My Two-Cents on the 2012 Emmys

At this point, I think ABC's going to get a reputation for putting on lackluster awards shows because the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards could not compete with what CBS, NBC and even FOX put together over the last couple of years.

The Host
I wasn't too psyched when it was announced that Jimmy Kimmel was tapped to host the night because I'm not super familiar with his late night talk show, but he's been making a name for himself at ABC's upfront presentations, so I was by no means surprised. I just thought ABC could've gone the CBS route and tapped Nathan Fillion to host, but I digress.

Maybe it was my indifference with the host choice, but I didn't feel Kimmel did anything to justify him being there and most of his bits fell woefully flat. That cold open with the actresses was painfully unfunny (even a naked Lena Dunham eating cake couldn't save it), and when you pit it against the musical numbers that kicked off the show the past three years, it was a slow start to a long night. That said, some of his jokes did make me laugh (although I cannot remember them at this moment), but any good will was taken away when he mocked the "In Memoriam" with an ode to himself.

Kimmel wasn't the only dud though as some of the people who are paid to deliver lines couldn't get through their drab attempts at humor, but there were a few minor standouts like Damon Wayans, Jr. and James Van Der Beek pimping an NBC event and Aziz Ansari and Jane Levy's bad English accents.

At the end of the day though, it wasn't about the presenters but Kimmel and while he did his job at directing traffic, he didn't wow me in anyway what-so-ever. ABC's really going to have to go back to the drawing board after two mis-steps in a row.

The Winners and Losers
Some of the winners were the epitome of irony as the Comedy side was so predictable that it wasn't funny, and most of the Drama categories were not very dramatic. Modern Family once again dominated to the point of redundancy, but what else did we expect? I suppose Julia Louis-Dreyfus winning Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy was a bit of surprise, but did we really think the Academy was going to honor Amy Poehler this time around when it's refused to do so in the past?

What will go down as a major upset (to TV snobs like myself but not to the average television watcher) was Jon Cryer winning Outstanding Lead Actor - Comedy for his role on Two and a Half-Men. Think about that for a second. Cryer's beaten the likes of Neil Patrick Harris, Rainn Wilson, Alec Baldwin, Jim Parsons and Louis C.K. He truly is a giant killer... on a horrible show that millions upon millions of people watch. Come to think of it, the only reason he's only a two-time Emmy Award Winner and not four-time winner is because of Modern Family.

As for Drama, much like Amy Poehler's shut out, did we really think that Mad Men would break its acting drought? While I was rooting for Jared Harris and Christina Hendricks to finally put some notches in the win column, it was not to be as Breaking Bad and Downton Abbey kept them from the stage. And should we just give up on the idea of Jon Hamm ever winning for the role of Don Draper?

In what was probably one of the biggest shockers of the night, Homeland's Damian Lewis broke Bryan Cranston's deathgrip on the Outstanding Lead Actor - Drama Emmy while also stiff-arming Hamm on his way to collect his prize. To be honest, I was really excited for Lewis' win because it was the first sign of Homeland's coming out party which also included Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Drama Series.

So, not only was Cranston's streak broken, but so was Mad Men's and I'm not too broken up about it. Sure, it was still one of television's best drama, but most feel that Season 5 wasn't its best, and Homeland's freshman season was pretty great.

Other Odds and Ends

• Ellen DeGeneres really needs to host again. Maybe when it's NBC's turn... or when it comes back around to ABC.
• Annoying Twitter Trend of the Night: People saying that Homeland swept when it lost Outstanding Directing - Drama. You can't sweep when you lose one.
• Another Reason Why I'm Probably Going to Skip Modern Family: They went out of their way to make Talking Lily even more insufferable.
• Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey should be nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy for their bits during this otherwise dull telecast. And Tracy Morgan should get zero recognition for participating in that stupid Twitter gag.
• I still like how they break the night into genre chunks, but they once again spent way too much time kissing up to movie stars (and American Horror Story) during the Miniseries/Movie segment.
• Even after FX rigged it so Connie Britton could get a nomination, she still lost to Julianne Moore (Game Change). Mrs. Coach had better hope that Nashville is the hit everyone says it is if she ever wants an Emmy.
• Major Bummer of the Night: Sherlock being shut out. I'm OK with Mad Men going home empty handed but not with Sherlock getting zero love. It's going to suck even more when Elementary cleans up next year.
• CBS should be up next year, and are we all assuming that NPH will host again? I hope so, although I wouldn't mind seeing Craig Ferguson get a crack at it.

So, the 64th Primetime Emmys are in the book and a mediocre host, too many people being played off, ABC turning out the lights on its own show and the lack of any real surprises outside of Homeland's dominance made for uneventul night. Let's hope whichever network gets the gig next year kicks things up a notch.

