Monday, September 10, 2007

WHAT'S TO BECOME OF ME

Something rather tragic has happened. I don’t know what to watch. If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time you know that I LOVE TV. It makes me so happy that I even rent TV. In fact, for the last two years, Tony and I have been renting Angel and Buffy from Netflix. We finished Angel about a year or so ago and have been watching Buffy ever since. Now, before you write me off, please understand that I too was skeptical of these shows. I thought they were crap for ubernerds to watch because they can’t make friends. I was wrong. They are shows for ubernerds to watch when they don’t feel like seeing their friends or would rather enjoy a nice day on the couch. What I am trying to say is that I really underestimated these shows. I am so glad Tony made me watch them. They are good, like Flight of the Conchords good or even Arrested Development good. Granted, they may not appeal to the same audiences and many people will argue with me but the self-aware ridiculousness of them compiled with strong female role-models and a sci-fi twist really makes for quality television.

Anyway, over the weekend we watched Buffy season 7 disc 6, the final disc in our two series 12 season extravaganza. It was quite a wonderful ending I went through every possible emotion which is the mark of a great series finale. It felt finished unlike Angel, which felt finished but rushed. It was though because they received word mid-season that it would be their last. They had to wrap things up pretty quick. Damn those evil network executives who didn’t know that Angel was easily one of the best shows ever it was easily better than Buffy (although some may disagree) but got two less seasons. Crap.

I digress, what I am trying to say is that I no longer know what TV to rent from Netflix. We rented Undeclared since Tony hadn’t seen it and we like that Apatow but, although a fine program that was cancelled before its time, it isn’t as quality as the shows we just finished watching. Someone suggested that we watch Charmed since we like Angel and Buffy so much but, from what I have seen of that show, it isn’t as smart or as funny or as well done and that would just be a huge letdown. We were pushed toward Firefly since we obviously like Joss Whedon but it is just a little too hardcore Sci-fi for us to get into. Whatever should be done? We need help. I fear nothing will ever come close to satisfying my TV renting again.

Don’t tell me to go out and explore the world. I explore when I feel like it and winter just around the corner. Don’t tell me to watch Desperate Housewives or Grey’s Anatomy, I’ve seen little bits of those shows and am simply not impressed. I need humor, witticism, creativity, and the unexpected. I need to never have watched these glorious series so that I can experience them all over again for the first time. I need a show that I have low expectations for to come in and hook me hard, I need a revelation. What, oh what, should I do? I know, reveal the unguessed songs from last week.

1. I went all the way to Paris/ To forget your face/ Captured in stained glass/ Young lives long since past/ Statues of lovers everyplace. History of Us, Indigo Girls

2. Baby your magic is working/ I lose control of myself/ Whenever you are near me/ I feel myself changing/ From a guy thought too cynical for love into a hopeless romantic. Your Magic is Working, Of Montreal

5. I like a girl with caked up make-up/ in the sunshine smoking cigarettes to pass the time/ Who wakes up to a bottle of wine. So Rich, So Pretty, Mickey Avalon

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dude. Weeds. It's an absolutely perfect show. The acting and writing are of the highest possible quality, and it's hillarious and compassionate at the same time. I watched season 2 in 2 days and am beside myself that season 3 is on now, and I have no way to see it, and it won't be on dvd for like a year and a half.

Anonymous said...

My votes are Dr. Who and House. I love both, but they both have "flaws". Both shows are very smart. Both feature quirky, brilliant, somewhat tortured cute men. Both have women in strong roles, but I would not consider them "strong female role models" -- they aren't nearly as compelling as the male characters (for whom they serve as foils). Both shows are creative; however they are creative within their own particular formulaic universes (might be too formulaic for your liking). Still, David Tennant (Dr. Who) and Hugh Laurie (House) are both wonderful. House has the added "nostalgia benefit" of featuring Robert Sean Leonard and Omar Epps.

Or... How about watching old PBS "Masterpiece Theater" series? They are definitely quality. Or get into old black-and-white movies for a while? Some of the stuff that was done in the old days is really quite intriguing.

dmarks said...

"Battlestar Galactica" does it for me. Very close behind it, "Lost". Then "Smallville".

