When less is more…
Pop Thruster
Your pop culture afterburner – fueling obsessive pop culture projects and deeply opinionated coverage of TV, movies, and music.
All-American Muslim, “How to Marry a Muslim”: pulling back the curtain
Can TLC’s reality show change Muslim relations in the U.S.? We think so.
Alcatraz, “Tommy Madsen”: season finale
“Me, without you and your science… all my best intentions carry no water.” – Warden James
Alcatraz, “Pilot”: secrets of the Rock
Welcome to Alcatraz.
Alcatraz, “Guy Hastings”: the first guard returns
New information, but nothing earth shattering.
Alaska Proof features Alaska Distillery’s vodka-making reality
You can imagine how the pitch for Alaska Proof went down at Animal Planet, something to the effect of: well, we’ve got 11 Alaska-based reality shows on the schedule and know people can’t get enough of them…
A Golden Age for Kickass Women on TV?
A tribute to 15 female characters who are doing some mighty ass kicking these days.
Sister Wives, “A Fourth Wife To Be”: and the countdown is almost done
“It’s a family dynamic… It’s very much a democracy.” – Janelle
A Bit of Fry and Laurie: sort of an odd run
Taking a look at a classic British sketch show.
4th and Loud, “Changing of the Guard”: the panic thickens
“We have delivered a great evening… and our team sucks.” – Paul Stanley
2 Broke Girls, “Pilot”: opposites attract
The Generation Y dichotomy on screen.
The Doors – Morrison Hotel: #129 of best 1,000 albums ever!
Let it roll, all night long.
2 Broke Girls, “And Strokes of Goodwill”: just here for the dialog
Weak storytelling is turning 2 Broke Girls into a charity case.
2 Broke Girls, “And the Very Christmas Thanksgiving”: island of misfit elves
“This is a hard time of year for people who have feelings.” – Max
17 TV Shows Canceled Before Their Time
Television series – some forgotten, some still beloved by cult followings – that were canceled way too early versus way too late.
1000 Ways to Die, “Death, The New Black”: more like the new whack
“The best way to deal with a jabroni: sit back and let him screw his own pooch.” – Narrator
10 reasons why The Real World season 1 Is extraordinary television
It’s a bit sad that The Real World and so many of its derivatives over the last 20 years failed to live up to this high standard.
10 niche shows that prove that TV’s future is brighter than ever
These shows aren’t for everyone… and that’s exactly the point.
Sister Wives, “July 4th Rebellion”: bigger family, rougher holidays
“Hunter is a raging testosterone monster.” – Kody
Sister Wives, “Another Wife”: an episode title that totally fooled you
“What do you see as the benefit of this?” – Christine
Rubicon, “Connect the Dots”: check the white papers
“It’s complicated.” – Will Travers
Rubicon, “Gone in the Teeth”: unlucky clovers
“Knight to Queen’s Bishop Three.” – A voice on a phone
Rubicon, “Keep The Ends Out”: to the code breaking Bat Cave
“Why would David leave my name in a code?” – Will
Comic Book Men, “Junk”: …but someone else’s junk
AMC tries its hand at reality programming.
Green Day – American Idiot: #130 of best 1,000 albums ever!
Now everybody, do the propaganda, and sing along to the age of paranoia.
Rubicon, “A Good Day’s Work”: cataclysmic events
“Where’s Will?” – Truxton
Rubicon, “Caught in the Suck”: look for the patterns
“Ruthless is not cruel. Ruthless is doing whatever it takes.” – Kale Ingram
Ugly Americans, “Trolling for Terror”: reality TV goes a bit too far
“Occasionally, you have to run from the po-po.” – Leonard
Ugly Americans, “Wail Street”: cookie mush
Mark Lilly acts really out of character.
Ugly Americans, “Little Ship of Horrors”: old ladies and plant abominations
Roommate bonding time.
Ugly Americans, “Soul Sucker”: just disturbing
“Mark, this is all so sudden!” – Calllie
Ugly Americans, “The Manbirds”: they really went there
“It’s 1987 all over again.” – Grimes
Ugly Americans, “The Ring of Powers”: Lord of the Rings references that don’t suck
A dragon mating and Rambo koala men.
Ugly Americans, “Attack of Mark’s Clone”: refuge in Fight Club gags
A new side to Mark’s character is revealed.
Ugly Americans, “Callie and Her Sister”: omen cliches
A weird blend of Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen.
Ugly Americans, “G.I. Twayne”: crossing the line a bit much
Can one distasteful joke ruin Ugly Americans’ potential?
Ugly Americans, “Lilly and the Beast”: Mark’s evil past
We see how Mark’s “fix-it” attitude gets him in trouble in this episode.
Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables: #131 of best 1,000 albums ever!
It’s a holiday in Cambodia. It’s tough, kid, but it’s life.
Ugly Americans, “Mummy Dearest”: best therapy session ever
Frank conjures Egyptian voodoo to deal with his mommy issues.
Jersey Shore, “Meatball Mashup”: dance ’til your underwear drops
“Do you know what a kuka is?” – Deena
Jersey Shore, “And the Wall Won”: head rush
“I hit my head against the concrete wall. It hurts.” – Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino
Jersey Shore, “Twinning”: the games begin
“So you’re winning, while you’re twinning, ’cause you got two twin chicks.” – Pauly D
Terra Nova, “Pilot”: land of the lost budget
The massive production budget spells probable disaster for this freshman show, but it looks like it will be fun while it lasts.
Shameless, “Summer Love”: the butterface
“Am I the male Butterface?” – Frank
Shameless, “Summertime”: summertime chi
“You’re a teenager; all teenagers are sex addicts.” – Lip
Shameless, “Casey Casden”: amber alert
“Gallaghers don’t do therapy.” – Fiona
Shameless, “Killer Carl”: (lack of) Parents’ Night
“We’re smart men in a stupid world.” – Kash
Shameless, “Pilot”: welcome to the Gallagher family
In which we meet and fall in love with Frank and Fiona and the Gallagher family.
Kitchen Nightmares, “La Frite”: a slurpy mess of blap
“The color’s ghastly.” – Gordon Ramsay
Run-D.M.C. – Tougher Than Leather: #132 of best 1,000 albums ever!
Who’s house? Run’s house.