Category: TV trends

Primetime with Clara’s reactions to the latest TV trends.

My New Year’s wishes for TV in 2015

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Dec. 30, 2014.
To be fair, one of my wishes did come true in 2015.

If it hasn’t been your day, your month or your year, “Friends,” with the help of The Rembrandts, lets you know that friends will be there for you.

And so will TV. Sorry, but new shows and old re-runs will not disappear anytime soon.

While TV is enjoying a greater status these days, there’s always room for improvement.

Here are my wishes for TV in 2015 (There are some spoilers if you haven’t watched certain shows, so be warned.):

KEEP SHOWS ON NETFLIX

I’m watching “Ugly Betty” with a friend of mine, but we just found out the dramedy is disappearing from Netflix on Jan. 4. Not cool.

We still have 1½ seasons to go, and there’s no way we will be able to finish in time.

Why do shows stay on the streaming service for only a limited time? Myriad reasons, but I don’t care.

If I’m watching a show on Netflix, I don’t want to have to hunt for it elsewhere because the streaming service decided to remove it.

AIR THE GOOD FINALE OF ‘HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’

Remember when many HIMYM fans (including me) were disappointed in the finale of the long-running CBS comedy? You know, the finale where Barney and Robin divorce, the Mother dies and Ted woos Robin … again?

After the should’ve-been-expected uproar, the alternative ending leaked prior to the season 9 DVD release. It’s not that different from what originally aired in March, but it’s infinitely better.

Anyone who buys the DVD or searches for it on YouTube can watch it, but since it’s what many fans wanted, the alternate ending should air on one of the numerous networks that air the show in syndication.

HAVE A PROPER SEND-OFF FOR HOWARD’S MOM ON ‘THE BIG BANG THEORY’

Carol Ann Susi died in November. The actress played a host of minor TV characters, but in her role as Howard’s mom on “The Big Bang Theory,” she was never actually seen, partly (I’m guessing) because she’s not actually that overweight.

Her voice will be missed on the CBS comedy, and she’s too memorable to just have the character slip through the cracks and never be talked about again.

I don’t know how the producers will make it work, but it’s necessary to give her something.

GET SCHMIDT AND CECE BACK TOGETHER ON ‘NEW GIRL’

Putting Nick and Jess together so early in the Fox comedy’s run might have been a bad idea, but the show’s other will-they-or-won’t-they couple has been apart for too long.

Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Cece (Hannah Simone) have matured in ways viewers might not have thought were possible. When was the last time Schmidt had to put money in a certain jar?

The two have developed a solid friendship, so now it’s time for showrunner Elizabeth Meriwether to bring them together again.

AIR ‘DOWNTON ABBEY’ IN THE US AND ENGLAND SIMULTANEOUSLY

I have friends in England, and I’m super thankful they haven’t spoiled “Downton Abbey” for me.

I’m anxiously awaiting its Jan. 4 return, but it aired months ago across the pond.

It’s silly to wait to air the BBC show in the U.S., especially when spoilers are so easy to come by.

BRING ‘GRACEPOINT’ BACK

I’m still a bit shocked at how “Gracepoint” ended Dec. 11. I wouldn’t say I’m not satisfied since the pivotal question of who killed Danny was answered, but it left me wanting more.

Maybe I need to watch “Broadchurch,” of which the Fox drama was based. But I want to see how Anna Gunn would portray her character’s rebuilding.

MAKE CABLE SHOWS EASIER TO WATCH ONLINE

I would love to watch “The Newsroom” or “Olive Kitteridge,” but I don’t have an easy way to access them.

I also don’t believe in illegally streaming shows.

Hulu and cable networks such as HBO and Showtime need to make an agreement so that everyone can watch multiple shows in one place instead of having multiple online subscription services.

‘Fuller House’: Mixed feelings on Netflix reboot of ‘Full House’

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Feb. 29, 2016. Season 2 of “Fuller House” hits Netflix on Dec. 9.

We may not always have the milkman, the paperboy or evening TV…but we do still have “Full House.”

It’s just “Fuller House” now.

The much-anticipated reboot premiered Friday, and I have mixed feelings about it.

Let me first say that I love “Full House,” but I wasn’t ready for reboot.

I didn’t think “Girl Meets World,” the reboot of “Boy Meets World,” worked. While it was fun to see the cast members reunite, the Disney show missed the spark of its predecessor.

“Fuller House” has a similar problem. But, after the first two episodes, it improved.

The Netflix show’s first episodes were jam-packed with nostalgia and old gags. From “How rude!” to an Elvis baby costume, a lot was there…including an awkward break-the-fourth-wall moment acknowledging the absence of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who played Michelle Tanner in “Full House.”

The premiere takes place 29 years after “Full House.” It focuses on D.J. Fuller (formerly Tanner) (Candace Cameron Bure), who’s trying to balance work and family life after her husband died.

So, basically it’s “Full House” with reverse gender roles. Guess who checks in to help out? Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber).

