You know those shows, those shows that keep getting better and better and yet get no love from critics AND not a big enough audience? Yes you do, don’t lie to me. What do you mean you can’t think of any shows like that? You’ve heard of Chuck, right? Yes? Well, then you have. And don’t tell me I’m putting words in your mouth.
Chuck, during its first season, was lots of fun, but fairly, and by fairly I mean heavily, formulaic. And yet, it still cracked my top 10. Twice. Now, nearing the end of its second and hopefully NOT final season, Chuck has been really, really hitting its stride. Don’t get me wrong, it IS still formulaic. But it’s also doing things that aren’t formulaic. I was hoping for more payoff on the Dark Intersect storyline (I haven’t given up hope, it’s gotta factor in somehow to the supposed season finale gamechanger, right?), but between that plotline, the whole Sarah and Chuck relationship, Chuck’s search for his dad AND his attempt to get the intersect out of his head (I’m guessing those last two are gonna dovetail), there’s a lot going on. Chuck, for being formulaic, is doing some really entertaining stuff outside its formula.
But besides that, Chuck has also turned into one of the best ensemble casts on all of TV. Zachary Levi has turned Chuck into more than just “Nerd who’s in way over his head”, into a full-blown hero. His chemistry with Yvonne Strahovski is starting to near going off the charts (not in the sizzle way, but in the sweet “can’t these crazy kids just get together way). I’m being fully honest when I say that they are quickly approaching Jim and Pam, my favorite TV couple. Adam Baldwin is awesome as always. Ryan McPartlin has turned what should have been a one-note character in Captain Awesome (aka Devon, Chucks brother-in-law to be) into possibly my favorite character on the show. Even Morgan, who I hated in the pilot and first season, has become mildly likeable.
So yeah, you should be watching Chuck. The plot is good, the cast is fantastic, its well written, and most importantly, its FUN. Fun is something that is missing from TV far too much nowadays. With NBC cutting 5 hours of programming next season to make room for Jay Crappo (look for a post on my feelings on that down the line, but can you guess what they are?), Chuck is in serious danger. Lets hope an upcoming episode is “Chuck vs. The Giant Chin” I’m rooting for Chuck.
Showing posts with label Chuck. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chuck. Show all posts
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Top Ten Shows of 2008
So, yeah, readers, I left that previous top ten hanging. Because I’m lazy. So, in order to combat the chance of that happening again, the entire top 10 is going to be in one, neat handy-dandy post. Huzzah! You’ll notice differences from that original one too. So yeah, here’s the top 10.
10. So You Think You Can Dance- FOX
The best of the reality talent shows, with the best host on all of television. Sure, this past season was not their best one, nor even their second best. Sure, there were phenomenal contestants this year (Mark and Will, please move to the front of the class), but this season kind of fell a little flat. I could do with less of Nigel and Mary and more of guest judges like Lil’ C. But even with all of these problems, SYTYCD still manages to clock in at number 10 on my list.
9. Chuck- NBC
Chuck can be frustratingly formulaic at times. If there is one big, gaping flaw with the show, it is that every episode seems like the one before it, but with different guest stars. But the rigidity of the formula allows more room for the lead characters (as well as those zany background credited players) to shine. Zachary Levi is an incredibly likeable lead, Adam Baldwin is always great, and Yvonne Strahovski is proving to be more than just an attractive blonde to look at. Plus, how can you not love a show with a character named “Captain Awesome?”
8. The Office- NBC
The Office has had an up and down year. There has been some absolute brilliance in this year, but there’s also been a whole lot of unpleasantness. (How uncomfortable was the most recent Christmas special?) However, The Office still proves itself to be one of the most solidly funny shows on TV, always delivering in at least some capacity. Jim and Pam are still one of the absolute best couples on TV, with real real chemistry, and the Andy-Angela-Dwight love triangle has been great. It wasn’t The Office’s best year, but it’s still been a pretty darn good one.
