SF State of Mind

CBS Television Studios, Worldvision Enterprises, Inc., NBC Universal Television Distribution

San Francisco is the big city outlier I have yet to conquer. And while a SoCal/NoCal trade is highly unlikely, it is intriguing. Instead of dashing daydreams with reality, I've this gathered this admittedly disjointed selection of TV shows to fuel the SF fire.

First up, Young & Hungry is an unabashed sitcom, swimming in archetypes, complete with an over-zealous laugh track. While most tune in to see what happens when a successful tech phenom hires a bubbly private chef, I tune in for the startup speak and glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Next on the tour, Charmed, the WB hit, starred Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano as good witches, protectors of the innocent, who regularly battled the forces of evil, all from the comfort of their victorian manor in San Francisco. Side note, this show also serves as an excellent reference for all things midriff. With its bounty of crop tops, the pilot episode, 'Something Wicca This Way Comes,' awaits!

And last stop on the SF tour, a dash of class with Jason Katims' Parenthood. The show technically takes place in Berkeley, not San Francisco, but close enough to be muse-worthy. It must be the idyllic outdoor dining where the Braverman family gathers, where nature and nuture collide into one hell of a NoCal sales pitch. Go Team Braverman!

Dear Jon

Comedy Central

With the announcement of Jon Stewart leaving the Daily Show, his last show only 12 episodes away, I am forced to employ the always effective, 'break-up with him before he breaks up with me' tactic. I am freezing you out, Jon. You’re going to do your victory lap of special guests and charming antics, joyful for the next step while I dread the end of each episode - no thank you. Instead, I’ll stop now while I’m ahead and return to our mixed tape of happier moments (in the form of YouTube playlists): New York pride, Jersey pride, Jewish pride, pencil throwing, graphics giggling, FOX ranting, and general blasphemy. How I love general blasphemy. These are the sweet, sweet memories from our past fifteen years that will be framed along my bedside table. These are also the frames I will be playing with as I act out what you would say over the next 18 months about 16 republican candidates. Sixteen!! How could you leave me with 16 republican candidates???!!! Blasphemy!! Where are pencils for throwing when you need 'em???!!

Halloween in July

Regency Television, 20th Century Fox Television

Sure, this may be a shock to the system much like Christmas episodes in July, but when inspiration strikes, you must strike back! Today’s inspiration is courtesy of the Jason Katims 1999 CW hit, Roswell. My fellow Roswellians know it well. Liz and her friend Maria work at the Crashdown cafe, where everything is full of normal teenage angst until a classmate who saves Liz's life is revealed to be – an alien. I swear, Stephanie Meyer just traded aliens for vampires and voila, you have Twilight and Edward Cullen, formerly Roswell alien, Max Evans. But back to the Crashdown Cafe and my Halloween inspiration. The Crashdown is a ode to old diners complete with plastic menus and - at last - retro uniforms with an alien twist. This costume has everything: glitter, a sweet display of DIY prowess and a nod to the late ‘90s without relying on Doc Martens. To add a gore factor, splash some ketchup to recreate the pilot episode where Liz gets shot in the chest. For Bonus points, make your own Crashdown menu complete with Alien Blast pie! Woo!

Shonda, I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down

Buena Vista Home Entertainment Disney–ABC Domestic Television

Okay, so here’s the deal. I have had long, going on eleven-year, relationship with Shonda Rhimes. There is much love, admiration and respect. While I skipped Private Practice, I did indulge in Scandal. For the first season, I got swept up in the white hatting of it all. But as the second season wore on, each of the characters became more and more unredeemable. I had to phase it out. Still, I caught the premiere of How To Get Away with Murder. The series STARTED with nearly every character being unredeemable. 

I'm going to take a beat here and backtrack for a sec. In 1999, the world was introduced to Tony Soprano, ushering in a new dawn of antiheroes. Ever since, a myriad of antiheroes including Dexter Morgan, Walter White, Don Drapper, and Jax Teller have followed suit. They have compelling storylines and as content moves to premium channels, the flexibility to go darker and more violent is ripe for the taking. But starting with all unredeemable characters, creating worlds where every character is an antihero, feels empty and un-relatable.

