Watch This: Treme

As I have only been awake for about three hours today, I have been smacked in the face at least two times with a reference for Treme, a new dramatic series on HBO based upon the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

It was mentioned in my American Music class, mostly based upon the music (duh) references within the episodes. New Orleans is VERY well-known for its own genre of Southern Jazz and Blues, creating a birthplace for many of today's talented musicians. Anyone interested in this kind of music, or just a fan of good music in general, should watch this.

ALSO: while reading one of the blogs I follow: NoControl (check it out, y'alls), about ten minutes later after my class discussed the show... there it is again. Treme shows up within an entry, going over a recap of last night's show, with it being described as "gripping" and... "funny?"

Basically, I have to check it out. It looks amazing and I invite everyone to grow into the show with me. Maybe a new summer show? I always turn to HBO for my summer view-age (Entourage anyone?)

Check out the trailer. It is beautifully filmed and I am super excited about it. ALSO: JOHN GOODMAN HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Why do I like this stuff?

So basically, I found it. I found the greatest thing you could put on television ever.

A little while ago, this youtube video became extremely popular... because its absolutely ridiculous.

No American female can do that song justice... not even Whitney Houston HERSELF can do it justice anymore.

So come to find that last night, I was not the only one that loves this video. Apparently, so does William Shatner, and from here becomes the only funny thing to come out of Lopez Tonight...

enjoy...

also: who can't listen to Total Eclipse of the Heart without think of Old School?? (I need you now tonight, I fucking need you more than ever..)

Glee vs. American Idol

So last night caused quite a bit of chaos, for all those silly enough to choose Glee and/or American Idol over Lost- many fans of Glee noticed how the last three minutes of the show were cut off in order to make room for News, ONLY because American Idol ran too long.

So lets get this straight- FOX made a sacrifice of cutting a somewhat decent show off in order to accommodate for a HORRENDOUS show?

Whats the deal with American Idol ruining television? I hate that show ever since it kicked off Chris Daughtry in the 5th season. The jokes, the singers, the host (especially the host), and the judges are all old, and I can't deal with it anymore. American Idol has been described as a juggernaut- but how? Why do these types of shows become so popular. Its getting to a point where the minority on the show is people who actually have decent careers afterwards, so its obviously not doing its job.

But anyway, it seems as though this season might signify the beginning of the end. I haven't been watching, but all I hear is that there are only TWO (out of seven, currently) good people on that show: Big Mike and Crystal Bowersox (I haven't checked that... the mom who doesn't wear shoes). How did everyone on that show become a Sanjaya?

I've been wanting to rant about American idol, it was time

But don't get me wrong- even though as a former drama student and singer myself, I should love Glee... but I really don't. Maybe it's the cheese factor, or maybe its the fact that I am expected to follow this formula of loving the show, maybe because the plotline is so old, but I am honestly just unhappy with how that show has taken off.

But it brings into question how a specific show can just control a network. Why did FOX believe American Idol could run long, and destroy the final moments of the long awaited "Madonna Episode" (groan). Its interesting to see how fans will react, but in the meantime, thanks to Perez Hilton, here's the last song of Glee, hilariously my favorite Madonna song, Like a Prayer, enjoy you Gleeks

Lost... guh

SPOILER ALERT

if you did not see the episode aired on 4/20/10

BE WARNED

So basically I've come to the point where I absolutely refuse to get into details about Lost, since I am really just trying to catch up with the past five seasons going into this one, but I'm slowly getting a grip on what is important/ symbolic

1. the fact that one of the final episodes of Lost airs on 4/20... because you need to be high to understand any of it?

2. Jin and Sun's reunion was as beautiful as I thought it would be... except what the hell was up with that pitiful wide shot? As they are running towards the electromagnetic beams my roomie and I are SCREAMING because we thought they were gonners.

3. Jack saves Locke in the real world... yet Locke saves Jack on the island... hmmm

4. Claire and Sayid both show signs of some sort of soul when Kate and Desmond mention loved ones, maybe the theme "love conquers all" will be the big twist at the end.... ha

5. Does anyone else think somethings up with Jack's son? Its weird having him be all nice and friendly with dear old dad, I just don't trust him.

6. I am still trying to figure out Whitmore's role in all of this, I never understood his part from the beginning and I surely don't get it now.

I'm also still trying to find a decent Lost blog that A. I can understand (because that's been difficult, they are all so cluttered and unreadable, I hate it) and B. can spell out different theories and engage me in all sorts of thought. I will be racing to post the sight as soon as I find one suitable for THIS blog, yeeeah.

Also: NO LOST NEXT WEEK WTF ABC?!?!?!?!?!??! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US?!

