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Friday Night Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 09:15:04 PM EST
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It's snowing in the mountains.

If you are one of the few people who liked Jimmy Smits in his new show Outlaw about a conservative Supreme Court justice who quits to take on individual cases where he sees an underdog in need, you should tune in tonight. NBC has halted production on the show.

Eight episodes of Outlaw have been produced; 3 of them have already aired, with 5 more in the can. If there is a ratings uptick in the next 2 weeks, production on the show will be restarted. If not, it will become permanent.

Law and Order L.A. and The Defenders aren't doing well either. Are people not interested in crime or are the networks serving up sub-standard fare? I'll say it's the latter.

Since I'm still swamped in paperwork, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Friday Night Open Thread | 39 comments (39 topical)

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    So proud to know some of these people (5.00 / 5) (#13)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 08:01:44 AM EST
    My sister's roommate, along with some friends, helped organize a fundraiser last night in DC for The Trevor Project, a group designed to reach out to gay teens in the midst of this rash of suicides.  I wasn't able to go last night because I had to work, but apparently they were able to raise $10,000 - which was amazing because they put this thing together in less than a week!

    I'm very proud to know these young men.

    Fall is definately in the air. (none / 0) (#1)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 09:42:26 PM EST
    Nice to see some snow on the peaks.  I was at the South/Lakewood football game tonight and definitely under-dressed. I'm still trying to thaw out...

    Time to break out the fleece!

    Here, too (none / 0) (#8)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 12:22:40 AM EST
    I would have fired up the woodstove tonight, except that there's a huge colony of wasps of some kind apparently nesting in the chimney that serves the oil boiler, such that my chimney sweep wouldn't even go near it, so I fired up the boiler instead in hopes of offing them with a nice dose of CO and fumes.  Annoying reason to have to burn $$.

    The two enormous 200-yo sugar maples at the foot of my drive are turning that iridescent red of good sugar maples on the outer branches of the canopy, and soon it will be the whole thing.  Breath-takingly beautiful, but so, so short.

    And another sign of fall, the mice that find their way into my kitchen cupboards from my attached only semi-finished storeroom, despite the efforts I've made to seal up every possible crack.  There were at least two last night, one of which met his maker in a peanut butter-baited snap trap, the other one of which skipped on past and along the shelving until he encountered an opened package of cookies and indulged himself.  Hope he bursts!

    When I lived in the suburbs, I had an understanding with the mice.  They stayed in the cellar and I left them alone.  The mice here don't do treaties, apparently.  I hate killing them and would even tolerate an occasional floor-level incursion, but I can't have them running around in my cupboards.

    Parent

    Fall here too (none / 0) (#2)
    by ruffian on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 09:54:45 PM EST
    Walked a mile in the evening and was not drenched in sweat at the end! We have turned the corner. Soon I might actually feel a chill.

    Richard Dawkins is on with Bill Maher (none / 0) (#3)
    by ruffian on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 09:56:35 PM EST
    For your dose of sanity before his panel discussion.

    Too bad RD couldn't (none / 0) (#6)
    by brodie on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 10:37:56 PM EST
    have been brought in mid-way as a panelist to replace the awful P.J. O'Rourke who kept interrupting but had nothing funny to offer.  Maher should have brought in security and yanked him the third time O'R just droned on and on.

    Dull show, though the rather attractive conservative woman S.E. Something was kinda intriguing -- not your typical wingnut with her atheism and sense of humor.

    And I didn't know Tony Perkins left issue -- the NYT economics reporter dude.

    Parent

    O notMG yes! (none / 0) (#12)
    by ruffian on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 06:10:19 AM EST
    O'Rourke seemed drunk, which is not necessarily bad on that show, but he was just awful. I was embarrassed for him.

    And I did fall asleep before new rules. I hope at least that was funny.

    That woman had possibilities-she did give a new spin to the party line. Sorry about the global climate change, but we're broke. I guess our grandchildren will have to burn or drown.

    I'd like to take Andrew Ross Sorkin home to mother- or dress him up as mother, either one.

    Parent

    Bill Maher has had P.J. O'Rourke (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 10:17:39 AM EST
    and S. E. Cupp (no first names, please) on in the past.  And, P.J. was every bit as obnoxious this time, and SE, the right winger atheist who seems to celebrate all those religions she finds obtuse, yet cash cows,  made for another bad show.  Andrew Ross Sorkin had a lot to say and could have provided some redemption, but was drowned out at every opportunity by the buffoonery.  Always a silver lining, however, and the one I took away was P.J.'s unintended bumper sticker: "Republicans are crazy and we have the candidates to prove it."

