Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 3:00 pm
JPTV: What I'm Watching Tonight
Like you have to ask?
But also: The preview/debut of On the Lot, the moviemaking reality show from Mark Burnett and Steven Spielberg. I've seen only a few-minute trailer, from which I can't tell much (lots of overwhelmed would-be directors touring real-life movie sets and saying "This is where it all happens!"). I don't know if they can manage to make short Lego animation films telegenic. [Note to Fox: make your contestant videos embeddable!]
But I've long had a theory that Project Greenlight crammed the actual interesting part of the show--the competition to get to make the movie--into the first episode. And though it's fashionable to say that reality TV is unfashionable, I still think Burnett makes compelling TV when paired with the right subject. (That includes The Apprentice, for the first few seasons, and The Contender, despite its low ratings.)
And Dancing with the Stars' finale? I'm sorry. I can't I just can't. Maybe the large-print edition of time.com will cover it.
8 Comments to “JPTV: What I'm Watching Tonight”
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About Tuned In
James Poniewozik writes TIME magazine's Tuned In column, about pop culture and society. Tuned In, the blog version, is about the stuff we used to call "TV," whether it's in your living room, on your computer or -- once the networks figure out the technology and line up the advertisers -- in your dreams themselves. Read more
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Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Interestingly, your insight into "Project Greenlight" is the same one that sparked "American Idol". There had been a show called "Pop Stars" on British TV that tracked the manufacture of a pop band; according to Bill Carter's "Desperate Networks", one of the Simons (Cowell or Fuller, I can't remember which) saw the show and realized that the best stuff was the audition-and-winnowing process, and that a whole series could be wrung out of that. Because, I guess, watching a product get made is never as much fun as watching people jump through hoops in order to get a shot at making something.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:10 pm
What, no viewing of the funeral of Veronica Mars by the short-sighted CW? (Sorry....I know, low ratings. Still, the entire network has nothing but low ratings - why kill a fan and critic loved show if you have NOTHING available to replace it with?)
James - how were the new HBO shows? I'm particularly interested in an update on Flight of the Conchords....quite simply one of the best comedy specials I've ever seen was their standup/music concert show on HBO, so I have high hopes that their silly brand of humor plays well in a weekly series format.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:19 pm
@chaddogg: Actually, Reaper's pilot is pretty promising. I probably can't say the same for Gossip Girl, but haven't watched yet.
I hope to post more about Flight of the Conchords after the season-finale onslaught, but suffice to say I liked the first episode--which you can see at myspace.com/hboflight.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Chad,
Do we need to take up a collection so you can go to counseling over Veronica?
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 5:36 pm
It would help, honestly. Actually, I'm just hoping that Kristen Bell makes it on to a good show (and by "make it" I mean actually appears, and is not just narrating as she's apparently doing for Gossip Girl)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 6:05 pm
no way I'm watching AI tonight with Melinda gone... (although I will be checking You Tube out for the clips of Paula with a broken nose (and on really strong pain meds hopefully). Blake versus Jordin? Its like a competition between polyester blends.
Instead, I'll be watching the second disc of the Mary Hartman Mary Hartman 3 disc set (episodes 10-17). The first disk demonstrated that the show actually improved with age. I can't understand why its not on cable (James, do you know if there is some kind of weird licensing problem with MH2?)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 7:38 pm
How about Dolly Parton's "Nine to Five" as an office anthem?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 10:54 am
@paul: Love that show. I don't know who owns MH, MH now offhand, but TV Land reran it a few years back, I recall (also Fernwood 2Night, I think).