And by Teaser, I mean no new material, just a compilation of the more riveting (aren't they all?) scenes from the first 3 seasons.
Gritty, Edgy, Methy, Cranstony. Gotta Love it.
Season 4 begins July 17 on AMC.
Keep Watching Your Screens
Ficus.
If you, like me, can't wait til then- grab season 3 on DVD or Blu-ray.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
First 14 minutes of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' Released
Like being spoiled? Like watching the first 14 minutes of an episode you won't see for another week or two?
If so, click here.
I refuse to watch it myself.
Misanthropic Ficus
If so, click here.
I refuse to watch it myself.
Misanthropic Ficus
Friday, April 8, 2011
Profiles of Characters We Love: Annie Edison (Community)
Today sees a dawn of a new series emanating from the brain that brought you 'Dan-Blair Watch' and 'Ficus Recommends'. It's a series I plan to add to every week; time, weather, strength and intestinal fortitude permitting. It will look out our favourite characters deemed by a panel of experts. Namely me. However, I do plan to consult with my ever burgeoning list of esteemed contributors...if they ever start contributing.
Today I bring you Annie from Community.
Information gleaned from her 100% inaccurate wikipedia page:
Born: December 1990
Gender: Female
Religion: Judaism
Occupation: Student
Significant Others: Ficus (in dream-like world made of chocolate and Hermione Granger)
She is the girl next door. This more-american-than-apple pie sweetheart is a ficus-favourite over at NBC’s Community. Is it her sex appeal? No, my love of Annie extends past the superficial attraction to her unquestionable beauty and feminine charms. Perhaps it stems from the fact that her character has depth beyond her looks. Unlike other attractive female characters on TV, she doesn’t rely on her sexuality. Indeed, at the beginning of the series she appears barely cognisant of her ability to do this.
We know from her interactions with Troy that she was invisible at High School. Star QB Troy didn’t remember her despite sitting in front of her in class for years. It is also stated on several occasions that she suffered a nervous breakdown in High School. It is this vulnerability which shines through Alison Brie’s delicate portrayal of Annie. At Glendale, she finds found a group of friends which understand her. Yet, her vulnerability and naiveté leads members of the group to treat her as if she was their daughter.
In many ways this matches the experience of the audience. We want Annie’s innocence to be protected whilst at the same time find her so alluring in her innocence. We are Geoff Winger, so conflicted and torn that we don’t know whether we want to be her father or lover...or both. As she continues to evolve with superb writing and the nuanced performance by the brilliant Alison Brie perhaps this dilemma will be resolved. In the meantime we’ll continue to love her.
Until next time
Keep Watching Your Screens
A very smitten Ficus
Today I bring you Annie from Community.
Information gleaned from her 100% inaccurate wikipedia page:
Born: December 1990
Gender: Female
Religion: Judaism
Occupation: Student
Significant Others: Ficus (in dream-like world made of chocolate and Hermione Granger)
She is the girl next door. This more-american-than-apple pie sweetheart is a ficus-favourite over at NBC’s Community. Is it her sex appeal? No, my love of Annie extends past the superficial attraction to her unquestionable beauty and feminine charms. Perhaps it stems from the fact that her character has depth beyond her looks. Unlike other attractive female characters on TV, she doesn’t rely on her sexuality. Indeed, at the beginning of the series she appears barely cognisant of her ability to do this.
We know from her interactions with Troy that she was invisible at High School. Star QB Troy didn’t remember her despite sitting in front of her in class for years. It is also stated on several occasions that she suffered a nervous breakdown in High School. It is this vulnerability which shines through Alison Brie’s delicate portrayal of Annie. At Glendale, she finds found a group of friends which understand her. Yet, her vulnerability and naiveté leads members of the group to treat her as if she was their daughter.
