Otto Mation \Caroline Freisen\    734321 Thu, 02 Nov 06 06:45 PM I've watched bits of two network TV shows so far this season...I think one is called "My Name is Earl." Or was it "My Name is URL?" I tuned in in time to watch some dude threaten to kill another dude if that dude didn't promise to sleep with the first dude's mother. The threatened dude replied, "All right! I'll sleep with her tonight, but only if you promise to stop with the death threats!" I tuned out. The second show was worse than that and I didn't stay around long enough to catch the name of it. According to the information my remote control pops up when I press "guide," I can get free or pay extra for something like 1,680 digital and/or high definition channels on my TV. So far this season, the best shows are on the "Easy Listening" channel. I'm thinking of paying the fee for TV Polonia (Polish TV), or maybe even MTV Korea so I can watch Seoul Train. What is wrong with this picture...! Caroline Otto Mation \Caroline... Languages, Countries, Asia, Korea

	Jacques E. Bouchard    734350 Thu, 02 Nov 06 08:14 PM "I've watched bits of two network TV shows so far this season...I think one is called "My Name is Earl." ... right! I'll sleep with her tonight, but only if you promise to stop with the death threats!" I tuned out." No, no, no, no... First he slept with his friend's mother while drunk, and was forced to marry her under threat of death tomake her "an honest woman". Then, when he couldn't bring himself to consumate the union, he was threatened once more. See, it's much funnier now that you know the entire story. Me, I just watch to see Jaime Pressly play a trashy Daisy Duke. jaybee Jacques E. Bouchard Friendships, Relationships, Friends

	Eric Garcia    734373 Thu, 02 Nov 06 08:34 PM "I've watched bits of two network TV shows so far this season...I think one is called "My Name is Earl." ... and/or high definition channels on my TV. So far this season, the best shows are on the "Easy Listening" channel." That episode of "Earl" was actually quite funny, as they all generally are, but you've got to know the context/characters/tone for it to make sense... I actually like the fact that 30-minute comedies actually take a little patience now instead of just being setup-setup-punch. In fact, I'd wager that TV now is better than TV has ever been. Any given night, you can find shows that rival and surpass most films: Sunday: THE WIRE (HBO) - best show on TV, hands down Monday: HEROES - as MC points out, great and gaining momentum Tuesday: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (well, probably not for much longer) HOUSE VERONICA MARS (for the younger set) Wednesday: LOST (yes, I still enjoy) 30 ROCKThursday: THE OFFICE - best comedy in YEARS MY NAME IS EARL SCRUBS (so sadly underrated for so, so long) SMALLVILLE (for the superhero set) Friday: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Saturday: Okay, nothing on Saturday. Get out of the house! Dramas are finally learning how to engage on season-long and series-long bases, and comedies are tapping into something more real than they ever were. Of course things could always be better, but I'm damned impressed with the status quo right now. emg Eric Garcia Context

	Anonymous    734565 Sat, 04 Nov 06 04:55 AM I find "Earl" to be the best written comedy on TV right now. If you don't like "Earl," I'll save you some $ and recommend that you not see "Borat." -ADS. Anonymous

	odocoileus    734578 Sat, 04 Nov 06 09:57 AM "My Name Is Earl" is a fave of the critics and industry people. It was, and may still be, a hot show to spec for sitcom writers. It doesn't do well in the ratings, but apparently the 5 or 6 million that do tune in weekly are in desirable demos - young, college educated, etc. It helps, I think, to have been part of the generation who watched Springer every day after they got home from class. odocoileus

