TV!

[icepixie]

I know one of you people would like to take on the task of addicting me to Gilmore Girls. See, now that I've finished rewatching all the seasons of Northern Exposure that I consider my personal canon, I'm looking for shows with similar qualities. (Yes, Twin Peaks is at the top of my Netflix queue. I don't know why I didn't watch it earlier. And I tried a couple episodes of Men In Trees, which is billed as NX-meets-Sex & the City. Yeah, well, it's way more S&C than NX, and I can't stand that show. Hence being unable to make it through a complete episode of this series without rolling my eyes and changing the channel.) The TV Tropes Wiki, a fascinating site in its own right, cites both GG and NX under the category of "Quirky Town."

My question is, how quirky? And what's the show about, besides, "Single mother in small town; massive UST with some guy named Luke"? (I know nothing about this show beyond what I've gleaned from skimming y'all's posts about it over the years. Well, that and the fact that whoever plays the daughter bears a remarkable resemblance to Sasha Cohen.) I've never been able to get into a show about high school students, so I'm wary of that angle. And I get the impression that this season took the express train to hell. Should I bother if it'll all end badly?

I'm willing to try out a variety of shows in order to find one or two to fill the NX void in my life. I'm already a fan of Wonderfalls and Ballykissangel, and neither Corner Gas nor Ed are on DVD in any way that I can access them, so in absence of those particularly good candidates, I'm looking for suggestions. Broadly, the three things I'm looking for most, singularly or in combination, are:

1.) Quirky characters/quirky town
2.) Magical realism (this can include dream sequences)
3.) Stories obviously written to make English majors happy. Basically, writing that's already excellent, but also with a penchant for metaphor, symbolism, and/or quotation from and allusion to literary/philosophical/mythological works. The ability to play games like "Spot the Jungian Archetype" can only be a plus.
...4.) Okay, the UST and ensuing 'ship doesn't hurt.

...This means I should really give Buffy a fifth try, doesn't it? I don't know what my problem is with that and Angel. I don't actively dislike them; I just can't get into them. Firefly was a near thing as well.

Anyway, if you know of something I should try, let me know. Perhaps Slings and Arrows? I've heard good things about that one...

Book and movie suggestions along these lines are welcome as well!

(Okay, now that I've actually taken steps to make use of my unemployed free time, surely I will get a dozen calls offering employment, my dead-in-the-water freelancing career will take off, and I'll start racking up volunteer hours. This is the rule of the universe.)

Comments

[alto2.livejournal.com]

GG was great until last year, IMO. This year was the final nail in the coffin for me--I watched the first episode, was bored out of my mind by the middle, and haven't turned it on again this year. I would think that the town, which is definitely quirky, and the fact that it's not exclusively focused on teenagers should help get you over that hurdle. And hey, it's on ABC Family every evening (I think--used to be on at 5pmET each night) so there's no financial investment there if you can start somewhere in the vicinity of the beginning.

I really liked it, coming to it late thanks to my crackdealing flist, but yeah, skip the last two years' worth. It's worth bothering for the stuff before then, though, which is clever and fun.

[orangetango.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the last season of GG has gone all to hell, but the first three are entirely worth it and wonderful. It will definitely, definitely, definitely make an English major happy.

The show is really hard to describe. Or maybe because I wrote a really long post describing a book I just read, I am all out of descriptive abilities for the day. But trust me on this one.

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

*points up* What they said!

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

I lost track of GG around season 4, and didn't like it enough when I checked back in to start watching regularly again. But up through season 3 is definitely brilliant. It has some high school situations, but (a) isn't really about that per se, and (b) the school in question is an extremely competitive private prep, so what high school stuff there is doesn't really fall into the "typical" TV high school category.

As far as your list, I can't think of any examples of 2, but you'll get 1, 3 and 4 in truckloads. Especially 3. This is the show whose creator said "Your audience is as smart as you allow them to be," and her show lives up to it.

[icepixie]

I would think that the town, which is definitely quirky, and the fact that it's not exclusively focused on teenagers should help get you over that hurdle.

With any luck, yes.

And hey, it's on ABC Family every evening

Oh, fabulous. It is still airing every weeknight; TV Guide says they're at the beginning of S3 right now. I'll try it some night when I don't have choir, and Netflix the first two seasons if I like it.