7. Flight of the Conchords- HBO
All it takes is a few lines to explain Conchords’ place here “Just because we’ve been playing Tonsil Hockey doesn’t mean you get to score the goal that’s in my Jockeys”, “Bret you got it goin on. Not in a gay way, just in a ‘hey mate, I wanted to say that you’re looking okay’ way”, “My rhymes are so potent that in this small segment I made all of the ladies in the area pregnant.” “So you thin maybe you’ll be a prostitute, just to pay for your lessons, your learning the flute. Ladies wouldn’t pay your very much for this, looks like you’ll never be a concert flautist.” I rest my case.
6. Doctor Who- BBC
So, I’m kind of a Film/TV Sci-Fi nerd. Well, a really big one. And there is no better sci-fi on TV than Doctor Who (Ok, well, I’m far behind on Battlestar Galactica, so that may be better, but I’m not in a place to judge). My ultimate wildest dream is being a companion to the doctor, getting to travel through time and space. This season boasted a really good companion in Donna (a previously very irritating Catherine Tate), and a run of absolutely amazing episodes leading up to a mostly satisfying finale. The Silence in the Library two-parter will be something I will re-watch for years to come, as will the Midnight episode, which is absolutely A+ suspense. And I can’t wait until Steven Moffat takes over the shows reins in 2010.
5. I Love Money- VH1
A very unconventional pick, yes, but anyone who has read the blog for a while knows my absolute love for all things VH1 Celebreality. And I don’t think VH1 will ever produce a better show than the first season of I Love Money. It was a show full of really compelling characters (and I call these people characters because no human beings actually behave in this way), which was crafted in a brilliant way so as to reward manipulation and smarts over brawn. It produced a bona-fide VH1 star in Megan, who was kind of nothing before this and now is, like her (which I mostly do) or hate her (as most others do), a powerhouse VH1 character. There was no better mindless entertainment this year than I Love Money.
4. Lost- ABC
I cannot remember a creative resurgence like the one Lost has this past season, well, ever. So, soo, sooooo good was Lost’s fourth season that I once again have complete and utter faith in this show and will blindly follow it to its end. Season 3 had a whole slew of problems (Nikki and Paulo, we thankful hardly knew ye), but season 4, with the change in the formula, the mystery of who the Oceanic 6 would be, and the knowledge that it was building to castaways leaving the island gave the show so much strength and steam this past season that even Lost haters were jumping back towards the bandwagon. Just a ridiculously impressive season these guys turned out.
3. The Middleman- ABC Family
I cannot think of a better freshman season than the one The Middleman had. Nearly (I say nearly, because the Cursed Tuba one was kind of weak) every episode was nothing but fantastic, boasting some of the most interesting characters who I genuinely would love to spend time with. The Middleman was so witty, clever, geeky, cool, fun, and a bunch of other adjectives that are good things. Natalie Morales and Matt Keeslar had absolutely fantastic chemistry, and I truly hope that we get to see more Middleman-Dub Dub banter. Unfortunately, we most likely never will since neither ABC (we’ll get to that in a quick sec), nor ABC Family seems to recognize true genius when they have it, opting not to renew in order to give us more episodes of, say, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” or “According to Jim.” Sorry, I’m bitter.
2 & 1. It’s A Tie!
30 Rock- NBC
Oh, Tina Fey, why do you make me love you so? Between your dead-on Palin and 30 Rock, I fell even more for you this year. The thing that I love about 30 Rock is that every single character is funny, and yet it doesn’t seem like anyone is trying to out-funny their peers. Fey’s Liz Lemon seems to be an equal amount of buffoon as the rest of the show’s characters, and accomplishing a successful comedy without a straight man deserves props. I can only hope it continues to get even better.
