TV Updates

My travel schedule and competing demands for Thursday night television (damn you Fox for moving Bones to Thursdays resulted in a DVR full of shows I hadn't been able to attend to. Now that Burn Notice and The Closer have ended their seasons, I had an opportunity to do a few catch-up marathons. Here are some thoughts.

Kyle XY
I'm okay that this series has ended its run. I enjoyed it (a guilty pleasure, to be sure). I saw every episode. But this season seemed to reinforce the idea that the writers had run out of ideas. Instead of intrigue and action, we got teen angst that came across only as irritating and inauthentic.

A word on the last episode. Clearly it was designed to be a season cliffhanger rather than a series ender. But ABC Family might have given us a few more minutes of closure. If the show actually had a following, people would be screaming about the crappiest series finale ever.

Desperate Housewives

Marc Cherry has used some of the most creative ideas to revitalize this series. His trouble seems to be sustaining it over a season. This season remains lots of fun, but it's largely unmemorable. The death of Edie this week might revitalize once again and take us to an exciting season finish. I'm still recording on my DVR.

Grey's Anatomy

It just keeps getting worse and worse and worse. I couldn't take it, so it's all gone from the DVR, it's no longer recording, and I just couldn't take most of the cast any longer. The likables are minor and the dislikables rule. Buh Bye!

Law and Order

This has always been a DVR show for me. I like it, but I tend to watch it when nothing else is on. The cast shifts have been good, and the writing remains strong. The formula is a bit tired, but the election for DA has added a bit of sass to the proceedings. I'm still recording on my DVR

Saturday Night Live

The election episodes were amazing, and the January 10 episode with Neil Patrick Harris rates among the best ever. But SNL is definitely a show to record. You need to be able to skip through the endless commercials and the 50 percent of sketches that are unbearable to watch. But the one's that connect are terrific.

Ugly Betty

The best of the lot at the moment, Ugly Betty has simply gotten better and better. I was a quiet fan through the first couple of seasons, but the current season ranks as its best and one of the best on the air this year. I watched eight episodes in a row, and felt it hit a wrong note only once. The characters have evolved in ways completely consistent with their histories. Betty has a boyfriend who clicks (and who I hope stays for awhile). Occasionally, the show has given Justin his own episodes, and it's time to do that again. The guest stars (Bernadette Peters, Christine Baranski) fit perfectly. I'm glad to reconnect right as the show goes on extended hiatus, but I'll be there when it returns in a couple months. Must Watch TV!

And before I go, a word about Better of Ted. It will take me a few episodes to determine whether this is one of the most inspired shows since Wonderfalls or totally stupid. My initial reaction to the pilot, which I'm about to watch for the third time, is the former. Stay tuned.

Best of the Year: TV

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know this was my pick last year. Both as a cancellation prize and a nod to the fact that Pushing Daisies was even better this year, it's my pick again. DVR be damned, it was the only television program I scheduled around. Bryan Fuller created a vibrant, colorful, quirky world populated with wonderful characters and engaging stories.

The cast of Pushing Daisies brings such warmth and depth to their characters. Lee Pace and Anna Friel continued to do standout work. And Kristen Chenoweth, who tended to annoy me at times last season (though I've always been hopelessly devoted to her), became the most compelling character at the Pie Hole. I will miss this show after its final three episodes air later this month. It shows the heights to which network television can soar.

But wait there's more....

In this year of extraordinary politics, we can forget the terrific work of MSNBC and particularly Rachel Maddow. Maddow was fantastic as a frequent guest and sub for Keith Olberman, but she came into her own as the host of the The Rachel Maddow Show. She is thoughtful, pointed and so, so bright.

But wait there's even more....

The Closer was very strong this year, as was Season 2 of Torchwood. Among the late arrivals, Fringe has been good, but I'm expecting more. Leverage has caught my interest, as well.

An Early Holiday Present...and a Lump of Coal

Those who know me know that Wonderfalls ranks as my favorite television show ever. EVAH! Wonderfalls, you say? Yes! It was a short-lived Fox program in 2004. It aired for four episodes in about four different time slots. All of the season previews ranked it as the best of the year, but Fox didn't know what to do with it.

Last year, the creator of Wonderfalls brought us another charming, quirky, gorgeous show, Pushing Daisies. It's an adult fairy tale that is brilliantly conceived. Alas, the lump of coal is that ABC announced that it would be cancelled after its 13th episode this season. That means we're down to our last three episodes in January.

But earlier in the week, as I was catching up on the episodes I missed during my recent travels, I experienced the kind of creativity and gift to one's fans that made my heart leap. Ned the Piemaker of Pushing Daisies entered a baking contest. To my glorious delight, one of his competitors was Beth Grant, proprietor of Muffin Buffalo. One of the great Wonderfalls episodes centered on Grant's secret muffin recipe, which she parlayed into the bakery, Muffin Buffalo. It was a great opportunity to reference a great, almost lost, show. Thanks, Bryan!

I'm Not Usually Overtly Political on this Blog...But!

Isn't this the kind of hypocrisy the main stream media might consider exposing?

