New show: "Modern Family"

In the TV world, best new TV comedy that you may not be watching (I know I wasn't) is "Modern Family", which just started a few weeks ago and airs Wednesday nights at 9pm. Don't despair - if you have TiVo or DVR, start recording for tomorrow and then use Hulu to catch up...you've only missed three or four episodes and they're very short w/o commercials - 20 or 21 minutes/episode. I've only watched a few minutes of the pilot and, trust me, it is funny! Starring Ed O'Neill (of "Married with Children" fame or notoriety - that's your call, lol), Sofia Vergara (of the cancelled-too-early "Knights of Prosperity", a quirky comedy that only lasted a few episodes), Julie Bowen ("Ed", though here Bowen's character not as sunny with a sarcastic streak), and a few other talented cast that round out the ensemble.

Don't believe me? Click here for an article from Movieline which discusses how this show is already resonating with viewers.

It's easy for me to add this to our TV lineup as we've finally bid "Gary Unmarried" goodbye -- Jay Mohr as Gary is very funny - as is his character's brother, Mitch, played by Rob Riggle, funnyman formerly with "The Daily Show" - but I don't think there's anything really innovative that they can do with the storyline: saw the recent development brewing the moment they introduced the new character.

"Slumdog Millionaire"

For anyone who hasn't yet seen the sleeper turned blockbuster that dominated this year's Academy Awards with eight wins, it's on HBO tonight at 8pm with other showings throughout the week.

I know what you're thinking--who HASN'T seen it?? Surprise, surprise - Porter's Picks, that's who! I had heard all the accolades about the film even before it became as huge as it did...just didn't get around to it. (See the last post for how this can happen.) Needless to say, our DVR is set to record it tonight...looking forward to watching it sometime soon.

To Do List

I don't know about you but for as many books as I've read and movies as I've watched, there are still SO many classics, cult sensations and pop icons that I've missed.

Here are a few on my 'to do' list - don't judge! ;)

"The Bicycle Thief"

"Das Boot"

"Chariots of Fire"

"Taxi Driver"

"Apocalypse Now"

"Rabbit, Run" - John Updike

"Chinatown" (I know!! Double gulp!)

"Sophie's Choice"
"The Big Lebowski" ('The Dude' would not be pleased...)

These are just a few on my 'to do' list - what's on yours? Please share anything you feel you've missed in the comments section!

(See, this is much cooler than the normal 'to do' list where entries may include the more mundane 'do laundry', 'pick up dry cleaning', 'go grocery shopping', 'mail package', etc.)

I will say that the few listed above aren't as glaring as some omissions that I didn't see until recently (and by recent, in this instance, I'm speaking in broad strokes...as in last five years): "Caddyshack" (let's put it this way...my dad gently mocked me for not having seen!); "Animal House" (ditto - in fact, I believe when I finally saw this comedic classic in '05, it was with my parents. Yep, they're pretty hip!); "Ordinary People" (my mom had recommended this to me for years. And years. When I finally got around to it - I absolutely adored it. It is now one of my all-time favorites, though not one to be watched if you're you're a little down. And, have a box - or two - of tissues handy.); "Kramer vs. Kramer" - these were just a few of the 'blanks' I filled in.

"My Life in Ruins"

"My Life in Ruins": Not a great movie...not even very good. However, I did like "My Life in Ruins" in spite of all that. (That said, I'm sure I feel this way because this was a NF rental...I doubt I would have been quite as pleased if I'd seen this at the theatre.)

It's corny, it's cheesy, it's beyond predictable. Then again, isn't that why we occasionally tune in to romantic comedies? The first quarter of the movie was rough...so much so that I almost gave up on it. But, there are laughs - from supporting cast like Richard Dreyfuss - and Nia Vardalos, in the lead as Georgia, eventually finds her groove or 'kefi', in Greek.

I loved "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" but make no mistake these two movies have little in common other than a Greek theme and Nia Vardalos in a lead role. Which may have been part of the problem - where she shined in the former movie, here she felt wooden. Not sure if that's the script or...if she's just not really a good actress - sorry, Nia (though I also liked her a lot in her pairing with Toni Collette in "Connie and Carla"...if you want laughs, fun and high jinx - there's your movie!!).

At the Movies

"Couples Retreat"

This moviegoer is going to pass on this one, in spite of a good cast: Jason Bateman, Kristen Bell, Vince Vaughn, Kristin Davis, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, etc. It may be a future Netflix viewing but I'm not even sure if I'd watch then.

Why? Because even the trailer doesn't seem all that funny...not good when your movie is billed as a comedy.

The movie seems like it's a mix of Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married" - which turns out to be an 'unofficial' couples' retreat of sorts when college friends, now married, all go to Colorado for a long winter weekend - and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (which I LOVED!).

Instead, check out either "The Damned United", starring Michael Sheen and Jim Broadbent, or "An Education" (Carey Mulligan, Emma Thompson, Peter Saarsgard) - both look like good bets!

Food for thought

Just a few nuggets to pass on...

"Flashforward": Thursdays at 8pm

"FF" is the best new show on TV. It debuted last week
and was riveting!! Following the show's premiere, I immediately had a
flashforward of my own...showing me regularly tuning in on Thursday nights ;)

"Her Fearful Symmetry" - Audrey Niffenegger

Author of "Time Traveler's Wife" has just released her follow-up book. If you liked "TTW", it may be worth checking out...

thirtysomething: Season 1 (DVD)

I'm almost done with the first season of thirtysomething and I am a
big fan! Great ensemble cast with richly drawn characters...and it's
interesting to see the group dynamics among them as well as some of
the individual relationships - some characters get closer, while some characters' relationships are fraying.
Overall, I've been careful to not read articles about the show as the
few I've read have had huge spoilers (understandably since the show is
22 years old). One thing I did see is some mild criticism from some
fortysomethings and fiftysomethings re-watching the show, who now find
some/all of the characters to be whiny.

You're right - but wasn't Rachel a little whiny (or, a lot - depending on the episode) on "Friends"? Diane of the late, great "Cheers" may have perfected whiny...you just may not have noticed it in the
constant barrage of her high-brow vocabulary, that was often over the head of all but Frasier. And Michael Scott's ("The Office") whiny extends far beyond any whiny Hope ("thirtysomething") could muster...in fact he may be more of a child than her daughter, Janey.

And maybe - just maybe - this part of the post could be construed as whining? ;)

You get the picture. Sure - there are actually times when some of the characters might be prone to whine...but I don't think it takes away from the show.

I think the only drawback with the show is the decision - a rights one, I'm sure - to release one season every six months. After twenty-two years, that's how you reward old fans?? Not to mention new ones--don't you run the risk of alienating new viewers who decide they can't/won't wait to pick up the adventures of Hope, Michael, Nancy, Elliot, Gary, Melissa and Ellen because they aren't able to do this until February 2010?? Baffling.

More "Flashforward"...

More to suggest some sort of "Lost" connection - check out the billboard ad for OCEANIC AIRLINES...ooh, creepy!!!

See for yourself at TV Fanatic!