[Let's try to market this: media, articles and interviews]

On 9/1/2016 at 5:11 PM, caracas1914 said:

one of the producers was just chilling on a diner stool and she went up to him and was like “Where’s the rest of the scene? Aren’t going to do anything about this?” and he freaked out and started yelling at her in front of everybody and was was like “I’ve been doing this job for 6 years!” And she was like “Yeah, badly.” 

This actually makes me love her a little bit - how I dream of saying this to my boss on a daily basis.

[Approach The Bench: Law & Order General Discussion Thread]

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Surprising no one, I'm sure, I cut Abbie some slack for being wrong-headed on that score.

Yeah no, I think they were very much pushing her Texan roots in the first few episodes she was in to be honest. Abortion, death penalty - they hit them all. Then I think they settled down with that stuff, and Angie Harmon was charming enough to make you kind of ignore the odd crap thing she would say every now and then. I'm kind of glad she wasn't there when Branch was - I think they would have doubled down on it and made her less of what she was.

She was big on personal responsibilty for all - witnesses, defendants, bloody stupid jury forepersons. I appreciated that more than anything.

[Approach The Bench: Law & Order General Discussion Thread]

So, I recently bought seasons 9-11 on dvd and I have to say...Abbie is my favourite. I despise her politics (i.e. saying a woman can find another type of birth control other than abortion which...just no, no wonder you were from Texas) and the whole show just comes across as very 90s. But I still like her as much now as I did when I was watching it at 12. I like her and Jack together, with the detectives. I love the faces she makes at any defence attorney that are just asking for it and any witness/defendant who is that stupid they are asking for it.

And I really dislike Rey. Sanctimonious prick

[Lennie Briscoe Was NOT Great: Unpopular Opinions]

I think the other thing would be she was only an interim appointment, whereas I assume Schiff had campaigned for the position and won? So that gives me the assumption that during his campaign he came to terms with things like the application of the death penalty and made those kinds of things public. As Nora was only a temp (as it were) she may not have really thought about it until faced with it - considered it hypothetically but when its a real person you're sending to their death, well that changes things.

I'm just a sucker for seeing someone listen to arguments and change their mind (with/without research). That doesn't happen enough.

[Emily Prentiss: Sin to Win]

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There has been a pattern on the show, especially from S5,  of Reid being mocked, interrupted, receiving eye rolls, etc. -- the rest of the team isn't subjected to this. 

Sure okay. But my point was him and Emily seemed to get on and there is a mutual understanding. I watched that scene again - comes across to me as friendly banter between the two of them. She didn't say she hated him and he isn't crying into his coffee at the end. I don't see her constantly criticising him or putting him down during the show. Why should she treat him with kid gloves? Because the fandom does.

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As a *friend* she had no friggin' right to try and make HIS loss less than hers. Friends don't do that to eachother. Nor do they try to guilt or bully each other into doing things.

I barely know how to respond to this comment. I will say that it is not bullying. It's just not. And you can mourn the loss of relationships even where someone hasn't died. As for safe - you realise Doyle was still alive right? And ready to kill her? Plus Emily was the only one who knew where his kid was. Like no, not safe. And alone. Unlike Reid.

And I know Reid is the fan favourite but he doesn't get the monopoly on life sucking. If he couldn't put aside his 'pain' for the sake of the job - quit. Don't bring it in to the workplace, don't be unprofessional. If you can no longer trust them or work with them - quit. All I saw Emily doing was pointing out the whole situation sucked for all of them and just maybe, as smart as he is, Reid needed that wake up call. But it just isn't bullying.

[Lennie Briscoe Was NOT Great: Unpopular Opinions]

I've been watching Season 11 and I gotta say...I don't hate Nora. She's not Adam and she's not Branch and I'm okay with that.
She still does her job, rolls with the political side of it and whatever shennanigans Jack and Abbie chuck at her, and is shown to actually be researching her position before she makes it. I don't think looking at all sides of a case, the consequences etc, is a bad idea for a DA. And even if she doesn't like the consequences personally, she still does her job. 

I'm not saying she is the best. I'm just saying, I don't hate her.

