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Lone Wolf
What the Hell? How why is "Dick" censored? How do you post things about Cheney et. al? And why does TV.com strip out or replace Unicode characters? Bleh! The proper title of this article, with true quote marks should be
"Limp Dick"
I have a bad feeling that the Law and Order franchise is coming to an end.
Last season, after almost 20 years, NBC pushed Law and Order to mid-season, and they're doing it again this season. Two seasons in a row of being banished to mid-season as a fill-in show. That is not a good sign.
To be fair, the show has not been too good since Orbach died, and they started having a turnstile of turn-over. Too much change, too fast is always bad for shows, and this show has had it in spades. Is there no respect for seniority? Did NBC treat Saturday Night Live like this in its many bad seasons? Is FOX treating Simpsons like this?
Criminal Intent is also going down. It was taken off of NBC altogether a while ago and banished to satellite-land. Foreigners had to hope that a local network would carry it, otherwise they were out of luck; like all Americans who did not have DirecTV. NBC brought it back for a while during the summer but again that was as a fill-in and they're putting it on USA again this season instead of NBC.
Things don't look good for the show with the departure of Noth, and the killing-off of Nicole Wallace-arguably the best parts of the show-it probably won't last much longer either. I know that Goran has his fans (for some reason), but he's been spiraling down recently too, with all kinds of unpleasant, and not universally popular changes to the character.
Special Victims Unit is the best of the franchise. It has always been so exciting and had a wonderful cast. In fact, unlike most shows (it's siblings included), this show not only had a large ensemble cast, it actually continued to grow. Every L&O show's opening credits ends with a shot of the main cast walking. Last season, SVU's cast was so big (nine principals), that they could barely all fit on the screen (even in wide-screen). Of course they couldn't have nine people walking and talking, so they just stand there leaning on a desk and looking serious (in fact that's how it's been for several seasons because they've had a large cast for a while now).
However, even SVU is sinking. While it's been great and has had little turnover compared to its siblings, it's had too much change too quickly recently. Lake got himself into trouble and left after just one season. If that's not bad enough, both Tutuola and Novak have said that they are going. Those are pretty important characters. If they go, the show will be in a fair amount of trouble.
Dick Wolf also had a few other, related shows, but those did pretty bad and ended quickly. Trial By Jury didn't last a whole season, and Conviction ended on a great two-parter, but still ended after a half season. His Dragnet remake made it to nearly two half seasons, but faired no better. He just hasn't had much success in quite a while. His carte blanch may be soiled and his time in the sun could be over unless he can come up with a great, new show, and/or fix up his existing ones.
For what it's worth, he's not the only one. There have been several show-makers who had one or two hits and seemed like everything that they touched turned to gold and thus were given lots of leeway, but then crashed. Look at J.J. Abrams.
I hope it's not the end because if solid, established shows and creators can get axed, then what chance to new ones have? Dick Wolf has done some good shows and it would be a shame if they failed now.
"Limp Dick"
I have a bad feeling that the Law and Order franchise is coming to an end.
Last season, after almost 20 years, NBC pushed Law and Order to mid-season, and they're doing it again this season. Two seasons in a row of being banished to mid-season as a fill-in show. That is not a good sign.
To be fair, the show has not been too good since Orbach died, and they started having a turnstile of turn-over. Too much change, too fast is always bad for shows, and this show has had it in spades. Is there no respect for seniority? Did NBC treat Saturday Night Live like this in its many bad seasons? Is FOX treating Simpsons like this?
Criminal Intent is also going down. It was taken off of NBC altogether a while ago and banished to satellite-land. Foreigners had to hope that a local network would carry it, otherwise they were out of luck; like all Americans who did not have DirecTV. NBC brought it back for a while during the summer but again that was as a fill-in and they're putting it on USA again this season instead of NBC.
Things don't look good for the show with the departure of Noth, and the killing-off of Nicole Wallace-arguably the best parts of the show-it probably won't last much longer either. I know that Goran has his fans (for some reason), but he's been spiraling down recently too, with all kinds of unpleasant, and not universally popular changes to the character.
Special Victims Unit is the best of the franchise. It has always been so exciting and had a wonderful cast. In fact, unlike most shows (it's siblings included), this show not only had a large ensemble cast, it actually continued to grow. Every L&O show's opening credits ends with a shot of the main cast walking. Last season, SVU's cast was so big (nine principals), that they could barely all fit on the screen (even in wide-screen). Of course they couldn't have nine people walking and talking, so they just stand there leaning on a desk and looking serious (in fact that's how it's been for several seasons because they've had a large cast for a while now).
