Tricks and Treats (#1.06)

As Halloween approaches, I can't help but be reminded of all the spooky and scary things that appear on TV this time of year.  Halloween can be fun and I do enjoy dressing up in costume.

Mr. Incredible

Although, that was in the middle of the summer.

In celebration of Halloween, here are some spooky TV shows and memorable Halloween episodes.

Shows to feed your inner demon...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

This one feels like a no-brainer.  It has vampires, slayers, witches, werewolves, and every other demon you could never even imagine.  Of course, Buffy had moments where it could be campy and a bit cheesy, but that doesn't mean it couldn't bring the scary.  Particularly, episodes like "Halloween" and "Hush."  In the former, a spell turns the residents of Sunnydale into whatever their costume is - Xander becomes a real soldier, Willow becomes a real ghost, and Buffy becomes an 18th-century maiden who is less than helpful when the bad guys attack.  For those of you who haven't seen it, "Hush" revolves around the arrival of a group of creepy demons called The Gentleman.  They steal the voices of everyone in Sunnydale and it is beyond unnerving to watch someone attempt to scream for help when not a single sound escapes their lips.

Fringe (2008)

Fringe is a lot more than just the best network drama on TV right now.  It's a crime drama that mixes science fiction with the supernatural and keeps on going.  For the Halloween season, it offers the likes of shape-shifters, a mad scientist, and unbelievably strange ways in which people get killed.  What Fringe does best, however, is emotion.  Olivia, Walter, and Peter have some of the most emotionally dynamic relationships on television.  I could continue to go on and on about this series and how much I love it, but I will leave you with the knowledge that if you are looking for a great show with some mind-boggling and goosebump-inducing situations, look no further than Fringe.

The Walking Dead (2010)

This series always has me on the edge of my seat, face contorted in fear.  It makes me want to cover my eyes while simultaneously forcing me to keep them open.  I have to watch The Walking Dead during the day, unless I want nightmares.  Every moment of each zombie encounter has me frozen until the commercial break.  The episodes, of course, contain a lot more than zombies, but, trust me, the zombies are what you will be thinking about when the show ends.  The Walking Dead is perfect for the Halloween season, especially for those searching for an unwavering case of the heebie-jeebies.

American Horror Story (2011)

I have yet to actually watch this new series - the episodes are piling up on my DVR - but I have heard that this is a new go-to for seekers of the creepy-scary-weird.  Reviews I have seen range from the good side of weird to the bad, but I think everyone agrees that this new series is strange in its own right and definitely has a place among the spooky.  I'll have to let you know what I think once I finally get around to watching it.

And for those of you who would prefer more laughs than screams this year, here are some of my favorite Halloween episodes of comedies...

The Big Bang Theory "The Middle Earth Paradigm"

Penny throws a Halloween party and Leonard wants to go to help ingratiate himself into her social circle.  The rest of the gang comes along so that they can dress in costume.  At first, they all show up dressed as The Flash.  Not wanting to match, they change into new costumes - Leonard as Frodo, Raj as Thor, Howard as Robin Hood, and Sheldon as the Doppler Effect (yes, you read that correctly).

Freaks and Geeks "Tricks and Treats"

Nothing goes as expected on this Halloween.  Lindsay wants to hang out with her new friends, but may not be totally okay with their choice of activity.  Sam thinks he's too old to go trick-or-treating, but then changes his mind.  And Jean (Mrs. Weir, to you) just wants her kids to stay kids a little longer.  This comedy also has a lot of heart, but the Halloween spirit is definitely still present.  Also, Bill dresses up as the Bionic Woman.

The Office "Halloween" 

Michael is forced to fire someone by the company, which is not exactly conducive to a fun office Halloween party.  There are fun costumes galore and in this season two episode, The Office humor we all know and love is in high supply.

