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Do Yourself a Favor...
 Posted
5/11/2010 11:28:00 PM
It will take a little bit of your time (it's worth it), a little bit of your emotion (it's worth it) and maybe a little bit of your money (cup of coffee-type money -- it's worth it).
Yes, you are coming late to the party. The good news is that it doesn't matter.
If you missed the book, it's OK. Still out there for you. Read it. Today.
Missed the movie? Rent it. Yesterday.
Didn't know there was a TV show? You're not alone. Knew but didn't care? Shame. Make it right.
I'll start this whole process by saying that the only other Holy Trinity of book/movie/tv show that I know of that reached "the masses" and worked was M*A*S*H.
And truth be told, by the time the TV show became a hit, it was nothing close to the tenor of the book. Dark satire elements remained (buried deeper with a laughtrack) to go along with broader comedy strokes, but in the end, it was unrecognizable from the book that Richard Hooker wrote. Struggling out of the gate, it become iconic and, as most of you know, drew a still record 106 million viewers to its finale.
While I would never insult the brilliance of that show by labeling it as a "sell-out" for the transformation, I will say that sometimes sticking to the story will cost your audience, but keep your soul intact.
"Friday Night Lights" will not set any viewership records. It will limp to its finish line in what looks to be its final season. The struggle to just keep it alive is amazing on more than one front. How, for the last two seasons, it has "debuted" on Dish Network followed up by the run on NBC as the only way that the money people and bean counters would consent to keep it alive. Unprecedented. Creative. Brilliant.
Secondly, and more importantly, is the overall idea that it had to be done that way. That quality could not find a place amidst the nonsense of endless hours of shit being made, let alone making money for and creating pseudo-celebrities at every turn, is as disheartening and telling as anything in our society.
I thought about railing on a host of those "shows" and then said, "Why bother?" To bring up the fact that people have eaten worms for their three minutes; gotten kicked in the balls; had other people kick them in the balls; lived with 12 strangers; tried to quit drugs. Amish people. Italians. Crazy people "raising" eight kids. A guy with a clock around his neck looking for his second 15 minutes under the guise of finding true love. As long as it didn't get in the way of the biggest collection of idiots to come down the pike. Until it's bastard child "I Love New York," which begot the "legitimate" version of this premise on ABC which made those other two shows works of art and high brow. Because nothing funnier than morons making it in hot tubs and praying to get a rose -- and then a marriage proposal.
Real Housewives. Fake Housewives. Wysteria Lane. 24. Vampires everywhere. LOST. As in me every week saying "what the F*** is going on?"
Not worth it. I've come not to bury that crap. Too late. I'll just try to point you in the direction of a show that has heart. A Soul. People (not characters) you care about. A more realistic look and feel than any reality TV you've ever watched.
From the decision to film in small-town Texas. To the music -- subtle AND integral. The cinematography -- a fancy way to say "the look." Not too clean; almost grainy. "Dusty" actually. Through, of course, the three most important factors.
1. The Writing
2. The Directing
3. The Cast
I won't give you the first three-season recap and synopsis here -- wouldn't do it justice. Won't explain how it is shot. How there is no rehearsal to speak of. Why the core of the show isn't football at all. It's relationships.
Why you'll find yourself saying, "I recognize that person." Not the actor. The PERSON. Someone you know or have known. Relate-ability -- which is the ultimate goal of anything that is trying to get you to think or invest your time.
I'll go with this. You can find every episode of this show online. Cost you less than that fancy pants cup of coffee I alluded to earlier.
You can buy each season on DVD. I like this idea because you can then loan them out to people you like.
If you need a little push, try this/these
Let me know what you think
FROM THE MOVIE - GREAT SCENE AND THE CORE OF THE WHOLE THING
WATCH THESE AS AN OVERVIEW OF SERIES
PILOT
THIS IS HOW YOU WIN AN EMMY - FOR WRITING AND ACTING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwbDnarLGPo&feature=related
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Chris Dimino
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We are also big fans of the show, easily the best program on TV. Not really sure why it hasn't taken off. I think the people who value a quality program like this have too much going on in their lives and the slackers who don't, are watching the guy with the clock hanging around his neck. So far, this season has been outstanding so if it is the last, it should be a good season.
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Posted By
Mark Conley
On
5/19/2010 1:29:01 PM
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I have loved this show since it first began. Great characters, insightful story lines and poignant life lessons. Most great shows, e.g. critically acclaimed, fall short in the Nielson ratings but instead have a very loyal fan base. Thanks for posting Chris.
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Posted By
Mrs. Vasquenza
On
5/13/2010 12:29:37 PM
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