#american tv

[live-from-flaturn]

American Television after 5 years of pushing for queer representation: I hope you wanted unnecessary drama, angst with a maybe resolution, and three unfulfilling seasons of questionably written flirtation. And that all comes before anything is half-confirmed with a singular lukewarm kissing scene between two conventionally attractive, white bisexual women!

Thai Television .3 seconds after they figured out queer content is marketable: Did you want something kinky, soft, or stupid? Did you want cat ears? We’ve got cat ears! We’ve got safe/sane/consensual OR off-the-charts bad etiquette BDSM. We’ve got college students out the ass! As long as they’re an engineer or architect, choose your flavor. Do you want an age gap or classmates? Something for adults? Teens? Everyone was childhood besties, how about that??? This is a short order restaurant and I will flip you some gays like they’re hotcakes, just tell me what you want.

[haveyouseenthis-childhoodshow]

Have you seen this childhood show: Cyberchase (2002-Present), Canada and United States.

Commentary/Context/Memories: I used to watch this show before going to school in the morning. Fun stories, awesome voice acting, and legitimately made math extremely fun.

[mimi-0007]

[cloud3francois]

X-Files: All The Evidence That Scully Is Immortal

[isabellinne]

the man in the high castle + that room

[evangelifloss]

With my extensive knowledge of Seinfield, I can confidently say that I would have no problems assimilating into American culture and politics. They wouldn't even know I was a foreigner

[bitchbrisket]

[sklira]

I'm Not In Love (10cc cover) | Kikiwest

[film-o-teka]

Quarry, 2016

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

I don't watch a lot of US tv shows. Not because I think they are "bad", but more because they barely hold any appeal to me.

The last few I tried were like : let's start with a pointless sex scene, because dang, regular american boy loves that! Also, let's not pay anyone to do the light. Better if it's too dark to see anything at all 60% of the time, wow we're so gritty.

That said, I happened to stumble on Night Sky. And the reason I got interested was that for once, our two heroes were old people (and it's sci-fi, which I have always loved). And as the heroes, the tone of the first episode was very much slower, calmer and yet super interesting.

It had zero useless sex scenes the whole way, the plot unraveled at a pretty slow but good rhythm, the acting was good. Lovely.

and then.

and then, the number one reson why I've been mostly staying as far from US shows as humanly possible.

The reason why I absolutely despise 99% of all american TV shows.

They can't ever write a freaking ending, and you never know if a show is going to be "renewed" or not.

I've been watching so much shows from other countries where the show is clearly bought to last a set number of episodes, so there is always an ending. Good, bad, I don't even care, as long as it's there.

Now I'm left with no ending, more questions than answers, and the absolute certainty that this was my last ever foray into "made for the US" series.

What are your thoughts about that format? You obviously watch older movies, so I'm not sure if you are into shows at all. I'm curious.

Pfff, I watch sort of everything anon. And definitely tv series.

I wasn't sure how to answer your questions because there is a lot to unpack and honestly? In order to get an encompassing answer, I'd have to write a thesis. But I'll keep it short.

In terms of American shows not getting an ending and in turn, becoming a frustrating viewing experience, I'd say that it has more to do with current production practices and the industry at large, rather than the shows being American. The US has produced most of the greatest tv since its invention and we have experienced the golden age of television for the first couple of decades of the 21st century.

I'd say that the problem is represented by the streaming services and the run of the mill and cancelled shows are a product of that culture. Binge watching, too many projects getting a green light leading to a lot of trash as well, focusing too much on algorithm and quick social media response lead to abrupt cancellation. And sometimes they do it for tax purposes as well. It's the same in the film industry.

Getting out an entire season to streaming immediately hurts the people behind it. With cable tv, writers had a more long-term job, each season had more episodes, the episode was written specifically to fit in commercials as well. Direct to streaming changed that for the worst, hence the writers strike. There's a lot more to be said on this and you can watch this as well, it will help

Poor lighting has indeed been another criticism which I can understand. It's because they're shooting on digital and somehow it gives this illusion that it's more "realistic"? It's not, it's just lazy and it's a shame. Lighting in cinematography is an art and there's plenty of examples out there.