Pushing Daisies- ABC
Why, ABC? Why? Why must you rob me of the sweetest, cutest, most heart-warming show on all of TV? Daisies achieved the perfect balance of sweet and tart, with adorable, surreal, fairy-tale awesomeness, undercut by biting humor and wit. There is not a single, single thing I would change about Pushing Daisies if I could, which is a feat no other show, including those on this list, can claim. The entire cast is absolutely fantastic and will hopefully continue to do amazing this. So I say again, Why ABC? And I swear, if you don’t air the remaining three episodes (as it seems like you may be planning on doing), there’s a decent chance I’ll never tune into ABC again.
So there you have it folks. My top 10 of 2008. As a disclaimer, there are a bunch of really acclaimed shows that I never finished, or got caught up on, so things like Mad Men, Damages, and The Shield, just to name a few, never stood a shot of making it onto the list. But of the TV I watch, which is, trust me, a LOT, these were the 10 shows that I dubbed the best. But enough about me, what do you folks think?
10. So You Think You Can Dance- FOX
The best of the reality talent shows, with the best host on all of television. Sure, this past season was not their best one, nor even their second best. Sure, there were phenomenal contestants this year (Mark and Will, please move to the front of the class), but this season kind of fell a little flat. I could do with less of Nigel and Mary and more of guest judges like Lil’ C. But even with all of these problems, SYTYCD still manages to clock in at number 10 on my list.
9. Chuck- NBC
Chuck can be frustratingly formulaic at times. If there is one big, gaping flaw with the show, it is that every episode seems like the one before it, but with different guest stars. But the rigidity of the formula allows more room for the lead characters (as well as those zany background credited players) to shine. Zachary Levi is an incredibly likeable lead, Adam Baldwin is always great, and Yvonne Strahovski is proving to be more than just an attractive blonde to look at. Plus, how can you not love a show with a character named “Captain Awesome?”
8. The Office- NBC
The Office has had an up and down year. There has been some absolute brilliance in this year, but there’s also been a whole lot of unpleasantness. (How uncomfortable was the most recent Christmas special?) However, The Office still proves itself to be one of the most solidly funny shows on TV, always delivering in at least some capacity. Jim and Pam are still one of the absolute best couples on TV, with real real chemistry, and the Andy-Angela-Dwight love triangle has been great. It wasn’t The Office’s best year, but it’s still been a pretty darn good one.
7. Flight of the Conchords- HBO
All it takes is a few lines to explain Conchords’ place here “Just because we’ve been playing Tonsil Hockey doesn’t mean you get to score the goal that’s in my Jockeys”, “Bret you got it goin on. Not in a gay way, just in a ‘hey mate, I wanted to say that you’re looking okay’ way”, “My rhymes are so potent that in this small segment I made all of the ladies in the area pregnant.” “So you thin maybe you’ll be a prostitute, just to pay for your lessons, your learning the flute. Ladies wouldn’t pay your very much for this, looks like you’ll never be a concert flautist.” I rest my case.
6. Doctor Who- BBC
So, I’m kind of a Film/TV Sci-Fi nerd. Well, a really big one. And there is no better sci-fi on TV than Doctor Who (Ok, well, I’m far behind on Battlestar Galactica, so that may be better, but I’m not in a place to judge). My ultimate wildest dream is being a companion to the doctor, getting to travel through time and space. This season boasted a really good companion in Donna (a previously very irritating Catherine Tate), and a run of absolutely amazing episodes leading up to a mostly satisfying finale. The Silence in the Library two-parter will be something I will re-watch for years to come, as will the Midnight episode, which is absolutely A+ suspense. And I can’t wait until Steven Moffat takes over the shows reins in 2010.
5. I Love Money- VH1
A very unconventional pick, yes, but anyone who has read the blog for a while knows my absolute love for all things VH1 Celebreality. And I don’t think VH1 will ever produce a better show than the first season of I Love Money. It was a show full of really compelling characters (and I call these people characters because no human beings actually behave in this way), which was crafted in a brilliant way so as to reward manipulation and smarts over brawn. It produced a bona-fide VH1 star in Megan, who was kind of nothing before this and now is, like her (which I mostly do) or hate her (as most others do), a powerhouse VH1 character. There was no better mindless entertainment this year than I Love Money.
