Decadeworthy - Television of the Decade

Here's my picks for the Best in Television of the Decade. Yes, it was the golden age of television. Where shows were able to further blossom, delve deeper, run archs that created emotionally satisfying stories that took advantage of using the longer format. Or, the opposite, where crime procedurals flourished.

And yes, while it may seem like I watch every show out there, I actually do not. Sadly, I had real jobs to do. So no, I still haven't started The Wire or Battlestar Galactica or Big Love yet, and while I petered out on Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, I never got back into them when they apparently resurged in quality.

So I've limited to picking the shows with their best season in this decade (so thus, The Sopranos S1 was 1999 and thus ineligible, as was S2 of Sex and the City. 1999 was a good year for HBO wasn't it?), and it can't have already been mentioned on my Decadeworthy: Best of Television 1 Season Wonders List.

I also started listing them in order but kept switching the orders for days that I almost went back to alphabetical, but decided to leave the ranking, but you can probably argue a different order especially from 11+ and I could agree. So don't put too much attention to the exact order.

So here's my Decadeworthy List for Television of the Decade:


1. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC) - Season 3 (2008)

Right from the get go, Season 1 grips you into the lives of the residents living in Dillon, TX, but Season 3 is when the emotional culmination comes to full fruition in deeply moving stories that continue on in Season 4 as more characters are giving satisfying sendoffs while new players are rolled in, all with the central core of Tami and Coach Eric Taylor staying strong at its heart.


2. Lost (ABC) - Season 4 (2008)
Best Episode: "Through The Looking Glass" (Ep. 322)

The 3rd Season finale changed the game but also confirmed Lost was in fact, not completely lost, with Season 4 continuing the build on everything since the terrific first season, mixing the mystery and lore with deep looks into Oceanic 815 survivor's lives and their destiny.


3. Coupling (BBC2) - Season 3 (2002)
Best Episode: "Remember This" (Ep. 304)

A British version of Friends with Sex and the City thrown in, the show is cute and builds to comic perfection in Season 2, but Season 3 tops that with some genius devices including the "Split" and "Remember This". I would say 5 of the 7 episodes in the season are perfect and cannot be touched.


4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TheWB/UPN) - Season 5 (2000-2001)
Best Episode: "The Body" (Ep. 516)

Before the decade had begun, the show had already perfected the use of high school/college as allegory for bigger, more devilish themes, with a funny Scooby crew fighting off demons and vampires, but everything seemed to gather to an emotional and urgent climax to fight Gloria, as well as the incredibly moving and non-supernatural death of Buffy's mom.


5. Everwood (TheWB) - Season 4 (2005-2006)
Best Episode: "Foreverwood Parts 1 & 2" (Eps. 421 & 422)

Every season deepened the family drama about a successful surgeon and his two kids that he tries to know better after moving to the small town of Everwood, CO. Everwood managed to balance both a light and fun tone with deeper and more emotionally dark issues, all with characters we learned to love, and managed to cobble together one of the most satisfying finales despite having the show cancelled unceremoniously at the last minute.


6. Pushing Daisies (ABC) - Season 1 (2007)
Best Episode: "Pielette (Ep. 101)

A deliriously delicious romantic murder mystery that sort of defied genres. Part romantic comedy, part crime procedural, part fantasy, part gay wonderland, and all wonderful.


7. Veronica Mars (TheWB) - Season 1 (2004-2005)

A mystery film noir done for the high school set but was not for the high schooler, with the dark cases and witty repartees, Kristen Bell led a terrific cast in a sleuth show that constantly surprised with twists and turns that were both fun and actually puzzling.


8. Gavin & Stacey (BBC3) - Season 1 (2007)
Best Episode: "Episode One" (Ep. 101)

A great romantic comedy television show that wasn't schmaltzy or cliched and pushed forward in a dizzying pace with harsh realities without ever losing the dream romance at its core.


9. Arrested Development (FOX) - Season 1 (2003-2004)

O that zany Bluth family. There's no words to describe the hilarity or to make sense of it all.


10. Gilmore Girls (TheWB) - Season 2 (2001-2002)

Comfort TV at it's finest, and fastest with the witty banter between the close mother and daughter relationship of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, but the power in the Gilmore Girls was that it was really a 3-generations relationship with grandmother Emily. The quirky townsfolk of Stars Hollow just romanticized small town living to its finest.


11. Friends (NBC) - Season 9 (2002-2003)

Some said Friends went downhill in the later seasons, but while it had its up and downs, I thought things started picking up again once Chandler and Monica started having their secret affair post Ross' London wedding, and got back into a great groove near the end when Rachel had her baby, Joey had his crush, and things started to set up for the end in the following year. The comic timing between the tight cast were down to perfection by that point, and the writing got sharper again, using the years of character history to construct new comedy gold.


