2009 TV Year-End Awards

So the TV Awards didn't have quite as many participants as the wrestling one -- which is expected, since I only opened it up last week. But I did find that the "Other" option appeared quite prominently in this survey, so I do implore anybody who participated that voted for the "Other" choice to sound off their suggestion in the Comments section.

Most enjoyable new show of 2009: The Vampire Diaries

Sure, this show had the momentum of True Blood's incredible second season working for it (as well as that whole Twilight phenomena), but The Vampire Diaries really was the stand out new show of the year. Not too shabby considering it resides on TV's red headed stepchild, the CW. The characters are compelling (not to mention disturbingly good looking), the heroes are flawed but easy to root for, and the antagonist is a really fun, entertaining asshole. Honestly, I didn't know Boone had this in him!

The one criticism is eerily similar to that of the first season of Heroes. When you give so much early on, is there enough material to sustain the story for several years? Lets hope that this vampire tale does a better job than our extraordinary friends.

What you said: Glee

FlashForward and Community also received votes. I'm not surprised to see Glee win, as many people I know see it. In fact, my Facebook newsfeed is usually clogged up with Glee quotes and references. The episode I've seen was pretty good, as well.

Show canceled in 2009 with the most potential: Harper's Island

To be perfectly honest, I actually didn't watch any of the shows that I offered as options. I became aware of Harper's Island after the fact, and even though it was basically just I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (almost to a tee), it seems like the type of show I would have enjoyed. Plus Katie Cassidy was on it, who I love as Ella on Melrose Place.

What you said: Other

Dollhouse also received a vote. I am curious what particular shows people referred to when they voted "Other" -- comment below!

Biggest disappointment of 2009: Heroes

I am going to vote for Heroes here, but I do want to also point out that shows like Grey's Anatomy I used to be able to watch. Now merely seeing a 30 second commercial for the show makes me cringe. And I'm not even exaggerating. Seeing a commercial honestly is borderline painful. However, I never really cared enough about the show to have an emotional attachment to it. So, in my eyes, it's merely an atrocity. It's not particularly "disappointing."

With Heroes, I see a show that has so much potential to be great. There are some good characters, some talented actors, and an interesting premise. It seems, to me, that the writers and decision makers simply aren't very good. In fact, if you go back to my reviews of the show back in its glory year, you'll notice that I pointed out a few times that the writing wasn't all that great. At the time, though, the characters were easy to care about. Now that poor writing is catching up on them. That is to say, three years of poor writing is making it difficult to care about the characters, and that was the essence and strength of the series.

Everybody -- including myself -- has talked about killing off unnecessary characters in order to "save" the show. While that would no doubt help, perhaps a better solution would be to clean house of the powers that be and pick up writers and producers with a better track record. I don't know anything about Tim Kring, but I can't help but assume that he's a big part of the problem.

What you said: Heroes

This was unanimous. Kinda telling, no?

Best series finale of 2009: Prison Break

For me, it was between ER and Prison Break. I thought ER had a fantastic, somewhat understated (and I mean that in a good way) finale. It brought us up to speed on some old favorites, while not totally ignoring the characters that have helmed the ship for the past few years. It also showed us that life will go on with these characters, and that they're going to be okay. But I ultimately had to give the nod to Prison Break because, inherently, there was more on the line for their series wrap up. They had questions to answer, issues to resolve, all while concluding their game of cat and mouse. And I have to say, they did a pretty good job.

What you said: Other

Prison Break and ER also received votes. Again, sound off below to let me know what you had in mind when you voted "Other."

Series least likely to be picked up for another season: Melrose Place

As you'll see below, the obvious choices all got votes. Out of those "obvis," I think I'm leaning towards Melrose Place. I think ABC will risk another year with FlashForward and V, hoping that all those dejected Lost viewers will hitch onto them. And Heroes, well, that show could honestly go either way. My thought process is that it's still a relatively popular show on a struggling network that doesn't have many hits. At the moment, though, Melrose Place is sticking out like a sore thumb. Other new shows like Vampire Diaries have really struck, and it's being paired with a show that is garnering much more positive reviews (90210).

What you said: Four way tie - Heroes, Melrose Place, V, FlashForward

Most enjoyable cable series of 2009: True Blood

This wasn't an easy decision for me, as it ultimately came down to True Blood and Curb Your Enthusiasm. So I was basically voting for a genre more than anything else. It's comparing apples and oranges, so I wouldn't necessarily say that I enjoyed True Blood more than Curb, but I just felt that True Blood was so superbly written and acted this past season. There was some great character development and some exciting stories. Having said that, I do believe that Curb had the stronger finale.

What you said: Four way tie - True Blood, Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Other


I hope everybody has a safe and happy new year!!

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2009 WWE Year-End Awards

Once again, I'd like to thank everybody who took the time to participate in my Year-End Awards survey. Here are my results for the WWE Awards. Tomorrow, I'll post the TV results. Oh, and for those who answered "Other" in the survey, feel free to leave your opinion in the "Comments" section. Enjoy!

2009 Superstar of the Year: CM Punk

This was a really difficult decision for me. I feel like if you look at the first half of the year, you have to give it to CM Punk. He captured the Intercontinental Championship, won Money in the Bank, used it to nab the World Heavyweight Championship, and pulled off an incredible and believable heel turn. But then things sorta fizzled for him after he lost the title to the Undertaker. He was pretty abruptly taken out of the World Title scene, took a backseat to Randy Orton at Survivor Series, and was then used as fodder to advance John Cena's feud with Sheamus. And what's he doing now? Feuding with R-Truth? Really?

If you look at the second half of the year, a great argument could be made for Kofi Kingston. However, despite a rather impressive reign with the U.S. Championship -- and a few exciting matches -- a significant portion of Kingston's 2009 was highly forgettable. And while WWE did a wonderful job of advancing him to superstardom following Bragging Rights, his momentum has slowed noticeably in recent weeks.

And finally, if you solely consider personal achievements, I think Jeff Hardy emerges as an honest contender. Since January he's held the WWE Championship once and the World Heavyweight Championship twice. And to his credit, he played an important role in CM Punk's magnificent heel turn. And he also managed to leave the company on his own terms (then again, if he stuck around another month or so, he probably would've been released anyway).