This Spring, since the fallout of killing off a certain beloved Grey’s Anatomy character, Shonda's been talking a lot about what it takes to keep a good show going – obviously, she would know. Killing off characters is part of the deal. Additionally, part of the deal was Meredith falling in love and getting her happy ending. Shonda didn’t want to break that deal with a divorce storyline. And I get it, but here’s my counter, when I signed onto Grey’s, it was a balance of irreverent and funny friendships and relationships, with the struggles of accomplishing a life or death job. That no longer describes the Grey’s of today. Grey's today is heavy and sad, and the relationships are few because so many have been killed off. It’s actually hard to re-watch seasons (normally a favorite pastime) because to re-watch is to go through all the central characters that have been killed off. Characters make jokes like, 'don’t die' and two seasons later, they do just that. While antiheroes are hard to relate to, so are Shonda’s epic disasters and death tolls at the end of each season. Grey's is now a series of land minds with no escapism in sight. 

I don't need rainbows and superheroes. I just want a version of reality that's skewed without being tragic. I support you, Shonda, I just gotta ask, 'where did the good go?'

Three Degrees of OITNB Leads to My Next Meal

Netflix, Lionsgate Television

Just another reason to defend my fangirling investigations: The third season of Orange Is the New Black introduced us to Stella, played by the stunning Ruby Rose...Ruby Rose is engaged to Phoebe Dahl, creator of Fair Cloth Supply....Phoebe Dahl's sister, Chloe, just opened Knuckle & Claw in Hollywood...and finally,  Knuckle & Claw serves delicious lobster rolls, and lobster rolls are something I love but have yet to indulge in this summer. So thank you, season three of Orange is the New Black, for inspiring my next meal!

You Killed My Zombie Boyfriend!!

Warner Bros. Television

Only with the hope of regaining some degree of proximity to Veronica Mars would I even consider playing this far outside my preferred genres to frolic with zombies. But for VM Creator Rob Thomas, I would. He wouldn’t lead me astray. He knows he would need to keep iZombie humorous, witty and keep the gore factor at a low to minimal level. In this understanding, we had an amicable relationship. I would dance with undead, he would not scare the bejesus out of me. However, at no point did we discuss not killing off a romantic lead. With the sizzling shipping success of Veronica and Logan I didn’t think such clarification was necessary. However, here is where we have come to our unfortunate impasse. 

Rob Thomas, I wanted to support you but you gave me a zombie boyfriend with intrigue, charm, a British accent and even a Big Star t-shirt – and then, you took him away! You took him away, Rob Thomas! Sure, Liv still has Ravi, a friend and ally who describes himself as 'a tall doctor with fantastic hair and a British accent.’ And yes, of course, any gal would want Ravi as a BFF/coworker to confide in. But you just can’t take my zombie boyfriend away and think we’re going to be okay. I’ve seen the zombie love, Rob Thomas, and Major couldn’t be further from it. So here’s my suggestion, RT, at the start of season two, introduce some quickie reanimation storyline, bring back Lowell, and we'll be all good. M’kay?

These Are My Confessions

Disney Channel, It's a Laugh Productions

Here goes - safe space, right? When I travel, a few things happen:
1. I uncharacteristically stock up on business magazines - Fortune, Fast Company, etc.
2. The moment we are at suitable altitude, I break out the laptop and get to work - not company work, my work - me time, promoting, as they say, the brand that is me. 
A friend tells me the above items happen because I've got Business Class dreams with a Coach reality.
3. And lastly, when said travels lead to a hotel stay, I inevitably check out the Disney Channel. Yes, it's true, I said it. I rationalize it as a requisite of my day job to stay current with the next batch of budding tween starlets, but I simply enjoy the fluffy entertainment.  

Rationalizing and considerably whiney/bratty characters aside, from the current Disney batch, I must admit I like Liv & Maddie. Dove Cameron plays the role of both title characters, Liv and Maddie. And maybe that's the fascination, it's impressive. The rest of the family is just fine and dandy, typical stories, etc. The perfect antidote for world-weary (or cross-country) travels.

My one gripe with this show that has unexpectedly caught my attention is the character, Willow. Here is a girl who has good friends and plays on the basketball team, but in every episode she's pining over the twins' brother, Joey. Pining is putting it mildly, she chases him down the hall - with him screaming and running away as fast as possible. The way many shows have a repeated device or catch phrase, these antics are repeated at least every other episode. 

Let's make it clear, I understand pining, oh do I understand pining. On TV shows, pining is one of my favorite things. But chasing after a boy who is screaming, running away from you or squirming at your grasp, feels wrong. I'd like to see a better message, I'd like to see Joey find a better way to turn down a girl than screaming at her and most importantly, I'd like to see Willow have enough self-worth to move on.

