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Thursday, July 28, 2005
The Verdict Is In? Who Cares.
Well, another summer time reality show, The Law Firm, debuted tonight.
First, let me note one of the biggest fuck-ups I've ever noticed in network programming - that is, outside of letting Dan Rather handle presidential election nights. Right before the lawyers being kicked out of the game are announced, there's a preview for next Thursday's show - and it begins by announcing the two kicked out. So there was no suspense when the show resumed - I already knew it was Kelly and some white guy. (Kelly being the only Asian American woman and thus, in my strange world view, the cutie to root for at the beginning.)
Way to fucking go, NBC. The sound you hear is one hand clapping - that was so half-assed, so you deserve half an applause.
That said, it was no big loss: this was a pretty generic workplace Survivor kind of reality show. I mean, we've had it for business people, fashion designers, models, actors, singers, dancers, chefs... why not lawyers? The cases themselves were mildly interesting, and the crazy old guy in the dog case was fun to watch. The cross-examination of Chris, the young African American guy, was absolutely breathtaking to watch.
But the host of the show, some big shot lawyer, was pretty damn bland and stiff. I thought big-shot lawyers were supposed to be charismatic? His dismissal catchphrase, "The verdict is in," makes me long for My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss and the way it monkeyed with the genre.
And maybe five, ten minutes into this first episode, the sizing-up and bitching and rivalries between the contestants was already tiresome. I may watch too many reality TV shows - okay, I know I do - but there are dramatic ways to present group tensions and there are by-the-numbers methods. This felt strictly by-the-numbers and I don't feel myself becoming invested in the cast.
Especially now that Kelly is gone.
In contrast, two other reality TV shows know how to handle drama perfectly: Hell's Kitchen, which has been a joy to watch especially as Chef Ramsay's enthusiasm and joy has slowly balanced out the initial vaudevillian bitchiness of his character. The tension of serving a full restaurant is palpable and handled wonderfully. And of course, the king of summer reality is Big Brother - or perhaps the drama queen of summer reality? As I predicted, the politics, backstabbing, and scheming reached fever pitch quickly, and there's been one solid twist after another - including the winner of the Head of Household title tonight, which again throws the game into a 180 degree direction.
I'm on the fence with another series, Rock Star: INXS. I like to listen to the performances and think if the singers are good or not. Somebody absolutely butchered the Clash's "Rock the Casbah" a couple nights ago, and it's satisfying to see that person kicked off. That said, I don't really get a sense of the contestants and feel no strong attachments for one or the other to win. Further, I find it odd that the members of INXS are all old enough to be the fathers or most of these contestants and that their career is past their prime. If not quite a D-list band now, they're by no means not A-list anymore. Maybe this show will change that, but I doubt it.
Anyway, I'll probably tune back into The Law Firm again next week, since it's right after Big Brother anyway and the court cases should be interesting, if not the contestants. And who knows? Maybe it'll improve.
First, let me note one of the biggest fuck-ups I've ever noticed in network programming - that is, outside of letting Dan Rather handle presidential election nights. Right before the lawyers being kicked out of the game are announced, there's a preview for next Thursday's show - and it begins by announcing the two kicked out. So there was no suspense when the show resumed - I already knew it was Kelly and some white guy. (Kelly being the only Asian American woman and thus, in my strange world view, the cutie to root for at the beginning.)
Way to fucking go, NBC. The sound you hear is one hand clapping - that was so half-assed, so you deserve half an applause.
That said, it was no big loss: this was a pretty generic workplace Survivor kind of reality show. I mean, we've had it for business people, fashion designers, models, actors, singers, dancers, chefs... why not lawyers? The cases themselves were mildly interesting, and the crazy old guy in the dog case was fun to watch. The cross-examination of Chris, the young African American guy, was absolutely breathtaking to watch.
But the host of the show, some big shot lawyer, was pretty damn bland and stiff. I thought big-shot lawyers were supposed to be charismatic? His dismissal catchphrase, "The verdict is in," makes me long for My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss and the way it monkeyed with the genre.
And maybe five, ten minutes into this first episode, the sizing-up and bitching and rivalries between the contestants was already tiresome. I may watch too many reality TV shows - okay, I know I do - but there are dramatic ways to present group tensions and there are by-the-numbers methods. This felt strictly by-the-numbers and I don't feel myself becoming invested in the cast.
Especially now that Kelly is gone.
In contrast, two other reality TV shows know how to handle drama perfectly: Hell's Kitchen, which has been a joy to watch especially as Chef Ramsay's enthusiasm and joy has slowly balanced out the initial vaudevillian bitchiness of his character. The tension of serving a full restaurant is palpable and handled wonderfully. And of course, the king of summer reality is Big Brother - or perhaps the drama queen of summer reality? As I predicted, the politics, backstabbing, and scheming reached fever pitch quickly, and there's been one solid twist after another - including the winner of the Head of Household title tonight, which again throws the game into a 180 degree direction.
I'm on the fence with another series, Rock Star: INXS. I like to listen to the performances and think if the singers are good or not. Somebody absolutely butchered the Clash's "Rock the Casbah" a couple nights ago, and it's satisfying to see that person kicked off. That said, I don't really get a sense of the contestants and feel no strong attachments for one or the other to win. Further, I find it odd that the members of INXS are all old enough to be the fathers or most of these contestants and that their career is past their prime. If not quite a D-list band now, they're by no means not A-list anymore. Maybe this show will change that, but I doubt it.
Anyway, I'll probably tune back into The Law Firm again next week, since it's right after Big Brother anyway and the court cases should be interesting, if not the contestants. And who knows? Maybe it'll improve.
