January 19, 2008
The End of an Obsession
For most fans of La Femme Nikita, this post is six years too late. I was not an obsessive follower of the cult hit. I watched it sporadically for one season on the one t.v. on campus that got the USA Network. The next season, that t.v. no longer got the USA Network, and my appreciation of LFN lingered as a distant memory.
As a head's up for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about LFN was originally a French movie made in 1990, remade into the somewhat terrible film Point of No Return in 1993 and the t.v. series began in 1997. Buffy the Vampire Slayer the movie was released in 1992 and began its t.v. life in 97 as well. I mention this because they are both important cultural touchstones for the beginning of strong, leading females. I believe they should both be heralded as the original modern feminist screen heroes, though LFN is often thought of as the precursor to BtVS.
I purchased the first two seasons shortly after they came out. I was frustrated that the other seasons were being held up by disputes over music rights (or so the fandom said), and stopped looking for them. Then, on New Year's Eve I purchased seasons 3, 4, and 5 (on sale!). For the last 20 days, I've obsessively watched every episode from those seasons, breaking for the obvious (paid work) and not so obvious (never-ending volunteer work).
Sadly, the ending is not as good as the journey. Apparently, the writers knew they were being canceled during season 4, so they decided to wrap things up in the most fucked up ending to a series ever. Then, because of fan outcry, they were brought back for a pathetic 8 episode 5th season that further destroyed the good name of the series.
Since most people have never seen the series, I don't want to screw up the first 3.5 seriously good seasons for you by explaining the details of the horrid end. So, I'll talk in generalities.
There are few series that think it's a good thing to end by killing off the main characters one by one. Even worse is the idea of radically changing a major character into a sniveling idiot. Perhaps worse than all the other putrid contrivances of the 5th season was watching the New Woman shamelessly use her body to get ahead in Section. The show, like the French film it's based on, revolves around the love between Nikita and her mentor, Michael. But they did not come together because she wanted to use her anatomy to get ahead in the world, and it was disgusting to watch that plot unfold with another operative. (Let's not quibble over the fact that she was ordered to do this. Men directing women like puppets is another thing the writers got wrong in the last season. Perhaps because they killed off their gender-bending central figure.)
I guess that's not the worst thing I can say about the writing. Not allowing Nikita to react to the fact that Michael had a wife and child (supposedly operatives completely separate from real human reactions to interpersonal relationships when they're created as part of an assignment) and then having multiple high-level males die so that one innocent kid could live was just too damn much for me.
Needless to say, I wont be watching the end of the series again anytime soon. It was a bit of a shock to return to my DVR and find new episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives waiting for me. Perhaps now I'll have time for the ten episodes of Cane that are waiting on my DVR...or maybe I'll just finally delete them and open up space for guilty pleasures that have a higher likelihood of returning when the strike ends.
2001 Interview with LFN star Pita Wilson. Transcript is housed on the fan site LFN Forever
Totally excited review of the series written while it was still on the air at Pop Matters.
The almost dead official site where you can link to watching a few eps for free.
Posted by cj at 11:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 17, 2006
I Was On TeeVee! And Now I'm On The Net (for a limited time)
A few weeks ago, I went to a taping of Larry King Live. Don't ask me why I didn't blog about it then or why I failed to mention that the show would be on the air before it aired - I've just been busy, kay?
So, the show was on the Power of Positive Thinking. My friend chastised me for not watching the first show on the topic (it aired last week). Short background - I got there because my cousin knows someone who works at CNN. My cousin and I went, thinking we'd just be in the audience. We had no understanding that we'd be on the air. We submitted questions beforehand, based on bios of the guests. My question was a combo of reading I had done in the Wall Street Journal (that big corporations are trying to be flexible to allow room for working mothers, but most businesses can't offer flexibility) and a friend's dilemma (she's pregnant and wondering how to take care of her baby and work, when her work doesn't provide childcare or extra money to pay for childcare; ironic since she's a teacher).
