Links, thoughts on Game of Thrones and The Killing, and why I watch Reality TV..

Lots to get to, so let's get to it...

- I'm aware that some of you actually like to read blogs that update more than once or twice a month like I do, so if you like pop culture, great writing, and (specifically) great writing ABOUT pop culture, here are some of the places that I go to every single day. These are the blogs that this blog wants to be one day when it grows up:

Cultural Learnings: Written by Myles McNutt, this is a place to find really intelligent, well-thought out musings on mostly TV, but also books, movies, and the general zeitgeist. Myles not only writes recaps of several shows, but he also has a lot to say about the business of television and the nature of television criticism.

The NPR Monkey See Blog: Maintained and edited by one of my very favorite online writers, Linda Holmes, formerly of Television Without Pity. Linda can write extremely thoughtful essays (like this one about some concerns voiced about the reading habits of young adults) or more lighthearted stuff (like this piece that examines the abundance of bodily function humor in the trailer for the new Jim Carrey movie). Either way, she is fantastic, as are most of the other writers on the site. Linda is also the host of one of my must-listen podcasts, the Pop Culture Happy Hour.

The A.V. Club: This is my daily stop for recaps/reviews of almost every show I watch, but you can also find reviews and news items on movies, music, and books. They also do fantastic special features (one of my favorites they have done is the Whatever Happened to Alternative Nation series), and their Great Job, Internet! section is the place to find cool stuff on the interwebs, the latest memes, etc. It's not always safe for work or family viewing, but it's always informative and entertaining. (Speaking of informative, entertaining, and not safe for work or family, if you are a fan of Community (and if you are not, I'm not sure we can be friends), be sure to check out the four part interview Todd VanDerWerff is posting with showrunner Dan Harmon. A fascinating look into the writing process).

EW.Com: If you are just looking for the latest entertainment news, you can't go wrong with the Entertainment Weekly website.

And, of course, for recaps/reviews/opinion, you can't beat Alan Sepinwall's What's Alan Watching blog, or the Tuned In blog at Time.com run by James Poniewozik.

Feel free to let me know what your "can't miss" sites are, whether they are pop culture, Dawg talk (most of my daily visits for Dawg news/opinion are in the list to the right), or whatever. Also...how many of you listen to podcasts? I have a list of those, too, but I wasn't sure how many of you listen to them. For someone like me who spends two and a half hours commuting every day, they are a necessity.

- While I am linking...we are now 88 days from kickoff (Happy Arthur Lynch Day)! Bubba 'n Earl always do the best job of putting together a countdown, and this year I think they have been outdoing themselves. Rather than just a player/moment countdown, they are posting a new post every day exploring different aspects of Bulldog history, the upcoming season, members of the team or coaching staff, etc...just really good stuff.

- I mentioned a while back when I was listing my favorite current comedies/dramas that I had a similar list of reality shows, and I was almost embarrassed by it. It got me thinking about why I watch the reality shows that I do watch, and I figured out that I only watch the ones that have a very specific draw for me. I don't watch any of the fame whore shows....Bachelor/Bachelorette, Jersey Shore, any thing with "of Love" or "Housewives" in the title. I don't watch any sort of "Celebrity" or "with the STARS" show.

Here is my list, broken down:

American Idol/So You Think You Can Dance: These two are by far my top ones, and I think it has everything to do with my background. I grew up a performing arts kid, so I really relate to the specific dreams that these contestants have, and I love getting to watch those dreams come true on my television set. I love the idea of these people being plucked out of obscurity and becoming superstars, even if only temporarily, based (mostly) on pure talent. The best example of this was Chris Daughtry. He was a stock boy at Best Buy, having given up on his dream of stardom in order to provide for his wife and her children, and then BAM...he's a multi-platinum selling artist, all because he decided to audition for Idol. Call me a softie if you want to, but I love those stories.

I also am a fan of excellence, in really any form, and that is the another main thing that draws me to So You Think You Can Dance. Even moreso than Idol, these people have worked YEARS and put literal blood, sweat, and tears into becoming EXCELLENT at what they do, and I appreciate excellence.

Which leads me to...

Top Chef: I am in no way a foodie. Most of the stuff prepared on this show will probably never appear on my plate. But the contestants are all obviously talented, they have worked for years on their craft, and best of all, they take being the best SERIOUSLY.