*makes note to skip the last two years*

[icepixie]

It will definitely, definitely, definitely make an English major happy.

Ooooh. *is all a-squee*

[icepixie]

Okay! :)

[icepixie]

I lost track of GG around season 4, and didn't like it enough when I checked back in to start watching regularly again.

That seems to be the general consensus about the quality drop-off.

It has some high school situations, but (a) isn't really about that per se, and (b) the school in question is an extremely competitive private prep, so what high school stuff there is doesn't really fall into the "typical" TV high school category.

Excellent. As long as it spends less than 50% of the typical episode in or about school, I think I can deal.

As far as your list, I can't think of any examples of 2, but you'll get 1, 3 and 4 in truckloads. Especially 3. This is the show whose creator said "Your audience is as smart as you allow them to be," and her show lives up to it.

*wiggles happily*

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I'll try it some night when I don't have choir, and Netflix the first two seasons if I like it.

Sounds like a plan! And yeah, definitely ixnay on the last two years. Last year was the Long Draggy Year Where Nothing Happened (where the creator quoted by someone else sorta went back on her own words) and this year just...ick. She and her husband left the show and the folks who took over are on some sort of special crack, or something. I'm not sure if there are four good years or five (I mostly watched on ABC Fam so my sense of time is compressed) but the good years are very good.

[spleeny.livejournal.com]

I will go away from the crowd a bit in terms of one thing: while I think the show dropped off a lot last year, it was also the season that got me back into the show. I really liked the show when it started, but once Buffy moved into its time slot it was no contest. I had to watch Buffy. Then there were other things and real life and while I caught a few episodes here and there during those intervening year, I was hadn't watched it regularly for years three through five. On a whim I gave it another shot early last year and it wasn't as good as it used to be. Rory was annoying. Luke was being mishandled. But the dialogue was still very sharp, the acting was still up to par, the quirkiness was still what I remembered... Basically, I got back into the show in spite of the story because everything else still clicked. Sure, I wanted to strangle some characters here and there, but it made me care enough again to want to strangle them.

This year the characters continue to make annoying decisions, but I don't really want to see them get strangled for those decisions anymore. Except for Logan. I want him dead. But I've largely been happy this season as somebody who loved the show early on and had to come back and get caught up.

But other than that, I'm with everyone else and think that you'll love it.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

The first season of GG is beautiful. I stopped watching for a while, though, because I couldn't find a tv in the quad freshman year (hadn't yet learned of the Mather Wonder way back then). I'd pick it up again, but I haven't heard anything at all good about the last few seasons. I got the impression it devolved into boring, frustrating soap-opera-ness. But I would definitely, definitely recommend the first season, at the very least. Watch GG in a "Choose Your Own Seasonal Canon" sense. As for the teen/school factor, the daughter figures prominently, but her life at school is way down on the list of things they devote screen time to, luckily. And there is snark like you wouldn't believe.

It's such a shame Ed isn't on DVD. I loved loved loved the first season. It was exactly what you're looking for: quirky, bizarre, and full of writing!love. Sigh.

Another try (heh, very tempted to say "stab," but no) at Buffy couldn't hurt. Very high-school centered, yes, but in a "I hate high school, so let's blow it up!" sense. That, and most of their early plots were taking classic high school woes and making them supernatural, to varying degrees of anvilific, and that was fun. The important thing to remember is that you've got to approach the show with very low expectations and a tolerant sense of humor. (And try starting somewhere other than the first season. I recommend the fifth. Backstory isn't too hard to catch up on - the details are insane, but all you need is the gist of it.)

[icepixie]

Basically, I got back into the show in spite of the story because everything else still clicked. Sure, I wanted to strangle some characters here and there, but it made me care enough again to want to strangle them.

Hmmm. Well, if I like it enough to watch the first four seasons, I'll give the latest ones a chance, then.

[spleeny.livejournal.com]

That's all I ask. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the good stuff that is in there just because the writers took stupid pills. :)

[icepixie]

Watch GG in a "Choose Your Own Seasonal Canon" sense.

Aw, it's Doctor Who with a teenager.

