The Cathode Ray Mission: The Misc. Television Thread

[MissingPerson]

I was reading up the page in reverse and just thought "Hey, Cougar Town's pretty good you guys, it's just got a shitty name!"

[lunatic core]

I never gave Cougar Town a chance because of it's name, and because I thought the running joke on Community about Abed being addicted to it was trying to make fun of it for being a bad show.

[the goat]

You forsake the Old Gods,
May the Seven protect you,
and keep you safe from the Drowned God,
and R'hllor's fire,


absolute sincerity now: You Really Shouldn't Miss This.

The First Season (available everywhere) is just a prologue, to be honest,
the next three years are gonna be a cornucopia of plethoras of insanity

[Gribbz]

Salute Your Shorts marathon. That's what I did tonight.

[stuporfly]

Cougar Town? Seriously? Were you people raised by wolves?

Exactly. It's more overwritten, smug and unfunny than the last couple of seasons of MASH.

[JustSteve]

Salute Your Shorts marathon. That's what I did tonight.

oh man, i still remember the theme song to that show. oh the useless things hiding deep within my brain.

[sbessiso]

season 2 of Parenthood really starts to lose a lot of steam near the middle, I hope it picks up

[buddy]

hbo go app is now on xbox 360

[TallGuyCM]

Is it on ps3?

[buddy]

only xbox 360 for gaming consoles, that I know of

[locachica73]

season 2 of Parenthood really starts to lose a lot of steam near the middle, I hope it picks up

I don't even remember what season they are on now. I missed most of the first season but it has had me hooked ever since. I think this last season is my favorite so far, and probably the last which makes me sad. I need to find a new show that will make me cry, everyone needs a good cry once in awhile.

[fetuspiniata]

I just finished watching Lost on netflix... I am thoroughly dissapointed!

[lehorne]

I hope in yourself.

[guedita]

Missing starring Ashley Judd on ABC is so, so, so, so, so, so, so bad. I fucking love it. She's always like,

"I AM NOT A CIA AGENT. I AM A MOTHER, LOOKING FOR HER SON. MY SON IS MISSING. WHERE IS MY SON. I AM A MOTHER."

I'm going to have an Ashley Juddathon movie marathon tonight because I'm so inspired by this series.

[Gribbz]

I don't care much for Odd Future, but Loiter Squad is pretty damn funny. The parts that I watched anyway.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

I started watching The Hour on BBC America OnDemand last week. Loving it so far. The promos made me think it was just a BBC amalgamation of Goodnight and Good Luck and Mad Men. I was not expecting all the murder and mayhem. Just thoroughly entertaining stuff. Hope there's a second season.

[guedita]

So "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23" isn't great or even good by any stretch, but James Van der Beek plays himself and that part alone is hilarious.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

So, I'm in the midst of a two hour conference call, hence this post....

The Hollywood Reporter has compiled a list of all the broadcast network pilots in production or pre-production right now. I didn't realize how many pilots make it to this stage. Kinda staggering. I think somewhere in LA there used to be a club that held screenings of fully produced pilots which were never picked up. Anyway, it sounds like a load of shit, but there are some interesting things that caught my eye...


Malibu Country*
Logline: After her "good 'ol boy" rock star husband cheats on her and burns through most of their money, Reba divorces him and moves her three kids and mom from Nashville to the only asset they have left—a little house in Malibu. There she’ll try to reignite her own singing career and keep herself and her three kids from being corrupted by the materialistic and rarified Malibu world she now calls home.
Cast: Reba McEntire, Lily Tomlin, Sara Rue, Julietta Angelo, Justin Prentice, Jai Rodriguez, Owen Teague, Jeffrey Nordling (guest star w/option to recur)
Team: W Kevin Abbott, EP Reba McEntire, Mindy Schultheis, Michael Hanel, Pam Williams, Dave Stewart, Narvel Blackstock; D John Pasquin
Studio: ABC Studios
Format: Multicamera
Location: Los Angeles
AFTRA

Okay, it sounds like garbage. But Lily Tomlin? Hmm..