In the end, though, I think I have to go with my heart and award CM Punk. It may not have ended with a roar, but I honestly believe that this will be remembered as THE year CM Punk became a star. And I think he showed many of his critics that he has what it takes to be the center of whatever brand he's currently on. Oh, and he became the first Superstar to capture the World title on all three brands. Although it's never mentioned, I don't think that's anything to sneeze at.

Who you said - Chris Jericho

CM Punk and Jeff Hardy also received votes. To be honest, I think a lot of people voted for Jericho because of how much they like him, and not necessarily because of the year he had. Don't get me wrong, I love Chris Jericho, and I think he's one of the -- if not the -- most talented Superstars on any of the three rosters. And I think it's worth noting that WWE never really took full advantage of the Unified Tag Team Champions stipulation until Jericho was champion -- and the fact that they continue to put him on both of the main shows is very telling as well. I could easily see them putting the strap back on Jericho for the sole reason of allowing him to go on all three shows. But nonetheless, I don't think Jericho had a "stand out" year, especially when compared to 2008.

Superstar with the Most Disappointing 2009: MVP

To me, this was a no-brainer. Some of the options I provided, like Edge and Chris Jericho, may not have had the prolific year they had in 2008, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. For Edge in particular, it's perhaps not a bad thing that he takes a step back from the World Title scene for a little bit, lest we enter a Triple H situation here. Additionally, his injury can't really be held against him.

Then there are guys like John Morrison and The Miz, who might not have broken through into the main event scene, despite their obvious ability to do so. Yet you can also tell that the company has big plans for them, even if they didn't come into fruition this year.

And then you have MVP. The guy seemed on track to becoming a main eventer -- somehow even making that "losing streak" storyline work -- but then things just sorta fell apart. After losing the U.S. championship, he just floundered in the background, not really accomplishing anything noteworthy. In fact, in recent months, he's really just been used to establish others. He jobbed pretty cleanly to Miz, seemingly to make him a credible looking champion. And he recently did the same for new WWE Champion Sheamus. And honestly, it doesn't look like things are going to change in the near future. Oh, and I've grown tired of that red uniform. Go back to the black or change it up every now and then.

Who you said - MVP

Edge, Chris Jericho, and John Morrison also received votes. But with over 40% of the vote, MVP was the pretty heavy favorite in this category.

Superstar Destined to have the Best 2010: Kofi Kingston

This was, to me, was another no brainer. While guys like Sheamus and The Miz ended the year on a really nice high note, it appears clear to me that Kofi Kingston is the new star WWE is banking on. Actually, the simple fact that they showed restraint on putting the WWE Championship on Kingston -- when it is obvious they wanted to put it on a fresh new face -- proves to me that they've got big plans for him. I honestly don't believe they intend on having Sheamus go to WrestleMania as champion (he'll probably end up in the Money in the Bank match), so I think they wanted to avoid hotshotting Kofi's big title win with a relatively forgettable month-long reign.

I will admit that they faltered a bit following TLC, but with his feud with Orton continuing, I do think Kofi is back on track. If things continue at the rate they're going at now, I'd be shocked if he doesn't hold the World title by the end of 2010.

Who you said - Kofi Kingston

The Miz, John Morrison, Sheamus, and Christian also received votes. Sure, Sheamus ended the year in a big way -- but I'm just not sure how long this honeymoon will last. Likewise, the latter half of the year was great for The Miz, and you can see that they have big plans for Morrison. On top of that, Christian is the longest reigning ECW Champion since it became a brand -- not too shabby (and I do see him getting his shot on the Smackdown roster by the end of 2010). But, again, Kofi's the star they're banking on, in my opinion.

Most Memorable Moment of 2009: Shane McMahon resigns from WWE

Undertaker vs. Shawn was the match of the year, and certainly the most memorable. And CM Punk cashing in Money in the Bank completely reinvigorated the Smackdown landscape, in my opinion. And Christian's shocking return to ECW legitimately made my jaw drop (it's actually the only moment I can recall that elicited such a reaction from me). But Shane McMahon's resignation came completely out of no where, and it was the one thing I never would have expected. I mean, WWE was always synonymous with the name "McMahon." During the Attitude Era, Shane's nickname was "the heir apparent." And even when Steph and Triple H came into power, people still strongly believed that if Shane wanted the company, it would be his. So for a McMahon to walk away from the business was undoubtedly huge news.

Sure, the matter died down after a couple of weeks, but I think it's the one news item that sticks with me as we close out 2009.

What you said - Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

CM Punk cashing in Money in the Bank and Christian's return also received votes.

Most Enjoyable/Successful New Concept of 2009: Raw Guest Host

Sure, some of the hosts haven't quite fit with the program, and some gave God-awful performances, but I can't help but consider this experiment a success. Let's face it -- between ESPN, Entertainment Tonight, and various other publications, WWE has received more mainstream attention than virtually anything else in recent memory. Has it impacted the ratings? Tough to say. But I will admit that there are moments that I anxiously await to find out who the next host is going to be. And, in some cases, I look particularly forward to seeing a particular episode because of the host. And with a plethora of Legends under contract and working as agents, this is a formula that can last them for quite some time. Plus you have people like The Rock and Stacy Kiebler, who have long been considered finished with the wrestling biz, actively showing interest in becoming a guest host.

What you said - Unified Tag Team Champions can appear on all three shows

All of the options received a vote, but somebody voted "Other" here -- I'm interested in hearing what specifically this person had in mind. Hopefully he/she will leave a message in the Comments section. The Unified Tag Team Champions concept received 50% of the votes, and it was a concept that worked wonderfully for JeriShow. But that's about it. I don't see DX appearing on Smackdown weekly -- hell, they can't even be bothered to carry around the belts most of the time. Along with that, the Colons barely appeared on whichever show they weren't on as well. So yes, it works in concept, but not necessarily -- overall -- in practice.

