I Want to Like You, TV, I Really Do
We've complained about the writer's strike, celebrated joyously upon its conclusion, and still somehow have yet to offer reviews on any of the new scripted television that is hitting the tube. Having been wrapped up in Oscars fever and DVD/reality show ruts, I am now breaking through to grasp an eager breath of fresh, plotted, character developed air. Sure, none of these shows are direct products of the strike ending - we still have yet to see the fruits of their refreshed labor, but (call me crazy) I have the pessimistic and nagging feeling that they are nevertheless indicative of what is to come. Let's take a look, shall we?
"Eli Stone": It seems like certain networks (maybe all of them?) attempt to create a similar vibe/aesthetic for all of their programming that is very difficult to describe and yet impossible not to notice. For example, every ABC show has this "mid-40s upper-middle class guy trying to act like he's a quirky poor college kid" feel to it. "Grey's," "Brothers & Sisters," "Housewives" -- all these shows are clearly for old people, but if you actually watch them, they try so hard to be clever and self-referential that it's like Zach Braff's dad is running a network pathetically trying to impress his son. So when you look back on the star of their new show, Jonny Lee Miller's filmography, it's not a surprise that he started out as the beloved Sick Boy in Trainspotting in 1996 and then zoom through to the 00s and you find him starring in a BBC adaptation of "The Canterbury Tales" (cue nauseating high school flashback). He himself is an old guy probably wishing he was still hip, so he took this lead part in a show about a high-class lawyer who starts seeing visions of George Michael singing, whose songs always have a hidden meaning that help him have some kind of epiphany at the end of each episode. It's kind of like he's a cross between a psychic, a George Michael superfan, and the author of Literary Themes for Dummies. Somewhere in there I can't help but feel like there is a premise that has the genuinely off-tempo promise of something like the "Northern Exposure" of our generation, but in reality it's on ABC, the writing is terribly cliched once you get past the George Michael gimmick, he has a sassy black secretary that is offensive and annoying, and the guy from "Ed" plays his drunk father in flashbacks. Post-Strike Hopefulness Makes Me Want To Give This Show a Chance?: No.
"Lipstick Jungle": I feel like this show has been made fun of enough in the pop culture ether, but then again, is anything that is terrible and was made using millions of dollars that could have gone to me or starving children ever really made fun of ENOUGH? Methinks not. Plus, watching the show with a former Women's Studies minor is a hilariously good time that needs to be documented. It may be a dead horse by now, but rich female characters (inequality symbol) strong and empowered female characters. Film studio honcho Brooke Shields is framed as supposedly bad-ass and in charge when she finally lands Leonardo DiCaprio for a movie about Gallileo (or something equally as boring that should never be made into a narrative film), but not until after a good cry with a bucket of ice cream by her side. Fashion magazine exec Kim Raver, who has the tiniest nose in the world, is in charge of making women feel horrible about themselves - her job alone negates anything the show wishes it was doing for women. And she does a younger guy to get back at her neglecting husband, instead of...you know, standing up to him. What's the best way to stay strong? Let another man comfort you. Finally, there's a third woman who is a fashion designer - once again with the gender-specific upper-class careers. And she goes on a date with a really really rich guy who looks exactly like Andrew McCarthy but isn't (as if he had anything better to do), and gets miffed when he turns out to be a jerk, but oh wait, he's not really a jerk - that was just a persona! He actually can be sweet sometimes and buys her tons of stuff! Of course this all happened after she was crying about being single. Post-Strike Hopefulness Makes Me Want To Give This Show a Chance?: I don't think I'm the demographic they were going for anyway, but HELLZ naw.
