This evening we watched the first two episodes of season 5 of The Wire and the first two episodes of the new American Gladiators. I want to write some kind of compare and contrast here, but the words might fail me. I will press on.
The Wire:
Some people say it is the best show ever to grace the television. I can’t go that far.* I can say that it is the best show currently on TV — of course, I say this knowing that Lost is set to return in a few weeks — and that The Wire will be wrapping a few weeks before Lost finishes. The new season doesn’t disappoint; there are plenty (and almost, perhaps, too many), callbacks to previous seasons and episodes. Some are in jokes, some aren’t. I’m going to miss the hell out of this show when it is over.
But the ending of the second episode. Holy shiiiiiiiiit. We finished watching and the 5 of us (Roxy, John, Mike, Kurt and I) seem to be in agreement with what is happening, but the logic, the turn made to head in the direction that it does…It confounds me. I can’t wait to see where it goes but man oh man.
Oh and if you aren’t watching this show, you’re a fool. Get season 1 and get to it.
* Mainly because the words “best” and “show” are too loosely defined — how does one factor in genres, years on air, length of the episodes and other fluctuations? It doesn’t really matter.
American Gladiators:
Another return, this one of a show around 15 years old. It doesn’t appear to have changed one drop from then, which might be a blessing or it might be a curse. This is, hands down, the most homo-erotic show I have seen in years. Maybe ever.
This is Hellga:
She is one of the new female gladiators.
Then there is Titan, who spent both episodes flexing and looking so gay I really wasn’t sure what I was watching:
Finally, there is Wolf, who is this feral man-beast. Scary is my only adjective for him:
It is one tomorrow night again; if you need brainless TV that both destroys your faith in humanity while allowing you to laugh at meathead idiots — this is the show for you. I do wonder what the gladiators did before getting on TV. What their day job is. I can’t fathom.
4 great hours of TV at opposite ends of the spectrum. And, sadly, perhaps, both are highly recommended.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Speaking of gladiators looking gay…
“And finally, one more unusual note, gay community bloggers are claiming to have ‘outed’ one of the star “athletes” of the reborn American Gladiators TV show. They allege one Alex Castro, A.K.A. Militia, Elian Cortez, in addition to starring in Cirque du Soliel, had a few credits in gay porn. Gay porn publisher Colt Studios claims Castro/Cortez/Militia was featured in the 2003 “Butt Beautiful” calendar, the Colt Men 2002 calender and the company’s Muscles and Leather playing cards.”
Perhaps more funny to me is that he appeared the least (stereotypically) gay of the men last night.
But man, this is too funny.
It’s on again tonight at 8 on NBC. In case, you know, you needed to escape reality for a while.
Militia has the best gladiator name, hands down.
disappointing that you didn’t chose to highlight crush – aka MMA’s gina carano- who is hot and unscary.
1. Hooray! I can comment again.
2. We’re on the second disc of season 4. This may be my favorite season.
3. Uh, American Gladiators is the best show on TV.
petunia:
you are correct. she is as close to hot as an american gladiator can get. john and i both enjoyed seeing her last night. esp when compared to some of the other men, i mean women, on the show.
I’m going to have to start The Wire soon! You’re like nth person who’s blogged about it this week and it’s only Tuesday.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to have nightmares tonight.
Sorry about that! It was supposed to include a picture, which is online here:
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2008/02/13/wolfcard.jpg
HA! Now, how could that NOT melt your heart? You know, I had other Valentine’s plans for the wife, but now that I’ve seen that I’m pitching it all. I’ll just print that bad boy out and I’m sure she’ll be impressed. How could that not win?
…
He should run for president.
He already has my heart — now you want him to have my vote as well?
I’m just saying. Think about it: He could benchpress the deficit, drop-kick the Iraq war, cure cancer with those feral beads of sweat and congress would never dare a veto. Also, I bet we’d save lots of tax money by not having a white house chef (he’d eat everything raw) and the complete redundancy of the secret service. Sure, you could shoot him, but that’d probably just piss him off.