jenn’s best of 2010: televsion

If there’s one thing the British can do well, it’s television. Well, monarchy, tea and a stiff upper lip mentality are also their strong suits, but television is up there for sure.

Watching tv in North America is like watching dumbed down versions of British shows, sometimes literally (The Office, Skins, Being Human, just to name a few). They have a different format than we use; short seasons consisting of 6 to 12 episodes per season, long breaks in between so that the writing is strong and audiences are left without filler episodes. Most US networks prefer the nonstop new episodes hey it’s sweeps weeks! appeal, but the UK format has been adapted by many shows on cable. The focus on quality over quantity is what gives the Brits so many more interesting and daring shows. This year, that show was Misfits.

jenn’s best of 2010: music

In 2010, Lady Gaga got involved with repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, continued her 2-year straight world tour, and wore a meat dress to an award show. She did not, however, release any new music.

This means for the first (and maybe last) time since her debut, Lady Gaga has left the floor open for someone else to be the pop star of the year. Katy Perry, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj grabbed some colourful wigs and cranked out some number ones, but ultimately didn’t bring anything that new or interesting to the table. Gaga’s raised the bar for pop stars, and it takes a certain level of creativity, talent and inventiveness to play in her league.

Enter Robyn.

even in 1964, i can’t escape hipsters

This episode was directed by Mad Men’s own silver fox, John Slattery! Props to him for a job well done, I actually noticed and commented on the lighting and angles in this episode. Props also to Weiner and co. for allowing him to take the reins on what turned out to be a great, non-filler episode.

Christmas in July

This season’s Mad Men is all about how the times, they-have-a-changed, and last night’s episode highlighted it in the best of ways – by bringing back the old and having it clash with the new.

In some ways it was like a return to form. The office had a big wild party, everyone was drinking, Roger started hitting on Joan like crazy, it almost could have been season two (if it weren’t for the stylish new office and Don passing out alone in his hallway). But anyway,

The First Annual I’m-Bored-Here’s-My-Thoughts-On-TV Awards

Summer is always a weird time of year for the tv fans out there. What was traditionally the off-season, filled with reruns and boredom, has turned pretty exciting in our new internet culture. We get constant updates, spoilers, casting news and on set pictures to get us excitedly counting down until September. That’s not to mention the current summer-start shows like Mad Men and True Blood, as well as the upcoming Emmys. Sure the weather’s nicer and we should probably be outside playing baseball or going swimming or doing something else typically expected of the warmer months, but with longer days there’s really just more time to catch up on tv. Which is exactly what I’ve been doing since May, when Lost ended and left a gaping hole in my heart and soul.

I’ve lost my train of thought now, thinking about how sad I am that I have no Ben Linus to look forward to this year, but basically I was going to say something about taking a look at the shows of the past year. Which is exactly what I’m about to do.