Be Excellent To Each Other

Funnier than that.

I want the rest of BSG to be aired..

And in 'Lost'.

Though calling him that is a spoiler! Bad person!

Awesomely, Mrs Chris is now interested in The Unit, so we're watching from Series 1 again. I'd only got three eps into Series 2....

EDIt - Mr The Air, please biscuits use your biscuits extra 5 votes biscuits wisely. Biscuits.

Shin, I'm sure Dudley would be insulted to know that you think he only exists for cheap comedy.

Mr Chris, As I'm not a real person, I think it would be wrong for me to vote for the mods. My real account may or may not vote for you though.

I don't think it's any worse than Lost got at some points during seasons 2 and 3, but Lost season 4 was terrific. As a show it jumped the shark then jumped back. So I'm certainly sticking with Heroes for now.

I've seen a handful of episodes from re-runs on, umm, some high numbered Sky channel or other. The new series is on my download list though. I think it's hilarious.

January for the second half of S4.

Series 3 is really, really good. Only 12 eps though.

but but that is months off

I really like a new series on HBO called True Blood. Imagine if Buffy the Vampire Slayer were really seemingly all an allegory for early black/white racial integration in America, and about the 'sides' involved in that, and the players. Er, and the main character is Rogue from the X-Men movies as quasi-Buffy. It sounds terrible doesn't it? I find it quite compelling. The black chick, the main character's best friend, is truly excellent, amuses me lots.

Fringe is alright in an Outer Limits-me-do kind of way, but I'm surprised it's already been picked up for a full season.

Are there any other good new series out there? I've not tried or heard of any.

House, The Shield, South Park, The Big Bang Theory*, Dexter, Entourage, American Dad, The Simpsons (so far actually amusing me... "Kindly Deeds And We Do 'Em For Free!" "Day is FUN!"), Robot Chicken, Family Guy. Watched the first new Heroes, can't bring myself watch the rest yet. Given up on Prison Break completely after watching the second through to conclusion in the hope that was the end of it. Sigh.

you've played the lost videogame haven't you CUS?

Played it and about 970/1000 in it no less! Hurley's camper van can fuck right off, I can't be bothered looking[/quote]


Erm. I dunno mate, I didn't notice that in the game... and I'm sure it's not been mentioned in the series, that's way too... specific. Nah, I'm sure that's not been in the series...

Did somebody mention Family Guy?

That was an awesome episode, being a poster child for how to do a recurring gag right, especially with the "actual plot", modern Simpsons style in the middle but then managing to squeeze in a last repetition (albeit, clearly signposted) at the end.

Interestingly occurring the same night American Dad (still can't get into the new intro), tried for something really clever and pulled it off brilliantly.

The King of the hill "green" episode was quite scathing too, almost seemed like an attack on hollywood.

Any views on the first ep of Life On Mars?

The look of it is great, the fella from the Sopranos playing Ray is a good casting choice, not sure about Keitel being Hunt yet...

Only had a quick glance at it so far. From what I've seen, it's a definite improvement on the first pilot, but I'm not so sure about Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt. One part of the dynamic between John Simms and Philip Glenister was that the latter was more of an old fashioned brute not afraid to get his hands dirty. The ABC Network Sam Tyler could easily kick Gene Hunt's 'ass', which takes something away from it, I think. It doesn't help that Keitel is looking quite a bit frailer nowadays. Michael Madsen would have been a much better choice for Gene Hunt, if you ask me. The "god-damn, it really is 1973!" big reveal moment in the US version is handled much more effectively than in the original, though. (No spoilers, you're better off seeing it.)

It's hard to judge a remake when you're so used to the original, especially when Manchester accents are replaced by Noo Yoik ones. The show will hopefully take a tip of The Office, and do away with just remaking specific episodes, taking it in a slightly new direction.

Saw the second episode of Fringe last night.

It was just about entertaining enough for me to watch it next week, and I susepct it will carry on in this manner.

I get that it's a new X Files, but it takes itself too seriously, and the advocation of the stuff they do as 'science' is slightly annoying, in a 'Creationism is science' kind of way.

Take the episode last night, for instance:

Third ep is definitely a lot more interesting and memorable than the first two, I thought.

Curio if people were interested in legitimate science then CSI wouldn't have 50 fucking spinoffs, all as shit as the previous one.

Here's hoping!

I'll keep watching it because it looks like the kind of show where it could have four average-dull episodes followed by an absolute corker.

Plus anything with Lance Reddick in is worth watching at least a little bit.

It's been picked up for a full season, has Fringe, so I'm hopeful for its chances of being a decent series.

Meanwhile, did anyone see the first episode of the new season of South Park last week? It was funny... in places... but also the most I've ever thought, "Fucking hell, guys, steady on!" Shocking, even.

Glad to see I'm not the only one falling for it's toothy charms

Right then. Now you've finished talking about shit US TV I can officially reveal that Channel 5 have acquired the rights to show series 7 of THE SHIELD:

http://www.five.tv/aboutfive/contact/faq/#theshield



So it'll be aired once it has started in the US. Which it did on 2 September. So anytime now, then! Whoop!

If anyone gets any firm (fnarr) dates PM me, e-mail me, write to me, telephone me, approach me in the street, throw a brick through my window with a note attached, anything! Or just post them on here...

I've lost it a bit with The Shield, watched the first couple of series avidly then kept missing episodes here and there and then just ended up not knowing what series we got up to and what the hell is going on. It's quite hard to pick up all the threads if you go back to it.

I was pretty much the same. The characters started to annoy me too much so my interest drifted.

Yeah, it definitely peaked during the stuff with Kavanaugh, that should have really been the end of the series as a whole I think, all the stuff with him, and Lem etc. I can barely remember last season at all. The current one is pretty good, it's had some moments, but I'm glad that it is DEFINITELY the last one, it's had its day now.

