The TV thread

A big part of what was gorgeous about it was that is was being played by a little kid I had no idea was capable of doing that.

 

If you're staying current on The Good Wife, this is a cast music video based on last night's show (so you know what I'm talking about). I wouldn't recommend watching this ahead of the show, but it is humorous.

 

OK, that was like a funny hallucination.

 

Was not at all enthused for HBO's "True Detective" when I first saw the ads. I'm kind of fatigued by HBO shows about weirdos in Louisiana (True Blood, Treme), and as others have noted, there are WAY too many serial killer shows on TV.

But it's getting excellent reviews, including this one from Alan Sepinwall:

http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/review-matthew-mcconaughey-woody-harrelson-amaze-in-hbos-true-detective

I like the idea of self-contained seasons with new actors each time out. That way, you don't get a Homeland scenario where you keep a character around well past his expiration date just because the actor is so good and/or the show is so popular.

 

Also, that makes it easier to attract big-name casts.

 

Just finished all 3 seasons.

A page or two ago Versatile said he thinks Louie is the best show on TV right now.

I'll take it one further: It's the best TV show I've ever seen.

You had the early pioneers such as I Love Lucy, the political statements such as M*A*S*H, and the social changers such as the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and the Hall of Fame serve-it-up knock-it-down comedies (WKRP, Taxi, Cheers, Seinfeld), the recent cable juggernauts (Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men, Breaking Bad), The Simpsons, etc etc.

This show is different. It's not "TV" but rather a series of short films every week. Storytelling at its finest plus all of the great cinematography and music. There are a few nit-picky things like how he went from having just one sibling in season 1 (brother) to having a sister in season 2 and then having Amy Poehler as a sister in season 3. But those things are so minor that it doesn't matter too much.

Garry Marshall as the CBS boss in part 1 of Letterman trilogy episode killed it.

The final scene in Beijing got me all wet-eyed again.

 

I've been waiting for FX to run last season's Americans. Hopefully they do before Season 2 starts.

I have Assets on the DVR, but haven't gotten around to it.

 

One show that has gotten a lot better as the season has gone on is Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I was laughing my ass off last night and it seems like they're trying to turn it into more of an ensemble show.

 

I thought last night's episode was the best so far. Cracked me up.


"The Assets" was disappointing in execution. The acting and writing were not terrible, but they weren't great. But I enjoyed the subject matter enough that I'm still happy about it overall.

 

Agreed. I hate the April-like character played by actress who looks like Ileana Douglas and the two bit players who are supposed to be idiots, but the other six actors are really good in their roles.

 

Chelsea Peretti. She's annoying as hell on the show. She's a really funny standup that was one of the lead writers for Parks and Rec. She should go back to writing. She adds nothing to the show.

 

Archer's going in a whole new direction this season: http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2014/01/archer-season-5-matt-thompson-interview/.