I love television. I know that there are people out there who turn up their noses at TV, who call it the "Idiot Box", but these people are clueless. You get out of a medium what you put into it. I grew up with television, watching shows in black and white at first, then in the hyperbrilliant colors of the 70s. When I was a kid, at 7pm, we gathered as a family to watch whatever it was that my parents wanted to watch.
As a family, we would look forward to the fall season of television to revisit old friends and to find new ones. There were three channels, after all, and we wouldn't want to regret our choices. There was no DVR, no VCR, no way to watch the other stations while viewing a show. You had to make a choice. My mother would read over the Fall TV Guide and decide what we would watch, and that was that. Maybe a kid would get lucky and catch the show as a re-run during the summer, but by then everyone else had moved on.
I used to stress over the TV. I know, it sounds crazy these days, but it is true. My parents ruled the channels, and they didn't always watch the popular shows. Television was a big topic at school. Only music was discussed more. When that KISS movie premiered on one of the networks, it was all the students talked about at lunch and between classes. I felt like part of the group because I had actually seen something that my classmates had watched. So I stressed over the television. What if I missed a show and all the cool kids saw it and they made fun of me?
Now I am a grown up, and I have control of the remote. I'm practically giddy with the power the remote brings, but it's okay if we miss a show. No stress! We have cable, and DVRs, and On-Demand programming. We have Netflix, too. We don't have to miss anything! We can set shows to record while we aren't at home, and watch them later.
No stress.
I enjoy the anticipation of the fall television season. I am excited about my favorite shows, like Arrow, Supernatural, and The Walking Dead, returning to the screen. My son is very excited about the return of The Goldbergs. The entire family is eagerly awaiting the return of The Big Bang Theory, so we can find out if Sheldon and Amy are still dating.
There are also new shows to try out. Supergirl looks interesting, for example. The show Heroes Reborn is a must-see, as is Blindspot. Science fiction shows seem to be very popular right now, and as a family we are excited about that. Neil Patrick Harris' new show deserves a look, too. I am sure that we will be overwhelmed at first with the abundance of our viewing choices, but that doesn't matter.
That's where the DVR and On-Demand will come in handy. Because while all of these shows are wonderful, our life also includes soccer practice, homework, doctor visits, and other fun. We can do all these things without being worried about missing our shows. No stress. And next summer, when there's "nothing" on, we can find shows we missed on Netflix. All these options are wonderful. I'm not nostalgic about my childhood in this regard.
What shows do you plan to watch this fall?
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2015
Thursday, September 4, 2014
This Season's Fall Lineup
I get excited about the fall. Not just because the temperatures drop to an only slightly uncomfortable 90 degrees. Not only because the school year starts up. I get excited every September because it's the beginning of the Fall television season. A great percentage of my childhood was spent in front of the television during primetime, watching whatever the networks decided we would like, and this year will be no different. It's like I'm the Bachelorette in a room full of eligible TV shows. New shows try to pique my interest, while old shows entice me to return.
This time of year I am more than willing to spend hours poring over TV Guide or Entertainment Weekly, setting up my fall television watching schedule. Adjustments will have to be made for homework and soccer practices, but that's what DVRs are for, right? Also, this year, I have it set up so I can watch some of these shows on my Kindle, which is just all kinds of awesome. I'm especially excited that more action adventure type shows are making it to prime time; I prefer a little escapism to thrill me after a long day. These are some of the shows that I am looking forward to returning, and new shows that already have my attention.
Arrow(CW) I didn't want to like this show. I grew up with The Green Arrow comics, and Oliver Queen is just supposed to be a good looking blonde with a nice goatee, darn it! (Interestingly, I just realized that Oliver Queen was really a variation of Batman, right down to the nonsuper nature of his arrow slinging. Hmm.) My husband and I decided to revisit the show during the summer when we just could not take one more animal reality show. We agreed to give the show at least three episodes. If we didn't like it after three episodes, we were done. Of course, we watched everything we could download from Netflix, and have hopes of being completely caught up by October. I love the character of Felicity Smoak, because she's an actual intelligent woman, even if her clothes would never pass muster in an actual business setting.
Supernatural(CW) I have been watching this show since it all began. I fully expect to be watching it when the actors are pulling retirement. It's that good. Sam and Dean Winchester are hunters of a different sort, protecting humanity from the monsters that are hidden in the dark. I've watched these actors from Texas grow into their characters, and the storylines keep me riveted. The idea that these brothers would do anything for each other, and that they have each other's back, is something that appeals to me. Who wouldn't do anything for their family, if they could? Consistently, I've been drawn to the brothers and their attempts to keep us all safe from the Big Bad. We have most of the blu rays, and occasionally we start rewatching the entire show from the very beginning of Season 1.
Gotham(Fox) Having grown up with an unhealthy obsession with Batman via comic books, I have some concerns regarding this show, which purports to reveal the 'backstory' of Bruce Wayne's childhood and what shaped him, beyond the murder of his parents. The dude needs a backstory. I mean, let's face it--the idea that post-traumatic stress alone created such a darkly complex superhero is a bit much to accept in this day and age. The kid didn't sit alone in his room for ten years. He went to school. He had friends. Surely he smiled once a year on his birthday. But I still love my Batman, in spite of his crazy. Hopefully, the show will keep the same tone from the comics.
