Watching KVille

Ok, so it’s not that I don’t want to write, it is that I have very little to write about when it comes to Watching K-Ville. The show is dead, Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser have moved on to new projects, and writing about crime in New Orleans is, well, depressing. So I have been ruminating on how can I continue with Watching K-Ville, I mean, even the name is a lie.

Then it came to me. There is always an opportunity to watch a “K-Ville.” You know, one of those really crappy shows that is nothing more than a collection of television cliches, but with an added bonus of a fairly recent, true-life event/issue/condition tied into the show in order to add social relevance to the series. There are also the K-Villes out there that don’t last even a full season.

A great example of a one-season wonder...

So then it is not about Watching K-Ville, it is about watching all the K-Villes. Luckily for me, and possibly for you, I just love bad television, and I love criticizing it even more. I mean, I did go to school for it. I have a college degree in this crap, believe it or not.

And I am so glad that I had this epiphany before the new fall season (perhaps the best time of the year!!!) However, I have a penchant for watching old tv, too, so I will probably add some “pre-K-Villes” from time to time.

Now, what I am waiting for…finding a new “K-Ville” with any K-Ville cast member. That is going to happen. I guarantee it.

K-Ville, bad television, Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, New Orleans

Even though Law & Order is not a nominee, the cast is in Europe for the 48th Annual Monte Carlo Television Festival. L&O’s exec producer and the father of the “duh-dun” scene change, Dick Wolf, is being recognized for his continued contribution to formulaic television crime dramas. I don’t know if that is indeed what the exact wording of the official award which is called the Golden Nymph. Those Monacoans sure know how to name pointless and self-agrandizing awards, huh? Or is it the Monaconese? Anyone?

Here is Anthony (with the most fake smile I have seen in a while — maybe because it looks like they just barely arrived at whatever hotel this picture was taken at (hi, let them get inside)) with co-stars Alana de la Garza and Linus Roache as well as Mr. Wolf. He’s the oldest one in shades because that flash on the camera is just so bright.

TV Week had this little blurb to say…

The Monte Carlo Television Festival will present its Honorary Gold Nymph Award to “Law & Order” creator and executive producer Dick Wolf for his work and leadership in the television industry.

Running June 8-12, the festival, in its 48th year, will feature appearances by some of the most recognized faces from the last year of U.S. TV, including Dana Delany (“Desperate Housewives”), Mark Harmon (“NCIS”) and Chad Michael Murray (“One Tree Hill”). Other shows scheduled to be represented by some of their stars include “Lost,” “Bones,” “Ugly Betty,” “Damages,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Numb3rs” and both Las Vegas and Miami editions of “CSI.”

By the way, has anyone been tuning in for Law and Order since Anthony has joined the cast? I cannot watch L&O ever since I took a tv writing class with a former L&O writer. One, the teacher drove me crazy, and two, she definitely let us in on how formulaic the show really is, as if I never figured that one out. No, seriously, it is a good, consistent product, and I support the L&O dynasty. I just choose not to watch it.

Law & Order, L&O, Anthony Anderson, Dick Wolf, Alana de la Garza, Linus Roache, Monte Carlo Television Festival, Golden Nymph, TV Week

I don’t think Anthony Anderson is sweating it, living in New York City, or at least staying there while working on Law & Order. Monday night you could have found him at a restaurant called Bette, celebrating the release of the new album made by Estelle with such notable guests as John Legend.

Estelle is a relatively new singer/rapper from London, and I gotta say, she has got a hot voice, not to mention a hot everything else. You can check out a couple of the songs off the new album, Shine, on her myspace page by clicking here. The second song on the playlist, No Substitute for Love, lifts some lyrics and rhyme scheme from George Michael’s Faith, which if you can pull that off, you got some moxie, and I like a girl with moxie.

Estelle was signed by John Legend on his new label, Homeschool Records, thus the John Legend connection, right? But why is Anthony Anderson hangin’ out with these two?

Ah, he must be a cool cat.

And even though it obviously looks like Anderson is enjoying NYC, he must be missing the gumbo.

