Come Monday...Almost Human

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of (or commentary about) websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time.  Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.”  This is subject to change, however.  In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while.  For rants promote change, and change can be good—right?  Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

Be assured that I was very pleasantly surprised to find that FOX’s [Almost Human]  was as good as ABC’s Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was [bad].  For the apparent success of far too many [Syfy movies] has infected studio heads all over with the thought that all that is needed for a show like Almost Human to rise to the top of the ratings are a few robots and some other highly advanced technologies prominently on display.

Okay, Almost Human has a few robots (quite a few, actually) and some other highly advanced technologies prominently on display.  In fact, Dorian (played by [Michael Ealy]) is an android with emotions that appear to go far beyond mere programming.

It is Dorian’s emotions that makes Almost Human so fully entertaining to me.  For there are times when Dorian shows more humanity in his actions than his human partner, Det. John Kennex (played by [Karl Urban]).

Dorian also has a delightful sense of humor that often leaves Det. Kennex grimacing after getting stung by one of Dorian’s zingers.  No, Dorian is most definitely not another [Data].

Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay to Almost Human is that it could stand on its own without any of the highly advanced technologies.  For it is actually a cop-buddy show that is driven by the interaction between Det. Kennex and Dorian.  It also has a [genuine babe] and a [scientist], who really needs to get out more, if stuff like that is important to you.

You can go see for yourself at 7 p.m. Central this evening.  I sure hope it is brought back for another season.

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[FishHawk Droppings]

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[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

Come Monday...Does Someone Have To Go?

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about,  websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time.  Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.”  This is subject to change, however.  In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while.  For rants promote change, and change can be good—right?  Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

Alas, it is enough to make me wonder what may be wrong with me.  For the powers that be at the various television networks keep pouring millions into the development of new unreality shows that I keep considering to be absolutely awful—both in premise and production.

The first episode of FOX’s [Does Someone Have To Go?] serves as a prime example of that.  For not only was the deliberation process employed obviously faked, the producers of the show had the audacity to stretch it out over two parts that were not aired consecutively on the same day.  Could it be that they were relying upon a study that determined that watching one hour (40 some minutes, actually) of really bad programming at a time does not cause as much permanent brain damage as watching two consecutive hours of it does?

No, that can’t be right.  For permanent brain damage of the viewing audience would be needed to keep their shows on the air.  After all, who in their right-mind would want to keep watching shows that forego all pretense of reality?

Okay, I suppose I should fill in some blanks for the benefit of those fortunate enough to have not seen the show yet.  For what has me so upset is giving peers the power to determine the employment fate of fellow workers while expecting everything to be better than ever afterward.

No, it most certainly would not be for me, and I do not believe that it would be for most.  Hey, would you be okay with working with someone who had made it quite clear that they do not believe that you should be making as much money as you do—not to mention believing that you do not know what you are doing to the detriment of the entire company?  Come on now, do jurors have to live with those they have judged and are quite likely to seek retribution against them?

Yes, bosses have to work with those under them each and every day, but what makes this system work is that bosses and regular workers are on different levels that were recognized and accepted beforehand.  Whereas, a show like Does Someone Have To Go? turns that on its head, and then leads us to believe that the corporate order of things will automatically reset and run even more smoothly afterward.

Now, if you want to get plumb technical about it, the first episode did not actually involve regular workers.  For it had department heads standing in judgment of one another, but they were all supposedly on the same level, without the power to make any changes in another department.

Whether or not FOX was trying to catch some of the fire from CBS’s [Undercover Boss], I do not know, but they failed miserably.  For Undercover Boss is far more realistic to me.  Although, I find it quite baffling that successful businesses can be run by those who do not have all that much of a clue about how the business is really run.  Yeah, I suppose I really do need to get out more.

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[FishHawk Droppings]

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[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

Come Monday...The Following

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about,  websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time.  Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.”  This is subject to change, however.  In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while.  For rants promote change, and change can be good—right?  Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

[The Following] is a new show on FOX about the battle of wits between an incredibly powerful serial killer and the person who put him in prison.  Since the serial killer is locked up, he needs others to do his bidding.  Hence, The Following.

