Yes, I know what serious gamers are going to say: there are no real games on the App Store. Well, I'm here to contradict them. There are indeed some quality games on the App Store. So in this article, I'll prove that there are some great games available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod users. I know there are popular games like Angry Birds and Draw Something, so I'm going to stay away from those. Instead, in typical Now That's Pop Culture fashion, I'll be identifying games that may not be as well known. Also, most of these games are free.
1. High School Story- I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I play this game, but it's a fun game. There are plenty of high school games out there, but this is by far the best. It's a fresh take on high school and a lot more fun than the other ones. If my high school experience was anything like this game, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.
2. The Silent Age- This is one of the more recent games on this list. Only Episode 1 has been released, but the developers are currently working on Episode 2. The game stars a janitor named Joe, who works at a big corporation. He happens upon a time traveler, who then gives him a time machine. This provides for a great story. One more note: when playing the game, wear headphones. It really enhances the experience of the game.
3. Secret Passages: Hidden Objects- There are a lot of hidden object games on the App Store, and this is undoubtedly my favorite one. What's different about this game is the gameplay beyond just finding the objects. There are also a few minigames that are quite fun.
4. Dark Nebula- There are two episodes for this game, the first one is free. While there isn't any real storyline to the game, the gameplay is excellent. It can be very challenging at times, though it is definitely beatable.
5. Real Soccer 10- There are a lot of soccer games on the market, including newer ones such as FIFA 14 by EA Sports and Real Soccer 2013", but I believe this is the best one. While the other games can be a little complicated (especially for casual soccer fans), Real Soccer 10 is very user-friendly. On top of that, there are so many modes and tournaments to play, it's hard to get tired of the game.
6. Real Racing 3- Like with soccer games, there are a lot of racing games on the market, such as Asphalt 8: Airborne and CSR Racing. My favorite racing game: Real Racing 3. Not only is there a wide variety of cars to unlock and race with, there are dozens of races and tournaments to compete in.
7. Can You Escape Games- This is an entire series of games, including Can You Escape- Adventure, Can You Escape- Tower, and Can You Escape 2. The whole series is very fun and can be very challenging at times.
8. QuizUp- Out of all the trivia games on the market, this is by far the most popular one on the market. Because of that, there is almost always an opponent to play against. Another good point: the developers are continuously updating the game and adding new topics, which means that there is everything from Famous Duos to Nelson Mandela.
9. Donut Games- Once again, I'm going to bend the rules a little bit and have multiple games in an entry. All of the Donut Games are simple, but are a lot of fun. I personally recommend Traffic Rush, Spikey's Bounce Around, and Rat on the Run. One note: most of the Donut Games are not free, but the ones I recommended are.
10. Two Fingers, but only one brain- This is one of the newest best-selling games on the market, and it sure is a good one. The main idea behind this game: two different games being played simultaneously. It makes for a challenging game, but it is a lot of fun.
Hopefully, you like these games. If you know any other great games, comment and let me know.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Pokemon: Ash's Seven Best Battles
Yes, I do watch the Pokemon TV show. I know a lot of people will scorn that, but it's true. I know that a good chunk of my audience watches it, and I try and cater to my entire audience, and that includes having some articles on things other people might not watch. So, I decided to start some Pokemon articles, mainly about the show, but also about the games and movies.
I decided to start with Ash's best battles. The battles are the best part of the show, as opposed to battles in the game, which are turn-by-turn and can get boring. The battles in the show can be extremely entertaining. Instead of all battles in the show, I decided to focus solely on Ash, seeing as he is the main character. Coincidentally, his battles tend to be the show's best ones. Note, there are SPOILERS ahead, so be careful. If you haven't seen these battles before, I recommend you watch them online.
7. Ash vs. Brandon II (Battle Frontier)
In his quest to beat the Battle Frontier, Ash takes on the Pyramid King, the last Frontier Brain. The two of them have three battles. In the first battle, Ash is possessed by an ancient king and uses Sceptile to take on Brandon's Regirock in a losing effort. In the second match, Ash's Torkoal loses to Brandon's Registeel. In the last match, Ash uses Charizard, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Pikachu to beat Brandon, who uses Ninjask, Dusclops, Solrock, and Regice. In this entry, we're focusing on the second battle.
