Watch Alert
Remember, "Friday Night Lights" is on tonight at 10 in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"'s place.
WATCH IT! You should probably watch "Heroes" tonight too so that it has a big lead in that goes into "Lights."
And watch it again tomorrow too! This show needs lots and lots and lots of viewers.
I don't know what to make of this
Sure, I have a tendency to let my imagination run wild, but....
Today, I was looking at election polling numbers and there's a reasonable possibility that someone I went on a date with a few years ago could be a Member of Congress-elect next Wednesday.
You can imagine how overactively my imagination is going on that one.
About Time!
NBC announced today that it's bringing back the one sitcom worth watching. "Scrubs" will return to the airwaves on Nov. 30. Additionally, "30 Rock" will move with it, so that NBC will be putting all its comedies on one night, in one block. "Earl" and "The Office" will stay where they are, to be followed by "Scrubs" and "30 Rock." The Thursday edition of "Deal or No Deal" is done.
This is actually a pretty smart move on NBC's part. Particularly since "Grey's" has started sucking more than a vacuum cleaner, it's not a bad idea to have a really good alternative around for people to tune into. Now, let's see if they can build the audience for "Friday Nights Lights" some more. (Remember, they're airing it at 10 this Monday to see if it's a better companion for "Heroes" than the why-isn't-this-cancelled-already "Studio 60?") SO WATCH IT!
Welcome
A special "welcome to the world" shout out to Charles Hayden Sadler, born Oct. 23.
Let's just hope he's not as picky about his food options as his dad!
Let the Word Go Forth
"Friday Night Lights" and "Brothers and Sisters" are my two new favorite shows for the season.
"Friday Night Lights" is especially impressive because it is really unlike anything on television right now. It's a sincere drama about high school, about a small, rural town. It's about a "red state" way of life. It's about bonds, it's about family, it's about race, it's about commitment, it's about faith, and everything that separates America from everywhere else in the world. And oh, it's also about football.
Kyle Chandler definitely deserves an Emmy nomination for his role as the coach at the center of all this mess. But what might be even more impressive is the depth of the supporting cast, including Scott Porter as the injured QB, Jason and Zach Gillford as the put-upon QB, Matt Saracen. Additionally, the show has a surprising amount of time given to its female cast and the standout among them (so far) is Minka Kelly as , Lyla, Jason's girlfriend who believes that denial and optimism are inextricably linked. My roommate and I spent 15 minutes last night discussing whether we think Lyla is one of the most fascinating characters on TV right now, or if she's just completely one-dimensional. We ultimately decided that the fact we were going on and on about this, meant she had to be the former, which makes this show even better.
I jokingly called this "My So-Called Football Career" last night, and while I think there are comparisons to be made between this show and "My So-Called Life", if for no other reason than they're just incredibly well written, they're honest, and they're set in high school. But what I think sets this show apart is the depth of talent. "Life" was about Angela and very little else. Everything revolved around her. "Lights" is much more a portrait of a town and a love letter to a community--despite its obvious flaws.
As much as it kind of pains me to say this, I will. Skip "Gilmore Girls" and watch "Friday Night Lights" instead.
And while you're setting the DVR, be sure and catch "Brothers and Sisters." This show is the reason to watch ABC on Sunday nights considering the uneven season "Desperate Housewives" is having. It's emotional, engaging, without being too preachy. Sure, it all hasn't completely gelled yet--and it might not ever (though I think it will.) Nevertheless, there's a lot of fascinating and interesting stuff going on in this show. The female portion of the cast is doing most of the heavy lifting, and is more than capable of doing so. Right now, the men haven't been fleshed out that much--except for Justin, played by Dave Annabele, whose performance becomes emboldened every week. His strung out Vet character has the potential to go places, if they producers are willing to push him into new directions they've hinted at already.
I don't think it's also a coincidence that both these shows have references to the post 9/11 fallout. "Brothers and Sisters" has put it at the forefront, including an argument between the mom (Sally Field) and Kitty (Calista Flockhart) about Kitty's role in encouraging Justin to enlist in the military as a result of the Towers' collapse. Yet, "Lights" is taking a more organic approach, which is simply to have Matt's dad stationed in Iraq. That allows characters to mention where he is, eliciting a slightly overwhelmed look from the boy, and then it moves on without dwelling upon it. It's just great writing.
Bottom line. Check out "Brothers and Sisters" and give it a chance.
Put "Friday Night Lights" on your Must-See list. For those of you who I converted to the cult of "Veronica", I didn't fail you then, I won't fail you now. For those of you who aren't watching "Veronica Mars", SHAME ON YOU! Start watching it and "Friday Night Lights". It's an awesome pairing "Lights" on NBC at 8 and "Veronica" on the CW at 9. By 10:00, you'll be high on good TV. And what's better than that?
Boom goes the dynamite!
Hot Dog!
"Veronica Mars" was back in shape last night, just like she'd never left or had that horrible little run in with Beaver. The show was fun, witty, pity, and full of the banter the show revels in.
What was my favorite part? Veronica's discovery of "Battlestar Galactica"? Piz and Wallace trying to "hackeysack?" Wallace's comment that hackeysack is a white man's sport? The fact that Piz was wearing some of Duncan's old clothes? The fact that Logan was snarky about Piz's clothes, just like he was snarky about them when Duncan wore them? Logan answering the phone when Keith called? I don't know, but "boom goes the dynamite" just might be it.
RIP Kendall.
The only problem--What the frack was going on with the opening credits? Whoever at the CW approved that stripped down version of "We Used to Be Friends" should have their head examined. Who tries to de-rockify the Dandy Warhols?
At least the show didn't try and take on any "Lost"-iosity. The show is bold, daring, and one that should not be missed.
Now--let's figure out who this serial rapist is!
Random Tidbits
Set your TIVO/VCR and be sure and catch the series premiere of "Friday Night Lights." "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter" both gave it strong reviews. I've seen the first episode and I liked it. Despite the football.
If any Republican in leadership knew about this creepy stuff Mark Foley was doing, then the entire party deserves to be hung out to dry and should lose their majority in Congress by a landslide. Beyond gross.
The Foley stuff is even more unsettling than the central romance at the core of "Down in the Valley." And when I watched it Saturday, I was really creeped out. Now. Not so much.
If you want higher and faster, rent "The Proposition." It's bloody and violent, but in some ways, it's a man's answer to "Sophie's Choice."
I officially love "Brothers and Sisters." It might not be the best written show on TV right now, but I'm hooked. Calista Flockhart and Sally Field are great, but Rachel Griffiths is the real standout in my mind.