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    I like PJ... (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 10:55:01 AM EST
    that was a good line.

    He doesn't take himself too seriously, dry sense of humor, unapologetic about drug use...my kinda guy:)  I loved "Parliament of Whores".

    How about that house candidate in Toledo who plays German SS dress-up on the weekends? Good lord...Brand R sure trotting out some winners this year.  We're doomed.

    Parent

    Yes, Rich Iott (none / 0) (#33)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 01:03:38 PM EST
    is not so much running for Ohio's 9th Congressional seat as he is goose steeping for it.  But, if we use the rationale of the neighboring states' Attorney General who initially protected his stalking, homophobe Assistant Attorney General by noting that his 'activities' were on his own time, maybe, this excuse will carry water for Republican voters who note that Iott dresses up and plays Nazi just on weekends (or  will do so only when Congress in not in session.) P.J.'s line was never truer.

    Parent
    Outlaw is a really, really bad show. I'm (none / 0) (#4)
    by tigercourse on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 10:11:39 PM EST
    no lawyer, but the legal aspects in at least the first episode were absurd. The secondary characters are either boring or very annoying and the Smits character is farcical. They keep calling him a conservative justice, but none of the positions he takes mirror conservative ideology in any way. It richly deserves cancellation.

    Outlaw (none / 0) (#5)
    by athyrio on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 10:27:19 PM EST
    I like it but then I am not an attorney...LOL....

    I love Jimmy Smits (none / 0) (#34)
    by sj on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 01:22:56 PM EST
    but Outlaw not so much.  Not even his character in Outlaw.  The only character I remotely like is the brunette investigator.

    Sad to see him go to waste.

    Parent

    Too many good shows opposite each other (none / 0) (#7)
    by BarnBabe on Fri Oct 08, 2010 at 11:58:51 PM EST
    Yes, I could record, but like watching when the shows are on. Like Detroit 187, pretty good cop show opposite The Good Wife. DWTS opposite Biggest Loser. DWTS opposite House. And the list goes on. It is like a very crapola summer and suddenly, some new shows that won't make it because the audience does not get a chance of seeing them. As for Outlaw. Watched the first show, it was ok. The premise was harder to believe than Lost. I hear L&O LA is good. Have yet to see it. And the list goes on. I do like the Whole Truth because after the verdict, they actually show you who was guilty or not. But we are 3 weeks into the season. I have my old standbys but haven't even seen Hawaii Five O. Wish they would not rush it so fast.

    And the political ads are driving me crazy in NE PA. The same ads. The same lies. Over and over and over.  

    Love Detroit 1-8-7 (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 08:12:12 AM EST
    Especially since I am from the area.  It's nice to see familiar landmarks, and to hear about familiar neighborhoods and customs.  It's gritty, but good.  The only thing they need to work on is to make the characters talk more like Midwesterner and not east coasters (it's pop not soda, if someone told you they wanted a  "slice", your immediate question would be "of what?" etc.)  It's also nice to know that since they are shooting it locally, it's putting about 250 Michiganders to work.

    I DVR'd Outlaw, but when I heard NBC stopped production, I erased it.  I love Jimmy Smits, but since the whole idea of a SC justice giving up a good lifetime gig to do pro bono defense work is ludicrous, I never watched it.

    Love Hawaii Five-O.  The banter between McGarrett and "Dano" is great - they act like a married couple who always bickers. And of course, there are the occasional scenes of McGarrett(Alex O' Loughlin) coming out of the ocean all wet in his bathing trunks and his tattooed muscled arms.  Makes watching the whole show worth it. :)

    Parent

    LO LA (none / 0) (#16)
    by nyjets on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 08:19:31 AM EST
    Actually I like Law Order LA. That show has potential.

    Parent
    I love LOLA too (none / 0) (#21)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 09:26:50 AM EST
    Love that we saw a bit of Winters' personal life too (especially as his wife is Terri Polo - and a former Detective!)

    Parent
    Positive dog news (none / 0) (#9)
    by nycstray on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 01:30:40 AM EST
    I'm not going to look for links, (because I tried last night after the news and came up with zilch) so I'll just report on what's playin' on my TV . . .

    Oakland PD, Guilty of shooting deer and dogs in questionable situations will now be getting training on animal behavior so they can understand (and respond appropriately) when a young deer is just frightened and an old arthritic family lab is just barking because a stranger is on the property. Thanks to the Oakland SPCA for educating!