I am still fascinated by Dove Cameron and her dual role on the show but these antics have gotten to the point where it's interfering with my once fluffy, happy antidote. Disney, let's do these budding tweens a solid and help support their developing self worth.

Northern Exposure, Where Are You?

Universal Television

After bing-watching Pushing Daisies, I craved another series full of quirky, eclectic characters occupying a dream-world. While some may not consider Alaska a dream-world, the Alaskan world of Northern Exposure is full of dreamers. With the watch-list decision made, I sought out the six-season series. However, this is where our story ends. Sorry fellow Alaskan dreamers, you won't find this series streaming – no Netflix, no Hulu, no iTunes. I'm all for a throwback series, but sorry Northern Exposure, no throwback devices.

The Facts Were These...

Warner Bros. Television Distribution, Living Dead Guy Productions

After two seasons, 22 episodes, and a writers strike, Pushing Daisies, the series about Ned, a pie maker/re-animator who is in love with Chuck, his once-dead childhood girlfriend, had come to its premature end. 

Created by Bryan Fuller, the show had me from the ‘Pie-lette’ with the vindication of a dog named Cantaloupe and a change of luck for Lonely Tourist Charlotte Charles of Couer d’Couers. Absolutely charming. And while death is a big part of the show, it’s not morose or gory. It’s a colorful, comical version of death, largely courtesy of the fantastical creations by head make-up artist, Todd Macintosh. Also fantastical is Ned’s pie shop, The Pie Hole, whose facade is in the shape of a pie and inside, illuminated by oversized cherry lamps. For the architectural buffs, Ned lives with his dog Digby, next door to his not-so-secret-admirer Olive Snook in the Los Angeles landmark, The Bradbury Building.

The characters are a playful mixture of happiness and trepidation, real and magical – a pie maker who’s an re-animator, an investigator who's a knitter, a dead girl who’s alive, and her aunts, the synchronized swimming duo, The Darling Mermaid Darlings, who are shut-ins with an affinity for exotic cheeses.

Lush and delightful, this show came to life with an eclectic cast, whip-smart writing and absolutely visually stunning, swoon-worthy production design by Michael Wylie. You’ll be hooked faster than you can say gruyere-baked pie crust.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Buena Vista Home Entertainment Disney–ABC Domestic Television

I have now broken up with Grey's Anatomy three times. The pictures above do not represent those three times, instead they represent happier times before our break-ups.

Break-Up One: Story-lines revolving around cancer Izzy and worse, post-cancer Izzy (not to mention post-Denny Izzy) for the simple reason of too much Izzy.
Break-Up Two: Lexi and Mark not only dying, but prior to their last episode, unrequited.
Break-Up Three: Derek dying. Actually, that's not true. I've been out on the additional cast members this whole season – Derek's sister, Meredith's sister, Gina Davis – none really resonate. Meanwhile Meredith deals with the general heaviness of life and marriage, with no escapism for me in sight. Derek's death just gave solid reason for this latest break-up.  

Maybe I'll be back or maybe I'll find another medical series to fill the Seattle Grace void. I've dallied around with other shows, there was doctors in the jungle (Off the Map), nurses from Iraq (Mercy), doctors on motorcycles (Night Shift), and doctors with voice overs (Emily Owens MD). Maybe one of the Fall 2015 shows will deliver. Though, I've already ruled out Heartbreaker, a show about a heart transplant surgeon. The title is too saccharine for my taste. That leaves me with one other potential rebound – I'm looking at you, Chicago Med.

Lighting, Perspective & Cranes, Oh My!

CBS Television Distribution, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Disney–ABC Domestic Television

Dear Scorpion, I've supported you through your first season in a precarious, at best, TV landscape. I've looked beyond CBS, Katherine McPhee, fedoras, and a recurring hammy catch-phrase to support you all the way to the season finale. And on the eve of our parting for summer, our final, minutes together, this is what you gave me. The supposed final, thrilling conclusion instead pulled me out of the fantasy with questionable lighting and perspective. These are the last images you've given to marinate over all summer long. Instead of looking forward to another season of brainy team sleuthing, I must question my confidence in returning in the Fall.

