Grid Effect

There isn’t much happening in the world of television, or at least not much that we feel is necessary to include into a links post. So we’re going to keep this rather succinct, because no one likes reading a 500+ word blog post. That, and it takes longer to write. And effort is in direct contrast with everything we hold dear.

Not that we needed the extra incentive, but...she doesn't hurt.

My Boys returned last night and we will shamefully admit that we watched it in full. It was about as slightly better than mediocre, which is about where we expect it to be. Between the mustache growing contest and Gaffigan’s side commentary, we don’t really regret investing the time to watch. Since it’s not really a series because each season is never more than ten episodes and has a year in between each stretch, we find that it’s relatively easy TV that requires nothing on the part of its audience, but still has a few solid jokes while it’s at it. With television comedy being what it is right now, that’s enough to keep our attention for a half hour.

Looks like FOX, of all networks, will be giving Wanda Sykes her own Bill Maher-esque political comedy talk show. We couldn’t be more thrilled, she was on that one thing that one time, has a recurring character as herself on Curb Your Enthusiasm, was in those Public Service Announcements about using the word “gay” as a negative adjective, and was also in that other thing once. In addition to her stand-ups, it’s been a storied career. It’s good to see that she’ finally getting some attention, because she seems like one of the funnier women in Hollywood.

If you needed a reason to do something drastic in your life, I can’t think of better motivation than hearing that The Real World has been extended for four more seasons in addition to their current contract which I believe has five more years on it. That will bring TRW to a grand total of twenty-six seasons provided no one dies during filming. Great, MTV, now you have half of America wishing death on some probably amiable stranger. Bang up job, guys. Maybe for your next act you can announce an extension to My Super Sweet 16.

An interview with Jason Katims in which he reveals that some of the current cast will be back for the fourth season. Wait, you mean Tyra won’t be around to lament her imperfect decisions from when she was fourteen for another season? Ah, man. I really wanted to see her, Riggins and Lyla hang around for a third senior year.

Don’t know if I’ve even bothered to mention it, but they remade the nineties sitcom Cupid without the original cast. And surprise, it isn’t as effective as the critically-acclaimed but short lived CBS series with Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall. Who would’ve thought, you take the best thing away from a TV show but still go through with the remake, and for some reason it doesn’t live up to its predecessor.

And finally, The Wire aired on one of the BBC networks in the UK on Monday, and according to this article it drew in about 600,000 viewers. The articles doesn’t really say if that’s a lot or a little and I really have no idea why this matters. Hasn’t the show already aired in its entirety in the UK? Is it because they’re on a more mainstream network now? Either way, since it’s rating is described as “respectable” it sounds like it’s doing better on the second go around over there than it ever did here.

South Park recap tomorrow and maybe some links to close out the short week.