	Jacques E. Bouchard    734592 Sat, 04 Nov 06 03:48 PM "Sunday: THE WIRE (HBO) - best show on TV, hands down" AFV for me, because of the cats. Come on, you can never get enough videos of cats falling off furniture. "Monday: HEROES - as MC points out, great and gaining" I'm a fan. In fact, it's because of shows like that that I bought my portable media player. It's perfect for viewing at the gym, where you're actually looking FORWARD to getting on the stationary bike. "Wednesday: 30 ROCK" Surprisingkly, while I find the show too sitcom-y, contrived and superficial, it'll probably outlast "Studio 60" precisely for that reason. Last week's episode, with the page beating Alec Baldwin's character at poker, had great comedic potential, but it petered off. Still, as far as sitcoms go, it's pretty good and I too tune in every week. "Thursday: THE OFFICE - best comedy in YEARS MY NAME IS EARL" I was reticent to "The Office" at first because I thought they had compromised the original premise. But in fact it acquired its own identity and Steve Carell made the character his own, a jerk with redeeming qualities. Heck, it might get exported to the UK and end up eclipsing the original. ;-) BTW, for any fans of Ricky Gervais out there, the second season of "Extras" is playing in the UK (and available through other venues). I found the writing and humour to be even better than the first season (available on DVD), which faltered at times. It's definitely picking up, and I can't wait to see what the third season looks like. Any thoughts from across the pond? jaybee Jacques E. Bouchard

	Jacques E. Bouchard    734594 Sat, 04 Nov 06 04:04 PM "I was reticent to "The Office" at first" "Resistant", dammit. I was reticent to proofread my post. jaybee Jacques E. Bouchard

	Otto Mation \Caroline Freisen\    734638 Sat, 04 Nov 06 06:43 PM "I find "Earl" to be the best written comedy on TV right now. If you don't like "Earl," I'll save you some $ and recommend that you not see "Borat." -ADS." That's a no-brainer! I'm not sure why, but back in the days of Martin and Lewis, I like Jerry Lewis. Never cared much for his solo comedies. Liked Rowen and Martin. Have never seen a full Jim Carey movie and never intend to see one. Unless a vicious burglar breaks in, ties me to a chair and makes me watch one. And that little Italian guy who walked on the backs of seats at the Oscars? Never say one of his movies either. Previews were way too much. Don't know if I have a warped sense of humor, or if it's the rest of the world. But if Stephen Wright made a movie, I'd go see it! Caroline Why don't we call it a "teethbrush?" Otto Mation \Caroline... Languages

	Jacques E. Bouchard    735051 Thu, 09 Nov 06 06:01 PM "I was disappointed with the second series of Extras. I thought it very hit-and-miss, more so than the first series. ... fame and artistic integrity - completely different theme. As a result I found most of the episodes unfocused and aimless." Interesting, I would say the complete opposite. Whereas the first season lacked focus (every episode was the same: Andy gets work as an extra, hopes to get a line, doesn't. The end), I found the second season to finally have an interesting character arc across the whole season: Andy gets his chance, has to compromise himself (even thoguh he's a hack at heart), tries in vain to get critical recognition, and by the last episode he does something he never would have done before: think of people who depend on him (Maggie and the kid) rather than himself (meeting with Robert de Niro). It marked a definite change in the character, and I found the insight to be particularly interesting. The first episode, in particular, had a scene where Andy, who had finally agreed to wear the wig and glasses, just sat there for a few seconds, and you could really understand his turmoil and disappointment, without him saying a word. "I didn't like that they changed Maggie from a naive, innocent, childlike woman to a moron, almost too stupid to function." I completely agree. She went from adorably goofy in the first season, to mentally-challenged in the second. Very annoying. "And I think it was a big mistake giving the the agent character so much time - he's a one-gag character, fine every now and then, but the gag wears thin pdq. Same with the Barry character - thin gag, stretched to breaking." Ditto. I can't understand why Andy hasn't been approached by a herd of agents - his show, as critically reviled as it may be, is a hit. "Nice appearance by DeNiro in the last episode - best performance he's turned in in 10 years. Don't hold your breath on there being a third series - S2 will almost certainly be the last (apart from maybe a Xmas special)." I don't think so - at the very least, I hope not. In any case, Ricky Gervais seems to have momentum, and if not "Extras" then I'm sure he'll do something else. jaybee Jacques E. Bouchard Mistakes, Countries, France, Christmas, Holidays