Namaste Peoples,
I trust you have all been keeping up with your weekly dose of television. Last night whilst watching the latest episode of Hawaii Five-O, a few thoughts nested in mind that I thought I would share with you. Take a look back at some of the shows you've watched over the years, and picture how many of them came into their stride after several episodes or a few seasons. I'm guessing you're not surprised that the answer is most, and if not most, then at the very least a lot of them!! Now with that in mind, I am appalled at the current level of leeway extended to drama shows at the moment. Hollywood is too concerned with the "bottom line" and thus is leaving us with only garbage to watch. Don't get me wrong, there is lots of good TV out there, especially on cable, however network television need to look at long-term gains, and actually give shows a chance because statistically most shows tend to blossom in later seasons, as they learn from their errors, get fan feedback etc. If they are cancelled in such a rash manner, then there will never be hope for any decent show on Network TV.
What is he talking about, you may ask?! I am now in particular ranting or voicing my rage with regards to the news I heard last week, that ABC will not be ordering more than the 13 episodes of "LAST RESORT". This in effect renders the show cancelled, which in my opinion is not just a crying shame, but a DISGRACE. I'm not sure how many people have endeavored to attempt this new show, but OMG, It is so Damn Awesome!!! Sure, it may be a little exaggerated with regard to certain aspects e.g "the nuke blast" in the pilot episode, but if TV were just as realistic as real-life it would damn sure be boring. How many things that happened in 24 were a bit exaggerated or overstated?? (that did not stop the show from being fantastic, in fact it heightened the pleasure and stakes making it more exciting to watch), and If I may add, the best seasons of 24 were season 4 and season 5... which goes to show that to get the best of the best sometimes, one must give a show time to breathe and find its way. I have full confidence in the LAST RESORT, and in comparison to most shows, especially the new ones, the plot and acting is absolutely superb!! Someone needs to start a "SAVE THE LAST RESORT PETITION", and I'll definitely sign and spread the word (I should consider doing that).. but seriously, is there room for good shows on network TV any more.
Forget about past greats like 24, and lets look at the shows currently on air. As I mentioned, this thought came to me after the latest episode of Hawaii Five-O. I was never really into Hawaii Five-O too much, I mean in the first couple of seasons I thought it was decent and it certainly passed the time, however, I never looked forward to it like I did a show like Dexter or Fringe. But this third season has been phenomenal. The procedural story-lines and the overarching plot have been very interesting,and I'm getting more and more impressed with the show.
Even when we look to the comedy front, shows like Parks and Rec, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, two of the funniest shows still airing didn't really get into the groove until their second season.. now imagine if they had been cancelled after their first season due to a lack of numbers, or the fact that they weren't that good!! Even Scrubs, the best seasons were season 2 to 5...
In reality(not the genre), very few shows have their first seasons as their best, or are simply outstanding from the get-go. In fact, the outstanding shows from the get-go(as in from the pilot) I can think of at the moment are LOST, Game of Thrones, Dexter, Boston Legal, Suits... and very few others!! Most shows that have their first season as their best, and end up going on and on, usually wither into nothingness; Case and Point: "Prison Break and Heroes". Therefore, why the hell can't ABC just give "LAST RESORT and perhaps even 666 PARK AVENUE" a chance!! By the way, I should make it clear that some shows are just crap from the get-go and should never be given the time of day, I mean seriously... Look at "The Playboy club and Charlies Angels remake" from Fall 2011.. Those shows were axed in a second, and boy they deserved it... but don't mistake poor ratings for a poor show Executives, just don't!!
All in all, it seems like more and more, Conspiracy television has no hope, or at least no hope on Network TV. In the last couple of years, shows that weren't too great, or not even that good, that had potential to become great like The Event, Rubicon, Traveler FlashForward, Dirty Sexy Money.. all were axed perhaps a little too soon, and now it looks like LAST RESORT will join this list as the latest casualty in Conspiracy Television. What a shame!! Since it is not as easy to revive such shows like it is with animations, i.e Family guy and Futurama ( as the actors only do voices), all we can do is mourn. Thank The Heavens that they managed to revive Arrested Development though, albeit for one season, but still.
