Shows You Have to Watch: Dead Like Me

If you haven't seen Dead Like Me, I'm taking this opportunity to wholeheartedly and sincerely urge you to watch it. It's two seasons, but it's two seasons of warmth, snark, breakfast, and death(?). You owe it to yourself to watch this.

Let me give you the low-down: college dropout Georgia "George" Lass (Ellen Muth) is going nowhere in life, just got a job at a temp agency, and is set to live with her parents for the foreseeable future (i.e., the rest of her life). Then, on her first day at Happy Time (temp agency), she takes a fateful lunch break and is hit by a rogue toilet seat hurtling toward Earth from a space station--but not before she has an awkward encounter with a man who is very content to stroke her arm just enough to make her uncomfortable. Now George has certainly been impacted by the toilet seat, but she is somehow outside the impact crater. As it turns out, when her arm was uncomfortably rubbed by a stranger, her soul was reaped. There's more: George is next in line to replace this man as a reaper of souls. And so, she meets the other reapers in her "department (accidental death)", is acquainted with Gravelings, the creatures who trigger accidents that cause the deaths of those she is destined to reap, and is assigned a new identity--now that George is dead, she occupies a new body, and she's homeless. And her family can't know that she's (not?) alive.

So, the stage is set. We have a brilliant cast here, including Mandy Patinkin as the mysterious, wise Rube, the ring leader of our little league soul-reaping team. Ellen Muth plays a stellar George: totally apathetic, down to the core--sounds boring, but in practice is splendid to behold. A dull, dead-inside character sounds painfully boring to watch, but George has a fascinating demeanor. It's the kind of personality that, after seeing something thought-provoking, inspires one to speculate "What would George think about that?" I love a good bitter disposition.

For me, something about this show is home. By the end of the series Der Waffle Haus was my favorite breakfast restaurant (now in direct competition with Parks & Rec's JJ's Diner). I long to sit in one of its booths, for the waitress to know my order. Maybe I'm just sentimental, but I appreciate all the warm fuzzies the show throws at you along the way: flashbacks to George's storybook childhood amid heartwarming story arcs. For a show about death, it's pretty feel-good.

The show explores many deep themes, asking big questions. Some of my favorite parts of the series are George's narrations of different themes--like time, uncertainty, and obviously death. This is, of course, coming from Bryan Fuller, the creator of Pushing Daisies (you know, the other one with the undead girl) and contributor to many darker works such as NBC's Hannibal.

Dead Like Me is a totally underrated, greatly overlooked piece of work. It is wholly entertaining, stirring, and satisfying to watch. You need to watch Dead Like Me.

Help Me Out: Was ABC's Selfie Great? Or Did it Suck?

I just can't seem to decide on this one.

ABC's Selfie definitely poised itself to be a throwaway comedy with no substance, no wit, and a dull cast. The kind of stuff a laugh track can save. But Selfie doesn't have a laugh track. No, Selfie puts itself in the fray, into direct combat with handfuls of single-camera network comedies, and it actually holds its own. It gives me good laughs in every episode. But it still gives me some pretty decent eye rolls as well.

So which is it? Was Selfie a new, inventive comedy with a refreshing perspective? Or was it a trite, overblown drag playing poorly off our society's growing attachment to social media? I'd like to look to the show's star first, to perpetuate my uncertainty. Eliza Dooley (played by the lovely Karen Gillan) is a ditzy, seemingly brainless beauty with absolutely no social skills nor any level of thoughtfulness whatsoever. In one of the starkest cases of this anomaly, she finds herself genuinely incapable of asking a coworker "How are you?". Shut up Eliza. You suck. You're not a fool. You can speak to people normally. It's as if the writers wanted to put most of Selfie's characters' at extremes: the sassy black receptionist, the cold-blooded, hard-ass businesswoman, the awkward, unhappy analyst; the problem is, these folks just aren't likable. Okay, Charmonique is likable. Joan is fun too. But we've got a character problem here. And then we have John Cho's character, Henry, who is sort of the Jim Halpert of the cast, a dose of normalcy within the throes of strangeness. Although he may be more comparable to Parks & Rec's Ben Wyatt, since he has moments of oddity himself. At any rate, there is something strange about the characters--reminiscent of NBC's Outsourced, which featured all kinds of likable characters who just didn't mesh.



