Exciting Survivor Finale

This is going up late because my wife and I were on vacation and DVRed the Surivor finale and just watched in last night. A few quick thoughts:

• Sandra deserved to win, though I would have been OK with Parvati winning as well. Sandra survived to the Final 3 without an alliance for a good part of the game. That's amazing. Plus she burned Russell's hat, which was awesome.
• Parvati played an awesome game, but her undoing was not keeping Russell in check and not getting rid of him when she had the chance. Yes, he was easy to beat in the Final 3, but he got rid of her biggest ally, someone who would have been as easy for her to beat.
• Russell has proved out over two seasons an important life lesson: you can't treat everyone like crap and assume it won't come back to you. He treated everyone sub-human, and the entire jury saw it that way. Jerri was his one chance at a vote, and he screwed that up.
• Speaking of screwing up the jury, someone explain this to mean: for 30-whatever days the guy lied about everything, but then Russell chooses the jury time to be honest. How does that make sense? I don't think he would have won, but he should have tried lying one more time, acting contrite, apologizing to Jerri, concentrating on smooth-talking the open votes. Instead he insulted everyone and was honest for the first time in the entire game. What a tool.
• Coach is awesome. His little speech was high comedy. I hope they bring the Dragon Slayer back for another all-star gig. I can't get enough of Coach.
• Though my wife and I agreed with Parvati and Sandra that Rupert looked like a serial killer sitting on the jury, his speech was moving. His disdain for Russell was palpable, even watching on TV. I got goose bumps.

What an awesome season. I don't know how many more seasons Survivor has left in it, but I think I'm back on the wagon. Haven't watched the reunion show; I might post more thoughts after that.

Dear American Idol (Again)

Dear American Idol,

A few months ago I wrote you a letter saying that we were done. And for most of the season I stayed true to what I told you back then, that I was tired of our relationship and I was walking away.

But you've drawn me back in. Not sure why; the talent you've offered this season is not as good as seasons past. You also offer annoying judges, with only Kara saying coherent things. Yes, Ellen has been better, but this just isn't her gig. And Seacrest is aging faster than the 'Desperate Housewives.'

Why did I come back? As is usually the case with people in denial, I blame my wife. She continued watching, usually when I wasn't home. But sometimes she watched while I was home, and I would keep one eye on the show. Like an accident on a lonely stretch of highway, I slowed down and couldn't look away.

So here I am, locked in as the finale approaches, participating where I said I would not, watching what I once disavowed. But don't think this as a sign of new devotion. I'm likely to ditch you again next season. Of course, I'm also likely to watch quite a bit next year. Because apparently I can't stay away.

Adam

The best 'Survivor' ever!

My wife and I began to watch Survivor in 2002 with 'Survivor: Marquesas' (Season 4). This was mainly due to my older brother's enthusiastic endorsement. I watched every season from then until a year ago with 'Survivor: Tocantins' (Season 18). That's a lot of commitment.


But then, like I recently did with American Idol, I parted ways with one of my favorite shows as I was getting bored by the concept, and Tocantins had been a sub-par season for me. So my wife soldiered on, but I backed out.


Then I saw the ads for Season 20: 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.' Some of my favorite players of all-time: Stephanie, Cirie, Tom the fireman, J.T., Courtney. Some of my least favorite, but entertaining, were back: Coach, Randy, Tyson. And of course, my TV man-crush: Boston Rob. As soon as I saw the roster, I knew that I was back on the Survivor train.


The season has not disappointed. There have been so many awesome moments, that it's impossible to count them all, but this season has been memorable and is possibly my favorite season of all time, up there with All-Stars, Pearl Islands, Palau, Cook Islands, and China.


A list of some of the craziest moments of Heroes vs. Villains:

• This list has to start with utter stupidity of J.T. giving a hidden immunity idol away because he was 'certain' that the uber-villain Russell was in danger due to a powerful women's alliance. Now in all fairness to J.T., Russell had the advantage that HvV started before Russell's season (Samoa) was aired. Based on the fact that both seasons happened in Samoa, Russell may have done these seasons back-to-back.
• Only slightly farther down on the stupidity scale is Tyson. In the strongest alliance he had the opportunity to get out the dangerous Russell -- but he called an audible going into Tribal Council. So instead of dispatching with Russell, Tyson was voted out. This damaged Boston Rob's alliance, and led to his departure, which changed the entire face of the game. With Russell gone, J.T. doesn't demonstrate his complete idiocy, and I think you see a Heroes alliance dominate to the end.
• Candice switching over to the Villains after the merge. What a tool. She had to know that move would mark her as someone the remaining Heroes would try and eliminate, and she was at the bottom of the Villains pile. There are times to switch -- that wasn't one of them. She was likely sticking around anyway, since eliminating Amanda, Colby and Rupert would have been priority.
• The fact that Boston Rob turned into the hero of the Villains. Though he was strategically still brilliant, he lost some of his villain edge and turned into a good guy. Even so, he was still my favorite.
• Rupert is annoying. Seems like a nice guy, but I think if I was stranded with him for 30 days on a deserted island, I think I would try and vote him off quickly. Or push him of a cliff.
• The fall of two of my favorite contestants, Tom and Colby. Neither was their usual, physical self for this season, and it was disappointing. Tom was such a monster on Palau. Just doesn't seem like he was really into it.

