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February 27, 2006

TV’s Triple Loss

The world of television suffered a great loss recently with the deaths of three men who, over the years, became an undeniable part of the television landscape. One was an indisputable icon who created one of TV’s most memorable characters. The other two weren’t icons, exactly, but had important roles on multiple series.

I’m speaking of course of Don Knotts, Darrin McGavin and Dennis Weaver. All died within days of each other. And each left an indelible mark on television. The most notable of these three is of course Don Knotts, who was one of TV’s all-time best lovable goofballs on “The Andy Griffith Show.� He played Barney Fife. Do I need to tell you he played Barney Fife?
With his wiry frame and those eyes that seemed to be planted on springs, Knotts was the perfect foil to Griffith laid-back Andy Taylor. Andy was the guy we all wanted to be or wanted to know. Barney was who we feared we actually were. Awkward, overzealous and gleefully lacking in self-awareness, Barney could easily have been obnoxious. But Knotts got at the vulnerability underneath, at Barney’s kernel of suspicion that he maybe wasn’t that great a deputy. That combination of silliness and depth is what made us love Barney.
Knotts played another goofball, Mr. Furley on “Three’s Company.� That role was less iconic, but even in that silly show Knotts displayed his wacky pop-eyed charm. He’ll be missed.
McGavin and Weaver didn’t have a Barney in their resumes, at least not in their TV work. McGavin had The Old Man in the classic film “A Christmas Story.� Actually, that movie is shown so frequently at Christmas time, his role in it alone could conceivably qualify him as a TV star. But McGavin’s big TV role was as Kolchak in the TV movie “The Night Stalker� and in a subsequent short-lived series. I remember seeing one episode as a kid (or was it the movie? I can’t remember), and being impressed by the concept. It was about a reporter investigating paranormal and spooky goings-on. I thought it was scary but fun. Chris Carter, the creator of “The X-Files� thought the same thing, because he often cited “The Night Stalker� as an influence on his creepy show.
McGavin guest-starred on a lot of shows, including the sitcom “Murphy Brown� where he played the title character’s father. In all his roles, McGavin had a clear persona – almost the opposite of the one Knotts had. He was growly, cranky, irascible, and yet sympathetic. Like Knotts, he used his eyes to great effect, but his didn’t pop. They narrowed. Like in “A Christmas Story,� when his son mutters a curse word. Those eyes become slits, and McGavin’s Old Man slowly intones: “What…did…you…say?�
When his son stammers, searching for an acceptable answer, McGavin, eyes still narrowed, replies, “That’s what I thought you said.�
Of the three, Weaver is the actor about whom I have the least practical knowledge, but he’s still an undeniable presence in TV history. He was on the legendary western “Gunsmoke� and played the title role in “McCloud,� but what many of the pieces I’ve read have left out is that he played the lead in the TV movie “Duel.� I haven’t seen it (always meant to), but it was directed by a young Steven Spielberg and showcased the emerging suspenseful style that would come to fruition in movies like “Jaws.�
All three actors played a crucial role in our TV past. The fact that we lost them all in quick succession is very sad, especially to those who love television.

Posted by amanda on 8:58 PM | Comments (0)

February 20, 2006

Reality shows that don’t make you stupid

It’s February sweeps and you know what that means – reality TV season is in full swing. Genre superpowers “Survivor� and “American Idol� recently started new installments, and critical darling “The Amazing Race� will soon start a new season as well.

