What was the last TV show you watched?

[Touchofevil]

The first episode of the current season of Fear the Walking Dead and In to the Badlands. Neither episode did much to encourage me to continue watching. Both were pretty weak. I have enjoyed both enough in the past so I am sure I will give them a chance.

 

[Touchofevil]

Plan to watch the HBO docs soon, but - and I'm not proud of this - I've watched / read a lot on Elvis over the years. In addition to stealing from Elvis, I think Parker had a very short-term business management view and, as we would say today, hurt Elvis' long-term "brand" value by almost always going for the fast money.

Elvis, I think, could have had a Sinatra-like movie career - doing both fluffy musicals and serious acting in real movies - that would have increased the Elvis brand's value way more than the profitable but limiting "Elvis" movies that Parker forced on Elvis. And of course, the overseas tour money that Parker didn't allow would have been huge and increased the global Elvis brand.

I fail to see why you would be “not proud” of knowing more about Elvis than most people.

 

[Worf]

Plan to watch the HBO docs soon, but - and I'm not proud of this - I've watched / read a lot on Elvis over the years. In addition to stealing from Elvis, I think Parker had a very short-term business management view and, as we would say today, hurt Elvis' long-term "brand" value by almost always going for the fast money.

Elvis, I think, could have had a Sinatra-like movie career - doing both fluffy musicals and serious acting in real movies - that would have increased the Elvis brand's value way more than the profitable but limiting "Elvis" movies that Parker forced on Elvis. And of course, the overseas tour money that Parker didn't allow would have been huge and increased the global Elvis brand.

Elvis didn't write anything, or invent the music... but he DID invent Elvis. He put a sellable face on RnB/RocknRoll but he wasn't a fake like Pat Boone covering Little Richard tunes. As Eddie Murphy put it in a concert film...

"When Elvis was young he was a bad mutha****r! He was BAD!. He was vicious... sang his ass off."

He invented himself but lost control of what he created once that charlatan got a hold of him. He found himself joined to the devil hip and thigh and couldn't figure out how to get away.... in the end it killed him and made his name a catch phrase rather than an era. You say "Elvis Movie" and people know exactly what you're talking about and it ain't very good.

Worf

 

[LizzieMaine]

In a great many ways Elvis's movie career follows the pattern set by Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor in the 1930s -- a "Jolson movie" was a "Jolson movie" in precisely the same way that a "Cantor movie" was a "Cantor movie" and an "Elvis movie" was an "Elvis movie." And in both of the earlier cases, the performers grew frustrated by the constant repetition of the same trite ideas. Only the settings of their films changed, but otherwise they were all the same movie over and over again -- in each case the "movie" values were secondary to the charisma of the star performer, who would go thru his usual bag of tricks in each film with decreasing interest or enthusiasm for moviemaking as the years went by. Individually, the films are entertaining, but viewed as bodies of work you can't help but be discouraged by the lack of any attempt to do anything new or different.

But these movies made money, and in the assembly-line fashion of Hollywood that was the main purpose. In that sense you could say that Elvis movies were in fact the last gasp of a once-potent Hollywood tradition.

A few performers -- very few -- successfully broke out of this trap. Sinatra, certainly, was one, Judy Garland was another, and you could argue that Bing Crosby and Bob Hope both managed to do a few films outside their usual parameters. But most "entertainer" type performers remained stuck in that framework for most of their careers.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Besides being a ba***rd and probably here illegally, Colonel Parker wasn't nearly as smart as he thought he was. He supposedly had clipped Elvis for 100 million dollars during his life but died nearly broke. Shot it all away gambling.

"...and now I need to find my wallet because I noticed that there was no ticket booth on the way in here, but I'm sure the Colonel must have arranged for some toll on the way out."
...Priscilla Presley's eulogy of Parker

There is some speculation that Parker, born Andreas van Kuijk, left his native Holland because he was wanted in connection with a murder either as a suspect or a person of interest. And it seems that the Colonel was not quite the shrewd manager as he had sold to RCA the rights to Elvis's songs prior to 1973, most likely himself not realizing how valuable it was.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

The first episode of the current season of Fear the Walking Dead and In to the Badlands. Neither episode did much to encourage me to continue watching. Both were pretty weak. I have enjoyed both enough in the past so I am sure I will give them a chance.

