Mad Men Meltdown of the Week

How is it possible that a series as languid as Mad Men has already aired 9 episodes and it seems like they just started the new season a week or two ago? This program is more densely packed than a holiday fruitcake, and fortunately more easy to digest.

This week's episode ("Wee Small Hours"), sans the amazing force of nature Joan should have felt even slower than normal, but three story lines kept me on the edge of my seat. Don continued his jousting with Connie Hilton, who keeps calling him in the middle of the night to whisper ideas over 40 year old prohibition era moonshine. Don doesn't seem at all alarmed by Connie's suggestions which are apparently fueled by a direct pipeline to God and include a Hilton Hotel on the moon. Connie isn't nearly as nuts as he seems though, and he (quite correctly) tells Don that his creative effort for the Hilton world wide expansion campaign is "good but not great".

Meanwhile, Betty kicks her flirtation with Henry the governor's aide up a few notches and wins this week's "Meltdown" award, when she hurls a metal campaign cash box at Henry in a burst of childish rage. Betty Draper is becoming increasingly disturbed. Not to go all pop Psychology, but I think she's bipolar. The kids shouldn't be left alone with her anymore, thank God for Carla the maid.

Last but by no means least, closeted commercial producer Sal found himself out on the street this week when he rebuffed the advances of a Lucky Strike client. Drunk and angry, the client demanded Sal's head (so to speak) and Don gave in rather than lose a $20 million dollar account.

It would be very unlikely for Matt Weiner to jettison two powerhouse characters (Sal and Joan) so one would hope to see them brought back to the fold soon. Less crazy Betty and more Joan d'Advertising Agency would suit me just fine.

"Community" Tries Hard to Please on NBC

A clever and mostly pleasant comedy premiered on NBC last week brought to us by Joe and Anthony Russo of "Arrested Development" fame. Airing Thursdays at 9:30pm, Community is an ensemble of quirky characters set at a local community college. The cast is mixed but interesting. Joel McHale anchors the effort as Jeff, the self centered smarty pants lawyer forced to return to college when his degree is discovered to be a sham. Simultaneously amusing and annoying is Dani Pudi as Abed, the Arab-American pop culture nerd with a serious case of ADD. The stereotypical angry middle aged divorcee (Shirley) is capably rendered by Yvette Brown. Chevy Chase stars as Pierce, a sage senior who is in every class and we are never really sure why. Chase is brilliantly underplaying his former star persona in this series. He is subtle, eccentric and a true team player. Last night's episode in which he tried to teach a fellow student how to "sneeze like a man" was genius.

One of the funniest characters in the series is Senor Chang, a Chinese American Spanish teacher played by Ken Jeong, who stole the show on the hit summer movie comedy, "The Hangover". Note to NBC---make sure Senor Chang is in every episode, he brings the most humor and energy.

Rounding out the cast is Gillian Jacobs as Britta, the obligatory pretty blond which, based on a 50 year old rule, must appear in every television sitcom. She's light as a feather and so far not especially memorable.

This series might be a diamond in the rough if the writing stays sharp. It's definitely a worthy lead-out for The Office and 30 Rock on Thursday nights.

"The National Parks: America's Best Idea"

There are few moments in television I look forward to more than a new series by Ken Burns. This is not to say that all of his documentaries have been satisfying to the soul, brain or heart, but he always attempts to do justice to his topics and, he usually succeeds.

Ken Burns' "The Civil War" remains to this day the single greatest television series ever produced. It was artistic beyond belief and it was poetic from start to finish. Of course, as a history buff it was as close as those of us living in this time and age would know what that generation lived through and fought for. This even still bests the beautiful, stunning and superbly crafted piece of artistry that was the BBC's "Planet Earth."

Tonight, Ken Burns' newest entry "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" premiered. Two hours of sheer bliss. Everything is perfect! Obviously, it is physically beautiful, but as always, the writing, the casting of actors reading roles, the Peter Coyote narration, the historians/assorted other knowledgeable folks, the music is all spot-on brilliant.

Nothing is missed. Tonight, Burns and his team took us to Yosemite (the dreams of John Muir came to life) and Yellowstone (one of my favorite places on planet earth). I am looking forward to the next episode. I almost can't wait.

This is one of those glorious reasons why television matters! God's most mighty, majestic and monumental creation's are on display on my nice HD television set!

This is worth watching and clearly it will be worth watching over and over again.

