healer-2 Reviews

The Apprentice (2004–2017)

Overview

[7/10 · 4 September 2016]

i just want to make some observations about this show. I never watched Celebrity Apprentice, as I was otherwise occupied, but did see some of the first 5 or 6 seasons. It started out as unique and diverting, and seemed like a good concept for reality TV.

The quality seemed to decline maybe by season 4 or 5, because there was more focus on the competing teams and individuals talking about the experience while it was going on. I was wondering, "Why are you busy talking and wringing your hands when you have only a few hours to build a skyscraper (slight exaggeration, but not by much.) So it was becoming everything I hated about The Survivor or shows about people stranded on an island. They sit around as if in an encounter group when they should be out chasing down wild animals and gathering food. The focus was on "feelings," and that seemed to be the direction of The Apprentice.

The selection of the winners became increasingly ridiculous. They'd "fire" the best candidate and justify the decision in a way that didn't make sense. By this time I found it easy to let go and stop tuning in. All the encounter group style backbiting was wearing me out.

Still, I give my entire viewing experience an "7" because it was diverting enough. It wasn't Law & Order, but it kept me watching for the first few seasons.

Aquarius (2015–2016)

I warmed up pretty quickly

[8/10 · 15 June 2015]

I'm not sure if any comment doesn't amount to a spoiler, hence the alert.

Duchovny is excellent and is a realistic seasoned cop, though his character seems to have really bad taste in women. Nearly all the younger white males look alike, with thin "self-trimming" beards. Manson looks just like the young good guys, but is nothing like the charismatic real life Manson (see YouTube for the real thing.) They should have hired Walton Goggins for this part.

An earlier review is valid in complaining about playing only big hits of the 60s in the background, and a lot of the time it's characters choosing the music, so that's okay. No Bob Dylan or Beatles, I notice. Must be a rights problem. I'm pretty sure that the Sinatra recording of Time After Time was from his live 1971 concert.

It's nice to see things like those police telephones the used to have on the street, which can be opened only by cops. I don't recall those still being around by 1967, but I'm probably wrong. Some of the chronology seems to be off (Cambodia). i'm 65 and qualified to pass judgment on 60s material. Despite several seeming inaccuracies, I'm in the middle of binge-viewing and warming up with each episode. We'll see how the next 5 or 6 or 7 go. Worth a try.

Woody Allen: A Life in Film (2002 TV Movie)

The very best format for interviews

[10 September 2003]

It is so refreshing to see interview subjects speak for themselves.

It's bad enough having to suffer the interruptions of a Charlie Rose. It's worse to watch Barbara Walters listening to a magnetic figure like Fidel Castro, or Connie Chung listening to Marlon Brando.

The only shortcoming is that it's not twice as long.

As for it being only for film buffs, isn't that the audience anyway? Who gets lost in IMDb aside from film buffs?

I'm very happy to see Woody Allen speak for himself. We need more of this kind of material. Great stuff!