As for the teen/school factor, the daughter figures prominently, but her life at school is way down on the list of things they devote screen time to, luckily.

Yaaaaaaay.

It's such a shame Ed isn't on DVD. I loved loved loved the first season. It was exactly what you're looking for: quirky, bizarre, and full of writing!love. Sigh.

I got the impression from reading about it that the creators were basically like, "We totally didn't rip off the setting and part of the plot of NX. We'd...never heard of it before. Yeah. Totally." But yes, I've heard many good things. It needs to be on DVD.

(Oh, and in looking it up on Wikipedia recently, I followed the links from that article to Sabrina Lloyd (who seems to be in everything lately) to "Numb3rs" (it physically pained me to type that), which is Rob Morrow's newish show. The bio linked from there mentioned that he recently had a daughter whom he and his wife named "Tu." SUCH CRUEL PEOPLE.)

The important thing to remember is that you've got to approach the show with very low expectations and a tolerant sense of humor.

I don't think my expectations go low enough for most of the shows you try to push on me...

(And try starting somewhere other than the first season. I recommend the fifth. Backstory isn't too hard to catch up on - the details are insane, but all you need is the gist of it.)

I think I've tried an episode in every season from one to five. They all seem...lackluster.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Aw, it's Doctor Who with a teenager.

So, in other words... it's Doctor Who? : )

I got the impression from reading about it that the creators were basically like, "We totally didn't rip off the setting and part of the plot of NX. We'd...never heard of it before. Yeah. Totally."

It's more vague borrowing than RTD-style blatancy, but yeah, it's similar. Ed's different from Fleischman, though, in that Ed came to Stuckeyville after going a little bit insane and having an early mid-life crisis and really really really wanting to stalk his old high school crush. So, slightly different motivations and outlooks. The supporting cast, though, is very Cicely, as is Stuckeyville in general.

The bio linked from there mentioned that he recently had a daughter whom he and his wife named "Tu." SUCH CRUEL PEOPLE.

I very badly hope that that's a Wikipedia hack, because OW.

I don't think my expectations go low enough for most of the shows you try to push on me...

WOE UNTO YOU.

They all seem...lackluster.

Alas. Maybe you just need to get verrrrrrry bored one day, and mainline half a season. The style takes some getting into, but once you're in, it will eat your brain. That, and Whedon is becoming practically classic literature in the television-culture sense, and not having watched at least a good-sized chunk of Buffy is like never having read Romeo and Juliet. UNCULTURED HEATHEN. ; )

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

Oooh, Slings and Arrows! I'm about to watch it myself, so I'll report to you on it. It's supposed to be fantastic.

I'm something of an anomaly because I've never been able to get into GG--I also have the prejudice against high-school/teenaged-character shows, but what bugged me about GG was that it seemed too self-consciously (and maybe unjustifiably) clever and cute. But people's mileage obviously varies.

Have you seen Dead Like Me? I always think of it as being in the same category as shows like NX and Wonderfalls and Twin Peaks. And it's wonderful.

[icepixie]

So, in other words... it's Doctor Who? : )

DW with an American teenager, then.

It's more vague borrowing than RTD-style blatancy, but yeah, it's similar.

Heh. Seems like a lot of shows in the mid-nineties did that. Ballykissangel, for one, where I can and have already written an essay on the similarities. And I think there was one that was an officially licensed takeoff...set on a tropical island somewhere, maybe? I can't remember anything about it.

Ed's different from Fleischman, though, in that Ed came to Stuckeyville after going a little bit insane and having an early mid-life crisis and really really really wanting to stalk his old high school crush.

Hee. I'd heard that. He sounds...a little creepy, actually. Although when given a choice between vaguely creepy not-quite-stalking and a vaguely icky sometimes-present aura of sleaze, I'm not sure which I'd choose.

The supporting cast, though, is very Cicely, as is Stuckeyville in general.

Wheeee!

I very badly hope that that's a Wikipedia hack, because OW.

I checked on Google. Unless the same person hacked every site ever to mention Rob Morrow, it's not a hack. And that makes me HURT.

I don't think my expectations go low enough for most of the shows you try to push on me...

WOE UNTO YOU.

