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TV Reviews
Tales of Texas Oilmen
By Dorothy Rabinowitz, Wall Street Journal
It should come as a relief to fans of the original "Dallas" that everyone—every Ewing who matters, that is, including J.R. (Larry Hagman) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy)—is back again in the new one and in miraculously fine fettle despite the obvious wear and tear the years have taken. Miraculous especially in the face of all the afflictions now visited on the clan. Intestinal cancer, clinical depression and perhaps worst of all—or so we might gather from the tone of the premiere episode—a threat to the environment.
We're clearly now in an updated "Dallas," very 21st century, with battle lines between good and evil firmly established. The opening scenes tell the story—evil comes in torrents of black, as in oil gushing from the earth, a gush that soils the faces of the cheering drillers who brought it forth. All this thanks to the ruthlessly ambitious John Ross (Josh Henderson), a third-generation Ewing, J.R.'s son, who has committed the crime abhorrent to environmentalists—namely drilling for oil. On the family's land, no less. There's also scary talk about fracking (high-volume drilling opposed by preservationists), about which you heard nary a word in the old "Dallas." On the side of the good there's Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe), adopted son of Bobby, another third-generation Ewing—but an enlightened and principled one, and a fervent advocate, he explains, of alternative sources of energy. Christopher is certain he's found the answer in his plan to harvest methane—a plan he's testing in waters off the coast of China. Don't ask.
Fortunately for the series, its creators seem to have grasped the limits of the afore-described contest between good and evil. Possibly it reached them that phrases like "alternative sources of energy" don't quite make the grade as battle cries from the mouths of sexy heroes, whether in soap operas like this or drama of any other kind.
As the premiere episode nears its end, the plot begins thickening agreeably with so many secrets, dark revelations, shocks and betrayals it all begins to seem familiarly and comfortably absorbing. Enough anyway to evoke memories of the "Dallas" that America and half the world came to know and love during its long run on CBS (1978-91).
Like that gusher of oil, the show surges to life with the re-emergence of J.R. Ewing. Initially introduced as a sanitarium patient suffering extreme depression, and in a near-catatonic state—a pose, as we soon learn—he responds gleefully when his conniving son shows up looking for help getting his hands on the Ewing land and out of those of his uncle Bobby.
Once more the master schemer, Mr. Hagman's J.R. is a treat to behold, ageless in his swagger, his smile perfect as ever in its blend of malignancy and warmth. Mr. Duffy's Bobby is here again, the voice of decency and reason, ready to counter all plots, all threats to the Ewings' land and Ewing family values. Those threats are so numerous, the plots and betrayals so complex, so crowded with schemers, they can be a challenge to keep straight. Still their picture of bottomless malice and greed, against the backdrop of glorious green pastures and big skies, is hard to resist. It's a reminder, like J.R. himself, of the reasons the first "Dallas" lasted all those years.
DALLAS
Begins Wednesday, June 13, at 9 p.m. on TNT
* * * *
George Herbert Walker Bush was never one to talk much about himself in public and possibly not in private. His mother, a powerful influence and an adored one, had always counseled him when he was a schoolboy not to talk too much about himself or his achievements, he recalls in "41," a life story of sorts in his own voice. It's advice he apparently cherished—he's mentioned it frequently enough in the course of his long career. Still, talk about himself he has in this HBO film, and at considerable length. The resulting documentary (written and directed by Jeffrey Roth; executive producer, Jerry Weintraub) is an exceptional work of portraiture. It's candid, full of surprises and touches of controlled anger—he doesn't plan to forgive Ross Perot for costing him the election. A lifelong dog lover, justifiably besotted with the charming new terrier in his life, Mr. Bush emphatically declares that he doesn't like cats—an assertion that could have cost him plenty if he were running for office. It's a film, above all, of memories recalled.
A former U.S. president is bound to have many of those. But the film is so rich in details of his life before the White House years, told in Mr. Bush's own words, that the familiar history of his presidency seems, by comparison, flatter. What comes before are the boyhood days; the family life; the times at the summer house in Kennebunkport, Maine, which Mr. Bush considers his real home; the long years in the Texas oil business.
There had been prep school—George H.W. Bush wasn't the kind to fear leaving home for boarding school at a young age; he relished it. There was Yale, the meeting with the girl he would marry. And there was the war, for which he left Yale to enlist as soon as he turned 18. The day he departed for duty, his father drove him to the train station. Prescott Bush was a strong, authoritative man who never cried, but on that day, his son remembers, there were tears in his eyes—he knew what combat meant. Still, the nation had been attacked. There were very few people, Mr. Bush notes, who tried to avoid service in this war.
The former president, who will be 88 in a few days, doesn't walk at all well now—he suffers from Parkinson's disease—which doesn't impinge on his freedom to enjoy racing his beloved boat around at terrifying speed, and look devilishly at ease doing it. It's just one of innumerable riveting moments in this picture of the 41st president as few Americans have ever seen him.
41
Thursday, June 14, at 9 p.m. on HBO
* * * *
"Dogs in the City"—the city of New York—about the adventures of dog guru Justin Silver and his clientele of clueless dog owners, proved itself quickly. Two episodes into this series, it's clear that Mr. Silver is in full command as analyst, diplomat, charmer and stern teacher of assorted clients unable to deal with their dogs or, more precisely, the delusions driving their disturbed relationships with their animals. Alert to every deranged impulse of his clients, Mr. Silver brings his lessons home with vigor and wit.