My Two-Cents on SPARTACUS Ending After Season 3

It was announced that the Starz flagship, Spartacus, will be wrapping up after its third season entitled War of the Damned.

In a press release, Starz CEO Chris Albrecht announced the decision to wrap up the Spartacus franchise after the upcoming ten episodes:

We are in agreement with our partners in the decision to conclude the story after "War of the Damned," as we believe it is the best way to maintain the integrity of the series and secure its legacy. While everyone may know the fate of Spartacus, we believe this will be a spectacular season that will startle, amaze and honor the legions of fans.

When I first read the news, I was extremely torn. On the one hand, the fact that this show's a historical drama means that there's only a finite amount of story to tell. Like Albrecht's quote mentions, history knows how the Spartacus story ends, and it was going to come to conclusion eventually. In a lot of ways, announcing that War of the Damned will be the final season gives Steven S. DeKnight and his crew an advantage because they know that an end is in sight, and he can wrap up the series in the fashion that he always wanted. Fans will know that this is it and will not have to worry about their favorite show being cut short which is always a blessing. Plus, we will not be subjected to endless wheel-spinning that has plagued other shows that were drained of all of its creative juices in favor of prolonging them to make more money. And to be honest, a show like Spartacus lasting three seasons (three and a half if you include Gods of the Arena) is nothing to scoff at, but will it be enough?

As a fan, I want more. I know that I should be happy that the show had a good run and that we're going to be getting a concrete series finale, but I don't know if ten episodes will be enough to wrap up the story that DeKnight wants to tell. I'm sure he can condense everything into the allotted time, but I'm already afraid that things are going to be rushed and frantic. Sure, I should trust in DeKnight and his writers, and I do to an extent, but it feels like we're just scratching the surface of the Spartacus saga and ten more hours will not be enough to do the story justice. Also, I'm just greedy. I get so much pleasure from watching Spartacus that I don't want it to end so soon even though I understand the decision made by DeKnight and Starz.

I'm sure the more I think about it, the more I'll get on board with the decision to end Spartacus once War of the Damned finishes, and I'll be able to put it all behind me so I can enjoy the final installment. It's just going to take some time. Until then, I'll just be thankful for all of the hours of entertainment this show's given me and remind myself that Sparty fans are a lucky bunch. It's still going to sting a little though...

My Two-Cents on the 2012-2013 Upfronts

Upfront Week's finally over, so I've decided to take a step back to reflect on what the major networks did this past two weeks.

Most Surprising Renewal: Nikita (The CW)

While I'm still a fan of Nikita, I was pretty sure that it was going to be canceled after another low-rated season, but its renewal could be a case of Fridays being both a blessing and a curse. Sure, its numbers were going to be horrible, but Friday shows tend to have lower expectations, which could have been how The CW justified bringing back our favorite assassin.

Most Disappointing Cancellation: The Finder (FOX)

I made my peace with The Finder's inevitable cancellation weeks ago, but knowing that Walter Sherman will not be back still stings. I've said it multiple times on "The Small Screen Podcast," but I'll say it again; I really want this character to live on, and if that means he's shoe-horned into Bones, then that's fine by me. That being said, the series finale was appropriate, and I'm sorta OK with that being it, but I need more Walter. I don't even need the rest. Just Walter.

Most Anticipated New Comedy: Go On (NBC)

I'm a Matthew Perry fan, so I want Go On to be successful for NBC because the world's a little bit better when he's on our screens. Now, I don't know if Go On will be the savior that the Peacock needs, but the premise sounds interesting enough, and it looks like a role tailor made for Perry. The thing is, the same could have been said about Mr. Sunshine, and the tone might be too dreary for those looking for light-hearted laughs. It also doesn't help that it's going to be on one of the most competitive nights for comedy, but more on that later.

Most Anticipated New Drama: Elementary (CBS)
OK, I'm going to be honest. The only reason I'm looking forward to Elementary is to mock it for ripping off Sherlock. Now, I'll admit that I could be surprised and the CBS version could be just as good as the BBC/PBS one, but it's highly unlikely. I'm also vaguely intrigued to see how this show justifies making Watson a female. We all know it's for unresolved sexual tension, but sometimes that's enough to keep things interesting (see Castle, Bones, Psych and on and on and on).

Least Anticipated New Comedy: The Neighbors (ABC)
ABC has the single-cam, family sit-com on lock down with its Laugh On Wednesday night block, but it's always been tricky to find the fourth piece to the puzzle. So what's the plan this year? How about giving us a show about a family moving into a suburb filled with aliens. Not other worldly humans like Suburgatory, but real extra-terrestrials. I can't believe ABC passed on Mandy Moore for this.

