Grey’s Anatomy Gaining Speed

The writers finally started eating their wheaties again and it showed. The show’s idiosyncratic parallel plotlines with underlining themes was back in this episode. Although Grey’s did not invent this method of having a narrator who ties each plot line together, they did do it eloquently and with their own twist. For instance, Carrie Bradshaw did this in Sex and the City long before Meredith came to Seatle Grace Hospital. The reason it works in Grey’s anatomy is because of the eclectic cast. No one really cares about Meredith all that much. This is one reason why this episode was better than recent ones with bad ratings. The writers finally stopped focusing on Meredith so much. The show may be named after her, but she’s no Carrie Bradshaw. The writers were smart to focus on other characters this time.

Furthermore, viewers weren’t so much mad that the show was focusing on Meredith during the “limbo” episodes but because of the content, lengthiness, and the shift in style of the episodes. No one wants to watch Meredith die and come back to life. Yes, Grey’s is a Medical drama, but viewers tune in for the social drama. It is important, just like any other show, to proliferate other story lines through the characters. However, the thing that sets Grey’s apart from other medical dramas is the social drama. In other words, viewers of Grey’s are more likely to go to the bathroom during the action scene than the sex scene between Meredith and McDreamy. Every other aspect of the show should remain secondary to the social drama and they shouldn’t experiment so much. I’m glad that the writers finally realized this with last weeks episode because after all.. if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

They did, however, fix the the show making it more like the “old Greys.” The rhythm, characters, and tone were the same again. The main focus was on Izzy and George which are characters that audiences usually respond well to. Callie is a character that people either love or hate, but I think most people do not see her and George’s relationship being realistic. So, I think viewers probably like it that their marriage is not working. At first when George and Izzy got together it seemed absurd, but after seeing “Time After Time” it was aparent that maybe there are true feelings there. I think this was a bold move for Greys to do. It seems too easy to set up two friends and people probably want to see more characters develope. However, the Izzy and George thing actually seems real. I could see them having a “Chandler and Monica” relationship.

I am finally happy again with the way the show is going, but only with one episode. If the writers continue to keep the same style and stick with the juicy plotlines, they should end up being marathon runners. So, while Greys is gaining speed..I just hope that they can continue to do that time after time.

“F and C, Double Time!”

“Front and Center, double time!” as Michael Scott said in last night’s episode… but really, let’s get down to business, last night’s episode “Product Recall” as well as the episode from last Thursday are a definite departure from what the writers and directors have been doing so far this season. In the past two episodes we have had little to no Jim and Pam interaction, and certainly no sexual tension of late; however, the writers are getting back to their roots. In season two and much of season three the inter-office drama has revolved around Jim and Pam and Michael and Jan, but the writers are clearly making an effort to appease the original Office fans who fell hard for the show in its’ first season, where it was more about the minute to minute jokes than about the relationships.
From the opening scene where Jim dresses up as Dwight to the end were the reverse happens, us avid Office watchers were taken back to the beginning—and I loved every minute! While the writers have remained the same, they have been bringing in guest directors such as JJ Abrams, who have showcased the actors’ abilities and flair for the comedic much more than last season. One of the best themes that has run throughout the show from the beginning is the fact that Michael Scott believes that not only is Dunder-Mifflin the most important company on the earth, but that he is integral to its’ success. In “Product Recall” one of the workers at the paper mill decides to put an obscene ‘water mark’ involving two cartoon characters of the reams of paper which have gone out to business all over Pennsylvania, Michael decides to hold a press conference in the Scranton office in an attempt to apologize, where one client and a Scranton journalist are the only audience. The client refuses to accept the apology, just as Michael refuses to accept fault in the matter and in one of the funnier quotes of the evening tells her that he’s calling the “ungrateful Biiatch hotline!”.
Additionally, it is the small, subtle jokes that make The Office so successful, as I have said over and over again. It is also, the ridiculous actions that take place within the office that are just as hilarious, such as Michael making an “apology video” (of which he’s made many) and explaining that everyone is trying to make him the “ascape goat”. Lastly, we watch as Andy, fresh out of anger management, learns that he has been dating a girl in high school, which I pray that the writers will continue through the next episode. While this episode will most likely have nothing to do with the next, I am grateful that the writers are sticking with what made the show work in the first place. Such humor is what we want, so as Andy would say, “beer me” another great episode.

