Pushing Daisies going six feet under?

Is now the time to give up on Pushing Daisies? It got trounced in the ratings last night by Barack Obama's infomercial (yet still received its highest ratings of the year). That can't be good. This season has been creatively stunted anyway, and the charm and quirkiness that made it such fun in its first season has somehow evaporated. The choice on whether or not to jump ship might not be entirely up to viewers -- the show's going to be pre-empted the next two weeks, scheduled to return Nov. 19. Production on the already-ordered batch of shows ends Nov. 12. ABC might just leave it at that and not restart production on new episodes. Anyone for more Dancing With the Stars?

Then there's Heroes. I'm about ready to quit. I love the addition of Robert Foerster, but how many power-suckers can there be? And god knows what the plot is anymore. Too many characters, too much time travel, too many visions, too many characters killed-no-wait-it-was-just-a-fakeout, too many characters acting out of character, too much overacting by Peter and too much lame Nikki/Tracy storyline (geez, why not just give her amnesia too?). I just don't care about any of them any more. Even Kristen Bell couldn't save this week's episode.

On the bright side, I may soon have an extra couple of free hours a week. Just in time for the new season of Top Chef (coming Nov. 12).
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New favorite show: The Life & Times of Tim

It's been a miserable fall, filled with lame new shows and disappointing returning shows. One bright spot, however, has been HBO's animated The Life & Times of Tim. It's reminiscent of Curb Your Enthusiasm, with Tim, the relatively normal guy, finding himself in more and more outrageous, embarrassing situations. Like what happens when your girlfriend comes home with her parents and finds you on the couch with a hooker, who you called by accident when you were trying to call an electrician and asked for "back-door action." Or when Tim fights an old man and accidentally intimidates him to death. Or when your boss orders you to take the blame when his dog poops on the office floor. You know, situations that you or I come across every day.

The animation is rough, but the dialogue is hilarious. Affable and terminally perplexed Tim is joined by his forever frustrated, incredulous (yet eternally forgiving) girlfriend Amy; Debbie, the hooker with the heart of gold who favors assless stretch pants and who Tim comes to for awful advice; co-worker Stu, whose attraction to the heartless office HR woman is just a recipe for disaster; and The Boss, who can beat even Michael Scott on the bad-boss-o-meter.
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FX, my nemesis

Curse you, FX! You don't provide an HD channel, yet you offer Sons of Anarchy and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia in HD on On Demand. So I decide to watch those two shows On Demand this week, only to wait, and wait, and wait until you make them available. It's Saturday and still I await Wednesday's new adventures of Sam Crow. Come on FX, be like a normal network and post your shows the day after they air!

And to add to the frustration, why isn't The Shield available On Demand? Way to make your best shows more unavailable!
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Life on Mars: When police brutality was fun

The fall TV season finally has a good new show. Life on Mars might be the first show since The Office that Hollywood has successfully adapted from British TV. Like the original, it has a good sense of humor mixed in with the action and mystery. Life on Mars was almost entirely recast late in the development process, and it's paid off. Jason O'Mara, who plays Sam, the time-traveling cop, has traces of a young Mel Gibson. Minus the right-wing craziness. Michael Imperioli is spot-on as a jaded, fu manchu-ed detective, and Harvey Keitel (and how'd they get Harvey Keitel?!?) is outstanding as the ends-justify-the-means captain. Even Gretchen Mol is good, and I finally might be able to forgive her for being such an unsupportive girlfriend to Mike McD in Rounders.

It's weird watching all the casual police violence though. Yeah, things were done differently in 1973, and yeah, there probably were more suspects getting roughed up. But really, the Miranda ruling came down in 1966, and it's hard to believe New York police officers were that oblivious to basic rights when it came to arrests and interrogations. It's a bit cringe-worthy, like watching Mel Gibson beating down a pedestrian in Lethal Weapon III, not long after the Rodney King riots, or watching Heathers in the post-Columbine world. Just something that makes you go, "Hmmm, that actually isn't so funny these days." Still, Life on Mars isn't meant to be a realistic procedural, it's a fantasy. Some of the punches are for comedy's sake, others are symbolic to show how much times have changed. And I can deal with that as long as they maintain that sense of fantasy.

It's got a great soundtrack too. I can forgive the iPod blasting in the squad car in the premiere when it's balanced later by David Bowie on 8-track. It's refreshing how much of the music is a little more obscure and appropriate, and not the typical '70s pop you'd expect on network TV.

