Best of 2007-2008 TV Season

True, we had the strike which severely crippled the season. I also saw less TV because I just took so damn many classes during the previous school year. Anywho, these are my definitive top 10 shows of the season:

1. Lost, Season 4, ABC
Surprised? Please, a show so perfectly crafted, where one could easily see the hours of hard labor of the writers deserves no other spot. In terms of sci-fi, my favorite two shows are X-Files and Buffy. The only reason why I would not put Lost at the top is because of the way it is structured. I see Lost as a novel, with each season representing a chapter. This was most apparent with the late introduction of a significant character, Ben, well into the second season. The first season was the exploration of the island and its relative peacefulness, which metaphorically would make it the first chapter where the setting is set. The story began to arch in the second season with the introduction of Ben and so on. Since Lost is a novel, I think it is a bit premature to put it at the top of my sci-fi list. Going into the last episode, it needed to do an average job to secure its spot at the top of my 07-08 list. The last episode, though, unquestionably cemented it.

2. Survivor Micronesia, Season 16, CBS
Yes, you read that right, this was season 16 of reality TV's granddaddy. People watch TV to be entertained. Great insight, I know. I dare anyone to watch this season and not have been entertained week in and week out. Although I am still a fan of the show, I felt the show was getting old. This last season more than revived it. Not that it really matters, since no one will read this, but I thought of putting it as my number one show. However, BEST SEASON EVER.

3. 30 Rock, Season 2, NBC
This was suppose to be a show about the backstage goings-on of a late night sketch show. Ha, so much for that! Although the show is set there, they rarely talk or show any of that show. Instead, the show focuses on hard hitting issues as gays, the war, and nepotism, all of which are as brilliantly done as Arrested Development once did. In fact, and this might be a bit sacrilegious, I would say that 30 Rock is BETTER than Arrested Development. Watch it do what Seinfeld, Arrested Development, or Friends could not do in September, win its second Emmy for Best Comedy.

4. The Office, Season 4, NBC
The season was a bit uneven, but when it was good it was great. This was no more evident than in the season finale. I felt that the season finale was perfect in every way. It had what any season finale should have, which are great surprises. The show also had a bunch of great gags in the final episode. If the producers submit this episode, it'll be a close race for the battle for the second Emmy between 30 Rock and The Office.

5. How I Met Your Mother, Season 3, CBS
The show inched closer to the Friends territory this season. This season the show expanded the traits of each of the characters, using these traits to unearth great comedy from them. We also got closer to finding out who the "Mother" is and I must say, if it is Sarah Chalke, I am very thrilled. It is also great to see Barney grow. Otherwise we would have been stuck with someone as creepy as "future Jack McFarland," doing the same immature shit he was doing when he was younger.

6. Desperate Housewives, Season 4, ABC
The introduction of Dana Delaney character brought new life to the show. It was also incredibly brave to make Carlos blind and actually stick with it. The story line of the Lynette's bratty stepdaughter was also enjoyable. Great improvement over the previous 2 stinker seasons.

7. Big Bang Theory, Season 1, CBS
When I did my best of the year in January, this show was number 10. As I saw additional episodes, the show moved up. It is not for everyone, especially for those people who find the characters obnoxious. I see this show as the nerd version for Frasier: incredibly intelligent characters, as Frasier and Niles were pretentious, but equally as socially inept.

8. Breaking Bad, Season 1, AMC
Unexpected, intriguing and engaging show. I firmly believe Brian Cranston will win an Emmy this year. Watch it happen.

9. Ugly Betty, Season 2, ABC
This show went down only because I am tired of the Gio/Henry/Betty love triangle. It is not interesting. Besides this, though, the show is fantastically gay and funny.

10. Grey's Anatomy, Season 4, ABC
What a way to rebound. Yes, the show's ratings have eroded significantly but the quality has been sustained. The finale undoubtedly provided interesting story lines that could and will be expanded in Season 5.

That it is it.
Agree or disagree about anything, please leave a comment. Come on, I don't ask for much.

