No, I did not watch the Oscars last night. I didn’t watch because I’d actually only seen one film that was nominated for any Oscar at all (unless you count Pirates of the Caribbean 2, which was up for makeup of special effects or something) and that was Little Miss Sunshine. I am slowly becoming aware that, movie buff I am, Oscar-type movie buff I am not.
That being said, I am glad that Scorsese finally brought it home.
Speaking of film… so there this television show out there that everyone, but everyone, has told me that I must watch. It’s supposed to be brilliant and groundbreaking and political and so much deeper than one would expect of the channel that hosts its broadcasts (to which I say, whatever. TV networks aren’t the ones truly responsible for show quality. There are good shows and hack shows on every channel.). My friends are aghast that I don’t already watch it. Several of the more erudite magazines I read are similarly persuasive. The creators of two of my other favorite shows call it the best show on television. My brother thinks I’m nuts. The hype? Huge.
And it is the type of show I’d probably watch, if I had television. Historically, I love shows of this genre. I actually tried to watch it once, a few years ago, but the first episode was so unremittingly bleak that I didn’t know if I could do this particular show. And I watched Carnivale, so that pretty much means I’m up for anything.
But when it came out on DVD, we put it on our Netflix queue and now we are finally watching it (halfway through season one) and… I don’t get it. Does it not find its footing until later? Other fab shows, like Buffy, took a while to figure out where they were going, so I’m willing to give this supposedly brilliant show the benefit of the doubt, but… Rather than being blown away by excellent writing, unique plots, and intriguing and difficult philosophical and political questions, I am aghast that these characters stay alive from episode to episode, since pretty much all they do is act like idiots. I mean… idiots. For instance, say you are in a situation where you are alone with another person and discover that they are a spy. An evil evil evil spy. Do you:
A) Say, “Hey, you’re a spy!” and wait for them to kill you,
B) Say, “I would never think you are a spy,” and leave it at that, or
C) Say, “I would never think you are a spy, could you excuse me for a moment?” and then high tail it to your boss and go, “I’ve found a spy.”
I think that C would be the obvious answer, especially if you are supposedly the smartest person in the world, which this character is described as being. But the show posits not only that this smart person would not choose C, but that the only options are A and B. And though I’m totally willing to buy the usual stupid decisions that this character makes because of his or her pathological narcissism, nymphomania, and borderline psychosis, in this case, there was nothing to lose from option C.
In another episode, a couple committing a minor indiscretion accidentally allowed a major tragedy to occur, and instead of saying, “whoops, we are so sorry, we won’t let it happen again, please give us the appropriate punishment for our minor indiscretion, keeping in mind of course that we are two rare, highly trained technicians in our field and you need our expertise under these dire circumstances” which is, you know, logical and appropriate, they denied that the minor indiscretion took place, leading everyone to suspect that they’d actually purposely and maliciously caused the tragedy. You know, folks? It’s better to admit that you flouted some office-romance rules than to be branded a terrorist. Just saying.
In the end, the couple’s staff, loyal to a fault, actually chose to lie and say that one of them was the terrorist. Yeah. I almost stopped watching the show right there. And then, when one half of the couple’s boss says to him that he should think long and hard about how this other dude is now in major trouble because of him, and the guy agrees, does he tell the girl he’s doing it because they have more things to worry about, because they were responsible for the tragedy and they should learn from that, or any of the other very rational reasons that the relationship should end, not least because of all the rule breaking, or does he tell her that he doesn’t care very much about her? Well, if your this show’s character, you pick the latter.
And if you’re the girl in question, do you respond with, “You’re right. I’m sorry to lose you, but we’re all in a really, really dire situation here and we need to behave more responsibly?” Of course not. You fly off the handle and get all girly and pouty and refuse to even pause for a moment and think about the person in jail because you needed to get your freak on. (Though maybe I should give this girl a break, because I know that she’s not necessarily acting under a pure agenda, and besides, she appears to be incredibly, exhaustively oversexed, much like her, uh, sister. To the point that she has, in the space of a few episodes, gotten cozy with two main characters on the show, not to mention at least one dead/inanimate object.)
Yeah, that’s the other thing. The only woman on the show who is not portrayed as a total sexpot or sexless placeholder is supposed to be in a developing romantic relationship with a personality-free pretty boy that doesn’t act like he goes for the girls. I really wish they’d cast this other main guy as the pretty boy’s character, since he’s about ten times more heroic and has been since the very first scene I saw him in (even if he is sleeping with that weird chick above).
