As a connoisseur of true crime television shows, I can definitively state that actual footage of under-cover busts, taped conversations, and interrogations are often the best part of any program. Enter The Interrogators, a new show on the Biography channel. Of course it's awesome and of course I love it.? There's an episode On-Demand if you're an NYC-area Time Warner customer, just search it out in the guide.?
TV Shows »The Interrogators
Be the first to leave a comment →
TV Shows »Stella
Watching Michael and Michael Have Issues, a perfectly acceptable comedy, but not, perhaps the greatest achievement of these two charming comedians, I found myself really longing to watch their brief lived series from a few years back, Stella.
The loosey goosey, often absurd and silly skit show stars The State co-conspirators (and the famous people you're most likely to see walking the streets of Manhattan), Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain. The trio performed under the name Stella with less safe for television material for years before they were picked up for a series. But the glory was short lived and The Mind of Mencia was there to fill there shoes after only ten episodes.
In one of my personal favorite episodes, the suit clad boys crash a Paul Rudd attended company picnic only to become heads of “the big account”. Another finds them battling paper boy bullies through the art of friendship rapping. You can find these moments and more on dvd – which is also finally true regarding long awaited release The State – though it's had “a very long wait” for a very long time on netflix, boo.
See more: TV Shows 2000s Comedy
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009
TV Shows »Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is nerdy in a bad way sometimes (I could skip having to watch the awkward hiaku reviews) but it's also got that kind of nerd charm that can be enjoyable. The hosts are very LA Current TV stock (see XPlay) and the faux banter between can be lame, but easily over looked because these two kids do grow on you (she especially when you see how much prettier and like a normal cool girl you might know she looks like under all that makeup).
But the real reason we watch every week is just because I miss movie previews on Sundays. I was always a fan of Siskle and Ebert and even went along with it when it became Ebert and Roper. But it's “hip”, “younger” reincarnation staring uncharasmatic douches name Josh was unpalettable.
Rotten Tomatoes gives a well rounded point of view of new releases including online viewers, critics, and to their credit, they also reference and recommend many older and sometimes lesser known films.
It's not a ground breaking or life changing show and it could be too much for you depending on your tolerance for geekdom, but I enjoy it despite it's flaws and am happy at least some people are still wathcing, loving and reviewing movies.
See more: TV Shows About Movies Reviews
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 3, 2009
TV Shows »The Dark Ages
The concept of the Dark Ages, a time when mankind actually reverted – forgetting the advances of one of the most advances civilizations in history, has always been fascinating and mystifying to me.
Sadly, most History Channel series that I've tried to watch fail to quench my curiosity regarding historical events, but The Dark Ages was not disappointing. Neither dry nor too jazzed up and hip-ified, their collection of experts and recreations offer an insightful exposition on the time of plagues and superstition.
The series is available on netflix on demand.
See more: TV Shows Historical Miniseries Renaissance/Medieval
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on July 27, 2009
TV Shows »FBI Files
While I'd love to give the folks over at FBI Files a full on series recommendation, I can only really recommend one episode (Deadly Paradise: season 1, episode 5), so memorable and great that it's been worked into my usual party conversations. Attempts to get as involved with other episodes have failed.
The one I speak of involves a remote island Pacific island in shark-infested waters, a thieving bad news dude with the name 'Buck' tattooed on his arm (though he denies that's his name) with an equally delinquent girlfriend, a pot growing scheme gone wrong, the cutting down of a coconut tree to get at the coconuts, shooting of fish with a handgun, and daring escapes in row boats and hiding in potted plants. Look for it!
See more: TV Shows True Crime
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on July 20, 2009
TV Shows »Who Put the M in Manchester
Who Put the M in Manchester? Clearly the answer is Morrissey. Performing on his forty-fifth birthday (“I can't believe I'm 29” he quips to the audience, as charmingly as ever), Morrissey seems to be paying homage to fellow crooner Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback special with the stage set consisting of his solely his name, huge in lights.
