Television Discussion Thread

[Bert Macklin]

Originally Posted by Vikes99ej

I completely underestimated Parks and Rec.

I ought to arrest you for underestimating it.

[Brothgar]

Originally Posted by Bert Macklin

Can anyone tell me anything about The IT Crowd?

The IT Crowd is a hilarious UK series about a pair of nerdy IT people who gets a new boss that knows nothing about computers. I highly recommend it.

[Brothgar]

Originally Posted by vidae

Good episode of The Newsroom tonight. Yay sunday night TV.

Are you serious? This was by far the worst episode of the Newsroom this season.

[vidae]

Originally Posted by broth223

Are you serious? This was by far the worst episode of the Newsroom this season.

I don't disagree that it wasn't the strongest episode of the season but I didn't think it was bad either.

[Bert Macklin]

Originally Posted by broth223

The IT Crowd is a hilarious UK series about a pair of nerdy IT people who gets a new boss that knows nothing about computers. I highly recommend it.

Downloading it now just wanted some insight on it before. As someone who is graduating in network administration I think I'll like it.

I always liked Nick Burns Your Company's Computer Guy

[vidae]

Originally Posted by Bert Macklin

Downloading it now just wanted some insight on it before. As someone who is graduating in network administration I think I'll like it.

I always liked Nick Burns Your Company's Computer Guy

MOOOOOOOVE!

[Brothgar]

Originally Posted by vidae

I don't disagree that it wasn't the strongest episode of the season but I didn't think it was bad either.

I'm at a loss of what was good about this episode. I guess the Rudy reference was nice. But this whole episode was just everyone in the newsroom being functionally ********

"Oh let me run into the door I've used every day for a month TWICE in one day."

"Oh let me go Amare Stoudemire on this computer screen."

Oh great the ridiculous love triangle turned into a love square. Fantastic.

But at least it seems like they resolved the tabloid thing so that should be over I hope.

Oh and lets not forget that wonderful speech and I will paraphrase

hey my whole team is ******** and hurt themselves on the same day but hey they continued working that is what makes them real news people.

[vidae]

Compared to the stuff tabloid newspapers put out me taking a dump makes me more qualified than they are. I had no problem with that.

The love stuff is annoying, but I've admitted that every week. Sorkin isn't very good at writing that kind of stuff and he really never has been.

I fail to see how punching a computer screen is "********" as you put it. He was pissed. He was upset. You've never punched something when you've been upset?

The whole running into the door thing was supposed to be comedy. It fell short of that but it isn't like he was running right into it, she was opening it before he could get out of the way.

I dunno. I said it was good, not great. I didn't love this episode but I didn't hate it either. It was solid.

[Brothgar]

Originally Posted by vidae

Compared to the stuff tabloid newspapers put out me taking a dump makes me more qualified than they are. I had no problem with that.

No argument about the **** that is tabloid journalism. But there were far better reasons than playing hurt to exemplify why they were good news people.

The love stuff is annoying, but I've admitted that every week. Sorkin isn't very good at writing that kind of stuff and he really never has been.

Granted but honestly I don't mind the dynamic between Mac and Will its just the other four person cluster **** that is poorly done

I fail to see how punching a computer screen is "********" as you put it. He was pissed. He was upset. You've never punched something when you've been upset?

I have not once ever injured myself by punching an inanimate object out of anger. Nor have I ever hit an inanimate object out of anger.

The whole running into the door thing was supposed to be comedy. It fell short of that but it isn't like he was running right into it, she was opening it before he could get out of the way.

Slapstick doesn't belong in this series

I dunno. I said it was good, not great. I didn't love this episode but I didn't hate it either. It was solid.

The way people on this forums bash BBT and TWD I've not seen an episode of either show as bad as I found this one. But hey its just one man's opinion

[SuperMcGee]

I didn't see tonight's episode, but completely out of place attempts at humor seem to be a common occurrence.

Could actually go for some IT Crowd right about now.

[Rosebud]

Without the forced "humor" and love triangles the series would be pretty solid. Although I like the IT kid, him busting his hand was also terribly forced, like the rest of the show there's no subtlety, the writers do everything they can but have a character screaming directly at their audience that "These are newsmen, like the kid in Egypt who almost got killed, Jeff Daniels' guys put it all on the line!"

What's annoying about it is just how utterly unnecessary it is. The one guy going out onto the street and getting his ass kicked, made sense, is a juicy story line, and was already enough to draw the parallel to give the audience a character that will personify their concern for the Egyptian kid. They didn't need anyone else hurting themselves for any reason other than that crappy speech. A speech where Sorkin's again going after low hanging fruit by crapping on Tabloids, because no one has ever had the gall to acknowledge what worthless crap tabloids are.

The lack of subtlety just absolutely undermines the whole point of the show IMO. Sorkin is treating his audience as though they're just as incapable of thinking for themselves as the cable news networks he's trying to rail against. It's a reasonable cause, cable news dumbs things down instead of showing people the facts and letting them process the information for themselves, but you don't make that point by dumbing things down and constantly reminding your audience of the conclusions they're supposed to be coming to. The show kind gets a Fox News-y feel to it, even if the conclusions he's trying to drill into your head are different ones.

[comahan]

A Rudy themed episode. I love Newsroom so much.

[fenikz]

Just finished season 2 of The West Wing, it's right up there with BSG, Mad Men, The Wire, etc.