12. Mad Men (AMC) - Season 1 (2007)
Best Episode: "The Wheel" (Ep. 113)

I haven't seen the latest season yet, but the series is a fun and addictive look at the 60's lifestyle of these Madison Avenue men, but the heart of the show is still its women (Peggy, Betty, Joan). The show slowly draws you into the darker underlying tones that hide under the well tailored suits and flower patterned dresses.


13. Modern Family (ABC) - Season 1 (2009)

Welcome to the new age of the family sitcom!


14. 30 Rock (NBC) - Season 2 (2007-2008)

While the overall story arcs are sometimes left at the wayside for the side-splitting insanity within each episode, but when it's that insanely funny, what's really the problem with that?


15. Glee (FOX) - Season 1 (2009)
Best Episode: "Pilot" (Ep. 101)

Do I need to explain my love for this high school musical with a black humour streak? Just don't stop believin'!


16. Desperate Housewives (ABC) - Season 1 (2004-2005)
Best Episode: "Pilot" (Ep. 101)

At it's best, the show, and especially the pilot, was a great dark satirical soap opera on the suburban lives of these desperate housewives and while it had some hiccups, the five year flashforward reinvigorated the show. Still, the first season, with the 1st mystery arc and the dark humour, worked great together.


17. The Office (NBC) - Season 3 (2006-2007)

For once, I thought the Americanized version of a show actually bettered the original UK version. I know purists will disagree but the original was TOO painful and awkward. Fascinating yes, but painful. The American version really got into its own groove in the second season mixing painfully awkward humour with a more powerful emotional impact by making it easier to relate to the office drones. By season 3, the balance had been perfected and the show really became its own entity.


18. Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - Season 2 (2005-2006)

When it was great, it was melodrama at its best.


19. Alias (ABC) - Season 1 (2001-2002)
Best Episode: "Truth Be Told (Ep. 101)

Things could not be more complicated for Sydney Bristow (a star making turn by Jennifer Garner) and the pilot episode was a wealth of information and twists and turns into her world as a secret spy living as a grad student by day. In comes spy daddy (the terrific Victor Garber) who may or may not be on her side, plus a cast of great characters in her spy world and at home, and it was the beginning of a totally wild and action packed series that eventually fell off the tracks, but boy was it fun while it was still hot.

20. The Amazing Race (CBS) - Season 2 (2002)
Best Episode: "Help Me, I'm American" (Ep. 202)

First season was brand new, but they perfected the race in the 2nd season with a perfect mix of racers including Tara and the Weasel Will, Cute brother and sister team Blake and Paige, the fabulous Danny and Oswald (who actually stopped racing to go shopping in Hong Kong AND still beat the others to the airplane), and the hunky Boston boys. Plus it's where the racers played it boldly, including the first time a team was brave enough to ask strangers for help and when the race still ended in a footrace that ended with teams so close together that it went down to the wire. Exciting and hilarious.

21. Ugly Betty (ABC) - Season 1 (2006-2007)

22. Once and Again (ABC) - Season 2 (2000-2001)

23. Entourage (HBO) - Season 2 (2005)

24. Weeds (Showtime) - Season 1 (2005)

25. Nurse Jackie (Showtime) - Season 1 (2009)

26. So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) - Season 2 (2006)

27. The OC (FOX) - Season 4 (2006-2007)

28. Better Off Ted (ABC) - Season 1 (2009)

29. The United States of Tara (Showtime) - Season 1 (2009)

30. Damages (FX) - Season 1 (2007)

31. Supernatural (TheCW) - Season 1 (2005-2006)

32. Burn Notice (USA) - Season 1 (2007)

33. Angel (TheWB) - Season 4 (2002- 2003)

34. Survivor (CBS) - Season 1

35. Bones (FOX) - Season 4 (2008-2009)

36. American Idol (FOX) - Season 1 (2002)

37. Top Chef (Bravo) - Season 6 (2009)

38. Project Runway (Bravo) - Season 4 (2007-2008)

39. Chuck - Season 1 (2007-2008)

40. Six Feet Under (HBO) - Season 1 (2001)

41. Southland (NBC/TNT) - Season 1 (2009)

42. Scrubs (NBC/ABC) - Season 2 (2002-2003)

43. Ed (NBC) - Season 1 (2000-2001)

44. Gossip Girl (TheCW) - Season 1 (2007-2008)

45. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) - Season 1 (2005)

46. 24 (FOX) - Season 1 (2001)

47. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Season 2 (2008-2009)

48. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Season 2 (2006-2007)

49. Without a Trace (CBS) - Season 1 (2002-2003)

50. Men In Trees (ABC) - Season 1 (2006-2007)


Best Shows I Started Watching But Am Only Finished or Partway Through the First Season So I Didn't Feel I Watched Enough to Properly Place A Ranking For It But They Are So Awesome I Need to Acknowledge Them Somehow:

Breaking Bad (AMC) - Season 1 (2008)

Dexter (Showtime) - Season 1

Fringe (FOX) - Season 1

The Secret Diary of a Call Girl (SHOWTIME/ITV2) - Season 1

Shows I Know Are Good But Have Yet To See and Still on my Pile of Shows to Watch:
Big Love
BattleStar Galactica
The Wire


______________________________________

Decadeworthy - The Best of 2000-2009 Lists:
SYTYCDworthy (w/ Videos) - List Format
Theatre of the Decade
Best Films of the Decade
Favorite Films of the Decade
Television of the Decade
Television of the Decade - 1 Season Wonders

Best of 2009 Lists: Coming soon
Best of Music 2009
Best of Television 2009
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Movies 2009

Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List

Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List

Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List

Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005



Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Slow Development - Extract & Youth In Revolt - Movie Reviews

Extract = B
Written and Directed by Mike Judge
Opens Today (Sep. 4th 2009)

Youth In Revolt = C-
Written by Gustin Nash based on the novel by C.D. Payne, Directed by Miguel Arteta
Opens Oct. 30th 2009 (Review based on an early screening)

I still have friends that have only recently discovered and/or started watching Arrested Development. 8v|

...

One even asked if new ones were being made? And when I told him it was cancelled, he asked why? "It's so good". Seriously, I've just about had it... (maybe if people actually watch the shows when they actually air? The networks get the numbers they want and won't cancel it. Sheesh).

Anyways, since Arrested Development has ended, the brilliant Jessica Walter moved to 90210 where they didn't know what to do with her (or anybody for that matter, more on that later), Portia de Rossi moved to the brilliant but underwatched (ahem, that means WATCH. It's FUNNY AND CLEVER. Maybe it might actually last 2 seasons even if you do!) Better Off Ted which is basically Arrested Development in the office. Meanwhile, George Michael Bluth himself Michael Cera has become a bonafide box office star (thanks to Juno and Superbad), while "dad" Jason Bateman continues to prove his comic prowess on the big screen (also in June) while throwing in some dramatic flair (The Kingdom, State of Play). Who knew Jason Bateman had that much talent back in the Hogan Family days?

Now Jason Bateman stars in the new Mike Judge (Office Space, King of the Hill) working comedy Extract opening this Labour Day weekend, while Michael Cera's next venture, Youth In Revolt opens later this fall (or is supposed to at least).

Extract writer and director Mike Judge has perfected his niche of working class satirical comedies aimed at the middle-class guys who think they are smarter than the average Joe and enjoys looking down and laughing at the others as they sit in their cubicles waiting for the BBQ-beer drinking weekend to begin. And now that the folks at Office Space (which I did like a lot) have gotten older, a little fatter, added a few more wrinkles, and gotten a few promotions to keep them from quitting, is now aiming a new movie at the the trials and tribulations of the employers that used to deal with the heroes of Office Space.

Jason Bateman is the self-made owner of his Vanilla Extract factory, with JK Simmons (Law & Order and every movie out there including Juno, is there anybody who wasn't in that movie?) as his trusty management, Clifton Collins Jr. (Capote) is a trusty worker, Beth Grant (All About Steve) is a chatty worker uh huh!, Mila Kunis (That 70's Show) is the newest temp, Kristen Wiig (SNL, Adventureland) is his sex-depriving wife, Ben Affleck is his chill best friend, and so on and so on. His life isn't exactly bad, but it isn't exactly great either, but things get set in motion to make it worse and worse.

But if Office Space was to rally around us poor plebes out there, here's a story to empathize with the boss, as Bateman's Joel attempts to juggle the numerous characters he calls employees while dealing with his sad upper-middle class suburban life. Oh the pain of a huge mansion. Poor baby. If you're looking for Office Space hilarity, this will be a huge disappointment, much like life has been for Joel, but Judge constructs a film that slowly builds and builds, that while it never really reaches a high as it could/should go, the movie settles for a happy medium that sort of reinforces the message within the movie itself.

