"The Voice" Rolls Along

-Tom (Editor-in-chief)

For those of us obediently tuning in for "The Voice” three hours a week, we’re slowly but surely figuring out who might win this season. There are six contestants left. But this journey hasn’t been easy. There were the endless blind auditions which often went the way of unpopular teenager seeking approval gets no chairs to turn and must return to Topeka, Kansas to work at their parents’ Laundromat. Then half of the people selected were sent home during the battle rounds. Then there was some other round, which looked an awful lot like the battle rounds and now we’re on the live shows. It’s sort of a painful process.

But since most of the contestants on “The Voice” are already on the music industry’s radar, the crop of singers we watch each week are plainly better than “American Idol” and “The X Factor.” Maybe those other shows have a few who are better individually, but as a whole “The Voice” is the best. But that doesn’t mean I’m too keen on sitting through these marathon episodes. In fact, I can’t even watch the show unless it’s on DVR. First of all because of the commercials and secondly so I can fast forward when Christina Aguilera speaks. For the most part the four coaches are great. They have fun interactions with each other, know what they’re talking about and are relatively down to Earth. However, now they seem out of things to say. I’ve met my Aguilera limit for the season. Coincidentally, so has America since none of her contestants are left in the competition.

As for those left singing, it’s a bit difficult to know where they stand in terms of popularity. Carson Daly never says if he’s revealing that they’re safe in any kind of order. So we don’t really know. Cassadee Pope’s following from her days in the band Hey Monday and her consistent performances may make her a favorite at this point. Blake Shelton always has someone in it at the end and my guess would be that Cassadee fills that spot over the repetitive rocker Terry McDermott. After keeping a perfect record for a few weeks, Cee-Lo lost his first contestant this week in Cody Belew. If I were to guess, I’d think the floor is about to fall out for Team Red. I wasn’t impressed with Trevin Hunt or Nicholas David for the past few weeks. But I’ve been wrong before on this front. So that leaves Adam Levine’s team. Logic would make me think that Amanda Brown will make it close to the end. Also Melanie Martinez’s indie sound seems very popular. So I think either one could make it to the finish line. I suppose if we knew who was going to win, we wouldn’t watch. “The Voice” is on Monday and Tuesday nights on NBC.

"Parks and Recreation" Battles its Own High Standards

-Dave (Comedy Contributor)

The strength of “Parks and Recreation” has always been the interpersonal relationships between its greatly varied cast. It is interesting to watch how this set of characters interacts with one another as we witness the office politics of a group of people that all care for one another. This is where “Parks & Rec” really found its stride and deviated from “The Office.”

The first season of “Parks & Rec” was too similar to “The Office” and for good reason. The show was initially conceived as a spin-off by Greg Daniels, who adapted “The Office” for American television and focused too much on the town of Pawnee. Eventually, around the middle of season two, the writers realized that this show is really about a group of unlikely friends, brought together by their work.

Now in its fifth season, I began doubting “Parks and Recreation.” The long distance relationship between Leslie and Ben wasn’t working for them and was also detracting from the show’s strengths. While Ben’s (and by extension, April’s) future is still in question after returning from their political work in Washington, for now they are home in Pawnee. This is important because of the dynamic the Ben/Tom and April/Ron relationships bring to the show. The cast of “Parks & Rec” is too funny to keep apart.

While the absence of two of Pawnee’s finest has been a problem, so has Leslie’s election to city council. It limits her interaction with the Parks Department, which is starting to feel somewhat abandoned. While I like Rashida Jones, her Ann Perkins character serves little purpose within the context of the Parks Department. The black sheep role she’s in is already filled by Jerry and is often times much funnier. Also, Chris Traeger’s shift from the eternal optimist to his depressed current self is odd and often out of place.

The show is not perfect, yet it has plenty of time to work out some of these minor kinks. “Parks and Recreation” is too funny to get hung up on its imperfections. Andy and Ron are two of the funniest characters on television and Leslie is the perfect mixture of humor and charisma. The show’s only real problem is that they set the bar so high with seasons three and four and now they are competing against themselves. Here’s to hoping they win.

An Odd Time for the "Louie" Hiatus

-Dave (Comedy Contributor)

Louis C.K. has opted to take the road less traveled and go on hiatus at the seemingly oddest time: the peak of his popularity. Season three of “Louie” not only saw some of the show’s best ratings, but also very high critical acclaim. The goal of this hiatus is to keep the writing process fun and creative, but also illustrates what a great working relationship C.K. has with his network (FX) and the faith they have in him to allow such an odd request. Some time off could prove beneficial for “Louie” but not without some risk.