I keep meaning to check out Law & Order, now that Anderson is the new senior detective on the series, in this, it’s 18th season. Wow, that is a whole lotta seasons, and yes, L&O is the longest running drama series on TV, although it sure seems like ER has been on since at least the 1980’s. Or maybe that’s just me.

Oh, I am watching NBC at the moment (big surprise, I write and watch TV at the same time, but it’s only Briefcase or No Briefcase, and I only have it on because my cats like math so much), and the promo for Law & Order came on. The promo even says, “Anthony Anderson on a new episode tonight.” I’d watch, but Top Chef is on, and that is my Wednesday night. Sorry, Anthony. I’ll catch it on Hulu later.

Anthony Anderson, John Legend, Estelle, Law & Order, Homeschool Records, New York City, Top Chef

Yep, it’s true. Anthony “Marlin Boulet” Anderson has moved on to greener and (currently slightly) higher-rated pastures, joining NBC’s long-long-long-running drama, “Law & Order.”

Photo comes from the NY Post, as does this blurb.

“He’s a former IAB [internal affairs] officer who didn’t sign up for that job - they recruited him right out of the academy and told him he could become a homicide detective in two years,” Anderson told The Post.

“It’s what he really wants to do,” Anderson said. “Bernard feels he can really make a difference as a homicide detective.”

Bernard is replacing Det. Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin), who’s leaving the show. Bernard’s first appearance on “L&O” will overlap with Green’s final appearance, scheduled to air April 23 on NBC. Bernard will be paired with Det. Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto), who’s also new to the “L&O” family.

“He’s not a hard-ass,” Anderson says of Bernard.

“He’s a fair guy trying to find his way in a new station house - and trying to get away from the stench of the ‘rat squad’ of internal affairs.”

Don’t bother checking Anthony’s website for any information, as it looks as though it has not been updated in quite some time. K-Ville is not even listed in the filmography.

That’s an odd word, isn’t it? Filmography.

One, I think this is a good move for Anderson, as FOX is notoriously bad at supporting shows that don’t rake in the benjamins. If you ain’t American Idol, your job is not safe at FOX. And working on Law & Order carries a certain loyal audience that tunes in now matter what, and L&O goes into a profitable syndication outlet that means that in a few years, maybe one or two depending on how fast the current season goes into re-runs, Anderson will be raking in the residuals.

However, L&O is getting very long in the tooth, if you know what I mean. There are rumours that NBC may end up giving it the boot, which I doubt, as L&O has spawned so many time-slot fillers for NBC, and I would think that NBC would not want to piss off Dick Wolf. Wolf will more likely be the one to pull the plug.

I popped by the Law & Order forum on the NBC website, and it seems that there are mixed feelings about Anderson joining the cast. I think that Anderson is a surprisingly good actor with tremendous range (The Shield providing a good example of this), so it is not like he will ruin the show, which personally I cannot watch anymore due to having a tv writing teacher that had worked on L&O back in the day and she ruined the show for me, thank you very much. L&O has had a venerable cast over the years, (Jerry Orbach is King! May he rest in peace.) so if anything Anderson is joining a great cast for the most part.

Anthony Anderson, Law & Order, L&O, NBC, K-Ville, FOX, American Idol, Dick Wolf, Jerry Orbach

Hey, guess where Anthony Anderson was this past weekend? That’s right. The Bob Hope Classic.

here’s the quote attached to the above image.

Actor Anthony Anderson plays around with Robert Gamez as actor Jimmy Fallon looks on the 11th hole during the second round of the 49th Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on January 17, 2008 at the La Quinta Country Club in La Quinta, California.

Anthony joined other such “celebrities” as George Lopez (who is the celebrity host of the semi-charity event), Luke Wilson, Kenny G (shut up, he plays every year), Huey Lewis, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Carson Daly, Michael Bolton, Yogi Berra, Alice Cooper, and Meatloaf. Oh, yeah, Cheech Marin plays, and so does Kyle MacLachlan, Chris O’Donnell, Kevin Nealon, and Kelly Slater.