Flash(CW) This is a spinoff from Arrow, and the reason that we're looking forward to the premiere is because we like the character. What mom wouldn't occasionally like to use hyper speed too accomplish all those last minute tasks. The promos have certainly been intriguing. The actor who plays him is not quite as self-confident as the comic book Flash, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere, don't we? I expect that he'll grow into the role. There will likely be more special effects in this show, as opposed to Arrow. The Flash had better run faster than the Six Million Dollar Man, with all that fancy CGI, or else I'll be very disappointed.
Constantine(NBC) Do you sense a theme here with the comic book type heroes? Yeah, I'm all about the escapism in my television watching. John Constantine is an interesting character, and there's a lot of ways the producers could get this show right. They already seem to be on the right track, taking a number of cues from the comic books, if the promos aren't lying. Constantine is more of an anti-hero than what some people might be used to, and probably there will be people losing their minds that Keanu Reeves isn't playing the main character. I plan to give the show the benefit of the doubt until I've seen a few episodes.
The Walking Dead(AMC) Before you open your mouth to tell me that a zombie apocalypse would be over in about a month, especially with the heat and humidity of the South, hush. I know the science. I've read the Zombie Apocalypse plan from the Pentagon. I don't care. As disturbing as it might be, the end of the world isn't necessarily the end of the world for all of us. What would you do to survive? At the end of the last season, the main character Rick came to terms with the fact that he will do just about anything to protect his son, and now he is just going to be issuing smack downs that I just can't wait to see. I love decisive characters, and these people are survivors.
The Big Bang Theory(CBS) What? Did you think I wouldn't have at least one sitcom? I am looking forward to Sheldon pursuing his relationship with Amy, and I'm curious about the direction the show will take with Leonard marrying Penny. I think that part of the reason that people like Sheldon is that, even though he appears to have Aspergers, we are familiar with many of his behaviors. Who hasn't laughed at their own jokes? Who hasn't completely broken down with anxiety at the thought of doing something new? Who hasn't said the wrong thing without meaning to offend? I'm sharing too much, aren't I?
But enough about me. What new shows are you looking forward to?
Go visit everyone at Mamakat's to share some more about the upcoming television season!
This time of year I am more than willing to spend hours poring over TV Guide or Entertainment Weekly, setting up my fall television watching schedule. Adjustments will have to be made for homework and soccer practices, but that's what DVRs are for, right? Also, this year, I have it set up so I can watch some of these shows on my Kindle, which is just all kinds of awesome. I'm especially excited that more action adventure type shows are making it to prime time; I prefer a little escapism to thrill me after a long day. These are some of the shows that I am looking forward to returning, and new shows that already have my attention.
Arrow(CW) I didn't want to like this show. I grew up with The Green Arrow comics, and Oliver Queen is just supposed to be a good looking blonde with a nice goatee, darn it! (Interestingly, I just realized that Oliver Queen was really a variation of Batman, right down to the nonsuper nature of his arrow slinging. Hmm.) My husband and I decided to revisit the show during the summer when we just could not take one more animal reality show. We agreed to give the show at least three episodes. If we didn't like it after three episodes, we were done. Of course, we watched everything we could download from Netflix, and have hopes of being completely caught up by October. I love the character of Felicity Smoak, because she's an actual intelligent woman, even if her clothes would never pass muster in an actual business setting.
Supernatural(CW) I have been watching this show since it all began. I fully expect to be watching it when the actors are pulling retirement. It's that good. Sam and Dean Winchester are hunters of a different sort, protecting humanity from the monsters that are hidden in the dark. I've watched these actors from Texas grow into their characters, and the storylines keep me riveted. The idea that these brothers would do anything for each other, and that they have each other's back, is something that appeals to me. Who wouldn't do anything for their family, if they could? Consistently, I've been drawn to the brothers and their attempts to keep us all safe from the Big Bad. We have most of the blu rays, and occasionally we start rewatching the entire show from the very beginning of Season 1.
Gotham(Fox) Having grown up with an unhealthy obsession with Batman via comic books, I have some concerns regarding this show, which purports to reveal the 'backstory' of Bruce Wayne's childhood and what shaped him, beyond the murder of his parents. The dude needs a backstory. I mean, let's face it--the idea that post-traumatic stress alone created such a darkly complex superhero is a bit much to accept in this day and age. The kid didn't sit alone in his room for ten years. He went to school. He had friends. Surely he smiled once a year on his birthday. But I still love my Batman, in spite of his crazy. Hopefully, the show will keep the same tone from the comics.
Flash(CW) This is a spinoff from Arrow, and the reason that we're looking forward to the premiere is because we like the character. What mom wouldn't occasionally like to use hyper speed too accomplish all those last minute tasks. The promos have certainly been intriguing. The actor who plays him is not quite as self-confident as the comic book Flash, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere, don't we? I expect that he'll grow into the role. There will likely be more special effects in this show, as opposed to Arrow. The Flash had better run faster than the Six Million Dollar Man, with all that fancy CGI, or else I'll be very disappointed.
Constantine(NBC) Do you sense a theme here with the comic book type heroes? Yeah, I'm all about the escapism in my television watching. John Constantine is an interesting character, and there's a lot of ways the producers could get this show right. They already seem to be on the right track, taking a number of cues from the comic books, if the promos aren't lying. Constantine is more of an anti-hero than what some people might be used to, and probably there will be people losing their minds that Keanu Reeves isn't playing the main character. I plan to give the show the benefit of the doubt until I've seen a few episodes.
