GAUDI THE MAGNIFICENT

WHAT IS POSSIBLE . . .

Leosvel and Diosmani...gymnastics and strength on a French TV show. Watch until the end. Incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_embedded&v=J2brlhHMJw0

BEST WRITTEN TV SERIES

101

BEST WRITTEN 

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE
(meaning eliminating most of the world)
TV SERIES 

OF ALL TIME
(meaning 60 years)

Chosen by WGA Members 

[Writers' Guild of America],

the professional association 

which every film/television writer joins 

(voted by internet, 6/13).....

Some great series were left out, 

but (as writer/director/teacher)

I agree with 95% of these choices. 

Every film and television student and writer 

should watch ALL of these. 

Really!

REALITY TV LIFE

I watch "The Voice," "American Idol," "Undercover Boss," etc....for the pain and tears, not for the talent. Like in sports, I don't care who wins, as long as everyone appears to grow. If they reveal themselves, I feel less alone. Death is less scary if we all die, even at different rates. Thank you cynical exploitative producers for allowing us to share each other's suffering, so our own is less unique and intense....I mean it.

Vivienne Flesher

More:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/opinion/sunday/bruni-show-us-your-woe.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130519

TV IS SERIOUS

One of the greatest moments ever on television.

Not 100% true about "old" glorified America, 

but as close to the political Truth as you can find on TV.

(The Wire" was even closer social truth.)

Pilot: "THE NEWSROOM" (2012, HBO). 

Created and written by Aaron Sorkin ("Studio 60").

Starring Jeff Daniels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw&feature=youtu.be

GREAT TV SERIES

*

The greatest*, and my favorite 
(good, but not always the greatest), television series:

This is mostly American TV, with some British series. 

All other countries have great art and entertainment series, (especially Korea).

Unfortunately, world popular culture is smothered by American entertainment.

Series quality after the first 2-3 seasons usually goes down, sometimes a lot....

VIRTUAL REALITY TV

[ WARNING:  This essay is written in over-the-top American English.... If you do not like this "style," please don't give up reading the rest of the Blog, which is written in more reader-friendly English to communicate clearly! ]

The mega-blockbusters, “American Idol,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” and “America’s Got Talent” are the Titanics of TV, except they have happy American success-story endings and never sink, unlike America.

“The Voice” invented revolutionary hideously-designed spinning chairs and a beyond-silly singing wrestling ring. It also recognizes excellence, and, unlike some shows, has a beating non-plastic heart.  Of course, unlike Japanese and Mexican boy bands, Idol-with-Chairs contestants don’t have to be tortured into sleeping with Blake or Adam to further their careers. And there are plenty of non-black straight guys who like exaggerated Hispanic rears. “Voice” has a lot to offer everyone, even vicariously.