4. Lost- ABC
I cannot remember a creative resurgence like the one Lost has this past season, well, ever. So, soo, sooooo good was Lost’s fourth season that I once again have complete and utter faith in this show and will blindly follow it to its end. Season 3 had a whole slew of problems (Nikki and Paulo, we thankful hardly knew ye), but season 4, with the change in the formula, the mystery of who the Oceanic 6 would be, and the knowledge that it was building to castaways leaving the island gave the show so much strength and steam this past season that even Lost haters were jumping back towards the bandwagon. Just a ridiculously impressive season these guys turned out.
3. The Middleman- ABC Family
I cannot think of a better freshman season than the one The Middleman had. Nearly (I say nearly, because the Cursed Tuba one was kind of weak) every episode was nothing but fantastic, boasting some of the most interesting characters who I genuinely would love to spend time with. The Middleman was so witty, clever, geeky, cool, fun, and a bunch of other adjectives that are good things. Natalie Morales and Matt Keeslar had absolutely fantastic chemistry, and I truly hope that we get to see more Middleman-Dub Dub banter. Unfortunately, we most likely never will since neither ABC (we’ll get to that in a quick sec), nor ABC Family seems to recognize true genius when they have it, opting not to renew in order to give us more episodes of, say, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” or “According to Jim.” Sorry, I’m bitter.
2 & 1. It’s A Tie!
30 Rock- NBC
Oh, Tina Fey, why do you make me love you so? Between your dead-on Palin and 30 Rock, I fell even more for you this year. The thing that I love about 30 Rock is that every single character is funny, and yet it doesn’t seem like anyone is trying to out-funny their peers. Fey’s Liz Lemon seems to be an equal amount of buffoon as the rest of the show’s characters, and accomplishing a successful comedy without a straight man deserves props. I can only hope it continues to get even better.
Pushing Daisies- ABC
Why, ABC? Why? Why must you rob me of the sweetest, cutest, most heart-warming show on all of TV? Daisies achieved the perfect balance of sweet and tart, with adorable, surreal, fairy-tale awesomeness, undercut by biting humor and wit. There is not a single, single thing I would change about Pushing Daisies if I could, which is a feat no other show, including those on this list, can claim. The entire cast is absolutely fantastic and will hopefully continue to do amazing this. So I say again, Why ABC? And I swear, if you don’t air the remaining three episodes (as it seems like you may be planning on doing), there’s a decent chance I’ll never tune into ABC again.
So there you have it folks. My top 10 of 2008. As a disclaimer, there are a bunch of really acclaimed shows that I never finished, or got caught up on, so things like Mad Men, Damages, and The Shield, just to name a few, never stood a shot of making it onto the list. But of the TV I watch, which is, trust me, a LOT, these were the 10 shows that I dubbed the best. But enough about me, what do you folks think?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Top 10 of the Year- #8- Chuck
So, you know how in the post for Gossip Girl (#10), I said that it took Reaper’s spot on the list? Well, that’s not entirely true. While Gossip Girl did edge out Reaper for the 10 spot, that wasn’t the only reason Reaper didn’t make the cut. The other big reason was that Chuck had already made the list. In many ways, I consider Chuck and Reaper to be birds of a feather. They both chronicle young men in dead end jobs who suddenly possess a great power. They both have potentially aggravating sidekicks, love interests, and whatnot. But Chuck is the greater show, and that is why it makes the list.
