Tonight MTV premeired a new show called "Pranked" I was not a fan.
Prank shows have a long standing tradition on television from the origional "Candid Camera" to "Trigger Happy TV" prank shows have certainly earned their place in Television.
The Main Problem that I have with "Pranked" is that it uses amateur videos while at the same time telling people not to send in their own videos. Am I the only one getting a mixed message here? There are a lot of pranks that have the potential for danger and serious consequences, so it's understandable why MTV insists that no one try to recreate these pranks send videos to them. Yet by creating a show that takes all of it's videos off of youtube it is encouraging people to do potentially dangerous stunts.
Now not all of the pranks shown on tonight's episode were dangerous. Some of them were classic good clean fun like rigging a sink to spray the person who turns it on next, yet a few of the pranks were dangerous and downright disturbing. I saw more then two clips that could have resulted in serious injuries.
Pranks aside, the hosts of the show are annoying. I completely understand why MTV chose Streeter Seidell and Amir Blumenfeld from CollegeHumor.com to host the show. The is a legendary prank war that went on between Amir and Streeter, all of it caught on camera and available for viewing on http://www.collegehumor.com/tag:prank-war/articles. While the prank war between the two is brilliant and hilarious, their hosting skills are sub-par. Their rhetoric is spiked with infantile humor and meaningless gags that just aren't funny.
Honestly I think this is a show to skip. You can find any of the videos featured on the show on youtube, and you won't be forced to listen to the stupid banter between the hosts.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
The CW Fall Preview
"Blonde Charity Mafia" is a reality series about high powered women who apparently run the DC social scene. It sounds like The Hills, meets Gossip Girl, with just a hint of social awareness. What can I say I have a difficult time believing that this will be a hit. Then again I would rather stab myself then watch The Hills, and that turned out to be a very popular show.
"Life Unexpected" is a series about a young women who has been in foster care her whole life. As the young woman attempts to have herself declared an emancipated minor, she discovers her real parents, and in an odd twist of fate the court grants custody to her biological parents. If another network was producing this show I might think of it differently; if NBC, HBO, hell even Fox Family was making this show it might end up being really good. Yet this is The CW people, the thing this network does best is creating trash-tastic and delightful guilty pleasure shows like America's Next Top Model or Gossip Girl. The premise of the show demands that the subject matter be treated in a somewhat serious way, I'm afraid this show could turn into one giant messed up soap opera.
"Melrose Place" is an update of a classic 90's soap opera. "Melrose Place" has all the makings for a successful soap opera; beautiful people, money, murder, and boat loads of drama. It's a classic formula but one that rarely fails to be amusing. Lets face it a lot of people just want to watch a trashy over the top soap opera, and I feel like the new "Melrose Place" will be successful in providing just that.
"The Beautiful Life" is about the lives of fashion models. It's pretty clear that CW decided to combine two of it's most popular shows (America Next Top Model and Gossip Girl) into one show. It looks young, hip, trash-tastic, and drama filled. I think this could be my new guilty pleasure show.
Finally we have "The Vampire Diaries" I've written about this show before in some previous entries. It's based on a book series of the same title by LJ Smith. The store is about a girl and the two brother who are fighting for her affection. The Twist, the brothers are vampires. One Brother is good, one brother is evil, and obviously the girl is in danger. I think just about any show with vampires is guaranteed to attract a lot of viewers at the moment. I seriously doubt that this show will be as well acted or complex as true blood, but I think it could be a fun gothic melodrama. I hate to admit it, but as a fan of the vampire genre I really can't wait to see this show.
"Life Unexpected" is a series about a young women who has been in foster care her whole life. As the young woman attempts to have herself declared an emancipated minor, she discovers her real parents, and in an odd twist of fate the court grants custody to her biological parents. If another network was producing this show I might think of it differently; if NBC, HBO, hell even Fox Family was making this show it might end up being really good. Yet this is The CW people, the thing this network does best is creating trash-tastic and delightful guilty pleasure shows like America's Next Top Model or Gossip Girl. The premise of the show demands that the subject matter be treated in a somewhat serious way, I'm afraid this show could turn into one giant messed up soap opera.