I still watch and enjoy Into the Badlands, but 1) the budget for some of the scenes and wardrobe in this thing has to be $12. so awful looking that is can be strangely endearing. 2) there's pretty much zero story at this point. the small bit of remaining history between characters is the only real sinew. otherwise, this could be a series of shorts, and we would hardly notice the difference. Good reason why we continue to get new characters thrown at us. who needs a storyline when you can haphazardly write a new cartoony character with a goofy costume? And with as how the Badlands was originally painted --a place of many contained small worlds-- these people sure do have a lot of relationships. The Badlands isn't a big place. It's a small farm town. 3) I'd like to know what the actors think of the scripts. They know they aren't going to win any Emmys for this crap, but I wonder if it is frustrating or just funny.

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

In a great many ways Elvis's movie career follows the pattern set by Al Jolson and Eddie Cantor in the 1930s -- a "Jolson movie" was a "Jolson movie" in precisely the same way that a "Cantor movie" was a "Cantor movie" and an "Elvis movie" was an "Elvis movie." And in both of the earlier cases, the performers grew frustrated by the constant repetition of the same trite ideas. Only the settings of their films changed, but otherwise they were all the same movie over and over again -- in each case the "movie" values were secondary to the charisma of the star performer, who would go thru his usual bag of tricks in each film with decreasing interest or enthusiasm for moviemaking as the years went by. Individually, the films are entertaining, but viewed as bodies of work you can't help but be discouraged by the lack of any attempt to do anything new or different.

But these movies made money, and in the assembly-line fashion of Hollywood that was the main purpose. In that sense you could say that Elvis movies were in fact the last gasp of a once-potent Hollywood tradition.

A few performers -- very few -- successfully broke out of this trap. Sinatra, certainly, was one, Judy Garland was another, and you could argue that Bing Crosby and Bob Hope both managed to do a few films outside their usual parameters. But most "entertainer" type performers remained stuck in that framework for most of their careers.

Sort of along the same idea, a film reviewer many years ago observed that there were no new Bob Hope movies, just new Bob Hope titles.

 

[Fading Fast]

Watched Part One of the Elvis documentary on HBO and "man, moment, machine" kept running through my head.

Elvis was the right man - white (sadly, it mattered) - with an immense talent and drive birthed in his genes and forged in poverty, not for writing the music (as Worf points out), but for delivering it / performing it with outsized and captivating heart, passion and audience connection.

And that was absolutely what the moment demanded: some shot-in-from-outerspace performer who could synthesize the different genres of "black" and "white" music into something teenage America wanted at that instant in cultural history. Kids didn't want their parents' music; they needed / wanted / demanded something that said "we're here, we're young, we're loud, we're sexual - this is our moment and our music."

And the music was the machine - rock 'n roll - define it how you like, it was Elvis' version that blasted off / that broke through all the categories / that drove the fans / that rocket-boosted aborning rock 'n roll into the stratosphere.

Mid-'50s Elvis was, maybe, the most-perfect pop cultural "man, moment, machine" ever.

 

[HanauMan]

Watching some vintage Poirot. I never tire of watching David Suchet as the little Belgian detective. The episode, one of the last, is rather sad and poignant as Suchet plays him as a fragile old man coming to terms with his mortality.

 

[Touchofevil]

The final two episodes of The Frankenstein Chronicles. I really enjoyed this series. Great acting, cinematography, and story. I hope they do renew and create a third season.

 

[Formeruser012523]

Legion. Think I'm about ready to give up on this one and I'm highly disappointed. There's no plot. Pretty much no story whatsoever. And I can't believe Aubrey Plaza's character was relegated to being the dumb girl after that powerhouse of a performance last season. Not sure why I hung on after watching it last week and I'm sick of seeing naked girls in near every episode.

They definitely won't top the first season. I often wonder what actors think of the material they're given to work with.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I haven't watched last night's episode of Legion yet, but I have very similar feelings.

They have doubled down on the weirdness at the expense of the storytelling, and I find myself (as Khan would say) growing FATEEGED with all the psychedelia-for-psychedelia's-sake. The first season was a uniquely brilliant approach to a mutant story that, as bizarre as it was, had enough coherence to have a followable through-line. So far, this season is just one batshit crazy thing after another, without the compelling characterizations and story that were just as important to its success as the bizarro aspects. (Though I did think that one Syd-centric ep was better.)

I haven't given up yet, but I'm headed that way...

