Television Discussion Thread

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-BIG-HUG-MUG-as-seen-on-HBO-True-Detective-Matthew-McConaughey-/111279327834?nma=true&si=9lrfoxQC5SmUWTaAlg1%252FtP%252BC6eI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557l&afsrc=1

My Carcosa is the time spent in between new True Detective episodes.

I watched three episodes of True Detective last night while getting pretty wasted. This is a really good television show.

Fuck man, this show is the best thing ever. It's like HBO just decided to remind everyone how pussy AMC is.

Strong piece of setup work tonight. Can't wait to see how the final two eps - especially

Spoiler:

- play out.

+1 for everything True Detective. incredible television show, right there

agreed with ted's comments about rewatching -- I've watched every episode twice, usually around wednesday or so after they've aired, and I never do shit like that.

i love this exchange on the YouTube video of True Detective's six minute tracking shot scene.



i found the first couple episodes of TD to be another glacially paced drama with over-the-top acting and a corny Southern/folksy backdrop. my bias against dramas is well documented though.

now i learn director Cary Fukunaga was born in Oakland and has a History B.A. from UC Santa Cruz (like me).

yo jasper do you watch broad city?

why yes i do. saw your tweet about it the other day. been having some spirited back and forth with a young Jewish female friend of mine about how Abbi is such a true to life comedic representation of her.

this is definitely a show that relies on the comedy of truth more than writing or wittiness. i like what Abbi said in a WSJ interview that, "if you watch one of our episodes, there’s not a big message, but if you watch all of them, I think, they’re empowering to women." i agree with that. it's subtle in the way it puts the girls in situation that women aren't often in on television. they're addressing their lack of money and joking about insecurities they have about their looks without trying to make you pity them. there is power in their struggle for independence.

i like the show and am surprised how many people enjoy it precisely because it is so subtle. however, i think some of the praise has been hyperbolic and i don't find Abbi or Illana to be very good performers at all. they interesting personas and comedic stylings, but they're fairly limited as actresses and comediennes. this isn't necessarily the best barometer for anything, but i watched the episode of @Midnight they were on and it was pretty bleak.

Hannibal is the best part of the show, as he is the best part of anything he is in.

I heard Hannibal is getting his own show. I hope they call it Hannibal just to fuck with NBC.

I think the 2nd season is maintaining the greatness of the first with Hannibal. The balance of gore, suspense and even humor is amazing.

Hannibal's suits are incredible. Every scene is beautifully shot. It is the only thing worth watching on the major networks.

Sounds like I should give Hannibal another chance. I thought Those Who Kill was going to be my Hannibal, but A&E pulled it after two episodes, supposedly to be relaunched in the future. Pretty bad when you can't stay on fucking A&E.

TWK wasn't great or anything, just a blatant Thomas Harris ripoff with moody lighting and an excellent score by Johnny Jewel of Chromatics/IDIB fame. Plus I'm in the "oddly intrigued by Chloe Sevigny" club.

jasperness wrote:why yes i do. saw your tweet about it the other day. been having some spirited back and forth with a young Jewish female friend of mine about how Abbi is such a true to life comedic representation of her.

this is definitely a show that relies on the comedy of truth more than writing or wittiness. i like what Abbi said in a WSJ interview that, "if you watch one of our episodes, there’s not a big message, but if you watch all of them, I think, they’re empowering to women." i agree with that. it's subtle in the way it puts the girls in situation that women aren't often in on television. they're addressing their lack of money and joking about insecurities they have about their looks without trying to make you pity them. there is power in their struggle for independence.

i like the show and am surprised how many people enjoy it precisely because it is so subtle. however, i think some of the praise has been hyperbolic and i don't find Abbi or Illana to be very good performers at all. they interesting personas and comedic stylings, but they're fairly limited as actresses and comediennes. this isn't necessarily the best barometer for anything, but i watched the episode of @Midnight they were on and it was pretty bleak.

Hannibal is the best part of the show, as he is the best part of anything he is in.

i think i agree with all of this, save for the fact that the girls that play abbi and ilana are convincing performers to me. i suppose it helps that they are IRL best friends too, but the way they portray their friendship dynamic is part of what makes the show so entertaining.

the show actually reminds me more of flight of the conchords than girls, just without the musical interludes and the "foreigner negotiating america" aspects.

monotony wrote:i think i agree with all of this, save for the fact that the girls that play abbi and ilana are convincing performers to me. i suppose it helps that they are IRL best friends too, but the way they portray their friendship dynamic is part of what makes the show so entertaining.

their names in real life are Abbi and Ilana too

i don't think they are unconvincing as their characters, i just don't think they are talented performers and it puts a (glass?) ceiling on how funny the show can actually be

jasperness wrote:

monotony wrote:i think i agree with all of this, save for the fact that the girls that play abbi and ilana are convincing performers to me. i suppose it helps that they are IRL best friends too, but the way they portray their friendship dynamic is part of what makes the show so entertaining.

their names in real life are Abbi and Ilana too

oh, i'm aware of that. and i'm aware that they've said they're just playing a heightened, embellished version of their friendship. but they do it with a humour and warmth that makes the show very watchable. as for their performance abilities, i haven't seen anything else that they've done, but i can't say on the evidence of broad city alone that they are poor performers, and i'm struggling to say anything disparaging about their work in it. if they've convincing to me as these two girls in new york that get up to hilarious hijinks, then they're good performers in my mind.

looking forward to poehler appearing in the finale.

Looking forward to this program coming to Netflix.

I'm dumb and this show's on Hulu. Here goes.

In a semi-related story, a friend of mine accused me this weekend of getting my music recommendations from The L Word, a show I've never watched, but apparently have a lot of aesthetic overlap with.

Duff... wrote:The L Word

Members-Only Ninja Turtles Fan Forum?  

If a person in real life actually started asking me questions about Members-Only Ninja Turtles Fan Forum I'd go home and get Saul Goodman's vacuum cleaner friend on the phone immediately.

One of the best Mad Men eps I can remember.

After True Tec ended, I wasn't watching anything on HBO. Never got into Game of Thrones or the 1920s mobster show. I didn't even see the end of Eastbound and Down. Their movie offerings were mostly take it or leave it, and I checked and Hung and Bored to Death were both not continuting, co I cancelled the channel. Last night I got home from a party and noticed that it was a free HBO / Cinemax weekend, and I binge watched Silicon Valley. Pretty great show, though of course the ending was bullshit. Internet says 2nd season forthcoming, and True Blood premiers tonight. I can't imagine it coming under the low bar I've got set for it, and if manage to check out John Oliver, I'll probably resubscribe. Crap.

i've been pretty happy with John Oliver so far. his piece on FIFA was top notch

Season 4 ending of Game of Thrones was really good. But I think the hype for it was overblown by the showrunners.

I've read all the books. I wasn't surprised by anything, per se. It was what I expected for the most part and was done well.

Stannis, the Mannis, was bad ass as usual.

Why do people talk about A&E like it's some kind of premium channel full of groundbreaking shows?