Television in general
I have never been one to watch too much television, although the programs I like, I enjoy very much. Are there really any programs that should be ranked a "10"? I have ranked many of these at that level, although I do not believe there are any perfect shows, but I rate them comparatively speaking to other programs on television (kind of like a version of a curve grading system).
There are no specific genres I like, nor do they have to be critically acclaimed, although sometimes that does help in steering me in the right direction since I do not have much time to watch television like I used to, so I have to be a bit more selective with what I watch.
I think television has great potential, but most show do not utilize this potential, possibly because too many producers want to stick formula and cliched jokes and topics. Television can do what movies cannot do because a story can be told in a series of events as opposed to two hours (or 3 1/2 if you are Peter Jackson), opening the possibility to tell a better story overall. Most shows do not take advantage of this, although there are some who are original and even groundbreaking.
This is my first post to this site, so I wanted to just rant a bit about my general opinion about the small screen. Television has become a strong part of American culture, even to the point where many recognize tv personalities quicker than they would recognize our world leaders. It is all just entertainment, but I guess enjoying life is one of the keys to life, so if that means turning on that tube, then so be it.
Posted by Proteus710, 02/20/2006 10:26pm
0 Comments
There are no specific genres I like, nor do they have to be critically acclaimed, although sometimes that does help in steering me in the right direction since I do not have much time to watch television like I used to, so I have to be a bit more selective with what I watch.
I think television has great potential, but most show do not utilize this potential, possibly because too many producers want to stick formula and cliched jokes and topics. Television can do what movies cannot do because a story can be told in a series of events as opposed to two hours (or 3 1/2 if you are Peter Jackson), opening the possibility to tell a better story overall. Most shows do not take advantage of this, although there are some who are original and even groundbreaking.
This is my first post to this site, so I wanted to just rant a bit about my general opinion about the small screen. Television has become a strong part of American culture, even to the point where many recognize tv personalities quicker than they would recognize our world leaders. It is all just entertainment, but I guess enjoying life is one of the keys to life, so if that means turning on that tube, then so be it.
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9.5
Superb
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Chappelle's Show Avg Score: 9.00 Total Ratings: 4672 Total Reviews: 238 |
The Chappelle Show has been criticized from conservatives as offensive and controversial, and in many ways, that is what the show is trying to do. In other words, mission accomplished. Unlike other things today that are equally controversial though is that this show is actually creative and funny.
I remember when "Saturday Night Live" was controversial and creative, but like many things, what was once cutting edge and even counterculture soon becomes "the establishment" (i.e- Rolling Stone magazine, Ozzy Osbourne, the aforementioned SNL). The Chappelle show may go over the top at times, but it is comedy that ruffles feathers and pushes the envelope of censorship. It is a fresh take to a comedy concept that is not necessarily new, but that has gone stale, particularly on television.
I hope the show continues to have that freshness and expect others to mimic the controversial style.
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Posted Mar 28, 2006
I remember when "Saturday Night Live" was controversial and creative, but like many things, what was once cutting edge and even counterculture soon becomes "the establishment" (i.e- Rolling Stone magazine, Ozzy Osbourne, the aforementioned SNL). The Chappelle show may go over the top at times, but it is comedy that ruffles feathers and pushes the envelope of censorship. It is a fresh take to a comedy concept that is not necessarily new, but that has gone stale, particularly on television.
I hope the show continues to have that freshness and expect others to mimic the controversial style.
10.0
Perfect
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Alfred Hitchcock Avg Score: 9.76 Total Ratings: 63 Total Reviews: 7 |
The greatest filmmakers, tv show creators, or performers are those who respect the craft and incorporate what they have learned from others before them, respect what their predecessors have done, and then try to add their own innovative style to make something fresh and exciting. Hitchcock is one of these men.
As a director of film and television, Hitchcock brings the classic art of montage to the big and small screen to thrill the viewer and create some of the finest work out there. Incorporating some of the style of the great Russian filmmakers, particularly Sergei Einsenstein, Hitchcock artistically and articulatley shows the viewer what they need to see to fill in the blank and understand what it is occurring without having to blatantly show it on-screen. Montage can lead the viewer to reach certain conclusions about the action in a film or tv show and it works because viewers infer meaning based on the context, and not so much on what is blatantly shown. This makes the work more effective and respects the intellect of the viewer.
A perfect example of this is the shower scene of "Psycho," where the main character is stabbed and killed, but Hitchcock does not have to show a gross and horrifying hack scene to make the viewer comprehend what just occurred. Sheer brilliance.
