Dear Thursday: New TV So Far
So I thought now would be a good time to talk about TV So Far this season. First up the new shows:
Glee: This show started off great, but seems to be losing steam. The story lines are tepid, and IMO need an injection of the big drama that Ryan Murphy’s other show, Nip/Tuck is known for.
Also, there’s a lot riding on the supposed fact that Rachel (whose nose I love, btw) is the best singer in glee club and even though she quits every other episode they need to keep on getting her back b/c glee just isn’t the same w/o Rachel. But, um, Mercedes has a way better, I mean Aretha-Franklin-level voice. I’m not understanding why she isn’t getting more solos. Is it b/c she’s big, black, and therefore (by Hollywood standards) not beautiful? Hmm. I’m trying not to stop watching this show, but if the writers really think it’s okay to give the black character one measly storyline and the Asian-American character none, I might have abandon it mid-season. I’m getting a little too old to take on new shows that do nothing with their characters of color.
Plus Jane Lynch, the best thing about this show, only had one scene in last night’s episode and that’s just criminal.
Modern Family: I DVRed this b/c it looked sorta funny, and it turned out to be hella funny. The best gay couple I have ever seen on television, non-cliche breeders, plus Al Bundy. I’m also in love with the chubby Latino kid. However, Gabby’s kids on Desperate Housewives are also chubby, so I’m a little concerned that ABC is trying to jump off a new kind of Latino typecast. Anyway, I highly recommend this show. Totally worth a watch.
FlashForward: Well, it’s no Lost (even though it desperately, desperately wants to be), but it’s a great concept, and Lost isn’t on right now, so I’m reserving judgment.
Also, they’ve still got to introduce the Gabrielle Union-John Cho interracial couple, which is pretty much the only reason I’m giving Lost-lite a chance.
The Middle: I only caught the last five minutes, but I’m fairly sure “Malcolm in the Middle” could file an idea theft suit against them and win fairly easy. Patricia Heaton still has the funny, though. And I hope that The Janitor from “Scrubs” playing her husband means that they won’t actually bring back “Scrubs” as previously threatened.
Okay, that’s it for me so far. I abhor the new Leno, which isn’t surprising since I despised the old Leno. And I didn’t even bother to catch Mercy or Hank. I caught the first two episodes of The Vampire Diaries, but barely made it out of there alive as I was near about bored to death by their uninspired storylines.
But maybe I’m missing something that I would have loved. Let me know if that’s the case and what you think of Fall’s new TV crop in the comments.
I agree with everything you said here. Except, I also thought Glee was bit boring and I kept thinking maybe I'd like it more if I were still in High School. I also tried watching Bored To Death and I find that the title describes the experience of watching the new show.
I agree with everything you said here. Except, I also thought Glee was bit boring and I kept thinking maybe I'd like it more if I were still in High School. I also tried watching Bored To Death and I find that the title describes the experience of watching the new show.
Rachel quits every other act, not every other episode…. I can barely keep straight if she's in or out of Glee Club anymore. The pace of the show is strange to me: feels rushed yet static at the same time. But Mercedes brought that house down w/ her number saving solo at the end of the episode. I could also watch Puck do just about anything…..in the right outfit (the towel was pretty close….)
Jane Lynch, really, should have her own channel. 24 hours a day of her doing whatever she wants. Did you read the piece about her in the Sunday times? Suddenly….she's everywhere. her 15 minutes in Julie & Julia was the giddiest thing I've seen in a long time.
Okay, I have got to see Julie & Julia. Yes, Mercedes bringing down the house is what made that story line so egregious. I was like, "Wait, why wasn't she singing the whole song from the get go? Why do they just bring her in to do the dirty work?" I went to an all black school, so m/b I'm just don't understand how other glee clubs work. But at our school, the big songs usually went to the best singers…
Okay, I have got to see Julie & Julia. Yes, Mercedes bringing down the house is what made that story line so egregious. I was like, "Wait, why wasn't she singing the whole song? Why do they just bring her in to do the dirty work?" I went to an all black school, so m/b I'm just don't understand how other glee clubs work. But at our school, the big songs usually went to the best singers…
Rachel quits every other act, not every other episode…. I can barely keep straight if she's in or out of Glee Club anymore. The pace of the show is strange to me: feels rushed yet static at the same time. But Mercedes brought that house down w/ her number saving solo at the end of the episode. I could also watch Puck do just about anything…..in the right outfit (the towel was pretty close….)
Jane Lynch, really, should have her own channel. 24 hours a day of her doing whatever she wants. Did you read the piece about her in the Sunday times? Suddenly….she's everywhere. her 15 minutes in Julie & Julia was the giddiest thing I've seen in a long time.