Best Raw Guest Host of 2009: Bob Barker

This wasn't particularly easy to decide, because what criteria do you use? Overall entertainment? The host's performance? The long-term impact of the host's actions? In the end, I think I have to go with Bob Barker, mostly because he's one of the few hosts that made the show his own. And it actually seemed like he was having fun out there, and wasn't merely there to shill some sort of special project. And months after the fact, I still pretty vividly remember his episode, particularly when he punched Chavo Guerrero. I also enjoyed Ventura's episode, but he came off as a real tool in his interviews afterwards.

Who you said - Tie: Bob Barker and Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne

Trish Stratus, Roddy Piper, and Jesse Ventura also received votes.

Best new concept PPV of 2009: Bragging Rights

While the timing of Bragging Rights was a bit curious -- just three weeks before Survivor Series, which employs a similar stipulation -- I do have to say it was one of the few themed pay-per-views that didn't seem repetitive, and didn't seem to tarnish what was once a truly special specialty match (three Hell in a Cells in one night?) And the blue and red ropes at least set the event apart from everything else we've seen this year (one of the detriments of their universal high-def set). The only issue I have with Bragging Rights was the glaring omission of ECW. I mean, I understand that from the company's perspective, ECW isn't on the same level as Raw or Smackdown. But in storyline terms, why didn't they participate in an event designed around determining brand supremacy?

What you said - Tie: Hell in a Cell, Bragging Rights, TLC

2009 Brand of the Year: Smackdown

Admittedly, I watche a lot more Raw this year than I did Smackdown. Actually, because of the nights they air, I've probably watched more ECW than Smackdown. Having said that, I have to say that Smackdown was the brand of the year (this isn't particularly hard, since I've always been partial to that show since the inception of the brand extension). Sure, the Guest Host concept has helped Raw seem a little fresher than usual, but for the most part the red show has felt like much of the same. While Smackdown has featured new champions (like Jeff Hardy) and interesting heel turns (like CM Punk and Batista), Raw hasn't really experienced anything all that different (except for the Sheamus shocker, of course). For the most part we had Randy Orton vs. John Cena or Randy Orton vs. Triple H -- with one of those three men as champion -- with DX strolling around with their wacky hijinx.

Plus they won brand supremacy at Bragging Rights. So how could they lose?

What you said - Smackdown

Raw also received one vote. Like I said, a fair argument could be made, but I think Smackdown owned this year.

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A final friendly reminder!

I hope everybody had a wonderful holiday season! Just a friendly reminder -- I'm going to be posting my results over the next week for my year-end awards. So you'll only have a short amount of time to let your voice be heard! Take a moment to vote in these surveys if you have a moment to share:

WWE Year-End Awards Survey
Television Year-End Awards Survey

Thanks!

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[a case of the christmas]

And Happy Birthday...

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Now it's TV's turn!

I want to thank everybody who took the time to vote in my WWE Year End Award survey. Expect the results next week, before New Year's. Now, if you could, take a few moments to vote in a similar TV survey. This is only going to be up for a week or so, so please participate promptly. I really appreciate the assistance -- thanks:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XR82K7N

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Survivor - Post-finale thoughts

Alright so the polarizing Survivor finale was last night. As to not spoil anybody who may not have watched the episode yet (what are you waiting for?), get my thoughts on the winner, overall finale, and the reunion by clicking the "Read More" link.

Well, Natalie won. Or, more accurately, Russell lost. Whether you believe Natalie won or not, simply based on the way the final Tribal Council went down, it's hard to deny that a vast number of people were more voting against Russell than for Natalie? Need proof? Simply consider the questions that were asked. More specifically, pay attention to who the questions were directed to. Nine times out of ten, it seemed like the jury had issues with how Russell played the game.

And as regular readers may have noticed from past finale reviews, I absolutely detest bitter juries. It drives me mad when people are all pissy about being blind sided and betrayed, when in almost every case they were planning on betraying one of their own allies. And in most cases, those on the jury were simply outplayed (Hi, Laura!) Actually, Laura and Erik were two of the most bitter -- meanwhile, Laura had voted off her ally Erik, and Erik was planning on voting out his tribemate Monica. Quite frankly, if anybody from Galu had half a brain, somebody from their tribe would have won. It's absolutely remarkable that they got picked off one by one, with an 8 to 4 advantage (yes, you read that correctly). They have nobody to blame but themselves, and their bitterness and contempt infuriates me.

I also find these accusations of cheating and stealing laughable and mind boggling. There are no written rules, so how did they cheat? And there are no belongings, so what did anybody steal?

I have to say this though, despite being on Team Russell, I have to admit that he was pretty obnoxious throughout the finale. I mean, it was in pretty bad taste openly talking about how he had the game won after he nabbed the immunity necklace. Hell, he even asked his allies -- who he's competing against -- what they thought his chances were of winning. It got worse when it dwindled to the final three, and he told Mick and Natalie that they were basically competing for second, and that the jury would simply accuse them of riding his coattails (a word that begins with "C"). In later interviews Russell confessed that he was playing mind games with them. But it really just hurt him -- and as a lot of people have pointed out, it was the social aspect of the game that killed Russell.

Now, having said that, I think viewers have been a bit rough on Natalie. Do I think she deserved to win over Russell? No. But that doesn't necessarily mean she's an undeserving winner. And I think her gameplay has been severely underestimated. Remember Russell's "Dumb Girl Alliance?" Well, Russell systematically eliminated each and every one of them for various reasons -- yet by the end of the game, he was campaigning to keep Natalie around. Oh, and that reason why Russell picked those dumb girls off one by one? Most of the time it was because they dared to doubt or defy him. Suddenly Natalie's meek behavior isn't so much a character flaw. Like Jeff said, it's a legitimate strategy.

I will also say, flat out, that I don't think Foa Foa's decimation of Galu would have worked without Natalie. Following the merge, Russell almost immediately rubbed everybody the wrong way. It was actually Natalie who bridged the gap between the two tribes, and eased the way for the eventual mutiny. If not for Natalie's ability to interact with the opposing side, Foa Foa would have been dead in the water. And I have absolutely no doubt about that.

