Comments on: Must Watch: Life

By: Moth

Moth — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:50:38 +0000

They did this with the Quantum Leap DVDs too. Broke my heart to lose “Georgia” in the MIA episode.

By: PG

PG — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:02:04 +0000

I think a lot of TV networks need to reconsider how they advertise new shows. They don’t seem to get at what’s awesome about the shows I like (which tends to be good dialogue). My “I will hate Leno forever because I’m convinced his getting 5 hours of primetime every week contributed to this show going off the air” is “Kings.” And I didn’t watch the first few episodes of “Kings” because from the ads I assumed it was about the Mafia, basically NBC trying to repeat the success of The Sopranos. Then I see an episode and realize it’s an alternate reality drama about court intrigue, Shakespearean influence complete with “low players” and iambic pentameter dialogue, and my husband and I are both hooked for the rest of the season.

I do reluctantly understand why it went off the air, though — it was just too expensive in a recession. Great actors, great writers, lots of extras, lots of money for luxurious clothes and rooms and battles. I still blame Leno, though.

By: ruthie

ruthie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:57:48 +0000

“So of course, NBC cancelled it.”

A friend and I were just talking about how NBC has a long, long history of shooting itself in the foot. Spectacularly shooting itself in the foot. Doesn’t pay to get too attached to shows on NBC. Especially if the critics like them.

Love to know the guiding mentality in their Programming division. Do you think it’s something in their water?

By: michelle

michelle — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:18:31 +0000

Holy cow, you just killed me! Life got the can?! What is wrong with these people! Damn them. I love(d) that show…I cant believe there is no season 3…Apart from that your essay was great. I’m gonna have to watch the reruns on hulu. Hugely disappointed.

By: Judy Long

Judy Long — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:48:58 +0000

Okay – I watched all 32 episodes of Life. The finale was absolutely wonderful. Only problem – I didn’t want it to end.
I’m tempted to try Burn Notice but I really need togive myself a break.
ps – Damien may have to be my next pretend love affair. Yum.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:48:44 +0000

I’m just getting into Hulu and I’m now 5 episodes into Life and really enjoying it. I’m also enjoying seeing actors from Deadwood – 3 so far!

By: J

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:21:48 +0000

The finger snaps were wonderful. That moment when he raised his hand and everyone cringed was priceless.

Leverage is on of my favorites. As Parker says, “sometimes bad guys are the only good guys you get.” The group has all grown so much, into a team that works together even on the fly.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:00:15 +0000

The Finger Snap. Coolest cover for Michael ever, although my number one persona is still Fiona as Jersey Girl, snapping her gum.

By: Melissa Blue

Melissa Blue — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:13:46 +0000

Down Under Gal, I’ll throw the shoe at you for Burn Notice. Just watched an episode and The Finger Snap is the best invention in t.v. EVER.

Since Kate Beckett seems to be the sticking point for Castle maybe The Closure is the antecdote. The first season is an how-to on lead female characters. “If I wanted to be called a b#$ch to my face I would have stayed married to my first husband.” My mother got me hooked to this show so I watched it backwards. The first season is a masterpiece.

I’ll throw in Leverage. It doesn’t really have the criteria you guys have for a great show, but I love my anti-heroes. Especially when they steal stuff.

By: Melissa Blue

Melissa Blue — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:59:33 +0000

I like Castle too, but they kind of lost me when they didn’t use all that wonderful tension after the 1st season’s awesome finale. Honestly, with each episode not really DEALING with it they let out the conflict like a slow leaking tire.

All that said, I will forever be a fan for the bullet proof vest with Writer on it. I still want one. Seriously.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:21:51 +0000

ARGH. I looked for it on Amazon but they don’t have it in a version that plays on American DVD players. It sounds amazing, though. ARGH.

By: Sierra

Sierra — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:47:12 +0000

I actually don’t have major issues with the female lead, but I DO have huge issues with the costuming for her. Heels? Really? And long scarves that could get caught in things? Completely inappropriate. Argh.

By: Beki

Beki — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:23:43 +0000

May I recommend the British version, which actually was so good I watched it twice? It fully ended and I think the characters were so much better. FWIW

By: DownUnderGal

DownUnderGal — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:55:03 +0000

lol Jenny, sorry…
Again, I didn’t persevere very long. Have developed a rule over the years – if it doesn’t captivate me in the first few eps then I wipe it. Life’s too short.
And it clashes with Big Love – there’s a show I’d rather invest my time in.
OH – the suits over here canned West Wing for a few years – probably the best written show ever imho – until finally the very sensible ABC picked it up from season 4 and showed the rest in the same time slot every week. Should always have been on ABC….sheesh!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:58:51 +0000

WHAT???????????????????

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 05:58:05 +0000

I think the most powerful thing underlying the finale is that he really would give his life for her, not in the dramatic sense of stepping in front of a bullet, which he probably would do, but coldly and logically manipulate events so that he was in harm’s way instead of her. And that she had no idea that he would until he did, and even after he did, she’s still trying to figure out what the point of his plan is.
God, I love that finale.

By: Kelly S

Kelly S — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:57:48 +0000

I like the female lead in Castle but I agree about the Turner and Hooch line. I think the writers aren’t giving her enough intelligence or credit. I like that Castle is a caring Dad and that his daughter is the most responsible character in the house. The show makes me laugh and that is a good thing.

It’s fine that you don’t like it. I know some others don’t as well because they see Beckett’s role as watered down and weak. I mean that is my complaint a bit too, but it is happening more as the show goes on than it was at the start. So, maybe the direction the people in charge are going is to appeal to the males in the audience.

One of the weirdest and most successfully done things with this bit of fiction is the way they’ve incorporated it into real life. Castle tweets. There is a book published and “authored” by Richard Castle and it is the Nikki Heat novel the character in the show wrote, but I own a copy of it. Weirds me out and is cool at the same time.

Finally, I like Nathan Fillon and am a Firefly fan. So, that might be an influence, but I think it is my love of the cozy mystery that influences me as much as that.

By: Kelly S

Kelly S — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:49:44 +0000

I got to add my vote for Castle! LOVE IT! Caught the first episode on vacation. I have watched every one since. Actually, it is the only tv show my hubby and I watch. Of course, having only basic (not standard) cable might be influencing that a bit.

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:37:06 +0000

Damian Lewis was in a movie called The Baker a few years ago. Directed by his brother and set in England and Wales, it’s a comedy of errors of a hit man (Lewis) trying to leave his profession and moving to a small town. It was truly a delightful movie.

By: orangehands

orangehands — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:09:15 +0000

DUG: I just finished watching season five of Weeds. Talk about dysfunctional, hated characters being a blast to watch. That and Dexter make me wish I had Showtime. I’m sorry they canned it there. TV Execs are up there with Kaiser in my People I Hate Indiscriminately List.