I just want more episodes of Metalocalypse
February 11, 2008 7:53 AM Subscribe
With the Writer's Guild of America strike possibly coming to close in a couple of days, you might be interested in a guide to when the various shows will be coming back.
I couldn't be happier that this is getting resolved, as my jokey comments were getting stale.
At least you have only one account for making them. :)
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:06 AM on February 11, 2008
At least you have only one account for making them. :)
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:06 AM on February 11, 2008
Our long, national nightmare is over!
posted by geoff. at 8:08 AM on February 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by geoff. at 8:08 AM on February 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
I thought TV had generally improved since they'd gone on strike.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:10 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 8:10 AM on February 11, 2008
I thought TV had generally improved since they'd gone on strike.
You've obviously been enjoying those new episodes The Biggest Loser as much as me!
:|
posted by milarepa at 8:13 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
You've obviously been enjoying those new episodes The Biggest Loser as much as me!
:|
posted by milarepa at 8:13 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I can't tell you how happy that list made me. Most shows still won't be on the air for months! People still have a chance to break free!
posted by DU at 8:17 AM on February 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by DU at 8:17 AM on February 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
Battlestar Galactica isn't even on the list..! Last I heard it's scheduled to return come April-ish but it'd be nice to hear an official statement.
posted by pyrex at 8:21 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by pyrex at 8:21 AM on February 11, 2008
The writer's guild is declaring a "huge victory," and so far it seems good for everyone except the reality show and animation writers, who got left in the dust.
posted by mediareport at 8:23 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by mediareport at 8:23 AM on February 11, 2008
The writer's guild is declaring a "huge victory,"
I thought it was that the convention that the union always declares a huge victory and management basically says nothing.
posted by shothotbot at 8:31 AM on February 11, 2008
I thought it was that the convention that the union always declares a huge victory and management basically says nothing.
posted by shothotbot at 8:31 AM on February 11, 2008
My TiVo will be happy. My Netflix queue, not so much. It hasn't gotten this kind of attention in years.
posted by emmastory at 8:36 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by emmastory at 8:36 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm very happy that Reaper still has some new episodes to air. Hopefully it'll come back next season.
posted by NoMich at 8:38 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by NoMich at 8:38 AM on February 11, 2008
Glad to see that the second link is UPDATED HOURLY!
posted by SteveInMaine at 8:40 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by SteveInMaine at 8:40 AM on February 11, 2008
I thought TV had generally improved since they'd gone on strike.
I thought Conan O'Brien's show was better during the strike than it has been in years. Otherwise, I disagree.
posted by almostmanda at 8:41 AM on February 11, 2008
I thought Conan O'Brien's show was better during the strike than it has been in years. Otherwise, I disagree.
posted by almostmanda at 8:41 AM on February 11, 2008
Friday Night with Günter Verheugen
The European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry will delight audiences again in March with an exciting line up of Hollywood stars speaking about their ideas for economic progress through innovation and respect for the environment.
Everybody Fucks Christophe
The loveable male prostitute who's unlucky in love and who has herpes returns February 20 in a five-hour special focusing on the operation to remove his rectal warts.
Era of Martyrs: the Dionysius Exiguus Chronicles
Fifty-seven pre-strike episodes remain of this thrilling drama about a sixth century Scythian monk and his magic filofax. Filmed in real time.
W. A. B. Coolidge's Brat Camp
Filming starts again next Fall, when another group of troublesome teens are left to die on a Swiss moutainside with nothing but a decomposing theologian to eat.
Espoo City Limits
Tina Turner has been binge drinking in Finland for four months, waiting to resume shooting this TV documentary about her participation in this small town's intense musical rivalry with Helsinki.
Dirty Filthy Macanese Patacas
Alicia Silverstone is "desperate" to get back to work on this hugely popular series in which she attempts to lick all the coins of Macau clean with her tongue.
Law & Order: Shqipëria
Filming begins again this week on the taut, action packed series about Albanian constitutional and administrative law.
ERII
New episodes are scheduled for May, and the Regina's never been lookin' finer as she battles a criminal syndicate aboard her royal ocean liner with her amazing mechanical designer vagina.
Bionic Ghost
The supernatural heroics of the 6 million dollar phantasm are currently on hold as no new episodes are planned - here's hoping some old eps rise from the dank grave and kick the ass of BG's arch-enemy, the Zombie Whisperer.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 8:42 AM on February 11, 2008 [15 favorites]
The European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry will delight audiences again in March with an exciting line up of Hollywood stars speaking about their ideas for economic progress through innovation and respect for the environment.
Everybody Fucks Christophe
The loveable male prostitute who's unlucky in love and who has herpes returns February 20 in a five-hour special focusing on the operation to remove his rectal warts.
Era of Martyrs: the Dionysius Exiguus Chronicles
Fifty-seven pre-strike episodes remain of this thrilling drama about a sixth century Scythian monk and his magic filofax. Filmed in real time.
W. A. B. Coolidge's Brat Camp
Filming starts again next Fall, when another group of troublesome teens are left to die on a Swiss moutainside with nothing but a decomposing theologian to eat.
Espoo City Limits
Tina Turner has been binge drinking in Finland for four months, waiting to resume shooting this TV documentary about her participation in this small town's intense musical rivalry with Helsinki.
Dirty Filthy Macanese Patacas
Alicia Silverstone is "desperate" to get back to work on this hugely popular series in which she attempts to lick all the coins of Macau clean with her tongue.
Law & Order: Shqipëria
Filming begins again this week on the taut, action packed series about Albanian constitutional and administrative law.
ERII
New episodes are scheduled for May, and the Regina's never been lookin' finer as she battles a criminal syndicate aboard her royal ocean liner with her amazing mechanical designer vagina.
Bionic Ghost
The supernatural heroics of the 6 million dollar phantasm are currently on hold as no new episodes are planned - here's hoping some old eps rise from the dank grave and kick the ass of BG's arch-enemy, the Zombie Whisperer.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 8:42 AM on February 11, 2008 [15 favorites]
The SF Chronicle TV guy has a good article today explaining the effect the work stoppage will have on TV production and writers' jobs. It's not good news for the writers.
PS: what's with all the people posting comments to say how cool they are because they hate TV?
posted by Nelson at 8:42 AM on February 11, 2008
PS: what's with all the people posting comments to say how cool they are because they hate TV?
posted by Nelson at 8:42 AM on February 11, 2008
“what's with all the people posting comments to say how cool they are because they hate TV?”
Many people consider TV to be an all-or-nothing thing. Either you watch TV 24/7 and you’re a Big Brother loving idiot who has never picked up a book, or you shun TV completely because it would interfere with your book club and MENSA meetings. Those who shun TV think they’re performing a public service when they remind us TV watchers that a single episode of The Office will keep us from living productive lives.
We should thank them for attempting to Embiggin our smartitude.
posted by bondcliff at 8:57 AM on February 11, 2008 [11 favorites]
Many people consider TV to be an all-or-nothing thing. Either you watch TV 24/7 and you’re a Big Brother loving idiot who has never picked up a book, or you shun TV completely because it would interfere with your book club and MENSA meetings. Those who shun TV think they’re performing a public service when they remind us TV watchers that a single episode of The Office will keep us from living productive lives.
We should thank them for attempting to Embiggin our smartitude.
posted by bondcliff at 8:57 AM on February 11, 2008 [11 favorites]
Battlestar Galactica isn't even on the list..! Last I heard it's scheduled to return come April-ish but it'd be nice to hear an official statement.
Pretty sure this is officially April 4 (if EW can be trusted).
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:27 AM on February 11, 2008
Pretty sure this is officially April 4 (if EW can be trusted).
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:27 AM on February 11, 2008
BSG is very much on the list.