That isn't to say that Eliza and Henry don't have a good TV relationship. It was entertaining, there was significant character development in each episode, and their conflicting opinions lead to some entertaining arguments (and sometimes even hi-jinks!). All I'm saying is that the show doesn't have an perfect cast.

But let's look at the way the show presents itself: lighthearted, smiley, and super chill. First off, that's totally my style. I love that. The aspect of the show that caught me totally off guard was its blatant satire of society's social integration. The show puts the viewer in Eliza's perspective, for the most part, and somehow, that works very well for it. When I'm watching the show, I'm thinking like Eliza.

So what does all this mean? To me, the series is just a delight. I wanted to hate it so badly, but it won me over. I'm not blind, though: I know the show kinda sucked every once in awhile. It was just a lot easier to like than I thought. 7/10.

Selfie was canceled by ABC on November 7th. Although it was charming, it was clearly not charming enough. What do you think? Did ABC make the right call? Did its mediocrity outweigh its charm?

The Best of TV's Halloween Specials

Fall TV is my favorite time of year. There are new TV shows. There are returning TV shows. There are super flops, the shows that defied any logical odds and made it on TV, only to be canceled two or three episodes in. And then there are the specials. The Christmas specials, of course, are the most wonderful. Without fail, they provide a warm and cheerful experience; a Christmas you get to spend with your favorite TV characters.

And then there are Halloween Specials.

I'm formatting this post to really emphasize the drama of a Halloween special. Do you feel it?
Halloween specials are mostly sitcom territory, but in recent years, I've noticed a trend of popular dramas airing Halloween episodes. It's partially due to the recent blast of hour long horror dramas that have hit the small screen. But let's take a look at some of my favorite Halloween Specials.

Community: Epidemiology

Community. The Holy Grail of specials. Paintball fights, Claymation Christmas, Law & Order themes, you name it, they've done it. Halloween is no exception. Even when their Halloween episode aired in February it was a blast. I'll never forget Valloween. I urge you to watch any of Community's Halloween episodes, but my favorite will always be Epidemiology: a Halloween party at Greendale goes awry as a terrifying zombie virus takes over many of the students at the college, leaving the Greendale Seven to fight for their lives.

Parks & Recreation: Greg Pikitis

Parks and Recreation is one of the most brilliant shows on TV now, and I would argue one of the best comedies of all time. Of course, it didn't start out that way. I remember reminding myself after every episode "It's going to get better." And I remember that Greg Pikitis was the first episode I truly enjoyed. And it only got better after that. Greg Pikitis is one of Parks & Rec's most memorable episodes for me. You owe it to yourself to give it a watch--it's on Netflix!

American Horror Story: Halloween

American Horror Story's first season is still its best, and there are no signs that it will be outdone. It is a thrill ride from start to finish, and the Halloween episode is a splendid example of the series' ability to shock and entertain. On Halloween, the dead can roam among the living, which is great news for a few characters. And there are several very dramatic scenes involving Constance's daughter, Addie, like the ones in the YouTube video above. The Bad Girl Closet will always haunt me.

The Office: Any Halloween Episode

This might just be an excuse for me to talk about how much I love the Office. But you have to watch a Halloween episode of the Office on Halloween. It's the best feeling--but this is coming from the guy who watches every Christmas special of the Office every Christmas.


Well, you guys, that's it. I hope you have a great Halloween full of candy corn, witch hats, and good TV!