"Melrose Place" is an update of a classic 90's soap opera. "Melrose Place" has all the makings for a successful soap opera; beautiful people, money, murder, and boat loads of drama. It's a classic formula but one that rarely fails to be amusing. Lets face it a lot of people just want to watch a trashy over the top soap opera, and I feel like the new "Melrose Place" will be successful in providing just that.
"The Beautiful Life" is about the lives of fashion models. It's pretty clear that CW decided to combine two of it's most popular shows (America Next Top Model and Gossip Girl) into one show. It looks young, hip, trash-tastic, and drama filled. I think this could be my new guilty pleasure show.
Finally we have "The Vampire Diaries" I've written about this show before in some previous entries. It's based on a book series of the same title by LJ Smith. The store is about a girl and the two brother who are fighting for her affection. The Twist, the brothers are vampires. One Brother is good, one brother is evil, and obviously the girl is in danger. I think just about any show with vampires is guaranteed to attract a lot of viewers at the moment. I seriously doubt that this show will be as well acted or complex as true blood, but I think it could be a fun gothic melodrama. I hate to admit it, but as a fan of the vampire genre I really can't wait to see this show.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
CBS Fall Preview
CBS is introducing four new shows this fall, and I have to be honest I'm not crazy about what they have presented.
First they have the new spin off of "NCIS", "NCIS: Los Angeles". Quite frankly I'm sick of forensic crime dramas. It all seemed very cool and high tech at first to see minute evidence and high tech equipment to solve crimes, but there have been so many shows about the subject that I doubt this one has anything new to bring to the table. Admittedly "NCIS" is one of the better shows of the forensic crime drama. Yet the success of "NCIS" is largely due to the cast having great chemistry, it's a factor that is very difficult to duplicate. Call me cynical but with "CSI", "CSI Maimi", "CSI New York", "Bones", and the origional "NCIS" I have difficulty believing that this show can bring anything new to the table.
CBS is also premiering a new medical drama called "Three Rivers". "Three Rivers" takes place in Pittsburgh, PA is all about the complexities experienced by people involved in all sides of organ donation. The concept sounds a bit heavy handed and maudlin to me. I'm not a fan of overly sentimental shows that make you cry and then try to inspire you, and with the given subject matter it's hard to imagine this show breaking from that mold. I know some people love shows like that, but it is not for this tv critic.
"Accidentally On Purpose" is a sitcom starring Jenna Elfman as a woman who gets pregnant from a one night stand with a younger man, and decides to keep the baby and the man who got her pregnant. Somehow this all fells a bit like "Dharma and Greg" meets "Knocked Up." It could be funny, Jenna Elfman has certainly proven herself as a charming and comedicly gifted actress in the past. However, the idea of the show doesn't come off as being very origional, that of course doesn't mean that it couldn't be successful.
Finally we come to the show that I am most excited to watch, and certainly the most origional show on CBS's fall lineup "The Good Wife." At some point or another we have all watched a politician give a speech acknowledging that he had some sort of extramarital affair, often with his wife standing with him. This show delves into the life of that good political wife who has to stand by a husband who just betrayed her. I think this show has a lot of potential, and I cant wait to see how it turns out.
First they have the new spin off of "NCIS", "NCIS: Los Angeles". Quite frankly I'm sick of forensic crime dramas. It all seemed very cool and high tech at first to see minute evidence and high tech equipment to solve crimes, but there have been so many shows about the subject that I doubt this one has anything new to bring to the table. Admittedly "NCIS" is one of the better shows of the forensic crime drama. Yet the success of "NCIS" is largely due to the cast having great chemistry, it's a factor that is very difficult to duplicate. Call me cynical but with "CSI", "CSI Maimi", "CSI New York", "Bones", and the origional "NCIS" I have difficulty believing that this show can bring anything new to the table.
