(Image from IMDB entry of "Planet Earth" still image from show footage, copyright of BBC and Discovery networks.)
The Discovery Channel has gone through many transformations. When I was little, I remember watching countless wildlife and nature shows on Discovery. Sometime in the late 90's, with the success of American Chopper, it all of a sudden became the motorcycle and car channel. Now there seems to be a resurgent of the old ways of Discovery, and some of their programming is amazing.
Last night I finally saw an episode the much talked about Planet Earth, a series that was originally broadcast on the BBC, and beginning March 25, is being shown in a slightly different version on the Discovery channel. According to the BBC and Discovery channel, the series is the largest, most encompassing nature show ever produced, and took over five years to make.
The show is produced by Alastair Fothergill and many of the same people responsible for successful BBC and Discovery series Blue Planet, about life in the world's oceans.
From what I saw, this show definitely lives up to the hype. The footage is honestly mind-blowing when you try to imagine the time and work that must have gone in to obtaining the footage that they were able to get. Here is a short trailer showing some of the show's amazing scenes.
I for one am glad to see that the Discovery channel is again showing this kind of programming. The show really does appeal to a very large audience. The DVD Series is not yet released, but is already the #1 DVD seller on Amazon based on pre-sales alone.
Click here for a 15 minute clip from Amazon.com And look at local TV listings to find out when you can see it on TV.
I had stuff to do this weekend: I was supposed to work on a resume, follow up some summer jobs, take a shower...instead I spent a good portion of this holiday weekend watching a season and a half of a TV series on DVD.
I don't follow HBO shows very closely; first of all I don't have HBO, and secondly they tend to charge about $80 for a season of like 6 episodes on DVD. I followed Sopranos for the first couple seasons, but then it got too complicated what with 18 month breaks between seasons and 3 people getting whacked every week.
After hearing a lot about the show Entourage for the last couple of years, I decided to check out an episode online. Before I know it I have a half-eaten large pizza in front of me and a stack of recipes from Hollywood video.
I have heard several people refer to Entourage as Sex and the City for guys, and couldn't agree more. Let us examine the similarities between the two:
-Protagonists are professionals who are trying to make a name for themselves with varying setbacks and accomplishments? CHECK -Protagonists have a posse of friends/leeches who seem to be with them at every second of their lifes and the group functions almost as a single organism? CHECK -Shows revolve largely around the plots of sex and relationships, casual or otherwise? CHECK.
Okay, so the shows do differ in subject matter and style some, but both are examples of series that, in my opinion, are clearly tailored to a specific gender audience. I know, I know, there are a lot of females who watch Entourage and some guys who will admit to liking Sex and the City, but it is undeniable that attitudes towards the opposite sex in both shows are very biased, and focus on issues affecting their own genders.
To call either show sexist would be a little bit extreme. It is TV, HBO for that matter, and they like to ride the line between offensive and brilliant. Here's another poll just for the hell of it to see if you guys agree with me.
As I'm sure most of you know, Sex in the City has been off the air for a couple of years, but is available in just adorableDVD box sets for you to buy for your girlfriend. Entourage just began its fourth season this Sunday, and it is safe to say that I will be a little bit moody come the end of this week when I am done watching season 3 and have to way several months for the next on DVD.
Remember back when shows and cartoons like the Jetson's showed the world in the year 2000 and it was crazy futuristic, we have for decades been promised flying cars... well I am still driving a grounded piece of...truck. Anyway, who would have predicted that by the year 2007, a large chunk of television would be dedicated to watching other people live more exciting lives than ourselves?
Reality TV is a sign that the future of TV is increasingly unpredictable. In a time where there is a cable channel directed to nearly every viewer niche and shows continue to push the limits of what is acceptable on broadcast television, thanks to a virtually useless rating system (like a little M in the corner of the screen is going deter your kids from watching Jackass.), who knows what the future holds for TV programs.
The following scene from the 2006 Mike Judge film, Idiocracy explores this very question with it's view of TV programming in the year 2050:
There's only so much ground that sitcoms have yet to cover, when was the last time you saw a truly innovative TV show? Sure there are a few groundbreaking shows out there like BBC's The Office, or LOST, but isn't a show like the inexplicably popular Grey's Anatomy essentially just a sappier rehashing of ER?
If what is on the tube is a sign of the times, we are in trouble people. The Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver were a reflection of conservative 50's and 60's America and we watch those shows with a snicker at parents sleeping in separate beds and cheesy songs. But how will people react when looking back at the shows of our time seeing people eat pig anuses on Fear Factor or gruesome crime shows like CSI?