They picked me to ask The First Question. We didn't rehearse (I know this sounds lame, but come on people, it was my first time in front of a camera.) And I got slightly flustered hearing Larry King say my name. I blame my 1000 eyebrow twitches on my nervousness.
The nine minute clip is still up tonight on CNN's website, but I don't know how long it will be there, so click quickly!
Posted by cj at 09:45 PM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2006
Fall TeeVee
I kept telling myself over the summer that there was no way I was going to fall for another teevee show. After all, I can barely keep up with my addictions as it is. They keep me from watching Netflix, and generally tie me home. Alas, my conviction failed. I succumbed to Brothers & Sisters, Shark, Heroes, Ugly Betty, and Studio 60. This on top of Everybody Hates Chris, How I Met Your Mother, Gilmore Girls, Prison Break, Bones, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, ER, Dancing with the Stars, and random taped-watching of ABC soap operas.
Clearly, my television addiction is too large - and DVR is making it worse. I have to say, of all those shows, Studio 60 is the worst. It's just a long, tedious 60 minutes of actors remembering lots of lines to no end. And it appears that America agrees with this analysis - LA Times' reports that the show is flailing in the ratings race.
I haven't checked out 30 Rock yet, but based on the LA Times review, I feel like I should.
I'm not sure why I'm watching Brothers & Sisters
tv.com reviews
pop matters review
Variety review
I was sucked in by the Big Name Cast. But honestly, it's the last thing I watch in my DVR queue, and I'm still not sure why I'm bothering. It's just an over-priced soap opera with too many characters, most of whom are one-dimensional pretty faces. Resolved: I will break my attachment to the show and stop watching.
Heroes is brilliant and one of my favorite shows. I'm so glad my sister suggested I watch it - I was able to catch the first ep on USA Network on the same night the second ep aired on NBC. I just love the Japanese characters.
tv.com reviews
Variety review
Gilmore Girls is intriguing, but I hate the way they just threw Lorelei into another relationship. And why does her beau call her Lorie?! Lost is surprisingly interesting, considering that I didn't like it last season. Grey's Anatomy continues to be the best cotton candy on teevee, hands down the best series for a single gal who doesn't expect reality from her black box. ER is good, but they keep scheduling Grey's to go over a few minutes, which makes my DVR deny my attempts to record ER (b/c something else is also being recorded in that time slot).
The most interesting part about living here is that I completely space on when shows are scheduled, because I only watch them as recordings. Add to that the lack of a water cooler, and I never feel compelled to Watch T.V. As It Airs. It's a somewhat liberating experience. Except that there's too many things in the queue and I never allow myself time to watch a Netflix movie.
By the way, I was Not going to watch Ugly Betty. Abhorred the commercials. Hated the snippet I read in the Chicago Tribune over the summer. Alas, the LA Times convinced me again. It's really not that great. They shoot it to make America Ferrer look 20 pounds heavier than she is. And their Latino culture references are so generic, you can't really place the Suarez family as having any origin. But it's got candy colors and just enough truth about the publishing biz to make you accept the alterna-reality for an hour a week. The whole blackmailing woman bit really needs to be put to an end. No one cares and it reminds you how utterly ridiculous the premise is.
The worst part of baseball season is losing my favorite Fox shows.
Can't wait for that eye/brain candy to come back.
...there seems to be something seriously wrong with me. I simply cannot break my addiction to teevee.
Posted by cj at 05:11 PM | Comments (0)
September 22, 2006
Studio 60 and the Business of Entertainment
I could also file this under making a living. I'm back safely in L.A. and dealing with a one industry town. It's odd that that one industry is entertainment. Entertainment should be laughing and crying and having a good time. Instead, it's number crunching and outrageously high and low salaries and LaLa land.
Through the art of DVR, I watched Studio 60 tonight. It was noted that the show is West Wing on a teevee set. Which was obvious to me - I've seen a few Sports Nights and know that he is a one formula man. It's a good formula, but it is a bit tiring; especially if you're not fully engaged in the industry he's poking fun at.