Brandon told Ash before hand that he would use Registeel, so Ash got to choose his Pokemon beforehand. At the beginning of the battle, we found out that Pokemon was Torkoal. While expectations weren't high (Ash's Torkoal had a limited moveset), the match was great. The writers really outdid themselves here.
6. Ash vs. Mandi (Indigo League)
This match (the best of the first season) took place in the first round of the Indigo League. It was Ash's first official tournament battle and it was exciting. Mandi was very popular with fans and was convinced that he was going to dominate Ash. Our hero on the other hand, was quite confident.
Ash completely dominated the match, as his Krabby/Kingler took out all three of Mandi's Pokemon. Earlier in the episode, we weren't even sure Krabby was going to put up much of a fight, let alone sweep the battle. While sweeps aren't always exciting, this one was presented masterfully. It seemed like each one of Mandi's Pokemon would succeed, but Krabby/Kingler won out every time. It was an awesome way to kick off Ash's tournament bid.
5. Ash vs. Blaine (Indigo Gym Battle)
In pursuit of his seventh gym badge, Ash traveled to Cinnabar Island, where he took on Blaine. Their first battle (which Ash lost) took place on the gym battlefield. The battle was three-on-three, with Blaine's Magmar, Ninetales, and Rhyhorn defeating Ash's Charizard (who refused to battle), Squirtle, and Pikachu. After Ash and his friends stop the volcano from blowing up, Blaine grants Ash a rematch.
The rematch takes place on the summit of the volcano and is a one-on-one battle between Magmar and Charizard. This is the first time that Charizard and Ash work together and the effect is truly cool. Granted, Charizard refuses to listen to Ash for the rest of the season, but this effort was awesome. This battle was one of the coolest to watch.
4. Ash vs. Brandon III (Battle Frontier)
As I said before, Ash and Brandon had three battles. While the second one was great, the third one was the best of the series. Not only did Ash win, but he did so in a tightly contested four-on-four battle that had some twists.
The match started with Charizard and Dusclops. Charizard was Ash's ace, and everyone was surprised that he was using his strongest Pokemon right from the start. It was even more surprising when Dusclops beat Charizard. In classic Ash fashion though, he came back and won the match.
3. Ash vs. Gary (Johto League)
Eventually, Ash takes on all of his major rivals and wins. Gary was Ash's biggest rival of the first three seasons. They finally clash in a six-on-six battle at the Johto League, with a spot in the next round against the line.
From the start, Gary dominated the battle. At one point, Gary had lost only one Pokemon while Ash only had three left (one of whom had already battled). The final showdown was between Blastoise and Charizard, and it was an epic one. If you don't want to watch the whole match, at least see the showdown between these two.
2. Ash vs. Drake (Orange Island)
At the end of Season 2, Ash takes on Drake, the undefeated champion of the Orange League. While many fans of the show were disappointed with Season 2, but this battle saved the entire season. I recommend you pause and go watch this battle immediately. Otherwise, the rest of this entry will spoil it for you.
Ash had Pikachu, Tauros, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charizard, and Lapras while Drake had Ditto, Gengar, Dragonite, Electabuzz, Venusaur, and Onix. Dragonite was by far Drake's strongest Pokemon, and he took on four of Ash's Pokemon. The final showdown between Dragonite and Pikachu was one of the coolest moments of the entire series.
1. Ash vs. Paul (Lake Verity)
This is the first match between Ash and Paul and definitely the better one out of the two. Their second match was for a spot in the Best Four of the Sinnoh League, the first was nothing more than a grudge match between the two rivals.
If you haven't seen this battle, let me spoil it for you: Ash gets absolutely destroyed. He loses all six of his Pokemon while Paul only loses two. So why was this such a great battle? For one, it was surprising. Ash is the hero of the show, it was shocking to see him lose to badly. Still, the viewers expected Ash to win, even when he only had one Pokemon left. The whole battle was extremely exciting from start to finish. It's definitely the best battle of the entire series.
Like I said before, it's definitely worth your while to watch these battles, or at least highlights of them. Even if you're not a Pokemon fan, they sure are exciting.
