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.
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