My Weekly Wonders: House

A couple weeks ago I talked briefly about the show House in my post called Too Much Drama, but now I would like to dedicate a whole blog post to this wonderful show. In it's eighth season and House is still one of the best shows on television. with it's innovative, creative, and exciting writing I will continue watching until it ends.

House is centered around a narcissistic, pill-popping, genius doctor named, you guessed it,  House.  He has horrible bed side manner and yet he is one the best doctors in the world.  From there the writers embellish.  The contrast of interesting medical mysteries with the major conflicts that House causes brings a whole new drama flavor that you don't see very often.

First off, Hugh Laurie, the actor that play House, is really amazing. Every year he blows me way with his almost effortless way of getting deep into the thinking of Gregory House.  With his fake American accent, his fake limp with a cane, and his fake self-serving tone, he is a true actor and rightfully deserves any praise given to him (including the many award nominations and a few wins).

The characters and their interactions with each other are so great.  The fact that a jerk like House can have both a best friend and a dean of medicine who cares deeply about him is so surprising when you watch the show. But as become more acquainted with the character you come to this realization that he's really not that bad of a guy.

Under that hard self-serving shell, you find a mushy center and the fact that he's not so self-centered after all. In fact most of his actions are for his patients.  He gets himself in a lot of trouble as he breaks protocols trying to what's best for his patients.  One episode in particular stands out to me where he has a patient that needs an organ transplant (I can't remember what). During the episode, before whatever organ fails, House puts her on the registry.  Soon after the organ dies and his associate doctors are wondering how we knew to put her on the list.  It turned out that he found pills in her bag suggesting that she tried to commit suicide and that is why her organ failed.  This is bad because when he trying to get her higher up on the donor list, the fact that she tried to commit suicide would cause her to get rejected.  House ignores this a lies to the donor board. Although he had nothing to gain, House risked his job, the one thing in life that he is accomplished at, for this one patient.

House obviously has a lot of complexity and depth, and that's what makes him so interesting.  Hi friendship with Wilson (an oncologist at the same hospital) is also quite fun to watch.  Their relationship is literally like a roller coaster, often having ups and downs throughout the seasons.  One low in particular that I think most people remember is when Wilson's girlfriend Amber died. It's probably the on episode of House that I've cried the most in just because it so heart wrenching.  Wilson was very happy with his long-term girlfriend Amber, who we get to know through the length of almost two whole seasons.  But one night House gets really drunk and calls Wilson to come pick him up. Unfortunately Wilson is at the hospital working late, so Amber comes to get him instead. To get back home Amber takes him on a bus, where all of a sudden they get into a huge car wreck where many of the passengers are injured.  House loses much of his memory and wakes up in a strip club, which is where the episode starts, and tries to piece back his memory.  It's a really great episode and it really shows how far House and Wilson's relationship can really go.

This season in particular is interesting because the finale of last year's season House drives his car into Cuddy's (dean of medicine) home.  Now Cuddy is gone for good (no she wasn't written out, apparently she wanted to move on) and Wilson is very angry. He expressed that him and House are no longer friends.  We all know this isn't going to last because House and Wilson were destined to be together. It's like Holmes and Watson! Yeah, it's not a coincidence. House and Wilson were modeled after the crime solving duo.  But how is it going to happen? I'm not sure, from the looks of now, it seems as is either House is going to have to do something big, or it's just going to take a really time for Wilson to get over it.

Lastly I just want to emphasize that this is not like other medical shows.  House is a unique character because he solves the most complex cases. Therefore the patients are always very interesting and the answers are never simple.  It's not Grey's Anatomy where they just have a complex surgery with some romantic drama. No, there is so much more.  These cases take some hardcore digging, whether it's breaking into the patient's home, punching the father in the face to get a certain reaction, or doing some crazy procedure that isn't allowed to test a theory.  All is fair game, and it's really what keeps the show so intriguing to the large fan base.

The Underdogs

There are some shows, whether they are on big networks with overflowing supply of money, or simply an effort by the channel to get some more viewers, that just don't get enough credit.  I acknowledge the fact that most shows that have originality and are genuinely well done are well recognized.  But there are so many that just don't make the cut.  Maybe a nomination once in awhile, but never a win.  These shows have the talent, but not the street cred.  They put in the work, but they aren't getting the grades they strive for.

Underdogs of the television world are often seen as "not good enough." If not winning an Emmy every year, they are just not as good.  But it's all a matter of opinion.  Many people fail to look at the idea that some shows just don't have the budget or the resources that others have.  Some have great writing but not the best actors. Others have great actors, but not the best writing.  When I look at these so called underachievers, I don't see failure or inadequacy. No, I see potential.  A word I probably mention far too much.  Television is bursting with potential. Writers are just trying to make a name for themselves.  They write with a vigor to make their protege shine.  And when it doesn't, it gives the whole show a feeling as if it's hopeless.  Maybe not to the viewers, maybe no to writers, but the aura it presents shines with hopelessness.

