Geoausch

TV ratings baffle me. While a clever show like 30 Rock struggles in the ratings, CBS’s line-up of generic crap dominates the ratings. I fear the day is coming soon when CBS introduces CSI: Boise and it enters the top of the ratings.  Do Americans not realize what they are missing? Just in case, I’m providing my list of “5 Shows You Should Be Watching (But Probably Aren’t)”.

1.) Friday Night Lights – If you think that Friday Night Lights is just a show about football, you are mistaken. No other movie or TV shows has captured Texas life like FNL, but it transcends the borders, and paints a portrait of small town America rarely seen. Most television shows focus on life in urban and/or suburban environments, where people live in monolithic communities, never interacting with people outside their own demographics. FNL presents a diverse community, where folks are forced to confront their differences and work together for the community. High school football just happens to be one mechanism they use to unite the community together.For some reason, this show continues to struggle in the ratings. Currently, Season 4 is running on The 101, available only on DirectTV, but will also begin a run on NBC in the Spring.

2.)  Bored to Death – Bored to Death premiered this Fall on HBO and just concluded Season 1 last week. It stars indie favorite Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames, a Brooklyn based writer struggling to churn out his next novel. In the pilot episode, his girlfriend (played by Olivia Thirlby) leaves him,  hurling his life into further chaos. He picks up a classic Noir mystery novel and gets the idea to start a private detective service  as a way to cope with his recent loss. Zach Galifanakis plays Ray Hueston, Ames best friend, and a constant source of support and classic Galifanakis comedy. No review of Bored to Death would be complete without mentioning Ted Danson’s performance as George Christopher, the editor of a magazine for which Ames writes. Cerebral writing, smart humor and great acting combine to make this my choice for top new show in 2009. HBO just announced that it will be picking up Bored to Death for a second season.

3.) Californication - I’ll admit that I was late coming around on Californication. It’s another story about a writer, but one completely different from Jonathan Ames. While Ames struggles with self confidence, Californication’s protagonist, Hank Moody (David Duchovny), exudes it. For Duchovny, the role is a bit of “art of imitating life,” as Moody simply can’t get enough of the “fairer sex,” but Moody and the other characters in the show learn from the mistakes of their sexual promiscuity. Season 3 of Californication currently runs on Showtime at 8 P.M.  (CST) on Sunday nights.

4.) Secret Diary of a Call Girl – Diary gives a fascinating peek into the world of a high priced call girl, Belle, played by Billie Piper. Originally produced for British TV, Showtime picked up the American broadcast rights. Through Piper’s portrayal of Belle, we see a woman trying to come terms with her role in society, trying to keep her business life separated from her personal life and dealing with the constant threat of social ostracism. Through it all, Belle emerges as a fiercely independent, strong, successful woman capable of handling all the bumps along the road she has chosen to travel. Part comedy, part drama, part tragedy, one of the most complete shows on television today.  Production just began on Season 3, so look for a late spring 2010 start to the new season.

5.) Mad Men – For those of you who have lived under a rock for the past three years, Mad Men examines life in 1960′s American through the lives of several New York City advertising men (and women). We see nation experiencing growing pains, as she evolves into her modern-day incarnation–a world where minorities and women slowly begin the painful progress of emerging from the depths of oppression and begin the steep ascent towards equality. More than that we see tragically flawed characters struggling to combat their inner demons. It’s amazing to think that HBO passed on this show, allowing AMC to pick it up. Without a doubt, the best written drama currently on TV. For those of you wanting to catch up on the show, you have time. Last week was the Season 3 finale, so you have month’s to watch prior seasons on DVD and get prepared for Season Four.

Since getting my first iPod as a gift some four years ago, I’ve downloaded countless gigs of all forms of media. One of my favorite things to download is podcasts. Over the last few years, I’ve tried out hundreds of different podcasts, but have now narrowed it down to 15 or 20 that I listen to on a regular basis. I thought I would share with you my top 5 podcasts:

1.) Slate Culture Gabfest – This is a must listen if you want to stay current on all things related to culture. The shows regular panel consists of Dana Stevens, Julia Turner and Stephen Metcalf, though they are frequently joined by other members of the Slate.Com staff. The content leans towards the “high brow” and much of it involves material published in Northeast publications (i.e. New York Times, The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, etc.), but it provides an inside look at what intellectual elitists all over the nation are talking about.  The most recent episode included a review of the controversial new Lee Daniels’ movie Precious, a review of the Ian McEwan novel Black Dogs to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and Jim Windolf’s recent Vanity Fair article on “cuteness.”

2.)  Slate Political Gabfest – Functions in pretty much the same fashion as the Culture Gabfest–three person panel discusses three issues–only involving politics instead of cultural issues. The normal panel consists of John Dickerson, Emily Bazelon and Slate managing editor, David Plotz. Be warned, the panel leans Left–far Left, but it’s entertaining and informative all the same.

3.) Anything You Ever Wanted to Know – This show is produced by KERA, Dallas’ local public radio station. The show airs each Friday afternoon, but I always listen to it via podcast. The show provides an open forum for listeners to submit questions, either on the phone or through e-mail, to be answered by other members of the listening audience and is moderated by Jeff Whittington. Over the past three years, I’ve learned some fascinating things from the show.

4.) The Writer’s Almanac Podcast – Hosted by Garrison Keillor, the show serves as a “this day in literary history” for lovers of words.  Normally, Keillor lists off several key events for each day and then will focus heavily on one birthday or event before reading a selected “poem of the day.” More than anything else, the show has introduced me to some great new poetry.

5.) NPR Playback – While the other podcasts I listed are released on a weekly or daily basies, the NPR Playback podcast is released on a monthly basis and features audio clips from the archives from 20 years prior. For example, the November podcast features audio from NPR segments from November 1984. I love being transported back to the 80′s and this podcast does just that.