Least Anticipated New Drama: Mistresses (ABC)
I might be wrong, but I think I remember reading online that Mistresses will be held off until summer, so it technically should not be eligible for this post, but the trailer was truly horrendous and it made me feel dirty while watching it (there was a snippet where a woman's upset because the guy picked his wife). I seriously think it's about a club for women who sleep with other women's men. At least there's truth in advertising, but this show's obviously not meant for me.

Most Surprising New Comedy: Partners (CBS)
By "surprising," I mean a show that I had zero interest in before watching clips/trailers/previews, but was won over by something. I've soured on most of CBS' comedies (How I Met Your Mother and 2 Broke Girls), so I didn't expect much from its newest sit-com, but I found myself chuckling at the preview for Partners. Since I cannot quit HIMYM, I'm willing to give this show a few episodes to win me over.

Most Surprising New Drama: Vegas (CBS)
Another CBS show that I was mostly uninterested in until I watched the preview. I'm a sucker for westerns and gangster movies, so this should be right up my alley since it combines both, but I also find period dramas about the 60's to be mostly boring (yes, I'm including Mad Men). I'll probably check out a few episodes, which would be the first time I've made it a point to watch a CBS drama in ages, just to see what it has to offer.

Most Shocking Schedule Move: Two and a Half Men (CBS)
When you have two shows as successful as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, logic dictates that you spread them around the schedule as a way to help prop up your line-up. Apparently, CBS felt that dominating Thursday nights is more important than spreading the wealth, so they doubled up on Chuck Lorre shows. I kind of understand the move, but I don't think 2 Broke Girls is strong enough to anchor Mondays, but we'll have to see if this ends up being a calculated risk or a huge gamble on CBS' part.

Biggest No-Brain Schedule Move: Glee (FOX)
It's quite simple when you think about it: Glee needs help since its ratings have taken a hit, The X-Factor/American Idol really haven't helped launch any new shows, and Glee's best ratings came when it had Idol as a lead-in. Moving Glee to Thursday's is win-win for FOX.

Most Logical Schedule: The CW
Say what you will about The CW, but its 2012-2013 makes the most sense from a thematic standpoint. You have your spoiled rich kids on Mondays (90210 and Gossip Girl), your cute female doctors on Tuesdays (Hart of Dixie and Emily Owens, M.D.), your old-school WB block on Wednesdays (Arrow and Supernatural), your supernatural soaps featuring brunettes on Thursdays (The Vampire Diaries and Beauty and the Beast) and everything else on Fridays (America's Next Top Model and Nikita). You have to admit, every night have a clear direction and the show's do complement one another.

Least Logical Schedule: NBC
I guess we're supposed to think that scheduling five hours on comedy on four nights was a bold move, but it's hard to wrap my head around some of the moves. The pairing of Animal Practice and Guys With Kids makes zero sense, as does the combo of Whitney and Community. If anything, they should swap partners, but I doubt NBC would want to banish a new comedy to Fridays just so it could be a better match with Whitney. NBC conceding Thursday nights also felt a bit odd since it should be the time for them to rebuild the brand, but it hasn't worked yet so I guess they're throwing in the towel.

Busiest Night of the Week: Tuesdays
For me, Tuesday nights are going to be the busiest when it comes to TV watching because NBC, FOX and ABC all decided to schedule comedy blocks containing show's I'm interested in against one another. We have Go On/The New Normal going up against New Girl/The Mindy Project and Happy Endings/Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. While I like New Girl well enough, and I want Matthew Perry to be a hit, my heart belongs to Happy Endings, so I'll be watching ABC live and catching up on everything else later.

So there you have it; my random thoughts about what happened during this year's Upfront Week. On a whole, I have to admit that nothing really wowed me, and next season's shaping up to be somewhat of a bore, but I'll definitely be tuning in regardless.

My Problem with Glee: Will Schuester

As you can see from my blog, I'm a big fan of Glee, and in many ways I'm an apologist. I will forgive the show runners for a bad episode and will even make excuses for why it wasn't as bad as everyone thought. The thing is, I'm not a blind follower, and I can admit when the show messes up. The one area where Glee has completely botched things up involves one of the main characters: Will Schuester.

Season 2 Will even looks like a jerk

Last night's, not 100% horrible but far from great, Rocky Horror episode worked on some levels, but it was just further proof that Ryan Murphy and Co. are determined to turn Will into the most unlikable character on television. After "RHGS", it was hard to rationalize or excuse Will's actions where he used his own students to put on an inappropriate musical just to impress Emma. Not cool Will.

