This is a subject that has been rattling around inside my head for quite some time and each year it gets even worse.

Television in the noughties sucks!

Seriously. I don't mean the individual episodes, or the acting. Those are still quality work. But the tv shows in general just dissapoint me. In this post I am going to show you the different shows that make my favourites list for this decade, as well as my all time favourite show which (THANKFULLY) started back in the nineties.

The problem is simple. The Powers That Be want ratings. and if a show drops by one point they will axe it witohut a glance back. So many good shows have to FORCE changes in order to keep the show 'fresh' and 'new' or else fear being killed. This is what kills series. It's all the execs fault.




Stargate SG:1

To me this show has always been great. The first few seasons are a little rocky in comparison to continuity and general plot, but since the end of the second season it really came into it's own, and this is why:

Characters:

The characters in SG:1 were always well done, from the main lead to the smallest extra I was never dissapointed. But here is a breakdown of the main characters.

Colonel/Brigadier General/Major General O'Niell: This character, and it's actor, Was all rounded. He was clearly the leader, and yet was also the comic relief. A risky combination, but one that worked out perfectly.

Captain/Major/Lieutenant Colonel Carter: She was the Jack of all Trades (Or in this case the Jill of all Trades). She filled the cracks that might show up. A genious as well as an expert shooter she broke the mold of the stereotypical damsel in distress. Being able to defend herself as easily as any air force officer while the very next second being able to figure out how to use a device to manipulate time itself.

Doctor Daniel Jackson: Origionally he filled the stereotypical geek role. A master of over 27 Earth based languages and countless alien ones. He used his diplomatic abilities to solve conflict with words, as opposed to bullets.
But the main thing about Dr Jackson was he evolved (No not literally, well, he did ascend, but I mean something else). He was a geek and then after his time away he grew as a person. He took a more active role in saving the planet, even resorting to rely on a weapon if he needed to. He became one of the macho fighters, while still holding onto his geek inside.

First Prime of Apophis, Teal'C: Simple, and yet beautiful. All of his actions come from one point inside himself. His need to free his people. An honourable warrior who would die to save one person. At first glance he's the muscle. And he was. To quote Jack "Take point and look scary". But beneath all the muscle beat the heart of a sentimental person. This, too, was a mold-breaker.

Now the reason I point this all out is because in the 8 years (I am not counting the last 2 years, because as a true fan I belive that TPTB ruined SG:1 by trying to boost the rating by forcing the spinoff, SGC, to be SG:1. If they had ended SG:1 at 8 and created SG:C then it would of been a great movie, but this happened in the noughties. My first bit of proof that TV sucks).
Anyway. In the 8 years that the real SG:1 ran for they changed, but it felt natural. Officers got promoted, characters in the show died. These things happen. But the soul of the team never changed. There was one year without Jackson, but even then the soul was the same.

Storyline:
Another great thing was the storyline evolved, while staying true to itself. Defeat the Goa'uld. in 8 years that never changed.

Now I'm going to show you my favourite shows in the noughties and show you why, even though I still love them, they are not as good as the ninties.

In keeping with Stargate I present:



Stargate Atlantis

This show is good, but not great anymore. Too many changes are being forced into it from higher up, for example:

Characters

Ford: They took this guy out of the show because he didn't fit right, not enough people loved him, so they killed him off in the first season.

Beckett: A much loved character, so much infact that they made him a main character. Then they thought "Hey, let's FORCE some drama in here". Boom. A much loved character is killed because they wanted drama.

Dr Weir: I didn't like her too much. She was OK, but nothing flash. But instead of doing things to evolve thier characters they try to FORCE them. They killed Weir off in order to make room for a new leader. Trying to FORCE fans from one show to follow her over. and what happened to her?
Colonel Carter: Not dead (shockingly), but not enough people loved her. So it's off with her and in with a new guy. Bet is new guy bites it before the end of season 5.

Now that's good TV! Not enough people like this guy? KILL HIM!

Ford is a good comparison to Jackson. They all agreed the character wasn't what they wanted. Back in the good TV days they'd change him. Over time they'd make him a little different, more likeable.
Now? KILL HIM!

