Now that "Mad Men" has concluded its season, the braintrust here at The Awl is in intense discussion over what television product we should next subject to scrutiny. I suggested this, but I'm getting some pushback from the rest of the team. Any ideas?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
45
The Prisoner (also).
I was pushing for that! I mean, six episodes only, hmm. But.
JIM CAVIEZEL MYSTERY HELLO
Which reminds me: Who is #1?
MEEP
The is one true Number 6 and his name is McGoohan.
I concur.
I saw this for the first time this weekend.
Weird and compelling. Both!
Also, super-pointy bras.
I would love some Footnotes of Jersey Shore.
Yes, please???
I don't understand. The show is called "Jersey Shore", but the trailer was filmed outside of Marquee?
Pushback? How can you ever get enough Jersey? Of course, I haven't lived there in decades and would rather drill holes in my head than move back, but on TV, from a safe distance, how can you ever get enough Jersey?
This exactly how I feel about New Jersey. Except replace "decades" with "six years," because I'm only 24. But yes, please let's discuss this show and laugh about it and feel relieved that I don't have to live there anymore.
Curb Your Enthusiasm? I can't tell if Larry David is fucking things up by trying to be more outrageous (cf. the pee teardrop on the picture of Jesus) or if he's been like that all along and I just forgot.
You forgot.
It's getting more outlandish, like Seinfeld did, only faster.
Can't we just quietly forget that Mad Men ended for the season and let my Sunday evening blissfully be filled with The Awl staff performing a musical version of "A Sterling, Cooper Draper and Price Christmas"?
The Today Show.
Man, the Asbury Park Press is going to have to start a whole new subsection within "Jersey Mayhem."
Two words...
Tim Riggins.
Friday Night Lights...best show most people have never seen. Have to watch on DirecTV 101 or Hulu.
Three more words...
Shirtless Tim Riggins.
Seconded.
Matt Saracen for the win. And I have DirectTV, so Mary has to come to my house - except it's in Texas.
I will take them both...me in the middle.
I'm with you, Rick. Good boy on one side and bad boy on the other, delicious!
I went to a 5A texas high school for a coupla years. this maybe could be arranged? also, CLEAR EYES FULL HEART!
also, what's up with minka kelly dating losers.
Oh man. Julie is the total loser of real-life bad daters - she is like that Taylor Retard from the Gossip Girl. Also, it's a good season so far, mainly because of the lesbian girl, who is just top-notch.
Shoot, I left my comment on this at the other place.
Hey, you're the Battle of Hastings.
It was good enough to cross post.
Oh yeah, it really was quite good.
Thank you, professor!
OK, since it’s not among the newer comments over there anyway, let this be a vote for MTV's Jersey Shore:
When I see these guys, with their Mediterranean visages and spectacular physiques, I imagine them as the descendants of ancient Roman soldiers, lost and confused in a modern world.
Lacking the old measures and symbols of valor and achievement, they are constantly embroidering themselves with the simulacra of battle scars and aristocratic finery: eyebrow shaping, complicated hairstyles, scorched-earth depilation, glittery T-shirts, pimped-out V8 chariots, and other bright accoutrements.
As with their ancestors, the drama of their lives again and again returns to ostentatious displays and violent contests of wealth and power and sex. It is the drama of the arena, the curia, and the opera house, brought low for the subjects and the times.
Reality TV is our 21st century Colosseum.
Is it a sign of progress that modern day "gladiators" are still a source of amusement, even though no one's getting killed?
If you say "simulacra" on the Awl this week, Groucho Marx releases a floppy duck.
That's just greedy.
"Cake Boss"
TV is so 20th century: lowest common denominator and all. If you were actually trying to make people smarter you'd tell people to kill the damn thing, but of course you're not about making people smarter, but making people feel as if they're smarter than the other rabble, so you need to discuss something pretentious and snarky with lots of pop culture references. I'd tell you what that was, but I only watch cooking shows and NCIS.
You're my favorite. I'm glad you keep coming back!
And I actually agree that TV is very 20th Century. Actually, most of the videogames I see now feel that way as well. Film right now is sort of straddling the line between centuries.
My Dad and I had a discussion about this tonight at his birthday while pondering other weird developments in our family life, and decided we will argue this with you in person in NYC. At Charlie Palmer's. Nah. Nah. You have to eat something greasy to win. We'd invite Balk but we don't think we can afford the liquor.
The medium of the 21st century, DIY: internet porn, noise-blocking headphones, virtual reality glasses, the vibrating Fleshlight, and electrified nipple clamps.
Is this counter-intuitive? Because if so, warn me, because otherwise I might buy the app.
I'm serious - can we get Mary to do a Today Show recap?
The Today Show is still on? Hugh Downs, Joe Garagiola, Barbara Walters? Wow. -- Yes, recap the Today Show, that would be hilarious.
Does everyone still do blow in Joe Garagiola's office?