I decided to start with Ash's best battles. The battles are the best part of the show, as opposed to battles in the game, which are turn-by-turn and can get boring. The battles in the show can be extremely entertaining. Instead of all battles in the show, I decided to focus solely on Ash, seeing as he is the main character. Coincidentally, his battles tend to be the show's best ones. Note, there are SPOILERS ahead, so be careful. If you haven't seen these battles before, I recommend you watch them online.
7. Ash vs. Brandon II (Battle Frontier)
In his quest to beat the Battle Frontier, Ash takes on the Pyramid King, the last Frontier Brain. The two of them have three battles. In the first battle, Ash is possessed by an ancient king and uses Sceptile to take on Brandon's Regirock in a losing effort. In the second match, Ash's Torkoal loses to Brandon's Registeel. In the last match, Ash uses Charizard, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Pikachu to beat Brandon, who uses Ninjask, Dusclops, Solrock, and Regice. In this entry, we're focusing on the second battle.
Brandon told Ash before hand that he would use Registeel, so Ash got to choose his Pokemon beforehand. At the beginning of the battle, we found out that Pokemon was Torkoal. While expectations weren't high (Ash's Torkoal had a limited moveset), the match was great. The writers really outdid themselves here.
6. Ash vs. Mandi (Indigo League)
This match (the best of the first season) took place in the first round of the Indigo League. It was Ash's first official tournament battle and it was exciting. Mandi was very popular with fans and was convinced that he was going to dominate Ash. Our hero on the other hand, was quite confident.
Ash completely dominated the match, as his Krabby/Kingler took out all three of Mandi's Pokemon. Earlier in the episode, we weren't even sure Krabby was going to put up much of a fight, let alone sweep the battle. While sweeps aren't always exciting, this one was presented masterfully. It seemed like each one of Mandi's Pokemon would succeed, but Krabby/Kingler won out every time. It was an awesome way to kick off Ash's tournament bid.
5. Ash vs. Blaine (Indigo Gym Battle)
In pursuit of his seventh gym badge, Ash traveled to Cinnabar Island, where he took on Blaine. Their first battle (which Ash lost) took place on the gym battlefield. The battle was three-on-three, with Blaine's Magmar, Ninetales, and Rhyhorn defeating Ash's Charizard (who refused to battle), Squirtle, and Pikachu. After Ash and his friends stop the volcano from blowing up, Blaine grants Ash a rematch.
The rematch takes place on the summit of the volcano and is a one-on-one battle between Magmar and Charizard. This is the first time that Charizard and Ash work together and the effect is truly cool. Granted, Charizard refuses to listen to Ash for the rest of the season, but this effort was awesome. This battle was one of the coolest to watch.
4. Ash vs. Brandon III (Battle Frontier)
As I said before, Ash and Brandon had three battles. While the second one was great, the third one was the best of the series. Not only did Ash win, but he did so in a tightly contested four-on-four battle that had some twists.
The match started with Charizard and Dusclops. Charizard was Ash's ace, and everyone was surprised that he was using his strongest Pokemon right from the start. It was even more surprising when Dusclops beat Charizard. In classic Ash fashion though, he came back and won the match.
3. Ash vs. Gary (Johto League)
Eventually, Ash takes on all of his major rivals and wins. Gary was Ash's biggest rival of the first three seasons. They finally clash in a six-on-six battle at the Johto League, with a spot in the next round against the line.
From the start, Gary dominated the battle. At one point, Gary had lost only one Pokemon while Ash only had three left (one of whom had already battled). The final showdown was between Blastoise and Charizard, and it was an epic one. If you don't want to watch the whole match, at least see the showdown between these two.
2. Ash vs. Drake (Orange Island)
At the end of Season 2, Ash takes on Drake, the undefeated champion of the Orange League. While many fans of the show were disappointed with Season 2, but this battle saved the entire season. I recommend you pause and go watch this battle immediately. Otherwise, the rest of this entry will spoil it for you.
Ash had Pikachu, Tauros, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charizard, and Lapras while Drake had Ditto, Gengar, Dragonite, Electabuzz, Venusaur, and Onix. Dragonite was by far Drake's strongest Pokemon, and he took on four of Ash's Pokemon. The final showdown between Dragonite and Pikachu was one of the coolest moments of the entire series.
1. Ash vs. Paul (Lake Verity)
This is the first match between Ash and Paul and definitely the better one out of the two. Their second match was for a spot in the Best Four of the Sinnoh League, the first was nothing more than a grudge match between the two rivals.