And yet I seem to watch better TV...

Alas. Maybe you just need to get verrrrrrry bored one day, and mainline half a season.

This may be a solution.

That, and Whedon is becoming practically classic literature in the television-culture sense, and not having watched at least a good-sized chunk of Buffy is like never having read Romeo and Juliet.

You're so right. It's been that way since about 2002, actually; you can't use a multi-fannish resource without at least some background knowledge of Buffy. It's as ubiquitous as Star Trek. Maybe moreso, since Trek fans are sometimes ostracised even in the fan community.

[icepixie]

Oooh, Slings and Arrows! I'm about to watch it myself, so I'll report to you on it. It's supposed to be fantastic.

Oh, do tell, yes. I've heard nothing but good about it. And apparently it's even made die-hard slash fans like a het 'ship, so it must really be something special. ;)

I'm something of an anomaly because I've never been able to get into GG--I also have the prejudice against high-school/teenaged-character shows, but what bugged me about GG was that it seemed too self-consciously (and maybe unjustifiably) clever and cute.

I watched half an episode today before I had to get ready for choir, and I had the same thought. The witty banter between Lorelai and Rory seemed very obviously scripted; no one comes up with rejoinders and sarcasm that quickly. But maybe I just caught an off episode? I loved that same kind of stuff when Maddie and David did it on Moonlighting, so I hold out hope.

Have you seen Dead Like Me?

I saw the first two episodes a couple years ago, not long after Wonderfalls was canceled. I wanted to see it after I'd heard that Bryan Fuller basically created two series with the same-ish premise, figuring one of them had no chance anyway. *g* It didn't really grab me at the time, but I always meant to try a couple more eps. Is there a particular season that's better than the others, or should I just go back to episode three?

[nickless.livejournal.com]

but what bugged me about GG was that it seemed too self-consciously (and maybe unjustifiably) clever and cute.

I know I'm in the minority because I second this opinion. I could never get into GG because the dialogue was *too* quick and witty. Amusing, sure, but it was always so rapid-fire and "oh no, I think of all this instantly and effortlessly! And it's not just me, it's every single person I interact with, every single time we speak!" It always seemed fake. But, that's just my personal opinion.

And, ummm, Alexis Bleidel's head always seemed way too big for her body. Freakishly so. Especially when she wore anything that bared her shoulders. *slinks off*

Becca, I can't think of any positive recs at the moment, but I'll let you know if I do!

[icepixie]

The bio linked from there mentioned that he recently had a daughter whom he and his wife named "Tu." SUCH CRUEL PEOPLE.

I very badly hope that that's a Wikipedia hack, because OW.

And I just realized something: the kid's full name is Tu Simone Ayer Morrow. The "Ayer" is from her mother's maiden name, but my latent Spanish just resurfaced, and...that's Spanish for "yesterday."

THAT POOR, POOR CHILD.

[icepixie]

Amusing, sure, but it was always so rapid-fire and "oh no, I think of all this instantly and effortlessly! And it's not just me, it's every single person I interact with, every single time we speak!" It always seemed fake.

That was the impression I got from the half an episode I managed to catch today before rehearsal. I'll give it a few more episodes; I know that rapid-fire pace of banter can work, because it works perfectly on Moonlighting. I might've just caught a bad ep.

And, ummm, Alexis Bleidel's head always seemed way too big for her body. Freakishly so. Especially when she wore anything that bared her shoulders. *slinks off*

I can see that. She also has a weird, stilted way of talking that bugs.

Becca, I can't think of any positive recs at the moment, but I'll let you know if I do!

'Kay! Thanks! :)

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

Amusing, sure, but it was always so rapid-fire and "oh no, I think of all this instantly and effortlessly! And it's not just me, it's every single person I interact with, every single time we speak!"

Exactly! It just didn't make sense to me. The way I've describe the issue to people is: it's like The West Wing, except in (a liberal's wet dream of) politics, it's at least semi-plausible for so many people to be that articulate. In some random town with ordinary people? Not so much.

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

I'm somewhat relieved to hear you agree with me, because I was afraid I'd get flamed for my minority opinion. :) I can see why people like it; it's just not my thing. And as you say, that kind of banter can work on a lot of shows--I loved the constant banter on M*A*S*H, for example, and I always compare GG to The West Wing... except with a cast of characters that have no reason to be so articulate.

