A Little of This and Some of That

It’s almost a comedy at this stage, but for the last two years around the Paley Festival, I’m sick. It’s a sad excuse, but those recaps have been delayed for the sake of feeling like a reason person.

With the time at home, I’ve been sleeping while listening to Veronica Mars (never a bad combination, let me say but the prospect of dreaming of how killed Lilly Kane when I already know the answer is slightly disturbing), and slowing catching up on television.

For example, this week’s Castle featured three guest stars who reminded me of a good laugh, some family angst if there ever was family angst and an old love. Firstly, there was Kieko Agena, who I mostly remember as Lane from Gilmore Girl. After that, Devon Gummersall who I still remember as the dorky guy from My So Called Life.

As I’m preparing myself for the Glee event at PaleyFest on Saturday, I also realized that the Murphy project has something in common with TNT’s Southland: a character name. This week’s episode featured a doctor named Sandy Ryerson, who also happens to be the pot-peddling former show choir director at McKinley High (the two different characters have nothing else in common, thank goodness.)

With that, this Nice Girl is off to work on those recaps from last week. I can get them done today, I’m sure.

A Little Show from Altadena

In a very small room in the back of a coffee shop, The Uke Box Heroes performed last night. Comprised of Miracle Laurie (formerly of Dollhouse) and her fiancé Christopher May, the duo played mostly covers, with a few of their own songs. By the end of the show, one thing crossed my mind about where I’d want to see Laurie next: former boss Whedon’s next installment of Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

At this point, there are no spoilers about the next installment, but I’d assume that there’s another girl in the future for Billy and Captain Hammer to fight over. Given Laurie’s ability to belt out “Moondance” and a few other classics, I’d love to have another chance to watch her work with Whedon again. The combination of her singing ability and her work as three different characters in Dollhouse has me hoping against hope for it.

Regardless of my thoughts on the next installment of Whedon’s web series, the concert was a lovely way to end another terrible storm hitting the City of Angels. The duo were appreciative of everyone who braved the downpour, and all were treated to a box of Sweethearts for the time spent at the club.

Given the atmosphere of the show, should any of you be able to see the Uke Box Heroes, I highly recommend it. The show was lively, and one with which I don’t think anyone could find fault.

Create Your Own

No apologies this time for my lack of posting—none at all—and for that I’ll work on something different to the normal blogs around here.

I was going to post some abbreviated reactions, like Melissa did, but that’s not fresh or creative at this point and so I won’t bother to try and tell you about all of the shows I’m watching right now.

Instead, I want to put out a meme that I saw elsewhere that seems perfectly apt for a site about television. One of my friends had asked me to create a template for a new television show (per her specifics for me) and then the idea is to cast the show and give some general background information about the characters.

My friend M suggested that I come up with a dramedy about substitute teachers, which turned into quite a fun project. From finding the right balance of substitute teachers to real teachers, to finding the perfect descriptions of the principal and her assistant, to finding some students that we’d want to care about in the process, it was a very different end result from what it could have been.

For the sake of everyone here, I won’t copy the cast or descriptions here, but I will ask this question. Is there any sort of show that you wish was on the air right now? Not something we’ve seen in the last fifteen years that you’ve wanted to see developed. If so, I’d be very interested in hearing about them for the sake of getting this meme into a different part of the online culture.

As pilot season is gearing up, what do you want to see as part of the landscape of television next year?

Fox’s Winter TCA

Fox’s day at The Critics’ Association winter press tour found itself in an interesting position: being the day after NBC’s presentation and the kerfuffle of late night. By the end of the day, however, Fox had created some news of its own, and left many questions about some of its upcoming programs.

Bones

With Bones well into its fifth season, the show is once again raising the stakes for all of the characters involved with work at The Jeffersonian.

The 100th episode (set to air April 8, directed by David Boreanaz) finds Dr. Sweets about to publish his book, only to find out that some of his assumptions on how Brennan and Booth started to work together were wrong. What unfolds after that is a flashback about that first case to illustrate the point to Sweets. During the episode, there will also be a sea change in the relationship between Booth and Brennan, though no one would be specific about what that sort of change is going to be.

The other big Bones news involved a mysterious wedding (actually resulting in a marriage). No one was specific about who would be involved, though Boreanaz did suggest that it was someone in the family of the Jeffersonian (I assume Booth and Sweets are included in the family). Related to that point, creator Hart Hanson wouldn’t definitively say if Booth and Brennan would be together at the end, but he is well aware of the pull of fans, both for and against the couple.

By the end of the morning with the cast and crew, there was only one clear lesson learned: secrets are going to keep me interested in watching the rest of this season and into the sixth, just to try and understand what everyone was alluding to.

