Tuesday Top Ten: TV Shows Cancelled Too Soon

This week I'll be sharing a Top Ten with Amy on TV Shows that were with less then three seasons. Not sure why I decided on three seasons but it did eliminate some easy choices for shows with four seasons like Everwood and The OC.

You can view Amy's list at her blog found here:

Absolutely Amy

10. Veronica Mars

I considered not including this because it had a slow death after the first season. It slips in because the first season was one of the best TV seasons of a show ever. It was well written and the season long arc kept you interested. The writers just couldn't follow it up with a good enough storyline and the third season with the single episode stories just felt lame.

9. Dead Like Me

I haven't finished watching this one yet but I made it through the first season and loved what I've seen. I'll eventually finish it off. The show has a great concept behind it and the show has a really strong cast.   

8. My So Called Life

This show was before it's time. If it had been on The WB in the late 90's I think it would have lasted 6 or more seasons easily. It inspired so many teen shows after it and it sucks that they only got one season.

7. Jericho

It still pisses me off that they ended two seasons on cliffhangers even though both seasons ended with little hope that it would come back. Regardless it was a great concept that was written and acted really well. I enjoyed it well it lasted.

6. The Chappelle Show

This show should have lasted longer. It had so many great moments from Rick James to Making Da Band spoofs. I think it would still be going if Dave Chappelle hadn't lost interest in the show.

5. Reaper

Ray Wise as the Devil was great. It's too bad more people didn't give this show a chance because it had so many great moments and the cast was fun to watch.

4. Sports Night 

I'm not a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin but I really liked this show. The cast went together so well and it had a lot of touching moments while also speaking on issues in a non-preachy way. 

3. Undergrads

I found this show while I was in University so the characters and stories made some sense to me because they reminded me of people around me at the time. It's too bad that a show like this can only last one season but we are stuck with cartoons on Fox that have stopped being funny.



 2. Roswell

This was never my favorite show on The WB but Jason Katims is a great storyteller and while this is no Friday Night Lights it is a good show. There were moments that annoyed me but I can say that about a lot of shows I love. You can tell they were listening to the network in season 2 and the start of season 3 but the series started and ended really well.

1. Eli Stone

This show never got the love it deserved. Really it was lucky to not only get a second season but have the chance to make a satisfying ending. Not all shows get that chance or the writers are too stubborn to write an ending but instead trying to force a network to continue the story by writing a cliffhanger. I really liked what this was about and how the story was delivered. It did have moments where it seemed a little preachy but nothing to over the top. It was a shame that they couldn't deliver more on the story.

Tuesday Top Ten: Summer TV

Since it's summer and in recent years there have been just as many good Summer TV shows as during the Fall I thought I'd use this weeks blog to list my top ten current Summer TV shows. I'll be sharing this weeks list with my friend Lisa who I have discovered from GetGlue has similar tastes in Pop Culture as myself. 

You can find her Blog here: 

A Pop Culture Affair 

I'm going to start with a few Honorable Mentions of shows that I've recently started enjoying but have not watched them enough to include them in the top ten. 

Eureka

Covert Affairs

Franklin and Bash

Warehouse 13

Falling Skies
Suits

 

10. Wilfred

I wasn't sure about the show when I first started watching but I have grown to love the show. I talk to my dog all the time so it's nice to see a show where the dog actually talks back.

9. Episodes

I had mixed feelings about this because I have never been a big fan of Matt LeBlanc but he is actually really funny playing a caricature of himself. This weeks in the same way that James Van Der Beek works in Don't Trust The B- in Apt 23 except this show has more going for it overall. 

8. True Blood

This show is hit or miss for me. There are seasons I love (Seasons 1 and 3) and seasons I hated (Seasons 2 and last season) but I always still get around to watching the show although I don't ever really feel like re-watching the earlier seasons.


7.  America’s Got Talent

I enjoy this show because you can see so many amazing things that people can do. Of course you also get the stupid talents like guys who can take kicks to the balls. When you can see someone you looks like a train wreck come out and blow you away. Like this summer with the Goth kid belting out opera music. It was unexpected and wonderful. Likeing this show also gives me a reason to post this video:

 

6. Big Brother

This one always depends on the cast but if you get the right mix of sane and insane housemates then it is great for guilty Summer TV. I do always wish they would replace Julie Chen with another host but the show is usually a good time killer regardless.

