• 10Nov 09

  Modern Family and Community and Rating Systems

  So far, out of the new TV shows (and some returning ones) on basic cable, there are only two that have really stood out above the rest for me. Modern Family and Community. I watched Hank and The Middle and found Hank to be bland and insufferable, while The Middle started off strong for me and sort of faded into obscurity. There were plenty of interesting moments in the show, but it started to feel a little bland after just a few episodes for me. And Cougar Town made me laugh maybe once and then feel off my radar. However, Modern Family and Community continue to be the shows I watch the most. And while Modern Family is doing moderately succuessful in its time slot, Community is struggling. I blame it on the NBC Comedy block curse, where any show other than The Office seems doomed to sub-par ratings. However, both shows have large casts with eclectic personalities and both seem to be judged quite harshly on the ratings system of this website.
  

  
  

  I'm not one to judge a show based on the ratings an episode gets on Tv.com, but it's hard for me to decipher what it means when a new episode of Modern Family gets a 6.2 rating while other weaker shows continue to garner much higher ratings. It also got me thinking whether or not these numbers are a true testament to how good an episode really is or if its just the user's personal preference? For me, I have trouble rating anything lower than a 7.5. Shows, to me, have at least some redeeming qualities as long as there's somewhat of a plot to follow and some form of character development. The show Hank was one I've recently rated lower, but for the most part, I'm cursed with lenience.
  

  
  

  That's not to say that there are some shows I despise and think that they deserve a 1 based on my hatred towards it. But there's barely any shows that actually deserve a 1; that actually has such low quality that it deserves to be treated as bottom of the barrel. Even the worst shows have hardcore fans who would be quick to point out the merits of them. Just because a show sucks rating-wise doesn't mean it sucks period, and vice versa.
  

  
  

  That being said, Modern Family is getting some great critical ratings and some decent ratings with viewers as well. I've been hearing great things about it from friends and family, and as for me, I think it's very well done, finding unique ways to avoid doing plotlines that have been done over and over again. It does have its occasional lulls and sometimes veers into cliche-ville, but for the most part, it does a great job.. yet the rating system on Tv.com hardly recognizes this. It's a bit odd, but it's confirmed for me that the rating system is completely based upon personal opinion. Everybody has their own internal rating system hardwired into them, and it allows people to vote based on what they feel fits. As a result, some people may look at what other people voted and be completely confused and frustrated, while others will agree. As I said before, it's all opinion.
  

  
  

  The same goes for Community. Community has a funny cast, some rapid-fire dialogue and the occasional moment where the show is smarter than it lets on. However, being jammed in with Parks and Recreation, The Office and 30 Rock means its path has already been determined: ratings never to rise above 6 million, critics enjoying it for the most part, while two or three seasons later, it's cancelled. I think the show deserves more viewers and ratings than it gets, but remember: that's just me. Other people's idea of what belongs and what doesn't may drastically differ.
  

  
  

  Normally, I wouldn't say anything about this, but looking at the most recent ratings of new episodes for the two shows, I'm a little disappointed. Tv.com clearly doesn't represent whether or not a show will succeed or fail, but it's disconcerting to see how little people think of the show according to its rating system.. But that's just me.. what do you guys think?

  • Posted Nov 10, 2009 3:38 pm PT
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• 23Sep 09

  Who deserved to win? Emmy review.

  Now that the Emmys are over and I had a chance to think about who deserved what, I've come to a final consensus.. and despite what some people may think, there's a lot of shows and people that should've won the awards instead of the ones that actually did.

  First off, I want to say that I agree completely with the 30 Rock winning Best Comedy. There was a number of different choices this year, and I am still one of the believers that The Office is a great comedy with genuine funny moments, regardless of the flac the show has been getting (I mean, come on.. There are some TV shows, whether on the CW, CBS or Fox, that have AWFUL shows that are still on the air, way worse than what The Office is putting out.. it boggles my mind how some people can harbor some much hate for the show). However, 30 Rock is just consistant. One episode after the other, even the ones that are a little weaker. I personally like Flight of the Conchords and The Office more then 30 Rock, but 30 Rock was just quality TV this year.
  