The Fate of Studio 60

     Will there be a “no show within a show?” That is the 2.5 million dollar question. Well, at least that is a ballpark figure of what each episode cost to produce.

     Actually, I don’t think NBC should be considering if S60 should come back. They should be more concerned about how they could make it a different and better show. But I highly doubt that would be the case.

     For one thing, NBC is giving 30 Rock (another “show within a show”) higher bids. And it’s not because they are soaring higher in the ratings than S60. It might be that 30 Rock is cheaper to produce and the show is owned by NBC (S60 is owned by Warner). Please view the link below for a more thorough comparison:

http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/04/05/heres-why-30-rock-was-renewed-and-studio-60-wont-be/

     The other night I was engaged in a S60 discussion with several friends. We were construing our own possibilities for S60’s fate. I suggested that Sorkin take it to HBO or Showtime. It might not be a bad idea to add a different element to the show: the not suitable for TV, but perfect for HBO.

     One of my girlfriends loved the idea of seeing Bradley Whitford naked. I don’t know about that, but sex and the F word definitely helped the success of shows like Sex in the City and Sopranos. It might be interesting to see television execs cussing out the lawyers, board members and other executives (we know it happens).

     Another consideration is to put the “show within a show” back into the show. The episodes, Nevada Day: Part 1 and 2, are a great illustration of this concept. John Goodman has a guest role in these episodes. He plays a right-wing Christian judge, who is mightily upset about the show’s sketch “Crazy Christian.”

     These episodes expose many interesting dynamics “within and behind” a show like S60, which resembles a show like SNL. We find out what happens when celebrities’ words are misconstrued like Harriet’s. She was cited in an interview that she is anti-homosexuality, yet she feels her statements were misrepresented. Harriet and Tom are out having dinner when a couple of gay boys approach Harriet and become confrontational. Tom defends Harriet and ends up in jail in Nevada.

     The judge in Nevada has a personnel vendetta with S60 and decides to show no mercy, since they have offended the entire Christian population. This was a great display of Hollywood’s “inner drama.” I loved the play out of this episode: an angry Christian judge, a devout Christian actress on a liberal comedy sketch show, an agnostic boss who is in love with the Christina actress, the high-powered executive that believes money can buy everything.

     S60 had its great episodes and its bad ones, but doesn’t every show go through that? I still believe that S60 has possibilities for a comeback. They just need to figure out what to comeback as.

     My friend Jason suggested the best possible scenario for S60. He proposes that NBS network gets into serious financial trouble and is sold to Mr. Macau, the Japanese businessman. Mr. Macau fires everyone on the board and has Jack Rudolph run the network. Mr. Macau becomes enamored with Jordan and has Jack replaced by her. That could be interesting.

     My “anti-Sorkin” friend, Elizabeth recommends that Sorkin sell the show and relinquish all writing rights. Elizabeth thinks S60’s success can only come without Sorkin. I think  Sorkin just needs to learn to be a team player.

     I am hoping that S60 will find a new place. I loved the show and the writing. My favorite dialogue was when Jordan said, “My hormones are like a Los Alamos experiment.” And my favorite episode was the “Christmas Show.” Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI2LdpW7g5U

So what was you favorite S60 episode? And do you think they should come back? If so what would you do different?

