CMI on TV

‘Burn Notice’ Poses Uncomfortable Questions About Torture
by: Evan Mantel | Friday, July 26, 2013 - 3:14pm

Has it happened? Have we finally gotten there? Has the final season of Burn Notice revealed the last bad guy that Michael Westen will need to take down?

Beats me. But in all likelihood, the answer to the questions is yes. And what a doozy of a meeting it was.

Michael is no stranger to various forms of torture, but his experience at the hands of James, the leader of Sonya's group, and his men was quite brutal: sleep deprivation, constant blaring sirens, and being pumped full of truth inducing drugs are just a sampling. Honestly, it was enough to make one question what type of people would inflict such torment on another human being. In the show, it was the bad guys torturing the hero, but if I am revolted by torture when the bad guys do it, should I feel any differently when it is the good guys using torture? Even if it is to save lives?

I don't...

‘Camp’ Short on Dads, Laughs
by: Ashley Ciandella | Friday, July 26, 2013 - 8:49am

The second episode of NBC’s “Camp” again swerved off the trail as it focused on the relationships of those working at the camp, rather than what camp is all about: the campers.

Camp Director Mackenzie Granger’s (soon to be) ex-husband shows up and his antics remind her of why they’re in the process of divorcing. Camp counselor Kip is blackmailed by a fellow female counselor who knows his secret and threatens to tell the whole camp. Meanwhile, camp counselor Robbie deals with his bitterness from growing up living with mother’s gambling addiction when she calls him up needing money to pay rent because she has gambled away her savings. 

Throughout the episode, one thing is blatantly missing: active fatherhood. The mother-child dynamic is explored over and over, but a strong father is yet to be seen. Oh wait, enter the gay dads again. We...

‘Suits’ – Scheming, Betrayal and Forgiveness
by: CMI Staff | Friday, July 26, 2013 - 8:29am

Ego, conniving, and backstabbing. Or, as it's called in the Pearson Darby offices, just another day on the job. 

Harvey is still attempting to become a managing partner to take down Jessica. Rachel finds out about the roles that Mike, Donna and Harvey played in breaking Mike and herself up originally. And just to drive the theme home, the case that Harvey is working on centers around testimony that an oil company's number two offers up against his boss and mentor.

But amidst the backstabbing and bruised egos is the desire for forgiveness. One example of this is Mike and Harvey finally make up. I'd say spoiler alert, but you knew it was coming. Did you really think that they'd let Mike work for Louis? I didn't think so. Yes, it takes until the end of the episode and occurs only after Mike had agreed to work for Louis, but it happens. Is...

‘Camp’ Pilot Nothing to Write Home About
by: Ashley Ciandella | Friday, July 26, 2013 - 8:04am

When you hear the words “family camp” and “NBC comedy” in the same sentence, great expectations probably follow. After all, NBC has treated us to “The Office,” “Parks and Rec,” and “30 Rock,” so a situational comedy about all things outdoors with a family dynamic thrown in sounds like a sign of good times ahead. Rachel Griffiths

In “Camp” though, the focus is not on the families attending the camp, but on the owner Mackenzie Granger (Rachel Griffiths) and the various counselors’ love lives (or lack thereof). 

The pilot episode starts out with Griffiths running the camp by herself after her husband has left her for a 20-something Russian girl, leaving her and her teenage son (and the camp) in debt. Her son has a stated goal of losing his virginity by the end of the summer, and various camp counselors are providing the poor...

CMI On TV -- Game of Thrones Stuns, Angers Fans with 'Red Wedding'
by: Tyler O'Neil | Monday, June 3, 2013 - 1:39pm

Game of Thrones fans are livid. Last night, the show incorporated the iconic moment of doom known to book readers as “The Red Wedding.”

To minimize the spoilers, I will only say that two very central characters died in a tremendous betrayal. Not only did allies turn on one another, fundamentally altering the political landscape, but they also marred a happy occasion – inducing death and destruction amidst the joy of a wedding.

Fans of the show who had not read the books didn’t see any of this coming. They took to Twitter to express their distress. Emily Tharp (@ecait21) announced “I will be wearing all black tomorrow as I am in mourning.”

“I need full blown grief counseling after that,” Albie Manzo (@AlbieManzo) confessed. A popular tweet ran, “Why doesn’t George R.R. Martin use twitter? Because he killed all 140 characters.”

“So, remember when we were all surprised that they killed off Ned Stark?...

CMI On TV – Pop Culture Desolation: Families Arrested in Development
by: Tyler O'Neil | Tuesday, May 28, 2013 - 2:28pm

Why do Americans find family dysfunction so entertaining? From ABC’s hit show “Revenge” – in which weddings are used as weapons – to CBS’ “The Good Wife” – where marital infidelity becomes passé – shows focus on familial back-biting between man and wife, parent and child.

Netflix made waves recently by releasing the long-awaited fourth season of the popular show “Arrested Development.” The first episode recaps the struggles of Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) with his incredibly dysfunctional family and their failed entrepreneurial exploits. After Michael announces he’s leaving the family business, he sets up his own real estate development – ready just in time for the crash of 2008.

“I’ve tried family. It doesn’t work,” Michael tells his college-age son George...

CMI ON TV – ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Leaves Audience at Gunpoint over Summer
by: Andrew Collins | Tuesday, May 28, 2013 - 10:33am

NBC’s Law & Order: SVU concluded season 14 with Detective Benson staring into the barrel of a gun. Behind the gun is William Lewis, sadistic rapist that the Law & Order team has been trying to peg for rape and assault throughout the episode.

If you’re fed up with the U.S. legal system, the Law & Order: SVU season finale gave you plenty to despise because the bad guy is a master of exploiting every legal loophole and technicality in the books. After arresting William for exposing himself to two women in a park, they fail to get him convicted and have trouble finding out who he is because he “accidentally” burned his fingerprints off. Upon release, he kidnaps, tortures, and rapes one of the women who testified against him. A few days later, before they can try him for this crime, she dies of a heart attack.

...

CMI On TV – ‘Save Me’ Premier Doesn’t Trash Religion – or Take it Seriously
by: Andrew Collins | Tuesday, May 28, 2013 - 10:24am

What happens when Beth Harper, a ditzy mom living a life of debauchery and drunkenness, suddenly survives a choking experience and starts hearing prophecy from God?

For a sitcom centered on a religious conversion experience, NBC’s new show “Save Me” has surprisingly little bite. More traditional or charismatic believers will find little they can relate to, and those inclined to mock traditional religious beliefs will find little to laugh at. And it showed, as the “Save Me” premiere marked NBC’s lowest rated series launch since last summer’s “Saving Hope.” In fact, the network has already given up on “Save Me.”

Although the show treats her relationship with God according to her character – an airheaded blonde – it does not dismiss it outright. As such, it’s hard to tell exactly what the point is, and what’s so funny...