I was so ready to get all indignant on behalf of "The Wire" until I bothered to actually read a little. But "Dexter" was weak this year, and I'd move the other stuff up a bit, drop "True Blood" to 10th, and insert "Sons of Anarchy" into the 6-8 range.
Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong...
I'm utterly baffled by the adoration for True Blood. What sort of hellish pit must Connecticut be for that show to qualify as "fun" for Mr. Caitlin? That's not just Wire sour grapes talking.
P.S. Where do I send Ken Tucker his cookie for this? "'The second season was mighty pleased with itself, which accounts for its sometimes glacial pace,' kvetched Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly. 'You could almost hear creator Matthew Weiner muttering behind the camera, 'Wait, wait, are you sure that ashtray weighs 2.5 pounds? Because if it doesn't, I'm going to plunge it into the set designer's skull.' But in the end, and for all the ostentation of quoting from New York School poetry, this saga of empty suits filled our living rooms with vibrant life.' "
True Blood is excellent. Obviously not everyones cup of tea, but its well made and extremely well acted (minus paquin most of the time). The characters were all well developed by the end of the season and l can't wait to see where its all going. I like SoA (im at ep 9 now), but im finding it pretty straightforward so far. I expect it to get better in the last few eps based on what ive heard though. And the wire isnt on the list because it aired outside the time period under consideration.
It must be because i like Jay Mohr, but i think Gary Unmarried is actually a pretty funny standard sitcom. Good for a few really good laughs an episode and Mohr and the woman who plays his wife (and was good on Californication) play well off each other. I think it'd do well behind Two and a Half Men if they wanted to give it a shot there.
I'm originally from Connecticut and I think the first season of 'True Blood' was a lot of fun as well.
Maybe it's something in the groundwater?
(As I watched the series, I kept thinking a vampire series should be set in some Connecticut suburb. Why does it have to be either big cities or Cajun country that vampires call home?)
I don't get why the critics hate Crusoe so much? I really like it, have watched every episode. (And I'm right up there on the Mad Men/Wire/etc bandwagon.) It's gorgeous, fun escapism. The tone, to me, is a lot like BBCA's Robin Hood. Light, fun, pretty, period style fantasy. Why all the hate?
True Blood is excellent. Obviously not everyones cup of tea, but its well made and extremely well acted (minus paquin most of the time).
The problem for me is, simply, Paquin. I can't stand to watch her weird grimaces and or listen to her awkward enunciation. (Not to mention her atrocious bleach job, but I would let that ride as a characterization.) I made it through 3 episodes and gave up, with some reluctance, because I really enjoyed the rest of the show. Any chance she'll come down with "mercury poisoning" and be replaced?
As for "According to Jim," I am still dumbfounded that it still exists. I've never met anyone who watched that show (and I don't think it falls into the guilty-pleasure-won't-admit-to-watching category, like "Two and a Half Men.")
I haven't watched Crusoe yet, but Mr. Shara Says really likes it. I'll get around to it at some point.
I'm fine with both lists, except that I would have much rather seen Sons of Anarchy on the Best List over True Blood (or, really, over anything except Mad Men). It totally deserves to be on a Best List, and I have no idea why its not getting as much critical attention as it deserves. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, so I put off getting into it until the season was almost over. But as soon as I watched the first couple episodes, I was absolutely hooked.
I love True Blood - I met Charlaine Harris last night i have some cool video and phots going up on my blog http://lovingtruebloodindallas.blogspot.com/
Alan,
ReplyDeleteDo you have a link to the poll from the first half of 2008?
Not off-hand, no.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that "HIMYM" isn't in the top 10. Is that because this season has been up-and-down, or because not enough critics are watching it?
ReplyDeleteI was so ready to get all indignant on behalf of "The Wire" until I bothered to actually read a little. But "Dexter" was weak this year, and I'd move the other stuff up a bit, drop "True Blood" to 10th, and insert "Sons of Anarchy" into the 6-8 range.
ReplyDeleteOf course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong...
I'm utterly baffled by the adoration for True Blood. What sort of hellish pit must Connecticut be for that show to qualify as "fun" for Mr. Caitlin? That's not just Wire sour grapes talking.