5. Teen Wolf   

This show is better when watching many episodes at once. When I first started watching the show last summer I lost interest watching it weekly and just stopped watching. I gave it another try and really enjoyed the show but now I am experiencing the same thing where if I watch it weekly I loss interest so I just decided to let the episodes build up on the DVR and then watch all at once.

4. Awkward

I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this show. The main characters can get annoying at times but the supporting characters are great. It definately feels like it should be a hour long show rather then half hour because 22 minutes of airtime flies by. The show did a good job and establishing a love triangle that people can easily choose sides in similar to Dawson's Creek and One Tree Hill. 

3. So You Think You Can Dance

  
The show gets so much better once the audition episodes are done because by then you have favorites but people with lack of screen time have the chance to steal the show. It's produced so much like American Idol where you can tell who the producer favorites are and I like to cheer on the underdogs.  The show also does a great job of showcasing so many different styles of dance that are fun to watch like Bollywood which I've gained a love for since I've been with my wife. 
 

 2. Rookie Blue

I love the fact that this show is filmed in Canada and they don't try to make it seem like America. They even show our colored money which is awesome. While the show often lacks the season long storylines I like in most TV shows it does a great job with the relationships between characters and the acting is actually good for a Summer show on Broadcast TV.

1. Hell’s Kitchen / MasterChef

My wife got me into watching Gordon Ramsey shows and I quickly fell in love with ever insult he tosses out during Kitchen Service. I always find it amazing how poorly most of the career chefs  do early in the season, at this point chefs should know that they better make sure they can properly cook a scallop or beef wellington. It's like the people who go on Survivor who can't use a flint.

I actually just started watching MasterChef this Summer but I actually like it better then Hell's Kitchen this summer but I think it's because I don't really like any of the cast on Hell's. Like any reality competition show it really comes down to having a good cast.

Take Two: The New Girl and Teen Wolf

Since it is Summer and I am a TV junkie I usually use my time catching up on TV shows I missed during the TV season, or watching old shows I loved on DVD. I also use the time retrying shows I didn't get hooked to the first time around and dismissed. 

I recently got into using Get Glue a lot because I'm a geek who likes to let people know what I am watching and argue about TV show plots and which characters should be with each other. Based on recommendations from there I retried both The New Girl and Teen Wolf. 

Teen Wolf

I originally liked the pilot but after the next few weeks felt no desire to watch the show and the episodes just collected dust on the DVR until I eventually just removed them to watch room for other stuff. I had no intention of watching the show again but I saw the season two trailer on MUCH and it interested me so I took a chance and re-watched the pilot and kept watching.

I wouldn't say I got hooked to the show. It had elements I really liked but there are times where the acting and dialogue fall flat. Also the special effects aren't always great but they are more then passable for a TV show with w budget. 

The show got really good near the end of season one. The last two episodes were dramatic and left you wanting to know what was next. The show is definitely best during Summer. There's less pressure to compete and I think they have more freedom to explore the storyline in the summer similar to other current summer shows like Rookie Blue and Suits.

The New Girl

Originally I thought the pilot was good but not memorable. There were other pilots I liked better and decided not to watch this one because I thought the characters would become annoying. 

While there are times that the characters do get annoying it is more because you get attached to them and within the show they are doing the opposite of what you feel they should do. It's like having a friend who always dates the wrong people. You still love that friend but they annoy the hell out of you. That is what The New Girl became.

The jokes still fell flat a lot of times but you quickly get attached to the characters. There was one scene that hooked me to the show because it reminded me of my childhood friends and I.

After that episode I was hooked to the characters. I flew through the rest of season 1. Slowly the characters did things that reminded me of old friends. Especially Jess who reminds me of one of my best friends Jen. I kept watching because it reminded me a good times growing up.

I got annoyed quite often because the plot wasn't going the way I wanted it to go but I stuck with it because I hoped eventually I'd get my way. The characters are just really well written and acted and the show is worth giving a fair chance to.