The Bob Hope Classic raises funds for many, many charities, and last year the Classic donated about 1.75 million dollars to almost forty charities in the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs area. If you want to see the last published listing of charities served by the 2006 Bob Hope Classic, click here.

So, kudos to Anthony for playing golf, for playing golf for charity, and doing something good with his time off from K-Ville.

Here’s some quotes from Anthony as given to the Desert Sun.

When Anthony Anderson debuted at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic two years ago, he was starting work on “The Departed” and guaranteed that director Martin Scorsese would win the Oscar for best picture.

Last year, “The Departed” earned the revered Scorsese his first Academy Award.

So does Anderson have a new prediction?

“I don’t know, lightning doesn’t always strike twice, but I predict I’ll finish in the top-10 this year,” Anderson said. “Film, television, I don’t know what’s going on.”

Anderson also has another distinction in a Scorsese movie that he shares with Samuel L. Jackson: They were both shot in the head in a Scorsese movie. There’s also another similarity, according to Anderson.

“And we’re the only brothers to be in a Scorsese movie,” Anderson said. “Sit back and think. It’s just me and Sam Jackson. We’re in great company.”

By the way, Anthony played in a foursome with Thomas Gibson and Jimmy Fallon.

Thomas Gibson has a 6 handicap, Fallon has an 18, and Anthony has a 12. I wish I had a 12 handicap. You rock, Anthony Anderson!

Anthony Anderson, Bob Hope Classic, Robert Gamez, Jimmy Fallon, George Lopez, Luke Wilson , Kenny G, Huey Lewis, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Carson Daly, Michael Bolton, Yogi Berra, Alice Cooper , Meatloaf, Cheech Marin, Kyle MacLachlan, Chris O’Donnell, Kevin Nealon, Kelly Slater, Thomas Gibson, Coachella, Palm Springs, K-Ville, handicap, golf, La Quinta Country Club

Yes, I just made that word up. I just like putting the -ista suffix on anything that people take too seriously. And I can call “foodies” out, as I am a bit of one myself. But onto the real point of this post…

I guess that just the mention and brief appearance of gumbo has spawned Monday Night Gumbo parties in N’awlins. Sorry, do they say N’Awlins anymore? Is it NOLA? I know it is not K-Ville. One of the major complaints about the show from New Orleans locals is that no one calls it K-Ville. If I live there, I would call it the town that FEMA forgot.

On a side note: In Oregon, we had some pretty bad flooding about a week and a half, two weeks ago (December 3, 2007), and FEMA finally showed up yesterday (December 19). Yeah, the US government — we pay taxes, and it all goes to Halliburton, KBR, DynCorp, Blackwater, Titan, CACI, Parsons…don’t believe me — look it up.

Anyhoo, the Times-Picayune has mentioned the K-Ville Cookbook before, and I said I would follow up on that topic. The “unofficial” K-Ville Cookbook was a gift to cast and crew when the filming on K-Ville wrapped in November.

Script supervisor Jillian Amburgey had already been collecting recipes from local crew members. She’d assembled them into a neat booklet with script excerpts that tied the recipes into specific food references in episodes. She’d also done biographical profiles of some of the contributors, including their storm stories. A couple of the recipes were scanned copies apparently rendered in a grandmother’s handwriting.

There’d been some talk of publishing the cookbook as a charity fundraiser, but when sudden news of the shutdown came, Anderson and co-star Cole Hauser paid to have copies of the booklet quickly printed up for distribution to everybody in the “K-Ville” production family.

It’s not an official “wrap” gift because “K-Ville” hasn’t officially wrapped. (-NOLA.com)

Aw, Anthony and Cole must be the nicest guys to work with. I think that this book would sell, and it may help out those on the production side that are out of work. Just an idea…Although, I did read on another blog (thehullabaloo.com) that the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 478

requires its members to continue working through the strike. The 550 members of the union include set painters, wardrobe workers, grips and other crew positions.

So maybe those guys are working on something. It says “stage” crew, so maybe those burlesque shows could use some gaffers.

