Friday, October 02, 2009

Fall television, yes?


Like most Americans, I get extremely excited when a new TV season dawns. Near hysteria, like a political debate during the birth of a child. This is especially true these days now that we are in what's been dubbed somewhere as a new "Golden Age of TV." Unfortunately the sheer number of channels and shows means that you have to wade through all manner of dreck to reach the sweet goodness. Here's what I, and thus you, should be watching. Be warned: I have like every goddamn channel in the world, so you may not have access to these shows. If that is the case I recommend you tune into Jay Leno.

Amazing Race (CBS)
Reality TV is not my bag, this is the exception that proves the rule. Teams of two race around the world, with lots of arguing. Usually the teams fit into some neat little category: For example this season has "The Massholes" "The Christian Douchebags" and "The nerdy friends, one of whom has Asperger's Syndrome" as I call them. But the the real stars of the show are the locations and local people, which are varied and awesome. Although the first episode was the worst I've ever seen, with the contestants competing in a Japanese Game Show.

Californication (Showtime)
For some reason I resisted this until recently. Something about a series on Showtime seemed unnatural and wrong. But Jesus Christ this show. You know its raw when some guy does the Mangina and it's par for the course. Damn you Pope! A plotline from season's past include David Duchovny's character having his novel "Fucking and Punching" stolen by the teenager that was part of his inspiration for the book. Also you can watch the first episode of the new season on Youtube, but it is heavily censored for good or ill.

Bored to Death (HBO)
Look past the show's lame-ass yet accurate tagline "A Noir-rotic Comedy" because it may be quite good. I wasn't sold on the pilot, but the second episode had me rolling a couple times, particularly the bits with Ted Danson and Zach Galafinakis. The jury is still out, but it has promise with its weird darkness.

Community (NBC)
Aided by a somehow funny again Chevy Chase, that guy from The Soup (basically playing himself) makes his way through a community college filled with various misfits and eccentrics. It's funny because he's a cynic surrounded by idiots.

Also watched: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Kitten Mittens!), Sons of Anarchy, The Office. There's others too, but I don't give a shit about this post anymore.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't watched bored to death yet but I am currently reading a book by Jonathan Ames, the creator of the show and writer of the short story Bored to Death. It's called The Double Life is Twice As Good: Essays and Fiction. I haven't gotten too far into to it, but its short so I will let you know what I think when I finish it up.

-dan

Anonymous said...

Fuck Jonathan Ames. I'm serious. I knew him in Iowa City, and he was the biggest cocksucking drunk I've ever met. I threatened to hit him. He banged the ugliest grad students. I don't respect his art. He's bald and insecure. Sometimes I fantasize about starting a website specifically related to hating him, but then I realize that he's a middling literary hack who gets a few laughs. I hope the show fails and Zack Galafinakis dies, John Candy-style. I also hope he drowns, or at the very least od's. He has been supported by hipsters and Princeton grads, without whom he'd be teaching at a Tampa College of correspondence.

But tell me what you really think, eh goats?

Anonymous said...

In response the above, I just had a brilliant idea for a post: a list of the people you want to punch in the face. Mmmm.

I can't keep giving these away to you, Goats. Chop chop.

P.S. What if you put me on it? Oh the narcissism/irony!

thope said...

It's funny because I had that idea for a post earlier tonight. Great minds think alike?

First up: The salesman in a pink shirt next to me at Victory Brewing.