How to Make a Great Show in America

Cue Aloe Blacc "I need a Dollar." A classic yet funky sound with piano hits mixed in. Take a pile of pictures, and splice them into a fast paced intro for How to Make it In America, a great deviation from the overplayed Entourage. The show takes place in Manhattan in its most unpretentious form. Following the lives of two dudes who have a knack for creativity but a lack of follow through, How to Make it in America is the creation of a warm at home feeling, something most never feel for New York City. It also hits home in other aspects, such as the strive our younger generation has for success, but the motivation we sometimes tend to lack. I've been through the ringer for failed attempts at fame and fortune, and have landed myself on the opposite side of the spectrum. But what makes this show so great and appealing to me is Ben and Cam's can-do, gotta hustle attitude. Well, that and the awesome soundtrack of old school hip hop et. al.

Ben, the beautiful, chain smoking, Fashion school drop out is in cahoots with Cam, his street smart, fast talking best friend with the cutest abuela on this side of 126th Street. While Ben mourns the death of his 3 year relationship with Rachel, the hippie with a heart and an eye for interior design, Cam puts the pressure on for the two to start really making a name for themselves. That, and the urgency to pay back Cam's ex-con cousin Renee (played by the well cast and hilariously tubby Luis Guzman) on a little loan. With a little bit of financial support from their moneybags cohort Kappo (Eddie Kaye Thomas), the two not only pay Renee back but ask for more, in order to sustain a Denim line they decide to promote, called Crisp. Give or take a few setbacks, romantic interests, Pyscho skateboarders, swigs of Rasta Monsta, and some Grand Theft Auto, the show is a success in the youth making their way to the top slowly, surely, and without those damn Master's Degrees everyone thinks we need these days. It's a show about who you know, what you know, and the best way to hustle.

Kid Cudi's in it too, sometimes. Check it out.

Thanks for reading. I am, the TV Enforcer.

United States of Tara Season 2 Thoughts....So Far

Once you've gotten through the first season of United States of Tara starring Toni Collette, you feel confident in Diablo Cody's ability to create a series out of the quirkyness she has become famous for. But when you watch the first episode of season 2, you begin to worry. Raise your hand if you hate montages, because I surely do. To take almost half an episode to combine a laundry list of overly happy moments in the USOT household became almost a burden to watch. But with the suicide of their neighbor bringing curiosity to Tara, it enables the plot to move much more quickly in the second episode. After a severe incident in season 1's finale, Tara begins season 2 back on medication and "Alter-free" for 3 months. But once she enters the home of their deceased neighbor, something in her clicks back on, and Buck, the loud mouthed womanizer is back in action.

Season 2, take this in no offense to anyone, is much gayer than season 1. This is attributed by Tara and Max's newfound relationship with their "Gaybors" Ted and Hany as well as Marshall's inclusion at the "Gayble" at school. A very interesting conversation comes up between Marshall and his flamboyantly bitchy new friend Lionel. The contrast between Marshall's version of being gay is vastly different from Lionel's who strives to make the closedminded uncomfortable and marginalize the idea of what is gay. Marshall is the timid and closeted young boy, confused and quiet, and therefore possibly intimidated by this high schooler with the balls to stand out in the midst of jocks and bible belters. Marshall even tells him off in one scene that Lionel makes people not want to be gay. What is interesting here though is that Lionel didn't come back with a retort in the nature of "people don't want to be gay, they just are." His sassiness overrides logic here and leaves the viewer a bit on edge as to how this can turn out. By the end of the episode however, Marshall's making out with friend Courtney, therefore signifying that Cody may want to hold off on his gayformation. I've been using alot of Gay derivatives but hey, they make sense!

As the episode progresses, Tara's now freaking out, because she knows that the alters are back, even though she is back on medication. They even start coming to her from outside of her body, asking her to transform. Only 2 episodes in, Buck is the lone star attempting to break out, and he is successful in taking control, enter stage right Joey Lauren Adams...remember her? Ben Affleck's lesbian in Chasing Amy? She's baaaack!

From the season 2 preview, much has already happened, which makes me feel much better about how it could turn out. So I will keep you all posted, and until then


Thanks for listening, I am the TV Enforcer

Showtime: Lifetime with balls

Weeds, Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara, The Big C, The L Word. All Showtime shows focused around women, written by women, and usually watched by...women. Have we entered a rabbit hole that has put Lifetime and Oxygen on Acid? Or is the opportunity for good television that focuses on women only successful when you can say shit and fuck (maybe a sex scene or two)?


Now of course you may say, what about Showtime’s Dexter, the serial killer with a conscience? Dexter (If only I had started this blog a few months ago because I have TONS to say about that show, but it must wait...) seems to be the alpha male force surrounding Showtime. But with United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie back to back on Mondays and Laura Linney alongside Precious’ Gabourey Sidibe in The Big C coming out summertime with Weeds, it's hard to disagree that Showtime is taking a soft and smooth transition towards a more female focused channel. I know many men who enjoy USOT and Weeds but the influx of female to male character ratio is a bit curious.

Ever since Carrie & co. exited the scene several years ago, women have been waiting anxiously for some strong females to hold their own with the men who dominate the stronger shows of premium cable. Enter Mary Louise Parker, also known as Nancy Botwin, the drug toting soccer mom of Agrestic. Weeds was a haven for elitist suburban pot smokers around the globe, and the humor brought upon by goof offs Doug (Kevin Nealon) and Andy (Justin Kirk) along with the sarcastic and flawless bitchiness of Celia (Elizabeth Perkins) made the show a hit. The show now seems to have taken a much more far-fetched road of plot twists than most had ever expected or really hoped for, but it garnered an audience that basked in the glory of its female protagonist, flaws and all.