I haven't seen the full run of Dead Like Me, actually, so I can't quite speak to the overall quality arc. But I started from the beginning and went from there, and got hooked maybe midway through the first season. It grows on you slowly.

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

Also: I feel the same way you do about Joss Whedon's shows. Firefly came closest to the mark for me, and I appreciate that all of his shows are good, but somehow I can't get that emotionally engaged.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

DW with an American teenager, then.

Wasn't Ace American? Or did my brain just label her like that because the only other label I have for her is "Ace: The One Who Likes to Blow Stuff Up."?

And I think there was one that was an officially licensed takeoff...set on a tropical island somewhere, maybe?

Lemme guess... "Southern Exposure"? Because, NO.

He sounds...a little creepy, actually. Although when given a choice between vaguely creepy not-quite-stalking and a vaguely icky sometimes-present aura of sleaze, I'm not sure which I'd choose.

Ed is a very sweet sort of creepy. Like... a creepy puppy? Okay, that's not helping at all... But yeah, Ed leans toward pathetically adorable instead of sleazy. In fact, it just occured to me that he's like a more focused (and less successful) Eric, from Wonderfalls...

And yet I seem to watch better TV...

That's debatable...

since Trek fans are sometimes ostracised even in the fan community

Awww.... too dorky even for dorks...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

THAT POOR, POOR CHILD.

Dear Tomorrow Yesterday Tomorrow kid: your life is going to suck. I hope you go by 'Simone.'

[icepixie]

I'm somewhat relieved to hear you agree with me, because I was afraid I'd get flamed for my minority opinion. :)

Awww! You're safe from my flist, promise. We're in a no-flame zone. *g*

I always compare GG to The West Wing... except with a cast of characters that have no reason to be so articulate.

I can deal with characters who shouldn't be so articulate still being that way; by all rights, Chris on NX really shouldn't exist, and yet he does, and I love him, so. But the feeling of the banter was just a little off. It was just that tiny bit too fast and too perfect. It lacked a certain...sincerity, maybe. Too much the writers putting words in a character's mouth rather than the character spouting off independently.

I haven't seen the full run of Dead Like Me, actually, so I can't quite speak to the overall quality arc. But I started from the beginning and went from there, and got hooked maybe midway through the first season. It grows on you slowly.

Hmmm. Okey-dokey, I'll give it another try, then.

[icepixie]

Oh thank god, someone else who doesn't worship at the Altar of Whedon! I was starting to wonder if I was the only one...

[icepixie]

Wasn't Ace American? Or did my brain just label her like that because the only other label I have for her is "Ace: The One Who Likes to Blow Stuff Up."?

No, Ace was British. But Peri was American. I forgot about that. (Most people do try to forget about Peri.) But I think she was also 21 or 22...

Lemme guess... "Southern Exposure"? Because, NO.

I don't think it was anything quite that cheesy.

Ed is a very sweet sort of creepy. Like... a creepy puppy? Okay, that's not helping at all...

*tries to imagine a creepy puppy* *fails*

But yeah, Ed leans toward pathetically adorable instead of sleazy. In fact, it just occured to me that he's like a more focused (and less successful) Eric, from Wonderfalls...

Now that I can see. He did sort of have a creepy puppy vibe towards the beginning,w itht he whole, "I'm numb enough to start something on the rebound" thing.

That's debatable...

No, I don't think it is.

Awww.... too dorky even for dorks...

Pretty much.

[icepixie]

I hope you go by 'Simone.'

Please.

[nickless.livejournal.com]

I know that rapid-fire pace of banter can work, because it works perfectly on Moonlighting.

Yeah - maybe it bugs me more here because it seems to permeate every single interaction, and so many of them involve teens who, let's face it, are on average not the most eloquent people I've ever run across. It just never allowed me to sit back and just enjoy what they were saying - I always get too stuck on the unrealistic pace of the dialog. 'cause dude, that would be like a whole town of Cordes, and I can't see how the universe would *not* implode with that.

Sure, give me a talking blue plant and I'm fine; make the dialog too formulaic and I'm crying "Unrealistic! Fake!" Pffft.

