Frenemies: Network TV & Diversity

2010 saw some interesting developments on television. Here are the highlights!

FOX

Glee! Audiences around the world became self-professed Gleeks. The show did well in the ratings and set an example with its diverse cast. Here's to more Glee!

with Dianna Agron, such a doll!(check out her new movie)

NBC

This network really challenged themselves with an attempt at being MORE COLORFUL. Some of you may remember their commercials last fall showcasing the iconic peacock with those two words in the tag line. Although they had a failed attempt with Undercovers (the first prime-time scripted drama with black protagonists as the lead? really?), at least they tried. They put the big guns behind it too (J.J. Abrams), but for some reason it just didn't stick. I only caught one episode, and I think I understood why. It was a bit slow for TV, and showed like a very tired espionage entanglement. Spying is supposed to be exciting, sexy, dangerous, a la Jolie and Bond. It seemed like Abrams was trying to take the show in an entirely new direction to avoid Alias comparisons, but perhaps he focused too much on the departure thereby ruining what make his shows good.

Maybe a better promo pic would've helped?

Although Undercovers didn't survive, NBC still fared best in the diversity department, boasting 7 shows with more than 2 minorities on the main cast, while ABC only had 4 shows like this, and FOX only did so with Glee. Let's just keep mum on CBS for now, they are a disaster, but boast the best ratings...

CW

The CW network is also a strange case, but since their roster is largely made up of teen soaps and reality programs, no one expects much from them. The writers however, are either really bored, or interested in making some sort of statement, even if they are few and far between.

On Gossip Girl, Chuck Bass issues a dating fatwa on Queen Bee Blair preventing her from dating anyone else. This surely left tweens across America googling the strange word to discover its meaning. Very clever.

Had the writers investigated the term a bit further, they would have realized that a fatwa is just a religious opinion on any religious law given by a scholar in the Muslim faith. It's non-binding, as anyone who calls themself a scholar can issue one. So unless Chuck is the Grand Mufti of Love (and even if, who cares), I don't quite see the analogous Ah-Ha! moment.

Also on the CW is the spy-drama Nikita, based on the French film from the 90s. The title character is played rather well by Maggie Q (Vietnamese-American) and is choc full of action and suspense. On a recent episode, operative Michael (remember Shane West?) is captured by Kasim, a Yemeni who had betrayed and killed Michael's family years ago. During this ordeal Kasim explains the reason for the betrayal by quoting the Qu'ran no less. He says, "Fight in God's cause against those who fight against you," to which Michael responds, "..but do not commit aggression. You forgot that part of the Qu'ran. If you're going to twist its meaning at least quote the whole passage." Who thought a script with bite would exist on the CW? Well done.

CBS

Over at CBS, Zach is listening to 'Muslim music'. Let me start by saying I think The Good Wife is a great show. The acting is on point, the writing is great, and there are even some diverse characters on: it's fantastic. But I did have a WTF moment. In the "threesome" episode, Alicia's son Zach has a friend advise him that he can get anything he wants from his parents by playing a cd she gives him. The cd contains none other than the at'han, the muslim call to prayer. This of course is not 'muslim music', and the fact that the writers were so quick to offer it up as something to be mocked is quite upsetting. It was so unapologetically ridiculed which I found very disturbing. The only slight positive in this scenario is that Alicia completely dismissed this as something to be feared as her mother-in-law suggested with her reporting, but nonetheless left a terribly awful taste in my mouth.

CBS had the least diversity in their programming. They are the highest-rated tv network.

ABC

ABC was right behind NBC in effort. It seems that they also tried to be innovative, but fell behind. One show I felt had promise was MY Generation. I thought it was a really interesting concept: uncovering the superficial 'where-are-they-now' curiosity while also exposing the problems of a generation who became adults in perhaps the most complicated of times. And of course, who isn't nostalgic for the 90s? The flashback scenes were great. But more importantly, the show employed a mockumentary format that was both fresh and engaging. The cast was impressive, capable, and diverse. This could have been good ABC, but you canceled it after 2 episodes.

I'm beginning to think Mehcad Brooks is cursed. Ever since they killed him off on True Blood, he hasn't had the best luck. The Deep End (also on ABC) was canceled. Now MY Generation. Please don't cancel his Calvin Klein ads.

Let's hope we see some more interesting programming on Network Television in 2011. Perhaps by some miracle the networks will give shows more than 2 episodes to get the ratings. Here's to hoping CBS takes a cue from NBC, don't we all have color TV sets these days (c'mon it was intro-ed in the 50s and pretty sure became standard in households in the 60s!!)

