So you say it's Halloween TV time

Yes, it is that time of year again. The time where television shows try to amuse us with Halloween themed episodes and scary antics by our favorite television characters. It happens every year, but do you remember your most fond and cherished Halloween themed episodes, because I sure do. Here are my top ten. Enjoy!

10. "The Middle Earth Paradigm"- The Big Bang Theory

How do you make a group of geeks feel awkward? Invite them to a party. How do you make them feel even more awkward? Make it a Halloween costume party. In everyone else, Halloween is a holiday in which, as said in Mean Girls said, girls dress up as sluts with some sort animals ears, and others wear some sort of generic costume. In Geek world, parties don't have dancing, but they must require costumes, themes for those costumes, and then prizes for the best of those costumes. The show would not be complete without a fight for who gets to be Frodo.

9. "Halloween"- The Office

The Office wouldn't be complete without the dreaded office Halloween party in which everyone feels it is necessary to wear costumes and forget that they are working as adults and not 10 year olds in their 4th grade classroom. While everyone is having fun on Halloween, Michael tries to figure out a way to fire someone, while Pam and Jim attempt to get Dwight a position with another company. The best part of this episode is the interactions amongst the people working. It just reasserts that Halloween should not enter the workplace.

8. "Tricks and Treats"- Freaks and Geeks

Oh to go back to the days when you couldn't figure out if it was cool to go trick-or-treating or go bash mailboxes with your friends. The great dichotomy of everyone episode is comparing the activities of the geeks to the activities of the freaks. Sam goes trick-or-treating with Bill and Neal, while Lindsey decides to go hang out with the "freaks" drive about town causing havoc. Even though the series takes place in 1980, it is the most true to the actual life as a teenager, especially when deciding if you are young enough to still go trick-or-treating which i maintain I am still young enough to do.

7. "Escape from Witch Island"- Dawson's Creek

In an effort to add excitement to a dull school project, Dawson decides to make a documentary, with the help of Joey, Pacey and Jen. The gang head to a small island near Capeside, rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of some 18th century girls, killed after being accused to witchcraft. Joey finds similarities between her own life and that of one of the dead girls. After some exploratory conversations, Jen and Pacey make the decision to become more than just good friends, albeit on a casual basis causing awkwardness and Pacey's slow realization that he is in love with Joey.

6. "The Slutty Pumpkin"- How I Met Your Mother

Ahh, the Slutty Pumpkin episode. Essentially the same as The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, except, the great pumpkin is a girl dressed as a pumpkin who Ted learned studies penguins and combines Kaluha and root beer to make a drink known as the Tootsie Roll because it tastes like an alcoholic Tootsie Roll whom Ted met at a Halloween Party in 2001. Ted waits around every year because he forgot to give his phone number to this girl, thus causing him to go to the same Halloween party every year awaiting the "Slutty Pumpkin".

5. "And then there was Shawn"- Boy Meets World

Talk about nostalgia. When I think of halloween episodes I always think of this. Even though it didn't air as the halloween episode, it is still one of the greats from a tv series that allowed my uneventful friday nights as a young pre-teen bareable. Pretty much the entire episode is mocking typical halloween-type horror films and uses many of the themes in horror films to carry the plot of the episode. Even Jennifer Love Hewitt makes an appearance as the unforgettable Jennifer Love Fefferman.

4. "Haunted"- Dead Like Me

A crazed serial killer strikes on Halloween, and the reapers must pick up all the souls of the victims. The busy workday cuts into George and Mason's trick-or-treating, while back at home, Joy must casole Reggie into the Halloween spirit following a session with a psychologist. Can't give too much away about this episode because it is the series finale, but isn't that perfect. The halloween episode is the final episode of a tv show about reepers...awesome.

3. "Treehouse of Horror V"- The Simpsons

The Simpsons annual Treehouse of Horror is a look forward to even come Halloween season, but the glory days of the Treehouse of Horror came last century, circa 1994. Treehouse of Horror V told three stories: The Shinning, Time and Punishment, and Nightmare Cafeteria. The most well known story from this episode would of course have to be The Shinning. Pretty much the Simpsons become caretakers of Mr Burns mansion, Homer becomes insane (Jack is a dull boy style) because there isn't a television, tries to murder his entire family, but everything is put back to normal once Homer finds a television. Moral of the story: lack of tv watching may lead to murder.

