Television thread

[Cheddar]

I just started watching Battlestar Galactica (bought the first season).  HOLY SHIT.  This is awesome!  I hope the rest the series remains this good!

[Abagadro]

It actually gets better.

[Cheddar]

I am beyond impressed.  Friends have told me to watch it for awhile.  The military representation is completely spot on.  I mean reactions, how people respond, all of it.  I have an enormous erection and am only on the pilot (first?) episode!

[HaemishM]

God I hope Dan kicks the shit out the Captain...his "Morning....great time of day to go FUCK YOURSELF!" was priceless.

Yeah, normally I'm not a big Meatloaf fan, but the Dan character just seems to bring out all the good acting ability in him. Al's impotence was very key; it's what's been keeping Hearst alive. Otherwise, he'd just have someone take care of Hearst or at least try. The "civilizing" of the camp is just as big a symbolic restraint on Al as is the attack by Hearst.

The story is working on a whole lot of levels and building to what will be a great climax.

EDIT: Battlestar does get better. There are going to be some "filler" episodes, which are still better than most things on TV nowadays. But for the most part, it just keeps ramping up.

[Big Gulp]

Yeah, normally I'm not a big Meatloaf fan, but the Dan character just seems to bring out all the good acting ability in him.

Ummm, that's not Meatloaf.  He played Cameron Diaz' retarded brother in Something About Mary.

[Yegolev]

I find that I am really enjoying It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  I only just heard about it and now I am watching it on Fox, FX and my wife's Ipod.  I could have been Charlie if it wasn't for my wife's intervention, and if I had eventually developed more of a work ethic.

Venture Bros teasing with many of the rumors of what would happen in this episode was great.  It's like the writers were laughing at us.

[Johny Cee]

Alright,  Deadwood was great.  Thank god HBO replays the hell out of things.

The Bullock character is very good:  he's intelligent, principled, and surrounded by scumbags and lowlifes.  He can barely keep his anger in check.

The dog loyalty of Dan really makes him as a character.  The way he takes a child-like hurt when Al passes him over for a job.  It makes what could be a one note thug character much deeper.

What was the deal with Al and the bagman? (Can't remember his name....)  He was a buddy of Wolcott's?


I have to admit,  I watched some UFC junk on Spike.  Got sucked into a program showing Royce Gracie's old fights.  The old stuff has almost a cartoonish supervillainy air about it with guys showing up in odd costumes sporting nth degree black belts in martial arts schools you've never heard of.

Seeing Gracie make guys that outweighed him by 40-75 lbs tap out is kind of interesting. 

[Margalis]

Old UFC is awesome, I remember watching it for free on USA.

Back then it was truly a wacky mix, there were no weight classes and MMA was not well-known. You would end up with a pure boxer, a huge wrestler, a skinny karate dude, etc.

New UFC is still good, from a technical and skill persepective it is much better, but the flavor is not the same, it's no longer the clash of styles it once was.

---

It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia is good.

[Johny Cee]

Old UFC is awesome, I remember watching it for free on USA.

Back then it was truly a wacky mix, there were no weight classes and MMA was not well-known. You would end up with a pure boxer, a huge wrestler, a skinny karate dude, etc.

New UFC is still good, from a technical and skill persepective it is much better, but the flavor is not the same, it's no longer the clash of styles it once was.

---

It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia is good.

New UFC looks like they really changed the rules to give strikers a better chance.  Padding on hands means you can hit people HARD without breaking your hand (which happened quite a bit in old UFC),  and it looks like they toned down the more brutal stuff (Gracie's elbows, all kinds of groin shots, etc.)  Standing everybody up each round also gives strikers a good chance.

One of the Gracie/Shamrock fights went to time,  the ref stood them up for another 5,  and that's when Shamrock demolished Gracie's face with one punch.  It went to a draw,  but Gracie was a mess.

Old UFC was like watching a car wreck:  in a matter of seconds someone could be permanently disabled.  Most of the time, the grappler closed and then avoided shots until he could throw on an arm bar or choke hold. 

The ref reactions were great in old UFC.  They'd jump in the second someone got a disabling hold on and tapped,  or when some big bruiser finally lined up some solid hits.  Even then, they were late sometimes.  Gracie managed to break some kung fu guys arm in a matter of seconds when it looked like the kung fu guy had the advantage.

Meh...  Guess I'm just channeling my inner meathead a bit.

