Idiot Box

So I’m at work today reading scoop from Watch with Kristen and then all of a sudden I feel it. It hit me out of nowhere but was unmistakable, it the the excitement of new seasons of TV. I almost squeed at the thought that in just a couple of months my TV would come back to with new characters and plot twists and brilliant lines of dialogue. I actually started grinning to myself, I was totally geeking out. For some people their passion is animals or literature or sport, for me nothing is quite like the thrill of new TV.

Oh and for those wondering to squee is to have a physical, often verbal (actually making a noise not dissimilar to ‘squee’) reaction to thought of something really geeky, like the new TV season starting soon-ish.

Another trauma/disaster drama, this time from CBS.

Jericho is set in the small town of Jericho, Kansas where prodigal son Jake Green (Scream‘s Skeet Ulrich) has returned (from what exactly we are not told) in the hopes of getting some financial help from his father the Mayor (Gerald McRaney). You’ll probably recognise mayor Green from his myriad of guest roles as the stubborn southern man, for instance Evil Dan’s dad in One Tree Hill. Here he once again plays a good hearted but stubborn man with the woes of his town on his shoulders.

Jakes reunion obviously doesn’t go well and he heads back from whence he came, at least he tries to. Unfortunately on his way back a nuclear strike hits nearby Denver and all links to the outside world are severred, electricity stops and Jake’s car is mysteriously hit by the force of the blast. As is a bus full of school children that just happen to be out and about. (more…)

ABC‘s new drama centres on the lives of nine people forever changed by being held hostage in a bank for 52 hours.

Yes the premise sounds a little thin and the hold-up is little more than a Mcguffin for getting nine strangers to meet and create an average one hour drama. But I don’t mind average one hour dramas, and at least it’s not more doctors or lawyers (Though of course there are doctors or lawyers on the show). Furthermore, the premise feels a little like a treaties in trauma therapy, as if constantly hashing over traumatic events will help heal the psyche of the nation.

The nine in question are: (more…)

” In recent days a seemingly random group of individuals has emerged with what can only be described as ‘special’ abilities.”

These are the opening words of the scrollingtitles at the beginning of NBC‘s new x-men-esque drama, Heroes.

The show follows the lives of people from all over the world (though of course mostly the continental US) who find they have super powers. Peter (Gilmore Girls alum Milo Ventimiglia) is a selfless nurse caring for an old man and has dreams he can fly. Niki Sanders (Final Destination‘s Ali Larter) is a single mother in Las Vegas who strips on the net to pay the bills and does something weird with mirrors that was thoroughly unclear in the pilot. I think we are meant to see her as a plucky fighter who’d do anything for her son. Claire Bennett (Ally McBeal‘s plot device daughter, Hayden Panettiere) is a cheerleader who’s friends just don’t understand her and who happens to be invulnerable. Hiro Nakamura (masi Oka) is a Tokyo salary man who finds he can teleport himself and stop time. And finally Issac Mendez (Santiago Cabrera) a painter who thinks it’s the drugs talking but can actually see the future. In the pilot we are also introduced to Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and geneticist and son of geneticist who’s father was researching evolution and the appearance of people with super powers. (more…)

I’m a little disappointed in the new series of Sugar Rush. Last series was so good, it was fresh and funny and interesting, but this series just seems a little lacklustre. Gone are the subtle jokes at lesbian identity, the real moments of actual anguish, the pathos and the monolgues which actually spoke the truth about coming out in your late teens. Last series had focus but this one jsut seems like a string of incidents. It’s either Kim and Saints on-again-off-again relationship or Sugar being a bitch to Kim and ultimately being forgiven. The show is still kinda fun and the acting still marvelous (Olivia O’Hallinan shines escpecially, eclipsing her previous work in Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde, and looking more and more like Lindsey Lohan everyday, which is a good thing in my book) and it’s nice to see Sarah-Jane Potts again after Felicity, but it’s just not enough.

Plus the show is way too prudish for both its time slot and its subject matter. Last night, due to a preposterous plot development Saint and Sugar were supposed to kiss and the camera cut away. If you’re going to have a late night drama about lesbians at least show a kiss or two.

