It’s like we’re not even watching the same show
“Glee” Recap (4.01): Marley & Me | AfterEllen.com.
I can’t read this recap of Glee. You read it for me. I couldn’t get through the first paragraph, because it’s like the writer and I aren’t even watching the same show. Or sitting on the same planet, even. The crazy; it burns.
I thought her recaps of the last few episodes of Pretty Little Liars were bizarre and off-kilter, but this is nuts. She’s not recapping; that would be narrating the plot of the show for people who missed it. She’s outright rewriting the show with her own interpretation of events and interpretation of character motives, and it’s completely oddball.
Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Newsroom’
(‘The Newsroom’: Yesterday’s News, Today – Entertainment – The Atlantic Wire) This whole review is worth reading if you’re at all interested in Aaron Sorkin or his new HBO program “the Newsroom” (a fictional take on Cable News networks), but this particular quote is pithy and a good summary of the failure of the show:
It’s as if someone tried to tell the story of The Wire in the world of Game of Thrones. “Watch them corners, Tyrion.”
Episodic v. Serial – Complications Ensue
Episodic v. Serial – Complications Ensue:
So when we actually saw Rob Thomas (creator of VERONICA MARS) giving a talk at Banff, DMc asked him about his thoughts on episodic vs. serial.
Rob busted out a factoid I’d heard before, but which really hadn’t sunk in. When people say they watch a show, on average, they watch one out of four episodes.
One out of four.
It’s a shock, because when I watch a show, I really want to see every episode. I missed maybe one or two FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTs last season, and I was really unhappy about it. One out of four? So the average audience member is really not that involved in the season arcs even of a soap opera like FNL; they’re just going along for the episodic ride.
Rob said if he’d been able to do a fourth season of VM, he’d have made it entirely episodic. No serial story at all. That was a shock.
Wow, one of the better shows developed for episodic viewing, and the writer wouldn’t do it that way again. Also – who watched Friday Night Lights that way? Good god. That show was amazing for layers and building. Why would you watch it for an episode here or there?
Maybe many people watch TV that way, but I sure don’t. There’s got to be two camps on this – I wonder what the split is?
And could you write a show that works for both camps?
Friday Night Lights
While I’m working through my CD ripping project, I’ve been knitting and doing some marathon Netflix watching. I can’t remember what prompted me to start watching Friday Night Lights, but I’ve been working my way through the first several seasons – and it’s GOOD. The writing is amazing. I wish I’d been watching this all along. The problem is that after watching the show continuously, I’ve started talking with a Texas twang. It’s a little embarrassing.
Golden Globes Nominations 2012. Wha?
Looking over the list of nominations for the Golden Globes for 2012 is just oddness. I’ve read an number of allegations that this particular awards ceremony is basically just bought and sold pretty freely, and it somewhat makes sense looking at the nominations. How on earth is New Girl nominated but for “Best Television Series — Comedy or Musical” and not Parks and Recreation? And Zooey Deschanel for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Comedy or Musical but not Lea Michele for Glee?
New Girl is a pretty big pile of crap. The last two episodes have been unwatchable. The scenes with Zooey and Justin Long really just make me want to shoot them both. It’s just rank. How is this supposed to be funny? And Lea Michele is just underrated and undercut on Glee. Poor writing for her character aside, her performance during the Christmas episode was hilarious, especially during the Judy Garland Special parody. She does goofy comic stuff very similarly to Barbra Streisand – but better, which is one of the few areas where I’d give her the prize over Barbra. It’ll be nice when she gets a show of her own to do and can break away from the ensemble stuff and the horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad writing on that otherwise enjoyable show.
Amy Poehler better win that award over Zooey. Seriously, Golden Globes, or I’ll be accusing you of fraud, too.
And oh, look, David Duchovny, Californication nominated for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Comedy or Musical.” Shouldn’t that be the category of “fictionalized real-life as a cautionary tale?” What an odd nomination. I haven’t seen the show past the first season, but it didn’t strike me as a comedy at all, and I can think of bigger performances that have received a lot more attention that his.
Hitler reacts to the Warehouse 13 season 3 finale
“Don’t listen to him; Myka and H.G. are totally canon!”
links for 2011-09-01
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If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the Stupid Ned Stark meme. Hilarious as it is, the other idiots get off scot-free. Let’s fix that. (WARNING: SPOILERS)
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Ask them about their brains instead; get them to think differently.
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An MIT study that seems to have found that while “there’s little correlation between a group’s collective intelligence and the IQs of its individual members… if a group includes more women, its collective intelligence rises.” Not because women are smarter, but because women collaborate rather than compete.
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Aw, the poor widdle boys don't have anything to read, except for like 80% of all the damned books published. But it's the fault of girls that boys are illiterate. Seriously, guys, it is.