If this had been Will's first major faux pas, it would be easy to forgive him, but his character has become more and more objectionable since Season 1's "Hell-O". As a fan, it's been extremely frustrating watching him go from a decent, caring, a little naive teacher to a complete d-bag. Let's just take a look at some of Will's lowest moments:

My GLEE Rant

As a Gleek, even I had to admit that there was too much going on in "Audition" (reminiscent of the latter half of season 1), but I also think people take this show too seriously.

While prepping for the new television season, I read a ton of blogs and listened to plenty of podcasts, and most of the bloggers/critics I read loved to point at Glee and talk about what a mess it is, or rag on Matthew Morrison for rapping. I think they want this show to be pitch black comedy to go along with serious shows like Sons of Anarchy or Mad Men, or uber quirky like Arrested Development.

The truth is, while Glee has some darker satirical moments, it's ultimately about kids finding themselves through music. As long as the show has fun musical numbers and great one-liners, I'm in. Sometimes a show doesn't need plausibility or cohesion to be entertaining; it just needs to be fun.

Then again, I'm just a fan and don't get paid to share my opinions about TV shows.

My Spy Overload

Pop culture by its very nature is nothing more than capitalizing on the new, hip trend, and it can be the driving force behind almost every aspect of media. The last couple of years the popularity of all things vampire has taken an uptick mostly thanks to the Twilight saga and its film adaptations, and it looks like another trend is booming (at least on the small screen) which revolves around the world of spies.

Deadline.com reported today that James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator, and Avatar to name a few) is jumping back into the TV game by bringing an adaptation of True Lies to the small screen. While the spy world may not be as sexy as the undead, bloodsucking one, it does seem like there has been an influx of espionage related shows hitting the airwaves.

Let's just put Alias, La Femme Nikita, and 24 on the back burner for right now. Over the last couple of seasons we've seen Burn Notice, Chuck, My Own Worst Enemy, Human Target, Covert Affairs, Nikita, and Undercovers go into production. These isn't even counting the CW pilot, Nomads, that wasn't picked up or the rumored U.S. remake of Britain's Spooks. That's a lot of government sanctioned lying and killing.

I haven't watched all of True Lies, so I can't really say whether it can translate to a good series or not. Having a big name like James Cameron behind an established brand doesn't hurt, but there's always the chance of overkill. Even I have to admit that I'm reaching espionage fatigue, which sucks since I usually love a good spy/assassin/action show.

Now, I'd prefer having more spy shows than vampire, courtroom procedurals, and reality shows on TV, but enough is enough. We've already had one 90's era remake in the form of Nikita...do we really need another one?

My Two-Cents on the 2010 Emmys

Full disclosure, although I'm into TV more this year, I was not as jazzed for the 2010 Emmys like I was for the 2009 Emmys (mostly due to the fact that Neil Patrick Harris was not hosting this year), so my interest level for the ceremony had its ups and downs.

The Host
I was initially skeptical about Jimmy Fallon as host, although I'm a fan of Late Night, but I think that was due more to my allegiance to NPH (I'll say it again, NPH should host every awards show). Fallon was able to win me over right at the start with his Bruce Springsteen/Glee inspired intro. It was fun, upbeat, tounge-in-cheek, and it all worked. Shock of the Night: Community's Joel McHale singing and dancing with the Glee kids.

Fallon continued to show his comedy/music chops with his musical tributes to 24 (as Elton John), Law & Order (as a member of Boyz II Men), & LOST (as Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day). The bit was funny, especially when you think that he channeled a 90's R&B group to honor the older-skewing L&O.

Not everything that Fallon did worked. His non-stop minstrel act in between presenters got old really fast, especially when he incorporated members of the audience (Kim Kardashian should be seen and not heard, and not even really seen for that matter). Also, the Tweet Intros was an idea that quickly crashed and burned. I know Jimmy appeals to Gen-Xers and Millennials, but there are limits.

Overall, Jimmy did a pretty good job, but he's no NPH. I'll just leave it at that.

My Two-Cents on the SPARTACUS Spin-off

This past winter, Starz debuted one of its newest original programs, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Initially, I thought the pilot was only OK and showed a little promise, but it was nothing special. Then Spartacus quickly became my guilty pleasure show.

The violence, graphics, and acting are over the top, but that is exactly what makes the show fun. It's so sensationalized that you can't help but smile at its insanity and charm. While S:B&S is not for everyone, it's definitely must-see TV in my opinion, and will have a permanent spot on my TV-watching rotation.

When star, Andy Whitfield, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, many feared that meant Spartacus was in jeopardy. Then all of a sudden, spin-off/prequel talks started to hit the Internet since many of the cast, crew, and design sets were ready to start shooting Season 2, and they didn't want all of those resources to go to waste. These ideas had a life of their own, and before we knew it a prequel was greenlit to fill the void while Whitfield recovered.