Also, glad to know they'll get at least a few more episodes of Lost in the can before the season is out. 8 was not going to be nearly enough.
posted by absalom at 9:41 AM on February 11, 2008
Also, glad to know they'll get at least a few more episodes of Lost in the can before the season is out. 8 was not going to be nearly enough.
posted by absalom at 9:41 AM on February 11, 2008
BSG wasn't when I first checked the list, they must have added it.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 9:46 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 9:46 AM on February 11, 2008
...wasn't 'there'
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 9:51 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 9:51 AM on February 11, 2008
I, for one, don't give a crap about the "writers" guild. ALL TV SUCKS!
posted by zekinskia at 10:20 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by zekinskia at 10:20 AM on February 11, 2008
I, for one, don't give a crap about the "writers" guild. ALL TV SUCKS!
At the risk of being accused of threadsitting/moderating/whatever, thank you for your contribution.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:26 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
At the risk of being accused of threadsitting/moderating/whatever, thank you for your contribution.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:26 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I, for one, don't give a crap about the "writers" guild. ALL TV SUCKS!
The funny part is that, if you're serious, you actually think that's an intelligent comment.
posted by Cyrano at 10:27 AM on February 11, 2008 [3 favorites]
The funny part is that, if you're serious, you actually think that's an intelligent comment.
posted by Cyrano at 10:27 AM on February 11, 2008 [3 favorites]
I, for one, don't give a crap about the "writers" guild. ALL TV SUCKS!
This is a spectacular contribution to the thread.
On another note, I'm starting a pool: How many posts before ZachsMind storms in here and starts yelling, "SCAB!" at people?
posted by secret about box at 10:30 AM on February 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
This is a spectacular contribution to the thread.
On another note, I'm starting a pool: How many posts before ZachsMind storms in here and starts yelling, "SCAB!" at people?
posted by secret about box at 10:30 AM on February 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
ALL TV SUCKS!
Mind you, it could be a Belushi reference.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:40 AM on February 11, 2008
Mind you, it could be a Belushi reference.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:40 AM on February 11, 2008
Big Shots
No new episodes expected. Ever.
Bionic Woman
No new episodes expected. Ever.
This is a good start, but I think they really should attempt to go back in time and stop both of these shows from ever being written in the first place. I watched the first ep of Bionic with my nine year-old neice and she said "This is bad. Right?" And I caught the last two minutes of a couple of BShots for some reason. We kept bleach in the livingroom, just in case it ever happened again we could wash out our eyes.
posted by papercake at 10:41 AM on February 11, 2008
No new episodes expected. Ever.
Bionic Woman
No new episodes expected. Ever.
This is a good start, but I think they really should attempt to go back in time and stop both of these shows from ever being written in the first place. I watched the first ep of Bionic with my nine year-old neice and she said "This is bad. Right?" And I caught the last two minutes of a couple of BShots for some reason. We kept bleach in the livingroom, just in case it ever happened again we could wash out our eyes.
posted by papercake at 10:41 AM on February 11, 2008
No new episodes expected. Ever.
I was a bit surprised to see the number of shows that bore this ominous description. I guess the network execs used this as an opportunity to clear out some stuff that they didn't like. Also known as 'Foxifying' a show. (Even more also known as 'fucking-the-fans')
That said:
Burn Notice
Production on Season 2 expected to get underway in late April. New episodes could start airing as early as July.
I believe a 'w00t' in in order.
w00t!
posted by quin at 10:49 AM on February 11, 2008
I was a bit surprised to see the number of shows that bore this ominous description. I guess the network execs used this as an opportunity to clear out some stuff that they didn't like. Also known as 'Foxifying' a show. (Even more also known as 'fucking-the-fans')
That said:
Burn Notice
Production on Season 2 expected to get underway in late April. New episodes could start airing as early as July.
I believe a 'w00t' in in order.
w00t!
posted by quin at 10:49 AM on February 11, 2008
"I couldn't be happier that this is getting resolved..."