Deadliest Catch: I watch this show for pretty much one reason...awe. Well, that, and to be reminded how easy I have it in case I ever want to start complaining about my job. That aforementioned two and a half hour commute? Nothing, compared to 13 hour shifts in sub zero temperatures pulling thousand pound crab pots onto a boat being tossed by a Bering Sea storm. This show fascinates me.

Survivor/Amazing Race: I watch both of these shows, mainly because there are several bloggers/recappers on the web whose work I enjoy that recap this show. I watch the shows so that I can enjoy the recaps...that's pretty much it.

Those are the ones I watch regularly, but the other one that ropes me in every time I see it on television is Hoarders. I am fascinated by the psychological aspect of the show...and, also, it makes me feel better about myself.

- Two shows that have been occupying my Sunday DVR slots will be ending soon...one of them building to a fantastic finish, the other one I'm only watching out of obligation at this point.

The former of those two is Game of Thrones. As a HUGE fan of the books that the series will be based on, I was both excited and mildly terrified to see how the series was going to turn out. For the most part I have not been disappointed, although I think I might be enjoying the show even more if I weren't so familiar with the source material. I can't stop myself from comparing what's on the screen to what was in the book, which means I am basically comparing it to images I have in my head. No film adaptation of a book is ever going to match up to our own imagination, and no adaptation will ever be able to go into the amount of detail and backstory that George R.R. Martin pours into virtually every page of his writing. One of my favorite aspects of the books is the rich and complete world that Martin has created, complete with its own customs, history, etc., and there is just not enough time on a television show to depict a universe that dense.

Having said all of that...this show is AWESOME. The first three or four episodes were very exposition-filled, and a little too much "tell-don't-show" for me, but now that the story has kicked into high gear it's been a fantastic ride.

To me, the show isn't quite to the pantheon level of my All Time Great TV list (which includes The Wire, Deadwood, LOST, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Sopranos), for a couple of reasons. Number one, the writing just isn't up to that level...it's good, but not great, and it can be pretty dry and humorless at times. Just about every show in that list dealt with some really dark or heavy material, but they found a way to inject humor, often when you least expect it. We're getting some of that here, mostly from Tyrion or Littlefinger...but it's still pretty dry.

The other issue is the larger one, in my opinion...the story that these books tell is brilliantly plotted and complex, and the show is doing the best it can to tell it effectively. For the most part, it succeeds...it's telling a great story. But the problem has been that there is so much plot that it leaves little time for any sort of character development. What makes a show truly special, rather than just great, is not just what happens...it's that you care about the characters that the story is happening to. Game of Thrones isn't quite there yet, in my opinion.

And if you are watching the show and haven't read the books, I'm not going to spoil anything...but buckle your seatbelts. The ride only gets bumpier from here.

As for the other show wrapping up its Sunday night run....well, let's talk about The Killing. This is a show that, for me, started with a lot of promise, but just hasn't lived up to that promise. To me, the show got into a very annoying cycle of "Oh, he's the killer!.....wait, no he's not....oh, it's DEFINITELY her...oh, never mind", to the point where I feel like we are just spinning our wheels waiting to get to the end. I mean, it can't be good that this past week's episode, which barely even touched the Rosie Larsen case AT ALL, was probably my favorite one of the season.

Like most AMC shows, The Killing keeps to its own pace, and that pace....is....slow. But I don't mind that, when it's done well (Mad Men, for example). But this feels like about five episodes of story stretched out over a twelve episode season. We spent at least four episodes examining Bennet Ahmed, and that turned out to be....nothing whatsoever.

It's still pretty well acted, and I have stuck around for the first ten episodes, so I might as well hang on until the end to see the resolution. But I am not that excited about it, and if it doesn't get a second season I won't be disappointed.

- OK, wrapping this thing up now. But let me throw one more plug at you before I go. Starting next Saturday night, BBC America is re-running the entire series of Battlestar Galactica. Even if you aren't normally a fan of sci-fi TV, you owe it to yourself to watch if you want to see one of the greatest shows produced in the last decade. Don't let anything you have heard about the ending scare you away...trust me, it's worth it.

And for my 200th post...