DOGS IN THE CITY
Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303753904577452321075687252.html?mod=WSJ_ArtsEnt_LifestyleArtEnt_6
Tales of Texas Oilmen
By Dorothy Rabinowitz, Wall Street Journal
It should come as a relief to fans of the original "Dallas" that everyone—every Ewing who matters, that is, including J.R. (Larry Hagman) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy)—is back again in the new one and in miraculously fine fettle despite the obvious wear and tear the years have taken. Miraculous especially in the face of all the afflictions now visited on the clan. Intestinal cancer, clinical depression and perhaps worst of all—or so we might gather from the tone of the premiere episode—a threat to the environment.
We're clearly now in an updated "Dallas," very 21st century, with battle lines between good and evil firmly established. The opening scenes tell the story—evil comes in torrents of black, as in oil gushing from the earth, a gush that soils the faces of the cheering drillers who brought it forth. All this thanks to the ruthlessly ambitious John Ross (Josh Henderson), a third-generation Ewing, J.R.'s son, who has committed the crime abhorrent to environmentalists—namely drilling for oil. On the family's land, no less. There's also scary talk about fracking (high-volume drilling opposed by preservationists), about which you heard nary a word in the old "Dallas." On the side of the good there's Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe), adopted son of Bobby, another third-generation Ewing—but an enlightened and principled one, and a fervent advocate, he explains, of alternative sources of energy. Christopher is certain he's found the answer in his plan to harvest methane—a plan he's testing in waters off the coast of China. Don't ask.
Fortunately for the series, its creators seem to have grasped the limits of the afore-described contest between good and evil. Possibly it reached them that phrases like "alternative sources of energy" don't quite make the grade as battle cries from the mouths of sexy heroes, whether in soap operas like this or drama of any other kind.
As the premiere episode nears its end, the plot begins thickening agreeably with so many secrets, dark revelations, shocks and betrayals it all begins to seem familiarly and comfortably absorbing. Enough anyway to evoke memories of the "Dallas" that America and half the world came to know and love during its long run on CBS (1978-91).
Like that gusher of oil, the show surges to life with the re-emergence of J.R. Ewing. Initially introduced as a sanitarium patient suffering extreme depression, and in a near-catatonic state—a pose, as we soon learn—he responds gleefully when his conniving son shows up looking for help getting his hands on the Ewing land and out of those of his uncle Bobby.
Once more the master schemer, Mr. Hagman's J.R. is a treat to behold, ageless in his swagger, his smile perfect as ever in its blend of malignancy and warmth. Mr. Duffy's Bobby is here again, the voice of decency and reason, ready to counter all plots, all threats to the Ewings' land and Ewing family values. Those threats are so numerous, the plots and betrayals so complex, so crowded with schemers, they can be a challenge to keep straight. Still their picture of bottomless malice and greed, against the backdrop of glorious green pastures and big skies, is hard to resist. It's a reminder, like J.R. himself, of the reasons the first "Dallas" lasted all those years.
DALLAS
Begins Wednesday, June 13, at 9 p.m. on TNT
* * * *
George Herbert Walker Bush was never one to talk much about himself in public and possibly not in private. His mother, a powerful influence and an adored one, had always counseled him when he was a schoolboy not to talk too much about himself or his achievements, he recalls in "41," a life story of sorts in his own voice. It's advice he apparently cherished—he's mentioned it frequently enough in the course of his long career. Still, talk about himself he has in this HBO film, and at considerable length. The resulting documentary (written and directed by Jeffrey Roth; executive producer, Jerry Weintraub) is an exceptional work of portraiture. It's candid, full of surprises and touches of controlled anger—he doesn't plan to forgive Ross Perot for costing him the election. A lifelong dog lover, justifiably besotted with the charming new terrier in his life, Mr. Bush emphatically declares that he doesn't like cats—an assertion that could have cost him plenty if he were running for office. It's a film, above all, of memories recalled.
A former U.S. president is bound to have many of those. But the film is so rich in details of his life before the White House years, told in Mr. Bush's own words, that the familiar history of his presidency seems, by comparison, flatter. What comes before are the boyhood days; the family life; the times at the summer house in Kennebunkport, Maine, which Mr. Bush considers his real home; the long years in the Texas oil business.
There had been prep school—George H.W. Bush wasn't the kind to fear leaving home for boarding school at a young age; he relished it. There was Yale, the meeting with the girl he would marry. And there was the war, for which he left Yale to enlist as soon as he turned 18. The day he departed for duty, his father drove him to the train station. Prescott Bush was a strong, authoritative man who never cried, but on that day, his son remembers, there were tears in his eyes—he knew what combat meant. Still, the nation had been attacked. There were very few people, Mr. Bush notes, who tried to avoid service in this war.
The former president, who will be 88 in a few days, doesn't walk at all well now—he suffers from Parkinson's disease—which doesn't impinge on his freedom to enjoy racing his beloved boat around at terrifying speed, and look devilishly at ease doing it. It's just one of innumerable riveting moments in this picture of the 41st president as few Americans have ever seen him.
41
Thursday, June 14, at 9 p.m. on HBO
* * * *
"Dogs in the City"—the city of New York—about the adventures of dog guru Justin Silver and his clientele of clueless dog owners, proved itself quickly. Two episodes into this series, it's clear that Mr. Silver is in full command as analyst, diplomat, charmer and stern teacher of assorted clients unable to deal with their dogs or, more precisely, the delusions driving their disturbed relationships with their animals. Alert to every deranged impulse of his clients, Mr. Silver brings his lessons home with vigor and wit.
DOGS IN THE CITY
Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303753904577452321075687252.html?mod=WSJ_ArtsEnt_LifestyleArtEnt_6
That's the good thing about a DVR, you can pick out several shows you think you might be interested in and record them. Of course if we didn't have so many channels, we might do more channel surfing, but with the total flooding of channels we have nowadays, I can't imagine surfing would have much traction with or without a dvr anyway.
