If TV Shows Were Relationships, Mine Would Be...

College Humor has come up with this hilarious post called "If TV Shows Were Relationships" and I could relate to it oh so well.  In the archives of this blog, I think I've discussed about it in passing at one point.

I liked College Humor's take on Lost. That show really took a lot from me. By the time it ended, I was too exhausted to protest and question everything, I took what it gave. I'm not alone in this knowing several viewers of Lost were sore about the show, too. Lost made a sucker out of me. Wiser a few years after it ended, I now see that this show fucked me up big time. I can't easily appreciate complicated stories now. I practice caution, for fear of being sucked into it.

I feel the same way about The Office, but I'm watching its current and final season with renewed interest. I'm learning to love the show all over again. Since I am aware it's going to end this season, I should really be thankful I'm getting a well-deserved closure.

While I'm not geek-crazy about Firefly like many of its hardcore fans, I do get what this is about. It ended too soon, and rather tragically, yes.

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We all have this certain emotional attachment to what we watch. If your life basically revolves around watching TV like mine is, the attachment goes deeper. I sometimes do regard these shows like they're "people".

I love a lot of TV, although not every show I watch is a potential "romantic relationship". But following what the original post says --- if TV shows were relationships, these would be the ones I've had serious history with...

• FRIENDS would be my true love. No one can ever measure up to it. It's the one I would marry in 100 churches and re-marry in the after-life.
• HAPPY ENDINGS would be the new relationship after FRIENDS' death, leaving me a young widow. It's a lot like my true love and it does make me happy. But it isn't FRIENDS.
• BAND OF BROTHERS would be my May-December affair. I've learned so, so much from this relationship because this TV show "boyfriend" has so much experience and wisdom.
• FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS would be my ideal marriage, if I ended up marrying it.
• HOMELAND would be my abusive relationship. I mean, this show is so good, it's orgasmic. (Seriously!) But I am always so tensed around it, I know it would be the death of me. 
• GREY'S ANATOMY would be the ex that left me very bitter.  My emotional scars for this run deep.
• FELICITY would be the college relationship I'd remember with fondness. Although I still can't figure out why it didn't work, almost a decade after we've broken up. I can't even remember how we broke up.
• SUITS right now, would be my Summer fling.
• HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER would be the relationship I feel so trapped under. Eight long years and I should've quit it, especially after last year's events. For one reason or another, I'm still holding on. And unlike The Office, I can't find new ways to love this new season. 
• BEVERLY HILLS 90210 would be the first TV relationship; the first love I would eventually grow apart from.

How about you? Which TV show are you so crazy about, it hits you like a love relationship?

Friday Night Lights Ends Season 3 Beautifully

Direct TV has just finished airing Season 3 of Friday Night Lights (13 episodes total), as the show premiered on broadcast television (NBC) this week.

I have been following FNL 3 for the last 13 or so weeks...those who are going to watch it on NBC from now till spring should prepare themselves for what is truly an amazing story development.

It's been said before, and I reiterate --- this is a great show nobody is watching!

Forget about the uneven second season, the third one makes up for everything ----

• From Julie and Matt finally doing the most intimate thing couples do, to her parents learning of it, to Tami talking to her daughter about this new level in her relationship;
• From Tyra falling in love with a heart-breaker, to needing Landry still, to Landry standing up for himself to her, to finally accepting he is the one she really loves and has stood by her;
• From Lyla supporting Tim, to Tim supporting Lyla, to Lyla losing a family with her dad disappointing her big time, to her gaining a new family with the Riggins --- Bill & Mindy and Tim;
• To Jason Street's new found responsibility, independence and hopefully, success; to Smash's new achievement;
• To Eric and Tami's new challenges
  

All of these and MORE? Puts FNL Season 3 back on my top-list.

The finale laid the groundwork for what should be a fresh and captivating Season 4, should that turn out well (it's still not known if the show is getting a fourth season). But at the same time, it seems obvious we won't be seeing back a lot of these characters anymore, and will be rooting for new ones.

