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RSSDude, come on I love TV and quotes of the week
People ask me all the time if I wish I was a movie critic instead of a TV critic.
To quote Ted from How I Met Your Mother, my answer is always "dude, come on." While I, of course, enjoy the movies, I love TV. As I believe you all know by now, I live for this stuff.
And one of the reasons, I love TV is that you don't know the beginning, middle and end of the story after watching the pilot episode. Everything isn't neatly resolved. With a movie, once you've walked out of the theater, you've seen everything that movie as to offer.
Not so with TV. In the early months, a show is still finding itself. Discovering which characters work and which ones don't. Figuring out which story lines have to be quickly skedaddled and which ones should be allowed to flourish. It's a TV right of passage once a show makes it past the initial 13 episodes and begins to come into its own.
I also know I could never write a TV series. My brain doesn't work that way. I can't conjure up whole worlds in my mind and am kind of in awe of those who can -- they have a creativity that is inspiring.
So I really do try to keep an open mind when reviewing new shows and like to check back in with them from time to time. This week, let's revisit Journeyman and Cane.
Cane (Tuesday, CBS, 10 p.m.): Alas this show remains a little too melodramatic for my liking yet there's no story line I'm really excited about. I'm not sure how long Alex Vega can continue to behave like such an inept criminal. Also as much as I like Polly Walker, I do think she's woefully miscast in this role. The show is a little like Private Practice -- in that with all the great actors they've assembled, the show should be much better than it is. But mostly by the end of the hour, I forget what had transpired almost instantly. It's not a bad show, just not a memorable one.
Journeyman (Monday, NBC, 10 p.m.): You know if liking this show is wrong, I don't want to be right. I still am thoroughly enjoying this time travel drama. Part of my affection my stem from RDF -- the Reed Diamond Factor. But most I just like the cheesy nature of the show and am easily able to overlook the inconsistencies of the show -- like the fact that Dan's editor doesn't get too upset about the fact that Dan never has a story to turn in. And I desperately want to cut Livia's hair, yet I still continue to enjoy the show.
How are you liking Cane and Journeyman? Post your comments below. What new shows would you like me to take a second look at next week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com and let me know.
Quotes of the Week
The Writers Guild of America strike is nearly official today and I think we all know, TV is nothing without good writing. Let's enjoy the quotes of the week while we can and hope that both sides come to an agreement quickly.
"If I can't be Monique fat I have to be Teri Hatcher thin." Jenna to Kenneth on 30 Rock. Thanks to Shella for the quote.
"I'll do my street thing. You do your lab thing. Alright? Together we catch bad guys. That's good math." Booth to Bones on Bones.
"Six months? No one takes that long to heal anymore. It's a breakup, not a facelift!" Gaby to Carlos on Desperate Housewives. Thanks to Jeff for the quote.
"This is even more disturbing than your bag full of Mommy" Cristina to Meredith on Grey's Anatomy.
"Help me, Liz Lemon! You're my only hope!" Rosemary (Carrie Fisher) channeling Princess Leia to Liz on 30 Rock. Thanks to Russ for the quote.
Exchange of the Week
"I think death is more like an after party where everyone goes to the same club, drinks some beers and smokes a little something something." Frank to Billie on My Name is Earl.
"Like the Peach Pit After Dark." Billie's reply.
Highlights for November 2-4
It doesn't happen often but sometimes a show premieres and it doesn't even register with me. That's kind of what happened with The Next Great American Band (Friday at 8 p.m. on FOX). I didn't intentionally decide not to watch the show, I just never tuned in. So I want to know -- am I missing anything? Should I be watching? Or did you totally forget about this American Idol spin-off too?
Brian Williams host Saturday Night Live Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on NBC.
Whoo-hoo! The Amazing Race is back for a 12th season Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS. We probably could have predicted the show would be back this soon -- it replaces Viva Laughlin, a show that only lasted two episodes. Eleven teams will kick it old school style as they travel across the globe and stop in new countries including Ireland, Lithuania and Croatia.