It’s getting to the point where I’m waiting for the bad guys to just come out and say that the real reason for their jihad is that the good guys are clearly TSTL. I mean, they have been making a similar point, but I’m looking for the catchphrase.
Now, all that being said, the last episode I saw was really good, mostly because we finally got screen time with the one bad guy whose major weapon isn’t the sexual weakness of the good guys. It had its weaknesses as well, but I did catch a glimmer of all supposed brilliance and philosophical mindbenders. Though perhaps I would have been more impressed by the theology if I never saw Joan of Arcadia. This isn’t the first show to talk about God, though it may be the first in its genre.
In conclusion, SB and I remain unsold, though we’re willing to keep going to the end of the season in hopes that it gets better. I’m really disappointed, whereas SB is only mildly so. He thinks that our expectations might have been set too high to start.
Ironically, there’s another cult fave show of this genre that once played on the same network. I loved it and found it groundbreaking and innovative and fabulous, while SB condemned it for not being as smart as he wanted it to be.
(I’ve tried to remove as many identifying details of this show as possible, because I don’t want to dissuade people who haven’t yet seen it. though let me tell you, it was hard, given the show’s premise. But if you have seen the show, you probably know what I’m talking about.)
I am giving away ONE book this week. Guess what it is. 
February 26th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Is the show 24 on FOX? (I’ve never seen it.)
February 26th, 2007 at 11:14 am
No, it’s not “24″ that I know. As for the book you’re giving away this week, could it be UTR ARC??? ;o)
Wait, is the TV show, “Lost?”
February 26th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Just to let y’all know, I shall neither confirm nor deny any guesses as to the identity of the TV show, as it would negate the reason for being oblique.
The book’s identity, well, that I’m just being my usual unbearable tease.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I was so tickled to see Scorsese win the Oscar! And The Departed was really a fantastic movie. Gory and brutal, but fantastic!
The TV show can’t be “Lost” because it’s brilliant! Especially season 1!
And Diana… you are indeed a very very unbearable tease!
February 26th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Actually what amuses me most is, excepting the terrorists bits, what you’ve described sounds to me like so many shows. Characters not communicating and behaving irrationally? Yeah. And what is with Love Triangles as the Source of All Conflict? I get so tired of them. (Yeah Lost, I’m talking about you.)
But then again, I’m not a huge Buffy lover either. I’m sorry! I watched it on and off while it aired and I enjoyed it… just never loved it.
My favorite TV shows out on DVD I’ve recently discovered are Foyle’s War, The Wire and Arrested Development.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
You can be oblique, but I’m still guessing.
I’m already watching season 3 of BSG, so I can’t remember every detail of season 1, but I love the show. (I’m suprised this wasn’t my guess earlier, but your reference to terrorism had me thinking 24.)
February 26th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
It sounds a little like Battlestar Galactica.
If so, it took me half the first season to really get into it, but I can honestly say now, I am a HUGE fan.
It’s my favorite show in TV right now, and probably for the past few years..
February 26th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
The show, it wouldn’t happen to have an actor named Ben in it would it?
The book? I believe it is called - MINE!
February 26th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Oh, BSG…
I haven’t watched that one. Sorry, I was busy watching Macgyver for the two hours before it.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
I was going to guess Stephen King’s book on writing, because I don’t remember anyone claiming it yet…but then I read the other comments and now suspect it might indeed be a hot-off-the-press ARC of UTR, the very thought of which makes me salivate, and thus I begin to wonder if my life-long inability to win anything in a contest might finally change at last, because winning an ARC of UTR would be right up there with winning $100 million plus on PowerBall, although one hopes that the odds of winning the ARC are not quite as astronomical as those in the PowerBall drawing; well, in any case, I’m sticking my entry in and hoping that maybe length will count and you will pick the entry with the longest single sentence yet posted on “Diana’s Diversions” - that’s the theory on which I’m proceeding, at least, and I’ll be keeping my fingers and toes crossed until Friday…I guess I’d really better get this posted now or it might run on until tomorrow, in which case I would be too late to enter, and we can’t have that!
February 26th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Oh and (finally connecting the dots) I believe the show you are talking about is ANOTHER one the bf watches while I make snarky comments.
