Mr. Show and others coming to IFC

Variety is reporting that HBO original series Mr. Show and Larry Sanders will be re-airing on IFC. Great news for anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing these ground breaking comedies.

Full story: http://bit.ly/fus3p7


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The Walking Dead

When AMC launched their newest original series,The Walking Dead, in October I had mixed feelings. Part of me thought we were getting another series that involved fictitious characters, like True Blood. And with that came the similar format and ensemble of characters. But as we approach the finale of this first season I am happy to say my initial thoughts are unfounded.

Unlike True Blood, the Walking Dead is a case study on the human behavior in dealing with the unknown. We are drawn into this zombie populated world with little idea how everything began and feel as helpless as our protagonist felt after waking up in an abandoned hospital.

The show's first season will come to a close this Sunday with plenty of questions still to be left answered. The show has already been picked up for a second season with more gore and zombie attacks to look forward to. While that aspect makes the show suspenseful, the true action comes from the daily interactions between the survivors. Continuing to build off these tensions is a recipe for success.


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The Amazing Race - Season 17

As of this posting, we have only 5 episodes left of this season's edition of The Amazing Race. I've been an avid viewer of the show the past 4 or 5 renditions and while the premise is essentially the same, it's the competitors who you become attached to and end up caring about.

This year has a had a couple great teams, including the father/son team of Michael & Kevin and the laughable A Cappella Ivy league grads, Connor and Johnathan. Both have been eliminated and we are currently left with 6 teams remaining.

So now it's time for predictions!

Here is my submission for the team I want to win and the team I think will win:

Want: Gary and Mallory
Will: Nat & Kat

Remember, CBS, Sunday nights at 8pm EST. Check it out!

Hell's Kitchen - Season 8 Predictions

The eight iteration of Hell's Kitchen debuted on Wednesday night, surprisingly quick considering that season 7 finished up over the summer. Nevertheless, Gordon Ramsey is back again and if you've seen the show before there's really nothing new going on.

We do have a new maître d’ but no word on whether the old one, Jean Phillipe, simply got tired or his punishment was through. Some may grow tired of Chef Ramsey's antics, I find them riveting and I'm always excited to see which new contestants will challenge Ramsey.

I've enlisted my friend Meghan to give predictions on who we think will end up as the final 2 chefs competing for the grand prize at the season finale. I'll allow Meghan to give her choices and reasoning first:

Jillian
"She's proven herself to be a pretty strong cook, I know it was only one episode but she's fairly consistent."

Louis
"Because he looked normal."

My picks:

Nona
"She's feisty and Chef Ramsey usually wants someone who will stand up for themselves and can be molded in his image. She's a wildcard."

Rob
"He was under the radar in the first episode and it seemed like everyone else got spotlighted for doing something wrong. He's got experience and doesn't act like a fool."

Images courtesy of Fox Broadcasting Company

Game Changer

Today Netflix released their app for the iPhone. 

Subscribers can now watch streaming programming through the app will connected to the 3G network or a WiFi network.  Simply put this changes everything.  The quality is excellent and having the entire Instant Viewing library available is astonishing. 

NETFLIX... FTW!

New Show On Tap

I've fallen behind with my recent travels, but I am excited to start watching Rubicon which premiered a couple weeks ago on AMC before Mad Men.  It should come as no surprise that AMC is looking to go 3 for 3 with their original series after huge success was found with Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

The level of marketing put into the show has been rather unsettling.  I was intrigued from the beginning and could do without the constant reminders that the show is premiering this August ONLY ON AMC! 

As far as the plot goes, Wikipedia breaks it down like this, "the series centers around an intelligence analyst at a national think tank who discovers that he may be working with members of a secret society that manipulates world events on a grand scale."  After hearing that, I'm all in.  It makes me think of the Da Vinci Code + Tom Clancy 'Jack Ryan ' novels which may not be accurate, but has me sold.  The protagonist is played by James Badge Dale, who is capping off a great summer having already starring in the epic mini-series The Pacific.  I believe he is a quality actor just waiting to break out. 