Initial Impression: Pilot Season

It's casting season for many new pilots that are in development for next fall. While it is still really early and everyday new actors are announced for pilots I thought I'd post my first impression on five shows that are in development that intrigue me the most. Of course there is a chance that none of these will be picked up but I can't help myself from getting excited about the potential of these series. 

There were other developing shows that also interested me but they were either still casting the show or the show was on Fox. I have finally decided not try a new Fox show next year. If the show gets a season two and looks interesting I'll jump on board then but not a moment before a second season announcement. I've been burned by Fox too many times. I also only went with broadcast pilots because I always wait before jumping on a Cable show band wagon.

With that diatribe done here are five shows that excite me based on show concept and casting.

Arrow (CW)

"Based on the DC Comics title, published by DC Entertainment, this hourlong drama is a modern retelling of the legendary DC Comics character Green Arrow."

Since Smallville ended I expected the CW to jump back into the super hero/comic world with a new show. While I thought it would be some sort of spin off I am OK with the direction that they have decided to take with Arrow. While I think Smallville did a good job with the character I like the idea of stepping away from the show and trying to blaze their own trail for the character.

I still see the show following mostly the same path as far as story except it'll be tailored towards their characters. I still expect the show to have the action and relationships that made Smallville great. While I started Smallville for the story of Clark Kent becoming Superman I stayed to see how he would be friends with Lex. I am hoping Arrow can pull off that type of dynamic.

I am also excited for the cast of the show. Stephen Amell has been good in most roles he has played and Katie Cassidy has hit every role she has had out of the park. She was the only reason to watch that horrible remake of Melrose Place and even added some excitement to the sinking ship called Gossip Girl last season. Also Willa Holland has the potential to be a scene stealer if used right. 

For a great place to follow news and insight into the show you should check out Green Arrow TV. It is run from the same fine fellow who did Krytonsite for Smallville which I still frequent and he has a large network of websites for other shows.

Green Arrow TV

Joey Dakota (CW)

"Based on the Israeli format Danny Hollywood.  In this romantic-time-travel-musical, a documentary filmmaker travels back in time to the 1990’s where she meets and falls in love with the rock star subject of her film. When she unexpectedly returns to present day, she must find her way back to the past to reunite with her love and prevent his untimely death."

The concept of the show is about a reporter who travels back in time to research a Rock Star who died young. While there she falls in love with the Rock Star and is bought back to the future. Once back she struggles to get back to the 90's to safe him. 

Sure it sounds like a bad romantic comedy but the premise reminds me of Being Erica. I initially had no interest in watching that show but once I tried it on Netflix I flew through the serious quickly and finished the series while it ran on TV. One of my favorite storylines on the show was the relationship between Erica and Kai. He was a Rock Star who came back to change his past. I figure the series will hopefully take the emotion of that story arc and blow it out to a full blown series.

And for those who don't know Being Erica this scene tied up the first part of their storyline.   

As for cast I loved both Legend of the Seeker and Greek so the casting of Craig Horner and Amber Stevens is OK in my book.

 
666 Park Avenue (ABC)

"When a young couple accepts an offer to manage one of the most historic apartment buildings in New York City, they unwittingly begin to experience supernatural occurrences, which complicate and endanger the lives of everyone in the building. Based on the book by Gabriella Pierce."

This show should make it on cast alone. Terry O'Quinn, Robert Buckley,  Rachael Taylor, Vanessa Williams, and Dave Annable so far. It's also written by one of the writers on Fringe and has Supernatural aspects to the show.

Of course I was sold on Terry O'Quinn so as long as this show is picked up it'll be on my Fall TV Schedule. 

1600 Penn (NBC)

"What happens when you're the most ordinary family in the world but your father is the president of the United States? A modern family-type of show set in the White House where all the kids are far from perfect."

A show about a dysfunction First Family. The premise kind of reminds me of Dirty Sexy Money set in the White House and I'm kind of hoping it's based on George W. Bush's family. 

I liked Bull Pullman as the president in Independence Day and he was funny in Casper (I liked it), and Brittany Snow deserves a hit show so hopefully this one will make it. Plus side is it's on NBC so even slightly average ratings should get it four seasons. 

Shelter (CW)

"Drama set at an historic New England summer resort where the new and returning staff attend to the practical, emotional and often comical needs of the guests while navigating friendships, rivalries and romances of their own."