But for now- here is a little web-series called Instant Dharma featured on AOL television that talks about different aspects of the show, it seems pretty legit so enjoy

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?

poor jack bauer

SPOILER ALERT

if you did not watch the episode of 24 aired on 4/23/20

BE WARNED

I mean, poor Jack. This guy just can't catch a break. I didn't have a huge connection with Renee Walker as a character, so I wasn't too upset when she died... but I mean, it seems as though 24 is just cutting off any sort of connection Jack has with a decent life, right when he immediately makes it. Renee was only on the show for two seasons, and they really only started having any sort of relationship in this one, so why kill her off so soon? I don't understand any 24 fan who doesn't believe Jack should die at the end of 24. Time after time it is proven he can't get any peace, I will refuse to believe that he lives peacefully once the cameras stop following his character- which is an unsettling ending.

Of course the Russians are behind this one, aren't they always? I'm surprised Kiefer Sutherland hasn't had to stand infront of a camera during a commercial break explaining that even though 24 writes about bad Russians, there are plenty of "good ones" out there.

Also, the Hassan daughter is one of the worst actresses I have ever seen. Cute... but shitty actress.

I find it really hard to believe that Hassan's wife could make it as acting president, but maybe I'm just not too familiar with customs of Islamic Republic of Kamistan.

THANK GOODNESS someone FINALLY put Chloe in charge.

Still unsure of how I feel about Charles Logan... and who was his bitch boy? Not trusting him just yet. Also: Martha Logan?!?! WHERE ART THOU MARTHA.

Of course, I didn't see scenes for next week's episode, but i'm PUMPEDDDDD. Its getting really good, counting down towards the end of an era. *snif*

RIP RENEE.

(GOOGLE IMAGES)

CONAN O'BRIEN

OK. bignews.

Conan O'Brien has just announced that he is beginning his run, once again, as a late night talk show host at 11 p.m. on TBS.

This is HUGE because:

1. most people were speculating that he was going to sign a deal with Fox, who obviously did not think he would have been profitable enough... idiots.

2. TBS= cable. There is no determined audience because not everyone has access to cable television (shock).

3. 11 p.m. puts him more in competition with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert instead of Leno and Letterman- considering Stewart, Colbert, and Conan are all good friends and they share a relatively similar audience, I wonder how this will all pan out.

Personally, I don't know how I feel about this. I mean, he's becoming George Lopez' lead-in, which is ridiculous. Love Lopez, but, compared to Conan.... he's nothing. Plus, TBS? really? A network filled with reruns and Tyler Perry shows? C'mon coco you can do betterrrrr

Now I have to choose between Daily Show, Family Guy, AND Conan. Of course, my choice will always be cone-sy, but still, its a hard choice to make.

I guess we'll see how this goes, I'm hoping he really makes the comeback of a lifetime- he deserves it.

In the meantime, check out one of my favorite finds on youtube, a behind the scenes look at the weird short story arch of Stewart, Colbert, and Conan all wanting to kill eachother... i forget the details. This is a behind the scenes look of the final battle sequence. Comedy gold.

Saturday night... the graveyard shift

We've been talking about Twin Peaks recently in my media arts class- and how its ultimate demise came when it moved to Saturday night, one of the worst nights for a television show to air during the week. Mostly saved for movies and repeats, it seems as though the only show to do well during that time slot is... Saturday Night Live- an entirely different genre.

So why do shows do terribly on Saturday night? Is it that no one wants to see a well-scripted, good acting television show late at night while they are probably intoxicated?

when I tried researching successful scripted television shows that aired on saturday night and pretty much got nothing. Just repeats, WWE wrestling, and of course, Saturday Night Live.

So why did ABC place Twin Peaks, an unbelievable popular show at the time to the worst time slot in television history?
Heres my opinion: it was entirely experimental. ABC tried desperately to change the face of television to have one of the first scripted television shows do well in a saturday night time slot. Of course, it failed, and for some reason that is beyond me, they didn't try to save a sinking ship.
Twin Peaks led the way for Lost, so I felt as during the last few episodes we had of this groundbreaking show, we'd honor its predecessor. It only lasted two seasons, so its worth watching. David Lynch was brilliant, being one of the first television producers to respect the audience enough to think they were smart enough to understand a complex storyline.
It's demise, like many great shows, was too soon. Plus, who knew Kyle MacLachlan was so hilarious?



This video is part of Agent Cooper's (MacLachlan) dream sequence- leading him to believe he knew who killed Laura Palmer, a central theme of the show. It became infamous, and thrusting Twin Peaks into the spotlight of not being a "normal" television show.