Monthly Archives: July 2007

July 15, 2007 · 10:33 pm

Entourage – “The Dream Team” Review

I am 90% sure the following conversation occured in the writing room at Entourage while writing “The Dream Team”:

Writer #1: Okay, so here’s the deal. I’ve written this great script that returns the series to its Hollywood roots. There’s agency drama, trailer drama, Vince actually attempts to get work, and there’s some great Ari/Lloyd antics. But the episode is short, and we don’t have anything for Drama and Turtle to do.

Writer #2: Well, Drama is going back to work…

Writer #1: But I don’t have a storyline for him!

Writer #2: Well, I just watched Showtime’s Weeds over the weekend-

Writer #3: That show rocks!

Writer #2: Yeah, and they smoke weed on that show!

Writer #3: People smoke weed on our show, too!

Writer #2: They also had a medical marijuana facility! And Snoop Dogg!

Writer #1: Wait, I can’t write this down fast enough, this is gold.

And thus “The Dream Team” was born. And the result was a good episode of Entourage.

Continue reading →

Jericho Fans: Why Have You Stopped Using the Internet?

Dear Fans of CBS’ Jericho,

Hey folks, hope all is well in the world of rabid fandom. I know that it’s been over a month now since Jericho was saved and rejoicing commenced, but I have to level with you: I’m a bit disappointed. You see, when CBS announced that they would be bringing the show back for 7 episodes and repeating the entire first season, I seem to remember a lot of things being thrown around. Statements like “We need to promote this show!” or “This is the chance we’ve been waiting for!” seemed to be quite common. And I’m here to tell you that…well, you’re currently not living up to those statements.

The first two nights of repeats haven’t been disastrous, but they have certainly not been triumphs. After a decent reairing of the pilot, the two hour event on Friday struggled to pull in as many viewers as Friday Night Smackdown!, yet alone match last week’s numbers. There are all sorts of excuses being thrown around: The recap show was poorly made seems to be the most popular. I’ll be honest: it doesn’t matter how good that recap show was. All that matters is that, clearly, not enough people were going to watch in the first place.

I know how much work went into saving the show, as I witnessed all of your passion for this series here at Cultural Learnings. Whether you were yelling at me, arguing with me, agreeing with me, reasoning with me, I always remained fascinated by how much you loved your show. The fascination turned to admiration with time, and after the show was successfully saved I hoped that you could translate it into something positive, substantial for your series to survive.

And I haven’t seen it yet, folks. We’ve seen two weeks of repeats, and it seems to be like things have just reverted back to where they were before: no one seems to be talking about Jericho. While I know that many have taken a more grassroots approach at marketing the show to friends and family (Which is great), I think that this can only go so far. The way shows like Jericho become successful is through cultural consciousness.

Continue reading →

21 Comments

Filed under Jericho, Television

Tagged as CBS

July 14, 2007 · 5:04 pm

Words and Pictures: Emmy Writing and Directing Contenders (Comedy)

Every year, writers and directors kind of get the short straw, if you will, when it comes to Emmy night. In the past, these categories have served as catch alls for the Academy to recognize series that aren’t getting the same level of attention at higher levels. Two years ago, House won for Best Writing in a Drama Series while Lost swept Directing/Drama Series; last year, My Name is Earl won writing and directing despite being otherwise shut out. This year, these categories will be yet another chance for shows to be recognized.

Today, I want to highlight five comedy episodes in both directing and in writing that, I believe, should be recognized by the Academy and its voters this year. [For my list of Drama candidates, click here]

Oustanding Writing in a Comedy Series

30 Rock – “Hard Ball” (Writer: Matthew Hubbard)

It’s hard to believe a former staff writer on Joey was capable of writing such a fantastic episode of 30 Rock, but it happened: this episode made Jenna tolerable, had some great moments from Jack and Liz, and gave Tracy and Kenneth an engaging storyline. It was satirical, it was funny, and while it isn’t perfect I think it’s as close as 30 Rock came to achieving it in its first season.

Entourage – “Manic Monday” (Writers: Doug Ellin, Marc Abrams & Michael Benson)

I think that Entourage had a few well-written episodes, but Manic Monday caught me eye for being so focused on Ari. Jeremy Piven knocks all of his material out of the park, but this particular episode showcased a human side, just briefly. The writing allows Ari to progress naturally, and features perhaps the best overall arc of the show’s eligible episode within his character.

Desperate Housewives – “Bang” (Writer: Joe Keenan)

Joe Keenan did the impossible: he took a character that was seriously just there to be annoying, and by the end of the episode you actually mourned her death. While Laurie Metcalf and Felicity Huffman certainly elevated the material to a different level, Keenan’s bones were structurally fantastic and resulted in a tense, engaging hour of television.

