Category: #TVFail
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#TVFail Entry 19: Smallville, “Reckoning”
The accused: Smallville, “Reckoning” (Season 5, Episode 12) The crime: Sending its lead character on an aimless, never-ending path of self-loathing How much impact, both positive and negative, can one bad episode have on an entire series? How do long-running series continue onward in the aftermath of an episodic failure? Is it possible that individual,…
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#TVFail Entry 18: Dexter, “The British Invasion”
The accused: Dexter, “The British Invasion” (Season 2, Episode 12) The crime: Allowing its lead character to avoid major consequences and therefore damaging the narrative forever How much impact, both positive and negative, can one bad episode have on an entire series? How do long-running series continue onward in the aftermath of an episodic failure?…
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#TVFail Entry 17: 30 Rock, “The One With The Cast of Night Court”
The accused: 30 Rock, “The One With The Cast of Night Court” (Season 3, Episode 3) The crime: Embodying the big dangers with high-profile guest casting 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…
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#TVFail Entry 16: Arrested Development, “For British Eyes Only”
The accused: Arrested Development, “For British Eyes Only” (Season 3, Episode 2) The crime: Losing control of the series’ successful and innovative frameworks 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…
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#TVFail Entry 15: Life on Mars, “Life is a Rock”
The accused: Life on Mars, “Life is a Rock” (Season 1, Episode 17) The crime: Trying too hard to be different from the original series 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…
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#TVFail Entry 14: CSI:, “19 Down”/”One to Go”
The accused: CSI:, “19 Down” and “One to Go” (Season 9, Episodes 9 and 10) The crime: Embodying the internal tension between character and procedural in contemporary network crime series 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…
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#TVFail Entry 12: Friday Night Lights, “Last Days of Summer”
The accused: Friday Night Lights, “Last Days of Summer” (Season 2, Episode 1) The crime: Releasing Landry the Killer onto the world, running away from the things that made the series so previously successful Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very beginning (hello, FlashForward, Lone Star)…
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#TVFail: Announcing the #TVFail schedule for the first quarter of 2012
This time of the year is a super-busy one for many of us, but if you’re a graduate student like me, it’s particularly awful. I know, I deserve it. Graduate students are, indeed, the worst. In any event, because much of the next six weeks is going to be filled with dozens of responsibilities and…
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#TVFail Entry 12: Friends, “The One With Ross’s Wedding”
The accused: Friends, “The One With Ross’s Wedding” (Season 4, Episodes 23 and 24) The crime: Embodying the somewhat rare “double finale fail” with a problematic cliffhanger that emphasizes an even more problematic will-they-or-won’t-they relationship Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very beginning (hello, FlashForward, Lone…
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#TVFail Entry 11: Survivor: Samoa, “This Game Ain’t Over”
The accused: Survivor: Samoa, “This Game Ain’t Over (Season 19, Episode 14) The crime: Presenting a conclusion that flies in the face of everything the audience saw that season and maybe even the series’ values as a whole Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very beginning…
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#TVFail Entry 10: The Wire, “Unconfirmed Reports”
The accused: The Wire, “Unconfirmed Reports” (Season 5, Episode 2) The crime: Stretching verisimilitude a bit too thin in the most verisimilitude-y series ever 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 out…
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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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#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…
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#TVFail Entry 7: Moonlighting, “I Am Curious…Maddie”
The accused: Moonlighting, “I Am Curious…Maddie” The crime: Destroying the series with the consummation of the unresolved sexual tension and setting a precedent for countless other series to either do the same or avoid resolution for far too long Television’s failures are supposed to be obvious. From the overhyped non-starters that flop from the very…
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#TVFail Entry 6: Entourage, “Adios Amigos”
The accused: Entourage, “Adios Amigos” The crime: Representing all that made Entourage pretty bad in its later seasons 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 out (nice to see you…
CB, PhD 