In a way, it's sad if you think about it. There will be no more Jason, Smash, Tyra or Lyla or Tim. But I liked the way the writers provided them closure. I was very satisfied with the way things ended for a lot of these characters.

On the flipside, the future of Eric Taylor's coaching career offers something new and I can't wait to see what that is.

Seriously, Grey's Anatomy should take a cue from this show's writing team, from planning to development to execution. :P

Friday Night Lights is Downsizing

Friday Night Lights is apparently cutting appearances by Smash Williams (played by Gaius Charles) and Jason Street (played by Scott Porter). These actors' contracts have been reduced to recurring roles for the third season. The decision was both creative and budgetary. And I know not many people will be too happy about seeing Smash's storylines less and less.

Image details: 2007 Summer TCA Tour - Day 8 served by picapp.com

In the case of Smash, executive producer Jason Katims conceded that finding a way to justify hanging onto his college-bound running back would be difficult. “The Smash story definitely creates a challenge for us,” he told me back in May. “He will presumably have graduated [when we return in the fall]. It's definitely going to require some finessing and the right balance between taking the right amount of poetic license, but not doing anything that would question the authenticity and believability that is so important to our show.”

Similarly, maintaining the viability of Jason – the Panthers' ex-starting quarterback who was left paralyzed by a Season 1 injury – has also presented challenges. One possible exit strategy has Jason leaving Dillon to start a new life with his pregnant girlfriend.

One thing you can be sure of: Katims remains committed to bringing both characters' storylines to a satisfying conclusion.

As long as their stories are wrapped up well, I suppose it's all good?

NBC Unveils 2008-2009 TV Schedule

There's a very long new list for NBC for next season but I am very excited about a lot of what they have to offer:

THE NEW

• MY OWN WORST ENEMY - starring Christian Slater. Not a fan of his. This one's a rehashed plot, but we'll see... - Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile, and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common -- the same body. When the carefully constructed wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element. "My Own Worst Enemy" explores the duality of a man who is literally pitted against himself. And it raises the question: who can you trust when you can't trust yourself?
• KNIGHT RIDER - They are now trying to make changes to it and they are sprucing up. Which is great since I enjoyed the backdoor pilot. Anything to make it better? Sounds better!
• CRUSOE - no cast announcements yet but it's described as --- equal parts "MacGyver," "Castaway" and "Pirates of the Caribbean"
• KINGS with Ian McShane, a David and Goliath saga. Wow. With Ian McShane leading the cast...I'm expecting a lot of intensity.
• MERLIN. It will be told 21st century style. Interesting...
• THE PHILANTROPIST - I'm not so eager for this one, because, based just on the premise, I think it's been done before. But I do wanna know how they approach this story and make it fresh and original - Teddy Rist loves women, money and power. After the tragic death of his only child, Teddy has an awakening and becomes the world's first vigilante philanthropist -- a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need. He'll do anything to achieve his goals -- bargain with the self-righteous, trade with the nefarious and even tell the truth. Instead of spending $25,000 a plate at a fundraiser, he's dodging bullets in third-world countries to hand-deliver vaccine.
• THE LISTENER - I was thinking they make this one into a comedy series instead, and not take the serious route, no? - In this one-hour drama, Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, "The Runaway") is a 24-year-old paramedic living with a secret: he can read people's minds. This telepathic procedural takes viewers into the heart of a tortured hero who struggles to solve crimes with his unique gift
• KATH & KIM starring Molly Shannon. Molly Shannon! I'm so watching this.

THE GOOD

• Chuck S2 and Heroes S3 are scheduled back to back on Mondays.
• Lipstick Jungle S2 is up on Wednesday evenings.
• Friday Night Lights S3 is still alive.
  

THE BAD

• No more SCRUBS! I'm hurt. But not so hurt since it's moving to another channel (ABC).
• Life S2 is moved to the Friday slot, which could kill the show.