CBS is also premiering a new medical drama called "Three Rivers". "Three Rivers" takes place in Pittsburgh, PA is all about the complexities experienced by people involved in all sides of organ donation. The concept sounds a bit heavy handed and maudlin to me. I'm not a fan of overly sentimental shows that make you cry and then try to inspire you, and with the given subject matter it's hard to imagine this show breaking from that mold. I know some people love shows like that, but it is not for this tv critic.
"Accidentally On Purpose" is a sitcom starring Jenna Elfman as a woman who gets pregnant from a one night stand with a younger man, and decides to keep the baby and the man who got her pregnant. Somehow this all fells a bit like "Dharma and Greg" meets "Knocked Up." It could be funny, Jenna Elfman has certainly proven herself as a charming and comedicly gifted actress in the past. However, the idea of the show doesn't come off as being very origional, that of course doesn't mean that it couldn't be successful.
Finally we come to the show that I am most excited to watch, and certainly the most origional show on CBS's fall lineup "The Good Wife." At some point or another we have all watched a politician give a speech acknowledging that he had some sort of extramarital affair, often with his wife standing with him. This show delves into the life of that good political wife who has to stand by a husband who just betrayed her. I think this show has a lot of potential, and I cant wait to see how it turns out.
Monday, August 17, 2009
True Blood I will rise up
Normally I try to be objective with my reviews. Yet when it comes to some shows like True Blood, I just can't hold back my inner fan girl.
This is a spoiler free review which means I won't be saying much. Yet what I will say is that this episode proved that True Blood wasn't just about sex, blood, and murder; the show is capable of being a lot deeper and more meaningful then that. This particular episode was very emotional.
We finally get to see the human side of Eric. I know most of you won't think it possible but Alexander Skarsgård somehow becomes even more attractive when the script calls for Eric to show a more vulnerable side, ok that and he was half naked and didn't slick his hair back in a scene.
Honestly this is the best show that we have seen yet from this series, I can't wait to see what else they have in store for us.
This is a spoiler free review which means I won't be saying much. Yet what I will say is that this episode proved that True Blood wasn't just about sex, blood, and murder; the show is capable of being a lot deeper and more meaningful then that. This particular episode was very emotional.
We finally get to see the human side of Eric. I know most of you won't think it possible but Alexander Skarsgård somehow becomes even more attractive when the script calls for Eric to show a more vulnerable side, ok that and he was half naked and didn't slick his hair back in a scene.
Honestly this is the best show that we have seen yet from this series, I can't wait to see what else they have in store for us.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
ABC Fall Preview
We are in what may be best described as the doldrums of August. All of the major network shows have been showing repeats for the past few months, almost all of the summer reality series have come to a close, and the new fall season has yet to begin. Excluding shows from HBO and Showtime which continue to show new episodes throughout the summer, tv has been a complete bore lately.
What is a TV writer to do with so little material for inspiration?
Well my friends the answer is simple, I'll write about all of the fantastic things you just can't see yet. I'll be doing a small series about upcoming shows on some of the major networks.
In this Edition I will be discussing some of the new shows on the ABC network. There are 11 new shows scheduled for the fall line up, some are based on ideas we have seen before but a few are rather origional.
"Shark Tank" appears to be based on the British series Dragons Den. Ordinary people have the chance to pitch their inventions and ideas to millionaires who have the power and money to to turn dreams into an industry. Of course the millionaires could also brutally shoot down the ideas on national television.
"The Middle" is a sitcom about an average yet dysfunctional family. The idea is hardly a new one, yet the cast seems very capable and the show seems just quirky enough to win over an audience.
"Hank" is a sitcom staring Kelsey Grammer as a former CEO trying to reconnect with his family. What can I say I'm not exactly wowed by the premise. Call me crazy I don't think America is really in the mood to see a lovable former CEO on TV just yet.
"Cougar Town" is yet another sitcom , it stars Courtney Cox. As the title suggests the show is all about cougars in a small town, and honey we ain't talking about Animal Planet type of cougars. It's a fun and interesting twist on the traditional sitcom, with more then ample opportunity for humor and drama.
"The Deep End" is a legal comedy about four young interns coming to work for a prestigious. I have a feeling that "The Deep End" is trying to be to legal dramas, what "Scrubs" was to medical dramas. It's a show with definite potential.
