The Daily Campus, Page 6
FOCUS ON:
TV
Top 10 Broadcast
TV Show Of The Week
Once Upon a Time
Monday, December 3, 2012
Focus
Interested in writing movie reviews? Come write for Focus! Meetings at 8 p.m. on Mondays.
» TV REVIEWS
Darker exploration for inner demons
TV show that defines video game culture
1. Sunday Night Football (NBC) - 7.6 2. NBC NFL TH Special (NBC) - 7.1 3. SAT Night Football (ABC) 5.1 4. OT,The (FOX) - 5.0 5. Football NT America PT3 (NBC) - 4.3 6. The Voice (NBC) - 3.7 7. 2 Broke Girls (CBS) - 3.4 8. The Voice TUE (NBC) - 3.4 9. The Simpsons (FOX) - 3.3 10. Once Upon A Time (ABC) - 3.1 Ratings from TVbytheNumbers.com Week ending November 27
By Alex Sferrazza Campus Correspondent
1. NFL Regular Season (ESPN) 12472 2. Walking Dead (AMC) - 10472 3. iCarley: Goodbye (NICK) - 6430 4. Gold Rush (DISC) - 4689 5. Sons of Anarchy (FX) - 4231 6. Up (DSNY) - 3975 7. WWE Entertainment (USA) 3923 8. WWE Entertainment (USA) 3873 9. Pawn Stars (HIST) - 3855 By10.Alex Sfazzarra Spongebob: The Movie (NICK) Campus Correspondent - 3764
brother is attempting to kill her for something that she cannot change. To top it off, Stefan even help provide an outlet for Jeremy to take his aggression out on that was not healthy or helpful in the long run. Overall things became more complicated that now Elena is a vampire especially with her feelings for Damon having heightened; talk about awkward. With their split, it means that once again Stefan has decided to split as well because sometimes leaving a mess behind will make it better? Actually no, leaving a mess unclean will make things more complicated, which it did since “The Vampire Diaries” is almost comparable to a supernatural soap opera. It’s still a strange guilty pleasure.
X-Play, once touted as “tv’s most watched video game show” is in the twilight of its run. Arguably one of flagship programs of the G4 television network, the long running program, along with “Attack of the Show” and the entire G4 network, will cease to exist by 2013. In remembrance, I wanted to take a look back at a show, which has defined all that is video game culture for over a decade. The program known as “X-Play” began almost 15 years ago in 1998. Known then as “Gamespot TV,” the video game show introduced the world to Adam Sessler who would go onto co-host the program for the next 14 years. The modern incarnation of the program began in 2003 when Sessler was paired with a new co-host (and notorious Nintendo hater) Morgan Webb. For over the following eight years, “X Play” became a hub for video game fans. Extensive journalistic game previews were supplemented by comedic jokes such as a flashing banner that appeared on screen for “X- Play’s 1st Paris Hilton Joke of 2005”. Wildly entertaining comedy bits decorated the show throughout its run although they were far mor prevalent in the early years. Favorites include “Real Life Achievements,” “Crazy Adam (a salesman of knock off games,” as well as one-offs such as political style game talk show “Meet the Sess” and a fake “Gears of War” cereal commercial. My thoughts go out to all of the unfortunate interns abused in the name of humor by Adam and Morgan on the show over the years. The show has also become a target of critical bias in recent years, awarding “Game of the Year” 2008 to “Fable II,” despite some of the most critically acclaimed games of the past decade being released that year, most notably “Grand Theft Auto IV”. The fire was increased when the program awarded GOTY 2011 nominees to “L.A. Noire” and “Saints Row: The Third” in lieu of more universally acclaimed titles “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” and “Uncharted: 3.” Nonetheless fans have stuck by the show for years, and credit must be given to “X-Play” for never being afraid of voicing its own opinions. However following a contract dispute, Adam Sessler abruptly left the program in mid 2012. Many fans long considered himself the face of the show and the departure left ratings dropping further. Soon after Blair Herter permanently took Sessler’s job while cuts led to a scaled down set. All that was missing was the formal cancellation announcement. Still even without Sessler, it is upsetting to see the end of a program that for many years, represented a culture that video gamers such as myself are proud to be a part of. “X-Play” will soon be gone, but rest assured, to the fans it will be far from forgotten.
Loumarie.Rodriguez@UConn.edu
Alex.Sferrazza@UConn.edu
Photo courtesy of avclub.com
Season eight of “Dexter” has been making a lot bold movies lately as they are well into their final season. Characters that were once important are being brought in and killed off and meanwhile Dexter still fights his inner demons that elevated in season seven.