How I Met Your Mother "Slutty Pumpkin"

Kids, in the fall of 2005, Ted Mosby attempted yet again to re-connect with the Slutty Pumpkin.  Years earlier, Ted had felt a connection with a Halloween party-goer known only as the Slutty Pumpkin.  Here, he tries to find her at the same party he had attended before, in the same "hanging chad" costume he had worn before.  Barney toys with Ted's mind, trying to break his obsession with the Slutty Pumpkin.  Lilly and Marshall put their effort into winning a costume contest as they double-date with Robin and her new boyfriend.  This episode is packed with costumes.  Just recently, the creators of HIMYM announced that the Slutty Pumpkin would return, played by Katie Holmes.

Community "Epidemiology"

This episode is hilarious.  Doing what Community does best - genre parodies - this episode walks the line of any zombie film, only in this case, the Dean has poisoned everyone with toxic Army-surplus meat.  One by one, the students at Greendale's Halloween party turn into flesh-hungry monsters, attacking each other without pause.  And it's all set to the Dean's playlist of what seems to be primarily ABBA songs.


Happy Halloween, everyone!  It's time for me to schedule my annual viewing of Hocus, Pocus.  Do you have any film or TV-watching traditions?  Maybe a favorite Halloween-themed show or episode?  Let me know below.

Until next time, I'll leave you with this...

Let Bartlet Be Bartlet (#1.05)

Over the previous weeks, between all my other shows, I have found time to watch the first season of The West Wing.

This wasn't the first time I'd seen this series.  I had seen a bunch of random episodes throughout the years, but it wasn't all that fresh in my mind and I never got a chance to pay specific attention to the story lines.  Plus I was pretty young when The West Wing started in 1999, so I don't think I really understood it.

As I watched it this time, I definitely had a much better understanding of the conversations, issues, and inner workings of the West Wing of the White House.  Myself, I have never been very interested in politics.  I rarely have opinions on the topics that come up in debates and most of the time I don't get a lot of the political sketches on Saturday Night Live.  This doesn't mean I can't understand them, just that I don't pay enough attention to political news to understand the more specific and topical jokes.  Don't worry, though.  I got all the Sarah Palin stuff from 2008.

Anyway, my point is that even though I am not a political mastermind, I was still able to truly enjoy The West Wing.  In fact, one of the reasons I like it so much is that it makes me think about these issues and because the characters debate about them, I can get a clear picture of both sides.  Then I can make the decision of where I stand.  Yes, the issues in season one were from 1999-2000, but that doesn't make them completely irrelevant today.  For example, the episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" involves a discussion between White House staff members, military officers, and congressmen about the US Military policy of "Don't ask, don't tell."  In the real world, this policy was just repealed less than a month ago (for more information).  I frequently find myself watching this show and wondering what I would do if I were in the shoes of one of these characters.

Additionally, The West Wing doesn't come across as preachy or pushy of any specific ideals.  President Bartlet is a Democrat and many of the characters share the same values that are commonly associated with that party, but in most cases any issue brought up is argued equally on both sides.  There are definitely cases where one side of an issue is painted in a better light, but always can the audience make up his or her own mind.

On the production side, the writing is great.  Although, what else would you expect from Aaron Sorkin?  The pace is fast and there is plenty of his walk-and-talk dialogue.  Frequently, I find myself unsure of what exactly is going on, but I always find my way back.  Even though I may not initially understand an issue, I never get completely lost.  If one character mentions it briefly, another will explain it a little bit better.  It walks that fine line between being too vague and treating the audience like an idiot.  And for a show about a very serious topic, there is also quite a bit of humor and silliness.

CJ Cregg (Allison Janney) doing "The Jackal": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7H_L5cYkg8

And the acting is beautiful.  The main cast for season one includes Dulé Hill, Allison Janney, Rob Lowe, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, and Martin Sheen.  They are all fantastic and have the Emmy nominations and wins to prove it.  But what I really enjoy are all the random guest stars from other shows that pop up from time to time.