Okay, I have got to see Julie & Julia. Yes, Mercedes bringing down the house is what made that story line so egregious. I was like, "Wait, why wasn't she singing the whole song? Why do they just bring her in to do the dirty work?" I went to an all black school, so m/b I'm just don't understand how other glee clubs work. But at our school, the big songs usually went to the best singers…
Okay, I have got to see Julie & Julia. Yes, Mercedes bringing down the house is what made that story line so egregious. I was like, "Wait, why wasn't she singing the whole song from the get go? Why do they just bring her in to do the dirty work?" I went to an all black school, so m/b I'm just don't understand how other glee clubs work. But at our school, the big songs usually went to the best singers…
Oh, Jane Lynch. She's very discreet….but she will haunt your dreams. Agreed she's easily the best thing in Glee. I think it's failing in it's cliched characters and story lines. It has a chance to be something delightfully subversive. I loved that there was a gay teen character just living his life with no hint of apology or conditioning it for the 'straight audience,' but then there was the plot line where he pretends to be straight to his friend? Why? Disappointing and old news.
I felt the same way about that plot line. It was like, "Wait, this even has to be discussed?" I assumed he was already out and gay. But I like that his dad is played by the actor who played half of the gay could in "My Name is Earl."
And yes, Jane Lynch is glorious to watch. Her comedy seems smart but effortless. I had the chance to meet her once, and was surprised by how laidback and not "on" she was. She's probably a pleasure to work with.
Oh, Jane Lynch. She's very discreet….but she will haunt your dreams. Agreed she's easily the best thing in Glee. I think it's failing in it's cliched characters and story lines. It has a chance to be something delightfully subversive. I loved that there was a gay teen character just living his life with no hint of apology or conditioning it for the 'straight audience,' but then there was the plot line where he pretends to be straight to his friend? Why? Disappointing and old news.
I felt the same way about that plot line. It was like, "Wait, this even has to be discussed?" I assumed he was already out and gay. But I like that his dad is played by the actor who played half of the gay could in "My Name is Earl."
And yes, Jane Lynch is glorious to watch. Her comedy seems smart but effortless. I had the chance to meet her once, and was surprised by how laidback and not "on" she was. She's probably a pleasure to work with.
Oh GOD, I mean its not it's. I'm fired from grammar.
Oh GOD, I mean its not it's. I'm fired from grammar.
I heart Glee, but I was very sad about last night's episode. The most obvious being the absence of Jane Lynch. I knew she was the funniest part of the show, but with her cut to one scene, it became clear that her moments are about the only reason I tune in. The second is that the lipsyncing is PAINFULLY bad. I assume they are singing along with tracks of themselves singing the songs. You would think they would have an easier time. Even Chenowyth had craptacular sync-timing last night, and I'm sure this isn't her first time. It really distracting, and takes me right out of the show. I also agree that they need to tone down the Rachel drama. It was ok for a few eps, but it's gotten stale.
I heart Glee, but I was very sad about last night's episode. The most obvious being the absence of Jane Lynch. I knew she was the funniest part of the show, but with her cut to one scene, it became clear that her moments are about the only reason I tune in. The second is that the lipsyncing is PAINFULLY bad. I assume they are singing along with tracks of themselves singing the songs. You would think they would have an easier time. Even Chenowyth had craptacular sync-timing last night, and I'm sure this isn't her first time. It really distracting, and takes me right out of the show. I also agree that they need to tone down the Rachel drama. It was ok for a few eps, but it's gotten stale.
I so want to love Glee. I loved the pilot, but I agree with everything you guys have said. The will she/won't she Rachel plot line is extremely annoying and has rendered her character almost completely unlikeable. Fine, leave the Glee club, do Cabaret and let Mercedes have all your solos!
In terms of other shows: I tried to watch The Good Wife and lasted all of 10 minutes. I watched the Flash Forward pilot and was intrigued, the second episode is on the DVR. Trying to stay interested in Community, but I feel like both episodes I've watched have pretty much had the exact same story line.
It's not new, but thank goodness for Fringe. How great has this season been so far? Love it!
I so want to love Glee. I loved the pilot, but I agree with everything you guys have said. The will she/won't she Rachel plot line is extremely annoying and has rendered her character almost completely unlikeable. Fine, leave the Glee club, do Cabaret and let Mercedes have all your solos!
In terms of other shows: I tried to watch The Good Wife and lasted all of 10 minutes. I watched the Flash Forward pilot and was intrigued, the second episode is on the DVR. Trying to stay interested in Community, but I feel like both episodes I've watched have pretty much had the exact same story line.
It's not new, but thank goodness for Fringe. How great has this season been so far? Love it!