In many ways this matches the experience of the audience. We want Annie’s innocence to be protected whilst at the same time find her so alluring in her innocence. We are Geoff Winger, so conflicted and torn that we don’t know whether we want to be her father or lover...or both. As she continues to evolve with superb writing and the nuanced performance by the brilliant Alison Brie perhaps this dilemma will be resolved. In the meantime we’ll continue to love her.
Until next time
Keep Watching Your Screens
A very smitten Ficus
When a Good Show Goes Bad: The Office (US)
After a first season which imitated the British classic line for line, sans mature language and content, The Office (US) stepped outside the shadow of the original to become of the funniest and most heartfelt shows on network, hell, all of television.
The recipe was simple enough. Give Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson decent material and you'll have yourself a damn funny show. Add a 'will they-won't they' romance featuring boy and girl next door Pam and Jim and you get a compelling romantic story. Put them together and you have a great show, which for seasons made us laugh and cry.
The supporting cast was and is unspectacular but solid enough. There’s fatty, grumpy, bitchy, stupid and slutty.
So what went so wrong in the past two or three seasons? Well, as is inevitably the case as much as the writers would have liked to artificially extend the intrigue surrounding Pam and Jim, there reached a point where they had to be unified. In doing so, the show lost momentum and a distinct overarching storyline. Oh and it turns out that Pam and Jim aren’t very funny or engaging in their new found marital bliss.
The writers have tried to create other points of romantic interest yet they do not measure up. Moreover, the humour has dissipated. We know the routine all too well after 7 seasons. Michael is going to do something inappropriate (we cringe). Dwight will say something slightly quirky (we smile). Pam and Jim love each other (we fall asleep). The supporting cast will give their well rehearsed and well-worn responses (we lip-sync).
So perhaps, the show hasn’t ‘gone bad’ in so much as it has gone stale. Steve Carell is leaving at the end of this season, leaving a space for a new boss to enter the picture. Or should they just call the whole thing off?
This Ficus thinks so.
Keep watching Your Screens
The recipe was simple enough. Give Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson decent material and you'll have yourself a damn funny show. Add a 'will they-won't they' romance featuring boy and girl next door Pam and Jim and you get a compelling romantic story. Put them together and you have a great show, which for seasons made us laugh and cry.
The supporting cast was and is unspectacular but solid enough. There’s fatty, grumpy, bitchy, stupid and slutty.
So what went so wrong in the past two or three seasons? Well, as is inevitably the case as much as the writers would have liked to artificially extend the intrigue surrounding Pam and Jim, there reached a point where they had to be unified. In doing so, the show lost momentum and a distinct overarching storyline. Oh and it turns out that Pam and Jim aren’t very funny or engaging in their new found marital bliss.
The writers have tried to create other points of romantic interest yet they do not measure up. Moreover, the humour has dissipated. We know the routine all too well after 7 seasons. Michael is going to do something inappropriate (we cringe). Dwight will say something slightly quirky (we smile). Pam and Jim love each other (we fall asleep). The supporting cast will give their well rehearsed and well-worn responses (we lip-sync).
So perhaps, the show hasn’t ‘gone bad’ in so much as it has gone stale. Steve Carell is leaving at the end of this season, leaving a space for a new boss to enter the picture. Or should they just call the whole thing off?
This Ficus thinks so.
Keep watching Your Screens
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Maddening Mad Men Hiatus: When Avarice Meets Art
It is now certain that the much anticipated return of the 5th season of AMC's Mad Men will not be until 2012 (at least). The reason: the almighty dollar. It appears that the network has greenlit the return of its critically adorned hit, but with some interesting conditions. The show's creator will be forced to 'cull' two characters a season for the next 3 seasons. Hmmm...interesting. I don't know about you but this seems a little ridiculous. It's almost as if AMC is conveniently forgetting the role Mad Men played in the network's rise to acclaim. The Network Execs are like "Screw them, we still have Breaking Bad, Rubicon and the Walking Dead". If loyalty and a lust to produce quality programming isn't sufficient, how about a reality check. Breaking Bad may be one of the greatest shows on TV, but TWD and Rubicon are fairly mediocre. TWD especially is less than captivating viewing. 'Crap' I called it. A Mad Men-less AMC schedule certainly devalues the overall quality of the network.
