What I Watched This Week 1/14/11

1. Avengers: Animated version that is Saturday morning quality, but still a lot of fun.
2. The Simpsons: This episode was one of the weaker ones in a season that has been a bit of a return to the great year of the show.
3. Bob’s Burgers: Funny new show that follows the The Simpsons on Fox. It’s dark and twisted, at least for a family cartoon--more Family Guy than The Simpsons.
4. Modern Family: started late due to the President's speech in Arizona, which bumped Cougar Town off the air.
5. Episodes: Unfunny new Showtime series set in Hollywood, but pales in comparison to shows like Action and Entourage.
6. V: Not as good as last week’s season premiere, but still more entertaining than anything last season.
7. Shameless: Very well done exploitation. Very good cast and crew doing things of questionable intent--most appropriate title of the year.
8. American Masters "Jeff Bridges": Great clips and interviews about one of the best actors working today and perhaps of all time. If you missed it, seek it out.
9. Circus: I've had this on my DVR since it was originally broadcast on PBS last fall and I'm very glad I got around to it. Great documentary mini-series about the Big Apple Circus. A little long at 6 hours, but a fascinating in-depth look at a modern day circus.
10. Californication: First time seeing the show after hearing good things about it. Liked it but need to start at Season One--I'm a completist.
11. BCS Championship: ESPN 3D's football coverage is far better than their basketball thanks in large part to shot variety and abundant slo-mo instant replay.
12. Saturday Night Live: Jim Carrey returned to his sketch show roots and it was one of the best SNL episodes in recent memory.
13. Who is Harry Nilsson (and why is everybody talking about him)?: A so-so produced documentary about the late singer/songwriter, whose story and music is so great that it really
Robin Hood (2010)
14. The Fighter: The reviews are true--this is one of the best movies of the year. Christian Bale may be an asshole, but he is one helluva actor.
15. City Island: I avoided this movie because it seems like the typical off-beat family indie film, which it is! But thanks to Andy Garcia and a really good supporting cast, it's worth seeing.
16. The Two Escobars: Part of ESPN's 30 For 30 series about how Columbia's drug and soccer culture violently collided.
17. Adam: Another small quirky indie film, but very charming.
18. Cop Out: Panned by both critics and audiences, but I enjoyed it because I get a kick out of Tracy Morgan's pseudo-moron shtick.
19. Youth in Revolt: Another little seen movie that brings a welcome dose of cartoon slap stick to the indie comedy. Not a great movie, but a better one than people seemed to give it credit for.
20. True Grit: Watched the original after falling in love with the remake and the two are very similar, except that the Coen's have improved upon every aspect of the Duke version.