TV Shows Rant

So not a whole lot went on today, we cleaned the house, did a little shopping, went to eat at Red Lobster, really that was about it. That's why I am going to go off on TV shows. I've been waiting and thinking about this rant for a while so here we go. First of all I know it is a tad pathetic that I am going to rant on TV, but since this is America where pop culture is more important than knowing the Constitution then what the hey.

There are a few shows I like and follow:

The Office is really the best of the bunch, it is funny and yet the Pam/Jim thing is intruiging. More on this later.

Prison Break could have been as good as any but has decided filler is more important than quality.

Lost had the potential to be a groundbreaking show, but alas filler became more important.

Heroes is good. Has potential, I just hope it doesn't fall into the Lost/Prison Break problem.

24 is the best of these dramas. At least you know it will end. At that may be the key.

So lets break these shows down.

The Office is a mockumentary look at an office. The boss Michael Scott is a selfish, insensitive, imbecil who thinks he is sensitive and not selfish. Therein lies much of the fun. While the show is playful it does have this weekly Jim/Pam relationship that goes up and down. Which is really good. For once they both fall for each other the chemistry will be problematic. (Note: This is a problem nearly every show falls into, Seinfeld pulled itself out, Cheers played with it the whole time and made it work, but few others understand that once the characters are an item the tension dies and chemistry suffers.) Right now the Office isn't as good as last year. The writing isn't as good. I have noticed they have a different writer than last year and I think that is part of the problem. Having Jim at the other branch wasn't working, but now they are too many, that's why in the last two episodes, two have departed.

Here is how they could improve the show:

More Dwight. Last year he played a major role, now he is a bit player. More Dwight=more laughs.
Really make the Jim/Pam/Karen thing a nailbiter. This would really add some much needed excitement to the show.
Play up the Michael/Dwight/Andy power struggle. This has the potential for great comedy and horrible situations for all. I love it. Dwight vs. Andy could really be the next wave of the show.
Michael and Jan make a great couple that can never be, this needs to be poked at every week. BTW what happened to Michael's girlfriend after she ran out after his proposal, this needs to be addressed. Overall I really like the show, these are just a few of my suggestions.

I haven't too many shows that absolutely hooked me with the ads like Prison Break did. The show itself was well done the characters were good, the plot was great. Everything was going good until more and mre people watched. Then they decided to add more layers and characters and make it longer and longer(this is the same phenomenom that happened to Lost). Now the plot is getting a tad ridiculous, the characters are becoming less likeable. Even the unflappable Michael Scofield is losing some of his luster. It still is better than most shows, but this season with all the times they have been caught and then freed again, it is really trying my patience. I will continue to watch just cause I have watched this far, but it has definitely dropped a notch.

My suggestions are as follows:

• Get back to making Michael the genius. This is what made the show so cool, Michael was a freaking genius and knew everything and had a backup for everything.
• Tone down all other storylines except the main one. Really I don't care that Bellick is going to prison and that T Bag is out, or that Sucre is lost. That stuff is all secondary.
• Quit adding characters. So far they have had to eliminate a lot of characters cause there are just too many.
• I am going to have to say the less Lincoln the better. Frankly he is annoying. With his shirt unbuttoned to his navel, he's just not my fave.

Overall there is still enough time to save the show, but will they save it, or just milk it?

Lost is at the same point Prison Break is, but they have more problems. Way too many characters and sub-plots. Lost can't decide what it wants to be, a character driven show, a mystical thought provoking show, or convulted with way too much going on. Right now I think the writers don't even know. What was the point with the Others? They are all dead now. What about the hatch? It is unnecessary now. What about the monster? It is just a side note. What about the healing on the island? Seems they forgot about it. What about Lock? He has moved from most interesting character to most under used. Sawyer is great, Kate is good, Jin is great. Frankly the fact the made the show about Jack has lost some interest for me. I find him overbearing and not too likeable.

How to fix it:

• Decide on a main plot and stick to it. Sure the subplots are great, but not as the main plot. There is just way too much going on to follow or to care about.
• Focus on the original characters especially Lock and Sawyer. They made the show great. More Jin, Hurley, etc..
• Make it end. Or at least give us and end to THIS tale. They could do another spin-off but this one needs to end soon.(I feel the same way about Prison Break)
• Explain some of the weird stuff that goes on. I am guessing the writers don't even know. That is a flaw and a problem. When writers don't know where they are going, or what is going on it leads to many headscratching moments for the audience.

24
Probably the most exciting, entertaing, heart pounding show out there. It has all the elements necessary to be great. Strong likeable characters. Jack Bauer may be the best character ever.
Plot is easy and timely. Terrorism always works as a plot and it can be taken to so many paths. Plus we always like to see conspiracies and this show is full of em.

Here is why 24 works:

• You know the show will end. Plain and simple that is what puts it above the others.
• Anyone could die or be a spy. Constant intuige makes for great suspense.
• Jack yells a lot and usually gets his way. My Jack impersentation is me yelling, its what he does and it works.
• Cool secondary characters, like Curtis and Chloe. Is there anything better than Chloe's facials?
• The bad guys are really bad. Nothing is more important to having a great protaginist(Jack) than equally bad antagonists. All the great stories have incredible good guys, and great evil guys.
• They never lose sight of the main plot. Sure there are secondary plots but none are as important as the main one.
• The show is done in parts. While it is suspenseful almost able to give you a heartattack, it gives you a break and ties up smaller plots to give you some rest. Honestly if they waited to the end to tie up all lose ends it would be too much we would all lose our minds due to anguish way before the end.
• The show moves quickly enough so that all the "this could really never happen" stuff is "well maybe it could happen" stuff. In other words the show moves fast enough that the holes in the plot aren't a detriment.
• America vs. the world. It always works. We love the patriotic stuff, it makes us proud of our country.

Just a few thoughts about tv shows. 24 is gonna start soon, so be prepared.

Almost forgot about Heroes. Right now it is really good. But will it be too long, too many characters. I am worried. It think it will and that is disappointing. The thing is with superhero stuff you can always end it and start a new story. That's what the comic book industry is all about. I will say I like most of the stuff, Isaac's paintings rock, Hiro is just the best, esp his facials, but the Jessica dual personality stuff is not only creepy and odd, but seems to have nothing to do with rest. How is she a hero? Her storyline is dumb. She is unlikeable, while Micah and her husband are much more intruiging. Best of the new shows without a doubt.