Category Archives: TV Series

2006, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, TV Series, Vulgar

30 Rock (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon, the lead writer on a television variety series à la “Saturday Night Live,” in this Emmy-winning workplace sitcom co-starring Jane Krakowski, Tracy Morgan and the scene-stealing Alec Baldwin. When brash network executive Jack Donaghy (Baldwin) arrives on the scene to pep up the show, he unnerves the cast and crew with his meddlesome ways — among them, hiring a whacked-out movie star (Morgan).

I warn you: this TV series is at best acceptable trash. My son Mike suggested this series. His tastes are juvenile, sophomoric, and crass. Unfortunately, genes being what they are, he and I seem to share those tastes. I learned this during the recent Christmas vacation when I sadly realized that my tastes and those of my daughter Kate seemed to have diverged. Could it be that Kate is maturing ? What have Kathy and I done wrong ?

Every now and then there is a good laugh that was worth waiting for. Surprisingly, after her success imitating Sarah Palin, Tina Fey in this series is the straight man who leaves the laughs to others. Alex Baldwin does indeed steal the show, he just knows how to deliver a line. Jane Krakowski (she was Elaine in “Ally McBeal”) always gets it right.

You were warned, so don’t complain.

2004, Comedy, Drama, Lawyers, TV Series

Boston Legal: Season 1 (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Alan Shore (James Spader) and Denny Crane (William Shatner) lead a phalanx of pricey litigators in a Boston law firm in this David E. Kelley series that examines the professional and personal lives of brilliant (and often emotionally stunted) attorneys. For perspective, Brad Chase (Mark Valley) joins the firm to keep an eye on loose-cannon senior partner Crane. Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra and Rene Auberjonois co-star.

Season 1 of this TV series is 5 discs. Watching the outrageous behavior of all the lawyers involved as well as their support staff is just plan dirty fun. It’s the kind of nonsense that reminds me of another series “Arrested Development”. Just suspend any ethical sense you might have and enjoy the sport.

2006, 2007, 2008, Acceptable Trash, Gay theme, Love Story, Nudity, Sci-Fi, TV Series, Violent

Torchwood (2006)

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From NetFlix:

In this series that spun off from “Doctor Who,” policewoman Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) stumbles upon a secret organization known as Torchwood, a clandestine group led by the mysterious Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) that monitors alien activity on Earth. Cooper soon joins Harkness, tech expert Toshiko Sato (Naoko Mori) and medic Owen Harper (Burn Gorman) in their quest to protect Earth from invasion.

OK all you kids out there, if you liked either “Doctor Who” or “Lost” or “X-Files” and are into a lot of sex (and some violence) this is a TV series for you. You don’t have to know anything about “Doctor Who”, you just need to have that mindset. Certain characters are straight and others are gay and some few seem not to have made up their minds just yet. Start with Season One and work your way through Season Two and Season Three.

Season One

Nothing more than acceptable trash, this TV series can still be fun to watch. To give you a taste of the kind of nonsense involved, consider: An alien has come to Earth in search of orgasmic energy (yes, that is correct). This alien enters the body of a young woman who then serially attracts male sex partners. But as each young man reaches climax he turns into a small pile of dust. In time there is a trail of small piles of dust. Heard enough ?

As I recall, the last disk (7?) of Season One is not episodes, but rather extra commentary. You might not want to waste a rental on this last disc.

Season Two

Every review I read says that Season Two is better and I agree. Some episodes are stupid. But for the most part the plots are clever and varied. More interesting is that mixed in with all the nonsense are valid situations applicable to real life. For example, the fiancee of one couple has to keep her membership in Torchwood secret from her boy friend. He feels neglected, etc. etc. Sound familiar ?

Torchwood actually kills its characters permanently. The joke (ahem, important feature), however, is that Jack Harkness is condemned to live forever young. Many episodes kill him in all sorts of diabolical ways and he just keeps coming back for more. You really don’t believe I am saying this, right ?

Besides, when have you ever been to a wedding in which the bride is unfortunately pregnant with an alien whose mother alien is at the wedding in disguise waiting to nab the baby alien ?

Season Three

Season Three is one long multi-part story “Children of the Earth”. Aliens have come to earth. These aliens truly can destroy the earth at their whim. We are defenseless. The aliens demand that we give them ten percent of all the children of the earth (never mind why – you have to watch the show). What do you suppose the British politicians do in such a desperate situation ? What would you do ?