I’d much rather watch SG1.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
And if it is BSG, (no, I can’t let this go) I hoped you watched the 3 hourish mini-series that came before the first season.
I have no idea if Netflix sends out the entire season at a time when you rent, but it was included with the set we purchased.
(Unlike the Twin Peaks season one DVD that does NOT include the freaking “before” movie, and doesn’t even offer it for sale!)
February 26th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I can’t believe you’re wasting your time watching some lame terrorist show when you could be watching HEROES.
February 26th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Yeah, the ‘UTR’ label was kind of a big hint…
Bill let’s work this out. You win $100 Million, I’ll win the ARC and we can make a fair trade.
February 26th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Bill wins the million, splits it with Patrick, I win the ARC. Now THAT’S a plan!
February 26th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Book giveaway with a UTR tag? I’m in baby.
I don’t watch no stinking TV shows that have stoopid people doing stoopid things with stoopid plotlines.
But I did watch the Oscars. How could you not? It’s such a wonderful study of character I can’t help it. I only saw one film also (unless you include POC2 and then it’s two) but I still love seeing people win and get real emotional … sigh … I also had to see if I won the extended family Oscar contest, which I did with the most right answers (8 out of 10) even though I hadn’t seen the films.
February 26th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Heather, I actually saw the BSG miniseries in a hostel in New Zealand, and I had to have a bunch of kiwis, a Brit, and a German guy sit me down and explain to me in great detail all about the original series, which I wasn’t familiar with in the slightest, and that no, it was not cool that Starbuck was a woman, and blah blah blah blah blah (I stopped listening, since i thought it was very cool, and besides, Mary McDonnell as the president rocked as well).
But you’re right, that’s a very awesome miniseries. I think my favorite casting choice is Bridget Jones’s gay pop star friend Tom as the treasonist physicist.
February 26th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Julie, how can I watch heroes? It’s not on DVD yet!
Gina, I wish I had watched the Oscars, since someone sent me a link to the Jack Black/Will Ferrell/John C Reilly song, and I cracked up. The sad part is the long history comedians have of making a serious movie and then getting all pouty when they aren’t immediately hailed as Dineros for doing so (yes Jim Carrey and Bill Murray, I”m talking to you).
If I were Will, I’d just laugh my way to the bank — though Stranger than Fiction is supposed to be awesome.
February 26th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Ironically, there’s another cult fave show of this genre that once played on the same network. I loved it and found it groundbreaking and innovative and fabulous, while SB condemned it for not being as smart as he wanted it to be.
Aren’t all the shows on that network cult favorites?
Which one are you talking about this time? Can you give us a synopsis? Was it written by Joss?
February 26th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Eatrawfish, I don’t know if we can be friends anymore. I LOVED buffy.
However, I must say that I too recently discovered Arrested Development, and I have so much love for that show! It slays me.
Also, how odd… Foyle’s War is rising to the top of my Netflix queue as we speak.
Are you on Netflix? Do you want to be my Netflix Friend, even though we can’t be real friends because of that whole Buffy thing? Email me!
February 26th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Patrick, my brother is a HUGE SG-1 fan, but every time I watch it, I just go, MacGuyver! MacGuyver! until he throws me out of the room.
And then I sat down with him to watch the Atlantis pilot and I kept going, The Terminator! The Terminator! And then he died. It was so sad.
And Patrick, I can’t name the network. If I do, the show will be Waaaay too obvious.
Oops. I’ve given too much away!
However, I will say this: that SB and I have discussed our different opinions behind this OTHER show, and realize that it exactly explains why *I* prefer the original Star Trek while *he* liked TNG. Of course, the same reason attributes to the fact that I like sitcoms and he can’t abide them.
Also, EatRawfish, do you watch how I met Your Mother? That’s the other show we’re watching on DVD right now.
February 26th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Forget my guess of “Lost,” but now I’m lost if it’s not BSG. Will you honestly NEVER tell?
February 26th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mJAsgIIfNM
Slap Bet?
February 26th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Patrick, I actually haven’t hit season 2 yet. that’s the downside of watching everything on DVD. Sometimes stuff gets spoiled for me.
Is anyone here watching Life on Mars? I just caught the first ep last night. Interesting, but I have a few problems and I don’t know how long the premise can be sustained… Also, I kept expecting it to turn into Quantum leap and it never did.