However, even SVU is sinking. While it's been great and has had little turnover compared to its siblings, it's had too much change too quickly recently. Lake got himself into trouble and left after just one season. If that's not bad enough, both Tutuola and Novak have said that they are going. Those are pretty important characters. If they go, the show will be in a fair amount of trouble.
Dick Wolf also had a few other, related shows, but those did pretty bad and ended quickly. Trial By Jury didn't last a whole season, and Conviction ended on a great two-parter, but still ended after a half season. His Dragnet remake made it to nearly two half seasons, but faired no better. He just hasn't had much success in quite a while. His carte blanch may be soiled and his time in the sun could be over unless he can come up with a great, new show, and/or fix up his existing ones.
For what it's worth, he's not the only one. There have been several show-makers who had one or two hits and seemed like everything that they touched turned to gold and thus were given lots of leeway, but then crashed. Look at J.J. Abrams.
I hope it's not the end because if solid, established shows and creators can get axed, then what chance to new ones have? Dick Wolf has done some good shows and it would be a shame if they failed now.
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Digg thisEditoring
Yes I know; that title may be a little esoteric for most people to get.
Anyway, I don't know how people become editors for stuff. There just isn't enough information to submit. There's a couple of shows that aren't very popular (that I watch nonetheless, surprise, surprise). There's nobody bothering to submit anything for them, so I do. I figure they're my best shot at getting editorship of something, just for the sake of seeing what it's like for a bit (although I don't care for the responsibilty and work that comes with it).
Even so, it's friggin' hard to get enough stuff submitted (even with recaps and episode submissions) to get even close.
Meh, I don't really care; I lost respect for this site when they turned it into a game with levels, points, decals, et. al. I wonder if anyone is selling high-level accounts like they do with World of Warcraft accounts. Hmmm, I wonder if there are any magical swords or gold in TV.com…
Other Shows
I would have mentioned this a while ago, but meh.
This summer there were not too many movies that came to DVD (especially in August which was really light, there was maybe one or two that didn't suck all month, and September doesn't have much more). As a result I had some extra time for once and decided to give a few shows that I had heard a lot about, yet didn't watch because I thought they were lame a go. I was not disappointed.
I watched the first three seasons of The Hills. I didn't realize it was a "reality show", (and I still don't think it is). Either way, I did not expect to like it at all. The first two seasons were entertaining, but the third got a little cumbersome (and way too noisy with that damned, way-too-loud, same-as-all-the-rest music). Season four is so-so.
I also watched the first season of Gossip Girl. Wow, I really liked it and was not bored in the least. I don't know if it was that the show was great or that I did some origami while watching (I can't stand to do only one thing at any given moment), but I certainly did not expect to like it so much. Season two is starting out pretty good too. xoxo
Finally, I watched the first season of Greek. This was yet another show that I was surprised about how much I liked. It took a while to get used to who's who and what's what because I don't usually pay attention to peripheral information like phone-numbers, house letters, etc. but I got enough to enjoy the show. The first half was quite fun, but the second got a little bit tedious to watch. The second season is starting out okay.
While each show is a surprise, the overall effect is not. I've known for some time now that the lower my expectations, the more I think I'll hate a show, the better the chances that I'll actually end up liking it. And it makes sense too; if you expect utter rubbish, more often than not, it can't be any worse that that, so anything is an improvement. So that's the key, expect new things to be crap, and you'll never be disappointed.
This summer there were not too many movies that came to DVD (especially in August which was really light, there was maybe one or two that didn't suck all month, and September doesn't have much more). As a result I had some extra time for once and decided to give a few shows that I had heard a lot about, yet didn't watch because I thought they were lame a go. I was not disappointed.
I watched the first three seasons of The Hills. I didn't realize it was a "reality show", (and I still don't think it is). Either way, I did not expect to like it at all. The first two seasons were entertaining, but the third got a little cumbersome (and way too noisy with that damned, way-too-loud, same-as-all-the-rest music). Season four is so-so.
