I Swear I've Seen Your Face Before

A wonderful friend directed me to this delightful little meme (that's the name, right? meme? Ugh) comparing the not so subtle similarities between Friends and How I Met Your Mother. It's funny, really, how I can be so involved in both shows and not really notice something like this until someone slams the facts right in my face. Wow, they are pretty similar, aren't they?

It makes one wonder, is that okay? When you look at how closely related How I Met Your Mother is to Friends, does it ultimately demote the legacy that the former has achieved in television? There is no doubt in my mind that HIMYM completely revamped the multi-cam sitcom, once again making it marketable for the 18-24 demographic. I'm not saying that there aren't any wonderful multi-camera sitcoms out there before this particular show, but is it easy for a college student really imagine him/herself sitting down after a long day of classes, cracking open a beer, and cozying up to watch Charlie Harper and those ridiculous button down shirts? Yeah, it's super fun to watch Charlie Sheen be a womanizer on TV, but I'd personally enjoy watching Neil Patrick Harris a little bit more. Plus, HIMYM has Jason Segel, who seems to be every college boy's wet dream nowadays.

Personally, I believe it hards to many shows in today's time in television to not piggyback off the concept and/or structure of a previous show. From Parks and Recreation, to Private Practice, and Two Broke Girls, these shows have come into a voice of their own with a little help from the great shows before them. Ultimately, I don't think it hurts the legacy that any show has in television. Even though there are very similar ideas, a show is a good show due to the details in the characters and the journey they go through. Yes, Barney is ridiculously similar to Joey... but he's Barney, not Joey, and that's what makes HIMYM so special. Could you imagine Barney wanting to spend all of his time at a coffee shop? That's a negative.

Finally, we can't give HIMYM a hard time for taking a concept that is just so damn general in the first place. A group of friends who love and care of each other. C'mon, Friends, give us a break here.

Enjoy the meme! I'm sure it'll give you a laugh.

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A League All it's Own

Excuse the cheesy title, isn't that a movie or something? With Tom Hanks? Isn't he kind of an asshole in that movie? Who cares...

Anyway, in honor of finals week I have to mention one of those shows that people always end up watching when they are procrastinating, then they watch marathons on it, then they hate themselves in the morning. I'm not the only person who does this, right?

The League is something I didn't realize existed (thanks 4 months without a television) until I was, what else, procrastinating and needed something to take my mind off the paper I needed to do. Hmm, Nick Kroll, Paul Scheer, and those other random people who seem to look decently funny? Why not.

It was a risk that paid off. It's this sort of brilliance that I love: oh my gosh, why hasn't there been a show about fantasy football? or at least one as well-written as this one. As one of "those" females who constantly tries to wrap her mind around football but fails miserably, nevermind understanding the concept of fantasy football (wait... you can't talk to me all day sunday because why?), I can somehow thoroughly appreciate the ridiculousness that comes from the characters of this show.

I can really appreciate a show that has a simple concept but can keep everything fresh and exciting, also, I can't help but love shows with a one female perspective, especially one who does not come across as annoying or whiney. Yeeeeah Jenny, representin' the ladies.

It's definitely worth looking into, and its only three seasons in (JUST GOT PICKED UP FOR SEASON FOUR), which is the perfect amount of seasons to start getting into a brand new show. If people try to get me to watch How I Met Your Mother one more time I'm going to scream. Sorry, anything past seven seasons.... I'm out. But that's just because I'm lazy. And that's about watching television. Gosh, I hate myself.

But if you need any other reason to watch The League, you have to watch these clips from my newest standup obsession, Nick Kroll. I'm a sucker for cat AND poop jokes, so, obviously, this is heaven. Enjoy!

And also:

Oh William Shatner...

SO. this past month its been quite an exciting time for tv. cancellations, renewals, new LINE-UPS

its hard to organize everything BUT... as a TV junkie.. I will try my best

CBS:

CBS has definitely been the most interesting station to watch so far. Holy cancellations batman.