February 26th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Actually, I think comedians often get the same short shrift that romance writers do … people turn to romance and comedy when they need comfort, but when it’s time to honor someone they go for the more serious and “meaningful” stuff.
Maybe that’s what’s behind this. Don’t underestimate the power of a joke.
February 26th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
You know, after reading through that whole description it never occurred to me that it might be BSG. And then when I read the comments I had to go back and wonder if maybe it was. But I don’t remember HALF that stuff. Sigh… such a terrible memory.
I think there was a big chunk of that show I didn’t like, but now I do like it (still has strange moments). The Boy gave up on it even though he’s the one who got me addicted to it. He refuses to even watch it now.
February 26th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Yeah, sorry about that. I sort of realized that after I posted. I don’t think I completely ruined it, though.
I’m not really sure on the seasons. Have you seen Barney’s brother yet?
February 26th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Nope. When last we left our intrepid manhattanites, Ted had just slept with Robin and Lily had just left Marshall (!!!!) to go to some art internship in San Fransisco.
February 26th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Sorry Diana, I’m not on Netflix right now. I’ve been meaning to get back on it for a while but haven’t (actually, to force my boy to get back on it, but he is the slow).
I have not tried How I Met Your Mother. I am not a big sitcom person, but I take it I should give it a try?
And uh-oh, I prefer TNG.
(Although when they did the “In Memorandum” for the Oscars and James Doohan flashed on - that’s when I got all teary).
February 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Diana, you go to NBC.com and you download the episodes!
February 26th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I haven’t seen any of the Oscar movies either, but I did watch most of the show. I thought Ellen absolutely rocked!
February 26th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I wanted to guess 24 also. I watched about 1 and a half seasons and got so tired of it all but I guess I’m in the minority.
I’d seen some of the movies and most everything went according to plan - no huge surprises and everyone seemed to be dressed quite elequently and obeyed the rules and I liked Ellen but still think no one can surpass Billy Crystal.
February 26th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
what the hell are any of you people talkiong about?
February 26th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
what the hell are any of you people talkiong about?
Ok, a brief recap — Diana wrote this really long post about a show, but wouldn’t say which show, and she’s also giving away a book, wouldn’t say which book, but then everyone started guessing and we pretty much came to the conclusion that the book is an ARC of UTR and then Bill agreed to give me 100 Million dollars, and also, I got credit for guessing that the other show Diana likes was Farscape, although I was actually guessing that the first show was Farscape because I didn’t really see the early seasons, and then Diana smoked crack and started talking about Netflix, got the munchies ate two bowls of popcorn, and then we just started talking about the Oscars which was actually the first paragraph of Diana’s post and included in some random comments and then you came by. Which brings us to now, where I am recapping my recap.
February 26th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
I haven’t a clue. I must be one of the few who’ve never seen it, because the story doesn’t sound familiar. *shrug*
Now I really miss football season… and baseball hasn’t started yet. This is my least favorite time of year for TV.
February 26th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
that makes my head hurt just thinking about it… I think this is why I gave up T.V. I
Is that bad?
February 27th, 2007 at 3:34 am
qDoesn’t sound familiar, but maybe it just hasn’t been shown here in Finland just yet. I really liked Foyle’s War. Jericho isn’t bad either (the guys on BBC really know how to make good series). I would also recommend My Family (BBC), Bones and Numb3rs (maths has never seemed more interesting).
February 27th, 2007 at 4:29 am
Hubby has been “taping” BSG this season, but refuses to watch it any more until I start watching it. So we have about 20 shows on the DVR that I still haven’t watched and he’s getting antsy about me catching up. Lol.
And did someone say ARC? Oh man. I love me some ARCs.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:28 am
Julie, I sooo agree! (waving hello by the way!)
We must tie up Diana and force her to watch Heroes!
February 27th, 2007 at 9:30 am
K. Anne, why do you love an ARC?
February 27th, 2007 at 9:49 am
No clue on the tv show lol I’d go with the early guesses of 24 but I just got into the show this season.
I love How I Met Your Mother. So funny!! Barney never fails to make me laugh
February 27th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Diana - Reading ARCs is the way to steal LIRARIAN POWER!!
LIBRARIANS YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!!!
