The Idiot Box: TV Season 2009/2010

[Sletchman]

(click to show/hide)

I wonder how / if Rush is going to be bought back onto the destiny?  I hope he is returned to it, if only for the showdown between him and Young when he does return.  Not to mention the crews reaction to Young stranding him off-ship.

On the flip side I prefer when shows that kill people leave them dead, but I think this one can be justified.  Plus he does have an Alien ship on the planet he's stranded on, so there's an acceptable plot device for how he returns.  Plus Robert Carlyle is credited for 20 episodes on IMDB. 

[Desertpuma]

There are most certainly reasons for things that happens and Eli has the evidence. Nuff Said.

[Crafty_Pat]

Rush is not the only villain on the show but he is the most clear cut available. The rest of the characters are all well-developed IMO and well-portrayed. I have to give a hand to the producers for not going completely stereotypical but giving reasons. In looking back at the other SG shows, I have gained more respect for them than just about any other producers out right now.

I have a lot of respect for many producers (including Lindelof and Cuse, who managed to defy network strategy on a major network) and Abrams' crew (who pretty much have the Midas touch these days), so I won't single Wright and Co. out above the rest, except to say that they're smart, creative, and inspirational.

This may be hard for some to take but in the past 15 years, they have produced some solid television which looks at ethical situations with compelling characters without insulting the audience. Perhaps it is proof that some of the best writing in the game is coming out of Canada or because they are there the studios do not reach out to them as much or they are more protected. I'm not 100% certain the reason but it works.

Like many (but certainly not all) syndicated productions, the Stargate operation - at least for the first two shows - was fantastically streamlined, and amazingly integrated. The sets were in adjacent soundstages with the writers, art department, and promotional staff offices positioned directly above the three-story SGC set (the prop masters and SFX guys were 1 block away). Everything happened in-house - except of course for the exterior shots, all of which happened within 2 hours' drive from the lot (Vancouver's forgiving like that).  The team could literally do rewrites and make set, make-up, and prop changes on the fly, on the day of shooting. It was unreal to watch.

[Desertpuma]

Notice I said just about any other producers. Abrams, Carlton & Cuse and a couple others have my loyalty.

[Mister Andersen]

Fringe: Come for the eye-candy, stay for Walter.

Also, yes: just 2 and most of a third eps in and the SGU score is epic.

[Sletchman]

Fringe: Come for the eye-candy, stay for Walter.

A friend of mine lent me Fringe season 1 on dvd two weeks ago.  I'd never heard about it, but it was awesome.  I caught up on it immediately [29 eps within 2 days - hey its holidays].

Having enjoyed it so much, I think I might look into this "lost" business. [Not a joke, I've never watched it.]  I hear its quite good.

[Desertpuma]

Lost does startto drag a bit in the 3rd Season but stick with it. By the end of the 3rd Season, Carlton & Cuse had gotten their deal set with ABC to make the series only 6 years long and they immediately started setting up their finale then worked backwards to plot everything out. The show improved dramatically from that point.

[Crafty_Pat]

Lost does startto drag a bit in the 3rd Season but stick with it. By the end of the 3rd Season, Carlton & Cuse had gotten their deal set with ABC to make the series only 6 years long and they immediately started setting up their finale then worked backwards to plot everything out. The show improved dramatically from that point.

Yeah, Season 3 suffers from a bit of middling dilemma, clearly unsure where to go next - which is a shame as I really like the topic of the season. Guess they just didn't have all that much to say about it.

Oh, and Carlton Cuse is a single person. Damon Lindelof's the other kid at the top of the Lost hill.

[Desertpuma]

I should know that about Carlton Cuse but that's what I get for typing early in the morning before jumping the shower. After all, he also produced Brisco County Jr

[Crafty_Pat]

I should know that about Carlton Cuse but that's what I get for typing early in the morning before jumping the shower. After all, he also produced Brisco County Jr

Huh. I did not know that and yet it makes perfect sense.

[Desertpuma]

Yep. If you watch the Writer's Room on the box set, Cuse is there as is John McNamara & John Rogers (who went on to do Leverage).

[Crafty_Pat]

Yep. If you watch the Writer's Room on the box set, Cuse is there as is John McNamara & John Rogers (who went on to do Leverage).

Ah Hollywood, you are such an incestuous beast...

[Desertpuma]

Great collection of writers. It was fun to watch them talk about the show. I believe it was on Fox but I know it was on Friday nights.

[Wolverine]

I believe it was on Fox but I know it was on Friday nights.

Brisco County? It used to be the lead in to The X-Files back when the latter first started. Ahh, those were the days.

[ThunderMonkey]

I watched the January premiere of "Leverage" over the weekend. Still good stuff.

The Sofie via video chat is beginning to reach a bit for me, so hopefully that'll end soon.