The show has no big named actors or actresses attached to it (as far as I can find no one is attached yet) but the same could be said for One Tree Hill (minus Chad Michael Murray) and I got sucked into that show for nine seasons.  I'd give anything from Mark Schwahn a fair chance.

Top Ten: Commercials

 Super Bowl Sunday means that during every commercial break companies will spend over 3 million dollars for a 30 second spot to try to impress 80-100 million people. Every year companies bend over backwards to have the most talked about commercial. Of course here in Canada we'll have to wait an extra day for most commercials although Budweiser was cool and smart enough to know Canadians drink too much and made a commercial that will only be viewed in Canada during the Superbowl. I have included that commercial plus my top ten below.

10. Pepsi Stuff – JT

I'm a fan of Justin Timberlake and really enjoyed the other celebrity cameos through the commercial. 

9. McDonald’s: Play for a Big Mac

I grew up eating a lot of McDonald's and loving basketball so watching two of the greatest players ever take ridiculous shots always amused me. 

 

8. Volkswagon: Darth Vader

I just thought this commercial was really cute and showed the imagination of kids. 

 

7. Diet Pepsi Max: What is Love?

As many friends will remember, from many different parties, Troy and I loved forcing people to "dance" to this song. When I hear the song I can't stop myself from nodding my head. It's just ingrained into my sub-conscious. The commercial plays into this so well especially with Chris Kattan at the end of the commercial.

 

6. Budweiser: Wassup

Sure it's annoying now but for at least a year you couldn't call a buddy without saying wassup. 

 

5. NFL Network: Tomorrow

I love this commercial. Every few weeks the song just gets stuck in my head and I like watching other people who can't sing.

 

4. Nike: Basketball

This commercial use to fascinate me. The stuff they pull off was cool when the commercial was released. 

 

3. Terry Tate Office Linebacker

Every office should have a Terry Tate. I still crack up every time I watched these on YouTube.

2. Google: Parisian Love

I'm a sentimental fool so this commercial is right up my alley. 

1.  Gatorade: Be Like Mike

I always wanted to be like Mike when I was younger. I remember seeing the commercial and then bugging my family by singing it all the time. I truly believe this commercial is the reason I drank Gatorade rather then Powerade. 

Everybody sing it now:

Sometimes I dream
That he is me
You've got to see that's how I dream to be
I dream I move, I dream I groove
Like Mike
If I could Be Like Mike
Like Mike
Oh, if I could Be Like Mike
Be Like Mike, Be Like Mike
Again I try
Just need to fly
For just one day if I could
Be that way
I dream I move
I dream I groove
Like Mike
If I could Be Like Mike
I wanna be, I wanna be
Like Mike
Oh, if I could Be Like Mike  

Quick Take on Alcatraz, The L.A. Complex, Arctic Air, and One Tree Hill season 9

 

Alcatraz

This show reminds me a lot of the first season of Fringe. It took me awhile to really jump on board with Fringe. While I liked the Peter and Walter characters Olivia had to grow on me. The show also started with a case of the week set up before they really started developing the characters and season long arcs. Alcatraz follows the same set up right now. At this point it is a case of the week show with each week revealing a little more about the cast. I'm hoping eventually they will stray away from the case of the week story lines and build a real story arc. If not I'm not sure I'll stay long term. 

I do like the characters for the most part. I like Jorge Garcia's character but to me he will always be Hurley just like Michael Emerson on Person of Interest will always be Ben. It's not their fault that they played great characters on Lost but it's a by product of being on one of my all time favorite shows. Sarah Jones character reminds me a lot of Olivia on Fringe. They are obviously trying to build the character but at this point she is not overly likable. The same goes for the Emerson character but I don't think he is supposed to be truly likable at this point. 

The one thing the show has done is established a great overall mystery that makes you want to keep watching to see how it all happened and why. Those questions are enough to keep me watching for now. 

The L.A. Complex

The previews for the show reminded me of any other CW show except it was made by Canadians and aired on MUCH. Of course I then found out that the CW was already picking it up for spring/summer TV which doesn't surprise me. 