[Emily Prentiss: Sin to Win]

No Prentiss had just faked her death (or had it faked for her) and was living in hiding because Doyle was still alive and after her. Doesn't sound like she was living it up in Gay Ole Paris and visiting the Eiffel Tower every day. She didn't know if she was ever coming back (and wouldn't have if the network hadn't ordered PB to) so in a sense she was mourning them. Playing online scrabble isn't quite the same.

As for that line - well maybe take it as a melodramatic line for a melodramatic situation. Or maybe, take it as one friend trying to get the other friend to pull his head out. As friends do. Although I've never taken Reid as a super special snowflake that should never be at all teased or criticised by his friends/family (which, as per the narrative, is what this team is. If not family).

That said, I always thought Reid and Emily had one of the nicest, more adult friendships on the show. She teased him sure but it certainly wasn't bullying. As for the 'there's a lot to hate about you Dr Reid' that I see people criticise all the time - he had just dragged her story. How that comes across as being just so mean to poor old Reid - I guess I'm missing something. Looks like they were friends to me.

[Season 12 Spoilers, Speculation and Anticipation]

3 hours ago, Old Dog said:

It's not about the women and I dislike that any criticism of the cast change results in feminist arguments.

I'm not saying that everyone has to like the show. God knows I haven't watched it in years since the salary induced firings of AJ Cook and Paget Brewster. The few episodes I have seen since haven't been that good either. That said, because there has clearly been a radical change and they are bringing back at least one previous character I'm not willing to just throw the baby out with the bath water. I am saying I think the one positive thing about these changes is now the show is different to  CSI/NCIS/Insert primetime drama here. You may not agree with or like the cast changes and thats fine. But calling it nothing but Girls in Kevlar and bemoaning a lack of profiling because there are girls involved - especially when there isn't anything to support that - perhaps that is what is coming across as something worth criticising.

[Season 12 Spoilers, Speculation and Anticipation]

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That may make the show different enough to warrant a new title because it will no longer be "Criminal Minds."

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The "Girl Squad" holds no appeal for me at all - they will need to call it something else. "Action Girls in Kevlar". "Girls with Guns". "3 Action Women and The Black Queen".

I gotta say I really do not understand why having more females than males on the show makes it not Criminal Minds anymore. Is it somehow more like the 'real BAU' to watch Morgan, Hotch, Gideon and Rossi break down doors for 10+ years? Is it really a bad thing that there are more females even though 'it's not like the real BAU' (which, lets be honest, this show has never been realistic). I get that everyone loves Reid to the exclusion of everyone else but maybe be happy that something good came out of the firing? Aside from maybe Rizzoli and Isles (and a couple of pommy shows i watch) im not sure there has been a mainstream procedural with more women than men and hasn't been a regular sausage fest.

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Is it confirmed that Prentiss was originally going to be gay or is it speculation? That is very interesting. 

I'm pretty sure it was KV who mentioned there was going to be a scene where Prentiss gets out of bed to go to a case and the camera was going to pan up to a woman in the bed. I think it was her. Either way I remember hearing it from someone actually connected with the show and not as 'specuation'.

[Season 12 Spoilers, Speculation and Anticipation]

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Secondly, and most importantly we have Aisha Tyler now AS A SERIES REGULAR and Paget Brewster is BACK and and and!!! Adam Rodriguez is now on our television program

Does this mean Paget is back back? Full time? Has anyone else heard this? Is this confirmed? Because I will be watching if that is true...just saying.

And I love that if that is true, and with Aisha, there will be more women than men. Like about time (in a general sense). That may make the show different enough to last the firing.

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She has a crush on Tara, that’s just obvious to me but they work too close together….

I love that. I remember when Prentiss was going to be gay until the studio got involved...I guess Garcia is more of a palatable possible lesbian but I'll be happy with that.