I think that's why shows don't always prosper, even when they are doing well.  As they continue with their seasons, the less they are recognized, the less it becomes meaningful.  It evolves from a project to a job. I just want to urge everyone, whether you are a fan of television or not, to give every show a chance.  I know it's difficult at times, but it's really what lets the business prosper, when the audience keeps and open mind and enjoys it for what it is.  It may not be good, it may not be bad, but you won't know until you try it.  Try the green eggs and ham, I know I will.

Fake News at its Finest

If you've ever seen The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, or even Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, you have experienced the enjoyment of transforming current news into comedy. A concept that has been around for quite some time. But why do we enjoy laughing about happenings going on around our society? It's a question most people probably don't think about. 

I think major reason these kinds of jokes amuse is mostly due to the fact they are relatable.  We can understand our own culture, and these jokes are literally ripped from the headlines. 

Many people argue that the youth today are getting their news solely from these comedy-based news shows. I'm not denying that.  I find myself, especially during the summer when I have more time to watch these shows, hearing about most things from this.  It's not necessarily a bad thing though. Yes, I might pick of opinions or criticism that might of not been picked up from more factual and neutral news.  But the fact that I'm learning at all about current events that I wouldn't normally learn, must be at least kind of good? No? Well then at least I can make my own opinions because I'm fairly educated and I know a thing or two about politics. No I can't do that either? Well, at least they aren't pushing some information but not all to support their own opinions...

The Daily Show or The Colbert Report, though may not be the best source for news, are just focusing on comedy.  They don't have a agenda that supports a certain party or certain ideas, they just want to make us laugh!  So what if Stephen Colbert acts like an extreme conservative and slightly makes fun of them, so what if The Daily Show gets accused of being "too liberal" by FOX news, it's all for comedy! They aren't a real news station!

If this little debate sounds familiar to you, you probably watch The Daily Show, and you proabably saw the episode where Jon Stewart and O'Reilly get into a somewhat heated argument about this exact same argument. O'Reilly accuses Stewart of being too liberal on his show, Stewart counters with the fact that O'Reilly is conservative and they are supposed to be reporting actual news, not comedy.  If you haven't seen this, it gets a little awkward, but it's definetly enjoyable.  Here's the first clip (you can find the other two on Hulu.com).

But it's not just fake news shows that get all the fun current event jokes, most (if not all) late night talk shows do the same thing.  Shows with hosts like David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Craig Ferguson.  You proabably have heard of and even watched one of these at least once in your life.  Maybe noy as obsessively as me, (yes I am in love with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) but they are on every night you I'm sure most people have turned on their TVs at least once past 10 o'clock.  These shows, instead of reporting like they are actually a news station, talk about the current events in a stand-up comedy fashion. This a tradition passed down from each late night talk show, and it seems to have always been popular. Plus, it's not really inserting any opinions, it's strictly just making jokes about anything news, whether it's political or not.

From it's success we can see that fake news is popular.  Current events are important to us, and when they are a part of comedy, it only makes them better.  This may be a way of being misleading and inserting your own opinions, but I don't think anyone has really taken advantage of that.  So everyone needs to just take a deep breath, calm down, and enjoy comedy at it's best.

My Weekly Wonders

Because premiere weeks are almost over, I figured I would need something else that I could do weekly.  In that spirit I came up with the idea that each week I would talk about one of the many favorite shows that I have.  It seems kind or narcissistic that I would think anyone would be interested in my favorite TV shows, but it's okay because this is a blog, and blogs are just a little bit self-centered anyway.

In these posts I will discuss what the show is about, why it's amazing, and why you should watch it.  This week I was going to talk about House, which is probably one of  my most favorite shows, but ended up not having enough time.  So next week I will be discussing House.  But other shows I will discuss include but are not limited to Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, The Office, Modern Family, Saturday Night Live, Psych, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Middle,  Glee, and any other show I can think of.  I probably won't get through all of these, and I may swap them out for a different show that I didn't think of, but you get the gist.

So stay tuned for my weekly post on the wonderful shows of television!

Is Internet the New TV?

As our society advances further and further into what we call the technology age, the internet is becoming more and more a part of our lives.  Whether we realize it or not, the internet is slowly taking over everything.  Websites such as Hulu and Netflix are becoming very popular, and some are questioning whether it's sites like these that will eventually take over what we now know as television.

When I first thought of the idea of getting rid of my television set and switching over to the computer, I was very skeptical.  The internet could never replace the wonderful feeling of sitting down on a lazy afternoon and skipping through the channels trying to find something good to watch. Or having the TV on weekday nights and catching random bits of the local news.  What will happen to the random shows that you catch on the vast array of channels that nobody watches? I'm not sure, and if everything is on the computer, it will never be the same.

But it's not a bad idea.  A couple years ago my parents wanted to get rid of our home phone.  Surprisingly enough, the only person that didn't want to get rid of it was me.  Our home phone had always been the one phone we always used, and it felt like without it nothing would be the same, or that we wouldn't be able to function the same. I was definitely wrong because we were able to transfer our home phone to my dad's cell phone and honestly I haven't even noticed the difference.  It hadn't really occurred to me, but every call I ever make is done through my own cell phone and I didn't even need the home phone.