This is my 200th post on this blog...thank you to all 2-3 loyal readers who have stuck with me from the beginning. I will now do my best to drive about half of you away by making my 200th post a Battlestar Galactica post:

Very cool photo essay on EW.com today that details the story of how BSG came to fruition. Truly one of the greatest TV shows ever created, a work of true art. Two part series finale begins tonight, and ends with the 2-hour conclusion next week. I am truly and completely bummed out about it.

I know there are many who never gave the show a shot simply because the title scared them away...I would encourage you to check it out on DVD, as it is one of the most intelligent, thought provoking, beautifully scripted, and masterfully acted shows of all time.

So say we all.

Yet another tribute...

As we get closer and closer to the (::sob::) frakking END of Battlestar Galactica, here is yet another tribute to a character firmly established in my top 3 TV characters of all time: Kara "Starbuck" Thrace.

I heart Kara Thrace...

Full LOST write-up still to come (probably tonight, maybe tomorrow morning), but for the BSG fans in the house, here is a quick study on everything that is teh awesomez about Starbuck.

Essential reading for BSG fans

Not sure how many of my readers are also Battlestar Galactica fans (I know of a couple), but if you are then this Mo Ryan piece is absolutely essential reading. A lot to say in there from Ryan Mottesheard (who wrote the last episode "No Exit," an amazing feat for a first-time BSG writer!) and the inimitable Jane Espenson.

Tonight's lineup...

Here is a nice article on Friday Night Lights and BSG returning tonight.

If you're not watching these shows, you're missing out on some really fantastic television. If you want to watch FNL, you can probably just start tonight and pick up on things pretty easily. I'm always available for questions if you have any. :-)

For BSG, well...if you're not watching, do yourself a favor and go back and watch from the beginning. This is really a ridiculously amazing show, one that goes so far beyond sci-fi that it's not really fair that it gets lumped into that genre. Remarkable characters, superb acting, and some of the smartest social commentary you'll see from a TV show.

Can't get this vido to embed, but here's a great trailer for season 4.5 on Sci-Fi.com.

Tonight is kind of bittersweet for both shows, since I think it's the last season for FNL, and we know it's the last season for BSG. So tonight really is the beginning of the end for both.

One week to go!

One week until BSG!

This video only takes us through season 3, but it's still teh awezome.

I love this woman...

Since the final season of BSG is right around the corner, here is a little Starbuck for you. It's amazing to see the difference in her off-screen...shows what an amazing job she does with the character. Also cool to see some Season 1 stuff in these clips, as well...our little baby's all growns up.

This is the one celebrity that I can publicly admit my undying love for without making my wife all yell-and-screamy. Probably because she has a bigger crush on her than I do.

I know most of my readers probably haven't watched a second of this show...trust me, you're missing out. Go back and watch from the beginning...you won't be disappointed. It's one of the smartest, coolest, well-written, well-acted shows around.

No news here, but...

...only 50 days until LOST is back!

And...only 45 days until Friday Night Lights and BSG are back, as well!!!

Whoo Hoo!!

This...is...AWESOME

OK, I stole this from Bill Simmons on ESPN.com, and it may be the single greatest thing I've ever seen on the Interwebs.

A little background...anybody remember Battle of the Network Stars? The Big 3 networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) would all send stars from their shows to compete in Olympic-style events. The winning team would get $20K per member, which in not bad money now and was certainly worth coming out back then. Plus, it was advertising for the shows and for the stars themselves. Howard FREAKING Cosell was the host, which you can just imagine...and the sideline reporter? Bruce JENNER!

On this particular episode, the NBC team, consisting of Robert Conrad and a couple of other folks I don't remember, broke the rules of the 4X100 meter relay by passing the baton out of the passing area. The CBS captain....wait for it...TELLY SAVALAS!!! YESSS!!! is NOT happy about it. What follows is EPIC.

Things to watch out for:
- Epstein from Welcome Back, Kotter...and his MASSIVE 'fro.
- Cosell: "Farrah, baby, I'm not in charge of the RULES COMMITTEE" (how funny is it that this thing had a RULES COMMITTEE?
- Richard Hatch (Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica and Zarek on the new BSG) trying to play peacemaker....to no avail.
- Lynda Carter in short shorts....YAY!!!!!!
- Ron Howard in short shorts....BOO!!!!
- How big a tool was Robert Conrad? Reminds me of those guys in the pickup basketball games who call phantom fouls every time they miss a shot.
- Telly Savalas was one of the coolest guys of all time.

Enjoy...