Just Do it

Genius!

The last 5 seconds of the season four finale of Weeds saved itself from an otherwise mediocre season. I have to admit, they started to lose me. No matter how bad a show can be, no matter how many sharks they jump, if I genuinely care about the central character (or any character for that matter), then you can guarantee I will keep watching. So when I started turning against Nancy Botwin, when I became angry and disgusted with her, I began to worry. But alas, my being upset with her meant I still cared, I still felt emotion towards her, so I had to keep watching.

Jenji and the writing team are gifted with the ability to twist every little detail of Nancy's life into this tightly wounded ball of turbulence. You're constantly left wondering, "How the hell will she get out of this?" You fear for her. You feel like all the trouble, all the lies, all the betrayal will finally blow up and Nancy will no longer be. Like it's the end of the show period. Then they come up with a twist like the pregnancy; something that has got to save her life. The stakes just keep on rising.

One thing's for sure: each season finale leaves you craving more, desperate to see how the world of Weeds will unravel. That's the true gift of writers: no matter how bad the rest of the season may have been, if you can get people interested enough in your show and in your characters lives, enough to make them want more, then they'll likely forgive you for the rest.

PS...I still miss Conrad and secretly wish he were the baby daddy. Yes, still bitter about that loss.

Romance + Mystery + Magic = Perfection

Who: Everyone who enjoys creativity and charm
What: The most magical event of the season!
Where: Your television set...cued to ABC
When: Wednesday, October 1st, 8pm
Why: The real question might be: why not?

So I might be just a little bit biased considering the fact that I spent hundreds of hours this summer working on this fine television show, but if you haven't already checked it out, you must watch Pushing Daisies this fall. It's creative, refreshing, well-written, visually pleasing, and features a splendid cast. If that isn't enough to convince you (and why wouldn't it be?!), you should know that the show's cast and crew are filled with some of the most amazing and kind people in the business. Watching the show will support them too!

By the way, I've blogged about the glory that is Pushing Daisies long before I was ever associated with it!

DNC Convention

This is the event before the event. The television spectacle before the fall season and guess who is here to give you all the news behind the news. Ah yes, your very own TvHopster at your service.

Get ready for non-stop coverage out of Denver, Colorado. A place where Fox News gets shafted way out, almost out-side of the city lines. Chris Wallace though, a nice guy. Very pleasant.

Keep checking for pictures, sights and sounds! It's going to be a mile high blast!

The hunt for George Clooney is on!

Paging Ms. Mars

One of my favorite parts of life as a blossoming television connoisseur is when I discover a show that pulls me in so strongly that I get rejuvenated and even more excited about my career in the entertainment industry. Often times this happens once the show is either dead or approaching its end. I don't mind this, however, because if the show is already off the air, that means I can go out and buy all the dvds and watch them one after another, without having to endure the sometimes torturous hiatuses. And in case you're wondering, I never feel guilty about spending hours on end watching tv show marathons. I look at is as an educational experience. After all, this is the business I want to be in and I need to study the art. I only wish I had more time for it, but a 50+ hour work week, friends, and the approaching school year really take its toll.

Anyway, let's get back to the topic on hand! Each summer I like to find a buzzed about show that I haven't ever seen and then try it out. This summer's pick: Veronica Mars. Though I usually have an eye for teen dramas, this one flew under my radar and oh what a mistake that was! Kristin Bell delights as the smart, quick-witted, likable Veronica Mars. So far I've only seen the first season, but I proudly claim it as one of my new favorite guilty pleasures.
Recommended for: the teen or college age girl who enjoys a little romance, mystery, and a hefty dash of sass.

The Olympics

Exciting, flashy and super awesome. All brought to us by Coca-cola with the additives of high definition & Michael Phelps.

When you have some time on your hands -- like myself -- it's a nice way to see people who are obviously a lot more disciplined and talented than yourself. Also, pretty easy on the eyes.

Here's to the olympics and it's enjoyability. I hope the convention fairs as well.

Off to check the droves of emails that I get about this site. Wow, we just can't seem to stop the flow. It must be that TV.

The Next Food Network Star

No, I'm not really going to do a blog on the Next Food Network Star -- although the show is entertaining no matter how melodramatic and pathetic the contestants are.

I'm going to be frank -- with the two or three people who unwittingly visit this blog-- I haven't been watching much television this summer. True, Swingtown was supposed to be the highlight of my summer, but I haven't watched an episode. What has happened? Where have my television energies gone? I think they were sucked up my MSNBC and maybe by a little CNN every once in a blue moon.

I solemnly promise to be back in the television game by the fall, and if I can't get back into the swing of things, then something has gone terribly awry. Please tell Kieth Olbermann to let me out of the bubble they call cable news -- I'd really like my primetime network back.

Tvhapster and Tvhipster, please wish me luck.

Oh yeah, and leave us some comments. We would like to know how much this blog has brigtened your stellar, rosy red day.

Sam I Am

Samantha Who? is back and what a gem it is! The break did it some good as it returns more charming than ever. I know a show has captured me when I laugh out loud multiple times throughout and wear a smile in between the laughs.

Speaking of gems, Jennifer Esposito has really been standing out to me lately. She plays the character of Andrea with an airy likability and loving nature that lights up the screen.

What's especially nice about this show is it's decision to make the friendships trump the relationships. In a way it brings us back to the cattiness of girls in high school and the inevitable discovery we make when we find that there's more to life than our menial problems that seemed astronomical at the time.