What I did like was that it felt realistic. Nothing comes easy for people on the show. Only one character has a real showbiz job and even he struggles with being the worst actor on his "show."   This is what the reboot of Melrose Place should have been. The show is still growing but it has potential and the cast is mostly likable.

 

Arctic Air

Since learning that CBC actually airs quality TV shows I've followed the shows on the channel a little more then I use to. When I saw the ads for this one I was instantly intrigued. There aren't many shows with an Aboriginal in the lead role. It was nice seeing an Aboriginal actor get lot's of screen time. 

Of course they show early on that he has made mistakes and even has a son that he has nothing to do with (sadly this is quite realistic) but he doesn't come across as a bad guy. Just someone who made mistakes and doesn't really know how to fix it. 

One thing I like about the CBC is that their shows are all character driven rather then story. It's not that there is no story but they always have solid likable casts and Arctic Air is no different. Being on CBC gives it a little more room as far as ratings and as long as the show is on I see myself watching.

One Tree Hill Season 9

I stuck with this show for nine seasons and it's not like I will be giving up on it now that there is only three episodes left but I have no clue what the writers are doing.

It's like they decided that since it was the last season they were going to do whatever they pleased even if  most of it made no sense. Sure the show still has good parts (I enjoy Chris Keller) but I'm not enjoying most of the story lines at this point.  I will give Mark Schwann the benefit of the doubt with the missing Nathan since James Laffety wanted less episodes. 

Most of the character arcs seem to come out of nowhere. I hope they are going somewhere and the season ends up being redeemed but knowing the few spoilers I have seen I have my doubts. Regardless I just hope the ending justifies the means. It just seems like the show got 13 extra episodes and had no clue what to do with them. Considering I liked how season 8 ended they should have just pulled the plug.

Top Ten: Worst Series Finales

The other day Amy asked me if I wanted to do a Top Ten Worst Finales list and since I love making lists and comparing shows I said yes. I also got her to do a Best Series Finale list which will be posted at a later date.

I actually had a hard time coming up with the list. When it comes to Pop Culture I'm fairly easy to please. For instance while they failed to answer many questions I really enjoyed how Lost ended.  I ended up coming up with 12 at the top of my mind and then did some searching to make sure I wasn't forgetting any. I then stuck with the 12 I had and dropped two to come up with these ten.

Amy's blog can be found here: Absolutely Amy

10. Gilmore Girls

I actually liked the episode but as a finale it felt like they could have done more. Also I wanted more out of the Luke and Lorilei relationship.


9. Life Unexpected

As a season finale the episode would have been an ok episode. As a series finale not so much. I do like that they took the time to write in the ending to offer something to fans instead of leaving them in the dark. The downside is that I wanted to know how they got to that happy ending.
 
8.My Name Is Earl

No show should end with the ends "To Be Continued". We also never got to see Earl complete his list.

7. Veronica Mars

If there was a list for Worst Final Season this would make the list. The ratings for the show were horrible so the writers had no excuse to not prepare a satisfying ending. In fact every season had bad ratings so they should have felt blessed to have three seasons but instead left the series in a bad way.

6. Alf

The show ends with Alf being captured by the government. Sure they came up with a TV movie that resolved the story but I only found that out when I was researching this list.

5. Undergrads

I found this show while I was in university and loved it. It's just to bad that almost no one else watched it on so it was cancelled at the end of the first year with the main character sitting on a roof. 
 
4. Popular

I've read that Ryan Murphy was told there would be a third season but The WB changed their minds at the last minute. Still being left to wonder who Harrison would pick sucked. And no show should end with a character getting hit by a car.

3. Dinosaurs

Earl ruins the world and the Ice Age starts. Everyone freezes to death and dies. Show ends. As a moral story it's a great tale of how we are ruining the world. As a Series Final it sucked.


2. V

A ton of main characters die. The rest of the world set to follow the Visitors. It sucked that the show was cancelled as it was getting good. 
 

1. Jericho

You would think they would learn. They ended season one on a cliff hanger and was cancelled. The fans then sent a bunch of nuts to CBS which convinced then to give the show one more chance to find an audience. CBS makes a big deal about the show returning and no one watches. So what do the writers do to thank the fans who stuck with the show. The end season two on a cliff hanger knowing the chances that the show comes back for a third season are slim.