It’s not necessarily a bad thing, it just makes some plots, such as episode’s 2 moving in and sharing rooms, boring. And the first episode was filled with exposition, even though I bet 90 percent of people watching the show already knew the basics.

But by episode 3, the plots improved. They weren’t all rehashed from “Full House,” and they incorporated the use of modern items such as smartphones, Uber and social media.

Issues such as parenting and moving on cross over well between the two shows, but “Fuller House” takes a moment to look at other problems such as infertility. It was refreshing to see this type of comedy tackle bigger issues while still maintaining its loving, always-ending-in-a-hug moments.

At times the plots came out forced, such as a “Dancing with the Stars”/“Dirty Dancing” moment at a club with Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy and D.J.’s high school boyfriend Steve’s (Scott Weinger) attempts to date her. It also could be stale with the old jokes and format (one conflict for the kids, one for the adults), but it still provided laughs.

The problem with these reboots is that expectations are too high, so it’s impossible to please people. But I will say “Fuller House” is better than “Girl Meets World.”

If you loved “Full House,” give “Fuller House” a chance, but try to keep your expectations at bay. It’s still enjoyable, but you won’t be saying “Holy chalupas,” the catchphrase of Max, DJ’s middle child.

What do you think of “Fuller House”?

Binge-watching prevalent, but weekly watching still a good way to watch TV

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 15, 2016.
NOTE: “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” premieres Nov. 25. All four 90-minute episodes will be released at once.

Is TV really TV anymore?

With Netflix, Hulu, On Demand and more, it’s no surprise people are overwhelmed with options.

So how do people watch? It depends. But binge-watching has become a norm.

I just got into watching Netflix. I know, I’m really behind. But the main reason definitely has something to do with “Gilmore Girls.”

“Gilmore Girls” is one of many shows getting the reboot/revival treatment. Four episodes, each centered around a season, will come to Netflix sometime soon.

Amy Sherman-Palladino, one of the creators, doesn’t want to release the episodes all at once, which made me consider how I want to watch these new episodes.

I’ve wanted to see more “Gilmore Girls” for years, so I’m conflicted about having to wait any more than I already have. But I also think it’ll be nice to savor the episodes.

As with most things in life, there are two sides to this story:

3 ADVANTAGES OF BINGE-WATCHING

More continuity. You can clearly see how events, relationships and more unfold throughout a show if you binge-watch.

Easier to follow. Watching episodes one after the other makes you less likely to forget something since it stays fresh in your mind.

Satisfaction of finishing a show. There’s something rewarding about finishing a show after days of binge-watching … or even making it through a season in a weekend. Though there might be other things to do …

3 ADVANTAGES OF WEEKLY WATCHING

Builds suspense. Cliffhangers stay cliffhangers when you have time between shows. You can think of all the possibilities and then be surprised when something changes.

Satisfaction of waiting. Waiting for something gives it more value. Nothing is spoiled, it’s cherished. Plus you’ll have time to do other things. I mean, really, 30 minutes of one show weekly vs. four hours of one show in one day … you do the math.

Less chance for spoilers. If you’re binge-watching a show, chances are it aired in real time a while ago. Which likely means there are lots of articles and social media posts and friends who can spoil the plot for you. Watching in real time lessens the chance of spoilers because you’re watching plots unfold as the show airs.

When it comes to “Gilmore Girls,” I’ll take what I can get … as long as it’s sooner rather than later. In the mean time, I’ll keep binge-watching and watching shows weekly.

Which do you prefer: binge-watching or weekly watching? Why?

‘The Odd Couple’: Reboot a pleasant upgrade of 1970s comedy

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 14, 2014. Season 3 of “The Odd Couple” premieres at 9:30 p.m. tonight.

In a time of reboots and sequels, “The Odd Couple” stands out.

Because for once, it doesn’t feel like a rehash.

“The Odd Couple,” now in its second season on CBS, isn’t just a modern update on the 1970s sitcom starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. It has a slightly different focus.

Yes, there are similarities. Both shows are comedies about two men who are divorced/separated and live together. Same occupations for these friends, too: Oscar Madison (Klugman in the ’70s and Matthew Perry in the new version) still makes a living in sports, though it’s newspaper in the ’70s and a sports talk show host in the current version; and Felix Unger (Randall in the ’70s and Thomas Lennon in the new version) is a photographer. Oscar is still a slob, and Felix is still a neat freak.

Yes, they shouldn’t get along. And many times they don’t. But that’s where the similarities end.

The 1970s show is almost hyper-focused on the two men and their relationship. There is a set of core characters — a group of men who play poker at the shared apartment, and some lady friends here and there — but the times they’re seen are staggered.

In the CBS version, there are more characters in whom viewers can invest. Oscar’s assistant, Dani (Yvette Nicole Brown), provides some laughs by pointing out the obvious. There’s Oscar’s agent, Teddy (Wendell Pierce), and his friend Murph (Geoff Stults), who are foils to his personality: Teddy is tired of being tied down and Murph is always ready to party or goof off.

