Love Monkey!
A New Genre Of Television Is Born / I Am Right
There are two things of note on this page at MetaCritic. Firstly, as well as "Drama", "Comedy", "Soap" and "Reality" being TV show genres, the staff at MetaCritic seem quite convinced that "Celebrities On Skates" is a genre of its own. Interesting.
Secondly, there is a lesson there for those who have not yet come to realise that I am always right. Even when it seems like I am wrong, hell - even if it is "proven", it just means I am right either in some deeper subtext that you are too stupid to understand or else my being wrong is simply my way of proving I am right about the bigger picture to which the issue at hand pertains, and I am simply making a point in having you prove a certain point-of-view that disagrees with what I have very intentionally mis-stated, and you are simply thinking too small and narrow-mindedly to realise it. Yes. That's it.
On the left-hand coloumn of the link above is exemplar A of this theory: 24 kicks ass. I said it before, no? Now, note how this page provides evidence to prove this to be the case. Of all the new and returning shows which critics have taken any interest in for the second half of the US television season, 24 has an average grade of 90/100 with 8 of the 20 reviews being perfect scores and its lowest grade of 70/100 are all of 2 points lower than the average grade of the 2nd best new or returning show. In fact, looking back at MetaCritic's Fall Season guide, it's an even higher grade than those of critically acclaimed season-launching shows like Ricky Gervais' Extras, Chris Rock's Everybody Loves Chris and the smash hit comedy My Name Is Earl. The latter two start on TV3 this Wednesday at 7:30 so don't miss them, even though the it's-gotten-better-than-it-was Two And A Half Men is on 2. Tape it. And if you normally watch Coronation Street on 1 at 7:30 consider this notice that you are banned from this blog and as such you should ignore my advice and watch that rubbish instead. Good shows don't need viewers like you.
Anyways, as I was saying, 24 is in it's freakin' 5th season and is still that good. With no signs of slowing down. Whatsoever. Notice with the Globes and Emmys how new shows get recognition in their first couple of seasons and are then forgotten about as the fresh shows get all the hype? Well 24 is beating even the most-hyped new shows of the year. Hell, the 2005-06 debutant Commander-In-Chief, a big hit in the ratings and a show up for 3 major Golden Globes tonight in the US including Best Drama, got a 56/100 from critics. Versus 24's score of 90. NINETY, in case you missed it the first time. This is why you must watch 24. And why I am right. If you still aren't convinced, and I do have to assume morons might read this: if the 4 wins and 11 emmy nominations for the 4th series alone (presently screening on TV3) really aren't enough to sway you, the new series of 24 sees Sean "Poe-tay-toes" Astin joining the cast for a few episodes (how big a part he will play has not yet been confirmed), presumably doing so because he wanted to make another work of awesomeness after The Lord Of The Rings ended. And Sean Astin is right almost as often as I am.
Also coming to a small screen near you some day, Tom Cavanagh (Ed of Ed) is back with another well-received dramedy called Love Monkey. I like it already and I've only read the title. In case you missed his old show, and I hope it was because you were busy curing cancer or burning the sets of Coronation Street everytime it was on, Ed was this awesome quirky show about a lawyer who was fired from a big-city law firm after a single ommited commar in a contract cost a client shitloads of money. Ed moved back home to Stuckeyville where he set up a new practice working out of his recently acquired bowling alley (which he also continued to operate) where he met up with old friends, made some new ones and tried to woo Carol Vessey (Julie Bowen, who is now a second-season star of Boston Legal - a show which is even better than 24). So yeah, hopefully Love Monkey is good and doesn't get cancelled (not that these two things always go hand in hand, ie. Arrested Development).
