There’s a lot of reasons I don’t watch much TV, but that could be changing. Coupled with the proliferation of cable channels and the migration of better talent, the last dozen years or so has shown a drastic upswing in quality programming. Even though the idea of a weekly commitment to a cable show is not thrilling, articles like the one below make me wonder if I’m missing something.
L.A. Times writer Patrick Goldstein, in yesterday’s Big Picture column, describes how television is winning a larger share of the movie-going market. Quoting Michael Barker, co-head of Sony Pictures Classics:
“I opened up the New York Times, and the best review in the paper was for ‘Friday Night Lights,’ so I told my wife, ‘Let’s stay home and watch it,’ ” he says. “There’s something especially compelling about TV right now. The reviews in the big-city papers have been a lot better for the new TV dramas than for the movies.” Barker isn’t alone. When I was at a recent dinner party populated with the kind of people who could handicap the Oscar race in their sleep, no one was talking about movies — everyone was marveling over the final episode of “Mad Men.” In days past, it was HBO that had the spotlight shows for discerning adults. But now virtually every cable network has a cool, critically beloved show with good buzz, whether it’s AMC’s “Mad Men,” TNT’s “State of Grace,” Lifetime’s “Army Wives,” FX’s “Damages” or Sci Fi’s “Battlestar Galactica.”
“There’s definitely a creative shift going on,” says producer Bruce Cohen, who with his partner Dan Jinks has made the transition from daring filmmaking — they produced “American Beauty” — to fresh TV, in the form of “Pushing Daisies.” “There are a lot of series on TV right now that are breaking the mold. It’s absolutely raised the bar for anyone thinking about going out to see a movie on Friday night.”
As such, Goldstein suggests that the under-performance of many Hollywood movies at the box office is due as much to the rise of good TV as anything. Viewers no longer have to sacrifice quality entertainment when they snuggle up with the channel changer and the cable lineup. But what makes this even more intriguing to me is the independent sensibilities emerging in cable programming. Many of these TV dramas play out more like indie films — something I really love and support — than they do bland, studio-churned, prime time lard.
I must admit, this is new terrain for me. At the moment, I turn to TV for 2 things: Sports and maybe ten minutes of news a day. The idea of devoting time every week to an episodic television drama has never much appealed to me. But I’m thinking it’s time I take a second look. So where do I start? Brett McCracken raves about Friday Night Lights and I know a few folks who like 24. I wouldn’t mind paranormal fare, but have no idea what’s out there and worthwhile. Romance, however, is out of the question. Nevertheless, I’m taking suggestions. Got any?
I’m still stuck on Seinfeld…but I own the DVD’s.
Although committing to a weekly show is not in my immediate future, I will be coming back to check the suggestions.
We did The Office for a while and have seen a couple of episodes of Chuck. Both good programs. But neither have me reaching for my calendar.
I see Pushing Daisies up there in the quote. That’s my fave of the season right now. It’s different in a good way–great storyline, great cinametography (sp?), and good dialogue.
I like the writing–both content and dialogue–to Chuck and House. On the off season (but they’re playing the short season again on the Sci-Fi channel, I think), we watch Eureka, which I really like, although, in my opinion, the second season wasn’t nearly as good as last year’s.
Yeah. I watch too much TV.
I can’t imagine you’d like all of what I like (if any of what I like:) But here’s what I love on TV:
Monk- on USA. Tony Shaloub is the obsessive complulsive detective.
Lost- you’d want to get the first 3 seasons from Netflix. it’s bound to suck you in.
House- sarcastic doctor. very funny.
You could get all of these on Netflix. Someone recommended Pushing Daisies to me, but I couldn’t get into it. I’ve heard 24 is great, but haven’t seen it.
None of this may matter if the writer’s guild strike lasts long enough!
