rebecca-fair-poulos Reviews

Glee (2009–2015)

Just What the Doctor Ordered!

[21 May 2009]

I can just picture the creator, Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck) tossing ideas around with producers or writers or what-have-you and just saying "Let's do something happy." If this is the goal, "Glee" delivers.

With the combination of dreary times and warm weather "Glee" is just what the doctor ordered! Was the plot amazing? Not according to what we're used to. Shows these days seem to continually descend in to a deeper and deeper spiral of darkness. Don't get me wrong, I love it! Prickly characters are called "love-to-hate" for good reason, but there's a reason there is more than one category on the food pyramid. "Glee" is the perfect answer to a well- rounded entertainment diet.

At the very least "Glee" has set itself up to be a showcase for amazing talent including Lea Michele who rightfully earned a name for herself on Broadway with the hit "Spring Awakening" as Rachel Berry and newcomer Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson who may not be as talented as Michele, but was perfectly cast for the part. He does exactly what he's supposed to do which is to keep up with and support Michele who will send chills down your spine.

"Glee" seems like a familiar tale "The football player wants to sing and the unpopular girl also wants to sing!" but when was the last time we really saw this? Okay... disregard "High School Musical." This isn't "HSM." This is "HSM" done right--with real talent--and not actually a musical. The songs are all time-tested and well loved familiar tunes, i.e. Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and the show isn't designed around the songs or for the songs like a musical... you'll know what I mean when you see it!

*Synopsis* A bright eyed and optimistic teacher, Will Schuester (played by Matthew Morrison) decides to revamp the Glee club. He dreams of making it something truly great around which the school can come together. From where we, the audience stand, he came into a glee club already filled with tremendous talent including Rachel Berry who dreams of fame and carving a niche for herself, but what was missing was a strong male lead. To do this Will (nefariously) recruits the star football player who finds himself right at home. *End Synopsis*

There may be moments in the pilot where the not-instant-fan may consider "I'll bet this moment was meant to make me laugh out loud... but I'm not," but I say to you that is not what this show is about. It's about the average... the conceivable, but if you and the people around you just wanted to sing and were good at it too. Most importantly it's a showcase just meant to keep you smiling.

Even if characters were to, in the course of time in the sometimes unpredictable television world, jump into bed with each other or perform a murder, I take comfort in the feeling this show will not be about that. It will be about happy entertainment with an "I wish I could buy the world a Coke" attitude.

Because this show does not have the (ironically) familiar twists, dips, flips, turns and drama other shows offer, I feel the logical grade to assign this show would have to be a B- for being somewhat "undeveloped" by modern standards. (Nobody has been abused to speak of yet.) However, despite the undeniable likelihood this show will never be listed in my top five, even for the year, I can pretty much guarantee it will be the show which I most look forward to watching out of any other. For this reason, "Glee" gets an A+ in my heart and I hope to form a "Glee" club of my own taking place Tuesday nights on my living room couch.

Glee is certainly a welcome summer booster shot of summer fun.

Sonny with a Chance (2009–2011)

A Legitimately Funny Show With Ironic Camp--A "30 Rock" for Tweens!

[15 February 2009]

I do not want to see this show die on the Disney Channel. I think it's one of the few shows in a good while which could have a good influence on young people... also, it's pretty darn funny!

Recently I found myself in a state of dissolution with the Disney Channel. Whenever I find myself flipping to the channel all I see were increasingly younger and oversexed teens (and even preteens) on shows that feel like they are written by people with the same condition. I am extraordinarily happy that I happened to turn on the television during the shows premier.

I found "Sonny with a Chance" completely refreshing.

The sketch with-in-the-show was immediately funny with ironic camp and legitimate humor--bringing back the simple and funny physical comedy "tween" shows have been lacking these days without feeling forced or dissonant.

I was not surprised to find the producer of the show was also the producer of the sketch show "All That" which aired on Nickelodeon. As has been frequently said, "the best comedy comes from the truth." Thus this show isn't filled with over dramatic prepubescent boys and girls trying to attract the opposite sex with sexist or otherwise offensive pick-up lines. It's a simple comedy that does it's job exceptionally well and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Just as "All That" was an SNL for tweens (which as I recall I found much funnier than SNL at the time), I see "Sonney with a Chance" being the "30 Rock" for the tweens of today (though doubtfully will be better than "30 Rock" at any time.)

I believe all of the actors do still need to find their groove, but that's actually true of every show I've ever seen. At the time of writing this, three episodes have been released. I'd recommend watching at least the first two and hanging on to the show from there to see it improve from what I think is already a show more than "solid."

A note, I have mentioned this as a show for "Tweens" but I, myself, am rapidly approaching my 19th year.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008)

Wonderful Story Telling for All Ages

[9/10 · 8 August 2008]

Avatar is wonderful cartoon for more than just the people in the 6-11 target audience. There is the occasional childish humor (which, for the most part, I find somewhat smart and funny), but for the most part "potty" humor is avoided, which I appreciate. The plot is layered and intelligent, each character is well developed and has many dimensions, and it portrays real struggles--it's more than just mindless eye candy for children. On that note, the animation is also spectacular. People try to define it in certain classes of animation, but in the end it doesn't matter, it's very good. Some cons are sometimes the dialogue can be cheesy, even if it's important and furthers the story line. This include things like bursting saying random information which may be important to the viewer, but seems unlikely for it to be what the character would say at the time. Also, I am not a fan of the romance that develops with the main character because this is not a show about romance. I believe that a tenet of the show is the importance of love and friendship, but it comes off to me as saying that boys and girls can't be friends on television. It feels cheap. A third thing is while I really like the voice of Zuko, the acting is a little weak on his part, but that's up to interpretation. It's easy to list things I don't like, but there is a reason I gave it a 9. I would recommend to everybody that they pick this show up!

Frasier (1993–2004)

Consistently and Literally Laugh Out Loud Funny

[9/10 · 6 August 2008]

For the most part, "Frasier" is not a show I specifically turn on unless it happens to be on, but every time I watch it, I just wish that I would watch it more often. I would say that this show is "Simply Brilliant" but it is more than "simple," it is perfect, through and through--from the acting to the writing to the costumes and set design.

I do not laugh out loud at television that often, but when I watch this show I just can't contain myself! It's smart dialogue, but it's also often chucked full of physical humor and the occasional strange costume. "Frasier" is a show that I believe anybody could enjoy. The acting is also brilliant, particularly on the parts of Kelsey Grammar and David Hide Pierce. If you see it on your TV guide I would highly recommend changing your channel to the awesomeness that is "Frasier."