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Turn off Twitter, Anne Lamott says. And don’t clean the house. That’s what it takes to create the rich life you deserve. "This is what I say: First of all, no one needs to watch the news every night, unless one is married to the anchor. Otherwise, you are mostly going to learn more than you need to know about where the local fires are, and how rainy it has been: so rainy! That is half an hour, a few days a week, I tell my students. You could commit to writing one page a night, which, over a year, is most of a book."
links for 2011-08-31
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Nothing will make me turn the channel faster than this trope.
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Couldn't be too expensive to make; only one arm.
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Given the dearth of good roles for women, it was a good opportunity to consider how many roles written for men would have been, if tweaked appropriately (including, in some cases, the use of a time machine), perfect Helen Mirren vehicles. Let us begin.
Lesbian Web Series
There aren’t too many mainstream television shows with lesbian main characters, but there is no shortage of online web series and shorts. Many of them are independently produced and rely on viewer contributions to keep production going. I’ve only seen the Girl Trash series so far, but have read reviews here and there — enough to assemble this list so I can start watching. I’m betting maybe you’ll be interested in watching, too.
Anyone But Me
Introducing a new generation: gay, straight, and ethnically diverse struggling with identity and modern relationships. From the Executive Producer/Writer team of Susan Miller (L Word and Thirtysomething) and Tina Cesa Ward (In Their Absence) Anyone But Me is shot on location in New York City and Los Angeles.
Seasons On, Two and Three are complete.
Girltrash!
A 9-episode web series by Angela Robinson, the sequel Girltrash! All Night Long is in production as a movie. It appears that the series is temporarily offline while the site is under construction. Robinson is a director and screen writer who worked on a number of series including The L-Word.
Out With Dad
A teenage girl and her single father. Rose is coming of age and coming out of the closet. All he wants is for her to be happy, and out with Dad.
Season One is complete, Season Two is coming shortly.
We Have to Stop Now
Dyna, sleek and cerebral, and Kit, quirky and spontaneous, are a couple. They are also a couple of therapists. And despite their wildly different methods, they’ve written a singular book on marriage called “How To Succeed In Marriage Without Even Trying”. Trouble is, their own marriage is falling apart, even after years of work with their own therapist, Susan. So, they’ve decided to call it quits. However, once their book hits No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, they’re both not so sure that “quits” is a good idea…
Season One is available to watch free, Season Two is by subscription.
Vag Magazine
VAG MAGAZINE is not your grandma’s feminist magazine, though we support her as a woman. Go behind the scenes at this hipster third-wave feminist magazine with founders FENNEL, SYLVIE, and BETHANY, staffers HEAVY FLO (a hero on the roller derby circuit), REBA (truly a legend of gonzo feminist pop culture journalism), and MEGHAN (the lone holdover from fashion magazine Gemma, which the Vag founders bought out with the proceeds from their Etsy shop), as well as enthusiastic intern KIT, as they teach you how to be a better woman. This six-part web series stars and was created, written, directed, and produced by comedians from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye
With an all Canadian cast and crew, featuring Lindy Zucker and Dana Puddicombe in the leading roles, B.J. Fletcher: Private Eye is a distinctly new and unique production bringing to life strong female characters with the right balance of action, comedy, and diversity.
Seasons One and Two.
The Real Girl’s Guide to Everything Else
A journalist, nearly dropped by her agent because her work is too smart, political, lesbian and feminist, goes undercover as a glitter-wearing, shoe-obsessed, Cosmo-drinking straight girl.
Season One (Six Episodes) is available, with season 2 coming soon.
Seeking Simone – The Web Series
Seeking Simone is a lesbian web series about online dating. Follow the adventures of Simone Selkin as she dates her way through gay Toronto!
Season One and Two appear to be complete.
Girl/Girl Scene
Based on the lives and loves of four young friends, this series boldly goes where no other has gone before: between the sheets and into the minds and hearts of unapologetically queer women living in middle America. But underlying the many shocking and controversial moments is an important drama exploring the intoxicating extremes of modern day life and love.
Season One – Episodes 1 – 5 are available
Cat on The Prowl
A weekly video blog chronicling the attempts of out comedian Cat Davis to meet women in L.A. Part interview show and part comedy show, the series aired over 40 episodes in 2008 and 2009.
Venice
Venice is a web soap opera series and the creative concept of long time friends and artistic partners Crystal Chappell and Kimmy Turrisi. Venice focuses on the life of Gina Brogno — a single, gay, self-made interior designer — living and working in Venice Beach, California. The plot follows Gina’s human experience in connection with her various love interests, brother Owen, father The Colonel and myriad other characters that make up Gina’s network of relationships.
12 Episodes are available via subscription