At least the cast is game to make it all entertaining, with Bateman playing Bateman playing a more morose version of Bluth. Ben Affleck seems to have a ball in a movie not resting on his loosened shoulders. Kristen Wiig turns what could have been a harpy wife character into a fully dimensional likable person. In fact, there's quite a nice indie small-town drama in this until Judge throws in a plot-turning device in Mila Kunis (below with Collins Jr.) who is a grifter on the hunt for the next con, enlisting the help of nice but naive Clifton Collins Jr. (who turns yet another lovely performance of a simple dim-witted character), probably the most mainstream plot driven device in the movie.

An accident, a seedy lawyer (Gene Simmons in a perfect cameo), a bong, a punch and a gigolo later, the movie attempts to throw in wacky bits in between the drama, but it's the underlying heart that holds the movie together (if not disappointingly unravels it at the same time, removing it from an even darker more twisted place it could have gone to).

Speaking of gigolo, Dustin Millegan (above with Wiig) practically steals the movie (with a cast that includes Wiig, Simmons and Bateman, is saying a LOT) as Brad, a himbo that Joel hires in a madcap scheme. Millegan's performance is both sweet and hilarious in the levels of stupidity and earnestness he combines into the one character, and shows how ill-used he was on 90210 where he was recently written off the show (who along with Walter, are no longer really with the series, and shows just how little the writers and producers on that show know what to do with their talented actors. Maybe Shenae CAN actually act? She did show promise on Degrassi. Too bad she won't get a chance on 90210. Oh well. This movie does prove that being dropped from the show was the best thing to happen to Millegan)


Youth In Revolt, based on the graphic novel by C.D. Payne, puts dear Michael Cera as Nick Twist, the youth in question. Now, Cera revolt you say? How atypical!

Cera plays Cera here, at first, but Cera also gets to play the anti-Cera (FINALLY) which is quite fun to watch. Does it work? Not totally convincingly but at least it's a nice turn around. Unfortunately, the film surrounding him doesn't quite work out to his benefit and Cera's Twist is just as lost in the movie as he is as his character.

Despite an amazing supporting cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Justin Long (I'm Just Not That Into You, The Mac commercials, Ed) , Jean Smart (Samantha Who?, 24, Designing Women), Ray Liotta, Fred Willard, Adhir Kalyan (the brilliant Aliens in America, Nip/Tuck), Ari Graynor (Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist, Fringe) and Zach Galifianakis (Hangover), the movie completely wastes their talents away in a frenetic movie that attempts to show the progression on Nick's revolt on his blue-collared life in a series of "crazy" events. But a series of "crazy" events does not a movie make, and the film feels disjointed and we never end up caring for any of the characters, least of all, the lead Nick Twist, who already had the bonus of Cera filling the shoes giving Twist an automatic likability.

Alas, Youth In Revolt tries too hard to be cool, hip and different, that in the process, becomes predictable and cloying as the next counter-culture movement. Seeing Cera play the anti-Cera is amusing for a few moments, but the whole idea runs out of steam, and the thrown in wacky side characters (Think. Buscemi, Smart, Willard and Liotta are the adults in the movie. It's like they were begging for over-the-top acting. Galifianakis by contrast gives a subdued performance) aren't enough to fill the movie, and instead, are mere distractions to an unfocused movie about an unfocused teenager. Or was that the point?

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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A Better Comedy?

In The Motherhood looks pretty bad but I adore Cheryl Hines (about the only reason I could tolerate Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Megan Mullaly (Will & Grace). It premieres on ABC on Thursday, March 26th at 8pm in Ugly Betty's timeslot and paired with Samantha Who?, but I don't really see it catching on and holding its own against Survivor or Bones. Hopefully it surprises me, since ABC's previous preggers comedy Notes From the Underbelly ended up being far funnier than one could imagine, but I have a feeling Ugly Betty might get its timeslot faster than anticipated.



Better off is Better Off Ted which premieres on ABC on Wednesday, March 18th at 8:30pm.

It's got two things going for it.

1) A new and different place of occupation for a television show (" a research and development department at a morally questionable corporation, Veridian Technologies. No achievement is too far fetched and no invention too unorthodox for Veridian").

2) Portia de Rossi (Arrested Development, Ellen's wife)

It also stars Jay Harrington (Private Practice, US Coupling), Andrea Anders (Joey, The Class) and Jonathan Slavin (hilarious in Andy Richter Controls The Universe).

Plus, this promo actually looks pretty hilarious:



I still think the show title is horrible but the more I'm finding out about this show, the more excited I am about it, and maybe it's because of Portia's participation, but I'm getting a feeling of an Arrested Development in the workplace vibe!

