Television

 

No. No, I am not a loser that does nothing but sit around and watch TV. I am an actress and writer, and, as such,  I respect shows that are well crafted.

Unlike many people I’ve met, I think television is an über important part of culture. If I had never seen Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I really don’t know how different I would be. TV (when written well) has the same effect as a well-written article in a well written journal. Certain shows entertain while forcing us to question the world around us and our place within it. Others simply give us relief after a long, grueling day at the office. Also, TV is an art form. People tend to forget this, but each shot, line, fade in/out is meant to portray an artistic image. To say all television is crap is akin to saying all paintings are childsplay. I’m not denying that there are massive amounts of shit out there, but we don’t hold those shitty shows up as the standards for what the art form of television is meant to be. That would be like condemning the whole of the visual arts, because so many parents think that Little Suzanne’s fingerpainting is “just so sophisticated for a two-year-old!”

So, as a nod to an underappreciated art form, this page shall be list of shows currently on the air that I deem particularly impressive for one reason or another. In case you never got to read my first post, I am an eternal optimist. This holds true for my taste in television; that I love a show does not mean that show is, in any regard, perfection. A place on my list mean the show succeeds within its goal as a series and as an artistic work. That said, some of the shows really are perfection, and I’ll make sure to point those out. The numbers on the list don’t actually have anything to do with any sort of ranking system, they just help me keep track of the number of items on the list. A higher number means that either I thought of the show earlier than the next one on the list or that I discovered a show earlier than the next one on the list. So, without further ado…

 

 

 

 

25 September 2009, 9/8c

1. Dollhouse (NEW EPISODE THIS FRIDAY ON @ 9/8c on FOX!!!!)

Of course  Dollhouse is first on my list! It should be on yours too! (This will be the longest entry)

Premise:A secret organization called “The Dollhouse” takes volunteers (yes, volunteers) who for one reason or another are willing to have their personality removed, kept on file, and replaced with specially crafted (but still very real) personalities for a period of five years. Why? Because rich people “need” these things, and a high price is the only way to justify such a dramatic task. Yes its technically science fiction, but genre is so far from important.

What makes this show so great? It explores the limits of individual identity, human morality, and the pathways of human evolution without ever seeming pretensious or overworked. If you dismiss this show for any reason it reflects very poorly on your character. This show is revolutionary in so many ways. #1) The opportunities it presents to actors to show their versitility is unprecedented. #2) The material is more relevant than almost any other television show that has ever been done. #3) It’s more drama than science fiction which, given the premise, is an excellent achievement. #4) It has a poing and a focus. Its no secret that such an organization must be doomed to some sort of destruction must eventually crumble to pieces, expecially in a modern setting. What makes this show so interesting is the way it forces you to question where the lines of demarcation between memory, personality, identity, memory, and a more general instinctual self (the one that makes us human, not the one that makes us…us) exist. While the premise is a more obvious  example of how the writing staff accomplishes this, the most amazingly subtle method comes from the viewers. The main character is nobody. She is the body and internal workings of a woman named Caroline, but Caroline has been removed. The “Active” (imprintable doll) that is left is known as Echo. But Echo is nobody either. Echo is rarely ever Echo! She’s different every week! And yet we know she/they are the main character(s). We identify some deeper essence of being that allows us to identify with this character in a manner that scripts, camera angles, and background music just can’t manipulate us to do. We can’t help but “imprint” ourselves into this doll, and (more importantly) we can’t help but “imprint” ourselves as this doll. This show is the answer to the  question philosophers have been searching for for centuries: Who are we?

Also, it’s written by Joss Whedon: International Man of Awesome. If you’ve ever heard of the term “That’s so five minutes ago!” its because he wrote it. He is the brilliant creator of Buff the Vampire Slayer (Emmy Nominated!), Angel, Firefly, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog (Emmy Winning!), and Serenity. For those of you thinking, Whatever. Clearly Eden is just some sort of  SciFi geek with no life and no friends, I have some information for you. This guy has other credits that will blow your mind. He has written such amazingly acclaimed and memorable works as Toy Story and Rosanne. He has directed episodes of all of these shows and two episodes of the office. The writing staff has written for all of your favorite shows (if you have good taste). Go to IMDB or TV.com and search Jane Espenson or Tim Minear. There are so many phenomenal writers that this post could go on WAY too long if I keep going. There’s more he’s done, but this is my blog – not his.

Relevant Links:

Show Home: http://www.fox.com/dollhouse/ (I especially recommend reading the article called Vows)

Whedony Goodness: http://whedonesque.com/

Mutant Enemy Productions: http://www.mutantenemyproductions.com/

 

 

 

 

 

“Jim…”

2. The Office (on NBC)

Just watch the show.

Summary: If you’ve ever worked in a cubicle (or have seen one) you should get this show. Cubicles are prison with a paycheck. This show is set in the most boring land-o-cubicles ever to exist: Dunder Mifflin Paper Co. You don’t really need to know much going in. Just know: Jim loves Pam (duh.), Dwight is wierd (mega-dugh), Michael is a Jackass and its set in an office. A mocku-comedy that is written deliciously and performed beautifully.

 

 

 

 

Typical day.

3. 30 Rock

I should have to explain nothing. It airs on NBC. A refreshingly uncategorizable brand of humor, courtesy of Tina Fey and her crew. Love!

As I remember more shows that are important, I’ll post them! For the record, I love dramas, but there aren’t many worthwile ones around right now.