When Celebrity Rehab premiered on VH1 a year ago it seemed like another way for allegedly famous people to milk the last few seconds out of their fifteen minutes. Even with Dr. Drew Pinsky, a respected addiction medicine specialist, attached, the taint of exploitation still lingered. But after one episode, it was clear that this was no ordinary reality show.
True, the "cast" is made up of people who have been well-versed in how to play to the camera, people who know how to squeeze every ounce of drama from a situation (Jeff Conaway anyone?). And while some of what goes on does come off as a bit manufactured, what sets this show apart is the fact that we're watching these people determine exactly how much longer they want to stay alive. There are many instances where the celebrities relate to each other as if there are no cameras present, when the veneer fades away and we see who they truly are as human beings.
Taking this vulnerability one step further is VH1's spinoff Sober House, where the fresh-out-of-rehab celebs reside together as they attempt to stay clean and go about the business of living regular lives. Naturally, some are more successful than others. Rodney King, he of the infamous 1991 police beating, appears particulary dedicated to his sobriety. But Seth "Shifty" Binzer from the band Crazy Town has relapsed before (he was in both seasons of Celebrity Rehab prior to moving into Sober House) and seems a likely candidate to go down that road again, having already broken one of the house rules by missing curfew just a few days in. And then there are those (model Amber Smith, singer Nikki McKibbin, porn star Mary Carey) who think it's a great idea to go to a night club. Temptation abounds, and what these people don't seem to understand is that their brains are hard-wired to give in without a second thought.
The saddest sight, though, is to watch as former Guns n' Roses drummer Steven Adler stumbles around the house in an addict's full-blown glory. Adler smuggled in heroin and used a blackout as a chance to dip into his stash. On top of his usual slurred speech—the result of a stroke—it's scary to see Adler's drug-induced tics; he's entirely discombobulated and even has to ask the cameraman where his own bedroom is. More than any horror movie, this is the kind of thing that you watch with your hand over your eyes, peering through your fingers in amazement that this actually happened. And for those for whom this is a daily reality, maybe watching these celebs struggle—and hopefully, eventually succeed—will be the push they need to get help themselves.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lost: When Are They Now?
As if Lost wasn't complicated enough, now time travel has been added to the mix. And not the kind of time travel we're accustomed to, the flashbacks and flashforwards that are the show's signature. No, now it's not just the audience that's jumping from one time to another, the characters are, too.
All in all, though, last night's premiere was a rather uneventful affair. Playing like Lost's version of an Ocean's movie, the two-hour episode was more setup than payoff as Ben (Michael Emerson, creepy as usual) and Jack (Matthew Fox) attempted to corral the rescued castaways and get them to go back to the island. Meanwhile, on said island, those left behind were being sent back and forth in time, an aftereffect of Ben's turning the donkeywheel at the end of last season. This device, with the survivors never quite knowing when they've ended up, grew a bit frustrating and could be problematic if it continues for too long.
Lost always has much higher standards to live up to than most series, so a down week is especially noticeable. But with an ending now in sight (the show will conclude in 2010), I'll trust that the show's guiding forces, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, know what they're doing. They've done little to indicate otherwise up until now.
All in all, though, last night's premiere was a rather uneventful affair. Playing like Lost's version of an Ocean's movie, the two-hour episode was more setup than payoff as Ben (Michael Emerson, creepy as usual) and Jack (Matthew Fox) attempted to corral the rescued castaways and get them to go back to the island. Meanwhile, on said island, those left behind were being sent back and forth in time, an aftereffect of Ben's turning the donkeywheel at the end of last season. This device, with the survivors never quite knowing when they've ended up, grew a bit frustrating and could be problematic if it continues for too long.
Lost always has much higher standards to live up to than most series, so a down week is especially noticeable. But with an ending now in sight (the show will conclude in 2010), I'll trust that the show's guiding forces, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, know what they're doing. They've done little to indicate otherwise up until now.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
24: An Average Day
There was nothing glaringly wrong with 24’s two-night, four-hour season premiere, but there was nothing overly exciting about it, either. After nearly a two-year layoff, anticipation for the show was high, perhaps too high for it to end up being truly satisfying. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to overcome is that the novelty of 24’s storytelling conceit has worn off as we head into Day 7. It’s not that it doesn’t still work. It’s more that sometimes you get the feeling that the story isn’t always served by the limitations of the format. (When was the last time a terrorist threat was averted in less than a day?)