There's also Surviving Suburbia with Cynthia Stevenson and Bob Saget that premieres on ABC in the post Dancing with the Stars slot on Monday, April 6th at 9:30pm. But it sounds like another family show set in suburbia and stars Bob Saget. I mean, I loved Full House. When I was 12. But this new suburban sitcom had better be a biting satire to peak my interest, and from what I've read and the little I've seen so far, it doesn't look promising.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Spring Into The Gap For The Holidays - Yes It's A Chillin' and I'm a' Shillin'

Since those crazy horny Spring Awakening kids are locked out of their Broadway theatre for the stagehand strike and forced to sing on the streets, they've had to find other ways of making money, like selling their souls to Gap. Which is kinda cool. (Speaking of shillin', check out my friend's ad on the upper top right corner or here at Off the Canvas where artists can put up paintings for buyers to purchase at your own specified canvas sizes and what not!)

My sister sent me these pictures (above, and not sure where she got them so don't know who to credit) but if anybody has a better one or the actual image file (or even a page ripped out from Vanity Fair (because it's not in the Canadian edition, I didn't even realise we had a different edition with different ads. WTF?)) please feel free to send it my way. PRETTY PLEASE! Man, I would love to have one of those gigantic posters of the Spring Awakening cast, not that I would know where to put it but whatever... logistics... haha (UPDATE: I found the full poster of the Spring Awakening Gap Ad and posted it here)

Below are pictures part of the campaign (anybody have the pic with whatever bare chested man holding up another girl?) which I'm sure you've all seen by now but its TOO CUTE to pass up, including ones with Will Arnett (Arrested Development) and Amy Poehler, John Krasinski from The Office, Zoe Seldana, Will I Am, Amanda Peet, Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn, and James Marsden and the lovely Amy Adams from Enchanted opening today (which sadly, is the movie I'm most looking forward to, though I can't go today. Stupid no holiday Canada):

Pictures of this holiday seasons Gap ads just in time for your Black Friday and after the jump:

Amanda Peet with baby Frances Pen

Amy Adams

Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn

James Marsden

John Krasinski

Will Arnett and Amy Poehler

Will i am

Zoe Saldana with sisters Cisley and Mariel

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Numero Uno - Juno - Movie Review

Juno
Written by Diablo Cody
Directed by Jason Reitman
Starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney
Go here for free screening tickets in remaining cities.
Opens Dec. 5th in select cities, nationwide soon after.

I've actually had trouble writing this review and it's been in the works for a few days now. Not because the movie is terrible, in fact, it's the opposite. It's such a joy of a movie, I don't want to overpraise it for fear of building too much expectation for what is essentially, a small independent feel good movie. But Juno is REALLY REALLY good but REALLY REALLY good in that quieter indie movie way meaning nothing really happens and yet everything happens. It's whipper snapper smart and continually delightful and while sometimes it might seem like it tries too hard or veers into Hollywood schmaltz territory, it always surprises you with a quick adjusting turn back into indie territory. In fact, it's essentially the perfect example of an indie movie that can still be called a feel good movie without losing any of its credibility (and within the story, without any of the characters losing any credibility within its own writing). It's smart without being erudite, feel-good without being saccharine and fresh and realistic without being dull or slow. Just enough Hollywood to gain a wider audience, but not enough to disappoint the haters.

Juno is an age old story. Teenage girl and boy have sex. Girl gets pregnant. Girl freaks out at the abortion clinic and decides to have the baby. Parents freak out, but become supportive. Girl chooses to give up the baby for adoption and chooses perfect yuppie couple. Everyone is happy. Hollywood happily ever after. But without compromising any of the characters. THAT'S what so different about this movie. From Hollywood movies OR independent movies. No one slits their wrists here. No one takes drugs (although if it were up to Juno's step-mother, she would have preferred it!). It's a realistic tale with a smarter-than-your-average-pregnant-teenager as the pregnant teen who is surrounded by people who suck it up and deal with the situation. And yet no fairy godmother is here to claim all will go perfectly well and live happily ever after. Juno somehow manages to balance that fine line which is why in the end, I gave this movie such a high grade despite the (very few) flaws.

Juno, follows Juno MacGuff, a junior in high school who accidentally gets knocked up by her best friend Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera, again using his shy amiable charms to perfect use, Superbad, Arrested Development) and after an uneasy experience at the abortion clinic, Juno decides to keep the baby and give it up for adoption. First, that means telling her father (J.K. Simmons, showcasing a perfect balance between realistic anger and acceptance) and step-mother (another hilarious turn by Allison Janney, this time the complete role-revesal of her Hairspray role) and second, it means picking out parents to adopt her child, ones that look perfect like Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner).

So let me just get this out of the way first which I should have done earlier:

MICHAEL CERA!!! Lil' GEORGE MICHAEL BLUTH!!!

AND his TV dad JASON BATEMAN!!!????