In his emotional and unfortunately influential tirade, Erik did manage to make a good point: Essentially, the most aggressive strategy is not necessarily the best one.

But lets be honest -- Russell shoulda won.








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Survivor - Pre-finale thoughts

Well Survivor: Samoa has its finale tonight, and I don't think it's any secret that I'm pulling for Russell here. And truth be told, I think he's got a solid chance at winning it. To me, it seems obvious that Brett is getting voted off if he doesn't get immunity. And even after that, I could see Mick or Natalie getting voted off in the final four, because of their general likability factor. Additionally, I could see any of the remaining players taking Russ to the finals simply because they think they can beat him. Some of them may even feel a sense of loyalty to him.

But the question is, if he gets to the finals, could he win? It seems like a long shot, but I think the answer is yes (if he's not going against Brett). Truth be told, he actually didn't lie to or betray all that many people. He was quite open about voting for people like Laura, Monica, and Dave. Hell, Dave has even commended Russell on his maneuvering, even when it was at his team's expense. Erik also seems exceptionally bitter at his tribe, so I could easily see him voting for Russ. Along with that, Shambo seems to understand that Foa Foa had to stay together, so she doesn't even seem particularly upset with Russell (who she was closest with).

Of course, one can't overlook the fact that Laura and Monica really disliked Russell. Just because he didn't betray them doesn't mean that they'd be willing to vote for him. Yet, at the end, sometimes these people come to respect those that outlasted them.

Finally, how wonderfully cocky was it when Russell opted not to play his immunity idol last week? Man, that was ballsy.

Anyway, throughout all the twists and turns, I think the biggest shocker was ultimately how incredible this season ended up being. In a lot of ways Survivor went back to its roots: Not much intervention from outside forces (like mixing up tribes or banishing people) and they basically just let the characters make the drama for themselves. Not too shabby for a show completing its 19th season.

Enjoy the finale -- TEAM RUSSELL!








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Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 7 Report

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

As we finish up this week-long feature, we conclude things with a laugh. A very hearty laugh. And why shouldn't we? It's Saturday, we've got less than a week until Christmas, and that snow storm wasn't NEARLY as bad as they said it would be (not for me, anyway). Oh, and I finally found that damn Ming Ming Wonder Pet doll. There are a lot of reasons to be happy!

Naturally, the Seinfeld reunion story arc is what has everybody talking. And even though it would have been great if more of the season was devoted to it, I must say that I found it utterly hilarious. And I also have to commend the crew for coming up with a pretty clever premise to do a reunion special. I must also admit: The various storylines they came up with were pretty cool. It focused mostly on George, and for good reason. His arc was the absolute best. The iToilet? Bernie Madoff? C'mon!

And ever since, what, the second season, I've absolutely loved the tense, borderline hostile relationship between Larry David and Jason Alexander. These two are absolute gold together. It's great how, nine times out of ten, they don't even raise their voices at each other. They manage to express such disdain and contempt with mere facial expressions or hand motions or a subtle tone.

I also couldn't help but laugh at the whole concept of Cheryl becoming attracted to Jason because of the behavior he exhibits while acting as George -- a character that is based on her ex-husband. It was also great seeing Larry's attempt at explaining this phenomena to her.

In a lot of ways, Jerry was a real highlight for me as well. It's commendable that he was willing to take such a significant backseat to his co-stars in what was essentially HIS return to television (isn't he the only one who hasn't made an attempt -- at that point -- to return to TV?) using his show as the backdrop. Nonetheless, I found him utterly hilarious and very natural. He appeared more than any of his cohorts this season, and I think that's a good thing. While I found Larry's interactions with Jason the funniest, I think a big reason why it works so well is because it's so sparse. Having said that, I think the banter between Jerry and Larry could happen every week and maintain its level of humor.

Michael Richards probably appeared the least -- and, likewise, Kramer didn't really seem to have any arc whatsoever on the reunion episode -- which was a bit curious. It's also a bit strange that he's the only cast member that hadn't appeared on the show until this point (even before that scandal). Nonetheless, I applaud them for referencing Michael's racist rant, as it was a gutsy move. Then again, at this point, what does Michael Richard have to lose?

In non-Seinfeld related stuff, Larry managed to make, like, three different references to tipping this season alone. I love those. It makes me sound so cheap, but for the life of me I just don't understand tipping (but yes, I still do it). And any argument that could be made simply makes no sense to me. I mean, when people make the argument that wait staff, for instance, only make about $2 an hour and this is how they make all their money -- that just makes me think that something is severely wrong with that industry's standards, and that perhaps it should be re-evaluated. But I do love how Larry brings up the point that you can't ask anybody in the service industry to do anything whatsoever without them expecting a tip of some sort (on the show, of course, the workers behave in very extreme ways). As the show points out -- you're not simply "doing your job" and there are no favors.

If I have any disappointments with this season, it's that we didn't see more of Leon. That guy was the shining star of the previous season!

Of course, it wouldn't be Curb Your Enthusiasm without a little controversy. In one episode, Larry's -- ahem -- stream was a little volatile, and as such he sprayed a little urine on a painting of Jesus in somebody's bathroom (???) I couldn't help but laugh at those who were offended. Not because they were actually offended, but because of the argument they made. They said something along the lines of, "How would Larry David feel if somebody peed on a photo of his mother." C'mon, have these people ever watched the show? The guy integrated his own divorce into the series. I don't think he'd bat an eyelash at something like that.

Anyway, excellent season -- but I wonder what they could possibly do next season to top it.








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The Vampire Diaries Midseason Report

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

Now lets discuss my vote for best new show of the year, The Vampire Diaries. However, I'm unfortunately running a little late -- so this is going to be a tad bit briefer than I would have preferred (and likely not quite as brief as YOU'D prefer). First, let me state that Nina Dobrev continues to be absolutely lovely. Long time readers may remember that I voted her as one of the top ten hottest women on television WAYYYYY back when she was a no-name Canadian. So I find great pride in seeing her rise to stardom.

Secondly, while it was a clever gimmick, I'm glad they cooled off on the constant diary writing framing each episode. Further, attempting to fit the diaries into conversation was becoming very clunky and unnatural (I mean honestly, who really says, "I was going to run upstairs and write in my diary"???)