K-Ville, gumbo, parties, New Orleans, FEMA, Oregon, flood, Halliburton, KBR, DynCorp, Blackwater, Titan, CACI, Parsons, Times-Picayune, K-Ville Cookbook, charity, fundraiser, Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

Oh, do the clever names for episodes never stop? Wait, they might in about two episodes.

Yes, my friend, conflicting information about the fate of our fair show. According to both wikipedia and epguides.com, there will only be eleven of the original thirteen shows that will be airing.

Hmm, why wouldn’t FOX have produced the full run? My guess is cancellation. Drat. Seriously, FOX, what else do you have?

It seems that Anthony Anderson may have to find a new job. Shouldn’t be a problem for him. He has had a pretty good couple of years…The Departed, Transformers, The Shield. He just finished up work as himself on Black Poker Stars Invitational. Can’t wait.

Cole Hauser just finished production on a movie called Tortured. It is about an FBI agent that has a moral dilema about torturing someone…how timely.

But hey, back to the present.

Last night’s episode, “Boulet in a China Shop” offered us a look into Boulet’s tortured soul, and kept us in the dark about Cobb — again. A murder at a Mardi Gras warehouse, you know where they store floats?, interrupted Boulet, Glue Boy and Love Tap’s awesome kareoke night — Anthony Anderson can sing! When the team + Cobb and + Captain + the other nameless faceless cops in full SWAT gear storms the warehouse, they find two dead bodies and another guy hiding out in a big head. I kept calling the guy Ashy Larry because he looked a lot like Ashy Larry from Chappelle’s Show.

This Ashy Larry character was one of the many people that Boulet had saved during “the Storm.”

Ashy Larry, or “Owen Giles” as K-Ville calls him was played by Avery Waddell, and it is impossible to find pictures of him, so here is one from his younger days on Boston Public.

Here’s Ashy Larry.

You try and tell them apart, especially after the character was pulled from some big paper mache head with a lot of dust all over him.

And the time count for the first mention of “the Storm”– 5 minutes! Who has that square? Yay, it’s me, because I’m the only person playing.

K-Ville, FOX, Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, IMDB, Transformers, The Departed, The Shield, Black Poker Stars Invitational, Tortured, Ashy Larry, Avery Waddell, Boston Public

Just in case any FOX execs happen across this little blog…

1. The Location of New Orleans.

I am sick to death of watching New York shows or Los Angeles shows. New Orleans gives viewers a somewhat unique locale for a drama. Sure, I know that more and more shows are branching out into other US cities, but so many of them are obviously not filmed in those cities. K-Ville is filmed in New Orleans, and that is a wonderful change of pace for those of us that took that first hit of TV as kids and never bothered to get help for our affliction.

I mean, sure, a show like Grey’s Anatomy takes place in Seattle (right?), but you can tell that they did not film there. There is one or two exterior shots of that hospital, and we are to believe that poof, they are in Seattle. But it seems to me the only place they ever go outside of that hospital is to that bar across the street (At least not in the three episodes I have bothered to watch — that show is like a high school soap opera, but then even high school soaps seem more mature). ER did/does the same thing. There is no authenticity in the location, and today’s television viewer is more savvy than that. We want a sense of realism in our cop shows. K-Ville gives us that, in spades.

And one more point, K-Ville provides jobs and maybe a sense of pride for New Orleans, and hey, what US city can use the help more than NOLA?

2. The Dynamic of the Two Leads.

Not to get into a whole discourse on race relations in Television History, but it is refreshing to see an African-American Actor not only carrying the show, but carrying the cop team. In Miami Vice, the show centered heavily on Crockett and Tubbs was there to make it seem progressive. Add Edward James Almos and we have a cross-section of the American population — what, no Asian-Americans or Native-Americans, come on, it was the 1980’s.

Anthony Anderson is entirely watchable. His Marlin Boulet is a complex hero. He doesn’t have those cop superpowers that make him always right and know exactly which lead to follow, and he drinks on the job, and he tricks people into letting him steal evidence, and he bullies people into telling him what he wants. The flaws are as good as his strengths.