I also watched the first season of Gossip Girl. Wow, I really liked it and was not bored in the least. I don't know if it was that the show was great or that I did some origami while watching (I can't stand to do only one thing at any given moment), but I certainly did not expect to like it so much. Season two is starting out pretty good too. xoxo
Finally, I watched the first season of Greek. This was yet another show that I was surprised about how much I liked. It took a while to get used to who's who and what's what because I don't usually pay attention to peripheral information like phone-numbers, house letters, etc. but I got enough to enjoy the show. The first half was quite fun, but the second got a little bit tedious to watch. The second season is starting out okay.
While each show is a surprise, the overall effect is not. I've known for some time now that the lower my expectations, the more I think I'll hate a show, the better the chances that I'll actually end up liking it. And it makes sense too; if you expect utter rubbish, more often than not, it can't be any worse that that, so anything is an improvement. So that's the key, expect new things to be crap, and you'll never be disappointed.
Season Premieres
Blerg! Season premieres are up and it's going to be a nasty, overwhelming season. At last count, I've got a little over 70 shows per week. I am so looking forward to a quick, early round of cuts.
Season Finales: Good Riddance
Season finales are almost over. Good. Even the shows that I really like are often a burden to watch. I am looking forward to the extra time this summer (summer shows notwithstanding) for the many other things I have to do, not the least of which is my most dreaded activity: watching movies.
No More Decal Countdown
You know what? Screw the decal, who needs it anyway?
! Nothing to Watch
I have absolutely nothing to watch on television tonight. Not that I’m complaining, it’s total Hell trying to keep track of and watch 50-some-odd shows each and every week. The last season-finale was Lost two nights ago, last night I watched a new episode of Studio 60, and tonight there is nothing. It feels strange.
Of course there’s the summer programs, but those are mostly just crappy reality shows so I won’t be bothering too much with them.
I won’t be idle though because summer is the movie season. I’ve got a stack of 70-some-odd movies that I still need to see and it just keeps growing. Normally, I only watch the movies I really want to see during the television season, and catch up on the ones I have to see during the summer; this includes long movies, boring movies, “educational”, historic, cultural movies, etc.
This is of course on top of all my other projects and activities so no rest for me. Too bad I can’t seem to stop sleeping so damned much. If my doctor weren’t a complete moron, I’d go back and again to ask him to help me figure out and fix whatever it is that makes me sleep 10–16 hours per day.
Of course there’s the summer programs, but those are mostly just crappy reality shows so I won’t be bothering too much with them.
I won’t be idle though because summer is the movie season. I’ve got a stack of 70-some-odd movies that I still need to see and it just keeps growing. Normally, I only watch the movies I really want to see during the television season, and catch up on the ones I have to see during the summer; this includes long movies, boring movies, “educational”, historic, cultural movies, etc.
This is of course on top of all my other projects and activities so no rest for me. Too bad I can’t seem to stop sleeping so damned much. If my doctor weren’t a complete moron, I’d go back and again to ask him to help me figure out and fix whatever it is that makes me sleep 10–16 hours per day.
I Know What Decal You Counted Down to Last Summer
And I am not pleased.
Yet Another Countdown To Decal
YACTD.
Countdown to Decal Strikes Again
The countdown’s revenge.
Countdown to Decal: Part the 7th
A remake of the original countdown.
Countdown to Decal 666
The countdown turns evil.
Countdown to Decal: A New Chapter
A whole new beginning for the countdown.
Countdown to Decal the Fourth
This is the fourth edition of the countdown.
Countdown to Decal Episode III
This is the third installment in the countdown.
Countdown to Decal Part 2
This is the second part of the countdown.
Countdown to Decal 1
This is the first post in the countdown.
! TV Schedule
Don't expect too many blog entries here. Anything I have worth saying will be posted in another, more appropriate, more controlled location.
That said, there is one entry that is apt to be posted here; my TV schedule. I've seen several people post the shows that they watch regularly and thought that I would do the same.
Here is a list of the shows that I will be watching this week. These are only the shows that are currently on; the ones that have been cancelled, are on hiatus, or have ended for the season have been pruned from my master list, as have any duplicates where an episode may air more than once during the week. In other words, this is the list of shows I will actually be watching this week.
I update this list once per week (the master list is updated less frequently) so that I know what shows are on and airing a new episode. With the volume of shows I watch, this is the only way that I can keep track of everything and avoid missing any episodes. Of course thanks to the networks' inconsiderateness, a schedule is actually quite useless. One week, a show is on, the next it's not. One week a show is on at this day and/or time and/or channel, then next it's somewhere else.
