One year ago today, I set out on a mission to only watch Canadian content. And I succeeded (except for that one incident with the Mormons...). It was definitely an interesting experience and something that I learned a lot from. It's changed the way that I watch TV and hopefully got some people to think about the way that they watch TV.
I did want to keep this blog around for any of my thoughts on the Canadian industry or just TV in general but sadly, it hasn't really worked out as I planned. Work and other projects (unfornately nothing as glamorous as why Dennis McGrath left his blog) have taken over my life, leaving little time for this blog. However, there is a ray of light.
As an outlet for my random thoughts on the glorious media industry, I will be a guest contributor to the filmarmy blog. It's launching on Sept.20th so keep an eye out for all the interesting topics which will be appearing there.
Thank you all for accompanying me on this journey. I appreciate your comments and feedback. The only thing I have left to say is: For the love of God, please watch Canadian television!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
New Discoveries
So during this summer, I have been gorging myself on American television. It's not like I mean to but without cable and having missed some shows I really wanted to see, I'm just trying to play catch-up. Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, they produce some pretty good shows. Like:
(1) Flashforward: I've wanted to see this since I first heard about it. Based on a book (written by a Canadian), everyone blacks out at the same time and sees a few minutes of their future in 6 months. It raised a lot of interesting issues by having people not wanting their flashforward to come true, others afraid that they won't and some people not having them at all. I just dove right in and loved every minute of it.
But of course, there will be no season 2. I think what was really working against it was that not a lot of people want to see serialized television anymore. With shows like Lost and 24 gone and the unendless amount of reality television, it's hard to get people to hooked in a story and commit to it. Especially when they miss an episode or there's a long hiatus, serialized shows are just harder to get back into. But I still love them. There's just something so satisfying to watching it all build up to the finale. That's what makes me want to come back week after week (or commit myself to watching the whole thing online which is sorta cheating with serialized shows).
(2) Community: I literally just found out about this show two weeks ago and only by chance when I was flipping through the channels. I love it. It has some of the same director's as Arrested Development and that alone should make you want to watch it. It's just this quirky little show about an odd group of people who are in this study group and go to a community college that tries to be a real school. I'm pretty sure it's been picked up for a second season (weird! but then again I didn't start watching it until now so I doubt there'll be a third) so keep your eyes out for it.
(1) Flashforward: I've wanted to see this since I first heard about it. Based on a book (written by a Canadian), everyone blacks out at the same time and sees a few minutes of their future in 6 months. It raised a lot of interesting issues by having people not wanting their flashforward to come true, others afraid that they won't and some people not having them at all. I just dove right in and loved every minute of it.
But of course, there will be no season 2. I think what was really working against it was that not a lot of people want to see serialized television anymore. With shows like Lost and 24 gone and the unendless amount of reality television, it's hard to get people to hooked in a story and commit to it. Especially when they miss an episode or there's a long hiatus, serialized shows are just harder to get back into. But I still love them. There's just something so satisfying to watching it all build up to the finale. That's what makes me want to come back week after week (or commit myself to watching the whole thing online which is sorta cheating with serialized shows).
(2) Community: I literally just found out about this show two weeks ago and only by chance when I was flipping through the channels. I love it. It has some of the same director's as Arrested Development and that alone should make you want to watch it. It's just this quirky little show about an odd group of people who are in this study group and go to a community college that tries to be a real school. I'm pretty sure it's been picked up for a second season (weird! but then again I didn't start watching it until now so I doubt there'll be a third) so keep your eyes out for it.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Looking Forward
It's always about this point in the summer when I start to look forward to the new fall season. I know everyone talks about how it's all about watching shows online or buying the DVDs but I still love to watch shows actually on TV. Call me old fashioned. Plus it means a bunch of new shows. Yay! And you can't find a lot of Canadian TV around online and due to lack of funds, the DVDs aren't really an option (despite how cheap they are). So I am looking forward to once again stuffing myself with Cancon.
Though I'm looking forward to returning favourites (Being Erica, Battle of the Blades, The Listener), new shows (Men with Brooms, and Debbie Travis' show that has nothing to do with interior design) and continuing shows (Rookie Blues), for some reason, I'm most excited about So You Think You Can Dance. I have no idea why. Just somewhere in my soul, I need to see Canadians dance. Though I doubt that there will be anything as special as what Vincent and I shared last season, I'm still super excited.
Let's cross our fingers for more excellent Cancon this fall!