Anyway, click the "Read More" link for my thoughts on the season thus far.

As a huge fan of True Blood, and somebody who borderline refuses to watch anything Twilight related, this show wasn't necessarily a definite "hit" for me. But it really has developed into one of the most consistently enjoyable shows on my current line up. It's definitely more like True Blood, which is a good thing.

One of the things I enjoy about this show is its willingness to kill of characters who could conceivably be regular characters. The teacher, the uncle/nephew, Vicki. Actually, I'm especially glad they killed off Vicki. Don't get me wrong, I liked her character. But it was beginning to be a running joke the amount of times she nearly dies on the show.

And this needs to be said as well: Ian Somerhalder is an absolutely phenomenal villain. Far better than I ever would have imagined. He may very well be the highlight of this show for me, and that says something.

I also appreciate that the show avoided certain cliches, like the jerk ex-boyfriend or the creep jock. Sure, Tyler's a bit of an ass, but we'll let that slide. I've never read the books, but apparently there are additional other worldly beings in thsi universe. I'm glad that the show has shown restraint in introducing those (similar to True Blood).

But yeah, this is definitely one of the best new shows this year. Definite recommendation.











Also: Please take a moment to fill out this WWE Year-End Survey - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LXGLNW

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FlashForward (sorta) Midseason Report

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

Well, I have a slight confession to make: I'm actually not completely caught up on my FlashForward episodes. And since I don't think I really know enough to even spoil anybody who has any desire to watch the show, I'm going to forgo the page cut. Much like V, this show has a premise I tend to enjoy, and features actors (most of whom are from Lost) that I'm a fan of. So FlashForward pretty much had a guaranteed viewer in me, even if it's online weeks after the fact. And while I am a few episodes behind, I'm pretty shocked that people speculate that this series is on the bubble since production was halted. Could things have gone so drastically downhill? I find that hard to believe.

In fact, I've really, really enjoyed FlashForward. My only concern is one that applies to any series with such a confined premise -- does the story lend itself to multiple years of enjoyment? This particular story, to an extent, is guaranteed to be resolved within the season (due to the established timeline that has been laid out already). Where does the story go next season? Or the one after that? Then again, 24 is about to kick off its eighth season, and people said the same thing about that show.

One of my favorite aspects of this series is the contrasting actions and the purposefully inconsistent behavior. Take, for example, the reckless behavior. You have these "ghosts" who are willingly and knowingly putting themselves in deadly situations because they didn't experience a flash forward. As far as they're concerned, they're already going to be dead in a matter of months, so why delay the inevitable? Then you have somebody like Bryce, who makes borderline irresponsible medical diagnoses based purely on the faith that this person is alive in six months -- so they can't possibly die now. While they're on opposite sides of the spectrum, in both instances people are making life or death decisions based on this blind belief that no matter what happens, these visions of the future will come to fruition.

Along those same lines, there's this fun tug of war going on. Some characters are clearly committing self fulfilling prophecies (as it's been noted on the show, the entire motivation of the Mosaic project is that, in the future, Mark is working on said project), while other struggle endlessly to avoid their fate (such as Olivia and her behavior with Lloyd).

And throughout the entire first portion of the season we've asked ourselves, "Is the future set in stone? Can it be changed? Or are we powerless?" I asked that question a few times, especially after Janis was shot. I anxiously waited for the following week to see if she survived. Because if she didn't, that meant things could be changed. And then came Al's ultimate sacrifice. And since the, the show has been turned upside down. We now know (unless something changed) that things CAN change. And quite drastically, at that. And, to me, that adds a little more complexity to an already complicate series.

Of course, the show ultimately works because it's not just sizzle. One of the things that pulled me in was the show's ability to mellow out and laugh. Sure, it's literally toilet humor, but I couldn't stop laughing at the fact that everybody had this significant, once in a lifetime opportunity to see what their lives are like in the future, and poor Wedeck simply sees himself taking a dump. How incredibly unfortunate. Talk about missing out!

There's been a fair amount of drama as well, of course. I think my favorite scene yet was the Halloween episode, when Mark, Olivia, and Lloyd are in the Benford living room when, silently (initially, anyway) all three come to realize their unusual connection. And when it's finally brought out in the open, it was fun seeing each character contain their heated emotions, all while trying to remain civil due to the fact that, technically, nobody has actually done anything wrong yet.

It is my hope that this substance will help carry the show into subsequent seasons. As I've said, it simply won't work if it's a mere one trick pony. Of course, I'm sure the episodes I've missed may shed a bit more light on where the show plans on going once the April flash forward point passes. Once I'm all caught up, perhaps I'll discuss the show even further.







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V Midseason Report

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

So I finally get to discuss a show without having to turn in my Man Card (clearly the authorities don't have a very strict return policy)! While the premise of V is enticing in and of itself, what really drew me to the show was its familiar and enjoyable cast. You had the incomparable Elizabeth Mitchell of Lost fame, the lovely Laura Vandervoort from Smallville, and the Jerk Store Bestseller Joel Gretsch from The 4400 (and don't think I missed that series shout out in episode two). Honestly, you just need somebody from 24 and you've basically got all of my favorite shows covered. Wait!! Lourdes Benedicto did a couple episodes of 24! How about that...

Anyway, click the "Read More" link for my thoughts on the first four episodes (and honestly, why debut it in 2009 if you're only going to show that many episodes and then have it go on hiatus for about as many months????)

As I noted above, the cast isn't the only thing I like about the show, as it does have a personally appealing premise. And while some might make the argument that revealing the V's true intentions should have been held off, I ultimately think it has been a more enjoyable experience. We basically had the pilot episode to believe that their motives might be altruistic. But beyond that, it's been fun watching the constant lies and manipulations in order to garner power and sympathy. And Anna's game of one-upmanship with Chad has been enjoyable. Both of them recognize that the other is simply using them, but if it gets them what they want, neither cares.

And how convenient is the V's medical prognosis: "By the time your prehistoric medical devices discover you're ill, it'll be too late."

