AMC's The Walking Dead

It's Wednesday before Thanksgiving. This will be my last post for several days. I should return to blogging on Tuesday, November 30th. It's going to be nice to have 5 days outside this hell hole office for once. I plan on getting a lot of writing and critiquing done.

I would like to take a moment to thank each and every person who has ever visited my blog. Whether you follow, comment, read, lurk or try your very best to hock viagra I love you all. Seriously. Okay maybe not the spammers so much, but they need love too. Mostly I love you writers. You people are so giving, so kind, so helpful and so supportive. When I first set out to write a novel I knew not a single other serious writer. Now I know, literally, hundreds.

You people RAWK!

Ahem. Anyway, back to the topic at hand: my favorite new TV Show! What better topic for the "Friday" before the holidays, right?

So, my favorite new show is The Walking Dead, on AMC. I believe it comes on at 10PM on Sundays, but ever since we got a DVR I'm completely spoiled and out of touch about actual air times. Americans and our luxuries, no?


The Walking Dead is a show about a Zombie Apocalypse. It's set in Atlanta, where I live, and actually filmed on location. I'll go over my complaints first, since there are very few.

• For whatever reason AMC does not offer an HD signal, not in my area and not on my provider (AT&T U-Verse). Considering how many HD channels I have to pay for that I never watch, this is a bit of a bitch.
• Occasionally the acting and or writing comes across as a little stilted. None of the lead actors on this show have a lot of experience or are well known, but I suspect this feeling is more based on occaional poor writing. Most of the writing like the plot and character develepmont, as well as pacing and tension is excellent, but every so often the dialogue comes across as a little forced.
• Commercials. I know, it's not fair. This isn't HBO, but I think I've gotten spoiled by shows like Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, and Entourage. I know they have to pay the bills but I HATE friggin' commercials. Yes I have it recorded and I can skip them but it's a pain. There is a reason I am willing to pay for HBO.

Now, on to what I love about this show. There are many things, so ... screw it, I'm still going with a bullet point list because I love bullet point lists.

• It's a Zombie Apocalypse! I mean come on, who doesn't love Zombies? They're awesome, but this show also takes the whole thing quite seriously, which is really cool (not that there is anything wrong with taking a humorous approach to the shambling masses). And nothing against Twilight, but it's great to see horror go scary again.
  
• The setting and cinematography. It's filmed on location in Atlanta, which is near to home, but I also love that they use no CGI (as far as I can tell) and the angles and shots they have featuring the city (and from the skyline) are gorgeous.
• The makeup. As I said there is no CGI. Every Zombie hoard is made up of real extras (that means actors) who are costumed and made up beautifully. You can also win a chance to be a Zombie on the show on the AMC website (I think).
• The characters. There's a bit of an ensemble cast, which as my crit group knows, is something I love. Obviously some characters play a much larger role than others, but they're all compelling so far.
• The network. Okay, I'll admit that I've only watched Mad Men a few times, but AMC seems to be a network on the rise to me. And, although it's not premium, they somehow get away with more violence, more swearing, and more adult content than broadcast networks.
• Based on a comic book series. 'Nuff said.

Ah well, I could probably go on, but it's Friday, or something like that.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone, even if you live in France, or Greece (you two know who you are), and make sure you get enough BRAAAAAAAAAIIIINSSSS!!!!

Top 10 TV Shows Blogfest!

I may be a day late and a dollar short, but here is my entry into the Top 10 TV Shows Blogfest. I would like to thank Alex for coming up with this and everyone else for participating and making it so much fun. Here are my top 10 TV shows, in no real particular order:

1) The Wire.
Brutal. Harsh. Real. The Wire is based on real life in Baltimore's city streets, one of the most dangerous places in America. It portrays the brutality of inner city poverty with courage and honesty unknown before or since. Plus one of my favorite novelists was involved in writing several of the screenplays: Richard Price.

2) The Office
It was so subtle at first, what made this show hilarious, just real people, in an office, doing work and living life. Of course yes Michael Scott is one of the most annoying and funniest characters ever created, and love him or hate him (I happen to love him), you can't deny his impact on the "sitcom". Plus Jim, Dwight and Michael are basically the perfect comedy trio. A modern day Marx Brothers.

3) Entourage.
This show is so much fun. Before you slam me I am aware of the inherent misogyny within this show, especially portrayed by Ari Gold, but that's sort of the point. An over the top, satirical look at Hollywood, that's honest and not afraid to make fun of itself. Plus it's fun as hell to watch, completely unbelievable, and as hilarious as it is exciting.

4) True Blood.
How can a show be this ridiculous and this awesome at the same time? You thought twilight made vampires cool again? Wrong. Maybe sparkly ones, maybe for kids, but True Blood goes all out with violence, drug use, sex and nudity. There is no question this show is for adults, and depraved ones at that. Still, you can't deny the entertainment value of this campy romp of sex, blood, gore and violence.

5) Glee.
I haven't had more fun watching a show with my family (my kids, not my parents) ever. There are occasional moments that fly swiftly over my daughter's head, but the music, the singing, the production value in this show know no equal. Plus the concept of bringing back rockin tunes that might have been left by the wayside otherwise is a stellar one. The message of equality cleverly woven underneath it all is also pretty darn cool.

6) The X Files.
Oh the files that were filed under X. Oh Mulder. Oh Scully. Oh Smoking man and Krycek. This was a show from a simpler time. When weird was cool and "big picture" episodes were waited for with bated breath. At least by me. The movies weren't bad, but it was the show that stole my heart. This was the first and only show I planned to watch every week once I finally was out on my own.

7) The Simpsons.
Only in America could a show poke so much fun at real issues in our society and still be so beloved. Only Matt Groening could be so cruel toward New Jersey while being from there originally. The Simpsons are timeless. The Simpsons are hilarious. The Simpsons was probably the first cartoon on national TV that wasn't really appropriate for children, and we loved it for that. The simpsons made Fox cool.

8) Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The show, not the film. This one was a recent discovery for me, but it was also honestly the very first show my own kids introduced to me that I actually ended up loving. This show has it all, martial arts, magical manipulation of the elements, romance, comedy, a quest to save the world. The characters are very lovable, and there are some moments of slapstick that get a little cheesy, but for the most part this is a kids show that adults can enjoy as well.

9) L.A. Law
I actually don't even remember this show that well, but it was the first show my parents watched that I got into at all. I was already a huge Harry Hamlin fan because of Clash of the Titans, and I remember Corbin Bernsen and Jimmy Smits' characters quite well. This show was more of a soap opera than most modern lawyer shows today, but I recall clearly that this was what first made me want to be an attorney. Well, this and the money.

10) M.A.S.H.
The original sitcom. The show that spanned generations. The show that defined many younger Americans understanding of the Korean War until they grew up and found a better understanding. Hawkeye. Trapper. Hot Lips. Klinger. Hunnicutt. Radar. Major Burns. Need I say more? The finale of this show was the most watched television event in history until the Super Bowl that was played this year.

So what do you all think? Discover any new shows during this awesome blogfest? I know I did. Please remember to visit all the other bloggers who participated as there have been a great many wonderful shows, actors and performances mentioned. You will enjoy all of these posts immensely.

I promise.