The Walking Dead(AMC) Before you open your mouth to tell me that a zombie apocalypse would be over in about a month, especially with the heat and humidity of the South, hush. I know the science. I've read the Zombie Apocalypse plan from the Pentagon. I don't care. As disturbing as it might be, the end of the world isn't necessarily the end of the world for all of us. What would you do to survive? At the end of the last season, the main character Rick came to terms with the fact that he will do just about anything to protect his son, and now he is just going to be issuing smack downs that I just can't wait to see. I love decisive characters, and these people are survivors.
The Big Bang Theory(CBS) What? Did you think I wouldn't have at least one sitcom? I am looking forward to Sheldon pursuing his relationship with Amy, and I'm curious about the direction the show will take with Leonard marrying Penny. I think that part of the reason that people like Sheldon is that, even though he appears to have Aspergers, we are familiar with many of his behaviors. Who hasn't laughed at their own jokes? Who hasn't completely broken down with anxiety at the thought of doing something new? Who hasn't said the wrong thing without meaning to offend? I'm sharing too much, aren't I?
But enough about me. What new shows are you looking forward to?
Go visit everyone at Mamakat's to share some more about the upcoming television season!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Winter Is Coming...And I Like It
Some television shows are as vivid and moving as any novel. They pull you into the tapestry of their drama, and you become transfixed by every facet. Good television has people talking, about the show, about the actors, about everything. Our favorite television show at the moment is HBO's A Game of Thrones. Yes, we love The Walking Dead with a passion usually reserved for decent sports teams, and Supernatural will always be bingeworthy. But our house has reserved the seat of honor to Game of Thrones, or GoT.
Why, oh why?
1. There are books. A Game of Thrones is based on a series of novels written by George R.R. Martin. The first book came out in the 90s, and because Martin is the slowest writer ever, he's still only working on book six. This means that a person like myself is free to read the books and have the back story that goes with the scenes in the show. It's not necessary to have read the books, but the experience is more enriching.
2. My favorite character is a dwarf. Tyrion Lannister is indeed a dwarf. He's also a drunk, and one of the most intelligent characters on the show. He has had some of the best one liners ever, and you cannot help but like the character. Tyrion has quite a hefty role to play in all the shenanigans, and he is more than up to the task. He can plan my castle onslaught any day.
3. Minimal stereotyping. Women are actually women on GoT, which means that they are conniving, backstabbing, manipulating people instead of plastic figures sitting around looking pretty. The men are not all gorgeous models with perfectly capped teeth. No ugly witches or chivalrous knights. Very few stereotypes exist in Martin's world, for which I am grateful.
4. Nothing is sacred. Formulas are pretty consistent. There's always a hero. There's always a maiden who needs rescuing. There's always a love story. All that gets tedious after a few years. Not on GoT. I can't go into very much detail without giving stuff away, but the formulas seem to be turned inside out, and the show is the richer for it.
5. No black and white in sight. In the real world, there really isn't an "all" good person or an "all" bad person. Good people run red lights on occasion, and bad people occasionally brake so old ladies can cross the road. There are shades of gray in real life, and that doesn't always translate to the screen. Until now. GoT takes the time to flesh out characters, to add nuances to them, warts and all.
6. The story is all. There is one rule in GoT: If it moves the story to kill off a character, then break out the axe and go to it. No one is "safe" from dying. It makes sense to do that--real life isn't about "safe". Investing time in a character and watching them die isn't fun, but there is vicarious catharsis. That counts for something.
7. I'm still guessing at the plot. I have no idea what is going on or where the plot is heading. I pride myself on being able to figure out what is going to happen in a book, movie, or television show pretty quickly, but Martin's books, and the show, have thwarted my efforts time and time again. I'm in the dark about what comes next.
8. The story is comparable to modern times. Lots of parallels between the show and things that have happened out there in the big world. Politics is a seething cesspool of intrigue, and GoT makes Congress look like toddlers in a ball pit. Often I get confused about who is doing what and who is actually in charge, because things change very quickly. There would be no political stalemate if GoT existed--the king would just kill anyone who disagreed with him, confiscate their lands and give their titles to others.
9. The characters are not always nice, but they are interesting. The "nice" characters tend to bore us to tears, unfortunately. We don't watch a drama for boring. We watch them to see things happen, such as fights or kisses. GoT is all about interesting. We may not like a character, but we talk about them, and sometimes we even cry over them.
10. Duh...DRAGONS!!! What could be more exciting than having a dragon on your show? How about THREE dragons? Dragons are just plain fun to watch, and the dragons on GoT, who are very attached to their "mother", keep the action moving in all sorts of directions, when you least expect it.
5.) List 10 things you love about your favorite show. I am happy to be back!!
Why, oh why?
1. There are books. A Game of Thrones is based on a series of novels written by George R.R. Martin. The first book came out in the 90s, and because Martin is the slowest writer ever, he's still only working on book six. This means that a person like myself is free to read the books and have the back story that goes with the scenes in the show. It's not necessary to have read the books, but the experience is more enriching.