And my favorite superspy JENNIFER GARNER???

Plus Canadian up and comer Ellen Page???!!!

Plus character actors extraordinaire J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney?!!!

WHAT A CAST! From the moment I heard this was in development I was excited. I mean, I've tried to ignore anything Jennifer Garner has done since Alias since obviously Ben Affleck, Electra and Catch and Release were big mistakes but I knew she had it in her to ACT and turn a balanced performance.

Jason Bateman is allowed to use his acting abilities here instead of mugging for The Ex or Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

So I'm glad these two hot actors are given great material here which just proves that good material can be EVERYTHING to ones performance (and career for that matter).

So here I'll talk about the negative. (Okay, there's two actually, the second one being that there are actually no scenes between Arrested Development's Cera and Bateman) Sometimes Diablo Cody's dialogue is TOO smart and TOO whipper snapper for something set in a typical local looking town, but luckily Ellen Page delivers it all with gusto, snark and heart but there are moments when it seems TOO smart for someone in her situation and in her surroundings. Nevertheless, Ellen Page is superb and is surrounded by a great cast all at their A-games in a movie that always seems to veer into Hollywood cliché territory but stays just crisp enough to be fresh, wonderful and feeling brand new. And again, the ending finally got me, clinching that moment when I switch from "it's a really great movie" in my head to "it's a really great movie" in my heart. Manipulative? Maybe, but deservedly done and handled with extreme care by director Jason Reitman (the enjoyable Thank You For Smoking).

I know people will inevitably compare it to last years indie breakout hit Little Miss Sunshine (if it hasn't already) but since I found that movie to be a well acted retread of every indie movie cliché (that wasn't already redone to death in the overrated The Squid and the Whale), I would actually defend Juno AGAINST that since I thought Juno is WAY better written and directed movie than those previous two. There is no need for a weirdly twisted family to create the drama. This time, it's just an unfortunate situation in a loving family turned upside down and the silver linings that can be found. That's what makes Juno so interesting.

The trailer for Juno is after the jump:



RSVP here for tickets to the free preview screenings in (tons of) cities across North America, but I would actually pay to see it again.

Juno = A or 9.5/10



For My Reviews of the other Best Picture Oscar nominees:

Atonement
No Country For Old Men

More After the Jump...

Fall Casts Shadows

Mae Whitman (Anne, George Michaels invisible girlfriend on Arrested Development) is off Bionic Woman and they are getting thinking of getting rid of the hearing-impaired character altogether? NOOOOOOO...

I was sad to hear Merrin Dungey (Francie/Evil Francie on Alias) bumped off Private Practice since she didn't seem to score well as Addison's best friend (great actress, wrong character), so instead, they will just replace her with another black actress. This is where I would roll my eyes until I heard it was Audra McDonald (above), who is, just, simply, AMAZING on Broadway (currently in 110 in the Shade), and who I was just saying to my friend last week, that she deserves a bigger shot at stardom.

Meanwhile, I may have to work around my CW boycott to watch Reaper since I just simply love Bret Harrison who just finished on The Loop this past weekend. Plus, I hear Aliens in America is hilarious as well and just acquired Scott Patterson (Luke on Gilmore Girls)!!! It'll be interesting to see if he can play anybody other than Luke Danes.

More After the Jump...

Oh To Be Cera-naded

Oh, but quick notes. Iman is hosting Project Runway Canada? How is she Canadian? I guess Linda Evangelista was busy. Still, that's kinda neat! Bowie might be in town!

Scripps National Spelling Bee is on tonight! On ABC at 8pm! On NETWORK TV! I'm so E-X-C-I-T-E-D!

Michael Cera rocks AGAIN. As if he didn't already. (BTW, Episode 2 up at Clark and Michael)

Michael Cera gets fired from Knocked Up
Uploaded by TstarV

Man, I'm already excited about Knocked Up and now the reviews are pouring in and seems like it may be the funniest movie of the year.

So much for being swamped at work. No wonder. Cause I'm blogging all day...

More After the Jump...

Que Cera Cera

I swear I was going to post this last week but I've only had time now to finally watch it and post this, after everyone else has already done so, so now I just seem lame.

But whatever. Michael Cera can never get enough plugs.

Michael Cera and his friend Clark Duke have their own show online called Clark and Michael (and brought to you by CBS. CBS?!?) and it's hilarious and shows that Cera's run on Arrested Development wasn't a fluke and/or taught him well.

Can't wait for that movie he's doing with TV daddy Jason Bateman (plus Jennifer Garner (Alias), Ellen Page (X-Men 3), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Cameron Bright (X-Men 3), Daniel Clark (Degrassi: TNG), JK Simmons (Spider-Man) and Allison Janney (The West Wing), ! What a Cast!).