Chuck’s success lies mainly in its actors, particularly Zachary Levi as the titular (hehe, titular. Sorry, I’ve got the maturity level of an eight year old) Chuck. His charisma and likeability sustain the show through the sometimes repetitive plots and the stretches of time that Morgan (dear God, is there a more annoying side kick on TV?) is on screen. Levi’s chemistry with Yvonne Strahovski (as one of his handlers and his love interest) is also pretty good and his chemistry with Adam Baldwin (as his other, grumpier handler) is even better. While, yes, Morgan is the most grating sidekick I’ve seen in a long time, the lead trio (as well as various other characters- Shout out to Ryan McPartlin as brother-in-law to be Captain Awesome) make the show feel light and enjoyable.
Which, to be honest, is refreshing nowadays. Current dramas are mostly dark and grim, and even the comedies don’t seen to be light and refreshing in the way that Chuck is. Chuck is just enjoyable to watch. It’s not trying to be high end art, it’s just there to entertain. Which I think actually may be why it nudged out Reaper. Because, as much as I love Reaper for finally developing a serial plot, it started to lost the fun charm. Chuck, even though it can get pretty darn repetitive, keeps it light, and even when it doesn’t keep it light, the charms of the actors shine through and lighten the mood. So congrats Chuck, welcome to the top 10. Be proud, you managed to make it here on only a half season. I look forward to seeing you next season.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Monday Premieres
Tonight brings new episodes of two comedies on the CW:
Everybody Hates Chris: I’m still a fan of this show, even if it can be a tad repetitive in its general premise and stuff. But tonight brings Chris Rock finally guesting on the show, so that should be a good time.
Aliens In America: I started to watch the pilot of this a while ago but stopped at about the 10-minute mark because I just really wasn’t feeling it. They’ve done a bunch of recasting and its getting really good reviews.
If you’re still boycotting the CW for canceling Veronica Mars, you could watch Weeds, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Chuck, or Journeyman instead. Really, what is TV but a provider of a wide variety of entertainments? Enjoy your experience…
Everybody Hates Chris: I’m still a fan of this show, even if it can be a tad repetitive in its general premise and stuff. But tonight brings Chris Rock finally guesting on the show, so that should be a good time.
Aliens In America: I started to watch the pilot of this a while ago but stopped at about the 10-minute mark because I just really wasn’t feeling it. They’ve done a bunch of recasting and its getting really good reviews.
If you’re still boycotting the CW for canceling Veronica Mars, you could watch Weeds, Prison Break, How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Chuck, or Journeyman instead. Really, what is TV but a provider of a wide variety of entertainments? Enjoy your experience…
Monday, September 24, 2007
Monday Premieres
Hey, so I know this is kind of late for today, but I thought I'd run down to you readers, however few you may be, the shows premiering tonight that are maybe worth watching.
How I Met Your Mother: Tonight's premiere of the show that I thought produced the single best episode of last year (Slap Bet, there's a whole post about it), features the resolution of the comedic cliffhanger from Barney, Ted getting back out into the dating world, and Mandy Moore. Three pluses in my book. Also, for anyone who cares, Enrique Iglesias will be there too.
Chuck: My second favorite pilot so far (Pushing Daisies is number one) premieres tonight. It's pretty good, and features draws for all, both nerd and not nerd. Read the original review here
Heroes: Last season's biggest hit returns tonight with the cheerleader, the emo nurse, the chick with multiple personalities (Since when is Schizophrenia a superpower?), the guy who eats peoples brains, and the time-traveling Hiro all doing heroic things. While you may not be able to tell, I actually do dig the show alot. Yeah, Hiro's trapped in medieval Japan and Peter may or may not have killed his brother. We'll find out tonight, and look for my beloved Kristen Bell popping up later in the season.
Journeyman: Finally, if you're not already tired out by TV for the night, I'd recommend checking out, or at least DVRing Journeyman. It's not spectacular, but it's worth a watch. Read the original review Here
So yeah, that's what starts tonight. Also on are good standbys Prison Break and Weeds, if this TV doesn't float your boat. I promise to try to get this done earlier for tomorrows premieres. Happy viewing on this most awesome week.