2. My favorite character is a dwarf. Tyrion Lannister is indeed a dwarf. He's also a drunk, and one of the most intelligent characters on the show. He has had some of the best one liners ever, and you cannot help but like the character. Tyrion has quite a hefty role to play in all the shenanigans, and he is more than up to the task. He can plan my castle onslaught any day.
3. Minimal stereotyping. Women are actually women on GoT, which means that they are conniving, backstabbing, manipulating people instead of plastic figures sitting around looking pretty. The men are not all gorgeous models with perfectly capped teeth. No ugly witches or chivalrous knights. Very few stereotypes exist in Martin's world, for which I am grateful.
4. Nothing is sacred. Formulas are pretty consistent. There's always a hero. There's always a maiden who needs rescuing. There's always a love story. All that gets tedious after a few years. Not on GoT. I can't go into very much detail without giving stuff away, but the formulas seem to be turned inside out, and the show is the richer for it.
5. No black and white in sight. In the real world, there really isn't an "all" good person or an "all" bad person. Good people run red lights on occasion, and bad people occasionally brake so old ladies can cross the road. There are shades of gray in real life, and that doesn't always translate to the screen. Until now. GoT takes the time to flesh out characters, to add nuances to them, warts and all.
6. The story is all. There is one rule in GoT: If it moves the story to kill off a character, then break out the axe and go to it. No one is "safe" from dying. It makes sense to do that--real life isn't about "safe". Investing time in a character and watching them die isn't fun, but there is vicarious catharsis. That counts for something.
7. I'm still guessing at the plot. I have no idea what is going on or where the plot is heading. I pride myself on being able to figure out what is going to happen in a book, movie, or television show pretty quickly, but Martin's books, and the show, have thwarted my efforts time and time again. I'm in the dark about what comes next.
8. The story is comparable to modern times. Lots of parallels between the show and things that have happened out there in the big world. Politics is a seething cesspool of intrigue, and GoT makes Congress look like toddlers in a ball pit. Often I get confused about who is doing what and who is actually in charge, because things change very quickly. There would be no political stalemate if GoT existed--the king would just kill anyone who disagreed with him, confiscate their lands and give their titles to others.
9. The characters are not always nice, but they are interesting. The "nice" characters tend to bore us to tears, unfortunately. We don't watch a drama for boring. We watch them to see things happen, such as fights or kisses. GoT is all about interesting. We may not like a character, but we talk about them, and sometimes we even cry over them.
10. Duh...DRAGONS!!! What could be more exciting than having a dragon on your show? How about THREE dragons? Dragons are just plain fun to watch, and the dragons on GoT, who are very attached to their "mother", keep the action moving in all sorts of directions, when you least expect it.
5.) List 10 things you love about your favorite show. I am happy to be back!!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Semi-Random
I hope that everyone had a wonderful three day weekend. My Friday ended on a bad note, but the rest has done me good and I'm hoping to keep my attitude as positive as it can be for a pessimist such as myself. My goal for this week is to remember that while other people may be all about the drama, I don't have to respond in kind. I never really was that great of an actress, anyway.
It just so happened that I got to come home in the middle of the day this past week, and as I stepped into the door, I had to take a picture. Little Maisy, who isn't really all that little anymore, found something to occupy her day while we were out earning our paychecks. She was so proud of her accomplishments! If there's ever a need for a cardboard shredding dog, she is definitely in the running. I have absolutely NO idea where the rabbit ears came from, and I've been scratching my head about it ever since. I hope this doesn't mean that she ate the Easter Bunny.
Zane came home from school Friday talking about cake. Great--I am all on board with discussions of that particular treat. Except Zane wanted ME to bake a cake. Upon further conversation, I learned that Zane's class read a story about cake that Friday. His teacher, being unaware of my firesetting skills, sent home a recipe for a Piglet's Poke cake and frosting, with a note that we could make the cake "together". I was game, until I looked at the recipe. What the heck is baking powder? Is that the same as baking soda? I wasn't sure, but I knew that we did not have either in the house at the moment. The frosting was going to be iffy as well. Zane was so disappointed.
And then...
I remembered that I had purchased a cake mix last year! A cinnamon cake. Who cared that the cake was made by Duncan Hines? Cake is cake! We did have the eggs and water and butter needed for the recipe to be complete, so Zane and I got to work. We dispensed with the frosting--none of us are big frosting eaters in our house. The cake turned out just fine, and has been disappearing at an alarming rate.
My husband and I have been having anargument discussion about what is appropriate for Zane to watch. He likes to watch Ghost Adventures with me, and my son and I have discussed what's real and what is not in staggering detail(and yes--most reality shows are not 'real'--they are staged/edited for entertainment, even his favorite show, Call of the Wild Man). Zane isn't bothered in the least by the ghost show. He wasn't bothered by seeing The Lord of the Rings movies. He IS bothered by the evening news, which told him that a tornado had touched down in the Midwest this weekend. That made him have a nightmare about tornadoes and our house. Zane understands that most of what he sees on television is not real, and he is just fine with that. It's the real stuff that bothers him. I hate to tell him, but the real stuff bothers me, too.
Go visit Stacy. She should be arriving at her destination in the Pacific Northwest soon, and back to her regularly scheduled program soon.
And Shawn and Impulsive Addict for Talk to Us Tuesday. They are actually posting again, so that's a real treat!
