First, I have to talk about reality tv. You know I detest the very idea of it, and never watch it other than for a few minutes to see what all the fuss is about. Doesn't take long to see that I was right and it's not worth my time. However, I have found a new genre of reality tv that I actually like. Intelligent competitions. The key word here being intelligent.
Syfy has Face Off. Now this is cool! Aspiring special effects artists compete for the prize. They create sci-fi, horror, or fantasy make-ups, according to a theme for each week. There's a little drama for those that watch reality tv for that, but not so much that it turns me off. The main attraction is how special effect make-up is created. They are judged by a panel of esteemed make-up artists. Occasionally, an actor most everyone knows joins in to give their feedback.
As Face Off wrapped up its 2nd season, a new one called Monster Man (also Syfy) debuted. I watched the 1st episode last night. Not bad. It's not a competition, it's more of a house drama along the lines of LA Ink or something like that. It's about their jobs. This eclectic group of artists work for a company that makes creatures for movies. We watch as they fret and bicker while creating the thing on a tight schedule. Again, it's the techniques that interest me. BTW, I've never watched LA Ink but I know what it's about.
I'm finding it a little easier to handle the increasingly gross stuff on tv when I see how it's done.
Along that line sorta, I decided to try out the new Fashion Star on network tv. Also not bad. I didn't have to sit through a lot of backstage drama. It was about the clothes and how high end buyers like Macy's and H&M feel about the designs. Celebrity designers Jessica Simpson and Nicole Richie gave feedback. The clothes are displayed runway style like a rock and light show. I liked it for that part more than anything, but it's interesting to see what store buyers look for.
Of course, 2 of my favorite dance competitions are included in this kind of contest. Speaking of that, Dancing With The Stars premiers next week. The cast of stars looks pretty good. Nothing that looks like controversy, and quite a few are higher than D list.
So what else? Some of my shows are on hiatus or past their season finale. I just read an article about something that had been bothering me. Why are seasons so short these days? Apparently it's more cost effective and easier for everyone involved. Instead of a network ordering say 20 episodes at once, they just order 12 or so. Either that's the entire season or the season is split with a hiatus. I don't like it, but it does explain what I was seeing. Or not seeing.
Random thing. I guess I knew this, but it didn't really sink in until I saw a ratings list. DVR is now included in ratings numbers. Yeah, they know what you are DVRing because the cable company has those stats. Cable companies probably can also get numbers just from what you are watching. The Neilson box or whatever they used to use is becoming obsolete, if it hasn't already.
I'm finding a lot to watch on network tv again. They are actually spending money for good television and I'm very happy about that.
Revenge. OMG, I really love this one and now it's done for the season.
Ringer. I worried this wouldn't be able to pull it off without revealing too much, but it is. Good job! I'm still not sure just exactly what is going on.
Person of Interest. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but it is really good. These 2 rather mysterious guys hook up to fight crime on a new level which is frightening in that the way they know about these impending crimes could really happen. Think Big Brother or Skynet.
Saturday Night Live. Yeah, I've reconnected with an iconic show that I loved when I was much younger. I quit watching for a long time. I didn't care for the cast and the skits were so lame. But now I have DVR. I can fast forward past a boring skit to get to something better. Too many of the lame parts are recurring skits and characters. Didn't like it the first time I saw it, like it even less the 4th time or the 14th time. But there is better. My favorite part is Weekend Update. Mostly I want to see the commentary on real news headlines. Weekend Update also does "guest spots" with the cast portraying characters or celebrities. That part can get real stupid and make me hit the skip button. One of the best parts is the surprise cameos, either on the news segment or in other skits. Big names appear with no advance notice. Often 2 or 3 each week. I began watching again when I saw buzz about Tina Fey's amazing impersonation of Sarah Palin, and it was dead on! I also had the DVR by then so I could watch again. It's pretty worth it.
A couple new ones:
The Firm. This is kinda hard to follow so you have to pay attention. It's based on a bestselling book about lawyers. Each episode starts with a climatic scene. Then it goes back to 2 or 3 weeks earlier to show what happened that to led up to that scene. This is the part that gets confusing as sometimes the scene is extended a little further, or overlaps another scene. There's an ongoing story along with new trials each week. Pretty good, though.