Untitled Kari Lizer project*
Logline: Hilary Pfeiffer-Dunne, a high powered executive who has dominated corporate America for years, faces the biggest challenge of her life when she finds herself unemployed and acting as a full-time mom to her two teenagers.
Cast: Mary McCormack, Greg Germann, Mo Gaffney, Aiden Potter, Sabrina Carpenter, Horatio Sanz
Team: W/EP Kari Lizer; D Craig Zisk
Studio: Warner Bros. Television, Kari's Logo Here
Location: Los Angeles
Format: Multicamera

Again, meh. But Mary McCormack is such a brilliant actress.



Scruples*
Logline: Based on the Judith Krantz novel, the sexy soap is set in the late 1970s and follows a socialite who, following her husband's death, seeks to open a fashion-forward boutique in the heart of Beverly Hills.
Cast: Claire Forlani, Chad Michael Murray, Gary Cole, Karine Vanasse (second position to ABC's Pan Am), Boris Kodjoe, Noot Seear, Jessica McNamee, Mimi Rogers (recurring), Gilles Marini (recurring)
Team: W/EP Bob Brush, Mel Harris; EP Tony Krantz, Annette Savitch, Natalie Portman; D Michael Sucsy
Studio: Warner Bros. Television, Flame Ventures
Location: Los Angeles
SAG

A Judith Krantz adaptation? In 2012? This had better be really, really gay.


Friend Me
Logline: Twentysomething best friends Evan and Rob move from their hometown of Bloomington, Ind., to L.A. to begin their new lives working at Groupon. Evan has trouble breaking his old slothful habits and rather than go out after work to explore L.A. and meet new people, prefers to play online poker with his friends back home. Rob has different plans and is determined to drag Evan, kicking and screaming, along with him.
Cast: Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Parvesh Cheena, Tim Robinson, Liz Holtan (guest star)
Team: W/EP Alan Kirschenbaum, Ajay Sahgal; EP Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum; D Pamela Fryman
Studio: CBS Television Studios, Tannenbaum Co.
Format:
Location:
AFTRA

Holy shit, did Groupon just buy 22 minute advertising blocks on CBS??


Untitled Louis C.K., Spike Feresten
Logline: An ensemble comedy revolving around young people as they try to achieve their creative dreams in these tough financial times.
Cast: Dan Byrd (second position to ABC's Cougar Town), Ashley Tisdale, Ryan Hansen (guest star with option to co-star; second position to Fox's El Jefe pilot), Ann Guilbert, Patti Murin
Team: W/EP Louis C.K., Spike Feresten; EP Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun, Gene Stein; D Andy Ackerman
Studio: Berman/Braun, Universal Television, CBS Television Studios
Format: Multicamera
Location:
AFTRA

Louis C.K.!


Downwardly Mobile*
Logline: The proprietor of a mobile home park serves as a surrogate mother to all the unique people who live there in a challenging economy.
Cast: Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Romy Rosemont, Jason Antoon, Mary Birdsong, Salli Richardson, Greg Cromer, Kendra Jain, Hector Duran
Team: EP/W Eric Gilliland, Roseanne Barr; EP John Argent; D Gail Mancuso
Studio: 20th Television
Format: Multicamera
Location: Los Angeles
AFTRA

Roseanne and John Goodman reunited! Goodman usually has decent taste (see - leaving 'Roseanne' before the show officially jumped the shark by having the characters win the lottery and abandon their working class roots)



Friday Night Dinner
Logline: An adaptation of the British series that revolves around the Goodmans, a traditional Jewish family as they observe Shabbat dinners in which twentysomething brothers Adam and Jonny visit their parents.
Cast: Tony Shalhoub, Allison Janney, Kevin Bigley, Gil Ozeri, Aya Cash, Gary Anthony Williams
Team: EP/W Greg Daniels; EP Howard Klein; EP/D Ken Kwapis
Studio: Universal Television, Big Talk Television, Deedle Dee Productions, 3 Arts
Format: Single-camera
Location: Los Angeles
SAG

The British original (which is currently filming its second season) is hilarious. Greg Daniels is the same guy responsible for the American adaptation of The Office. Sounds like there's potential here if they can truly make it their own show and not just a shadow of the original.


Susan 313 (previously the untitled Sarah Silverman project)
Logline: Revolves around a woman readjusting to single life following a decadelong live-in relationship. Loosely based on Silverman's life.
Cast: Sarah Silverman, Jeff Goldblum, Harris Wittels, June Raphael, Tig Notaro, Ken Leung
Team: W/EP Sarah Silverman, Dan Sterling, Jon Schroeder; EP Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo; EP/D Ken Kwapis
Studio: 20th TV, Imagine TV
Format: Single-camera
Location: Los Angeles
AFTRA

Sarah Silverman's new project.


