In honor of Election Day, my assessments of some of the best and worst shows of the season. Sadly, some of the shows highlighted below fall into both categories.
THE BEST
Studio 60: (This paragraph will not be marked spoiler because I am commenting on the shape of the show generally, not specific plot points, but you can skip it if you're worried.) I'll be the first to admit it, I like Aaron Sorkin. I liked the West Wing. I liked Sport's Night. I like him. And I am trying very hard to like Studio 60. But it's a struggle. Points in the show's favor: Matthew Perry is great. Amanda Peet is surprisingly good. Bradley Whitford is god-like, of course. And the premise has some definite potential. Points against the show: that potential is so far being squandered. It is death for a show about a sketch comedy hour to have sketch comedy that is so patently un-funny. It's as if Sorkin thinks that all Studio 60 sketches should be the News with Dennis Miller clones: sardonic, witty asides delivered in perfectly normal tones of voice after clever, cerebral copy. Fine, this works, for SOME sketches. But not all. No, definitely not all. Part of the SNL appeal is its intelligence mixed with zaniness, its blend of physical comedy with political satire, etc. But Studio 60 misses this boat entirely. And I think Aaron is catching on, since the last few episodes have had little if any sketches in them at all. How long he can keep this up, writing about a sketch comedy show but avoiding the sketches, the funny itself, I am interested to see. But I have my doubts about the sustainability of that plan. Sadly, I hear a death knell in the distance. The bell tolls for thee, Mr. Sorkin.
Heroes: (again, not a spoiler paragraph, by my definition. But feel free to correct me!) Something big is bubbling beneath the surface. Something really, really big. We are about to see what happens when you take the premise of this show, that genetic mutations are resulting in super powers in ordinary people, to its logical extension: every single person on screen could (and looks like they might) have secret powers of all stripes. My experience tells me this turn of events could spell endless potential for plot development or series implosion. It's a very fine line, so stay tuned!
Veronica Mars: Whether or not they will make it past the 13 episodes ordered for this season is still a mystery, but they have picked up viewers after GG, quite a feat. So perhaps we will get to see the real end to season 3 after all. Which would make me happy. I still say this father/daughter relationship is the most genuine in many years. I am also interested in the complexity of the feminist messages we are seeing this season during the storyline about rapes on campus. Veronica has aligned herself repeatedly against the on-campus feminist group but in favor of a woman's right not to be raped. Yet so far she hasn't really picked a side. And don't get me started on the class issues as they are manifesting themselves this season (no really, that's for another day).
Gray's Anatomy: The soapy goodness continues, though please make better use of your outstandingly diverse cast (more Miranda! more Callie!) and ditch the evolving angry black man story line. And keep people from sleeping with McSteamy, gosh darn it! (Okay, that's not a critical judgment, just a personal plea!)
America's Next Top Model: Yes, that's right, it's making my list, and it's a making it as a winner for the season, for all kinds of campy and righteous reasons. Camp: the Jays. And Twiggy. Enough said. Righteousness: Still loving the multiculti girls, Tyra's reign as media-diva, the constant calls to own your body and be "fierce." And I have been told that my tv-hating father now watches this ANTM season religiously with my youngest sister. And if that's not an indication of its staying power and appeal, I don't know what is!
THE WORST
Gilmore Girls: They should have quit last season. They are losing viewers and my interest, a deadly combination. Amy, we miss you terribly!
Prison Break: The name no longer fits, and the action is inane, as is the new villain, who not only should be being investigated by Internal Affairs, he should be on some other show.
Survivor: The racial division gambit was such an ill-conceived flop that even company man Jeff Probst said as much last episode during tribal council, and they didn't edit it out. And please, for the love of all that is holy, will someone tell the producers that it's okay to repeat challenges? We won't care, honestly, and in the meantime you are literally killing your competitors with the insanely convoluted and extremely taxing obstacles you are throwing at them. At this point, their only hope is to outlast the producers, never mind the other contestants.
Six Degrees: Nothing happens. Nothing. It's kind of remarkable, actually.
ON THE FENCE
Standoff: Ron Livingston of Office Space should have a show, I'm just not sure this is it.
Desperate Housewives: They had a long way to climb after last season, and they are doing it but too slowly for my taste. And I could do without the entire Nora storyline. It's reducing Lynette to a jealous rival.
Ghost Whisperer: Is Jennifer Love pregnant? Just wondering. And could this show be any creepier at 8pm? I don't see how!
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