Zane came home from school Friday talking about cake. Great--I am all on board with discussions of that particular treat. Except Zane wanted ME to bake a cake. Upon further conversation, I learned that Zane's class read a story about cake that Friday. His teacher, being unaware of my firesetting skills, sent home a recipe for a Piglet's Poke cake and frosting, with a note that we could make the cake "together". I was game, until I looked at the recipe. What the heck is baking powder? Is that the same as baking soda? I wasn't sure, but I knew that we did not have either in the house at the moment. The frosting was going to be iffy as well. Zane was so disappointed.
And then...
My husband and I have been having an
Go visit Stacy. She should be arriving at her destination in the Pacific Northwest soon, and back to her regularly scheduled program soon.
And Shawn and Impulsive Addict for Talk to Us Tuesday. They are actually posting again, so that's a real treat!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Midnight Creepies
The TV in our bedroom is creeping me out. Every night it has been turning on by itself
and running through the channels. Even though the screen is dark, you can tell that the television is on, and that is probably what wakes me up. In the upper right hand corner there is a countdown rolling as it runs through channels. When it
gets to the end of the channels, it starts over, counting down. I have to get up and
turn the television off manually. Sometimes, the television doesn't want to turn off, and it takes several instances of me emphatically pushing the 'off' button before the power actually cuts off. (No, I do not know where the remote is, but the remote never works in horror movies, so it's irrelevant.)
I wouldn't be so freaked if it wasn't happening around the same time every night, but around midnight, there it goes. I saw the movie Poltergeist--I know what happens when a television turns itself on! I would likely be even more concerned if the television was all static instead of dark. I would also be freaking out if there was a video showing some girl with bad hair climbing out of a well. But I would be especially hysterical if there was static with a child's voice calling for her mommy AND a video of a girl climbing out of a well. That would just be too much.
Yeah, I've seen way too many horror movies. I stopped watching them awhile ago, but the ones that I did see are still floating around in the back of my mind, ready to jump out and scare me when I least expect it. Stupid memory.
I can't help but think that the television is counting down to someTHING. Except what the heck would the television be counting down? The hostile takeover of the machines in some sort of Terminator event? Alien invasion? Certainly not a zombie apocalypse, as zombies would be more likely to eat a television than follow a countdown. I can cross that one off the list.
My husband laughed when I told him that I was creeped out. Of course he laughed. HE sleeps through the whole thing! I've unplugged the television, but my husband relies on the clock that is on the cable box, so he plugs it back in. All of this means that I'm awake around midnight, watching the television for signs of life. And if the television turns itself on...I must screw up what little courage I have, get up, and turn it off as quickly as I can find the button in the dark.
And Larry wonders why I am so tired.
I wouldn't be so freaked if it wasn't happening around the same time every night, but around midnight, there it goes. I saw the movie Poltergeist--I know what happens when a television turns itself on! I would likely be even more concerned if the television was all static instead of dark. I would also be freaking out if there was a video showing some girl with bad hair climbing out of a well. But I would be especially hysterical if there was static with a child's voice calling for her mommy AND a video of a girl climbing out of a well. That would just be too much.
Yeah, I've seen way too many horror movies. I stopped watching them awhile ago, but the ones that I did see are still floating around in the back of my mind, ready to jump out and scare me when I least expect it. Stupid memory.
I can't help but think that the television is counting down to someTHING. Except what the heck would the television be counting down? The hostile takeover of the machines in some sort of Terminator event? Alien invasion? Certainly not a zombie apocalypse, as zombies would be more likely to eat a television than follow a countdown. I can cross that one off the list.
My husband laughed when I told him that I was creeped out. Of course he laughed. HE sleeps through the whole thing! I've unplugged the television, but my husband relies on the clock that is on the cable box, so he plugs it back in. All of this means that I'm awake around midnight, watching the television for signs of life. And if the television turns itself on...I must screw up what little courage I have, get up, and turn it off as quickly as I can find the button in the dark.
And Larry wonders why I am so tired.
Monday, July 9, 2012
The A-List: Summertime TV
It used to be that when summer came, all the television networks played nothing but reruns. Since we'd seen all those already, we didn't want to see those. This is why all of us not necessarily athletic types spent our childhood summers outside. Not because we were intrepid explorers and wanted to run and play, which is what I tell my kid when I want him outside. What kid wouldn't have rather spent an hour in air-conditioned comfort watching The Six Million Dollar Man?
The networks are on to us, however. They can't afford to miss a moment of bombarding us with ads, what with the cable channels actually showing quality stuff like Breaking Bad and Justified. They've started showing new stuff during the summer so they can make more money. Now, when the sun is falling below the horizon, we are once more glued to our televisions, as Nielson intended. These are the shows that my family has been watching consistently. They aren't necessarily the greatest shows on the planet, but we like them well enough to watch them if they are on.
1. Wipeout Contestants on this show have to make their way over an extremely punishing obstacle course, and if they do, they get to go over another extremely punishing obstacle course, and if they manage to finish THAT, there's another extremely punishing obstacle course, followed by yet another. So the contestants are really just gluttons for punishment. When I say 'punishing', I don't mean difficult. I mean that, while a contestant is running the course, things pop up and hit them. Or drop on them. Or fling them about. Punishing. My family loves watching these poor people getting punted. We bond over this stuff, all of us cringing and wincing at the same times. There is no way we would ever consider running such a race, but it is fun to watch the people who do. Especially when they fall.