ReplyDeleteTRUE BLOOD IS NOT A GOOD SHOW.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Where do I send Ken Tucker his cookie for this? "'The second season was mighty pleased with itself, which accounts for its sometimes glacial pace,' kvetched Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly. 'You could almost hear creator Matthew Weiner muttering behind the camera, 'Wait, wait, are you sure that ashtray weighs 2.5 pounds? Because if it doesn't, I'm going to plunge it into the set designer's skull.' But in the end, and for all the ostentation of quoting from New York School poetry, this saga of empty suits filled our living rooms with vibrant life.' "
ReplyDeleteIt baffles me that Kath & Kim, on the Worst list, has been given a full-season order. Ben Silverman truly does hate us.
ReplyDeleteWhy does everyone think that season 4 of HIMYM has just been okay? I think it's been outstanding, and better than season 3 so far.
True Blood is excellent. Obviously not everyones cup of tea, but its well made and extremely well acted (minus paquin most of the time). The characters were all well developed by the end of the season and l can't wait to see where its all going.
ReplyDeleteI like SoA (im at ep 9 now), but im finding it pretty straightforward so far. I expect it to get better in the last few eps based on what ive heard though.
And the wire isnt on the list because it aired outside the time period under consideration.
It must be because i like Jay Mohr, but i think Gary Unmarried is actually a pretty funny standard sitcom. Good for a few really good laughs an episode and Mohr and the woman who plays his wife (and was good on Californication) play well off each other. I think it'd do well behind Two and a Half Men if they wanted to give it a shot there.
ReplyDeleteOnly show i watch in the bottom ten though!
I'm originally from Connecticut and I think the first season of 'True Blood' was a lot of fun as well.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's something in the groundwater?
(As I watched the series, I kept thinking a vampire series should be set in some Connecticut suburb. Why does it have to be either big cities or Cajun country that vampires call home?)
For those interested, here's the poll for the first half of the year.
ReplyDeleteTV Week should put the current lists into graphical chart format like the summer poll Andrew linked to. Shiny!
ReplyDeleteNBC's fall scripted lineup is even sadder when you compare it to last fall's: Chuck, Life, and Journeyman.*
*ok, and Bionic Woman. But still.
Why does it have to be either big cities or Cajun country that vampires call home?
ReplyDeleteSunnydale and Collinsport, Maine are in Cajun Country? (and L.A. I guess)
I don't get why the critics hate Crusoe so much? I really like it, have watched every episode. (And I'm right up there on the Mad Men/Wire/etc bandwagon.) It's gorgeous, fun escapism. The tone, to me, is a lot like BBCA's Robin Hood. Light, fun, pretty, period style fantasy. Why all the hate?
ReplyDeleteTrue Blood is excellent. Obviously not everyones cup of tea, but its well made and extremely well acted (minus paquin most of the time).
ReplyDeleteThe problem for me is, simply, Paquin. I can't stand to watch her weird grimaces and or listen to her awkward enunciation. (Not to mention her atrocious bleach job, but I would let that ride as a characterization.) I made it through 3 episodes and gave up, with some reluctance, because I really enjoyed the rest of the show. Any chance she'll come down with "mercury poisoning" and be replaced?
As for "According to Jim," I am still dumbfounded that it still exists. I've never met anyone who watched that show (and I don't think it falls into the guilty-pleasure-won't-admit-to-watching category, like "Two and a Half Men.")
I live in CT and I really liked True Blood. Huh, I think Kelly may be on to something here.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched Crusoe yet, but Mr. Shara Says really likes it. I'll get around to it at some point.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine with both lists, except that I would have much rather seen Sons of Anarchy on the Best List over True Blood (or, really, over anything except Mad Men). It totally deserves to be on a Best List, and I have no idea why its not getting as much critical attention as it deserves. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did, so I put off getting into it until the season was almost over. But as soon as I watched the first couple episodes, I was absolutely hooked.
I love True Blood - I met Charlaine Harris last night
ReplyDeletei have some cool video and phots going up on my blog
http://lovingtruebloodindallas.blogspot.com/
For those looking for the lists in chart format, you can find that here: http://www.tvweek.com/critics-winter-2008/index.php
ReplyDeleteCool! the Big Bang Theory is #11 on the best list. Good to see it is getting some love. This has become my favorite comedy.
ReplyDelete