The Crazy and Dubious World of Television
Captain's Log #20
Season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation continues in this next round of reviews, and straight off the bat we have a follow-up encounter with clownish arch-villain Q. The teething issues continue with a real mixed bag of episodes, setting up possible ongoing plotlines through clumsy lines of throwaway dialogue and allowing the regulars to test the boundaries of their characters.
Captain's Log #19
Today in the 19th edition of Captain's Log we'll finally be getting stuck into Star Trek: The Next Generation. There has long been a divide between the fans of the original series of Star Trek and those who came to the show during the days of The Next Generation (hereafter referred to as TNG). After much passing of time, there are many fans who can appreciate the franchise in all of it's glory, but some still pick sides in the battle between generations.
Boy Meets World – Season One, Episode Two “On the Fence”
The episode starts with the Cory, Shawn and a random African-American kid sitting in the cafeteria, discussing which super hero would make the best dad. Shawn and the African-American kid think Batman, but Cory thinks Superman. After a bit Shawn points out that Minkus is nearby. He pulls out a Super Soaker and Cory is super impressed. When talking about it Shawn comments that they should keep the water gun hidden so Feeny doesn’t “shag it”. This was weird, cause Shawn was obviously talking about Feeny confiscating it, but I’ve never known the word “shag” to mean “taken from” or such. It just sounded weird. Shawn proceeds to squirt Minkus.
Boy Meets World - The Pilot Episode
It is so ridiculous to think that once upon a time when you wanted to watch a TV show, you had to fall in line with a specific set out time table. Sometimes stuff would be repeated and occasionally shows would be collected on VHS, but largely, if you wanted to watch a TV show, you had to watch it at a specific time. If that show was on at a time when you weren’t going to be home or you were busy with other important shit you needed to actually plan ahead and set the VCR or ask your mum to record it for you. You couldn’t magically acquire copies of the show and watch through them to your leisure, at times convenient to you.
CHICK'N OUT
Much has been made in recent weeks of the journalistic scoop that is famous punk rock brothers Joel and Benji Madden lambasting themselves upon the Australian small screen. They rose from nothing to become stadium superstars with their group “Good Charlotte”. They have each gained notoriety for highfalutin romps with venerable celebrity babes. Their grandeur extends to such dazzling heights as respected judges on televised singing contests, guest vocalisation on numerous semi-famous musical groups and of particular interest lately, a stunt protesting against KFC preparing chickens as meat for human consumption.
Red Dwarf X
It's kind of funny to think about the longevity of Red Dwarf, the UK sitcom that has been shelved and dusted off more than a couple of times over the past 25 years. The Star Trek meets Odd Couple stylings has resonated into something of a not particularly hip cult following, with its return/s after the original run never really capturing the same comedic spirit. As if the characters were parodying their former selves, the remaining creator Doug Naylor tried (arguably) without success to emulate what he and Rob Grant had achieved before.
A couple of years ago they aired a three-part special called "Back To Earth". I cringed my way through it and tried to make myself laugh, like when a kid tells you a joke and you make an effort to respond positively. However, it didn't wash.
Captain's Log #12
Last of the animated Captain's Logs. Not much of a note here, but this point I'm pretty much over the animated series. There are some interesting ideas in these episodes but the 20 minute format just doesn't work with high concept sci-fi/adventure. My main gripe is that so many great ideas are set up in the animated episodes but almost all of these ideas get ignored in later Star Trek episodes.
Captain's Log #11
Today we continue with some more of the short-lived animated series of Star Trek. This round of episodes sees the return of Harry Mudd (last seen in a couple of episodes from the original series of Trek), some more Klingons and a return visit to the recreational planet last seen in the episode Shore Leave.
Captain's Log #10
The Captain's Log is back! It's been a while since I finished coverage of the original series of Star Trek with Log #9, but here we are again with everyone's favourite Shatner and Vulcan combo, in the shortlived and often unsung animated series of Star Trek from the early '70s. These episodes were a largely unsuccessfully attempt to relaunch the series after its cancellation back in the '60s, but it only lasted for two shortish series of half-hour episodes.
Treme
Treme. I've just finished watching the first season and it really resonated with me. I guess if there's one thing that hooks me into something it's that sense of fair play and injustice associated with reality. The world can be a mean and unfair place, and the complicated nature of (western) society sometimes makes it really hard to cut to the heart of the hows and whys.
I'm gonna make you proud, Dad.