Don't miss the 18th edition of Treehouse of Horror on The Simpsons Sunday at 8 p.m. on FOX.
The Family Guy celebrates its 100th episode beginning with a 30-minute retrospective Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on FOX and concluding with the 100th episode at 9 p.m. In an episode, aptly titled "Stewie Kills Lois," the maniacal Stewie follows through on threats he made for 99 episodes. The jokes don't always work, but there's enough laughs that you are going to want to tune in.
That's all for today. I'll be back next week with my continuing look at May sweeps stunts and much much more. Have a favorite cross-over episode you'd like me to talk about? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Have a question, seen a familiar face or want to nominate a quote of the week, write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Have a fantastic weekend.
The Great American Band show is surprisingly good! I didn't want to like it, but I did.
Same here. I didn't think I would nor did I want to like Great American Band, but I do. The judges actually are trying to help the bands improve and not just saying mean things. And the bands are really good. A really nice mix too.
I had figured I would watch a little while waiting for Friday Night Lights, but ended up taping the rest of the show when I turned the channel.
C'mon, it's Journeyman or Cane, people. Can't you read? =)
I agree about Journeyman. I have recently taken to letting some shows ripen on my DVR as to not waste a committment on a cancelled show. But, Journeyman even with its low 4.0/6 ratings has me hooked. I hope it makes it. I am on the fence about the Bionic Woman. Too much melodrama. I have no problem with a feminist agenda brought to life by a hot chick, but when she starts getting bionic cramps I am headed back to Private Practice (the more macho show to watch).
Whatever happened to bionic people that came (running super fast with a cool sound effect), saw (with a bionic eye and cool sound effect), and conquered (using bionic and non bionic limbs in tandem to hurt Soviets, aliens and just plain bad people)?
Did Steve Austin or Jamey Sommers ever cry over family, friends or anything even remotely personal? Okay, the pilot... in the pilot they were a bit unnerved by the new body parts, but as soon as you got to the end of the 'to be continued's' they were fine with their bionics as long as they weren't having problems.
You've hit the nail on the head with "Cane." I made it 1 episode, the wife made it through 4 episodes. Bottom line: It's kinda dull. And overly melodramatic. And has a real "soap opera" feel as far as plot credibility goes. Now "Journeyman," on the other hand, I find very entertaining. The wife gave up after 1 episode, because even though she likes sci-fi much more than I do, she really dislikes the whole "time travel" genre. I really, really dislike sci-fi since I outgrew the original Star Trek series when I was 12. But "Journeyman" is well shot, well acted, and I am always intrigued by what will happen when Dan returns. Of course, I cringe a little when he travels back in time, but I can live with that. I like the actors, and the characters. I used to work in newspapers, and it really isn't that uncommon for the "star" reporters to punch out a story every few months or so, as long as it's a biggie. (The rest of the newsroom trolls have to spit out copy like it's going out of style, of course, to make up for it). I din't want to like JM because it was in the old "Studio 60" timeslot, but I do. I also like "Chuck" despite its silliness. And "Life" is really developing into one of my favorites. No worries, though -- all three are sure to be canceled soon, because the ratings are almost as bad as they are for "30 Rock." Oh wait, that show is still on for some reason ...
Oh no I din't? Sorry, that was supposed to be didn't. I am not cool. Nor am I fly.
Journeyman is the best new drama on TV, definitely on NBC.
I try and give shows 4 episodes to win me over - Journeyman flunked the test despite my deep and abiding need to support any alumnus of the dearly departed Rome. It's just so boring - the cardinal sin of television.
I'd total disagree with on cane and journey man. Cane is a new twist to shows. Its may not be the most dramatic show but thats part of the charm. There are no boring episodes. Journey man on the other hand seems to be the tv version of many movies combined. Its not bad its just not different enough to be worth watching.
I really am enjoying "Journeyman" but agree with others that I am still on the fence with "Bionic Woman". I have not watched "Cane" - it does not interest me!