"Quarterlife": Third try's the charm or something like that. I'm sorry to say that this show actually pissed me off more than the previously mentioned two combined. I expect crap when I tune into a lawyer show on ABC. I expect tripe when I turn on a network show about women in the city. I do not expect layers upon layers of ruminating stinkpiles when I tune into a show by the creators of "My So-Called Life." Sean discovered the much-loved "My So-Called Life" dance and reinvigorated my interested in seeing the show that all my friends love but I have never given a proper viewing. "Quarterlife" may have now prematurely killed that newly found interest. Talk me back into it, please, because what I witnessed yesterday was the death of my/our generation on display for all to see in all its agonizing self-absorbed muted colors glory. I need to witness a genuinely good show by these monstrous men Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz so I can forgive them for the mortal sin that is "Quarterlife." So, a show about 25-year-olds. People that age are all agoraphobic bloggers/liberal arts grads with faux-unkempt hair who cannot find anything useful to do with their lives because of their undying (yet of course procrastinating) need to validate themselves through their art. They are afraid they will not get famous or become successful through writing/acting/cinematography because the world won't appreciate them. In fact, they will actually not become successful because they are annoying, self-centered ingrates that wished the world handed them everything on a platter, and when it doesn't, their solution is to mope in the basement and pine over their best friend's girlfriend. Get a job that helps people or does something productive for society, you yuppie swine!!!!3oui2nt32orim1'p2orkj'19p2e. Then we won't have to witness your depression every Tuesday night when we could be watching "American Idol" instead. Post-Strike Hopefulness Makes Me Want To Give This Show a Chance?: (sobs quietly in corner).
And as I finish up this post, Qualler gives me a metaphorical cyber hug by sending me this piece of good news: "Quarterlife" is already canceled and NBC is looking for somewhere to put it (may I suggest the trashcan? oh wait that's where it started, the Internet) so they don't have to get egg on their faces every week in the ratings and media reviews. Writers, you've got some seriously stifled TV lovers' hearts to win back. Work quickly. And get me a sandwich while you're at it.
P.S. Getting closer to the end (finally) with the Top 100 Songs of 2007 here.
"Eli Stone": It seems like certain networks (maybe all of them?) attempt to create a similar vibe/aesthetic for all of their programming that is very difficult to describe and yet impossible not to notice. For example, every ABC show has this "mid-40s upper-middle class guy trying to act like he's a quirky poor college kid" feel to it. "Grey's," "Brothers & Sisters," "Housewives" -- all these shows are clearly for old people, but if you actually watch them, they try so hard to be clever and self-referential that it's like Zach Braff's dad is running a network pathetically trying to impress his son. So when you look back on the star of their new show, Jonny Lee Miller's filmography, it's not a surprise that he started out as the beloved Sick Boy in Trainspotting in 1996 and then zoom through to the 00s and you find him starring in a BBC adaptation of "The Canterbury Tales" (cue nauseating high school flashback). He himself is an old guy probably wishing he was still hip, so he took this lead part in a show about a high-class lawyer who starts seeing visions of George Michael singing, whose songs always have a hidden meaning that help him have some kind of epiphany at the end of each episode. It's kind of like he's a cross between a psychic, a George Michael superfan, and the author of Literary Themes for Dummies. Somewhere in there I can't help but feel like there is a premise that has the genuinely off-tempo promise of something like the "Northern Exposure" of our generation, but in reality it's on ABC, the writing is terribly cliched once you get past the George Michael gimmick, he has a sassy black secretary that is offensive and annoying, and the guy from "Ed" plays his drunk father in flashbacks. Post-Strike Hopefulness Makes Me Want To Give This Show a Chance?: No.
"Lipstick Jungle": I feel like this show has been made fun of enough in the pop culture ether, but then again, is anything that is terrible and was made using millions of dollars that could have gone to me or starving children ever really made fun of ENOUGH? Methinks not. Plus, watching the show with a former Women's Studies minor is a hilariously good time that needs to be documented. It may be a dead horse by now, but rich female characters (inequality symbol) strong and empowered female characters. Film studio honcho Brooke Shields is framed as supposedly bad-ass and in charge when she finally lands Leonardo DiCaprio for a movie about Gallileo (or something equally as boring that should never be made into a narrative film), but not until after a good cry with a bucket of ice cream by her side. Fashion magazine exec Kim Raver, who has the tiniest nose in the world, is in charge of making women feel horrible about themselves - her job alone negates anything the show wishes it was doing for women. And she does a younger guy to get back at her neglecting husband, instead of...you know, standing up to him. What's the best way to stay strong? Let another man comfort you. Finally, there's a third woman who is a fashion designer - once again with the gender-specific upper-class careers. And she goes on a date with a really really rich guy who looks exactly like Andrew McCarthy but isn't (as if he had anything better to do), and gets miffed when he turns out to be a jerk, but oh wait, he's not really a jerk - that was just a persona! He actually can be sweet sometimes and buys her tons of stuff! Of course this all happened after she was crying about being single. Post-Strike Hopefulness Makes Me Want To Give This Show a Chance?: I don't think I'm the demographic they were going for anyway, but HELLZ naw.
