Pop Culture Curmudgeon September 2010 Archives

Holy 80s Pop Songs, Batman

2010 appears to be the year that all retailers want to use 80s pop songs in their commercials.

The first I noticed was Technotronic’s “Move This” being used to sell Garanimals. Target is all about the 80s songs, co-opting “We Got the Beat,” “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” and “Free to Be You and Me.” (Okay, “Free to Be You and Me” isn’t actually an 80s song, but it was a staple in my childhood music repertoire.) Even Macy’s jumped on the 80s bandwagon, too, with the use of “Magic” by Olivia Newton-John.

It doesn’t bother me–in fact, it is nice to hear an 80s song unexpectedly on TV. It’s a nice change from hearing Train’s “Soul Sister” on every commercial. But it is odd how many 80s hits are out there.

What ones have you heard? Do you think they are effective sales tools?

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike

The Winnowing Has Begun

The beauty of the CW’s early season is that it gives me a chance to test and reject their new shows before the other shows have even started. And reject is what I have done already with Nikita and Hellcats. Neither show is offensive, but they certainly aren’t must-see TV. I’ll watch them if there is nothing else on, but both have been deleted from the DVR schedule.

Last night’s premieres were pretty good, but I couldn’t get into The Event. Did you watch? And did you enjoy it? I plan to give it another chance on the DVR, but I’d love to hear what you all thought of it.

And, it’s only four short days until Supernatural is back. I didn’t think I’d be looking forward to it so much, but I can’t wait. I hope Sera Gamble and co. treat the show right.

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike

My Thoughts on the Summer Season

I decided to wait to write this post until all of the summer shows ended, just in case something happened on True Blood, Entourage, or Hung that changed what I was planning to say. And, True Blood did, giving me the least satisfying season finale of the summer. Here are the highlights and lowlights of the past summer season.

Surprise Favorite Show of the Summer

I actually had two shows that I didn’t think I would like: Pretty Little Liars and Covert Affairs.

ABC Family is a summer staple, with Gilmore Girls and sitcom repeats and the laughable yet still addictive Secret Life of the American Teenager. But, I wasn’t ready to give another of their originals a shot. So I ignored Pretty Little Liars for the first two weeks. And then I caught a repeat of the second episode, and I was hooked. I was actually sad when the season ended.

I have never liked Piper Perabo–she is tainted by the stench of Coyote Ugly. So I watched this show’s pilot expecting to hate her. But I didn’t. She is extremely likable as Annie, the fresh-faced CIA rookie who is being used by the higher-ups.

Show That Has No Chance, But I Enjoyed Anyway

Rookie Blue boasts and engaging cast, interesting plots, and decent acting. But, because it is on one of the major networks, I believe strongly that it was simply being burned off because it was deemed not good enough for the fall or mid-season. I’d love to see the major networks get a clue about summer programming like the cable nets have.

Show I Wish I Liked, But Just Can’t

Dark Blue. I want to enjoy watching this show, but it is just too dark for my summertime viewing. I love the cast, and I think it is a good show, I just don’t like watching it.

Most Annoying New Character

You know it’s gotta be True Blood. But would it be crazy-ass Franklin Mott? Little bro Tommy? Or were-panther Crystal? Crystal was almost it, but no, it was Mississippi King Russell Edginton. Between the horrible and unnecessary accent and the glass urn of vampire remains, I cringed nearly every time he came on screen. And with the season finale ending the way it did, it looks as if he’ll be back one of these times as they further explore Sookie’s fairy-ness.

What about you. What did you love and hate about the summer TV season?

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike

The Summer Is Over

I can’t believe Labor Day has come and gone, and the new TV season is about to begin.

Of course, part of the reason I feel as if summer went by too fast is, of course, the addition of PCC Jr. to our home. Jasper is doing fabulously, growing much too fast and taking so much of my attention. But, because of the wonderful DVR, I have been able to watch my summer shows, even the oft-frustrating True Blood. I have enjoyed the way they are handling PJ and Bobby’s relationship on My Boys. And, I like where they are taking Vince’s character on Entourage, though I’m not in love with porn star Sasha Grey getting mainstream work. I prefer to live in a world that doesn’t glamorize porn.

