Comments on: 2009: The Year In Television

By: Jon Herzog

Jon Herzog — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:06:35 +0000

@Mark. If you have NetFlix, you can catch up on Dexter really quickly. You won’t be able to watch this season (legally) yet unless you have Showtime on Demand, but they’ve been good about making all the episodes available to watch online once the DVDs go to NetFlix. The third season is not its best, but it definitely is worth getting through as it set up this year’s awesome fourth season. Plus Jimmy Smits’ performance was pretty spectacular at parts. It’s rare you ever get to see him chew scenery, but they gave him a few scenes to do so last year.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:01:31 +0000

For some reason, I have grown to care about the show “Better Off Ted.” I think that reason might be better known as Portia de Rossi. She just cracks me up in that show, even though it seems cheaply produced and kind of like the MBA-version of “Scrubs.” Maybe I’ve just been missing “Arrested Development” too much.

By: InfoMofo

InfoMofo — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:36:31 +0000

How was the word “shade” not already part of your everyday vocabulary?

I throw shade when I get my coffee in the morning. I throw shade in my 9am conference call with London.

By: mlp

mlp — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:13:31 +0000

@ferretrick – it’s funny, I interpreted that subplot to mean that Justin was just not ready to accept himself and I took Mark’s statement to mean that since Justin couldn’t accept it yet, there was no point in anyone else insisting. I *may* have overthought it……..

By: Destiny

Destiny — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:36:28 +0000

Hey Mark,

I always appreciate your year end lists. I too love RuPaul’s Drag Race, True Blood, and Lost, of course. I share your feelings about Glee. I watch it every week, but the drama is so manufactured and over the top that sometimes I just fast forward to get to the musical numbers. I disagree with you about Modern Family and Community; I just don’t find them remotely funny and I gave up after a few episodes. I applaud your recognition of two classic favorites: L&O and Jeopardy. I DVR Jeopardy every day, and I have seen every single episode of the original L&O and the show is enjoying a renaissance this year (even though that abortion episode was shockingly right wing) I’m curious about your thoughts on two of my new favorites of 2009: Bored to Death and White Collar. Both are filmed in New York (which is great for our economy) and they are very clever and entertaining.

By: Stephie

Stephie — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:28:16 +0000

Dollhouse is worth watching this season for Enver Gjokaj’s acting alone.

The third season of Big Love and Dexter were both astonishing.

By: ferretrick

ferretrick — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:43:56 +0000

@Jessica – Oh, that moment got me too! When Jay didn’t even take credit for what he did so Manny’s image of his bio dad wouldn’t be shattered-awwwwwww…………

@Mark – what happened on Ugly Betty-Justin has started middle school and was starting to have problems with bullies. He turned to Mark for help (and here they got it SO right. Mark told him to befriend the cheerleaders for protection, because they can control the jocks. I LOVED that Mark actually gave practical advice, instead of the just-be-yourself and try harder platitudes unpopular kids are usually handed on TV).

Anyway, so prom rolls around, and there was this whole sub plot with Hilda resents Ignacio because he wouldn’t let her go to her own prom because she was pregnant with Justin at the time. So, the bullies all conspired to get Justin voted Queen, in a sort of Carrie moment. But Justin turned it around on them, by giving the crown to Hilda and giving this really moving speech about how she was so special. And it was a really great episode.

THEN, they all come home after this whole episode has been so great, and out of nowhere Justin tells Hilda he’s NOT gay and then Mark confirms it. And that was it-no explanation since. The scene landed with a huge thud, was bewildering and possibly offensive, and now I and everyone I’ve talked to have no idea if Justin is gay, or we are now supposed to accept that he isn’t after all this time. Its bizarre.

By: MattPatt

MattPatt — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:39:45 +0000

Oh, I’ll grant you shrill. There isn’t any other way to deliver lines like “Listen, you little psycho: this is Will’s wife and if I don’t get enough sleep, my antidepressants won’t work and then I’ll go crazy and I’ll kill you!” When 90% of your time on screen is faking pregnancies and breaking into people’s cars… yeah. It’s funny in isolation, but I can easily see it getting to be too much. I just haven’t gotten to that point yet. Plus, singing.

By: Jessica K

Jessica K — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:15:49 +0000

I have cried during Modern Family. Happy and sad tears. I admit it. Especially the epidsode when the limo rolls up to the curb and Ed O’neil says “Your Dad sent this so WE can take you to Disneyland instead”…. tugged at my heartstrings. Damn good show.

By: Lora

Lora — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:40:01 +0000

I’m thrilled that others see the inherent sweetness of Modern Family. It’s not just the hilarity that has me anticipating every new episode, it’s the humanity in the show.

I’m hoping some of the problems with Glee’s writing will straighten up come April, and I’m geeking out over the fact that Idina Menzel is guesting.

The new show Men of a Certain Age is looking good…give it a try if you haven’t already.