Oh my, it is indeed a rather twisted web that the producers of this show are weaving.  For not only does Joe Carroll (the serial killer played by [James Purefoy]) want to bring [Edgar Allan Poe’s] literary works to life, he also wants to write a masterpiece based upon true events that would leave even Poe gasping for breath long before the final page was turned.

It is in regards to contributing to Carroll’s new book that his followers do his bidding.  For they look at having their exploits (as directed by Carroll) being recorded in the pages as being a form of immortality that only a chosen few can hope to attain.

[Kevin Bacon] plays Ryan Hardy, who is haunted by the deaths of those he feels he should have been able to save if he had of acted quicker upon his feelings about Carroll being a serial killer while he was on the case as an FBI profiler years before.  Hardy’s guilt finally lead to a complete meltdown that resulted in him being dismissed from the FBI, and he is now working as a bureau consultant in their attempts to stop Carroll’s followers from making their master proud.

No, it is not with the complete support of all in the FBI and the other agencies involved that Hardy finds himself, and I must admit that I do not like that sort of plot twist.  For just going after Carroll and his followers should be enough without having Hardy battling against many who are supposed to be fighting with him—with much of this being done in an unofficial capacity, to boot.  Of course, this element may be one of the most realistic things about the show, but I get more than enough reality from real life already.

[Natalie Zea] plays the Carroll’s ex-wife and Hardy’s ex-lover, and I have some questions about her.  For in the right light, she can appear to be incredibly beautiful, and her acting skills are certainly adequate enough to keep the audience engaged.  Yet, she has been showing up in only a few episodes of several different shows before her character, who could easily be a regular in each one, just leaves the scene (quite literally).  So, is it that she is very hard to work with or what?

Anyway, you can judge for yourself on all counts at 8 p.m. Central on Monday nights, and you can catch up with what you have missed so far [here].  Arlynda and I will be watching, and we are hoping that the rumors about the show not being picked up for a second season prove unfounded.

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[FishHawk Droppings]

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[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]

Come Monday...Gordon Ramsay

“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about,  websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time.  Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.”  This is subject to change, however.  In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while.  For rants promote change, and change can be good—right?  Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

I don’t remember from where I heard it, but a quote from [Gordon Ramsay] has stuck with me.  For it came soon after the American version of his [Hell’s Kitchen] became a smash hit over here, and the quote had him saying something about him desperately wanting to get off of television as soon as possible.

Am I missing something?  Is FOX holding something over his head in order to keep him on prominent display in their primetime lineup?

Prominent display is something of an understatement.  For the ninth season of Hell’s Kitchen just ended on September 19^th, and rebroadcasts of it are already being aired in primetime on Saturday nights.

Saturday (as at least some of you may realize) comes one day after Friday, which is when the American version of his [Kitchen Nightmares] is now in its fifth season.  Just in case you are trying to keep score at home, the fourth season ended in May of this year.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the American version of his [MasterChef].  The second season of that show ended in August of this year, and a third season is scheduled to begin next week.

Okay, I made up the part about the third season of the American MasterChef beginning next week, but are you starting to get the picture?  For one can see a new episode of at least one of Gordon’s shows more weeks than not in a given year, and this is not counting the British versions of each show!

It is said that credit should be given where it is due, and I suppose that should also apply to blame.  Therefore, my wife and I must stand accused.  For it was not for people like us, maybe Gordon could realize his dream of getting off of the air for good.

Did you notice that I did not say anything about him leaving the limelight?  For as they used to say about the British Empire, the sun doesn’t set on his [restaurants], with several of them being [Michelin-Starred].  He also has his own [product lines], of course.

Alas, I am compelled to also mention that he is a Scot.  For a certain element of my audience could be considered unhinged.  I refuse to say anything about him starting out as a promising soccer player, however.

Please Also Visit:

[FishHawk Droppings]

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[The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter]