• Generation Kill Brings War to the Home (Box Office)

      A post about by Josh on April 24th, '08

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      Steven Bochco’s 2005 war drama Over There lasted one season before the plug was pulled.  Fox probably got squeamish at the thought of a show getting too close to a war so real and controversial.  There have been a glut of books on the current conflict in Iraq and it remains a daily news topic, but TV has kept its distance.David Simon and Ed Burns, the two men who brought us The Wire are venturing into uncharted territoy when they bring the book Generation Kill, by Rolling Stone contributor Evan Wright, to the small screen.The seven part miniseries will follow a band of marines during the opening days of the Iraqi invasion in 2003.Judging from this trailer, this is not going to be Band of Brothers for the next generation.  Smart-ass dialogue and issues of the war’s early days will steal the show.  Soldiers spending their own money to reinforce their humvees might seem like old news now, but in 2003, Wright was one of the first journalists to bring it to the public’s attention.  Simon and Burns seem, for the most part, to be content to stay with the book in spirit, if not totally in content.  Several Marines were disciplined and denied promotion after Wright’s articles (in Rolling Stone) and book were published.  The reason: Wright quotes the men consistently criticizing their officers and the overall war plan.Simon and Burns appear to follow up on that idea.  These Marines are not mindless drones doing their officers’ bidding, but thinking men who do their jobs despite the chaos and disorder of the situation.Rudy Reyes, one of the subjects in Wright’s book, will play himself in the mini-series.Generation Kill is coming to HBO in July.

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    • NBC Keen on Olympics Despite Protests

      A post about by Josh on April 22nd, '08

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      The protests surrounding the Olympic torch relay have highlighted some possible problems for the Beijing Olympics. What was supposed to be China’s chance to take its place amongst other world powers might now end up as nothing more than the biggest “egg on your face” moment in history. Tibet, Sudan, Myanmar, and a host of other human rights issues have come to the world’s attention via the media. Various press outlets are having a field day with China’s loss of face.

      But what about NBC, the network that is banking on the Olympics for a much needed boost? Are they trying to soothe anxious advertisers and devise a Plan B in case the games are beset by protests and boycotts?

      According to an NBC exec Jeff Zucker, advertising sales are strong, and there has been no pullback after the latest round of pro-Tibetan protests. In fact, 75% of the ad slots for have already been purchased.

      In response to the protests, Zucker said:

      “The fact is the Olympics are a sporting event on the world stage. It’s not surprising that some would try to use that stage to further their own causes, and we understand that, but at the end of the day this is about the event and both the advertisers and our viewers understand that.”

      Fair enough. Why should NBC be blamed for the arbitrary decisions and incompetent nature of the International Olympic Committee? They are the ones who made the controversial decision to award the games to Beijing in the first place. And in this day and age, there could well be people protesting no matter where the games were held.

      Besides, the Olympics isn’t really about “Olympic spirit” or “human triumph” (sorry Bob Costas). It’s about making money, isn’t it? China, NBC, corporate sponsors, and successful athletes are going to make a killing. The economy of the event is going to trump Tibet.

      NBC is planning wall to wall coverage on its flagship and on its cable stations. The ‘08 Olympics is going to be a gargantuan event that will, one way or another, put China in the spotlight.

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    • Falls Biggest Shows

      A post about by Josh on April 21st, '08

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    • The days are getting longer and outdoor activities are starting to cut into TV time.  There will be a few good shows running over the fairest season, but the real superstars will be cooling their heels with a lawn chair and a mojito until fall.

      While it is best to get out and enjoy the weather, summer doesn’t last forever.  Only a few months until the ‘08-’09 season kicks off.

      Here are some shows that will make summer’s end not seem so bad.

      1. The Shield’s 7th and final season.  This is one show that is going to go out on top.  The gritty goodness and plot twists have been able to sustain this unorthodox cop drama for six seasons.