Cole Hauser’s Cobb is an equally strong and flawed character. He’s an escaped convict, for pete’s sake. What made him want to be a cop; couldn’t he have done just starting “doing good” by teaching kids or fighting fires? And what makes him such a good cop? Is it that he spent so many years on the wrong side of the law, and he can think like a criminal? Either way, I am digging it, and I want to see his character grow.

3. FOX, It is Not Like You Have Anything Better.

House is on its last season, face it. Bones just cannot be bringing in the viewers. Prison Break is so over, and the choice to put them back in prison, is well, pardon the pun, criminal (and lazy). What else ya got, Fox?

Give K-Ville a chance to grow. Maybe find a better night. Maybe start programming it after that insidious American Idol. Isn’t that how you turned House into a hit?

K-Ville, Fox, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seatle, Grey’s Anatomy, ER, Miami Vice, Edward James Almos, Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, House, Bones, Prison Break, American Idol

It’s pronounced boo-yah-base. Emphasis on the first syllable, and a light emphasis on the last.

This recipe for that special dinner that Boulet made in the “Melissa” episode. It’s from “The K-Ville Cookbook” and yes, I am going to figure out if this is an official book or just something the prop department has made up for their own use.

Bouillabaisse is a traditional French seafood stew, and has traveled the world picking up different variations in different countries and regions. Bouillabaisse obviously found its way to New Orleans.

Although, here is a little factoid to impress your bouillabaisse dinner guests…It was originally the Greeks that settled the Marseille area that created the first bouillabaisse. In Roman Mythology, Venus fed Vulcan bouillabaisse to put him to sleep so she could commit adultery with his brother, Mars. She’s such a slut.

This recipe is what the Prop Master, Mike Blaze, made for the November 19th episode. The Script Supervisor Jillian Amburgey told the Times Picayune that Anthony Anderson took “three bowls back to his trailer” after they finished shooting.

This recipe appears in the Times Picayune on November 29. Thanks to Judy Walker.

Boulet’s Bouillabaisse
Makes 8 servings
4 cleaned red snapper (each about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 pounds (31-35 count) head-on shrimp
2 pounds live crawfish
12 fresh cleaned crabs
1 cup olive oil
2 cups diced onion
2 cups diced celery
1 cup diced red bell peppers
4 whole tomatoes, sliced
3/4 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup minced garlic
4 bay leaves
3 medium carrots, diced
3 quarts shellfish stock
2 cups dry white wine
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup sliced green onions
1 cup chopped parsley
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Pour olive oil into a 2-gallon
stockpot. In the pot, layer on´
ion, celery, bell peppers, to´
mato, tomato sauce, garlic, bay
leaves and carrots. On top of
vegetables, layer whole snap´
per, shrimp, crawfish and crabs.
Do not stir.

Cover pot and steam over
medium-high heat for 3 to 5
minutes. Add shellfish stock,
white wine, thyme and basil.
Bring to a low simmer, about
190 degrees, just below boiling
point. Cook 30 minutes, then re´
move from heat. Strain all sea´
food and vegetables. Discard
vegetables and retain stock.

Peel shrimp, crawfish and
crabs, then bone fish. Bring
stock back to low boil. Add sea´
food, reduce to a simmer, then
stir in green onions and parsley.
Season to taste with salt and
cayenne.

Serve by placing a generous
amount of seafood in the center
of a soup bowl and ladling on
hot soup.

Most bouillabaisse incorporates mussels instead of crawfish, but crawfish practically scream NOLA. Notice the leaf in the picture for reference. Crawfish are maybe three or four inches long.

But if you can’t find crawfish (also known as crawdaddys, crawdads, crayfish, they look like little lobsters, and can also be called spiny lobsters), try the Louisiana Crawfish Company or simply substitute mussels.

Serve with bread and olive oil. You will want to sop up the every bit of the liquid when the seafood is gone.