I Need to Talk About Jane the Virgin

You know, pilot episodes usually aren't representative of the quality of a TV show. Great shows often have disappointing pilots, and terrible shows can have not-so-terrible pilots. And occasionally a pilot comes along that is so charming, so gripping, so engaging that you know it's earned a place in your heart (and schedule) for at least its first season. Right now, that show for me is Jane the Virgin.

This fall's abundance of underwhelming pilots has left my hopes and my expectations on the low side--it's unfortunate that so few shows this year have been able to grip me emotionally. I can gladly say that Jane the Virgin has restored my hope in this fall's lineup. 

Jane the Virgin features a very likable main character, Jane (portrayed by Gina Rodriguez, who nails the role), who has lived her whole life pursuing purity. She has taken great measures to maintain her innocence, apparently in an effort to avoid the fate of her own mother, who found herself with child at sixteen. Jane is in a committed relationship with her longtime boyfriend Michael--a charming, kind man with a terrible secret. Jane goes to the doctor one morning for a pap, but the doctor--Luisa Alver, sister of rich hotel owner/Jane's kind-of boss, Rafael Solano--having experienced heartbreak, mistakenly gives her an artificial insemination! And that just starts it.

The show only builds on the momentum from the first conflict. Anytime something feels close to being solved, a new twist is introduced, complicating the story again. But every twist is such a delight to behold; the show presents itself with charm and cunning that complement the plot brilliantly. Having never seen an actual telenovela, I can't speak to the series' actual similarity to the genre, but Jane the Virgin matches any stigma I've ever attached to the world of Spanish soap operas. That's not to say the show has no depth, however; no, this is perhaps the most human of any freshman drama currently on network television.

The word I would use to describe Jane the Virgin is "strong." It has a strong plot, strong dialogue, and a powerful cast. Rodriguez plays a brilliant Jane, both humble and confident. She is an upstanding character, giving, kind, and sweet. Her mother, Xiomara (Andrea Navedo) is a saucy lady but a wonderful mother. Jane's grandmother, Alba (Ivonne Coll) is an abrasive but kindhearted woman. We've also got Michael (Brett Dier), Jane's boyfriend, who has beautiful chemistry with Jane. Jane the Virgin is always tasteful, and it remains classy even in its grimier telenovela moments. The narrator, along with the typewriter who writes freeze frame titles throughout each episode (one of my favorites is "Luisa Alver, married *in some states"), both add immensely to the humor of the show. The series is sometimes reminiscent of My Name is Earl, which brings me great joy.

Jane the Virgin has a lot going for it--a brilliant cast, witty writing, a solid pace. It's definitely one I'm going to stick with for awhile. What did you think of the pilot? Let me know!

Here We Go: American Horror Story: Freak Show

American Horror Story is back in all its culturally relevant, anticipated glory since its premiere last night. And, as always, the series is all anybody's talking about. So let's talk about it!

Mild spoilers ahead.

The premiere's opener is as eerie as ever, and sets the scene beautifully, as AHS always does. By now we all know that Sarah Paulson's character is actually two people, but the mystery is still there--the first shot in the episode obscures all but Paulson's (left) face, leaving the unknowing viewer to assume she is but one person. (I don't really believe in the unknowing viewer; perhaps the mystery is maintained for those viewers ten years from now who stumble upon the series at 2am on the Syfy network. Still makes for good TV.) Her diary narration is splendidly ominous, although I had to hear it a second time for it to earn my interest.

The rest of the episode plays out elegantly, if not just a little dull. Given AHS's aesthetic, though, you'd never know it; every scene is vibrant and colorful, creating a character for the locale itself--something AHS is no stranger to. In this case, the character is the Freak Show, occasionally glamorous and fascinating, always dark and full of secrets. It's just a cluster of tents, but it sows seeds of darkness. The first ever instance of video blackmail is a disturbing glimpse behind the marquees. 

