TV of 2015

[hearthesilence]

I guess the median intelligence of the membership pool has dropped so low, MacFarlane now appears to be a genius in relation to them.

[flyonthewall2983]

Netflix has picked up the unexpectedly cancelled A&E series Longmire for a fourth season

I recently finished the third season. Best way I can put it is that for a lot of it's run it felt like Justified, if it was your average CBS-type procedural. But that's not necessarily a slam against the show as a whole because there were enough elements in place that didn't quite feel like it would be on any of the major networks.

Spoiler

But with the way the end of the third season went, it felt like it was slipping away from the procedural trap and becoming much more like a cable show. Especially considering how it ended on the cliffhanger it did.

It also proves Lou Diamond Philips is surely due a McConnaissance.

[flyonthewall2983]

Ballers and The Brink

Any opinions on these so far? I really like Ballers, reminds me a lot of the tone North Dallas Forty. Similar sort of plot, with the same approach to the comedy-drama divide. It's got some growing to do, but it's clear to me Dwayne Johnson is the glue holding it together.

The Brink is not as cutting as Veep. Reminds me more of Alpha House, but with a bit more ambition, with the transatlantic plots going on. It's nice seeing Tim Robbins being funny in something again, and Jack Black is actually quite good himself.

[Roger Ryan]

While THE BRINK is clearly modeled on DR. STRANGELOVE (and cast members have said as much), I was still astounded how many times the pilot episode ripped off Kubrick's film to no good effect (the most egregious moment was the crazed Pakistani general proclaiming that he believed the U.S. drone strikes were affecting his "precious bodily fluids" - not those exact words, but that was the intent). The second episode moved past the direct STRANGELOVE parallels and was better for it.

BALLERS feels kind of lightweight, but I like that the characters are more sympathetic than the ENTOURAGE crew (something I was concerned about since I figured this new show would follow the earlier one's style).

[Highway 61]

I'm not sure if this is the ideal thread to mention this, but I wanted to give everyone a heads-up that the Budapest episode of Anthony Bourdain's show that aired on June 7th includes a fantastic (and lengthy) appearance from Vilmos Zsigmond. Any fan of his work will definitely want to check it out!

[flyonthewall2983]

Hulu joining forces with Showtime is a good idea, the way I see it. Both of them on their own are not really worth the kind of price HBO Now has going (and even they're considering changing that model), but combined I think it's worth the price. Especially if everything Showtime has is commercial-free, a common complaint (even with me) about Hulu's service.

[sir_luke]

Has anyone else heard/seen anything about IFC's upcoming Documentary Now series? It stars Fred Armisen and Bill Hader and the trailer has a bevy of (surprisingly accurate!) visual references to oodles of classic documentaries, including Nanook of the North, The Thin Blue Line, and Grey Gardens.

Of course, with a teaser like this, there's no telling whether this will be great or a complete bust, but it appears to be done with enough reverence and attention to detail that I'm more than willing to give it a shot. Premieres August 10th.

[Professor Wagstaff]

So IFC is parodying more independent films than they actually play?

[sir_luke]

Hey, Pulp Fiction was an "independent" film and they play that 20x a day!

[Andre Jurieu]

I'm not sure if this is the ideal thread to mention this, but I wanted to give everyone a heads-up that the Budapest episode of Anthony Bourdain's show that aired on June 7th includes a fantastic (and lengthy) appearance from Vilmos Zsigmond. Any fan of his work will definitely want to check it out!

Really appreciated this episode and immediately started texting some friends (who are also interested in art films) about it because it was so randomly and unexpectedly enjoyable. The CNN version of this show doesn't attempt as many homages to movies Bourdain loves as often as the original show did, but I really appreciate when they try to push themselves in form (the Japan episode comes to mind) and content (they've been visiting the Middle-East regularly each season).

[Professor Wagstaff]

David Simon and Paul Haggis' Show Me a Hero trailer

[flyonthewall2983]

George Lopez being considered to replace The Donald on Celebrity Apprentice

[flyonthewall2983]

David Fincher's Utopia dead in the water at HBO, and his music video project may follow.

[flyonthewall2983]

Sesame Street heading to HBO

[sir_luke]

Documentary Now!, IFC's new show by Bill Hader and Fred Armisen, is renewed for two additional seasons before its premiere

[flyonthewall2983]

Coach reboot dead.

[flyonthewall2983]

Apple considering developing original programming.

[Drucker]

Apple considering developing original programming.

Can't wait for their Steve Jobs movie.

[perkizitore]

Apple considering developing original programming.

Can't wait for their Steve Jobs movie.

Directed by Frédéric Auburtin

[flyonthewall2983]

An immigrant replaces Donald Trump. Won't be until next year but I couldn't resist.

[EricJ]

An immigrant replaces Donald Trump. Won't be until next year but I couldn't resist.

Well, maybe now that he's in a position of organizing charity, Schwarzenegger will finally learn how to balance a budget.

(And is it just me, or is the '16 presidential race starting to resemble that goofy '03 California governor's election, where we had two dozen crazy celebrity candidates, and the only sane candidate was the incumbent Lieutenant Governor who didn't get any headlines?)

[domino harvey]

Steve Rannazzisi from the League lied about working in and escaping the WTC during 9/11

[colinr0380]

The only response to that would have to be this piece from The Day Today. (While it was an early 90s series this was one of the audio pieces that were done for the DVD menus)

[flyonthewall2983]

Did anyone watch the new Muppets show?

[pzadvance]

Did anyone watch the new Muppets show?

I believe it premieres on Tuesday