I couldn't be happier that Bionic Woman's not getting renewed. I really wanted to like that one too, but I wish I could sue the producers for damaging brain cells. I may never fully recover.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:53 AM on February 11, 2008
I couldn't be happier that Bionic Woman's not getting renewed. I really wanted to like that one too, but I wish I could sue the producers for damaging brain cells. I may never fully recover.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:53 AM on February 11, 2008
One bone to pick about that SFGate article - It may be news to people outside the guild, but there isn't a single thing in there that would surprise the writers. They knew they were putting their jobs on the line, and shows get cancelled in the middle of every season, strike or no strike. If the strike ends it will be because the contract is good enough for more than half the membership (maybe even just half of those that submit ballots, I'm not sure), not because anyone needs to get back to work next week instead of in the fall.
posted by mzurer at 10:53 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by mzurer at 10:53 AM on February 11, 2008
Mikey-San: "I'm starting a pool: How many posts before ZachsMind storms in here and starts yelling, "SCAB!" at people?"
I'm so over that, but thanks for the happy memories. =) Good times. Good times.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:59 AM on February 11, 2008
I'm so over that, but thanks for the happy memories. =) Good times. Good times.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:59 AM on February 11, 2008
ALL TV SUCKS!
Naturally, I can't prove that all TV does not suck. But before making such a statement, I urge you to watch the following shows:
"Fanny and Alexander" (Yes, the Bergman film. It was originally a mini-series.)
"Upstairs Downstairs"
"I, Claudius"
"Deadwood"
"The Sopranos"
"Prime Suspect"
"Rome"
"Big Love"
"Weeds"
"Great Performances"
"Sesame Street"
"Extras"
posted by grumblebee at 11:10 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Naturally, I can't prove that all TV does not suck. But before making such a statement, I urge you to watch the following shows:
"Fanny and Alexander" (Yes, the Bergman film. It was originally a mini-series.)
"Upstairs Downstairs"
"I, Claudius"
"Deadwood"
"The Sopranos"
"Prime Suspect"
"Rome"
"Big Love"
"Weeds"
"Great Performances"
"Sesame Street"
"Extras"
posted by grumblebee at 11:10 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah Weeds is good... except for Season 3, which sucked balls. Bad writing, bad dialogue, unrealistic premises, over the top acting... christ, it was awful. For that matter, the second season of Extras was also pretty bad. Extras = a British Curb Your Enthusiasm, but with twice the awkward social situations and none of the actual humor.
Sadly... no "Chuck" till fall? WTF, you sons of bitches?! I want Chuck, dammit! Best new show on TV, hands down. And thank god Bionic Woman was put to death. Now if only the godawful shitfest that was "Reaper" could join the shitheap of canceled shittiness.
BSG can suck it. I'll watch, but between the delayed season, the scammy two-DVD sets per season ripoff, and the horribly painful memories of that show in the context of my disastrous personal life... eh, fuck it.
Also, quidnunc kid? This comment of yours was simply genius. I can't help but feel that if you keep that up, robocopy is bleeding will be out of a job.
posted by hincandenza at 11:22 AM on February 11, 2008
Sadly... no "Chuck" till fall? WTF, you sons of bitches?! I want Chuck, dammit! Best new show on TV, hands down. And thank god Bionic Woman was put to death. Now if only the godawful shitfest that was "Reaper" could join the shitheap of canceled shittiness.
BSG can suck it. I'll watch, but between the delayed season, the scammy two-DVD sets per season ripoff, and the horribly painful memories of that show in the context of my disastrous personal life... eh, fuck it.
Also, quidnunc kid? This comment of yours was simply genius. I can't help but feel that if you keep that up, robocopy is bleeding will be out of a job.
posted by hincandenza at 11:22 AM on February 11, 2008
I, for one, don't give a crap about the "writers" guild. ALL TV SUCKS!
Is thinking that ALL TV SUCKS something that you need a television for?
Because I do not own a television.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:28 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Is thinking that ALL TV SUCKS something that you need a television for?
