I saw David Cronenberg's A History of Violence on Friday and was very very impressed. I haven't been the biggest fan of Cronenberg's films in the past, eg. I didn't like Crash (Cronenberg's Crash, not the excellent one that was in theatres this summer), so I feel confident recommending this film to other people who aren't Cronenberg fans. In fact, I might be so bold as to declare A History of Violence the best film I've seen this year.

It's a deceptively simple story that examines the violence that's underneath the surface of everyone. I enjoyed that scenes - normally violence scenes - which would normally be climatic in other movies aren't, instead they lead into the significant climatic scenes. Obviously the violence scenes are climatic but they're not the focus on the film, rather they direct the viewer to watch what plays out afterwards.

A History of Violence reminded me of the popular claim that violence is increasing and it's way worse now than it used to be. (By the way, I hate when people claim that "things aren't as good as they used to be.") I'm certainly not a historian, but I've taken enough history to be impressed by the significance that violence has always had in human society. Nowadays we just have increased technology so we can make bigger and more lethal weapons. I don't actually support violence or war but I'm also not so blinded by idealism that I ignore the continual presence of violence in human existence. It just occurred to me that the title of the film also suggests that violence is not just a contemporary issue rather it has a history.

I don't want to say too much more without being spoilery. However there is this excellent review in the Globe and Mail by Rick Goen that really beautifully analyzes the film.

With A History of Violence on my mind I watched last Monday's episode (English, Fitz or Percy) of Prison Break this evening. Although the first couple of Prison Break episodes had some violence in them, the last couple of weeks have been all about strategy. Interestingly, there's clearly lots of violence seething beneath the surface but everyone is keeping it together so they can attain their goals.

( More thoughts on Prison Break that are spoilery up to 1:4. )

Bottom line: I'm still hooked on Prison Break and can't wait for tomorrow's episode, and not just because of my not-so-secret love for Wentworth Miller.

I have an slightly embarrassing and unhip confession to make: I love sitcoms. Even though I like the cool and funny single camera comedies like Scrubs and Arrested Development, I also enjoy a good sitcom. I do need to emphasize that last part: I enjoy a good sitcom. So I'm not talking about According to Jim, and its clone shows. I like that for half an hour I'm transported into a world where silly and goofy things happen (I love silly and goofy things), people make funny remarks, and the issues are resolved at the end of the show.

As J.D. notes in Scrubs' tribute to the sitcom: "There are moments when we all wish life was more like a sitcom."

Now just to be clear, here are current shows that I don't wish my life was like:
According to Jim, Yes Dear, Still Standing, Rodney, Hope & Faith, Two & a Half Men, and War at Home.

I'm neutral about/don't watch these shows so don't have an opinion:
King of Queens, Less Than Perfect, George Lopez, According to Fran, Twins, Will & Grace, Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle, and Stacked.

But of course, the more exciting part is which sitcoms do I actually like?

Reba (the WB, Fridays 9pm):

This is the show that I get teased for liking because it seems to be so far from hip it's anti-hip. However, I'd contend that Reba is actually quite hip for a family-centre sitcom. For me, Reba draws from the tradition of old-fashioned family sitcoms like The Dick Van Dyke Show but also has clear influences from the more cutting-edge Roseanne.

I love my family so I enjoy watching shows where family is strongly valued (please note that I'm avoiding using the term "family values" because of its problematic associations). The best part of Reba is that it isn't just valuing the traditional nuclear family. The title character is a divorced single mom struggling to raise her 3 kids which includes a daughter, Cheyanne, who got pregnant in high school and married the father, Van, who also lives with Reba. As many people can contend, being a single parent is hard work and one frequently needs other supportive people in one's life. That's where the notion of family is expanded on Reba the show to include her ex-husband, Brock, his new wife, Barbara Jean, and their son.

In fact, my favourite relationship on the show is between Reba and Barbara Jean because they begrudgingly - especially on Reba's side - become best friends and family. Resolving an issue is only accomplished when multiple family members (often including the kids) work together. It certainly isn't Father Knows Best on Reba, especially since Brock is frequently in the wrong! Sure there's lots of arguing but they're always there for each other in the end.

For a sitcom Reba deals with some serious issues: divorce, separation, adultery, teen pregnancy, depression, job loss, alcoholism, to name a few examples.

In the Scrubs episode mentioned previously J.D. observes that in real life (unlike sitcoms): "Relationships aren't always magically fixed in thirty minutes -- you have to work on them." Even though I just declared that I love the reassurance that sitcoms resolve everything in half an hour, the best Reba episodes have ended on cliffhangers: Will Kyra (Reba's middle daughter) move out of Reba's house and in with Brock and Barbara Jean, breaking Reba's heart? Does Brock think he made a mistake divorcing Reba and marrying Barbara Jean? Also when Brock and Barbara Jean had marriage difficulties, they were separated and in therapy for part of a season (which is a really long time in tvland) and even once they got back together their comfort with each was still shaky.

This is sounding like Reba's a serious drama, but the show succeeds is finding the humour in these difficult and painful scenarios. Reba is especially funny and always has fabulous snarky comments. The actor who plays Van always provides a playful goofyness to the show. It's the balance of interesting storylines and humour that keeps me coming back to Reba.