Plus, by the end of season 1, Felix has a girlfriend, Emily (Lindsay Sloane), who is also a bit neurotic. In the old version, Felix still spends time with his estranged wife.

Because the 1970s version is so hyper-focused on Oscar and Felix, a lot of the episodes revolve around their apartment.

In today’s version there are multiple apartments and the bar nearby. There’s more of a progressive story, while in the older version you can skip an episode and be fine.

Which is almost my biggest complaint, along with the long intro/theme song and same musical interludes over and over (the update put a funkier spin to the theme song and got rid of the interludes, though most shows don’t have those anymore). The episodes are almost too similar. They fight. They get angry. They make up. Repeat. It gets old.

Today’s characters have growth. Small growth, but still. It makes me care more for those characters; they’re learning how to live differently than before. Oscar even realizes he can’t party forever.

Because of the long gap in when these shows aired, the plots are very different. This concept, which originally was a Neil Simon play, has had time to breathe.

That’s not to say the 1970s version is bad — it was Emmy-nominated. But the shows have a different pace and focus, so it appeals to different people. Plus, there are plotlines and sayings that can be portrayed on TV that weren’t so OK in the 1970s, which Garry Marshall, an executive producer on the old version and an executive consultant on the new version of “The Odd Couple,” noted last year.

So for once, this reboot isn’t so bad. Thankfully.

Event series now part of TV culture

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on April 15, 2015.

Blink and you’ll miss them.

“Gracepoint.” “The Slap.” And, to an extent, “Marvel’s Agent Carter” (the ABC show might return for a second season, though it’s up in the air).

What is with all these “event series”? Which, by the way, is basically a fancy term for “miniseries.”

TV networks are airing seven- to 10-episode series, with events concluding by the last episode.

Why now? I can think of two reasons: “American Horror Story” and “True Detective.”

These shows have captivated audiences, and even though they air for multiple seasons, they are a different show each time, with new cast members and premises.

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk (of “Glee” fame) have churned out four seasons of “American Horror Story,” each in a different location but always with lots of thrills. Season 5, surrounding a hotel, has nabbed Lady Gaga as a star.

“True Detective” brought Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey to the small screen, alongside Woody Harrelson. Audiences were drawn to the mystery, and both actors received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for their work. Season 2 will star Vince Vaughn and Rachel McAdams.

With these shows drawing in viewers and big-name stars, it’s no wonder other networks are following suit.

Most movie actors have little desire to commit to a TV show since it could last many years. But an event series is a short-term commitment, leaving actors free to pursue other projects.

Uma Thurman was on NBC’s “The Slap.” Anna Gunn was on “Gracepoint.” But now they can dive in to other roles.

A 10-episode show is a short-term commitment for a viewer, too. I watched all eight episodes of “The Slap” over the course of a few days.

With Netflix and Hulu feeding the binge-watching phenomenon, networks have to adapt, hence the event series.

Not every show will work as an event series, but the concept is here to stay.

Journalists on TV are so fake

This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Dec. 11, 2014.

Maybe this is because I’m a journalist, but I’ve noticed there are a lot of movies and TV shows that portray characters in the journalism industry.

But, as probably any profession depicted, it’s not usually accurate.

In movies, there’s Kevin in “27 Dresses,” Sophie in “Letters to Juliet” and Megan in “Absence of Malice,” just to name a few.

On TV, here’s a short list, from realistic to ridiculous.

Robin Scherbatsky on “How I Met Your Mother”

She worked her way to the top, which makes sense.

She worked weird hours (as in, went to work at 2 a.m.), which makes sense.

She went from horrible, meaningless stories/shows to the top TV station depicted on the show. And then worked even more. Makes sense.

Rory Gilmore on “Gilmore Girls”

Rory starts out how many journalists do: at her high school and college newspapers.

I give “Gilmore Girls” credit for realistically showing the struggle of finding a writing job post-college.

Rory was a Yale grad who set her sights on a New York Times fellowship. Those are hard to come by.

She freaked out during her senior year, but in the end, she got a low-paying job reporting on the road for Obama’s election campaign.

But, for someone who dreamed of being Christiane Amanpour, it was odd that Rory never tried broadcast journalism while in college.

Sabrina Spellman on “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”

Sabrina loves writing and after graduating college in two seasons (thanks to the magic of TV time), she lands a job at the fictional Scorch magazine.

The magazine world is tough — but most likely, she would’ve been a freelancer, not a staff writer, at first.

Yes, she gets stuck with assignments no one else wants, but I don’t imagine the magazine world is anything like what she experienced.

Then, she quits and becomes a freelancer. But she never is seen working again for the remainder of the series. Because that would totally work … not.

Carrie Bradshaw on “Sex and the City”

No weekly columnist would be able to afford that big of an apartment in NYC, much less all the designer fashion.

While it’s believable that her columns were turned into a book, it’s absurd to see her lifestyle unfold on TV knowing that even columnists work long, odd hours, and could probably never afford Manolo Blahniks.