(Flaming Nose note: Check out Jane's post about this amazing series, too! PBS' excellent website for the production is here.)

Not Bored to Death on HBO

BORED TO DEATH premiered on HBO Sunday night, September 20th. It's a whimsical half hour comedy that has great potential, mostly due to the strength of the characters. Jason Schwartzman has the lead. He's Jonathan, a blocked sad sack of a writer in Brooklyn. His girlfriend just dumped him because he's too fond of white wine and marijuana. Schwartzman is an interesting Ben Stiller-esque type. With the right camera angle, he can look almost handsome in a dreamy sort of way. But most of the time he is pure, Grade-A nebbish. In the pilot that aired Sunday, Jonathan decides to become a detective and places an ad on the ubiquitous Craigslist. I guess he supposes being a detective will be easier than writing about one.

Jonathan's best friend Ray is a bearded cartoonist played by Zach Galfianakis. He's very solid in the role, but not nearly as funny as he was in this summer's hit Vegas comedy The Hangover.

The true gem of this series premier is Ted Danson, who plays George, Jonathan's self centered artist boss. He has the best lines in the episode and he delivers them with bemused and slightly stoned panache. Danson is not the only star from decades old TV to reappear in new series this week (Chevy Chase showed up on NBC's "Community"), but he's definitely the best. His character is laugh out loud funny and an absolute scene stealer.

The detective angle is light as a feather but will be substantial enough to place these three funny guys in tight spots so we can watch them wriggle out. Writing and casting for Bored to Death is top notch, and true to HBO form. It's worth a look, you definitely won't be bored.

Here's a taste of the trailer:

Remembering Henry Gibson, 1935 - 2009

The Baby Boomers among us will especially mourn the passing of actor/comedian Henry Gibson, who died this past Monday at the age of 73. We grew up with his gentle and always amusing presence on the iconic and unforgettable Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, and he was a frequent guest star on many series -- most recently Boston Legal -- and made many appearance in feature films throughout his long career. Gibson's hundreds and hundreds of credits span the past 50 years of show business history, and he carved a unique niche with his talented portrayals. Here's a short slideshow with some nice images of Gibson, thanks to YouTube user Paultinsel:



Here's a short clip of him from the 1974 The Beverly Hillbillies episode "A Man for Elly", along with Buddy Ebsen and Irene Ryan.



An even bigger treat is this 1966 episode "Wrongo Starr and the Lady in Black" from the memorable but short-lived sitcom F Troop, in which Gibson plays Starr, a jinxed soldier at Fort Courage. Those of you who rememember F Troop know it was a rollicking frontier farce starring the memorable duo of Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch, along with Ken Berry as their less-than-commanding commanding officer, and the lovely Melody Patterson as the comely and rambunctious Wrangler Jane. Gibson's performance was so well-received that he was brought back for another episode as the hapless Pvt. Starr. (It's divided into three parts here.) Astute Flaming Nose TV fans will recognize the actress Sarah Marshall who plays the widow from her role as Dr. Janet Wallace from the original Star Trek episode "The Deadly Years". So enjoy the episode!

The Flaming Nose pays tribute to Henry Gibson as a part our TV landscape, and we remember his performances as true television gems.

Viral Video Moment on the Nose

The Flaming Nose reported on the amazing Susan Boyle several months ago. She is the middle aged phenom out of Great Britain who captured everyone's heart with her rendition of Les Miserables "I Dreamed on Dream" on Britain's Got Talent. She did not win that contest, but this true star survives. Here is Ms. Boyle singing her version of the old Rolling Stones chestnut "Wild Horses" on America's Got Talent this week. The song will be included on her first CD which is set for release in about a month.

The Jay Leno Show Premiers Tonight on NBC

In case you missed the $10 million tidal wave of promotion that NBC has thrown at this show, here's another reminder that Jay Leno debuts tonight at 10pm. The blogosphere buzz on this premier is off the charts, as NBC experiments with a stripped variety show at 10pm instead of the usual TV dramas.

Tonight's guests will include Jerry Seinfeld as well as Kanye West, who will undoubtedly be puking up mea culpas all over the stage after his shameful interruption on last night's MTV music video awards.

The real excitement will come tomorrow after the ratings are in. Will Jay at 10pm be a disaster or a brilliant way to bring viewers back to broadcast prime? Will 10pm TV dramas on cable reap the benefits? Tonight's premier will undoubtedly get a ratings surge from curiosity. Whether they can keep it up night after night is another story.