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No one over the mental age of, say, 16 need apply. So why on earth am I watching this garbage ? That’s easy …

I LOVE TRASH !

2008, Could Be Hard To Watch, DO NOT MISS, Drama, TV Series

In Treatment (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Get inside psychoanalyst Paul Weston’s (Gabriel Byrne, in a Golden Globe-winning
role) head with this original series from HBO. After dealing with his patients’
traumas and issues, Weston caps off his week with a visit to therapist Dr. Gina
Toll (Dianne Wiest) to unload his own problems. Weston’s diverse patients include
an anesthesiologist (Melissa George) in a relationship crisis, a Navy pilot (Blair
Underwood) and a conflicted couple (Josh Charles and Embeth Davidtz).

We are hooked again on another TV Series. Season 1 of In Treatment” consists of 9 discs from NetFlix. When you open one of these discs you see photos of several people. Each person (or persons) is an episode. That person is in session with the psychiatrist. Each “talking heads” session is really involving.

Some warnings:

  • Each disc treats the same patients and then the psychiatrist visits his own psychiatrist. So from disc to disc you watch the progress in each case. But they all are interrelated
  • The very first session of disc 1 could be a turnoff. Laura, the attractive young anesthesiologist, describes explicitly a tawdry sexual encounter. I hope they did not begin the series with this episode just to attract an audience. Don’t let this session keep you from the other sessions. Moreover that patient is very important in the series.

In all cases the acting is superlative. The characters for the first season are:

Paul
Gabriel Byrne is the psychiatrist.
Laura
Besides being beautiful, Melissa George is an extraordinarily difficult patient. She is intelligent, seductive, and manipulative in the extreme.
Alex
Blair Underwood is the black fighter pilot. He has appeared in “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Law and Order SVU”.
Sophie
Mia Wasikowska is just plain brillant as a young gymnast.
Jake and Amy
Amy is played by Embeth Davidtz. She appeard in “Grey’s Anatomy”
Jake is played by Josh Charles. He has appeared in “Law and Order SVU”. This is one fighting couple and how!
Gina
Dianne Wiest plays Paul’s psychiatrist. Hers may well be the most familar face. She was a regular on “Law and Order” for many episodes.

Of all the TV series that Kathy and I have watched, this one so far is the most compelling and addictive adult presentation we have seen.

2003, British Mystery Series, Conspiracy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Suspense, TV Series

State of Play (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Powerful politico Stephen Collins (David Morrissey) is embroiled in a scandal when his
research assistant dies in a freak accident and his former campaign manager Cal McAffrey
(John Simm), now a reporter, realizes the incident may be linked to the death of a drug
dealer. As McAffrey digs deeper, he uncovers a dangerous connection between government
and big business in this exciting conspiracy thriller from the BBC.

This version is a 2-disc, 6-episode British TV series that predates the Hollywood film. Reviews for the film have been lukewarm, but they recommended this TV series that I got from NetFlix. Kathy and I could not wait to see each exciting installment. Acting is excellent. Details are well worked out. But pay attention in this conspiracy thriller. From time to time we would pause the DVD player and confer on whether we really understood what was happening. Even toward the end when things seem to be settling down you should hang on for more surprise.

I cannot recommend this British TV series highly enough.

2005, Comedy, Detective, Occasional gore, TV Series

Bones (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Inspired by the work of a real-life forensic anthropologist and novelist,
this darkly comic series follows Dr. Temperence Brennan (Emily Deschanel),
an employee of a Smithsonian-like institution who has a knack for finding
clues in the bones of murder victims. Called in to assist law enforcement
in their investigations, she’s often teamed with a government agent
Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) who mistrusts the connection between
science and solving crime.

Season 1 of Bones was in 2005. The series has continued up to this year (2009). NetFlix offers many seasons of Bones.

The name “Bones” comes from the nickname that Seeley Booth gives to Dr. Temperence Brennan, the forensic anthopologist, because her specialty is investigating murders by looking at the victims’ bones. The very nature of her work introduces a lot of gore into the show, which is very fashionable today (think “CSI” without the lowcut bras).

But this is really a light-hearted show with a lot of wonderful banter. Seeley and Dr. Bones are constantly at war: She is the intellectual scientist, he trusts his FBI gut instincts. He is a people person, she is a people disaster. She has one woman assistant who referee’s the contest between two male assistants usually vying for the attention of some attractive female. Yes, there is crime solving, but it often seems secondary.

