The TV Thread

[ophidiophobia]

My Sunday night shows are Californication and Shameless. Not much has been mentioned around here about Shameless, but William H. Macy is great. Great new show

[capt. scotty]

My Sunday night shows are Californication and Shameless. Not much has been mentioned around here about Shameless, but William H. Macy is great. Great new show

Have Shameless DVRd but havent started it yet..Probably will soon since its 4 episodes deep now..I like to go back to back  :D

[tdb810]

My Sunday night shows are Californication and Shameless. Not much has been mentioned around here about Shameless, but William H. Macy is great. Great new show

Just started watching this.  Two episodes in and instantly hooked! 

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

I'm watching "Top Shot" on History Channel, they should take this show to the next level and make these people run obstacle courses and shit with loaded weapons.   such a dangerous show, I would blaze these fools.

[johnnYYac]

Justified returns Wednesday, Feb. 9th!  Killer promos pay homage to Dirty Harry and Han Solo v. Greedo.  Let the killin' begin!

[wolof7]

Justified returns Wednesday, Feb. 9th!  Killer promos pay homage to Dirty Harry and Han Solo v. Greedo.  Let the killin' begin!

I am psyched for this...As I mentioned earlier in this thread, this and Sons of Anarchy are pretty much my favorite shows right now much to the chagrin of my fiancee who just "doesn't understand the violence." Ahhh she's got great taste in all else so I shouldn't complain.  :P

But yeah, from what I understand this season will have Raylan squaring off against Kentucky's baddest pot-growin family....Plus I am interested to see how the relationship between Boyd and Raylan develops.....And it will be nice to see the return of Natalie Zea and Joelle Carter...hubba hubba.

[johnnYYac]

I'm still waiting for a pivotal scene to occur in a church some band is using as a recording studio. 

[wolof7]

I'm still waiting for a pivotal scene to occur in a church some band is using as a recording studio.

I've been crossing my fingers for a possible cameo from the boys.....Maybe even as Ruckus! ;)

[mahg33ta]

I've seen the first two episodes of "An Idiot Abroad" and I've laughed harder in those 2 hours than any TV in recent memory.   My highest recommendation.     

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Apologies if these have been mentioned before, but I couldn't be bothered to go through 97 pages of tv info!

I haven't watched a lot of tv in the last 18 months, other than going through the box sets of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but suffice to say that I'm in the group of people who thinks The Wire is the best show in the history of television.

So anyway, I've got the box set of Breaking Bad Series 1 (which I've yet to watch), and someone has lent me Mad Men Series 1. What's people's view on these?

I'm signed up for the release of the Treme box set when it comes out over here, and some people are starting to talk about Boardwalk Empire a lot now. How are people finding them? I like the sound of the story in Boardwalk Empire but I have to confess I'm a little put off by the fact it's directed by Martin Scorsese. I'm of the opinion that his work has become a little predictable lately. I thought The Departed was massively overrated, especially the over acting performances of Jack Nicholson and the appalling Ray Winstone. My concern with Boardwalk Empire is that the story has a similar arc to Gangs Of New York which is one of the worst films I have ever seen. What's people's opinion on it?

[johnnYYac]

Paulie, I highly recommend Breaking Bad.  Its very well written and acted, has a compelling story line, great characters, and the full spectrum of mood- from comedy to tragedy and everything in between.  As a high school science teacher, I feel more connected to Walt than some, though we see very little of him in the classroom.  One of my favorite shows, up there with Hill Street Blues, The Shield, and Nip/Tuck (a guilty pleasure).  Boardwalk Empire was quite good, too.

[bowl of soup]

I've seen the first two episodes of "An Idiot Abroad" and I've laughed harder in those 2 hours than any TV in recent memory.   My highest recommendation.     

This is the best thing on TV.  I love that he really liked Mexico.

[capt. scotty]

I like the sound of the story in Boardwalk Empire but I have to confess I'm a little put off by the fact it's directed by Martin Scorsese. I'm of the opinion that his work has become a little predictable lately. I thought The Departed was massively overrated, especially the over acting performances of Jack Nicholson and the appalling Ray Winstone. My concern with Boardwalk Empire is that the story has a similar arc to Gangs Of New York which is one of the worst films I have ever seen. What's people's opinion on it?

Wow, I think I disagree with every single sentence in that paragraph  ;D

How does a director's work become predictable?? I thought all his movies of the past decade were very good - Gangs of New York, The Aviator (appreciate this movie more than really liked it), The Departed, Shutter Island, plus the Stones' Shine A Light and Dylan's No Direction Home. He directed 4 movies, based on 4 different time periods, with 4 different types of stories, and he's predictable?

Jack Nicholson overacted in The Departed?? If he overacted in The Departed, he's overacted in 90% of his movies. I thought Winstone was great as usual in this as well.

I think Gangs of New York was 1 of the best movies of the last decade. Regardless of that though, its hardly one of the worst. Its shot beautifully, the set design is fantastic, and the acting is top notch. I had a problem with Cameron Diaz and she feels miscast, but I was able to get over that in subsequent viewings. Daniel Day-Lewis performance as Bill The Butcher in Gangs > DDL in There Will Be Blood.

Frankly, I couldn't disagree more with that paragraph of yours.

[Paulie_Walnuts]

Ok, I can't comment on The Aviator or Shutter Island. And anything involving the the rock n roll comedy act of The Rolling Stones ain't going in my dvd player either!