Human Target

After hearing about this back in the summer, the show seems to have found a pattern, though the use of both a plane and a train in the opening episodes shouldn’t scare anyone from those means of transportation.

In the wake of the foiled terror plot on Christmas, many critics were worried about the second episode being aboard a plane, though Executive Producer John Steinberg dismissed the connection, saying “we’re trying to do something different in every one of them [episode].” The show is also aiming for fun instead of a real depiction of any the situation the leads find themselves in.

As the show is based on a graphic novel, Steinbeck was quick to point out that the source material is still present, but that knowledge of either version of the novel won’t be necessary.

Chi McBride, in one of the moments that has come to define his public appearances, hoped that all of the critics would “like us, don’t love us” to insure that the show lasts.

Code 58

From Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, this show, airing in May and June, features Bradley Whitford (sporting a very 80s mustache) and Colin Hanks, as a pair of detectives routinely sent on inconsequential calls that turn intriguing as they investigate. Nix described the shows as an action comedy, and from the brief read of the pilot script, he’s not wrong.

On stage, Hanks and Whitford play off each other just as I imagine their characters will do, while their Lieutenant and the Assistant Distract Attorney (Diana Maria Riva and Jenny Wade, respectively) are players in the larger picture of each investigation.

Though the title of the show is likely to change, Code 58 refers to the police code in Dallas, Texas, for a routine investigation, described in the panel as what would happen should someone call on two kids making out in a parked car.

Executive Session

After what sounded like a brutal NBC Executive Session, Fox’s session featured many questions about trying late night content again (with Conan) and also saw the end of an era for American Idol, as Simon Cowell announced that he would be leaving the show to bring The X Factor to America in 2011.

No answer was given about any potential show with Conan, despite the plethora of questions on the topic.

Other news announced included Glee’s second season pick up, which will also feature a short reality program that follows some of the potentials on the audition process. As Kevin Reilly imagines, the three new cast members for season 2 will be revealed in the premiere of the series, while the reality program will potentially include watching all of the contestants filming scenes in the episode.

The network is also committed to programming “fresh, new” shows in the Summer – not leftovers that shouldn’t be considered.

Holiday Cheer

After all of the holiday themed episodes last week, I figured now was as good a time as any to talk about some of my favorite episodes of TV from the 2000s that stand out to me.

From this seasons’ crop:

Community: Comparative Religion takes the idea of multi-centralism to a new level. As the study group prepares for their Spanish final, Shirley invites everyone over for a Christmas celebration, only Shirley is the only one to celebrate the holiday among them. However, the stand-out moment from the episode is the ending with Abed and Troy decorating Troy before Jeff appears and they sing about “Christmas Troy”.

Bones: The Goop in the Girl, after you move past the body of the week has done a great job of highlighting what the holiday can be about: friends and family. Cam and Michelle have some issues with holiday plans, Sweets and Daisy want to spend the day in haze, and Brennan is willing to forsake plans with her dad and cousin for remains. The end of the episode hits what the true meaning of the holiday is for everyone from The Jeffersonian, good times, good food and good friends.

For some classics that should be watched at any chance:

Veronica Mars, An Echolls Family Christmas: the first season’s holiday episode, complete with festive parties, a mysterious stalker and a poker game gone very, very wrong. There’s something about this episode that always comes back to me at the holidays, and an episode of television I can’t live without.

The OC, The Chrismukk-huh?: brings the idea of alternative realities to Newport Beach, as Ryan and Taylor fall into comas right before Chrismukkah festivities. In the alterative Newport, Ryan and Taylor have lives to fix before they can be happily returned to the Newport they live in.

The West Wing, Holy Night: the season four episode brings together various holiday traditions, as Toby’s father arrives to visit the White House thinking about when Toby was born, as does Danny Concannon to spread some cheer CJ’s way. Added into the mix is a performance by the Yale Wiffenpoofs, who are trapped as snow blankets Washington, singing the same songs over and over again as staffers try to keep their holiday spirits up.

Did I miss any of your favorite shows (or your favorite episodes from any of these shows)?

To Each and Everyone

I have been woefully derelict at posting here these last few weeks, and for that I apologize. Work has been in the way of all my TV watching (as evidenced by the fact that I’m only now watching last week’s Fringe, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving tomorrow, I’ll share what I’m thankful for in the TV world.

Even after their cancellations, The OC and Veronica Mars are still the reason why I’ve become more critical about television. To be honest, I watched plenty of television before both were on the air, but because of two forum sites, I found my way into the world of fandom and haven’t looked back since.

Moreover, fandom has introduced me to some wonderful people, who I’ve come to value just as much as I value my family. They’ve all become my television family, with whom I can share anything.

As I must prepare the house for the fifteen people who are joining my parents and I for dinner tomorrow, I want to with all of you a wonderful day filled with family and friends.