I suppose I can comfort you in the fact that you're not alone in the land of questionable lighting and perspective. The short-lived series, Ringer, staring Sarah Michelle Geller, had a bumpy start from the pilot. The only thing the boat scene at the ten minute mark ensured was an open hour in my weekly TV schedule. It's clear boat scenes present innumerable challenges, even Grey's Anatomy fell prey. In this scene from season seven, the wide shots are on a pristinely glassy lake. However, the closeups are on choppy water with wind whipping through Christina's hair. So there you go, Scorpion, you're not alone, but you can do better.

Damn You, JJ. Damn You All Over Again.

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Another great series that starts with a plane crash. Another great series with a smart, strong female lead. But most importantly, another great series by JJ Abrams. He gets me every damn time. With Fringe he's created Olivia Dunham played by Anna Torv who brings the Fringe FBI agent to life with both strength and vulnerability. 

You’d think with all the time jumps, loops, bubbles, and displacements along with entirely alternate, yet duplicate universe (Walternates and Fauxlivias included), I’d be out, but the human connections keep me definitively IN. The primary relationship of father and son, Walter and Peter, is the emotional core of the show as they play off each other in genuine, touching, and often humorous ways. Other compelling relationships include the evolving relationship of Peter and Olivia and the mentor/mentee relationship with Walter and – Astro, Astericks, Asteroid, Aspirin, Asterix, Astra, Ostrich – Astrid. Together, the Fringe team blinds me with science in the best damn laboratory ever, in a Harvard basement with Gene, the cow.

For five seasons, this cast of characters sought their connection to the world even in the most absurd and horrifying situations (props to the make-up and special effects teams). However, when it comes to Season Five with the dystopian, 20-year time jump, where the bald-headed baddies, The Observers, take over, I’m out. I’m out on the faux baby and real baby. All the babies. Plus, I don’t like revenge or sadness or goodbyes. Cast in darkness, with no escapism and no fluff, I say, pass the Red Vines and wrap with Season Four. No offense JJ, I assure you, Fringe is still one of my very favorite things.

Red Banders Released

Disney–ABC Domestic Television

Before its cancellation, Red Band Society had a lot going for it – a good looking, diverse cast and a Steven Spielberg fueled budget (take a listen to the tracks they were able to acquire). With a solid trailer and an interesting premise, I took a gamble and invested for the season. However, as the Fall season wore on, cancellation was imminent. And here's the thing it came down to Red Banders, with the premise such as it was, I was actually rooting for the kids to stay sick, to not get well, to not go home. I didn't feel comfortable cheering Emma's relapse and return. I didn't feel comfortable with the dread of Leo getting stronger. I didn't feel comfortable with the disappointment of Charlie finally leaving with his family. And I certainly didn't feel comfortable with the new patients they tried to wheel in at the end. No, thank you. And no, thank you to the karmically questionable act of wishing kids ill no matter how real they are not. It's time to set them free. It's time to cut off the red bands.

In Defense of Selfie

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Selfie, the one-season comedy, was accused of being a vapid, unwatchable take on Pygmalion/My Fair Lady. The word selfie alone carries a lot of baggage that people don't want to associate with, despite their own social tendencies. And maybe that was the problem all along – it was too much of a mirror of our interest and continuous investment in our social images and personas. Maybe the show was a bit too millennial for the network folks upstairs. Maybe they weren't yet ready for a philosophical conversation about online friends verses real friends. I can't say I personally related to Eliza's social self obsession on Selfie, but as a member of today's society, I did. And I actually learned a lot – vernacular, apps, plus things I see online, for example YouTube hair instructions, Eliza had incorporated into her life and I got to see in action. In addition to the media message, Selfie also made a strong social message with John Cho as the romantic lead, breaking boundaries as an Asian lead and one half of a promising interracial couple on TV – another millennial norm.

Aside from the undeniably relevant social messages, Selfie had a great cast of characters. And aside for the vapid accusations, the show had a lot of depth. In Episode 10, after Henry denies his feelings, an absolutely raw Eliza takes to the stage holding a bottle of beer and wearing shorts, a torn shirt and converse sneakers. She then belts out a heart-breaking rendition of Chandelier. The song carries over as she steps offstage and pursues drinking away her heartbreak, holding on for tonight. Only a show absolutely tapped in could combine Sia's Chandelier with a take on Tove Lo's Habits music video, before any radio station had either on heavy rotation. 