The 2nd ep of the new series aired last night. Generally enjoyable I guess, the Costa Cons and their schemes are always good for a laugh and Natalie Buxton’s utter evilitude is straight out of Jacobian tragedy, but felt a little flat. It was really Bad Girls by numbers to be honest. Plus there were a few odd moments where it felt forced. the flirting between the new Doc and Wing governor Lou (Donohoe) just didn’t ring true. Especially all the odd jokes about her having a fling with The boss lady. I did like Lou asking Jo if she was heading home to the Mrs and Jo acting all surprised, like she doesn’t scream lesbian. I think they’ve also put to rest any hopes of Lou getting some girl-on-girl action, though there was a moment between her and Kerrigan.

No this isn’t about religion, rather my converting of all my VHS to DVD. Yesterday I found my old Real World vids, Seattle, Boston and some London. I watched the final ep of Seattle as they all headed back home. Not only did I realise how much I used to fancy both Janet and Lindsey, but the whole thing made me cry. I think it’s cos I finally left Uni on Sunday, but all that leaving just made me sad. Can’t wait to get stuck in to Boston again, I loved that season.

So they new series of Bad Girls began last Thursday. Only just seen it due to it having been Graduation weekend. Anyway, as always it was badly acted, poorly scripted and a laugh riot. A white British woman who has converted to Islam ends up in Larkhall just as a case of legionnaires disease breaks out. Of course the inmates all think its Ricin and all hell breaks loose. Neil Grayling dies, one of the Costas is shot and all the screws leave the prisoners to escape as they try to save their own lives.

Little of this matters however as there is a new Gov. None other than everyone’s favourite first lesbian kisser on US prime time TV, Amanda Donohoe. Must say she looks amazing for her age, still totally would. Plus I have hope she may resume her lesbian kissing ways as she began the ep drinking alone in a strip club. However, she does seem to be flirting with boys, but I think they’re just trying to put us off the scent.

Another week another 5 exciting episodes. Ok exciting is a slightly strong word, but there was a kidnap and some angry crying so that’s a pretty major week in Erinsborough.

Monday: I am so bored of Max and Boyd arguing, grow up the pair of you! I hate Max anyway (and I’m not a big fan of Steph. Bring back BikerSteph and her possibly ambiguous sexuality), but this plot isn’t helping. The only thing keeping me watching is the fact that I can’t help but find Jayd the only sweet couple on the show. I know they won’t make it, but I can’t stop hoping. However, the ludicrous idea that Janae would be able to rent a house at her age kept annoying me, as did the childish plan to make Max think she was having an affair and the idea that househunting was a great thing to do as a surprise for your husband.

The other stories this ep were Lou and Mishka, really don’t care if he ever finds her to be honest, and a RaRay/Surl french farce.

Tuesday: More french farce as Surl and RaRay manage to keep missing each other while spending a romantic evening at a Spa. One thing I liked about this was how cheap Karl must be if Stingray can afford the same package.

Janelle and Sky spend even more time together. Janelle keeps improving, she’s now far more fun than she was when she was just the resident ‘bogan’. Not sure why she’s trying so hard though, she’s in a soap, of course Dyl’s feelings for Sky will rekindle.

RaRay and Surl finally spring each other. Suse is angry, Rachel is hurt and it is all rather fraught. Both have valid points, although I can see Suse’s point of view a little better. After-all, Rachel is only 14, what weird 18 yr old boy wants to date a 14 yr old? Back home Rachel explains the sitch to Janelle who agrees to let her move in, though there’s to be no funny business. Suse just seems hurt and worried. I wish Suse was my Mum. (more…)

In the aftermath of Paul being trapped in a cave out in the bush, this weeks Neighbours felt a little drab.

Monday: Paul’s women continue to search for him and find CamRob attempting to hide the evidence. He maintains his innocence until Izzy calls him a freak at which point he uses the marvellous diversionary tactic of throwing a shovel at them while he hightails it into the bush. Meanwhile Janelle finds out about the baby and wants Sky and Dyl to get back together. Susan and Lyn notice the flirting between Toadie and Katya (As if we haven’t seen that one coming for a million years. If only life were like fiction, then maybe I could find someone as hot as Katya , Eurasian women are a total weakness of mine). And finally Suse tells Lyn about getting back together with Karl, that woman needs one ally. Oh and she ribs Lyn for obviously being coo – coo for Paul.

Tuesday: Paul is finally rescued, by Gail who sees him poking a an old photo of them together through a crack in the ground. Please, oh masterly writers of Neighbours, keep hitting us over the head with how much Paul and Gail still love each other after nearly 20 years of being apart. Izzy gets pissy about how close Gail and Paul are, whatever. (more…)