TV Rants And Raves 2.8.12: Super Bowl!

Posted by Ben Piper on 02.08.2012

Thoughts on the consistent rise in the quality of JJ Abram's Person of Interest, The Finder finding its way, the best and worst of the year's Super Bowl commercials, rants and raves about NBC's new series Smash and more!


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TV Rants and Raves



Only Getting Better: I've spoken previously of how much I enjoy CBS' Person Of Interest and while I don't wish to beat a dead horse, the fact remains that it it's only getter consistently better.

A big part of this is the fact that NYPD detective Carter (Taraji P. Henson) whom had been hunting Reese since the first season premiere, has now been brought in to be a part of the team. This started with Reese saving her beans when a hit had been taken out on her. She thanked him by quickly turning around and selling him out to the feds who wanted him back under their control. When he was shot as a result, she discovered that Finch was in on it too (whom she interacted with in a previous episode) and she allowed them to escape. In the next episode she was given a taste of what they do when she was given the chance to save a life, without any explanation of how they knew it was going to go down, just that it was, which she did. As a result, she's now on board.

Also a nice touch is the fact that the detective she's partnered with, Lionel Fusco, is also a part of the team and neither of them know that about the other. "Safer for them both" that way, Reese explains.

The latest episode concerned Finch and Reese attempting to foil an assassination plot against a senator, only to fail. But once it was discovered that the Person Of Interest was not in fact the assassin, but a framed patsy, the rest of the episode they worked to exonerate him and get him back to his family safely. Not only did they enlist Carter to help out greatly, Finch also called upon Paige Turco's "Fixer" character from earlier in the season.

What I like about that call-back is the fact that they are slowly building a mythology of sorts in what is primarily seen as a procedural. Finch and Reese have proven to the "fixer" character that they were her allies, and in this episode she paid them back. And when you also have a judge that owes you a solid (as demonstrated in an earlier episode) it's cool that they're keeping avenues open such as that.

And then that also works the opposite; Enrico Colantoni has shown up as a mysterious mob boss, and while I at first thought he would wind up being a recurring big bad for the rest of this season, this latest episode introduced yet another potential. A female uber-hacker known only as "Root" who was pulling all the strings behind the assassination as well as the ensuing cover-up. And considering how she now seemingly knows who Finch is? I can't wait to see how they play it out. Will those two villainous storylines converge and/or be tied up by the end of this first season? Or will they play out even further beyond?

Intriguing and entertaining show. Bring more on.



Ditto: Yeah, I know, I know I only wrote about Fox's new show the Finder just a few weeks ago. But back then I commented, and I quote: "While I found this first episode pretty enjoyable as it reintroduced us into the characters and situations, again it's pretty lightweight. While I do think that it is a very good companion series to the show that it's spun-off of, (Both are overseen by showrunner Hart Hanson) it has yet to really grow on me in any way. Understandable, considering it's only been one episode. But when one considers that there is more than one show of this ilk currently on the airwaves (Bones, The Mentalist, Psych, etc.) it's got a ways to go before it truly impresses me. So, thumbs up from me thus far. But again, we shall wait and see long-term.

I would now like to go on the record and amend that first knee-jerk reaction. This is a really fun show that I find myself liking more and more as time goes on. A big reason for that is firmly due to the witty character-driven writing in any given scene. I previously spoke of how I liked the main actors and the chemistry that they have with one another which seems to come not only easily but quite naturally as well, and now I know why.

Whoever is writing this knows what the hell they are doing.

Hear me out on this one. I like to think I know the difference between good writing and bad. And one of the things that differentiates the two in terms of TV is how it handles the dialogue and what is discussed in any given conversation. Is it just exposition to further the plot along, or is it doing something more beneath the surface? In terms of The Finder, it's doing both fantastically. And it's small stuff such as that that continually is peppered throughout that not only inform the characters while entertaining the audience.

While I said the first episode didn't really impress me? All that followed has. I'm starting to fall in love with this one. When you've got game actors backed by solid writers? That's how you build a foundation. And they've got a solid one going here.