It'll be interesting to see where this show goes. The original lasted only two seasons and 16 episodes on the BBC, which is only about two-thirds of a typical American TV season. The show's creators have already said they won't resolve their version in the same way the British verson did. So is Sam in a coma? Is he dreaming? In an alternate reality? God forbid, has he been abducted by aliens? Here's hoping ABC continues on the high road and maintains a rare quality show.
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Settle down . . .

Why haven't I been posting? I've been a little busy moving. Then there were some DSL problems. But I should be back to posting fairly regularly by the end of the week. So hang in there, all three of you loyal readers!

And just for a slight fix: I'm bummed that Team Geek got bounced from The Amazing Race (how galling that the smart team got burned by such a dumb mistake), I've come around and am fully onboard with Sons of Anarchy, I'm debating whether or not to drop Heroes from my lineup, and I'm wondering what the heck Don Draper is doing. Kath & Kim was awful, but Testees might have been even worse. And I have a whole mess of shows waiting for me on my DVR, including the premiere of Life on Mars.

So once I catch up with shows and finally get settled in, things will get back to normal.
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What happened to this season?

Why are all my shows suddenly sucking?

I've given up on Fringe, even though it's been picked up for a full season. It just annoys me, for reasons I've ranted about before.

What happened to Heroes? It feels like I've seen this plotline before. (Hmmm, visions of a future apocalypse . . . let's figure out how to stop it. Wait, I've seen that one twice before.) The jumps into the future don't work for me. It's just not compelling and future Peter is even more lame than present Peter. And future Peter looks kinda like Mac on Always Sunny in Philadelphia. And the acting is kinda terrible. Jamie Hector a super villain? Meh. He was way scarier as a drug kingpin on The Wire. I'm about ready to drop the show. If it picks up, I can always catch up online or on DVD.

Has Entourage jumped the shark? Sunday's episode may have been the worst one they've ever done. The gang spaced on 'shrooms was just a car wreck of awkward acting. HBO just announced it'll be back for a new season next summer, but if the show doesn't correct its course, you have to wonder why.

Sons of Anarchy? It's good, sorta. But I still haven't watched last week's episode. So that means it's not compelling enough. But FX has green-lit a full season and they run a million reruns, so I'm sure I'll get back to it.

Even The Amazing Race seems lost. Where are the likable teams? OK, there are the Nerds, and maybe Ty and Aja (and is that pronounced "Aya" or "A-ja"?). But I soured on the brother and sister after he ditched the frat guy (don't flat-out promise to help someone and 10 seconds later renege. That's not strategy, that's being a dick). And pretty much everyone else annoys the hell out of me. TAR seems to be good every other year, and I guess that means I have to look forward to next season already.

Biggest disappointment? Pushing Daisies. Was it just me, or did the Season 2 premiere really lack something? I just didn't feel the cleverness oozing from every nook and cranny, like I did last season. It probably didn't help that the show had been off the air for almost a year. But I haven't given up on this one yet.

One bright note: Life on Mars is getting boffo reviews. So that's something to look forward to. The British version was great, and I really think this could become the big hit of the year. If, and that's a big if, it's done right. Here's hoping. . .
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Live blog! -- Amazing Race

Thankfully, one show The Lovely and Talented Anne and I can obsess about together is The Amazing Race. For last night's season premiere, she suggested doing a live blog via IM, with MST3K-type commentary. (Well, live via DVR -- some of us work nights.) So with no further ado, here's a selection of our random, sometimes incoherent babblings as we were introduced to TAR, Season 13.

[12:26:18 AM]
MM: Here we go...
MM: Huh, Phil on a random rooftop in Century City?
The LTA: "Random" -- by that you mean CBS HQ?
MM: Is that what it is?
The LTA: What else is in Century City except TV studios?

[12:29:22 AM]
MM: oh god, Tina looks awful in HD!
The LTA: She made some bad decisions with that swimsuit
MM: I've seen pants less baggy than her skin

[12:31:34 AM]
The LTA: That couple's gonna FIGHT
MM: The one from NYC you mean? (Terence & Sarah) Or the couple with the chick who wants to get married NOW? (Anthony & Stephanie)
The LTA: The powerlawyerbitch and runnersworld
MM: Yeah. I think both will fight

[12:32:48 AM]
The LTA: I like Phil's coat
MM: Day-glo green is not a flattering color on Ken & Tina
The LTA: ASU GIRLS ROCK?
MM: He's hoping it'll score points back home
The LTA: i'm gonna hate team superbad, i think.
MM: I've seen ASU girls. It won’t help them.
The LTA: Hee!
The LTA: Nice head bandana loverboy
MM : Sloooow hippies
The LTA: I should had vegas odds on that!

