussion of the issues of the day. It should do the opposite but the national discourse just gets shallower and shallower dedicated to sensationalism and sound bites. This year IFC debuted The Onion News Network. It takes the … Continue reading
House – “Twenty Vicodin”
House – “Twenty Vicodin” The question that I keep asking year after year is “where does House go from here?” They write themselves into corners and then write themselves out so they can do the same exact show they have been doing for years. He went to rehab, he hooked up with Cuddy, he crashed … Continue reading
Dexter – “Those Kinds of Things”
Dexter – “Those Kinds of Things” We’re first treated to an in media res beginning with Dexter stabbed and called 911. How did we get to this point? How did Dexter lose the upper hand and find himself in such a precarious state? The paramedics show up and get needled. Turns out the beginning isn’t … Continue reading
Hung – “Don’t Give Up on Detroit; Hung Like a Horse”
Hung – “Don’t Give Up on Detroit; Hung Like a Horse” Hung has always been a tonally odd show. It is nominally a comedy and to be sure there is a lot of humor in it. All that humor comes out of a sort of desperate place, though. Both Hung and Breaking Bad are about … Continue reading
Happy Endings – “Blax, Snake, Home”
Happy Endings – “Blax, Snake, Home” There are a few sitcoms this year that have gotten off to something of a rocky start: Up All Night, Free Agents, 2 Broke Girls. They all have strength and seem like they could grow into better shows over time (especially 2 Broke Girls). Shows improve as the writers … Continue reading
Boardwalk Empire – “21”
Boardwalk Empire – “21” Boardwalk Empire was neck-in-neck last year with The Walking Dead for my favorite new show of 2010. The show started strong and slowly built to awesomeness. The second season begins on a mellower note (save for one burst of machine gun violence and a raid) but teases the approaching storm. The … Continue reading
The Simpsons – “The Falcon and the D’ohman”
The Simpsons – “The Falcon and the D’ohman” So Kiefer Sutherland comes back again for his third guest appearance (as a third different character). I’m glad. The 24-ish intensity he brings to characters works better for comedy than drama, I think (never was a 24 viewer, though I hear some good things). Security guard Wayne … Continue reading
Family Guy – “Lottery Fever”
Family Guy – “Lottery Fever” God damn you, South Park. I love South Park, but ever since they pointed out the main flaw of Family Guy (that the cutaway jokes are interchangeable as they bear next to no significance to the larger storyline of an episode) I haven’t enjoyed it as much. Seth MacFarlane doesn’t … Continue reading
American Dad! – “Hot Water”
American Dad! – “Hot Water” American Dad! is a show that I haven’t really watched regularly in a while. I don’t know why not. Every time I do it’s hilarious. I’d dare say that it’s a better show than Seth McFarlane’s more popular Family Guy. A big part of that is that it’s less reliant … Continue reading
Saturday Night Live – “Alec Baldwin/Radiohead”
Saturday Night Live – “Alec Baldwin/Radiohead” Oh Saturday Night Live… SNL is a show I will always defend. People say it’s not as funny as it used to be… and that’s true but it’s still funny enough often enough. I know that doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement but I think they often have great … Continue reading
Persistence of Vision 