These schedules are subject to change. We're going to find out what the other networks have for us TV junkies in six weeks time.

The complete press release and 2008-2009 season schedule is here.

Yay for FNL! Season 3 is on!

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS IS SAVED!

And of course, these lovely ladies are very happy about it:

Bits and crumbs...

I'm happy to announce that --- I've finally gotten Big Brother off my system! USA's BB Winter Edition is currently running and surprisingly, I couldn't get past the first two episodes. In spite of the fact that Day 1 had instantly delivered the juicy stuff --- deception, arguments, connivance, sex in the bathroom cubicle and all the drama, I was not all that interested. I think that after following the format since 2002, I'm finally done with any kind of Big Brother series. I'm so proud of me. :)

Cashmere Mafia ended their season run the other day, which means, the torture I had imposed upon myself (by allowing myself to watch all 7 episodes of it ) also ended. Mum's the word on its return and I am not bummed about it. I wouldn't miss this show but it did leave me with fond memories of Lucy Liu's homage to the Grinch.

Jogging in fur is not my idea of cutting edge fashion.
The guy with her agrees with me.

Las Vegas is officially canceled.
Cane is in trouble, if anyone actually cares.
Moonlight's show runner has left the series, which could spell trouble.
Friday Night Lights may be kept alive on cable channels.

Friday Night Toast

Not liking this guy. Found it funny when he said this but thought it was also so insensitive of him, especially when he used to work with one of the best group of writers on television (The Office). He has unequivocally canceled Friday Night Lights for poor ratings. "We're NBC, we have a reputation to uphold".

....and that is why you need to keep critically-acclaimed series, like FNL, running. It's the second best show on that channel, according to this result.

Duh.

Unofficial news say, by the way, that Season 2 of Friday Night Lights will be out on DVD, April 22. Episode 15, the last from this season, airs this Friday with a "pregnancy bombshell".

I'm guessing it's Saracen's baby with Carlotta.

Ausiello | Question: What do you have for what could be the last-ever episode of Friday Night Lights? — Ann

Ausiello: The same thing I've had for months: A pregnancy bombshell that no one will see coming. (And I know, because I've spent the last five weeks reading all your guesses.) And all joking aside, if NBC even considers pulling the plug on FNL, they better board up their windows, 'cause a sh--storm's gonna blow into town. In fact, the National Weather Service has already given it a name: Hurricane Ausholes.

Spoilerfix | 01/19 - Episode 2.15 - May the Best Man Win [Airing February 8]: Brian "Smash" Williams is determined to get a football scholarship to college despite the recent events that have transpired. However, Brian is very shocked when the most unlikely place offers him what may be the opportunity of his life. Tami Taylor runs into her ex-boyfriend from high school, a big real estate mogul, and he decides to stay in Dillon for a few days. A few days proves to be too long as Coach Taylor begins to feel a bit jealous. Elsewhere, Jason Street hears the biggest news of his life since his accident and must decide if he is willing to change his life completely. Meanwhile, Tim Riggins continues his pursuit of Lyla by getting his own radio show at the Christian radio station. Lyla seems to be enjoying her current relationship with her Christian boyfriend as she goes with him to meet his family. Jesse Plemons, Adrianne Palicki, Aimee Teegarden and Zach Gilford also star. Source: NBC [Last episode completed before the writers' strike]

Tune in Friday. It could be the last one from the show.

Friday Night Lights S2 E3: Are You Ready For Friday Night?

This episode of Friday Night Lights deserved a standing ovation...from me at least (and I did give it one!). The writers and producers got it right this time. It's gone back to its first season quality --- raw, gripping, sympathetic and real.

• The Dillon Panther and its new coach are not getting along.
• Jason, the former player and now the assistant coach, isn't being given the chance by the new coach to do what he can.
• Riggins is back on an alcoholic binge.
• Saracen (former captain) and Mash (new captain) are at odds.
• Julie has broken up with Saracen and she is now with someone else, someone who's bad news.
  