[12:34:04 AM]
MM: First use of the word "babe"
The LTA: That term is so loaded now. Thanks Michael Scott!
MM: Totally, babe!

[12:35:13 AM]
The LTA: Um. since i missed the intro, are Tony and Dallas (?) mother and son?
MM: Yep
The LTA: Phew
MM [12:35:29] : No, she's a cougar! Rarrrr!
The LTA [12:35:29] : Team cougar!
The LTA: Jinx!

[12:36:07 AM]
MM: oooh, ken cheated
The LTA: once a cheater always a cheater
MM: another “babe”
MM: wow, headband again....
MM: Ugh, I hate her -- Tina
The LTA: that color green is not flattering on either Nick or Tina
MM: Nooooo
MM: “the cute chick and the guy.” Nice description by the frats.
MM: carpool lane worked for those guys. nicely done
The LTA: HOV baby!
The LTA: I think it's three people in Washington state....oh wait... you can see the cameraman!
The LTA: person, sorry. cameraperson
MM: They went to the wrong counter -- wa wa waaaa
The LTA: ixnay on the abebay
The LTA: WHAT IS WITH THE "BABE"
MM: no real shame in LAX confusion -- i get lost everytime I fly through there
The LTA: really?
MM: the terminals screw me up. I'm always in the wrong one.
The LTA: i've only been there a few times. it's always under construction though.
MM: by always I mean twice

[12:41:44 AM]
MM: team superbad is annoying me already
The LTA: headband guy looks familiar to me
MM: because he's a generic frat boy wannabe?
The LTA: first leg dude. keep it together!
The LTA: they're two young guys. don't look like such pussies
MM: yeah, they're whining in the first leg, while still in LA? Yikes.
The LTA : shouldn't they be, like, hackers or something and be able to like, hack a good flight?
The LTA : are we supposed to think they're nerds or geeks or what?
MM: headband guy reminds me of someone I used to work with
The LTA : i'm not sure yet of their gimmick
MM: just makes 'em look like dorks
The LTA : i missed what they did wrong specifically, besides, you know, sucking
MM: i think they just went to the wrong counter
The LTA: oooh

[12:45:45 AM]
MM: dude, between Starr, the Southern Belles, the dicorcees and the day-glo green woman, there's going to be a LOT of haggard faces when the makeup runs out

[12:47:52 AM]
MM: Ken totally just undressed Starr with his eyes. Keep your eye in him, Tina!
The LTA: totes

[12:49:06 AM]
The LTA : nice. they know some Spanish
MM: yeah, but that won't do much good in Brazil
The LTA: doh

[12:49:57 AM]
MM: Kelly & Christy say they're strong women? They look like strippers
The LTA: they're both divorced? they're like, 25?
MM: I know. They’ve lived such hard lives
The LTA: *eyeroll*

[12:50:44 AM]
MM: NYC is bickering already
MM: cool, a funicular
MM: I love that word
The LTA: me too!
The LTA: have we discussed that before?
MM: we have

[12:51:23 AM]
MM: hey, did you hear Ken cheated on Tina?
The LTA : omg, babe, i think maybe ken cheated on tina

[12:51:44 AM]
MM: was that candy called blong?

[12:52:15 AM]
MM: another babe
The LTA: great, babe
MM: what is with those two? (Terence & Sarah)
The LTA: Barack and Michelle fist bumps!
The LTA : babe
MM: get in the groove babe!
MM: wow, that finish line squeal -- Sarah's voice can only be heard by dogs!
The LTA: i didn't hear it

[12:53:38 AM]
MM: divorcees are hosed
MM: nice travel outfits too
MM: I don't think "rapido" is portugese
The LTA: i was gonna say, maybe someone would help them if they didn't look like hookers

[12:55:54 AM]
The LTA : I want some blong candy
MM: mmm, blong

[12:57:03 AM]
The LTA : what did she just say
MM: i missed it
The LTA: "hecked off about it"?
MM: hecked? wtf?
The LTA: it's hecked or pecked. both odd
MM : maybe they're making up swear words for network TV. like "frak" on Battlestar Galactica
The LTA: or badussy on Project Runway
MM : badussy?
The LTA : aparently it's a conjunctive insult

[1:02:12 AM]
MM: ooooh, hookup time between Starr and Dallas! (She was a Cowboys cheerleader -- hmmm, subliminal much?)
The LTA: ewwww
The LTA: Dallas is gross
MM: oh god, I hate Terence and his nasty fauxhawk/spout
The LTA: brusha brusha brusha!
MM: applying makeup in the jungle, nice
The LTA : stabby!
The LTA: eyeshadow? for real?

