Free Candy For Everyone

The new season of Gilmore Girls premiered this week. The creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, left at the end of last season, and the show isn’t the same. It’s not the same at all. The whole episode it was like everyone was acting in a weak imitation of a Gilmore Girls episode.

The dialog attempted to be fast and funny, but it was really just trying too hard. I was just waiting for the episode to end so I could get back to watching Veronica Mars. It’s really sad - Gilmore Girls was one of the sharpest, brightest shows on television. Now it’s never going to be the same again.

I said I’d post my thoughts on MTV buying up Harmonix but I’ve been sort of uncertain what to think. Joystiq has a bit of info along with a link to the official Harmonix press release.

As my constant readers know, I’m a huge fan of Harmonix. Their games are some of my favorites - I love video games and music, and their games are awesome combinations of the two. I can’t wait for Guitar Hero 2, it’s gonna be awesome.

What I didn’t mention on the blog was that my job search lead me to go talk to the folks at Harmonix. They were a great group of people and it was totally awesome to get to hang out there for a bit. But ultimately there were more things pulling me to LucasArts so I made the decision to come out to California instead.

Now I’m all curious what things will be like there now that they’re owned. MTV today reminds me of something from the movie Reality Bites. Ben Stiller’s character works at a TV series that, as they say in the movie is “MTV, but with an edge!” It’s a totally over-the-top parody of MTV, with ridiculous attempts at being hip and understanding current fashion and trends. Sadly, MTV today is like that. It’s almost a parody of itself in the good old days.

So. This is the company that bought Harmonix - a company of independent free spirits who just want to make music and make good games is now owned by the ultimate wannabes. There are a couple of things that could happen. Ideally, the execs over at MTV know they have a good thing going and won’t mess with the internals at Harmonix. They’ll let those bright folks continue to make their games the way they know how to, just now with lots more corporate tie-ins of some sort. Worst case they’ll send people over to mess with it and kill everything that makes Harmonix special. Oh, I’m hope hope hoping for the former. Not only do I love their games, I have some friends that work there, and I only wish the best for them.

The TV season has returned in full force and what have I been doing? Watching TV on DVD and movies I’ve already seen. But they’re just so darn good! For the longest time I’d been meaning to watch Veronica Mars, a tv show just entering it’s 3rd season next week. The first season was on sale at Costco for a mere $17.99 so I couldn’t resist and picked it up.

I’ve been watching it non-stop ever since. I’d sit down for one episode and end up watching four. It’s smart, sharp, and daring. It’s well-written and unpredictable. If you don’t know anything about it, the first season is about a girl in high school. Her best friend was murdered about a year before the show begins and she and her father have both been driven to figure out what really happened. The whole first season has this murder mystery as an underlying current that creeps up at unexpected times. It’s awesome. And just a warning - if you don’t know anything about the show and want to watch it, don’t try to read up on it on the internet! It’ll give it away, and you really want to let everything unfold at it’s own pace.

I finished up watching the first season on Saturday and just couldn’t stand to wait another moment for season two. I ordered it on Amazon that day. Should be here early this week! I can’t wait. I hope to be able to catch up before the new season starts October 3rd. Of course, I’m just going to TiVo the series, so even if it takes me an extra week to catch up it’ll still be waiting there when I’m ready.

Next up, Serenity! It was airing on HBO in HD earlier today, so I recorded it, just in case I felt like watching. Then this evening I thought “Hey, let’s just see what it looks like in HD. I’ll just watch a few minutes, then turn the TV off.” Next thing I know it’s an hour later and I’m thinking “Eh, there’s only a little bit more anyways” and then it was 2 hours and done. That movie is good. The whole Firefly thing is good. I’m hoping they’re making enough money on DVD sales to at least make them consider another movie. That’s be lovely.

I like me the TV. Good stuff everywhere.

EEP! Say it ain’t so! NY Times

Thoughts later…

Ok ok, so I haven’t given up on Joss. But I just watched the pilot episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and WOW. Here’s a writer who inspired me with scenes from a White House that could only exist in the feverish mind of an erudite idealist. He created our expectations of razor sharp dialog delivered at breathtaking speeds you almost have to re-watch to follow. And now he’s turned his attentions to a SNL-type skit show, long past its prime and in need of an overhaul.

I didn’t think I could be inspired by a show about tv. Yet there were several moving speeches of such heart and eloquence that I got a tear in my eye (but then I’m a total softy and just about everything gets a tear in my eye). It’s just tv, yet it’s not. There were many familiar faces from the West Wing scattered about the set as a welcome site. But it was the tone, the purpose, and the breakneck pace that I really was glad to see return.

Aaron Sorkin created and wrote every single episode of the West Wing. At least for the first few years. Then there were some troubles and he eventually left. But the show was never the same. No team of crack writers could quite equal up to one Sorkin.

I’m excited for tv again. It’s a glad return for me to see something that’s finally worth investing my emotions.