The cancellation of Selfie reeks of the networks inability to understand and connect with millennials, the fear of getting a little too honest with where society is today (without roses or races), and for that, I feel sorry for them.

The Original #RelationshipGoals, Brad & Jane

Disney–ABC Domestic Television

Happy Endings was the answer to a post-apocalyptic, post-Friends world. For three seasons, six friends hung out in Chicago, not New York, in a bar, not a coffee shop. Maybe being the antidote was also the curse. Either that or maybe it was the gotee that brought the show down. Either way, we were given some memorable characters – abrevs Penny, offensive Max – but the standout characters, was the stand out couple – Brad and Jane (played by Damon Wayans Jr and Eliza Coupe) who were genuinely into and supportive of one another. Type A Jane with her razor sharp bitch-dar and her boo, a pants-dropping, ‘chocolate anaconda’ husband, Brad, were sweet, sexy, flirtatious, often found competing with one another, role playing, or rolling in money. While they did have their fights (see Spring Smackdown), they always made up, trading the usual, tired, marital discord for sizzling marital bliss.

The continued Brad and Jane storyline was a huge missed spin-off opportunity as these two were on the brink of procreating, which I usually oppose but in their case, pure comedy gold. A few hints were dropped of what could have been – Brad’s ‘The only tramp I’m gonna put a love child in is you,’ and Jane’s, ‘Maternity leave is for hippies.’ Let’s take a moment of silence for what could have been. I’ll hold onto their mantra, ‘it’s not about where you are, but who you’re with.’ Which is much better than Jane’s own mantra, 'strength, courage, composure, no carbs.’ Here’s to you, Brad and Jane, you're what relationship goals are made of.

Still Hoping For That Transfer...

Disney–ABC Domestic Television

It's not lost on me that after absolutely the most wretched weeks of my career, I resorted to bing-watching Sports Night. I felt an allegiance to Jeremy who defended, 'not fitting in is how qualified people loose jobs.' I spent my after work hours imagining a world where everyone is intelligent, sharp witted, moving at an energetically infectious, rapid-fire pace. A world of Dan and Casey's banter, Dana coaching Natalie, Jeremy being Jeremy, Issac sharing wise words, and where the best date is in the comfort of wherever you call your home.

After two seasons of holding the dubious title 'the best show you're not watching', Sports Night was cancelled. With a stellar cast, writing and directing, I gotta put this one on Marketing. Maybe it wasn't promoted right, focusing on the concept rather than the fully fleshed out, memorable characters. Maybe the name Sports Night was too on the sports nose and got disregarded by half the population, even the DVD trailer missed the demographic mark. Here's a hint marketing team, in 1998, long before Liz Lemon, Dana Whitaker, ran the Sports Night show. At the helm of a male dominated industry, a powerful, passionate female called the shots, alongside her right hand man, a woman, Natalie Hurley. Highlighting characters like Dana and company may have served the show better than running promos that look like confusing ESPN knock-offs. Much like the aftermath of my own work week, I can get lost in the question, why? But those answers are hard to come by. Instead, let's get lost with  Sports Night, Aaron Sorkin and his irresistibly frenetic walk and talk. Smoky. 

Truly, Mad-ly, Deeply

Lionsgate Television, AMC Studios, 20th Century Fox, Edward Hopper

Despite the stunning imagery above, Mad Men is a fine example of what this site is not. If the words ‘critically acclaimed’ are used to describe a show, you will not find it here. If a show is featured on a premium channel, you will not find accolades here. That’s what the award shows are for. If such shows do appear here, it’s strictly an anomaly.

I am living 6-day work weeks, desperate for 3-day weekends. I don’t need the heavy, I need the fluff. I want to feel, but I don’t want to over-feel. Which brings me to Mad Men. I was implored to watch, ‘it’s soooo good! And sooo beautiful!’ Finally, in the desert of summer TV watching, I acquiesced. What I quickly learned, that while beautiful, Mad Men is all heavy, no fluff. No, thank you. However, I did proceed to watch three seasons at double speed so I could take in the set design and beauty. I gained an appreciation for the final lingering shots, all very painterly, lonely and beautiful, like an Edward Hopper or that shot of Marla Singer in Fight Club. Glorious.

Despite its beauty, I must leave Mad Men to their friends at the Hollywood Foreign Press, and move onto the underdogs that recognize my need for a 3-day weekend. Bring on the fluff. Bring on the fangirling.