December 2003 Archives
Tracy Morgan is one of my all time favorites ever to be part of the cast of Saturday Night Live. He was never afraid to make Tracy Morgan the punchline of a skit, in a way that would most likely make him appear to be either a little dumb, self-centered, mysoginistic, or just bizarre. This always really impressed me, because I like the idea of blurring character and actor especially in a weekly sketch comedy show. Sometimes it seemed like he was appearing more as Tracy Morgan than as a character he was playing. He has always had a really offbeat energy as well which has pumped me up.
I have now seen three full episodes of his mid-season replacement NBC sitcom, The Tracy Morgan Show, and a lot of Tracy's energy and likability does transfer over to the sitcom format, but the show is not very original and often times becomes mired down in sitcom convention. There is really nothing original about The Tracy Morgan Show, he plays a working class guy with a really beautiful wife and they have two kids together, most of the comedy is supposed to come from Tracy's overexuberance in wanting to be a good father or husband. The younger son is a real Gary Coleman style kid, meaning he sorta looks like a shrunk down adult, and his character acts older than his age as well, this sometimes works and sometimes fails pretty miserably. Heavy D, John Witherspoon, and Katt Williams aren't very funny as the funny dudes at Tracy's car repair shop (even though in the episode entitled "Christmas" they did come through with a very charming original Christmas carol). The show succeeds when Tracy is allowed to use dialogue that is sometimes out of nowhere and shows the very cute insecurity in his character. The best moment of the three episodes I have seen was the first scene in the Christmas episode when he was talking to his youngest son about hanging out with Santa Claus and Captain Crunch on the Capt's boat and then his son was lying to him about how his Planet of the Apes (the original movies) DVDs got ruined and his son told him that he left them on the radiator and Tracy said "Why would I leave them on the radiator?" and the son replied "Because you just don't think! You have to think!" and so much shame and embarrasment washed over Tracy's face. So funny. The show fails when it becomes trapped in predicatable sitcom situations and physical humor (like getting in a fight with Santa, and leaving the ring he bought for his wife at home and being locked out and stuff). I will most likely continue to watch the show because Tracy is just so dang cute, but I hope they focus on the good, otherwise it could be in trouble.
DVD is changing the way we watch television. You can miss shows now on important shows because most likely they will be released on DVD. Also, TiVO and ReplayTV have made the ritual completely different as well. I believe both DVD and Digital Video Recorders (TiVo, etc.) have made TV more important and more viable as an art form and hopefully will allow less monotony and more risk taking television.
I recently watched the entire series Sports Night on DVD. I ripped through it so quickly. The show was created and written by Aaron Sorkin who has since gone to create The West Wing. The show was critically hailed, but never received good ratings. The show was pure quality. It is set within a sports network and their nightly sports news broadcast. The characters are all really well rounded, the plots are well put together and interesting, and the show is at times very funny. It had me hooked for days and it gave me a lot of input into Sorkin. I strongly recommend Sports Nights and watching TV shows on DVD.
The Office, the hit BBC comedy, has me obsessed. I had heard a few things about it, but sorta brushed it off, because I've never been a huge fan of British comedy, when I actual saw the show I was blown away. The show is so well crafted, ever little thing about the characters, the setting, and plot is just perfect. It is hilarious and intense and awkward and perfect. There has been two seasons, you can see episodes on BBC America, and the first season has been released on DVD (the second season is coming, I'm sure, it's already been released in the UK), and there won't be any more seasons, two and out was the proclamation from creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. There is a upcoming two part Christmas Special Finale and then the series will be over....but....wait...there is an American version in the works! You must be saying, "wait, didn't that go really poorly with that other BBC hit Coupling", and then I would say "yeah, that stunk, but maybe this will be good. Coupling was a pretty run of the mill sitcom, and this is some deeper stuff, plus they are not going to be using the same scripts as the British show, it will be changed somewhat, but yes, it might stink." Either way, the UK series has been a wonderful combination of Office Space, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and documentary television. It is wonderful and I urge every one to check it out.
This is it. I think we have reached the greatest period ever for reality TV. It's proliferation is probably at its' peak, and the programming is really good. Of course, there are some stinkers (as with all TV, and all media and arts for that matter), but hey some neat things are happening.
First off, there was Joe Schmo, which was just remarkable. Breaking new ground as far as what you can do, and showing what brilliant casting can do for a show that just as easily could have failed terribly.
The best reality show there is, The Amazing Race, took home the emmy for reality shows allowing it to come back for another season (which it probably wouldn't have without the emmy victory) proving that justice does truly prevail sometimes in a tv world where sometimes it seems like the things that succeed are the last things that actually should succeed.
We are in the midst of possibly the best season of Survivor ever. Rupert was probably the best hero of all time on the show, being likable, strong, while maintaining very complex and real emotions and showing anger and insecurity. Jon is easily the best villian ever. He has come in willing to do anything to win the game which is really refreshing, even though he is extremely dastardly, because afterall...it is a game. Also, Jeff Probst has been excellent. He is really breaking out of his mildly boring shell. He was always professional and good at his job, but now he has become another interesting character, by pushing the survivors more and being more outspoken and not afraid to state opinions.
On Super Bowl Sunday, All Star Survivor starts up bringing back 18 of the most interesting survivors to date (including past winners, people who should have won, and people who are just entertaining). It should be lots of fun.
In the docu-reality vein Newlyweds was such a blast to watch, and it has been wonderfully filled with Rich Girls. Last nights Rich Girls was great. It was some of the most honest stuff I've seen from someone on a reality show. Just being human, and 18 and scared, and rich! GOOD STUFF!
Queer Eye's new season so far has been great. The direction has sorta been more focused onto the family it seems. Which makes for pretty good TV.
Average Joe was kinda good. I watched all but the finale of the new Joe Millionaire, which I think I was the only person who found interesting. The culture clash was pretty cool.
The Simple Life premiered last night and you knew what it would be like, and it's really contrived, but enjoyable. The little kid is so cute.
Plus, I'm always down for some Real World/Road Rules challenge.
It's like "watch the reality stars fight and inbreed." And Donald Trump's new show The Apprentice should be lots of fun! GO REALITY!