Because I do not own a television.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:28 AM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
ALL TV SUCKS!
Back when I was a kid, I tended to agree with that. I was spending a lot of time watching TV just for the hell of it—daytime TV, summer reruns, just whatever was on when I decided it was time to watch something. A lot of channel flipping; a lot of wondering if something good was on. It sucked.
Now, I have a TV but no cable, not even local reception; I watch stuff after the fact, on DVD. And there's a hell of a lot of good stuff, old and new, enough that I don't have time to keep up with it all because I'm only going to carve out an hour or two a day to sit and watch a movie or a couple of episodes of something. There is some truly excellent stuff out there.
A lot of TV sucks. Some of it doesn't suck. Not liking TV in general, for whatever reason, is your prerogative—some people hate fiction, some people hate sculpture, humanity is a tapestry of weird disinclinations and avoidances—but foot-stamping total dismissiveness of an entire, world-changing genre of entertainment is well up there on the crank scale. If your position is not actually that of the uncompromising crank, you might want to use more and more carefully chosen words to express your opinion.
posted by cortex at 11:35 AM on February 11, 2008 [15 favorites]
Back when I was a kid, I tended to agree with that. I was spending a lot of time watching TV just for the hell of it—daytime TV, summer reruns, just whatever was on when I decided it was time to watch something. A lot of channel flipping; a lot of wondering if something good was on. It sucked.
Now, I have a TV but no cable, not even local reception; I watch stuff after the fact, on DVD. And there's a hell of a lot of good stuff, old and new, enough that I don't have time to keep up with it all because I'm only going to carve out an hour or two a day to sit and watch a movie or a couple of episodes of something. There is some truly excellent stuff out there.
A lot of TV sucks. Some of it doesn't suck. Not liking TV in general, for whatever reason, is your prerogative—some people hate fiction, some people hate sculpture, humanity is a tapestry of weird disinclinations and avoidances—but foot-stamping total dismissiveness of an entire, world-changing genre of entertainment is well up there on the crank scale. If your position is not actually that of the uncompromising crank, you might want to use more and more carefully chosen words to express your opinion.
posted by cortex at 11:35 AM on February 11, 2008 [15 favorites]
Very well-said, cortex.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:51 AM on February 11, 2008
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:51 AM on February 11, 2008
Seems it would be more appropriate to praise Athena and all the other Lords of Kobol.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:44 PM on February 11, 2008
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 12:44 PM on February 11, 2008
I don't know what the greater crime is, the fact that up until finally watching it a month ago I thought BSG was just another shitty Stargate/Firefly clone or the fact that I'll have to wait almost two months to see the next episode.
I'm still loving Lost, dwarf season or no. Why is it that I never see Ong's Hat mentioned in connection with Lost? It seems Abrams' was influenced by it almost as much as the Wachowski's were "influenced" by the Invisibles in writing the Matrix.
posted by bunnytricks at 2:33 PM on February 11, 2008
I'm still loving Lost, dwarf season or no. Why is it that I never see Ong's Hat mentioned in connection with Lost? It seems Abrams' was influenced by it almost as much as the Wachowski's were "influenced" by the Invisibles in writing the Matrix.
posted by bunnytricks at 2:33 PM on February 11, 2008
All TV doesn't suck, but almost all of the shows on that list do.
Americans can no longer create inventive, funny or clever TV anymore because of the restraints of advertisers (who are afraid of religious group boycotts) and because of rampant political correctness.
The crime/lawyer shows are boring because every show has the same goal: satisfy the typical American's bizarre lust for vengeance (has anyone ever gotten away with a crime or walked free on any of these shows? answer: never).
The sitcoms are rewrites of old sitcoms: especially Two and a Half Men, which is a rehash of "The Odd Couple" (not only the premise, but the plots also mimick ones from the original series) only with talentless people like Charlie Sheen.
posted by Jay Reimenschneider at 2:34 PM on February 11, 2008
Americans can no longer create inventive, funny or clever TV anymore because of the restraints of advertisers (who are afraid of religious group boycotts) and because of rampant political correctness.
