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TV, or not TV, that is the question

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Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

Quantico appears to be the Terrorism version of How to Get Away with Murder.

Deliberately avoided that show last season, but I watched Quantico, and so far, it's been my favorite of the new season's shows.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

John Oliver continues to be amazing. The piece he did on the refugee's favorite soap opera was wonderful.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

John Oliver continues to be amazing. The piece he did on the refugee's favorite soap opera was wonderful.

In 20 years we're all going to look back on this era as an incredibly talent-rich time for late night shows (maybe across all genres): John Stewart, John Oliver, Colbert, Craig Ferguson, Conan. Hell, you can probably throw Letterman in there as well. All are terrific.

The new guys though? Yeesh. Whatshisface who took over for Ferguson, Fallon, Larry Willmore, etc. None do anything for me.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

In 20 years we're all going to look back on this era as an incredibly talent-rich time for late night shows (maybe across all genres): John Stewart, John Oliver, Colbert, Craig Ferguson, Conan. Hell, you can probably throw Letterman in there as well. All are terrific.

The new guys though? Yeesh. Whatshisface who took over for Ferguson, Fallon, Larry Willmore, etc. None do anything for me.

It's the golden age of television. Which was really improbable, given just how terrible things had progressively gotten from the 80s through the 90s. It's as if TV divided roughly into thirds starting in 2000. One third is the same mediocre pablum that's always been (sitcoms, family dramas, cop shows). One third embraced garbage and raced to the bottom of the derposphere (reality TV, irritainment, 24-7 "news") and one third stopped worrying about the average viewer and shot up into the stratosphere (late night shows, adult comedies, prestige dramas, weird stuff).

The average show is probably just as stupid as ever, but the top rank, which is all that matters, is better than at any time in television history.

What's our secret? Variance!
 
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Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

It's the golden age of television. Which was really improbable, given just how terrible things had progressively gotten from the 80s through the 90s. It's as if TV divided roughly into thirds starting in 2000. One third is the same mediocre pablum that's always been (sitcoms, family dramas, cop shows). One third embraced garbage and raced to the bottom of the derposphere (reality TV, irritainment, 24-7 "news") and one third stopped worrying about the average viewer and shot up into the stratosphere (late night shows, adult comedies, prestige dramas, weird stuff).

The average show is probably just as stupid as ever, but the top rank, which is all that matters, is better than at any time in television history.

What's our secret? Variance!
A television historian was doing the morning radio talk show circuit to push his new book a while back. He seemed to be of the impression that TV networks hit their relative peaks when new networks start establishing themselves. He noted that various shows from over the years, going back to the 70's and early 80's with Hill Street Blues as one network's effort to retain viewership due to new competition, along with others, and they were all tied directly to the advent of one station or another. He called out Married... With Children and The Simpsons on Fox in the late 80's and into the early 90's, and then a whole multitude of various cable stations launching original content and their shows' quality over the past ten years. Basically, in a panic, network execs would actually take chances on shows that might not have had a known demographic, but they liked it for whatever reason. Most of these were on the new networks, but some would come along in the old stalwarts, too.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

And largely, the growth of those new networks, and more quality programming is due to the widespread growth of cable. The older networks had to adapt, or lose even more viewership than they have.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

And largely, the growth of those new networks, and more quality programming is due to the widespread growth of cable. The older networks had to adapt, or lose even more viewership than they have.

That and even more exclusively, HBO and Netflix.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

Pretty surreal and hilarious to see Oliver appear on Colbert and think back to their beginnings.

God that was good.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

Slightly surprised there has been no mention of IFC’s new series “Benders” on here yet! Sneak peek (episode ‘0’) premiered this week, and the series airs on IFC Thursdays at 10. Many short clips as well as that sneak peek episode are available on the IFC Benders site (and of course, YouTube). Good stuff... hope it lasts! :cool:

Cheers!!!
~TTF
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

After last week's absolute stinker of an episode, my wife and I agreed that if Fear the Walking Dead didn't come up with a riveting season finale, we were done with the show. We're now both anxiously awaiting season two. Wow. Great finale.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

Sleepy Hollow came back with Hot Woody Harrelson gone and a new Big Bad. I'm confused -- I thought they were still trapped back in the 18th century. Apparently Witch Wife and Undead Son are gone, too. I must have completely suppressed last season's finale.

We tried Scream Queens and so far it hasn't been nearly as hideous as advertised, and the humor's perfectly adequate. The show is obviously aimed at girls 15-25, but it's always nice to see Jamie Lee (who is starting to look a lot like Claire Underwood). IINM AHS: Hotel starts next week.

Survivor has retreads but so far it's been pretty good for the strategizing. Peachy looks the same as always. Amazing Race: Phil is starting to look old. Like, Daniel Craig old.

The Muppets was brilliant again. I wonder if Jay Leno realizes that the joke of Fozzie's crush on him is that he's lame? Josh Groban, who I had never heard of, was hilarious.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

After last week's absolute stinker of an episode, my wife and I agreed that if Fear the Walking Dead didn't come up with a riveting season finale, we were done with the show. We're now both anxiously awaiting season two. Wow. Great finale.

I didn't think last week's episode was terrible, but I do agree that the finale was excellent. Sets up the next season very well, with some potentially very intriguing plots to explore.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

I can't remember if it was here and GPL or just GPL, but I finally caught up on Gotham. The Joker character is really, really well written and brilliantly acted.

Just a phenomenal character overall.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

Wait, the young kid from Arkham, that's the Joker? Man, I'm thick.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

Don't beat yourself up. It took me until the fuel hose part of episode two to wonder and the laughter is infectious line near the end.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

He is not the Joker, he is a character that could be the Joker. The creators have basically said they are going to troll multiple possibilities of who the Joker is but probably never really show him since the Joker almost never has an origin. (and is worthless without Batman) The point is to show how a character like the Joker could come about in Gotham.

That said "Jerome" is awesome :D
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

He is not the Joker, he is a character that could be the Joker. The creators have basically said they are going to troll multiple possibilities of who the Joker is but probably never really show him since the Joker almost never has an origin. (and is worthless without Batman) The point is to show how a character like the Joker could come about in Gotham.

That said "Jerome" is awesome :D
I'm not sure of the legalities of it, but they should have a sane, straight laced kid named "Jack Napier" to really troll people.
 
Re: TV, or not TV, that is the question

I'm not sure of the legalities of it, but they should have a sane, straight laced kid named "Jack Napier" to really troll people.

It is almost a guarantee that will happen, people have been expecting it since the pilot. WB owns all versions of the Joker including the Batman '89 Jack Napier one (they referenced him in comics after the movie) so sooner or later it will happen. :D

Watching Nygma devolve into madness is pretty creepy and awesome!
 
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