Does it say anything to mention that wife Kathy loves this show ? Of course she closes her eyes at some gore. Anyone care to examine human bones pulled from black bear scat ?

Have fun!

1981, Classic, Not Feel Good, TV Series

Brideshead Revisited (1981)

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From NetFlix:

This legendary TV miniseries, based on Evelyn Waugh’s classic novel of
romantic yearning and loss, is compiled in a special, digitally remastered
collection. Set between the wars in the glittering yet fading world of the
British aristocracy, the series stars the astonishing trio of Jeremy Irons,
Anthony Andrews and Diana Quick and features stunning performances by Sir
John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and Sir Laurence Olivier.

In this blog there are two versions of “Brideshead Revisited”, a two-hour film from 2008 and this 4-CD TV miniseries from 1981. The TV series is the gold standard. When it first came out, it was aired each Sunday evening. The next day at the work lunch table, we could not wait to discuss it. I am ashamed to admit that I have not yet read Evelyn Waugh’s book. Both film versions are excellent and if you are really taken with this classic then why not see both ?

Kathy and I decided to re-watch the TV miniseries version in Feb 2009. We both agreed that the two-hour movie, while well-done, pales in comparison with the TV miniseries. Anthony Andrews as Sebastion is just too perfect. Of course, the pace in the TV series is leisurely. But the details are well worth the time spent. This version remains a treasure.

2007, Not Feel Good, TV Series

Mad Men (2007)

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From NetFlix:

It’s 1960, and ad executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) rules the roost at
New York’s Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in this Emmy winner for
Best Drama Series. Living a glamorous existence of never-ending cocktail
hours, worry-free smoking and ego-stroking power, ladies’ man Draper makes
numerous conquests both at work and in his personal life. But the world is
beginning to change, and Draper will have to use all his smarts to stay one
step ahead of the game.

I have just finished devouring Season 1 of “Mad Men” which is certainly one of the best Soap Operas I have ever seen. The great thing about getting the season on 4 DVDs is that you don’t have to wait until next week to continue.

I was a child of the 50’s and 60’s. The re-creation of that era is as I remember as regards the clothing, music, and above all the SMOKING!!!! It is really disconcerting to see a beautiful woman lying on a psychiatrist’s couch smoking. I wonder if all the actors will eventually die of lung cancer. Maybe they “never inhaled”. It is just plain fun watching the ad men try to get around the dangers of smoking.

I never worked in an environment in which the male employees spent the majority of their time seducing the female employees, but I could have been naive. Still the openly macho atmosphere came as a shock.

Was it planned that among the men, only Don Draper and his boss are handsome alpha males whereas the other men are overweight or weak-looking ? Was it planned that among the women Don’s secretary Peggy is the least attractive and most capable ?

Season One ends in a manner that demands Season Two. I can hardly wait for Season Two to come out on DVD.

2006, TV Series, Unusual

Dexter (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Playing a sympathetic serial killer may sound like a stretch,
but former ‘Six Feet Under’ star Michael C. Hall pulls it off
neatly in this Showtime drama about a likable forensics expert
who channels his violent tendencies by killing miscreants
who’ve avoided punishment. So harmless is Dexter Morgan’s
(Hall) demeanor that neither his girlfriend (Julie Benz) nor
his sister (Jennifer Carpenter) has any inkling of his
extracurricular activities.

At first I thought “this is stupid and creepy and sensationalistic”. But it isn’t really violent (but really creepy). There are involving subplots and the plot twists are clever (if a tad unbelievable). You have to wade through the entire season to see the bad guy get his deserved due. I suspect that only someone like Michael Hall could actually make this idea work.

I Dare You!

1997, Detective, TV Series

Midsomer Murders (from 1997)

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From Net Flix:

“Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) can’t
help but notice that more people than ever before seem
interested in the work of long-dead composer Joan Alder,
who wrote the well-known song ‘Midsomer Rhapsody.’ First,
Alder’s former music teacher turns up dead, and an early
draft of her most famous piece is found among his
possessions. But the plot thickens when Alder’s
long-lost daughter, Sarah, comes back into town.

Thanks to Nora for suggesting this series. Unfortunately for Kathy and for
me there are no subtitles. We have trouble understanding the male actors.
NetFlix claims to have 300 different Midsomer Murders. I stopped counting
at 30 installments. Kathy and I prefer the “Touch of Frost” series if only
because it offers subtitles.