Polaroid Grey Label and Lady Gaga at CES

I wrote about Gaga's appointment as creative director back in May, and it looks like she lived up to her title, not just as a celebrity spokesperson, but as a legit part of the creative team. Gaga and Polaroid debuted 3 new products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas this past week.

GL 20: Camera Sunglasses

Gaga got the idea for this initially on her Fame Ball tour, where she made glasses out of iPod screens for her set on stage. Now her idea has become functional. These glasses take photo and video, and it registers them into a USB that is the earpiece of the sunglasses. The earpiece (USB) comes out and can be connected to comp or you can use the bluetooth capability to connect it to your devices.

This is rather innovative in the way that it is bridging together fashion and technology. Gaga calls the product 'innovative and also cultural'. I guess we will have to wait and see if the glasses take on cultural iconography.

GL 10: Mobile Printer

When asked what the camera of the future was (presumably by her Polaroid creative consorts), Gaga held up her cell phone. I guess this ticked them off a bit seeing as how their brand is built on a camera which she is suggesting now be replaced by a phone no less. But she has a point. How many of us actually carry around digital cameras (even to special events)? Most of us rely heavily on our camera phones, which take pretty good photos these days as evidenced by the number of mobile uploads on facebook and the twitpic overflow.

So the idea is to integrate the cell phone camera into the polaroid family, and it seems they have found a way to do so. This could possess even more utility when you think about how many times we have actually printed our digital content. I'd venture to say, not often, because it's just too much of a hassle in most cases.

All you have to do is set up the bluetooth on your phone to connect to the printer. The printer produces 3 x 4 prints, and you have the option of the polaroid trade dress or full bleed.

Unfortunately, the printer is NOT compatible with the iPhone, but it does work with all phones with bluetooth capability.

GL 30: New Polaroid Camera

Last but definitely not least, they unvelied THE camera. Gaga described it as sexy, sleek, and hearty. It takes regular instant polaroids, and has a zink printer (zero ink) which is in the actual camera and the printer and makes this fantastically eco-friendly. Each cartridge holds 10 photos, and the photos register both digitally and as a regular polaroid. Pretty freaking awesome, and should be out by Christmas.

***In the future, they are working on a forward camera that is also digital and will link to all social media outlets, yikes.

2010's Most Underrated Films

All the best and worst lists that came out at the 11th hour this past year (weird to say that) got me thinking about all the movies that didn't get a mention, because even for the Razzie winners, there is no such thing as bad publicity. So here's my two cents:

5- Bright Star

Can't say I had high hopes for this, especially since Abbie Cornish's angsty face is on the poster, but boy did this little film show me. Don't be afraid, it's not a John Keats biopic, and it's not an over the top melodrama either. The story is subtle yet captivating, and the cinematography is stunning. Abbie Cornish is rather good as well. Check it out, you won't be sorry, and read some Keats to fuel your pretentious ways while you're at it.

4- Nowhere Boy

Never ever will there be enough creative content on John Lennon. He is probably one of the most fascinating human beings EVER. That said, I was very confused as to why this film didn't receive more attention. For one thing, the acting, particularly by Aaron Johnson, who played the young Mr. Lennon was brilliant. So many of these 'before they were stars- type' films make annoying foreshadowing gestures, but this film makes you forget the enormity of his future celebrity, and really focuses on the coming-of-age story. Ah-mazing.

3- A Single Man

Two Words: Tom Ford.

I was going to leave it at that, but between this film and An Education I wish I could time travel back to the 60s, and never come back...yes, just freeze me in that decade, thank you.

2- Sin Nombre

Talk about impactful. I challenge you to watch this and not feel something. I just learned that it was EP-ed by Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, so if you don't trust my opinion, then their association should say something. Not only does this film add perspective to the immigration debate, it raises questions often left out of the discourse. MUST WATCH.

1- Never Let Me Go

For those of you who have seen One Hour Photo, you might have a slight idea of what you're in for. But only slight, because Romanek (who is mainly known for his music videos, remember MJ and JJ's Scream? yea, that was him) is given MAJOR ammo to work with thanks to Ishiguro's fantastical novel. If you've read the book and are afraid the film won't live up to it, fear not. Yes, it's that good. If you haven't read it, you most likely will after watching. Carey Mulligan is perfect. Please just see it because anything I say won't do it justice.

** some of these may have technically been in production in 2009, but were not released until 2010 (in the US). Just go with it people.

Most underrated film composer of 2010

Alexandre Desplat

His score for Coco before Chanel (also completely underrated, Audrey Tatou was fabulous) was awesome, and he also did these other little movies some of you may have heard of, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But more notably check out his work in The Painted Veil (and also for Ed Norton!)