Storyline

The sGA storyline is ok, thankfully it's not as bad as some shows out there. But the general plot seems to be jumping between two different bad guys, it's a dangerous move, but it might pay off.

Next up, and a change of pase, is:



How I Met Your Mother.

I love this show. it's great. But there is still one drawback that bothered me. THE HOOK.
See, now days another concept is to hook people in right away and then once they're fans it doesn't matter what you do. This show's hook was the title.

It's a story of how this guy met his wife. Good enough. Well written and funny... up until season 2.
See, origionally Ted would be dating a new girl every week but in season 2 he was with Robin all year. In just an average sitcom that'd be cool. But this one had THE HOOK. So everyone sat there and thought "Get it over with. just break up" Because we all knew she wasn't the mother, so they were just dragging it out.
But now Ted is single again, and dating. So who knows, THE HOOK might still be relevent.

In the order of THE HOOK next is



My Name Is Earl.

Again, one of my favourites. I even bought the DVD sets. But it had a hook, too. Which worked for the first seasons. The List.

Earl used the list to fix his life. It was great. THEN TPTB decided to 'shake things up' by changing everything. First they put Earl into Prison so he couldn't work on the List, and then in a damn coma.
And now they got him married. So I'm not sure what's on the horizons. more "shocking" plot twists more likely.



House

Good show. But for the latest season. Trying to 'shake things up' they fired House's entire support staff. So instead of having a medical show with faces you know and love a good portion of the show was directed to FORCING three new people into our lives.
I agree that change is a good thing, but it feels forced in today's TV too much. His entire staff being fired/quitting in the same episode? But of a reach there.



NCIS
My main example of forced character addition/removal. I know what season of NCIS i'm watching just by the starting credits.

Season 1 had Kate
Season 2 had Kate and McGee
Season 3 had David
Season 4 had the Director
Season 5 is the only season with no major changes in the start up. But I do notice that there is a new director at the moment.


and ther eis one more show, which surely needs no introduction




Lost

Well, I don't think i can even list these ones. The changes happen nearly every episode. But even worse then the characters was that the overall plot chaged every season, like clock work.

Season 1 had the hatch
Season 2 had the button and the tailies
Season 3 had the others, etc etc

you know, for a deserted island that no one can really get to they had a HELL of a lot of new people they added to it over the season.

and what was the deal with the freaking Smoke Monster?!

i'll still watch it because, sadly, I'm hooked. But it seems that tv shows in general are FORCED to change to suit the most viewers, instead of stepping back and saying "Hey, I have a nice little cult following here, screw you TPTB, I'm sticking to good characters and strong plot.
And on that note a quick Salute, to some much loved, but not loved enough, heroes.



FireFly
For a show that didn't even finish a full season it has a hell of alot of fans.


Drive
Axed after only 4 episodes. 4!!


The Dresden Files
As a fan of the book series I am straight up PISSED about this one. They had 10 full sized novels full fo epic adventure to work with, but it didn't get enough fans in the first episode to make it worth keeping around. Hey, TPTB, here's a hint. Stop sabourtaging your own work and advertise the bugger! I mean hell, the 'fallen' shows had little to no Advertisement.
It's like TPTB create a show and even before they air it they axe it "Not enough pre-premire viewing. Kill it"

So I end this with a shout out to the future.


Sanctuary

finally. The real Powers That Be decided to cut away from the executives and their trigger-happy axes.


This is TelKesh saying, "I can't belive you actually read all this"

-That is all.

Name: Mark
Username(s): TelKesh

Nickname(s): Tel, Telk and TK

Gender: Male

Birthdate: November 2nd, 1985

Sibling(s): An older brother and an older sister aswell as a large extended family

Height: 6'2 - 6'3

What's the story behind your username(s)? Long story. I was signing up to an MMO a few years back and needed a name. I slapped on the keyboard for an hour sticking together random syllables until I got Telkiar. Then after I left that game I needed a name for something else. After being called Tel for ages I knew I wanted to keep that part alive. And I wanted the Telk option, too. So i needed a one syllable word, prefferably begining with a K. So I stole Kesh from the empire of great Kesh, from a book i'd read.