Kiefer Sutherland is effective as always as Jack Bauer, now working with his ex-CTU boss Bill Buchanan (James Morrison), Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub, who is being given a run for her money by Janeane Garofalo as an FBI tech expert) and formerly dead colleague/friend Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) in a rogue undercover operation to bring down the man responsible for genocide in the fictional country of Sangala. My suspension of disbelief has been stretched by 24 many times in the past, but Tony turning up alive with some cockamamie explanation about being injected with a hypothermic solution might be too much even by this show’s standards. Don’t get me wrong: it’s great to have Bernard back in action; I just wish the circumstances seemed a bit more organic. After all this time, I think we—and Jack—deserve better. I'm not ready to give up on 24 just yet, but the time might be drawing close for the clock to be unplugged.
Kiefer Sutherland is effective as always as Jack Bauer, now working with his ex-CTU boss Bill Buchanan (James Morrison), Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub, who is being given a run for her money by Janeane Garofalo as an FBI tech expert) and formerly dead colleague/friend Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) in a rogue undercover operation to bring down the man responsible for genocide in the fictional country of Sangala. My suspension of disbelief has been stretched by 24 many times in the past, but Tony turning up alive with some cockamamie explanation about being injected with a hypothermic solution might be too much even by this show’s standards. Don’t get me wrong: it’s great to have Bernard back in action; I just wish the circumstances seemed a bit more organic. After all this time, I think we—and Jack—deserve better. I'm not ready to give up on 24 just yet, but the time might be drawing close for the clock to be unplugged.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
9 to Watch in '09
Happy New Year! As year-end-list mania sweeps the nation, I've decided to take on a list of my own, this one in honor of what you should look out for in the world of TV in 2009. Last year's writers' strike put a serious crimp on the medium and it has yet to recover. But there are signs of life among the wreckage, and the new year brings the promise of better shows on the horizon.
1. Cupid (ABC, premieres March 24): This retelling of the 1998 dramedy has Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson taking over the lead roles originated by Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall. Cancelled too soon, ABC has decided to give the show, about a man who thinks he's Cupid and the psychiatrist he's been assigned to, another chance. Here's hoping they can match the whimsy and cleverness of the original.
2. 24 (Fox, 2-night season premiere January 11-12): I was torn with whether to include Lost or 24 on this list. I decided on the latter because it's been absent from the airwaves for almost two years and had a bit of a creative downturn in its last season (I don't judge it as harshly as other critics have, but I'll admit it wasn't the greatest). Lost doesn't need the extra attention, but 24 could stand to get back in viewers' good graces. With ample time to fix any plot problems—in the writers' defense, you try coming up with a story that plays out nonstop over an entire day and see if a few hours don't come together absolutely perfectly—this season could be poised to deliver its best day yet.
3. Trust Me (TNT, premieres January 26): Comparisons to Mad Men will be inevitable, but it's hard to argue with a show that casts Tom Cavanagh (Ed) and Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) as the leads. The ad agency setting is less than novel at this point, and TNT's creative track record has been less than desirable in my opinion, but the benefit of the doubt must be given.
4. Reaper (The CW, returns March 17): This show, about a young man whose parents sold his soul to the devil, was on a roll at the end of last season. The late premiere and limited episode order may show a lack of support on the network's part, but don't let that stop you from discovering what ended up being a minor comedy-horror gem.
5. Damages (FX, returns January 7): Glenn Close is back as morally vacant lawyer Patty Hewes. Need I say more?
6. Lie to Me (Fox, premieres January 21): I'm not much for crime dramas and their case-of-the-week structure, but Tim Roth as a man who helps the police by reading people's faces, bodies, and voices to determine if they're lying is definitely worth checking out. The American Idol lead-in should help make this one of the new year's biggest hits (or bombs, if viewers defect en masse).