I have heard from people that "Weeds" is a great show.

Foofa said...

Brooke- I have seen every single episode. In fact, I'll be watching the third episode of season three in a few hours, I have AWESOME TV. If you have time for and want to stay up real late one night in October when you visit we can catch you up on demand.

Mom- Do they have recent Dr. Who on DVD? I would be up for it but I fear it would be hard to get Tony to watch. I really liked the first season of House and watched it regularly but it fell off for me. I think the story behind the dramas just couldn't hold me in.

Dmarks- Battlestar has definite promise, I may try to sell it. I firmly said no to Lost but, you never know. Smallville may be the winner.

Traveling Matt said...

the office maybe? word on weeds. i'll fwd you some stuff from my queue

Anonymous said...

Yup, recent Dr. Who is available on DVD. So are a number of old Dr. Whos. I understand about House. Dad is a *huge* Battlestar fan and would definitely recommend it to you. I've hear good things about Smallville but can't bring myself to be interested.

RandomlyAccessedMemories said...

Angel is easily better than Buffy, although Buffy did improve in the last seasons.

As a kid who would sneak out of bed to watch the BBC late at night, I'm going to vote for Dr. Who.

Check out tv-links.co.uk for some ideas as well.

Eve said...

Yes! Weeds!

And if you ever watched Tales from the Crypt, check out Night Gallery. It's really weird and from the '70s. It's not all that scary, but fun. It's also not at all like a regular serial, since it's a few shorts per episode. Spielberg did one in '71. (I just imdb'ed it.)

Foofa said...

Monica- Thanks I trust your taste. I might give The Office another shot, it just wasn't doin it for me.


Ern- I'm glad to see someone who agrees. I have had many arguments on that fact. If only I can get Tony into Dr. Who all will be well.

Eve- That also sounds promising. Nice and cheesy stuff if I recall.

With Love, Fat Girl said...

I too am at a loss, especially with the Sopranos buried and forgotten (sucky ending though, I must say), but am looking forward to the new Bionic Woman show.

Unfortunately, it got shit reviews. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Nat,

I'm crazy 'bout some Battlestar, but it one of the most depressing shows I've ever seen. Most of the time, its way dark. But it's good SF, (some episodes are better than others) that tries to fulfill the genres goal of looking at the human condition abstracted from reality. If you don’t want to laugh, go for it. Otherwise stay away

bint alshamsa said...

Weeds* is definitely a favorite of mine too. Have you ever watched "Dexter"? I love that show! "Heroes" and "Lost" are family favorites around here, as well.




*Side Note to Natalie's Mom: I just like the show. I don't actually smoke weed. :)

Kiyotoe said...

#1 ubernerds????? While Buffy and Angel were at their peak, I was in college and never missed an episode and even called home to jersey and sat on the phone with my little brother while he watched too. That was our way of bonding for the week! Hey, but we weren't ubernerds ;)And yes, Angel was definitely better than Buffy until her last few seasons when the show "grew up".

#2 I'm also guilty of renting t.v. on Netflix. Right now i have Miami Vice season 2 in my queue as well as Deadwood and Rome, both HBO shows (if you haven't seen them, check 'em out. Trust me)

#3 when all else fails, check out the internet, I've watched full seasons of all kinds of shows i never had the chance to see during the regular season. NBC had Friday Night Lights, The Black Donnelly's, 30 Rock and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. And CBS had Jericho which was a cool show that's supposed to be getting cancelled.

#4 Maybe I am an ubernerd....

CrazySpanishGirl said...

girl, that's what we are all looking for! humor, witticism, creativity, and the unexpected...

Boston Legal??

Anonymous said...

It might seem stupid to some, but I really enjoy Scrubs. Zach Braff is so pretentious it's funny, and his character is a total weirdo. The show is rounded out with a funny/creepy/sometimes-touching character simply named "Janitor" which, coincidentally, always makes me think of you and your penchant for giving things simple noun descriptions, and the show has a way of making the mundane and mediocre touching and sometimes even quite sad while also being hilarious. Give it a try.

deadspot said...

Have you seen Wonderfalls? I think they only aired the first three or four episodes, but they had taped the whole first season, and it's out on DVD.