Shifting Channels

Talking About Talking: "In Treatment"

Episode 8 (click to play/pause)

Harold talks with guests Jon Brooks and Molly McCall about the new half-hour HBO drama, In Treatment, and about other recent television portrayals of psychotherapy.

Show notes:

• In Treatment - Gabriel Byrne heads a talented cast recreating an Israeli show (Be'Tipul) about a therapist and his patients
• Narrative Junkie - guest Jon Brooks' site about movies and television
• "He Listens. He Cares. He Isn't Real." - a New York Times piece on audience reaction to Paul Weston, the main character of In Treatment
• Tell Me You Love Me - Did anyone like this show? Not our guests.
• The Sopranos - Dr. Melfi is perhaps the most well-known therapist from recent history of television, but she is certainly not universally loved.
• Irvin Yalom -this Stanford University Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry shared his impressions of TV therapists on KQED's Forum with Michael Krasny

Is There a Detective in the House?

Episode 7 (click to play/pause)

Classic detective shows, past and present. Plus, we give our differential diagnosis of House -- is the main character a doc or a dick, or both?

Show notes:

• Magnum P.I. - Tom Selleck's career-making turn as a Ferrari-driving, shorts-wearing, Detroit-Tigers-loving houseguest / detective.
• High Road to China - Selleck tries to keep up with the Indiana Joneses. We liked this film, but apparently it's not beloved enough to make it to DVD.
• TV Eyes - a pretty good all-inclusive list of television detectives.
• Matt Houston - he was rich, he solved mysteries, and the ladies loved him.
• Remington Steele - Pierce Brosnan's career has held up a lot better than this early-80s detective show.
• Tenspeed and Brownshoe - Jeff Goldblum and Ben Vereen starred in this short-lived Stephen J Cannell series. Truly great, if you're 12 years old.
• Monk - Tony Shalhoub is kinda kooky, and kinda great.
• Seven Second Delay - radio comedy show on WFMU, with Andy Breckman, creator of Monk. You can also listen to the hosts on The Sound of Young America.
• Bones - Angel alum David Boreanaz is the best thing about this overly formulaic oddball detective duo.
• Sleuth Channel - this cable network's web site will soon start streaming classic detective series. Fingers crossed for Hardcastle and McCormick.
• House - we love Hugh Laurie, but we're on the fence about this repetitive and far-fetched medical mystery series.
• A couple of favorites Harold neglected to mention: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew, Nero Wolfe, Miami Vice, The Equalizer, Sherlock Holmes, Veronica Mars.

Strike's Over

Episode 6 (click to play/pause)

Nicole and Harold talk about the resolution of the Writers' Strike and the resumption of regularly scheduled programming. Plus a quick preview of Fancast, an entertainment site with some interesting streaming content.

Show notes:

• WGA - the members of the Writers Guild are going back to work and will vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.
• "Entertainment Industry's Future is Anyone's Guess" - a short segment from NPR's Morning Edition
• Current TV - a younger network, trying to employ new business models.
• Scrubs - The end is near, but we're not sure how or where it will arrive.
• Journeyman - no more new episodes. Ever.
• Fancast - brand new entertainment portal with a decent amount of shows available online and on demand.
• Hallelujah - our podcast image courtesy of Kanaka Pacifica, Creative Commons, and Flickr.

Science Fiction

Episode 5 (click to play/pause)

Nicole and Harold talk about sci-fi and speculative fiction shows they've enjoyed over the years.

Show notes:

• Lost in Space - Nicole's first sci-fi crush.
• Battlestar Galactica - the original series was one of Harold's early favorites.
• Lost - Harold lost faith after the first season; Nicole continues to enjoy the adventure...
• Heroes - that first season was pretty great, until the last episode.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation - Nicole was a casual fan; Harold loved the original Star Trek with Shatner and Nimoy and the gang, but never watched the spinoffs.
• Alias - was the Rambaldi storyline enough to make this series qualify as sci-fi? Discuss.
• Alien Nation - wasn't Mandy Patinkin in this show? Must have been the movie, not the show.
• V - The much loved mini-series led to a weekly show, which didn't really catch on.
• Jericho - Kyle likes it, so it must be good.
• Firefly - a sci-fi show with absolutely no vaguely humanoid aliens.
• The Sarah Connor Chronicles - a promising start to bringing The Terminator to the small screen.
• Torchwood - a British sci-fi spin-off from the Doctor Who universe.
• Upside Down and Halfway to Happy Land - a Buffy podcast

Our Favorite Sitcom

Episode 4 (click to play/pause)

Nicole and Harold discuss their favorite situation comedy of the last few years, and preview some TV-related titles that just came out on DVD.

Show notes:

• 30 Rock - What a shocker! Yes, we love Tina Fey and the whole gang.
• Damages - the popular new F/X show is now available on disc.
• This American Life - DVDs of the first season of Ira Glass's Showtime series are exclusively available at Borders, but you can also buy episodes on Amazon Unbox.