 

[Formeruser012523]

Guess I'm hanging on thinking it'll get better, but I doubt it. I have so many questions that I thought would get answered this season, but oh well. Did David kill his adopted parents? What's with the Monk? Are we ever going to get back to the main plot of this season? Will Oliver ever remember his wife? Did he kill David's sister and why did he turn her into Lenny/Lemmy, whatever her name is? I kinda don't care any more. Ugh.

 

[Worf]

Legion. Think I'm about ready to give up on this one and I'm highly disappointed. There's no plot. Pretty much no story whatsoever. And I can't believe Aubrey Plaza's character was relegated to being the dumb girl after that powerhouse of a performance last season. Not sure why I hung on after watching it last week and I'm sick of seeing naked girls in near every episode.

They definitely won't top the first season. I often wonder what actors think of the material they're given to work with.

The same can be said of "Into the Badlands". Just when you think you've got the basics pegged up jumps tons of new characters! I'm pretty sharp when it comes to plots but even I'm lost now.

Worf

 

[Mr. Nantus]

Watching some vintage Poirot. I never tire of watching David Suchet as the little Belgian detective. The episode, one of the last, is rather sad and poignant as Suchet plays him as a fragile old man coming to terms with his mortality.

Watching Poirot also, my little grey cells like the plots, Captain Hastings Lagonda, his jolly good denseness and Oh the art deco everywhere. Cannot forget the stylishness of the women and the men.

 

[EngProf]

Gad, I loved that show. Chris Elliot was funny, but Bob Elliot was hilarious.

"Get a Life" fans surely remember the episode in which he was bicycling off to "The Big City" to make his fortune, and it turned out to be New York as portrayed in 1940's movies - B&W, with streetcars, cops in long overcoats, etc. In my opinion the best one of the series...

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

The same can be said of "Into the Badlands". Just when you think you've got the basics pegged up jumps tons of new characters! I'm pretty sharp when it comes to plots but even I'm lost now.

Worf

Into the Badlands has no plot at this point. Honestly, it really doesn't. You aren't lost. The show is lost. It's basically fight scenes, wardrobe people who like spray paint a whole lot, and backers who are supporting a team of special effects people who are living out their Mad Max dreams on a shoestring. It's really rather embarrassing, but some of us like it well enough. With all my big talk about writing and story, anyone watching can call me out on my nonsense simply by asking, "Don't you continue to watch Into the Badlands?" It should shut me right up. I will say that it is no less stupid than Sons of Anarchy (which just got a spin-off, Mayans...blows my mind).

 

[Formeruser012523]

Into the Badlands has no plot at this point. Honestly, it really doesn't. You aren't lost. The show is lost. It's basically fight scenes, wardrobe people who like spray paint a whole lot, and backers who are supporting a team of special effects people who are living out their Mad Max dreams on a shoestring. It's really rather embarrassing, but some of us like it well enough. With all my big talk about writing and story, anyone watching can call me out on my nonsense simply by asking, "Don't you continue to watch Into the Badlands?" It should shut me right up. I will say that it is no less stupid than Sons of Anarchy (which just got a spin-off, Mayans...blows my mind).

Was out of town when this premiered so I missed it and haven't picked it up again. I guess it's to my betterment. They're STILL doing the bad Mad Max thing? With the loss of that villain I hated last season I can see how things would fall apart. Kinda how I despised season 4 of Sherlock where I kept expecting Moriarty to show up but he never did. When there's no villain there's no story and the bottom drops out quick. At least, on that type of show. But, now who's talking a big game? I'll shut up.

 

[Worf]

No Mae.... NEVER "shut up". This thread is populated by many people who's opinions on T.V. and film I value... even when I disagree with some of them... (I'm looking at you Doc Strange!). Keep em flyin'!

Worf

 

[Formeruser012523]

No Mae.... NEVER "shut up". This thread is populated by many people who's opinions on T.V. and film I value... even when I disagree with some of them... (I'm looking at you Doc Strange!). Keep em flyin'!

Worf

Ha! Thanks. I think. I tend to rage, especially about Sherlock's last season. I couldn't believe how bad it was. Steven Moffat ruined it and Doctor Who as far as I'm concerned. Oh well. A female Doctor was far too late, though I don't doubt Miss Whitaker's (Whittaker's?) acting ability. I'm sure she's doing well. Anyways...