Television Snippets - Week of 3/20

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A Belated Gold Star for the week goes to Big Love for it’s portrayal of a secret LDS ceremony that is meant for members only. On top of this, Big Love is tackling the issues of excommunication, damnation, divorce, and family. In dealing with the complexity of a marriage between 4 people, they have continued to evolve every single one of those characters and their story, and they have done so without folding to the pressure of the powerful LDS church and their ire.

Don’t give up on Dollhouse quite yet. In an interview, Eliza Dushku states that everything gets better around episode 8. What does that mean? Well, for fans of Joss Whedon, it means we clear the hump of what FOX was demanding in programming, which means Whedon and his genius get to shine (we hope) for a bit. It also may suggest the introduction of Alpha, a character that will be played by the engaging Alan Tudyk. In fact, according to FOX, the goodness begins TONIGHT, for episode 6, and within 2 weeks, we will be a WHEDON GREATNESS.

South Park has again debuted. Last week’s episode underscored the hypocritical obsession being created over the sexualized Jonas Brothers and their purity rings. Questioning the sanity of having these attractive crotch-thrusters, well, thrust in the faces of children and then demanding purity? This makes about as much sense as being an unwed pregnant 15 year old preaching the value in learning only abstinence. Moreover, as always, South Park slams the parents of these children for allowing their morals and values to be taught by TV and (again) The Disney Corporation. A purity ring doesn’t address sexual feelings nor does it actually do anything to teach those wearing it. The absurdity of teaching your children the value of a purity ring by sitting them infront of sexualized teenaged boys is quite clear to me, and apparently, the makers of South Park. Funny and poignant, Season 13 has begun promisingly. Following it’s strong premiere, the guys of South Park brought us an indepth look at how vigilantism is what we need but not what we deserve. Or, at least, we don’t need The Coon on our side. All episodes are available at www.southparkstudios.com.

I’ve recently noticed that American Dad, the superior child of Seth MacFarlane, has begun stooping to Family Guy level gags. Beginning with a koala-bear obsessed and completely random ending of an American Dad episode weeks ago, I stopped counting “random WTF this adds nothing to the show where did this even come from!?” moments at 7 on last Sunday’s episode. Long funnier than Family Guy, it’s extremely upsetting to see American Dad give up on plot in lieu of stupid and horrifyingly unfunny gags with no place in the storyline. For shame, for shame. On the other hand, Family Guy became a huge offender with this around the same time that the energy and effort put into American Dad began to propel it past FG in quality, so hopefully this just means that MacFarlane is putting his funny into work on The Cleveland Show. This also teaches us all that one man cannot do everything.

Announced today on E! Online, there will be a major death coming to the House cast, and it isn’t someone who is expected. I take this to mean it isn’t 13, but apparently it is “very shocking”, so that would count out our three older Docs…unless we’re screwing with 13’s head, in which case they kill Foreman. My first guess? Cuddy—stick House with a baby. Bad writing, but it’d be shocking.

Can I get a “WHAT THE F--K” for Sun on LOST? Sun is a scorned woman who thinks she lost her husband and is so devastated, she potentially abandons her daughter to go back and find him. We learned over the past couple seasons that Sun is far smarter than previously let on, as she purchased her way up the ladder using her Oceanic Air payout. Now as a powerful business woman, Sun is demonstrating many of the traits we admire and fear the most in Ben—deceit, lies, brilliance, and a complete lack of predictability. Our Sun has obviously found her inner bitch and doesn’t seem to be willing to show her cards to anyone at the moment. With two Benlike characters on the Island, it will be interesting to see how the season continues. Notable from next weeks preview: Finally, a boiling point for long-simmering tension between the survivors.

Stay tuned every Friday (and on an occasional bonus day!) for new Snippets!

Mar
20
2009

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