Firewall & Iceberg Podcast, episode 127: Bubble Watch 2012
Dan and Alan preview the network upfront week, review USA's 'Common Law' and look back on 'Desperate Housewives'
Next week will be crazy for the Firewall & Iceberg Podcast due to the broadcast network upfronts, so we tried to prepare both ourselves and our listeners this week with 40+ minutes of speculation on which bubble shows will survive and which are doomed. Also, we found a bit of time to review USA's "Common Law," look back on the unlikely success of "Desperate Housewives," and, as usual, chat about last night's "Mad Men."
The line-up:
As always, you can subscribe to The Firewall & Iceberg Podcast over at the iTunes Store, where you can also rate us and comment on us. Or you can always follow our RSS Feed, download the MP3 file or stream it on Dan's blog.
News From Our Partners
-
'Supernatural' Season Finale Review: "Sacrifice"
'Arrow' Season Finale Review: "Sacrifice"
'Modern Family' Review: "Games People Play"
-
The Telefile - TNT & TBS Upfront 2013: Reaping What Other Networks Sowed
The Telefile - Fall TV 2013: What's On When
The Telefile - New Girl: Wedding Do's and Don'ts
-
Total Recall: Star Trek Movies
Parental Guidance: Star Trek Into Darkness
In Pictures: The Stars of Star Trek Into Darkness
-
Interview: Noah Baumbach on how Frances Ha helped him see New York City with new eyes
Random Roles: James Urbaniak on Venture Bros.’ return and Hal Hartley’s Lord Of The Rings
Watch This: The second half of Twilight Zone: The Movie more than makes up for the first
-
Laura Prudom: The Ultimate Sacrifice
You Won't Believe What He Stole From George W. Bush
It's Getting Ugly
-
'Angry Birds' Film Dive-Bombing Into Theaters In 2016
'Fast & Furious 6' Blasts Forward With Exclusive Clip: Watch Now!
'Riddick' Trailer: Watch Vin Diesel Fight For Survival
-
What to Watch Tonight: The Office's Big Farewell and the Season Finales of TVD, Elementary, and Five More
Arrow Season 1 Finale Review: The Tragedies of Men
Grimm "The Waking Dead" Review: Dead On Arrival
-
'Riddick' Trailer: Vin Diesel Is Back and Playing for Blood
'Rio 2' Teaser Trailer Has Landed: Let's Dance!
Cannes 2013: Celebs Invade Opening Ceremony (PHOTOS)
Get Instant Alerts on What's Alan Watching
Latest Posts
-
Some experimenting, but mostly the same old, successful CBSWednesday, May 15, 2013
-
A badger gets loose at Cece's wedding, and Nick and Jess ponder their futureTuesday, May 14, 2013
-
Has the show solved Winston yet? What stories would she redo?Tuesday, May 14, 2013
-
Dan and Alan break down the first batch of fall schedulesTuesday, May 14, 2013
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupKen Raining
May 7, 2012 at 6:49PM EST Reply to CommentThis gives me a chance to celebrate Fringe's early renewal! Yay!
Amrit
May 8, 2012 at 1:30PM EST Reply to CommentParks and recreation is owned by NBC I think or even if it is not it is at 66 episodes. Syndication is a perfect 88 episodes which means NBC or the studio who own it will most likely do anything to get Pars at least a 22 episode season to get that perfect 88. so I think parks will be ok for a full season I think. Plus there ratings are second to the office on Thursday and I think they might be in the top 5 scripted NBC shows. Community has or will have 71 episodes and so they need at least 17 and I think they might also get 22 to finish off the season and series and graduate Jeff and co which would be kind of mission accomplished. So we shall see but really the studios should be doing what the WB did with Chuck and do anything to get the show passed 88 episodes, so I have faith.
Amrit
May 8, 2012 at 1:35PM EST Reply to CommentBTW Chuck season 5 is out today and I have watched the extras and gotba little misty eyed! Please buy them and hopefully we can get a chuck movie! I hope Alan does a review of the series again just because we all love it so much and love you Alan!
Jenny T.
May 8, 2012 at 4:32PM EST Reply to CommentAs far as USA shows go, I've kinda given up on Burn Notice, but I do enjoy White Collar. It has gotten better as time goes on. The one I'm truly going to miss is In Plain Sight. Very sad to see it end this past week.
chuchundra I still watch Burn Notice, although I'm not that happy about it.
May 9, 2012 at 8:46PM ESTI also watch Royal Pains, in large part because it shoots in and around Long Island.
TMann
May 9, 2012 at 5:28PM EST Reply to CommentI'm not really sure why you're bothering to waste time discussing the fact that there were actors you'd seen before appearing in Mad Men. Every single actor ever appearing in anything has a cadre of people (even if only family and friends) that is distracted by that person in that role for some reason. Should you also squander time each episode talking about which actual '60s events weren't referenced?
No offense, but I've never seen the Gilmore Girls actor or the other one ever before, so your discussion seemed pointless and inane.
kevincurtinred I think their point was that it is easy to get distracted by actors that are well known for playing one specific character, like Mr. Belding and Rory Gilmore. Personally when Alexis Bledel first appeared all I could think was 'oh my god its Rory!!'. It's not distracting for the whole episode, just initially.
May 10, 2012 at 2:40PM ESTTMann I understand. I guess to me it just seems that spending more than 20% of the segment talking about these two minor actors (who, imo, were both fine) seems excessive (especially to people who either don't know the actors - like me - or don't care that they've seen them before) when the Weiner-scripted episode was rich with other more interesting details and nuances that they didn't touch upon.
May 10, 2012 at 7:05PM ESTMadel
May 9, 2012 at 6:55PM EST Reply to CommentA couple of points:
Don was humming 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' on the drive back from Tomorrowland in Oct. 1965 - nearly 2 years after the song was released in Nov. 1963. The Beatles were way beyond that song then - and Don was already way behind the times.
Also, IMO, if you're going to have an actual death on the show, you don't foreshadow it by talking about and referencing death directly - that would be silly - and I don't remember Weiner & Co. doing that with the previous 5 deaths that have ocurred during the show (aside fom realistic things - such as Don hearing that Anna is sick - or Gene trying to talk about his will). You might foreshadow it with symbols that imply finality and other aspects of death.
It seems more logical - and in keeping with the level of Mad Men writing - that direct references to physical death and suicide are foreshadowing some other kind of death. Perhaps the ego 'death' referenced in 'Tomorrow Never Knows', perhaps career 'suicide', etc, but whatever it is, I'll drop dead myself if a character on the show actually dies.