    9ers play the Eagles on Sunday night . . . . so local NBC news ran a story on dog fighting and local problems with it (and mentioned how it's increased in Philly since Vick arrived). Showcased Vick dogs and other dogs from fight cases (a local group was instrumental along with the ASPCA in keeping the Vick dogs from being killed) and how they rehab and become model 'citizens'. Even therapy dogs. Nice story to see, especially since the commercial right before it was advertising the 9er/Eagles game ;)

    i just discovered (none / 0) (#10)
    by cpinva on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 02:08:59 AM EST
    L&O UK, on BBC tonite. i had not realized the franchise had gone international. not bad really. classic L&O format, good acting, decent scripts so far. i've only watched a couple of episodes, so we'll have to see how it goes.

    There's a French version as well (none / 0) (#15)
    by Harry Saxon on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 08:16:16 AM EST
    From Youtube:

    Paris Enquêtes Criminelles

    Parent

    Thanks for the link! (none / 0) (#18)
    by EL seattle on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 08:58:45 AM EST
    L&O Criminal Intent in Paris - cool!  Apparently there's a Russian (!) version of L&O Special Victims Unit out there, too.

    As I understand it, for these shows they've often adopted existing scripts to their new locales.  Even if the plots aren't all new and fresh, I think it would be fascinating to see how they've been adapted to match the way the local legal systems function (and don't function) in the different countries.

    If there is any TV justice in the world, each of these programs will find a way to work Detective John Munch (Richard Belzer) into their cast, if only for a one-off appearance.

    Parent

    Munch (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 09:26:03 AM EST
    Should make guest appearances on every single legal show somehow.  Extend his record!

    Parent
    Absolutely. (none / 0) (#25)
    by EL seattle on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 10:40:29 AM EST
    And preferably with Belzer in the role.  

    I suppose that there is some precedent for the Munch character being played by someone else.  But if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck....  (Or rather, if it's someone who looks like Munch who apparently arrests someone who looks like a duck and quacks like a duck....) That should count too, I think.

    'Chung-Chung', indeed.

    Parent

    They'd have to (none / 0) (#28)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 11:58:47 AM EST
    Belzer IS Munch.

    From Wiki:

    The character has spanned over 17 years and 18 seasons. Along with 122 episodes and 1 TV movie of Homicide and over 200 episodes of SVU (of which he has not appeared in 3 episodes of Homicide and 33 of SVU), Munch has also appeared as a character in episodes of other series:

        * Law & Order--four episodes: "Charm City", "Baby, It's You", "Sideshow (Part 1)", and "Entitled (Part 2)"
        * The X-Files--one episode: "Unusual Suspects"
        * The Beat--one episode: "They Say It's Your Birthday"
        * Law & Order: Trial by Jury--one episode: "Skeleton (Part 2)"
        * Arrested Development--one episode: "Exit Strategy"
        * The Wire--one episode: "Took"

    Munch has been the only fictional character played by a single actor to appear on eight different television shows. These shows were on four different networks: NBC (Homicide: Life on the Street, and Law & Order franchise), FOX (The X-Files, Arrested Development), UPN (The Beat), and HBO (The Wire). Munch has also been one of the few television characters to cross genres, appearing not only in crime drama series, but also the genres of sitcom (Arrested Development), Late Night Comedy (Jimmy Kimmel Live) and horror and science fiction (The X-Files). He has also played a role in international television series, beginning with UK crime drama Luther where he is mentioned as an American contact for the series' Serious Crime Unit (SCU). Notably Luther stars Idris Elba, the actor who played Stringer Bell in the HBO drama The Wire where Munch had cameoed previously.



    Parent
    Am I missing something....? (none / 0) (#29)
    by EL seattle on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 12:13:50 PM EST
    Or do they have just one year to fit Belzer/Munch into an episode of L&O: Criminal Intent?

    (I'm assuming that they'll find a way of smoothing out LOLA so that it'll get reliable ratings that will keep  it around for a while - so there should be time to work his character into an episdode there.  But Criminal Intent is going into its last season.)

    Parent

    Here's L&O:UK US style (none / 0) (#30)
    by Harry Saxon on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 12:28:54 PM EST
    YouTube Link

    Parent
    L&O: CI (none / 0) (#31)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 12:34:49 PM EST
    Would be fun to see Munch and Goren work together on a case.  Maybe it's possible, since Vincent D'Onofrio is coming back to CI for an unspecified number of episodes.

    Parent
    And Eames is coming back too! (none / 0) (#32)
    by jbindc on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 12:43:59 PM EST


    Parent
    Jerry Orbach made the original for me (none / 0) (#19)
    by andgarden on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 09:09:40 AM EST
    I miss him.