A Few Examples

Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation)

Sam Lloyd (Scrubs)

Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)

Harry Groener (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Liza Weil (Gilmore Girls)

Jorja Fox (CSI)

Lisa Edelstein (House)
Stockard Channing
Marlee Matlin

Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) meets Joey Lucas (Marlee Matlin): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pStRYD1DEKM

I'm sure many of you have seen The West Wing before.  Feel free to agree and disagree as you like.  I'm only four episodes into the second season, so perhaps my opinion will change as I move forward through the next 128 episodes.  But for now, I like what I am seeing.  I urge you to tell me your thoughts in the comments below.  I think the show, which often emphasizes the importance of debate in a Democracy, would greatly appreciate it.

What's My Age, Again? (#1.04)

Remember how I promised to talk about music?

Last night, I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see My Chemical Romance and Blink-182.  It was a great show, although it did seem a bit short.

During the Blink part of the show, they played their song "What's My Age, Again?" and Renée leaned over and said, "That line always reminds me of you."

The line goes:

"Nobody likes you when you're 23
And are still more amused by TV shows"

My response was another lyric from the song:

"I never want to act my age"

But still, the line does describe me very well.  Twenty-three years old and I am definitely still more amused by TV shows.  And I really don't ever want to act my age.  Deal with it!

Back to the music, though, I also went to see Jimmy Eat World at the Wiltern a little over a week ago for the 10th anniversary show for their album Bleed American.

They played every song from Bleed American:

1. Bleed American

2. A Praise Chorus

3. The Middle

4. Your House

5. Sweetness

6. Hear You Me

7. If You Don't, Don't

8. Get It Faster

9. Cautioners

10. The Authority Song

11. My Sundown

And it was awesome.  They also played a ton of their other songs after a quick break.  For my fourth time seeing them live, Jimmy Eat World never disappoints.

I love going to concerts and try to go as much as possible, especially in a place like LA where there are plenty of shows to see.  It can get expensive, though, so sometimes I have to limit myself to how much I really want to see a particular band or artist.

Of course, I have a spreadsheet detailing all the shows I have been to - I am my father's daughter.*  It starts back at my first concert on July 22, 1998 at Polaris Amphitheater in Columbus, Ohio to see the Spice Girls and ends with last night's show at the Hollywood Bowl.  There are over a hundred artists in between, although some of those are repeats and a bunch all have shows in common (like all the bands I saw at Coachella).  Still, I love music and most of the time, it's much better when it's live.

Anyway, this post was pretty pointless, except to show you all that I do have interests outside of television, even when that separate interest just serves to remind me (and my friends) of my first love.

At some point, I plan to get really detailed on how important music is for television and film.  I took a couple of classes on this in college and find that the subject really interests me.  The way music is used in shaping a scene is one of my more specific passions and I plan to speak on the subject heavily.  However, that day is not today and so I will leave you with only this question: What is the best concert you have ever attended?

* If you don't know my Dad, he is notoriously known for his spreadsheets.

Development Arrested (#1.03)

This post will be a quick one.  I am sure those of you that know me are expecting my thoughts on a very exciting piece of news that came out yesterday.  First, that story:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/02/arrested-development-back-new-episodes-movie_n_991404.html

Back?  Cool.

(For those of you who did not read it, it was confirmed yesterday that Arrested Development will be returning for 10 new episodes and a movie!)

My first thought is, obviously, that this is the best news I have had in a long time.  Arrested Development is the best show ever created and more of it would be awesome/fantastic/extraordinary/incredible.  Of course, there is that slight worry in the back of my head that it could disappoint, but even bad AD is better than 95% of other television.  Plus, the entire cast is back and under Mitch Hurwitz's guidance, I think we will definitely be safe.

Actually, Paige and I were so pumped that we popped open a bottle of sparkling grape juice to celebrate.

Anyway, I will leave you with some fun Arrested Development videos.  Enjoy!

P.S.  I know you were expecting this post to be loaded with AD quotes and references.  I promise to put extra in later.  And this forces you all to put some in the comments :)

The One with the September Premiere Reviews (#1.02)

Welcome!  Welcome to Illyria, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome... to Illyria.  I just wanted to say, “welcome.”

As we all know, September is a wonderful month for finding new TV and returning to old favorites.  Our DVRs are forced to awake from their summer slumber (although mine got only a short cat-nap).  It can be confusing which new shows are going to be worth your time and which ones will be on their way out as soon as they begin.


