MagneticMediaFed

It’s been a month since new shows started popping up and my god has it been a rough ride. I was able to keep for the better part of two weeks, but lately I’ve had to throw my hands up and declare that once again, the television has won. Part of the problem, for me at least, is this fall seems to have more decent shows than season’s past. There are always one or two really good new programs, but typically the rest of it is just dreck. This year there have only been a small handful of shows I would consider abdominal, but with an unusually large amount resting somewhere in the middle. But how does one justify sticking with a series that is at its very best just OK. I think now would be as good a time as any to look at where we are and decide how to move forward.

(more…)

Maybe its because I watched it at 4:30 in the morning after having walked four miles, inexplicably, following a midnight showing of Pirates of the Caribbean (wayyyy too long), but the two epsides* of IASIP that aired last night on FX (”Denis and Dee Go On Welfare” and “Mac Bangs Denis’ Mom”) were easily the funniest things I’d seen anywhere in months. And not just “funny” but “twisted funny.” Especially the second episode. Its ending, which could rival that of the best Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes produced, wasn’t just hilarious, but surprisingly unsettling. As the action was finally shaping up for a character to get “a win” the rug wasn’t just pulled from under his feet, but he was rolled in it and beaten with clubs (metaphorically, of course). There can’t be wins in this show, however, as these characters are pure evil. But god damn if it isn’t funny.

*FX has been airing 2 episodes back to back these first two weeks.  I hope this doesn’t continue as the run will be over in a month if it does.  Though it does raise an interesting question about what’s better: getting a show all at once and then watching at your own convenience or getting it in installments.

This is it, kids.  This is the big one.  And assuming that an an asteroid doesn’t smash into the Earth this Monday, we will have the great fortune of getting 12 weeks of IASIP on FX.  Now, I fully understand that I’m running the risk of building the show up to levels it can’t possibly live up to, but sometimes you have to sacrifice some greatness in exchange for an audience.

The important thing to remember is this: its a comedy, and comedy has found itself to be ever-so-rapidly evaporating from the television frontier.  Because of this its our obligation as people who enjoy watching things to support those comedies that take chances and provide real laughs. So do what needs to be done, but turn to FX at 10pm et for the first two episodes of the sophomore season of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

There. I’m done.

If my incessant screaming wasn’t enough, here’s another opportunity. iTunes is giving away a free episode of IASiP (#103, where the bar becomes high school hangout), in addition to two promo for the new season (the first is a collection of some of the best moments from the first season, and the second is a 15 minute making-of featurette that has some footage from their original pilot tape used in the FX pitch).

Otherwise, the new season premieres JUNE 29TH, @10PM EDT ON FX.

Last night was the Lost and American Idol finales. You know this because every person in America was watching television last night (those who claim to have NOT watched television last night are not only un-American but deserve your public scorn). Because of this, Lost (and I guess American Idol) deserve posts that are much larger than what I’m able to deliver right now (I’m about to go to a baseball game… Yeah, that’s right, OUTDOOR entertainment. It can happen).

So in the meantime…

• The New York Times recaps the Lost finale. It’s a good article and has some interviews with the producers in regard to what they were shooting for.
• In my neverending ploy to get everyone in America to watch It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, this news is coming out of Zap2It about how season one episodes will air on FOX starting Sunday, June 11th. WATCH.
• A great podcast, “Brill and Eric Watch TV” cover what makes a good season finale? Good commentary, and they have a great, kinda-hostile, on-air relationship.
• And finally… it appears that a group of Tom DeLay supporters have become confused by Stephen Colbert’s on-screen performance. [via TVSquad]

So there we go, obviously there will be more later. GO METS!

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, the current reigning champ of televised comedy will be making its glorious return to the FX network on June 29th at 10pm edt. If you have yet to see this show, you can now download episodes via iTunes for the wee price of $1.99 (season one only had seven episodes).

I’m so convinced that you’ll enjoy this show I’m offering a one-time, MagneticMediaFed guarantee: if you don’t like It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia I’d be willing to recommend something else you might like instead. NO CHARGE. See, everyone wins on MMF.