Tag Archive for: The Good Wife

My Enjoyment of Books, Movies and TV Have Changed

Yes, I no longer am entertained by the same things I used to be–and I’m going to be honest and blame it on age.

Of course there are exceptions as there are exceptions in all things.

I used to love horror movies and books–not so anymore. Oh, yes, I still love a good ghost story with plenty of scares, what I don’t like is gruesome, blood-letting scenes. Forget the ax murderers and torturers.

I used to like Criminal Minds and followed the series through the first couple of seasons. Then I realized it began to show the grossest of torture scenes of women and sometimes children. I gave up CSI  long ago, couldn’t take the gore. Scenes I really didn’t want lodged in my memory.

I once was a fan of thrillers, both movies an books–but the more I read, the more I began to see how impossible some of the plots were. Sometimes the time sequence was not realistic, but more often the hero and heroines could not possibly live through what was shown or written. I know it’s fiction–but goodness, lets be a bit more realistic. People don’t recover from beatings and being shot in a matter of hours or sometimes minutes–and especially not enough to fight again, or leap from one building to the next.

There are plenty of mystery shows I do like–Castle for one, even though there are holes in the plots sometimes. I love the characters and it’s fun to watch. The Mentalist is another I enjoy–most of them, anyway. NCIS is still a favorite as is The Good Wife–the best writing on TV in my humble opinion.

Frankly, I never stay up to watch the new shows because I can’t stay awake. I usually watch the previous season on Netflix, except for those shows that they play over and over on USA and TNT and early enough for me to see the whole thing all the way through.

The only show that I make myself stay up for these days is Dancing With the Stars. Even my husband watches that one with me. He’s much better at spotting dancing mistakes than I am.

While I’m telling you all of this I might as well make a confession. Hubby and I both watch General Hospital on the days we’re home in the daytime. It comes on right after lunch and often we both nap through it. When I do see the whole thing I am amused. The writers put in things that happen in police work that would never be accepted in a mystery. Things happen in hospitals that could never go on. People die and years later come back to life. Hubby and I laugh and say, “Sure.”

What I really like best in any kind of mystery are characters I can cheer for, people who I now I’d like if I met them. I’m not so thrilled with the dysfunctional hero or heroine who drinks too much and isn’t a good judge of male or female lovers.

Guess I’ve just turned into a cranky old lady. And I hope people like my characters.

Marilyn

Coming to a Television Near You

Today’s blog is a perfect example of why everyone should write with a partner. This is Marian writing about Rhonda’s interest in the upcoming television season.

Why, you ask? I mean there are really two questions. Why don’t I, Marian, write about my own interest in the upcoming television season? That answer is easy. I don’t watch much television other than cooking shows, old movies, and the news (and yes, I tape Extreme Couponing, but I’d prefer that not to get around). It’s not that I’m averse to TV. I watched it nonstop for years. It’s just lately, I haven’t found a “must-see” show. When I do, I promise to put it on my DVR list.

Second question. Why is Marian writing about what Rhonda wants to watch this Fall? Again, easy answer. Rhonda’s Mom is coming for a visit so there is whirlwind, power cleaning going on in Oklahoma. No time for writing blogs about television, let alone watching any.

Sooooo – the new television season begins this week. First, another question. Why do the television powers that be feel that the nation needs to watch a new version of Charlie’s Angels? Have we not already goine through a half dozen Angels in its first incarnation, and then suffered through two movies of the same name? Is there nothing new that appealed to ABC?

Also, let me ask another question of those ABC television execs? Pam Am? Really? A show that focuses on pilots and airline stewardesses – when pilots were only male and stewardesses were only female? I’m all for retro, but can we skip some of the gender stereotypes?

Or how about the new show entitled The Playboy Club? Need I say anything??

Alright, back to Rhonda’s list.

She’s looking forward to some old favorites:

NCIS – which has a strong ensemble with smart women and as she points out, what can be bad about a show that has Mark Harmon?

The Good Wife – again, strong, smart women, but Rhonda’s complaint is that they have drawn out the will they-won’t they relationship of Good Wife and handsome co-worker. Rhonda’s no longer, pardon the pun, passionately interested in if they do or don’t.

Parenthood – the writing and acting feels fresh to her. The Northern half of Evelyn David, who may not watch television but does follow the gossip columns, pointed out that Peter Krause and Lauren Ambrose are dating, and they play brother and sister on the show. Rhonda didn’t know that little tidbit, nor care.

Harry’s Law – it’s all about Kathy Bates, who according to Rhonda, “I’d watch her eat.”

As to new shows, Rhonda mentioned:

Terra Nova – dinosaurs and time traveling humans, a perfect combo.

American Horror Story – think Dark Shadows, couple buys a house with a creepy creature living in the basement (in this real estate market, they’re going to have problems with resale).

Hell on Wheels – think The Fugitive set in the post-Civil War era while building the transcontinental railroad. Confederate soldier searches for Union soldier who killed his wife (don’t know if Union soldier has only one arm).

So Stiletto Faithful, what are you watching and what are you hoping to see in the new television season?

Marian and Rhonda, the collective Evelyn David

Check out the Brianna Sullivan Mysteries e-book series. 

Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- KindleNookSmashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- KindleNookSmashwords

A Haunting in Lottawatah – KindleNookSmashwords
***New – Lottawatah Twister – KindleNookSmashwords

The Sullivan Investigation Series
Murder Drops the Ball (Spring 2011)
Murder Takes the Cake- PaperbackKindle
Murder Off the Books- PaperbackKindle
Riley Come Home (short story)- KindleNookSmashwords

Romances
Love Lessons – KindleNookSmashwords

Life and Art and Maria and Arnold

by Maria Geraci

Oscar Wilde once wrote that “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” I’m not sure which imitates which more, but I will say that life and art seem intrinsically bound together. Art springs from life and vice versa, and lately, it seems we’ve had plenty of examples of each.

As I watched the season finale of The Good Wife this past week, I had to chuckle sadly to myself. First off, if you’re not a fan of The Good Wife, then you should be. It’s one of the best shows on television. When I first heard of the show’s premise, I have to admit to an eye roll. Attractive male politician cheats on his wife, gets caught, publicly apologizes to his constituents, all with the loyal wife standing by his side.

Sound familiar?

The only reason I watched the series premiere last year was because the show starred Julianna Marguiles and Josh Charles and I figured with that kind of cast, it couldn’t be all bad. It has now become my favorite program on TV. In the wake of the whole Arnold/Maria split and the all the new revelations that have surfaced this week I can only say that the show becomes more relevant each day.

 

This week’s season finale showed Alicia,  the “good wife” character played by Julianna, finally giving in to her attraction to her boss and long time crush from law school, Will (played by Josh Charles). I know I wasn’t the only woman in America screaming “yes!” when they kissed in the elevator.

Was it wrong? Well, technically Alicia is still married to the cheating Peter (played by none other than Sex and the City’s Mr. Big, Chris Noth) so I guess it is. However, it is finally time that the self-sacrificing wife, mom, and sole family supporter got a little lovin’ herself. I kind of hope Maria is taking notes.