Top 10 Anticipated Fall Shows

I love lists. And since I won’t have as much time to watch television in law school as I did in undergrad, I’m going to have to prioritize my shows. I’ve come up with this list of which shows I’m most anticipating starting up this month and next. This is a list of shows both old and new, basically which first episodes I’m most excited for.

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10. “2 Broke Girls” (Sept. 19 on CBS at 8:30) – The new pilots for sitcoms actually look pretty good (and I’m not a comedy person), but this is one of two that stands out to me. Kat Dennings is hilarious, and it was developed by Whitney Cummings who I’ve seen on “Chelsea Lately.” I think it could be really funny, without unraveling into petty female drama like so many shows for and about women do.

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9. “Suburgatory” (Sept. 28 on ABC at 8:30) – This is the other sitcom on my list, and it looks to be making fun of dramas like “Desperate Housewives.” All the critics say it’s the funniest sitcom, despite the terrible name. Plus, it’s got some great female comedians like Cheryl Hines and Ana Gasteyer signed on. I’m actually impressed by how many sitcoms are geared towards women including this one and “2 Broke Girls, “New Girl,” “Up All Night,” and “Whitney.” I doubt I’ll be able to keep up with all of them.

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8. “Person of Interest” (Sept. 22 on CBS at 9:00) – I’m still not sure about this one, but I give everything J.J. Abrams a chance. Personally “Alcatraz,” premiering at mid-season, looks more intriguing to me than this crime show about a man who develops a system to predict the perpetrator of a future crime. The cast is good with Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel leading it up, but some reviews have said the pilot is merely average, not nearly as exciting as some of Abrams’ earlier work. CBS is taking a huge chance this year moving this to the slot that “CSI” has occupied for over 10 years, and they seem to be expanding their repertoire from reality television and crime shows which should be applauded.

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7. “The Vampire Diaries” (Sept. 15 on CW at 8:00) – I love this show. I’m pretty sure it’s this low on my list because I’m ashamed to show just how much I love it. But they really hit  a stride last season with the Klaus drama, and I’m excited to see where it goes. I’m also a sucker for love triangles, and I’m glad they’ve finally set it up so Damon and Elena can explore their relationship (I never bought that she would only love Stefan). We also lost a lot of main characters (RIP Aunt Jenna) and got a lot of surprises (Jeremy’s ghosts?). I can’t wait to see how they up the drama even further.

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6. “American Horror Story” (Oct. 5 on FX at 10:00) – This looks like such a weird show, and I’m not the biggest Ryan Murphy fan (especially after he ran “Glee” into the ground). It’s really only on my list because it’s Connie Britton‘s return to television after “Friday Night Lights” got canceled last year. I just hope that the scare factor doesn’t override the performances and a good dramatic story. This could be one of the biggest flops though, just because everything looks incredibly dark.

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5. “The Walking Dead” (Oct. 16 on AMC at 10:00) – I thought this show was really great last season (probably the best new thing last year), and if there was a dip in quality in the later episodes, I think that’s because they had such little time (and budget) to do what they wanted to. They’ve had a lot of drama with the replacement of the show-runner  midway through filming this upcoming season, but judging from the Season 2 promo, the quality looks to have gone up from last season. It’s not for everyone because of the gore factor, but the storytelling is right up there with great AMC dramas like “Mad Men.”

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4. “Once Upon a Time” (Oct. 23 on ABC at 8:00) – This is one of two “fairy tale” shows premiering this fall season (the other being “Grimm“), and this definitely looks the best of the two. Some critics say it’s a “love it or hate it” proposition, but those are exactly the types of shows I like (things like “Pushing Daisies“). It’s got good talent, especially with the fairy tale characters (Ginnifer Goodwin as Snow White!), and there are two producers from “Lost,” one of my all-time favorites, behind this one.

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3. “Hell on Wheels” (Nov. 6 on AMC) – This is the one I know the least about as it’s not set to premiere until November. But, I love everything Western, and there have been some comparisons to HBO’s “Deadwood.” I loved that show, but it often got off track and had way too much going on in terms of subplots (I can’t even recall what the main plot was, or if there was one). I know AMC has had some problems creativity-wise with “Rubicon” being plucked off the air and the debacle that turned out to be “The Killing.” Maybe they can get back on track with something like this.

