Random TV Detritus

I couldn't come up with any logical organization for all the bits of televisual flotsam and jetsam that have been swirling around in my head of late, so I'm just going to throw them all in one miscellaneous post. Between the summer shows coming to an end, the TCAs (Television Critics Association panel-y type conference-y thingamajig), and BBC America invading my viewing agenda more and more, I've got a lot of randomness going on and simply can't be bothered to organize any of it beyond the most basic of categories. Long story short? Not thinking is muuuuch easier than thinking.

USA NETWORK UPDATES:

IN PLAIN SIGHT: While there's not a lot less fanfare involved with USA Network pick-ups, I was pleased nonetheless to hear that In Plain Sight just got the green light for a third season. It's really the little second tier show that could. I have to admit, I'm pretty surprised at just how much this show has grown on me over the past two seasons. I can't imagine it will ever become a top tier contender, but it makes for a nice addition to my schedule (especially my ridiculously slim Sunday viewing options). I'm a little afraid of where Mary's personal life is headed (what with the ill-fated engagement and all), but at least her mother has seemingly disappeared and her sister has been reduced to cameos. The writers are building up the sexual tension between Mary and Marshall and it's becoming more and more apparent that Marshall thinks of her as more than just a partner. It's a pretty standard storyline, but I have some ideas on how the writers could make it pretty awesome. I don't know that I'd ever like to see Mary and Marshall become a couple or anything, but I do enjoy the differing agendas going on. My predictions? I think the third season will illuminate to everyone the true nature of Mary and Marshall's relationship. Raf may be her romantic partner, but Marshall is quite clearly her partner in every other conceivable sense of the word. I'm not sure to what extent Marshall may or may not be in love with Mary, but I'm excited to find out. I realize I'm the only person who watches this show, so I don't expect anyone else to jump on the bandwagon here, but I'm thinking next season is going to be pretty awesome. The season 2 finale is on Sunday, so if you're just now thinking you'd like to give it a shot, this wouldn't be the most ideal time...

ROYAL PAINS: In other pick-up news, Royals Pains got the go ahead for next year after surprisingly decent ratings. Royal Pains isn't as horrible as I would have expected (it's fairly watchable, if not anything to write home about), but I think I'm giving it the official heave-ho. I've only kept up with it in the most cursory of ways, but even that is more than I really care to give. If USA didn't make it so damned easy to keep up with crap (what with airing them a million times), I'd have never have given it this much of my time. The fact that it's a summer show also played a part... In spite of all these aspects, it's as blah as ever and I'm done.

BURN NOTICE: Awww, Burn Notice. Eases the pain. How insane has this season been? With each passing episode, I become less and less supremely confident that everything will work out okay. Michael Westen may have actual magically powers when it comes to spy-ishness, but the baddies have been coming out in full force this year. While past seasons have been much more specifically client-of-the-week, this season has seen Michael and company be the clients more and more often. The tension between Mike and Fi hasn't helped calm the seas either. I'll be posting more about Burn Notice after Thursday's mid-season finale (which, holy moly, have you seen the sneak peek pics?! Ahhh!), but for now, rest assured that my most darling of shows has been renewed for next season, much to no one's surprise. The second half of the third season won't air till January 2010 (gah!), so soak up all the Burn Notice-y goodness while you have the chance.

CW NETWORK UPDATES:

THE BODY POLITIC: In spite of the fact that it had some serious potential, I'm hearing that The Body Politic is officially dead. Network president Dawn Ostroff confirmed today at the TCAs that the show won't be making it on the air, not even at mid-season as so very many people (read: me) had hoped. Word is, the actors have all moved on and been cast in other productions. I don't know if Dawn herself held the ax on this one, but I choose to blame her regardless. Here's hoping Jason Dohring finds a new gig that won't get cancelled... assuming he finds something that gets picked up in the first place... Oy.

