Scrubs = FAIL

When Seinfeld and company stopped production while they were the top rated show on television, I couldn’t understand why.

Today I finally get it.

After watching Scrubs mail in yet another episode last night, I now know the reason it is so important to get out while the getting is good.

I haven’t watched Scrubs religiously since the first season, but I’ve watched seemingly hundreds of different episodes on syndication. And the last couple of months Jason and I have been working through the seasons on DVD during our lunch breaks. We’re midway through the third season right now, and it’s a riot.

Then I juxtapose those against what I’ve watched for the last three weeks and all I see is overacting and lame jokes. It all feels forced and out of date. It was a sad realization. Hopefully as we watch the remainder of the seasons I won’t see the end happen as quickly as I did last night.

RIP Scrubs. You were great once.

Filed under: Scrubs, TV

Digital Converter

Time is running out to take advantage of the coupons the government is offering as a consolation for forcing us to switch to digital. You need to go to www.dtv2009.gov or call 888-DTV-2009 to sign up, and you’ll receive two coupons towards the purchase of an eligible converter box.

I’d say the majority of my readers don’t use rabbit ears for their television experience anymore, but you might know someone like my in-laws that just can’t give up that snowy experience. Or perhaps a sweet old lady in your church who could use one and doesn’t know to get the coupons (I’d use my grandma for an example, but she’s rocking some cable).

So go ahead and get those coupons and help someone out. And if it’s you that you’re helping out, go get you some cable or dish already!

(ht: Wise Bread)

Filed under: 1923, Coupons, Culture, Digital, Government, TV

Welcome Back

I’d like to officially welcome the following personalities back into my life…

Bill O’Reilly
Sean Hannity
Alan Colmes
Brit Hume
Greta Van Susteren
Shepard Smith
Keith Olbermann
Dan Abrams
Chris Matthews
Joe Scarborough
Tucker Carlson
Tim Russert

…as well as the many others that are employed by FOX News and MSNBC.

After signing up for the Dish Network Top 100, I soon learned that it didn’t include these two fine channels (as well as WGN, FOX Sports Detroit, AMC, and Soap Net). So after a few months of going without, and with the baseball season just around the corner, I upgraded my plan to the Top 200.

It was so nice to see those familiar faces. You can only watch so much Larry King, Wolf Blitzer, and Glenn Beck.

Filed under: Alan Colmes, Bill O'Reilly, Brit Hume, Chris Matthews, CNN, Dan Abrams, Democrats, Dish Network, Fox News, Glenn Beck, Greta Van Susteren, Joe Scarborough, Keith Olbermann, Larry King, MSNBC, News, Politics, Pundits, Republicans, Sean Hannity, Shepard Smith, Tim Russert, Tucker Carlson, TV, Wolf Blitzer

Breaking Bad Marathon

If you’ve missed any of the best show you’ve never seen (Breaking Bad) then tonight is your chance to catch up.

AMC is running a special mini-marathon of all three episodes tonight beginning at 8pm.

Set your DVRs and enjoy!

Filed under: AMC, Bryan Cranston, Chemistry, TV

Breaking Bad

Finding a home over on the AMC network, Breaking Bad is the best show you’ve never heard of. Starring Malcom in the Middle dad, Bryan Cranston, as Walter White—a struggling high school chemistery teacher with a handicapped child and a pregnant wife. When White is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, he breaks down and turns to a life of crime, setting up a meth lab in order to support his family.

It premiered on January 20, 2008, and every time I turn this show on I can’t break away from it. I’ve only caught about 75% of each episode because I always forget about the AMC network, but now that I’m finally cool and own a DVR I’ll be able to to record them all.

Do yourself a favor and give it a look (also, this is not a family show in case you hadn’t caught that in the description).

» breakingbad.com
» amctv.com/originals/breakingbad
» waltswisdom.com

Filed under: AMC, Bryan Cranston, Chemistry, TV

Seperated At Birth?

Am I the only one that thought Lena Headey (Sarah Connor Chronicles, 300), and Thomas Cavanagh (Ed, Scrubs) were related?