And can't wait for Superbad which I mentioned before! And it looks Supergood! I know. Same lame joke. I'm on lame streak here. Work with me.

I'm so proud of our Brampton boy!

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Best of TV 2006

So, it's the end of the year and here are my picks for the Best of TV of 2006 (and yes, that includes ALL of 2006). I thought it was a great year, so I had to up my usual top 10 to a top 20, and some good shows that had potential to be on, were sadly cut short (Love Monkey, Smith, The Nine) so never really given the time to grow into a possible great show.

So here is my list, compiled from a mix of what I think had the best quality, was my favorites to watch, the ones I look forward to most, and which entertained, thrilled, made me laugh, and moved me the most. My first three picks have made me cry (whether from laughter or emotional involvement), and to be honest, from 4-8 could all be mixed around in any order, and I would be okay with it, and again from 9-15.

1. Everwood - Like I said back in June, it combined comedic and dramatic heartfelt family drama into one powerful and realistic hour every week in Everwood, Colorado. By year 4, we had grown to love all the warmful joys and irritating realities of the Brown and Abbott's in what is one of, if not the, best family drama's ever. Never boring or panders, never simplistic but always hilarious, and all with a pitch perfect cast.

2. The Office - Hilarity ensues in the Dundler Mifflin Paper Supplies Office with all the absurdities of the daily grind, all while we get emotionally involved in Pam and Jim's relationships and even idiot boss Michael's life. From Dwight to Toby to Oscar, Angela, Stanley, Phyllis, Ryan, Kelly, Kevin, Creed, Meredith and now add in Karen and Andy from the new office and it was a very great year for us voyeurs.


3. Friday Night Lights - More than just about football, it's about life around a high school in small town America. It's about family, friendships, loyalty and growing up, and Friday Night Lights looks at it all in an unflinching manner. Gritty and real, it's almost too painful to watch yet somehow it elicits such joys in the little great moments of life, that it moves me to tears so far in every episode.


4. Grey's Anatomy - Yes, Meredith was annoying at times, Izzie's love for Denny and her decision to cut the cord was idiotic, and Burke and Christina's conspiracy to hide his shaky hand was just plain dumb, but nothing on TV made us want to yell at the TV, scream at the characters, laugh at the lines, and enjoy all the melodrama within the halls of Seattle Grace. In essence, the great smart soap opera that intelligently goes beyond justifying itself as a guilty pleasure so that there no longer has any guilt involved.


5. Veronica Mars - Smart and sassy Veronica Mars lives in the dark and twisted town of Neptune and helps solve cases as a detective, be it in high school or at college. From solving the case of a school bus crash, to a series of rapes at Hearst College, Veronica is our woman for the job!


6. Lost - Infuriating and frustrating, yes, but always fascinating and compelling. Still gives me the shivers in every episode, and we get frustrated because they make us care so much about the Losties as we discover who they really are. The show is a huge cryptic puzzle and while we have no idea if we may ever get an answer, its basically a breakdown of regular people (we think) dealing with an impossible situation. An arthouse drama in serial format, with a bit of mystery thrown in.


7. Arrested Development - The final episode alone should be enough to place this show onto any classic TV shows list, but the story of the Bluth family came to a (sadly early) conclusion but never without gigantic laughs.


8. Weeds - Mary Louise Parker's fierce and funny performance as Nancy Botwin is only matched by her amazing ensemble (Elizabeth Perkins as her ferocious friend Celia, Martin Donovan as the calmly FBI Drug Enforcement Office who marries Nancy, Justin Kirk as her lovable id brother-in-law Andy, Kevin Nealon as the lazy politician Doug, Tonye Patano as the mother of all weed distributor Heylia and Romany Malco as Nancy's new partner Conrad), as we follow Nancy as she opens up her own operation growing weed herself (with partners Conrad, Doug and Andy) and gets herself entangled with the law, or so to speak, all while dealing with two kids and a blackmailing nanny.

9. Ugly Betty - Who would think that at the beginning of the year, we would be watching and loving an ugly Betty on Thursdays at 8pm? A perfect balance of campy gay fashion fun, heartwarming moments and some nice dramatic twists, all with characters that move beyond their initial stereotypes in story arch's that always takes a nice twist of oddity from the normal Hollywood plots (that eventual makeover for Betty? Hilarious!). With quotable comedic lines spat out from every characters mouths, all who have some sort of charm and lovability (in what other show would you fall in love with nasty Marc or Becky, or heck, even Wilhelmina?) and the relationship between Betty and her boss Daniel is special and has stayed away from creepiness. They make no apologies (Justin would not exist in another show, or done poorly at least) and Ugly Betty, the show, and the character are proud of exactly what they are and that is just fantastic!