AMC has staked a lot into this series and based on their track record I have to be excited.  Rubicon has the potential to be a hit, but must keep the suspense and thrilling aspect of the show it's key.  I'll report back once I've finished season 1.  Keep on watching.

Rescue Me, Season 2

Just finished season 2 of Rescue Me and I must say things did not end up like I thought they would. I really didn't see this coming. The two big plot points involved Tommy's son getting killed by a drunk driver and Lou getting hustled by a hooker and losing all his money.

While I feel bad for Tommy over losing his son, I felt more sympathy towards Lou. I suppose because Tommy isn't the most likable character and Lou seems to have a heart of gold.

I'm sure both of these events will loom large as we head towards season 3.

Izzy's rating after season 2: 6 out of 10

Two New Ones for Showtime

Via Variety.com

Showtime will premiere new series "Shameless" with William H. Macy and "Episodes" with Matt LeBlanc on back-to-back nights in January

"Shameless," which co-stars Emmy Rossum and is exec produced by John Wells and Paul Abbott, will launch Jan. 9 at 10 p.m. "Episodes," will bow Jan. 10 at 10:30 p.m., following the season-four premiere of "Californication."

Adapted from a long-running Blighty series, "Shameless" stars Macy as a heavy-drinking, working-class dad of six, the oldest of which is played by Rossum. "Episodes" will help illustrate the possibilities and perils of bringing a U.K. series to the U.S: LeBlanc plays a version of himself starring in an adaptation of a highbrow British show into an American sitcom.

I've heard the positive reviews in regards to the British original of "Shameless" but haven't really given it the opportunity it deserves. The fact that William H. Macy has signed on is a good sign. I feel he's an actor that can bring creditability to any production.

As far as the Matt LeBlanc show, sign me up! I always felt Joey was the funniest of the Friends' characters, despite the spin-off show and never really had a fair shot to try something else. I'm really interested to see how he does with this role.

Undoubtedly both will be given a fair shot and a great time slot. Let's see what happens in the new year.

Rescue Me, Season 2 - Part 1

Season 2 got off to a slow start.  We find Tommy now working at a different fire station, in Staten Island, where there tends to be no action and he can't handle it.  Meanwhile at the old house Tommy's replacement, Sully, has become a favorite of everyone at the station.  I don't think this will last much longer.  No way Tommy stays in Staten Island... and of course by the end of episode 4 Tommy has returned.

The majority of plot lines going on at the start of season 2 have me questioning what the main story arc will be for the season.  Undoubtedly it will involve Tommy and his family, but to what extent?  The relationship with Sheila seems to be running it's course and only a matter of time before another volatile fight breaks out between them.

Fingers crossed... again.


Izzy's rating after 4 episodes: 5 out of 10

Hiatus is official over

So I've been slacking... big time. And for good reason, every other person I know is getting married or having bachelor parties.

The summer TV season has officially started and we are already 1 episode into the third season of True Blood. But from now until August, new seasons of Entourage, Hung, Mad Men and Weeds will grace our television screens. And let's not forget my attempt to catch up on Rescue Me, that will also be continuing.

Look for updates, because they will be coming...

The Friday Night Lights Are Back On!

The fourth season of Friday Night Lights premiered on NBC a few weeks ago after having already aired on DirecTV in late fall/early winter.

The huge story arc from this season will be Coach Taylor's forced relocation to coach of the woeful East Dillon Lions. From the outset, he has the sorriest players in the town and how well he can coach them up remains to be seen, because these guys stink. Luckily the show knows how to keep the viewers, even those from season 1, involved. Despite graduating, some of the show's most important characters are still part of the storyline. Tim Riggins is struggling with life after high school, where he was a revered as a local celebrity, and promptly dropped out of college to return back to the only place he knows. Matt Saracen decided family was most important and turned down an art scholarship to take care of his sick grandmother. Saracen's struggle to make his life the most important task on his plate will be a story that undoubtedly resurfaces throughout the season.