Current music: Whatever is on is my usual taste. But no rap. Ever.

Current hair: Naturally it's dark brown, but I had an unfourtunate time a while back when my sister tried to dye my hair. so it's Black with a purple tinge to it now.

Current desktop picture: AFS black ops logo. I really need something new.

Favorite boy's name(s): Justis, Alec, I'm not sure on boys names

Favorite girl's name(s): Alison and Cassandra

Favorite celebrities: I'm copying Clem here, just tv actors for me... and Bruce Willis. Can't help it. Love the guy.

Michael Shanks, David Hewlett, Christopher Judge, Richard dean anderson, Joe Flannigan, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Micheal Weatherly, Jewel Staite and many more

Favorite character(s): McKay, lorne, Zelinka and sheppard from SG:A, Danial Jackson, Col. O'Niell and Cam Mitchell from SG:1. The entire cast of Firefly.

Favorite number(s): 2

Favorite color: Orange

Favorite season:Winter

Favorite animal: My cat, Kesh

Favorite planet: Earth?

Where is your favorite place to shop: Online. Fishpond.com.au for my books, EzyDVD.com.au for my DVD's

Favorite book:Ouch. hard call, so I'm listing by Series. The Dresden files is my current love. But outlasting that is Discworld, which my favourite is monsterous regiment.

Favorite TV show:SG:a, Firefly, SG:1

Favorite quote: "Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain i go an get to beat you with until you understand who's in rutting command here."

Ever Given anyone a bath?: No?

Ever Bungee jumped?: no

Ever Broken the law?: Often

Loved someone so much it made you cry?:No.

Been in a physical fight?: Yes

Been in a hot tub?: No

Ever Swam in the ocean?: yes

Had chicken pox?: yes

Had a sore throat?: yes

Had stitches?: yes

Had a bloody nose?: yes

Had a cold?: yes

Last word you said?: "let me finish this"

What color socks are you wearing? black

How many kids do you want?: 1

What are you most scared of: unknown

Who is the last person that called you: a random numbe ron my phone

Where do you want to get married: outside

What's the best song you ever heard: dunno

Do you have a lava lamp: want one

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?: noit since i was a kid

Your Most prized possession: my books and dvd's and all my material possessions

Are you good at sports?:no

What are your plans for tomorow?: hangover...

Merry Christmas!

Ashman did this first on my list, then Sarah did, as did Oragami. So I feal pressureed into it.

1.How old will you be in 3 birthdays?
24

2. Do you think you'll be married by then?
No

3. What do you look forward to most in the next 2 months?
Finishing up this season of work.

4. Who was the last person you called?
Work to call in sick *cough, cough*

5. Have you ever played a team sport?
Hockey back in grade 7... I scored a total of 1 goal

6. Who was the last person to text you?
My neighbour's daughter

7. Who was the last person you hugged?
My neighbour's daughter

8. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Starting work

9. What happened at 11:00 a.m. today?
11am has not gotten here yet. I beat it. I'll probably be trying to sleep

10. How many states have you visited?
Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. So 3.


11. If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
I really don't know. Can't think of anywhere I'd rather be then my little town.


12. Do you prefer shoes, socks, or bare feet?
Bare feet

13. when was the last time you cried?
Last Tues... wait a minute. Is this some kind of 'real men don't cry' test? If so then never!
If not.. then November 30th, 2006. The day Ash died.

14. What was the last thing you drank?
Water.

15. Favorite ice cream?
Strawberry.

16. What is your favorite number?
69! no, it's 2.

17. Whats your favorite colour?
Orange and Yellow. Bright and happies.

18. What Jelly do you put on your PBJ?
Jelly on Peanut butter? Crazy Seppo's. Nothing but PB goes on a PBJ.

19. Do you like coffee?
Hated it. Then I started work. and now I can't start my morning shift without atleast an ice coffee.

20. How many glasses of water a day do you drink on average?
About 3L. However many cups that is.

21. What do you drink in the morning?
Coffee if I can get it, water otherwise.

22. Would you rather kiss someone with or without a tongue ring?
Without.

23. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed?
I do.