This week, more news on the Spartacus prequel surfaced, and now we have new cast members, a subtitle, and premise. While I was a little surprised to learn that Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is going to add so many new characters, I'm just glad we're getting a placeholder between Seasons 1 and 2, so I'm not going to complain. The new cast members are good-looking enough to fit in with the rest of the scantily clad occupants of the ludus, and the storyline is what I was expecting (although I was thinking that either Crixus or Doctore would be the main character).

Nobody can replace Whitfield and Spartacus himself, but I'm glad that Starz and the production team were forward thinking enough to give fans something to hold them over. It'll be glorious when Spartacus: Vengeance (Season 2) officially airs, mostly due to the fact that Whitfield was able to come back, but I'm excited to see what Spartacus: Gods of the Arena has to offer.

My Two-Cents on Hulu Plus

So, it looks like Hulu went ahead and did it; they officially rolled out Hulu Plus earlier today, and it seems like everyone has an opinion, so why not share mine. This news was by no means a surprise since rumors about Hulu adding a premium service have been swirling around forever, but for some reason it did feel a bit rushed. I guess now that the iPhone 4, iPad, and Hulu integration on the Playstation 3 and XBox out there it makes sense to fast-track Hulu Plus.

I'm not going to lie, the thought of having Hulu stream on my phone is a pretty sweet idea (one that has me inching closer to the iPhone), and it might be too hard to pass up. With that being said, I'm not 100% in love with Hulu Plus mostly because it sounds like ads will still be a part of the package. I was convinced that a premium version of Hulu meant it was going to be ad-free, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. While I'm not against ads per-se, if I'm going to have to watch them anyway then why should I pay $10 a month?

Now, having a backlog of some off-the-air shows is a cool little addition, but it will be a moot point once Netflix busts out its iPhone/iPad app where you can get a ton of old shows ad-free. Also, Netflix will still be the first choice when it comes to watching movies on your mobile device because you don't have to be interrupted by commercials.

The one area where Hulu Plus trumps Netflix is current shows. From what I can tell, Netflix only offers a handful of current shows on their Instant View setup. If you can have a season-long pass of all of your favorite current shows, and you can watch them anywhere at any time, now that's cool. Sure, you can illegally download shows and movies, but torrenting takes up too much time and effort, and I'd be willing to pay $10 a month just to avoid the hassle, but those ads are still a deterrent. An ad-based, premium service just seems counterintuitive, but I suppose a reduced number of ads wouldn't hurt.

I don't think Hulu Plus is going to be a Netflix killer, but I do think the two services can work well together. I can watch all my current shows on Hulu, and use Netflix for older shows (and I can still rent DVDs & Blu-Rays). Makes some sense, but I'm going to hold off for a little while just to see how things shake out.

My Battle of the Blondes: Parker vs. Brittany

Usually, I'm more of a brunette fan, but recently my heart has been stolen by two blondes: Leverage's Parker and Glee's Brittany.

 

vs.

Seriously, who to choose? I'd give anything to see a meeting between Parker and Brittany. That scene would pretty much rule my life.

News: Hulu-ing for Dollars

So, the L.A. Times is reporting that the rumors of Hulu charging for premium service will be coming to fruition this May. I know that a lot of people will bitch and moan about having to pay $10 for what used to be free, but I think those people are getting their panties in a wad prematurely.

The article doesn't state too much about Hulu's plan, but it did state that the last five episodes of shows will still be free, and I'd venture a bet those are the episodes most people watch. Sure, it's cool to have a backlog of some older shows, but I'm not logging on to Hulu to watch old episodes of Kings. I'm there to catch up on the shows I missed during the week.

Also, we don't really know what Hulu Plus will look like. More than likely the subscription fee means you can watch all shows ad-free. I'm sure the free episodes will still have ads (longer ones from what it looks like), and I'm cool with that because I'm not against commercials to begin with. I never understood why people go to such lengths to avoid a few minutes of ads.

While I'm not against the idea of paying for a premium version of Hulu (especially if the episodes I watch will still be free), I don't know if I'll be dishing out the Hamiltons right away. The only way I'd be willing to add Hulu Plus is if they eventually go the same route Netflix has taken. Netflix Instant is by far one of the greatest leaps in the history of home entertainment, and if Hulu comes out with an HD device (or have their service integrated into Blu-Ray players or gaming systems), then I'll gladly pay a subscription fee on par with what I pay for Netflix.

I'm surprised that so many people are surprised at the news. We all knew this day was coming, yet there are people out there already screaming boycott. Let them waste time with their bit-torrents while I watch the last five episodes of Castle in peace. So what if I have to endure a few more commercials...I just surf the web while they're playing anyway.