[SuperPacker]

Finished with Community a couple days ago, and it's probably one of the best things i've watched. Now i'm moving onto Mad Men. After watching Community I realised i'm missing out on so much good TV.

[Caddy]

Originally Posted by Bert Macklin

Downloading it now just wanted some insight on it before. As someone who is graduating in network administration I think I'll like it.

I always liked Nick Burns Your Company's Computer Guy

IT Crowd is easily one of my favourite comedies. But I'm a sucker for British shows lately.

[vidae]

Originally Posted by fenikz

Just finished season 2 of The West Wing, it's right up there with BSG, Mad Men, The Wire, etc.

Yes! More West Wing watchers!

[Smooth Criminal]

Political animals has me intrigued. Loved every part of it again.

[Xiomera]

Originally Posted by comahan

I love Newsroom so much.

[vidae]

Finally got around to watching the first episode of Falling Skies for the season and I gotta admit, it entertains the hell out of me. It's kind of campy and the machines/aliens look cheesy, but I am entertained by it.

Also, ALPHAS TONIGHT!

[A Perfect Score]

Even though it's absolutely steeped in pretentiousness, I really enjoyed the first 4 episodes of The Newsroom. Watched them yesterday on a lazy Sunday, and they are entertaining, high production value TV if nothing else. It's worth tuning in for an hour just to watch Jeff Daniels.

[Splat]

Originally Posted by vidae

Finally got around to watching the first episode of Falling Skies for the season and I gotta admit, it entertains the hell out of me. It's kind of campy and the machines/aliens look cheesy, but I am entertained by it.

The last two episodes have been pretty good. It's still not great by any means but good enough to keep me watching.

[vidae]

I'm fine watching a few shows that are just entertaining, and that's what Falling Skies is. I sit down for an hour and I'm entertained.

[Nalej]

Put me in the Falling Skies fan club.

[killxswitch]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

I was thinking she'd probably be back because Tanner did something but she was the idiot for destroying the evidence. I have a feeling they'll keep her in the loop somehow though.

I watched the latest Suits this weekend.

Man this sucks. But I like that this isn't at all contrived. Some of the other USA shows right now are frustrating me with the forced difficulties for the main character(s) but I like what they're doing with Suits. Some overall thoughts:

- Louis might be my favorite character this season. He is a complete snake but he is showing vulnerability and even likability this year. And not just because of his dead cat. I was actually kind of disappointed his partnership with Mike was so short-lived.

He is also just really good at his job much of the time. Harvey vs Louis was at its best when they were equals. Having Harvey offhandedly step on him all the time kind of sucks. I think his dissatisfaction with being a junior partner is foreshadowing. He is going to play a big part in getting the firm out of this big mess and he will be promoted to Senior for it.

- I like that this season is not strictly focused on Mike and Harvey. I like Mike and Harvey just fine, they are great central characters and their relationship is very complex. But Harvey, Louis, Donna, Jessica, Daniel, and even Rachel are all interesting and worthy of being more than perimeter players. I think the increased focus on these other characters is part of what makes this season even better so far than the first one.

- I like seeing the untouchable ivory tower types like Jessica and to a lesser extent Harvey being vulnerable. They are ass kickers but the people gunning for them are also very smart and talented. Contrast that with White Collar where up until recently they outsmarted almost everyone with relative ease.

I really hope Donna returns. She knows about Mike, for one. She can't stay gone forever. And she would not have made a mistake like this. That other lawyer had the doc planted somehow. She is too good to just let go, both as an employee and as a character on the show.

There are so many directions they can go with this show, it should stick around for a long time because the procedural side is very interesting and the long-term story has so many options.

I think Suits is probably my favorite USA show.

[vidae]

Originally Posted by killxswitch

I watched the latest Suits this weekend.

Man this sucks. But I like that this isn't at all contrived. Some of the other USA shows right now are frustrating me with the forced difficulties for the main character(s) but I like what they're doing with Suits. Some overall thoughts:

- Louis might be my favorite character this season. He is a complete snake but he is showing vulnerability and even likability this year. And not just because of his dead cat. I was actually kind of disappointed his partnership with Mike was so short-lived.

He is also just really good at his job much of the time. Harvey vs Louis was at its best when they were equals. Having Harvey offhandedly step on him all the time kind of sucks. I think his dissatisfaction with being a junior partner is foreshadowing. He is going to play a big part in getting the firm out of this big mess and he will be promoted to Senior for it.

- I like that this season is not strictly focused on Mike and Harvey. I like Mike and Harvey just fine, they are great central characters and their relationship is very complex. But Harvey, Louis, Donna, Jessica, Daniel, and even Rachel are all interesting and worthy of being more than perimeter players. I think the increased focus on these other characters is part of what makes this season even better so far than the first one.

- I like seeing the untouchable ivory tower types like Jessica and to a lesser extent Harvey being vulnerable. They are ass kickers but the people gunning for them are also very smart and talented. Contrast that with White Collar where up until recently they outsmarted almost everyone with relative ease.

I really hope Donna returns. She knows about Mike, for one. She can't stay gone forever. And she would not have made a mistake like this. That other lawyer had the doc planted somehow. She is too good to just let go, both as an employee and as a character on the show.

There are so many directions they can go with this show, it should stick around for a long time because the procedural side is very interesting and the long-term story has so many options.

I think Suits is probably my favorite USA show.

I agree with every point that you made.

I don't think this show will get rid of Donna like that. She means too much to Harvey for that to be the end of it. There will be a way for her to come back.