If you haven't seen this battle, let me spoil it for you: Ash gets absolutely destroyed. He loses all six of his Pokemon while Paul only loses two. So why was this such a great battle? For one, it was surprising. Ash is the hero of the show, it was shocking to see him lose to badly. Still, the viewers expected Ash to win, even when he only had one Pokemon left. The whole battle was extremely exciting from start to finish. It's definitely the best battle of the entire series.
Like I said before, it's definitely worth your while to watch these battles, or at least highlights of them. Even if you're not a Pokemon fan, they sure are exciting.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Entourage (TV Show) Review
I could review a show currently airing (such as The Big Bang Theory or The Blacklist) or a show that just ended (like How I Met Your Mother or Breaking Bad), but I'm not one for conventional posts. Instead, I'd like to introduce the readers to shows, books, and other things they would otherwise never try. So to kick that off, I'm going to be pitching Entourage, a comedy than ran for eight seasons on HBO from 2004-2011. Throughout its run, it was nominated for 14 Golden Globes and 26 Emmys, and a movie based on the show will be released later this year. Note: there will be some SPOILERS, so be careful.
Entourage is loosely based off the experience of Mark Wahlberg (one of the show's executive producers) and his friends. The main character is Vincent Chase (played by Adrien Grenier), an up-and-coming actor in Hollywood. He lives with his older brother, a less successful actor known as Johnny Drama (played by Kevin Dillon), and his two best friends from back home in New York, E (played by Kevin Connolly) and Turtle (played by Jerry Ferrara). E is Vince's manager and Turtle is his driver. The last main character is Ari Gold (played by Jermey Piven), Vince's agent. Other notable characters include Sloan, the daughter of Ari's boss, and Melissa, Ari's wife. The cast may not be very well known, but they all played their roles perfectly and worked very well together.
The story revolves around Vince and his career. Much of the other character's actions depend on what Vince does. After all, he is the main breadwinner of the group. The personal lives of the main characters also comes into play. Vince is a womanizer who sleeps with a lot of different women. Drama and Turtle are the same way, but with less luck as Vince. E on the other hand, tends to get emotionally invested with any girl he spends time with. Ari is married to Melissa, a former actress with whom he has two kids. One of the continuing storylines of the show is how he tries to balance his career and family life.
All eight seasons of the show are good, but the best one (at least in my opinion) is Season 7. That's where we get to see a whole new side of Vince. Before, he was always a very optimistic, happy go-lucky guy. It's endearing, but it gets tiring after a while. The change in Vince's demeanor brings a whole new edge to the show. The only problem with Season 7: it's the third shortest season, besides Seasons 1 and 8. The other seasons either have 12, 14, or 20 episodes.
Of course, there are some negatives to the show (as there is with every show). One problem is that stories are tied up much too quickly. For example, early in the show, Vince stars in the superhero flick Aquaman. However, he has issues with his co-star, Mandy Moore. The audience doesn't even get to see how everything is resolved; next thing we know, the movie has released. This can be incredibly confusing and leads to some major plot holes. Another thing: a lack of continuity. Some storylines are completely trashed or disregarded whenever it clashes with another storyline. Unfortunately, these are far too common. Nonetheless, the pros far outweigh the cons here.
There are a lot of shows and movies about Hollywood, so what makes this one stand out? It's a very fresh take on what goes on behind the curtain. The show manages to stay entertaining and enjoyable throughout its entire run. If you're looking for a new comedy series to watch, I highly recommend Entourage.
Entourage is loosely based off the experience of Mark Wahlberg (one of the show's executive producers) and his friends. The main character is Vincent Chase (played by Adrien Grenier), an up-and-coming actor in Hollywood. He lives with his older brother, a less successful actor known as Johnny Drama (played by Kevin Dillon), and his two best friends from back home in New York, E (played by Kevin Connolly) and Turtle (played by Jerry Ferrara). E is Vince's manager and Turtle is his driver. The last main character is Ari Gold (played by Jermey Piven), Vince's agent. Other notable characters include Sloan, the daughter of Ari's boss, and Melissa, Ari's wife. The cast may not be very well known, but they all played their roles perfectly and worked very well together.