I have enough faith with the writers that the absence of big characters like Lyla Garrity, Jason Street, Smash Williams and Tyra Collette won't be terribly missed.

The main focus will the newly minted rivalry with West and East Dillon and who will ultimately prevail? Does anyone smell a playoff show-down?

Btw, Mike Leach in episode 2, equally the most bizarre cameo I've seen in years.

It's Been Awhile

I apologize for the lack of updates. Frankly, I've been slacking on my television watching.

Rest assured I will have a season finale recap in the coming weeks on shows like How I Met Your Mother, Nurse Jackie, Community, Parks & Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock and others.

Additionally I'll try my best on Lost. So stay tuned!

Mmmmm... Fresh Meat 2

My most guilty of pleasures returned last week with the 19th (amazing I know) iteration of the Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Quick aside, shouldn't the name be updated? There hasn't been a new season of the Road Rules since 2007. This season, entitled Fresh Meat 2, brings back a premise they introduced 4 years ago where veterans are teamed up with the new recruits who have never been part of the MTV reality circuit.

The show predictably contains the same elements that have made the proceeding shows so wildly entertaining; libidinous co-eds + asinine competitions + a plush dwelling + endless amounts of alcohol = riveting television. This season will undoubtedly have loads of inflated drama between the hardcore veterans (namely, Wes & Kenny) along with less compelling story lines from all the veteran girls (sorry, the lot this year is exceptionally dull). Random hookups and endless alliances will be formed. Who makes it to the end? Who cares! It's disposable television viewing at it's finest. I am not afraid to admit that I am a sucker and will be watching every week and waiting with baited breath for the first fist fight.

Rescue Me, Season 1 - Part 3

Finished up season 1 of Rescue Me and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will briefly describe my thoughts without giving away any spoilers.

Dennis Leary's performance continues to be the glue for the entire show. While several other intriguing story lines have cropped up throughout the season involving other characters, plots with Leary hold much more weight. Without him, the show would struggle mightily.

The season as a whole was above average, but season 1 definitely does not enter that upper echelon of amazing television seasons. The cliff hangers as the season ended were mild and nothing left me truly wondering what the outcome would be. My hope is that season 1 was the building block for even better character development and story lines. They left much to be desired, but at no point did I hate what I was watching. Fingers crossed for a better season 2.

Season 1 in the book!

Izzy's rating after season 1: 7 out of 10

Rescue Me, Season 1 - Part 2

So things are finally starting to pick up. Tommy continues to try and get back together with his ex-wife and she dumped the boyfriend (thankfully), but he's involved with his cousin's widow. Uh oh, I know something's gonna boil over.

The rest of the crew seem to deal with average male hi-jinks which is a welcome retreat from the serious issues Tommy encounters.

We did see a secondary character get killed off after the end of episode 8. I'm beginning to wonder how many will get the ax, could be an Oz like trend of endless characters.

Overall the show is finally starting to gain some steam and I wonder if all the dead people Tommy sees will somehow affect his job status. It has to, right?

Izzy's rating after 8 episodes: 7 out of 10

Was This Casting Justified?

Last week FX debuted it's newest original show, Justified. The premise involves U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (played by Timothy Olyphant) returning to his rural Kentucky hometown after being reassigned for questionable practices. Once back home, he soon discovers the town has gone to hell in a hand basket. The main culprit of the chaos is a neo-nazi he was once friends with named Boyd Crowder (played by Walton Goggins).

For anyone who has seen Deadwood, you will immediately being to draw parallels to Olyphant's character Seth Bullock who similarly was the law man in a small town. This could be good and bad for the show. Deadwood was an amazing show and Olyphant's portrayal of the historical sheriff of the town is top notch. In that aspect Justified could prove to be intriguing with Olyphant's ability to steal scenes with his intimidation, much like in the pilot where he dispenses an unwanted guest at a lady friend's house. On the other hand, we could be in store for more of the same which would be unfortunate to say the least. Olyphant's character in Justified already wears a 10-gallon hat and cowboys boots, I wouldn't be surprised if he started riding a horse either.