"Quarterlife": Third try's the charm or something like that. I'm sorry to say that this show actually pissed me off more than the previously mentioned two combined. I expect crap when I tune into a lawyer show on ABC. I expect tripe when I turn on a network show about women in the city. I do not expect layers upon layers of ruminating stinkpiles when I tune into a show by the creators of "My So-Called Life." Sean discovered the much-loved "My So-Called Life" dance and reinvigorated my interested in seeing the show that all my friends love but I have never given a proper viewing. "Quarterlife" may have now prematurely killed that newly found interest. Talk me back into it, please, because what I witnessed yesterday was the death of my/our generation on display for all to see in all its agonizing self-absorbed muted colors glory. I need to witness a genuinely good show by these monstrous men Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz so I can forgive them for the mortal sin that is "Quarterlife." So, a show about 25-year-olds. People that age are all agoraphobic bloggers/liberal arts grads with faux-unkempt hair who cannot find anything useful to do with their lives because of their undying (yet of course procrastinating) need to validate themselves through their art. They are afraid they will not get famous or become successful through writing/acting/cinematography because the world won't appreciate them. In fact, they will actually not become successful because they are annoying, self-centered ingrates that wished the world handed them everything on a platter, and when it doesn't, their solution is to mope in the basement and pine over their best friend's girlfriend. Get a job that helps people or does something productive for society, you yuppie swine!!!!3oui2nt32orim1'p2orkj'19p2e. Then we won't have to witness your depression every Tuesday night when we could be watching "American Idol" instead. Post-Strike Hopefulness Makes Me Want To Give This Show a Chance?: (sobs quietly in corner).And as I finish up this post, Qualler gives me a metaphorical cyber hug by sending me this piece of good news: "Quarterlife" is already canceled and NBC is looking for somewhere to put it (may I suggest the trashcan? oh wait that's where it started, the Internet) so they don't have to get egg on their faces every week in the ratings and media reviews. Writers, you've got some seriously stifled TV lovers' hearts to win back. Work quickly. And get me a sandwich while you're at it.
P.S. Getting closer to the end (finally) with the Top 100 Songs of 2007 here.
This entry was posted by chris, on
Thursday, February 28, 2008.
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Whoa. Quarterlife is totes my life.
PS I heard it was adapted from the internet. Is that true? If so, it would be even MORE like me!
I feel like our generation is more expecting to be spoon-fed success than any before us, more whiny when we don't immediately achieve it (as we've been told over and over that we can do anything we want with life), and all our hair is unkempt! That doesn't mean I want to watch a show that depressing, though;)
Bring on the America's Next Top Model and its messages of female empowerment and social justice! (just kidding- no problem was solved by letting homeless people pose in couture).
whoa, chris, i absolutely disagree. i thought quarterlife was brilliant and is brilliant and cancelling it is a mistake.
1) tv is a mirror of our lives. not a duplicate. it's like a funhouse mirror, really, and it distorts and exagerates, etc. these characters are done in broad strokes. this is a network show, not indie quirkfest '08. so deal with that.
2) the first half of MSCL's pilot was total lame-fest. (the box set includes essays that raise this point, essays by people like janeane giraffalo!) the show grows on you, though. you need to give it more of a chance.
3) it's set in LA. not the midwest. and there might be people out there that vapid. deal with it.
4)"People that age are all agoraphobic bloggers/liberal arts grads with faux-unkempt hair who cannot find anything useful to do with their lives because of their undying (yet of course procrastinating) need to validate themselves through their art. They are afraid they will not get famous or become successful through writing/acting/cinematography because the world won't appreciate them.."
methinks you're targeting a show when you're really just mad at yourself for never getting that script made.. it's okay, chris. it's not your fault. generalizations are bad, dude.
this show is got potential, chris, cast-of-frasier potential and you have to give it another chance. the reason why the characters are annoying? cause our generation is annoying and self-absorbed and stupid but we're also real. you need this show to make you realize that. . .
if that doesn't save you, this will..