That said, there is one entry that is apt to be posted here; my TV schedule. I've seen several people post the shows that they watch regularly and thought that I would do the same.
Here is a list of the shows that I will be watching this week. These are only the shows that are currently on; the ones that have been cancelled, are on hiatus, or have ended for the season have been pruned from my master list, as have any duplicates where an episode may air more than once during the week. In other words, this is the list of shows I will actually be watching this week.
I update this list once per week (the master list is updated less frequently) so that I know what shows are on and airing a new episode. With the volume of shows I watch, this is the only way that I can keep track of everything and avoid missing any episodes. Of course thanks to the networks' inconsiderateness, a schedule is actually quite useless. One week, a show is on, the next it's not. One week a show is on at this day and/or time and/or channel, then next it's somewhere else.
y - new ep this week
n - rerun/not on this week
May.06-May.12
Sunday:
y 09:00pm-10:00pm ABC (Sep.24.06) T1 Desperate Housewives
y 10:00pm-11:00pm CBS (Sep.24.06) T1 Without a Trace
y 06:00pm-07:00pm Disc. (Jan.10.07) W MythBusters
y 07:00pm-08:00pm Space (Oct.01.06) W Smallville
y 08:00pm-08:30pm FOX (Sep.10.06) W Simpsons
y 08:30pm-09:00pm FOX (Jan.28.07) W King of the Hill
y 09:00pm-09:30pm FOX (Sep.10.06) W Family Guy
y 09:30pm-10:00pm FOX (Sep.10.06) W American Dad
y 10:00pm-11:00pm Disc. (Jan.10.07) T1 MythBusters (another ep)
Monday:
y 08:00pm-08:30pm CBS (Sep.18.06) W How I Met Your Mother
y 08:30pm-09:00pm CBS (Sep.18.06) W The New Adventures of Old Christine
y 09:00pm-09:30pm CBS (Sep.18.06) W Two and a Half Men
y 09:30pm-10:00pm CBS (Dec.06.06) W King of Queens
y 10:00pm-11:00pm CBS (Sep.18.06) W CSI: Miami
y 09:00pm-10:00pm NBC (Sep.25.06) T1 Heroes
Tuesday:
y 08:00pm-09:00pm CBS (Sep.19.06) W NCIS
y 09:00pm-10:00pm NBC (Sep.19.06) W Law and Order: CI
y 10:00pm-11:00pm NBC (Sep.19.06) W Law and Order: SVU
y 10:00pm-11:00pm F/X (Apr.03.07) D Shield
Wednesday:
y 08:00pm-09:00pm CBS (Sep.20.06) T1 Jericho
y 09:00pm-10:00pm CBS (Sep.20.06) T1 Criminal Minds
y 10:00pm-11:00pm ABC (Oct.04.06) T1 Lost
y 08:00pm-09:00pm FOX (Aug.30.06) W Bones
y 09:00pm-10:00pm NBC (Jan.14.07) W Crossing Jordan
y 10:00pm-11:00pm CBS (Sep.20.06) W CSI: New York
Thursday:
y 08:00pm-08:30pm NBC (Sep.21.06) W My Name is Earl
y 08:30pm-09:00pm NBC (Sep.21.06) W The Office
y 09:00pm-10:00pm ABC (Sep.21.06) W Grey's Anatomy
y 08:00pm-09:00pm ABC (Sep.28.06) T1 Ugly Betty
y 09:00pm-10:00pm CBS (Sep.21.06) T1 CSI
y 09:00pm-09:30pm NBC (Nov.30.06) T2 Scrubs
Friday:
y 08:00pm-09:00pm NBC (Mar.16.07) T1 Identity
y 10:00pm-11:00pm NBC (Sep.22.06) T1 Law and Order
y 08:00pm-09:00pm CBS (Sep.22.06) W Ghost Whisperer
y 09:00pm-10:00pm CBS (Sep.22.06) W Close to Home
y 10:00pm-11:00pm CBS (Sep.22.06) W Numb3rs
y 04:00am-05:00am Space (Sep.28.06) W Supernatural
Saturday:
y 07:00pm-07:45pm BBC1 (Mar.31.07) D Doctor Who
y 11:00pm-12:00am FOX (Sep.16.06) W MadTV
y 11:30pm-01:00am NBC (Sep.30.06) W Saturday Night Live
Blog Entry
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That is all.
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