2. "Spookyfish"- South Park

South Park is always known for their holiday episodes, from Timmy's retarded turkey to the Christmas poo, but when you think about great South Park Halloween episodes, yes many come to mind, but everyone remembers Spookyfish. Pretty much the plot was a bunch of beings from an alternate universe (the 'other' South Park) show up in the real South Park (very Doctor Who style) and cause havoc. The "spookyvision" of the episode really did increase the scare-factor of the show, I know Barbra Streisand scares me constantly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSlzrR5iBIA&feature=related
(I couldn't embed this, so go watch it there)

1. "Halloween"- Buffy the Vampire Slayer

My all time favorite Halloween episode has to be Halloween from the second season of Buffy. It is a running joke from the series that Halloween is the safest day of the year for the slayer because Vampires think of Halloween as a day of rest and don't hunt of Halloween, but every other year Buffy had a Halloween themed episode. This episode is great because it questions they what if scenario of what if someone cast a spell on everyone to make them into the costume they are wearing. This would mean small children would turn into witches and goblins, but most importantly, adults would turn into military soldiers (Xander), Damsel in distress (Buffy), and a slutty ghost (Willow).Happy Halloween television watching!

Why must we steal television shows from the UK?

All over the world television stations broadcast American television. From TV shows like Grey's Anatomy to Lost, international broadcast stations pick them up to show to their public. Why, then must the United States steal perfectly good television shows and "Americanize" them? Constantly American broadcast stations from ABC to HBO are buying the rights to every popular television series that has made it in other countries. This obsession with buying the rights to series would make sense if most of the shows that were being bought were non-English speaking broadcasts, but no. The majority of television shows whose rights were bought by American broadcast stations are British.


Why do American broadcast stations buy British television shows? Most of the time many TV execs believe it is because Americans wouldn't be able to relate to the life of a Brit. This concept is absurd. Yes, my life isn't exactly like someone living in Manchester or London, but my life isn't exactly like someone living in Milwaukee or Baton Rouge. If I can't relate to someone who lives a different life than me, then every show that takes place in another city should be changed to fit the lifestyle of someone living in Detroit or Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti, or whatever. American shows aren't "translated" for British audiences, so why do we think that "Americanizing" television is necessary?


Over the years many British television shows have been made into American shows. Some have turned into successful series, like The Office, and others have barely made it past the pilot, such as Coupling. Both of these shows were successful television series in Britain, but American television execs felt it was necessary to steal the premise of the show but put it in an American city with people that don't speak in such confusing accents. Either television execs actually believe that Americans are utterly stupid, or Americans are really utterly stupid. If this was the case, then why has BBC America become so popular over the years. This is why I have come to the conclusion that the reason why American television executives buy the rights to series is because they want to make the series their own, well after the steal the entire premise and first season of the series.


This fall is a prime example of American television stealing British shows. ABC has been promoting their new TV series Life on Mars, little does most of the American audience that has watched the incessant commercials for the new series know that Life on Mars was first a successful British show with the same exact premise. Watching the trailer for the ABC series, the show looks pretty much the same except the show no longer takes place in Manchester, but in New York City (because there aren't enough cop shows set in that city) and the characters are American (well act American, or whatever that means). The main character's name is still Sam Tyler and he still gets hit by a car sending him back to 1973. Right now the television series just finished going through a complete overhaul including a setting change and major cast changes. ABC should have just picked up the British series considering all the problems they are having. I for see this going the way of Coupling after that disastrous remake.


(This is before the overhaul)

Life on Mars is not the only British TV series being remade for American audiences. The Eleventh Hour is also being remade. Starring Patrick Stewart, or as I like to call him, Captain Bicard, The Eleventh Hour is about Professor Ian Hood who helps the government figure out weird science stuff. Well apparently Patrick Stewart isn't good enough for American television anymore, which is why The Eleventh Hour is being remade for American television. It will now star Rufus Sewell (who, I would like to point out, is British) as Dr. Jacob Hood who helps the government figure out weird science stuff (Jacob is a good American name. Ian is just too British). This one actually looks interesting, but the original was so good.



Stealing from British television has occurred for decades. Many of the most popular shows on television had their origin in Britain. To name a few: The Office, Coupling, Queer as Folk, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Blind Date, Three's Company, and its spin-off Three's a Crowd, Sanford and Sons, All in the Family, and numerous reality shows as of recently. There has even been talk of remaking Spaced for American television directed by McG (shoot me now) which is blasphemous in itself. Well it ever end? I am going to say no.

Writing Emmy Nods

This is the one category that actually recognizes the greatness of television series. It doesn't just rely on popular programming such as Grey's Anatomy or Two and a Half Men. It realizes that many shows have great writing, even if they are not watched by mainstream audiences.

Outstanding Writing for Comedy Series:
James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie- Flight of the Conchords (episode: "Yoko")
Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky- The Office ("Dinner Party")
Bryan Fuller- Pushing Daisies (episode- "Pie-lette")
Jack Burditt- 30 Rock (episode- "Rosemary's Baby")
Tina Fey- 30 Rock (episode- "Cooter")


I enjoy 30 Rock and The Office keeps me entertained, but there is not surprise for these nominations. I was happy for Bryan Fuller because he deserves to getting recognition for being a great television screenwriter. The ATAS failed to realize the genius coming from Dead Like Me, so at least they have come to their senses and realized that Pushing Daisies is another great from Bryan Fuller.Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement's hilarious nature and obvious genius writing carried Flight of the Conchords for its entire first season. "Yoko" is a great episode about the Yoko-factor, when Jemaine starts to believe a girl named Coco is attempting to break up the band.