The story revolves around Vince and his career. Much of the other character's actions depend on what Vince does. After all, he is the main breadwinner of the group. The personal lives of the main characters also comes into play. Vince is a womanizer who sleeps with a lot of different women. Drama and Turtle are the same way, but with less luck as Vince. E on the other hand, tends to get emotionally invested with any girl he spends time with. Ari is married to Melissa, a former actress with whom he has two kids. One of the continuing storylines of the show is how he tries to balance his career and family life.
All eight seasons of the show are good, but the best one (at least in my opinion) is Season 7. That's where we get to see a whole new side of Vince. Before, he was always a very optimistic, happy go-lucky guy. It's endearing, but it gets tiring after a while. The change in Vince's demeanor brings a whole new edge to the show. The only problem with Season 7: it's the third shortest season, besides Seasons 1 and 8. The other seasons either have 12, 14, or 20 episodes.
Of course, there are some negatives to the show (as there is with every show). One problem is that stories are tied up much too quickly. For example, early in the show, Vince stars in the superhero flick Aquaman. However, he has issues with his co-star, Mandy Moore. The audience doesn't even get to see how everything is resolved; next thing we know, the movie has released. This can be incredibly confusing and leads to some major plot holes. Another thing: a lack of continuity. Some storylines are completely trashed or disregarded whenever it clashes with another storyline. Unfortunately, these are far too common. Nonetheless, the pros far outweigh the cons here.
There are a lot of shows and movies about Hollywood, so what makes this one stand out? It's a very fresh take on what goes on behind the curtain. The show manages to stay entertaining and enjoyable throughout its entire run. If you're looking for a new comedy series to watch, I highly recommend Entourage.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
20 Great South Park Episodes Part 2
As I said in a previous article, South Park has quite a few excellent episodes. It would take a while to identify all of them, but I can at least showcase twenty of them (the first ten are in a previous article). Here are another ten excellent South Park episodes.
1. Pandemic series- This series from Season 12 isn't one of the most memorable series, but it sure is a good one. In this series, an unspeakable horror is unleashed and it is up to our heroes to stop it. One of the best parts of this series is Randy's attempt to document the footage, something that just leads to some funny moments. Another interesting part of the show: it features Craig, someone who we don't see a lot. He's not interesting enough to be a main character, but he is a good supporting character.
2. "Breast Cancer Show Ever"- The episode before the Pandemic series, "Breast Cancer Show Ever" is about well, breast cancer. More specifically, it's a spoof on how breast cancer is perceived by the public. In the episode, Wendy tries to raise awareness for breast cancer but is mocked by Cartman. The fight that ensues is one of the most memorable in South Park history.
3. "Cartmanland"- This Season 5 episode is very underrated and almost never shows up on best episode lists. It's not an amazing episode but it's an entertaining watch. In the episode, Cartman inherits a million dollars and uses it to buy a failing amusement part. Kyle, shocked by Cartman's good fortune, begins to question his faith in God. His spiritual battle may not be extremely entertaining but it's an interesting watch.
4. "Fatbeard"- Ike is one of the best supporting characters in the show. His baby talk and adorable actions make for some good comic relief. One of his best episodes is "Fatbeard", a Season 13 episode in which Cartman leads a group of kids to Somalia so that they can become pirates. The mix-up that ensues proves to be highly entertaining.
5. "Pinewood Derby"- I just said that Ike was one of the best supporting characters, but the best one is Randy Marsh. He's an intelligent and educated man but yet incredibly stupid and blind. It makes for a very interesting combination. In this episode, Randy cheats to help Stan win the Pinewood Derby. What ensues is a very intrinsic plot that is among the best of Season 12.
6. "W.T.F."- WWE is not real wrestling. That may be hard for some people to understand but it's true. It makes for an interesting topic in this episode. The boys develop their own backyard wrestling league which develops a nice fan following. This episode is creative, funny, and insightful, making it a good watch.
7. "Margaritaville"- This Emmy-nominated episode is also in Season 12. South Park has a lot of political satires but this is one of their few economic satires. This particular episode focuses on the miserable state of the U.S. economy. Once again, Randy Marsh steaks the spotlight.