However, if creator Matthew Wiener does agree to the gradual assassination of our beloved friends I have a solution for him: Lung cancer.
Keep Watching Your Screens
Misanthropic Ficus
Update: A deal has now been reached for the next 2 seasons, with the likelihood of a 3rd. The 5th season will premiere in March 2012. The episodes will be slightly shorter and feature more product placement.
To satisfy your thirst for Draper, Peggy and Co. during the prolonged hiatus, check out previous seasons on DVD and Blu-Ray.
However, if creator Matthew Wiener does agree to the gradual assassination of our beloved friends I have a solution for him: Lung cancer.
Keep Watching Your Screens
Misanthropic Ficus
Update: A deal has now been reached for the next 2 seasons, with the likelihood of a 3rd. The 5th season will premiere in March 2012. The episodes will be slightly shorter and feature more product placement.
To satisfy your thirst for Draper, Peggy and Co. during the prolonged hiatus, check out previous seasons on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
WIN $2000: Open to Australian Residents Only.
Vote for this truly stunning, evocative and hilarious piece of political, historical and social satire and you could win $2000!
Vote Here.
Vote Here.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Skins: Series 5...A Brief Rant.
 |
| The spawn of Monty Burns and ET? |
Is it over yet? Can I open my eyes now. Geez, that was bad. This was a series which felt as if it had only just begun. It was fall of undefined characters and undeveloped relationships and Franky. Oh Franky, 'don't label me' Franky. The post-label, post-sexual, post-gender, pre-human Franky. It's as if the writers remembered the joy of having an enigmatic and ambiguous talent in 'Effy' and decided to replicate her...but something went horribly wrong...and Franky was born!
There were a couple of standout episodes, although looking back now I like Rich's episode less and less. Nick was the most interesting character, he underwent serious transformation and I imagine next season we'll see him rise like a phoenix from the ashes of his former skin.
But overall it was all too familiar, all too 'Skins-Lite'. There was too much melodrama (ficus-off wedding). The characters just seemed to hover on the edge of oblivion. Sure, previous Skins generations did a lot of drugs. But it was interspersed with meaningful connections...and...and...JJ.
Moreover, the humour at the start of the series quickly dissipated. Usually this doesn't occur until the second series of each generation. This doesn't bode well.
In conclusion, the acting was fairly ordinary, the characters were deformed clones, the stories stale and seemingly inconsequential.
Skins may be dead friends.
But hey, it's still better than the American travesty, right?
And the Brits still have Misfits.
Until next time
Keep watching your screens
A Misanthropic Ficus
Thursday, March 17, 2011
NBC renews their finest comedies...and the Office
Community, Parks and Recreation and the leader-less, rudder-less 'The Office' have all been renewed through 2011-2012. Community continues to be the most ambitious and intelligent comedy on television. Parks has continued to grow from it's rather mediocre debut season, though one wonders about the overall direction of the show given that arcs to date have been rather insignificant.
The Office will be without Steve Carell. It's fairly stale and humourless with him so it's difficult to see if it can get any worse. I'm sure you'll all tune in to find out. I know I will.
Keep Watching Your Screens
A Buoyant Ficus
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
The Office will be without Steve Carell. It's fairly stale and humourless with him so it's difficult to see if it can get any worse. I'm sure you'll all tune in to find out. I know I will.
Keep Watching Your Screens
A Buoyant Ficus
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Monday, March 14, 2011
Trouble on the Glee-rizon? Part 2.
