I Prefer My TV in 3D over HD

I'm convinced that someday soon, I'll get on the HD train and buy a high definition TV...but for now I'm convinced that 3D TV has way more value than HD TV. What do I mean by 3D TV? Television with three dimensions. No, not the goofy glasses with one blue and one red "lens." I'm talking about stories that go deeper than shallow characters and linear plot lines. I learned early in my days of dabbling in fiction that there are really only 5 basic conflicts from which to base fiction. Man vs. Man, Man vs. Himself, Man vs. God, Man vs. The World, Man vs. Nature. Three dimensional television should creatively wrap 3 or more of those conflicts together at the same time. My favorite show on TV right now is LOST and I think you can make the statement that all five conflicts are playing out on and off the island before and after the crash of flight 815. It's creative enough and the characters are developed well enough to sustain the tangle of conflicts. Comedies, sit coms especially can get away with humor surrounding a premise and with an electric enough cast and good enough writers, can ride a premise for season after season without needing to tangle conflicts. I just caught up on the latest episodes of Life and it's proven that it can successfully meld at least three of the conflicts together. I've thought of it before, but I thought I would try and put words to it. A good story, good character development and elements of our real world mixed with a world we don't live in (figuratively or literally) will always win out over any effect made more special by high definition television. I support the writers in the WGA and their strike, even as it affects shows I love, because there are story elements, characters, conficts and magic that studio heads, special effects designers, and executive producers can't begin to dream up.

Chuck is Lost?

I confirmed by rewinding with my Tivo, but at first I thought I was hearing things... While watching a segment of Chuck in between extra innings of the Rockies Padres game, I overheard Chuck's subconsious say "Ocean flight 815 was shot down." They're on different networks so it's a little strange for a LOST reference, isn't it? I'm not convinced Chuck is a good show, but Tivo is recording it every week for me just in case I decide to like it.

Not from Cincinnati Anymore

I withheld writing anything about the show because I was still trying to figure out enough about what was happening with it to make a coherent pitch. What I should have said weeks ago was "Watch John From Cincinnati!" HBO canceled the show, as networks continue to do to shows I like. The thing about JFC was that it was doing something very unique...but in the way that the show ended it's first and only season, there are so many unanswered questions it's not even worth discussing. It's such a waste. The characters were intriguing, the storyline was Twin Peaksy, and with actors like Ed O'Neill [whose character Bill Jacks may have stolen the show], Bruce Greenwood, Rebecca DeMornay, Luis Guzman, Luke Perry (even the idea that Zach Morris and Dylan McKay shared the screen was intriguing), the dynamic Paul Ben-Victor (who joins a list of multi-show HBO veterans for his role on Entourage [Season 3]), and even Jennifer Grey. The story examines many people who are at the bottom of the list of people you would expect miracles to happen to. The mysterious character of John comes into their lives and only really tells people what they're thinking, what others are thinking and to seek God. One character is raised from the ground, one character is raised from the dead, and all of the characters are actively feeling themselves change. I also thought it was interesting the way the characters all used labels for each other (the hairlip, the lawyer, the doctor, the chemist, the Hawaiian, the porn star, the skinny girl, and other not so nice labels too). It was fascinating and I'm sad to see it not coming back.

Imagine if other shows were cancelled after one season. Imagine the mythology of LOST ending with Jack and Locke looking down into the hatch. Imagine Friends ending with Rachel learning Ross loves her and not dragging the storyline on for 7 more years... Imagine The West Wing concluding with gunfire on the President and his staff but no resolution. Imagine 24 ending with Nina killing Teri Bauer. Imagine if the Sopranos ended anticlimactically with all four Sopranos sitting in a restaurant having dinner...oh wait.

Nothing in the new shows this year stands out as my next favorite TV show, so in the meantime I will continue to enjoy Entourage, Flight of the Conchords, Hard Knocks, and wait impatiently for LOST to return in February.

Speaking of LOST, some exciting stuff coming out of Comic-Con. I've always held back from writing about LOST on this blog, but it won't take long to find info...don't worry the producers are way too smart to let spoilers ruin anything for you.

YouTube Goes to the Source

Proving that search, online video and intelligent advertising aren't their only strong suits, Google/YouTube have called for Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert to be deposed in the Viacom v. Youtube lawsuit. I'm no lawyer, but in my mind genius. Both Colbert and Stewart are "Producers" of their shows (Stewart of both) and if, as suspected, clips of the shows are knowingly uploaded to YouTube by members of the staff, the Producers will either have to admit it or imitate the politicians they love to mock so much by using the Reagan defense. Either way, it's a page straight out of Aaron Sorkin's story line.

Law: Did you order the clips to be uploaded?

Colbert: Do you want answers?

Law: I think I'm entitled.

Stewart: Do you want answers?

Law: I want the truth.

Viacom: You can't handle the truth!

That's right, I believe Google/YouTube are putting Jessep on the stand in a move to get the case dismissed. Again, I'm no lawyer, but my guess is it'll probably work.

(link)

Framing Emmy Nominees

In honor of her recent Emmy nomination, I bought a snazzy frame for my autographed Dunder Mifflin letterhead. I may go a little more into depth about the Emmy's, but I will say Jenna Fischer and Michael Emerson are on my must win list. I'm pretty sure The Sopranos will win for every award their nominated for and they probably deserve them all.

Tivo Recommendation

Got a Tivo? Set it to record Classic Albums on VH1 Classic. Seriously, do it. Episodes I've seen so far: Nirvana's Nevermind, Phil Collins' Face Value, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, The Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bullocks...great stuff. It's almost difficult to remember how revolutionary that Nirvana album was. I remember the first time I heard it I nearly fell over. I still get chills and excitement listening to it today. Dark Side of the Moon has a lot of power behind it, sometimes regarded as the first concept album, but that's if you discount Miles Davis albums or disregard the concepts of the Beatles' albums. Regardless if you agree or disagree with the merits of the concept album it broke ground. I think the Sex Pistols album paved the way for so much music to come out. Most of the members of the band admit that it wasn't difficult to make, but no one had done anything like it. Well regarded today as a classic and brilliant album, it shook the record industry as much as could be done in 1977 and ultimately fizzled in record sales at the time. The Phil Collins' album is a bit out of place among the other three albums, but to hear the stories of how a solo album came from the lead singer of one of the more successful bands at the time is fascinating. It makes me realize I didn't know that much about Phil Collins...the guy is a genius, regardless of some of the cheese he's made.

Next Month on Fox

The ads have been running for weeks, reminding us that it's once again time for millions of Americans to tune in to the world's biggest Karaoke contest.