How I Met Your Mother: Tonight's premiere of the show that I thought produced the single best episode of last year (Slap Bet, there's a whole post about it), features the resolution of the comedic cliffhanger from Barney, Ted getting back out into the dating world, and Mandy Moore. Three pluses in my book. Also, for anyone who cares, Enrique Iglesias will be there too.
Chuck: My second favorite pilot so far (Pushing Daisies is number one) premieres tonight. It's pretty good, and features draws for all, both nerd and not nerd. Read the original review here
Heroes: Last season's biggest hit returns tonight with the cheerleader, the emo nurse, the chick with multiple personalities (Since when is Schizophrenia a superpower?), the guy who eats peoples brains, and the time-traveling Hiro all doing heroic things. While you may not be able to tell, I actually do dig the show alot. Yeah, Hiro's trapped in medieval Japan and Peter may or may not have killed his brother. We'll find out tonight, and look for my beloved Kristen Bell popping up later in the season.
Journeyman: Finally, if you're not already tired out by TV for the night, I'd recommend checking out, or at least DVRing Journeyman. It's not spectacular, but it's worth a watch. Read the original review Here
So yeah, that's what starts tonight. Also on are good standbys Prison Break and Weeds, if this TV doesn't float your boat. I promise to try to get this done earlier for tomorrows premieres. Happy viewing on this most awesome week.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Pilot Review: Chuck
Chuck
NBC. Mondays at 8
Cast: Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Adam Baldwin, Joshua Gomez, and Sarah Lancaster
To be fair, watching Chuck after recently watching the Pushing Daisies pilot (again) is going to put Chuck at a disadvantage. But really, the same can be said for any show. Chuck, which is about professional nerd Chuck (Levi) and the two federal agents (Strahovski and Baldwin) sent to protect and watch over him after he downloads the joint NSA/CIA database into his head accidentally. Throw in an aggravating sidekick/best friend and a seemingly useless sister character and you’ve got the basic premise and characters of the show.
That’s not to say that Chuck is bad. In fact, there’s quite a bit to like about the show. First, the premise itself is kind of funny and could lend itself to some good television. Secondly, Zachary Levi definitely has enough charisma and charm to maintain his own series. He and Strahovski are the two compelling members of the cast, which saddens me because I’m a big Adam Baldwin fan. Alas, he seems to have nothing much to do here but grimace and try to act gruff, something he normally does well. Lancaster is given pretty much nothing to do besides acting sisterly and looking nice. And Gomez, as aggravating best friend Morgan is, well, aggravating. Who decided that the new hip trend on TV would be to have a really aggravating sidekick who’s supposed to be funny but isn’t? Because I’d really like to find that person and smack them.
Also, at least in the pilot, the action is there in just the right places and is well shot and fun to watch, particularly in the club scene between Chuck and Sarah (Strahovski’s character) where the, while dancing very sexily, takes out four NSA agents. What’s also really good about the series is that they’ve managed to keep the tone at just the right level, light but not blatantly comedic or overly dramatic. What remains to be seen is if they can continue this balance after the pilot.
Chuck, however, certainly has its weaker moments. As previously stated, Lancaster and Baldwin seem to be almost sleepwalking through their roles, and Gomez is so annoying at times that you wonder why Chuck, who is nice and relatively charismatic and attractive, is even friends with him. The character of Ellie (Lancaster)’s boyfriend ”Captain Awesome” is entirely too reminiscent of Keith Dudemeister on Scrub. Also, the hint of romantic tension at the end of the episode between Chuck and Sarah is definitely something I can do without. Can there please be two leading male and female protagonists who don’t have a romantic connection? Is that so much to ask TV? All together, though, Chuck is a fun show, with a charismatic lead, well timed action, and a well-balanced tone, which is why it garners the rating
Rating: Definitely Worth Another Viewing
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