The TV thread

Everybody always talks about how the HFP can be charmed into voting a certain way. It wouldn't surprise me if Samberg charmed the hell out of the voters and that helped him win. I like him and I like the show, but I was pretty stunned when I saw that he won.

 

The 24 reboot premiers on May 5 (some interesting storyline tidbits in there, too):

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_24901714/24-reboot-kiefer-sutherland-nervous-about-reviving-jack

 

I gush Grantland more than I probably should. But they have the best Globes rundown I've seen. Irreverent and informative.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/97317/the-golden-globes-after-party-a-big-night-for-the-amys-julia-louis-dreyfuss-e-cig-addiction-and-more-notes-from-hollywoods-drunkest-night

 

I'm usually wary of shows that debut in January, unless it's a 24 or Following type situation... but some of them look pretty good and are getting decent reviews.

 

Ugh, 'The Following' was so terrible last year.
I don't know why anyone would give it another chance. I can't believe I stuck with it the whole season last year.

 

There are a lot new shows out there. Thought "Enlisted" was okay - probably should be paired with Brooklyn 99. "Killer Women" was okay, but would have been much better with a Latina actress. "Chicago PD" has a weird vibe like it isn't sure whether it want's to be heartfelt, gritty or darkly comic - it should probably choose one. "Intelligence" seems destined to follow the CBS case of the week format.
I read that a lot of these winter shows are just being used as fodder to throw against the Olympics and the networks don't seem to be banking on any of them sticking around, but they don't want to "burn" first-runs of their starters.

 

I can't wait for it to return. Goooooood villain.

 

Gashing Gervais.

"Fey and Poehler were back by popular demand, their goodwill still working as Lysol for Ricky Gervais" ...

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2014/01/golden-globes-hollywoods-drunk-wedding.html?utm_source=tny&utm_campaign=generalsocial&utm_medium=facebook

 

Don't get me started. mister.

 

The Newsroom joins Boardwalk Empire on the HBO final season sendoff list.

 

Did anyone else stick with Hostages through last week's finale? I'm OK with some suspension of belief but this just whimpered its way across the finish line.

I'm left to think that the more elaborate they made the plot the harder and harder it was to bring it home. It had eventually gotten so unbelievable that it took me a week to get around to watching the two-hour finale. Which is too bad. It started out with a lot of promise. It ended with a whimper.

Even stranger, CBS promoted and gave a good time slot to a show that only ran 15 hour-long episodes and was never planned to go to a second season.

 

From what I understood, they had options on the actors so they could have had a second season - but I think the early numbers made it pretty clear it wouldn't go beyond the first season. Plus they had Intelligence ready to go.
I still think the networks would be wise to follow the cable model of 13 episode seasons and make every season self-contained.