As they stay in the business....stay tuned......

True Blood Season Finale Tonight

Time to bid farewell to Season Two of True Blood on HBO tonight (Sept 13 at 9pm Eastern). And what a magnificent season it has been. All of the characters had a white knuckle ride through the bayou and now we wait to see who will stop Maryanne the Maenad before she sends Bon Temps to ruin. Let's recap some of the most wonderful scenes from what has become the best HBO Sunday night series since the Sopranos.

What's For Dinner?: Tara and Eggs chow down on some sort of casserole made by the evil Maryanne...not realizing that Ms. Maenad has put a lot of heart into her culinary effort. Biggest ewwwwww of Season Two.

Jason's BBQ Fantasy: At the Light of Day church boot camp, Jason Stackhouse is seduced by cult leaders Sarah and Steve, over bottles of beer, sizzling BBQ and some suggestive country music. Calling MTV...this should be the music video of the year!

Godric Fades into Morning Mist: Godric, we hardly knew ye. The most amazing character of the season was with us for far too short a time. Though young, Godric was a commanding, almost ethereal presence. His self sacrificing sunrise death scene (and the devastating effect that it had on his acolyte Eric) was a rare moment of true emotion in the series. It also touched on spiritual themes that illustrate Alan Ball's ambivalence with religion.

Sookie and Eric Sex Fantasy: Best naked scene of the season. Who cares if it was all a dream? Episode #9 was too hot to discuss on The Flaming Nose!

The Crazy People of Bon Temps: Cavorting and running amok in the streets like something out of Dante's Inferno, the good people of Bon Temps had a non-stop orgy through most of the season. Along with the hapless Jason Stackhouse, their black eyed zombie escapades provided the best comic relief of Season Two.

There were many more fabulous moments in Season Two. To heck with the bad economy, this might be one time where I'll have to buy the boxed set. Farewell to the greatest ensemble cast and clever, clever writing. Sunday nights just won't be the same. Sookie and Bill, Eric and Jason, Tara and Lafayette...you've made fang bangers of us all!

We Remember 9-11

Eight years later, we still struggle to find the right words. One million words are not enough.

The Flaming Nose remembers 09-11-2001.

It was a terrible day for America. It was the most photographed, and video'ed episode in history.

Watch the History Channel for one of the best recaps.

Why remember 9- 11? Because it showed, in the most graphic horror ever, how human beings face disaster. In the towers, even when they knew they were doomed, they called loved ones to say goodbye. 15,000 people calmly climbed stairs and helped carry wounded to safety. On flight 93, they organized a revolt. Ordinary folks flying home to San Francisco had about 30 minutes to figure out they were on a flying bomb. They fought back.

The most horrible day ever, brought about the most exceptional behavior from ordinary human beings. Most of us watched it unfold live on TV. Does that make it more...or less real as time goes by? Maybe younger people will become numb to the images.

I am reminded again of the line from the movie "Star Man", where the alien played by Jeff Bridges is cornered in an Arizona cafe. He says (of Earth) we have studied your civilization for thousands of years. "Do you know what we love most about humans? They are at their very best..when things are at their worst".

How true. How 9-11. We remember.

September 11th

We would be remiss if we didn't pay proper respect to today's anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States. Rather than play the much-viewed footage again -- though I believe that it should be watched every so often, just so it is remembered in all its stark brutality -- I think the following video is perfect for The Flaming Nose. It's footage recorded by YouTube user FlyByNightVideo who was watching DirecTV that day, as he/she channel-switched up the dial to see what everybody was doing, just after 2pm Eastern time. I know that's what I was doing all day, too.



It's easy to understand that networks who had access to news reports from sister channels switched immediately to that coverage, and some other networks, lacking that, merely suspended regular programming. Those that didn't...that's a little more disturbing. No doubt they were simply caught with no contingency plans, but it is rather awful to watch incongruous comedy shows and sports going on as if nothing had happened.

I also highly recommend watching some of the many collections of 9/11 footage available on YouTube, and of course a visit to the National September 11th Memorial and Museum, whether in person or online, is always appropriate.

