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Cherskiy · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:34 am Post subject: Latest American TV

Given that I seem to be working permanent overtime at the moment (which explains why I'm not around here much recently - well, that and a dead motherboard), I've been using what free time I do have productively in watching the new crop of American TV shows that have yet to make it across this side of the pond.... Smile

My favourites - in no particular order:

"Burn Notice" - a CIA agent is 'burned' (sacked, effectively - although you can't really 'sack' a spy, you just cut him off from contacts, money and work) and dumped in his hometown, Miami. Together with an ex-girlfriend (who happens to be an ex-IRA bomb-maker) and an alcoholic ex-Navy SEAL, the ex-spy offers himself out to hire as a PI-cum-Mr Fix It in Miami, to get funds to find out who put the Burn Notice out on him, and why. Although it's played straight, there's a wicked undercurrent running throughout, and it is rather amusing. Never really seen the lead actor in anything before, but I remember Gabrielle Anwar from "Scent of a Woman" and the second remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Sharon ("Cagney") Gless plays the ex-spy's chain smoking mother. First season finished already in the US and has been picked up for a second.

"Pushing Daisies" - I've seen this described on Usenet as "Desperate Housewives on Acid", and that's not too far from the truth.... Ned is nine and after his dog is run over by a truck, realises he can bring it back to life with a single touch. He experiments with dead flies, etc. without realising the consequences - if he doesn't touch the recently-brought-back-to-life again within 60 seconds, something else nearby dies in its place. He finds this out when he brings his mother back to life after she suddenly dies of a brain hemorrahage - and his girlfriend's dad across the street promptly drops dead whilst mowing the lawn! Trouble is, there's another thing Ned didn't realise - when his mother kisses him goodnight, she drops down dead again - and this time he can't bring her back again. Turns out if he touches anyone he brings back again, they die - permanently. Fast-forward to 18 years later and Ned owns a pie-shop in town, but attracts the attention of a PI who enlists him help in bringing the recently-murdered back to life so they can find out who the murderer was, and split the reward money. This amicable arrangement works until Ned brings his old girlfriend (Anna Friel) back to life - and decides to let her live. Add a emotionally and physically stunted waitress (Kristen Chernoweth - last seen in "The West Wing"), plus two dotty aunts famous for being a sychronised swimming team, and you have the makings of a winning show. Has to be seen to be believed! Has been picked up for a full season in the US due to huge ratings - not surprised.

"Chuck" - ex Stanford student Chuck Bartowski, who now works in an electrical outlet ("Buy More"), is suddenly contacted out of the blue by his ex-college roommate who just happens to be a rogue CIA spy. The e-mail downloads the entire NSA/CIA database into Chuck's brain, just as the rogue agent is killed. Needless to say, Chuck becomes hunted by the 'bad guys', so two top agents, one from the CIA and one from the NSA, are sent to protect him - one acting as his girlfriend and the other as a store employee. Chuck gets 'flashes' as he sees things that are listed on the database - when he bumps into a Serbian hitman at the local 7-11, things start to get interesting.... played for laughs, but very well done.

"Moonlight" - Vampire law-enforcers have already been done in "Forever Knight", but this series puts a little twist on it by introducing a vampire PI. Not badly done.... so far. He can walk around in daylight - for a little while, at least. There are also neat little nods to other films and tv shows (for instance, a team of vampire 'cleaners' that mop up the after effects of any rogue vamps that go on the rampage - humankind still don't know that vampires exist).

Couldn't be bothered with "Journeyman" or the new "Bionic Woman", though.
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Briant · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 10:07 am Post subject:

Thanks for those reviews, Cherskiy. Let's hope the writers strike in Hollywood means that those shows never make it over here! Laughing

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

"productively in watching the new crop of American TV shows"

your having a laugh ? Laughing

firewirefred · Guest

Cherskiy · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject:

SantaFefan · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject:

As mentioned elsewhere, I actually like most american comedy shows.
3rd Rock, Family Guy, Simpsons, American Dad, King of the Hill, Everybody lopves Raymond, King of Queens, Will & Grace, Frazier, Cheers etc etc..
I don't think we produce anything like as funny! do we?... Razz

But, the latest batch of US sci fi tends to leave me cold. They always seem to start good but soon follow the same love story based script with minimal content. Invasion is a good example, now Jerico is just as boring.

I used to love the X Files but that too went downhill fast from the early, uncomplicated stories.
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Barkingbiker · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2313 Location: Lincolnshire

Well I reckon there's much more interesting things than the electric fish tank Confused

BB

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