Misfits arrives on Hulu

Now, for everyone's public service announcement of the day:

The BAFTA-winning British series "Misfits" is now available for (legal, high-quality) viewing for Americans on Hulu.

I blogged about "Misfits" not once, but two times last year, and while it developed a cult following online, it was up to viewers to find their own links to the episodes (often in low-quality) on websites that hosted the videos illegally. I think this prevented a lot of American television viewers who weren't too savvy about streaming television from occasionally risky websites from discovering this show.

Now Americans can have the show at their fingertips. Currently, episodes one and two are on the site, with a new episode premiering each Monday. This is one TV series that is worth that weekly wait.

There are a few silly moments in the show, especially in the second series (which is wonderfully fascinating overall), and I imagine that some may have trouble understanding Lauren Socha's accent:



However, it's worth it. "Misfits" is a fun (albeit NSFW) ride.

Here's a preview of the series:



The show's been getting some press in the US. "Entertainment Tonight" aired a feature on the series' Hulu debut, and rumors persist that American television networks want to remake the series for an American audience, much like "Skins," which "Misfits" is often compared to. (How did that work out?) Hopefully, that will never happen.

RIP Party Down and NinjaVideo (but you didn't hear that from me)

Television cancellations are no fun. This was proven today when Starz announced they were cancelling Party Down and Gravity. I never watched Gravity, but I did enjoy Party Down, so this made me sad. It was like a mini-Veronica Mars reunion, with hilarious characters and great one-liners.

It doesn't come as much of a surprise, really. The season finale only garnered 74,000 viewers, and this season, star Jane Lynch left to join Glee full-time, and Adam Scott's hilarious role on Parks and Recreation would likely cause scheduling issues. No disrespect to Starz, but I wish a show this good could have been on a network like HBO, where it could at least benefit from a bigger subscriber base and a bigger influence when it came to marketing.

On the bright side, the show did go out in prime form before it got the chance to die a slow, painful death (like the Office), so I'll choose to look at this cancellation as a bit of a blessing in disguise for the show's quality.

Since so few people actually have the Starz network, I'm betting that they probably watched the program on the Internet. Well, those who watch television shows on the Internet were dealt quite the blow today when the feds shut down sites such as TVShack.net and, my personal knight in shining armor, NinjaVideo.net.

I know the piracy argument. I understand it. To an extent, I can agree with it. But, for now, I would just like to say one thing.

Last week, I blogged about how I had fallen in love with Modern Family. Do you know how I found all 24 of the season's episodes, while helped me experience the show? Not Hulu or ABC.com, who only have five of the episodes, but NinjaVideo. I now plan on being a regular viewer of the show in the fall.

The same goes for season 2 of Chuck; season 1 was on theWB.com when I watched it last summer, which helped me really enjoy it (see? Official network sites pay off!), but it was season 2, which was on NinjaVideo, that really cemented my love for it. Subsequently, I bought both seasons on DVD. I began watching Spaced on there, and I proceeded to buy the DVD set.

Again, I can see the arguments against sites like NinjaVideo. But, it is just not rational that people are going to go out and blindly buy box sets of TV shows without previewing them. If official sites aren't going to offer them, people are going to turn to outside sources, like NinjaVideo. I watch whatever I can on Hulu or official sites, but they offer such a limited selection, they can only go so far. The Internet has helped me fall in love with television, and I would argue (and I doubt I'm alone), caused me to spend more money on the medium, because I never would have bought a big chunk of the DVDs I have without watching the shows online first.

Last week, I went to Cleveland and I found season 1 of the Channel 4 series Shameless at the library. I really love it; the problem is, there are 7 seasons of the show, and this is the only season of the show released in the US. So, I could buy season 1 here, but I would have had to have turned to NinjaVideo to watch the rest of the series. Now, I don't know if I'll ever finish it.

The Toledo-Lucas County Library, my home library, doesn't own season 1. I wouldn't have seen it had I not gone to Cleveland, so, how many people are now in the same boat? They don't have the luxury of previewing the show on DVD without buying it blindly, and have now lost a way to watch it in the first place. That could have been one more season 1 DVD sold.

Media companies should be willing to fully adapt to the demands of consumers, rather than turning to archaic methods to keep products away from consumers. 30-40 second ads on Hulu don't bother me, as I said, I try and watch as much as I can on there. But I'm not going to pay for it, and if I do pay for a full season of a show, I want a tangible DVD of it, a one-time purchase, which I can bring wherever I go, Internet or not. THAT'S portability. I will buy shows once I fall in love with them, not before I see them. I strongly believe that shutting down sites like NinjaVideo will prevent people from seeing TV shows, supporting them and giving them buzz.