Have a great June!
--Luis A.

There Can Only Be One President SNL

The Dream Season Continues

NBA Finals 2008

SUCK IT, BITCH!!!

Go Lakers!
--Luis A.

Must See TV Thursday

Last shows of the season, last day of the season. This is IT. This is as good as it gets. I look forward to this day more than a fat kid looks forward to Halloween. It should be really, really awesome. After this, summer really starts. Well, hope you have an awesome night.

Happy Thursday!
--Luis A.

Hot Golfin' Papa

Today, as I was making my way home, I saw this P.O.T. (Pretty Old Thing). Everything from top to bottom was smoking hot. What was best was that he was asleep through most of the ride! OK, he had a beautiful, beautiful face. His nose (!) was beautiful. His hair was pretty. He was wearing a pair of Ray-Ban glasses that made him look even cuter. He was wearing a golf Hawaiian shirt combined with a blue sweater. He was wearing a pair of khaki shorts. Since he was asleep, I could just stare and stare. The way he had his leg up gave me a glimpse into his perfectly tanned thigh. I am so fucking horny just thinking about this P.O.T.

Happy Free Lunch Wednesday,
Have a good one,
--Luis A.

Hello

I have graduated. I am worried about my future. My mind is filled with a bunch of idiotic irrational fears. I just have to let them go. Whatever happens will happen. As much as I would like to control every single aspect of my life, I can't. I just can't. OK, sorry that this read like a diary entry, it's just that I needed to write somewhere. Oh yeah, please answer your phone.

--Luis A.

Happy Thursday!

One last Thursday remains and it's the BIG ONE. Next week is the Lost 2 hour season finale. To make it bigger, I've saved my favorite comedies: HIMYM, 30 Rock, The Office. It should be awesome.

Have a good one,
--Luis A.

WWIII: Spurs v. Lakers starts tonight!

You know, I'm glad that the rivalry is being renewed tonight. Out of the last 8 1/2 titles, these teams have won 6 1/2 of them. That is DO.MI.NA.CHION! However, it is going to be exhausting worrying about going down to the Spurs for the next two weeks.

To all the Spurs fans: the worst of luck.

Go Lakers!
--Luis A.

American Idol

Tonight is the finale of American Idol. True, the ratings for this show have eroded greatly but the show is still a cultural phenomenon. Here's hoping the right David wins, Cooke, and that the little twitching, pseudo-humble prick, David Archuleta, does not win.

Busy TV night, hope I don't pass out from a geek overdose!

--Luis A.

...and the Winner of the TV Ratings Crown is...Fox!??

Fox wins TV season crown
Strike, DVRs cause record ratings drop

With just three days to be counted in the season (which ends tonight), Fox led all networks with a 4.2 rating/11 share in adults 18-49, followed by ABC and CBS (tied at 3.0/8), NBC (2.8/8), Spanish-language Univision (1.5/4) and CW (1.1/3).

For the first time, Fox will also finish the season as the most-watched network overall, with its 11.1 million viewers beating out traditional leader CBS (10.5 million). The Eye, which has won most of weeks down the stretch, likely would have captured its sixth straight total-viewers crown if not for the writers strike.


In such a turbulent season, FOX is the winner!

Next week, after all of the shows have ended their season, I'm doing a Top 10 of the 2007-2008 season. Needless to say, unless something dreadful happens, the number one show will be a four letter show.

--Luis A.

Movie Review
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)


Jones-Crystal-Skull_l
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, and Co.

By Lisa Schwarzbaum
B-

Oh well. I'm sure it's a very enjoyable movie just not a great one. Will see it on Thursday.

--Luis A.

Stage 3 is Set

Back in November, I said I had a feeling this would be a great NBA season. Well, this is EXACTLY what I had in mind. The top 4 teams in the league match up in the Conference Finals. They start tomorrow. Game on!

--Luis A.

TV's Future Hottest Show

Introducing JJ Abrams' Fringe:



--Luis A.

