tv Archives - Page 3 of 4 - Donna Barstow Blog #2

Michael Jackson shared his death with TV icons.

Michael Jackson cartoon of grave, with Farrah Fawcett and Ed mcMahon

(Originally published in my OpEd blog.)

Sure, I’m curious why he died. But nah, I never thought he was funny. Not the animals, the plastic surgery, the kids. Nor is his death funny. I’m sad a talented performer died so young. But what about Farrah Fawcett, or Ed McMahon? NO. Not funny, either. All sad. (And Michael Jackson’s death is not more important than theirs, thanks. All deaths are equal.)

But my job as an editorial cartoonist is to comment or reflect on the news, not make instant flower bouquets, or practice sanctimonious phrases.

Actually, this is the first time a well-known figure has died since I started doing cartoons for Slate in February, so I wasn’t sure just how to approach it.

Slate cartoons That's not funny

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By Donna Barstow

How ABC killed Life on Mars.

Anyway, I wrote about the TV series Life on Mars at Mayor Sam last fall, because I loved the concept so, so much. (Those ABC bastards don’t even have shows up to link to anymore!!) Briefly, a cop gets hit by a car in the present, and wakes up still a cop, still in NYC, in 1973, and spends the rest of the series trying to figure out if he’s in a coma, dead, time travel, etc. The episodes were filmed with a yellow glow, and include some great groovy scenes of hippies, old cars and attitudes, and even the Twin Towers (in the first episode only. Why, did the CGI cost too much?) Also lots of 70’s tunes, of course. I’m not into music at all, but a lot of people liked that the most.

The actor is a quite hunky, 40ish Irish guy who never let his accent slip once. Harvey Keitel – well, I’ve liked him better in other things. I really liked Gretchen Moll, and grew to like her more. The Sopranos guy with a stache overacted.

But I want to be clear that Life on Mars didn’t die a peaceful death. ABC killed it, with ugly knife wounds all over the place. They were GIVEN the premise, and a lot of the episode plots, from the very successful UK series of the same name (which has a spinoff). ABC HAD the setup, the familiar audience, the interest, the timing, the characters, even some of the dialogue from the England show. The cast changed, of course, and the one big change, and quite an improvement, was just moving the show from England to NYC. So why couldn’t they keep it alive???

I don't Watch TV

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By Donna Barstow

My friends are dying.

By “friends,” I mean my favorite TV shows, but no, I’m not exaggerating. I look forward to certain shows all day or all week. And then I get a little nerdy, and run over to TWOP (Television Without Pity) to see what those guys have to say about it. (Diff shows draw different commenters. Some are smarter than others. You have been warned.) I love my TV shows.

Life on Mars is dead and buried.? Prison Break has been pronounced dead by Fox for 3 months now, with just a few shows left, moved to the always dead Friday. I’ll write about them later. But Reaper, the rare show that works as both a comedy and a drama, and is totally, always compelling, has just recently been pronounced dead by Hollywood Reporter. I think it’s a premature burial, and still very much alive. Let’s work to save the one that still has a chance to live… (Full disclosure: before I became this cartoonist person, I worked in the studios for a few years, and so I analyze behind the scenes as much as in front of the screen.)

If you liked The Screwtape Letters, (yes, by the same C. S. Lewis who wrote the Narnia books, which are much better than the movie The Chronicles of Narnia – although I haven’t seen the movie :) ), you’ll love Reaper.

IMAGE REMOVED BECAUSE GOOGLE STOLE IT

I don't Watch TV Slate cartoons

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By Donna Barstow

Dancing With the Stars causes a mashup cartoon with Jason Mesnick.

“Melissa, rejected from the Bachelor, joins cast of Dancing with the Stars…and we get our first sonic boom from reality tv.”

Why I Did It

It’s a brand new world. Now I have to read the newspaper – I mean the bits besides interesting murders, the funnies, and local stuff that makes me mad. Because my syndicate, Uclick, is waiting for more, more, more cartoons, with hungry maws. (and I just used that word in a cartoon recently.)