Plus this:

With Coach Taylor working far away and is only home every weekend or so, Tami, who has just given birth, is left to hold the family together. It's tough taking care of the baby, much less taking care of it all by yourself. And it's tougher if you also have a teenage daughter to watch over, especially if she is in this rebellious phase.

In this scene, Tami confronts her 15-year old daughter because she hasn't been behaving herself...watch:



Julie so deserved that slap. I cheered for that. Yeah, Mrs. Taylor!

I feel for Tami. :(

[Friday Night Lights]

Friday Night Lights S2 E1 - Last Days of Summer

The best thing about Friday Night Lights is that it is a believable little TV show, with a believable story and believable characters. It did not need episode arches and story build-ups in order to deliver a fantastic episode. It just had to feel authentic. And that might have been messed up, as Season 2 opens.

I could not contain the tears the first few minutes. I was so glad the show is back on air. But sometime after that, the mood changed. It had the same set of characters I love. But aside from one little scene with Tami crying upon learning her husband and her have to be separated by work again.... no other story drew me in. From something believable, it has become melodramatic. Changes are supposed to expected. But the season opener felt like it's going in the wrong direction.

It was a case of too much vs. too little. Everything changed rather quickly. And as a viewer, I felt that I was made to absorb it all at once with very little information.

• The Garrity's are in a messy set-up. Lyla has found Jesus but doesn't hesitate to unleash acerbic comments towards her mother. It's obvious what has happened here but I still would like some details.
• Riggins supposedly grew up last season. Now he's back to being a jerk again.
• Smash had a ten second scene, maybe less, and that was it.
• Julie's issues is something I cannot understand at the moment. She says the reasons why, but it did not satisfy me. I needed more.
• And finally, the murder story.....ah, how do I begin digesting that? It was a generic storyline that seemed like it just had to be thrown into the story. Fine. But did it have to be on the first episode? I would have personally liked that they just did away with it and never really gets its closure (like Dr. Melfi's rape in The Sopranos). Besides last season, they sort of indicated that that has passed.

I'm not happy. The balance is lost. But I am hopeful. Bring back my show, please.

Episode Guide from TV.Com
Changes in the team force Dillon Panthers to work harder than ever before to achieve the same level of success they had last season. Losing Coach Taylor to TMU might prove to be their biggest setback. Tyra gets a shock visitor. Matt and Landry struggle with their everyday life, as it is not what they expected.

[Friday Night Lights]

Friday Night Lights Season 2 Episode 1 Set Photos

Pics, pics, pics from the first episode for FNL Season 2 entitled - Last Days of Summer. I had to adjust the photos, they're tiny. :P

The premiere will be on October 5, 8PM-7PMc on NBC.




Photos via NBC Universal Media Village

Tami has given birth! Whee! :) And look at Tyra and Landry!

Incidentally Friday Night Lights - The First Season DVD is already out and it's pretty cheap at less than $20!

[Friday Night Lights]

Fun Facts: FNL's Tim & Tyra's parents

So, let me warn you first --- I'm drowning in my own TV World here, what you're about to read next is just this little thing I do, just for the fun of it.

Moving along...

Was watching an episode of Without A Trace last night and saw these two in the episode entitled Midnight Sun.



Dana Wheeler-Nicholson


Brett Cullen

In that 2002 episode of Without A Trace, they played a married couple. This was a good episode, by the way.

Fast forward to four years after...

Dana now plays Angela, Tyra's mom on Friday Night Lights.
Brett now plays Tim's estranged father on Friday Night Lights, whose first appearance was in the most recent episode (Episode 13, Season 1).
Tyra and Tim, on FNL, used to be a couple.

See the connection?

And Dana, the actress... no wonder I was familiar with her face, she is Sex and the City's Laney, that wild chick who settled down once she got married and pregnant.