And similar to Anna (and Juliet, for that matter), Elizabeth Mitchell is wonderful as Erica. Like her Lost character, she speaks in this soft, soothing tone, with that face of an angel -- but you just KNOW she's not somebody to be messed with. While I'm still devastated she's apparently been killed off on Lost, she's the perfect person for this role. She's incredibly easy to get behind and like.

As I said in the opening, Laura Vandervoort is absolutely beautiful (I certainly didn't mind that scene where she's stripped down to her bra and panties). I've liked her since I first saw her on Instant Star, and she was great on Smallville (she's apparently very open to returning, so hopefully the CW series takes advantage). I had heard rumblings that she's Anna's daughter, but not to the extent that I considered myself spoiled when it ended up being true. I actually thought that was a pretty neat twist. Plus, I do see some mother-daughter tension when Lisa begins to develop legitimate feelings for Tyler, and when she comes to realize her mother may be up to no good.

Speaking of Anna -- are the V's basically just Borgs?

And on the topic of twists, I enjoyed the revelation that Ryan is actually a rebelling V. And I'm digging this whole Fifth Column thing.

This is definitely a fun show -- up there as one of the more new enjoyable series of 2009. Then again, it's not quite up to the level of Lost or a lesser extent 24, where I literally cannot wait for the next episode. With V, I've managed to get a couple of weeks behind. I'm also hopeful that this long break, after a short run of episodes, might hurt the show's momentum (think about what happened to Heroes).







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Melrose Place Midseason Report

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

Whereas you have 90210 -- which most viewers believe has improved leaps and bounds -- you also have a show like Melrose Place, which, I believe, has actually CORRECTLY used their "originals" and arguably better developed their "newbies," is on life support. At this point, it doesn't even appear that they'll get a second season.

The irony of this scenario is that the original series was in much the same boat. It was panned as being boring and bland, but then quickly turned it around into the cult classic we remember it as.

Click the "Read More" link for my complete thoughts on the season thus far. Naturally, spoilers are within.

As I noted in my introduction, I thought this season has done a great job of handling their original characters and properly integrating them into the lives of the new, lead characters. Their presence isn't forced or contrived, as I felt it sometimes was last season on 90210. And, for the most part, they've picked the RIGHT originals to return. It was smart of them to go out of their way to ensure that heatseekers like Sydney, Amanda, and my favorite Michael returned to the show.

I can't help but laugh, though, that all these old characters have become so bitter and mean. Sure, Amanda was always a bit of a witch. And Jo always had an edge. But Jane? For the most part, she was pretty level headed, caring, and compassionate. She was the damn ice queen when she stepped into the apartment complex at the beginning of the season. I look forward to seeing her reunite with Michael. These two are great together. I can only imagine how THIS Jane interacts with him.

Regarding the new characters, it seems obvious to me that Ella will step up as the "star" of the show should it get a second season. She's a surprisingly layered and complex character. Sure, she screwed over Jonah during an early episode, but she's also stepped up -- big time -- when her friends are put in an unfair situation. When Jo went off on Riley, Ella came to her defense. She remained loyal to Amanda when another opportunity seemingly came her way. She's defended Jonah even when it was potentially damaging to her career. It's obvious that she's not some one-dimensional blond bitch. And that's why she'll step up as the true lead.

They finally revealed the killer, and I must say I was quite surprised. And not in a negative way. All signs pointed to Violet. I mean, she was in the perfect position to frame both Auggie and Michael, she had the motive, she's set to leave the show, and she's freakin' psycho. But this twist actually made sense. And the past two episodes did a relatively okay job of shedding Violet in a sympathetic light. And how about that? Michael lying for his wife to protect his son. Strangely sweet.

Or course, it's also only fair that I mention the things I've disliked. After defending them for quite some time, I finally had enough of Jonah and Riley. Their self righteousness just became a bit too much to handle. All they ever do is complain about their monetary situation, and they're CONSTANTLY falling ass backwards into situations that will make them more than comfortable for the foreseeable future, and they just blow it because of their unrealistically high moral standards. Jonah won't accept a movie deal because he thinks the producer believes he will blackmail him. Riley loses her modeling contract because she won't lie about her family background. Jonah leaves an IT job because he's unsettled by the fact that he dug up information for somebody who proved to be an unreliable friend. And what's worse is that they seemingly don't care about screwing over their friends' careers, particularly Ella, either.

And on the topic of self righteousness, I also get irked by the fact that Lauren won't compromise certain values, yet is willing to become a prostitute. I mean, I can understand having issues with stealing or fudging medical records -- but isn't prostitution pretty much rock bottom?

Further, Ashlee Simpson was just atrocious in her role. I've seen her act before. She was never great, but she wasn't necessarily offensive either. On this show she was just nauseating. It was absolutely awful. Just....terrible.

And, of course, I'm still pissed about the explanation they've provided over Sydney's faked death.

Anyway, I do genuinely hope that something happens to rescue this show. Again, if the original taught us anything, it's that a show can reinvent itself in the second season. But, in fairness to CW, they are doing what they can.










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90210 Midseason Report

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

Sorry about the late post, but I got stuck with various meetings and eating and such. For what it's worth, I missed the first two hours of Raw -- and it was actually an edition I was looking forward to seeing (Slammy Awards, new champions, and a fun host).

But, as promised, let's take a look at what we've seen so far from this second season of 90210, the CW 90's re-incarnation that seems to be working. In respect to those who may not be up-to-date, click the "Read More" link for my full review.

Overall, this has been a really enjoyable, very entertaining season. While I thought the first season was good, the show has improved by leaps and bounds. It's almost as if 90210 has become comfortable in its own skin.

And let me just say, that was one of the most phenomenal endings leading to a hiatus that I've seen in quite some time. Jasper's cold, straight face as he revealed to Annie that he's known that she was the one who killed her uncle was chilling and intriguing. How long has he known? How did he find out? And finally, how on earth will this story arc resolve itself without Annie going to prison?