A Flaming Nose Birthday Salute to Angela Cartwright

In a combination birthday salute and Nose-talgia shout out, The Flaming Nose recognizes Angela Cartwright. Born September 9, 1952 in Cheshire England, Angela was a child TV star on two well known series from the 60's; Make Room for Daddy, and Lost in Space. She is perhaps best known for the latter, where she played the sensitive and optimistic Penny Robinson, youngest daughter of the space pioneer family. As the middle child, Penny was often overshadowed by her sexy older sister Judy and intrepid younger brother Will. She was sort of the "Jan Brady" of the space family Robinson, a hapless character archetype popular in the 1960's. She did have one lovely episode on Lost in Space called "My Friend Mr. Nobody", where she befriended an invisible alien that lived in a cave. In the accompanying picture, Angela is at the far left wearing a fetching lime green mini-dress.

In real life, Angela is the younger sister of actress Veronica Cartwright, who has a much longer biography in both television and film. Among countless other roles, Veronica starred in the movies "Alien" and "The Right Stuff".

Happy birthday to Angela Cartwright. The Flaming Nose hopes this day is all your own, and you won't have to share it with an older sibling, fictional or otherwise!

Since whoever has the rights to Lost in Space has made sure there is not one speck of it available on YouTube, here's a nice little "Penny Robinson" tribute that a fan has put together.

Mad Men: Pitch Dark but not Pitch Perfect

We are four episodes into season three of AMC's Mad Men, and the tone is darker than ever. Infuriating those who don't "get" Mad Men, is the increasingly languid pace, which is just a notch or two less fast than watching your grandparents play Monopoly.

But that's OK, because I am a Mad Men super fan, and it still works for me. I love the costumes, the 60's details, the quirky characters and the references to vintage advertising. However, I'm a bit frustrated with the relentless unhappiness that all the characters exhibit. Last season there was the occasional drunken joie de vive. This season, our heroes in the Sterling Cooper office even managed to make getting high on pot seem dour and humorless. Cheech and Chong, Harold and Kumar, avert your eyes! Peggy and the gang smoked a joint in the office and didn't even manage to come up with some good creative for Bacardi.

The "hidden lives" theme continues in season three. Everyone is in denial. Peggy is pretending to be fun so she can find a Manhattan room mate. Sal is pretending to be straight for his adoring wife. Although it's possible she might finally have a clue that he plays for the other team, after his enthusiastic pajama clad Ann Margaret impression in their bedroom. The entire Sterling Cooper team is pretending that they can make Ja'i Alai the next great American past time with a million dollar ad campaign. Only Don Draper sees the folly of that endeavor.

I wish Matt Weiner had not continued the relentless torture of Don and Betty's daughter this season. It's painful to watch through our 21st Century eyes, and makes me want to call child protective services. The one warm relationship for the series thus far this season (Grandpa and grand daughter) was smashed to smithereens when Betty's Dad died suddenly from a heart attack. Icecube parents Don and Betty ignored their daughter's anguish in this week's episode. Note to Mr. and Mrs. Draper. It's 1963. In six years, your daughter is going to run off to join the Manson family, where she can finally get some love.

If you're looking for love or at the very least some fun this season on Mad Men, your best bet is on their website where you can create your own avatar. Here's mine, urging the Sterling Cooper cast to wake up and smell the coffee.

COW - The film that will stop you txting and driving

Much coverage around right now about this production from Britain, produced for the Gwent Police Department, a clip from which has become a viral phenomenon on YouTube. Obviously it's not just relevant over there, and with a holiday weekend upon us, please remember to keep your eyes on the road, folks.

Please read this article and follow the link to get to the four minute preview video -- the whole 30 minute program is not available yet.

COW - The film that will stop you txting and driving

There's another informative article on the film here, from The Guardian's website.

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MTV Spins Off "16 and Pregnant"

Have you watched this show on MTV? I've caught several episodes and it's depressingly interesting. These unfortunate pregnant teens -- and unfortunate doesn't begin to express how I really feel about how these gals are messing up their lives -- no matter how much they try to put on a happy face, are not in a good place.

I was particularly horrified by the episode where the youngish mother of a pregnant teenage girl also was pregnant at the same time, and there was also a grandmother in the house who pretty much just encouraged the whole mess and kept saying how beautiful it was to be pregnant. Good lord. Somebody break that cycle of continuously fertile women, please. It's simply sad and trashy.

Let's all hope the show discourages further unprotected sex for teen girl everywhere, and once and for all takes the "glamour" out of unwed motherhood. Anyway, the show is spinning off, as you will read here, and there's a (ha-ha...ick) "Labor Day Marathon" in store, too.

MTV Spins Off "16 and Pregnant"

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Sons of Anarchy Returns to fX; Are You Along for the Ride?