Anyway, the premieres are fast approaching. Here is a list of them. The capitalized shows are new, and the bolded ones are the shows I plan to watch this year. Of course, I’m willing to break up with new shows that don’t grab my interest and keep it and even start watching ones that didn’t look great from the get go, so things could change. I hope you will share your fall season plans and predictions in the comments section.

Tuesday, September 7
10pm: Sons of Anarchy – FX

Wednesday, September 8
8pm: America’s Next Top Model – The CW
9pm: HELLCATS – The CW
10pm: TERRIERS – FX

Thursday, September 9
8pm: The Vampire Diaries – The CW
9pm: NIKITA – The CW

Monday, September 13
8pm: 90210 – The CW
9pm: Gossip Girl – The CW

Tuesday, September 14
8pm: One Tree Hill – The CW
9pm: Life Unexpected – The CW

Thursday, September 16
10pm: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – FX
10:30pm: The League – FX

Monday, September 20
8pm: Dancing with the Stars – ABC
8pm: House – Fox
8pm: How I Met Your Mother – CBS
8pm: Chuck – NBC
8:30pm: Rules of Engagement – CBS
9pm: Two and a Half Men – CBS
9pm: LONE STAR – Fox
9pm: THE EVENT – NBC
9:30pm: MIKE & MOLLY – CBS
10pm: Castle – ABC
10pm: HAWAII FIVE-O – CBS (Mr. PCC can’t wait for this one.)
10pm: CHASE – NBC

Tuesday, September 21
8pm: NCIS – CBS
8pm: The Biggest Loser – NBC
9pm: NCIS: Los Angeles (two-hour premiere) – CBS
9pm: Glee – Fox
10pm: DETROIT 1-8-7 – ABC
10pm: Parenthood – NBC

Wednesday, September 22
8pm: The Middle – ABC
8pm: UNDERCOVERS – NBC
8:30pm: BETTER WITH YOU – ABC
9pm: Modern Family – ABC
9pm: Criminal Minds – CBS
9pm: Law & Order: SVU – NBC
9:30pm: Cougar Town – ABC
10pm: THE WHOLE TRUTH – ABC
10pm: THE DEFENDERS – CBS
10pm: Law & Order: Los Angeles – NBC

Thursday, September 23
8pm: MY GENERATION – ABC
8pm: Big Bang Theory – CBS
8pm: Bones – Fox
8pm: Community – NBC
8:30pm: $@*# MY DAD SAYS – CBS
8:30pm: 30 Rock – NBC
9pm: Grey’s Anatomy – ABC
9pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – CBS
9pm: Fringe – Fox
9pm: The Office – NBC
9:30pm: OUTSOURCED – NBC
10pm: Private Practice – ABC
10pm: The Mentalist – CBS

Friday, September 24
8pm: Medium – CBS
8pm: Smallville – The CW
8pm: Human Target – Fox
8pm: SCHOOL PRIDE – NBC
9pm: CSI: NY – CBS
9pm: Supernatural – The CW
9pm: The Good Guys – Fox
9pm: Dateline – NBC
10pm: 20/20 – ABC
10pm: BLUE BLOODS – CBS
10pm: OUTLAW – NBC

Sunday, September 26
8pm: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – ABC
8pm: The Amazing Race – CBS
9pm: Desperate Housewives – ABC
10pm: Brothers & Sisters – ABC

Tuesday, September 28
8pm: NO ORDINARY FAMILY – ABC
10pm: The Good Wife – CBS

Wednesday, September 29
Law & Order: Los Angeles – NBC

Sunday, October 3
10pm: CSI: Miami – CBS

Wednesday, November 10
8pm: Lie to Me – Fox

Be the first to like.

Like

Unlike