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DjrcIBIb4Kk
routine: version 2!!!
I agree with you that "quarterlife" (it's not capitalized!) on broadcast television was indeed a horrible idea. But I also second Sean's and Nicole's assertations that our generation is indeed somewhat self-absorbed and believes everything will be spoon-fed to us. It's great to get a job that benefits society, but, let's face it, most people would rather get a "regular" job, and that's OK. And at least it had good music in it.
I doubt it would have become anything more, though, because the "film guy's" friend was such a douchebag and yet was still sort of into "Godard films." NOT BUYING IT, INTERWEBS!
By the way, I am totally changing this blog into a video blog.
My So-Called Life accurately depicted high schoolers during the mid 90s. Sometimes that is very frustrating to watch, because you want to say "stop, learn to express your feelings already, don't be so sensitive, give your mom a break, Jordan Catalano is a jerk" etc. But the show is amazing (in my opinion) and the viewers become so frustrated because we see ourselves as ass hole over dramatic self absorbed teenagers and we're at once sympathetic and embarrassed. and we realize that the characters (like our own high school selves) are good deep down and we're hopeful that they (we) learn something and life will get better. One of the reasons my so-called life is amazing: it doesn't fall into the giving the viewer what they want to see trap.
now, i haven't seen quarter life, and frankly, i probably won't bother. but your description, angry as it is, sounds a bit like they hit the nail on the head once more in depicting most 25 year olds today. maybe it's really painful to watch because we don't want to associate ourselves with being so self-absorbed (which we are) or superficial (which we are) or with whining whenever things don't go our way (which we do. constantly).
having said that, i still don't think i'll watch the show online. however, my so-called life is one of the best shows ever made. that's just a fact.
I didn't see quarterlife, but after your review I think it may be my new favorite show.
Back to scripted television post-writers strike -- true, it is on HBO so its hard to watch, but In Treatment is probably my favorite new TV show on this season. It sounds like a boring premise (every night, a 30 minute therapy session) but they've managed to make it seem like there is a lot more action going on. And Gabriel Byrne is the shizzz.
i would totally sleep with gabriel byrne.
c'mon, don't talk about HBO shows until they're on DVD. i finally got the first season of the wire last night.
NO SPOILERS!!! please.
i don't think that my willingness to sleep with gabriel byrne is a spoiler...i've known this since Little Women.
Wow so much vehemence bubbling up inside me.
I refuse to believe that "our generation" (whatever that may mean) deserves to be stereotyped as whiny brats. Some are, of course, but is your average group of college-graduated 25-year-olds a cesspool of drama that they cannot overcome? Are we really supporting the idea that everyone is the same and no one our age has any redeeming qualities? Commies, the lot of ya!
I haven't seen MSCL, but those are TEENAGERS. You have every right in the world to be an idiot self-conscious jerk - you're SIXTEEN. If I acted the way the brats in "Quarterlife" do (I refuse to acknowledge the lower case letter), my students would be like, "what's wrong with you? Grow up!" And they're the ones that are SIXTEEN!
Yes, it's a mirror, but when you look in the mirror if you're a selfish ungrateful "artiste," it doesn't reflect back and show you that everyone you know is also a selfish ungrateful "artiste." One character with this personality? Two? FINE. ALL OF THEM?!?!! I want to strangle them all and have no compassion for them.
And if you all really think our entire generation is best represented by this (including yourselves, all of whom I respect - going to law school, working with students, helping non-profits, working toward SOMETHING, having AMBITION that isn't "I wish my mommy knew someone in Hollywood"), then I must go rest in solitude for the remainder of my days. Because my mind has officially been screwed over beyond repair.
(Please note that this is all in good fun and discourse and I am not actually being totally sincere, unlike the characters in "Quarterlife," who believe in their drama as neverending reality, with no light at the end of the tunnel, unless it's a bad karaoke performance, but you must look sad during it).
Seriously though, you people are not the characters on "Quarterlife," not even when stripped of all of its artistic liberties. We may act like it from time to time, but I'd say more than 90% of the time, we are grown ups with better things to worry about than "making a name for ourselves."