"The Forgotten" is a drama which centers around a group of amateur crime solvers who take up cases that the police have given up on. This group called "The Forgotten Network" is lead by Christian Slater. With a show like this everything depends on the writing, it could be fantastic or it could be too heavy handed and sappy. I guess we will just have to wait and see how it all unfolds.
"V" is a sci-fi series about aliens who come to earth with false promises of peace, and a plan to take control of the planet. This could be interesting, yet traditional sci-fi shows have a way of getting canceled quickly. I can't say I know how long this show will last.
"The Modern Family" is a fake reality show, but unlike "The Hills" everyone is suppose to know it's a fake reality show. I have to admit I am a huge fan of the mockumentary genre, and I have never seen a mockumentary TV series before. I can't wait to see how this show works out.
I have to admit I have saved the best, or at least the most intriguing till last.
First there is the heavily anticipated "Flash Forward." The story centers around an unexplained global event where everyone simultaneously blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, and sees a glimpse into the future. I bet Philadelphia's own M Night Shyamalan is kicking himself for not thinking up this idea instead of making his movie "The Happening". I think ABC is gearing up to make this show the next "Lost" but we will have to see if it lives up to the hype.
"Happy Town" looks like a horror tv series, and I am looking forward to it. So far it looks a bit like they are trying to do an update on "Twin Peaks" with a dash of "Harpers Island" thrown in. A seemingly perfect Midwestern town, a serial killer who has powers bordering on the supernatural, and lots of very strange people. It sounds like my kind of show, the question is will the general public be up for such a weird show.
Finally we have "Eastwick" Based on the movie (and a novel which predates the movie) "The Witches of Eastwick." I am expecting this to be supernatural campy fun, and nothing more but that doesn't mean it won't be enjoyable to watch. From the previews it looks a bit like "Charmed" meets "Desperate Housewives" I think it will be a really fun show to watch.
You can go here to find out more
http://abc.go.com/fallpreview/index
What is a TV writer to do with so little material for inspiration?
Well my friends the answer is simple, I'll write about all of the fantastic things you just can't see yet. I'll be doing a small series about upcoming shows on some of the major networks.
In this Edition I will be discussing some of the new shows on the ABC network. There are 11 new shows scheduled for the fall line up, some are based on ideas we have seen before but a few are rather origional.
"Shark Tank" appears to be based on the British series Dragons Den. Ordinary people have the chance to pitch their inventions and ideas to millionaires who have the power and money to to turn dreams into an industry. Of course the millionaires could also brutally shoot down the ideas on national television.
"The Middle" is a sitcom about an average yet dysfunctional family. The idea is hardly a new one, yet the cast seems very capable and the show seems just quirky enough to win over an audience.
"Hank" is a sitcom staring Kelsey Grammer as a former CEO trying to reconnect with his family. What can I say I'm not exactly wowed by the premise. Call me crazy I don't think America is really in the mood to see a lovable former CEO on TV just yet.
"Cougar Town" is yet another sitcom , it stars Courtney Cox. As the title suggests the show is all about cougars in a small town, and honey we ain't talking about Animal Planet type of cougars. It's a fun and interesting twist on the traditional sitcom, with more then ample opportunity for humor and drama.
"The Deep End" is a legal comedy about four young interns coming to work for a prestigious. I have a feeling that "The Deep End" is trying to be to legal dramas, what "Scrubs" was to medical dramas. It's a show with definite potential.
"The Forgotten" is a drama which centers around a group of amateur crime solvers who take up cases that the police have given up on. This group called "The Forgotten Network" is lead by Christian Slater. With a show like this everything depends on the writing, it could be fantastic or it could be too heavy handed and sappy. I guess we will just have to wait and see how it all unfolds.
"V" is a sci-fi series about aliens who come to earth with false promises of peace, and a plan to take control of the planet. This could be interesting, yet traditional sci-fi shows have a way of getting canceled quickly. I can't say I know how long this show will last.
