TV Mad Man

If you look back at both my review, and my November article on how to make the show better, you can tell that FlashForward went from a show that was so high on my list to one that is barely staying alive. The epic science fiction story about when the world sees the future and goes dark for 2 minutes 17 seconds was a show ABC was high on from the beginning. From an early pilot, to an early pickup, to an early screening, ABC had faith and so did I.

Now as the show enters its 12th episode after a lengthy hiatus, the faith has dwindled (for example, no promos during the Oscars), and when I tuned in to check out the first two hours airing Tuesday, my faith was few and far between, and believe me, when I was watching I tried not to like it, but in the end… It made me quite happy.

When the show left in December, Mark (Joesph Finnes) and Demetri (John Cho) met up with Agent Vogel (Michael Ealy) in Hong Kong to track down the woman who knows about Demitri’s death that will happen in March. They found a woman who knew a lot more and in the process got Mark suspended, and his wife in dire need. Back in Los Angeles, after Simon (Dominic Monaghan) and Lloyd (Jack Davenport) came out to say they caused the blackout, Lloyd’s son was released by Mark’s wife Olivia (Sonya Walger) but as they were leaving the hospital, attacked and Lloyd was talking after almost killing Olivia.

The premiere picks up as Mark returns to LA, and FBI debriefs Olivia. The first 15 minutes of the episode do a great job in recapping the series so far in part from guest star Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal) and from the music that underscores and compliments the episode beautifully. FlashForward changed in this episode with the music by becoming the third show to use a live orchestra (Alias did it, Lost does it).

The two hours as a whole are well thought out, present both stereotypes and unique situations that are both foreseen and surprising. The first hour in particular presents some interesting dilemmas. First, Paula Newsome shines in her role as Mark’s bureau assigned therapist and pulls him a new one, while the FBI search for Lloyd from the help of Simon. The second hour provides more of the mythological based meat thanks to a lengthy back story of Simon, as well as more of the just fabulous Ricky Jay who as he puts it, a “villain” in the best since of the word. Of course, for all you that crave a show that gives you answers, the mystery of who Suspect Zero is, is revealed as well as some other very interesting matter. Also include tonight for your viewing pleasure, some not so great plot points, ridiculous dialogue and more. Yeah!

Overall, the two hours provide a well thought out launch point for the next 10 hours, and as I see it give me some hope of the future. That future however includes some very tough moments but for a show that gets the best talent as guest in the biz, there must be some reason they are signing on and for the time being I will and you should be too.

FlashForward returns to ABC tonight at 8/7c!

I believe no show on ABC this year has been been discussed so much regarding the quality, descions, and story, but its what they say, they are talking about it. FlashForward, is an epic sized series about what happens after the world goes black for over two minutes and everybody sees the future on April 29th, 2010. That date is still to come as is the second half of the series which returns with a two hour episode on March 18th, but that has not stopped a DVD of the first 10 hours to be released this Tuesday, so new and old fans alike can look at the series one more time before the return.

The 2 disc set is nicely packaged with all the episodes in a menu screen similar to that of the faboluous LOST sets and there are bonus features as well to keep you behind-the-scenes folks happy, with a nice piece on the making of the pilot as well as a terrificly put together look at the remaning 12 episodes. The features are as follows:

CREATING A CATASTROPHE: THE EFFECTS OF A GLOBAL BLACKOUT
Go behind-the-scenes of the pilot and discover what went in to creating FlashForward’s most iconic scene, the freeway disaster.  Through interviews with David S. Goyer and his production team we go on the set to see how destruction is developed and explosions are executed.

FLASHFORWARD: A LOOK AHEAD
Be the first to get a “FlashForward” with this exclusive look at the teaser to episode 111.

“COULD”
A look at the second half of FlashForward Season 1, narrated by Dominic Monaghan.

FlashForward in my mind has had a bumbling past, but I remaining optismistic, unlike others, of the second half, especially in the wonderful supporting cast of Sonya Walger, Christine Woods, Jack Davenport, Zachary Knighton, Peyton List, and one of my favorites Dominic Monaghan. The series asks the question of fate and future, and I am just intrigued by that alone. Check out the disc set that also features a coupon on the first season DVD that will be released in the summer, out on Tuesday!