My Perfect TV Show

It's not a secret, especially when you go through this blog, that two of my favorite shows are Chuck and Castle. The two shows are able to blend humor, romance, and drama, but they also share a very special bond: ties to Joss Whedon (Castle's Nathan Fillion and Chuck's Adam Baldwin).

While I'm a relatively new convert to the House of Whedon, I do understand how he's impacted TV, and I credit him for a world of awesomeness. The funny thing is I had no idea who Joss Whedon was until a little movie came out by the name of Serenity, and then my whole world was changed because the floodgates were opened.

Of course, Serenity led me to Firefly, which I vaguely remembered when it first aired on Fox, but of course I didn't watch it. Boy, do I regret not supporting the show the first time around because in my opinion Firefly is the perfect television show.

Like I mentioned before, the reason I like Castle and Chuck so much is because they're able to effortlessly blend well-timed humor, dramatic elements, and unresolved sexual tension. They also have wonderful characters that you just don't see anywhere else. Firefly had these same elements, but somehow it was able to use them to perfection, which is why it is the model for the modern day cult show.

To this day, every time I watch an episode of Firefly it just gets better and better, and I fall in love with it all over again. Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is by far one of television's greatest characters, and the way he looks after his crew and strives to do the right thing is the stuff on legend. Leverage's (another personal favorite) Nate Ford can learn a thing or two from Captain Tightpants. Also, Mal's "will they/won't they" dance with Inara (Morena Baccarin) puts couples like Chuck & Sarah or Booth & Brennan to shame.

It's because of these reasons, and so many more, that Firefly was the perfect show, and while I do think it wasn't given a fair shot, part of me is glad it didn't last more than 14 near flawless episodes. Had Firefly continued it would have run the risk of becoming stale and repetitive, or it could have worn out its welcome and tarnished its own legacy. This way we'll always remember it for its greatness rather than looking back and remembering how good it used to be...although, a few more episodes would have been nice.

My Mondays Keep Getting Better

No TV Report Card this week because too many of my shows are in repeats, but I did want to share my initial thoughts on my favorite Monday night shows.

Another great Chuck and another really good Castle. You really can't ask for a better way to start a week.

"Chuck vs. the American Hero" was one of the best installments yet (funny how I say that almost every week), and screw the haters because I think S3 has been just as good, if not better, than S2 (with the exception of the last 4 or 5 episodes). Such a shame so many people turned their backs on such a great show.

"Boom", the second part to Castle's big two-parter was really good, but not as great as part 1. Of course we got some great Castle/Beckett moments, but I just felt like we kept getting hit over the head by some of the plotpoints. I swear Agent Shaw said chameleon four times in less than five minutes. Plus, we didn't get enough Ryan & Esposito for my liking. "Boom" was still great TV, but not the bestCastle has to offer. I did love seeing Kate cook breakfast though...it felt natural, like they're a little family.

Another great thing about Chuck and Castle being on Mondays is the fact that Tuesday is just as good since both shows end up in my Hulu queue, and I can re-watch them before LOST. I think I watch too much TV.

My Instant Gratification

Netflix just got a billion times better because I just found out that every season of Buffy, Angel, and Firefly can not be instantly streamed to my HDTV. I even added all three seasons of Arrested Development (still trying to figure out the appeal of that show), Season 1 of Dollhouse, Season 1 of Better Off Ted, and Seasons 3 & 4 of Bones.

Add these shows to a queue that already includes Leverage, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and Torchwood, and who really needs cable or DVDs for that matter. If Hulu became this extensive, I'd definitely consider ponying up some coinage for the service.

Man, I get way too excited about my TV shows...

My Tale of Two TV Shows

Monday nights are bookended by two of my favorite shows, Chuck and Castle. While both have one word titles that start with C, boatloads of unresolved sexual tension, and ties to Joss Whedon, the two shows are on two different trajectories.

Last night's Chuck rebounded a little bit in the ratings, while Castle had one of its best nights ever. What that means is Chuck is firmly on the bubble and Castle just got picked up for a third season. Talk about a range of emotions.

I guess I'll focus on the positive because I'm not really expecting a fourth season of Chuck, and while I was confident that Castle would be renewed nothing is ever certain when it comes to TV. I'm just glad we got an early pick up, which means we don't have to wait until May to hear about Castle & Beckett's fate.

But when I thought about it, these two scenarios make sense. Don't get me wrong, I love Chuck and I'm really digging season 3, but it's always been a niche show with a loyal following. Shows like this don't stick around too long. The shortened season 3 order was the first sign that Chuck was running out of time. The falling ratings don't help either.

Castle on the other hand has been great at showing constant improvement, and while it may rely too much on its Dancing lead-in, ABC knows it has a sleeper hit on its hands. I don't see the show headlining a night on its own, and it might still need some help, but it's an accessible show with a die-hard following. ABC has the best of both worlds with Castle.

