Thursday Movie Picks: TV Edition - The Workplace
1) The Newsroom
I hate that Aaron Sorkin let his ego go out of control and this only went three seasons. (The rumor is he walked away because it was not getting the same ratings/recognition his previous shows got on HBO) It's an excellent fast paced show about life in the newsroom at a major TV station. The characters were right, the dialogue smart, I loved all of it.
2) Rescue Me
Denis Leary and his crew made me fall in love with these fire fighters we followed in post 9/11 New York City. Sure, this show had its issues. Most of the female characters were awful and they were under huge scrutiny for the way they handled serious topics at times, but overall, I really liked this series. It was the first time I ever cried watching a TV show.
3) Breaking Bad
The gold standard of TV in my opinion. Walt and Jesse's various meth labs were their work place. I can't recommend this show enough. It's absolutely incredible. Every single moment of it.
The Newsroom!!! YAAAS! That was such a well executed show from start to finish, sad that it was so short, but I feel like this could have like a comeback or something in the future. Like I can imagine Sorkin plotting in the corner writing down news worthy news and laughing manically - quitting or not quitting, he should definitely give it another go!
ReplyDeleteI hope so because I hated how he pulled the plug on it so quickly. There was so much to love about it.
DeleteBreaking Bad was such a brilliant show!
ReplyDeleteYes it was!
DeleteThe Newsroom was so good, athough I haven’t gotten past the first season.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how they used an original story for the second season, though I think they stumbled a bit with jumping around in the time line. But there's an episode in there called Red Team Three that is one of the best episodes of television ever in my opinion.
DeleteI've only seen Breaking Bad of these.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever go back for more TV, I always recommend the other two.
DeleteNever seen those shows. Then again, I don't watch a lot of TV shows.
ReplyDeleteThere is some amazing TV with these shows!
DeleteOH GOD THE NEWSROOM. Both amazing and terrible in equal measure. Jane Fonda absolutely KILLED IT in that, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Breaking Bad, though. Just stellar, stellar TV.
Aww I never thought Newsroom was terrible, although I did hate a the way a few things were handled. I suppose Maggie's season 2 hair cut she had for a minute was terrible. lol
DeleteBreaking Bad is the gold standard of TV. AMEN!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssss
DeleteI'm probably the only person who hasn't seen a single second of Breaking Bad. It's obviously a gap but finding the time to catch up will be tough.
ReplyDeleteI don't have HBO but have seen a couple eps of The Newsroom, specifically a couple where Jane Fonda tore it up as the station owner. I seemed decent.
I'm not of a Dennis Leary fan so I only caught Rescue Me a few times. Not enough to really catch the drift but it was okay.
So many choices this week! It will be interesting to see if any two people chose even one of the same show. I'm thinking with my three probably not.
Murphy Brown (1988-1998)-After spending some time in rehab for her drinking problem broadcaster and tough broad Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) returns to work on her news show FYI joining capable but insecure investigative reporter Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto), esteemed uptight anchorman Jim Dial (Charles Kimbrough) and perky former beauty queen turned features reporter Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford) and led by high strung producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) who frequently butts heads with the assertive Murphy. For ten seasons the team tackled topical subjects (including Murphy’s baby becoming a cause celebre when Vice President Dan Quayle condemned her for having a child out of wedlock) and Murphy’s inability to find a decent secretary-over the show’s run she had nearly 100. That is unless Murphy was home dealing with her permanent housepainter-daffy, endearing conceptual artist Eldin Bernecky (Robert Pastorelli). Winner of a massive amount of Emmys, Candice Bergen withdrew her name from contention after receiving her 5th.
Designing Women (1986-1993)-At the small Atlanta interior design firm Sugarbakers the four female partners-sisters, the fiery feminist Julia & shallow much married Suzanne Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter & Delta Burke) plus single mom Mary Jo Shively & naïve country girl Charlene Frazier (Annie Potts & Jean Smart) struggle to make a success of the business while discussing and quarrelling about their lives and the situations that cross their paths to humorous effect. Providing the male prospective is their handyman, ex-con Anthony Bouvier (Meshach Taylor). Brilliantly acted sitcom addressed many sensitive subjects including AIDS, racism, spousal abuse, homophobia and in the award winning episode “They Shoot Fat Women, Don’t They?” the cruelty towards people because one’s surface appearance has changed. Ironically for a show about a workable partnership between four people the show because infamous for its hostile work environment behind the scenes with Delta Burke and the producers clashing so strongly (and publicly) that she eventually left the show. It never recovered the special chemistry of its initial lineup.
Bay City Blues (1983)-Ensemble drama of minor league California baseball team The Bluebirds as they move from town to town. As the rookies, up and comers and one time big name players try and work together to form a winning team they have to deal with outside interference as well as each other. An entertaining “lost” series this extremely short-lived show (8 episodes) was Stephen Bochco’s follow-up to Hill Street Blues and starred many performers who appeared on that show or would on his next, L.A. Law including Dennis Franz, Ken Olin and Michele Greene plus a pre-stardom Sharon Stone.
The only one of those I have heard of is Bay City Blues. You stumped me. lol
DeleteOkay, I'm THAT guy - the one that hasn't seen even one second of Breaking Bad. I keep telling myself I will, but haven't gotten to it yet. I think I saw 1 or 2 episodes of Rescue Me and thought it was 'meh.'
ReplyDeleteBREAKING BAD IS SO GOOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! lol
DeleteOk, like Joel, I have not seen any episodes of Breaking Bad. I don’t know why as it has so much acclaim but I don’t like shows where the person sinks into evil and that is glorified...blecchhhh...I can’t believe I wrote that as I sound like my mother...hahahaaa. I haven’t seen The Newsroom but would like to. That man needs an attitude adjustment if he really felt that way...what an idiot. I watched Rescue Me and loved that show even though they were all really fucked up( sorry for the language). It had humour and such anguish but so well acted. The lead reminded me of someone I knew who was also alcoholic and self-destructive...Great pick!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see some love for Rescue Me!
DeleteBreaking Bad even with that trope is really interesting. I didn't feel they glorified it too much, especially in the later seasons where you really see the effects Walt's actions have on his family and partner.