8. "Hell on Earth 2006"- This Season 10 episode isn't one that stands out but is still a noteworthy one. In it, Satan throws a Halloween party that he wants to be legendary. He enlists the help of murderers such as John Gacy, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer. The best part of the episode: the interaction between Biggie Small and Butters.
9. "The Losing Edge"- Little League is a big part of a lot of kids in America. But for the kids in South Park, it's a total drag and waste of their summer. So imagine their disappointment when they make it to the state championship. It soon becomes a matter of which team wants to lose more.
10. "Free Willzyx"- Sometimes, all the boys want to do is help someone/something out. That's what they set out to do in "Free Willzyx" but the whole mission is a little off from the start. Though the episode has a very somber end, it's still a good watch.
Know any other good episodes? Comment and let me know.
1. Pandemic series- This series from Season 12 isn't one of the most memorable series, but it sure is a good one. In this series, an unspeakable horror is unleashed and it is up to our heroes to stop it. One of the best parts of this series is Randy's attempt to document the footage, something that just leads to some funny moments. Another interesting part of the show: it features Craig, someone who we don't see a lot. He's not interesting enough to be a main character, but he is a good supporting character.
2. "Breast Cancer Show Ever"- The episode before the Pandemic series, "Breast Cancer Show Ever" is about well, breast cancer. More specifically, it's a spoof on how breast cancer is perceived by the public. In the episode, Wendy tries to raise awareness for breast cancer but is mocked by Cartman. The fight that ensues is one of the most memorable in South Park history.
3. "Cartmanland"- This Season 5 episode is very underrated and almost never shows up on best episode lists. It's not an amazing episode but it's an entertaining watch. In the episode, Cartman inherits a million dollars and uses it to buy a failing amusement part. Kyle, shocked by Cartman's good fortune, begins to question his faith in God. His spiritual battle may not be extremely entertaining but it's an interesting watch.
4. "Fatbeard"- Ike is one of the best supporting characters in the show. His baby talk and adorable actions make for some good comic relief. One of his best episodes is "Fatbeard", a Season 13 episode in which Cartman leads a group of kids to Somalia so that they can become pirates. The mix-up that ensues proves to be highly entertaining.
5. "Pinewood Derby"- I just said that Ike was one of the best supporting characters, but the best one is Randy Marsh. He's an intelligent and educated man but yet incredibly stupid and blind. It makes for a very interesting combination. In this episode, Randy cheats to help Stan win the Pinewood Derby. What ensues is a very intrinsic plot that is among the best of Season 12.
6. "W.T.F."- WWE is not real wrestling. That may be hard for some people to understand but it's true. It makes for an interesting topic in this episode. The boys develop their own backyard wrestling league which develops a nice fan following. This episode is creative, funny, and insightful, making it a good watch.
7. "Margaritaville"- This Emmy-nominated episode is also in Season 12. South Park has a lot of political satires but this is one of their few economic satires. This particular episode focuses on the miserable state of the U.S. economy. Once again, Randy Marsh steaks the spotlight.
8. "Hell on Earth 2006"- This Season 10 episode isn't one that stands out but is still a noteworthy one. In it, Satan throws a Halloween party that he wants to be legendary. He enlists the help of murderers such as John Gacy, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer. The best part of the episode: the interaction between Biggie Small and Butters.
9. "The Losing Edge"- Little League is a big part of a lot of kids in America. But for the kids in South Park, it's a total drag and waste of their summer. So imagine their disappointment when they make it to the state championship. It soon becomes a matter of which team wants to lose more.
10. "Free Willzyx"- Sometimes, all the boys want to do is help someone/something out. That's what they set out to do in "Free Willzyx" but the whole mission is a little off from the start. Though the episode has a very somber end, it's still a good watch.
Know any other good episodes? Comment and let me know.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
10 TV Shows That Ended Too Soon
The small screen industry is a tough world. For those who succeed, it can be very rewarding. Unfortunately, most do not. The road to TV stardom is a tough one. Most potential TV shows do not get studio approval to make a pilot. The shows that do get on the air must make sure they have good enough ratings and critical acclaim to stay on the air. Unfortunately, most new shows last one season or less. Like I said before, it's a brutal business. In this article, we'll look at ten shows that were cancelled too soon. Since the line-up for the fall was recently announced, we'll be emphasizing shows that were cancelled recently.