This may not be the best analogy, but I hope you see my point.  Although it seems as if switching to an all internet based television would be very different, most people, including myself, already watch most of their TV online.  Yes, the random channels that I watch occasionally will be missed.  But is it really worth paying the hefty cable bills?  Should we really be paying this much when nine times of ten you could've watched the same thing you just did for free on the computer?

I read an interesting article online (Should you cut the cable TV cord?) that discusses this very subject.  Many people responding to this subject talked about the various websites that they use instead of cable.  In fact many of them canceled their cable all together.  If I was in a situation where I couldn't afford cable, of course I would get rid of it.  The fact that there are so many places to watch television for cheaper is a great reason to ditch it. But also the fact that most cable companies are totally ripping us off? Well, I feel like they'll get a little taste of their own medicine when Netflix buys them out. But as for a family who is financially stable. I'm not going to be one of those uptight moms who never lets their kids go on the internet, but I don't want them to be spending all their time on the computer! I mean, I know television isn't the greatest way for families to bond, but it's better than the whole family sitting around a computer screen.

But what about those television computers? (computer televisions?) That solves all your problems right? No! I don't know about you, but I always loved the nights where my family would sit in the living room and surf the channels until we found a random movie or Law and Order episode. It's those moments that really make television special.

So is television as we know it changing? Of course, but probably never in the way we will expect. It way be completely internet in the years to come, but who knows, maybe cable companies will give their services through the internet. I'm not worried. Whatever happens, as long as I can watch my favorite shows, I think I will be happy.

Premiere Week #5

The end is very near to my premiere week blog posts.  This may or may not be my last one.  This week, some shows such as The Walking Dead, Man Up!, Boss, and Once Upon a Time are beginning their seasons.  Because Once Upon a Time was premiering tonight, I might blog about it next week, but it's definetly one I would like to discuss at some point.

Going back a month or so, a show called Whitney aired it's pilot.  I was just recently talking with a friend who is just as addicted to TV as I am.  He was telling me how awful Whitney was.  So I decided that before I judge it myself I should watch the show and see if he was right.

Whitney is a fictionalized version of the real stand-up comedian Whitney Cummings.  In the show she lives with her boyfriend she has been seeing for three years and the show is based around their relationship and the friend group they associate with.

Whitney in real life is actually pretty funny. I've seen some of her stand-up routines on late night shows. But her show just isn't as good. There are many instances where I can definetly see her comedy routines, almost too much. It's as if she's trying to insert her stand-up into real life scenarios. It's pretty clear that when she is rambling it actually doesn't make sense, and it becomes fairly obvious that she is just trying to insert more and more jokes into her show.

Also, the vibe I got from the "taped in front of a live audience" thing is awkward.  Yes, the traditional sitcom has an audience, live or not.  But this is not traditional! Why does there have to be an audience?  I feel like there is a lot of potential but it's almost being wasted, as if Whitney is trying to play safe.  I honestly think her show could do well if she took a route more like Tina Fey in 30 Rock. With multiple camera shots it enables you way more flexibility and from my perspective makes it feel less awkward and forced.

So is Whitney awful? Maybe. Is the writing terrible? Probably not, I did laugh a few times and I'm not one to laugh at much.  Will it fail? Not if it doesn't change! As I said earlier it definetly has potential.  Right now the characters are not really in their groove yet, the plot is a little shaky and the writing is not at it's best, but that can change.  Like I've said multiple times on this blog, first impressions in television are not set in stone.

Premiere Week #4

This week Psych premiered it's season on USA and Last Man Standing premiered it's pilot on ABC.  Both of these shows I watched. Psych, because it's probably my most favorite show on USA currently, and Last Man Standing because I was very curious to see how it would do.

If you haven't heard of Last Man Standing, it's a traditional sitcom starring the very funny Tim Allen.  I was so surprised when I heard that Tim Allen was going back to sitcoms. I remember watching Home Improvement when I was pretty young, so my first reaction was "isn't he kind of old?" The answer is yes, he is kind of old. But it's okay because the three daughters he has on the show are fairly old as well, which makes it a bit more believable.

I was really scared to watch this show.  I had a really bad feeling that it's was going to be terrible.  That it would be awkward, or forced, or something that would ruin my ideas of Tim Allen. So what did I find when watching the pilot? I'm not really sure.  It wasn't very funny, the dialogue too good, and of course like any sitcom the acting is not superior.

Because I was kind of confused as to what I thought about the show, I looked up some reviews.  I was astonished by the result.  Almost every critic hated it, saying it just plainly was not funny.  But the audience disagreed.  According to this Washington Post article the show got a whopping 13.2 million viewers for the pilot and an even more surprising was that they had even more for the second episode.

Last Man Standing may not be your cup of tea (or bottle of beer if we're going along with the manly analogy), but it certainly is gaining some attention.  I don't think I will continue watching, but if anyone else is interested it's on every Tuesday night at 8pm on ABC.