friday night lights

Let’s Talk About Fall TV So Far

September 30, 2009 by Amy 6 Comments

As mentioned before one of the things I’m missing about Twitter and Facebook is interaction about TV. I started my break before most shows premiered and I have no clue how people are reacting to this season. I feel a little lost. But I’ll take a few minutes to gab about what I think.

Gossip Girl

I feel like this season has been solid GG so far. Blair’s attention-getting actions were very odd. It was also odd to see JoAnna Garcia with Nate after watching her in a full season of Privileged. Maybe it’s just lingering affects from that but I’m not 100% sold on that character. I do like Carter and hope he sticks around. I’m loving Blair and Chuck together. I do like this whole college thing. I feel like it fits them better at this point yet it still feels like GG.

Greek

Greek started really slow for me the first two episodes. I had to struggle through to even watch the second episode at all. The last two have been back up to par and let me say that Cappie is by far the star of that show. Without him, the episodes lag! Here a few quotes I grabbed from this week:

A sororiety girl. I can’t remember her name and I’m too lazy to look it up. The senator’s daughter: See they were blown off for another mixer so they stayed in for mud masks and a TV series about old people having old people sex.
Casey: They’re watching Private Practice?

Evan and Cappie looking at flyers for Evan a job.
Cappie: Oh here’s one. Sperm donor. Someone with your pedigree could earn three times what I have…would..as much as I would.

Ashley: Maybe they were hot back in the 80s.
Casey: No that is ugly in any decade.

One Tree Hill

This is a huge year for OTH. Another 14 mo jump, 2 lost major character and 4 additions and it was a recipe for disaster. But after the third episode this week, I feel really good about it. I’m really loving Clay and even Alex. They need to step it up with Quinn or she will be the biggest bore I’ve seen on there yet. Nathan and Haley have been fantastic this season, especially the last episode. As for Brooke, I much rather have Brooke with an attitude than Brooke in love. But I do still like her with Julian and I’m glad to hear that storyline will be shaken a bit. Drama!

Melrose Place

TVBytheNumbers.com has called this as a cancellation. I won’t be surprised. I skipped through a lot of last night’s episode. It’s rough. Really rough. I don’t care much about the characters, the acting especially on Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s part is horrid and the who-murdered-Sydney story-line is already old. There are a few good parts though. I think Jonah and Riley are solid, especially Riley. She’s one of the only real characters with solid acting. And I hate to say this, but I’m actually enjoying Lauren’s hooker line. It’s not right but I think the acting is superb and I think she’s showing genuine conflict about it and unfortunately there are women who find themselves in just that plight. However, with Ella Simms as the star of this show, it’s empty, vain and annoying and it will be the downfall of this show. It’s hard to support a show where you don’t even like the main character. Heather Locklear finally signed on and I’m interested to see if she saves the show. If you’re a fan, make sure to check out Melrose Place Blog (sorry for the review, Ruthie, but I’ll still plug the site for you!)

Lie To Me

I didn’t mean to watch it this season but I needed to pass some time Monday night. It was a solid episode for the show. If you enjoyed the first season, definitely check it out.

Grey’s Anatomy

I posted about this show briefly last week but wow, Grey’s was back with full force. It will be interesting to see where they take it from here. I’m wondering how you improve on what we just saw. I’m thoroughly enjoying Alex and Izzie and Derek and Meredith married.

The Office

As always The Office manages to make me laugh with quotes like this:

“I say my greatest talent is being the best man, woman or child to have ever run this branch ever.”

“I’d have to talk to my mother and my guy at H&R Block.”

I’m excited for Jim and Pam and can’t wait for this week.

Glee

I’ve dropped Glee. Eh.

Vampire Diaries

I am totally and completely smitten with Vampire Diaries. And it is totally and completely due to Ian Somerhalder as Damon. It was a little weak out of the gate but the last episode was great and I literally have been counting down to Thursday this week. I could do without all the vampirism and biting (I know, then what’s the point, eh?) but I love the characters and the stories have been decent. If they do this right, it could be huge. Make sure to check out Vampire Diaries Online.

Dollhouse

TVBytheNumbers.com also shows this as a possible cancellation and I wouldn’t be surprised since we almost didn’t get this season. But it’s a shame. It’s a good show and I really enjoyed the premiere last week.

And in closing…have I mentioned I’m excited for the Friday Night Lights premiere in 4 weeks?? All you people have PLENTY of time to catch up on 1-3. Do eeeet!