[S04.E09: New York]

Can I just say - and I want to frame this as having grown up in the 90's where the best possible representation of LGBT rights on a family channel were gay men on Dawson's Creek and Will & Grace (where the main actors were dedicated to making sure everyone knew they weren't gay) - I really love that this show and the actors never shy away from the whole lesbian side of it. Sherri Saum and Teri Polo are always dedicated to making sure the bones of it seem real (and even if their relationship has problems and they are sure as hell flawed) and outside of the show are never interested in proving they aren't gay. Like the kissing scene in this episode. They weren't shying away, made it look like a couple who have been together for 10+ years and haven't done interviews about it. It's only been 15 years or so I know, but it shows how much things have changed in this area.

To join the actual convo - I think it is fine Brandon went alone (gotta grow up sometime and considering they were selling the house for a lack of money how would they have justified it?). Presumably he did well enough even though the plot dictates he won't get in (which, it is about time this boy faced some disappointment outside of his and Callie's relationship because he gets everything handed to him) but I guess it also was a way to make Courtney and Mason dunzo.

I did feel sorry for Callie when she was listening to Mike and Stef talk about her. That would have been harsh to listen to (and that isn't a dig at Mike) and it clearly got to her. I think she was an idiot for going for Brandon time and time again (and obviously consented to *the Sex*) but she clearly has issues. Stef doesn't get to put it all on Brandon (and has said she was wrong). But it is worth noting that Callie hasn't done the same thing with AJ. I think she was up front when she kissed him. And he isn't Stef + Lena's son or in the immediate family. I guess you could liken it to a cousin relationship if anything - but those are legal after all. And I don't see her attraction to Aaron. She didn't kiss him back. And at least was up front with AJ about it. Progress

I don't have major issues with pot and don't think Jude smoking it is that bad.

I like that Mariana does have issues with being wanted, especially by her parents. I think that shows more than anything she has been affected by her previous foster situation. Even being adopted by Stef and Lena when she was young didn't erase it. That's a good story and is worth telling. And may be a by-product of the system. That said, I hope Lena and/or Stef notices her using Jesus' pills first.

[Aaron Hotchner: High and Tight]

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Actually, it is relevant because it's been said TG felt threatened and the intention matters. Anyway, none of us have been a witness. We are sharing opinions and speculations. 

Said by whom exactly? Sounds like more opinion and speculation to me. Presumably if it was self-defence the other person involved would have been suspended or fired also. Suspension while an investigation goes on sounds pretty standard to me, regardless of whether the person gets fired or not. I'm not seeing anything shady involved with the studio's statements other than proving some kind of due dilligence was done. Yes it sucks for everyone but I'm glad actions have consequences. Even in Hollywood. My opinion is that there is a lot of excusing of TG's behaviour based on the fandom's opinions that don't hold water. He wasn't fired for nothing and that is the bottom line.

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keep comparing our jobs and their jobs is useless, entertainment business doesn't rule like the working class world. It's sad and wrong, but if these behaviours are allowed is because these companies are indulgent with them, they make them gain a lot of money and they look to the other side. I'm not speaking about this incident now, but about any star and celebrity bad behaviour.

Except this behaviour wasn't allowed. Charlie Sheen's wasn't. Clearly there is some kind of change happening even when money is involved.

[Aaron Hotchner: High and Tight]

I'm surprised by the excuses being made for TG's behaviour. Mental illness, provocation, that we shouldn't judge because we weren't there. Regardless of the opinions of the writer, you don't get to hit someone. If you don't like someone at work, ignore them or beat them by being better. Professionally or personally, you don't get to be violent because for any reason (I mean, obviously there is self-defence but that's separate and not relevant to this issue).

I liked Hotch. And (Dharma and) Greg. I think TG was good in the role. But he did what he did and that's that.

I wonder what the reactions would have been had AJ Cook been the one to kick someone and get fired. I bet she wouldn't have been excused for it like TG

[Big Love - General Discussion]

I think Nikki was pretty badly treated - more so than the other wives even - and largely existed to serve the plot of the season.

I don't for a second buy that Season 1 Nikki would ever have turned into Season 4/5 Nikki. No way would she have gone along with Bill and his political aspirations. I can see her turning in to Season 3 Nikki, where she starts being nicer to her family (i.e. Sarah), starts realising things and how much she was hurt.

