mbkfox

I'm binging everything Luke Perry. Every few weeks or months I'll follow the IMDB order and watch something that Perry was in. I started with 90210 and I'm up to 2010, which brings me to this show. IMDB says he was in 8 episodes. Unfortunately, that is incorrect, he was only in the first episode, but that was the only dissapointment I got from sitting through this entire series.

This was a web show, each episode running about 4-7 minutes long. The first season consisted of 8 of these minisodes and I guess it was renewed for a 5-ep season 2 and later a one-off with James Franco. The point of these shows was that each espiode, which revolved around the hijinx of a 2-man fact checking department of a magazine, would heavily product-place the Samsung Galaxy. It was a GI Joe-style promo-tainment for the Galaxy.

And yet, as much as it was a commercial, the production team ensured that not only did the Galaxy not hog the spotlight or feel forced, it was actually a really enjoyable show to binge-watch. The mischief the duo got into, their lines ("I'm Dylan"), and the show's creative storylines did not let you think you were watching a commercial. Meanwhile, the features of the Galaxy found its way into the storylines. A character would text in one episode, yell at the GPS giving directions in another ("Turn left." "Don't tell me what to do!"), and send compromising pictures or videos in others. The tie-ins were well-done, well-placed, and didn't feel forced. And the guest-starring celebrities were exceptional. Perry got the first episode, and subsequently we got to see Run DMC, the Napolean Dynamite guy, and even Alex Trebek!

Definitely a reccomended quick 2-hour binge. The "series," as of this writing, is available on Youtube for free by the production company that was tasked by Samsung to create the promo concept. Enjoy!

If I had one word to describe this episode, the title word would fit perfectly. I'm used to the characters laughing at themselves in their situations and oft times taking pokes at each ther, but this episode was a rip fest. Very uncomfortable. Uncomfortablility can have its place, but when it is so awkward that it starts leaving the realm of believability, then it detracts from the episode. On the one hand, most sisters and daughters, even ones that make fun of each other, wouldn't land such severe direct hits at each othe like the ones delivered throughout these 30 minutes. And on the other hand, if the lines I heard here were actually delivered IRL, the victim would never take it so easily. So, when characters react as they did here with such little believability, you start to realize that the writers are just looking to set up the next line and not keeping focus on immersing you into their created reality, which is what a television program is supposed to do. Instead, you get snapped out of it.

But the laughs were still there, and Conners being Conners like this is way better than no Conners at all, so I'll survive a few harsh shows because the long run is still worth it. I also love how the arcs continue, the Jackie storyline and the Darlene storyline, while others get tucked away for later, like Emilio being absent. I've always enjoyed the Roseanne style of long term storyline storytelling. Just stop being so mean to each other. And if you have to be mean, try not to be so freakin' harsh!