“Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (MSNBC)
From the endless bashing of Bill O’Reilly (whose “The O’Reilly Factor” airs opposite “Countdown”), to the hardnosed coverage of the day’s political events, “Countdown” is the smartest, sassiest live newscast on TV. Olbermann, a former host of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” can be smarmy at times, but his quick wit and pop culture references traverse the delicate line between comedy and tragedy. And Olbermann always knows just how far he can push it in either direction, never poking fun at serious topics and never tackling frivolous topics in a serious manner. From highbrow to lowbrow in the blink of a commercial break, “Countdown” is several shows in one, and all of them are equally entertaining.
Related mp3: Europe – “The Final Countdown”

“Life on Mars“ (BBC America)
This British export has a great hook: A modern day cop gets hit by a car while listening to Bowie’s “Life on Mars” on his iPod and wakes up in 1973 (with the song playing on an 8-track). Sort of “The Twilight Zone” crossed with a retro police procedural, John Simm plays detective Sam Tyler, who is aware of his time-trapped predicament, only its never clear whether he has actually traveled through time or whether he is in some sort of coma and simply imagining the whole thing. Equally interesting are the advances in police work over the past 30 years, as the 1970’s detectives are the hard-boiled type, more interested in shaking down bad guys than doing actual police work. But the show blends surrealism with the quick-paced style of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” video, all with a killer soundtrack of 1970s rock.
Related mp3: David Bowie – “Life on Mars”

“Degrassi: The Next Generation“ (The N)
“Degrassi: The Next Generation” is the latest series in the pioneering Canadian show “Degrassi Junior High” which ran from 1987-1989 on the CBC in Canada and on PBS in America. The latest incarnation (which begins its sixth season on Sept. 29th), embodies the spirit of the original series by taking on real-life teenage issues in a socially responsible way. In other words, the show doesn’t shy away from the kinds of tough issues teens face daily. “Laguna Beach” or “Beverly Hills 90210″ this ain’t. The show has dealt with eating disorders, school shootings, and abortion amongst a bevy of others. Also along for the ride are a handful of characters from the original series. Spike, Joey and Snake all appear in “Degrassi: TNG,” as does Caitlin, whom writer/director Kevin Smith named a character after in “Clerks.” Smith also appeared in a 3-episode arc in season 4.
Related mp3: Skankin’ Pickle – “I’m In Love with a Girl Named Spike”

“The Henry Rollins Show“ (IFC)
Like a punk rock Charlie Rose, Rollins imbues his show with an air of I-don’t-give-a-shit-what-you-think-ability that could only come from featuring the kinds of guests that really interest him. From Slayer to Werner Herzog, you won’t find any bimboid starlets here, just a motley assortment of interesting artists. Sure, the guests still have wares to peddle, but because the show is weekly as opposed nightly, Rollins and his staffers only have to fill two slots per week, not the fifteen or so Letterman or Leno have to. Then again, the show is only in season 2, so who knows what might happen if the show hangs on long enough to blow through all of Rollins’ ideal guests. But seriously, when was the last time you saw Penelope Spheeris on a talk show or heard a chat show host rant about the fucked up state of search engines in China?
Related mp3: Rollins Band – “Do It”

“Intervention“ (A&E)
This A&E reality show sounds horrendous in concept, but the end result is always well-intentioned (it’s a TV show on a commercial network, so it’d be impossible for there to be zero exploitation, well-intentioned or otherwise). The show follows addicts though their daily lives, abusing drugs, and usually their friends and families too. The hook is, the addicts think they are participating in a documentary about addiction (which they are), but they aren’t aware however that the end of that documentary will also include an intervention (their own). The series is depressing for sure, and even the addicts who end up getting clean still leave behind a wake of pain and destruction. But the show works well because it steps back far enough to not interfere. Is there deception? Yes, but the show pays for its subject’s treatments at high-end facilities, so perhaps it’s a fair trade off. Thankfully, the show never tries to manipulate us into rooting for the junkies, or alternately, the families, but rather attempts to paint a realistic portrayal of the perils of addiction.
Related mp3: The Davenports – “Steps” (the show’s theme)

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