Why can't every channel be premium?

Recently I was considering which TV shows are truly my favorite. I am a man who is certainly guilty of claiming that something is my "favorite" far more times than there are open positions for such an honor. But I am a man of passion and I don't feel guilty for such things. But recently I truly assessed modern telivsion and which shows have my attention. Sure, network TV has a few gems; In my opinion currently The Office, Lost, Smallville and Grey's Anatomy are television shows that are either truly funny, well written, or simply extremely captivating. But then I compared these shows with those that pervade the premium channles HBO and Showtime, and there truly is no comparison. I do not believe it is necessary for there to be graphic violence or language for a show to be good. But I do believe the censorship of network TV makes its writers feel trapped creatively. This can be seen in the sheer creativity and unique plotlines of these premium channel shows. To help you grasp the types of shows I am talking about it is important to know which shows I am considering when discussing this topic. The four shows I consider elite in the scheme of ALL current television including network, cable, and premium, all come from premium channels. They are as follows in no particular order: Entourage (HBO), Dexter (Showtime), Weeds (Showtime), Californication (Showtime). These four shows are truly the pinnacle of modern television. Entourage began as a man's Sex and the City, and it was great even at that point, but as its 5th season has concluded it has grown and developed a unique sense of plot and struggle. Californication certainly satisfies the writer's side of my life (I've referenced it in previous blogs if you're curious) but it is extremely well written, and has a sense of character development unlike anything I have ever seen save Dexter, which is in its own unique category. I can't explain what is so special about Dexter without ruining it so if you know nothing about it I simply recommend you take time to check it out. Then comes Weeds. A perfect blend of comedy and drama. Never has a show had me laugh so hard, and care so much about its characters at the same time.

But this isn't supposed to be a review of these shows, at least that's not what I had originally intended. What I am really trying to stress is the fact that these shows are given free reign over their content, allowing them to flow wherever the story takes them creatively. As a result the shows are able to span a much more wide base of plot and conflict. Sure some may be controversial but that's life. That's what these shows are trying to mirror or comment on in the first place. Our life is not censored, and neither are these four elite shows, and I think it is that simple fact that has allowed these shows to sky-rocket and propel their actors and actresses to begin dominating the Emmy's over those on network TV (See Mary Louise Parker and David Duchovny).

Entourage:

Weeds:

Californication:

Dexter:

Tested, Tried and True

So Riot Breed (minus one), aka SYS, aka Salute Your Schwartz, has once again been busy in the studio. But the product might be far from what those close to us might expect. There's no guitars. No live drums or bass. It's an expirimental album using the Autotune software that has been growing in popularity as of late. It can be heard on albums by artists such as Kanye West, Akon, and T-Pain. We aren't sure if we should celebrate about the results we've found, or be depressed that technology has made it so easy to produce a number one hit on the radio. I assure you that the first song we've created, "Tested, Tried and True" (completed in just over 12 hours), would be able to perfectly nestle in with the rest of top 40 radio right now.

The art of writing with auto-tune comes with the importance of creating unforgetable hooks that are complemented by the robotic voice sound that is created. The result has been a rewarding one for us. We've created a song we are truly proud of. One in which each of our opinions converged to create a song all three of us could enjoy. Sure it is a copy cat album of sorts, our influences lying heavily in Akon and Kanye's "808s and Heartbreaks", but it certainly has its own unique,white-boy, Riot Breed sound. 

Schwartz created a perfect beat with the help of Hardesty and myself; it's a soft piano hook containing multiple parts, with a heavy underlying kick drum that you feel in you're stomach, all of which is complimented by a very '80s sounding snare. 

A full demo of the song has been completed, and I hope to post the real songs on here once they're done. We do however plan on taking a break until after Christmas, so if you are actually interested in looking for those posts, it will most likely take until this weekend to post it.

Time with Friends

No matter how long it has been it is always good to see your true friends. You feel like you pick up right where you left off. No time has been lost, nothing has changed. You just go. Tonight I had some of my closest friends back over for the first time since summer and it was great to see everyone. I can tell I have great friends because they are all doing great, and going on to do admirable things with their lives. Its just amazing to see people I met in Kindergarden and see what they are becoming. My closest friends I didn't meet till high school are turning out to be just as successful. I just enjoy the fact I have surrounded myself with such great people. Having 30 of them around me at once can be a bit overwhelming, all of them and their big fucking personalities, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Heartless Bastards

My latest column in the Kentucky Kernel: A little gem from Dayton

The Hardest Goodbye...

A handful of experiences in my life have taught me that you should say every goodbye like it could be your last. This is a logical way to approach the situation considering it is a an actual possibility, but it is also just a more fulfulling way to approach life.

But doing so doesn't make it any easier to say that last goodbye. I have had a handful of very close friends have their parents pass away. The most recent is one of the hardest. It's not because I was any closer to this friend or his parents, but because he puts up such a hardened shield. He has to be the tough guy. I want to be there for him, but I don't know how. I told him I was, and he genuinely seemed thankful, but no matter what I do I feel like it isn't enough. I just hope that it is...

The Schaefers are in my prayers.

Return of The Killers

My Kentucky Kernel review of the Killers

This one is definitely worth checking out. It may not be for everyone, but it is definitely for someone.

Goodnight Delilah...

Last night, all I wanted to do was listen to some christmas music. Seeing as my car is in the shop, I was borrowing my roomate's car for the evening. Some of my friends had changed all 6 of his presets to the same Christmas station, making it extremely easy for me to fulfill my desire to play holiday tunes for the ride. However I had the unfortunate timing to be listening while Delilah was manning the booth.

I had heard of Delilah before, but never actually given her a listen. I cannot say anything has made me as annoyed as hearing her speak between songs. It almost took the joy out of Christmas for me. If you have never heard her before listen to her in the background of the stupid video below (ignore the girl trying to mouth what Delilah is saying).

I honestly have never heard someone sound as calm and relaxing as her, but this persona is so extreme it comes off as clearly fake. I have seen her in interviews and out of the booth and she is nothing like what she does on the radio. She even seems somewhat cool to hang out with in these interviews, so why the need for the AWFUL radio personality.

I guess what I really want to see is that annoying, overly verbose lady try to take some kind of leadership position in a time of crisis. Just watching someone try to do something effective using that voice would be extremely entertaining to me. O well. I strongly dislike Delilah. Bottom line.

This is all in good fun of course. But seriously, don't fucking turn her on while I'm in the car with you.

Rooting for Britney

No, it isn't a movie title. I really am rooting on Britney Spears through her comeback. I never did understand this thing people do where they root for the fall of famous celebrities. I hate seeing a celebrity throw their career away (Tom Cruise). I had written Britney off. But today my girlfriend sent me her new cd, and I listened out of curiosity. Its not profound. Its not groundbreaking. But it is fun and catchy, and thats exactly what she wanted to accomplish. She is back to beautiful, and again showing off her dance skills (See both of these exhibited in the "Womanizer" video below)

It wouldn't let me embed, so just click here

She shook off a bit of her overly "clubbed" out songs of her previous album and brought back some of the poppy hooks that made her famous.

In addition was her documentary where she openly claimed "I'm a smart girl, I don't know what I was thinking" basically showing some kind of remorse for her crazy actions of the past couple years.

So yes, whether its jealousy or just plain cynisism, I don't know why people have been rooting for her to fail. But not me.

I'm rooting for Britney's comeback.

Latest Journalistic Work...

My latest column for the Kentucky Kernel: A review of Kanye West's "808s and Heartbreaks"