Here are my thoughts on a September full of premieres - both new and returning...

**These opinions refer only to the premiere episode of the season/series.**

Best Returning Comedy Premiere

TIE

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia “Frank’s Pretty Woman"

Raising Hope “Prodigy”

Both of these shows came back with a fury.  If you don’t watch either of these shows, it’s time for you to start!  Coming into its seventh season, Sunny is still firing on all cylinders.  In the premiere, the Gang attempts a Pretty Woman-style makeover for the prostitute Frank (Danny DeVito) insists he’s marrying.  This is a great episode to start with if you haven’t seen the show and want to know what it’s all about.


          Sample quote: "She's been my number one girl for a while but she's still
          plowing other dudes. Tiger Woods has been calling her lately. I gotta lock
          her down." - Frank 


Raising Hope, on the other hand, has found its beat (or off-beat?) as it begins its second season.  “Prodigy” focuses on the tremendous musical talent Jimmy (Lucas Neff) possessed as a kid, how he lost it, and the many attempts the family makes to get it back.  My favorite part was this line, where Burt (Garret Dillahunt) remembers the day Jimmy lost his talent:

"I’ll never forget that day: September 11, 2001, the day I threw that putter." - Burt

Too soon?  I wasn't sure, but it definitely made me laugh.  This entire episode was packed with hilarity, plus the babies that play Hope are crazy adorable.  And for the record, Martha Plimpton deserved every bit of that Emmy nomination and more.

Best Returning Drama Premiere

Fringe "Neither Here Nor There"

Why are you not watching this show?!  If you are a fan at all of science fiction, the supernatural, or simply really, really good television, you need to stop what you are doing and watch Fringe!  In this season's premiere, we get a glimpse of how things are now that Peter (Joshua Jackson) never existed.  It's clear that Olivia (Anna Torv) and Walter (John Noble) are not quite complete without him, but Agent Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel) does his best to fill in the gap.  I don't want to get started about how badly this show was snubbed by the Emmys, so I'll just say that season 4 is off to a fantastic start.

Runner Up

Hawaii Five-O "Ha'i'ole"

The second season premiere had to come back from a season finale with too many cliff-hangers to count.  And they did it the right way.  Explaining and solving nearly all of the open-ended mysteries  allowed the audience to find closure, as well as push things back into the regular rhythm.  They didn't explain everything, though.  Kono (Grace Park) is still very much under investigation.  John Locke, er, Terry O'Quinn fits in nicely with the rest of the cast and the return of Larisa Oleynik (yes, Alex Mack fans) is welcome, even when the twist with her character at the end may not be.  I look forward to another season of what is likely to be the best procedural currently on TV, a category I am not usually too fond of.

Most Lackluster Return

Glee "The Purple Piano Project"

Zzzzzz.  Seriously, Glee, I used to love you dearly, but now I can barely keep my eyes open while you are on.  Nothing seems to ever change.  Every week is the same story of the lovable misfits who can't accept themselves for who they are, while Sue (Jane Lynch) and Will (Matthew Morrison) rage war against each other just because they can.  I'm not saying this never worked, because it did once upon a time, but it does not work every week.  Back when there was character development and plot movement, this show was fun and entertaining.  But now, it has gotten stale and the few changes that occurred in this premiere - Quinn is suddenly a skank and Blaine transferred schools! - happened too quickly and with little explanation.  I'm still holding out hope that things will get better, but this premiere was, in a made-up word, yawnful.

**Honorable Mention goes to Desperate Housewives.  I've been ready for it to end for a while, so it makes me happy knowing that this is the last season.  It will always have a special place in my heart, but these days, I feel like the Muppet hecklers when I watch it.

Best New Comedy Pilot

Suburgatory

This one surprised me.  I expected to be much more infatuated with Up All Night and New Girl than Suburgatory, but then I glimpsed my future...