[HaemishM]

Yeah, normally I'm not a big Meatloaf fan, but the Dan character just seems to bring out all the good acting ability in him.

Ummm, that's not Meatloaf.  He played Cameron Diaz' retarded brother in Something About Mary.

Holy shit, you are correct. I have been laboring under the misapprehension that this actor was Meatloaf, when he actually played Meatloaf on that VH1 movie or something. I R DUMBASS.

[WayAbvPar]

What was the deal with Al and the bagman? (Can't remember his name....)  He was a buddy of Wolcott's?

Silas Adams. He used to run with a guy named Hawkeye (who Dan beat the ever-living shit out last season- or maybe the first). Al doesn't like Hawkeye, and has apparently forbidden Adams from hanging out with him. Al wants to use Adams to act as a disloyal employee- he has been with Al the shortest time, and is probably the most intelligent of Al's henchmen.

[Johny Cee]

What was the deal with Al and the bagman? (Can't remember his name....)  He was a buddy of Wolcott's?

Silas Adams. He used to run with a guy named Hawkeye (who Dan beat the ever-living shit out last season- or maybe the first). Al doesn't like Hawkeye, and has apparently forbidden Adams from hanging out with him. Al wants to use Adams to act as a disloyal employee- he has been with Al the shortest time, and is probably the most intelligent of Al's henchmen.

Ahhhh.  Al said Hawkeye and not Wolcott?  I was confused because I misheard what was said. 

 

[WayAbvPar]

I don't think Al said his name- he referred to him obliquely. Adams used the name Hawkeye when he responded though.

[Abagadro]

If my memory serves, Adams was one of the bagmen for the judge that was trying to blackmail Al with the warrant back in Ohio (or wherever). Al essentially turned Adams and he helped in Al's plot against the judge. I think the latest conversation was about how he wanted Adams to act as a similar double-agent type guy with Hearst and that he could because of both his reputation and somewhat looser ties to Al.

[Margalis]

I posted this in the comics thread, but Blade The Series has been pretty good so far. The pilot was a bit slow but set up some stuff, the second episode was 5 times better, it was really enjoyable.

I'm a sucker for this sort of genre stuff. It reminds of the kind of stuff I loved to watch when I was a kid.

[Johny Cee]

Emmy nominations are out,  and people are bitching about them already.

The big (and well deserved) news to me:  Dennis Leary got a nom for best Actor.

Other than that....   Deadwood, BSG, etc got shut out.  Surprise.

[HaemishM]

Emmy nominations are out,  and people are bitching about them already.

The big (and well deserved) news to me:  Dennis Leary got a nom for best Actor.

About time. Did the Office get some best actor/actress nods for Jim and Pam?

Other than that....   Deadwood, BSG, etc got shut out.  Surprise.

A fucking crime.

[Abagadro]

How does Rainn Wilson not get nominated?

[Johny Cee]

The biggest point of contention seems to be the number of nominations for L&O: SVU.  At least they could have nominated Ice T.  I love the delicious irony of the guy who made "Cop Killer" playing a TV cop.

Sopranos got alot less noms then usual, too.  The only notable one was for Michael Imperioli (Christopher),  who has really grown as an actor throughout the series.  I thought his performance in the season finale was excellent.  Nothing for Gandolfini or Falco.

People are pretty confused by Lost not even getting nominated.  It did win the Emmy last year.

[Rasix]

Latest episode of Deadwood has left me at a loss for words. Dan v. Captain "Sea Creature" Turner was worth the advanced billing.

Just a great episode, Deadwood is at its best when stuff is happening left and right.  I can even forgive the opening scene with Con Stapelton.  I'd say more, but I'd hate to spoil this episode for anyone that has it on Tivo.

edit: I want some Wu. Can we please get a little Wu?

[Abagadro]

Re: Deadwood

Holy Fucking Shit!


That is all.

[Margalis]

Dennis Leary does not deserve a nomination. It isn't acting if you just play yourself.

[Engels]

I don't think that's entirely fair. Yes, there are definite moments in Rescue Me where Leary is doing a stand-up routine within a script, but there are many other instances where he acts out emotions pertaining to the script that are good, solid acting.

If on the other hand you're bewailing the horrible trend in Hollywood in general, namely, to have actors not really take on a different personality but essentially just play themselves within a story, then I agree. But if that's your beef, start a lot higher than that. Harrison Ford, Nicholas Cage, Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson, just to name a few, simply play themselves within a script.

