November 2006:
Number 511
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A newsletter for the students, faculty and staff of the Collin County Community College District. Published monthly. For information or submissions, call 972.599.3142. Cougar News welcomes student and faculty submissions. Next deadline: Nov. 10 All submissions are due by 5 p.m. on the due date. Photos cannot be returned. Text should be emailed to mrobinson@ccccd.edu or sent on disk. Please submit copy that is proofed, edited and saved in Word format. Cougar News staff: Lisa Vasquez, director; Mark Robinson, editor; Marcy Cadena-Smith, contributor; Sydney Portilla-Diggs, student correspondent; Stephanie Hall, student correspondent; Ana Palmer, special contributor; Ginny Topfer, special contributor; Nick Young, photography and layout
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Review -- How TV stacks up
By Mark Robinson
Cougar News Editor
My TV ranking system has three levels:
Tier 1 – Cannot stay in same room while TV program is being broadcast. Gnashing of teeth and bouts of unconciousness may ensue.
Tier 2 – Although not amused by program, dialogue, acting and overall premise doesn’t prompt immediate surrender of the senses, but follow-up viewing may or may not take place.
Tier 3 – Overall viewing enjoyment. Intermittant giggling. Probably will view the next week.
Unfortunately, TV is a bankrupt medium. Most TV programs end up in Tier 1 with a select few in Tier 3. I end up in the bedroom reading or playing “Katamari Damacy” on Playstation II. So, the goal for this new TV season was to preview the newest shows and tell my faithful readers just how awful they are.
“Heroes” – American Broadcasting System
I’m pretty much the biggest geek in my family, which is saying something, but the idea of a TV show that realistically shows human beings dealing with the fact that they are mutants should tap my well of interest. It really didn’t, but I forged ahead.
It’s a very crisp, engaging show, however. Based on six characters from the around the world that are simultaneosly realizing they have certain powers – flight, teleportation, murdering alter egos (which is weird because it’s not really a “power,” more like an affliction), healing and hearing other’s thoughts.
What we are learning is that everything has a design and it is all building up toward world destruction. Hip, hip, hurray! Anyway, this is a show that doesn’t seem to have viable staying power. Unless the mutants decide to join forces and fight the powers of evil. But that could never happen.
Ranking: Tier 2
“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” – National Broadcasting System
Allen Sorkin created “The West Wing,” a wildly popular drama about a fake U.S. presidency that fell off once Hawkeye ran for president.
Now his baby is “Studio 60.” And it’s pretty much the same show except about a fake Los Angeles-based late night comedy sketch show a lot like "Saturday Night Live." It has the guy from “Wings,” the guy from “thirtysomething,” Bradley Whitford from Aerosmith (just joking) and the previous Sorkin joint, Amanda Peet and Matthew Perry.
Two surprises – this show is so similar to “The West Wing.” Really. Also, Perry does a great job divorcing himself from his “Friends” character. Good for him.
But the show is pretty ridiculous. I’ve watched every episode, and I don’t care. I don’t care about the fake TV show. I don’t care about the characters and their problems and relationships. It’s one thing to not relate to characters. It’s another to not like the characters. And that can doom a show.
Ranking: Tier 2
“Jericho” – Columbia Broadcasting System
Speaking of doom, the funny thing about a massive nuclear attack on the United States is how fast the bars fill up. That’s the lesson from the first five or so episodes of “Jericho” starring no one of significance. The main character played by the guy from “Scream” comes back to his small hometown in Kansas, Jericho.
He’s been away for a long time and instead of giving everyone – friends and family – the same story, he makes up a bunch of reasons why he’s been away – minor league baseball, the army, you know, the usual. Anyway, someone nukes Denver and we can only assume several other major cities notably Atlanta. The main character turns out to be pretty deft at dealing with nuclear attacks because he becomes the big hero.
Personally, if a nuclear attack should happen, I would be with loved ones trying to cope with an immediate change in lifestyle. The citizens of Jericho congregated to the town bar for some suds. This is a ridiculous program, even for TV. Luckily for CBS, Kim Jong Il in North Korea may help ratings. Great cross promotion.
Ranking: Tier 1
“The Nine” – American Broadcasting Company
The biggest problem with TV – something that cinema, music and books are forgiven for more often than not – is that once a really original show tips, the networks try desparate to recreate that magic with similar shows.
“The Nine” features a large cast. It’s a tale of fairly ordinary people in a seemingly ordinary situation until things, supernaturally or otherwise, go awry.
Basically, a lot like “Lost.”
A group of individuals are inside a bank for one reason or another until its held up by robbers. Fifty-two hours later they are released and except for one character, everyone is OK. The one character was shot and killed.
So, nobody knows what happened – characters and viewers alike – in the bank for those two days. All that is known is that the affected characters have a close relationship based upon their trauma. The show chronicles these individuals’ past and present, while shedding light on those fateful 52 hours. Frankly, this could be cancelled pretty soon or it could go on for three years. But I’m out.
Ranking: Tier 1
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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