I am holding out for these two nods in September, but the Office and 30 Rock will probably prevail again.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series:
Michael Angeli- Battlestar Galactica (episode: "Six of One")
Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman- Damages (episode: "Get Me A Lawyer")
Matthew Weiner, Robin Veith- Mad Men (episode: "The Wheel")
David Simon, Ed Burns- The Wire (episode: "-30-")


This is finally a category for writing that realized that there are great shows out there that aren't just on network television. First The Wire finally gets recognized in a writing category even though they completely ignored them for Outstanding Drama Series in its last season when it has been one of the best Drama series on television. Also Mad Men continues with its domination in drama categories for this years Emmy nods. First with a nomination for the pilot and another nomination for "The Wheel".

Finally, we have the first writing nomination for Battlestar Galactica. This was one of the things that made me excited about the nominations when they were released. This show has had great writing from the beginning, but ATAS still seems to think that Sci Fi Channel shows should only be nominated in technical categories. Well in your face. This show is good and the writing is amazing. Maybe next year you will realize that the acting is great also.

SNL Digital Short

Eff you British Office, Eff you American Office, Hells yeah Japanese Office

Emmy Nominations are out and I am sort of pissed...but not suprised

well here are the major catagories...I will remark about them at a later date:

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Drama Series:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House MD
Lost
Mad Men

Made for Television Movie:
Bernard and Doris
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
A Raisin in the Sun
Recount

Outstanding Mini-series:
The Andromeda Strain
Cranford
John Adams
Tin Man

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Jon Hamm (Man Men)
Hugh Laurie (House MD)
James Spader (Boston Legal)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
Tiny Fey (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures for Old Christine)
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Glenn Close (Damages)
Sally Field (Brothers and Sisters)
Mariska Hargitay (L&O: SVU)
Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
Kevin Dillon (Entourage)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Rainn Wilson (The Office)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Ted Danson (Damages)
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Zeljko Ivanek (Damages)
William Shatner (Boston Legal)
John Slattery (Mad Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies)
Amy Poehler (SNL)
Jean Smart (Samantha Who?)
Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)
Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Candice Bergen (Boston Legal)
Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters)
Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy)
Dianne West (In Treatment)
Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy)

I left out Reality Shows and Miniseries for now, but I am happy the Tin Man was recognized.

Top Ten Comedies...Thus said Emmy

Ok, I know the Emmy noms came out yesterday and this entry is like...3 weeks late, but I have been busy and I need to complain about the choices that the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences made for their top ten lists for dramas and comedies. To begin this little adventure, we shall start with the much loved and sometimes unexplainable comedies.

Top 10 Finalists for Best Comedy:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
The Office
Pushing Daisies
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty
Weeds

To begin this rant I will start with the one show I never really understood why it has been a success since its induction into the CBS comedy hour (or is it two hours?). Why the hell do people like Two and a Half Men. Ok, I will admit when it first came on I might have let out a yelp seeing my beloved 1980's New Wave cool dude Duckie, but then I was put in my place when I then realized that Duckie had become a chiropractor. What would Andie say?

The show has its moments like other annoying shows such as scenes with Joey in them from friends and that dog on Fraiser. Other than that, the show is annoying, deals with the same issues constantly (that kid doesnt do his homework, Charlie Sheen sleeps with a lot of women, and Jon Cryer has no life). ATAS, get over this Two and a Half Men obsession and recognize good shows like Flight of the Conchords (good job, no really I am quite suprised), 30 Rock (again great decision), and It's Always Sunny in Philadeplia (I will forgive you this year).

There are even better shows in that CBS Monday line up that deserve that position more than Two and a Half Men, like The Big Bang Theory. Gotta love those theoretical physicist nerds. Or even better, How I Met Your Mother. Neil Patrick Harris is great on that show, along with Willow and Nick Andopolis, I mean Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal. Charlie Sheen is not funny, Duckie is a sell out, and that kid (does anyone actually know his name?) I think may be getting fatter as the series continues, which I think think might take away the halfness of his manness (?).
The rest of the shows are ok, I guess. Ugly Betty stills annoys me, but its second season is nothing like its first. I wasn't expecting much though. Gotta love marijuana dealing moms on Weeds. But come on, Family Guy? Are you trying to make a statement that cartoons can be great comedies too? I mean, I don't disagree, but you chose Family Guy. Curb Your Enthusiasm is still on the air? Oh yeah! Entourage is still pulling in audiences with mediocre writing, but I still love to watch the show. Turtle makes me chuckle. Good job with Pushing Daises too. Who doesn't love pie, pie shops, and bringin' back people from the dead?