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Posted Mar 28, 2006
As a director of film and television, Hitchcock brings the classic art of montage to the big and small screen to thrill the viewer and create some of the finest work out there. Incorporating some of the style of the great Russian filmmakers, particularly Sergei Einsenstein, Hitchcock artistically and articulatley shows the viewer what they need to see to fill in the blank and understand what it is occurring without having to blatantly show it on-screen. Montage can lead the viewer to reach certain conclusions about the action in a film or tv show and it works because viewers infer meaning based on the context, and not so much on what is blatantly shown. This makes the work more effective and respects the intellect of the viewer.
A perfect example of this is the shower scene of "Psycho," where the main character is stabbed and killed, but Hitchcock does not have to show a gross and horrifying hack scene to make the viewer comprehend what just occurred. Sheer brilliance.
9.0
Superb
|
The Twilight Zone The Monsters are Due on Maple Street Avg Score: 8.94 Total Ratings: 167 Total Reviews: 13 |
An interesting story that begins simply, but then grows to a crescendo as the people on Maple Street give in to their own paranoia and fear, proving that mankind's worst enemy is himself. The episode showed in thiry minutes why things like the 1929 stock market crash could happen and how dictators get their people to do unspeakable things. Once a people are gripped by fear, the unspeakable happens, and things that were never thought probable happen, like murder and chaos.
This episode shows how fragile people are and how easily a community can turn against each other. Fear has been one of the top motivators of hatred and violent acts, and this episode shows how frail things like order and organization are, much like "Lord of the Flies" had done.
Anyone who has ever been in a building when the electrical power has gone out or in an office when the computer systems shut down can attest to the true domino effect that occurs just by simply changing small elements of comfort and "security".
It truly does not take long for chaos to ensue, as this particular episode conveys.
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Posted Mar 27, 2006
This episode shows how fragile people are and how easily a community can turn against each other. Fear has been one of the top motivators of hatred and violent acts, and this episode shows how frail things like order and organization are, much like "Lord of the Flies" had done.
Anyone who has ever been in a building when the electrical power has gone out or in an office when the computer systems shut down can attest to the true domino effect that occurs just by simply changing small elements of comfort and "security".
It truly does not take long for chaos to ensue, as this particular episode conveys.
8.9
Great
|
The Twilight Zone A Stop at Willoughby Avg Score: 9.30 Total Ratings: 191 Total Reviews: 7 Users who agree: 4 |
A man is on a train and after awakening from a deep sleep, he finds the train has stopped in Willoughby, a small, peaceful, and serene town in the 1880s. As he walks out into the town, the quaintness becomes infectious and he finds himself falling in love with the place.
Eventually, he stops at the town again and decides to stay there this time, no longer feeling the need or desire to return to his life in the modern, real world. This episode touches on something that every person has thought about: getting away from the fast-paced rat race that is our lives. How many people yearn for that opportunity or chance to give up the tension and anxiety that is their lives? If given the same opportunity as the man in this episode, I also wonder how many people would do the exact same thing.
The thing that makes the "Twilight Zone" so compelling is the way it touches into the truest and deepest of human thoughts and emotions, and this episode does just that.
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Posted Mar 27, 2006
Eventually, he stops at the town again and decides to stay there this time, no longer feeling the need or desire to return to his life in the modern, real world. This episode touches on something that every person has thought about: getting away from the fast-paced rat race that is our lives. How many people yearn for that opportunity or chance to give up the tension and anxiety that is their lives? If given the same opportunity as the man in this episode, I also wonder how many people would do the exact same thing.
The thing that makes the "Twilight Zone" so compelling is the way it touches into the truest and deepest of human thoughts and emotions, and this episode does just that.
7.9
Good
|
The Twilight Zone The Big Tall Wish Avg Score: 7.76 Total Ratings: 101 Total Reviews: 1 |
While the episode uses "magic" as the key ingredient the boxer needs to believe in for him to come out victorious, this could just have as well been about believing in oneself and about the power that belief instills in giving one that extra edge needed to overcome the odds.
The boy in the story pleads for his hero to believe what he does, but alas, the old boxer has grown too cynical and doubtful to believe the way a child would, and as a result, falls short. This episode may not have that odd, but thrilling ending the series is known for, but it does have a lesson we can all learn from: a lesson about the power to believe, and even about mind over matter.
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Posted Mar 27, 2006
The boy in the story pleads for his hero to believe what he does, but alas, the old boxer has grown too cynical and doubtful to believe the way a child would, and as a result, falls short. This episode may not have that odd, but thrilling ending the series is known for, but it does have a lesson we can all learn from: a lesson about the power to believe, and even about mind over matter.
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Proteus710
Last online Sep 7, 2008 4:22 am PT
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Last online Sep 7, 2008 4:22 am PT
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