I don't see her inability to testify against her father as being at odds with pushing him down the stairs. That compound is shown to be secretive, not to trust the outsiders and generally paranoid. If Nikki had turned state's witness, well, that would have been more out of character I think. Especially given the lack of support she received (and really, if Barb knew Bill was messed up just being a lost boy, I can't imagine why she wouldn't have assumed Nikki was just as damaged, if not moreso).

[Big Love - General Discussion]

I agree 100%. They pushed it with JJ and the whole genetic experimentation thing-even though apparently it was based on something true (although I did not for a second believe Nikki would ever go to JJ's clinic for help) - but the Senate stuff was way too much to swallow. Also that Sissy's character wouldn't out Bill to win becuase why exactly?

I do wish that one of the women (if not all) in the final season had realised that Bill was just not worth it. Sarah did, to a degree. It would have been a really lovely way to end it.

That said, at least the actors brought their A game the whole way through. No slacking off from that cast.

[Season Four Discussion]

This may be a bit late to the party but regarding the Lolly/Susanne violent tendencies and should they be in psych or jail I think it is worth noting that Lolly's only violent and aggressive behaviour was to beat the crap out of the guard/hitman while he was trying to kill Alex. She wasn't randomly violent and I think that was a pretty clear case of defence of someone else that anyone else would be praised for. Of course they all ruined it with the chopping him up and burying him but that was hardly Lolly's own fault either.

[Season Four Discussion]

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I'm totally confused about Healey.  Is he a good guy?  Is he a bad guy?  His character's so complex. 

He is a bad guy. He may not physically rape prisoners or make them eat baby mice....but his racism, sexism and homophobia doesn't make him better or nicer than Humphrey, Piscatella or anyone else and he should never have been in any position in a prison at all. Ever. He had a mentally ill mother but that does not excuse his actions at all. Ever. And Caputo - also never that nice or worthy of respect or appreciation. From the start he would throw women, inside or outside the bars, under the bus. He paid a lot of lip service to wanting to do the right thing after Poussey died - but didn't. Talk is cheap...

I hate the message this show sent re: Pennsatucky and Donuts. He raped her. That doesn't get wiped away. Ever. I'm with Big Boo. Penn doesn't have to suffer and nor should she. But she doesn't have to 'forgive' him for a bullshit apology and make him feel better when Poussey died. That's crap, no matter how you look at it.

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Most people watching this show didn't go in expecting it to be like OZ or Wentworth.

This show wants to hit the big social justice moments, without paying attention to the smaller moments. Possibly steming from the book (never read it but I know the author is big on prison reformation). Federal prision to racism to private prision systems...and the characters change to fit that particular issue. Wentworth, isn't that kind of story. That was fully a character story from the start. The two are different.

That said, I would have liked this show to have treated Poussey's death as something more that shock value and a teaching moment.

I did however, like the focus on all the Latina women and Lolly. Nicki should have come back earlier.

And I never would have picked Daya as the one holding the gun at the end....especially how little she was in it the rest of the time.

[S04.E13: Toast Can't Never Be Bread Again]

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and she came from a middle-class family with a high ranking military father, so probably could have afforded a decent lawyer........

Didn't the  MCC 'conflict resolution' dicks or whoever they were say she had enough on her to be considered as trafficking? (Backed up almost by her flashback where she said she had enough to sell/smoke before she went to Amsterdam). Which makes sense with her being put into minimum security federal? I had assumed she got picked up that night/morning. Which makes that even worse.

[One is the Loneliest Number: Unpopular GG Opinions]

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There was, however, the Teen Aged Boy's First Love Belief that made him hope like crazy that she would see the light and return to her true love. Unrequited love is so painful and also so common among that set.

I'm sorry - that sentence if anything makes me happy for the Jess storyline. In no way was Dean Rory's 'true' love (what an awful concept) and I think it is that sense of entitlement that makes many posters here not like Dean for being the embodiment of that idea. I'm glad Rory never went back to Dean permanently (in the same way i am happy Joey never went back to Dawson) because what is 'ideal' isn't necessarily best.