Season two of Sons of Anarchy, the ultra violent motorcycle melodrama, races to fX next Tuesday (Sept 8th) at 10pm. Unless I've secretly had a brain transplant lately, there is no logical reason for why I would feel compelled to watch this program. I never watched the first season and I don't get motorcycle clubs. Much as I love Brando I've never once been able to make it all the way through The Wild Ones. Also, the thought of 50 motorcycles thundering through town makes me want to cover my ears. Which is weird, because the thought of 50 F-16 fighter jets doing a fly by over my head makes me want to scream with joy. As Uncle Teddy said on the season finale of Rescue Me last night, "She's all about the contradictions".

And maybe that's the point right there. With Rescue Me gone, there will be a Tuesday night television void to fill. Here's hoping that Charlie Hunnam who plays Jackson (Jax) Teller on SOA will be the one to fill it. He's another hottie from the UK who does a pitch perfect downscale American accent. And his filmography includes some highbrow titles such as "Cold Mountain" and "Children of Men". Katey Sagal also has a juicy role as Jackson's ruthless mother.

Here's a taste of season two with interviews from the cast. Should we turn down the volume next week and check it out?

The Calculations Behind "Mad Men"!

You know that we are big fans of AMC's Mad Men around here at The Flaming Nose, but we also like to read articles that eschew sentiment and delve into the nitty-gritty of television economics, such as this fascinating article at TV By The Numbers! Is Mad Men worth it? the article asks. It depends, as you will read. Lots of discussion in the comments section also, don't skip that part...

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Mark your calenders for the next fantastic PBS miniseries which is coming on September 27, 2009. Check your local guides for times. Documentary film maker extraordinaire Ken Burns has produced a magnificent six part series for public broadcasting, with The National Parks.

Mr. Burns has established himself as an artist who paints unique video portraits of all things "American". Past series have included baseball, jazz and the city of New York. Some critics (not me!) find the pace of his specials a bit too leisurely, but various media outlets including Entertainment Weekly, have said that this latest effort will knock the hiking boot socks right off your feet. If the economic down turn caused you to have a "Stay-cation" this summer, National Parks might be the next best thing to being out there on the road. Segments will bring you to U.S. treasures such as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and the Everglades. This is one holiday that won't require a trip through the security line at the airport or maxing out your already depleted credit card. We can't wait!

Here's a taste of this wonderful special: the cliff dwelling ruins in Mesa Verde, Colorado. Abandoned one thousand years ago by the original inhabitants, and still absolutely magic.

Remembering: The Death of Diana, Princess of Wales

It was August 31, 1997 -- twelve years ago, and no doubt many of us can remember where we were when we heard about the car accident that took the lives of Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed, and Henri Paul, the driver. Diana's bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones alone survived. The following is a compilation of BCC news reports from that fateful evening, a night that changed history.



Diana's allure has barely dimmed in the subsequent dozen years since her death, and her legacy lives on in the work of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Whether you are or were a royal watcher or not, it made no difference; the fascinating and heartfelt outpouring of emotion transfixed the world. This was another event where television brought the world together as one.

"Mad Men" -- Sneak Preview of Tonight's Episode on AMC

An ex-secretary comes back for a visit! Meow!

Nose-Talgia: "The Lucy Show"

In addition to being raised on Flaming Nose Favorite I Love Lucy, many of us grew up with Lucille Ball's subsequent television series, including The Lucy Show which premiered in the Fall of 1962. New premise -- Lucy is a widow living in Danfield, NY, -- but with an old friend as co-star -- Vivian Vance played fellow widow Vivian who shared a house with Lucy (and both women's kids) -- The Lucy Show was a worthy follow-up to I Love Lucy, but certainly pales in comparison in terms of public awareness via syndication. By no means a buried classic, but also infrequently exposed in a couple of decades, it's an impeccably put-together show with many hilarious moments. One of the classic episodes is discussed below, and then watch the episode here!

From Wikipedia: While filming the 1963 episode "Lucy and Viv Put In A Shower", in which the leading ladies attempted to install a shower stall (but become trapped inside, unable to shut the water off), Ball nearly drowned while performing in the tank of water. She was unable to bring herself back to the surface, and it was Vance who realized there was a problem and pulled her co-star to safety; Vance went on to ad lib until Ball could catch her breath to resume speaking her lines (all the while, cameras continued to film). Neither the film crew nor the live studio audience realized there was a problem.




The Lucy Show (Season One) is now available on DVD!