Today, I continue my look at the problems with Glee. It isn't, perhaps, the most ideal time to post this given the rather excellent (in season 2 terms) episode that aired this past week. Indeed, keep a look out in the coming days or week for my analysis of my new favourite romantic couple on TV: Britana (Britney + Santana)
Regardless, here is the second problem with Glee, an issue which I do not foresee being remedied any time...well until the series is eventually cancelled in 2016 due to Will's hair being deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. I'm with you Sue...
2. Theme episodes
Rewind to season 1. They have a Madonna themed episode. Fine I say: Musical icon, symbol of women’s liberation from the yoke of patriarchy. Season 2, a Britney spears themed episode. Ficus-off I say. I literally had to fast-forward through much of this episode. 4 songs in 10 minutes: check. ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’... I screamed as I gouged my metaphorical ears out with my neglected branches, sap running down my roots. Ridiculous and illogical Britney Spears guest appearance. Check. Although it was nice to see the character ‘Britney’ gain some air time.
Then came the Rocky Horror tribute. It may have been the greatest Rocky Horror tribute ever. I haven’t seen the film so the convoluted winks and nods were all but indecipherable to me. Given the shows demographic I found it hard to believe many knew what the ficus was going on. There was one transsexual too many if you ask me.
I understand it is a musical-comedy which lends itself to musical tributes. But, as everything with Glee, the writers aren’t content with doing it once. They will squeeze that lemon until there is nothing left. Didn’t they realise it was fairly sour the first time?
Until next time
Keep watching your screens
That's how the Ficus Sees it...
Regardless, here is the second problem with Glee, an issue which I do not foresee being remedied any time...well until the series is eventually cancelled in 2016 due to Will's hair being deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. I'm with you Sue...
2. Theme episodes
Rewind to season 1. They have a Madonna themed episode. Fine I say: Musical icon, symbol of women’s liberation from the yoke of patriarchy. Season 2, a Britney spears themed episode. Ficus-off I say. I literally had to fast-forward through much of this episode. 4 songs in 10 minutes: check. ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’... I screamed as I gouged my metaphorical ears out with my neglected branches, sap running down my roots. Ridiculous and illogical Britney Spears guest appearance. Check. Although it was nice to see the character ‘Britney’ gain some air time.
Then came the Rocky Horror tribute. It may have been the greatest Rocky Horror tribute ever. I haven’t seen the film so the convoluted winks and nods were all but indecipherable to me. Given the shows demographic I found it hard to believe many knew what the ficus was going on. There was one transsexual too many if you ask me.
I understand it is a musical-comedy which lends itself to musical tributes. But, as everything with Glee, the writers aren’t content with doing it once. They will squeeze that lemon until there is nothing left. Didn’t they realise it was fairly sour the first time?
Until next time
Keep watching your screens
That's how the Ficus Sees it...
Friday, March 11, 2011
Skins S05E07: What was Liv reading?
No review today.
Just though I would let you know that the book Liv was reading down by the pier was a graphic novel named 'Black Hole' by Charles Burns. It's about a bunch of teenagers who do alot of psychoactive drugs, have sex and get STD's...which causes them to become deformed...like they grow tails...and shit.
That bunch is probably still more tame than the Skins' characters.
It's truly disturbing. Great illustrations.
A Literary Ficus.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Trouble on the Glee-rizon?
Quiet times here for a TV addicted Ficus. Hiatus breeds contempts. Ficus breeds baby Ficus. Whatever that means...
I thought I might as well discuss Glee. Never felt the emotion myself. Good show though. Sometimes....
Firstly, I love Glee. I don’t luv Glee like OMG! But I do love it...like omg.
I do consider myself a gleek, newly born into the land of gleekdom.
I’m a new convert to glee-stianity, a politically active member of the gleecrats.
I mean the gleeks shall inherit the earth, right? (This is my favourite pun)
See, I watched the pilot when it first aired and I liked it, but I got sidetracked and the show fell from my radar.