The crime/lawyer shows are boring because every show has the same goal: satisfy the typical American's bizarre lust for vengeance (has anyone ever gotten away with a crime or walked free on any of these shows? answer: never).
The sitcoms are rewrites of old sitcoms: especially Two and a Half Men, which is a rehash of "The Odd Couple" (not only the premise, but the plots also mimick ones from the original series) only with talentless people like Charlie Sheen.
posted by Jay Reimenschneider at 2:34 PM on February 11, 2008
PS: what's with all the people posting comments to say how cool they are because they hate TV?
Hating TV is the new hating-comic-books-because-OMG-for-kids-and-stupids or something.
posted by sparkletone at 2:53 PM on February 11, 2008
Hating TV is the new hating-comic-books-because-OMG-for-kids-and-stupids or something.
posted by sparkletone at 2:53 PM on February 11, 2008
Americans can no longer create inventive, funny or clever TV anymore because of the restraints of advertisers (who are afraid of religious group boycotts) and because of rampant political correctness.
If this is not true now, then it was never true in the past.
More flippantly:
Fry: "Married?! Jenny can't get married."
Leela: "Why not? It's clever, it's unexpected..."
Fry: "But that's not why people watch TV. Clever things make people feel stupid and unexpected things make them feel scared."
posted by sparkletone at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2008
If this is not true now, then it was never true in the past.
More flippantly:
Fry: "Married?! Jenny can't get married."
Leela: "Why not? It's clever, it's unexpected..."
Fry: "But that's not why people watch TV. Clever things make people feel stupid and unexpected things make them feel scared."
posted by sparkletone at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2008
Erk. "If this true now, then it was true in the past." is what I meant to write, but I guess it works out to the same thing.
In any case: I think there are clever, inventive and funny shows on TV. More than at any time previously. Bizarrely, we live in something of a golden age as far as that goes.
There's a healthy dose of Rose Colored Glasses Syndrome in the argument that American TV is somehow degenerate now relative to How Things Used To Be. Our memory of the crap fades away, and the good stuff sticks. Here in the present, the memory of the crapfests are fresh and depressing, and the good stuff seems drowned out.
But things really aren't that different. There's more good now, just as there's more bad as well. There's simply more.
This is true in pretty much every medium.
posted by sparkletone at 3:04 PM on February 11, 2008
In any case: I think there are clever, inventive and funny shows on TV. More than at any time previously. Bizarrely, we live in something of a golden age as far as that goes.
There's a healthy dose of Rose Colored Glasses Syndrome in the argument that American TV is somehow degenerate now relative to How Things Used To Be. Our memory of the crap fades away, and the good stuff sticks. Here in the present, the memory of the crapfests are fresh and depressing, and the good stuff seems drowned out.
But things really aren't that different. There's more good now, just as there's more bad as well. There's simply more.
This is true in pretty much every medium.
posted by sparkletone at 3:04 PM on February 11, 2008
I don't know what the greater crime is, the fact that up until finally watching it a month ago I thought BSG was just another shitty Stargate/Firefly clone or the fact that I'll have to wait almost two months to see the next episode.
Less than two months isn't too bad. At the end of last season, we were told that we'd have to wait until the end of January instead of the normal over-the-summer wait, which was painfully long. This actually isn't too much of a setback, comparatively.
I'll have to go back and rewatch the rescue scene from the beginning of season three a few more times to tide me over. That's seriously some great television.
posted by SpacemanStix at 3:07 PM on February 11, 2008
Less than two months isn't too bad. At the end of last season, we were told that we'd have to wait until the end of January instead of the normal over-the-summer wait, which was painfully long. This actually isn't too much of a setback, comparatively.
I'll have to go back and rewatch the rescue scene from the beginning of season three a few more times to tide me over. That's seriously some great television.
posted by SpacemanStix at 3:07 PM on February 11, 2008
Americans can no longer create inventive, funny or clever TV anymore because of the restraints of advertisers (who are afraid of religious group boycotts)
Back in the day, it was homages to the twin celebrity of Satan and Atheism, 24/7.
and because of rampant political correctness.