24. Do you know how to play poker?
Yeah. Not recently, though. Hopefully again soon. Last time I played I cleaned everyone out.

25. Whats so good about Fridays?
Payday!

26. Any plans for this week?
Today: Sleep - graveyard shift
Tomorrow:Sleep - graveyard shift
Monday: Yard work - comming off graveyard, can't sleep.
Tuesday: Day shift
Wednesdayay Shift
Thursday: Day off
Friday: Take pre-arragned sick day (hopefully)
have my whole month planned out up to and including November 2nd. Want to hear itA?
Other then that my Sister and her kinds will be up today.

27. Do you eat out or at home more often?
At home.

28. How big is your TV?
My personal TV is 68cm, CRT. Family tv is 80cm LCD

29. Ever stolen a street sign?
Never! I stole a name sign for a river once. Never a street sign.. oh, and a speed limit sign.. still not a street sign.

30. Do you keep a piggy bank?
Yes. It's an old coffee tin I toss pocket change into. It's up to $200+

31. What kind of camera do you have?
none

32. Have you ever been in an ambulance?
Never

33. Do you prefer an ocean or a pool?
Pool

34. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
Window seat

35. Do you know how to drive a stick shift?
Yup but I don't have a license yet. Too lazy.

So I was banned. You might know that.
It was for a week, ater the week ended I got myself banned for 5 days.
During this time I had been lurking at the Scrubs board, getting more and more disgusted by certaina ttitude.

Finally today i had enough. For those who care it's all at: http://www.tv.com/scrubs/show/3613/help-with-episode-name/topic/2641-767484/msgs.html?tag=board_topics;title;5

Basically this self appointed 'council' of the boards has taken it upon itself to flame trolls, which I'm a supporter of. But in absence of trolls they've begun cyber bashing new users for every little infraction. This I could not stand.

I don't feel like rehashing it all now. So I shall sum up with this:
To those of you who I liked, so long, thanks for all the fish.
To those of you I REALLY liked: I'll see you at Sanctuaryforall.com (Hi Saj!)
To the others... well.. I have notihng to say. I'm done with you.

Good evening people I barely know!
You know, I get reported so often I'm this close to being on first name bases with the Mods.

I blame Perry for all of it. It all started with his 7 Janitor name threads on the Scrubs forum. He was being beyond annoying and I lost my temper with him and called him... wait for it... an idiot! (And I may of compared him to a monkey). And sadly he just keeps on posting, thus I keep insulting. But it's all acceptable. I don't blame the mods for it, I do bring it on myself. But the bad thing is Perry has pretty much removed my already very short fuse, so I wind up insulting other people. Take this idiot on the Stargate forums. He made a thread slandering a user here. He pretty much blamed her for ever spoiler in the world, just because she had one in her sig (Not much of a spoiler either, we all knew already). So I made a large reply about him slandering her good name, and I called him a Jerk, that's all, a Jerk. The next morning I log on and I have a new mail - 'TOS violation warning' I open it and have the same message: 'don't insult people - no points were removed' and whenever Perry reports me I get told to ignore the stupid troll and lose 0 points. I love the mods

Onto TV Stuff. With the ending of Stargate SG:1, Stargate: Atlantis, The Dresden Files and Battlestar Galactica AND the comming ending of Scrubs and Heroes I needed to find something new. So In comes Alison with her 5 star suggestions. This weeks reccomendation was Drive.

Now, I only watched this show for Nathan Fillion (I've been a Fillion fan since 2 guys and a girl). I'm a big browncoat (If Firefly had lasted I would be more a Browncoat then a Gater) and was curious to this new show. Good news was it was awesome! Fillion made this show with his character Alex Tully (Same name as my town). Alex's wife is kidnapped and he is told if he does not join, and win, this race his wife will die. We find out in third episode why they chose him to race. ANd HOW we find out is so perfectly done. No matter where you look there's a race official: That big trucker? Official. That little lady on the bench feeding the pidgeons? Official.

Definatly going to be my favourite for this off-season season. IF it lasts beyong FOX and thier hatred of good shows (I.e FireFly) that is.

Good Night, and Good Luck. (I love that movie)