GOSSIP GIRL: In better CW news, I'm also hearing that the rather unfortunate Gossip Girl spin-off with Lily's backstory is looking unlikelier by the minute. No official death notice, but it doesn't sound like it'll ever happen. That's not say that a spin-off isn't a possibility in the future, but that the original conception won't likely make it off the ground. I, like many, am rather relieved to hear this... Those Lily flashbacks were...not good, we'll say. It's a shame too because there were more than a few Veronica Mars alums in that thum thar flashback sequence...

OTHER NETWORK UPDATES:

DOLLHOUSE: I finally got around to watching the unaired pilot (you know, the one that was pretty much entirely scrapped) and I have to say, in many ways I liked it quite a bit better than the pilot that actually aired. I've heard conflicting reports of just why the original pilot was scrapped, and although the prevailing notion is that Joss himself was unhappy with it, I maintain that the brass at Fox had more than a little to do with it as well. In the plus column, the original pilot felt a lot more Whedon-esque, it explained the rules of the Dollhouse universe in a way that made much more sense and was much more logical in application, and most importantly, it didn't have the largely weak A-plot story-of-the-week of the official pilot (the aspect with which I was the most unimpressed). The hostage negotiator, procedural-style A-plot of the official pilot left me underwhelmed, a little annoyed, and tended to muddy the waters as far as the science and lore of the show is concerned. To be fair, it's hard to know how I would have reacted to the original pilot had I not seen the entire series thus far, but I'm supremely confident I would have liked it better. In defense of the official pilot, had the original aired instead, the series would have taken a very different path. In the original pilot, Ballard meets Echo right off the bat, Victor is revealed to the audience as a doll, and Echo's notions of self are already starting to show. The original set thinks up more clearly, but threw a whole lot of plot progression into that single episode. I've never been one for weak A-plots, so I think that's my primary bone of contention with the official pilot and really shouldn't reflect on the entire pilot as a whole, but kinda does... In terms of a pilot setting up the rest of the season, I can be persuaded that the official pilot was better, but as a stand-alone, I think the original had more going for it. I haven't watched Epitaph One yet, but I hear it's a whole lotta "huh?" For which, I'm unduly excited. :) In other Dollhouse news, I'm hearing Amy Acker (aka Dr. Saunders aka Whiskey) has been confirmed for three episodes for season 2. Thanks to her role in Happy Town, she just isn't as available and one would hope... Here's hoping they make the most of those three episodes. No official word yet on Alan Tudyk, but I'm hearing he'll be back as Alpha somewhere toward the middle of next season. In casting news, I'm hearing that Battlestar Galactica alums Apollo and Saul Tigh will be joining Helo for an episode a piece. Apollo is set for the premiere, as I recall... In even more exciting casting news, I hear that Alexis Denisof (aka Wesley from Buffy and Angel) is on the docket for next season. Yay! I've missed him... And I'd love to see him and Amy Acker onscreen together again. Finally, I've also heard the Felicia Day will find her way into the mix again somehow and there are plans to bring Summer Glau into the fold, although nothing official has been written. The show (as with most Whedon productions) is pretty much turning into one big family reunion--only this is a reunion you'd actually want to attend. :)

SKINS: Most of you have probably never even heard of Skins, but I'm going to tout its premiere nonetheless. For some connections for you, one of the kids in the show (Dev Patel) went on to star in Slumdog Millionaire as Jamal and remember that socially awkward kid (Nick Hoult, pictured) from About A Boy? Well, he's all grown up and raising hell for the first two seasons. (Quite contrary to what you'd have thought after seeing About A Boy, he totally plays the leader of the pack, the rake, the cad--basically the tool.) The third season starts up on Thursday and I'm more than a little giddy, if slightly apprehensive. Skins follows a group of British teens as they try to find their way in a world of questionable parenting, drugs, sex, violence, and pretty much everything else. It sounds like your straight-forward teen drama, but as with so many British shows, it doesn't pull any punches and has a much grittier, edgier feel to it than most of what's available on standard American programming. Along with the grit, the show is bitingly funny and manages to blend serious character development in with all the light and dark and crazy of the world around them. My apprehension comes from the fact that, aside from Effy, it's an entirely new cast. I'm sure the writers will knock it out of the park once again in spite of the new cast, but I just don't know if it'll be the same without Tony, Michelle, Sid, Cassie, and company... Regardless, I can't wait to find out. :) Seasons 1 and 2 are available on iTunes, if you're interested. Bear in mind, it's definitely not G-rated, so you've been warned. If, however, teenage debauchery is up your alley, you've officially hit the jackpot.