Best of the Year: Television

No television program has brought more joy into our household than Pushing Daisies. Each week as many as 15 of us get together to watch Ned the Piemaker and his cohort of odd and endearing characters solve murders. But the murder mystery angle of the show is not what keeps us coming back each week. It's the fairy tale. Ned can bring people back to life by touching them, but if he touches them again they die forever. In the "Pie-lette" episode, Ned brings Chuck, the now grownup girl who gave him his first kiss when he was 10, back to life after her murder on a cruise ship. (By the way, if Ned doesn't touch the person he's brought back within 60 seconds someone else will die so the universe can right itself.) And so, Ned and Chuck are hopelessly in love and hopelessly unable to touch. The thought of it makes me weep, even as I type this.

There is much joy to be found in Pushing Daisies. The characters all care deeply about each other. They are a family, even though Chuck's aunts (the totally amazing, reason enough to watch the show Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene) don't know she's alive. Olive Snook (the totally amazing, reason enough to watch the show Kristin Chenoweth) makes that connection, even as she tries to figure out Chuck's story and even as she pines away for the piemaker herself. And just when things are on the verge of sickly sweet, Chi McBride reminds us how surreal this whole thing is.

Pushing Daisies is a package, though. It's success is also due to incredible writing that is unlike anything else on the air. The narration is beautiful and moving, due in large part to the work of Jim Dale as the narrator. The colors are as surreal as the premise, so vibrant they cannot be found in nature. All of this is conducted under the sure baton on maestro Bryan Fuller, who creates a symphony of color and sound that moves the heart.

And what of Ned the Piemaker and Chuck? Lee Pace is perfect and Anna Friel has arrived at perfection over the first several episodes. It's hard to imagine the show working without either of these two, but it is Pace who stands out. Every smirk, every gesture, every line reading gets us closer to the experiencing the bittersweet world of Pushing Daisies.

OH YEAH! With that whole writers' strike going on, what are we to do for our PD fix? Run, don't walk, to get your hands on Wonderfalls, Fuller's 2004 Fox series that begat this year's favorite. It may just be the best show in the history of television.

Honorable mentions this year go to Ugly Betty, which is having a stellar sophomore season, The Closer, which has gotten better each season, and Damages, which was so drawn out it was painful to watch, but which was totally addictive thanks in large part to the work of Glenn Close.

The New Fall Season...So Far

People ask me constantly, "What do you like about the new fall season?" Being a television-obsessed individual, I certainly have an answer. Unfortunately, I've been watching too much tv to give an answer...until today. Let's start with my top five new shows. This amazing feat will be accomplished in order!

Pushing Daisies. People who know me know that this would have to be my favorite show of the season, new or old. Why? The easy answer is that Wonderfalls is my favorite show ever. Daisies borrows heavily from the creative team and has a similar likable oddness to it. But Daisies is a fairy tale, and a compelling one at that. The narration by Jim Dale (in an unfortunately narration heavy season) makes the show utterly charming. The cast is just about my dream cast. Lee Pace (amazing in Wonderfalls) is so charming and crushworthy that I could feel the room swooning. The supporting cast includes Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene, Kristen Chenoweth, Chi McBride (all among my favorite actors) and Anna Friel. I don't often comment on the art direction of a television show, but the charm is so enhanced by the colors and stylized sets, that it makes for a wonderfully beautiful image and a great show.

Reaper. Two of my top-five shows are ones I hadn't anticipated watching. Networks take note: Free downloads work! Reaper was one I recorded because I had space on my Tivo. I'm hooked. Bret Harrison is perfect for the slacker who becomes a superhero, Sam. Ray Wise is almost too perfect as the devil who comes to collect Sam's soul after his parents sold it 21 years earlier. The show is laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has something to chew on. As the reluctant demon-slayer, Sam is learning some life lessons. And the devil makes a pretty decent father figure. And there is brilliance in involving Kevin Smith in this project.

Aliens in America. I'm a little nervous about putting this in my top five so soon, but I was totally seduced by Aliens in America. Raja, a Pakistani exchange student, comes to live with the Tolchucks and hijinks ensue. Except that when Justin Tolchuck accepts Raja into his life, so do we. The fish out of water elements only inform a story with great heart. And it is funny. I was skeptical for the first 15 minutes, but when daughter Claire blurts out "Mom, I wanna go on the pill" in the middle of a family crisis, I was hooked. And in the last five minutes I was seduced.

Moonlight. Film noir is difficult to do on television and very difficult to maintain on television, but I have hope for Moonlight. The style, narration, flashbacks all create this great atmosphere. I don't love it yet, but I might. It is a David Greenwalt project, after all.

Chuck. It's the other slacker/superhero show this season. While it's not as crisp and engaging as Reaper, it has great charm, it has Sarah Lancaster, and it has the great fortune of preceding Heroes. All good!

I'm still not sure about Private Practice and Dirty, Sexy Money, both of which I continue to record.

I am sure about Grey's Anatomy, which I am deserting. After last season, I wasn't even sure I'd give it a chance this season. I am dismayed by the poor choices the writers and the actors continue to make. Mostly, though, I cannot abide George with Izzie. It's wrong, it's unappealing, it's free of chemistry. Buh-bye.

