Archive for the 'Californication' Category
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE WATCHING
ENTOURAGE SEASON 5
Just recently added to the iTunes online store, season 5 of HBO’s Entourage has picked up where season 3 left off - and I’m not talking about plot development. Season 4 was an abomination to one of the best guy shows in history, and the fifth season is a definite return to superiority. I was checking at least once a week on iTunes for these to get added since I haven’t had HBO in a couple of years, and they were finally added. It was about time, and the wait was worth it.
CALIFORNICATION SEASON 2
Assuming that you’ve seen the first season of this incredible show, the second season is arguably better. With Curb Your Enthusiasm on a hiatus, Showtime’s Californication has taken over the title as the best show on TV. It’s dramatic, funny, and without-a-doubt one of the raciest shows of all time. Go watch it and tell me you don’t want to be Hank Moody (Duchovny) when you grow up.
KATHY GRIFFIN: MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST
(BRAVO)
Before watching this show on Bravo, I had only a small idea of who Kathy Griffin was or why she’s relevant. I surprised myself when I saw the first episode of this show and fell in love with her sense of humor. Dry humor goes a long way, and she’s damn good at making fun of people without them knowing. The episode where she goes shopping with Paris Hilton (above) is priceless. When you’re flipping through channels and see this, stop and watch for a minute. It’s hi-larious.
No commentsTOP 5 TV SHOWS OF 2008
TSF’s BEST OF 2008 AWARDS
Compiling a list of the best TV shows of 2008 is pretty difficult given the amount of time one must devote to an entire season of a TV series. I didn’t have that much time in 2008, but I did get the chance to check out the following 5 shows and pronounce them the 5 best of 2008.
A few of these shows weren’t new in 2008, but they did have great seasons that either started or ended this year, which makes them eligible for the list.
5. DEXTER
Dexter stars Michael C. Hall, formerly of HBO’s Six Feet Under fame, who is one of the best television actors of the 21st century. The main character, Dexter, works in the crime lab of the Miami police department by day, but a killer by night - killing the very serial killers that he hunts during the day. A great plot with a likable cast make this show one of the best of 2008.
4. MAD MEN
Mad Men is the best television drama series of 2008. The show follows the lives of prestigious New York ad salesmen in this perfect time piece. Addicting and fun to watch, this show is very unique and has some of the best writing of any show over the last few years.
3. TOP CHEF
Bravo’s Top Chef first crossed my radar in 2008 and immediately became the staple of my Wednesday nights. Rarely do I enjoy reality television as much as this cooking competition between amateur chefs from all over the country vying for the title of “Top Chef”. Professional chef Tom Colicchio and the beautiful model/TV personality Padma Laksmi make the perfect judges on a show with plenty of drama and great competition.
2. 30 ROCK
Equally as funny as Californication, although not as risque, this show is hysterical. Laughing out loud at Alec Baldwin is commonplace and the star-studded cast makes every episode of 30 Rock a must see. Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan round out a cast of comedic geniuses. 30 Rock did not disappoint in 2008.
1. CALIFORNICATION
Californication’s first season (2007) was one of the best debut seasons in television history and it’s only fitting that the show’s second season would start where the last left off. This show is outstanding and one of the best comedies of the last 10+ years. Raunchy, guiltless, and unforgiving writing brings the best out of this extraordinary cast that leads TV’s best of 2008 list.
Top 6 TV Shows of The 2000s
Everyone has their favorite shows of the 20th century. From Seinfeld to M.A.SH., from Andy Griffith to Friends and 90210. But, the 21st century is starting come into its own and a lot of well written TV is being made as we speak. A plethora of channels, including HBO and Showtime, have raised the bar and started producing great content.
One stipulation of the list is that every single season must be good. For example, I loved the first couple seasons of Lost and Six Feet Under, but boredom began to set in later into the series. Some of these shows are available for free on a website (with no commercials) called www.watchtvsitcoms.com. They are noted with (*).
TOP 6 TV SHOWS OF THE 2000s:
6. Weeds (2005, Showtime) *
A Showtime comedy featuring Mary-Louise Parker as a drug dealing, suburbanite, soccer-mom widow. With the passing of her husband, the unemployed Nancy Botwin (Parker) is forced to put food on her kid’s table and pay off her mortgage.
The cast also features a show-stealing Kevin Nealon and the sultry Elizabeth Perkins (the hot chick from Big).
5. The Office (2005, NBC) *
The cast is led by funny-man Steve Carrell (40-Year-Old Virgin) as the socially awkward and mindless Michael Scott. The show’s opening scenes have gained YouTube popularity, usually a minute or so of office shenanigans. Do yourself a favor and start with the 2nd season.
4. Californication (2007, Showtime) *
This is the one and only show to make the list that only has one season currently released. That’s how good this show is. David Duchovny is perfection as a single father and novelist with too much time on his hands. His libido is rampant as they could have titled this show Promiscuity with no problem. Spectacular writing and diverse cast make this one of the best first seasons in television history.
3. Entourage (2004, HBO) *
The only show ever that I have watched every single episode on syndication. Sunday nights at 9 every summer have been spent in front of the TV watching Entourage. Commonly referred to as “the Sex and The City for guys,” this show has its fair share of boobs, booze, sports, and laughs. Ari (Jeremy Piven) and Johnny “Drama” Chase (Kevin Dillon) make this show one of the best of my generation.
2. Arrested Development (2003, FOX)
Arrested Development and Curb Your Enthusiasm are set apart from the rest of the list. These are two shows of a lifetime. This show has one of the most diverse, ridiculous, and outright insane casts of all time. I can’t even begin to explain each cast member, but let’s put it this way: The son’s name is “George Michael” and the uncle, Tobias, played by the hilarious David Cross, is a “never nude” who showers sporting only jean shorts. Narrated by Ron Howard.
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000, HBO)
Upon first watch, it’s a show with no laugh track and very dry humor. The show has no script, only a storyline by which the actors follow. I’d say it’s mostly improvisation.
The creator and main character, Larry David, was also co-creator of Seinfeld and wrote some the best Seinfeld Episodes of all time, such as “The Contest.”
To me, this show is sort of an anomaly. The first time I ever saw it back in 2001, I thought it was the worst show I’d have ever seen. I didn’t understand the characters and it seemed to move excruciatingly slow. Now it is my favorite show of all time and I love every second of it. If you’ve never seen an episode, do yourself a favor and go now, rent/buy.
6 comments