The show has its human characters as well, brought to life by the series's brilliant cast. Sarah Paulson's twins are easily the most fascinating characters in the show so far: their dichotomous personalities, the mysterious death of their mother, their telepathic communication, not to mention their synchronized, sullen faces. It's no wonder they're the "headliner" for the show. Their personalities are embodied in their diary entries, always in twos, always of painfully stark contrast.

Jessica Lange's Elsa Mars is a mesmerizing, abrasive German. Again, the most powerful character in the series, but is her authority valid? Perhaps it's her confidence and sass that legitimize her in the end. Before her audience throws some hot shade her way, that is.

AHS really pulled off the terrifying, murderous clown character. His ubiquity and his penchant for murder are striking, but there is little to be known of this man so far.

Jimmy Darling (Evan Peters) is less likable than his previous characters: I think his charm is lost in his nasty lobster hands, but there's a lot more to him than that. Maybe he'll grow on me.

Kathy Bates is perfect to put a beard on, so I'm glad that she was cast as Ethel, the sideshow's bearded lady and Elsa's dearest henchman. I lose myself in her accent, which fluctuates between Somethingish(?) and her signature southern drawl.

Perhaps one of the most perplexing moments in this episode is the stage show: a mother bought out the entire theatre for her bratty son, and they watch the show together. But before any deformities can be properly exhibited, Elsa claims the stage in a musical number. Her eyes are fearful and sad, and we see her struggle for a moment. The song's melancholy rises to the surface, and its awkwardness is highlighted by the fact that there are exactly two people in the audience.

A lot is left to the imagination at the end of the premiere, a good foundation for the next twelve episodes. Look forward to next week!

Fall Lineup: First Impressions

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to turn on the TV, crack the ice cream bucket, put lemonade mix in the coffee maker (that's a thing, right?), and flip the cushions on the couch. It's time for fall TV!

Easily the best part of September is seeing all these new shows. Talk about the land of opportunity: we get to watch all of these terrible ideas come to life on screen! Some of the shows this year sound like some sort of clever joke.

I'll be looking at shows that I will be watching this fall--even if it's just once or twice. I have not seen any episodes of these series, only trailers and preview footage.

ABC

I saved the worst for first.

Selfie

Tue Sep. 30 8/7c

Yikes.
I'm the kind of person who likes to pass judgement on TV shows, and this one just makes me sad. In Selfie, the lovely, vapid Eliza Dooley discovers that she has traded popularity on social media for genuine social skills. Consequently, her vocabulary is dominated with slang like "totes" and "lol", and every interaction is somehow completely devoid of intelligent thought.
So good luck with this one ABC.

How To Get Away With Murder

Thu Sep. 25 10/9c

A drama about law students learning how to lie sounds like fun. It looks like a pretty dark one, and Viola Davis looks killer in it. I'm no law student, so I don't really care how many rules this one breaks. I've got my fingers crossed for it.

CBS

This network has the most obnoxious programming I've ever seen.

Madam Secretary

Sun Sep. 21 8:30/7:30c

This one focuses on the story of Elizabeth McCord, a sassy, no-nonsense Virginia State prof whose circumstances change drastically when she is asked to step in as secretary of state. She shows her smarts off to her colleagues and makes risky moves, but since she's the protagonist they're actually very respectable.
I hope they can make a Madam Secretary: Houston and a Madam Secretary: Seattle if this is successful.

FOX

Red Band Society

Wed Sep. 17 9/8c

Seems pretty emotional. It's a drama about a bunch of kids who (apparently) live in the world's coolest long-term hospital. They all meet each other and form an unbreakable bond. Because they're all dying. Full of wholesome characters and featuring Octavia Spencer from The Help. This one's gonna get me.

Gotham

Mon Sep. 22 8/7c

A dark drama focusing on the birth of Gotham City as we know it, this and The Flash are 2014's most prominent additions to American TV's collection of comic-books-turned-TV-shows. And this one looks good. It's dark and suspenseful, and knowing all of the characters is a plus. Hopefully it holds up well. I'd hate to see it go down the tubes.