Heroes and Ugly Betty continue to impress. And I'm finishing up the seasons of Eureka (a respectable and enjoyable second season), Damages (could you resolve this already) and Weeds (great, improved, fun...with a little danger built in).

And now that I've made it through the opening week of the season, maybe I can get back to the movies.

Mel on Mile High and Damages

Can a show that has not a single likable character be good television? That's the question I've been asking myself since I finished the entire British series Mile High (39 episodes) and the first four episodes of the new Glenn Close legal drama, Damages. In both shows every character--from star to dayplayer--remains unlikable. Certainly, I prefer my drama to have characters that are troubled or morally flawed. But there's a difference between those types of characters and those where you say, "I'd never be friends with this lot. Not a one of them."

Mile High is a British series about...wait for it...flight attendants and pilots. The descriptions and many of the reviews would have you believe its Ab Fab in the sky, or something close to that. In actuality, the madcap adventures of the eight or so regular flight attendants and two pilots have dire consequences. Each character is judgmental and morally righteous, except when it comes to himself or herself.

Only four characters make it from the first episode to the last. At the end of Series 1, about half the cast is replaced with no explanation. At the end of Series 2, Part 1 there's another huge turnover, also with no closure. And the "shocking" finale--which is actually quite interesting in design--only gives us a satisfying end for two of the major characters.

The big problem with Mile High is that it takes a certain glee in how pathetic its major characters are. Will is almost every gay cliche thrown into a mix. He's a bitter, self-centered, manipulative, vindictive, sexually compulsive partyboy. Janis is a pathetic loaner who is a total bitch to cover her loneliness. Le Hann destroys every relationship she's involved in, because she is always suspecting and distrusting her partners. The show relies on tons of cliches, but never with irony or camp.

The thing is, the show held my attention for most of 39 episodes, even as I was actively hating it. Maybe it was because I constantly held out hope that someone would do something decent for honorable reasons. Maybe it was for the liberal display of naughty bits that British television does so well.

Damages also populates with a roster of unlikeable characters. Here, though, the promotional materials explain that they're complex characters. Therefore, it's okay that each is basically morally flawed (which, by the way, I generally like in a character), lying, cheating, mean, manipulative and potentially violent. Or at least willing to have others do violence on their behalf.

Damages is well written and the production values are top notch. The casting is superb, and Glennie's performance is complex and riveting. I continue to watch, but at the end of every episode I have to wonder what I see in the show.

In the end, I remain ambivalent about both shows. I'm glad to see them, but troubled and largely disengaged from them.

Kyle XY

I have to say I kind of enjoyed the season premiere of Kyle XY last night. It was good summer fare, engaging throughout, adept at answering those pesky little questions hanging over from last season, and good at setting up a plotline for this season. Matt Dallas is okay, and certainly is setting himself up for an acting career to rival Stephen Geoffreys. And ABC Family is making a few daring choices that I want to support.

How is Will Traveler

We are currently in the television wasteland. I'm definitely not one to subscribe to the view that all television is a wasteland. I love TV. But I haven't yet recovered from the overwhelmingly disappointing finale weeks, and the summer series I follow are still weeks away. So, what's a TV loving guy to do? Catch up on those DVD TV boxed sets: Slings and Arrows Season 2, Moral Orel Season 1, St. Elsewhere Season 1 and next week Mile High Season 2. But heck, the 2006-2007 season ended two weeks ago. The DVD collection is nearly exhausted.

Enter Traveler, a summer ABC series Wednesdays at 1o p.m. It's not hard to imagine the concept meeting for this one: "It's a mash-up of 24 and The Fugitive, but the guys are hotter." The basic premise is that three recent college grads and roommates are about to set off on a cross-country road trip. After roller blading through the Metropolitan Museum of Art--don't ask--Will Traveler, the friend who was videotaping the stunt, calls the boys on their mobile and offers a brief apology right before a wing of the met explodes. The two buds, Jay and Tyler, become the immediate terrorist suspects and the chase ensues.

I'm a longtime fan of Logan Marshall Green, and Matthew Bomer is quite likable, so the boys on the run are engaging. At the moment, we're only seeing Will (Aaron Stanford) in flashbacks because, oh yeah, he never existed and they found his charred remains at the Met.

I am intrigued that the writers chose the Met as the great American institution that would be the focus of the series. Although by the second episode it has faded into the background--no CSI here--I kind of like the fact that an art museum is the symbol of national pride that has brought everyone together.

So, am I watching it because its an engaging show or because there's nothing else on? I'd say it's engaging enough. It took me a half-dozen eps to get into Heroes, so I'm intrigued enough to keep watching.

And while I'm waiting for new eps of The Closer, Weeds and...wait for it...wait for it...Kyle XY, I can ponder whether I will have the stomach to watch another season of Grey's Anatomy and Smallville, which had seasons horrible enough to make me hate TV and finales that made me wonder what I ever saw in them. It does cause me pain to know that Veronica Mars will be no more, but I'm totally looking forward to the new season of Bones. In the meantime, maybe I will figure out who is Will Traveler.