Meanwhile, new shows have cropped up, including the “Dancing With the Stars� rip-off “Skating With Celebrities.�
Admittedly, I am not a big reality fan. Sure, I’ll occasionally flush dignity down the drain to watch an episode of VH1’s “The Surreal Life,� but I always feel bad about it.
I liked Bravo’s “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List,� but felt betrayed when the comedienne’s marriage, depicted as so solid in the show, fell apart soon after it ended.
Mostly, I find the genre sadistic, silly and demeaning. It’s a whole category of programming set up to humiliate its participants, while offering the vague promise of money, fame, or, in the case of shows featuring has-been celebrities, a couple of extra minutes in the spotlight.
Still, there are two new shows in this category that have caught my attention, in a good way, for once. One is in an interesting, albeit flawed, social experiment, and the other is a charming romantic comedy in the guise of a reality show.
The former is FX’s “Black.White.� which starts March 8 at 10 p.m. More of a documentary mini-series than reality show, it follows two families – the Wurgels, who are white, and the Sparks’s, who are black – who switch races. If you’ve seen the ads (which air, like, every 10 minutes during “The Shield�), you know what I mean.
Using makeup, prosthetics, wigs and the like, white becomes black and black becomes white. The visual success of the makeup tricks varies. Brian Sparks, in particular, looks like he just stepped out of that old SNL skit where Eddie Murphy becomes a white man.
Yet those that the transformed families meet seem convinced, often with interesting results. Rose Wurgel, joins an all-black poetry group. But the other kids are so honest and genuine that she just can’t bear lying to them about her race.
When she reveals her true identity, some in the group are hurt by the lie, but mostly, they see it as an opportunity to teach her what life is like in a different skin.
The show isn’t always so fascinating, mostly because Rose’s parents, Carmen and Bruno, are caricatures of clueless white buffoons. Now, granted, they’re real people and they probably really are that clueless, but I feel it’s kind of stacking the deck to have chosen such appallingly ignorant people.
Bruno in particular seems so convinced that racism is just a state of mind and not a reality that his scenes are often tough to watch.
But at least “Black. White� is trying to accomplish something. It’s not just about embarrassing a tone deaf aspiring singer or a washed up celeb, and that’s refreshing.
Even more refreshing – and way more fun – is “#1 Single,� a delightful reality show on E! charting the romantic entanglements of pop star Lisa Loeb.
I’ve never been a big fan of Loeb, mostly because her biggest hit, the insanely catchy “Stay,� was inescapable in the late 90s. But on this show – airing 10 p.m. on Sundays -- she’s adorable.
Loeb is in her late 30s, and interested in settling down and having a family. But she doesn’t want to compromise her quirky sensibility just for the sake of domesticity. At the same time, she’s also trying to produce new music.
The show balances documentary footage of Loeb going about her life with her smart, witty voiceover observations. When a talk show host introduces her with the words “She’s single again!� Loeb’s voiceover intones “Wait, being single is my new credit?�
While most single women aren’t quirkily beautiful pop stars, they can appreciate her plight. Witness the guy who virtually ignores her on a date, then sends her roses the next day.
What is the deal?, wonders Loeb, as any sensible woman would. The show is funny, but never at Loeb’s expense. It’s the rare celebrity reality show where the celeb is in on the joke, but not in a cloying way.
It’s that rare reality show about a famous person that succeeds in making her look like a real person. And that’s something special.

Posted by amanda on 1:44 PM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2006

Goodnight, "Arrested"

Today is a sad day, folks. That’s because it marks the last time that the sublime Fox sitcom “Arrested Development� will be shown on television, barring the intervention of Showtime, ABC or the Gods of Good TV.

The show’s final four episodes air tonight between 8 and 10 p.m. on Fox. There’s still the possibility that another network will pick up this goofy gem, but, right now, it seems likely that these episodes will be the last time we see that crazy Bluth family in action.
On this sad occasion, I would like to take this moment not to detail some of the plot points of these sure-to-be-brilliant final episodes, but to celebrate “Arrested.� So, with apologies to Margaret Wise Brown and her book “Goodnight, Moon,� I give you, “Goodnight, Bluths.�
Goodnight, Bluths,
It’s time to go,
Although you sure were nice to know
From Michael, sane and so frustrated,
To Lucille, so inebriated
From George and his escapes from jail,
To Lindsay and her psyche so frail
Goodnight to G.O.B.,
And his delusions
That he could perform a good illusion
Goodnight to Buster,
And his one good hand,
With which he hangs onto mom’s apron strings as tight as he can
Goodnight, George Michael,
Goodnight, Maeby,
Goodnight, Maggie Lizer,
And her make-believe baby
Goodnight, Tobias,
I loved you well
And I loved your doppelganger, Dave Attell
Goodnight, Ron Howard,
It’s time go,
And make another movie with Russell Crowe
I will miss you on my telly,
I’ll even miss guest star Liza Minnelli
You gave us a laugh,
You gave us a jolt,
You made us cringe,
And yell out, "Steve Holt!"
Goodnight Bluths,
I’ll miss you so,
May you all bounce back,
On a higher-rated show

