Chicago -
By Don Jacobson
This is supposed to be the year of the serialized drama, which according to erudite TV critics indicates darker, more grown-up and reflective audience tastes, presumably because 9/11 has taught us that life sucks and then you die. This means we’re now more willing to tolerate season-long storylines where nothing really gets resolved because, by gosh, that’s how it is in the real world of terrorism and $3 per gallon gas prices.
Posted on September 4, 2006
By The Beachwood Fall TV Preview Desk
It may be the Year of The Superspiracy and New Comedies, Old Jokes, but that’s it’s also time to check in with the likes of the Gilmores in Stars Hollow, the Teletubbies, and Lou Dobbs, each of whom may go off the rails for different reasons this fall. A few more capsules from the Beachwood Fall TV Preview Desk.
Posted on September 4, 2006
Pat Bataillon is on hiatus. Unlike many of your favorite shows, he will return shortly.
Posted on September 3, 2006
By Pat Bataillon
As of today, I am an out-of-the-closet Waterworld fan.
Yes, the acting is horrible and the dialogue is not exactly deserving of an Oscar. But the story is intriguing. And whenever Waterworld is on television, like it was last night on Bravo, I find myself watching it.
Maybe I like it so much because, according to recent reports, this is where the human species is heading.
Posted on September 1, 2006
By Pat Bataillon
I was looking for some filler to pass the time between commercials while watching Mythbusters last night when I stumbled upon a little primetime gem called Rock Star: Supernova. Rock and roll may never die, but it just came awfully close.
Posted on August 31, 2006
By Pat Bataillon
After writing this column for about a month now, I have learned something about television. That is that Monday nights are terrible and that is a shame.
Posted on August 29, 2006
By Pat Bataillon
Politics and lying seem to go hand in hand these days and it doesn’t bother all that many people.
I watched Surviving Katrina on Discovery last night and learned just that. Our current governmental scheme is totally incapable of telling any truths. All of the leaders in this country lied directly to the face of all the onlookers and sufferers of Hurricane Katrina. Lying about a war and an election and intelligence and terrorism and other politicians seems to be acceptable these days, but letting Americans die and lying about it? That’s bullshit.
Posted on August 28, 2006
By Pat Bataillon
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It rained in Phoenix and it is flooding there! It never rains in Phoenix! Oh my God! The world is ending! Does this have something to do with global warming?!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
President Bush is in Kennebunkport on vacation! Does he approve of the FDA’s decision to make the day-after pill available over the counter?! He does! Oh my God! The world is ending! Does this mean that the President has lost control of his appointees?! Will he golf with his father in Maine this weekend?!
!!!!!!!!!!TERROR LEVEL ELEVATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!TERROR LEVEL ELEVATED!!!!!!!!!!TERROR LEVEL ELEVATED!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on August 25, 2006
By Pat Bataillon
There is a show on the Discovery Channel called Myth Busters, and on this show the solvers of myths and legends do just that. They bust myths.
I have enjoyed this show since it started, but lately the show has not been solving myths.Last night they tested security devices. Security devices are not myths. They are proven to deter would-be criminals and to prevent mischief. Thermal, sonar, and motion alarms were all put to the test and all failed with a little ingenuity. A safe was cracked with explosives and water, simple enough.
Posted on August 24, 2006