Lastly, the "useless sex scenes". I wonder what constitutes as useless for you though? The existence of a sex scene is not just for some "regular american boy". It's part of a lot of people's lives and being depicted in fiction is to be expected. There's nothing wrong with watching it, for everyone. Would it have a point only if it advances the plot? Could it not be another means of characterization? Of setting a mood? A commentary? Perhaps a glimpse into a life? There's plenty of reasons, even if it appears "pointless". It's unfortunate to see this trend nowadays, but at least it creates debates from people on all sides. I'd actually say that the lack of eroticism and the abundance of sexless characters in a lot of mainstream cinema/tv is creating a false, artificial image of a world that gets boring really fast and certainly a fictional Hollywood subpar to everything that came before.

[ludmilachaibemachado]

Marlo Thomas🍒

Via @girlsofthesixties on Instagram🍒

[tomheath]

Nick today on Good Morning America 📺

[haveyouseenthis-childhoodshow]

Have you seen this childhood show: Wonder Pets! (2006-2018), United States (English)

Commentary/Context/Memories: No user commentary.

[Mod A: This show was about classroom pets who aim to save other animals from dangerous situations that occur outside the classroom (during the night-time/weekends that school is not in session) via their FlyBoat. The pets names were Linny the Guinea Pig, Ming-Ming Duckling, and Turtle Tuck. This show used an innovative animation style called "photo-puppetry" which uses photos of real animals and moves them using Adobe After Effects. The image of Tuck was from Jennifer Oxley (the show creator)’s own pet turtle (a red-eared slider)! I never knew that this show was done in an operetta style (the dialogue is sung this way) and had an original 10-member orchestra music to keep the pace. My parents were big on opera/operetta music (grew up listening to a lot of operas while doing chores as a kid) so if this show came out when I was younger, I would’ve really loved it for the familiar, nostalgic music alone (the live-action images of the animals are a bonus)!]

[e-mangos]

Does a Haircut Maketh a Man?

Spoilers for Episode 5 of The Time Traveler’s Wife. Read at your own discretion.

Clare suddenly falling all over 28-year-old Henry because he looks more like 40-year-old Henry bothers me.

For episodes now, 40-year-old Henry has been begging asking Clare and others to just be kind; to have mercy on younger him -- and I get it, younger Henry is prick with a raging case of foot-in-mouth-syndrome -- but Clare isn’t particularly kind or merciful. I don’t blame her. She’s right. She fell in love with older Henry and young Henry seems so immature by comparison. But my goodness, it seems like she’s not even trying.

That is until The Haircut™.

Okay. I’d be lying if the haircut didn’t take 28-year-old Henry from sleaze-ball to stud. The wig was horrible (we know it, the stylist knows it, hell the wig probably knows it) and may it disappear into the ether never to return. Still, there’s something intrinsically wrong (to me, at least) about Henry changing himself to fit her ideal because the changing seems so one sided. People change in relationships; we grow into each other and for each other. But it seems like all of the demands for growth are coming from Clare for Henry.

I know Clare “apologized” to Henry for wanting him to be someone he’s not yet, but the apology feels perfunctory because Henry immediately follows it up with a declaration that he can be somebody else (presumably future him). I so badly wanted her to tell him, “No, just be you. I love you.”

[mimi-0007]

Sugar Ray Leonard and Ray Jr.

[horizon-verizon]

You know, I've long taken to watch Chinese historical fantasy/dramas on Viki, and my all time favorite has to be Rebellious Princess.

I'd watch shows like that (except the most recent) for days, over and over before I ever want to watch HotD's entire story (once it finishes) only once. Because at this point, HotD is just for me to marvel over terrible fanons and sexist/homophobic/racist writing.

The historical drama or fantasy shows on Viki aren't where I would like them to be always, but they certainly have much better female leads.