I'm just really going to miss NinjaVideo. The video quality was amazing, and while I rarely watched new content on there, videos were posted so quickly after they aired. The site helped me discover so many shows thanks to its vast library. I wonder how many shows I would have fallen in love with on there had it not been removed, it's a shame.

Are you still reeling from the loss of a wonderful site? Are you glad sites like these are gone? Are there recent television cancellations that have brought sadness to your life? (Should I be terrified that the feds are going to bang down my door for admitting my love for NinjaVideo?)

Hulu highlights, part two

For many students, it's almost time for spring break, which means there are numerous exams, papers and projects due before break. Therefore, we all need some television to distract us. Last week, I provided a few shows to waste your time, but if you're a procrastinator like me, you need more. Therefore, I offer part two of my "Hulu highlights" series.

"Spaced" (Channel 4 UK, 1999-2001): Before Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright brought "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" to American audiences, they were a part of this absurd look at the lives of twentysomethings struggling to find their place in the world. Pegg and Jessica Stevenson star as strangers who pretend to be a couple in order to secure a London flat, and the show chronicles their lives and their friends’ antics. Filled with rapid-fire popular culture references and jokes both subtle and absurdly obvious, "Spaced" is a great look at what it’s like to live in the modern world: you’re without a purpose, but popular culture keeps you sane. Plus, on a personal note, I see a lot of Stevenson’s character’s struggles as my present and future attempts to be a writer.

"The Unusuals" (ABC, 2009): I bet ABC is regretting the cancellation of this offbeat New York City police comedy-drama last year. Its star, Jeremy Renner, wasn’t well-known when the show premiered last year. Now? He may win the Best Actor Academy Award for "The Hurt Locker" on Sunday night. Harold Perrineau and Adam Goldberg’s hilarious characters steal the show, and you’ll find yourself missing them incredibly when the ten episodes are done.

"The Larry Sanders Show" (HBO, 1992-1998): Jeremy Piven pre-hair plugs. I could probably leave that as the only reason to watch this show. Garry Shandling, George Bluth Sr. (sorry, I mean Jeffrey Tambor), Don Geiss (or, my favorite alleged bank-robber, Rip Torn), and Romy and Michele’s classmate Heather Mooney (alright, that one’s a bit obscure, I’m referring to Janeane Garofalo) star in this show-within-a-show about the ins and outs of running a late-night talk show. In light of Conan O'Brien’s drama with NBC (side note, make sure to follow Conan on Twitter!), this show proves especially poignant, and it’s a great show for people interested in the media.

Enjoy!

Hulu highlights, part one

One of the great developments in television in the last decade is the invention of Hulu, the (currently) free Web site featuring clips and full episodes of numerous television shows. Originally a joint venture between Universal and 20th Century Fox, there are now a myriad of options for users to catch missed episodes and discover new favorites with high-quality, legal videos (those are the key words with Hulu; you don’t have to worry about the Feds knocking on your door, or getting a headache from straining your eyes to see a poor quality video). Are you looking to discover the best Hulu has to offer, but don’t have plenty of time to spend watching TV on the Internet? Here are some of the best shows Hulu has to offer right now (at least, what the offer from the beginning, so you can become acquainted with a show from the beginning).

“Strangers With Candy” (Comedy Central, 1999-2000): If you are interested in introducing yourself to this show (which you should be), you need to act fast. As of right now, the episodes will expire on Saturday, Feb. 27. Normally I wouldn’t include videos that are going to expire so soon, but “Strangers With Candy” is one of my all-time favorites. In this satire of cheesy after-school specials, Amy Sedaris stars as Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old self-described “boozer, user and loser” who returns to high school to pick up her life where she left off when she left for a life on the streets. I became familiar with this show because of Sedaris’ co-star, Stephen Colbert, who plays a disaffected, rude and closeted teacher, Chuck Noblet. It’s utterly twisted and perverted, and that’s what makes it such fun.

“My So-Called Life” (ABC, 1994-1995): Since “Freaks and Geeks” is sadly not on Hulu, I’ll recommend this great look at the American high school experience instead. Claire Danes’ Angela Chase is a realistic and relatable character attempting to find her place in the high school world, along with her friends Rayanne and Rickie. Her quest to have the quintessential high school bad boy, Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) also helps to create a conflict-filled high school series that doesn’t sugarcoat the experience.

“The Office” (BBC Two, 2001-2003): Hulu must have realized I was putting this list together, because I looked on Hulu’s Facebook page, and this show was featured as a brand-new addition yesterday. This show goes without saying; it beget the American version (and numerous others worldwide), and any fan of the American version needs to see this version for themselves. Whether you prefer the broader comedy of the American version or the dry humor (or humour, since we are talking about a British show), both are essential viewing. The series finale Christmas special, like the Christmas finale on Gervais' show "Extras," is a hilarious and touching way to end a series.