And I have to send in the cartoon by 6 PM my time, so there goes my Sunday afternoon, unless I do it in advance. Today I didn’t know yet what I would do. I had some ideas: that wolves can now be killed in many states (Obama said he would protect them with the ESA, which lasted, oh, about a month) , Obama’s continual pouring out of money into sinkholes, etc. But you know what I was most excited about today? TV reality news, people! ABC did a mashup of The Bachelor and Dancing with the Stars.

About the Cartoon:

One of the things that I’m loving about my new gig is trying different styles. I didn’t want this cartoon to be too busy, as it has two panels already, and text in each. I could have colored each item, but why? And how fun to just have this red jagged sonic boom thingy (pointing at the words sonic boom) and really making the whole black and white thing pop! I’m really pleased with this one!

More: People leaked the new “Star” in Dancing with the Stars, Season 8! It’s Melissa Rycroft, the rejected one (well, engaged, and then rejected) bachelorette from the latest Bachelor!

Rycroft, 25, is to fill the slot vacated by Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell, who had to withdraw from the competition on March 5 due to a knee injury. According to a source close to the production, the Dallas beauty, who has had only days to rehearse, is expected to perform live on Dancing‘s Monday premiere.

(TWO stars were injured before the Season even starts on Monday, March 9; Holly Madison (from the The Girls Next Door Playboy show) is believed to be taking over for singer Jewel.)

I don't Watch TV Slate cartoons

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By Donna Barstow

Prison Break killed Brad Bellick, and jumped the shark.

Prison Break had a very intense episode this week.? The title,”Greatness Achieved” apparently refers to my favorite character, Brad Bellick.? Formerly a very scary, mean prison guard in Fox River, who delighted in throwing together newbies and hardcore homos, some viewers hated him because he MAY have killed a cat belonging to one of the inmates. I am pretty sure that was never proved.

Wade Williams as Capt. Brad Bellick. RIP. Photo from Wentworth Miller Fansite.

But because the super writers of Prison Break knew what a gem they had in the actor, Wade Williams, they found ways to keep him around in all the next seasons! Bellick was fired from the prison after the boys escaped, and he became a freelance bounty hunter chasing them. His team up with Geary was brilliant, and so funny! Then he got thrown in the Panama prison, Sona, along with everyone else. When we saw him there at the end of Season 3, he was on the floor, beat up and filthy, with only a diaper as clothing. Obviously he had been raped. The boss of them to the lowest of them. That’s drama!

I don't Watch TV That's not funny

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By Donna Barstow

My superficial take on the election.

“I have to get off. I’ve been waiting all week for “Dancing With the Candidates.”” I love ’em both: Dancing with the Stars, and the debates. Next up: foxtrot, with…

Slate cartoons

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By Donna Barstow

Prison Break is back! (the girlie version of 24)

I’m almost beside myself with excitement over the Dancing with the Stars new season on Monday, even though the last season was such a bummer, and obviously set up for the boringest couple on TV to win, Kristie Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas. Gah, did they coach them on how to be dull? Apparently. Neither ever said a witty or original word.

You know what, Producers? It’s NOT just about the dance, that’s the lesson we learned last season. Dull, dull, dull. That’s why they’re called celebrities – they’re supposed to entertain in some way.? At least I got to know Adam Carolla, however, and don’t tell me Julianne doesn’t still have a little crush on him. And Derek and Shannon Elizabeth, so cute, which you also mishandled.

Oh well, on with the next season!

Unfortunately, it conflicts with one of my other favorite shows,? Prison Break. I don’t really know what fantasy football is, but I think it might be like what Prison Break is for the ladies:? very good-looking men, with strong personalities, good educations, who are well-spoken, and with at least a couple of redeeming qualities. Oh, and the ability to work well on projects. Who just happen to have met in a very attractive prison.

Oh, give me a break, I know a lot of guys watch it, too. I hear it’s very popular overseas, too, because of the nonstop action. Which 24 has, too, of course, but the Prison Break characters also have really great…character. Emotions, too, even though they are so often restrained, in that tight, appealing macho way. Gets the women aroused…

I don't Watch TV That's not funny

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