Easily the biggest drama going in to the new season was ABC’s FlashForward. Now the show is dipping in ratings, still with respectable numbers, but viewers are leaving. Why? The show is suffering from convulted plots and nothing really to latch onto.

However, I am still enjoying the show to an extent but to me it is a okay show, but it has the immense potential to be a great show. One that is the chatter each week and can create interesting, compelling stoires to watch.

Here are 5 ways that the producers and the cast can make FlashForward to must see TV.

1. Better writing. The show was created by David Goyer and Brandon Braga of a book by Robert Sawyer. I read the pilot script last year and it was easily the best script I read, and the reason was the writing was crisp and fun. Now, the show has ordinary, stupid writing that makes the viewer just smile at the cliched and ridiculous things the character is saying. One reason I can see from this is that all the episodes that are great are ones NOT written by Marc Guggenheim but by Goyer and the talented writing staff. Guggenheim was brought on to show-run with Goyer but was recently let go, I can see why (This takes effect around episode 13). Guggenheim is a fine writer and producer, evident in the fun but cancelled ABC show Eli Stone which I loved, but this was not his show and I can just hope 24 ends this year and Brandon Braga (who had committed to it) can return to his pal Goyer to write great stories.
2. Less Finnes and the Benfords. I know Joseph Fiennes is a respect actor but I have to say, he is TERRIBLE in FlashForward. Cringeworthy in each hour. It is not the character. The character has flaws, has levels, has goals but Joe always has a “What is happening to me, why am I doing this face” that is so repulsive. Even at home with his wife or trick-or-treating with his daughter, he looks so angry. So off putting, they either need to replace him, kill the character, or change it fast, or they can just give him less screen time. There are so much more interesting characters such as Janis, Demitri, Bryce, or even Olivia, who when is not with Mark is perfectly fine. The show is not about Mark, it is about the world, and all the 7.8 billion people that are on it.
3. More character focus. I love Janis. She is such a fun and interesting character. The episode with her and her girlfriend was great and gave Christine Woods some fun stuff. All my favorite episodes like “The Gift,” “Give Me Some Truth,” and now this week’s “Believe,” centered around one character in general and one story, not multiple subplots with little bits of everybody. In this week’s episode the story is about Bryce. His flash, his story, for 85% of the hour. Why not do this with everybody. What made Lost so great in its first year was the way it developed each character, each one got an episode that surrounded his or her backstory with an on-island story with that character too. FlashForward can learn from Lost in that way. I feel that I can’t like any of the characters yet because I don’t know anything about them or anything that I like (Mark). More focus, less stories is key.
4. Stop repeating the flashes. I am not stupid. Lets just make that clear and the America and the world aren’t all stupid but FlashForward sure is making I feel like I am with every episode. Every time a character mentions their flashforward or thinks about it we get presented with the same flash, over and over. Why? I know what happened to Mark. I know he was drinking, they just said that. I don’t want to see it. Please, please stop.
5. Continued stories. The show struggles from not continuing things it sets up in previous episodes. Take Suspect #1. Huge part of episode 1 and 2 but that story just ended and popped up again in the last episode; or D. Gibbons, I thought he or she was a big villain, what happened? I dislike when we get invested in a story and then it just comes to a screeching halt even when we don’t like it. I feel the producer feel they need to establish everything on Mark’s board that they don’t take adequate time on each item such as the Somalian crows, or the Blue Hand group. The fix for this is just to create a story and ride it out and transition to a new one even if not all the questions are answered.

How would you help the show? Change? Keep? Tell me in comments!

Although I can’t say much about this week’s episode entitled “Believe,” I will say if you gave up on the show just DVR or watch this one. It presents the show in a new light that I really enjoy. It airs at 8/7c on ABC Thursday.

Here is my thoughts on everything I watched this week, some short, some long, and some spoilers so be aware. What do you think on them all?

How I Met Your Mother: Barney and Robin have been a highlight of all the episodes so far this season which has overall being pretty good. This week was episodes was one of the best of the year even though it marked the end of Barney and Robin. Alan Thicke was great in a fun cameo too.