Tuesday Top Ten: Holiday Themed TV Episodes

This week I'm doing Top Ten Holiday Themed TV Episodes. Unsurprisingly all of the picks are from Christmas since not many TV shows do special episodes for other holidays.

Finding clips for the 10 choices was harder then actually narrowing the list to 10 choices.

Hopefully you enjoy the list and I wish everyone Happy Holidays!

10. The Office: A Benihana Christmas

The Office definitely captured the awkwardness of having a party with people you only spend time with at work. 

9. Bones: The Man in the Fallout Shelter

Speaking of having to spend time during the Holidays with Co-Workers Bones did it well by forcing the cast to be stuck in the Lab. The show did it very well with how they had the cast make each other gifts and watching them spend time with their families with a glass wall between was touching and makes you realize our important it is to have family around during the Holidays.

8. Corner Gas: Merry Gasmas

Corner Gas did the a great job of showing the awkwardness of charity as well as the frustration of traveling during the holidays.

7. Scrubs: My Own Personal Jesus

Scrubs did a great job of showing someone losing faith. It cannot be easy working in a hospital during the holidays and Scrubs does a great job of showcasing all the emotion.

6. Being Erica: Fa La Erica

I liked this episode because it shows the holidays from the perspective of Christians, Jewish, and people who just don't celebrate the holidays. It showed that you can't force people to celebrate something they do not believe in.

5. The Simpsons: Santa’s Little Helper

When I was younger I always wanted a dog for Christmas even through I already had two dogs. I like the idea that everyone ends up happy. Also The Simpsons were so much funnier then.

4. The Big Bang Theory: The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis

This episode rated high for Sheldon's reaction to his gift from Penny even through the entire episode was funny.

3. Smallville: Lexmas

First of all I miss the voice over guy from the WB promos. His voice really made you excited for upcoming eisodes.

I like the idea of Lex knowing what he can have. It raises a fair question. If you knew you could have many years of happiness that would end in sadness would you make those choices or would you force yourself to change your future. The episode also reminds me of It's A Wonderful Life.

2. The OC: All Four Chrismakah Episodes

I didn't enjoy season 2 or 3 but loved season 1 and 4. Especially season 1. I loved the enthusiasm Seth shows for the holidays. The dynamic of Ryan and Seth in the episode  reminds me of Nessa and I where I love Christmas and she isn't a big fan.

1. Roswell : A Roswell Christmas Carol

No show did Christmas like Roswell. From Isabelle's crazy holiday demands to Max and Michael helping the children in the hospital. The episode showed the hope that people have during the holidays.

Tuesday Top Twenty Five: TV Crushes

Nessa and I decided to post our Twenty Five TV Crushes. She decided not to rank her list since she loves them all so much but you can see her favorites here: 

Vanswisdom

I did rank my list because I had them ranked before she told me she would not be ranking her list. 

It was relatively easy to come up with my 25 TV Crushes. They had to be good looking obviously but there had to have more to the character because almost everyone on TV is good looking.

The character had to have a sense of humor, in most cases had to be intelligent.They had to be kind and honest. They had to be a character I would want to be friends with and someone who didn't annoy me while watching the show. They also had to be from a show that I enjoyed enough not to give up on during it's series run.

With that said here is my list:

25. Beven from One Tree Hill  

24. Maggie from Eli Stone

23. Gail from Rookie Blue

22. Cat Deeley from So You Think You Can Dance

21. Amy from Everwood

20. Kelly from Saved By The Bell

19. Jen from Dawson’s Creek

18. Andie from Dawson’s Creek

17. Amy from Heartland

16. Rory from Gilmore Girls

15. Veronica from Veronica Mars

14.  Robin from How I Met Your Mother

13. Summer from The OC

12. Lorilei from Gilmore Girls

11. Pam from The Office

10. Hannah from Everwood

9. Sarah from Chuck

8. Lily from How I Met Your Mother

 7. Olivia from Fringe

6. Penny from Big Bang Theory

5. Chloe from Smallville

4. Haley from One Tree Hill

3. Lois from Smallville

2. Brooke from One Tree Hill

1. Erica from Being Erica