The Office – “Business School” (Writer: Brent Forrester)

A former writer on The Simpsons, I think Forrester absolutely nailed so many characters in this episode that I don’t see how it can’t be nominated. Michael was funny, Pam was crushed, and Jim and Dwight were as ridiculous as ever. It was an episode that has emotional sentiment and a lot of universal themes…and a bat in the office. That’s inspired writing.

How I Met Your Mother – “Slap Bet” (Writer: Kourtney Kang)

From the episode ending 80s-inspired Robin Sparkles reveal to the initiation of the Slap Bet, this episode is a slow build to a conclusion that is basically just a music video…but it works. We spend the entire episode wondering what Robin’s secret it, and its reveal is about as perfect as you could imagine. This is the episode that could have garnered the series an Emmy nod; it’s also a strong writing candidate.

Outstanding Direction in a Comedy Series

The Office – “Business School” (Director: Joss Whedon)

The Buffy/Angel/Firefly creator was one of two guest directors in the month of February, and I think that he personally nailed the comic timing of the series for me. The show felt the same, but the angles were really a lot of fun. He had the classroom, the art show and the office to play with, and he used some dynamic camera moves and really cool angles to get the most out of them. Listening to commentaries that he does shows he has an eye for direction, and it was proven here.

Continue reading →

Jericho Rerun Report: Ratings Setback in Week Two

I won’t attempt to sugarcoat it: last night’s ratings results for Jericho’s second week of reruns were disastrous in almost every single way.

From Zap2it:

NBC’s “1 vs. 100” won the 8 p.m. hour with a 3.6/7. A pair of “George Lopez” reruns on ABC averaged 2.5/5, just beating FOX’s “Bones” for second. “Friday Night Smackdown!” drew a 2.4/5 for The CW. “Jericho” trailed with a 2.1/4 for CBS, about a point lower than its return last week.

“Smackdown!” moved into the lead at 9 p.m., finishing with a 2.9/6. A “Las Vegas” rerun on NBC was close behind at 2.8/6. A second “Jericho” rerun on CBS improved a bit to 2.4/4. “Standoff” posted a 2.2/4 for FOX. ABC aired an episode of “Greek.”

The show caused CBS to fall to fall to a tie for third in viewers/households, a pitiful last place in Adults 18-49, and it even dragged down the numbers for, well, Numbers at 10pm. After gaining some momentum from reairing the pilot, it was clear that new viewers who came from Ghost Whisperer last week didn’t stick around.

Needless to say, CBS is not going to be happy with these numbers. The disastrous numbers amongst younger viewers are especially concerning, and the drop in the night’s other programs makes Jericho out to be a black hole of viewership. It’s a terrible parallel to the mid-season hiatus, where Jericho went from freshman success to on the bubble with a single episode. The same has happened here, and it isn’t good.

But all hope is not lost. There are some things fans should do in order to improve this situation.

Continue reading →

3 Comments

Filed under Jericho, Ratings, Television

Tagged as CBS, Rerun Report

July 13, 2007 · 12:05 pm

JRR (Jericho Rerun Report) Week Two: “Recap” and “Black Jack”

It is regrettable, to say the least, that I won’t be able to be present this evening to watch what is decidedly the most important night for fans of Jericho and for those who used to be fans of Jericho. With much of the CBS show’s audience loss taking place after the mid-season hiatus, the recap special airing at 8pm EDT is a perfect way for those fans to return to the show with a refresher course followed immediately by “Black Jack”, the next episode, at 9pm EDT.

I am one of those people, one of those people who unfortunately stopped watching before things apparently picked up in the show’s second half. This was the night I was supposed to give it a big chance, start fresh with this series. Alas, I am actually heading to a White Stripes concert this evening, and will unfortunately be absent.

However, I still encourage everyone to check out these episodes of television if you’re at home and don’t have a White Stripes concert to attend. This is the moment that people should be rallying together for: while the pilot is fine and good, this is where the series both gets interesting and where it began to suffer in the ratings. The more people who get hooked now, the more that might be around when the show’s third season premieres.

Forget about ratings for tonight, even though they certainly are going to be the big story tomorrow: instead, focus on what this could mean from a fanbase perspective. This is huge, folks. Make it count.

Also feel free to leave your thoughts about the episodes after they air below.

1 Comment

Filed under Jericho, Television

Tagged as CBS, Rerun Report

July 13, 2007 · 8:34 am

Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

J.K. Rowling has yet to write a perfect novel. While she still has a chance with next week’s release of Deathly Hallows, she has yet to craft a literary masterpiece that lacks a single plot hole, inconsistency or highly illogical subplot regarding a textbook. And so it is that the directors taking on the task of adapting these books need to keep in mind that the text placed in front of them is, well, perhaps a little bit flawed.