2. True Blood Before anyone gets upset and starts chastising me for allowing my four-year-old watch this show, shut it. Give me a modicum of credit for the little bit of parenting skills that I have. Larry and I record the show and watch it when Zane is asleep. True Blood is racy, and risque', and they show all the naughty bits because it is HBO. Vampires on this drama have "come out of the coffin" and they are not sparkly at all, they are exactly what the legends and the horror stories say that they are. They are things to be afraid of, which ups the good fun in my book. I also like the fact that, in this particular television universe, there are more than just humans moving about. There's also werewolves, my very favorite movie monster. There are even fairies out there in True Blood world, although not the Tinker Bell type. Disney would likely faint, but TB is definitely adult fare.
3. Gator Boys I am okay with alligators. On the other hand, I do not want to walk out in my backyard and find an alligator underneath the purple sage. This is one of the reasons that we do not live in Florida. Yes, we have alligators in Texas, but they tend to mind their own business; if they do not, they end up as boots and handbags. (I am not condoning such behavior, merely acknowledging that it exists.) Florida gators, because there are so many of them, tend to be more forward. The gentlemen who are the Gator Boys run a sanctuary for alligators. They catch alligators with nothing but a catchpole and a roll of tape. One guy jumps in the water and swims around looking for the gators, then he pulls them onto the shore, where the other guy 'wrestles' the alligator until it gives up. Then they tape up the gator and put it in the truck. The alligators are not killed, but taken to the sanctuary, where they are allowed to live out their days. Oh, they also catch snakes.
4. Call of the Wildman This is a guy named Ernie, who lives in Kentucky. Ernie has only seven teeth left in his head, and he likes to catch animals barehanded. People call him to get rid of nuisance animals, such as raccoons and possums, which have invaded their homes or barns or whatever. If there is a hole in the ground, the Turtle Man will stick his hand in there just to pull whatever is in there out. The show plays up the whole "Hillbilly" angle. Ernie's house apparently doesn't have a shower, since they usually show him taking one at his mom's house. Ernie also has his mom cut his hair for him, and he brings her dead squirrels to cook for him. Ernie has a friend named Neal and a dog named Lolly, along with a few other members of the "Turtle Team". Zane will run around the house hollering about "Live Action", just like Ernie. My son loves the Turtle Man. I tell him that this is not really the best way to get women to notice him.
5. Ultimate Spiderman and The Avengers. The art of the cartoon has been lost on most people. Once they reach a certain age, it is as if all the joy they once got from watching Saturday morning cartoons is sucked out of them. I've seen some of the crap that passes for cartoons today, and I can't say that I blame them. It never happened to me, because I watched the good shows like Looney Tunes, Freakazoid, Rocko's Modern Life, Pinky and the Brain and Ren and Stimpy. I've been consistently watching various animated shows since I was a kid, and I don't intend to stop just because of my age. Ultimate Spiderman is another attempt to reboot the animated Spiderman franchise, and I have to say that it is pretty darn good. I have liked the stories so far, and the characters are likeable, and it's nice to know that Hayden Christiansen can still find work after being Anakin Skywalker. The Avengers, which is an extremely great show that seemed to be holding true to the Marvel comic universe, has been cancelled because the Disney XD channel is as stupid as Fox was when they cancelled Firefly.
Okay, feel free to point and make fun of me if you want to. What shows are you guys watching this summer?
The networks are on to us, however. They can't afford to miss a moment of bombarding us with ads, what with the cable channels actually showing quality stuff like Breaking Bad and Justified. They've started showing new stuff during the summer so they can make more money. Now, when the sun is falling below the horizon, we are once more glued to our televisions, as Nielson intended. These are the shows that my family has been watching consistently. They aren't necessarily the greatest shows on the planet, but we like them well enough to watch them if they are on.
1. Wipeout Contestants on this show have to make their way over an extremely punishing obstacle course, and if they do, they get to go over another extremely punishing obstacle course, and if they manage to finish THAT, there's another extremely punishing obstacle course, followed by yet another. So the contestants are really just gluttons for punishment. When I say 'punishing', I don't mean difficult. I mean that, while a contestant is running the course, things pop up and hit them. Or drop on them. Or fling them about. Punishing. My family loves watching these poor people getting punted. We bond over this stuff, all of us cringing and wincing at the same times. There is no way we would ever consider running such a race, but it is fun to watch the people who do. Especially when they fall.
2. True Blood Before anyone gets upset and starts chastising me for allowing my four-year-old watch this show, shut it. Give me a modicum of credit for the little bit of parenting skills that I have. Larry and I record the show and watch it when Zane is asleep. True Blood is racy, and risque', and they show all the naughty bits because it is HBO. Vampires on this drama have "come out of the coffin" and they are not sparkly at all, they are exactly what the legends and the horror stories say that they are. They are things to be afraid of, which ups the good fun in my book. I also like the fact that, in this particular television universe, there are more than just humans moving about. There's also werewolves, my very favorite movie monster. There are even fairies out there in True Blood world, although not the Tinker Bell type. Disney would likely faint, but TB is definitely adult fare.