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2. “Fringe” (Sept. 23 on FOX at 9:00) – Now we’re getting to my two favorite shows that air in the fall. I actually stopped watching “Fringe” for a long time because I felt they were too up and down between the overarching story being told and the procedural elements of a cop show. However, I picked it back up earlier this year, and I’m glad I did, because Season 3 really hit its stride in terms of going all out with the science fiction. Where we ended, Peter joined together the two worlds, and then disappeared as if he never existed. I can’t wait to figure out how they resolve this one.

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1. “The Good Wife” (Sept. 25 on CBS at 9:00) – “The Good Wife,” along with “Justified,” is the most consistently good show on television right now. They pick a story for the entire season, and they know just how to stretch it out without any filler episodes. Every moment feels necessary, and pretty much all of the cases are compelling. Julianna Margulies‘ performance is what takes this show to the next level and makes it my favorite in the fall. I just want to know how her life changes post-affair with her boss Will, which I hope will be covered in the opening minutes of the pilot.

What’s With All The Hatred For ‘True Blood?’

I’ve been watching HBO‘s “True Blood” since the beginning when it aired when it first aired in 2008. It was lauded for being unique, original, visceral and sexy, and Alan Ball’s success of a show came at the peak of the public’s fascination with all things supernatural, but especially vampires.

Flash forward to a show that is now in its fourth season, and starting out at such a high level perhaps wasn’t the best way to go, as “True Blood” could only go downhill from its spectacular first season. The writers have gotten more in-depth with Charlaine Harris‘ series, adding werewolves, were-panthers, witches, fairies, and what appears to be either demons or ghosts this season. As you can imagine, the craziness factor, one that always made the show stand out, has been upped exponentially with each season.

But, for some reason, “True Blood” is now being criticized for this exact thing that made it popular. Now, I don’t want to be too much of a defender, because some of the critiques are valid. Some of the storylines are far more interesting than others, and Ball and his writing team rarely ever finish a season on a bang (Sookie peacing out to fairyland was more like a sputter last season). But I’ve read criticisms that imply that “True Blood” now has too many plotlines, most notably at The Washington Post and the AV Club, and I completely disagree.

One thing that I’ve always hated on television — what comes to mind is “Lost” first and foremost — is when writers would leave a cliffhanger and then not get back to it for a few episodes. Viewers turn in every week to see what’s happened, and I’ve watched numerous shows simply because I stopped caring what happened. I’ve never stopped caring about the characters on “True Blood.” Yeah, I’d prefer to have less of the Jason/were-panther nonsense, but I’m finding a lot of the storylines this season coalescing into something interesting, including the witches, Arlene’s devil baby, Sam’s brother shapeshifting into humans, Tara’s newfound confidence and, of course, Sookie and Eric’s love affair.

The show, for me, has never held up the HBO standard that shows before it set, but that’s why I loved it. They could pull off all the graphic material they needed, but still make it campy and fun. To me, it’s only gotten campier and more fun. And the way the season is moving along so quickly, I think Ball and co. might just have it up their sleeves to end the show right this time.

August Entertainment Hit List

A feature that I’ve been planning for a while is one in which every month I preview what’s coming up in entertainment that I’m excited for. It could be things that everyone has access to, or it could be events that are happening here in Boston. Summer is winding down, but there’s still plenty to look forward to in Boston and elsewhere.

1. “The Help” — Pretty much everyone read the book about a young woman writing about black maids in Jackson, Mississippi, in the ’50s when it came out almost two years ago, and though I was a little late to the party, I’m still very much impressed with Kathryn Stockett‘s work. Whether it will translate to the big screen remains to be seen, but with Emma Stone taking the lead of Skeeter and a strong supporting cast, it looks as if unknown Tate Taylor could make this the female must-see of the summer. I think it’s going to explode at the box-office making it the second movie marketed for women this summer to exceed expectations (the first being “Bridesmaids“). “The Help” lands August 10 in theaters everywhere.

2. Tom Perrotta’s “The Leftovers” — Perrotta is one of the best (and most popular) Boston-based fiction writers, and ‘Leftovers’ will be his newest book since “The Abstinence Teacher” in 2007. It’s so far unclear what the book is about — something to do with a religious fervor like the Rapture in a small town — but I’ve no doubt that it will be excellent. He really knows how to tackle the fears and hypocrisies of small-town America, like with sex offenders in “Little Children” or high school politics in “Election” (both of which were turned into fabulous films). If you haven’t read anything by him yet, you’ve got time to pick up ‘Abstinence Teacher’ as it’s his most mature work to date; ‘Leftovers’ comes out at the end of the month on August 30.

