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November 17, 2006
Frakkin' Toaster
I am a sensitive artist, I am a sensitive artist...
In the last month or so, something very weird has happened - at least to me. All of a sudden, Battlestar Galactica is the COOLEST show on television. It's like a memo went out to all the intelligentsia and hipsters explaining that you are hereby required to watch this fantastically well-written, well-acted, and intelligent show.
BSG first came onto my radar a couple months ago when a few of my friends threw a season premier party. I didn't actually go to said party, but I was curious as to why a group of my friends would rather watch a sci-fi television show on a Friday night than go out. I was confused...nay...concerned. Then I tivoed it.
Whoa.
Since I've jumped into the middle of the third season, I already have a fairly decent idea of what's going on. But I needed more - so last night I picked up the first season at large electronics retailer across the street. It also includes the original miniseries, which functions as the series exposition.
BSG has definitely inherited the Buffy mantle of well written TV with characters you care about. Furthermore, the show is shot to deliberately exploit (but in a good way) our emotions by visually recalling significant events from our history. It's the President being sworn in like LBJ, a child in the foreground of an attack recalling Daisy, and the wall on Galactica pasted with cards & pictures that recall all those walls around the World Trade Center.
So now that we've established that the show is good, the question still begs - how the hell did everyone hear about this? Word-of-mouth seems to be responsible - just good old friends telling friends. And that is a sign of good quality programming. Thank the G-ds of Kobol that the show is on Sci-Fi and not NBC where it would be canceled for being too intelligent.
Network execs...like a frakkin' toaster
Posted by MikeSager at November 17, 2006 12:00 PM
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Comments
hey now, NBC is just starting to look good again: that new thursday night comedy lineup is amazing, and largely smart. and as much as he's blowing it, nbc has to be given props for giving aaron sorkin another show.
not that nbc doesn't have terrible shows, but right now i'd give 'em at least a B+ for effort.
look at Fox: that place is just a black hole for quality programming.
Posted by: jake at November 17, 2006 2:24 PM
Well, My Name is Earl is very good. And I like Studio 60 - I know a lot of people don't, but I enjoy it greatly.
I don't know why I singled out NBC in particular. I think it fit with the meter of the post.
Posted by: Carpetblogger at November 17, 2006 2:33 PM
I can't agree more.
Check out my posting at http://shmuzings.blogspot.com/2006/10/not-your-childhood-battlestar.html
Posted by: smoo at November 18, 2006 12:00 AM
Thank God the show is not on NBC
Or ere we should enjoy a dreadful mess.
Fear Factor, Deal Or No Deal clog the waves
And stunt our minds.
Shakespeare better watch his back-I've got this iambic pentameter thing DOWN.
Posted by: jake at November 18, 2006 2:51 PM
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