The Best Show on TV

Last Friday night, The Best Show on TV returned from a long hiatus (satellite TV does not count). Believe it or not, The Best Show on TV does not involve fat people or dancing. The Best Show on TV, at least for the next few months, is Friday Night Lights. And it isn't even close.

I haven't loved a show and its characters this much since The O.C. and Sandy Cohen. It captivates me for a full hour each week and always leaves me wanting more. Most other shows I watch with a laptop in my lap, and iPhone in my hand, or a magazine in front of me- not FNL. FNL deserves me undivided attention because each episode feels like a masterpiece.

The show is in its fifth and final season, which honestly just baffles me. How was this show cancelled when terrible and unwatchable shows return season after season? I just picked up the Entertainment Weekly next to me, and here is a sampling of the top watched shows from last week: American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Undercover Boss, Amazing Race 18 (18?!?!?), and Secret Millionaire. At times I have enjoyed the Amazing Race, but CBS has no interest in holding off on Amazing Race 19 next year in order to show a sixth season of Friday Night Lights? Like most quality programming, it has a loyal audience that swears by the show, but I guess that wasn't enough. Maybe it should have been called Thursday Night Lights so it could be aired on Thursdays?

Here are the top few reasons why I love the show:

1. Small Town Life- I love the depiction of what life is like in small town Texas, particularly the scenes at the beginning of each episode with the local radio host narrating. I also love the shots of the town shutting down on game day. The scenery is beautiful and transports me to another part of the country.

2. The Characters- The show has done a great job developing new characters and making the audience truly care about them. A few of my all-time favorites include Eric and Tami Taylor, Tim Riggins, Matt Saracen, Buddy and Lyla Garrity, and Vince Howard.

3. The Camera Work- Extremely creative camera shots and angles. My favorite technique that they deploy is zooming in on a character's face who isn't the focal point of the scene. It provides prospective on what is occurring and enriches each character's personality

4. Goosebumps Factor- The show consistently gives me goosebumps. Whether it is a huge win, an inspirational speech, or a sad or emotional moment, the show really hits a nerve. Peter Berg, the show's writer for all five seasons, combines great sports stories with human emotion and life cycle events, and always leave me wanting more.

The show seems to be finishing up almost as strongly as it began. These first two episodes have been some of my favorites of the series. I plan on enjoying the show over the next few months, and once the series finale airs, I plan on rewatching all of the episodes over again, starting with season 1. Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!

Mesmorized

Every once in awhile, a commercial comes along that captures your heart, soul, and imagination. I have been captivated by the McDonald's Fish Sandwich Commercial

Down with the Today Show

Prior to the arrival of 2009, I would get ready for work in the morning in silence and pick out clothes in the dark while Diana enjoyed the life of a student and did not have to be up at 7:30am. However, now that Diana is working, we are both up in the morning at the same time. This has posed a new problem for me: she likes to watch the Today show. I don't know why, but I have never liked this show. I didn't realize how much I disliked it though until now. With that, I give you my Top 10 Reasons Why I Dislike the Today Show:

1. They laugh at each other's jokes when they aren't funny. You couldn't have faker laughs if you tried.
2. Al Roker has officially lost his mind and I liked him much better when he was fat.
3. They report on things like news when they really aren't news. It's 7am. I don't care about octuplets, or weight loss, or that someone turned 100 this early in the morning. Leave me alone.
4. I'm 99% sure that they all hate each other and it drives me crazy that they pretend to be best friends
5. They talk too calmly. Everyone seems happy and relaxed. Listen, no one likes being up this early. If anything, I'd rather watch someone who was in as bad of a mood as I am. It would be much funnier, and then maybe you wouldn't have to force the laughter.
6. Matt Lauer is not a real reporter, I don't care what you say. He is best known for his segment, "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?" That is not real reporting. That is Today show reporting.
7. They always show weather for random cities. Are that many people in Cincinnatti really watching this?
8. The whole show seems to be one huge cross-promotion for the network. They have NBC TV stars on way too often as guests.
9. Ann Curry is condescending
10. It's 7:30 in the morning! I don't even like food or baseball that early...how am I supposed to like the Today show?

I vote for Saved by the Bell in the morning...anyone else with me?

Top Chef visits Le Bernardin

So on this week's episode of Top Chef, the contestants went to Le Bernardin, the restaurant I wrote about visiting in one of my recent posts. The chefs got to meet Chef Eric Ripert, taste a few of his dishes, and then had the challenge of having to recreate one of the dishes so that it would taste as similar as possible to those dishes served in the restaurant.

*SPOILER ALERT*

So now there are five remaining contestants: Fabio, Leah, Stefan, Hosea, and Carla. About a month ago, after the first episode of the season, I had put odds on who I thought would win. Of the 3 contestants I gave the best odds to win to, all 3 are still in the competition. I do believe that Stefan now has the best chances of winning, although I will be rooting for Hosea.

Today's Forecast: It's Sunny

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been watching past episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on hulu.com and fxnetworks.com. I started with one or two, but I have now completed all of Seasons 1, 2, and 4. I started by watching season 4 on TV this fall, and then began watching online with Seasons 1 and 2. Let me just say that I think this is a fantastic show. I think it takes a certain sense of humor to appreciate, but if you like Arrested Development or Curb Your Enthusiasm, you will love this.

The show centers around the daily life of four degenerates as they run an Irish pub in Philadelphia. The primary crew includes a brother, sister, and two of the brother's friends. Additionally, Danny DeVito is introduced as a character in Season 2 (by the way, he has to be the world's smallest man that isn't a midget, right?). The show is completely politically incorrect, oftentimes bordering on offensive. I just looked the show up on imdb.com, and its tagline is "It's Seinfeld on crack". I couldn't agree more. I urge all of you with my sense of humor to watch this show- it is an absolute treasure.

A Bro-Tastic Show

I need to say a few words about Bromance, starring teen heartthrob Brody Jenner. Teenie-bopper girls across the country swoon at the very sound of his name. However, in this show, the only people swooning (and crying I might add) are adult males between the ages of 20-30. Yes, you read that right. Grown men are crying over Brody Jenner.

In the past episode I think literally every single character cried. Whether it was for having the opportunity to stay, having to leave, talking about family, friends, moving, vodka, losing a sex doll blow up race- they all cried. Numerous times, hysterical, struggling to hold back tears. Please watch this show. You owe it all to yourselves. The whole thing is mind blowing.

Top Chef

I just mentioned that I love Top Chef. Great show- I watched it from the beginning.

Since the new season just started, I thought I would share my top contestants. The ones I'm listing are the ones I like in general. I am listing them in order of who I think has the best chance to win, along with their odds at this point in the competition:


Fabio- (3 to 2) Great cook, funny, judges like him, seems to know when to keep things simple
Leah- (2 to 1) New yorker, cute, jewish... seems to be a solid chef- I just think she is likeable
Stefan- (3 to 1) Great chef but a bit too serious
Jamie- (3 to 1) Did poorly this week, but she seems to be one of the best
Jeff- (7 to 1) Just seems like a professional. Reminds me of a good friend...sayings save us
Ariane- (8 to 1) Won this weeks challenge. To me, she is a hometown favorite
Hosea- (15 to 1) I like him, but he hasn't stood out yet. Seems like he is playing it safe
Gene- (25 to 1) Not clasically trained, but seems like he knows his stuff- definitely an underdog