Yeah, it sucks that they're letting the blacks and the gays on the TV now.
Seriously, I have no idea what you're going for here. The assertion that no inventive, funny or clever TV comes out of American studios is so blatantly, unreservedly false that you can't have meant it. And if you didn't meant it, I don't know why you elected to say it.
posted by cortex at 3:15 PM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Back in the day, it was homages to the twin celebrity of Satan and Atheism, 24/7.
and because of rampant political correctness.
Yeah, it sucks that they're letting the blacks and the gays on the TV now.
Seriously, I have no idea what you're going for here. The assertion that no inventive, funny or clever TV comes out of American studios is so blatantly, unreservedly false that you can't have meant it. And if you didn't meant it, I don't know why you elected to say it.
posted by cortex at 3:15 PM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
It's good that BSG is coming back. Hopefully they'll fix all the things they screwed up.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:15 PM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:15 PM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
TV Sucks.
I will be not so bold and say TV, since the advent of PPV and cable, has gotten significantly UN-sucky. As Grumblebee noted.
But even really sucky (NON REALITY) shows are far more complex than they ever were twenty or thirty years ago. The stories are plotted better, there are more characters, expectations are higher.
For all the nostalgia we hold for Bewitched, My Favorite Martian, or The Brady Bunch even STOS ... those shows were shit. Even drek like Will and Grace or The King of Queens is written and performed much more intelligently that 90% of the stuff from the 60's and 99% better than the stuff from the 70's and 80's.
(Most of our favorite shows from the past we like becuase we were kids when we watched them. Everything seemed better when you were a kid. This is part of that conservative delusion. Of course the past SEEMS better. Because when you are child everything is taken care of for you. Life is a carnival ride.)
posted by tkchrist at 3:42 PM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
I will be not so bold and say TV, since the advent of PPV and cable, has gotten significantly UN-sucky. As Grumblebee noted.
But even really sucky (NON REALITY) shows are far more complex than they ever were twenty or thirty years ago. The stories are plotted better, there are more characters, expectations are higher.
For all the nostalgia we hold for Bewitched, My Favorite Martian, or The Brady Bunch even STOS ... those shows were shit. Even drek like Will and Grace or The King of Queens is written and performed much more intelligently that 90% of the stuff from the 60's and 99% better than the stuff from the 70's and 80's.
(Most of our favorite shows from the past we like becuase we were kids when we watched them. Everything seemed better when you were a kid. This is part of that conservative delusion. Of course the past SEEMS better. Because when you are child everything is taken care of for you. Life is a carnival ride.)
posted by tkchrist at 3:42 PM on February 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
Americans can no longer create inventive, funny or clever TV anymore because of the restraints of advertisers (who are afraid of religious group boycotts) and because of rampant political correctness.
Srsly?
Please tell us, in that Golden Age Before Advertisers Took Over Everything, what TV shows were there that were so much more inventive, funny, or clever than what's on now?
Nthing the thank god Galactica's back. The idea that it would just...end, with no, you know, ending, was very disturbing. Of course, they might go ahead and write it that way anyway, because they're sadistic like that.
posted by rtha at 3:53 PM on February 11, 2008
Srsly?
Please tell us, in that Golden Age Before Advertisers Took Over Everything, what TV shows were there that were so much more inventive, funny, or clever than what's on now?
Nthing the thank god Galactica's back. The idea that it would just...end, with no, you know, ending, was very disturbing. Of course, they might go ahead and write it that way anyway, because they're sadistic like that.
posted by rtha at 3:53 PM on February 11, 2008
Back in the day, it was homages to the twin celebrity of Satan and Atheism, 24/7.
I used to LOVE Leave it to DeSade, what that wacky Marques would get up to every week? Oh the shenanigans!