I've also enjoyed the distance from last year's somewhat forced relationships. Scratch that. It's not that the specific relationships were forced, it's more that the characters as a whole were forced to be in relationships. It's as if they said, "Hey, we've got X amount of girls, X amount of guys....let's hitch 'em up!" without any real thought of whether they were compatible. Now they've stepped back and rethought which characters should be together. And of course, in some instances, those original relationships were the right ones -- and we're beginning to see those rebuilt.

Oh, and Silver is lovely. And I love her short hair.

That's not to say that this season is completely praise-worthy. First off, there has been A LOT of bitching, moaning, and complaining. For a long while, Dixon was completely unwatchable. And the fact that he lived in the same house as mopey mcgee Annie, it was just too much. But at least you could understand Annie's personality shift.

Along with that, I find these super chummy relationships a bit of a stretch, especially with the guys. On the original, it just worked because there was so much history. Sure, Steve and Dylan were completely different personalities, but you understood that they have a lifetime of friendship behind them. And their relationship continued to work because of their mutual friendship with Brandon. On this series, Dixon, Liam, and Teddy are ALL new kids on campus. What exactly drew them together? It just seems a little forced.

The girls are a bit better, but I still double take every now and then that Naomi and Silver are suddenly inseparable. I respect that they've rebuilt their relationship, but it just seems like a far stretch that Silver would completely forgive everything that Naomi had done to her (like, ya' know, tearing her family apart).

Overall, though, I'd suggest this show to anybody who enjoyed the original. The characters are finding their strides, and it's really become its own. For example, I really do see Silver as her own character, and not Kelly's little sister. I just hope Melrose Place is given the same opportunity.








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WWE TLC Predictions

As originally reported in my preview video, I will be reviewing a different show every day this week....

And appropriately, we begin this week with tonight's new pay-per-view, TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. The idea of the show is clever and interesting enough, but my main point of contention is the same issue I had with Hell in a Cell. You're basically taking a specialty match that is sporadically used in attraction matches each year, and you're watering it down by featuring it multiple times in a single night. But I will admit that I'm far more tempted to order this show than I otherwise would have.

The other thing that makes me scratch my head is the backwards booking, as the TLC match was the first one announced for the show. As its name suggests, the TLC match is the ultimate combination of all the other stipulation matches on the card -- the booking should have built up to that point. Instead, they immediately offered us the main course, and then proceeded to give us "Light" versions of that match.

For that matter, they haven't really explained the difference between a Ladder Match and a TLC match. Tables and chairs are frequently used in the former, so as as best as I can tell, the only difference is that those aforementioned weapons are neatly and conveniently set up prior to the match for TLC, whereas in a Ladder Match you have to go to the trouble of setting it up yourself.

Those observations aside, I think this is one of the fresher line ups we've seen in the past year or so. We're seeing a number of "first time" matches (Cena vs. Sheamus, Christian vs. Shelton, DX vs. JeriShow), as well as the culmination of some really well built up feuds (Orton vs. Kofi, Morrison vs. McIntyre, Mickie vs. Michelle). And although we've seen Undertaker vs. Batista a number of times, it's a relatively new dynamic with the big man now being a heel. Anyway, here are my predictions:

WWE Championship Match - Tables Match:
John Cena defeats Sheamus

World Heavyweight Championship Match - Chairs Match:
Surprisingly tough to call, but I think I'm going to have to lean towards 'Taker retaining. There are a lot more heels for the champ to deal with than faces. Has it ever been explained what a Chair Match is?

ECW Championship Match - Ladder Match:
Very tough to call, although again I think Christian will retain. Which is what I want. Then again, I am tempted to see a change of pace on ECW, and a new champion would surely do that. This match certainly has the potential to steal the show, but the question remains, will they let them? I hope so, because this could do huge things to boost ECW's stock.

Unified Tag Team Championship Match - TLC Match:
This will likely close the show, as it probably should (however, this is another reason why I'm skeptical that the ECW title match won't have certain restrictions, as to not outshine the show closer). I have to say, I think JeriShow will retain, mostly because I don't see Shawn Michaels and Triple H frequently appearing on all three shows (or at least Raw and Smackdown). And I think they appreciate having Jericho on both shows. Then again, this is one of the harder matches to predict.

Orton vs. Kofi - Another tough one, but I'm leaning towards Orton. Sure, a big time win would do wonders for Kofi, but I see a lot of faces winning tonight. And I don't see them lining up Kofi as the next challenger for the WWE Championship.

Intercontinental Championship Match: Morrison vs. McIntyre - One title should probably change tonight, and this may very well be it. I like Morrison a lot more, so I hope he wins. But just to ensure one title change, I'm giving it to McIntyre.

Women's Championship Match: Michelle defeats Mickie.

There you have it. Overall, I think it'll be a great show. Lets just hope there aren't any injuries!

Oh, and please participate in my WWE Year-End Survey! Thank you!!








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[a case of the blog] - Preview for next week

Also: Please take a moment to fill out this WWE Year-End Survey - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LXGLNW

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Just a friendly reminder

So when I posted my survey for the WWE Year-End Awards, I had quite a few people respond and I was very interested in the results up until that point. But over the past few days, there hasn't been any activity. So, if you haven't had a chance already, I just wanted to remind you to take a moment to take this survey. It should only take a minute or two. Like I said, I've been interested in the results.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2LXGLNW

And keep checking. Over the next few days I plan on posting a similar survey for television!

Thanks again!!







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Deus ex Machina Housewives

Deus ex Machina - a plot device in which a person or thing appears "out of the blue" to help a character to overcome a seemingly insolvable difficulty.

While I'm not really a fan of Desperate Housewives (although I find it infinitely less offensive than Grey's Anatomy), I am a bit of a sucker for disaster movies. So when the show does its annual "destruction" episode, I usually decide to tune in.

And I must say, it has become increasingly obvious that these episodes are just a mechanism to get certain characters out of precarious situations. The tornado episode conveniently killed Gabrielle's husband so that she could get back together with Carlos, and likewise, last night's plane crash ever so serendipitously rescued another central character from a potentially damaging situation (I won't say who or how, but anyone who saw the episode should know what I'm talking about). And I must say, considering they hype the hell out of these messes, it's highly disappointing when it merely takes up two minutes of the episode.