But how can you not enjoy the biz here in LA? If Amanda Peet can be a studio boss, then surely I could make it as a producer, right? These are the thoughts that flutter through your head when you live in LaLa land.
In other news, I was disappointed that scenes from the previews of Grey's Anatomy will be seen in the second ep, not the first. And ER was off to a banging start...except that most of its bangs were predictable. I did think Jerry was going to die - since he's the bartender on that crappy new show, Men in Trees. Yes, I succumbed to watching the first ep, but only because it came on after Dancing with the Stars; I'm not tuning in on Fridays (or DVR'ing it). Why do Jewish mothers always have to be annoying on television? Do the writers really hate their mothers that much? Although, I gotta say shiva on Grey's Anatomy was good; except for the wearing dirty clothes and sitting close to the floor part. How am I to believe that an Asian woman seriously partook in a more Orthodox version of my religion than I have ever been involved in? But the food, annoying relatives, and seven days without work part does make a helluva lot of sense. This nonsensical rambling is ending now. G'night!
Posted by cj at 01:30 AM | Comments (0)
August 27, 2006
Barry Manilow Moves Almost Less Than Dick Clark
Okay, I know this is mean, since Clark suffered a stroke and all...but, seriously, if Manilow has any more plastic surgery his face will be unable to move at all.
Have you ever moved? You know how you have a drawer or two full of Important Junk? You know how that junk is the hardest thing in your house to pack? Yeah, that's the drawer I'm dealing with right now. Except I've sold most of my furniture so I can't just hide it in a drawer anymore....
Must finish this arduous task. Then I can move onto the more interesting stuff - like rolling up my clothes and packing them. I'm really sick of this Verizon commercial. [/end rambling]
Posted by cj at 08:04 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2006
One Night with You Was Better Than Never
Will you just stop saying you're sorry because you didn't know any better? But I did. And, I'm sorry. [pause] I'm sorry, Meredith.
Grey's Anatomy is truly cotton candy for the brain.
And Prison Break is cotton candy for the adrenaline system and eyes. (Cause you know, those boys are easy on the eyes.)
I think these season finales say (a)I have no more excuses for not cleaning my house; (b)I should be able to actually use my Netflix subscription now; and (c)I now need real people to hang out with after work. :)
Posted by cj at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
November 28, 2005
Prison Break
Oh no. Its another 24. Why oh why did I allow myself to get sucked in?
Seriously, how much longer can this possibly go on? And why make us wait till March (or is it May)? Because you've got that dumb American Idol trash to put on in January?
December is a sad month. Its sad because it is not a ratings month. Therefore, it is full of repeats, made for t.v. movies, and network television premieres of movies you would never want to watch with an hour of commercials. Its enough to make a woman seriously consider buying a Netflix subscription...
Posted by cj at 11:32 PM | Comments (1)
September 19, 2005
That Dumb Award Show
Ok, so I missed the best parts - Ellen's monologue, most of the musical performances, and a bunch of award presentations b/c people kept calling me last night.
But let's just review the tried and true realities of the Emmy's:
1. Men continue to be "more important" than women; their best categories are always announced after their female counterparts.
2. Emmy voters have no clue what makes good drama or comedy. Any group of people who consecutively award William Shatner and James Spader for the pile of dung they call drama need to have their heads examined. Was Everybody Loves Raymond really that good? Eh. It's not my cup of tea. But I'll give you that over that frickin Tony Shalhoub. His brand of "comedy" appeals only to some strange rarefied form of Hollywood elite who still think Spader's sexist lawyer is a great character.
3. Even though she was nominated in the wrong category, thank goodness Felicity Huffman won. Too bad she's still got hang-ups about her weight in her 20s. You were chunky with a bad perm? Honey, you're drop dead gorgeous and I'm sure William H. Macy has seen that since the day you met.