So for now, I'm going to enjoy Castle's pick up and try to forget about Chuck and possible demise.

My Two-Cents on Chuck vs. the Cancellation Threat

I personally think that the last couple of episodes of Chuck have been the show's best, and season 3 is shaping up to be the best of the series, but unfortunately not enough people share my opinions. The whole Chuck-pocalypse started by the Suck shippers being pissy seems to have had a ripple effect that is threatening to take our beloved show down.

Chuck vs. the Numbers
By now, most die-hard Chucksters have heard the bad news that last night's great "Chuck vs. the Final Exam" did not rebound when it came to the ratings. Unfortunately, we cannot blame Daylight Saving Time this time around, although Dancing with the Stars did have a record season debut.

I've been a loyal fan since day one, but even I have to admit that the show's chances for a fourth season are next to none. Chuck is officially on life support and $5 foot-longs cannot change its fate. Now, I'm not saying that the show is DoA, but things are not looking very good.

Chuck vs. the Network
NBC might shock us all and bring back Chuck for a shortened (13 episodes) order and use it as a mid-season replacement as a way for the storylines to be wrapped up, but Chuck's numbers have never dictated that kind of treatment. Sure, it has a cult following (which is apparently dwindling), but the ratings have never been stellar. Now, if NBC brings back Heroes for the same reason, then maybe just maybe Chuck can be brought back too. That scenario is far-fetched, but the debate right now is whether NBC has enough quality shows and pilots to put together a full schedule next season.

The biggest roadblock confronting season 4 of Chuck is NBC really doesn't have incentive to bring it back.  Heroes is produced by NBC sibling, Universal Media Studios, so ultimately NBC benefits from additional episodes of Heroes, while Chuck is produced by Warner Bros. The corporation will not gain much, if anything at all, by airing Chuck next season.

Chuck vs. the Longshot
If NBC cancels Chuck, that doesn't mean hope is dead and gone because there are some longshot scenarios, but they are extremely unlikely. One possible saving grace for Chuck would be if the CW picks up the show since that network is co-owned by Warners. Chuck's numbers could help the networklet by bringing in new viewers, and it could strengthen the CW's working relationship with Josh Schwartz (he is also in charge of Gossip Girl). The CW could even make an all-spy line-up with Chuck and the new Nikita or Nomads. You could even team up Chuck with GG or even put it on Fridays with Smallville for one last hurrah.

Another possible, but even less likely, option would be if TNT (another WB company) picks up the show like it did for another WB TV show and NBC castoff, Southland. Chuck's track record, and following, is more established than SL, so if TNT was willing to take a risk on that show, why not take a potentially less costly risk on Chuck too? The biggest difference between the two is the fact that Southland episodes were already shot prior to its cancellation by NBC. I'm a little selfish by hoping for this option because a night of Leverage and Chuck would literally blow my mind.

Now, I'm realistic enough to know that these options are pipe dreams and will probably never happen, but there is still hope...even if it is foolish hope.

Chuck vs. the Final Nail
As much as it pains me to admit it, we Chuck fans need come to grips with the reality that our show is on borrowed time. Sure, a miracle could happen, and we could get a fourth season, but we shouldn't hold our collective breath. We just need to prepare ourselves for the show's ending, and be thankful that we got three seasons of Chucky goodness.

My Two-Cents on the Best in Show Tourney: Round 2

In preparation for my own TV tournament, I've decided to take a look at Round 2 of Hulu's Best in Show Tournament.

Comedy Hit
Modern Family vs. Community

In a lot of ways this match-up seems fitting since these two shows are the breakout freshman stars for ABC and NBC respectively. I'll be honest, I've only seem a handful of episodes from each show, but based on what I've seen Community takes the lead based on Abed's antics alone.

Workplace Comedy
Parks & Recreation vs. The Office

Of course the Workplace Comedy Regional comes down to two NBC Thursday Night Comedies since this subgenre has become the Peacock's comedic bread and butter. I was a little surprised to see P&R beat out fellow NBCer, 30 Rock, to reach the regional finals. What wasn't surprising was seeing The Office whoop up on Better Off Ted, which is a shame because Ted is a billion times better than The Office. I still don't understand the appeal of P&R, and The Office is a vet, so I'm picking Michael Scott and Company for the win.

Animation
Family Guy vs. The Simpsons

Just like workplace comedies are in NBC's wheelhouse, the same can be said about FOX and animated comedies, so it's no surprise that Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson are squaring off for the Animation Domination Crown (also all four shows come from FOX, so it was inevitable). Again, Family Guy vs. The Simpsons is fitting because the two shows have had a rivalry going on for some time now. I keep giving Family Guy the chance to prove to me that it's funny, but it always fails. The Simpsons is clearly past its prime, but it's still better than its Rhode Island opponent.