Never knew how much I missed you...

As mentioned previously, the powers that be at the CW decided not to pick up a new pilot called The Body Politic and that insiders have indicated that it's one of the best pilots you'll probably never see. Well, heretofore, I hadn't come across any clips or trailers for the show, so I just had to take their word for it...

That was then. Now that I've seen a few clips, I'm inclined to agree with my sources. Unlike the clips from the series that were picked up by the CW, the clips for The Body Politic actually make me want to watch the show. A novel concept, I know. And from what I hear from those who have seen the full pilot, not only is it a good show, but it could actually holds its own on a critical level as well as public.

Of course, it may just be that I miss Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars alum who portrayed my darling Logan Echolls back in the day)... I hadn't realized just how much I missed seeing him on TV until I watched these clips.



My take: I realize that I can't really make a full assessment based on three short clips, but I think this show would have had a hell of a lot of potential. The pace and timing of the show seems to be pretty spot on so the scenes flow naturally, but with some panache. The acting is solid across the board which is a clear reflection of good writing. It's a lot easier to say a line that's well written... When the actors don't have to try so hard to make interactions seem organic to the story, everything comes across as more genuine and less cringe-worthy (a nice change of pace from all the pilots the CW did pick up).

Jason Dohring always does a great job and the way he stood against the elevator wall when he first entered was so Logan Echolls-y it was squee-worthy. On a related note, how great does Jason look in this pilot? He's one of those people who can look great, yet often doesn't, but his styling in this show is really working for me (lovin' the suits and the Simon Baker-style vest...). As much as I love (and miss) Jason, it looks like Gabrielle Union definitely holds her own as well. The second clip was actually quite superb. I think I'm liking Senator Buckley the best of the bunch, quite frankly, but the scene between her and Gabrielle was excellent on both sides. The writing was just acidic enough to put Gabrielle's character in her place, but no so much so that it was catty. Really well written and acted.

I think my only major concern is with the voice-over. I'm not too familiar with Minka Kelly's work, but I hear she's excellent on Friday Night Lights. That said, I found her depiction here to be good, but the voice-over work just didn't quite work for me. This just doesn't seem like the kind of show that would need it... That, or I'm just entirely too accustomed to hearing Kristen Bell's saucy snark when I see Jason Dohring on screen.

Overall, I think this show had a lot of potential. The dynamic among the characters felt natural and familiar. I really felt like these people could actually be friends. Also, the basic concept definitely had long-term sustainability (unlike other shows which will remain nameless). The show had enough elements going that the potential storylines would have been extensive. Couple that with good writing, and this show could have had a long, fruitful life. I assume the brass at the CW were afraid that this show wouldn't appeal to the tween girl demographic (the only one they ever seem to focus on), but for the sake of the network, I have to say I think incorporating some programming that had a wider draw would have been a step in the right direction. Cancel the crap-pile that is One Tree Hill and finally, finally, finally pick up a series that has some broader appeal. I don't know what CW president Dawn Ostroff has been smoking, but passing on The Body Politic was a massively stupid move. Much like cancelling Veronica Mars. Hmm... maybe she just isn't as much of a Jason Dohring fan as I am...

Sigh... The only hope this show has of being picked-up is for mid-season. The CW has one slot open, and assuming the Gossip Girl spin-off is as rightfully dead as it should be, there's a chance they could pick up The Body Politic come January. Quite a lot has been said on the web regarding this series, so I'm hopeful (if skeptical) that Dawn Ostroff roams the internet as much as I do and has come to the realization that she and the other network heads really blew it when they passed on this one initially.

Fingers crossed!