Filed under: Lena Headey, Movies, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Scrubs, Siblings, Terminator, Thomas Cavanagh, TV

Comcast vs. Dish

It had to happen eventually.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I now have half of the cable channels I did only 24 hours ago. To get the good ones back I’ll have to pay more money. So now I have to make the choice… do I now switch to the Dish Network?

Comcast Cable or Dish Network?

Either way I’m going to score a DVR out of this (I’ve been beating the snot out of my VCR lately), but I’m just so nervous about making a switch. I’m bad for brand loyalty.

Any pros or cons?

Filed under: Cable, Comcast, Dish Network, Entertainment, Satellite, Television, TV

The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Tonia and I both enjoyed watching all three Terminators for the first time in 2007. Soon after watching them I discovered that a new Terminator movie is in the works (sans Arnold). I also learned that there’s a new show on FOX beginning January 13 called Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

The series will focus on the character Sarah Connor, who is on the run with her son after Terminator 2: Judgment Day when Sarah, John, and the Terminator successfully destroy the T-1000 and the arm and computer chip from the first Terminator. Sarah and John then watch as the Terminator is lowered into a molten steel pit in an attempt to destroy all future technology that could be used to create Skynet. Sarah and John now find themselves alone in a very dangerous and complicated world. Fugitives from the law, they are confronted with the reality that still more enemies — from the future and the present — could attack at any moment.

To be honest, I wasn’t planning on getting into this series but, with Jack Bauer and 24 not beginning this month, I have an open slot on my Monday evenings. And this looks like it will fit the bill.

Filed under: 24, FOX, Jack Bauer, Sarah Connor, Sci-Fi, Terminator, TV

The Way I Am

Yet another extremely catchy tune from a TV commercial. This time it’s Ingrid Michaelson and her song The Way I Am (also known as “the sweater song”), as seen on an Old Navy commercial.

Apparently she’s getting some grief about having her music featured in a commercial. I think she responded quite nicely on her MySpace blog, and brings up a great question: When do you call it “selling out” and when do you call it “succeeding”?

BTW, I freaking LOVE this song!!

Filed under: Commercialism, Ingrid Michaelson, Music, Old Navy, TV

Big Ten Network

The source of my distain these days calls itself the Big Ten Network (BTN). Stealing from the playbook of the NFL Network, the BTN is a new channel focusing on the Big Ten conference.

In theory this sounds outstanding. In practice it’s a horrible nightmare for the fans, and a hint of how things will be in the future. The fans of Michigan football have already had to endure 3 of the 5 games played this year without television coverage. And word just came in that the next two games will also only be televised on the BTN—with the possibility of yet another couple games as well. Remember that Appalachian State game? Most of us couldn’t watch it unless we had DirectTV or went to a sports bar.

As of now, the Big Ten Network is not being carried on the majority of the major cable providers in the Big Ten geographic region (namely Comcast), although the network is carried on Wide Open West, and some Insight Cable systems in the region. Both DirecTV and Dish Network are now carrying the network nationally.

There has been debate over carriage between the Big Ten Network and cable providers. Cable companies complaining about the high cost per subscriber for the network, and the Big Ten Network complaining about the tier upon which it will be carried. Essentially, in the eight-state Big Ten region, the Big Ten Network wants to appear on expanded basic cable packages at a reported cost of $1.10 per subscriber. Comcast, Time Warner Cable and other large cable companies have indicated they want to place the Big Ten Network on digital sports tier, along with other networks such as NFL Network, Fox College Sports and NBA TV.

While the two sides are fighting over these issues, we the fans continue to miss games. Personally I have no problem with this channel being put on the extended basic package, and I believe that Comcast is using the sports tier argument to break the BTN from their $1.10 price point. However, I still think the entire premise of a specialized channel carrying games is a bad idea for fans. And unless we do something about it, channels like this and the NFL Network will continue to gain more and more power and we will end up having to pay more and more premiums just to watch our games. It’s absurd.

Boycott the Big Ten Network!!

Filed under: Big Ten, Big Ten Network, Cable, Comcast, NFL Network, TV