To conclude, I think it is apt to provide a small list of my favourite shows(not including the Conspiracy ones named above) that were the victim of greed in Hollywood.. Oh How I wish these shows continued:
FIREFLY (By far on the Greatest shows ever made, Everyone should Watch it)
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
BETTER OFF TED
ELI STONE
HARRY's LAW (The second season was actually really good, compared to the first)
HOW TO MAKE IT AMERICA
DARK BLUE
SHARK
INVASION (This was so awesome)
and a few others I cannot remember at this time...
Hey Readers,
I'm not sure how many of you agree with me on this, but in the last couple of years, there has been a lack of redeeming Sitcoms to watch on television. With so many excellent Drama shows premiering last season for instance: Person of Interest, Once Upon a time, Homeland... One hoped that with it, we would also be exposed to some excellent new sitcoms as well to give us a little laughter between our dramas, but alas we were left hanging (unless for some reason you like the show "New girl", which in my opinion after watching 9 episodes was really mediocre at best.
We have certainly come a long way from when Sitcoms used to pretty much rule television, and in fact there was a scarcity of decent dramas that weren't procedurals. Consider, the 90s and early 2000s.. when Seinfeld, Friends and Fraiser were on the air, and then later on we were introduced to Spin City, Scrubs, Two and a Half Men (early years), even How I Met your mother in the early seasons was pretty damn incredible- but now, we're left with sitcoms in their dying stages and the new ones pretty much only reaching mediocrity.
Of course as Always, there are exceptions, and in my opinion the only sitcom I genuinely look forward to weekly is "PARKS AND RECREATION"... it is Niche, but beyond incredible. Also, when community is on, I'll admit it definitely gives me laughs on the good episodes, but in a season it has several Hit & Miss.
At the moment, Modern Family is reaching a stage where the humour has become predictable, and soon will become stale after a couple more seasons. Big Bang Theory, though still having its moments, is also quite predictable now. How I met Your mother has overstayed its welcome, and it is still a mystery to me as to how Two and a Half Men is still airing- Cancel that Bitch CBS!! 30 Rock is smart enough to know the show has run its funny cycle, and are ending the series after 6 seasons, 4 of which were phenomenal.
The question remains: Where does Hope lie in the Sitcom World?
I still don't quite have the answer, however, I can tell you where it doesn't. All the aforementioned shows, except for Parks and Rec. Happy Endings will definitely not do it, even though it too has its moments. The show is dragged down by 2 inconceivably bad actors and characters: Elisha Cuthbert as Alex and Zachary Knighton as Dave. HEAR ME: They do not belong in a sitcom or anywhere near comedy!!
So I looked to this year, having hope then I watched the previews for most: The New Normal, Ben and Kate, Guys with Kids, Partners, Animal Practice... Quite frankly, they are all just CRAP! Then I took the time to watch "Go On".. someone as talented as Matthew Perry, the genius behind Chandler Bing surely would come through. At first, the series seemed quite lackluster, not really having many haha moments because of the nature of the story.. however after the 3rd Episode, this series gets into it's stride. The latest episode that aired was hilarious, and I definitely LOL'd a bunch of times. The cast is a strange concoction of characters, however they seem to mesh quite well, and now that the morbid part of the story has passed, they have written in some pretty funny sh*t.. I would advise you give it a try, and stick with it because it definitely is getting better and better with each episode.(much like Community did with its first season)
I'm not sure it's enough to save the sitcom world, and one can only hope mid-season has better things in store for us, seeing as their about 7 or so sitcoms set to air. Though after seeing a few previews, I'm not convinced at all. What do to? Rent DVDs of the classics, especially of shows you didn't manage to watch like "JUST SHOOT ME" or "SEINFELD"... you'll get a lot more laughs then watching the crap that's on now. If you're willing to look for humour in other sources, I would advise you to dive into animation namely "ARCHER".. it is perhaps the funniest thing on television at the moment. It is simply incredible.
