June 17, 2004
a vodka and a shasta
i just started watching JOE SCHMO 2, which airs on SPIKEtv. i'm about fifteen minutes into the show and i'm already loving it. the new joe schmo just asked for "a vodka and, uh, whataver you got - a "shasta." (and, that's probably not a direct quote. i'm anxious to get back to the tv to continue watching the show)
June 14, 2004
summer means vacation
On saturday Mitch mentioned that he couldn't even make it through THE JURY. I haven't watched the show yet.
I think it's time to take the summer off. I don't think I need to worry about the whole "year round television season" idea. I was kind of excited for NORTH SHORE on Fox tonight but then I read Alan Sepinall's review.
I thought the new Mark Burnett show, THE CASINO, would be worth watching. Matt Zoller Seitz suggests that Burnett's luck may have finally run out.
Will we get lucky and live in a world where JOE SCHMO 2 lives up to the fun of the original series? I've got to remember to set the DVR for tomorrow night in order to find out.
June 09, 2004
its not just about recording
jeff jarvis enthusiastically promotes creating your own television programming. i want in on this! how can i make it happen? thinking about and talking about creating my own television shows to distribute on the internet fills me with the same enthusiasm i developed in my teens when i was anxious to try out my local cable access programming. that never happened due to a bureaucracy that was nearly impossible to navigate.
the next time happy hour dwindles to four people, we're going to come up with some show ideas and see what we can do to launch balgavy the tv brand. i'm thinking it just involves us playing poker and videotaping it.
June 08, 2004
more season recapping!
the tv talk is in high gear! after reading jon's thoughts on the television season that just ended, my friend phil from DC was moved to mention a few shows he enjoyed that didn't make jon's list. without further ado, here is phil's 2003-2004 tv season recap:
pick me, pick me!
there's a show on fox tonight called THE JURY. two hour-long episodes run back to back, starting at 8pm. shockingly, this isn't a reality series. i didn't know that until last night when alex said "make sure we record THE JURY." "what's that?"
"it's the new show from TOM FONTANA." and i immediately grabbed the television remote and set up the series. why didn't i know about this show sooner? because it's summer. and i want to take the summer off.
i don't want to think about television during the summer.
of course, during the past two days i've watched about five hours of showtime's DEAD LIKE ME. it's like wonderfalls, but not quite as funny or inventive. but sort of better. and it's like joan of arcadia, but funnier and more inventive. and a lot better. i'm captivated with the series and can't wait to finish watching season one sometime this week (available on showtime on demand, and possibly dvd - but i won't start adding those links until i decide it's time to try to make money from balgavy.com).
June 04, 2004
it's not chicago
new episodes of the british version of COUPLING start this coming sunday at 9pm.
this is season four, and i think it's the final season. it looks like the show runs two bazillion times during the next week, so if you can't set your digital video recorder when the sopranos is on, just flip by bbc america at any point during the week and i'm sure you'll cross paths with susan, steve, jane, jeff and the rest of the bunch.
just a reminder, for those who have never given this show a chance, it's nothing like the american version. and it's better than friends. but it's really sort of crafted and you may not like that. but i swear to you it's funny. very funny.
also worth noting:
DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION's new season starts friday night (4 june) at 8pm.
June 03, 2004
a season recap
This past weekend I went into a wedding and got a chance to talk TV with a friend from college. I hadn't seen him in years but it felt like old times. Jon's a regular television viewer and is rather passionate about what he watches. I think part of him wanted to be spending the weekend at a Buffy the Vampire Slayer convention. Jon was pretty excited to continue the conversation and write something for balgavy.com. So for discussion by everyone, here are Jon D. Bohland's thoughts on the television season that just ended:
Here's a highlight:
