posted
What's better than a snarky doctor named after a small dwelling? A snarky novelist named after a big dwelling with holes for dumping flaming oil on nosy annoying neighbors.
I just saw the pilot of Castle (on ABC.com for those who missed it). I'm pissed that the vast majority of good shows seem to be about cops/detectives with outlandishly convoluted crimes, but happy that Nathan Fillion gets to show off his 'lite acting skills again.
So far the show is not particularly remarkable, but was certainly entertaining, and I think it has the chemistry and cleverness necessary to compete with the endless sea of other cop shows.
Posts: 4136 | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
As I said, available to watch (legally) from ABC.com. (I'd also take this opportunity to ask everyone out there to please watch shows online legally if you have the opportunity, especially if the show is new and/or in chronic danger of being cancelled).
Posts: 4136 | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
And I'll also ask another random question: does anyone have a detailed knowledge of how the ratings system works? My understanding is that some households have actual boxes that report which channels you watch at what times, and that this data is used to extrapolate the total viewers. If that's the case, does it actually whether the rest of us watch the show at it's scheduled time?
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I assumed the name of the character was a reference to Stephen King, he being arguably the best-known current best-selling "quirky" writer.
Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Puffy Treat: I assumed the name of the character was a reference to Stephen King, he being arguably the best-known current best-selling "quirky" writer.
That was my thought as well. I just watched the episode. I was rather amused.
Posts: 324 | Registered: Mar 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Raymond Arnold: And I'll also ask another random question: does anyone have a detailed knowledge of how the ratings system works? My understanding is that some households have actual boxes that report which channels you watch at what times, and that this data is used to extrapolate the total viewers. If that's the case, does it actually whether the rest of us watch the show at it's scheduled time?
You are correct...some houses have boxes hooked up, and others are asked to keep a diary of shows they watch live. They use those houses to determine how many people are watching a given show.
I actually did the diary once (about 6 or 7 years ago). Not sure why I was chosen, I just got a thing from Nielsen asking me to participate. When I was given my instructions, they asked to to only count shows I watched live, and to not count any shows I watched on the computer.
As for those who are not "Nielsen" families, you are correct in that it doesn't matter when (or if) you watch the show. Though, perhaps that will change. Tivo and cable DVRs have the ability to track such things. Also, if you watch on hulu, or on the tv station's website (or download off itunes) that can be tracked as well.
It will be interesting how all this new tech impacts ratings over the next few years.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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posted
If that's true, the current system oddly does not incorporate piracy at all. I suspect people who participate in the surveys are less likely to pirate tv shows in the first place, and the ratings wouldn't notice if the rest of the population pirated.
And while Hulu gives a better indication of which shows are popular, it also shows that more people are watching shows where their are fewer commercials.
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posted
But piracy does harm shows IF they are shown on hulu, or the networks webpages. If you are downloading the show, you are not watching it on hulu, so you are not being tracked.
Also, piracy hurts DVD sales...which is another metric for judging a shows success. The movie Serenity was made because of the huge success of the DVD sales for Firefly.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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oh, and on the topic of the thread. I just watched Castle on abc.com, and I really liked it. It was funny, and quirky (my kind of show). It will be interesting to see how it does.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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posted
I watched about half of it this morning. It's a fantasy masquerading as a mystery show.
He's a best selling author, who is a CONSISTENT best selling author. Being nine weeks over your deadline is not nearly a big enough sin for a publisher to threaten to drop you. For example-- George RR Martin, Patrick Rothfuss. Especially in today's market, where the publishers are propping up their big names and cutting back on new authors.
Who were the authors at the poker table? I got James Patterson, I think; who was the lady?
I like Castle's daughter, and his Mom (his mom? Mother-in-law? I couldn't tell...) I'm a little weary of the mind reading amateur psychology meme spreading over the networks though. The part where Castle reads the female cop (I'm terrible; I can't remember her name) would have been much more effective if after he did his spiel, she refocused and said, "I'm from Wisconsin."
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
I really enjoyed it. Loved the daughter. Loved the mom - I read someone who said that she could've been really annoying, except that she was played by Susan Sullivan. I completely agree.
I think the cop being annoyed with Castle wore a little thin, especially considering she's supposedly such a fan. Then at the very end, I loved her last line to Castle when they were saying goodbye right before she walked away. "You have no idea." Redeemed her a little bit. (Well, it wasn't her very last, I suppose - he came back to the station to tag around after her some more.)
It had a very Moonlighting feel to it, and since that's my favorite show of all time, I'm looking forward to more of it. I thought it was a perfect role for Nathan Fillion - charming, funny, never following rules, and his relationship with his daughter is adorable.
Yeah, it's another cop show. If you prefer Moonlighting and Psych to CSI and Law & Order, check it out.
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Oh, to me it was in the dynamic between Castle and cop lady (I really had better learn her name).
"Beckett." There.
Especially the way Castle was hitting on her from the first moment they met. Also, he's sort of cocky and a rogue, but you get to see glimpses that he's a good guy. Like Dave Addison. However I do think they paid a lot more attention to the case and the details than Moonlighting ever did.
I've seen a lot of comparing it to Bones - which is funny, to me, because the relationship on Bones has also been compared a lot to Moonlighting.
quote:Originally posted by Scott R: Who were the authors at the poker table? I got James Patterson, I think; who was the lady?
I'm pretty sure the woman was just a dealer and not an author. The other guy was Stephen J. Cannell, a screenwriter, producer and author.
I think they're going to continue with the authors' poker game, although it will be different authors most of the time. The idea is cute, but I'm also afraid that they'll use the authors' game too often and it'll get old very, very fast.
Posts: 959 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
More to the point, Stephen J. Cannell is known for creating or co-creating shows with quirky characters. A short list: The Rockford Files, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Wiseguy, 21 Jump Street, Silk Stalkings, and The Commish. Making him perfect for this...
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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He's a best selling author, who is a CONSISTENT best selling author. Being nine weeks over your deadline is not nearly a big enough [/QB]
True, and expecting the manuscript for the next book 3 weeks after the release of the current book also seems nuts. However, since she is his ex wife, it might be that surprising for her to give him crap about it. He obviously didn't take the threat seriously, and she didn't really seem bothered by the fact that he brushed her off.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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quote:I didn't like the cop. I didn't like the writer. I didn't like anybody except for Nathan Fillion.
Wait ... Nathan Fillion was the writer. Are you talking about another writer? Or do you just like the actor but not the character he's playing?
Posts: 1522 | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
After watching the show all the way through-- yeah, NOW I definitely see the Moonlighting elements.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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so what did you all think of the next episode? I really liked it. They started to develop both castle and the cop. I thought it was interesting that he was the one who took care of his daughter when she was younger.
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posted
I have determined that, even though I like the show, that the killer is too obvious. Every week it has been way too easy to identify the bad guy.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I watch it for Nathan Fillion. Every time he comes onscreen, my heart pitter-patters a little bit. Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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I also watch for Nathan. But I like the banter and the secondary characters. I just wish they'd steal some of the Law and Order writers.
My mom caught it the other day cause she loves that celebrity dance show, Castle was one right after, and she didn't feel like changing the channel. She said she thought it was really "cute."
I proceeded to gush to her about Nathan.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:I have determined that, even though I like the show, that the killer is too obvious. Every week it has been way too easy to identify the bad guy.
I agree, but it's fun to watch nevertheless. This latest one, though, I had the involved party or parties pegged, in order of involvement, from the moment they appeared. Don't know why it's quite that obvious, though.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:I have determined that, even though I like the show, that the killer is too obvious. Every week it has been way too easy to identify the bad guy.
I agree, but it's fun to watch nevertheless. This latest one, though, I had the involved party or parties pegged, in order of involvement, from the moment they appeared. Don't know why it's quite that obvious, though.
Exactly. I don't know exactly how they broadcast, "we did it!", but they do.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I like the show still, but I don't think it's nearly as good as the first episode. First episode was new, quirky and funny. Everything since then has been standard paint by numbers cop show. Which is fine, except that I already watch 2-3 more cop shows that are more interesting.
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I like this show, and JenniK loves it. I don;t make time for shows, but if I am home and this is on I watch it. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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i loved the shout outs to the various actors previous roles. nathan fillian got shout outs to Firefly and Buffy Seamus Dever got a shout out to general hospital Jon Huertas got a generation kill shout out i am sure i am missing a few. anyone else see any i missed
Posts: 305 | Registered: Jan 2008
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The Halloween episode was fantastic. I've been a bit disappointed by the second season, but that episode redeemed it.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Blayne Bradley
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posted
Hulu doesnt work in Canada, does ABC?
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