3. Gator Boys I am okay with alligators. On the other hand, I do not want to walk out in my backyard and find an alligator underneath the purple sage. This is one of the reasons that we do not live in Florida. Yes, we have alligators in Texas, but they tend to mind their own business; if they do not, they end up as boots and handbags. (I am not condoning such behavior, merely acknowledging that it exists.) Florida gators, because there are so many of them, tend to be more forward. The gentlemen who are the Gator Boys run a sanctuary for alligators. They catch alligators with nothing but a catchpole and a roll of tape. One guy jumps in the water and swims around looking for the gators, then he pulls them onto the shore, where the other guy 'wrestles' the alligator until it gives up. Then they tape up the gator and put it in the truck. The alligators are not killed, but taken to the sanctuary, where they are allowed to live out their days. Oh, they also catch snakes.
4. Call of the Wildman This is a guy named Ernie, who lives in Kentucky. Ernie has only seven teeth left in his head, and he likes to catch animals barehanded. People call him to get rid of nuisance animals, such as raccoons and possums, which have invaded their homes or barns or whatever. If there is a hole in the ground, the Turtle Man will stick his hand in there just to pull whatever is in there out. The show plays up the whole "Hillbilly" angle. Ernie's house apparently doesn't have a shower, since they usually show him taking one at his mom's house. Ernie also has his mom cut his hair for him, and he brings her dead squirrels to cook for him. Ernie has a friend named Neal and a dog named Lolly, along with a few other members of the "Turtle Team". Zane will run around the house hollering about "Live Action", just like Ernie. My son loves the Turtle Man. I tell him that this is not really the best way to get women to notice him.
5. Ultimate Spiderman and The Avengers. The art of the cartoon has been lost on most people. Once they reach a certain age, it is as if all the joy they once got from watching Saturday morning cartoons is sucked out of them. I've seen some of the crap that passes for cartoons today, and I can't say that I blame them. It never happened to me, because I watched the good shows like Looney Tunes, Freakazoid, Rocko's Modern Life, Pinky and the Brain and Ren and Stimpy. I've been consistently watching various animated shows since I was a kid, and I don't intend to stop just because of my age. Ultimate Spiderman is another attempt to reboot the animated Spiderman franchise, and I have to say that it is pretty darn good. I have liked the stories so far, and the characters are likeable, and it's nice to know that Hayden Christiansen can still find work after being Anakin Skywalker. The Avengers, which is an extremely great show that seemed to be holding true to the Marvel comic universe, has been cancelled because the Disney XD channel is as stupid as Fox was when they cancelled Firefly.
Okay, feel free to point and make fun of me if you want to. What shows are you guys watching this summer?
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Distractions
Mamakat's prompt: 4.) What have you been too busy to pay attention to?
When I was single, there were some television shows that I watched religiously. The X-Files. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When these shows were on, I paid attention. I did not answer the phone. The computers were turned off. I did not even leave the couch for bathroom or snack breaks, just so I wouldn't miss a single second. When my 'stories' were over, I would happily spend hours on the phone with my bestie, discussing plot points and one liners.
When I met my husband, I conned him into watching Buffy with me, and he was hooked. We would park ourselves on the couch, side by side, holding hands. When the spinoff Angel began, we were there for that as well. We found that we loved many of the same shows, and our viewing habits expanded. The Sopranos. Deadwood. Firefly. Homicide. The Shield. Supernatural. Lost. I would not only discuss the shows with my husband, but would happily spend hours emailing my bestie, discussing plot points and one liners, or grousing because we had to wait an entire week for the next episode.
We were the Nielsen's dream of the perfect television viewer.
When my son first came along, I was still able to pay attention to my 'stories', because he slept a lot, and he did not move around much. I could sit on the couch with my sleeping child on my lap, and still find myself transported to whatever universe was on the channel for the evening. Except that babies need to be fed, or changed, and not necessarily during commercial breaks. My husband would make a valiant effort to tell me what happened during my absence, but it was never the same.
It's been downhill ever since. As long as Zane was falling asleep before 7pm, there was a chance to use the DVR and fast forward through the commercials, so I still got my 'stories' fix. But I was tired, and usually fell right asleep with Zane. Gradually, before I even knew what was happening, the DVR would be full. The entire last season of The Shield had to be deleted to make room for other shows, and we still haven't been able to see what happened to Vic Mackey.
I've missed other shows completely, shows that I probably would have loved. The Borgias. Dexter. Boardwalk Empire. Justified. I remember some vague mentions of the shows, and I fully intended to watch them. I even recorded a few episodes of each, but then never got around to watching. Somehow, they slipped by in the haze of my exhaustion. These days, my 'Must See' stories are getting shorter and shorter, and if the DVR and our schedule are full, things are deleted. The entire season of Supernatural is waiting for me, as are the last two episodes of A Game of Thrones. My husband has the last four episodes of The Walking Dead to view, but we may have other shows to record.
What other shows have taken our attention? Ones that we can watch with Zane, of course! The Big Bang Theory. Ultimate Spiderman. The Avengers. Young Justice. Green Lantern.
I still have my 'stories', but now they're stories I can share with my son.
When I was single, there were some television shows that I watched religiously. The X-Files. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When these shows were on, I paid attention. I did not answer the phone. The computers were turned off. I did not even leave the couch for bathroom or snack breaks, just so I wouldn't miss a single second. When my 'stories' were over, I would happily spend hours on the phone with my bestie, discussing plot points and one liners.