David Yates, I feel, is the first to look at one of these stories as a recipe, not a rule book. While even Alfonso Cuaron developed a fantasy film rich with wonder and sorcery, although in his own unique style, Yates is the perfect director for embracing the series’ turn for the darker and more mature in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He sticks to the basic ingredients, but presents them in a more traditional, not fantastical, fashion. The result is a film that feels perhaps less stunning as Cuaron’s film, but at the same time feels more grounded in a reality, as opposed to a fantasy world.

This is all a very good leap forward for the series, but Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldenberg have one distinct problem: The Order of the Phoenix is, of course, not a perfect novel. Rowling’s characters more stumble into early adulthood as opposed to grow naturally into it, and the novel’s greatest flaw (The transition into its climax) rears its ugly head. Yates manages to fix some of the book’s problems, but he can’t fix that final one.

The result is a film that, much like the book, signals a change. Order, as a book, featured some strong writing and some brilliant scenesetting from Rowling; similarly, Yates delivers some stunning imagery and a strong sense of thematic timing for a TV director. The problem is that, even as the technical or other elements improve, Order is still an awkward story that will never be perfect. And that, inevitably, makes Order a good, but not great, piece of filmmaking.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Cinema, Movies

Tagged as Harry Potter

July 12, 2007 · 10:00 am

Words and Pictures: Emmy Writing and Directing Contenders (Drama)

Today, I want to highlight five drama episodes in both directing and in writing that, I believe, should be recognized by the Academy and its voters this year.

Oustanding Writing in a Drama Series

Lost – “Through the Looking Glass” (Writers: Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse)

Taking over as full-time co-showrunners, Lindelof and Cuse were behind some great episodes this season. Nothing, however, lives up to this beautifully plotted and mind-bending finale that incorporates action, drama, romance and of course the season-ending twist that was eloquently foreshadowed throughout. It’s a great piece of script work, and deserves to be considered for an Emmy award.

Lost – “Expose” (Writers: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz)

This is perhaps a surprising choice, as the episode was quite divisive. However, in terms of single episodes, this was a wondrous throwback to Twilight Zone storytelling with an amazing slow reveal to the buried alive conclusion. It was a tragedy and a morality tale all wrapped in one, and I think it was an achievement that the writing came together in such a sharp fashion on what could have been (And may have been, for some) a complete disaster.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – “Pilot” (Writer: Aaron Sorkin)

Say what you will about what the series became over the span of its twenty-two episodes, but this pilot is still a fast-paced rollercoaster that does a brilliant job of setting up a series with a lot of potential. It’s contrived, but so is just about everything else on television: Sorkin’s work on the pilot was his best in the series, and I think it is the show’s only chance at garnering a nomination. And, well, it kind of deserves it.

Heroes – “Company Man” (Writer: Bryan Fuller)

Rumour has it that Tim Kring might have a better chance with the series’ pilot, and if that is nominated but Company Man is not I will personally hunt down Bryan Fuller and apologize to him on behalf of the Academy. The single best piece of writing to come out of the series if not the season, Company Man shined a magnifying glass on the world of Heroes to find stories, people, development and subtle qualities I didn’t know the show had. Fuller elevated the material, without a doubt, and deserves recognition for the amazing achievement.

Battlestar Galactica – “Occupation / Precipice” (Writer: Ronald D. Moore)

As the show’s third season began, BSG turned into a post-colonial study of people being oppressed, and their only hope losing hope that they could do something about it. Having flashed forward over a year, Moore had a lot of pieces to pick up and did it well. The introduction of the resistance and its plight was real, relevant to today’s politics, and felt like the series was finding a new ground. It is almost unfortunate that they left New Caprica so soon, because the material to be mined there was very solid. And Moore knew it.

Oustanding Direction in a Drama Series

Friday Night Lights – “Pilot” (Director: Peter Berg)

Some people are turned off by the show’s handheld style, but without it I think this pilot may have been just a pedestrian football drama. So much of the show’s heart comes from our intimate location during both the football games and conversations: being able to capture that allowed his characters to grow, and Berg’s touch made sure that happened.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Award Shows, Dexter, Emmy Awards, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Lost, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Television

Tagged as Emmys, For Your Consideration, HBO

July 11, 2007 · 10:09 pm

Karaoke Wars: FOX’s ‘Don’t Forget the Lyrics’ Raises the Stakes, Lowers the Standards

After last night’s very successful launch of The Singing Bee (Including some stunning 18-49 numbers) on NBC, there is a lot riding on this premiere of ‘Don’t Forget the Lyrics’ on FOX. Unlike NBC’s show, which is certainly a more traditional game show setup, FOX’s show is a combination of Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and basically every single other recent reality show. With a Million Dollar Cash Prize dangling over their heads, and with producers picking the absolute worst possible singers to “showcase”, it’s everything that’s wrong with reality television in one little package. Looks like someone forgot the lyrics to a reality show that’s the least bit original.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Don't Forget the Lyrics, FOX, Reality TV, Television

Tagged as Summer TV

July 11, 2007 · 9:56 pm

Canadian Idol – July 11th – Top 10 Revealed

Canada has spoken, and it’s about time we got around to a Top 10. Who made the cut, and who fell by the wayside? All the info after the jump. And trust me, it’s downright explosive. Could four favourites have been the ones going home?