But, here’s my $.02 anyway:
For laughs: Chuck (Monday, NBC), The Office (Thursday, NBC)
24 (Mondays, Fox) was fantastic for five seasons. Then season 6 stunk. It’s a show that requires a healthy suspension of disbelief even in the best of times. At its best, it’s a riveting high-wire act of suspense, action, and jaw-dropping twists, anchored by an intense performance by Kiefer Sutherland. At its worst, it’s ludicrous and wastes a good bit of time on unnecessary subplots. Hopefully they’ll recapture their former magic in the new season.
I have watched Heroes (Mondays, NBC) faithfully, but I’m losing patience with it. Season 1 was fun but uneven, and season 2 has been a train wreck so far.
My favorite show on TV right now is Lost (?, ABC). Season 4 is set to return in February as of now. This show mixes action, mystery, suspense, sci-fi, drama, humor, and a little “just plain weirdness”. The writing and acting is terrific. It sometimes suffers from slow pacing, but viewer patience is rewarded. I’d recommend renting or borrowing the DVD’s from seasons 1-3 to catch up. I think it’s well worth watching.
Thanks for the suggestions! I did watch Lost when it first started (at least, about 15 minutes of it). I was more interested in listening to my co-workers as they lost interest in the show. They felt like it was going nowhere, from one implausibility to the next, dragging on ad infinitum. But these guys aren’t intellectual heavyweights. Pushing Daisies does sound interesting because of its connection to more maverick filmmakers.
And Janet, thanks for the reminder about Netflix. A friend recently gave me the first (only?) series of Serenity on DVD. I’d liked the movie so he jumped on the chance to have me see all the shows. Without having ever seen an episode of Buffy, I figure this might also be the time. Another advantage: I wouldn’t have to put up with commercials, which absolutely bores me. Thanks, you guys!
If you’ve never seen Band of Brothers, I think it is arguably the best television ever produced – if you count HBO as television.
More like a 10 hour brilliantly executed, written, acted, directed, everything movie.
If I were a socialist, I would push for a law to have it required viewing of every citizen.
They should at least give it an honorary Oscar.
It is flawless. (and I’m a tough critic)
My TV tastes are hopelessly pedestrian and I don’t have cable, but I’ll add a vote for House, though I haven’t watched it much this year. The first couple of seasons I thought were especially good.
I have been watching some classic TV thanks to Netflix — MASH holds up well, and so does the Dick Van Dyke Show.
Firefly (the series that led to Serenity) is great, but it was only one season. But if it’s whetted your taste for some Joss Whedon storytelling, do watch Buffy. I never expected to like it, but it’s good.
If you want to watch a TV show but don’t want the commitment, “TIVO” is the way to go. Watch it when you want and cut down on the time.
“The Office” and “Seinfeld” are my two favorites.
Dayle, I have heard a lot of good things about Band of Brothers, but never that it should be required viewing for socialist citizens. Linda, no cable? Do you live in Siberia or what? Really, I do the love the old TV programs. The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits were my first real TV addiction, apart from Gumby and Pokey. And Melody, the Tivo suggestion just might be a good one. Maybe this Christmas. . .
I live in Kansas, where cable is available, we just don’t pay for it. So we get two stations. That’s why I subscribe to Netflix — it’s cheaper than cable and I still have lots of choice. (And I don’t watch nearly as much TV as I did whenever we’ve had cable.)
You’ve misunderstood me again, Mike. In a free country there should be no required viewing of anything, I said “If I were a socialist and didn’t have the preceeding viewpoint of freedom, I would push for a law requiring all free citizens of the world to view it.”
Freedom isn’t free. Band of Brothers, being a true story, paints that picture better than any presidential speech.
The point is: if you haven’t seen, what are you waiting for? Get on Netflix now.
I don’t have cable either. 😛
Couldn’t keep up with Heroes or Lost, sadly. I’ll have to rent them one of these days. Someday.
Little TV for me, but mine are:
The Unit (I like the premise)
Jericho (amazing what you can do with a large cast)
Numbers (usually…the concept is fun)
24 (although I’m starting to get tired of it)
I missed about half of Band of Brothers when it aired, but ah well. More to rent. Someday….