10. How I Met Your Mother - From Barney's lines to Lily and Marshall's painful breakup and roller coaster relationship to avoiding the usually inevitable boring and tedious relationship when the main characters finally get together (Robin and Ted), this show has grown more and more enjoyable every week. Will the words Slap Bet or Let's Go To the Mall every be the same? Legendary!


11. Heroes - At parts frustrating because some of the clunky dialogue and cheesy moments stall the usually zippy show. Dark (though at times too dark) and light, its popcorn fun at its best with some great characters about regular people discovery their new talents and forced to become heroes (and note, not superheroes) to save the world.

12. Scrubs - Consistently balancing absurd slapstick humour with emotionally human moments, it can always be reliable for saving our heart and soul.

13. The Loop - New college graduate gets a real grown-up person's job at an airline company only to realise the corporate world is even crazier than living with his idiot brother and 2 other young and naive roommates. Fiercely funny particularly at work and Bret Harrison is a great central foil for the zaniness that surrounds him.


14. Project Runway - Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum lead a pack of designers as they fight their way to New York Fashion Week. Bitchy, plotting, sewing, and frocks, the design world comes alive as we watch amateurs try to become professionals all under the insightful but biting eyes of the judges (Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Heidi). Reminds me of my days back in architecture school in the studio. Who knew fashion could be so much fun?


15. Entourage - The boys were back but Ari, up to his usual antics finally pushes Vince and co. to the breaking point as the boys each try to forward their own careers (Turtle as music producer to Saigon, Drama as always to get his own agent, and Vince and Eric making their way through e politics of Hollywood as Vince wants to make a movie for passion while under a deal for Aquaman 2. Not as great as season 2 but boy have we grown to love this overgrown boys bunch.


16. So You Think You Can Dance - So I dismissed this show at first because the first season never really kept my attention, but by the time the auditions were through, we knew we had a very special bunch of dancers this year and I was hooked. Travis, Benji, Heidi, Martha, Donyelle, Allison, Dimitri, Ryan, Natalie and Ivan danced to routines from choreographers Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, Wade Robson and more and gave us some joyous and sexy moments (like the Sexy Back routine, Hide and Seek, Calling You, Sexy Love, Ramalama etc. etc) that thrilled us and made watching these amateurs perfect their talent such a hoot to watch.


17. The New Adventures of Old Christine - Finally a traditional family sitcom that is funny, modern and relevant.


18. Brothers and Sisters - Not perfect yet but the Walker clan is definitely fun to watch amongst all the messiness within the funny family drama, in part due to Everwood's Greg Berlanti addition as showrunner partway through this first season, and one to watch for.


19. My Name is Earl - Always funny and surprisingly heartwarming with some of the best guest appearances around (who knew Roseanne would be such a welcome sight again?). Plus, any show that shows Jaime Pressly as funny as she is as Joy deserves recognition.


20. Bones - A procedural yes, but one that really makes us care about the characters and doesn't just become a case-of-the-week show. Plus its very funny which helps the mood.

Consistently good shows left off the list:

Everybody Hates Chris

The Amazing Race

House

Men in Trees

Help Me Help You

ER

Shows presumed dead or almost dead that have improved vastly in the second half of 2006:

The OC - Seriously, how did this show resurrect itself from practically dead to fabulously wonderful again in its 4th season. Ironically all initiated with the death of a main character. Who would have thunk Taylor Townsend (Autumn Reeser) would be the saviour for the show, even making Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) funny and changing the show from the Seth and Summer show to the Taylor and Ryan show? Bonus points for Melinda Clarke's emotional performance of the damaged Julie Cooper.

Desperate Housewives - What a horrible sophomore slump but as the housewives have done time and time again in their lives, the show is slowly clawing its way back to its first seasons' excellency.

Survivor: Cook Islands - Finally someone smart wins for controlling the game based on a numbers game, after being in the underdogs tribe we rooted for, plus add a double backstabber in Jonathan, a lovelorn kook in Billy and some genuinely smart strategic moves (finally, a hidden immunity idol used properly).

Questionable but entertaining shows nonetheless:

Boston Legal

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Gilmore Girls

Alias

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

30 Rock

Shows I hear/know are great but haven't had the chance to see the whole season this year yet so are left off my list.

Big Love

Rome

Battlestar Galactica

24

Life on Mars

The Wire

Dexter

Here is my Best of TV list from June 2006 for the 2005/2006 TV Season

Here is the list of Best of TV 2005 when Everwood first shot to the top of the list.

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