Friday, December 29, 2006
To close out 2006, here's a list of some of my recent favorites in the world of television and other entertainment:
Veronica Mars: This is a really fun, gripping and intelligent show. I am constantly amazed at the ability of the series to deal with real issues in the context of high school and college (the last three seasons have featured: rape, teenage pregnancy, corporate scandal, infidelity, teenage athletes behaving badly, etc.) Veronica is one of the best female characters on television with her wit, charm and ability to dominate almost any situation despite her short stature. I don't know why she keeps dating such losers, but hopefully when the series returns we will see some progress in her love life. The transition to college was remarkably seamless, which is an impressive feat for a teen series. Veronica Mars replaces the newly terrible Gilmore Girls in my CW fav list.
The Office: It's simply the best sitcom on television. Hands down. I was recently able to watch the entire first season and most of the second season on DVD (my sister is a big fan as well and received season two for Christmas) and I am now completely convinced it is superior to the British original. Well, at least for the American sensibility. It's very American. There is a pretty good article about the show in the December 1st issue of the New Yorker.
The New Yorker: My new favorite magazine. Although it's embarrassing how much that immediately identifies me as a wannabe intellectual yuppie, they have me pegged and I love it. I don't care if Malcolm Gladwell's arguments may not be entirely legit, that the fiction is often boring, and that the calendar is New York-centric. I have even developed an appreciation for the comics. The endless ads for luxury goods suggest that I am a "starter" New Yorker demo member, but I'm sure I'll be interested in buying investment watches and jewelry soon enough.
Bankers Ball Blog: www.bankersball.com pure hilarity if you are a banker, went to school with a bunch of them, or read American Psycho or Liars Poker. They are definitely a unique culture, and this blog gives you the window into their interesting little post-frat boy minds.
Heroes: The standout series of the Fall 2006 Television season. One of the few new series that anyone seems to watch, and the obvious successor to Lost. Unlike Lost, Heroes is reliably entertaining, mysterious enough without being too mysterious, and won't lose you entirely if you aren't watching with 100% attention. This is quality television.
How I Met Your Mother: Though the Class is a complete disappointment, I am grateful to CBS for marketing it enough that it led me to catch it's neighbor sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. I never would have watched this show due to the really lame title, and now it is a close second to the Office in my sitcom favorites list. If The Office is the new Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother is the new Friends.
The Holiday: It's a chick flick, but a completely entertaining and adorable chick flick that actually makes you happy in the end. Kate Winslet is an excellent actress in any context, Jack Black is charming, and the old man is amazing. It has the secondary bonus of making you fall in love with Los Angeles. Cameron Diaz and Jude Law are a little painfully good looking, it's like looking at the sun with those two, and their story is pretty boring. See it for Kate. (See the Notebook if you want to cry for two hours)
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Veronica Mars: This is a really fun, gripping and intelligent show. I am constantly amazed at the ability of the series to deal with real issues in the context of high school and college (the last three seasons have featured: rape, teenage pregnancy, corporate scandal, infidelity, teenage athletes behaving badly, etc.) Veronica is one of the best female characters on television with her wit, charm and ability to dominate almost any situation despite her short stature. I don't know why she keeps dating such losers, but hopefully when the series returns we will see some progress in her love life. The transition to college was remarkably seamless, which is an impressive feat for a teen series. Veronica Mars replaces the newly terrible Gilmore Girls in my CW fav list.
The Office: It's simply the best sitcom on television. Hands down. I was recently able to watch the entire first season and most of the second season on DVD (my sister is a big fan as well and received season two for Christmas) and I am now completely convinced it is superior to the British original. Well, at least for the American sensibility. It's very American. There is a pretty good article about the show in the December 1st issue of the New Yorker.
The New Yorker: My new favorite magazine. Although it's embarrassing how much that immediately identifies me as a wannabe intellectual yuppie, they have me pegged and I love it. I don't care if Malcolm Gladwell's arguments may not be entirely legit, that the fiction is often boring, and that the calendar is New York-centric. I have even developed an appreciation for the comics. The endless ads for luxury goods suggest that I am a "starter" New Yorker demo member, but I'm sure I'll be interested in buying investment watches and jewelry soon enough.
Bankers Ball Blog: www.bankersball.com pure hilarity if you are a banker, went to school with a bunch of them, or read American Psycho or Liars Poker. They are definitely a unique culture, and this blog gives you the window into their interesting little post-frat boy minds.
Heroes: The standout series of the Fall 2006 Television season. One of the few new series that anyone seems to watch, and the obvious successor to Lost. Unlike Lost, Heroes is reliably entertaining, mysterious enough without being too mysterious, and won't lose you entirely if you aren't watching with 100% attention. This is quality television.
How I Met Your Mother: Though the Class is a complete disappointment, I am grateful to CBS for marketing it enough that it led me to catch it's neighbor sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. I never would have watched this show due to the really lame title, and now it is a close second to the Office in my sitcom favorites list. If The Office is the new Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother is the new Friends.
The Holiday: It's a chick flick, but a completely entertaining and adorable chick flick that actually makes you happy in the end. Kate Winslet is an excellent actress in any context, Jack Black is charming, and the old man is amazing. It has the secondary bonus of making you fall in love with Los Angeles. Cameron Diaz and Jude Law are a little painfully good looking, it's like looking at the sun with those two, and their story is pretty boring. See it for Kate. (See the Notebook if you want to cry for two hours)
I recently saw an episode of "Pants off Dance off" and it is exactly as bizarre as you might imagine. I also wonder if it's legal? They repeatedly throw viewers to the website, where they claim you can see video of the contestants dancing naked. I find that very hard to believe, especially for a network supposedly targeting young teens. If there were any viewers, I'm sure the FCC would be policing that one.
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