Well, a couple of weeks ago I spotted the first season on ebay, bought it and watched it in a week. I have now caught up to the current episode.
I love it’s heart and its humour.... But, man, when it is bad it is horrific. Like nigh unwatchable. Like literally I have fast-forwarded through a couple of episodes.
Where do the problems lie?
Here, there, everywhere really...
1. Which Glee?
First of all, I subscribe to the theory expounded over at AVClub about the ‘three Glees’. That is, the 3 Glee creators Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan all have competing visions for the show. Consequently, whoever writes an individual episode writes it in a certain way. Murphy’s the over-the-top crazy, big-budget, theme episode guy. Falchuk’s the message, smaltzy guy. Brennan writes the more sombre, melancholic, cathartic episodes. Being misanthropic I tend towards Brennan but I do like certain episodes by each of the creators. The problem is, this makes the show very erratic and unpredictable. Sure, it’s part of the charm but it’s also very frustrating to watch. And let’s be honest. Season 2 has magnified these inconsistencies. One week the characters seem to be heading in a certain direction only to be thrust in a completely different one as a different creator takes the reins. How can there be realistic character development with 3 versions of each star randomly appearing each week? Will is a prime example of this. He has probably suffered the most from the chef's broth fiasco. One episode he's chicken and pea, the next he is minestrone. The next he is smoked salmon...huh? Imagine how the viewer feels! The result being a character which is devoid of any real identity. He's each creator's mouthpiece...and a fracking irritating one at that.
This is probably the main issue which hinders Glee from being a truly 'great' show. It lacks a cohesive vision and a coherent set of characters.
Tune in tomorrow for another reason why I'm a little 'meh' on Glee.
I thought I might as well discuss Glee. Never felt the emotion myself. Good show though. Sometimes....
Firstly, I love Glee. I don’t luv Glee like OMG! But I do love it...like omg.
I do consider myself a gleek, newly born into the land of gleekdom.
I’m a new convert to glee-stianity, a politically active member of the gleecrats.
I mean the gleeks shall inherit the earth, right? (This is my favourite pun)
See, I watched the pilot when it first aired and I liked it, but I got sidetracked and the show fell from my radar.
Well, a couple of weeks ago I spotted the first season on ebay, bought it and watched it in a week. I have now caught up to the current episode.
I love it’s heart and its humour.... But, man, when it is bad it is horrific. Like nigh unwatchable. Like literally I have fast-forwarded through a couple of episodes.
Where do the problems lie?
Here, there, everywhere really...
1. Which Glee?
First of all, I subscribe to the theory expounded over at AVClub about the ‘three Glees’. That is, the 3 Glee creators Murphy, Falchuk and Brennan all have competing visions for the show. Consequently, whoever writes an individual episode writes it in a certain way. Murphy’s the over-the-top crazy, big-budget, theme episode guy. Falchuk’s the message, smaltzy guy. Brennan writes the more sombre, melancholic, cathartic episodes. Being misanthropic I tend towards Brennan but I do like certain episodes by each of the creators. The problem is, this makes the show very erratic and unpredictable. Sure, it’s part of the charm but it’s also very frustrating to watch. And let’s be honest. Season 2 has magnified these inconsistencies. One week the characters seem to be heading in a certain direction only to be thrust in a completely different one as a different creator takes the reins. How can there be realistic character development with 3 versions of each star randomly appearing each week? Will is a prime example of this. He has probably suffered the most from the chef's broth fiasco. One episode he's chicken and pea, the next he is minestrone. The next he is smoked salmon...huh? Imagine how the viewer feels! The result being a character which is devoid of any real identity. He's each creator's mouthpiece...and a fracking irritating one at that.
This is probably the main issue which hinders Glee from being a truly 'great' show. It lacks a cohesive vision and a coherent set of characters.
Tune in tomorrow for another reason why I'm a little 'meh' on Glee.
Keep watching your dvds
Until next time
Ficus.
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