Reagan: TV Reviewer Extraordinaire

To keep inquiring minds updated on my life, I've been recently experiencing symptoms of what I can only determine is a quarter life crisis. I think. Regardless, I've become whinier than usual and am often met w/ the question "What's wrong?" from my bosses at work. I'm the human equivalent of Snuffalufugus (sp?). But not furry and somewhat cute. I'm that bouncing ball before picture on the Zoloft commercials. I am Jack's raging indifference. I could go on but I'll spare you.

On to other more interesting things, I decided to watch two new shows on FX last night and now for your reading pleasure (and my boredom, shocker), I will give you my oft-sought after opinion. If you're looking for a real review, look elsewhere, b/c there will be rambling.

Starved:
A comedy about eating disorders. Genius? Not quite. Daring? Sure, why not. Funny? Not so much. It's like this show was created just to push the boundaries of what normally would not pass on network tv, but FX welcomes with open arms. But here's the thing- shocking does not equal good television. Seeing a cop binge eat chinese food then proceed to purge himself in an alley on what turns out to be a homeless guy may sound kind of humorous when written out (b/c now I'm laughing a little) but when you actually see the dude vomiting (not him bending over, but actual vomit immersing from his mouth) for at least 30 secs, then it's not so hilarious but more gross than anything else. But enough about that, there are other reasons I'm not a fan. So the in the main characters, there's the lead white guy (also writer, producer, director, craft services?), his black friend the cop, his fat white friend, and his female friend who's bisexual and with whom most likely he will eventually begin a relationship. So diverse! But what brings them together is their compulsive overeating/bulemia/anorexia/and other weight issues. It's brilliant! Or just a clever idea that cannot possibly last, especially when they aspire to be on a level of Scrubs-like blending of serious/humorous events. When they play the sad music at the end, I don't really care. I'm only happy b/c I know the show's almost over and it's time for....

It's Always Funny in Philadelphia:
I really can't explain why I like this show, but I do. First off, the title of the pilot was "The Gang Goes Racist" or something like that and it involved several funny situations, one involving a guy dating a black girl just to show the girl he likes that he's NOT racist. Not incredibly original but still funny. The four main characters, again 3 guys and a gal who's just like one of the guys (where are the over emotional needy real women we all know and love?) and they own a bar. So in this first episode, through a series of events it becomes a gay bar and while I won't go into to much detail (too late) one of the characters likes the attention from the men so much in one shot he's wearing a tank top and juggling bottles around like it's fucking Cocktail. It...was...hilarious. There's just something not sitcomy about the show, and it's not just the fact it's a one camera show. It's got that Stella feel in both the way it's shot and in a little bit of the absurdity. In conclusion, Starved bad (ish), It's Always Funny, err, Sunny in Philadelphia good (I could not help myself w/ that fake slip, I honestly tried).

And I'm spent.
R.