I made a mistake today. I had heard on the radio that the song's from tomorrow night's Glee tribute to Cory Montheith were available on You Tube. I watched them. It was a big mistake. I have been dreading this episode since Cory passed away over the summer, and now the music confirms I will cry through the entire episode. If you haven't taken a listen, I won't give anything away - but I will say they are excellent choices and the performances are heart-wrenching. I cried and it was just the audio.
Glee has never been shy about confronting the tough subjects. How they plan to address Cory's death is still unknown, but I have faith in how they will write it in to the show. Since I woke up that Sunday morning to the news, it has broken my heart. Not only is a favorite character gone from a favorite show, I immediately thought of the cast. They will have had to grieve twice - once for Cory and again for Finn.
I don't want to get in to the issues surrounding Corey's death. Although I am glad that it seems Finn will not have the same cause of death as was previously discussed. Although that worked for other show's facing a lead actor's death - John Spencer's heart attack being the same thing to happen to Leo McGarry comes to mind. When John Ritter died of an undiagnosed heart condition, his character on 8 Simple Rules was killed in a car accident. I don't think this would have worked for Glee. Finn is beloved and his fans feel as though they know him personally. It would have seemed out of character for Finn, at least in my opinion.
It will be a tough hour to watch for so many. I might not be able to blog right after, but check back here in the next few days for my thoughts on the tribute.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Why I hate reality TV
There. I said it - I hate reality TV. But let me be clear - Im not talking about competition shows like The Voice or Project Runway. Im not talking about cooking shows, home improvement shows or documentaries.
Im talking about shows where people who are previously famous for nothing get their own show to display the intimate details of their lives. There are some shows that aren't so bad - I've been known to laugh at Si on Duck Dynasty when my husband is watching, and I enjoy TLC's The Little Couple. But for the most part, the whole concept makes me cringe. I don't mean to single out any particular show, but in many cases I feel like we are watching these shows for laughs and the "stars" have no clue we are making fun of them. It is true that most are compensated quite well for opening their lives up to the cameras. And perhaps they do know that we are laughing but the money is so good, they don't care. But what does that say about our society? We are actively watching programs because we enjoying watching others and thinking about how we are better than them. And we wonder why bullying is such an issue in our schools...
Many years ago I was a communications major. My concentration was in Public Relations, but my love of TV led me to a few electives in the radio/tv/film concentration. While reality TV was not what it is today then (MTV was the biggest producer with Real World, Road Rules and The Real World/Road Rules challenges), it did come up in a few classes, so here is what I remember....
Reality TV is cheap to produce. Despite the crazy amounts of money some "stars" get per episode, they rarely get that in the beginning of a show's lifetime. There are no sets to create and in many cases no wardrobe or makeup artists. They can make a reality show for far less per episode just because they have no writers to pay. Once the "stars" are making fees closer to what actors make the shows are in the position to be pulling in that money from advertisers or product placement deals.
In my house we watch mostly network TV and scripted cable shows. We DVR new episodes as they air. Most people - those who are not addicts - no longer do that. I have a friend who is also a huge Big Bang Theory fan. One day I asked her about what she thought of the most recent episode. She had no clue what I was talking about. The fact is, she didn't even know that BBT airs on CBS. She thought it was a TBS show because all she's ever watched is the repeats there. When I asked her what she normally watches on a given night she informed me that she normally just channel surfs till something catches her eye. She admitted its generally a cable reality show. I don't think she's alone. The voyeur in us is taking over, and because of that so is reality TV.
And I can hear all the comments - so what? I like it and I should be able to watch what I like. And yes, you should. But I don't think reality TV is good for us. I think it makes people feel like they have a right to know all the details of everyone's lives. If I get to know these things about the Kardashians and the Duggars and Honey Boo Boo then why shouldn't I know it about my coworkers, my neighbors, even my family. But guess what? Its just not your business. The people with reality shows are making a choice to let us in. Your friends and family are not so its not OK to ask them certain things or comment on certain things. I recently overheard this conversation between acquaintances:
Woman 1 - So you'll be married 10 years soon then. Don't you want kids?
