One Woman, Four Times the Fun

"United States of Tara"
Showtime
Created by Diablo Cody
Starring Toni Collette
Current Season: 1
Number of Episodes to date: 12
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Showtime’s newest original series, "United States of Tara", explores the idea of multiple personalities and the repercussions it creates for those involved. Toni Collette stars as Tara, a married mother of two who has multiple personality disorder and the "normal" life she attempts to live.

The show is based on an idea from Steven Spielberg (also an executive producer) and developed by Diablo Cody (Oscar award winner for "Juno"). Throughout the series you experience Cody's unique and extremely realistic dialogue. This help drives the character development aside from Tara and her alters. The main cast includes Tara's husband, Max, her two teenage children Kate and Marshall and her sister Charmaine.

Collette's acting is truly an accomplishment. She essentially plays four characters and does a masterful job. I'm not sure many actors could pull of this role with such ease. In each episode she plays a minimum of two completely different characters, ranging from a teenager to a redneck (a man, by the way). Other standouts from the show include Keir Gilchrist as Marshall who plays a gay teenager having to deal with his sexual identity and Rosemarie DeWitt as Tara's sister.

For those who had issues with the dialogue from "Juno" may have the same feelings about "Tara". Cody's writing style is sometimes confusing, but also contains more real-life talk. I'm interested to see how the next season plays out, the first season mostly deals with Max trying to determine what caused Tara's multiple personalities to appear in the first place. There isn't any deep conflict and that brings me cause for concern. Overall the show is well done with some great acting on display. I'd say give it a chance if you can appreciate good writing and superb acting chops.

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.

Bon Voyage Mr. O'Brien

It is with much sadness I am writing today as there are only 5 episodes left of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Sure, Conan is taking over "The Tonight Show", a staple of late night television for over 50 years and moving on to bigger and better things. For that, I am extremely happy for him and no one deserves it more. The problem is the boundary pushing comedy on Conan's current show won't be appreciated or fully accepted in the relatively older Tonight Show crowd. Conan has become an icon for college students over the past eight to nine years. I'm worried the corporate overseers of Tonight Show will put a stranglehold on Conan's extremely witty and edgy writing staff and force them to mundane monologues and skits that are currently provided nightly by Jay Leno. Since I've been a Conan fan for years, I will give it shot and I will hope for the best. The Late Night show will never be the same, Jimmy Fallon good luck because you have enormous shoes to fill.

"Big Love" to get a 4th season

Great news for those who have become fans of America's most popular polygamist family (myself included), according to Varitey.com, HBO has picked up "Big Love" for a fourth season.

The show is averaging nearly 5 million viewers per episode when DVR viewing, encore runs and video-on-demand deliveries are factored in -- a performance on par with that of HBO's frosh hit "True Blood". Season-four production is set to start later this year with episodes slated to run on the pay cabler in 2010.

Personally, I am very excited. Right now, "Big Love" is HBO's best drama and there are several great story lines being played out this season. My only concern is that the addition of a possible fourth wife could provide unnecessary distractions from more exciting plot points, including Roman Grant and the concerns of happenings on the compound.