So who's going to win it on Sunday's big finale? Well, I hope it's Sandra. I like the way she plays, lying in the grass waiting for her turn. And aligning with Boston Rob was smart, even if he didn't even make it to the jury.

Who do I think will win? Parvati. She's played a brilliant game, and I think she's likely to gain more jury votes than just about anyone left. The most interesting match-up would be between her and Sandra, but I don't think Sandra makes it to the final three.

So I'm looking forward to the finale as much as any finale in my history with the show. And they've probably hooked me into the next season, even if there's no Boston Rob.

Dear American Idol

Dear American Idol,

This is very hard for me to do. We’ve been together for seven years, spending hours each week from January through April. Besides my wife and my children, I may have spent more time with you than anyone else. OK, that’s a lie; I’ve spent more time with the NFL and MLB, but you’re close behind.

But I’m afraid it’s over.

Please don’t misunderstand. We’ve had great times. We cried, we laughed, we critiqued. We wondered if Paula was drunk or stoned. We wondered if Simon was a cynical genius, or just a jerk. We wondered if Randy had only 45 words in his vocabulary. And we cheered for our favorites: Kim Locke (Season 2), LaToya London (Season 3), Carrie Underwood (Season 4), Chris Daughtry (Season 5), Phil Stacey (Season 6), David Cook (Season 7), and Kris Allen (Season 8).

We rooted against some that inexplicably marched too far in the competition: Kim Caldwell (Season 2), Fantasia (Season 3), Taylor Hicks (Season 5), Kristy Lee Cook (Season 7).

But it just isn’t working anymore. I wish I could soften the blow with the “It’s not you, it’s me routine”, but it’s definitely you. I know this is cold, but here’s the list of why I’m leaving:
· I’m sick of Randy Jackson. “Pitchy.” “I’m not feelin’ it, dog.” Please stop.
· The Season 8 talent is the worst group since Season 2.
· Ellen is not funny on this show.
· Simon is more bitter than normal. And that’s saying something.
· Ryan Seacrest started annoying me in Season 4; it’s only gotten worse since then.
· It’s just too big of a time commitment.

So I’m really sorry, but I’m joining the millions who’ve already left you. I know you probably won’t even notice, but I’m not coming back.

Adam

Heroes lives, Terminator dies

Last year I had two favorite shows in traditional fall-winter season: Heroes and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. (My two favorite shows on TV, Psych and The Closer, both come in the 'off-season' and are on cable, while Heroes and Terminator appeared on NBC and Fox respectively.) But I had very different relationships with each show.

Heroes was the fulfillment of a life-long dream. Super heroes have never been done particularly well on live-action television, with the possible exception of The Incredible Hulk (1978). The Flash (1990) I loved at the time, but I was 14 and would have loved anything attached to comic books.

So I watched Heroes 2006 debut with eager anticipation. I absolutely loved the first season. Compelling characters, comedy, cool powers, good acting. It worked oh so well, until the season finale, which was a little bit of a mess. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good.

And the bleeding continued into Season 2, which was interrupted by the writer's strike. That season was a mess. Nothing made sense, and they messed with every character so much (especially Sylar) that you had no idea who the characters were. That was kind of the point for Season 2, but it didn't work.

Season 3 was also flat. The basic plot was fine; but the individual elements of the plot fell flat. But then the last three episodes before the finale picked up. Sylar was gaining steam. The government conspiracy was falling apart. I was starting to enjoy it again.

Then came the finale. It was awesome. Cool conclusions, and cool character fulfillment. But the ending took a quick right turn into Suckville. Sylar was transformed into Nathan Petrelli? What? This was there only option? Nobody saw tragedylooming behind this decision? I decided then and there I may finally ditch this show after three years.

And then I saw the trailers for Season 3. They looked awesome. So yes, I will be watching tonight, eagerly anticipating again.

Why have I stuck with this show for three years when only a handful of episodes have caught my attention? Because it should be everything I want in television. It should be compelling drama. It should have great characters. It should have cool action. But the show rarely delivers on any of this. But I am still looped in because of the tease: it's a premise I want to see succeed, and enough episodes have delivered to not turn me off completely.

Terminator's debut in 2007 was totally different. I started watching because I liked the first two movies, and I love the premise, but I wasn't entirely sold on it. The first few episodes were OK, but the violence turned my wife off and I was getting a little bored. Then something happened: I began to care about the characters, and each episode was compelling. And my wife was so intrigued she came back and enjoyed the show almost as much as I did.

So here I was watching the Season 2 finale last spring, thinking that the show might survive despite low ratings. First, it was a very good show. Second, with the Terminator: Salvation movie coming in the summer, this might give Fox the juice to keep it going. And third, it was an awesome show!

But then two things happened to doom the show. First, the season finale sucked. It really did. I loved every episode of Season 2, except that one. They changed everything by throwing John Connor into the future, and it took the air out of the narrative. Second, Terminator: Salvation wasn't very good. The cinematography was awesome, but the story was pretty lame. So Terminator was not renewed at Fox, though there are rumors of a TV movie/mini-series to finish things off for the fans. Don't hold your breath.

So here I sit. The better show was canceled and Heroes will probably just tease me again and leave me flat. Maybe I should just rent some DVDs if 24 and Mad Men and call it good.