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under Canadian Idol, CTV, Reality TV, Television

Tagged as Summer TV

July 11, 2007 · 10:00 am

Cultural Learnings’ 2007 Emmy Nominations – Predictions: Part Two

With the Emmy nominations just nine days away, I figure it’s time I complete the existing predictions that I had set forward. Here’s part two of my Emmy nomination predictions, covering the dramatic acting categories. Next Wednesday, I hope to finalize everything with series nominations and some discussion on Guest Actor/Actress as well.

[NOTE: Each category will feature a “Dark Horse” selection that, while it might well be wrong, needs to be made for the sake of my sanity. When the nominations are announced, I am going to give myself meaningless kudos should any of them come to fruition]

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos)

I don’t watch the Sopranos, but I know better than to bet against a past winner who submitted a strong episode, according to viewers. His name alone is likely to get him into the nominees, and he stands to benefit from the Sopranos hype building from its finale.

William Shatner (Boston Legal)

With fellow thesp (Look at me, going all Variety) Candice Bergen not submitting, and with James Spader shut out last year, a lot of Boston Legal’s hopes lie on Shatner. His celebrity and strong performance as Denny Crane should be enough to get him a nomination, and maybe even his second win in the category.

Terry O’Quinn (Lost)

This is a tough prediction to make, if only because O’Quinn hasn’t been nominated since the show’s first season for anything. However, unlike castmate Naveen Andrews who could also take this spot, I believe that Locke played an integral role this season and has a baity episode featuring substantial acting both on and off island. Plus, if voters liked the reveal of Locke’s wheelchair, they might want to know how he got into it.

Henry Ian Cusick (Lost)

Admittedly, I am betting on some Lost domination here, but I really stand by this particular decision. Nominated for a Guest Actor Emmy last year, I think that Cusick could pull a Shatner (Who won for a guest role on The Practice before moving to Boston Legal) and break into this category after being added as a series regular this past season. His episode is confusing, but his grounded and powerful performance therein can’t be ignored.

[Dark Horse] Jack Coleman (Heroes)

All the hype seems to be around Masi Oka (Hiro), but Jack Coleman deserves the real kudos for his grounded and well-developed portrayal of Noah Bennet. This is a character introduced as the epitome of “The Man” trying to bring down heroes, but he turned into an empathetic character gradually thanks to Coleman’s subtle work. He might not have the name recognition or the cool superpowers, but he is the best actor the show has and I hope Emmy voters see that.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)

This category cannot exist without Elizabeth Mitchell in it. As Juliet on Lost, she has brought emotion and resonance to a character we didn’t know a season earlier, and has integrated into the show’s ensemble in a big way. Her two powerhouse episodes, “Not in Portland” and “One of Us” show such range and power that it is hard to believe Emmy voters will ignore her.

Aida Turturro (The Sopranos)

Consider this my bandwagon selection: I don’t even know what character Turturro plays, but she’s the most popular pick in Supporting Actress for the series. And since I expect it to be recognized in all categories, I think she’ll be making the cut.

Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy)

The most decorated of the show’s supporting players, Oh is the most likely to benefit from the popular vote portion of the proceedings. She’s made a name for herself playing Christina, and this season saw her garner some dramatic storylines and she never quite fell by the wayside like some others did.

Katherine Heigl OR Chandra Wilson (Grey’s Anatomy)

These two operate on opposite ends of the spectrum. Heigl saw a Golden Globe nod earlier this year, while her co-stars did not, but Izzie was an insufferable bitch this season. Meanwhile, Wilson’s Bailey was as good as ever, but she’s been recognized before (She won a SAG award this year) and Bailey was marginalized this season. I think only one of them makes it in…my money’s on Heigl, but I’m still featuring both.

[Dark Horse] Patricia Wettig (Brothers & Sisters)

With the series lacking in love from the ATAS in the series category, I think that Emmy darling Patricia Wettig might have trouble making herself known. However, I find her to be a highlight of the series as the adulteress Holly Harper, and I think she deserves recognition for keeping the role grounded amongst what can only be described as soap opera trappings.

Continue reading →

5 Comments

Filed under Award Shows, Emmy Awards, Television

Tagged as Emmys