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< Television ~ It's Not TV -- It's HBO! |
billyweeds |
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:24 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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Sarah Silverman's new HBO special We Are Miracles finds her in fine form for those who are drawn to her very edgy style of humor. I am a huge fan and practically fell off the couch from laughter.
Meanwhile HBO has a new six-episode comedy series called Getting On starring Laurie Metcalf, based on a British series and set in a female geriatric ward. Obviously the humor here is also dark and edgy, and also hilarious. |
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bartist |
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 9:36 am |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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Location: Black Hills
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Fans of "Homeland" will want to check out last night's spoof on "The Simpsons." Kristen Wiig does a pretty convincing "Carrie Mathison" voiceover. |
_________________ He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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billyweeds |
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 1:50 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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Nicholas Brody remains my hero and my power of example. (For those in the dark, that's the character played by Damian Lewis on Homeland.) A SPOILER alert and too much exposition would be necessary to explain why, but I salute you, sir!!! (And that "sir" extends to Lewis as well as Brody. What Brody is to heroism Lewis is to acting.) |
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bartist |
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:09 pm |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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A man of character. Had I seen S. 2 a bit earlier, I would be tempted to try a local trial offer on cable, but it looks like S.3 winds up in less than 2 weeks, so I will wait for the dvds.
I like the example Brody sets of what to do when you are wearing a bomb vest and your daughter calls to ask when you are coming home. I'm never quite sure how to answer that, so I was grateful for a few pointers. |
_________________ He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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billyweeds |
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:25 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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bartist wrote: A man of character. Had I seen S. 2 a bit earlier, I would be tempted to try a local trial offer on cable, but it looks like S.3 winds up in less than 2 weeks, so I will wait for the dvds.
I like the example Brody sets of what to do when you are wearing a bomb vest and your daughter calls to ask when you are coming home. I'm never quite sure how to answer that, so I was grateful for a few pointers.
And you, sir, are one of my "dry humor" gurus. LOL. |
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bartist |
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:40 pm |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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Glad the dry worked for you. I might starting adding another "u" to "humour," to up the dryness even more.
Lewis has a nervous magnetic energy that is really something to watch. I was pretty much unware of him until this series. |
_________________ He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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billyweeds |
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:22 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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bartist wrote: Glad the dry worked for you. I might starting adding another "u" to "humour," to up the dryness even more.
Lewis has a nervous magnetic energy that is really something to watch. I was pretty much unware of him until this series.
You really have to watch Keane, a disturbing, riveting movie that is sometimes hard to watch but in which Damian Lewis gives a performance that ranks with the finest ever seen on a screen. |
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daffy |
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 12:40 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 1939
Location: Wall Street
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billyweeds wrote: Nicholas Brody remains my hero and my power of example. (For those in the dark, that's the character played by Damian Lewis on Homeland.) A SPOILER alert and too much exposition would be necessary to explain why, but I salute you, sir!!! (And that "sir" extends to Lewis as well as Brody. What Brody is to heroism Lewis is to acting.)
Homeland SPOILERS: A hero?!?! No. Think about it: Brody plotted a mass murder, whacked his fellow soldier and friend, and assassinated a sitting Vice President of the United States, all while dragging his wife and children through hell. No doubt he's a flawed and complicated man who was ruined by a horrible situation, but a hero? I understand your urge to sympathize with him (which I feel is a huge tribute to Damien Lewis and the rest of the cast, writers, and directors) but think about it for a bit. Brody's actions were heinous. END SPOILER
I agree with you 100% about Damien Lewis, however. The guy is amazing. For those who aren't familiar with his work, check out the HBO World War II mini-series Band Of Brothers. He plays the lead and he's terrific (It's hard to believe he's actually British). |
_________________ "I have been known, on occasion, to howl at the moon."
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billyweeds |
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 4:44 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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His name is spelled "Damian," but otherwise I agree with you to the letter, but you knew that. Haven't seen Band of Brothers, but his performance in the independent movie Keane is one of the best screen performances I've ever seen. It streams on Netflix and there is no excuse on God's green earth for missing it. |
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bartist |
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 1:31 pm |
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Claire Danes has a funny interview this week in the NYT sunday zine. Apparently, she spoilers "Homeland" for Hugh when she gets home and wants to talk about her day on the set. Also describes an unfruitful meeting of "Homeland" cast with the actual CIA.
Salvaged "Keane" from a liquidating Bbuster store; watching soon. |
_________________ He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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bartist |
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 11:55 am |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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billyweeds wrote: The good news about Enlightened is that it gets better and better as the characters become more shaded and layered. Laura Dern is amazing in the leading role of a very sweet but incredibly annoying woman who is trying to find her way in a world that seems insensitive. Hard to describe, but Dern makes it easy to understand. Mike White and Dern wrote the series and it's brilliant. (posted Nov. 10, 2011)
I'm four eps into season one, and liking it so far. I had feared it might be the yin to the yang of Curb Your Enthusiasm, but it has more dramatic range and depth, so much so that I can't really think of it as a comedy, per se. There are terrific comedic moments, as in one episode where Dern escapes possible sacking by letting her boss think that she might be homeless. But it doesn't really follow a Larry David sort of playbook - in another storyline, she finds her ex-husband's stash of pills, while they are on a camping trip, and tosses them in the river. I thought at first this might be setup for a David-ish joke, where perhaps the pills turn out to be a prescription for some serious ailment, but it plays straight, as part of the couple's drama rollercoaster. The half-hour format can fool you, if you see that format as only roomy enough for comedy. |
_________________ He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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knox |
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:37 pm |
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Joined: 18 Mar 2010
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Location: St. Louis
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Dern has practically made a career doing sweet-but-imbalanced. I like Mike White's stuff generally, but I just couldn't stick with Enlightened. Maybe a little TOO real, in terms of office life. |
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billyweeds |
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 1:01 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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knox wrote: Dern has practically made a career doing sweet-but-imbalanced. I like Mike White's stuff generally, but I just couldn't stick with Enlightened. Maybe a little TOO real, in terms of office life.
Enlightened was one of the best comedies in cable history IMO. And yet I'm sort of glad it was canceled. It was perfect the way it was. |
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bartist |
Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:24 pm |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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Location: Black Hills
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knox wrote: Dern has practically made a career doing sweet-but-imbalanced. I like Mike White's stuff generally, but I just couldn't stick with Enlightened. Maybe a little TOO real, in terms of office life.
Tend to agree on the "too real" of the office life, having finished season one. I like the subversive quality....you realize at some point that Amy is only "crazy" in an environment where lies, obfuscation, and deception are the norm, and where, as the Japanese saying goes, the nail that sticks up is the one that gets the hammer. Amy is honest, idealistic, and has a good heart - i.e. a terrible fit with Abaddon, Inc. I'm not sure I can watch another season, but I certainly part with the first season hoping that she manages to poke a big stick in the hornet's nest. |
_________________ He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
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knox |
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:10 am |
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Joined: 18 Mar 2010
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Location: St. Louis
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Will say the company name, Abaddon, was brilliantly chosen. Abaddon appears in the Book of Revelation as an angel of destruction, and is also identified as a king of the locusts. And Abaddon was the name of a section of Hell in Hebrew theology. |
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