Lost Season 4: 12/9

--Luis A.

Farewell...

Today I finished my school work. I'm overcome with a confluence of feelings. It's been a long road but I've enjoyed it. My future is ambiguous and uncertain, but I know for certain that today I finished taking a huge step in the right direction.

Below are a couple of pictures of what I can now call my Alma Mater, San Diego State:

(If you are wondering what the deal is with the whole mission, yeah, California has a huge thing for the whole mission system. Mention Father Serra here and you'll see people get all horny and shit.)

--Luis A.

Box office Prediction

Chronicles of Narnia: 3,929 Theaters
Prediction 82 Million

Please post your prediction before tomorrow morning.

Tally now is 7-5.

Fox Schedule

Like Senior year in high school, Fox has the most promising schedule of all:

Sit Down, Shut Up: From the creators of Arrested Development
Terminator
Dollhouse: From the creator of Buffy
24: The long awaited return
Fringe: From the creator of Lost/Alias/Felicity

That doesn't include my other favorites, The Simpsons, House, and American Idol.

Easily, the strongest schedule of all.

Overall Ranking,
1. FOX: A
2. ABC: A-
3. CBS: B
4. NBC: C-
5. CW: F

Alright, and that finally closes the upfronts! A little uneventful this year, because of the strike.

Have an awesome Thursday!
Enjoy Lost,
--Luis A.

CBS Schedule

I don't particularly care for CBS. I don't enjoy crime shows and the schedule is plastered with them. Therefore, the only thing I truly care about is the survival of How I Met Your Mother. Britney gave it the boost in the ratings that it desperately needed.

Some gossip: ABC was trying to pick up New Adventures of Old Christine. TVGuide speculated that CBS would pick it up just to block ABC from getting it. Well, that is exactly what happened, and the show is now buried on Wednesday nights.

Tomorrow, FOX, which is surprisingly promising the best schedule of all.

Have a good one,
P.S. I'm saving Lost until next week, so please NO spoilers. Please.
--Luis A.

May 14, 1998: Seinfeld Series Finale!

On this day ten years ago, Seinfeld ended its glorious run as the best show on TV. Although many were astonished for Jerry Seinfeld ending the show when it was still good, I am happy he did. The image of the show has not been tarnished by seasons where the quality of the show deteriorated. On the contrary, the show upheld its immaculate image until the final episode.


Since November, I have seen all of the seasons and I’m almost done with the series, and it is impressive how episodes that are close to 20 years old are funny to this day. It’s no surprise when you have such great characters such as Kramer, Elaine, Jerry, and my all-time favorite TV character ever (sorry Locke, Buffy, and Niles), George Costanza. Comedy gold was repeatedly unearthed from these perfectly crafted characters. On this day, say thanks to the TV gods for giving us a show as brilliant as Seinfeld.


Have a Happy Free Lunch Wednesday, one which will preferably include a Big Salad, bought by George, of course!
--Luis A.

CW Schedule

It's so embarrassing how little this network is trying: they have given up on Sunday and only have two new shows, the 92010 remake and a reality show called Stylista. Whatever. On the plus side, Everybody Hates Chris is still alive, and as you know, Timmy likes him some Chris Rock!

Ha! I've hit 200 posts!

Tomorrow, CBS,
--Luis A.

ABC Schedule

Sunday:
Funniest Home Videos, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters
Monday:
Dancing with the Stars, Samantha Who?, Boston Legal
Tuesday:
Opportunity Knocks, Dancing with the Stars, Eli Stone
Wednesday:
Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Dirty, Sexy, Money
Thursday:
Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Life on Mars
Friday:
Wife Swap, Supernanny, 20/20

Talk about feeling confident in what you have! Only four changes, including two new shows and two time slot changes. That's it! Life on Mars is a very intriguing show about a detective who travels back in time and has to solve crime using the technology available then.

By the way, Scrubs WAS picked up! Fucking awesome!

Later today: CW, Tomorrow: CBS (fingers crossed HIMYM gets picked up!)

--Luis A.