All Things Unoriginal

After admitting my family background, I must admit, something else, I don’t watch a lot of TV because I am not a very big fan of serial style narratives. Watching Star Trek (not DS9) was the closest to serial, and even Voyager can be watched out of order, the only real thing that changes episode to episode is how many tens of light years they have advanced in there hopeful but equally bleak 70,000 light year journey. However I have started to enjoy the serial of “The Riches,” maybe I can follow because they have a minute and a half long recap that recaps the season so far, however, this isn’t too hard because they are only on episode seven. Nor do I watch a lot of reality TV either; I prefer the good old comedy sitcom, sit down, and watch 30 minutes of TV and your done.

So I have read a few reviews about “The Riches” and I keep hearing that this show is unoriginal. I have no frame of reference, but maybe it is…. SO WHAT?! There’s not a lot of original and new stuff on TV, and I don’t need a CTV degree to see that! Three “CSIs,” five “Law and Orders,” five “Star Treks” and countless other direct spin-offs; those aren’t original either, but for the most part seem to be doing quite well in the case of “CSI.” One thing learned in TV class is there is very little new stuff, almost everything is based off of something else that came before it, especially now that there are so many channels and only so many hours a day, do the math, I have 100+ channels, others have more, every day that passes is 100 days of TV lineup. Everyone is looking for that something new, but everyone also seems content with rehashing the old stuff… “American Idol” is followed by a whole lineage of copycat shows, showcasing a supposed talent to the endearing fans. They’re all the same! Cable is no different, there are countless dating “reality” shows, but they are all the same too, just with different “twists.” Reality shows became very popular here in the US in the new decade, but only if you never flipped on a foreign channel. But even those can find roots in 1950’s games shows.

“Married with Children” may have been new, but how original is it to get an idea by starting out saying, “We’re not the “Cosby Show,’” may make for something new, but still unoriginal. Taking a list and changing the positives to negatives still equals the same thing, just negative. It has originality; it does things previously unable to be done on TV, much like HBO leads the way with “The Sopranos” or “Sex and the City.”

For those up on history, the originality of TV becomes even less remarkable when radio is factored into TV’s history. The serial format itself is old, dating back to early radio. Reality shows could be found on “candid microphone” shows as well as trivia and game shows.

Originality aside, the premier of “The Riches” raked in 3.8 million viewers and another 1.35 million in an encore presentation. Of those first 3.8 million, 3 million viewers were previously tuned in to “The Day After Tomorrow.” I don’t know where to find more current ratings, so that will have to do.

The show is somewhat predictable, but general plot lines often are (back to the originality problem). The first few episodes were rough, but once they were finally beginning to even think about calming down, the “old family” finally catches up at the end of episode four, didn’t take long did it? The family had to catch up some time, they new it was going to happen with in the show. FX could have allowed more time to reunite the families, however the reemergence of the family in episode six provides “The Riches” with an easy end to the series if it would ever need to be ended in less then one show.
SPOILER… but not really… Wayne is announced as the front-runner for leader of the old family. The Malloys fail, they go home, they clear up a big mess started at the end of episode five, and our beloved family with Eddie Izzard as patriarch lives on happy as the leader of the gypsy travelers and the whole family is armed with new life experiences and school for the children.

None of the general plot line is new though, but then again, if you want to generalize everything, almost nothing is new at all, the world has been around for just to long, new things are generally improvements on the old with new twists. What is the Internet but an extension of the early radio days when anyone with some electrical know how could be on the airwaves communicating with other people? To me, and apparently everyone else, it’s the specifics that is what matters… Are they dancing, singing, skating, eating worms? They are all the same format, just different specifics, and as far as I am concerned, a gypsy family with no education jumping into the rich, highly educated life, with nothing more then a branch through another man’s heart is pretty original on the specifics.

So what if it is unoriginal? So is the majority of what else is on TV, get over it and go watch YouTube, but if you look real close, how much of that is distinctly original?

24 part 3

Karen Hayes is notified by Hock of the Justice Department that the information has been brought up about her husband, Bill Buchanan, releasing Fayed from custody for lack of evidence two years ago allowing Fayed to killed 13,000 American.  She has been accused of covering this information up.  Someone has to be responsible so she has to decide whether she takes the blame and President’s administration suffer, or Buchanan takes the blame and has to step down as head of CTU in a crucial time. I thought it was interesting that she had to decide between her job and protecting her husband; she chose to fire Buchanan. Tom Lennox said, “That’s politics.” I thought politics was passing legislation, international relations, etc not deciding who takes the blame, “protecting” the administration, and firing a capable leader for releasing Fayed while innocent.