February 27th, 2007 at 10:54 am
There’s too many comments, which means too much competition for the UTR ARC, which I am DYING TO READ!!!
And Diana, movie recommendation for you: The Prestige. I thought it was awesome!
February 27th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Diana:
I know nothing of TV shows, so can’t guess even if you’d tell me. Shows how clueless I am in THAT area.
But if you’re giving away a UTR ARC? I’m all over that!
BTW, I’m launching a contest over on my blog today too, for my friend Vicki’s book release. Come over and enter!
February 27th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Patrick, I don’t recall agreeing to give you $100 million, but if I had such a sum I would no doubt make free copies of SSG1, 2, 3, & 4 available to any and all comers. That should help to keep Diana in clover, don’t you think?
Diana, this post is like throwing a piece of meat into the Amazon - we’re all like a bunch of pirhannas eager to devour a pristine ARC. Or tear apart a TV show. Or whatever it is that pirhannas do.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Bill, perhaps my next post should be “When Piranhas Attack,” about my daring exploits in the tropical forests of Costa Rica.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
(Color me embarrassed.)
In my rush to post my penultimate comment, I did an over-hasty spellcheck on the p-fish.
I typed my typo “pirhanna” in the Yahoo! search box, and was rewarded with the following hits, among many others:
“Yahoo! Answers - are pirhanna fish easy to own?” {No, I did not make this up!]
“Pedro the Paranoid Pirhanna” [A cute poem about a p-fish who fears being eaten even as he eats one of his mates - rather amusing.]
Well, I thought to meself, thought I, the word doesn’t look quite the way I remember it, but apparently that’s the correct spelling. And went on to write the rest of the post.
Let this be a lesson to all who fail to CONSULT THE DICTIONARY!!
One of the things I like about you, Diana, is that you never make snarky comments when people who SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO BELIEVE WHAT THEY READ ON THE INTERNET do dumb things. Like me. ARGHHH!! (Sounds of self-flagellation)
Looking forward nonetheless to reading your post about the p-fish. (Were you really in Costa Rica, or are you teasing us again?)
February 27th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Oh dear, now I feel bad for nagging you to watch the show in question. I haven’t seen a lot of first season episodes, so you may be right about them sucking, but the end of the first season is fantastic. If you watch the final 2 episodes and still aren’t convinced, then you probably won’t be.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Bill - that’s ok if you want to make it 55 mil. As long as I get the larger half of the 100 Mil.
If someone wins the ARC, who gets Harrison Ford?
February 28th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Patrick, I think “larger half” is a tautology. Therefore I am doubtful I can comply with your wishes. However, if and when I hit the PowerBall, feel free to raise the issue again. (I’m sure everyone else I know will….)
February 28th, 2007 at 11:21 am
My brain is mush, Patrick - I think it’s been attacked by p-fish. I was trying to say that “larger half” is an oxymoron, which is why you won’t be getting that $55 million. Among other reasons, of course, such as my temporary shortage of funds at the 8- to 9-figure level….
February 28th, 2007 at 11:40 am
Hehe. A post on piranhas would be great. Lol. This conversation on tv shows has been quite an entertaining read.
March 1st, 2007 at 12:21 am
Definitely BSG. Stick with it. The characters don’t always make the “right” decisions, but they always make interesting ones. And I like the gender reversals which get more pronounced as the show progresses and the characters come up against bigger challenges.
So far I’ve only been really disappointed with one episode and it’s in the 2nd season. I can’t wait until season 3 comes out on DVD. Am I right? Am I right?
March 1st, 2007 at 12:22 am
Damn.
Came to this too late. Even if I am right, other people guessed it ahead of me. Doh!
March 1st, 2007 at 11:04 am
ARC giveaway? Count me in
I’m betting that it’s LOST. Or maybe Alias.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I’ve no idea about the show. I guess I don’t watch enough TV.
March 1st, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Enter me, please, in the ARC drawing.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:27 am
If you don’t tell me which TV show, I cannot watch it because I don’t watch TV and won’t be able to guess which one it is.
And I really want that ARC.
March 2nd, 2007 at 9:09 am
UTR ARC?
Count me in!
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:00 am
It’s got to be MI5. Terrible show! Couldn’t even make it through the first episode. Gave the second episode a try. It would be frightening if MI5 were actually run by these people. I can’t believe you made it as far as you have.