"The Modern Family" is a fake reality show, but unlike "The Hills" everyone is suppose to know it's a fake reality show. I have to admit I am a huge fan of the mockumentary genre, and I have never seen a mockumentary TV series before. I can't wait to see how this show works out.
I have to admit I have saved the best, or at least the most intriguing till last.
First there is the heavily anticipated "Flash Forward." The story centers around an unexplained global event where everyone simultaneously blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, and sees a glimpse into the future. I bet Philadelphia's own M Night Shyamalan is kicking himself for not thinking up this idea instead of making his movie "The Happening". I think ABC is gearing up to make this show the next "Lost" but we will have to see if it lives up to the hype.
"Happy Town" looks like a horror tv series, and I am looking forward to it. So far it looks a bit like they are trying to do an update on "Twin Peaks" with a dash of "Harpers Island" thrown in. A seemingly perfect Midwestern town, a serial killer who has powers bordering on the supernatural, and lots of very strange people. It sounds like my kind of show, the question is will the general public be up for such a weird show.
Finally we have "Eastwick" Based on the movie (and a novel which predates the movie) "The Witches of Eastwick." I am expecting this to be supernatural campy fun, and nothing more but that doesn't mean it won't be enjoyable to watch. From the previews it looks a bit like "Charmed" meets "Desperate Housewives" I think it will be a really fun show to watch.
You can go here to find out more
http://abc.go.com/fallpreview/index
Friday, August 7, 2009
Vampire Diaries Promotional Stills done in very poor taste
Promotional stills for The Vampire Diaries came out today, and I have to say they were a little shocking.
I have to say there is a fine line between edgy and sleazy, and even within the vampire genre a fine line between sexy and creepy. I think The CW may have gone a bit over the edge on both fronts.
I think the thing that really bothers me is the vacant dead stare of the guy licking her neck.
Oh and the knowledge that the two dudes kissing her are supposed to brothers.
Yep CW you have yet again shown your true colors as a classy and tasteful establishment.
I know what your thinking what could they possibly do to top that picture. Well the answer is clear, show a shocking depiction of abuse.
Seriously does this make ANYONE want to watch this show?
There is a hand wrapped tightly around her neck, a hand from a second man is caressing her hair while she is being choked, and that hopeless and tear filled expression. It just makes me sick.
The first picture was an example of using sex to sell a show, I have to be honest I have no idea who the second picture is marketed towards. Abuse should never be a selling point for a show.
This is not cool CW, not cool at all.
I have to say there is a fine line between edgy and sleazy, and even within the vampire genre a fine line between sexy and creepy. I think The CW may have gone a bit over the edge on both fronts.
I think the thing that really bothers me is the vacant dead stare of the guy licking her neck.
Oh and the knowledge that the two dudes kissing her are supposed to brothers.
Yep CW you have yet again shown your true colors as a classy and tasteful establishment.
I know what your thinking what could they possibly do to top that picture. Well the answer is clear, show a shocking depiction of abuse.
Seriously does this make ANYONE want to watch this show?
There is a hand wrapped tightly around her neck, a hand from a second man is caressing her hair while she is being choked, and that hopeless and tear filled expression. It just makes me sick.
The first picture was an example of using sex to sell a show, I have to be honest I have no idea who the second picture is marketed towards. Abuse should never be a selling point for a show.
This is not cool CW, not cool at all.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dorian Grey Trailer
There are some stories that deserve to be told over and over again, the story of Dorian Grey. The story has been recaptured on film every decade or so since the invention of film, each version makes their own little changes but it's core character and message remain the same.
The newest version is set to come out 9/9/09 and features what I consider to be nearly perfect casting. Ben Barnes, perhaps best known for his role as Prince Caspian is set to play Dorian Gery and really I can't imagine a better choice for the role. Also starring in the film is Colin Firth.
I definitely want to see this movie.
The newest version is set to come out 9/9/09 and features what I consider to be nearly perfect casting. Ben Barnes, perhaps best known for his role as Prince Caspian is set to play Dorian Gery and really I can't imagine a better choice for the role. Also starring in the film is Colin Firth.
I definitely want to see this movie.
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