The last time we saw them -- that eternal “love” triangle Jack, Kate and Sawyer were stranded on that “other” island with the Others.

We’ve been introduced to a whole new herd of people living on an adjacent island.

The people from Season 2, who we thought were the Others -- Mr. Eko, Libby, Ana-Lucia -- are dead and gone.

So … Jack, Kate and Sawyer aren’t the only people who have made a confusing trek to another island. Over 5 million viewers (that’s how many fewer folks are watching this year) have voted themselves off the island.

Why?

“Lost” has never been an easy show to watch. It’s multi-character plotlines and flashback-laden episodes require an almost-encyclopedic knowledge of what has gone before. But sometimes, it seems all that extra stuff is just filler, useless information designed to keep us going until something important happens. It’s as if you could...]]> http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/12/how_lost_is_lost.shtml http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/12/how_lost_is_lost.shtml Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:09:10 -0800

This may be the wrong time to say this, due to the untimely death of Robert Altman, but I can’t watch any more episodes of M*A*S*H.

It’s a show that still holds the honor of having the most-watched series finale of all time. But here’s a little known rumor that I’m going to continue to spread about the Nielsen families. We hear a lot of speculation in the TV circuit about the ratings system’s flaws back in the day.

And "MASH" is supposed to be the prime example.

In a time when television was just beginning to explore it’s political side, or “TV that means something” – "MASH" was doing a show about war. And though many of the Neilsen families weren’t watching it, (because let’s be honest, it’s just not that funny) a lot of them were writing into their "watching journals" that they were. Hence the huge ratings. This is,...]]> http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/11/mash_no_more.shtml http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/11/mash_no_more.shtml Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:33:23 -0800 In an age of manipulated, polished reality television where even the most boring folk seem positively witty, and the most benign situations appear action packed, I long for the old days. The simplicity of unfettered, unedited emotion, the kind that can't be doctored in post-production.

These days I can only find drama like that in one place: in the pure horror of the Paternity Test a la "Maury Povich." It is gruesome, and yet I cannot resist. Call it television rubbernecking.

It's a modern day Greek tragedy in two minute segments, complete with the wronged ladies splaying themselves on the ground in a pool of tears -- microphone packs be damned -- as the blood-thirsty spectators cheer from the amphitheater seats.

CBS/Paramount Television is celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Star Trek” by digitally re-mastering the original series with all new, state-of-the-art CGI effects and re-recorded music, along with an upgrade to high-definition (HD).

This was an unnecessary move.

“Star Trek” with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, et al, has been a syndication staple for 40 years. It’s one of the most fondly remembered TV series of all time, spawning legions of fans and a dynasty of both big- and small-screen spin-offs, including ten movies and five separate TV series, including an animated version that featured the voices of the original cast. An eleventh movie, slated for 2008 and directed by J. J. Abrams (of “Lost” fame) has been announced.

The newly enhanced version of the series recently debuted on over 200 stations....]]> http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/09/startrek_remastered_unnecessary.shtml http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/09/startrek_remastered_unnecessary.shtml Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:06:59 -0800 I saw the post on "Arrested Development" and hunted down this email address from a critic friend who shall also remain nameless. She was glad I was finally going to publish the rant I've been spewing at dinner parties for years. It might give away my identity, but it's a risk I'll take.

I hated "The West Wing."

I don't know Aaron Sorkin personally. I don't care that he was stopped for drugs in the airport in Las Vegas all those years ago. I just can't stand watching any more of his shows.

I liked "Sports Night." It was refreshing, interesting, and brought cleanly to life by its actors. Robert Guilliame, overlooked all those years as “Benson” was finally recognized for his honest genius. It was cancelled quietly, and I see little of it here on your site for a reason - nobody was watching...]]> http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/09/i_hated_the_west_wing.shtml http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/09/i_hated_the_west_wing.shtml Tue, 26 Sep 2006 07:33:54 -0800
As a critic, I'm not allowed to say these sorts of things -- but here's one very good reason why there's nothing good on television anymore: When a television show is crafted better than everything else and doesn't pander to its audience --America is too stupid to get it.

It's too easy to blame the suits at Fox for canceling a show, such as “Arrested Development,” that had pitiful ratings. Television doesn't operate on charity, and no matter how much you and five of your friends may have liked the Bluth family, its demise rests on the shoulders of your friends who didn't go to college, or, just didn’t get it.

There was no laugh track. And Americans no longer know how to find anything funny, unless networks tell them when to laugh and for how long.

This year it’s gone completely to DVDs. But in years gone by the tapes used to come in until you had a pile the size of a small coffin. Which was oddly appropriate. Because here’s the dirty secret about Emmy screeners: Nobody watches them. When it comes right down to it, why should you? If it wasn’t important enough to watch when it’s on, then why should you give it an award? It seems like the ultimate hypocrisy. Why give it an award for excellence if you didn’t care enough to watch it in the first place?

Then there’s the stuff that falls into the “what were they thinking?” category. I’ve actually enjoyed seasons of "The Amazing Race."...]]> http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/05/emmys_insanity.shtml http://blogs-test.brilliantbutcancelled.com/anonymous_critic/2006/05/emmys_insanity.shtml Mon, 22 May 2006 20:40:01 -0800 That annoying jingle I can’t stop humming is coming from a soundstage in Hawaii.

Season Two of “Lost” is over and I vote we skip summer — and get on with the new fall episodes. I’ll trade a few days in the sun and sand, a lot of air conditioning, and some crappy “beach reads” in exchange for another few hours with Hurley and the gang. Because, let’s face it, they’re family.

I remember the last time I felt this way about a TV show. It was “Twin Peaks” and I was, well, a lot younger. And I remember reading about how this crazy-brilliant show was coming on, and so I watched. David Lynch scared the hell out of me. The veritable movie of a show opener was better than most flicks playing in the Cineplex. I was hooked. Within the year I was hosting “Twin Peaks” parties with friends. And I loved it ‘til the bitter end.