By Maurilio Amorim Campus Correspondent
Top 10 Cable
Dexter was once one of the greatest guilty pleasures on television. When the show first started the story was fresh, original and interesting. It certainly still is interesting, but it’s nothing like it used to be. Season Four was no doubt the best season the show has ever seen. After the first three seasons the show just could not live in its own shadow. Season Five was all right, but missing the genius that made the first four seasons better. Season Six was an improvement, but corny plot twists towards the end and a failure to complete the development of large themes like religion and morality throughout dragged it down. However, Season Six was special for its shocking cliffhanger ending that nobody could have predicted.
Season Eight will be Dexter’s him and other serial killers. final season. You can tell it’s While he only kills bad people, coming to an end because the he is not all that different from show is making the kind of bold the prey he puts on the table – he moves shows not ending are needs to kill the way a normal afraid to make. The approach person has a sex drive. Every towards the end, the intensi- season he begins to realize this ty that comes with it and the more and more. Season Seven return to darker subis bringing the ject matter and a much audience and him Dexter darker exploration of closer and closer Showtime Dexter’s inner demons to this full realSunday 9p.m. has elevated season ization. The show seven so far above shows us other five and six. However, killers and directly it still lacks the edge compares them to Dexter used to deliver Dexter with slight episode after episode. differences to hint Also, we can tell the show’s at that he will end up like them plot was not planned out in a someday. We’ve seen that one larger scheme ahead of time. every episode for seven seasons. Characters brought in last sea- However, we’ve seen this before. son and heavily developed are Dexter now has a girlfriend killed off this season serving no who he doesn’t have to hide importance. from, something he’s always Dexter has always questioned wanted in his life. We’ve also what the difference is between seen this before. The show is
B
recycling its plots, themes, motives and just about everything else with a fresher taste. The writing has gotten lazy. While the show may not be the guilty pleasure it once was, the story is finally headed somewhere towards and end and that in itself is making it interesting enough to watch. The only way to really end the show and do it justice would be to kill Dexter as he is one of the scumbags he hunts down every episode or to have his sister kill him. The themes developed certainly hint at it going there, but it won’t because nowadays it’s always got to be open for a sequel right? It’ll probably end with him running away and starting new in another city filled with killers. We can only hope the writers do us justice this time.
Maurilio.Amorim@UConn.edu
A new complicated vampire lifestyle
Numbers from TVbytheNumbers.com Week ending November 27 (Numbers of viewers x 1000)
What I’m Watching Once Upon a Time ABC Underrated: Sunday, 8:00 p.m.
“Once Upon a Time” is a fantastical drama that absolutely captures your imagination with all the references to mythical creatures and fairy tale characters coming to life. It’s the fact that they manage to create such a unique story line surrounding what happens to these fairy tale characters later in life or if there isn’t a happily ever after. Despite this past week’s episode typically the show brings in characters that will remind you of your childhood but with a twist where prince charming is not so charming or the evil queen actually looks hot. The modern twist to these classic characters is what makes this show very amusing but clever for its creativity. -Loumarie Rodriguez
» Stay Tuned
Photo courtesy of avclub.com
Things get complicated for Elena after breaking it off with Stefan however she is still determined to lead a semi-normal life despite being a full fledged vampire. Meanwhile her brother is out for blood against all vampires.
By Loumarie Rodriguez Senior Staff Writer As usual Mystic Falls is having yet another town event where everyone must participate in this week’s episode of “The Vampire Diaries.” It’s definitely not an episode of “The Vampire Diaries” without some random event happening that somehow brings everyone together and this time is the annual Mystic Falls beauty pageant. Our main heroine, Elena, is giving a helping hand, but not without some drama amongst her love triangle between the Salvatore brothers. Elena is now a fullfledged vampire and is still getting use to the vampire lifestyle, which has been messing with her emotions and she has broken up yet again with Stefan. Elena has always been a trooper
especially dealing with the series majority of his girlfriends are of unfortunate events that has always killed off. I suppose after a occurred ever since Klaus entered while that would build up, so now her life, and the funny business he is out for blood and has some of the doppelganger curse, even type of vendetta for vampires as when her aunt dies in front of he attempts to kill his own sister. her. So kudos to her The one thing I do for being a strong The Vampire Diaries appreciate about the female lead characshow is the fact that The CW ter and being able to they have always disThursday 8p.m. handle the crazy and played the brother sometimes depressand sister relationship ing events that between them as light have been thrown and simple. There was her way. She has never any bickering or always waded through it, except sibling rivalry that you usually now there is yet another curve- see in many other shows which ball, which involved her younger can be annoying and very redunbrother. dant. But their relationship is Her suddenly vampire-hating actually mature which is a nice brother Jeremy has always been a change of pace. Of course they complicated character, who some- had their off days when they how always manages to barely would argue but that is like any dodge near-death situations. Also normal brother and sister relait never seems he has much luck tionship so in this episode, it hits in the love department, as a good hard when you see that her own
B