Ghost Whisperer (guh), Numb3rs, Cold Case, The New Adventures of Old Christine (SEINFELD CURSE NOOOOO), Accidentally on Purpose, and Gary Unmarried.

GOOD FOR THEM. cutting right down to more focus on better shows such as Big Bang Theory, How I Met your Mother, and spending a reportable 2 million per episode salary on Charlie Sheen for what is just the most mind-boggling show on television, Two and a Half Men. Seriously, I haven't met ONE person who religiously watches that show... yet its the number one sitcom in television TODAY.

whatevs.

BUT. What is CBS trying to do? Get all up in NBC's shit and creating their own kick-ass thursday night lineup. Thursday night has been historically the number one night for tv (the worst? SATURDAY night). NBC has prided itself on its "must-see tv" lineup consisting over the years of The Cosby Show, Cheers, Friends, Fraiser and Will and Grace, consistently being number one in the networks for its timeslot.

However, it seems as though ever since Friends went off the air, this precious NBC juggernaut has faulted. Yes, The Office is great and brings in most of the viewers, BUT, other great shows such as Community and 30 Rock only average half the viewers say... The Big Bang Theory?

SO. CBS is up for the challenge and creating their own thursday night "must see tv" with The Big Bang Theory at 8 p.m. followed by the new show *&%$ my dad says at 8:30, CSI at 9, and finally The Mentalist at 9:30. All these shows (well who knows about the new one... but its getting a lot of buzz) have a great following, but will it bring CBS to a new level? lets see

SO. *&^% my dad says... really... like, really? Yeah, that's the title. I'm all down for this concept: William Shatner is a "politically incorrect" retired dad. Do we all know one of those? yes. Is William Shatner hilarious? yes? So... will it be successful? YES.

But the name? The name of a show can really make it. 24 means that the plot of the show's season goes on for 24 hours in one day, Lost means that the viewer is lost from the pilot to the show's finale. They are easy, quick, catchy titles that I believe help make a show a success. But apparently, they are going to bleep the first word, obviously "shit", on television every time they announce the show.

clever marketing? or dumbest thing I've ever seen. Again... we'll see

So much to talk about. We'll meet again. and Erin- thanks for introducing me to tv upfronts (search google). Greatest. thing. ever.

Shows I should be watching

Show I should be watching: How I Met Your Mother

Why am I not watching: Because I'm an idiot? I don't really know why to be honest. I might have been watching something else around the 8:30 monday night time slot, then it just got to a point where I didn't think I'd be able to catch up with it.

Honestly, my story with HIMYM is a weird one, I did end up watching the first season when it premiered, but as I did with the Office, I initially hated it. I didn't think it was that funny, it hadn't grown into its own yet, I kind of gave up on it, thinking it was going to die.

Why I should be watching: CAST. What an amazing cast. Neil Patrick Harris revamps his career as Barney, one of the swarmiest characters ever on television, but totally proves his comedic chops. Alyson Hannigan, from Buffy fame, plays Lily who has been dating Marshall, Jason Segel, for nine years when the show begins.

Narrated by the one and only Bob Saget (WHAT), the show is set in the past tense, as Ted, played by Josh Radnor, is telling his children how (wait for it) he met their mother. The essential theme of the show is for the viewer to wait patiently until the writers decide how many years they can keep the scheme of not knowing who the mother is going.

I haven't read too much into the show, but I'm thinking there is a lot more going on than we know, and I believe that its a lot smarter than it appears. Also, I'm pretty sure there was a musical episode? And we all know that any good show has at least one musical episode.

I think I am going to start watching it soon, because I'm running out of shows to watch on Hulu, but I'm thinking this is one show I need to watch from the beginning, and I can't get out of doing like, like I've been doing with Modern Family.

Found a musical number! What a way for NPH to show off his musical/comedic talents. Who knew Doogie was this good?