I won't even get into the relationship between this notion you're all upholding and Garden State...
i'm sorry...i fell asleep half way through that post, then woke up and had my mom summarize it for me as she fed me cookies and milk.
dude, the show is a show. it's not supposed to represent an entire generation and make you think stuff. 'lipstick jungle' doesn't make me think all 40 year old women are powerful and worthy of respect, does it? clearly no.
wait? what?
and chris, for the record, i'm in law school because it was a safety net. my original dream was to be a rock star but i failed at that. this is my second prize. thanks for reminding me.
Chris, I think you're forgetting about "Hollywood" Dave R and me, aka "Hollyweird."
My parents LOVED watching me at that one party in The OC.
Concluding that shows are just shows, movies are just movies, songs are just songs...this just allows the media to continue to perpetuate misogyny, racism, and various other kinds of misrepresentation that is hurtful and regressive to our society. "Art" may not be able to change the world, but it can subconsciously affect many people's perceptions and/or beliefs.
Whole new can of worms: opened.
okay, but seriously, quarterlife is melodramatic tripe -- i watched the entire first episode waiting for something interesting to happen, and nothing did
real life is boring, and i cannot stand watching vapid people on television -- for a show to be successful, the viewers have to be able to connect to it -- what teenager aspires to be any of those people? who of us wants to be friends with those self-absorbed downers? what 40-something wants to see a younger/better looking kid moan about his trust fund?
chris is right, quarterlife is terrible
Well Doktor, you actually only help prove my point - look how easy it is to be famous and happy! Why are the "Quarterlife" doofs so sad? Just do what Dave and the Doktor did!
oh, by the way, i've been thinking we just redo the show, call it "quallerlife" and make it entertaining... who wants to write it with me?
www.quallerlife.blogspot.com
(yeah, i'm taking liberties with your name qualler, but i'm willing to make you king of the quallerlife blog)
I'm in!! Let the quallerlife revolution begin!
Wu Tang TRIUMPPPPHHHHHH. Quarterlife is a worthy effort. I feel like they do. Where is my track, where do I make myself, America is all lies, and I am feel the truth. Where do I do go? We have only the past, the present is so sick and cynic, or ironic if you will. I look to the past to find my future, the present is sick sick sick, you know me, and I will live on to create a new day, a new world in our name. As the world turns, I spread like germ.
sarcastic or not, wipert has summed up my feelings.
don't try to define what art is and what art isn't, chris. that's not for you to decide. shows are show, art is art. yes, art. yes, roundtree. yes.
Eli Stone is turning out to be a really formulaic show. First, he walks through the lobby of his law office and responds to a bunch of quirky things that lawyers deal with, then he sits in at a meeting where the boss says stuff like "well, since I am obviously smarter and better than all of you, allow me to make a witty comment! Oh look, Eli Stone was late again, maybe next time, you could come late again so that I can dig up more of my witty dialogue." Then Eli has a vision, right in the middle of the meeting, which turns out to be awkward because he was away in la-la-land in front of everyone. Then he goes and meets this guy who pretends to be Chinese but actually says "dude" and "bro" a lot. Then that's when I stop watching. I only watch it because it's on the tail end of Lost every week, so I watch the first 5 minutes, seeing if maybe they'll do something different this time, but they don't.
Maybe instead of Lost and then Eli Stone, there could just be 2 episodes of Lost! That's way better!
Ok I may be late to this boat, but I watch quaterlife and was super disapointed as well. Mostly because it made me mad that she would "vblog" about her friends...so lame! And the main girl, I just wanted to wash her hair and put clothing on her that fit. I tune into a show about people my age to be about perfect people so I don't have to feel so sad about "my" life....and I agree Chris lipstick jungle is a awful show and all the women are not powerful, they are just reproduced images of what we think powerful women are supposed to look like and the book was just as bad as the show. Not sure what J take is but I am sick of clothes,sex, and whatever being passed off as power to women
I didn't say "Quarterlife" wasn't art. I actually am claiming it is art, just that it's lazy stereotypical BAD art that is hurtful in its mirepresentation of a certain demographic. A show is a show, no matter if it's good or bad, it has an effect.
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