Fall of the Conchords

The first season of Flight of the Conchords became an instant cult classic. A show about a New Zealand duo trying to make it in New York that's intermittently filled with wacky comedy songs. I enjoyed it a lot and spent most of first-year with raps like "Rhymenocerous VS Hiphopapotamus" stuck in my head. The same thing happened to everyone else on campus and suddenly people were screaming down the hallway "ITSA BUSSSINESSS TIMEEEE!" It didn't take long before I could no longer stand the songs and show altogether.

It took almost a year and a half after the first finale for Bret and Jemaine to write up another batch of songs for the new season (which they admitted was very difficult) and the quality showed. I just finished season two and the show has just fallen out of tune. The songs feel a lot more wedged-in than ever, having little to do with the plot of the episode. This is probably a bad example but



It felt like half the season took place in the New Zealand Consulate's office as well, relying waaaay too much on Murray's dialogue to carry the show. In the second finale, show ends with a pretty amusing shepherding bit followed by an announcement that the series was over.

Obscenely Delayed Update

Well it's only been five months since the last post but whatever.

The Shield

• After blasting through all seven seasons, I can tell you that this is one of the most morally gray shows you'll ever watch.
• Highlights include season 4 with Glenn Close and season 5 with Forest Whitaker. Both of these actors brought a huge change to the show that put our Strike Team through some tough ordeals.
• Vic Mackey would eat Jack Bauer alive.

The Pacific

• I've watched the first seven parts of this mini-series but still have yet to really attach to these characters.
  
• It's hard not to compare this with Band of Brothers. Many described that The Pacific would really focus on a small number of main characters rather than an entire company, but they have yet to flesh out the characters aside from being melodramatic about the horrors of war.
• Maybe it's just because it's the Pacific theater...
  

Fringe

• This was a surprising delight. As an X-Files veteran, I wasn't surprised how quickly this show grew on me.
• Unlike The X-Files, Fringe managed to create an overlaying connection ("the Pattern") through the mysterious happenings of the show. While the SCIENCE! is often far fetched, it still has it's "Hey, why not?" charm to it.
  
• John Noble as Walter Bishop is an absolute delight.

Dexter

• Season 4 sure got off to a slow start. It really wasn't until half-way through did a little twist come in and put the show back in high gear.

Spartacus

• Just started watching this 300-inspired series. Lots of blood, violence, and gratuitous sex!
  

Best Show of the Decade

With reality TV raping the broadcasts for several years, Lost was the show that rescued us with awesome serialized drama. It introduced us to the Island and the unfortunate survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. It had mystery. It had compelling characters. It had action. It had it all.

But what really separated Lost from other contenders was the storytelling. The plot did not go a traditional Point A to B. It started at Point D, then C, then E then B; and we haven't even gotten to A yet. Surely this would lead to a completely broken story that's impossible to follow! But no, somehow it all makes sense in a crazy way.

If for some reason you haven't watched this show yet, start right away. Lost changed television by proving it can be a more as a legitimate medium.

Best Television of the Decade

Nominees:

Battlestar Galactica
Lost
The Office
The Shield
Dexter
Arrested Development
Futurama
Curb Your Enthusiasm
24
Journeyman
Daybreak
Breaking Bad
Dollhouse
Firefly
Mad Men
Jericho
Prison Break
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
30 Rock

From the 90s:
South Park
Malcolm in the Middle
The Sopranos

The Last Few Weeks

Alright let's catch up on the highlights from the past few weeks.

South Park's Whale Wars episode was just awesome from start to finish. How many people still have Cartman singing Lady Gaga in their heads? From the shouting Japanese in their robes to "Chicken and-a COW!?!?", this was easily one of the best episodes of the season.



The Office is really coming back lately. Some of the best moments of this season have been humanizing Michael Scott. While he acts like a child all the time, the honest truth is that no one else can manage his office. We've seen it with Charles and we're watching Jim learn now.



Sadly, the opposite has been happening for 30 Rock. I'm not sure what it is but I think the show is relying too heavily on the characters doing the same things. Jena, Tracy, and Kenneth are always the same. The chaotic-level is running a little high with the plots and reminds me of the similar season 3 of my beloved Arrested Development (remember Rita?). Maybe they need to slow down the pacing of the show just a tad and rebuild new structures for the characters. Ugh, that sounds so critical.

Finally, the goldmine came from Curb Your Enthusiasm with The Black Swan. Unlike most CYE episodes, this was pretty self-contained, taking place mostly at the golf course. If you ever watch an episode of Curb, make it this one. Essentially? Larry David commits his first (and second) murder on this show.



Anyone notice these are all comedies? What happened to all the 1 hr dramas? Dollhouse is cancelled by the way. There is no God.

Nipple Twister

Californication has been on my to-watch list for some time now. I'm glad I finally started.

Duchovny basically rips X-Files Mulder out of the FBI and plops him as the sleaziest scumbag womanizer character.

Hank Moody is basically stuck with writer's block while trying to get back together with his ex-wife. That doesn't mean he can't pick up every single other woman he sees. You're basically guaranteed two different sets of boobs per episode.

Oh yeah and the story's pretty good too.

Please Stand By

Busy month.

Go watch The Office, 30 Rock, and South Park.

Started watching Californication. Pretty funny series. Each episode features at least two sets of supple breasts.