Ladies & Gentlemen, Your Dillon Panthers

“Friday Night Lights”
NBC/DirecTV
Created by Peter Berg
Starring Kyle Chandler & Connie Britton
Current Season: 3
Number of Episodes to date: 50
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Great news for those of you who are fans of “Friday Night Lights”, NBC has just announced plans for a fourth and fifth season in cooperation with DirecTV. For those who haven’t seen FNL, the show is based on the novel and the motion picture of the same name. The fictional town of Dillon, Texas is the spotlight for the locals and their day-to-day lives on and off the football field. The show’s great ensemble cast is its strength with a combination of veteran television actors such as Kyle Chandler (“Early Edition”) and Connie Britton (“Spin City”) along with the young student athletes, most notably Zach Gilford and Taylor Kitsch, of Dillon High School.

Despite the show’s generally positive reviews and growing list of awards, the ratings have always been an issue. In part because of the writer’s strike in 2008 and the rising costs of show production, NBC and DirecTV agreed to share financial obligations for season 3 of the show. This cost-saving measure is truly an innovative process that hadn’t been executed before with a major network, the success of this partnership may change things. As part of the agreement, season 3 premiered on DirecTV in October and NBC begin airing the season a few months later.

Some big problems do arise as the next 2 seasons are played out. A lot of the main characters are seniors in this 3rd season, including Matt Saracen (Gilford) and Tim Riggins (Kitsch). Jason Street and Brian “Smash” Williams, two main characters in season 1 and 2 have already been phased out. I am worried about the “ER” effect; continually introducing new characters while the originally cast members are written off the show.

Kenny Powers - Greatest Man Alive

“Eastbound & Down”
HBO
Created by Ben Best, Jody Hill & Danny McBride
Starring Danny McBride
Current Season: 1
Number of Episodes to date: 6
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Last month HBO premiered their newest original comedy series, "Eastbound & Down", starring Danny McBride as a down on his luck ex-MLB pitcher. Despite the lack of huge success for HBO with their new dramas, the past few comedies they have produced have been hits including, "Flight of the Conchords", "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and the Australian import "Summer Heights High". Eastbound & Down is no exception. McBride portrays Kenny Powers, an ex-major league pitcher who has fallen from grace and is desperately trying to reclaim his former life of stardom. Left with no other options, he is forced to move in with his brother and accept a teaching job in his hometown. Regardless of his humbling position, Powers continues to live the life of excess he once had.

McBride is nearly perfect in portraying this cocky, foul-mouthed good ole boy. The character’s lack of self-control and falsified confidence combined with McBride’s dead-pan delivery amount to endless comedic situations. But what makes this series something more than a slap-stick comedy is the how the viewer eventually begins to feel compassion for this verbose, uncontrollable loser Kenny Powers. The supporting cast does a notable job especially Andrew Daly as the carefree principal (who happens to be engaged to Kenny’s former love) and Steve Little as Kenny’s unwanted idolizer. Yet, the show belongs to McBride and in turn, he makes it his own. If you aren’t watching this show yet, start doing it before Kenny Powers declares, “you are f***-ing out”.

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Production Note: The series was green-lit for only 6 episodes in the premiere season. Based on McBride’s impending stardom and the show’s popularity with young adults, I don’t see how HBO can’t bring it back for at least a few more seasons.

"Amazing Race" analysis/predictions - Update 1

“The Amazing Race”
CBS
Created by Elise Doganieri & Bertram van Munster
Hosted by Phil Keoghan
Current Season: 14
Number of Episodes to date: 163
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We are about half-way through season 14 of the best reality show on television, "The Amazing Race". Here are my analysis and predictions so far this year. I will try and update each week...


Preston & Jennifer - Dating
ELIMINATED

Really just a matter of bad luck considering someone has to be eliminated from the opening leg of the race.

Steve & Linda - Married
ELIMINATED

Linda made a wrong turn on the mountain and really hurt their chances. They didn’t have a legitimate chance to win.

Brad & Victoria - Married
ELIMINATED

I’m a bit surprised they bowed out this early, seemed to be a very athletic team.

Amanda & Kris - Dating
ELIMINATED

They got the unfortunate luck of a U-Turn which effectively sent them to elimination. They had to be favorites, but got a bad run of luck on their last leg of the race.


Predicted finishes as of March 12, 2009


Christie & Jodi - Flight Attendants
7th

These girls are absolutely clueless and I am surprised they are still in the race. I am predicting a first to worst in the next leg.

Mel & Mike - Father/Son
6th

I am becoming big fans of these two goofy guys, especially Mel’s carefree demeanor. I believe his increasing injuries will prevent them from having a shot at the final.

Mark & Michael - Brothers/Stuntmen
5th

They are a crafty, strong team but have made too many mistakes thus far and will make more that will eliminate them earlier than expected.

Tammy & Victor - Siblings/Lawyers
4th

Victor’s undermining of Tammy will undoubtedly come back to haunt them, as it almost did in Romania.

Kisha & Jen - Sisters
3rd

A very tough team and will be in it until the final leg.

Margie & Luke - Mother/Son
2nd

They are definitely the feel good team this season and Margie is a strong competitor despite her age. I have a feel they lose a close one.

Jaime & Cara - Former NFL Cheerleaders
1st

I just have a feeling about these two beautiful ladies…

"South Park" Does It Again

“South Park”
Comedy Central
Created by Trey Parker & Matt Stone
Starring Trey Parker & Matt Stone
Current Season: 13
Number of Episodes to date: 185
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Last night, the 13th season of "South Park" premiered on Comedy Central and the show is better than ever. Since premiering in 1997, "South Park" has slowly transformed from a cartoon based on fart joke humor to the best satire on television. Absolutely no one is safe from the ridicule provided by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. In the first episode of the season, the Jonas Brothers are the subject of mockery based on their own popularity. Throughout the episode we learn that their heavenly image is the product of the Disney Corporation and is basically used to sell sex appeal unwittingly to young females. All of this is OK, because they wear purity rings which symbolize their high moral standards. Once again, Parker and Stone are able to broach a serious social topic under the guise of a “stupid” cartoon. This isn’t the true intentions of the Jonas Brothers (in fact in the show it is portrayed as a scheme created by Disney, namely a “real” Mickey Mouse), but it nevertheless opens your eyes to how boy bands and other entertainment icons are perceived to our youth. I look forward, as always, to another season of "South Park" and can’t wait to see what cultural issue they expose next.