Food Network’s new, 24-hour Cooking Channel, launches. But why isn’t it in HD? #food #tv
Thumbs Up
I have to give props to rapper Wale for turning around a PR fiasco. After news got out that the rapper was canceling his appearance at D.C’s. Black Gay Pride, the web was on fire with “homophobic” linked to his name.
Despite BP’s various cleanup attempts, the company and U.S. government warn that the oil could be leaking until August. Ugh. Houston Business Journal has continuous coverage. #news #environment #bitchlips
I’m a devout fan of The Wire and admit it’s the main reason I’m tuning into Treme. Like many, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the premiere. Watching the first episode felt like a first visit to the new restaurant everyone’s been buzzing about. It was a good meal; a big meal. Although, the seasoning felt heavy-handed and unfocused last night.
Admittedly, with a cast as large and diverse as Treme, creating an experience in which each ingredient shines while complementing the overall dish is tricky. More intriguing is how Treme will tackle the historic and social relevance of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans’ strong culture and music history in an hour-long drama.
And about the music.
Music plays a intrinsic role on Treme (it’s New Orleans, after all). As another character (or characters), music will have its own storyline(s). The question is whether music will be the scene-stealer each episode. It felt that way last night. But I’m hoping future episodes will feel more balanced.
Undoubtedly, David Simon and friends will shower us with a variety of twists and subplots by mid-season. And each episode will beg for repeated viewings to extract its subtleties. Also, there’s sure to be a plethora of analysis (Dave Walker’s blog is a great resource).
Thankfully, the colorful characters seem compelling enough to carry the weight. I don’t want to make too many assumptions about them this early (although, Khandi Alexander can do no wrong in my book). I’m just getting to know them. But for now, I’m keeping my Sunday night reservation.
My new favorite television show may very well be Showtime’s new original, dark comedy Nurse Jackie. Award-winning Edie Falco stars as Nurse Jackie Peyton, a no-nonsense ER nurse with a bad back (and a small addiction to pain meds). The acting is top notch and the writing is quick and acerbic, as seen in the following scene from the pilot.