County
Logline: Revolves around the lives of a group of young doctors, nurses and administrators in a frenetic underfunded and morally compromising L.A. County hospital.
Cast: Jason Ritter, Michael Imperioli, Aimee Garcia, Michael B. Jordan, Jess Weixler, Agam Darshi, Norbert Leo Butz
Team: W/EP Jason Katims; D Jeff Reiner
Studio: Universal Television
Location: Los Angeles
AFTRA

Another fucking hospital show. But it's from Jason Katims, the showrunner of Friday Night Lights!


Untitled Mindy Kaling comedy
Logline: A young Bridget Jones-type doctor tries to navigate her personal and professional lives.
Cast: Mindy Kaling, Ed Weeks, Chris Messina, Anna Camp, Zoe Jarmon, Dana Delorenzo, Ed Helms (guest star), Bill Hader (guest star), Richard Schiff (guest star)
Team: W/EP Mindy Kaling; EP Howard Klein
Studio: Universal Television
Format: Single-camera
Location: Los Angeles
AFTRA

New show from the Indian chick from The Office. Seems likely for a pick-up, no?

[chairmenmeow47]

i still can't figure out why i'm so enthralled by dance moms, but now there is dance moms: miami and i CAN'T LOOK AWAY!!!

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

So it seems that netflix has secured the rights to season 4 of Arrested Development and the plan is to release the entire season on one day. Interesting.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayli...rning-20120418

[SoulDischarge]

I really tried to give that show another chance, but after watching three episodes with no laughs and a general annoyance with the over the top caricatures and smug cleverness, I gave up

[amyzzz]

Watch more episodes.

[atom heart]

Legend of Korra is streaming online at Nick.com. Anyone who has any passing interest in badass animated fight scenes with electrified kali stick-wielding ninjas and a warrior girl who can take on dudes twice her size should check this out.
Also minor celebrity endorsement:

Faith Erin Hicks

[buddy]

over the top caricatures and smug cleverness, I gave up

i'm with soul d on this, although it feels less like smug cleverness than just a general feeling of they're trying to hard to be quirky and cute. on paper I should be a fan, maybe someday i'll revisit it.

[nathanfairchild]

it took me awhile to get into it, but after a few more episodes it started to really make me laugh. you should really give it another shot.

[OnlyNonStranger]

I feel like if you started watching it from the beginning and didn't like the first few episodes than you'll never like the show.

Just my opinion.

[RageAgainstTheAoki]

This will probably only be of interest to MissingPerson, but a second season (or "series") of Grandma's House is now airing. Can't wait to catch up. If you haven't seen it, it's a really funny British comedy. Simon Amstell (former host/presenter of Never Mind the Buzzcocks) plays a fictional version of himself. Every ep takes place at his grandma's house and involves his pushy mum, his neurotic aunt, perverted nephew and doting grandparents. Really fun dose of Jewish British humor. Amstell is a shit actor, but the rest of the cast is tremendous.

[guedita]

Ice T Loves Coco has restored my faith in love.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

i'm with soul d on this, although it feels less like smug cleverness than just a general feeling of they're trying to hard to be quirky and cute. on paper I should be a fan, maybe someday i'll revisit it.

I think part of the problem, for people just now trying to watch the show, is that the feeling of the show has been replicated and played to death since it was on. When it first aired, it was incredibly fresh.

On a different topic, I've been devouring Boardwalk Empire's first season. This show is so freaking good. I am constantly amazed at how much it is able to accomplish in a single episode - it is certainly serialized, and has many long-reaching sub-plots, but amidst that they still manage to really give each episode its own theme and story that plays out with extremely satisfying results. The acting is also completely spectacular. Michael Pitt and Michael Shannon are particularly outstanding in this, just totally captivating to watch every time they're on screen.

[guedita]

Also, I've only sort of read snippets of criticism regarding Series 2 of Downton Abbey but I'm 2 episodes in and have loved (and sobbed) through almost every minute of it. What's an abridged version of the lambasting of this series I've been seeing on the internet?