Friday Night Lights

September 8, 2009 by Amy 4 Comments

This is long. If you don’t want to read it, the whole post can be summarized in one sentence: Watch Friday Night Lights.

It is also not spoilerish so feel free to read it if you haven’t watched the show.

Anyone that has been listening to me at all on Twitter or in real life knows that I have been caught up in a new TV series Friday Night Lights. Like I needed one right? But Kaitlin insisted in my Fall TV post that I should watch it. I had heard before that it was good so I found myself at surfthechannel.com to check it out. Well. I think I can safely say halfway through the first episode I was hooked. By the 3rd episode I was ready to start a fan site. And in my world, that’s the highest compliment I can give.

I spent hours upon hours this weekend during the late evenings and early mornings (thanks 2 two sleepovers for the girls) catching up on Season 1. At episode 8 Friday night, surfthechannel.com failed to deliver an episode. Saturday morning, my first stop was Blockbuster and then Wal-Mart to find it on DVD. At that point I knew I wanted them anyway. Saturday evening, I handed them off to my parents and sister insisting they had to watch it. And they loved it too. At 2:30am on Sunday night/Monday morning I finished Season 1.

It’s so. good.

Like, really, really good.

As in, you should RUN to Wal-Mart and buy it for $14.99.

So what’s to love?

Every. single. character.

I’ll give this from a Season 1 only perspective because I’ve watched some of Season 2 and I realize things start to change…

I always start with Riggins. I love Riggins. I love that he’s the bad boy. Tall, greasy hair and screws up a lot that you want to save. I love that he is vulnerable because his parents flaked out and he has a barely supportive brother. I love that on one hand he’s a womanizer and then the other he says “Lyla…Lyla” in that Texan accent. Yep, he’s the ultimate bad boy in love with the good girl. The couple that should be together but isn’t. Do I love that he does all the bad stuff? No, of course not. But I love watching how he deals with it. I love trying to figure out what drives him. What motivates him. Who he really loves and doesn’t. Ah, I love Riggs.

Next is Matt. Matty. That’s what I call him. Cause yes, I do talk to him through the screen. Matty, that’s so sweet. Poor Matty. I love how he stutters. I love how he’s a gentleman. I love how he has no clue what to do with Julie. I love how he’s fiercely loyal to his team. I love him and Landry. They crack me up. Yep, he’s the boy you want to take home to your Mom. He’s the one you want next to you at your wedding.

And Riggins is the one you want at the honeymoon.

Just sayin’.

Coach Taylor and his wife. Can you really separate them? I love them together. I love how they love each other. I love that they make out in the kitchen. I love that she’s always right and he knows it. I love that they parent Julie together. I love the looks they give each other. I love how they care about the students on the team and at the school. I love how Coach Taylor goes out on a limb for them. I love that he goes against the rules when it makes sense.

Now Jason. I’m not a huge fan of his. I like him, yes, but I’m not as invested in him. I do love that he called out Riggins and Lyla. I love his determination although at times it can be a bit much. I just want to say “calm down” to him sometimes.

Lyla. The good girl. One that made a huge mistake. Of course I love her with Riggins. I love how she tells him how crappy he’s being. I love that she supports Jason. Even though she screwed up, she was at that hospital A LOT. I love that she tries to hold her family together. I’m not her biggest fan but there are definitely things I can relate to in her.

Smash is hilarious. I love that towards the end of the season we got to see the boy behind all the smack-talk. His character has really evolved and I like that.

Tyra. I love that she tells it like it is. She doesn’t take crap from anyone. And yet, under all that she’s as vulnerable as any of them.

Landry. I love him. I love him with Matt. Did I mention they crack me up?

Matt’s Grandma, Smash’s Mom even Buddy Garrity. I can’t help but be glad they’re on the screen too.

It’s amazing that one show could make you care about so many of the characters. Of all the shows I watch, there are NONE that have a cast of characters that I care about and feel invested in like this one.

I love the writing. It’s smart, it’s funny. The timing is impeccable. The storylines are dramatic yet handled a real way. Or maybe the storylines are just realistic and they are able to dramatize them. I don’t know. But there has yet to be a time where I say, you know, I really don’t like this storyline. Because somehow it’s not a storyline. Somehow it’s just their life. And doesn’t life have enough drama? I of course love the Christian undertone of the show. That many of the families are Christians. That they aren’t afraid to have scenes in a church. That they’re not afraid to talk about God.

So yeah, I love this show.

And that was my brain dump after watching 880 minutes of one show in a matter of days.

And I can’t recommend enough that you do the same.