7. Wonderland (DirecTV's 101 Network, premieres January 14): Another ABC show that was cancelled too soon--after a mere two episodes--gets a chance to unspool its entire eight-episode run courtesy of DirecTV. Set in a psychiatric ward, this drama from the producers of Friday Night Lights is about as intense and enthralling as TV drama gets.
8. Harper's Island (CBS, premieres April 9): Like a modern-day Agatha Christie novel brought to TV, this mystery series starts off with a murder at a destination wedding. A new guest is killed each week as the list of possible suspects gets shorter and shorter. Should make for a nice change-of-pace as the season starts to wind down.
9. Dollhouse (Fox, premieres February 13): It's gone through some retooling, but who are we to question the genius that is Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly? Buffy alum Eliza Dushku is a member of an underground organization who has her memory and experiences wiped clean after each mission. The Friday time slot won't help the show's cause; Fox will have to be patient if it truly wants to see this one succeed.
So there you have it. Nine shows to watch for in the new year. Only time will tell whether or not they all turn out to be winners. But, hey, they can't possibly be any worse than most of what we've been fed so far this season, right? Right?
1. Cupid (ABC, premieres March 24): This retelling of the 1998 dramedy has Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson taking over the lead roles originated by Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall. Cancelled too soon, ABC has decided to give the show, about a man who thinks he's Cupid and the psychiatrist he's been assigned to, another chance. Here's hoping they can match the whimsy and cleverness of the original.
2. 24 (Fox, 2-night season premiere January 11-12): I was torn with whether to include Lost or 24 on this list. I decided on the latter because it's been absent from the airwaves for almost two years and had a bit of a creative downturn in its last season (I don't judge it as harshly as other critics have, but I'll admit it wasn't the greatest). Lost doesn't need the extra attention, but 24 could stand to get back in viewers' good graces. With ample time to fix any plot problems—in the writers' defense, you try coming up with a story that plays out nonstop over an entire day and see if a few hours don't come together absolutely perfectly—this season could be poised to deliver its best day yet.
3. Trust Me (TNT, premieres January 26): Comparisons to Mad Men will be inevitable, but it's hard to argue with a show that casts Tom Cavanagh (Ed) and Eric McCormack (Will & Grace) as the leads. The ad agency setting is less than novel at this point, and TNT's creative track record has been less than desirable in my opinion, but the benefit of the doubt must be given.
4. Reaper (The CW, returns March 17): This show, about a young man whose parents sold his soul to the devil, was on a roll at the end of last season. The late premiere and limited episode order may show a lack of support on the network's part, but don't let that stop you from discovering what ended up being a minor comedy-horror gem.
5. Damages (FX, returns January 7): Glenn Close is back as morally vacant lawyer Patty Hewes. Need I say more?
6. Lie to Me (Fox, premieres January 21): I'm not much for crime dramas and their case-of-the-week structure, but Tim Roth as a man who helps the police by reading people's faces, bodies, and voices to determine if they're lying is definitely worth checking out. The American Idol lead-in should help make this one of the new year's biggest hits (or bombs, if viewers defect en masse).
7. Wonderland (DirecTV's 101 Network, premieres January 14): Another ABC show that was cancelled too soon--after a mere two episodes--gets a chance to unspool its entire eight-episode run courtesy of DirecTV. Set in a psychiatric ward, this drama from the producers of Friday Night Lights is about as intense and enthralling as TV drama gets.
8. Harper's Island (CBS, premieres April 9): Like a modern-day Agatha Christie novel brought to TV, this mystery series starts off with a murder at a destination wedding. A new guest is killed each week as the list of possible suspects gets shorter and shorter. Should make for a nice change-of-pace as the season starts to wind down.
9. Dollhouse (Fox, premieres February 13): It's gone through some retooling, but who are we to question the genius that is Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly? Buffy alum Eliza Dushku is a member of an underground organization who has her memory and experiences wiped clean after each mission. The Friday time slot won't help the show's cause; Fox will have to be patient if it truly wants to see this one succeed.
So there you have it. Nine shows to watch for in the new year. Only time will tell whether or not they all turn out to be winners. But, hey, they can't possibly be any worse than most of what we've been fed so far this season, right? Right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)