And who can forget The Atheists Team! When that Murdock would catch the theist villain in a tautology! AWESOMENESS!
posted by tkchrist at 4:19 PM on February 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
I used to LOVE Leave it to DeSade, what that wacky Marques would get up to every week? Oh the shenanigans!
And who can forget The Atheists Team! When that Murdock would catch the theist villain in a tautology! AWESOMENESS!
posted by tkchrist at 4:19 PM on February 11, 2008 [2 favorites]
And then, the montages of explicit casual sex and drug use.
posted by cortex at 4:44 PM on February 11, 2008
posted by cortex at 4:44 PM on February 11, 2008
TV Sucks.
not as bad as your average Hollywood movie. also, between sports, the news, the occasional C-SPAN political porn marathon, American TV on average offers you better stuff than the average American movie at your local multiplex -- a movie usually produced by dishonest people trying to lure moronic teenagers into buying tickets and popcorn and oversize soda barrels.
not to mention, Fox News is quite clearly the best comedy channel ever created -- it also makes the (overrated, just like Stewart) Colbert redundant because most of the Fox people, unlike Colbert, aren't joking.
posted by matteo at 7:34 PM on February 11, 2008
not as bad as your average Hollywood movie. also, between sports, the news, the occasional C-SPAN political porn marathon, American TV on average offers you better stuff than the average American movie at your local multiplex -- a movie usually produced by dishonest people trying to lure moronic teenagers into buying tickets and popcorn and oversize soda barrels.
not to mention, Fox News is quite clearly the best comedy channel ever created -- it also makes the (overrated, just like Stewart) Colbert redundant because most of the Fox people, unlike Colbert, aren't joking.
posted by matteo at 7:34 PM on February 11, 2008
has anyone ever gotten away with a crime or walked free on any of these shows? answer: never
Wrong. I was just watching an episode of CSI last night with a skeezy cosmetic surgeon. Because the procedures that killed a couple of women were elective (and had the proper disclaimers), there was no crime to charge him with. Catherine did tell him she'd be in contact with the families and to expect a civil suit.
Also, here's a list of Law and Order episodes with the verdicts. Plenty of not guilties and mistrials, and the list is not even close to complete.
I just got in to BSG a couple of months ago (after seeing it mentioned so many times here), and now I'm sorry I didn't catch on sooner.
As for reality TV, the only one I've been able to watch consistently (and without hating myself for it) is Project Runway. I scoffed at first too, but it's pretty good.
posted by natabat at 10:44 PM on February 11, 2008
Wrong. I was just watching an episode of CSI last night with a skeezy cosmetic surgeon. Because the procedures that killed a couple of women were elective (and had the proper disclaimers), there was no crime to charge him with. Catherine did tell him she'd be in contact with the families and to expect a civil suit.
Also, here's a list of Law and Order episodes with the verdicts. Plenty of not guilties and mistrials, and the list is not even close to complete.
I just got in to BSG a couple of months ago (after seeing it mentioned so many times here), and now I'm sorry I didn't catch on sooner.
As for reality TV, the only one I've been able to watch consistently (and without hating myself for it) is Project Runway. I scoffed at first too, but it's pretty good.
posted by natabat at 10:44 PM on February 11, 2008
has anyone ever gotten away with a crime or walked free on any of these shows? answer: never
As with what natabat said, it sometimes seems like the whole point of Law and Order is to show you that in our legal system, a lot of bad folks DO get away with it.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 11:15 AM on February 12, 2008
As with what natabat said, it sometimes seems like the whole point of Law and Order is to show you that in our legal system, a lot of bad folks DO get away with it.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 11:15 AM on February 12, 2008
... I guess that's why they have that wonderfully bizarre / dissonant early Cronenberg/Howard Shore type score permeating throughout (on the flagship, regular ol' "Law and Order," not so much in the spinoffs), creating an apocalyptic sense of dread.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 11:18 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 11:18 AM on February 12, 2008
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posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:00 AM on February 11, 2008