Another aspect to consider is the method in which TV will be delivered in the near future. Already TIVO and similar services are making it so that the standard TV format of "you will watch what we want you to when we want you to and suffer through the ads we want you to," is becoming obsolete. There are now several places on the internet where people can download or stream TV shows after they have aired. This type of file sharing is not being pursued as much as music or film copyright infringement because the networks aren't seeing much of an effect to their revenue given that advertisements are still how they make their money. Given that people can bypass these ads in various ways now, product placement will most surely become more prominent. *1
The internet is also now starting to provide alternatives to TV programming with series of homemade or low-cost production pieces hosted on YouTube or similar sites. These types of programs can be distributed seamlessly to nearly anyone with access to a computer and the internet, and more importantly, are free. With more news being geared towards the multi-faceted arena of the internet, sitting down to watch the evening news broadcast just seems tedious.
I know this post is kind of all over the place and only poses more questions without answers, but I'm online, I have the TV on, have music playing through headphones and someone is playing XBOX in the other room. How am I supposed to concentrate? I'm a product of my environment, people. Deal with it.
*1 image is borrowed from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:American_Idol_judges.jpg and falls within the guidelines of Fair Use.
I didn't have a lot of time to watch TV this past week, and whatever I did watch was mostly a couple minutes of cable news here and there. With primaries only...9 months away, the poll frenzy has begun for which candidates the public can tolerate a little bit more. Barack Obama (or Barack Osama as FOX news prefers to call him) was on Larry King over the weekend. Now I have a lot of respect for Larry King, but the fact is he is getting crazy old and his game is beginning to slip just a little bit. I remember a particular interview last year with James Frey after the "Million Little Pieces" fiasco, during which is was obvious Larry King had not read more than the sleeve of the book and asked Frey repeatedly if this experience would drive him back to drug use. Anyway, In the spirit of polling, here is my own questionnaire for the masses of people who I am sure read this blog. Enjoy. (Give it a few seconds to load).
Schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\, noun: A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.
pardon me if this blog entry seems a little more scholarly than usual, but I have been thinking of something for a while in relation to why we watch certain programs on TV, or why these shows even exist.
Every Sunday, my roommate sits down to watch two episodes of the A&E show "Intervention." Each week, the show follows the life of an addict (alcohol, crack, heroin, gambling, etc.) painfully close and then organizes an intervention and rehabilitation program for the subject. The show often shows with explicit detail the process of drug use and addiction, complete with scenes of inserting heroin needles. Why would we want to watch this?
Of course the argument may be that this is not exploitation, but is a documentary display of reality that exposes the public to the harsh truths of addiction yada yada yada.
I think producers, advertisers, and viewers know it is much more than that. Why are other types of shows so popular? Survivor, American Idol, Elimidate...is it because we like to see the winner succeed or are we equally, if not more so, interested in seeing the failure and embarrassment of others?
I'm not trying to judge anybody here, the only parts of American Idol I watch are the early episodes where the dreams of so many untalented hopefuls are extinguished in front of Ryan Seacrest and millions of viewers at home.
Our culture is based on merit, individual success and overcoming obstacles. Yet the reality is not everyone is successful. Shows that portray the misfortune of others offer an interlude in our own lives and a chance for us to feel good about ourselves because 'hey, at least my life doesn't suck as much as theirs."
I'll get off my soapbox now, MTV's "Juvies" is starting....
There is a LOT of crap on TV. If you don't believe me, check out my previous post that covers 24 hours of TV programming. With so many shows out there, it is hard to believe, and often very disappointing when networks decide to cancel your favorite show. These are my picks for the top 10 shows that were cancelled before their time. This does not include shows that ran their course and producers decided to end gracefully, but consists of shows that for one reason or another, were shunned by the network and taken off the air.
1. Arrested Development, FOX 2003-'06: By far the most original and humorous sitcom since Seinfeld. The show lasted three seasons, and they were at least informed midway through the last season that they would not be renewed, so they could tie up the show at least somewhat. The show had a strong fan following and won multiple Emmy Awards, but for some reason FOX shuffled it around their weekly schedule and viewers had a hard time keeping up. The show also featured no laugh-track, was a smarter breed of comedy than most, and did require viewers to watch weekly to keep up with running plot lines. This combination unfortunately sealed the shows fate. Seasons 1-3 can all be obtained on DVD for a reasonable price.
2. Freaks and Geeks, FOX 1999-'00: Another huge mistake by FOX to cancel this show after just 18 episodes. The show follows the life of a handful of high school students during the 80's. While it was a great show that integrated comedy with a touch of nostalgic, sentimental drama, FOX could not find a demographic to cater to with the show and didn't give it enough of a chance to pick up viewer support. The show is not yet being shown in syndication, but the full series DVD is available.
