Tony Soprano Died

As my craziest high school teacher would say (almost every day) - I'm going to eat crow.

I wrote a few months ago that I didn't think Tony Soprano died. Then I read this. And, not only is it the most comprehensive post I've ever read regarding a 3-5 minute scene, it all makes sense. I agree with everything.

So after reading it (found courtesy of Bill Simmons the Sports Guy. If I ever write as well as he does [and somehow have a job like his] I will consider my life a better-than-expected success) I decided I need to watch season 6 again. All of it. Knowing what I knew previously from watching it a few months ago, I think he died. It had to have happened. All of the signs and things they talk about point that it has to have had happened.

Why did I not think so before? Because I was trying to be positive? (which, if you know me, that's rarer than the Dodo) I'm not sure. Maybe it was just my naiveté. I'd bet it's because I knew how it ended, but I didn't really know how it ended (if you missed it, I accentuated the second how there. I'm not that dumb to write the same thing twice. Well, wait.)

It makes sense that he died. Everyone else had died. It was a changing of the guard. The new young people wanted their turn. And that, as they say, is that.

How Excited Am I For LOST?

This isn't a OMG WTF LOST IS OVER post. I woke up this morning feeling SO EXCITED for tonight. I was trying to think the last time I was this excited when I woke up (and it wasn't Christmas). I came up with a few. I'll share them with you, because I still have seven hours to go and this blog is supposed to be fun?

1) October 27, 2004 - Red Sox were up 3-0 on the St. Louis Cardinals and were going to win

2) February 6, 2005 - Super Bowl XXIX - Unfortunately the Eagles didn't win

3) October 28, 2007 - Red Sox were up 3-0 on the Colorado Rockies and were going to win

4) November 19, 2007 - My first Bruce Springsteen concert

5) August 19, 2008 - My next Bruce Springsteen concert (first time I heard Jungleland and Thunder Road and first time I cried at a non-funeral)

6) April 19-20 2009 - The next (and last two) Bruce Springsteen concerts (notice a trend?)

7) April 19, 2010 - My last Boston Marathon

and

8) May 23, 2010 - The Lost Finale.

Isn't it great when you can look back and remember those things that made you SO excited for life? Sure, I have bunch more, but those were great. Maybe they all have to do with sports and Bruce, so what! Those are the things I'm passionate for.

Can't wait for tonight!

Technology is Leading to the Destruction of Network Programming

I had a revelation at the gym today. 2010 is going to be the end of two (but probably four) of my favorite shows. Lost and Nip/Tuck are in their final seasons. 24 is rumored to end after this season because it's becoming too costly (and seriously, how many more bad days can Jack Bauer have?) On top of that, it's becoming more and more likely that Conan's run on NBC is going to end shortly.

While I assume Conan will be back on television in some capacity. The others will not. This will leave a huge hole in my regular television programs. I'm not sure what to do. I think it's become a state of television programing that I mentioned in a previous post. Companies are trying to save money, so they produce cheaper programs. Typically, it's the reality, game-show, or talk-show instead of a more costly-scripted show. Or a spin-off of a highly successful show (something ridiculous too, like CSI: North Dakota)

This is saddening, as the networks read success of shows in very literal terms of ratings and how much advertising revenue they can generate from these ratings. In today's age with video easily accessible on demand through various different outlets, ratings from when the show aired aren't reliable. For example, I don't get to watch Conan every night, but I'll try to watch it on Hulu everyday. Honestly I prefer the shorter format. 30 second commercials vs 3 minutes. I can watch when I want. It makes watching it when it airs not important. Technology has allowed for shows to be on demand. Legal or Illegal, it cannot be stopped.

Because of these technological advancements, the viewer is taking away network's primary source of revenue. I believe this is going to lead to less quality programming in favor of more cost-effective shows, which leads to the viewer most likely being less entertained. We can all enjoy some reality shows, but not ALL the time.

I'm not sure what the appropriate solution is here, because I don't see any stopping the Internet/DVR/TiVo phenomenon. It's just something to be aware of. Our forms of entertainment are evolving. The only shows that will get green-lit will be surefire hits. Shows that don't have great ratings, even with critical success don't keep airing. (I keep using the Southland example - I really should watch before I continue to use it.)

I think our best hope relies with Premium Cable networks, like HBO, who typically script higher quality programs than others. The Wire is widely considered by many (including myself) to be the greatest show of all time. It did not receive high ratings or garner much support from awards shows. However HBO stuck with the show and let it ride out its full five seasons, and everyone who has viewed it is thankful for that.

In the meantime, I plan on enjoying what's left of my favorite shows, and hope the entertainment industry can figure out how to make more quality shows, while finding a source of income.

Reality Television has Ruined Quality TV

Reality television has been an ever growing genre of TV over the past decade. Blame it on The Real World or Big Brother whatever you want, but the reality (pun intended) is that it is here to stay. It's much more cost effective than paying for a scripted show, and can provide entertainment that people have come to crave. Wheather it is just normal reality or contest-specific, people cannot get enough.

I just finished watching another episode of Jersey Shore, and while I find it extremely entertaining, the show has been cause for alot of controversy. First, there was the sponsors pulling out. Then there was the Snooki-Punch that was blacked out . Many Italian American groups are asking MTV to pull the show. It won't get pulled. In fact it would be hard to believe it wouldn't get renewed for another season. This stuff is here to stay.

Is this really the kind of television we should stoop ourselves to though? It really breaks down to a psychological, almost 1984 Big Brother-like mentality, where we love to observe what other people are doing. Whether it's about people's love lives or just living their lives, people love to watch.

What the hell was the point of Jon and Kate Plus 8? There was no plot, it was literally just following the family through raising these children. So what? I never watched enough of the show to know more than that, but look at what celebrities Jon and Kate have become. While their drama has cooled down, they're still everywhere. It's unbelievable and sometimes pathetic. I'm picking on the TLC shows, because in general, they don't even provide any entertainment. It's literally, reality, just following. And that's what sparked the Ballon Boy drama. The Henne family wanted their own reality show and hoped by faking their son's disappearance was a ticket to the television. I'm sure that family would have been so boring it would of been painful.

At least the VH1 "celeb-reality" "love" shows are edited a thousand times with intent to provide entertainment and hooks to get people's attention. They cast actors and put them in a pro-drinking environment. Its a formula for disaster, which equals high ratings. The shows are cut copied and pasted into an entertaining format. They can cut down a week into a hour. Alot of details get cut out. Stuff gets edited into making things seem different than they are. Whatever The Hills actually is, they edit the hell out of that show, and it looks totally different than how it happened. The "stares" and "awkward looks" are all out of context. We're supposed to believe otherwise.

I'm starting to ramble, so I want to summarize. Reality television -- People love them. I love them. If you read this and are friends with me, you probably love them too. While not every show is for every person, it's wide enough to appeal to almost everyone. The television is such trash, but this is what we've dug ourselves into. And now we can't turn away. Networks caught on and there's 7 spinoffs to every show. We're stuck. We lose good shows like Arrested Development in favor of The Real Housewives of North Dakota. That's not really a show, it's to prove a point. It's a shame, but networks are greedy, and all the viewer asks is to be entertained.

Now if you'll excuse me, the latest season of The Real World just started, I'll see you later.