Samantha Who? always brings a lovely message, delivered in the most creative of ways. Samantha is given a second chance, the rare opportunity to start fresh, yet she uses it to make peace with her past. She's the poster child for character growth and redemption. The character is endearing and with her she brings hope for the future. She proves that people have the ability to change and use free will to get what they want, or at least try to.

I'm less happy a few states over in Scranton, PA. The much buzzed about dinner party was a letdown to say the least. The Michael/Jan fight was a bit too over the top and I feel like they could have done more with Dwight/Angela. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy Jenna Fischer's reaction shots to Jan's accusations of her former "relationship" with Michael. This comes as no surprise, considering that I often find reaction shots to be the strongest aspects of shows. Sometimes it's what's not said that says the most.

Oh and just a quick note about Wisteria Lane. I'd say they should just put the show out of its misery and kill it, but it already feels dead to me.

The Mainstream Media

Tonight, I'm going to slip away from our normal discussion of dramatized television and focus in on our main stream media. The CNNs, MSNBCs and FOXnews channels.

I'm getting tired, alas weary, of the cable-news networks. When reporting on the vacation of a presidential candidate becomes public fodder, dare I say, we've gone too far!

The days of real news reporting are over, instead we are left with a bunch of people who know nothing of what they speak, and only peddle what they want or think they want us to hear.

Political pundits who spend no time in the real world, and all their time discussing the banal mini-wars between campaigns. McCarthy, the blue-stained dress, the Judas comment. The news dismisses these ridiculous arguments but then goes out of its way to report on it. And it's not just a 5 minute quip, it's hour of hashing and re-hashing till we just cannot take it anymore. Report the real issues. I know it's boring, but it's a hell of a lot more truthful than watching Obama sitting on a deck-chair in the Virgin Islands. I mean come on, I like the guy, but really? I thought PerezHilton and TMZ had a hold on scum-bucket news reporting.

So what are the best ways to counter the ever popular cable news? I guess you should write them, harass them with a barrage of emails or threaten to boycott their advertisers. OR, you can be like me -- you watch it daily and then find refuge at a bunch of politically slanted blogs.

I'd suggest that 'new' news comers avoid it like the plague. Stop watching now, you might only have days, hours or mere moments before you get sucked in. Only bad things can come out of watching the news daily. Thanks to the strike, this has been my sentence. May we pray that Swingtown brings us all out of this rut that we call 'the mainstream media'.

Melodramatic? I think not.

TvHipster may want us to believe that people do not speak from the heart when they talk about, "liberty and death and all that", but let me tell you: THEY DO. Melodramatic, I think not. Not that any of us actually knows, but John Adams probably spoke with the same intensity and veracity that we've witnessed from many powerful present day leaders.

I'd like to pose a question to our well-respected, articulate TvHipster. How should they have approached such a scene? Should it have lacked the fiery intensity or maybe it would have been better if the words blumbled out of his mouth?

John Badams?

"Utterly fantastic"?

Well, those wouldn't exactly be the words I'd use. It was good, and a welcome respite from the months of re-runs that we've all been subjected to, but I had a few problems with it.

Occasionally, it felt a bit melodramatic. Those speeches they gave during the Continental Congress felt a tad to overdone. Yes, they were great words, but did everyone scream about liberty and death and all that? I don't know, man.

The creators and producers meant for the miniseries to be as realistic as possible, and some of those moments felt inorganic to me.

Paul Giamatti is pretty good though. He changed his voice. I love when actors do that. Love it.

John Adams

Impressed. Indeed. More to come.

The John Adams miniseries kicked off tonight. Utterly fantastic, ultimately destined to be amazing in the weeks to come. A small spec of hope for the coming weeks, where re-runs splatter the airwaves. Also, here's to hoping it gets a little more pg-13 in the coming weeks. You know where I'm going...

April 3rd 2008

The NBC Thursday night lineup will be heading our way on April 3rd. I'd put up a promo video, but I can't find one.

Little add-on, a side note. Let me share some tender sediments, for a just a bit. All I ask for is your eyes, and some much needed social banter. (we have very little comments, almost none)

SNL. It has seen better days, years, months and so on. Tonight had a few moments of mention -- well maybe just one. As much as I respect Tina Fey, I must say that tonight she pwned. Yes, very much so.

"Bitch may be the new Black, But Black's the new President, Bitch!" I'm not sure if there were that many bitches, but I think it gets the point across. This might be a great point, but on this blog we do not make any political endorsements of any way, shape or form. Although, we strongly suggest that you reconsider voting for Monica Lewinky's x-boyfriend's wife.

SNL is slowly wooing me back into its good, yet unfunny graces.

...If only there was more on television to actually write about...(please come back television, please!)

We're BACK!

Yeah, so that little strike thing is over-- that means it's going to be T.V time soon! Everybody rev your engines, it's almost here. Alright, maybe not. We aren't going to see some of our favorite shows in awhile, so while we wait...let's try and rekindle our television love. Let's watch some oldies, but goodies or hell let's just watch the news. It's quite a soap opera over there. The actual stories only scroll at the bottom of the screen -- the real drama happens when you tilt your head up and watch the spinners spin and when John King rolls out that screen, you just want to play along, you know?

So don't let this, 'not a whole lotta new TV til the fall' mess with your perfectly well-functioning minds. Just sit back and soak in some real life drama. Or you could watch LOST. My cards are on Lost. Much less frustration involved.