Detective Drama
Bones vs. Castle

Now this is the match up I've been waiting for because these are two of my all-time favorite shows, and since they're so much a like, they were destined to face off for the Cop + Outside Specialist Crime Procedural title. I've already pitted these two shows in my own TV Showdown, so I'm just going to go with my original pick, Castle.

Medical Drama
House vs. Royal Pains

House probably has the easiest road to the finals because it was up against the low-rated NBC drama, Mercy, and now it's taking on the USA upstart. House has proven that it has the legs for the long haul, and its win is as close to lock as you can get. I was expecting a classic House vs. Grey's showdown, but I'm a little glad a smaller show like Royal Pains received some love.

Action
Burn Notice vs. Chuck

Burn Notice is keeping hope alive for Team USA, but it is going up against one of the most beloved cult shows that's graced our screens in the last couple of years. As a Chuck fan, I'm a little worried about this match up because I've heard nothing but good things about Burn Notice. In the end, I think Chuck's fanbase will help it win, but I have a feeling it's going to be a close race.

Sci-Fi
Fringe vs. Lost

It's Abrams vs. Abrams in the Sci-Fi Shootout, and again this match up seems fitting since Fringe could become the heir apparent to Lost (especially since it looks like both FlashForward and V are duds for ABC). My sentimental favorite is Fringe since it's been able to prove itself as the scrappy underdog amongst the big dogs of Thursday nights, but this is Lost's title to win.

Newcomers
Parenthood vs. Caprica

I've never seen either show, and I only watched a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica, so I really cannot make an informed decision. I will say that Parenthood is the type of show I tend to like, so it's my "gun to my head" pick.

Overall, I'm happy with the results of the BiS Tourney, and here's to more TV goodness.

My Sinking Ship: Robin & Barney

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about how I'm pro-Ted & Robin on How I Met Your Mother, so I'm going to try to be objective while I discuss why Robin & Barney was, is, and always will be a bad idea.

From the get go, I was never on board with the Robin and Barney pairing because it just didn't make sense to me.  I know that Team BRomance claim that they were destined to be with one another since season one since they both had a thing for dressing up, smoking cigars, and drinking scotch, but that wasn't enough to convince me that they're soulmates. Just because you have similar interests does not mean you have enough to have an entire relationship (which I know kind of contradicts what I wrote about B&B).

The main reason I'm against Barney and Robin is because it's always felt forced. Most of season 1 was dedicated to Ted and Robin figuring out their feelings for one another, and Barney was only supposed to be a roadblock, but somehow people really thought these two belonged together. Now, maybe the creators always had a Robin/Barney pairing in mind, but they've never really done a good job at setting it up.

Of course we were subjected to the trainwreck that was RoBar during season 3, which led to Barney's neutering in season 4, and the relationship's flame out during season 5. I was seriously hoping that we were done with these two as a couple, but it's been hinted that their story is not over yet. Son of a...

Now, I'm hoping that the creators will ultimately put Ted and Robin together even though she's not the mother, but I'm willing to wait for that moment just as long as I don't have to endure another attempt at putting Robin with Barney.

My Best In Show

March is known for a few things: St. Patrick's Day, Spring Break, and the NCAA Basketball Tournament (aka March Madness). Many sports fans believe that March Madness is by far the best time of the sporting calendar, and while I don't really agree with that (college football is way better), waiting for the brackets to come out, and predicting which teams will win has become a past-time that rivals fantasy football.

It seems like the last couple of years the idea of tournaments and their brackets have caught on in the pop culture world as well, especially when it comes to television. Personally, I think some of it has to do with the How I Met Your Mother episode, "The Bracket". Either way, E! has been doing an Alpha Male and Girl on Top tourney with 64-character brackets, and it looks like EW and Hulu are getting in on the fun too with their "Best in Show" Tournament.

My Sinking Ship: B&B

I've been poking fun at shippers a lot these last couple of weeks thanks to the fact that some of these obsessed fans gave Chuck-sters a bad name by flying off the handle, so I've decided to keep the fun going by sharing my thoughts on some current ships that need to be sunk.  My first Sinking Ship post will focus on B&B, or Bones & Booth to you normal fans, from FOX's cop procedural Bones.

Let me preface this post by saying that I am a fan of Bones, albeit not a die-hard one.  I've only been watching the show since this past summer, and I've only dedicated a few months to it rather than a few years, so I'm not invested in the "will they/won't they (WTWT)" drama that drives the B&B shippers.  The reason I became a fan of the show was because I liked the characters as individuals, not as a potential couple.