      2 .  After Breaking Bad’s abbreviated season one run, I felt like Oliver Twist in the workhouse when he whined, “Please, Sir, can I have some more?”  Even though this dramedy is dark dark dark, I can’t get through an episode without thinking, “there’s nothing else like this on TV.”  If you want cutting edge, Breaking Bad is it.

      3.  Joss Whedon, sci-fi superstar, has created a new series called Dollhouse.  The strike has messed with the scheduling of this series, but it looks promising for next fall.  The premise, brainwashed hitwoman starts to become self aware, sounds killer.

      4.  One of NBC’s most interesting shows, Life, is getting another season.  This series stars Damien Lewis as a cop who may or may not be bent on revenge after being wrongfully imprisoned.  There is an added level of intrigue because viewers aren’t always quite sure what Lewis’ character, Detective Charlie Crews, is going to do or where he is coming from.

      5.  Scrubs is moving to ABC for its swan song.  This show has its little obnoxious idiosyncrasies, but it has grown on me and I’m glad JD and crew are getting a proper send-off.

      These are the best reasons to tune in this fall.

      Now go enjoy the weather.

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    • New Anime to Hit Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim

      A post about by Josh on April 17th, '08

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      Adult Swim, the Cartoon Network’s attempt to bring in older viewers, has given us some great Japanese imports over the past few years: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Samurai Champloo, and Cowboy Bebop. Currently, Adult Swim’s anime offerings have taken a supernatural turn with Bleach and Death Note.

      Code Geass will continue Cartoon Network’s tradition of bringing the best of Japan to U.S. viewers. This new show was a hit when it was first broadcast across the Pacific in 2006. The 25 episodes of Geass will begin their stateside run on April 26th.

      Code Geass deals with Japan in the not too distant future. A fictional empire, Holy Empire of Britannia, conquers Japan with a robotic army and forces all surviving citizens to live in a ghetto while the conquerers live in luxury. The plot follows Japanese rebels fighting to free the country from their oppressors.

      The young son of the emperor of Britannia vows revenge after his cold hearted father does not pursue the terrorists who killed his mother.

      The Geass of the title refers to a hypnotic power than the disenfranchised boy, named Lelouch, learns. Other characters, on both sides of the struggle for independance, have other abilities, including mind control and telepathy.

      Another plus is that the series has a second season which is currently being broadcast in Japan. This means that, unlike Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass will, most likely, not disappear after one season. That’s good news, because this show seems like it could be quite a hit.

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    • Spike’s DEA Offers a Unique Look at Law Enforcement

      A post about by Josh on April 15th, '08

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    • “In a TV world now void of The Wire, DEA offers viewers a chance to get inside the fascinating relationships between people on opposite sides of the law.”

      DEA, a new reality show on Spike, follows the work of a group of special agents in the titular organization’s Detroit office. The show has some surface appeal. These cops have a maverick streak that makes the camera love them.

      They work in T-shirts, baseball caps, and jeans. They ride solo or in pairs, and don’t like to call in the cavalry (uniformed Detroit cops) unless it is completely necessary. They stake out neighborhoods where there is a danger that their unmarked vehicles could be the target of carjackers. All this makes them seem like modern day offspring of the marshals of the old west.

      Sure, watching some balls-of-steal cops do their work is a good, vicarious rush. But, the show doesn’t succeed because of that. It succeeds because it shows the reality of the drug game. And it is, in a strange way, like a game.

      I mean, after an NBA game, you often see players from opposing teams chatting with each other. It’s not so much sportsmanship as it is the idea they are players, competing in a game. The same is true for the DEA agents on the show.

      After a wild chase, they will grab a drug dealer. No matter how bad the guy is, they will, most of the time, offer him a chance to flip and rat out someone higher up the chain of command. The conversations between agents and dealers often seem casual, even friendly. They are opponents in a high stakes game, but not vicious enemies.

      In a world now void of The Wire, DEA offers viewers a chance to get inside the fascinating relationships between people on opposite sides of the law.

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