Season Two of United States of Tara has left me a wee bit worried for its return. But I suppose, again for you reality spawn, I shall summarize. Oscar winning writer Diablo Cody (Juno) takes on television with Toni Collette as her muse. Toni plays Tara, a seemingly loving (AND un-medicated) wife of two eccentric children, wife to the delicious Aidan from Sex and the City (or we can refer to him as the loving and accepting boyfriend from My Big Fat Greek Wedding), and home to three (four?) absurd and hilarious personalities. Buck, T, and Alice; these are the complete opposites on the triangular spectrum drawn up in the mind of Cody. The show also lends itself to some of the most diverse family interaction you could ever think up. There’s the crazy mom who sometimes dresses like her daughter…or a man; the possibly gay son Marshall who decides to follow a deliciously (and secretly) bi-curious evangelist; the multi-color haired daughter Kate on the cusp of skankdom and sarcasm simultaneously; and of course the mediator and most normal of them all, Max the dad. Hilarity ensues and when you throw in a couple more characters (Patton Oswald as the strange little friend and strange little romantic interest of Tara’s sister Charmaine; let’s not forget creepy Gene from the restaurant where Kate works) the show is balled up into one unforgettable season, full of twists, turns, and tit jobs. The season ends in a big cluster fucky mess, leaving you a little heartbroken and a little curious as to the beginning of what has now started just this week as the second season. One episode in, I can’t make judgments on the success or failure of Cody’s TV baby, but I do know that the first season is certainly worth a shot.

In conclusion, bravo Showtime! Thank you for taking a chance on a female dominant season of good television, I applaud your efforts and successes. But one word to Jenji Kohan (creator and writer of Weeds) please kill Esteban, this plot twist has ruined your show.

Thank you for reading. I am, the TV enforcer.

Welcome to the TV Enforcer!

Many of you may know me for my exploits in the fashion realm. While I may have digressed from my fashion queries, I believe I am being summoned by another calling. That voice seems to be coming from that little box in your living room (or the huge flat panel in your personal home theater). As a guardian angel of TV Land, I hope to incite a riotous mob that I can lure towards great television and away from the steaming pile of reality TV that is terrorizing our youth. With that, I shall begin with what may be seen as the greatest and most unheard of show on television right now: Breaking Bad.





Starring Malcolm In the Middle's Bryan Cranston, the show has come into its 3rd season. In case you live under a rock, or are waiting in deep anticipation of Flavor of Love 10, the premise of the show centers around Walter White (Cranston) an underpaid over experienced High School chemistry teacher with a lot on his plate. A young son with Cerebral Palsy, a middle aged wife with a baby on the way, and oh yeah, he's got Lung Cancer and a few months to live. So seemingly, living in the glorious state of New Mexico, the only option here is to find one of your deviant students from years past and team up to cook Crystal Meth in order to pay for towering medical bills. Interested yet? You should be.

Granted, most families don't see cooking and dealing Crystal Meth as a choice method of obtaining money, but then the show would be so obviously boring and depressing if it didn't. Unknown to his already suspicious wife Skylar (Anna Gunn), Walt travels into the vast Albuquerque desert with a motor home, some gas masks, and a lot of chemicals. Skylar's suspicions climb a Mt. Everest of "what could my husband be doing-s?" and the love they have suffers for it. Walt stands out in television as what I come to think of as one of the most complex characters in TV history. Sorry guys not Ice-T from Law and Order. While you can sit and watch, thinking to yourself "Walt what are you doing?!" Cranston creates this enigmatic and diverse character who has to ask the questions why and how. His somewhat evil demeanor makes us question his motives when really the only motive he has(no matter who dies, scores, or suffers) is to provide for his family after he is gone.

Walt throughout seasons 1 and 2 seems at his happiest when explaining the chemistry of creating this life ruining drug, and even creates the drug in its purest form to strangely keep his customers safer than they would normally be. His passion for cooking engulfs him and creates a dark alter ego which I would like to call "Drug Dealer Walt." This character I like much more than "Human Walt" because "Drug Dealer Walt" is unapologetic, curious, and brave. "Human Walt" is a lying, conniving father and husband who soon creates a domino effect of lies that touches upon an astounding number of people, more so than he had ever expected.

While Walt and his junkie partner Jesse (superbly played by Aaron Paul) risk life and limb (and a few morals as well) to earn enough money to pay off bills, debts, and creepy Mexican dealers, the show serves another purpose. A greater purpose that reflects many people today. The evil of the health care system. While we can kick and scream or jump for joy at the recent passage of the infamous Health care Reform Bill, this show truly gets to the nitty gritty of how families are torn apart by devilish insurance companies. Walt, a considerably healthy man, never picked up a cigarette in his life, and the company he keeps (his wife Skylar, son Walter Jr., Doctor sister in law Marie and DEA agent brother in law Hank..that's right DEA) seem estranged from the cancer stick as well. So his diagnosis is curious and heartbreaking to say the least. Walt is a caricature for the heartache of real families in this country, whose lives are turned upside down by such familiar and tragic news and the failure to come up with the money they so desperately need.

Now I could go into some absolutely absurd and ridiculous details, but then you wouldn't have a glimmer of suspicion as to why this show is so fantastic. So I leave you with this:

Heartache
Suspense
Humor
Terror

These are the words that surround Breaking Bad, a show like no other. Watch it, and become entranced in something that truly creates a menacing world where there are no more options.

Thank you for listening. I am, the TV enforcer.