[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - General Discussion]

I watched a youtube show from the early 2000's ( I think) when this show was absolutely on fire. It was the highest rating show and eventually led to the CSI Effect (to the dismay of judges, prosecutors and police alike). It also (I think?) caused a lot of backlash upon 'procedurals' and the rot they brought to network tv (now clearly seen in NCIS being the Number 1 show).

i think this show was great, was worth it, was well acted and shouldn't be written off.

Does anyone else remember the height of the show? Back in the day. I remember being in love with Sara Sidle for her ability to stick to her guns, regardless of how she looked. Not a popular character, I know, but I think she used to be awesome.

Anyone else up for a rewatch?

[Battlestar Galactica [2004] - General Discussion]

I thought all the original Cylon models were amazing.

I thought Six was great, in all her many forms. I loved Head!Six, Gina, Caprica (but she got a raw deal) From watching all the different versions - I would watch Tricia Helfer in anything (and yes, I liked her in Burn Notice even though few did)

I liked the Eights, especially because they weren't doing a repeat of the Sixes, or Three. I never personally got the immense citicism for Grace Park that happened when the show was airing because I think she was a great Boomer and Athena and brought what was needed.

I liked Three. I think her overall arch suffered for whatever reasons but she was good. I bought her being a sleeper and needing to find out the Final Five.

Cavil, Simon and Leoben - all good. Individual personalities weren't developed but that was okay. It didn't harm anything.

I think the only way the cylon aspect failed was with the Final Five. It wasn't planned from the get and it showed. The actors were all good, but it felt like it was shock value. Tigh? Sure, it was shocking. Make sense? No. Anders? Again - nonsensical. I think they wrote themselves into a corner but didn't pull it off - which is a shame because it's the only real criticism I've got)

["Oh HELL No!": TV Moments That Make You Irate]

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At least Anya was willing to die for what she did

I don't think what Anya was willing to do has any bearing on whether or not that makes Xander less hypocritical. Unless you want to go down that rabbit hole which would mean the fact Spike goes to get his soul back negates the wrongdoing on Buffy's part...

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wanted to decapitate Anya ratchets her hypocrisy so far above Xander's that you'd have to use the metric system to measure the difference

I may vear in to speaking for the OP (and if it isn't what you meant - sorry I'll take the heat) but what I get from that criticism is not a tit-for-tat who is more wrong. Rather, it comes across as Xander never ever being wrong, or learning or growing and being the epitome of a 'Nice Guy'. Sure, he hated Angel but it wasn't because he used to be a vampire - it was because he had the hots for Buffy. Spike - criticisms there were valid but were only expressed similar to Angel in that he thought Buffy should be 'better' i.e. live up to what he wanted. As I remember it, Buffy's real criticisms of Anya was that she was not likeable and rude - not much mentioned about her being a murdering demon (which you could argue is a bit of self-awareness on her part about her dating history). And basically when it came to murdering boyfriend/girlfriends they would be about equal wouldn't they? Buffy wasn't prepared in that particular moment to kill Angelus (but worked up to it fyi) and neither was Xander. It would have made a substantial difference to the criticisms of Xander as being a 'Nice Guy' if he was able to show a bit of awareness and even yes, apologise to Buffy for giving her so much grief once he recognised the similarities (which may be worse when you consider Buffy was 15 when she hooked up with Angel and Xander was 18+ when he started on with Anya. Repeatedly).

So that is my way of saying- I agree with the OP. That wasn't a good moment for Xander or the BVS universe.

[Matthew Morrison/Will Schuester]

Having rewatched quite a few episodes, I think the only way Schuester is better than Sue is only because he doesn't actually commit physical violence (and if you look at the first 13 episodes, that was largely funny). His gross preference for Finn and ridiculous behaviour makes me like him a whole lot less than the other teachers.

That said - MM was a great all round singer/actor/dancer. He could have got better scripts.

[S16.E01: Finale/Wrap-Up Movie]

Blonde and young?

[Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - General Discussion]

I wish the writers had let people know how the show would have ended/what would have happened in season 3.

That said, I thought the show did suffer a little bit because John seemed to get more screentime than Sarah...and frankly Sarah was more interesting.