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Battlestar Runway Survivor
Let's set aside the fact that I watch too much tv and focus on these important questions: 
One: Why is Battlestar Gallactica becoming a right-wing propaganda machine? First they make peace activists into terrorists, then they make abortion illegal. What gives? Did Karl Rove take over the show, or what?
Two: Who is going to win Project Runway? As I learned here, you can find all the collections online (Santino (much more dignified and even plain than expected), Chloe (nice!), Daniel (snore), Kara (much better than expected, but unfortunately it's only a decoy). Based on those collections, I'm thinking it's going to be a close race between Santino and Chloe. I've liked them both throughout the cycle so either would be good as far as I'm concerned. If I had to choose, I'd give it to Santino b/c he really seems to want it, whereas Chloe is definitely more ambivalent about it.
Three: Is Shane the most insane Survivor contestant ever? It's almost hard to watch Survivor after the impressiveness that is Project Runway. The designers on Runway are seriously talented and accomplished people, while the “survivors” are a real mixed bag. I guess it's a little like comparing apples and oranges, but in many ways it just seems that Runway is much more difficult than Survivor. And there's less to talk about with Survivor. I mean, the new exile island twist definitely is adding an interesting element and the Courtney tribe is crazy town, but otherwise? Well, we basically know what to expect. It's still just unpredictable enough to keep me watching, but just barely.
Posted February 18, 2006 01:48 PM | tv land
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Que? You like Santino? Man, you think you know someone and then it turns out they are with the dark side. Booooo. Santino is mean. All he is good for is Tim Gunn impressions.
Posted by: DL at February 18, 2006 06:55 PM
Dude! Don't be knocked the Battlestar so! It is so far from a right-wing show it ain't funny. If anything, it represents a rather sustained critique on politics in a post-9/11 era. There is certainly reason to question the reliability/objectivity of Gaius' information, especially since it always seems to play to the worst fears of those he's informing. And they know this, to some extent. Despite the views she expressed in her letter to him, Rosalin doesn't really doubt him when he gives the eighteen year figure for the survival of humanity, a figure clearly meant to play to fear (and perhaps come from insanity) as number six is standing behind him as he delivers it. Think also of it in the context of the other battle in the episode as well. Lee takes over for a commander whose paranoia and misguided devotion to duty leads to his own death and the jeopardizing of his command. I could go on like this but suffice it to say, the show is really about how fear (among other things) warps the best of intentions and imposes a rationale that evacuates our ethics in the name of saving them. You might also state it as a modification of the answer Sharon gave Adama when he asked her why the cylons hated the humans so much: if you're prepared to survive at any cost, if the only thing that matters is survival, do you really deserve to? In light of all the recent disclosures about what principles and freedoms the gov't is willing to violate in order to preserve freedom, it seems to me a (im)pertinent question to be posing.
Posted by: Famous P. at February 19, 2006 11:19 AM
DL: Ok, I know that Santino hasn't played nice w/others at all times, but I don't think he's mean. I think he's insecure and socially awkward. He also has difficulty controlling what appears to be considerable talent. That makes him an underdog in my book, and therefore I root for him. Besides, he's really the best remaining option -- Chloe doesn't really want it and Daniel is Mr. Safe, so ...
Famous P.: I very much like your reading and agree mostly. But I wonder if average joe viewer (AJV) is seeing it that way, or if AJV is seeing it more from Adama's perspective and sympathizing with him along the lines of, "these are hard choices but we're under threat so we have to sacrifice these liberties and it's hard for me but I'm man enough to do it" or something like that. Your reading is a great one, but is it the obvious or dominant one? Of course, the show is still easily the best thing on tv in maybe ever, but I'm just sayin'....
Posted by: ambimb at February 19, 2006 02:17 PM
Yeah, AI, I know what you mean. But I don't think that Adama comes off that straightforward. This is a guy, after all, who accepted Kain's authority when Pegasus showed up and then wound up plotting to assassinate her. Further, he's actively seeking, and taking advice, from an enemy agent who also tried to kill him. To say nothing of his admitting to Lee that his decision to put that last commander in place on the Pegasus was wrong.
This is a great show because none of the characters are ever less than complex, both because of who they are but also because of what the circumstances force them to do. I think it is a hit for SciFi for precisely those reasons; people recognize and appreciate the complexity of the characters and situations. It's those same reasons that made a show like the Sopranos such a hit (and I would put the writing on BG on that level, esp. this season. Every episode has ratcheted up the tension to really astonishing levels). Anyway, I think you have to give people credit enough with a show like this to think that they are seeing not just the action (banning abortion) but the sequence of events that brings it about. I really don't think it could be such a success otherwise.
Posted by: Famous P. at February 19, 2006 02:36 PM
In one of his podcasts (available through iTunes or at scifi.com), Galactica show runner Ron Moore discussed how the writers have their main characters engage in actions that aren't really consistent with the general political thoughts in a typically left-leaning writers room. The goal is to think-- is it ever reasonable to compromise some beliefs? And we've come to trust the main characters (particularly Adama and Roslin) enough that they can do things that are unexpected or unsympathetic and wonder whether those actions are justified or not.
The bad news is that there are only 3 more episodes this season. The good news is that lots can happen in 3 episodes with a cliffhanger.
Posted by: Andrew at February 19, 2006 08:06 PM
In response to a fan question about the kinds of issues the show deals with and why, Moore answered:
"I'm interested in having people argue about whether what the characters did in a given episode was understandable in a human way as well as have them argue whether the actions they took were right or wrong. Yes, I want people to argue about the rightness of their heroes torturing a prisoner for information, but I also want them to argue about what a human being does in that situation and what it does to him or her as a result of their choice. I've been gratified to see that people are willing to take up the arguments about liberty versus security and freedom versus safety because I believe those to be the most vital conversation we are having today."
There is a much more comprehensive answer to be had in Moore's April 1, 2005 blog entry. I think it also makes his personal views somewhat clearer. But even without that, pretty much anyone who asks anyone else to actually think for themselves in this day and age is an enemy of the state (Have you seen this story? How about this? Or this?). Leaving all that aside (if such a thing were possible), it still is one of the best damn shows I've seen. I'm so getting this on DVD.
Posted by: Famous P. at February 19, 2006 10:34 PM
I'd also caution not to extrapolate too much from a cliffhanger, AI. Roslin is no religious absolutist, after all: her reasons for banning abortion are particularly pragmatic, although perhaps based on bad data.
I'd expect to see an election campaign that moves into classic "third way" territory: OK, she's banned abortion, but expect to see proposals for extensive adoption programs, or indeed a "put your money where your mouth is" program to the Gemenons requiring them to adopt any unwanted baby.
Either Karl Rove's agitprop machine has become too subtle for me (and they didn't send me the memo), or you're assumptions are mistaken.
Posted by: A. Rickey at February 21, 2006 12:04 AM
