Category: Featured
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Test Pilot: File #23, China Beach
Test Pilot #23: China Beach Debut date: April 27, 1988 Series legacy: A well-respected, but sort of forgotten series It’s time for a new theme in the site’s most popular ongoing feature, Test Pilot. The primary reason I started this feature almost a year ago was so that I could have a solid excuse to…
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Fall Television Network Preview: The CW
If you’re one of my 11 regular readers, you know that I am very interested in exploring the position and meaning of network strategy and branding. I understand that a lot of people are turned off by any sort of in-depth discussion of a television network’s “brand” and how they cultivate it, but it is…
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2011 Primetime Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series
The 2011 Primetime Emmys are so close! September 18th to be exact. Up until the ceremony airs on FOX, I’ll be working through most of the major categories and discussing who could win, who should win and of course, who will win. I’ll likely be tackling two categories in each post, just so you know. Happy…
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Season Finale review — True Blood, “And When I Die”
This is the best season of True Blood ever. Sure, there were maybe two truly enjoyable episodes and most of the storylines were underdeveloped, stupid, poorly-plotted or some combination of all three. And sure, the series continued its terrible trend of crafting dreadful finales that are trapped somewhere between concluding old, bad stories and starting…
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2011 Primetime Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series
The 2011 Primetime Emmys are so close! September 18th to be exact. Up until the ceremony airs on FOX, I’ll be working through most of the major categories and discussing who could win, who should win and of course, who will win. I’ll likely be tackling two categories in each post, just so you know. With…
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Friday List: Nine half-baked True Blood spin-offs that would be better than True Blood
If you’re a regular reader of TV Surveillance, you know I love a good list. Or a mediocre list. Or even a horrible list. The point is I have a lust for lists. This fall, I’d like to provide you folks with more lists than ever and hopefully that will result in a weekly or…
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#TVFail Entry 9: The West Wing, “Isaac and Ishmael”
The accused: The West Wing, “Isaac and Ishmael” The crime: A rushed didactic response to the September 11, 2001 attacks Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very beginning (hello, FlashForward, Lone Star) to the much-discussed clumsy conclusions of series we were convinced had it all planned…
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Season Premiere review — Sons of Anarchy, “Out”
“We’re not a gang, we’re a motorcycle club.” Like many of you, I come into this season of Sons of Anarchy with complicated feelings. As I’ve discussed a few times, I found the third season to be pretty tepid, but I don’t think I was as disappointed as most – if only because I didn’t…
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Tuesdays with Walt: “Hermanos”
There are loads of great critics writing Breaking Bad reviews every Sunday night/Monday morning. Because of skill and scheduling, I’m not going to be able to stand alongside those reviews. Instead, I hope to write something about Breaking Bad each Tuesday when I have more time and perhaps you are ready for a new day’s worth of material on…
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Friday List: The best 15 television pilots
If you’re a regular reader of TV Surveillance, you know I love a good list. Or a mediocre list. Or even a horrible list. The point is I have a lust for lists. This fall, I’d like to provide you folks with more lists than ever and hopefully that will result in a weekly or…
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Controlled madness: On The Vampire Diaries, Nikita and narrative pacing
This summer, I made my way through the first season of Nikita, a series I liked in the early part of last season but one I ultimately lost touch with because I was already watching 71 other things at the same time. Thursday nights are tough, you all know this. Generally speaking, I very much…
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Test Pilot: File #22, Northern Exposure
Test Pilot #22: Northern Exposure Debut date: July 12, 1990 Series legacy: One of the most critically acclaimed and beloved dramedies of all-time It’s time for a new theme in the site’s most popular ongoing feature, Test Pilot. The primary reason I started this feature almost a year ago was so that I could have…
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Tuesdays with Walt: “Problem Dog”
There are loads of great critics writing Breaking Bad reviews every Sunday night/Monday morning. Because of skill and scheduling, I’m not going to be able to stand alongside those reviews. Instead, I hope to write something about Breaking Bad each Tuesday when I have more time and perhaps you are ready for a new day’s…
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Friday List: Top 10 individual television seasons
If you’re a regular reader of TV Surveillance, you know I love a good list. Or a mediocre list. Or even a horrible list. The point is, I have a lust for lists. This fall, I’d like to provide you folks with more lists than ever and hopefully that will result in a weekly or…
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#TVFail Entry 8: Chuck, “Chuck Versus the Mask”
The accused: Chuck, “Chuck Versus the Mask” The crime: Delaying the eventual union of the series’ primary romantic couple even further by pairing them off with new characters, subsequently creating a fan panic/outrage Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very beginning (hello, FlashForward, Lone Star) to the much-discussed…
CB, PhD 