blessingx

It really hasn't aged so well from the modern comedy perspective, but it pretty much changed everything. From what Wayne said to a real 3D female perspective, to independent minded MTM production company (responsible for many other titles on the list - Bob Newhart, St. Elsewhere, Hill Street Blues, etc.), to the writers power to experiment that flows up modern series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpE7ZiBCyd8 EDIT: Thought of this while walking with the daughter - maybe the most telling importance of the Mary Tyler Moore show is when reviewing Lena Dunham’s Girls (a show which deserves already to be on the list) last year, everyone needed to go back forty years to find a reference (though I never want to forget the importance of Murphy Brown and Roseanne). Nearly every review made the same connection. I think this is the best one. This discord between how vehemently we’re told to believe in ourselves as young girls and how dismissively we’re treated as young women — captured so heartbreakingly in “Girls” — is part of what fuels the shudder brought on by that word, “girl.” As vivid as our culture’s fantasy of this magical juncture between childhood and adulthood might be, it’s hardly a carefree time occupied by effusive pixies, let alone a period to which most of us would happily return. Because one day, we wake up ready — not to wag our fingers in someone’s face (which is just another way of twirling when you get right down to it) but to present our true selves without apology. This is the trajectory that Lena Dunham and her collaborators have set out to portray, with humor and subtlety and realism. You can turn the world on with your smile for only so long before it gets a little dull. Or as Hannah tells her parents, trying to remain calm despite the fact that her extended childhood is suddenly in peril: “I have work, and then I have a dinner thing, and then I am busy, trying to become who I am.” Eventually, we learn to explain, calmly, who we are and what we will and won’t accept. That’s how you make it on your own, as Mary Richards often demonstrated, though her voice sometimes trembled and her hands sometimes shook. That’s the reason that scene of Mary throwing her hat in the air still feels exhilarating, 42 years later. No, that girl didn’t break. But she was never all that fragile to begin with.

Reasons #213 & #214 Josh Whedon is overrated: Buffy the third greatest television drama of all time (over Breaking Bad, etc.) and above The Twilight Zone for greatest sci-fi series. Can anyone justify those positions?

Interesting how it differs from Entertainment Weeklys. The Wire (HBO) The Simpsons (FOX) Seinfeld (NBC) The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) The Sopranos (HBO) All in the Family (CBS) The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) Buffy The Vampire Slayer (The WB/UPN) Mad Men (AMC) Your Show of Shows (NBC) I Love Lucy (CBS) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Twilight Zone (CBS) The Office (UK) (BBC) Cheers (NBC) The Cosby Show (NBC) Roseanne (ABC) Breaking Bad (AMC) Arrested Development (FOX/Netflix) The Honeymooners (CBS) Friends (NBC) My So-Called Life (ABC) Law & Order (NBC) Lost (ABC) Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS/NBC) Prime Suspect (UK) (ITV) Monty Python’s Flying Circus (BBC) The Abbott and Costello Show (Syndicated) The X-Files (FOX) ER (NBC) M*A*S*H (CBS) The Golden Girls (NBC) The Carol Burnett Show (CBS) The Larry Sanders Show (HBO) Hill Street Blues (NBC) Maude (CBS) Columbo (NBC/ABC) The Bob Newhart Show (CBS) The Fugitive (ABC) The Real World (MTV) Twin Peaks (ABC) Taxi (ABC/NBC) St. Elsewhere (NBC) Frasier (NBC) Gilmore Girls (WB/CW) The Rifleman (ABC) The Rockford Files (NBC) Friday Night Lights (NBC) The Muppet Show (CBS) Survivor (CBS) The West Wing (NBC) Soap (ABC) American Idol (FOX) NYPD Blue (ABC) thirtysomething (ABC) 30 Rock (NBC) The Shield (FX) Sex and the City (HBO) Freaks and Geeks (NBC) Deadwood (HBO) Dallas (CBS) Homicide: Life on the Street (NBC) Absolutely Fabulous (BBC) Modern Family (ABC) Doctor Who (BBC) Chappelle’s Show (Comedy Central) The Prisoner (ITV) Family (ABC) Star Trek: The Next Generation (Syndicated) Will & Grace (NBC) Beavis and Butt-Head (MTV) Battlestar Galactica (SyFy) Six Feet Under (HBO) Homeland (SHO) Beverly Hills, 90210 (FOX) Game of Thrones (HBO) Ally McBeal (FOX) Dawson’s Creek (WB) Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) The Office (US) (NBC) In Living Color (FOX) Good Times (CBS) Oz (HBO) Family Ties (NBC) Little House on the Prairie (NBC) 24 (FOX) South Park (Comedy Central) Perry Mason (CBS) Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (various channels) Felicity (WB) Star Trek (NBC) Sanford and Son (NBC) The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (CBS) Project Runway (Bravo/Lifetime) Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) Malcolm in the Middle (FOX) The Comeback (HBO) Bewitched (ABC) Alias (ABC) The Brady Bunch (ABC)