[icepixie]

Yeah - maybe it bugs me more here because it seems to permeate every single interaction, and so many of them involve teens who, let's face it, are on average not the most eloquent people I've ever run across.

Mmmm, yes. And they say it so fast, it's like there's not enough time to inject the proper emotion or tone.

Although in the whole episode I watched today, that style of dialogue fit a lot better on Luke and Lorelai than it did between her and Rory, or Rory and her friends. They seemed to slow it down a bit as they played off each other, or something.

Sure, give me a talking blue plant and I'm fine; make the dialog too formulaic and I'm crying "Unrealistic! Fake!" Pffft.

Heh. Same here.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Oh, hey, random thought, and this seemed like as good a place as any to put it - have you tried Ugly Betty? I can't remember exactly why I tried it in the first place, since, you know, fashion world = ugh, but... it's weirdly good? The tone is a little bipolar: there's Betty's work life, which is absolutely hilarious and snarky and full of fabulous villains, and then... there's Betty's home life, which tends to devolve into sappy grossness. And yet the snark is still worth it. (Also, fast-forward is your friend.) It's on... ABC? Maybe? And if you want to catch up on the first 11 episodes, I can email you... sources...

[icepixie]

Hmmmm. I've heard of Ugly Betty, but it kind of sounds like the antithesis of Things I Would Be Interested In. Maybe if it's on, and I'm by a TV...

Did you ever get around to watching Slings and Arrows? YOU NEED TO SEE IT.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

it kind of sounds like the antithesis of Things I Would Be Interested In

Yeah, I know, I thought exactly the same thing at first. But it's not so much glorifying fashion as it is mocking it, and I'm all about the mocking fashion. It's a bit heavy-handed sometimes, but when it's good, it's GOOD. You should give it a try.

Did you ever get around to watching Slings and Arrows? YOU NEED TO SEE IT.

YOU ARE SUCH A PERSISTENT DEALER. Yeah, I'm in the middle of the second season. Yay! The pilot didn't impress me much, but once Oliver died, everything suddenly got ten times better. Didn't you mention some major shipping!crack in there somewhere, though? Because... I'm not really seeing any. Oh well. I really enjoy the ex-Mountie dude, though.

[icepixie]

Yeah, I know, I thought exactly the same thing at first. But it's not so much glorifying fashion as it is mocking it, and I'm all about the mocking fashion. It's a bit heavy-handed sometimes, but when it's good, it's GOOD. You should give it a try.

Hmmmmm... Next time it's on, then...

YOU ARE SUCH A PERSISTENT DEALER. Yeah, I'm in the middle of the second season.

MWA HA HA HA.

The pilot didn't impress me much, but once Oliver died, everything suddenly got ten times better.

That was my experience as well. Although I haven't made it to the second season yet...got distracted by UST-ing detectives.

Didn't you mention some major shipping!crack in there somewhere, though?

I don't think so... I know I commented to someone that I'd seen a die hard slasher mention that Geoffrey and Ellen had made her like a het ship, but so far, I'm not really seeing it in the show.

I really enjoy the ex-Mountie dude, though.

...I think I may need to look into Due South at some point soon. It sounds kind of crackalicious.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

got distracted by UST-ing detectives.

Meh?

I know I commented to someone that I'd seen a die hard slasher mention that Geoffrey and Ellen had made her like a het ship, but so far, I'm not really seeing it in the show.

Yeah, of all the reasons to be interested in the show, Geoffrey and Ellen just... isn't one of them.

...I think I may need to look into Due South at some point soon. It sounds kind of crackalicious.

I remember really liking it... when it first aired... and I was ten.... still, what vague memories I have of the show are good.

[icepixie]

Meh?

Moonlighting. (In which the main characters are only detectives because it gives them something to do while bantering with each other. Heh.)

Yeah, of all the reasons to be interested in the show, Geoffrey and Ellen just... isn't one of them.

Indeed. I would think Oliver is a big enough reason all by his lonesome.

I remember really liking it... when it first aired... and I was ten.... still, what vague memories I have of the show are good.