I cannot speak for everyone, but I know that I have trouble keeping up with all the television shows that I enjoy. Without a DVR, trying to stay current on cable shows can almost seem like work. Most On Demand providers don’t make shows available until eight days after they've aired, and services like Hulu+ do not have the rights to any cable shows. My theory is that for some, one less cable show to keep up on is a welcome reprieve from an already staggering number of TV shows they watch. The golden rule in showbiz is to “leave them wanting more.” But is a year and a half too long? I suppose only time will tell.

It would be difficult to imagine “Louie” not having alienated some viewers with how season three ended. It has always been a black comedy, however the season ended on a very dark note. I have been a big Louis C.K. fan for almost a decade and because of that, I feel as though I understand where his jokes come from. I did not however, understand why he ended things with Liz (Parker Posey) the way that he did. It’s boggling to me. It seems like a statement that I’m not old enough or jaded enough to understand.

Louie is later seen in Beijing on a quest for the Yangtze River and is eventually taken in for a meal by a large Chinese family. So maybe Liz was a setup to illustrate that life goes on in the wake of tragedy. This doesn't seem like a lesson “Louie” needs to teach us though. Why dredge up her character at all? It seems like an unnecessary afterthought.

I may not understand his reasons for everything he does on the show, but one thing is clear: “Louie” has given us a solid three seasons to look back on and hopefully many more to come. Louis C.K.’s reputation has always been that of a tireless writer and that coupled with the star power he can attract (Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Amy Poehler, etc.) “Louie” could easily go on for another 5 years. See you in the spring of 2014.

"Castle" Gets the Girl

-Katie (Network Drama Contributor)

This season, we “Castle” watchers have been hooked on the development of the relationship between Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion). After four seasons of sarcastic give and take, incidents from the past finding their way into the present, and some hairy moments, as well as some gut-wrenching losses, the audience waits with baited breath for the kiss that ends the season. Beckett shows up on Castles doorstep, and when he questions her as to what she wants, she breathes an intention loaded “you” before attacking him in a lust filled embrace. Whew!

Now, on to season five. We have watched the beginnings of their romance develop. Right now, they’re both going to great lengths to keep it under wraps, which have made for some awkward exchanges between them and the supporting characters. Recently, Castle even took it to a new level by going on a date with a voluptuous newscaster. Of course, Beckett ends up bursting in to find Castle unsuccessfully trying to dodge the advances of said reporter, horizontal, on the couch. Oops…

Ultimately, as a fan, I am enjoying this new turn of events that we’ve been waiting and hoping for all along. I feel happy for Castle finally getting the girl, and Beckett has definitely become a more likeable and friendly character. Similar to other shows that have a male and female lead with awkward sexual tension, the audience wants a happy ending. What we don’t want is for the excitement and pace of the show to slump because the characters finally acted on the emotions they had developing throughout the previous seasons. The question now is where will this lead the show in coming episodes? With Beckett’s mothers murder case wrapped up, we’ll surely have a new multi-episode conflict introduced soon. I know I’m excited to see what happens next.

“The Walking Dead” Wakes Up for Season Three

-John (Cable Drama Contributor)

This Sunday marks the return of “The Walking Dead” for its third season on AMC. Season two ended with the safe haven of the farm overrun with walkers, and our growing group of survivors back on the road.

The last few minutes of the finale offered us some insight into how the new season is going to proceed. First, they introduced the samurai sword wielding Michonne from the original comic book series. Michonne is first seen saving Andrea in the woods from a group of walkers. This hooded woman is also seen with a pair of armless jawless walkers in tow, which could only be explained by her being awesome. Second, they allude to another major plot point from the comic by panning out and showing a prison in the final seconds of the season.

Season one of “The Walking Dead,” while short, moved quickly and kept the viewer on the edge of their seat. Season two, while offering several memorable moments, suffered a bit from a sophomore slump. The pace was slow and repetitive. For season three however, the dynamic of the show seems to be headed for a change. With the introduction of the prison, a seemingly impenetrable fortress of safety, the walkers are no longer the main threat, the survivors are. This theme was introduced in the last several episodes of season two when Rick and Horace encounter another group of survivors who aren’t as kind and law abiding as Rick and the gang.

The Governor, another character familiar to those who read the comic series, will be introduced this season as the man in charge of the prison. Much like fellow zombie story 28 Days later did, the safety from the zombies means dealing with how the lawless survivors react to the new world. The Governor from the comic is ruthless and potentially more dangerous than the walkers. It will be interesting to see how this character, who is on IGN’s list of top 100 comic book villains is portrayed in the TV adaptation. (Spoiler Alert) The Governor will most likely fill the role as the moral foil to Rick, a position vacated by the death of Shane at the end of last season.

The dynamic change that is set up is a welcome one. With a new season, new problems, and new characters, “The Walking Dead” is in a position to be fresh and interesting again. While they were never in real danger of losing fans, another season of sitting around and complaining would make people think about changing the channel. However with all the new things introduced, I doubt the characters will have much time for sitting.