So who ended up being your favorite character(s)? http://blogcritics.org/top-25-characters-from-the-wire/ Considering not a ton of screen time, surprised Snoop has been on my mind as much as she has since seeing. Then again shes been in the news a bunch since the show for arrests. Suppose she's the inverse Omar (including writers going opposite with "How's my hair?").

Bill

I've picked up the 18-55. Only shot a few, but contrary to rumor, believe the focus speed and hunting is worse on the zoom. Will likely keep around, but suspect the 22 is going to be on most of the time. Love the 22.

Do not disagree with any of that Wayne. And Shelly probably the perfect writers unromantic choice for the series main romantic character, no?

20% off the 50% off select Classical SACDs at Elusive.

Greatest Lake Evar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=popi3-_RBPI

You aren't alone (see comments). http://sabotagetimes.com/reportage/top-four-seasons-of-the-wire/ And... The Wire + Oz = Clusterfuck

Season Two really breaks the bubble of a lot of potential 'they' thoughts - age, race, class, locale ("the streets", Baltimore, US, etc.). Suppose the entire series is about scope, but I think season two really keeps the conversation from getting too comfortable on these issues. Haven't seen in a long time and don't want to excuse any pacing problems, but just wanted to state the likely obvious - a pacing change may be appropriate for the "change in scenery."

You're right! http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/15/news/companies/twinkies-size/index.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrxlfvI17oY

^ Ding. Ding.

No. No possible future court evidence that I offered my daughter a Twinkie. On a brighter note, had a Fred's Steak sandwich at Schaub's Meats for lunch today. If anyone is ever at the Stanford Mall and looking for a sandwich, it's damn fine. https://plus.google.com/118186980441558846271/

So far the reviews on Twinkie... Myself: "I don't remember them being this small" (last had at least three decades ago when mouth was likely smaller). Melissa: "I don't know if it's the Twinkie, but I'm feelin' sick." Esmé (eyeing so tiny bite offered): Quick head-shake back and forth. Senses danger. Will not sample. "Bye-bye." Cup Cakes will wait for another battle. Hopefully they'll stay fresh.

Milk and sugar.

Can You Tell the Difference Between Charles Manson's Biography and the Bee Gees'? http://ow.ly/2019Y3

^ Very nice (and lucky).

Paul Thomas Anderson directs Fiona Apple

How is Paulie not loathsome?

This.

Gillian Welch & David Rawling on Austin City Limits

Gettin' Around | Dexter

The 7,000 Streams that Become the Mississippi River

The structure to the series/answer to that question is maybe the most amazing thing of the series. Anyone have a favorite theme version (which hints at the answer)? Hard to beat Waits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR9_wbTrInI Season 1, The Blind Boys of Alabama Season 2, Tom Waits Season 3, The Neville Brothers Season 4, DoMaJe Season 5, Steve Earle