Woman 2 - Umm....
Woman 1 - Well, there is no shame in infertility. Guilana and Bill struggled with it too. They got a surrogate.
Woman 2 - Oh, ummm, yeah...
Woman 1 - I know they are expensive, but you both have good jobs. Would you like me to make some calls? See if I know anyone else who has used one?
Woman 1 just dropped the names of two famous people as if she knows them personally. And she feels like she does, because she steps into the day to day of their lives once a week.
This is a TV blog, so I wont get political, but in the last week some pretty major things have been going on in our country. Next time you watch the news or visit a news website, take a minute to check out the stories, really look at them. Don't just scan for what you are looking for. I think you will be shocked at how many stories are about reality TV stars and minutia from celebrities lives. Then take a look at how many of them are above the fold.
Reality TV is cheap to produce and if we keep watching it, they will keep making it. I think we need to stop watching.
Im talking about shows where people who are previously famous for nothing get their own show to display the intimate details of their lives. There are some shows that aren't so bad - I've been known to laugh at Si on Duck Dynasty when my husband is watching, and I enjoy TLC's The Little Couple. But for the most part, the whole concept makes me cringe. I don't mean to single out any particular show, but in many cases I feel like we are watching these shows for laughs and the "stars" have no clue we are making fun of them. It is true that most are compensated quite well for opening their lives up to the cameras. And perhaps they do know that we are laughing but the money is so good, they don't care. But what does that say about our society? We are actively watching programs because we enjoying watching others and thinking about how we are better than them. And we wonder why bullying is such an issue in our schools...
Many years ago I was a communications major. My concentration was in Public Relations, but my love of TV led me to a few electives in the radio/tv/film concentration. While reality TV was not what it is today then (MTV was the biggest producer with Real World, Road Rules and The Real World/Road Rules challenges), it did come up in a few classes, so here is what I remember....
Reality TV is cheap to produce. Despite the crazy amounts of money some "stars" get per episode, they rarely get that in the beginning of a show's lifetime. There are no sets to create and in many cases no wardrobe or makeup artists. They can make a reality show for far less per episode just because they have no writers to pay. Once the "stars" are making fees closer to what actors make the shows are in the position to be pulling in that money from advertisers or product placement deals.
In my house we watch mostly network TV and scripted cable shows. We DVR new episodes as they air. Most people - those who are not addicts - no longer do that. I have a friend who is also a huge Big Bang Theory fan. One day I asked her about what she thought of the most recent episode. She had no clue what I was talking about. The fact is, she didn't even know that BBT airs on CBS. She thought it was a TBS show because all she's ever watched is the repeats there. When I asked her what she normally watches on a given night she informed me that she normally just channel surfs till something catches her eye. She admitted its generally a cable reality show. I don't think she's alone. The voyeur in us is taking over, and because of that so is reality TV.
And I can hear all the comments - so what? I like it and I should be able to watch what I like. And yes, you should. But I don't think reality TV is good for us. I think it makes people feel like they have a right to know all the details of everyone's lives. If I get to know these things about the Kardashians and the Duggars and Honey Boo Boo then why shouldn't I know it about my coworkers, my neighbors, even my family. But guess what? Its just not your business. The people with reality shows are making a choice to let us in. Your friends and family are not so its not OK to ask them certain things or comment on certain things. I recently overheard this conversation between acquaintances:
Woman 1 - So you'll be married 10 years soon then. Don't you want kids?
Woman 2 - Umm....
Woman 1 - Well, there is no shame in infertility. Guilana and Bill struggled with it too. They got a surrogate.
Woman 2 - Oh, ummm, yeah...