People on Teh Intarwebs seem to love it, including most of the fannish folks I've known for several years. Mmmm, Mounties in Chicago-which-is-really-Toronto...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Moonlighting. (In which the main characters are only detectives because it gives them something to do while bantering with each other. Heh.)

oh dear....

Indeed. I would think Oliver is a big enough reason all by his lonesome.

Awww, poor loser ghost. Death was such an improvement for him.

People on Teh Intarwebs seem to love it, including most of the fannish folks I've known for several years. Mmmm, Mounties in Chicago-which-is-really-Toronto...

you know, someday you may actually run out of 90s tv to watch. WHAT THEN???

[icepixie]

oh dear....

Yeah, they make Team Torchwood look like geniuses. I think they only have actual mysteries to solve in maybe half the episodes.

Awww, poor loser ghost. Death was such an improvement for him.

Rather freeing, in a way.

you know, someday you may actually run out of 90s tv to watch. WHAT THEN???

...I'll get Showtime and HBO?

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they make Team Torchwood look like geniuses.

I... find that very hard to believe. Do they fight in BBQ sauce too?

[icepixie]

I... find that very hard to believe. Do they fight in BBQ sauce too?

Well, they did do soap once. No, twice. David was in drag for one of those scenes.

You know, I think this would be explained so much better if you watched the following YouTube clips:
Post Office chase
Retrieving diamonds from a clockface
Mops as light sabers
Tied together by pantyhose in a shower
In a grave
David's excellent surveillance techniques (watch at least to the middle, 'cause Cybill Shepherd's delivery of "You are toejam" is hilarious)
Using a three-story roof as a diving board
Dr. Seuss ripoff
This is the kind of thing they do instead of working cases. It's also why the production costs were so high and they were always late with episodes.

But keep in mind that this won awards as a comedy almost as many times as it did as a drama, so they're expected to look like a live-action Warner Brothers cartoon on occasion...

[icepixie]

Oh, and be warned...the showas produced from 1985-89, and, uh, it shows. Beware the hairspray. And the shouldpads. And the relentless pastels.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Oh. My.

You are made of evil. Absurdly stupid evil.

Still more competent than Torchwood. Better writing, too.

But, oh, how I miss the days when Bruce Willis had hair.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

MAKE THE PINK SUITS STOP.

[icepixie]

Oh. My.

It does provoke that reaction at times, doesn't it?

You are made of evil. Absurdly stupid evil.

By "You are made of evil," are you implying that I have possibly hooked you on another TV show?

Still more competent than Torchwood. Better writing, too.

Yeah, they do at least catch the criminal 99% of the time, even if it's mostly through dumb luck. And it has way, way, WAY better writing. There's one episode that actually makes me cry. For legitimate reasons.

But, oh, how I miss the days when Bruce Willis had hair.

Until I saw this show, I don't think I had ever realized he had hair...

[icepixie]

THEY DON'T.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

By "You are made of evil," are you implying that I have possibly hooked you on another TV show?

NOOOOOOOOO! Well, I'll keep an eye out for it next time I'm renting DVDs, but I think I can resist the evil this time. Good stuff, though.

There's one episode that actually makes me cry. For legitimate reasons.

You know you're a sad, sad person, right?

Until I saw this show, I don't think I had ever realized he had hair...

RIP, Bruce Willis's hair.

[icepixie]

NOOOOOOOOO! Well, I'll keep an eye out for it next time I'm renting DVDs

Mwahahahahaha!

but I think I can resist the evil this time.

You say that now...

Good stuff, though.

One of my favorites.

You know you're a sad, sad person, right?

Type in "Womb with a View" into YouTube's search field. Watch at least the baby shower and hospital clips. Everything in the season prior to this episode was Grade A Awful, and Maddie was pregnant for an interminable amount of time, but this episode is actually done really well. Even if it does have Bruce Willis-as-Baby Hayes wearing footed pajamas and bouncing around in a "womb" made of plastic. And then being taken away by a "special emissary from God" to be ensouled as the new Cosby or Family Ties kid when Maddie has a miscarriage.

..okay, I realize that's probably not selling you on why the episode is good, but I SWEAR, it was all done really well and it's very sad.

RIP, Bruce Willis's hair.

He looks better bald anyway.