Suburgatory was funny and it did a great job of setting up the premise - a NYC teen and her dad move to the suburbs where the people are plastic - without being too awkward.  The main character, Tessa (Jane Levy), is highly sarcastic and rebels against her new situation, but she isn't completely dismissive of her new neighbors - particularly when Cheryl Hines' Dallas gives her a gift she didn't know she wanted.  This show might not be for everyone, but it certainly has the potential to be a very funny addition to ABC's Wednesday night comedy lineup.

Best New Drama Pilot

Person of Interest

Person of Interest interested me mostly because it came from J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan.  It also starred Michael Emerson (Ben Linus from Lost).  The story revolves around Emerson's Finch, a rich and tech-savvy man who helped the government build post-9/11 surveillance equipment that can accurately determine who will be involved with a future crime.  The government took the part that locates acts of terrorism and Finch was left to hack into the part that deals with regular murders (regular?).  He enlists the help of ex-military, but current badass Reese (Jim Caviezel).  The pilot was full of action when it came to preventing whatever crime involved Diane Hanson (Natalie Zea) and it was a fun ride.  The plot twists were slightly less than original (the cops are crooked!), yet I still found myself rooting for Reese and Finch to prevail in their noble quest.  I look forward to how this series will progress and hope that it will continue to surprise and excite.

Most Surprising New Show (in a GOOD way)

Hart of Dixie

I did not plan on watching this show at all, but I went to a preview event at the Paley Center for Media and got a sneak peek of the pilot.  It is now on my DVR season pass.  I'm not saying that this is a perfect show, but it was fun and very adorable.  Rachel Bilson stars in what I once saw described as The OC meets Sweet Home Alabama with a hint of Gilmore Girls (that article here).  I think this is a pretty accurate summary, although I feel compelled to mention that the main character, Zoe Hart (Bilson), is a doctor and, therefore, medical things are a big part of the story.  Of course parts of it are silly, but it's funny, light, and full of heart (I tried to stay away from the pun, but it beckoned) which is a very welcome combination in my life.

Most Surprising New Show (in a BAD way)

Free Agents

My expectations for this series were not unusually high.  Still, the pilot fell very short.  I'm not sure what it is that doesn't quite work.  It could be that Dan (Mo Mandel) feels like a cheap imitation of Scott Caan.  Or that when I see Gregg (Al Madrigal) all I can think about is a grown up Neal Schweiber (Samm Levine in Freaks and Geeks).

I think Paige might have hit the nail on the head when she said that Hank Azaria doesn't fit in the role of Alex.  In general, I am a fan of Mr. Azaria, but I think I agree.  There is something very odd about him in this role (maybe it's his lack of an accent?).  Anyway, Kathryn Hahn is still good as Helen, a woman who has lost her fiancé and is now being pursued romantically by her recently divorced co-worker Alex (Azaria).  Not a terrible premise, although it feels rather limited.  Overall, I think we're better off skipping this one.

Most Disappointing New Show

Ringer

I had really high hopes for this one, which is probably why I was so disappointed.  It's not a bad show, but the production quality is much lower than anything else I have seen lately and I think that took me out of it a little (the boat scene in particular, for those of you who have seen it).  I saw this pilot, like Hart of Dixie, at the Paley Center for Media preview event.  I was really looking forward to it - how could I not?  The return of Sarah Michelle Gellar to TV plus Nestor Carbonell (yes, another guy from Lost)?  Sounded like a dream come true, especially with its trippy and tangly story lines.  Bridget and Siobhan (pronounced Shavon) are twins, Siobhan kills herself (or does she?), Bridget is on the run and pretends to be Siobhan, affairs, the FBI, gang members, Narcotics Anonymous, and an unexpected pregnancy - this plot is seriously complicated.  I haven't given up on it yet.  There is still plenty of potential for an interesting series, but after watching the pilot, I was definitely disappointed. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

As always, there are some shows that start strong and fizzle, just as there are others that begin so-so and become great.  At the time of posting this, I have only quit watching Free Agents - all others will continue to get the chance to prove themselves, one way or another.  There are also about seven series that don't premiere (with a pilot or a season premiere) until October that I have not had a chance to see yet.