NBC Schedule

(I know it's of little interest to you but please read it.)

This week I end my undergraduate studies. Big news, huh? Not nearly as big as upfronts week, baby! I fucking love this week so much.

Anywho, NBC officially announced its schedule today but had already done so back in March. Overall, there is nothing great about it. It is still relying on crap, primarily Deal or No Deal and Biggest Loser. Its biggest show is Robinson Crusoe but that is planted on Friday, which speaks volumes about the lack of faith NBC has for the show. The only show of any interest (well, Office spin-off aside) is My Own Worst Enemy. It is essentially a modern take on Jekyll/Hyde. We shall see.

Oh yeah, Scrubs is gone from the schedule. However, rumors are flying that tomorrow ABC will announced it has picked it up for its final season, thereby giving it a proper send-off. We will see.

Anyways, have a wonderful week,
--Luis A.

Sunday News + Notes

Quickie:

• Installing a four day ban on internet, so no TVGuide, Hollywood Reporter, Variety...

• Lakers lost; Spurs won
• Upfronts start tomorrow!
• Survivor finale today, not watching until I'm done w/ finals, until Thursday, so if you know who won, please don't tell me.

That's it,
Have a great week!
--Luis A.

Feliz Diez de Mayo!

Lost News

More Lost to be Found by Viewers

Matthew Fox and Evangeline Lilly in Lost by Mario Perez/ABC

Confirming what was previously reported right here on TV Guide.com, the next two seasons of Lost will contain 17 new episodes apiece — not 16 as was the previous plan.

Some simple math tells the whole story. The show's producers planned 16 episodes this season — but only 14 will air due to the writers' strike.

"We were supposed to do 16-16-16," Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof said. "But we ended up doing 14 this season, so we owe two."

He emphasized the show will not extend beyond its planned finale, scheduled for the end of the 2010-11 season. — J.R. Whalen

Madonna's 7th Number One!

It's a busy week at the top of the The Billboard 200, with Madonna's "Hard Candy" leading the action at No. 1. It is the artist's seventh chart-topper, the second-most among all female artists -- only Barbra Streisand, with eight, has more. The Warner Bros. set moved 280,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. After racing 68-3 last month, the diva's single "4 Minutes" featuring Justin Timberlake gave Madonna her 37th top 10 hit -- the most of any artist in the rock era. Until now, she and Elvis Presley were tied with 36 apiece.

Awesome,
--Luis A.

Happy Free Lunch Wednesday!!!

It's a little late, but it is still Wednesday on the West Coast. Well, I am finishing some papers so quick blog.

Have a great Thursday!
--Luis A.

Hotness of the Century

Yummy! He is so hot!

Enjoy!
--Luis A.

Breaking news from SDSU

WTF?!?

75 students arrested in San Diego State University drug bust
By ALLISON HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago
SAN DIEGO - Dozens of San Diego State University students were arrested after a sweeping drug investigation found that some fraternity members openly dealt drugs and one even sent a mass text message advertising cocaine, authorities said Tuesday.

Two kilograms of cocaine were seized, along with 350 Ecstasy pills, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, hash oil, methamphetamine, illicit prescription drugs, several guns and at least $60,000 in cash, authorities said.
Of the 96 people arrested, 75 were students. Eighteen of the students were arrested Tuesday when nine search warrants were executed at various locations including fraternities, said Jesse Rodriguez, San Diego County assistant district attorney.

Again, WTF?!?! Here I am thinking that I am safe but all this shit is going on. For all I know, I may have walked pass a deal going on that could have gone wrong and I would've been killed. I guess I missed my opportunity.

Over and out,

--Luis A.

Amy Winehouse says No, No, No to Bond!

Amy Winehouse won't record Bond track

05/05/2008 7:00 AM, AP
Jill Lawless
Producer Mark Ronson says he and Amy Winehouse have abandoned recording the theme to the latest James Bond film because the singer is not ready to work.