For the show to succeed they need to shed the typecast Olyphant has had placed upon him by myself, or any other viewer of Deadwood. This is not his fault, but he must know that some of those watching the show will get this feel. Goggins is a great bad guy, but I have a feeling his role is not long for the show (Spoiler Alert: He gets shot in the chest in the first episode, but does survive...for now). Who will become the anti-hero? That is what made Deadwood so great; having Al Swearengen (played by Ian McShane) to battle for control of the town against Olyphant's Bullock. We are only 1 episode in so I will continue to hope for the best.

Rescue Me, Season 1 - Part 1

So after 4 episodes of Season 1 of Rescue Me, here's what we got:

Denis Leary plays the show's protagonist Tommy Gavin who is struggling to balance his crumbling marriage, sobriety, apparitions of his deceased cousin and best friend as well as the day to day life of a fireman in New York City. Leary has surprised me thus far with his level of acting.

The other situations involving the rest of the crew of the firehouse haven't really heated up yet. But have involved the typical topics you'd expect (sexuality, male bonding, family issues).

4 episodes in I haven't been completely blown away like I was with The Wire and The Shield.

Izzy's rating after 4 episodes: 6 out of 10

Trying To Rescue Myself

The current TV landscape is mediocre at best and that's being nice. I could give my two cents about Lost as the series' final season winds down, but everyone and their mother has their theories so why bother adding to that mess. While ABC's Modern Family has been a great surprise; NBC's Thursday night line-up has been hit or miss all season long, I can't stand all the formulaic crime dramas that CBS spits out and Fox is in the middle of yet another unexplainable American Idol craze (gasp!)

That's why I was excited to find out that Netflix has recently added Rescue Me to their ever expanding list of instant viewing content available on-line. I've heard great things about the FX dramedy which stars Denis Leary as a New York City firefighter so I thought I'd chronicle my viewing experience all the while hopefully providing as few spoilers as possible.

Each of the first four seasons (13 episodes each) are currently available on Netflix. I will submit an entry after episodes 4, 8 and the season finale for each season. I'm currently only 2 episodes in to season 1, but like what I see so far. I'm most impressed by the acting range of Denis Leary who I've always associated with cigarettes and vulgar comedy routines. Leary, also a co-creator of the show, shines as the protagonist in a relatively unknown cast.

Look for my first review sometime next week and if you have Netflix, join me and see if my critique and comments are on par.

How To Make a Legit TV Show

On Sunday night, HBO debuted one of it's newest original series entitled How To Make It In America.  The show is a modern day tale of a couple of 20 somethings looking to make it rich in New York City.  The protagonist Ben (Bryan Greenburg) works part-time at Barney's while trying to make it, though unsuccessfully, as a graphic artist.  Throughout the first episode we see Ben has a large assortment of friends from all different scenes within New York City including the club scene, the art world and a high school classmate who's a hedge fund manager.  His main accomplice in trying to make "it" is Cam (Victor Rasuk) who seems like a loyal friend, but one prone to make the wrong decisions.  Cam is also saddled by the fact his intimidating cousin Rene (Luis Guzmán) has just got out of prison and tends to meddle with Ben & Cam's plans for success. 

The first episode gave a quick introduction into the world of these young guys trying to make good.  Additionally, the show provides a look into the life of the big city, something not everyone in America has had an opportunity to experience.  The main reason I'm immediately a fan of the show is the believability of the characters and the plot points.  Being around the same age, I can relate to the struggles the main characters are facing.  The desire to achieve self-prominence is a daily task and I'm excited to be able to follow Ben & Cam as they try to "become the man" in New York City.

One Day Away...

...from the beginning of the end.

If you don't know what I'm referring to, you obviously haven't checked out this amazing list. But on February 2nd, 2010 the final season of Lost will begin and hopefully set in motion the answers any fan has been craving since season 1.