In keeping with the T.V. theme of this entry, here are my
Top 10 Favourite TV Characters
10. Phil Stubbs (Ed) - Michael Ian Black
9. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) - Dan Castellaneta
8. Audrey Horne (Twin Peaks) - Sherilyn Fenn
7. Jack Bauer (24) - Kiefer Sutherland
6. Andy Brennan (Twin Peaks) - Harry Goaz
5. John Locke (Lost) - Terry O'Quinn
4. Denny Crane (Boston Legal) - William Shatner
3. Fox Mulder (The X-Files) - David Duchovny
2. Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks) - Kyle MacLachlan
1. Alan Shore (The Practice / Boston Legal) - James Spader
Honorable Mentions
11. Eric Cartman (South Park) - Trey Parker
12. eq. Michael Scott (The Office - US) - Steve Carrell
12. eq. Dave Brent (The Office - UK) - Ricky Gervais
13. Albert Rosenfeld (Twin Peaks) - Miguel Ferrer
14. Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers) - John Cleese
15. Dana Scully (The X-Files) - Gillian Anderson
16. Pete Martell (Twin Peaks) - Jack Nance
17. Dwight Schrute (The Office - US) - Rainn Wilson
18. Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1) - Richard Dean Anderson
19. Mike Flaherty (Spin City) - Michael J. Fox
20. Peter Griffin (Family Guy) - Seth MacFarlane
21. Sydney Bristow (Alias) - Jennifer Garner
22. Margaret Lanterman aka The Log Lady (Twin Peaks) - Catherine E. Coulson
23. Frasier Crane (Cheers / Frasier) - Kelsey Grammer
24. Niles Crane (Frasier) - David Hyde Pierce
25. Catherine Martell (Twin Peaks) - Piper Laurie
26. Benjamin Horne (Twin Peaks) - Richard Beymer
27. Ed Stevens (Ed) - Tom Cavanagh
28. Man From Another Place (Twin Peaks) - Michael J. Anderson
29. eq. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy) - Seth MacFarlane
29. eq. Stan Marsh (South Park) - Trey Parker
30. Tommy Hill aka Hawk (Twin Peaks) - Michael Horse
31. Mr. Bean (Mr. Bean) - Rowan Atkinson
32. eq. Janitor (Scrubs) - Neil Flynn
32. eq. Phoebe Buffay (Friends) - Lisa Kudrow
33. Adrian Monk (Monk) - Tony Shalhoub
34. Bree van der Kamp (Desperate Housewives) - Marcia Cross
35. Senor Droolcup (Twin Peaks) - Hank Worden
36. Philip Banks (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air) - James Avery
37. eq. Catherine Willows (CSI) - Marg Helgenberger
37. eq. Gil Grissom (CSI) - William Petersen
38. Tony Almeida (24) - Carlos Bernard
39. Sam Malone (Cheers) - Ted Danson
40. Denise Bryson (Twin Peaks) - David Duchovny, and there is no spelling error in "Denise" ;)
Alan Shore is a no brainer on a list like this. I mean, how many characters are so good they get to move from show to show like actors do? I may have missed some other great characters because I made this list on a whim, and there are plenty of others out there on shows I still need to see like Seinfeld that are probably just as good as this lot, while there are also some characters that I need to see more of before considering them, like Huff's Crag Huffstodt (Hank Azaria) and The Practice's Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim). Anyways, as you can see, Twin Peaks shaped incredibly awesome characters like no show before or since. As you can also see, I have way too much time on my hands.
There are two things of note on this page at MetaCritic. Firstly, as well as "Drama", "Comedy", "Soap" and "Reality" being TV show genres, the staff at MetaCritic seem quite convinced that "Celebrities On Skates" is a genre of its own. Interesting.
Secondly, there is a lesson there for those who have not yet come to realise that I am always right. Even when it seems like I am wrong, hell - even if it is "proven", it just means I am right either in some deeper subtext that you are too stupid to understand or else my being wrong is simply my way of proving I am right about the bigger picture to which the issue at hand pertains, and I am simply making a point in having you prove a certain point-of-view that disagrees with what I have very intentionally mis-stated, and you are simply thinking too small and narrow-mindedly to realise it. Yes. That's it.
On the left-hand coloumn of the link above is exemplar A of this theory: 24 kicks ass. I said it before, no? Now, note how this page provides evidence to prove this to be the case. Of all the new and returning shows which critics have taken any interest in for the second half of the US television season, 24 has an average grade of 90/100 with 8 of the 20 reviews being perfect scores and its lowest grade of 70/100 are all of 2 points lower than the average grade of the 2nd best new or returning show. In fact, looking back at MetaCritic's Fall Season guide, it's an even higher grade than those of critically acclaimed season-launching shows like Ricky Gervais' Extras, Chris Rock's Everybody Loves Chris and the smash hit comedy My Name Is Earl. The latter two start on TV3 this Wednesday at 7:30 so don't miss them, even though the it's-gotten-better-than-it-was Two And A Half Men is on 2. Tape it. And if you normally watch Coronation Street on 1 at 7:30 consider this notice that you are banned from this blog and as such you should ignore my advice and watch that rubbish instead. Good shows don't need viewers like you.
Anyways, as I was saying, 24 is in it's freakin' 5th season and is still that good. With no signs of slowing down. Whatsoever. Notice with the Globes and Emmys how new shows get recognition in their first couple of seasons and are then forgotten about as the fresh shows get all the hype? Well 24 is beating even the most-hyped new shows of the year. Hell, the 2005-06 debutant Commander-In-Chief, a big hit in the ratings and a show up for 3 major Golden Globes tonight in the US including Best Drama, got a 56/100 from critics. Versus 24's score of 90. NINETY, in case you missed it the first time. This is why you must watch 24. And why I am right. If you still aren't convinced, and I do have to assume morons might read this: if the 4 wins and 11 emmy nominations for the 4th series alone (presently screening on TV3) really aren't enough to sway you, the new series of 24 sees Sean "Poe-tay-toes" Astin joining the cast for a few episodes (how big a part he will play has not yet been confirmed), presumably doing so because he wanted to make another work of awesomeness after The Lord Of The Rings ended. And Sean Astin is right almost as often as I am.
