It’s that time of year when the broadcast networks (ABC, Fox, pitiful-ratings-wise-but-decent-creatively NBC, and pitiful-quality-wise-but-explosive-ratings-wise CBS) begin to schedule their shows for the upcoming Fall season, and that means that within a couple weeks we’ll know the fates of all the “bubble” shows that could either get renewed or get put out to pasture. Now…
Category: TV Reviews
TV Review: “30 Rock”‘s Live Episode East Coast Version Vs. West Coast Version
So hopefully people watched 30 Rock’s live episode last Thursday night, but they may not have known that there was an East Coast version and a West Coast version, both of them done live and slightly different from each other. After watching the East Coast version live and the West Coast version On Demand, I…
TV Review: “Eastbound and Down” a TV Comedy that Takes You On a Journey (Plus, “Life’s Too Short”)
I won’t start this review off pretending I don’t have a bias towards HBO’s “Eastbound and Down.” I’m a big Danny McBride fan (if you haven’t seen his debut “The Foot Fist Way” do so). I love the character of Kenny Powers (the most lovably assholish character in TV comedy). And this show comes the…
TV Reviews: Scandal, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, and the Season Finales of Happy Endings/Bent
Another week, more shows trotting out to slaughter…In order of increasing quality… ABC’s Scandal…What Happened: A bunch of bullshit with Kerry Washington as some uber-slick crisis manager in Washington D.C. putting out fires…but also making plenty as she stabs her clients in the back since this is broadcast TV and they have to make everything…
TV Reviews: The Season Premiere of “Game of Thrones,” “BFF,” and “The Killing”
Continuing a busy time for TV (I reviewed no less than ten TV shows last week) comes even more season premiers from the likes of choice HBO dramas (Game of Thrones), cable shows with sinking fan bases (The Killing), and on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, yet another half hour comedy about citified…
TV Reviews: Finales of Alcatraz, The River, Archer, Southland, and Premiere of Bent
It’s that weird time of year when not ALL shows are ending their seasons (that would be in May), but some are ending early while other shows are STILL premiering (like Bent). Without further ado… Alcatraz…What Happened (Spoilers obviously): After a season of wondering what in the hell is behind the warden’s precious door (the…
TV Reviews: Grading the “Luck” Series Finale and “Mad Men” Season Premiere
Today brings Alabama Liberal’s first “All TV day” in which I’ll review two critical behemoths now (Luck’s series finale and Mad Man’s season premiere) and then later on today I’ll be bringing you an entertainment editorial about what TV shows I hope get another season and which ones I hope don’t. Plus, a review of…
TV Reviews: Walking Dead Finale, South Park Premiere, Awake, Missing, and Fashion Star
It’s been a big couple weeks for TV as the mid-season begins in earnest. Several new shows have debuted or returned or even ended, so let’s get to it… The Walking Dead: Last night was the second season finale of this show. Longtime readers know that I think this is the worst show on AMC…
TV Review: HBO’s Game Change (and a small one for “Exporting Raymond”)
I don’t give a damn what anyone says, HBO is THE best network on television, and many times I would take their documentaries/TV movies over what’s in theaters. And if you need further evidence then check out “Game Change,” their TV movie that premiered this Saturday night and was better than anything put into theaters…
TV Review: From “GCB” to “The Walking Dead” to “Justified,” Ranking the Southern Set TV Shows
Last night on ABC, the new show GCB premiered as part of a wave of Southern set TV shows that have come on the scene in the last five years after roughly 150 of being ignored. So I thought it might give “interloping yankees” a nice perspective to be able to rank the Southern set…
TV Review: Five Shows Other Critics Love That I Don’t
It happens. Every once and a while a show comes along that most critics love but I don’t “get.” Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s them, but either way there are always at least five or six shows on TV that other critics think are worth watching but I don’t. This list isn’t going to be…
TV Reviews: Quick Takes on The River, Touch, The Firm, Alcatraz, and Smash
Last week I expressed disappointment with the Fall’s new shows as—-in my opinion—-really none of the best and brightest have fully lived up their potential. Well this week I have no such complaints about the midseason crop as there’s not an outright stinker in the bunch of the ones I will talk about today. Consider…
TV Review: How Are This Fall’s New Shows Doing Quality-Wise?
So here we here are in midseason, and although many of last Fall’s shows didn’t get cancelled because of their decent ratings, I can’t help but think the new crop of youngsters looks more promising (The River, Touch, Awake). After taking a step back, I can honestly say that none of the Fall’s new shows…