And Bubbles!

Given there's not much point in starting a "General Purpose Australian TV thread for Autumn 2008" thread, I'm going to mention here that Shaun Micallef's Newstopia, the majestic Australasian fusion of The Daily Show and The Day Today is back for a new series on SBS (and by extension, the internet). It doesn't quite hit the stratospheric heights of the first two series' just yet, but it is still more than welcome.

Here's a montage of parts from one episode of the last series, which is still quite topical now:

While talking about Australian shows, is Underbelly meant to be any good?

Life on Mars USA v2.0 -

Much, MUCH better than the original pilot; a totally new production from ground up. This is a good thing.

There's still a few things to work out to make it better though - it's a bit too fast-paced at times, meaning that it tends to speed through scenes. Fine if you already know the premise, but to new viewers it's going to get confusing or irritating quickly.

As a pilot? Great. Just needs some work.

And the new series of Knight Rider? Crap. But hugely entertaining crap; the kind of silly telly they don't tend to make very often nowadays. Perfect for when you're knackered and don't really want to think, and just want a vague plot and your telly to make flashing images with all wooshy noises.. I'd still prefer them to have been able to have kept Gob as KITT, but Val Kilmer is a fair replacement I think.

I'd be massively surprised if it lasts a full season run, but they've ordered four more scripts so it's looking more likely than I said after watching the (fairly dull) season opener.

Aaargh! Cheers for the reminder Mark X, I keep forgetting this is back. Enjoyed series 2 immensely, and have torrenting series 1 for future viewing. Really wish someone over here would pick this up, as we clearly can't "do" this sort of thing anymore.

On another Australian tip, the Oz version of Top Gear is a near perfect copy of the format.

Unfortunately the people they have to host it are possibly some of the least charismatic Australians ever committed to the cathode tube. Shame.

is me and the missus, exactly. Though she has started doing other things during Heroes. Smallville has done a retool for series 8 and is showing promise, even with the Sith apprentice from the new Star Wars game in it!

Just watched the 1st episode of fringe, was impressed.... will be watching the other episodes tonight.. the wonders of sky+

Dexter series 3? YAY!

Also, I very much enjoyed the Big Bang Theory.

But, Dexter, YAY!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I like Dexter.

Dexter.

Yeah, it's really good too. Series 4 and 5 have been commissioned too!

Fucking sweet! Get in!

How far into the new series are they so far? I'll have to do a bit of catching up.

I'm still enjoying Dexter but can't help feeling that the premise is starting to feel a bit stretched. He just doesn't seem any longer to be uncontrollably driven to kill people but just does it purely for fun as and when he feels like it, it's as though he could just stop at any time and it wouldn't really bother him. I know that the whole setup was preposterous to begin with and you're just meant to go with it and enjoy it but I don't know I'm finding suspension of disbelief to be increasingly difficult.

Episode 5 was last night.

That's because Series One of the show followed the first book very closely.

The subsequent series diverged from the original premise, which ended up being cool, but only if you like weird shit that's largely detached from accepted reality (books 2 and 3).

Does nobody watch Supernatural apart from me? Really enjoying this series. I am also enjoying Dexter, The Fringe and The Mentalist (great main character)

I am trying to enjoy Sanctuary but its missing something. I think its the leads acting which at times is very wooden. I also find the pacing of the plot to be erratic. I think they were trying to make an American Torchwood but got lost along the way.

Knight Rider is so bad that its good and the nostalgia factor makes it even better.

I watch considerably more American TV than I do English. Apart from Spooks and Torchwood I have not really enjoyed anything domestic in recent times.

I'm considering picking up the S1 boxed set. Convince me.

Phew, no spoilers for the latest ep of Dexter, at least as far as I could see. It is an utterly ace programme, a drama that quite wonderfully is happy to direct you toward a certain plot-path, then drag you harshly away from it for something a lot more surprising, interesting and compelling at the last moment. If they'd carried on with the direction we'd been expecting, we would have been perfectly happy, but no. They think we deserve more from our drama. Brilliant. It's a bit of a shame ITV have got the rights to it, what with their "broadcasting the neutered version of it on ITV1" approach to it and everything.

No new episodes of Family Guy, American Dad or The Simpsons this week. I may have said this here before, but whenever the viewing figures drop for comedy shows in the USA, why is it none of the networks make the mental leap toward "fewer people are watching because they know there's a 40% chance we won't be showing a new episode after all". They generally produce at least twenty episodes per season! Just show them on consecutive weeks, you dolts!

Then it wouldn't hit both "Sweeps" periods.

They could do it with one break in the middle, or reform their fucking awful system of course.

Well the first series follows a set formula and is entertaining enough if you like this kind of show. It really starts to get interesting in the final episoide of season one.

Season two is amazing with unexpected twist and episodes that are pure genius. I actually watched season two in one weekend and found it some of the most compelling TV I have ever watched.

In season three they have thrown everything into the mixer again and thus far its been great. It never gets stale because they are always mixing things up and taking you in directions that you never expected.

If you like shows about the paranormal or you just like to be entertained whilst suspending your disbelief then Supernatural is the show for you. Its fast paced, unpredictable and at times absolutely hilarious. (Dean gets all the best one liners)

I am not very good at reviews but I hope I have helped you with your decision.

Sky's treatment of new Simpsons episodes is unbelievable considering it's Sky One's flagship show. Back in the day you were guaranteed a new episode once a fortnight; these days there are literally months with no new episodes, followed by one a week for a few weeks, then another dry spell. It's not like they're showing them straight after US broadcast like Prison Break or Bones so there's really no excuse. Tsk, eh?