 

Before Buchanan is escorted out of CTU, he appoints Nadia as his successor. Why her? Within four hours, she goes from being falsely accused and interrogated of leaking information to terrorist because of Muslim descent to becoming head of CTU. Maybe Buchanan did it so he would not eventually get sued for discrimination by Nadia further destroying his image.

Cottage cheese-face Vice President Daniels’ down low relationship with his secretary and follow perjurer is revealed. You ever heard of the phrase, “A couple that prays together, stays together”? In their case: a couple that lies together, stay together. That had to worst kissing scene in television history. Before the kiss, he claimed that he can’t stop thinking about her… He needs to think about calling Proactive Solutions to treat his face disease or think about the incriminating tapes of perjury potentially being released by Lennox instead of getting some ass.  Although Lennox claimed he wouldn’t use the tapes against him, the fate of the VP becoming a jail bird remains in
Lennox’s hands.  If he does anything that Lennox doesn’t like, VP Daniels will have to find a mate in a cell block instead of in the White House personnel.

 

Morris has requested to be transferred from coms because he lost the war of words with his ex-boo, Chloe. Instead of being separated, they really just need to get-it-on one last time.  If Vice President Daniels can get frisky in the Oval Office, why can’t Morris release some sexual frustration in CTU? But anyway, I’m glad the bickering between the two has ended because it just drags episodes along when all I really want to see is Jack, despite cracked ribs and gunshot wounds, win 5 on 1 gun battles and fist fights.

Karen Hayes is notified by Hock of the Justice Department that the information has been brought up about her husband, Bill Buchanan, releasing Fayed from custody for lack of evidence two years ago allowing Fayed to killed 13,000 American.  She has been accused of covering this information up.  Someone has to be responsible so she has to decide whether she takes the blame and President’s administration suffer, or Buchanan takes the blame and has to step down as head of CTU in a crucial time. I thought it was interesting that she had to decide between her job and protecting her husband; she chose to fire Buchanan. Tom Lennox said, “That’s politics.” I thought politics was passing legislation, international relations, etc not deciding who takes the blame, “protecting” the administration, and firing a capable leader for releasing Fayed while innocent.

 

Before Buchanan is escorted out of CTU, he appoints Nadia as his successor. Why her? Within four hours, she goes from being falsely accused and interrogated of leaking information to terrorist because of Muslim descent to becoming head of CTU. Maybe Buchanan did it so he would not eventually get sued for discrimination by Nadia further destroying his image.

 

Cottage cheese-face Vice President Daniels’ down low relationship with his secretary and follow perjurer is revealed. You ever heard of the phrase, “A couple that prays together, stays together”? In their case: a couple that lies together, stay together. That had to worst kissing scene in television history. Before the kiss, he claimed that he can’t stop thinking about her… He needs to think about calling Proactive Solutions to treat his face disease or think about the incriminating tapes of perjury potentially being released by
Lennox instead of getting some ass.  Although Lennox claimed he wouldn’t use the tapes against him, the fate of the VP becoming a jail bird remains in
Lennox’s hands.  If he does anything that
Lennox doesn’t like, VP Daniels will have to find a mate in a cell block instead of in the White House personnel.

 

Morris has requested to be transferred from coms because he lost the war of words with his ex-boo, Chloe. Instead of being separated, they really just need to get-it-on one last time.  If Vice President Daniels can get frisky in the Oval Office, why can’t Morris release some sexual frustration in CTU? But anyway, I’m glad the bickering between the two has ended because it just drags episodes along when all I really want to see is Jack, despite cracked ribs and gunshot wounds, win 5 on 1 gun battles and fist fights.