Ronson says the singer is "not ready to record any music." He produced much of Winehouse's Grammy-winning "Back to Black." He made the comments in an interview with Sky News on Friday.

Ronson says the two started work on the track for the upcoming Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" but it would take "some miracle of science" to finish it.

Bond is my favorite movie franchise ever. More so than Lord of the Rings, Louie? Yeap! I love those movies so fucking much. I love her so seeing her do the song would've been awesome.

Sigh.

--Luis A.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Aunque un poco tarde, Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Que la pasen bien,
Luis "el frijolero" Silva

T-Minus 7 Days...

That's how many days are left until.......

UPFRONTS!!!

This is by far my favorite part of the year. Doesn't Christmas or your birthday mean more?, skeptics may ask. No! Neither a celebration of the birth of Christ or my own birthday is better than the birth of new shows. I hear ABC will have the awesomest fall slate out of all of them, with the acquisition of the final season of Scrubs and the powerful Thursday night lineup included.

Skyrocketing off,
Iron Man, aka.
--Luis A.

Most Ridiculous Idea EVER!

Papa John's to offer Cleveland residents 23-cent pizzas

Associated Press

Updated: May 5, 2008, 12:22 AM ET

• Comment
• Email
• Print

[+] Enlarge

Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

A Washington Wizards fan holds a 'crybaby' shirt directed toward Cavs star LeBron James.

CLEVELAND -- Papa John's Pizza issued an apology to Cleveland and the Cavaliers for making T-shirts with LeBron James' number and the word "crybaby" under it.

To apologize, Papa John's will sell Cleveland residents a large, one-topping pizza for 23 cents on Thursday. The 23 is an homage to James' jersey number. The company also will donate $10,000 to the Cavaliers Youth Fund.

The pizza chain's T-shirts were featured during the Cavs' games against the Wizards on Friday in Washington. Wizards fans taunted the Cavs, who won the playoff series that night in Game 6.

The shirts started after James complained about hard fouls, and Wizards center Brendan Haywood called him a crybaby.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Ugh, whatever. It's not like if the shirt was calling LeBron a cry baby because he had lost his mother. It's all in good fun. I hope Papa John's goes bankrupt after this stupid stunt.

Luis A.

TV Week Ahead:

TV Review
Lost (Lost)

A-
By Ken Tucker

Ken Tucker is critic-at-large for EW

Because of its novel premise and referential knottiness, Lost is rarely reviewed as a normal TV show. You know, like the ones with plots that get resolved in an episode or three, and have a cast of regulars whom you can count on to reappear every week, give or take a few DUI convictions. But what if Lost didn't require — to judge from the eloquent, endless exegeses provided by my colleague Doc Jeff Jensen — a solid grasp on everything from the works of Kurt Vonnegut to a thorough knowledge of The Flash comics? Well, that's how I'm approaching this review, primarily to suggest and reassure that, even as Lost barrels along to its fourth-season finale, it's still possible to watch this thing without a map, a Bible concordance, and a headache.

Over the years, I and others have razzed Matthew Fox for his one-note interpretation of Jack: slack-jawed brainiac who gazes upon Evangeline Lilly's creamy Kate or a nasty knife wound with equal bemusement. But, especially early on, Fox and his costars had to deliver lines with minimal inflection and facial expression, because seven scripts down the line, any of them might have turned out to be a bitter obsessive (see Harold Perrineau's Michael) or a violent survivalist (Terry O'Quinn's Locke). If they'd been playing their characters jolly or ditzy, it wouldn't have added up, motivationally. (Jolly/ditzy works only for Jorge Garcia's Hurley.) That's one way the producers' announced, we-know-the-ending conclusion of Lost in 2010 has improved the show — it allows the writers not only to shape the story toward a conclusion but to give the characters moods and motivations that boost the show's energy.