Lie to Me: Can I just want to say I want Alicia Coppola on a show now. I loved her in Jericho and she was great as Agent Reynolds pal in this week Reynolds-centric outing. I have seen next week’s very much relevant episode on Black Friday and it is one of the best of the show.

So You Think You Can Dance: When the season started and they had that fantastic showcase show I thought this year would be outstanding, so far this year, so not. Nobody is wowing me except for maybe Jakob who is just so fun and brilliant. I still love Mollee and Nathan even though the performance was cringe-worthy.

V: V is my favorite new show this year. It is so epic in its feel and just fun to watch. Elizabeth Mitchell and Joel Gretsch are a perfect pair, and it was great to see Rekha Sharma (Battlestar Galactica) as a FBI friend of Erica or is she. Plus any show with Alan Tudyk is a win in my book. The one area the show lacks though is in the teenagers, better dialogue and story is needed or the ratings could just go down even further.

Melrose Place: Heather Locklear we need you know. Just a million viewers is pathetic for what is a pretty fun soapy drama, next week is the week. Amanda is back and will it help, I hope so.

The Good Wife: I would watch The Good Wife just for the judges alone who have all been great in the series and next week Peter Riegert comes to the panel, love him. This week presented a nice dilemma with a lawyer/non lawyer for Alicia and the story with the son keeps me interested in her personal life.

New Adventures of Old Christine: Julia Louis-Dreyfus is funny. Really funny. This cast is really fun which it turn makes me laugh so much.

Top Chef: She is gone and I am a little sad. Robin who should have been voted off in Week 1 finally had to pack her knives and somehow I don’t think the show will be as great just because of not as much drama. However, Nigella Lawson was the perfect judge. Opinionated, funny, and adorable, I wouldn’t mind her being on each week.

FlashForward: Like I have said before the show is not bad, the story is interesting and gets better when Rocky Jay shows up but the writing is not good, and that combined with the TERRIBLE acting of Joe Finnes overshadows any good performances by Christine Woods or John Cho. The show needs to get better soon with more episodes like last week’s fantastic “The Gift.”

Survivor: Best season EVER? With episodes like the last two with brilliant blindsides, I think so. Russell is one of the best contestants ever. Love this show.

Parks and Recreation: I love this show too. By far the funniest show on NBC and the second best comedy on air behind a certain ABC comedy. The supporting cast is unstoppable.

Private Practice: Last night’s episode was off the hook. I cried and was engrossed by the emotion and story in this medical drama. Everything was perfect except for the unnecessary last scene, brought me out of it just a little.

Fringe: This week, pretty good. Next week, fantastically freaky.

The Vampire Diaries: So this show is surprising me. As I watched it this summer, I hated it. Found it so cliched and stupid, now I look forward to it each week. This week was strong once again but the episode left me hanging and confused. First, Alaric is obviously a vampire of something but when the episode ended with Jenna’s old boyfriend and supposedly dead Logan, my first thought was that somehow Alaric changed his body to his. The reason I came to this conclusion was that he said something along the lines of “Will you let me in,” and when Alaric left the house he said something like “You will let me in some other time.” Just the way the dialogues intertwined made me think they were one in the same. Crazy or no?

Wow. When I came home today, I flicked on the news reel and nothing major in TV had happened, 20 minutes later. Things had erupted. First of all, the fantastic news that ABC has picked up Modern Family, Cougar Town, and The Middle for full seasons with an addition of 9 +13 all ready ordered episodes. All three laughers have made me well laugh especially Modern Family, and are performing strong for the net.

Then things went downhill from there. 10 minutes later THR.com reported that NBC has cancelled there powerful, gritty, and real crime drama Southland 2 weeks before it was due to premiere. An odd change in events for the dying network that was said not to be happy with what was happy and that is was not going to perform.

Southland was great last spring and I am sad to see it go. Back to the good news, all signs are pointing to ABC’s addictive new drama FlashForward will be picked up for a full 24 episodes need to tell its season 1 tale. ABC wants to see how it did tonight. Also, if you were wondering when a certain Lost individual was going to show up for his permanent stay, I would recommend staying for next week.

For tonight’s TV, what did you think? Is FlashForward grabbing you? Did you find Jim and Pam’s wedding on The Office as touching and iconic as I did? What other shows are you watching on this crowded Thursday?