Joey (NBC, Thursday 8pm):

I don't think I'll be going into rhapsodies about Joey (the Friend's spin-off) the way that I did with Reba, but I do find it an enjoyable sitcom. I think that it perfectly fulfills the reassuring qualities of a sitcom: issues are resolved neatly and tidily within a half hour, relationships are magically fixed in thirty minutes, problems have easy solutions, and things eventually work out for good people.

When Joey is on, it's like opening a portal to a world where it's easy to get an awesome apartment, relatives are quirky, there's always hot people to date and money never seems to be an issue. I also get funny episodes such as Joey getting stuck in traffic on the way to the Tonight Show, and being rescued by Alex who gives him a pink motorcycle which he rides to the show. That was my favourite episode last season because I like over-the-top silliness of Joey riding down the street on a pink motorcycle with a pink helmet.

What I Like About You (the WB, Fridays 8pm):

I suspect that no one can make fun of me for enjoying this show, because very few people I know actually watch What I Like About You.

Basically it's this very cute and fluffy show. To quote from the WB website: "When their dad took a job in Japan, teenage live-wire Holly Tyler (Amanda Bynes) and her straight-laced twenty-something sister, Valerie (Jennie Garth), moved in together in New York City."

It has those silly over-the-top, only sitcom elements: Holly hides in the car of the guy she likes to surprise him but ends up stuck there when he drives down to Florida with another girl. Val wakes up and discovers that she drunkenly married her ex-boss in Atlantic City.

Because I have so many shows that I love and analyze to death, it's nice to just sit back and enjoy a mindless - but fun - half hour.


I would have included That '70s Show but I suspect that this season will suck without Eric (Topher Grace) who was the heart of the show.


What inspired my own tribute to sitcoms is my excitement over 2 new sitcoms on CBS, How I Met Your Mother and Out of Practice, which are actually funny!!!

How I Met Your Mother (CBS, Mondays 8:30pm):

It has an awesome cast which got me to watch in the first place: Alyson Hannigan (from Buffy!!), Neil Patrick Harris (the grown up Doogie Howser), and Jason Segel (Freaks and Geeks). I also really like the other two actors: Josh Radner and Colbie Smulders.

I admit to being pre-disposed to liking Alyson Hannigan but what really won me over was Josh Radner, Ted, who is adorable without being too cute. Also, it has a really awesome twist at the end of the episode.

Sure the show is about Ted's desire to find his soul mate to marry and start a family with, which is pretty traditional material, but I didn't feel like it was being shoved down my throat. Also Neil Patrick Harris' character provides a nice counterbalance to Ted's schmultzyness (of course, being schmultzy myself I enjoy the schmultzness). I also like it because straight men are so rarely depicted as seeking emotional and romantic companionship. But this wouldn't work if there weren't funny lines about Smurf penises and silly accidents like getting hit in the eye with a champagne cork. Also, the voiceover narration - despite starting to feel overused in general - works in this show and adds to the humour (like in Scrubs and Arrested Development).

Out of Practice (CBS, Mondays 9:30pm):

This was another show that I decided to watch based solely on the cast: Stockard Channing (channeling herself from The First Wives Club), Christopher Gorham (from many failed shows including Jake 2.0), Henry Winkler (Arrested Development's fabulously funny horrible lawyer), and Paula Marshall (guest starred on Veronica Mars!). Ty Burrell and Jennifer Tilly are also on the cast.

To quote the CBS website: Out of Practice is a comedy about a family of physicians who share the same profession but have little else in common.

The pilot episode centred about Christopher Gorham's character, Ben Barns, trying to get his family to spend time together, and to help his recently divorced parents get along better. Over the course of the evening he discovers that his dad is dating his secretary (Jennifer Tilly) and his family hears Ben's wife leaving a voicemail message that she's leaving him. There's then lots of amusing misunderstandings as people try to keep various pieces of information from each other so no one gets hurt. Of course, everything goes horribly wrong and excellent comedy ensues.

An exciting bonus to my enjoyment of Out of Practice is that Paula Marshall's character is a lesbian! She actually looks like a believable lesbian, and her sexuality doesn't define her whole character, gasp! She's an ER doctor and loves her work environment's nonstop action.


Although I'm enjoying the Sitcom Renaissance (I just coined that term), it's actually part of a large trend of good quality half hour shows this year. Besides the returning Scrubs, Arrested Development and the Office, there's the great Kitchen Confidential, My Name is Earl and Everybody Hates Chris (my comments on these shows coming soon). I would be remiss if I didn't mention the good half hour animation shows: Family Guy, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and American Dad.

The best thing about all these shows is that they can be more than just a half hour of television, they can be a welcome relief in times of crisis or just good for a laugh after a bad day. I'm right there with J.D. in the final moments of Scrubs' tribute to the sitcom:

J.D. sits on the couch in front of the T.V., laughing along with the audience.

J.D.'s Narration: And at times like that, it's comforting to know there's always one thing that can pick your spirits up.