Though I'm looking forward to returning favourites (Being Erica, Battle of the Blades, The Listener), new shows (Men with Brooms, and Debbie Travis' show that has nothing to do with interior design) and continuing shows (Rookie Blues), for some reason, I'm most excited about So You Think You Can Dance. I have no idea why. Just somewhere in my soul, I need to see Canadians dance. Though I doubt that there will be anything as special as what Vincent and I shared last season, I'm still super excited.
Let's cross our fingers for more excellent Cancon this fall!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Rookie Blue
I always like to harass Global for its lack of Cancon. It always had a poor showing. Then I heard that they were going to be doing a co-pro called Copper and I thought it was a step in the right direction. Then I was never able to find it on their schedule or find out when it was debuting. Eventually I learned that Copper became Rookie Blue and it started last week. So I missed the first episode which is a shame since apparently in the pilot there was a call-out to Jameson Ave in Parkdale. Though a surprise to hear local addresses like that on TV, not surprising that they chose Parkdale for the location of it.
Anyway, overall I enjoyed it. It reminds me a little of Grey's Anatomy but am not entirely sure if it will continue in the same way. It doesn't necessarily have the same gritty, mean streets feel to it that some other cop shows have but we are focusing on rookies and even though it's set in Toronto, it's not exactly mean streets around here (despite what happened during the G20...now that would make a good episode!!!). I am interested to see how it develops since there seems to be a turn towards more hybrid type shows. So dramas with a lot more comedic elements to it, so shows like NCIS or Republic of Doyle (I was reading some where and I'm pretty sure it was the CBC saying that they were looking for more lighter dramas now).
The one thing I love about Canadian shows is hearing Canadian music. Last night episode featured a Metric song (they've done pretty well for themselves lately, haven't they?) which isn't unusual since I'm pretty sure the same song appeared in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. But apparently the pilot featured a song by the Great Lake Swimmers and they too have been doing pretty awesome lately. Moral of the story: always judge a show by the music.
Anyway, overall I enjoyed it. It reminds me a little of Grey's Anatomy but am not entirely sure if it will continue in the same way. It doesn't necessarily have the same gritty, mean streets feel to it that some other cop shows have but we are focusing on rookies and even though it's set in Toronto, it's not exactly mean streets around here (despite what happened during the G20...now that would make a good episode!!!). I am interested to see how it develops since there seems to be a turn towards more hybrid type shows. So dramas with a lot more comedic elements to it, so shows like NCIS or Republic of Doyle (I was reading some where and I'm pretty sure it was the CBC saying that they were looking for more lighter dramas now).
The one thing I love about Canadian shows is hearing Canadian music. Last night episode featured a Metric song (they've done pretty well for themselves lately, haven't they?) which isn't unusual since I'm pretty sure the same song appeared in an episode of Grey's Anatomy. But apparently the pilot featured a song by the Great Lake Swimmers and they too have been doing pretty awesome lately. Moral of the story: always judge a show by the music.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Good-Bye Stargate
Last night was a sad night indeed. We have completely finished watching Stargate SG-1. It was a long haul at times (especially after watching Atlantis) but what a wonderful time. 10 seasons, 214 episodes, it's done.
As much as I love the early episodes and the original SG-1, the later seasons were really the best. The Ori were a much better enemy, though the human form replicators were also pretty good. And who doesn't love Vala? She added a nice contrast to Sam who was sexualized and idealized but was never really portrayed very womanly (even though her sex organs are on the inside). Vala actually talks about sex! She's an alien so she can get away with being sexy and trying to seduce Jackson. Oh good times. Vala was just adding an interesting dimension to the show and loosened everything up. I mean, how many times did any character actually talk about sex before hand? (I sometimes wonder if this stems from the fact that I am a woman and sci-fi really isn't aimed at women and Vala added something that was more interesting to women?)
But I have to say that the last episode is probably one of my favourite episodes. I think I had seen it before but never realized it was the final episode. It was so sad though. I do think that they would have let the ship be destroyed years before they actually did but that's okay. I think especially in season 10, everyone get to loosen up a bit and the writers got to put in a lot more jabs (especially in episode 200).
I'm a little sad that there is no more seasons but there are still 2 movies and eventually I'll see how this Universe thing is working out. But for the time being, I need a bit of a Stargate break.