    Parent
    I watched it too (none / 0) (#17)
    by andgarden on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 08:52:35 AM EST
    They are clearly following the formula very closely in the early episodes: the "law" part came almost exactly 30 minutes in.

    Parent
    The BBC episodes are actually copied (none / 0) (#23)
    by tigercourse on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 09:50:23 AM EST
    directly from early L&O scripts. They just changed around some details to fit british law.

    Parent
    Makes sense (none / 0) (#26)
    by andgarden on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 10:42:53 AM EST
    I haven't seen the really early ones since they used to run at 11PM on A&E.

    Parent
    is there less gun violence/use? (none / 0) (#37)
    by nycstray on Sun Oct 10, 2010 at 07:11:45 PM EST


    Parent
    Worth a trip: (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 02:48:11 AM EST
    In the Next Room or the vibrator play

    Fall is coming on strong here (none / 0) (#22)
    by scribe on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 09:42:08 AM EST
    and I don't watch network TV.  

    The last couple days have been an avalanche of playoff baseball doubleheaders and tripleheaders.

    The premise of the Jimmy Smits show is simply absurd and I'll take advice from (IIRC) Dahlia over at Slate, who said it was impossible to watch because it made both your eyes and your head hurt.  So I don't watch it.  Premise flaws:  

    1.  A "Conservative" justice would never leave the Supreme Court voluntarily.  (O'Connor was not conservative and she was pushed.)
    2.  Assuming that a "conservative" justice would leave the court, he would not go to practicing law for the poor, downtrodden and oppressed, let alone stand up in the courtroom and actually "lawyer".  To the extent he would practice, he would go to practicing for the rich, connected and powerful and as a behind-the-scenes dealmaker and fixer.  Of course, considering that the jury trial experience of the current Supreme Court bench is approaching if not actually nil (without counting, I'm pretty sure I personally have tried more actual jury trials than the entire Supreme Court bench), and that actual trial experience seems to be a disqualifier for a nomination, the Smits character actually getting up in a courtroom would lkely be more of a comedy of errors than a drama.

    One only has to think back to the Scooter Libby case where Bork and a bunch of other conservative ex-judges and lawyers were barking, in writing, about how he was being denied some right to counsel or another by the atrocity of being prosecuted.  At the time, I suggested here that if those solons were honestly concerned about the quality of justice and defense representation in the courts of our nation's capitol, they could troop on down to the public defender's office and volunteer to take some cases and ease the caseload.  That, and see how ordinary schlubs get treated by the system.

    None of them ever showed up.

    O'Connor was pushed? By whom and how? (none / 0) (#38)
    by jawbone on Sun Oct 10, 2010 at 11:13:45 PM EST
    I missed any info on stuff like that -- I thot she actually did retire to spend time with her ailing husband....

    Dish!

    Parent

    Crime Drama CSI (none / 0) (#35)
    by Rojas on Sat Oct 09, 2010 at 06:40:51 PM EST
    Grits has this one today.

    When two examiners originally disagreed but a supervisor resolved the issue in favor of a match, was that disagreement recorded in the final report? No, replied Strong, only the conclusion. At this, the audience began to murmur and fidget. Somebody from the back cried out, "Have you ever heard of Brady v. Maryland?," which is the US Supreme Court case requiring the state to turn over all exculpatory evidence to the defense  before trial. No he had not, replied a credulous Strong, a statement which elicited an audible gasp from the crowd.
    I watched (none / 0) (#36)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 10, 2010 at 06:02:46 AM EST
    the opening episode of the Defenders - and did not go back for another dose.

    Truly formulaic writing sunk this one for me.

    Law and Order-LA seems just like any other crime (none / 0) (#39)
    by jawbone on Sun Oct 10, 2010 at 11:23:34 PM EST
    show, and this week's episode seemed...a bit lost. They don't have the tight framework of the original, or even the sharp acting and characters of the spin offs set in NYC.

    Anyone watch the HA-Five Oh remake?

    NJ public TV is showing Doc Martin, which I'm enjoying, along with reruns of the first season on Lark Rise to Candleford. And while I like the books better, Mysterh's Wallender series is pretty good. Love Branough.

    Oh, yes, I did catch part of No Ordinary Family (something gave the whole family special powers), which looked as if it might be fun in a comic book kind of way. (Just checked to see when it's on, and it's not scheduled for this coming Friday...so maybe it's a goner already?)

    Friday Night Open Thread | 39 comments (39 topical)

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