Awake. This one just started. Very strange. A cop survives a deadly car crash, but we're not sure about that. He has 2 realities that resulted from the accident. In one, his wife died but their son lives. In the other, it's the son that died and the wife survives. Each reality has a different therapist, and since he talks about the other reality, the therapists don't believe the other therapist exists either. I have to wonder if the therapists googled each other. Then he discovers he can use these different realities to solve or prevent crimes. He gets clues from one about the crime in the other. So what's happening here? Well, we don't know yet. My suspicion was that he is the only one who survived, and that's a 3rd reality that he's not aware of. I just watched the 2nd episode last night, and I think I was right. At the end of the episode, we learn his boss is in cahoots with a sinister character, and apparently they caused the accident and are using him for something.
Touch. This one premiered a while back with just the pilot episode. Now that's taking the short season concept to really annoying levels. At least they are rerunning the pilot as the season actually starts airing. I have to watch it again. A single dad's autistic son sees the future. The pilot shows how the father came to realize that. It looked interesting so we'll see where it goes.
Side note. I'm finding it so interesting how autism is being portrayed and actually quite a bit lately. We learn there are extraordinary brains under the dysfunction. The last time I saw it was on Alphas with the autistic boy with extra normal powers. Before that, there was a doctor on Grey's Anatomy and lawyers on Boston Legal and Allie McBeal.
Once Upon A Time. This has become one of my favorites. Fairy tales in a new way. These writers are talented! The premise is that the people in Fairy Tale World (I'll refer to it as FTW) were cursed and sent to the little town of Storybrooke, the real world (RW). Sort of the real world. Storybrooke seems to be mysterious itself...no one from FTW can leave the town. No one remembers who they were in FTW except a few. The mayor of Storybrooke is the evil queen in FTW and she knows who she is. Her adopted son Henry knows what's going on. It doesn't say how he knows, but he has a book that tells the stories and somehow he knows the stories are true. Emma is the main character and she's Henry's biological mother. In FTW, she's the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming who was smuggled out of FTW as a baby before the evil queen laid her curse. According to Henry, she is key to breaking the curse. Each episode flashes back to FTW to tell a character's story. The main story revolves around Emma, Mary Margret/Snow White, David/Prince Charming, Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin, and the mayor/evil queen. More fairy tales and mythologies pass through each episode. To give an idea of how the classic fairy tales are retold in startling ways, the last episode was about Ruby's FTW story. Ruby is the waitress at Storybrooke's diner/tavern. In FTW, she's Red Riding Hood. I knew that early on from her name and bright red hair extensions. In FTW, her grandmother constantly warns her to wear the red cloak to repel the Wolf that terrorizes the land. The cloak was actually made by a wizard to keep her from turning into the Wolf! This series has become DVD library-worthy!
More Syfy stuff.
Lost Girl. This is a new fantasy about the world of Fey. I love the mythology and all, and it's a bit sexy sometimes. Not too crazy about the 2 main characters but I love some others. The mains are Bo, a succubus (the sexy part), who just discovered what she is and the Fey underworld, and her human sidekick Kensie who attached herself to Bo whether she wanted her or not and now they are bonded like sisters. Why doesn't anyone force some boundaries on that annoying little shit?! I mean seriously! She knows the world she's following Bo in, why on earth would she just help herself to the stew sitting on the stove when they visit an ill Fey? The stew was not meant for human consumption (gross!), and Kensie became deathly ill because it was poisoned in a murder attempt on the ill Fey, and no one gave her hell for it. They just coddled her and worried over her and gave her warm and fuzzy love while they looked for a cure. Sheesh. The 2 characters I really like are Dyson and Trick. Dyson is a werewolf, and he's been added to my crush list. Trick is the bartender of the Fey pub hangout, and he and Dyson seem to know more about Bo than they're telling her. Not sure what he is (looks like a leprechaun) , but we just learned in the latest episode he is "The Blood King" whatever that means. Apparently he looks very good for his age.
Merlin is back on Syfy. One of my favorites. I just bought the 1st season for the library.
Eureka is coming back, and I just learned this is the final season. Bummer! This will be added to the library as well.
Good morning.
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