Archive for October, 2007
October 29th, 2007
NBC’s “Journeyman” is a lot like “Quantum Leap”, with Dan Vasser (Kevin McKidd) traveling back through time to help various people in need. The difference is, while Leap’s Sam Beckett had a hologram and a super-computer his disposal, Dan has only his own wits. Even more interesting is the Kafka-like implications Dan’s impromptu time-travel has on his family, as his wife and son must adjust to a reality where their husband and father can vanish at any moment. “Journeyman” is heavy on intelligent drama but rather light on the answers as to what’s really behind Dan’s leaps back and forth. “Journeyman” airs on NBC at 9:00 PM Monday.
October 29th, 2007
The reasons to watch this must-see medical drama are every bit as numerous as the show’s Emmy nominations. Though the show features a good share of drama, “Grey’s Anatomy” balances out with a quirky narration from the titular Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. The show also highlights a highly acclaimed ensemble cast, ranging from Sandra Oh of “Sideways” to the Emmy-winning Katherine Heigl of “Knocked Up.” If the show has one flaw, it’s the sheer number of characters can be intimidating to new viewers. However, it’s the heart and humor of these characters which make the series extremely accessible. “Grey’s Anatomy” airs on ABC Thursdays at 8:00.
October 22nd, 2007
It’s hard for fans of NBC’s Heroes to get back to the routine of rising action. Most of the last three weeks has been spent picking up the pieces of the season finale; a process that moves at a snail’s pace. Still, its clear the series is setting up for the same epic story arcs last season was famous for. The major story arcs seem to center around Hiro’s (Masi Oka) journey to 16th century Japan and possible consequences, a mysterious stranger targeting heroes of the previous generation and the last images prophet painter Isaac Mendez (Santiago Cabera) committed to paper before he died last season. Heroes airs on NBC at 8:00 PM Monday.
October 22nd, 2007
After doing away with the main bad guy last season, the show seems to have lost its footing. Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) and his Faustian pact to save his brother Sam (Jared Padalecki) is quietly pushed to the side for an apocalyptic conflict tame compared to the emotional struggle between brothers. The content is becoming steadily more visceral, moving from a typical tame CW show to something far more interesting. The show’s humor especially makes the last episode “Bad Luck at Black Rock” one of the most accessible ever. But with many fans up in arms over the addition of two female characters, this show may have an uphill battle of its own ahead. Supernatural airs on CW at 7:00 on Thursdays.
October 15th, 2007
The expected sleeper hit of the season, Aliens in America seems asleep at the wheel. The show’s solid premise is that a white suburbanite family takes on a foreign exchange student to boast their flagging profile, only to be unexpectedly saddled with a Pakistani Muslim exchange student named Raja (Adhir Kalyan), who is fast friends with Justin (Dan Byrd), the unpopular youngest of the family. It is their relationship which the premise hinges upon, but the show is sparsely written with only a few good laughs in between. While the show packs revelations both satirical and heart-tugging, Aliens in America requires robust writing if it wants to stay past sweeps. Aliens in America airs on the CW Mondays at 7:30.
October 15th, 2007
A couple weeks ago, some friends of mine and I headed out to CJs for a couple games of pool. While we were there, a fairly new band took the stage called Tigers in the Backseat (http://www.myspace.com/tigersinthebackseat). This four-piece band’s original music immediately reminded me of a live version of early Death Cab for Cutie, mixing minor chord harmonies with a standard 2-guitar, bass and drums setup enhanced by xylophones and other exotic instrumentation. Many instrumental interludes wound between songs, adding complexity and interest to their set. For a band this new on the scene, their sound is mature and satisfying for even the older listeners among the crowd.
Information on their MySpace page indicates they’re working on recording an LP here in Rockford. The two songs you can hear there give you a good idea of the style of the band. Tigers in the Backseat have been playing a few all-ages shows in addition to their stop at CJs, with their next performance coming on November 9th at the ELB. If you like what you hear, make a point to check them out.