4. Why were Hugh Jackman and Jon Stewart in the same category? How lame is it that the powers that be put award show ceremonies in the same category as a 4-day-a-week political satire? Looks like I shoulda seen the Tony's this year...
5. Was it me, or was it boring?
6. Star Jones. Why? Why is she the chatter for the E! preview show? Who the hell let her go to the ceremony as a drag queen?
7. Why did a few stars feel the need to show up in their underwear? Eva, I could see your nipples. Alex Kingston (of ER), dresses are better than slips. Marcia Cross, the front of your dress was ugly. Heidi Klum, ya looked like you were wearing a drape. Kim Raver, buy more fabric next time you go dress shopping. "Etheral" does not mean half naked. Geena Davis, color goes better with your complexion and hair color. Sarah Chalke (of Srubs), ya looked good. Patricia Arquette, you had the worst hair and the worst dress and you still one an Emmy for your treacly character. Congrats.
More info:
The NY Times. When I went to that page there were pop-ups of the Fashion and the Winners / Presenters from the Emmys.
Posted by cj at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)
September 15, 2005
New TeeVee Season
I skimmed through the fall preview version of Entertainment Weekly to figure out what shows are on each night.
Highlights of my profound reading and black box watching:
- Prison Break is my new guilty pleasure (on Fox on Mondays). The premise is so ridiculous it's laughable. But it's great eye candy.
- Gilmore Girls is as unrealistic as ever. It's still fabulous female fare. (on WB on Tuesdays)
- Finally saw the last two hours of Lost, season one. Still doesn't make much sense, but it is amusing to see the masses grapple with twists as detailed as the first season of Alias.
- West Wing moved to Sundays! Finally, a major reason to not watch Extreme Makover: Home Edition. Mmmm...Jimmy Smits....
- Commander in Chief is on ABC on Tuesdays. One big chick fest again on Tuesday nights. Reminds me of the good ol' days of watchin Buffy on Tuesdays...
- I have to choose between Alias and the Chris Rock show. Damnit. Granted, I missed most of last season of Alias because of another time conflict. It's still annoying.
- Arrested Development moved to Mondays. woohoo! Unfortunately, The War at Home, which replaced it, blows huge chunks.
- How I Met Your Mother also on Mondays.
I'm trying hard to limit myself as much as possible....I'm choosing Alias or that Chris Rock's life-based show over The O.C....stopped watching Reunion after the first ep...and not bothering with most of the new dramas and comedies. Perhaps my conference call schedule will stop me from being as addicted as I anticipate being. For now, my favorite shows continue to be Chicago Tonight on PBS and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central.
Posted by cj at 08:40 PM | Comments (0)
August 30, 2005
Entourage Rocks
Little slow on the uptake with this week's ep. Life got in the way, but here's some great dialogue from "Entourage."
The scene: Mr. Ari Gold just quit / was fired from his job. He's trying to get his car from the valet service in the agency's building. The valet explains that he's under strict orders not to give Mr. Gold the car because it is company property.
ARI GOLD:Can't give it to me? Ernesto, how many fucking pesos did I give you for Christmas? Huh, Ernesto? Every Christmas for the past decade; half of Mexico is eating on my tips that I have given you. Now bring my mother fucking car..now. Por favor.Gotta love the writers of Entourage.ERNESTO: Sorry, Mr. Gold, I can't do it. Oh, and Mr. Gold - I'm from Guatemala. And our currency is the quetzal.
Posted by cj at 08:28 PM | Comments (1)
March 31, 2005
Another Fine Journalist Leaves TeeVee: Farewell Ted Koppel
Jacques Steinberg in the NYT reports that Ted Koppel has chosen not to renew his contract when it expires in December. Reading between the lines, its clear that Koppel was frustrated that ABC and Disney have no respect for "Nightline," the half hour news program he has hosted for the last twenty-five years. It's sad to see him go, but not unexpected. The rumor has been floating around on the media pages of newspapers for months. I fervently hope ABC doesn't throw out "Nightline," leaving only "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in their late night repertoire. Jimmy was funny as the Sports Guy for Kevin & Bean on K-ROQ; but I find him irritating as a late night host.