Here's how much of a Lost non-cultist I am: I thought the fan-despised characters of Nikki and Paulo made sense. I spent parts of Lost's first season saying, "Why don't any of those other tattered survivors in the background ever interact with the stars?" Similarly now, I hope some new characters push aside, however briefly, ones I don't much care about (sorry, soap-opera-y Sun and Jin). I was cheered to hear that Jeff Fahey, who plays the grizzled pilot, Frank, will have a beefed-up role — I've enjoyed the ice-blue-eyed actor since his beguiling 1995 non-hit series The Marshal on ABC.

Lost is currently better than most fantasy/sci-fi because it's as interested in character as it is in its alternate-world construct or its ideas about the time-space continuum. The series moves with fluid intensity between the Island, its urban flashbacks and -forwards, and its freighted freighter scenes. Like other TV loaded with culture references (from The Twilight Zone to Gilmore Girls), it's not profound, but rather a game that expands your intelligence even if you don't ''get'' all the clues. It's the pleasure of puzzlement. A-


Ken Tucker is truly the man when it comes to TV. I'm glad he likes Jeff Fahey and dislikes Sun/Jin since I agree with both.

Well, have a great week,
Good Luck on finals!
--Luis A.

Move over Poehler, here comes Ms. Wiig!

The comedic genius of Kristen Wiig on SNL. She is really, really good. Check it:



Fantastic,
Oh yeah, Go Lakers!
--Luis A.

Stage 2 in the West is set.

Black Mamba on the Prowl

BREAKING NEWS Alert

Report: Kobe Wins First MVP

The Los Angeles Times reported Friday night on its Web site that Kobe Bryant will win his first MVP. Bryant led the Lakers to 57 wins and the West's top seed averaging 28.3 points.


ABOUT FUCKING TIME. Jordan won his first MVP at the age of 28 and his first title at 29. Kobe is 29. Just saying.

Go Lakers!
Luis A.

The summer movie season begins today. As I get older, there are fewer and fewer movies that I look forward to every summer. However, there are some that I am really looking forward to.

Fill your arteries each week with a can of butter-slathered
popcorn this summer!

Here are my top 5:

1. The Dark Knight
2. X-Files 2
3. Wall-E
4. Indiana Jones
5. The Happening

Koolio!
--Luis A.

News + Notes

"Pinche mugrero,"--Luis Cazares referring to the quality of Iron Man.

Iron Man (2008)

94 ^%

Reviews Counted: 144 Fresh: 136 Rotten:8

EW's review:

Movie Review

Iron Man (2008)

Critics' Grades and Average

EW.com Readers	Chicago Sun-Times	N.Y. Daily News	Philadelphia Inquirer	USA Today	Variety	Boston Globe	EW	Critics' Average
--	--	--	--	--	--	--	B+	B+

B+

By Owen Gleiberman

Oh yeah, I had said that it appears that the characters on Lost were off to see the wizard. It appears that I wasn't that far off. The episode of the finale is titled, "There's no place like home." Next week they indeed see the wizard on "Cabin Fever." This sounds like it'll be really good.

Have a wonderful weekend!
--Luis A.

Thursday Night Live: Thursday night ratings!

Ratings forLost, The Office, Grey's Anatomy and More!

Thursday's Sexiest tallies, live from L.A.:

8 pm/ET Survivor topped the hour with 12.53 million total viewers, down 450K week-to-week. Behind 5th Grader, Betty scored 7.93 mil, slipping 560 thou. Both NBC's Earl (6.77 mil, +720K) and Scrubs (5.9 mil, +600K) saw gains. "It's a Smallville Life" inched up to 3.65 mil. (See news story re: the future of Lex and Chloe.)

9 pmCSI trounced Grey's (albeit not in demos), 17.8 mil to 15.1 mil. NBC's Office (7.67 mil) was up a hair, but 30 Rock (5.4 mil) dipped 130 thou. Supernatural (2.53 mil) gained 263K.
10 pmTrace was on top with 12.85 mil, slipping 600K. At 11.57 mil, Lost plunged 10 percent. ER (7.74 mil) added 390 thou. — MWM
Posted by TVGuide

Man alive, this is easily the best night for television. There is something for everyone and most of it is very good.

--Luis A.