Summer Show Wrap-Up

I know, I know, it seems a little late to be talking about shows that premiered over the summer, but one of the shows just had its finale last week. So in this blog, I’m talking about three awesomely original series that debuted this summer. Over the summer, I also caught completely up on Battlestar Galactica and Weeds, which are great, great shows but I want to focus on the newer stuff. Here are the three shows that rocked my summer.

Flight of the Conchords was one of the most awkwardly funny things I saw this summer. The premise is basically two folk singers from New Zealand trying to make a name for themselves in New York City. Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie pull off the dead-pan humour brilliantly. They can go round and round in circles with the most mundane topics and still make you laugh out loud. Rhys Darby who plays their incompetent manager, Murray, is the most pathetic man, you’ll ever meet. Steve Carrell creates awkward situations in the US Office, Ricky Gervais goes even farther in the UK Office, but Darby trumps them all with his blind devotion and inexperienced professionalism when dealing with the Conchords’ future. Their lone fan is also creepily portrayed by the overly-enthusiastic Kristen Schaal. This small cast has amazing chemistry and the plots will definitely make you laugh and cringe. Of course, the highlight of this half-hour comedy series are the bizarre music videos that seamlessly enter the narrative. Crappy video clichés are lampooned as Jermaine and Bret sing their folk songs that are filled with non-sequitors, strange metaphors and technical definitions. This series was on HBO and Movie Central but it’s coming out on DVD in a couple of weeks. You should definitely try this series out.

I started watching Mad Men when it premiered on AMC in July but stopped after a couple episodes due to pacing. Luckily, I came to my senses and caught up with this well-crafted series. The show is about a Madison Avenue advertising agency in the early sixties with a primary focus on the lead creative director, Don Draper, played by the dashing Jon Hamm. The first thing you notice when watching this show is the amount of smoking that goes on. It was definitely a different time. Through some of the creative ad campaigns and the delving into the businessmen’s lives, there are some fun sixties references for the audience to enjoy. The acting in this show is phenomenal. Jon Hamm plays his conflicted role so effortlessly. It’s also a treat to see Vincent Kartheiser (Connor on Angel) in such a layered and slimy role as the man wanting Draper’s job. It took me awhile to remember Elisabeth Moss, a secretary on the way up, as kidnapped Zoey Bartlet from The West Wing. January Jones and Christina Hendricks are also perfect portraying the women in these men’s lives. But the standout in this series (besides Hamm) is the role of the big boss, played by John Slattery (Ed, Desperate Housewives, Jack & Bobby). Even though this character is an absolute pig, you are drawn in by Slattery’s charm until you start feeling for the guy. I mentioned that the pace was a little slow, but that makes sense when you find out that this series was created by Matthew Weiner, a writer from The Sopranos. So even though, the episodes seem to drag a little, there are definitely some powerful moments, clever dialogue, beautiful cinematography and meaningful messages. AMC will probably be rerunning the first season soon and it was also picked up for a second season next summer. This series is a bit of a challenge but surely worth your time.

The show that just ended last week was a brilliant lawyer series by the name of Damages. Talk about intriguing. This show deals with a lawyer who joins a powerful firm that is trying to take down a corrupt business tycoon. Oh yeah, and that lawyer is being accused of murdering her fiancée. This show has the formidable task of weaving three and eventually four timelines seamlessly together. Through the color tinting of the images and timestamps, the audience is treated to multiple stories at once, while trying to piece the mysteries together. There are twists, turns, red herrings and more and I loved every minute of it. What added to the plot was the flawless acting of its cast. Glenn Close shines as the ruthless lawyer Patty Hewes. This chick makes James Wood’s Shark look like a little puppy. Hewes is a master of manipulating people and Close does a great job not revealing her cards until it’s necessary. Ted Danson plays the corrupt Arthur Frobisher and shows his dramatic skills as an actor. There is no way you would confuse Arthur with Sam Malone from Cheers. Rose Byrne does a great job as the new lawyer who starts the series running down the street covered in blood. Stealing scenes from Close and Danson is the impeccable Zeljko Ivanek (24, Oz) as Frobisher’s slick attorney, Ray Fiske. This guy better get an Emmy nomination this year. His character is so compelling I can’t even describe it. This show had me guessing to the very end and I’m praying that it gets picked up for a second season. Each week I eagerly waited to download it off the internet because it was airing on FX, which we don’t get here in Canada. I hear that Showcase will be running it next month so keep a watch out for that. This show was fantastic. I wish more people could have seen it.

My next blogs will return to the movie reviews. I have Dan in Real Life and The Darjeeling Limited coming up. I’ll also be watching the eagerly anticipated American Gangster and Bee Movie soon. Stay tuned.