Feel free to agree or disagree.  I very much look forward to how you feel about all the new TV in September!

Until next time, have a great apple and sandwich*!

*Another quote from David Cross' character in She's the Man.

Pilot (#1.01)

Welcome to my inaugural blog post!  I have been talking about this for months and it felt like time to stop talking and start doing.  It has taken me too long to decide what the first post would be about.  Of course, I knew from the beginning that it would be primarily about television.  I rarely have anything else to speak about, so it seemed only logical.  But where should I begin?

          "Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to start."

- Maria Von Trapp (Julie Andrews), The Sound of Music

Like any pilot episode, this blog may be a little awkward at first, but hopefully it will entice you to come back for more.

          Mr. Eko: Hello. I have something I think you should see. If you don't

          mind, I will begin at the beginning. Long before Christ, the king of

          Judah was a man named Josiah.

          John Locke: Boy, when you say beginning, you mean beginning.

- LOST: What Kate Did (#2.09)

Oh, and you should definitely be aware of random quoting like that.  That's how they pop into my head - that's how they'll pop into my blog.

I am a 2010 graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and my dream job (a.k.a. what I want to do when I grow up) is to create and run my own TV show.  My natural inclination is toward comedy, but I'm not ruling anything out.

Hilarious, right?

Currently, I work at a law firm, but write TV stuff (spec scripts, a pilot) in my spare time as much as possible.  This is a great creative outlet - since my job requires zero creativity - but also serves as a way for me to continue to improve my skills as a writer.  How do you get to the Emmys?  Practice.  (Because you can't get anywhere without practice.)

My reference is at 2:25 - 3:15, but watch the whole video, if you have time.

The following are some fun (and possibly disturbing) facts about my relationship with TV:

1. I have seen 95 different scripted series in their entirety, and parts of many more.  This number is always growing.  Yes, I have a spreadsheet.
2. This fall (September and October only), I have 33 shows set to DVR.
3. I am not a fan of reality TV and rarely reference or talk about it, except the clips I see on The Soup.
4. I have seen my favorite series, Arrested Development, more than 30 times (all 53 episodes).  My biggest regret in life is not keeping an exact count.
5. I own at least 47 TV seasons on DVD.

If you are still with me at this point, you have accepted (or chosen to ignore) my crazy.  Hopefully, this legitimizes me as a trusted source for television information and opinions and does not entice you to have me committed.  Either way, I am grateful you are still reading (although, please don't have me committed).

          "I'm not insane! My mother had me tested!"

- Sheldon (Jim Parsons), The Big Bang Theory

As I'm sure you can tell, television is my life.  I know there are some of you out there who would call my obsession a giant waste of time (Waste of a stamp?!*).  Well, screw you!  Just kidding :)  You are, of course, entitled to that opinion and I would certainly encourage you to spend your time in whatever way you see fit.  Although, the fact that you have made it this far in the post means you care, at least a little, about television and/or me.  "Thanks."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tIacBHehEc#t=5m49s

Personally, television is my soul mate.  It makes me enormously happy and it is the only thing that can make me weep like a little baby.  And it's not like TV is the only thing I do.  I still hold a steady job, exercise pretty regularly, and spend plenty of time outside of my living room.

My hope is that we can all meet somewhere in the middle.  Somewhere between obsession and time-waster, we can come together for a healthy dose of hobby, escapism, and relaxation.  That's what I want this blog to be about.  Television is exciting.  It's funny, scary, sad, uplifting, and imaginative all at once.

I promise to also talk about movies, music, books, and other things happening in my life, but I think it's pretty obvious that my true passion will shine through.

OK.  I think the introduction is complete.  Now we can move forward with some actual content.  I mean next time.  Don't expect that right now.

As a first post, how does it fare?  Was I right about the awkward?

        Frank: I've been wanting to talk to you about that, but it's a little awkward.

        Tobias: Oh, well, I've been wanting to have my own awkward talk as well.

- Arrested Development: Mr. F (#3.05)

I look forward to your comments.  Until next time...


*If you didn't know this quote it's from the hilarious, but little-known series Party Down.