  
E-MAIL THE AUTHOR |
ARCHIVES
ONE HAND CLAPPING
By Chris Ryall
May 30, 2005
TV Pilot Overview
It’s Memorial Day, and as such, a short’un this week. Not that I’m skimping, exactly—rather, I’m sparing you from Chris overkill. See, in addition to my weekly TV Recommendations and replying to reader mails alongside Scott Tipton in our weekly Mail Shoot, it’s also that time of year again when I sit through all the debut episodes of the upcoming Fall ’05 network shows and give you my TV Pilot Review, too.
Three years ago, I liked NBC’s KINGPIN and PUSH, NEVADA (oops); two years ago, it was ABC’s KAREN SISCO and Fox’s ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (better). Last season, not only did I tell you how bad QUINTUPLETES was, but I also pushed hard for little shows called LOST and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (My best so far, but I also liked THE OFFICE, didn’t see any need for FATHER OF THE PRIDE or HAWAII, and even dug UPN’s KEVIN HILL). Everything’s Archived, too.
Now this year, the big questions are, will the sitcom make a comeback? WILL FATHOM or any of the other LOST-inspired shows stand on their own? Will Jason Lee make the transition to TV? Will Jennifer Love Hewitt ever land on a show that works again? And should I even bother watching the pilot with Shannen Doherty considering she’s already been replaced (about this one, I think I’ll pass on it, since there are more than enough to keep me occupied).
So, with all of those shows to discuss, I think that column running on Tuesdays when it runs, will most likely alternate with this one. There will no doubt be weeks when both run, but four weekly columns from me has got to be more than anyone wants to see, and it’s also more than I’ll be able to maintain if I hope to have any degree of quality at all.
Tomorrow’s first TV Pilot Review will appear in the form of a look at Jason Lee’s aforementioned show, MY NAME IS EARL. I’ll hold the real feedback until tomorrow, but suffice it to say that if every new show is as good as this one (they’re not—I’m looking at you already, Denise Richards) we’re in for a solid TV year.
Oh, What a Tangled Webcomic We Weave
Yes, I know it’s been about a year or so since we’ve had consistently new webcomic content all five days of the week. But we’re about to—maybe even six over the five days, for a while. You’ve no doubt noticed one new strip running on Thursdays, Enchanted Mayhem, and now, starting this Wednesday will be another new comic, Lifelike, more of a slice-of-life (or something close to that) than we’ve had here before. The first arc, written as all of them will be by Dara Naraghi, will feature art by Tom Williams, an award-winning artist and illustrator of Oni Press’s NO DEAD TIME. On both of these, I’d love to know what you think.
In addition, Jeffrey Stevenson and Seth Damoose continue their weekly double shot of Spook’d (on Mondays) and Brat-Halla (on Tuesdays), Frank Gibson swears Action Datsun will be back soon, and you’ve already seen that Mills and Staton are back rolling on Femme Noir. These guys all do a great job maintaining a weekly (or thereabouts) schedule on these strips, and since they’re paid in feedback, I’d encourage everyone to drop them, or me, a line and offer up whatever comments you have from week to week. In the nearly three years we’ve been doing this site, there’ve been consistently good comics here (he said, a bit biased), so if you agree, or disagree, feel free to let your voice be heard. We love hearing from you on these non-FAMILY GUY sorts of things.
Dan Hunnel:
Livin' with this woman, who don't see that I don't see
all the cleanin' and the messin'
that she keeps pushin' on to me...
Thinkin' that if she gets
a little louder that I'll change,
not knowin' that she's 'round about
to trigger my 'derange'!
give me strength, lord...
remind me 'bout that silver linin'
lyin' ahind each grumblin' cloud...
restrain my strength, lord...
I don't need to hit the low points
or the reckless bars and gin joints,
to catch and hold that life of gold
that we're aworkin' toward...
I'm an easy-goin' man
who us'ally has a grin
and a knack for solvin' problems
and makin' chords that 'spin'
but she paints me in a corner
and frames me at a loss, not
knowin' that we're gonna hafta have
a playoff, to see who's boss
give me strength, lord...
remind me 'bout that silver linin'
lyin' 'hind each grumblin' cloud...
restrain my strength, lord...
I don't need to hit the low points
or the reckless bars and gin joints,
to 'member that life of glory
that we're aworkin' toward...
J.J. Merrif:
The "I'm Making 6.25 an Hour Stocking Groceries all Summer when All I Want to
Do is be Home Playing Guitar So I Can One Day Jam with Robert Cray" Blues
Raymond Neal:
The Family Guy's Back Box Set Blues
Well, I got the Family Guy's back blues
Come from deep down in my soul
I got the Family Guy's back blues
Come from deep down in my soul
My TV's been took over
By that fatman once again
Thought he was gone forever
But he's found his way back in
Got them kids a-watchin reruns
While get stoned late at night
KIDS are watchin reruns
While they get stoned late at night
Well, they wanted to get buzzed all day
So they went and bought the box set
So many kids need their reefer
They bought a WHOLE damn box set
OH they couldn't just tape it
They had to buy the DVD (Oh mercy me!)
Anthony Hoffman:
I got “The Blues Record Buying Public is Limited to About 50,000 People (So if I’m Lucky my Complete Recordings Will Sell Almost as Many Copies as Usher Does in Four Hours) Blues.”
Count me in as one of the 50,000.
Tom A. writes:
Ain't Got No Blues, Blues.
In Two Weeks: BATMAN BEGINS, and the AFI's Lifetime Achievement Award for George Lucas
/chris
E-MAIL THE AUTHOR |
ARCHIVES
|