[1:03:54 AM]
MM : A whistle! Where's Charla?
MM: that;s why the world hates americans
The LTA: cuz they show up with whistles and yelling.

[1:04:34 AM]
MM : oh christ, Sarah's so drama. You're in a RAAAACE, not a conversation!
The LTA: Did you ever see that montage about "i'm not here to make friends?"
MM : really? will they do anything to win?

[1:05:30 AM]
MM : damn Sarah, she runs too fast! (Umm, isn't Terence supposed to be a runner/trainer? And he can't keep up with her? Wow.)

[1:06:48 AM]
MM : yikes. soft way down, i guess
The LTA : the answer to the mystery question is either, God, 3, or Truman Capote
MM : heh
MM: hate? really? already?
MM : well, I hate them already, so....
The LTA : who said hate?
MM]: i couldn't tell. someone was all, "I hate those guys." Might've been Sarah

[1:08:25 AM]
MM : mom & dad? what's wrong with them?
The LTA: that's um... troubling
MM : are they that wanting for a parental figure?
The LTA: maybe it's one of those therapy things where people play other people. and they're playing the troubled couple. You know. so that the young'ins can get over their parents' divorce

[1:10:47 AM]
The LTA: Where are the Clauses?
MM: come on geeks! get competitive!
The LTA : those two are charming
MM: nick and starr -- you don't annoy me yet, despite the camouflage
The LTA : are those two bro/sis or a couple?
MM : bro/sis
The LTA : yay. I like those combos

[1:14:35 AM]
MM: Wow, the frats aret obnoxious
The LTA: what's the question they had to answer? How many steps?
MM: Yep, how many steps did you climb?
The LTA: Ha. That's predictable.
MM: I think that puts them in last place, epecially if they can't find their way back easily
The LTA: morons
MM: there's a reason everyone else took soft way down. Never leave it to chance, or randomness
The LTA: exactly. pick the simple task
The LTA: Isn't the one geek supposed to have a Tourism Management degree?
MM: yeah, but from ASU, not a real college
The LTA: it sounds like a fake degree anyway

[1:17:27 AM]
MM: even if the hippies make it, i'm afraid they're not long for this show. They seem slooooow. Hurry up bekeepers!
MM: damn, the frats are catching up
The LTA: have all the teams left?
MM: Yep, the hippies are doomed
The LTA: well, they'll get a lovely vacay in Sequesterville
MM: Huh, have Aja & Ty been seen on this episode before now?
The LTA: barely
The LTA: they used "babe" that's all i remmeber
The LTA : awww
MM: buh-bye beekeepers
MM: save the what?
MM: oh, bees
The LTA: I'm glad they put that message out there. There are actually bee issues in the news

[1:23:04 AM]
MM: So what did you think? impressions?
The LTA: I'm surprised at how good the geek team is
MM: maybe their organization skills will actually help. They may lag on physical legs though
The LTA: the couples all annoy me
MM: yeah, I'm with you on that. I remember the Aja & Ty's online intro annoyed me, but they seem OK in person. Maybe. The bro & sis are ok, though i can see where they could get annoying
The LTA: the make-up on the ladies is irritating
MM: I already loathe sarah!
MM: "...and they didn't even say hi to us!"
The LTA: dude has a bandaid on his head?
MM: yeah, I hope he got hit with something
The LTA: shes' so charming.
MM: I can see myself rooting more against teams than for them
The LTA: yeah, i'm not super in love with any of them
The LTA: so where did you hear they were going this year? anywhere interesting?
MM: Angor Wat, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Moscow.... I heard they end in portland
The LTA: whoo hoo
MM: it'll be interesting to see how all the chicks dress when they're in more conservative countries. Lycra short-shorts might not fly in Kazakhstan
The LTA: You'd hope it would occur to them

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