I like TV. Probably too much. I don't live by it. That's what DVRs are for and binge watching. It used to be that summer was my break but now its becoming just as filled up as my fall/winter/spring line up. So while I wait for Scandal and The Walking Dead to come back on I'm excited about the premire and return of some of these summer shows:
Orphan Black- already airing in its second season on BBC America, the concept is a woman who finds out she is a clone. One of many clone copies and the conspiracy and deception is high level. The actress who regularly plays 3-5 roles in one episode should win a Globe or Emmy by now. This is no Nutty Professor/Eddie Murphy playing a bunch of roles in makeup. The clones only have minor differences (hair style, hair color, accent) and still you think its a totally different person. And her brother is a charmer. Someone you want for your bestie. Love it.
Last Ship- coming out in July on TNT, based on a book about a disease that wipes out much of humanity and survivors on, well, the last ship, trying to find a cure. Post apocalyptic goodness.
The Leftovers- coming out in late June on HBO this is another series based on a novel about what happens to those left on earth after a Rapture like disappearance of a portion of the world's population. HBO pulls out good drama for the most part so I'm intrigued.
Penny Dreadful- cool concept period horror series currently on Showtime with my boyfriend in my head Josh Hartnett who is part of a team of folk looking into the weird/paranormal (including Dracula, Frankenstein monster, Dorian Gray and more!). Creepy goodness.
True Blood- final season airing in late June on HBO. I was dismayed with the last season but since this is wraping up I'll stick with it. I loved how Bell ended his other series Six Feet Under (who can forget the finale final moments as it displayed the life and eventual death of the main characters to Sia's song Breathe Me, haunting). So I have high hopes.
The Strain- yep another series based on a book (series of books) coming on FX in July but its not just any series, this is based on the books by writer/director Guillermo del Toro and if you know his work (Pans Labyrinth, The Orphanage (one of my favorite horror films), Pacific Rim) and are into horror you want to see this series based on a vampire out break (and these aren't your Twilight/True Blood vamps, these are the stuff of nightmares). I just bought the first book (I have to keep the cover covered because it scares me) so I'll be paying close attention.
Falling Skies- I'm a true fan of this TNT series coming back in late June. It's about an alien invasion, the resistance, and a family fighting to stay together in the midst of this horror. Pretty compelling.And its got ER alums Noah Wyle and Gloria Ruben.
Mistresses- this ABC series out now, has my attention, first because I loved the British show (such drama) and I love Ms. Alisa Milano so if you like soap operas and Sex and the City you will dig this show about diverse gal pals.
Extant - coming out in July on CBS. All I know is this: Steven Spielberg (who also is behind Falling Skies), Halle Berry, science fiction- I'm there.
The Partnership- FX in August. Kelsey Grammar and Martin Lawrence star- loved both their sitcoms so I have to check this out because their comedies were worlds apart, curious to see how it will mix.
Murder In the First- serial detective drama out early June on TNT. Taye Diggs. Nuff said
Dominion- July on SyFy. Their movies suck but darn does SyFy whip out some great series. Based on the movie no one saw but me, Legion. I'm very intrigued about the idea of angry, fighting angels and in a post-apocalyptic world.
My DVR is gonna burst.
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Why This Reality TV Fan Is Giving Up (Most) Reality TV
In a world where there is enough drama, hateration, foolishness, shade and backstabbing, why do I want to continue the unwanted party by watching this drama unfold? Now let me clarify something, by most (and not all), I'm not saying I won't watch competition shows (love the queens on RuPaul's Drag Race, support the singers on The Voice, love Patty giving her advice on Millionaire Matchmaker and shaking my head at the will of the survivalist on Naked and Afraid). But I just can't get down with anymore female drama.
Yes, I know drama makes for good ratings but you can still have an entertaining reality family/frenemy show without laying hands on each other. I mean, the contestants on RuPaul and Project Runway give plenty of shade but I don't come out with my blood pressure rising. As a TV-holic, I had to take a step back and check what I was watching and how it affected me. How it even affected my sleep. With so much negativity out there I wanted to watch TV that made me do one or more of the following: laugh (Mindy Project), imagine (Game of Thrones), educate (any travel show by Anthony Bourdain) or push creativity (any contest where people are reaching their dreams). Therefore The Bad Girls Club, Housewives, Married to Medicine, Love and Hiphop, Basketball Wives etc. had no place for me. Not knocking these shows. They entertain for sure. I just am tired of seeing women, especially black women, especially black women living in Atlanta, portrayed as superficial, fake, catty, ghetto, violent beings.
Perhaps it's all for the show and these women all love each other in real life and don't mind clowning it up for ratings and pulling out blow horns and beating up on each other (I'm talking to you Kenya and Porsha) but I think we can do better. We can have a reality show where the drama is contained and spotlights us in a lighter note (Tia and Tamera, Braxton Family Values, Mary Mary). It is so easy for society to discount us as fools who easily pull each other down as a race or dumb women who always have to hate on each other. And since we, as black women, already are easily prone to being stereotyped, we need to try, at every opportunity, to show how fabulous we are. Is it fair that we must always do differently than other races? No. But that's life. And for men, outside of wrestling, there isn't much reality TV where they show this much drama. So let's do better. Hands off each other and if you are going to dislike someone let it be for a reason worth the energy it takes to be angry. Till then, I just can't watch.
Yes, I know drama makes for good ratings but you can still have an entertaining reality family/frenemy show without laying hands on each other. I mean, the contestants on RuPaul and Project Runway give plenty of shade but I don't come out with my blood pressure rising. As a TV-holic, I had to take a step back and check what I was watching and how it affected me. How it even affected my sleep. With so much negativity out there I wanted to watch TV that made me do one or more of the following: laugh (Mindy Project), imagine (Game of Thrones), educate (any travel show by Anthony Bourdain) or push creativity (any contest where people are reaching their dreams). Therefore The Bad Girls Club, Housewives, Married to Medicine, Love and Hiphop, Basketball Wives etc. had no place for me. Not knocking these shows. They entertain for sure. I just am tired of seeing women, especially black women, especially black women living in Atlanta, portrayed as superficial, fake, catty, ghetto, violent beings.
Perhaps it's all for the show and these women all love each other in real life and don't mind clowning it up for ratings and pulling out blow horns and beating up on each other (I'm talking to you Kenya and Porsha) but I think we can do better. We can have a reality show where the drama is contained and spotlights us in a lighter note (Tia and Tamera, Braxton Family Values, Mary Mary). It is so easy for society to discount us as fools who easily pull each other down as a race or dumb women who always have to hate on each other. And since we, as black women, already are easily prone to being stereotyped, we need to try, at every opportunity, to show how fabulous we are. Is it fair that we must always do differently than other races? No. But that's life. And for men, outside of wrestling, there isn't much reality TV where they show this much drama. So let's do better. Hands off each other and if you are going to dislike someone let it be for a reason worth the energy it takes to be angry. Till then, I just can't watch.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)