  
  

  Best Drama: Mad Men won, and I kind of can see where this came from, but Breaking Bad should've won this. This show takes each episode and uses it towards building up to the end game. Even as Season 2 came to an end, there's obviously a LOT more story to be told in Walter White's life as a meth dealer. Mad Men has some tense and great moments, but it really is a bland show at times. Breaking Bad seems to be more of a character drama (it really is Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul's show), but this season kept the quality consistant and it should've been recognized for doing so.
  

  
  

  Best Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin again? Seriously? Even Steve Carrel's episode, "Broke" was better than the one they chose for Alec. There's no denying that both actors are superb, but the Emmy should've gone to either Jim Parsons for The Big Bang Theory or Steve Carrel. It wasn't The Office's strongest year, but "Broke" really did a good job of showing the comedic and dramatic sides of Michael Scott. Let's hope that Alec can pass the torch on to a more deserving actor this year.
  

  
  

  Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: I must be one of the few people who thinks Two and a Half Men is an overrated show that is nowhere near one of the best sitcoms of all time. Charlie Sheen was funny for awhile, and Jon Cryer is pretty funny as well, but the show just doesn't feel as funny anymore. This award should've gone to either Neil Patrick Harris or Rainn Wilson. I'm not saying that over the course of the season these two actors were better, but the episodes they submitted were better.
  

  
  

  Best Writing in a Comedy Series/Best Writing in a Drama Series: Seriously?! Is 30 Rock and Mad Men so good that they have to take up 4 of the 5 slots in their respective catagories? They're good, but not so good that other quality shows like Breaking Bad, Damages, The Shield or House shouldn't be recognized. Hopefully there's some more diversity next year.
  

  
  

  Biggest Snub: The Shield. Why oh why was The Shield not recognized for its final year. Actually, on second thought, why wasn't it recognized for the last SIX years? The show has been the best Drama on television since it first aired in 2001/2002, and it's never won anything other than a Best Actor award for Michael Chiklis and a handful of nominations here and there. The way the writers masterfully tied all the loose ends in the show, while leaving some open to interpretation was incredible, and it's a shame the Academy didn't recognize this.

  • Posted Sep 23, 2009 7:49 am PT
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• 31Aug 09

  Dexter Season 4 Premiere (SPOILERS)

  Seeing as I don't have Showtime and probably won't get it for a little while, I decided to check out the leaked season premiere of Dexter Season 4.. and I have to say, I'm surprised at how consistant the quality of this show has been, even after four years. The premiere was incredible, bringing a little bit of everything from previous seasons to the table. It also gives us yet another side of Dexter: the father figure. Seeing him deal with his new son, Harrison, while having to deal with work, court and urges to murder criminals is interesting. I think the spoof on the theme song early in the episode sums up his feelings about fatherhood.
  
  
  

  Glad to see Anton is still around.. He's not a huge character, but it's good to see them continuing the storyline from last season. I'm also intrigued at what will happen once Deb finds out that Dexter may be related to The Ice Truck Killer. This gives Deb something to do other than swear and whine.
  

  
  

  John Lithgow's first appearence in Dexter was a chilling one. Not only does he pull off being a serial killer well, but he certainly has the acting chops to pull off an Emmy nomination next year (Yes, based off his two scenes, I can see it happening.. if Jimmy Smits, who did excellent this year, can get a nomination, so can Lithgow.) Lithgow's re-emergence as the Trinity Killer leads to Lundy (Keith Carradine) returning to track him down. Lundy's appearence will also make for some great tension between him and Dexter, as well as him and Deb (as the final scene with him seems to indicate).
  

  
  

  The episode was great, probably the best premiere the show has had, and as for the ending.. well, you'll have to see it yourself. Explaining it isn't enough. Let's just say it'll be interesting to see how Dexter will evade getting caught this time.

  • Posted Aug 31, 2009 2:40 pm PT
  • Category: TV
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