Anthony Anderson, New Orleans, K-Ville, bouillabaisse, Marseille, French cuisine, crawfish, spiny lobster, seafood, Louisiana, Roman Mythology, Venus, Vulcan, Mars, cookbook

Originally, there were (lucky number) thirteen episodes ordered for K-Ville. So far, FOX has graced us with five, and tonight will bring that number up to six.

Enter a plucky group of striking writers, and well, I have read that the K-Ville cast and crew just wrapped up filming the last episode that can legally make. So how many episodes are left? 13-6=7, right?

Yet, industry-bible-and-waste-of-glossy-paper Entertainment Weekly has this neat little “article” — it’s more a chart in the magazine version, and a list online. I tried taking a picture of the chart, but my camera sucks at close-ups. So you can see the online version here.

Here’s a snipet…I left the previous and following entries for context.

10 NEW EPISODES LEFT
The Simpsons (Fox)

11 NEW EPISODES LEFT
Aliens in America (The CW)
K-Ville (Fox)
King of the Hill (Fox)

12 NEW EPISODES LEFT
Notes From the Underbelly (ABC)

So, wait, there are 11 new episodes of K-Ville to look forward to, and no, I am not being sarcastic. Seriously, I kind of like K-Ville, and I give all the credit to Anthony Anderson and Cole Hauser. I hope to one day expand that list, but focus on supporting characters has been a bit thin.

Back to the math, with five episodes already aired and 11 more on their way, that makes a total of sixteen episodes. This could be a good sign, for all of us worried about the cancellation practices at FOX. Did FOX order an additional three episodes because they think the show is good, or because they are just worried about filling up programming blocks?

K-Ville, Anthony Anderson, Cole Hauser, FOX, The Simpsons, Aliens in America, King of the Hill, Notes from the Underbelly, Entertainment Weekly

I pop in from time to time on the Discussion Boards on the official FOX website, just to see what “fans” are talking about. And someone posted something or other about the rumours of K-Ville being canceled, and how everyone should sign a petition to send to FOX asking, no demanding that the powers that be in the scheduling department keep K-Ville on the air.

That one post brought 65 replies and all of them basically pleading with FOX to keep K-Ville around.

No offense, as I would also like to see K-Ville continue, but if FOX canceled Arrested Development, they will and can cancel anything. Bastards.

Aw, I heart David Cross…look at that coat!

I miss AD. so much. But it makes me so happy that everyone seems to be getting work…Jason Batemen (the love of my life), Wil Arnett, Buster, sort of (Will an Andy Richter Show ever survive??? Bring Back ANDY RICHTER!!), Michael Cera…

I wonder, What is Maeby up to? Let’s IMDB her. Geez, you know you are a film/tv geek when you use IMDB as a verb.

Alia Shawkat is filming Bart Got a Room, and just completed Prom Wars. Hmm. Both could be interesting in a teenage- sort-of way. She was also in that awful Deck the Halls — didn’t see it, didn’t want to, looked that bad.

Back to K-Ville…I am in the middle of Transformers in which Anthony Anderson plays a superfluous character, but frankly he is one of the better parts of this movie. Like I said, I’m only about three-quarters through it, and geez, is it ever bad. I hate Michael Bay movies.

K-Ville, Arrested Development, Jason Bateman, Wil Arnett, Michael Cera, Andy Richter, Alia Shawkat, Transformers, Anthony Anderson, FOX, David Cross

Now, here is a true fan. Give it up for her. She created her own Cole Hauser wallpapers and not only that, she is giving them away for FREE!! That’s right, folks, get your own Cole Hauser for your desktop.

here’s some of the examples of what you could have…

oh, he’s pretty hot there, huh?

But in this one, you can see a little chest action!

Oh, yeah, Cole was also in the Vin Diesel vehicle, Pitch Black, which really wasn’t as bad as you’d think. Cheese factor of seven, but decent action.

And no, I cannot find any Anthony Anderson wallpaper that isn’t a movie poster from, oh, for example, Kangaroo Jack. I think he’s cute. Maybe I’ll make up my own wallpaper.