3. “Gloria: In Her Own Words” — I haven’t been following the HBO documentary series the way I should be, but they always have really great stuff in the summers. So far this summer, they’ve covered working in a sexual assault prosecution office, young Afghan women accused of committing “moral crimes” and chess champion of the world Bobby Fischer. They’ve got a couple more documentaries in August, including “Koran by Heart” and “Superheroes,” but they finish up their series with a documentary about Gloria Steinem‘s life, which looks pretty amazing. Check it out on August 15 at 9 p.m.

4. Shakespeare on the Common — Though it isn’t New York City’s Shakespeare in the Park, Boston’s version draws huge crowds for its 3-week run. This year it’s “All’s Well That Ends Well;” luckily, this is one I know nothing about. And it’s free! No reason not go, except maybe the heat… The play runs until August 14, with shows everyday except Monday.

5. Whim Series at Smolak Farms — Another Boston event, this one’s been going on since June in North Andover. Smolak Farms has partnered with the star chefs around Boston to present a barbecue dinner to lucky Bostonians. They work with students from Le Cordon Bleu Boston to put on a picnic, and then visitors get a hayride at sunset around the farm. I’ve got tickets for this upcoming Wednesday with Rebecca Newell from The Beehive (excellent food!). I’ll let you know how it goes. The Whim series is every Wednesday until August 24th; buy tickets exclusively at giltcity.com

6. Yannick Murphy’s “The Call” — I’ve never read any books by Yannick Murphy, but “The Call,” coming out tomorrow, sounds wonderful. It’s about a veterinarian, and told through his visits to neighboring houses and farms for animal injuries or deaths. When his eldest son lands in a coma because of a hunting accident, he must learn to deal with his new world. It sounds unique, and her previous books like “Signed, Mata Hari” have gotten good reviews. This could be the novel that makes her a writing star. If you love animals and how they change the lives of humans, this is the August choice for you. Pick it up on August 2 at your local bookstore.

7. Catalyst and Abigail’s in Kendall Square — For those of us who live west of the Charles, we know that there are a lot of great restaurants out this way, especially in Cambridge. Kendall Square, however, has remained a corporate wasteland with very few restaurants and only the Kendall Square Theatre for entertainment. Many times I’ve come out of the theater — my favorite in the whole city — and had nowhere to eat. Hungry Mother is out there, but it’s crowded and fancy. All that is about to change as Area Four and Bondir have just opened there, with Catalyst and Abigail’s slated to open this month. Check back later this month for reviews of all four.

8. “Porgy and Bess” at American Repertory Theatre — In Boston, you’ve got to take good theater where you can get it. I’m so excited that Diane Paulus is reconstructing “Porgy and Bess,” a George Gershwin opera about the lives of African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina, in the ’20s. She did a fantastic job with “Hair” a couple of years ago, and she’s got four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald coming in alongside Norm Lewis. Though they haven’t mentioned anything, it’s clear they’re pushing for a New York run on Broadway if all goes well. Tickets are sold out for the first couple of weeks, but you can still get some good ones for September. Its run starts August 17 and ends October 2.

9. Nouvella Books launch — An old friend of mine works for a new company called Nouvella Books. They utilize the LAUNCH program, which is like a community-supported way of buying books. You are given the opportunity to purchase a share of a small publication of a novella, and then you get an exclusive first-edition of the novella before it goes wide to distributors. Their first book, Matthew Salesses‘ “The Last Repatriate,” comes out in August, and excerpts should be up on the website soon, so you can decide if you’d like to buy a share. This sort of innovative approach to publishing is exactly the kind of thing we’ll see a lot of in the coming years with e-books taking over. Check out their website for more information.

10. “I’m With You” by Red Hot Chili Peppers — Red Hot Chili Peppers haven’t had a new album since “Stadium Arcadium” in 2006, and that was much more pop-oriented than their previous efforts. Whether or not “I’m With You” will be as great as their previous albums remains to be seen, but they’re always solid on the rock front. And since they take so long to put out new material, anything is exciting. Maybe I’ll actually be able to get tickets to a concert this time (doubtful). Album comes out August 30.

11. Tres Gatos Book Club — Tres Gatos is a small tapas place in Jamaica Plain, but they also sell books and music in their back room. They are starting up a book club this month, and the first meeting happens August 7 at 3 PM. The choice for the month is Charles Yu‘s “How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe.” I’m about 2/3 of the way through, and it’s a unique pick, although I can’t say I completely understand what’s going on. I guess that’s what a discussion group is for. I hope there will be yummy snacks and wine as well.

