The Summer of Our Discontent
By Sarah Carlson
July 2, 2007
In the past several months, I have added -- in increments -- $50 to my Internet/cable bill. As an entry-level employee in a West Texas city of 120,000, increasing my expenses isn't always wise; however, I've learned that the more cable channels and packages I buy, the better my summer becomes. To make it through the summer TV season without cutting yourself is to turn to cable channels and/or TV on DVD. Watch your "America's Got Talent," and I'll watch my "Entourage."
But If the summer reality TV schedule wasn't enough to have me down, I can now add another of my favorite shows to the list of series that won't return until 2008 and have already been snubbed by the Emmys: "The Tudors." It joins "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica" (in its final year) as shows I have to wait at least half a year to see, and although "Tudors" isn't as addicting as the other two, it was one of the few bright spots among such depressing fare as "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "The Age of Love."
The first "Tudors" season ended with a throat-slitting, a burning-at-the-staking and some uncomfortably realistic love-making. As the credits rolled, a Showtime voice told me to return in '08 for the continuation of the story (O'Ghoul joins the cast!) of Henry VIII's impending marriage to and ultimate beheading of Anne Boleyn (Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Natalie Dormer, pictured). The expensive series had an uneven and rushed start but picked up momentum as the sixteenth century double-crossing and adultery went into overdrive. Its return next year makes sense in light of its complex storylines and on-location filming that takes time to produce, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow. Adding insult to injury, I've learned that it isn't on the short list of Emmy voters for a Best Drama nod, joining other great shows like "Battlestar," "Brothers & Sisters," "Gilmore Girls" (well, it wasn't that great this year), "The Riches" and more that were overlooked for more mainstream appealers "Grey's Anatomy" and "Heroes." At least "Lost" is in the running, and with the submission of the superb finale "Through the Looking Glass," the drama deserves a place on the ballot this year. But what about "The Tudors"? Where's the overdue "Battlestar" love? How about love for "Veronica Mars" and "Gilmore Girls"?
My annoyance of waiting until next year to continue the "Tudors" story is nothing compared to what I feel about "Lost" and "Battlestar," both of which ended with doosies of finales. With few standbys this fall to tide us over until '08, we TV lovers are likely doomed to follow and soon love new shows, only to have them ripped away from us by TV executives who drop the axe when ratings aren't instantly high. Why do I have to go broke just to ensure I'll have quality TV year-round, be it on cable or on DVD? And why do Emmy voters rarely give credit where credit is due, voting for the most popular show instead of the one that deserves to win?
I have no answers -- only the need to start selling plasma to cover my cable bill.
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