When I met my husband, I conned him into watching Buffy with me, and he was hooked. We would park ourselves on the couch, side by side, holding hands. When the spinoff Angel began, we were there for that as well. We found that we loved many of the same shows, and our viewing habits expanded. The Sopranos. Deadwood. Firefly. Homicide. The Shield. Supernatural. Lost. I would not only discuss the shows with my husband, but would happily spend hours emailing my bestie, discussing plot points and one liners, or grousing because we had to wait an entire week for the next episode.
We were the Nielsen's dream of the perfect television viewer.
When my son first came along, I was still able to pay attention to my 'stories', because he slept a lot, and he did not move around much. I could sit on the couch with my sleeping child on my lap, and still find myself transported to whatever universe was on the channel for the evening. Except that babies need to be fed, or changed, and not necessarily during commercial breaks. My husband would make a valiant effort to tell me what happened during my absence, but it was never the same.
It's been downhill ever since. As long as Zane was falling asleep before 7pm, there was a chance to use the DVR and fast forward through the commercials, so I still got my 'stories' fix. But I was tired, and usually fell right asleep with Zane. Gradually, before I even knew what was happening, the DVR would be full. The entire last season of The Shield had to be deleted to make room for other shows, and we still haven't been able to see what happened to Vic Mackey.
I've missed other shows completely, shows that I probably would have loved. The Borgias. Dexter. Boardwalk Empire. Justified. I remember some vague mentions of the shows, and I fully intended to watch them. I even recorded a few episodes of each, but then never got around to watching. Somehow, they slipped by in the haze of my exhaustion. These days, my 'Must See' stories are getting shorter and shorter, and if the DVR and our schedule are full, things are deleted. The entire season of Supernatural is waiting for me, as are the last two episodes of A Game of Thrones. My husband has the last four episodes of The Walking Dead to view, but we may have other shows to record.
What other shows have taken our attention? Ones that we can watch with Zane, of course! The Big Bang Theory. Ultimate Spiderman. The Avengers. Young Justice. Green Lantern.
I still have my 'stories', but now they're stories I can share with my son.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Rest In Peace, Marshall Dillon
It was with great sadness that I read about the death of James Arness in the paper the other day. I felt like I was experiencing the end of an era, the final passing away of my childhood.
I wasn't around when the television show Gunsmoke started, but I do remember watching it as a kid. It was pretty tame, as most television shows from that era were, and I am sure that if I watched an episode today I would be focusing more on a fake backdrop or on the fact that when people got shot they never seemed to bleed. Back then, none of that mattered. I think that my love of westerns comes from watching Gunsmoke.
Gunsmoke was a family show, meaning that it was something my entire family would watch together. We all loved Marshall Dillon, and why not? He was the essential good guy, the man who always rescued the people who needed rescuing. Dillon always did the right thing, even if the right thing meant punching someone in the face. He kept the town safe just by walking down the dusty streets. Who wouldn't love that kind of a character?
It has been said that the role of Matt Dillon was originally made for John Wayne, who turned it down. I don't believe for one second that the show would have been nearly as successful if John Wayne had been Marshall Dillon. No disrespect to John Wayne, but James Arness didn't just act the role of Matt Dillon, at least not to me. James Arness wore the character of Matt Dillon like a second skin. He was Marshall Dillon. Arness' portrayal of Marshall Dillon became iconic; the character became an archetype because of it. How many television actors can say that?
The character of Matt Dillon even got his own verse in a decent Toby Keith song:
I'll bet you never heard ol' Marshall Dillon say:
Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of running away?
Settling down, would you marry me?
If I asked you twice and begged you pretty please?
Rest in peace, James Arness. There never was a TV or movie lawman who could fill your shoes. But they all wanted to try.
I wasn't around when the television show Gunsmoke started, but I do remember watching it as a kid. It was pretty tame, as most television shows from that era were, and I am sure that if I watched an episode today I would be focusing more on a fake backdrop or on the fact that when people got shot they never seemed to bleed. Back then, none of that mattered. I think that my love of westerns comes from watching Gunsmoke.
Gunsmoke was a family show, meaning that it was something my entire family would watch together. We all loved Marshall Dillon, and why not? He was the essential good guy, the man who always rescued the people who needed rescuing. Dillon always did the right thing, even if the right thing meant punching someone in the face. He kept the town safe just by walking down the dusty streets. Who wouldn't love that kind of a character?
It has been said that the role of Matt Dillon was originally made for John Wayne, who turned it down. I don't believe for one second that the show would have been nearly as successful if John Wayne had been Marshall Dillon. No disrespect to John Wayne, but James Arness didn't just act the role of Matt Dillon, at least not to me. James Arness wore the character of Matt Dillon like a second skin. He was Marshall Dillon. Arness' portrayal of Marshall Dillon became iconic; the character became an archetype because of it. How many television actors can say that?
The character of Matt Dillon even got his own verse in a decent Toby Keith song:
I'll bet you never heard ol' Marshall Dillon say:
Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of running away?
Settling down, would you marry me?
If I asked you twice and begged you pretty please?
Rest in peace, James Arness. There never was a TV or movie lawman who could fill your shoes. But they all wanted to try.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)