As for Gangs Of New York I think the story line was predictable. I think that around this time the film industry decided that Martin Scorsese had paid his dues and needed to be rewarded. Since that time he's become a bit of an industry darling and I believe his success has meant his output has become quite formulaic. The scenes in Gangs Of New York involving DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz were amateurish and funny - unconvincing romantic pish that was put into the film for the sake of having a love interest. I also think it marked the time when Scorcese started to use the tools that have "blockbuster" written all over them - big, epic scenes involving battles and hundreds of extras etc. I know that's pertinent to the story but those scenes looked like anything an average director could knock up. As for the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis, whilst realising he was trying to play a larger than life character he just ended up like a pantomime villain. You may say that was the point, but to me it didn't fit in with what was supposed to be a film based on reality.

Compare Gangs Of New York to the masterful direction and charcter study in Goodfellas and you are worlds apart.

And yes, Jack Nicholson does over act in 90% of his movies. As does Al Pacino. It's what they do now. They knock out a piece of easy acting that says, "Jack Nicholson is in this movie" or "a typically intense performance from Al Pacino" and Jack and Al hear "ker...ching" as the next five million dollars plus falls into their bank account! Sorry to sound cynical, but I am.

I'll give you Ray Winston's performance in The Departed. It was a little more understated than his usual cockney gangster, and he did have to put on an Irish accent!

[ManNamedTruth]

I like the sound of the story in Boardwalk Empire but I have to confess I'm a little put off by the fact it's directed by Martin Scorsese. I'm of the opinion that his work has become a little predictable lately. I thought The Departed was massively overrated, especially the over acting performances of Jack Nicholson and the appalling Ray Winstone. My concern with Boardwalk Empire is that the story has a similar arc to Gangs Of New York which is one of the worst films I have ever seen. What's people's opinion on it?

Wow, I think I disagree with every single sentence in that paragraph  ;D

How does a director's work become predictable?? I thought all his movies of the past decade were very good - Gangs of New York, The Aviator (appreciate this movie more than really liked it), The Departed, Shutter Island, plus the Stones' Shine A Light and Dylan's No Direction Home. He directed 4 movies, based on 4 different time periods, with 4 different types of stories, and he's predictable?

Jack Nicholson overacted in The Departed?? If he overacted in The Departed, he's overacted in 90% of his movies. I thought Winstone was great as usual in this as well.

I think Gangs of New York was 1 of the best movies of the last decade. Regardless of that though, its hardly one of the worst. Its shot beautifully, the set design is fantastic, and the acting is top notch. I had a problem with Cameron Diaz and she feels miscast, but I was able to get over that in subsequent viewings. Daniel Day-Lewis performance as Bill The Butcher in Gangs > DDL in There Will Be Blood.

Frankly, I couldn't disagree more with that paragraph of yours.

I agree with you as well here. Gangs Of New York is my favorite of Scorsese's from the past decade. Bill The Butcher is one of my favorite movie villains for sure.

[capt. scotty]

As for Gangs Of New York I think the story line was predictable. I think that around this time the film industry decided that Martin Scorsese had paid his dues and needed to be rewarded. Since that time he's become a bit of an industry darling and I believe his success has meant his output has become quite formulaic. The scenes in Gangs Of New York involving DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz were amateurish and funny - unconvincing romantic pish that was put into the film for the sake of having a love interest. I also think it marked the time when Scorcese started to use the tools that have "blockbuster" written all over them - big, epic scenes involving battles and hundreds of extras etc. I know that's pertinent to the story but those scenes looked like anything an average director could knock up. As for the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis, whilst realising he was trying to play a larger than life character he just ended up like a pantomime villain. You may say that was the point, but to me it didn't fit in with what was supposed to be a film based on reality.

Compare Gangs Of New York to the masterful direction and charcter study in Goodfellas and you are worlds apart.

To each his own.

Hasnt Scorsese been an industry darling since the 70's? I already explained why I dont see how he's formulaic. GONY is the only recent Scorsese movie I can recall having "big, epic battle scenes" and that kind of comes with the storyline and territory of the movie. Who doesnt like a big battle?! Love or hate the movie, but I dont see how anybody could think DDLewis was anything less than fantastic in this movie. If in reality Bill The Butcher was a larger than life character, which all things seem to point to, how doesnt that fit into reality?

If youre going to compare movies to Goodfellas, youre going to be disappointed with pretty much every film you watch. Its seemingly become trendy to think Scorsese has lost his touch at direction, but I thought the direction in Shutter Island was excellent.

[.Walt]

Anyone else watching Portlandia? Makes me wanna move to Portland and retire.

Dream of the 90s

[Ruckus]

Anyone else watching Portlandia? Makes me wanna move to Portland and retire.

Dream of the 90s

;D ;D ;D  I was just gushing to the Wizzard about my love of Portland.

And listening to this

Middle Brother Portland

[.Walt]

Anyone else watching Portlandia? Makes me wanna move to Portland and retire.

Dream of the 90s

;D ;D ;D  I was just gushing to the Wizzard about my love of Portland.

And listening to this

Middle Brother Portland

I think I know what I'll be doing on March 14!

[capt. scotty]

Started catching up with The Cape on the DVR. Nothing great or groundbreaking, but good fun and entertaining. I like how they have a new villain each episode, but hope they have at least a handful that are recurring characters. Im sure Vinnie Jones' Scales will be.