The 2003-2004 Television Season - A Second Perspective
by Phil
L.
8 June 2004
While I enjoyed Jon's recap tremendously, I feel that there are many more shows worth mentioning, so please allow me this quickly and poorly written indulgence…
Sunday
Arrested Development
This was bar none, the best show of the new season, and has quickly become one of the funniest shows on TV. Just a phenomenal ensemble cast that has really jelled as the series progressed. The writing is witty and sharp, with a touch of absurd for good measure. Why no one watches it is anyone's guess, but I am thrilled to say that it will be back for a second season. Please tune in so that it will come back for a third!
Deadwood
Who says that the Western genre is dead? This gritty new drama from the King of gritty new drama's, HBO (see Sopranos, Oz, The Wire, etc.), has it all. It combines booze, cards, guns, a surly Calamity Jane, and whores…who could ask for anything more? The acting is quite good, the characters are multidimensional, and the story of a renegade frontier town in the making is well written and directed. It's got it all baby!
Monday
Everybody Loves Raymond
It's no surprise that this show garners top ratings year after year — it's fucking funny! Since the show has been around a while, the characters are established and the cast plays them to perfection. It is dysfunctional-family-situational-comedy at its finest. End of story!
Two and a Half Men
Sure the show has a cushy time slot, but it does have a reformed and funny Charlie Sheen, and even more incredible, Duckie! In its first season, the show has provided me with a lot of laughs from all the cast members. The child actor is quite good and has done a great job of, at times, playing the straight "man" to the comedy trio. Of course, the other times he's just a stupid fucking kid, but that's funny too! Sure, this show could suck if not next season, then the season after, but I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Las Vegas
I have to admit I was afraid that this show was going to suck, ad was pleasantly surprised that it didn't. James Caan can still kick ass, and it isn't absurd given his age. The women are all top-notch honnies, and there's plenty of cleavage to go around. It's really getting me excited for Jason's bachelor party in September, and you just can't say that about a lot of shows. For the ladies, it's got that win a date with Tad Hamilton guy, so it's fun for the whole family. Alas, not every episode was a winner, and I don't see this show having a long life span.
CSI: Miami
When you combine the talents of David Caruso, top-notch crime drama, and the babes of Miami, how can you go wrong? But seriously, how can the lady who plays the blond cop get away with wearing pants that at best have a 2-inch inseam? She might as well take those off and walk around in her skivvies! If there were cops like that in DC, I'd be a career criminal, and I'd start by killing my wife (just kidding baby!).
Tuesday
24
I love this show, but since I have Tivo, and have yet to see the last 4 episodes of this season, my comments would be premature at this time.
Wednesday
West Wing
To be honest, I'm not quite sure why I still watch this show. Maybe it's because I live in DC, and I enjoy the politics, or maybe it's because I set up a Tivo season pass years ago and have never taken the time to delete it. Either way, I still watch it, but there's nothing to see here.
Thursday
Like many Americans, this night found me sucking the NBC Must-See-TV teat. Every now and again, I'd sprinkle in some CSI, but usually saved that for the weekend. These shows need no additional reviewing.
Friday
Joan of Arcadia
I'm not ashamed to say that I absolutely loved this show, and that no other show has brought me near to tears on such a regular basis. It is so well written, so well acted, so well though out, so well put together, just so great. It's an original idea, that in this day and age of CSI: Kalamazoo and Law and Order: Special Midget Unit, is so refreshing. If you don't watch this show, please do so over the summer — you will not be disappointed.
My Guilty Pleasures
Dr. Who
Oh how happy I was to learn that Maryland Public TV replayed old episodes of this show every week at midnight on Saturdays, and they play them in order to boot! While I had grown up on Tom Baker as The Dr., it's been great to catch up with the show's origins, and the earlier Dr.'s who are no less inspiring. Sure, the show is often campy with terrible visual effects, but you have to remember the time in which it was made. I love this show, and no one can tell me any different, no matter how many times they try (read: if there is any show that Angie despises, it's this one). [editor's note: I mentioned to Phil that this was one piece of fundamental tv viewing that I'd never experienced. He responded "Yeah, but again, you have to take it for what it is, which is to say pioneering sci-fi tv. Not unlike Star Trek, it can be somewhat silly, if you aren't prepared to look past some of the obvious humans-in-rubber-suits as aliens. However, the storylines and moral dilemmas are in many ways, timeless."]
Highlander
A cult classic, and a show I always meant to watch when it actually aired during the early to mid 90's. Lest you scoff, remember that the original movie had Sean Connery and music composed by Queen — that's a big deal! This show continues the battle where there can be only one, and may it be the highlander, Duncan McLeod (of the clan McLeod, bitches!).
Family Guy
I am happy to report that I am no bandwagon-er, and watched this show all the time when it aired on Fox — that is when I could find it (shakes fist). This show is laugh out loud funny, and has some of the oddest characters in TV history (bold statement? You betcha!). To see it being replayed on the Cartoon Network, to see DVD sales booming, and to hear that they are going to start up the series again makes me feel proud to be an American.
Futurama
When this show aired on TV, I thought it was fairly shitty, but now I'm not so sure. I've only been watching them for the last few weeks, but so far, I've liked what I've seen. Of course, it pales in comparison The Simpsons, the creator's other creation, but that's not a fair comparison to make, because doesn't everything pale in comparison?
I could go on, but this is as self-serving as I care to be right now.
marc's season recap
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