I just have to figure out how to get Jerry O’Connell out of the picture. By the way, he has a new sitcom, Carpoolers, which is funnier than I expected. It was created by former Kid in the Hall Bruce McCulloch, so maybe that has something to do with it. The guy that plays Marmaduke is a real scene stealer. I think I have a new boyfriend.

Also, more on last night’s episode…Does everyone from Cobb’s past have to die? YES. And that could make the show interesting.

cole hauser, anthony anderson, jerry o’connell, pitch black, carpoolers, bruse mcculloch

So, yes, like most American with too much time on her hands, I went poking around YouTube to see if there was anything Kville-esque out and about yet. Maybe someone out there is posting some good scenes from the show or funny moments or snappy lines. No, but someone without any editing knowledge uploading this ditty.

Now, this is a perfect example of why KVille relies on jump cuts to make it exciting.

Just kidding. Every film or TV shoot is this boring.

And it is really cool that KVille shoots on location. I can’t stand seeing the backlot at Universal on every channel.

And surprisingly, I missed Watching KVille tonight. It’s not just because I have to write about it, but it is quickly becoming the Monday night kickoff for my television viewing pleasure. I watched the pilot for NBC’s Chuck, but even though Chuck reminds me of an older Seth Cohen (Yes, I miss The OC, maybe I’ll start a blog about The OC Withdrawal), I just don’t find myself tuning into Chuck at 8pm. So, I look forward to KVille, as it means I get to leave my desk. And because KVille is growing on me like mold after a flood.

Besides, I did tune into FOX around 9:30 and guess what was on…Prison Break. I haven’t watched since the season premiere, and for some reason, there was another one of those wacky “fight-to-the-death” scenes. And I though I had missed something. At least last season there was movement. This season is so stagnant, and I am saying that after watching 1.3 episodes.

Dammit, there had better be a KVille next week. I know I will make some people angry by saying this, but it is better than Prison Break. Cancel that show, FOX, and let KVille grow. I mean House sucked when it started, and so did Bones, but they are much better now. Sometimes you have to nurture a show to see results. I mean, even the first season of The Simpsons wasn’t that good.

KVille, Anthony Anderson, Prison Break, FOX, Chuck, The OC

Two of the people in this photo are making me angry right now. Can you guess which two? Hint: It’s not Anthony or Cole.

So, KVille is my new beat, and the first week that I get to write about it, Prison Break has to take up the two precious prime time hours that FOX has on a Monday night. I’m so over Prison Break, and that is hard because I think that Wentworth Miller is pretty hot. But even he cannot make me watch that show anymore. Granted, I only watched the second season, after missing the first, but still, they should have ended it last year. Actually, I don’t even think I made it to the end of that season before I drifted off…

But wait, I’m writing about KVille here.

Let me explain my feelings about KVille, so as there is no confusion. Much like the previous Watching KVille author, I too feel that the show became better after the pilot. The second episode was more watchable, because frankly, the pilot was crap. I had such issues with the editing of the car chases — I get jump cuts, trust me, four years in film school will teach you all about jump cuts — but come on, already. And the sheer number of car chases drove (excuse the pun) me crazy as well. I wrote a review of the pilot for another site, and I was not kind.

But lo and behold, something made me watch KVille again, and I don’t know if happy is the right word, but I was something. The show was better. There was some character development. The direction wasn’t as jumpy, though still as sappy. And who knew it, but I really like Anthony Anderson.

So, here’s to KVille. Cheers.

And wow, I am actually disappointed that I won’t have a new episode to make fun of this week. Truthfully though, I did miss a couple of episodes, so let’s make this next week a catch-up week for all of us. FOX is gracious enough to post the full episodes on the FOX website, so let’s take advantage of this opportunity to get to know each other as we get to know KVille. Looking at the dates of past posts, it looks like it has been a while since this blog has had an author.

I’m Lulu, nice to meet you.

KVille, prison break, fox, anthony anderson

This is an interview with Anthony Anderson, Marlin Boulet in K-Ville. Anthony plays a New Orleans native who is working to rebuild his city.

anthony anderson, marlin boulet, k-ville, kville, new orleans, interview