I’m sure you’re all overwhelmed already by the amount of hours you’ll be staring at the computer screen, so for now, I’ll leave you with these three shows. In my next entry, I’ll feature other Hulu gems.

Ricky Gervais proves cartoons aren't just for kids

Most of the people reading this blog are likely teenagers at the very least. So, it's probably safe to say that for most of you, watching animated programming may not be at the top of your TV viewing queue. It's understandable; as we grow older, we want to watch more 'grown-up' programming. However, there are some things that are just better in animation.

On Friday, "The Ricky Gervais Show" premiered on HBO. The show features Gervais, "The Office" co-creator and "Extras" costar Stephen Merchant, and radio producer Karl Pilkington chatting about anything and everything. These conversations are from the podcasts and audiobooks the three recorded approximately five years ago, and are now featured on HBO in animated form. Gervais and Merchant are comedy legends as a result of "The Office," but it is the previously unknown Pilkington who steals the shows. He is a simple, yet incredibly complicated man who says the strangest non sequiturs, and has incredibly strange theories on the world. I was familiar with the podcasts and audiobooks before HBO brought it to a wider audience, but the animation really works to bring Pilkington's wild thoughts to life, and the animation helps one see his "head like a f***ing orange," as Gervais and Merchant say. This clip from the series illustrates what makes "The Ricky Gervais Show" so much fun.





Animating these podcasts helps to bring them to life in a new way, and it allows for American audiences who are unfamiliar with Pilkington to experience his sheer genius. It may seem a little silly to create an animated sequence of already recorded conversations, but it is more captivating seeing animated versions of the three men versus videotape of said podcasts. HBO has worked with Gervais in the past, and they knew the key to making his work pop was to put it in this format. Animation isn't necessarily reserved for kids' cartoons anymore, and, as is the case with "The Ricky Gervais Show," it can improve on already great audio. When Robert Smigel created the Fun With Real Audio segment for TV Funhouse on "Saturday Night Live," he knew that animation unlocked plenty of potential.



It will be interesting to see how the animators will interpret Pilkington's crazy theories in the 13 episodes of the series. This is one cartoon that anyone should watch regardless of age, as long as they appreciate smart comedy by smart people. And Karl Pilkington.


As a bonus, here is a must-see (but not safe for work due to language) video of Gervais on "The Daily Show" last night. Gervais has fantastic rapport with talk show hosts (his Conan O'Brien interviews are classic), and he proves it yet again.



Also, if you want to listen to more podcasts from Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington, they are located here.

Clash of the cable celebrities

Welcome to my blog! I'm Marisha, and I'm going to be discussing television, since it's something that I know far too well.


I feel that it is only appropriate, as I am a blogger, to inform you that Jon Stewart is an evil bully who likes to invade the homelands of others (in this case, poor old innocent Bill O'Reilly's television studio, and the poor viewing audience of his television show) will be force to sit and watch a public sacrifice to the gods of cable news programs.

Last week, Jon Stewart went on "The O'Reilly Factor." It was not the first time Stewart appeared on O'Reilly's show, and O'Reilly made memorable appearances on "The Daily Show." The two exchanged barbs, but overall, O'Reilly was fairly respectful of Stewart, and there was a good debate between the two. Voices weren't raise too much, and both raised good points about the strengths and weaknesses of their networks and the Obama administration.

However, as Stewart pointed out on "The Daily Show" after the interview, those of us who spend too much time on the Internet apparently assume everyone on television suffers from 'roid rage, and that any disagreement between two people automatically turns into a giant flame war unfolding in real time, in real life.



To quote Stewart...OH, SNAP!


(Image via TinyPic)

Watch out, everyone! If you go on Jon Stewart's show, and he doesn't agree with you, he'll give you a lobotomy faster than you can say "Here it is, your moment of Zen." As for Bill O'Reilly? Wow, he doesn't let anyone else talk on his show, he screams at you so much that your entire face will be blown backwards, like Squidward Tentacles:


(Image via TinyPic)

Yet, in reality, this interview was nowhere near as vicious as these blogs made it seem, nor was there a clear "winner" in this so-called debate.

Sure, our blogs can make it seem as though these television pundits are crazier than they actually are (let's face it, you probably aren't going to get a prime-time slot on television unless you have some unresolved anger issues from your childhood). However, they can also turn these people into unlikely heroes. Jon Stewart may scoff at blogging hysteria, but look on the bright side - we're laughing WITH you, right? We'll be tuning in to your show to see what comes next.