Oh Lord, It Brings Me Down

No, this isn’t a post about Friday Night Lights and now much I love it–no questions asked no matter the number of tears shed by the end of the episode. Instead, this post is about how for a little while, I can’t focus on TV for too long each day without frying my brain function.

Sadly, one part of my job kicks up into high gear for all of November, and a bit into December, leaving me little time to process most of my television watching aside from “Actor/Actress is pretty”, “Plot is boring/contrived/impossible”. In fact, this job flat out keeps me from watching all of my Tuesday shows (not that I talk about them here) as they air. I’m also stuck at work for longer than I’d normally like, which puts a definite strain on my viewing habits (no longer am I able to happily come home from work by 4 to catch up on a few shows from the previous night before sitting down to another night’s programs start), instead I’m constantly forced to choose what to watch live and what I’ll worry about on my limited free time over the weekend (yes, I even work on the weekend for this particular month and half, as a teacher.)

There are also the few events that are keeping me away at times (like the Dawson’s Creek retrospective) as well as some other more leisurely activities that get in the way of my happy relationship with television.

However, so as to not make this post completely self-absorbed, here’s some news that has brightened my week: David Tennant (of Doctor Who and Blackpool fame) has been cast in an NBC pilot. Yes, that’s right. Enjoy the thought and hope that NBC picks the show up, while still letting Tennant keep his Scottish accent.

Helping Put People Together

Friday night, while attending a screening of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog and season two of The Guild with friends, I did two things I’m not used to doing: I facilitated two different groups talking to people they’d missed before at other events. My friend Hollywood Jane has often been near Joss Whedon, but never talked to him, despite her love of his collective works. Some of her friends had walked past two Dollhouse cast members at Comic-Con, but didn’t say anything either.

Before the screenings on Friday started, a group of us went over to talk to Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj, explaining the situation about the Comic-Con experience gone awry and talked about parts of the previous week’s Dollhouse, before being fannish and asking for a photograph. (The result is quite scary, as our group was too spread out and poor Dichen looks like a disembodied head at the bottom.)

The screening and question and answer session brought up some of the same pieces of information I’ve heard several times before, but after the event, I saw Whedon leaving the venue, so I took Hollywood Jane with me to make the introduction that she’d never had.

By the time I could make the introduction, I had to give the reason he might remember me (it’s a bad story from Comic Con during The Guild panel and calling him a Corey for wearing sunglasses inside) before actually letting Jane talk to him. The conversation was brief, but at least she can now share a story of the time she finally talked to Joss Whedon.

Should you want to read her story about that experience, you can find it here.

TV Around LA

The life of a TV fan in Los Angeles is never dull. It’s easy enough to spot an actor walking around town, but it’s equally as easy to see actors talking about their work at numerous other locales.

For me the next few weeks are going pretty busy, with the added bonus of being really entertaining. Friday, the Egyptian Theatre is sponsoring an event featuring Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog and The Guild, followed by a conversation between Felicia Day and Joss Whedon (schedules permitting). I can only imagine what those two will have to talk about together, but that’s what comes with these events.

Two weeks after, Whedonopolis, a site dedicated to all things Whedon, is sponsoring its second annual showing of Dr. Horrible. Last year’s event included some of the creative team and cast talking before the screening as well as plenty of fun (this event welcomes fans to sing along and to dress up).

Lastly, the inner teenager in me doesn’t want to wait for next event. In celebration of Dawson’s Creek being available as a complete series on DVD, the Paley Center will host a night with creator Kevin Williamson (with additional guests pending) to discuss the show’s influence.

Needless to say, there will be plenty of material for columns from these events, as they always leave an impression.

A Woman’s Take on Mad Men

With it’s third season more than half complete, it seems like I should talk about Mad Men, which is one of the shows I love, but manage to not talk about here. I’ve been watching the show, at the urging of another friend, since the start of the second season (having mainlined all of season one via On Demand.)

As each season airs, I take the time to try and think through all of the images on my screen, with very little help from the outside. Sure, I talk to my friends about an episode here and there, trying to understand exactly what is going to happen next. But that’s one of the best parts about the show–the anticipation of what’s to come.

This season, the largest elephant in the room is Kennedy’s impending assassination in 1963. In the premiere, the audience was told that Roger Sterling’s daughter’s wedding will be the day after the assassination. With the finale quickly approaching, I constantly wait for more clues about how that one piece of history will actually affect the ad agency. As last year’s finale ended with the resolution to the Cuban Missile Crisis, I can only assume that the moment will play a pivotal role.

Are any of you else watching? What are you thoughts on this season? Disgusted with Peggy’s sexual exploration? Wondering about who will be named Head of Accounts?

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