April 07, 2004
this blog was written in real time
4/7/04
Ian's Pop Kulture Korner #476b!!!
Today we're going to talk about two shows that I never watched before last week, but now I'm an expert: "24" and "The Gilmore Girls." Since we are in Los Angeles and ripe with the potential for TV writing, Tessa and I are doing our homework, and I have to admit I've been slightly out-of-the-loop on television since my heyday of 1975 through 1992.
My first "why does everyone but me think this is funny" cultural moment started with "Mad About You," continued through "Friends," and is now "Everybody Loves Raymond." I take it back: obviously Joey on "Friends" is fabulous, but the rest of it just gives me stupid feeling.
A little bummed out, I curtailed my TV watching so much that I missed out on "24" the first time around, which, in retrospect, is especially insane since Sarah Clarke (who played Nina Meyers) is a friend of ours from NYC who played leads in two plays I've written. So I rented the entire first season on DVD, and I have to say: FUCKING WOW. Sure, there are a couple of clunky scenes – usually involving Senator Palmer's wife – but is there better "thriller" writing in the history of TV? I've tried to think of something, maybe a "Columbo" or two, but these guys do it right.
And Sarah is brilliant. That's what happens when you hire real New York actors rather than Today's Flavor Living on La Cienega. She has a face made for television, and gets every beat right. Strangely enough, she was the original Carla (the Senator's wife) in my play we're putting up later this month in Santa Monica.
As for "The Gilmore Girls," I'm watching it because Tessa wants to write for them. I have to say, it's totally up her alley: hyper-literate fast-paced dialogue delivered in miles per second. Occasionally you can see the writers peeking through the seams of their characters (one 20-year-old girl in the dorm made a joke about Lou Ferrigno) but thank god someone is trying. I dunno – motormouth intellectuals spouting forth at college? Might be a stretch for me and Tessa, but we'll try to make do.
Posted by irw at April 7, 2004 11:30 PM
Mark and I used to love nothing more than to look forward to the evenings tv entertainment... then life marches on and as you get older one becomes *busy*. I find myself taking advantage of the Television Without Pity web site and then deciding at the end of the season what shows are worth it,and rent out the season. "Mad About You" started about a year after Mark and I married and it hit on several relative issues ... the furniture choices - who's furniture stays, who's goes to the curb... the merging of friends & family when one weds. And "everybody Loves Raymond" that became quite comical to me about three years ago watching the syndicated shows at odd hours. Pheobe is the character we watched on "friends", her *twin* sister, Ursula was the funny waitress on "Mad about You". I can't say I miss tv like I thought I would, one can read about an episode right after it happens and generally it turns out to be enough if the recap is good. I taped the last episode of "Sex in the City" and after reading the recap have never watched the tape. I stopped recording shows to "watch later" as later never came and my pile of tapes was "taking up space". Now I read about Tivo and the possibilities scare me - I may not be ready for tivo! Around here it's PBS, Nick Jr., Disney ... when the wee one calls it a day there are not many hours left and I typically choose to read, then allow myself to be "educated" by the cable news shows as i nod off to sleep. ;)
I'm telling you, I wish Aaron Sorkin would go back to dancing with the "White Lady." The West Wing, when he was writing it, was THE BEST show on t.v. How anyone can make policy-making and politics interesting without using sex, violence and profanity, I have no idea. (who AM I? My MOM!?! Did I just say that?!? Fuck!) Anyhoo. My "why does everyone but me think this is funny" show right now is Scrubs. There's something so NOT funny about silly doctors in a hospital. Not. Funny. Word to Rhonda, though, on Television Without Pity. That site is the bomb.com. Besides, of course, this one. ;)
Scrubs is amazing, but might be an aquired taste. My mom hates it too.
Where are you and Tessa staying while you're languishing here in So. California? I'd like the opportunity to meet you since we share a mutual friend from the past. I believe you refer to her as Doofus (aka Julianna Hofeld). Had you heard from her since your well written blog back on 9/15/2003? I live in Sherman Oaks and have been out here the past 3 years. I remember during the time we were dating (on and off for 2 yrs.) that she had no interest in ever living in (much less visit) California.
Enjoy your time here in the land of Sunshine!!
Tivo is a parent's best friend. I haven't had to miss a single episode of any of my current TV addictions (4 hr-long dramas and 4 half-hour sitcoms per week) since we picked ours up in January and that's saying alot given the amount of time we spend chasing our 2-yr old around. (We're very dedicated to our television.)
Tonight was an IFC night and which means watching Hedwig and the angry inch (loved it) and Female Trouble (classic John Waters.) This was my first exposure to classic John Waters film featuring Divine and I am totally blown away. Nothing more to add really, just blown away.