Woman 1 - I know they are expensive, but you both have good jobs. Would you like me to make some calls? See if I know anyone else who has used one?
Woman 1 just dropped the names of two famous people as if she knows them personally. And she feels like she does, because she steps into the day to day of their lives once a week.
This is a TV blog, so I wont get political, but in the last week some pretty major things have been going on in our country. Next time you watch the news or visit a news website, take a minute to check out the stories, really look at them. Don't just scan for what you are looking for. I think you will be shocked at how many stories are about reality TV stars and minutia from celebrities lives. Then take a look at how many of them are above the fold.
Reality TV is cheap to produce and if we keep watching it, they will keep making it. I think we need to stop watching.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Farewell, Ziva....
I'm just going to come out and say it - although I LOVE NCIS, I never loved Ziva David. I liked her a lot, but I did not love her.
Perhaps its because I always liked Sasha Alexander so much. I loved her on Dawson's Creek and I love her now on Rizzoli & Isles. When Kate died, I was heartbroken. I think Tony still is too...did you catch that his fish is named Kate? But I digress.
I liked Ziva and I accepted her as a part of the team. I just never saw her with Tony. To me, it always felt a little forced. I wont compare Kate and Ziva, because that's not really fair, and I think I truly would have felt that way about Tony and Ziva even if Kate had never been on the show.
Ziva's story lines aside from Tony never really interested me. I just couldn't get in to the whole Mossad/bad father thing. I think the other characters on NCIS have far more compelling back story's, which also fit in more with the show's other stories.
When it was announced that Cote de Paulo was leaving the show over the summer I was very curious how it would play out, especially when closure was promised for all those who had waited so patiently for the Tony/Ziva relationship to take off in the direction of permanent. I immediately thought Witness Protection was in her future. I was wrong, but I also didn't love how they ended it.
It still felt forced to me - she loves Tony but she's still leaving. I get it, she thinks she needs to go so those she loves can be safe. But as the show closed, I mostly felt relief. I feel hopeful that the person who joins the team next won't just be dumped in as a new love interest for Tony. I hope she will be a well developed character who fits in with the team and brings more to the table in the humor department (because that's a part of what sets NCIS apart from every other procedural on TV). I also hope we can now get back to my favorite NCIS couple, Abby and McGhee. (BTW - Pauley Perrette also appeared on Dawson's Creek. Bonus to anyone who can say what role she played...)
Perhaps its because I always liked Sasha Alexander so much. I loved her on Dawson's Creek and I love her now on Rizzoli & Isles. When Kate died, I was heartbroken. I think Tony still is too...did you catch that his fish is named Kate? But I digress.
I liked Ziva and I accepted her as a part of the team. I just never saw her with Tony. To me, it always felt a little forced. I wont compare Kate and Ziva, because that's not really fair, and I think I truly would have felt that way about Tony and Ziva even if Kate had never been on the show.
Ziva's story lines aside from Tony never really interested me. I just couldn't get in to the whole Mossad/bad father thing. I think the other characters on NCIS have far more compelling back story's, which also fit in more with the show's other stories.
When it was announced that Cote de Paulo was leaving the show over the summer I was very curious how it would play out, especially when closure was promised for all those who had waited so patiently for the Tony/Ziva relationship to take off in the direction of permanent. I immediately thought Witness Protection was in her future. I was wrong, but I also didn't love how they ended it.
It still felt forced to me - she loves Tony but she's still leaving. I get it, she thinks she needs to go so those she loves can be safe. But as the show closed, I mostly felt relief. I feel hopeful that the person who joins the team next won't just be dumped in as a new love interest for Tony. I hope she will be a well developed character who fits in with the team and brings more to the table in the humor department (because that's a part of what sets NCIS apart from every other procedural on TV). I also hope we can now get back to my favorite NCIS couple, Abby and McGhee. (BTW - Pauley Perrette also appeared on Dawson's Creek. Bonus to anyone who can say what role she played...)
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