Sherlock Holmes Hits New York

-Katie (Network Drama Contributor)

As a consistent viewer of procedurals, I have come to enjoy the formula these shows subscribe to. A heinous crime is committed in the first few minutes of the episode, followed by the characters assessing the scene… Insert some witty banter, and by the end of the episode (with no regard for the time it takes to process samples, interview witnesses, or factor in other case loads) we have our suspect, guilty as charged wrapped up in a bow. “Elementary”, aptly named after Sherlock Holmes’ recognizable one liner “Elementary, my dear Watson!” follows a similar pattern.

A post-rehab addict, Sherlock Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) works as a consultant with the NYPD accompanied by his sober companion Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), a former surgeon who killed a patient and was sued for malpractice. While some would say that this idea of a consultant helping law enforcement is tired and overused, I personally enjoy “Elementary’s” quick pace, comical exchanges between the main characters, and less than predictable path the episodes take.

This show can be closely compared to “The Mentalist”, in that the consultant uses the tool of observation to deduce who the killer is. What sets “Elementary” apart is that Sherlock Holmes is a recognizable and well-known character. After a bit of establishing dialogue explaining how Holmes landed in NYC, we delve directly into his crime solving talents. The big conclusions made from the seemingly irrelevant observations that Holmes makes and rattles off leaves the audience waiting to see how they all fit together and ultimately lead to nabbing the bad guy.

"Elementary" is cast well, and moves at a strong pace. While there are an abundance of shows that solve crime, this show is a fresh take on an old character within a setting that is tried and true to draw in viewers. I enjoyed the first few episodes, and look forward to seeing how the characters develop throughout the rest of the season.

“The Office” Faces the Beginning of the End

-Dave (Comedy Contributor)

It’s safe to assume that anyone current on “The Office” has seen a dramatic shift between the greater part of last season and the first few episodes of season nine. The Office is no longer a shadow of its former self, desperately seeking an identity in the wake of losing one of TV’s deepest and most multifaceted characters. The show has found its identity sans Michael Scott (Steve Carell) while still, like any show in its ninth season, suffering some minor growing pains.

The greatest flaw with “The Office” is the burden on once-minor characters to now fill ten minutes that would have belonged to Michael. These characters lack the charisma and likability of such a memorable personality. We saw back-to-back episodes in which Meredith references oral sex and I see that as a problem. Last season Stanley was uncharacteristically animated and somewhat vulgar, a shtick the writers made minimal attempts to explain and no attempt at all when he “returned to normal.” Kevin’s IQ seems to dip episode-to-episode (reminiscent of Eric on Boy Meets World) and it’s like they don’t know what do with Daryl at the moment. However, the show’s appeal far outweighs its weaknesses, which is what keeps us coming back year after year. They have been able to create so many characters that we genuinely care about (or at least think we care about).

With the show having taken a decidedly mean turn, (the Oscar/Senator storyline, Clark attempting to take advantage of the optimistic, yet not so bright, Erin, and the unlikable Nellie Bertram) we can’t expect the final season to be perfect. One thing is for sure though; we will experience a ton of nostalgia for one of television’s greatest shows while finally learning what it has all been for. I can’t imagine the writers not delving deeper into the meaning of nearly ten years’ worth of “documentary” footage, which should prove quite interesting. It seems to me that “The Office” is a show that must end with a “happily ever after.” So I think we viewers have little to worry about.

Letter from the Editor- New TV Section

The fall is always an exciting time at What’s Up Movement. The most critically acclaimed films lead us into the award shows of January and February. But that’s just in the movie theater. For the last three years, we’ve exclusively covered movies. But now, as the new TV season gets into full swing, we’ve expanded.

Starting this week, What’s Up Movement will provide insights into your favorite TV shows. With the help of three new contributing writers, you’ll see weekly columns discussing the latest from any of 20 different shows our columnists are keeping their eyes on.

Covering the comedies, Dave has been a long time fan of everything from stand-up to your more traditional sit-coms. Having just completed a study of all nine seasons of Seinfeld, he’s done his time in the comedy trenches.

John will be writing about cable drama. From the audience who prefers the less restrictive confines of HBO, AMC and the other premium channels, John knows his SAMCRO from his Westeros. His television library is as expansive as your Netflix queue.

Fans of network drama will keep an eye out for Katie’s column. A stickler for realism, the crime procedurals that fill the primetime schedule don’t always pass her test. But her research driven approach gives each show their fair chance for a good review.

From time to time you’ll also hear from me. But my focus will still be on the big screen as our film critic. I also provide the editorials with hypothetical lists and film commentary.

We’re always looking for feedback and your opinions. So leave your comments here on the site as well as our facebook page.

Thanks for visiting What’s Up Movement.

-Tom
Editor in Chief