‘Game of Thrones’ and the HBO Nudity Controversy

Courtesy of HBO

While it wasn’t really something I noticed while watching the show the last few months, “Game of Thrones” has apparently ruffled some feathers with its rampant use of nudity. The hubbub started with an editorial by Mary McNamara, the TV critic for the LA Times, where she stated that “Game of Thrones” was a great show with the exception of its overuse of female nudity, specifically in what critics have been calling scenes of “sexposition,” a term coined by TV critic Myles McNutt from a great blog called “Cultural Learnings.”

McNamara essentially accuses HBO, but particularly “Game of Thrones,” of using female nudity for gratuitous purposes rather than narrative ones; the way she distinguishes between the two are in terms that are familiar to most people, between “breasts” and “tits.” Daenarys rising from the ashes of her husband’s funeral pyre with three baby dragons strategically covering her lower (but not upper) half constitutes “breasts.” Scenes where the traitorous Littlefinger teaches new prostitutes how to fake pleasure while extolling on the injustices of being born poor is “tits.”

The editorial sparked a number of responses, but it was Matt Zoller Seitz over at Salon who most scathingly refuted McNamara’s argument. He argued that every use of breasts had its purpose in “Game of Thrones,” revealing something about the characters in the scene. He even said that McNamara was a “prude” for not wanting to associate female nudity with sex, only with power. And James Poniewozik over at Time points out that though Seitz has a point, the frequency with which writers use nudity as a placeholder so viewers won’t get bored during heavy exposition has indicated that it’s a weakness in the writing. In short Poniewozik believes that the writers use nudity as a crutch when they’re afraid their audience is too ADD to concentrate solely on characters talking to one another.

It’s a difficult argument because HBO has definitely exploited the female body, not just in “Game of Thrones,” but in some of its most famous shows — “Sex and the City,” “The Sopranos,” “Rome,” “Deadwood,” to name a few. And while maybe once upon a time people tuned into HBO to see what they couldn’t get on their regular channels, it’s not necessarily true that they need the multiple shots of nudity per episode. However, it has become an expectation of normal viewers that when you’re watching HBO, there will be mature content; that’s just become part of the HBO bargain, so much so that when I watched the pilot episode of “Treme,” I was shocked and, to tell the truth, put off because it was so chaste for HBO’s normal fare. However, people don’t stick around for sex. They stick around for great storytelling.

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I can say that I have read all of the books, and plan to read “A Dance with Dragons” when it comes out next week. Martin’s use of sexual content (always in a respectful and tasteful manner) does not abate. There’s even one section where Daenarys is trying to gather army forces, and in order to do so, she dresses in the garb of the people: beautiful gowns that happen to expose one breast. Will it be gratuitous by the costume department not to just cover her up? I guess we’ll find out. What I love about most of the nudity is that it all becomes part of this world of the Seven Kingdoms, where we see that women, even the powerful ones, are not prized by men for their intelligence or their strength, but their beauty and bodies. Now, in the course of Martin’s tale, this drastically changes for many of the female characters (especially as we get introduced to new ones like Brienne of Tarth, Asha of the Iron Islands or Arianne Martell of Dorne).

What I would like to see is that now the powerlessness of women has been established as a theme, and as the intrigue moves more towards war and the courts (and less towards the separate households and their daily lives), I think the nudity will appear less and less. However, the subjugation of women to men, especially physically and sexually, is a theme that continues through Martin’s saga as far as he’s written. I don’t think that the writers will cut out the nudity, but now that viewers are going to come back to see what happens, I think that invented characters like Ros can be discarded. I do see how writers and producers would’ve seen “Game of Thrones” as a hard sell, even to a enlightened audience like HBO followers, and hedged their bets by overstuffing scenes with sexual content.

I have no problem with nudity in the show; if anything, I was more bothered by the gratuitous violence Seitz mentions (especially towards animals). But again, this all comes from Martin’s original text, so how much can be the blame of HBO and how much is Martin’s intention in creating this world? I have pointed out that HBO writers created Ros, the prostitute involved in many of these sexposition scenes, and though she’s a throw-away character, she often reveals things about the male characters that we might not otherwise see.

I think that critics and viewers bothered by the nudity in the show should be a little more patient. As McNamara points out, the closing shot of Daenarys, naked, covered in her dragons, could be a portent for the future. I think the series finale is saying that women are going to be taking control of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as their bodies and spirits.