I have always hated television, even though I have spent many mornings, evenings, or even days mesmerized by the glow of the screen like an insect flying aimlessly around a light. In the last few years, however, I've come to realize that I only hated the idea of television and not the shows that are on it (well some of the shows anyway). The countless commercial breaks, the obnoxiousness of said commercials, and the inability to watch shows at your convenience and comfort are the main factors that have prevented me from truly enjoying TV. But if you're patient and are willing to pay for the DVD releases of your favorite shows, OR if you're like me, and you manage to get your hands on free, commercial-free shows (I can't discuss how for obvious reasons), then you cannot put TV down. So to answer the question previously posed: no, television does not suck. Sure, there's been great shows over the years that were ruined by a season or two too many, and some that are still running, years after their creative cow's milk turned sour. But there are shows out there that have dodged these bullets (at least so far) and have successfully produced quality programming that I look forward to every week.
- NBC's most recent addition to the already great Thursday night lineup comes in the form of a mockumentary series. The aptly titled Parks and Recreation is about mid-level bureaucracy and the petty going-ons of the Department of Parks and Recreation in little town, Indiana. The show is nearing the end of its second season and seems to only get better with time. It hosts a great cast that includes Amy Poehler who plays a naive, straight-shooting idealist, and Aziz Ansari as a young exploitative, wishes-he-was-a-'player', party guy. Other characters include an anti-government head of department, a disinterested and indifferent intern, and a dimwitted unsuccessful musician who couldn't seem to catch a break until he was recently appointed shoeshiner at the building where the department operates. The first season had all right ingredients but lacked a certain je ne sais quoi; in the second, and current, season these ingredients come together so cleverly to make this a Thursday night highlight
- Next up is HBO’s the Life and Times of Tim. Tim is a twenty-something year old, mild mannered but awkward New Yorker whose struggle is to live a normal life with his girlfriend and few friends. The poorly animated show puts Tim in some of the most embarrassing and uncomfortable situations imaginable. Each episode features two segments that are packed full of good intentions, bad decisions, bizarre logic, funny twists, lack of foresight, strange characters, hilarious dialogue, and no reservations! It’s the most ridiculous thirty minutes on television, and it’s on every Friday night.
- You don’t have to go very far for this next feature. How to Make It in America is an entertaining ride through a romanticized land of opportunity, a city of dreams, one that never sleeps, you guessed it, New York City. It's HBO's latest addition to Sunday night and is about a few friends, in their late twenties, and their attempts at success. They hustle and scheme, looking for their next break; some make it, some don't, and some just go to parties. The characters are convincing, their struggles are real, maybe even familiar, and their schemes valid (a clothing line, printed T shirts, energy drinks), but it’s this journey along the winding road to uncertainty that makes the show so engaging. The first season wraps up this Sunday and I predict that it's going to inspire a whole mess of people to move to New York. To those I say good luck. But to you who keep reality and fiction apart, you’re in for some good television.
I will leave you with a couple of things to look forward to. Breaking Bad’s third season just started; that’s very exciting. And the summer is bringing a new season of Mad Men, Entourage, and Eastbound and Down, so stay tuned.