Not Too Shabby: Executive produced by none other than Spielberg himself, NBC is hoping its new musical show Smash can garner some affection from the same demographic that makes Glee so popular with the masses. While I will freely admit that this isn't he kind of show that I'm into, seeing as the premiere was available online, I figured I'd check it out for myself and make my own judgments.

The premise is rather simple. A successful team of Broadway song writers (half of the equation is played by Emmy winner Debra Messing) stumble upon inspiration when they were least hoping for it, and decide to begin writing songs of a Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. And from there it basically takes on a life of its own as a prominent producer (Oscar winner Angelica Huston) quickly shows interest and quickly brings on board a talented director whom Messing's writing partner has issues with due to past experience. And from there, the birth of a Broadway play begins.

Meanwhile, a green struggling actress looking for her big break (American Idol cast-off Katherine McPhee) as well as a veteran chorus line girl (Broadway vet Megan Hilty) both hope to land the lead role of the title character, which would assuredly change either of their lives forever.

Very well acted, and with good songs adding to its benefit, Smash is being set up to be a musical soap opera set to be a behind the scenes look at the underpinnings of The Great White Way.

Yeah, SO not my cup of tea, personally. The initial set-up is quite good, you've got fantastic performances all across the board, and the musical bits are well done. If you're a fan of Glee there's a good chance you may very well like this as well, speaking in terms of generalities. Because really, it's a case of apples and oranges.

Because NBC is hoping Smash will tap into the Glee mania that is how it is being marketed. But while one is set in a high school, the other is out in the real cutthroat world of the modern entertainment industry, which marks a decided shift (if only slight thus far) in tone.

Good first episode. There's nothing to find that I can complain about on this end. Well, outside of the fact that this show is clearly not intended for me, personally. I have no doubts that the show will prove to be quite good in its own right moving forward as all the pieces are in place. But this is an instance of a show being good enough to warrant further viewing based on this first episode, whilst I invoke the tried and true "it's not you, it's me" clause for the quick and inevitable break-up.



Super Bowl!: Yup, that's right, the national holiday that isn't really came and went this past Sunday. Food and drink was consumed in quantity, fans stood back and watched as the Giants and Patriots slugged it out for sixty minutes and in the end, Eli Manning once again had Tom Brady's number. (*Snicker*)

As a football fan without a dog in the fight, all you can really hope for is to watch a competitive game rather than a one-sided blowout that is never in question. And thankfully we got that. Both teams showed up to play and each had their chances to win down the stretch. Because seriously, if Wes Welker had managed to make that fourth quarter grab in the Giant's red zone with time running out, we may very well have been served and entirely different outcome.

But being that I'm avowed Patriots hater, the fact that Eli was able to step up and serve them a second helping of humble pie on the biggest stage of all in the past four years? Not one of the greatest Super Bowls ever (The first matchup felt much more intense with the Pats staring down the barrel of perfection) but definitely one of the better ones.

Now, keep in mind that as an avid TV viewer, I tend to use my DVR to my full advantage to be able to fast forward past the clutter of commercials in any given program I watch. But with this being the Super Bowl? The commercials are half the fun! So there was a few times that I started to hit the fast forward button just out of habit before I was able to stop myself.

So yes, in order to fill column space here are my favorite and least favorite Super Bowl ads from this weekend's game.

This first one reminded me of the fact that, yeah it's the Super Bowl. Can't fast forward past anything. Plus, gotta love Rocky.



Love the build to this one…



Sure it might be a bit crass, but it made me laugh…



I really loved the overweight dog ad from VW, until it devolved into another Star Wars spot pointing out how good last year's "Baby Vader" commercial was. Shoulda left it alone.

Oh, HELL yes! Plus, yeah, I think I came a little bit.



While both of the Doritos spots were solid and amusing, I liked the second one better.



It's Clint Eastwood. Great hopeful commercial about the current state in America. Awesome.



Sex sells. That is all.



Love the absurd…



They managed to fit everyone in, including Voltron!