Experiencing a comeback of his own at the time of the concert, Morrissey begins the show with my favorite song from his career altering album You are The Quarry (First of the Gang to Die). He also performs several songs from the excellent Viva Hate. You can watch the entire performance on instant Netflix.
See more: TV Shows Concerts Musicals
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on July 13, 2009
TV Shows »Metalocalypse
While I immediately took to the Metalocalypse intro music, it took a bit longer to fall in love with the humor. Am I really recommending a cartoon where a man that pukes all over himself discovers free balling? Strangely, Yes, and further more I rather love the thing almost obsessively.
The show takes place in a future/alternate world where a heavy metal group called Deathklok rules!! – literally, they truly rule the world – like a teenage Iron Maiden fan's day dream come to life. They employ an army of hooded soldiers, reside in a metal dragon lair, are endorsed by a million products and bring fear to a Illuminati type coalition of military, religious and mysterious leaders.
The show plots center often around mundane realities like grocery shopping and buying the perfect birthday gift, but it mostly trudges through strange, really extremely violent territory where things surreal things like conjured giant Nordic trolls and a flock of ravens kill and maim thousands in gory, graphic ways. If you think you might not like watching lots of artistic interpretations of decapitations, face slicing, blood splattering, and bone crunching, you probably should watch something else.
To quote the band, this is brutal stuff, but just like the covers of our most favorite metal albums (Eddie!!), its really fun and great to look at too. And I promise you will not find anything else like it on TV.
If you're still not convinced, Kirk Hammett voices The Queen of Denmark.
See more: TV Shows Animated Heavy Metal
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on July 6, 2009
TV Shows »Frontier House
It's too bad PBS hasn't delved into the world of reality television more. Frontier House (inspired by a similarly conceived show about the 1900s over at the BBC) was a highly entertaining, insightful, and even educational. Three families were given acreage in Montana to live just as settlers did back in the 1880's. The goal was to be prepared for the coming winter by the end of the series – without cheating, Gordon Clune!
Like any good reality, there's a villain, and here Mr. Clune serves well, but in this relatively good-natured show, even the cheater finds himself better for growing closer to his family. Another family, the Glenns adapt to the harsh lifestyle easier, but their personal relationships are strained.
Available on DVD and Netflix, you'll find yourself more inthralled in the drama of making root cellars and cutting wood than you would ever expect. This is only second to Manor House in PBS's amazing series of historical reality shows.
See more: TV Shows 4th of July Pre 1900 Reality
One Comment →
Posted on June 29, 2009
TV Shows »Tipping the Velvet
It's been years since I've seen Tipping the Velvet, but this lush and lusty saga is pretty unforgettable. Based on the debut novel by Sarah Waters of the same name, the BBC adaptation is in the capable hands of adaptation king Andrew Davies. Set in Victorian England, the story is a rambling and expansive look at lesbian life during the era.
Nan, a spirited young woman goes from poor oyster house wench to stage performer to kinky rent “boy”, to kept woman and more. She's played by Rachael Stirling, who may be better known to you as the lovely daughter of Diana Rigg.
Lots of great costumes and settings abound and an entire world that rarely makes it to the big or little screen comes alive in this acclaimed series that is available on DVD.
See more: TV Shows 1990s Drama Gay Pride Historical Miniseries Pre 1900
Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on June 22, 2009
TV Shows »The Thick of It
Why do I mention it now?
Because an American film version was just screened (and sold out) at The Tribeca Film Festival. It's called In the Loop and stars James Gandolfini and will be in limited release the end of July.
Here's what I said back on 7/31/06
To say The Thick of It is like a British Office, only about government might be fairly accurate, but it seems unfair to the creators, espcially Armando Iannucci, whose fabulously waggish show The Day Today feature faux-verite segments that predate the Office and seemed to have been an inspiration for Ricky Gervais.
It may take a couple viewings to get into the show, the accents are thick and the government set up is slightly different from our own, except for the fact that it is crookedly run by people who don't seem to know what they are doing.
I would love to see an American version, perhaps about Albany's mess, but in today's political climate, I will not be holding my breath. A brilliant comedy that deserves a following.