I've made it widely known that I believe Lost is not only an amazingly original show, but in my mind, the best show in the past decade. I won't go into great detail about my thoughts, as thousands and thousands have already done so. I will only say this: Lost completely engrossed me like no other show has done. I will fondly remember the journey of the passengers of Oceanic 815 and the countless questions the writer's created through the six seasons of the show. Undoubtedly, some will be disappointed with the ending of the show simply because you can never please everyone, but I'm more grateful for all the shows up until this point. I truly believe I will not see another television show so detailed and multi-layered in my lifetime. I've never been so consumed by a program and as I get older I believe the reality of life will only shrink my ability to invest this much. So without further ado, let's see the final act play out...

image courtesy of abc.com

We're Just Sayin' discusses the Real World DC

On my side project over at We're Just Sayin radio, this week we had an in-depth discussion with local blogger Elizabethany about the Real World DC and she explains her interactions with the cast during their stay in the nation's capital.  Check it out and let us know what you think!

My Problem with Big Love

Here we are at the beginning of the fourth season of Big Love, just two episodes in, and I'm already growing tired of the shenanigans of the Hendrickson clan.  I've been a big fan of the show since it debuted in 2006, but at this point I can't help but feel that no family can deal with all the various commitments and troubles that plague them.  In other words, the show has reached a point where I can no longer believe what's going on. 

The protagonist, Bill Hendrickson, is already the proprietor and CEO of a Costco type super-store and just opened a casino this year, yes a casino.  He's also expressed a desire to run for state Senate.  This is in addition to his responsibilities as the husband to three women and father to nine children.  Wait, I almost forgot his weekly ordeals with the citizens of Juniper Creek, the Mormon compound he was raised in, that constantly threaten his secret life of polygamy.  No man can handle all of these pressures without some sort of blow back, but each week Bill seems to take care of everything.  I think the writers has been watching too much of Michael Keaton's hilarious comedy Multiplicity because no one man can handle all these burdens.  Going hand in hand with this unbelievability, is the lack of a dominate antagonist.  I'd like to see Alby, the son of recently deceased Juniper Creek leader Roman Grant, take more of a villainous role this season.  When he wants to, he can be an extremely intimidating figure that borders on insane.

This show is supposed to enter the viewer into the lives of Mormons that practice the "principle" of polygamy.  I think the writers have gotten off track.  Hopefully they can fix it up before it's too late.

The Demise of Late Night TV

It has recently been announced that NBC is in discussions with both Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno in efforts to right the sinking ship that is the network's late night programming.  The New York Times has described the story in detail and says the deal to move Leno back to 11:35 PM with a half hour show and bump Conan's hour long shift until 12:05 AM is essentially in agreement.

This is a desperate move from the network as they have seen their golden child unable to maintain the ratings that Leno had on the Tonight Show.  I can't say I'm too surprised though.  Leno provided an easy to digest, cookie cutter form of comedy that the average Joe American ate up.  Conan is not that guy.  If anyone watched Late Night with Conan O'Brien you knew he had off the wall sketches and irreverent characters such as "The Masturbating Bear" or "Coked-up Werewolf."  Could NBC really see the average middle-aged American identifying with Conan's sophomoric, but very intelligent humor?  I'm not sure that was their thought process.  They didn't want to lose Conan to a rival network and here we are, less than 7 months since Conan took over and NBC is calling it a disaster.

Is there anyway both Leno and Conan can win from this lineup change?  I say no.  The sad part is that Conan didn't get the time he deserved to build up a new audience at his dream job and has been a company man since day one.  The network and Jay Leno disrespected Conan by introducing Leno's primetime show in September which basically doubled as a Tonight Show substitute.  Either way, NBC has failed to understand that they had to pick between Conan or Leno.  Squeezing both into a increasingly populated late night market only saturated the brand and made things worse.  I see this new experiment lasting until the summer and at that point Leno returns to the Tonight Show and Conan flees to another network.

NBC is the ultimate loser here because they have alienated their late night host of the future.  How much longer do they think Leno will perform?  Johnny Carson was 67 when he finally retired, and Leno is already 59.  Conan, at 46, could be the man for next twenty years, but sadly I don't think he'll get past two.  I'm holding out hope that Conan prevails, but at this point you have to seriously worry.