Wigo! Serves as a nice positive message about rescue dogs as well…



And while I liked the vast majority of commercials the Super Bowl had this year, there were a few clunkers for me as well… So now for my least favorites:

So over tree-climbing vampires to the point that when they all got dusted, it doesn't change my opinion. But that's just me.



Overblown mess much?



And yes, while I won't be embedding it, how many of us were really clamoring for David Beckham in his $15 underwear? During the Super Bowl? Really?

Over the top commercial for a show I have no intention of watching? Plus Betty White? Seriously, people. Let's move on…



And yes, the Hyundai ad where a guy performed CPR on his dead boss by stopping and starting continuously. Reaching.

Didn't watch halftime to be honest. I don't have a reason to give a shit about Madonna unless she's exploiting herself by stripping naked. But at this point and time, that's probably a good thing. By all accounts she did a good enough job of it, so good for her. But seeing as I've never been a fan? I fast forwarded to get to the second half.

All in all, it was a good Super Bowl Sunday. Decent enough game. The commercials throughout were pretty good. So I deem that it was an entertaining enjoyable non-Holiday!

Strange Thoughts

I have no shame in saying that I find Tracey Morgan to be completely annoying. His shtick is old and not funny.

Finally got around to seeing what everyone was talking about. Drive was quite brilliant. Great cast. Good goddamned movie. Nicholas Winding Refn proved he had true skills with this. Star turn in the making for him as a director moving forward.

My go to post sneeze sound is "Chiba". Don't ask me why.

Sarah Shahi will be doing a nude scene in a movie? Yes, please. That 70's Show Laura Prepon also doing do? Now this is an embarrassment of riches. (Altough I prefer the latter as a redhead)

Bear Pascoe, now That's a killer football name if ever I've heard one.

Suck it, Brady! Congrats to the Giants and their fans.

What's with older adult doucebags stealing swag from kids? At least this last time CM Punk was there to make it right.

Who Tweeted What?

thebrianposehn Brian Posehn: The windows are mostly fogged up at the Krav Maga gym... It looks like a bunch of ghosts are fighting inside.

WhitneyCummings Whitney Cummings: I'm super late on this but, so Drive is basically a music video for Ryan Goslings face?

kellyoxford kelly oxford: Saying "I don't workout to look good, I workout for my mind." is basically saying "I'm batshit crazy and think this makes me sound humble."

ElizabethBanks Elizabeth Banks: My driver's name is Sayid which reminds me, I miss Lost. #Penny&DesmondForever #Nerd

BastardMachine Tim Goodman: I wish Donald Trump was in the MMA so someone could legally beat the shit out of him. Just a thought.

DamonLindelof Damon Lindelof: If @ElizabethBanks had been on the island, Penny would have had some serious competition. #DesmondIsASuckerForSmartBlondes

denisleary Denis Leary: My Super Bowl Prediction: Madonna sucks.

GhostPanther Adam McKay: Can't we outsource the Super Bowl so the NFL owners don't have to pay high wages? Just watch Juarezians blitz Chinese for two hours?

MJMcKean Michael McKean: Could there ever be a more elegant name for a sporting event than the Phoenix Waste Management Open?

nickjfrost Nick Frost: I like it when thin people look at me and move away. A) It's not contagious. B) I'm not going to eat you.

EthanSuplee Ethan Suplee: "Bud Light Platinum, worth less than gold but you guys get what we were going for. Right?" -- Bud Light

evanrachelwood Evan Rachel Wood: So...the latte foam that drips on the girls chest in the superbowl fiat commercial is suppose to look like cum right? #justchecking

BradBirdA113 Brad Bird: Just imagining the staggering number of pre-made "Superbowl Champion Patriots" hats that will soon be worn in third world countries.

nickkroll nick kroll: Congrats, eli manning, you goddam super bowl MVP mouth breathing dummy.

AndieBeaven Andie Beaven: Ah Travel Chaos. Just like normal chaos, only its smaller and requires batteries


***

The Non TV Segment Of The Week

"Back off, ‘cause I ain't no pussy. Oh, wait".



I wonder if he takes requests….



NSFW! Plus Sarah Shahi in a bikini top? Bonus!


***

And with that, I'm outta!
-BP


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