As much as I love the early episodes and the original SG-1, the later seasons were really the best. The Ori were a much better enemy, though the human form replicators were also pretty good. And who doesn't love Vala? She added a nice contrast to Sam who was sexualized and idealized but was never really portrayed very womanly (even though her sex organs are on the inside). Vala actually talks about sex! She's an alien so she can get away with being sexy and trying to seduce Jackson. Oh good times. Vala was just adding an interesting dimension to the show and loosened everything up. I mean, how many times did any character actually talk about sex before hand? (I sometimes wonder if this stems from the fact that I am a woman and sci-fi really isn't aimed at women and Vala added something that was more interesting to women?)
But I have to say that the last episode is probably one of my favourite episodes. I think I had seen it before but never realized it was the final episode. It was so sad though. I do think that they would have let the ship be destroyed years before they actually did but that's okay. I think especially in season 10, everyone get to loosen up a bit and the writers got to put in a lot more jabs (especially in episode 200).
I'm a little sad that there is no more seasons but there are still 2 movies and eventually I'll see how this Universe thing is working out. But for the time being, I need a bit of a Stargate break.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Downfall is truly a downfall
It's been a while since a show has made me this sad for humanity. Last week, I somehow caught an episode of the new game show Downfall. It truly is an American show. Basically they throw stuff off the top of a building while a contestant tries to answer questions as quickly as possible. What they are throwing off the building are the prizes they could win so it's not little things. It's dining room tables, golf clubs, stereos, and even cars. Sometimes if you press the panic button, you can have a friend thrown off the building (not intentionally and of course the person is tethered for safety). Now according to the website, they use replicas of these prizes which makes it a little bit better but not much.
The whole concept is really ... arrogant. The whole idea of throwing larges items off a building for no good reason. Especially considering the whole economic recession that we all just went through. Even Japanese game shows, as bizarre as they are, are more about embarrassing the contestants than wanton destruction. Just seems all so unnecessary and screaming of American capitalism. I know it's hard to come up with good game shows but this is just taking it too far.
I really hope it doesn't take off.
The whole concept is really ... arrogant. The whole idea of throwing larges items off a building for no good reason. Especially considering the whole economic recession that we all just went through. Even Japanese game shows, as bizarre as they are, are more about embarrassing the contestants than wanton destruction. Just seems all so unnecessary and screaming of American capitalism. I know it's hard to come up with good game shows but this is just taking it too far.
I really hope it doesn't take off.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Undying Love for Bryan Fuller
If there is one person I wish were Canadian it would be Bryan Fuller. He is my TV hero. If I could, I would write novels like Douglas Coupland but I would write TV like Bryan Fuller.
If you don't know Mr. Fuller, you really should get to know him. He created (or co-created) Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies. All are rather fantasy type shows with a lot of humour. Inanimate objects talk to a person, there's a group of grim reapers who release your soul from your body before you die and a piemaker is able to bring things back to life temporarily. It may sound weird but you've got some get premises for shows right there.
In a way though, Fuller is like a Canadian. Despite how fabulous all his shows are, and especially how critically acclaimed Pushing Daisies was, none of them lasted for more than two seasons (poor Wonderfalls actually only aired for 4 episodes before it was cut). I can't really explain it. I mean, I know that they were kind of oddball and out there but they are all among my favourite shows. Stylistically Pushing Daisies was the most different but still had the dark undertones to it but the humour remained the same throughout them all.
Fuller is just underappreciated. And I cannot express how happy I am that Heroes is over and he's back to developing a new series: Sellevision, based on a novel by Augusten Burroughs. And I know I will be sitting here patiently, waiting for it to air.
If you don't know Mr. Fuller, you really should get to know him. He created (or co-created) Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies. All are rather fantasy type shows with a lot of humour. Inanimate objects talk to a person, there's a group of grim reapers who release your soul from your body before you die and a piemaker is able to bring things back to life temporarily. It may sound weird but you've got some get premises for shows right there.
In a way though, Fuller is like a Canadian. Despite how fabulous all his shows are, and especially how critically acclaimed Pushing Daisies was, none of them lasted for more than two seasons (poor Wonderfalls actually only aired for 4 episodes before it was cut). I can't really explain it. I mean, I know that they were kind of oddball and out there but they are all among my favourite shows. Stylistically Pushing Daisies was the most different but still had the dark undertones to it but the humour remained the same throughout them all.
Fuller is just underappreciated. And I cannot express how happy I am that Heroes is over and he's back to developing a new series: Sellevision, based on a novel by Augusten Burroughs. And I know I will be sitting here patiently, waiting for it to air.
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