For that matter, can, like, every show in the universe agree to take a year or so off with this "start the episode off with the climax, then show the _____ days/hours earlier subtitle" method of storytelling?

Anyway, for those interested, here's the plane crash scene in its entirety:










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Monk Finale

With most of the shows I watch taking a break until 2010, this seems like the perfect opportunity to discuss a show that recently said good bye: The wildly popular USA Network series, Monk.

It's hard to believe that this show has been on for seven years. Perhaps the greatest way to show this is to look how much Emmy Clarke -- who plays Monk's assistant's daughter -- has grown through the years. She joined the series when she was 11, and by the finale she was 17. She was always a cute kid, but she really grew into a beautiful young lady, several inches taller than her on-screen mom. I hope this isn't the last we see of this talented actress.


Anyway, for my thoughts on the finale, click on the "Read More" link.

Overall, I was satisfied with the ending. Sure, nothing earth shattering happened, but honestly this sort of series, and a character such as this, doesn't lend itself to that sort of ending. And no, there wasn't any huge twist as to who killed Monk's wife (and Entertainment Weekly needlessly spoiled that as well), but I think that's for the best. Sure, it would have been hugely surprising to find out Stottlemeyer actually did the deed, but wouldn't that have needlessly tarnished a friendship that has developed wonderfully over the past near decade?

There were a lot of people expecting Monk and Natalie to get together, but that didn't happen. I'm torn on that. I wouldn't have minded it, but it would have felt thrown together, as it wasn't properly built up throughout the season. But, in the end, I had a nice feeling that everything was going to be okay for this character.

I'm hardly the first one to say this, but it is a bit sad to think about how much Monk has tortured himself for the past twelve years, when the answer to all of his misery was nicely wrapped on his mantle the entire time.







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WWE Year-End Awards

Well, most of my shows are on hiatus until 2010, but there are still plenty of reasons to keep visiting the blog! And with the end of the year drawing near, I thought I'd do some year-end awards for wrestling and television. Of course, I'm interested in your opinions as well. So, if you could, please take a moment to fill out the survey below. I'll post the results when I give my opinion later this month. Your participation is appreciated!

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ECW: Doomed to the Extreme?

The latest speculation around the wrestling newsroom is that the ECW brand is on the verge of being put to pasture. The story going around is that SyFy isn't happy with the ratings, so the one hour program that currently takes up the Tuesday night 10:00 slot is going to be completely retooled.

While this news -- which is more or less unsubstantiated -- isn't necessarily shocking, I do think it's a tad unfair. The fact of the matter is, ECW is treated like the red headed stepchild of the WWE world. And as I've said in the past, it's difficult for your audience to become invested in a show when it doesn't even seem like the company that owns it cares. The roster has been severely depleted, with several Superstars being prematurely removed and "promoted" to one of the big two. Can you honestly tell me that Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger have been better off on Raw than they were on ECW?

ECW has become entirely too polarized. In the past there was a nice mix of no-names, young guys trying to find their niche, upper midcard guys who are lost in the shuffle on Raw and Smackdown, and veterans. Now it's basically guys straight out of the minors, guys going no where, and Christian.

Then there's the schizophrenic ECW Championship. Is it a World Title? Is it at the level of the Intercontinental or United States Championship? I don't even know, and I don't think WWE does either. Several months ago WWE Magazine claimed that Matt Hardy was the first Hardy brother to capture a World title, as he had won the ECW Championship. This past Monday on Raw, Big Show commented on how he held all three World titles -- the WWE, WCW, and ECW Championships. But by that same token, former ECW Champions Jack Swagger, Chavo Guerrero, and Mark Henry participated in the Break Through #1 Contenders Tournament, which stipulated that you never held a World title. Likewise, WWE Magazine includes former champions like John Morrison and Jack Swagger as "Tomorrow's Champions."

And it's sad. A couple of years ago the ECW Championship was a legitimate option for the winner of the Royal Rumble (remember when Undertaker stood in the ring with WWE Champion John Cena, World Heavyweight Champion Batista, and ECW Champion Lashley?) Could you imagine the same when Chavo Guerrero was the ECW Champ?

What's even sadder is that the ECW Championship wasn't even defended on the past few PPVs. It only received 8 seconds at SummerSlam. And at Survivor Series, the ECW Champion played second fiddle to Raw's pet project. And the ECW Championship match has been left out in the cold at all of these concept PPVs, which promise a specialty match for the "main events." So I guess the ECW Title isn't even main event worthy? Hell, they were completely ignored during Bragging Rights -- an event entirely devoted to proving brand supremacy!

The long and short of it: If ECW is deemed a failure, WWE has nobody to blame but themselves. When the brand doesn't even feature a Pay-Per-View match, what's the theoretical point of watching? Is the brand salveable? Probably -- just throw them a bone!

Here's what I'd do: First off, I'd move Evan Bourne back to ECW. After completely losing steam on Raw, I'd also give them MVP. I'd even go as far as suggesting that he turn heel and capture the Champioship. I'd also move Charlie Haas over to ECW, where he can form a loose alliance with Shelton Benjamin. I think R-Truth would fit nicely there as well. And since the brand needs a legitimate main event-level Superstar, I'd offer them Kane. Yeah, not the best option, but probably the most realistic one.

Moral of the story: I kinda like the belt. It's grown on me. So I'd hate to see the brand die.

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This is creepy

I can't really put my finger on why, but this Gap commercial really creeps me out:

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A Case of the.... Heroes - Episode 4-12

So was this the end of the volume? If so, talk about going out with a whimper. I don’t recall any hype leading to this finale – and if it was the last episode of this volume, with one exception, it really didn’t deliver a climatic conclusion.

That one exception, ironically enough, is the whole Sylar/Nathan story. I’ve been awfully critical of this arc, particularly with the lack of restraint exhibited by the writers, but I have to admit that they did a wonderful job of wrapping things up. It really was a genuinely heartfelt, touching, emotional, and nicely scripted character departure. They hit all the right notes, and the acting was spot on.

http://tv.insidepulse.com/2009/12/01/heroes-episode-4-12-review/

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