TV Shows

[MDS]

It's getting mixed reactions from critics. I saw the pilot back in the fall, rewatched it tonight with the roomates and agreed that it was good. The pilot I saw was longer (obviously had to be cut for length) and had some better music (often changes because of rights fees for songs from original pilot to pilot that airs).

A little note: the brother with the limp, who goes to jail in the end, is the kid from the sandlot (and yes, he was also the kid from lassie).

NBC devoting the first 20 minutes of the hour without a commerical is telling of their commitment to this show. Or to basically anything that isnt the jumbled mess that is Studio 60.

[Sgt PSN]

Anyone who didn't laugh at guys like Mitch Hedberg or Bill Hicks needs a lobotomy.

Hedberg fargin rocks(ed)!!!  I can watch/listen to him over and over and laugh hysterically every time. 

[Rome]

OK, so the Black Donnellys was really good. Maybe, TV actually is making some sort of comeback. Now if someone would just stab the last of the reality shows to death I'll be happy.

It was really good.  I was hoping it was going to suck ass so that Studio 60 would be brought back but based on last night's show, I can't see that happening any time soon.

Paul Haggis is a great writer and director.  I shouldn't be surprised it was great.

[Seabiscuit36]

Mmmm  Hagges

[rjs246]

I'm not sure what the critics are complaining about with the premier. The only thing that took away from it even a little bit was that we've all seen this story before.

The 'bad' son/brother with no future outside of crime goes away leaving the promising son who has lived on the straight and narrow to take over the family's criminal hardships... shtein, they even had the 'ladies man' brother who ends up getting everyone in trouble. Other than the Godfather parallels, it was a pretty outstanding show.

[SD_Eagle5]

I'll give BD another try but my initial reaction to the premier was that it was boring. My g/f seemed to like it, though.

[Sgt PSN]

I'll give BD another try but my initial reaction to the premier was that it was boring. My g/f seemed to like it, though.

Thus, the reason you'll be giving it another try. 

[Rome]

Wow - I'm kinda surprised at your reaction, SD.

I thought it was excellent and anything but boring. 

And yeah, there were some parallels with the Godfather to be sure, but if you're going to rip off a storyline for a series, you may as well rip off the best.

[Zanshin]

Haven't visited this thread in awhile.  Since people are busy trying to prove how cool they are for not watching American Idol, I thought I'd chime in. 

I often watch American Idol.  My wife watches it, and it's something that that the kid can watch...and there aren't many shows that meet that criteria.  I have to say that I enjoy it, though probably not as it was intended.  I really don't care about the singing, but I think it's a really interesting glimpse into the psyche of the people whom vote.  It's also interesting to see which of the "contestents" finally figure out how to play the game and manipulate the situation the right way. 

[rjs246]

All reality television should be thrown into a pile and burned. Every trace.

[Zanshin]

I wouldn't miss any of it.  I'm pretty sure my wife's head would explode, though.

[Geowhizzer]

My wife likes the reality stuff.  I'm in the room (usually working or on CF  ) when it's on.  Just 5 minutes of American Idol and I feel like I've lost 25 IQ points.

[phattymatty]

i watched about 20 min. of the black donnellys and turned it off.  half the irish accents were a joke and made me laugh and the gimpy kid was a god awful actor.  only reason i atempted to watch it was because my hotmail account has been advertising it for weeks.

although i did notice that chris bauer is on it (frank sobotka from the wire), he's a great actor. 

maybe i'll try it again if everyone says it's so good.

[rjs246]

The acting on TV is usually pretty bad. The writing of this episode was interesting and the story totally drew me in. If the writing is good the actors will eventually find their way through it. Anyway, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Sgt PSN]

All reality television should be thrown into a pile and burned. Every trace.

IN