3. NewsRadio, NBC 1995-1999: When Phil Hartman was killed in 1998, NewsRadio tried to carry on, but the comedic heart behind the show had been lost. Though ratings were never all that high for NewsRadio, it's awesome cast of Dave Foley, Andy Dick, Joe Rogan and Maura Tierny provided enough laughs for it to stay on the air. I don't think this show got enough credit while it was on, and I don't think it gets enough credit now for being one of the best comedies of the 90's. The show is being released gradually on DVD, and re-runs can be seen frequently on TBS.
4. Dead Like Me, Showtime 2003-2004: Even though I think this show is great, it's not surprising that it would get canned. First, it was shown on a premium cable channel, which puts a big limit on the viewers it can attract. It did not feature any well known actors, and it's plot concept walked a fine line between dark comedy and drama. The show features a young woman who is killed by a falling airplane toilet seat and becomes a grim reaper In writing it might sound lame, but it really is a good show and the acting is fantastic. DVDs for both seasons are a little pricey, but can be found at great prices on ebay.
5. Carnivale, HBO 2003-2005. Carnivale is a perfect example of why I don't like about HBO. They have a handful of shows that they pump so much money into, that profits cannot possibly keep up with production costs. They seem to constantly be looking for the next "Sopranos" and don't give their shows enough of chance. Carnivale in two seasons won 5 Emmy's and was nominated for dozens of other awards. Yet, at the end of the second season, just when the drama was peaking in suspense, HBO decided not to renew. The show takes place in depression-era America and follows a traveling circus, as an epic battle good and evil is emerging. Imagine X-files with more likable characters, a more compelling story, amazing production & sets, and you have carnivale. HBO also charges ridiculous amounts for its DVDs. So while both seasons are available for purchase, I would recommend spending much less and renting them at your local independent video store (For those in Tucson, try Casa Video, with two-for-one rentals on Tues. and Wed.)
The others:
6. Wonderfalls 7. Mystery Science Theater 3000 8. Family Guy (Though it was brought back from cancellation 3 years later) 9. Dog bites man 10. VH1 Pop-up video
(some informational material from this post was found at IMDB.)
Read any "womens" magazine (not that I do, but The Girlfriend leaves them lying around) or look around the web and you will discover that women want guys who are talented in fields beyond beer pong. One of qualities deemed attractive by the --pardon the ridiculous phrase-- modern woman, is a man who knows how to cook.
I can't help the fact that I am a good cook. In my family, the men always did most of the cooking, or were just better at it. Of course, being in college and living off of student loans and bar tips, I have eaten my fair share of easy-mac, but I try to do actual cooking as often as possible, especially since The Girlfriend has a hard time making scrambled eggs (I finally convinced her to scramble the BEFORE putting them in the pan).
"If you didn't know how to cook, I would probably starve to death, or just dump you"- The Girlfriend. She apparently isn't alone.
Learning to cook may be difficult for the spatula-impaired, but that's where The Food Network comes into play. I would estimate that at least a quarter of my TV watching is dedicated to The Food Network . Not only does the cable channel have shows that are fun to watch, like Iron Chef and Dinner:Impossible, but it also has shows that offer great, and relatively practical dishes that anyone can make. Often, the Food Network website includes recipes featured on certain shows so that you can take a closer look and replicate them.
So then, I now present you with my 3 choices for shows that guys should watch to pick up some tips on how to graduate beyond ramen and instant mashed potatoes:
Boy Meets Grill with Bobby Flay Ignore the stupid title. This show features Chef Bobby Flay cooking pretty simple meals almost entirely on the grill. For those who still think a woman's place is in the kitchen, and aren't ready to make that move, the grill is the best place to start. Some of his meals are a little complicated and over-ambitious, but you can always simplify the recipe and make it your own. Here is an easy recipe for skirt steak tacos.
Tyler's Ultimate Okay, Tyler Florence is a little bit goofy and sometimes irritating, but it is well worth sitting through a 30 minute show if it is going to greatly improve your skills. The basis behind the show is that the cook takes a well known, and often simple meal and improves upon that to create the "ultimate" version. Still the recipes are fairly easy to make. What Tyler does that a lot of cooking shows don't is explain with greater detail what he is doing as he is cooking to make it easier to follow. Here is Tylers recipe for the ultimate shrimp scampi.
Everyday Italian Ahh, Giada De Laurentiis...Just because the host of this show is an extremely attractive woman, it does not make you any less of a man to follow her cooking instruction. Italian food is some of my favorite to make because the ingredients are relatively cheap and it is deceptively simple. (A good rule of thumb for Italian cooking is if doesn't taste great, just add more cheese.) Here is an example of the awesome but easy dishes featured on the show.
(Image from IMDB entry of "Planet Earth" still image from show
