TV of 2014

[mfunk9786]

All the ads for Banshee before and after episodes of The Knick has me wondering if it's worth checking out. Has anyone here watched it?

[flyonthewall2983]

This was my description of the first season.

Cinemax's Banshee is definitely what I would call a guilty pleasure. A mix of crime genre tropes, unremarkable but bearable performances and soft-core pornography, it's custom-made for the channel it's being broadcast on.

Haven't seen the second one but I have heard some good things about it.

[mfunk9786]

Thanks! This might be a good time to mention that whoever is in charge of Cinemax's advertising deserves a hefty raise, as it's solely the spots for Banshee that made me even ask about it in the first place (especially those ads for the new season with Lili Simmons - va va voom). It's minimalist but compelling in its originality, and their approach to advertising films by showing an uninterrupted minute-long-ish scene from them is always really well curated and very effective.

For example, they teased an upcoming broadcast of Her by showing a slice of the film where Joaquin Phoenix is being egged on by his computer to go on a date with Olivia Wilde, one of the most charming pieces of that film and not necessarily something that another network would use, likely leaning back on the "HE'S IN LOVE WITH HIS COMPUTER!" thing through a quick-cut trailer.

[flyonthewall2983]

They've been doing that for awhile now. I like it too, but I kind of miss the way they used to do them in the 80's and 90's. I also miss stuff like this.

[mfunk9786]

See, I much prefer a straightforward approach to that kind of fluff. The HBO static intro, I find particularly grating. Show me why I should be watching other stuff on your channel without wasting my time. I hadn't been a Cinemax subscriber, well... ever, prior to The Knick, so this is all relatively new to me. And I like what they're doing with it! It's like the cool younger sibling of the increasingly stuffy HBO without the unfortunate Poochie-ness that usually comes with that sort of thing.

[flyonthewall2983]

I can't argue with any of that and my only reasoning would be nostalgia anyway. But yeah, Cinemax has always been like the little brother. I remember back in the 90's they actually showed a lot of indies and foreign films as well as the more mainstream fare. I suspect that's not as much the case now though.

[swo17]

Naw, now it's pretty much just all pornography.

[flyonthewall2983]

Where there would be the indies and foreign films anyway.

[flyonthewall2983]

As it turns out, the revolution really won't be televised it'll be streamed. Very hopeful at how this will turn out for other networks too. If done right, this could really shake things up for the over-pricing dinosaurs like Comcast, etc.

[domino harvey]

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo canceled after revelation that "Mama June" is dating a convicted child molester -- finally loving all those wanky posts on Tumblr praising this family as being inspirational!

[flyonthewall2983]

Between that, the Duck Dynasty guy spouting hateful rhetoric, and people getting rid of cable in droves, one would think it's probably time for these networks to finally re-evaluate what they've been doing. Then again I'm eternally hopeful.

[Movie-Brat]

That's what it took to cancel Here Comes Honey Boo Boo? I'm surprised TLC didn't capitalize on that relationship.

[sir_luke]

Actually slated for 2015, but Ridley Scott is set to produce a miniseries sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Seeing Syfy involved makes me a little worried, but the project is supposedly supported by the estates of Clarke and Kubrick, so I'm hopeful.

[flyonthewall2983]

This might alleviate some of the worry about the channel.

[sir_luke]

Art imitates life: Lauren Graham cast as Matthew Perry's ex in Odd Couple remake

[Werewolf by Night]

Nice nod there to Jack Klugman and Brett Somers.

[domino harvey]

CBS has jumped the gun and canceled the Millers mid-season. Given its poor ratings this may have been inevitable, but very unusual for a sophomore show to get the boot in the fall and not just disappear til the May upfronts. However, even the TV ratings tracking site TV By the Numbers had the series designated with five green smilies, the highest guaranteed designation for any show meaning certain renewal. Now there's a swing and a miss

[flyonthewall2983]

Proving there's nothing more American than undeserved second chances, TNA-Impact Wrestling signs with Destination America.

[kidc85]

The complete lack of discussion about it may already have answered my question but: PENNY DREADFUL, is it good?

[Werewolf by Night]

Good? Hm. It's interesting and fun and emotionally involving and Eva Green is amazing and I plan to continue watching and to rewatch the first season, but I don't know what you think "good" is, so I'm not going to go that far. I don't think it's a crowd-pleaser like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones. If you like things like Penny Dreadful, you'll like Penny Dreadful.

[domino harvey]

I guess there really is no line between TV and Film anymore: Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon starring in new David E Kelley series

[flyonthewall2983]

Cuba Gooding, Jr. as O.J. Simpson and Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark for the first season of Ryan Murphy's American Crime Story.

[ianungstad]

American Horror Story has to be one of the worst shows on television. (and probably one of the worst shows in the history of the medium)

How on earth did they greenlight a spin-off?

[flyonthewall2983]

I liked it for awhile, but I can't entirely disagree with that sentiment. That said, this sounds like it could be very good.

Off-topic, but was there a discussion as to whether or not stuff of this nature can be put in the yearly threads before? I don't think an "In Production" thread not unlike one at the New Films section is a bad idea, but I can be convinced otherwise.

[domino harvey]

TV of 201X already serves that purpose and has for years. It's imperfect but we don't need two different threads so post about forthcoming series in the yearly threads plz