[WayAbvPar]

Re: Deadwood

Holy Fucking Shit!


That is all.

ARRGH! Didn't get home from Cali until midnight last night, so I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Can't wait!!

[HaemishM]

Dennis Leary does not deserve a nomination. It isn't acting if you just play yourself.

Yeah, that really isn't fair. Sure, there's bits of himself in there, but there's also some truly good acting moments that have nothing to do with the standup. Sure, it helps that the  part is written for you by you, but you still have to pull it off and he does.

[Llava]

Christopher Walken

In fairness, his movies wouldn't be as good if he played anyone but himself.  He is simply more entertaining that just about any fictional character out there.

[Margalis]

Walken acted in the Deer Hunter at least...and in Joe Dirt.

Leary's character in Rescue Me is basically the same character as in Demolition Man, Suicide Kings, etc.

Chiklis and Walton Goggins both deserve a nod far more than Leary. I suppose it's bad form to nominate the same people over and over again but really. I would rate Julian (Christian Troy) from Nip/Tuck higher than Leary as well. (Truly an underrated performance) Leary isn't even close to the best male actor on his own network.

[schild]

Christopher Walken

In fairness, his movies wouldn't be as good if he played anyone but himself.  He is simply more entertaining that just about any fictional character out there.

Yes.

God I love Poolhall Junkies.

[Abagadro]

If you want a good Walken performance in a good movie that few people saw I would suggest Scotland, PA.

[stray]

Uh...."Acting" isn't necessarily being something than what you are, but being something other than what you feel or think. There's a difference there -- You can still essentially be "yourself" and act. People do it all the time.

Say, for example, you come to work late and your boss wants an explanation -- If you simply give him a convincing story/lie, then you are acting. If you say your lines in a way that's believable, then you're acting. It's not all funny voices and/or flashy character transformation. It's more generally about conveying things that aren't really there -- And sometimes, that's simply about fabricating emotions.


Or in other words, Christopher Walken acts all the time.

* This post brought to you by the Stella Adler School of Snobbery

[Johny Cee]

Walken acted in the Deer Hunter at least...and in Joe Dirt.

Leary's character in Rescue Me is basically the same character as in Demolition Man, Suicide Kings, etc.

Chiklis and Walton Goggins both deserve a nod far more than Leary. I suppose it's bad form to nominate the same people over and over again but really. I would rate Julian (Christian Troy) from Nip/Tuck higher than Leary as well. (Truly an underrated performance) Leary isn't even close to the best male actor on his own network.

"Rescue Me" deserved a best drama or a writing nod.

Just the fact the show has the balls to give you characters that can do such despicable things.  There isn't a one, besides maybe Lou,  who isn't a mess.

Leary does play the same guy everytime.  I think he gets credit, though, for the way he handles the character in the "big event" things:  the death of his son,  dealing with his wife troubles, the fights with Sheila...  and what might be the most painful depiction of alcoholism going.  Sitting in his truck, chugging and wincing, and just looking mean/depressed.

There are alot of actors who deserved the nod over him, though, I agree.

[Llava]

Uh...."Acting" isn't necessarily being something than what you are, but being something other than what you feel or think. There's a difference there -- You can still essentially be "yourself" and act. People do it all the time.

Say, for example, you come to work late and your boss wants an explanation -- If you simply give him a convincing story/lie, then you are acting. If you say your lines in a way that's believable, then you're acting. It's not all funny voices and/or flashy character transformation. It's more generally about conveying things that aren't really there -- And sometimes, that's simply about fabricating emotions.


Or in other words, Christopher Walken acts all the time.

* This post brought to you by the Stella Adler School of Snobbery

But the problem is, that's the sort of acting I can do.  And do really well.

And I'm not an actor.  So it's not impressive that someone who gets paid shitloads of money, solely to do that, can do it too.

Now becoming an entirely different person, that's impressive.  I can't do that.

[Wolf]

STARGATES THIS FRIDAY. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Watched a preview thingie. Richard Dean Anderson is appearing in episodes in both atlantis and sg-1. Awesome. Can't wait. I'm a fanboi :(

[tazelbain]

Any bets on Eureka?

[Sky]

WOOHOO. I'm an SG fanboi, too. Been watching for so many years now.