Also coming to a small screen near you some day, Tom Cavanagh (Ed of Ed) is back with another well-received dramedy called Love Monkey. I like it already and I've only read the title. In case you missed his old show, and I hope it was because you were busy curing cancer or burning the sets of Coronation Street everytime it was on, Ed was this awesome quirky show about a lawyer who was fired from a big-city law firm after a single ommited commar in a contract cost a client shitloads of money. Ed moved back home to Stuckeyville where he set up a new practice working out of his recently acquired bowling alley (which he also continued to operate) where he met up with old friends, made some new ones and tried to woo Carol Vessey (Julie Bowen, who is now a second-season star of Boston Legal - a show which is even better than 24). So yeah, hopefully Love Monkey is good and doesn't get cancelled (not that these two things always go hand in hand, ie. Arrested Development).
In keeping with the T.V. theme of this entry, here are my
Top 10 Favourite TV Characters
10. Phil Stubbs (Ed) - Michael Ian Black
9. Homer Simpson (The Simpsons) - Dan Castellaneta
8. Audrey Horne (Twin Peaks) - Sherilyn Fenn
7. Jack Bauer (24) - Kiefer Sutherland
6. Andy Brennan (Twin Peaks) - Harry Goaz
5. John Locke (Lost) - Terry O'Quinn
4. Denny Crane (Boston Legal) - William Shatner
3. Fox Mulder (The X-Files) - David Duchovny
2. Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks) - Kyle MacLachlan
1. Alan Shore (The Practice / Boston Legal) - James Spader
Honorable Mentions
11. Eric Cartman (South Park) - Trey Parker
12. eq. Michael Scott (The Office - US) - Steve Carrell
12. eq. Dave Brent (The Office - UK) - Ricky Gervais
13. Albert Rosenfeld (Twin Peaks) - Miguel Ferrer
14. Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers) - John Cleese
15. Dana Scully (The X-Files) - Gillian Anderson
16. Pete Martell (Twin Peaks) - Jack Nance
17. Dwight Schrute (The Office - US) - Rainn Wilson
18. Jack O'Neill (Stargate SG-1) - Richard Dean Anderson
19. Mike Flaherty (Spin City) - Michael J. Fox
20. Peter Griffin (Family Guy) - Seth MacFarlane
21. Sydney Bristow (Alias) - Jennifer Garner
22. Margaret Lanterman aka The Log Lady (Twin Peaks) - Catherine E. Coulson
23. Frasier Crane (Cheers / Frasier) - Kelsey Grammer
24. Niles Crane (Frasier) - David Hyde Pierce
25. Catherine Martell (Twin Peaks) - Piper Laurie
26. Benjamin Horne (Twin Peaks) - Richard Beymer
27. Ed Stevens (Ed) - Tom Cavanagh
28. Man From Another Place (Twin Peaks) - Michael J. Anderson
29. eq. Stewie Griffin (Family Guy) - Seth MacFarlane
29. eq. Stan Marsh (South Park) - Trey Parker
30. Tommy Hill aka Hawk (Twin Peaks) - Michael Horse
31. Mr. Bean (Mr. Bean) - Rowan Atkinson
32. eq. Janitor (Scrubs) - Neil Flynn
32. eq. Phoebe Buffay (Friends) - Lisa Kudrow
33. Adrian Monk (Monk) - Tony Shalhoub
34. Bree van der Kamp (Desperate Housewives) - Marcia Cross
35. Senor Droolcup (Twin Peaks) - Hank Worden
36. Philip Banks (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air) - James Avery
37. eq. Catherine Willows (CSI) - Marg Helgenberger
37. eq. Gil Grissom (CSI) - William Petersen
38. Tony Almeida (24) - Carlos Bernard
39. Sam Malone (Cheers) - Ted Danson
40. Denise Bryson (Twin Peaks) - David Duchovny, and there is no spelling error in "Denise" ;)
Alan Shore is a no brainer on a list like this. I mean, how many characters are so good they get to move from show to show like actors do? I may have missed some other great characters because I made this list on a whim, and there are plenty of others out there on shows I still need to see like Seinfeld that are probably just as good as this lot, while there are also some characters that I need to see more of before considering them, like Huff's Crag Huffstodt (Hank Azaria) and The Practice's Ellenor Frutt (Camryn Manheim). Anyways, as you can see, Twin Peaks shaped incredibly awesome characters like no show before or since. As you can also see, I have way too much time on my hands.
posted by Steve @ 12:14 PM
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