More info:
"Ted Koppel to Leave 'Nightline' and ABC News"
Posted by cj at 12:48 PM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2005
TeeVee Times
A co-worker recently asked me to pick a night for drinks. I admitted the sad truth - my one time restraint is deciding which teevee shows I'm willing to miss. As a guide to those who are bored and mi chavo, here's my nightly list:
Monday
8p Las Vegas (apparently either on hiatus or done for the year)
Tuesday
7p Gilmore Girls
RIP NYPD Blue
Wednesday
7p Lost
8p West Wing
also at 8p - Alias, but I'm a policy wonk and a Jimmy Smits fan
9p Law & Order (not as good w/o Jerry Orbach, but what can you do?)
Thursday
7p The O.C.
9p E.R.
Friday
Joan of Arcadia (when I'm not busy doin somethin)
Saturday
out to the movies
Sunday
9.3a This Week
10a Meet the Press
10.3a Ebert & Ropert
(I'm very bitter that NBC changed MTP's time and made it overlap with mi chavo's fav show)
11a Chris Matthews Show
7p Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (if not busy)
8p Desperate Housewives!
except of course, this week when everyone should be watching They're Eyes Were Watching G'd which is on instead of DH
Posted by cj at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2005
PBS Struggling Amidst Conservative Criticism
John Tierney and Jacques Steinberg write in the NYT about PBS struggling. The president of PBS, Pat Mitchell, plans to step down this year. PBS is begging for money from tight wad conservatives in Congress who erroneously think its a bastion of liberal programming. Cable networks compete with PBS on the programming front and corporations are spending less on "image advertising." So PBS is being squeezed by all sides.
Posted by cj at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2005
Call the FCC Today
The most amusing bit of this NYT article about how at least 31 people complained to the F.C.C. about this year's Super Bowl is that 2 of those people called to say Sir Paul McCartney bored them. So next time you see some shitty teevee, call the FCC! Tell them you demand better programming! More love, less violence!
Posted by cj at 01:50 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2005
Smart, Sassy TeeVee by Women
Sunday's NYT features an interview of Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator and executive producer of "Gilmore Girls," by Virginia Heffernan.
Now I understand what appeals to me about the show. Like me, Amy is a Jewish woman from the Valley. We have all sorts of quirks, including an intense desire to be more connected to our community and a fantasy vision of what places with four seasons feel like. Hence her setting her show in a small Connecticut town and making her main characters WASPs (cause frankly, without a lil fam money, what's the use of a fantasy family?
Posted by cj at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2005
Irreverant TeeVee Via Al Gore? Yeah Right.
So INdTV (pronounced Indie TV) is looking for some free labor to help it move forward in securing more money to blow. That'd be the cable news channel created by Al Gore and cohorts. Full deets from Richard Leiby at WaPo.
Posted by cj at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2004
Jerry Orbach Died
Known to millions as Detective Lennie Briscoe on Law & Order, Jerry Orbach died last night, losing his fight to prostate cancer.
Posted by cj at 12:47 PM | Comments (1)
December 18, 2004
Confirmation of My Critique
Dana Stevens confirms my disgust of The Real Gilligan's Island in Slate. There's some odd stuff about In Search of the Partridge Family at the end of her article.
Posted by cj at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2004
The "Real" Gilligan's Island
Total Crap! Have you seen this mess? Two versions of the troupe (so far, I've only seen one) and all they do is Survivor ripoff with costumes and fake names! Wtf?!? Who forgot that the reason people thought the original show was funny had nothing to do with a frickin reality show alliance discussion! Omigod!!!! This Is So Aggravating! How Stupid! What a Ridiculous Waste!
I suppose I'm just upset because I really had a thing for the original, and only true Gilligan's Island. At one point, I even knew the lyrics to the song that ran with the credits.
Posted by cj at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)