Posted by amanda on 10:33 AM | Comments (0)

February 1, 2006

The tribe has spoken… but not to me

I have a confession to make. I have yet to sit through an entire episode of “Survivor.� Not one.

Oh sure, I’ve caught moments – like the first season finale, when that angry trucker lady told that goggle-eyed hippie girl she wouldn’t give her a glass of water if she were dying of thirst.
But generally, I’ve managed to avoid it. I have no grudge against it. Obviously, it has an appeal if it’s managed to last for 12 seasons.
It is simply not my cup of tea. I don’t really care for reality shows. Real life is filled with enough backstabbing and pointless bickering. TV is, by definition, escapism. I don’t want more of the same.
Yet, when I had the chance to sit in on a conference call with the show’s host, Jeff Probst, I took it. I mean, it is one of the most popular shows on television.
If that many people watch it, surely they’ll want to read about it. So, out of loyalty to you, the reader, I participated.
I admit I was a little uncomfortable sitting in on the call. I really couldn’t think of a good question for Probst. Pretty much my plan of attack was just to yell: “Say ‘The tribe has spoken! Say ‘The tribe has spoken!’� until he threw me off the call. But I didn’t even get a chance to do that.
For those who don’t know how these calls work, here’s a brief description.
First, you get on the line with the interviewee and a bunch of other reporters. Then, you usually have to press some combination of buttons, to indicate that you want to ask him or her a question. Then, whoever is moderating the call calls on the reporters in order of their dial-in.
So I dialed in and waited.
Obviously, I wasn’t quick enough on the trigger because, after 45 minutes, I still hadn’t been called on. By this time, all the really good questions had been asked and answered.
Here’s an example. The very first reporter called on asked Probst his feelings on the recent tax evasion conviction of first-season winner Richard Hatch.
That was the first question. Clearly, there was nowhere to go but down.
Even the marginally good questions, like whether Probst likes the similarly-themed "Lost," were asked fairly early in the game.
So there I was, riding the caboose, just waiting to be called on. But after 45 minutes, I couldn’t wait anymore. At this time, I knew pretty much everything I needed to know about Probst and the show, and had to move on to my next assignment.
A reporter can’t live on Probst alone.
So, I hung up. I can only imagine that, moments after I departed, my name was called. That’s usually how these things work for me.
But that’s all right. I can hear Probst say “The tribe is spoken� anytime. All I have to do is watch his show.
Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.
For those who care: Here are some of the more memorable quotes from Probst's conference call that didn't make it into today's story in the Connecticut Post.
On his TV tastes: Probst admitted that he isn't a big fan of that other show about castaways stranded in an exotic locale. He said he's watched ABC's hit drama "Lost," but can't get into it. “My closest friends can’t believe it,� he said.
And his “Lost� aversion isn’t because the show is on a competing network, Probst said. In fact, he’s a big fan of another reality show on a different network. “I love ‘American Idol,’� he confessed. “I don’t know why.�
On the new cast: Probst had nothing but nice things to say about this season's group of castaways. In fact, he hinted that at least two of the new faces may end up among fans' all-time favorites. "This group of people was such a breath of fresh air," he said.
On the longevity of "Survivor": Probst said there's a reason "Survivor" has thrived, while many reality shows have gone sour -- it's just good television, reality or otherwise. "I don't even think people who are fans of 'Survivor' think of as reality any more. They think of it as 'Survivor.'"

Posted by amanda on 10:47 AM | Comments (0)