1. The Crazy Ones- This CBS comedy starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar was cancelled this month after just one season. The show had mixed reviews and decent ratings, but the cast was talented and it seemed as if the show was going somewhere. There is no word yet if another studio will pick it up, but it could happen.
2. Friends With Better Lives- Debuting at the end of March 2014, this show was cancelled after only six episodes. Originally seen as a potential replacement to the fan-favorite How I Met Your Mother, which ended the same day Friends With Better Lives first aired, the show received mixed ratings and wasn't a huge hit with fans. This is another show with a great cast, including Kevin Connolly and Brooklyn Decker. The show didn't look like it had long-term potential from the start, but at least two or three seasons would have been nice.
3. Blue Mountain State- The show about life at a college football powerhouse had three seasons from 2010-2011. Despite the limited run, the show developed a massive fan following. Rumors flew that there would be a fourth season, but it was announced in 2012 that the show would not have another season. A BMS movie was announced in April this year, but no word yet on when it will be released.
4. Trophy Wife- I'm sure most of you haven't heard of this show, but I can assure you, it was a good one. It's only season aired from 2013-2014 before ABC gave it the axe. Malin Ackerman starred as Kate Harrison, the third wife to a lawyer with three kids already. The show revolved around her transition from party girl to married woman, a story that could definitely have been squeezed a little more.
5. We Are Men- I personally guarantee that none of you watched more than two episodes of this show. Why? Because only two episodes aired, that's why. CBS pulled the plug on the show after low ratings and low reviews. Starring guys like Tony Shalhoub and Kal Penn, the show was envisioned as a possible heir to Two and a Half Men. Granted, the show wasn't too great, and the end was in sight almost immediately, but would two more episodes have been so bad?
6. Go On- Ever since Friends ended, Matthew Perry has had a little difficulty in the TV biz. There was Mr. Sunshine, which got cancelled after nine episodes, The End of Steve didn't even get a pilot, and then there was Go On. Perry played the role of Ryan King, a radio personality who just lost his wife. The show focuses on his healing process as well as his interactions with the members of his group therapy. After only one season, the show was axed. A group therapy show isn't going to get far, but it could at least go for two seasons.
7. Almost Human- This science-fiction show ran on Fox from November 2013 to March 2014. Not only did it have some critical acclaim, but the show generated a massive online fan following. It doesn't seem as if the work of the fans changed anything, but it was nice to see some support for the show. In the show, Karl Urban starred as a lone-wolf cop forced to pair with an android. From the very beginning, the future of the show was mapped out, and it would have been nice to see how it unfolded. There are rumors that another channel may pick up the show, but no official word.
8. Men at Work- This TBS comedy starring Danny Masterson got the axe this year after three seasons on the air. Masterson and the three other main cast members worked at a magazine. The show revolved around their work and personal lives. It's by no means an original recipe, but it worked out well. Throughout the three seasons, it continued to entertain and bring on new storylines. A fourth season was necessary just so everything could get tied up.
9. Awake- This NBC thriller was heralded with quite a bit of fanfare when it first aired. Jason Isaacs played a detective with LAPD who lives in two separate realities. The premise of the show is based on the two realities, and how they are connected yet different. The show did not have great ratings, but it had a lot of critical and popular acclaim. Fans created a "Save Awake" campaign, but it failed. The main reason this show deserved better: it's complex and convoluted plot. 13 episodes certainly did not do it justice.
10. Are You There, Chelsea?- Another NBC show that was cancelled in 2012, Are You There, Chelsea? was based on a book by Chelsea Handler 2008. The show wasn't incredibly popular, didn't receive great ratings, and wasn't loved by critics. So why did it deserve another season? Simple, the show had potential. With the right casting and storylines, it could have gone on to become a fan-favorite.
Know any other shows that got cancelled too early? Comment and let me know.
1. The Crazy Ones- This CBS comedy starring Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar was cancelled this month after just one season. The show had mixed reviews and decent ratings, but the cast was talented and it seemed as if the show was going somewhere. There is no word yet if another studio will pick it up, but it could happen.
2. Friends With Better Lives- Debuting at the end of March 2014, this show was cancelled after only six episodes. Originally seen as a potential replacement to the fan-favorite How I Met Your Mother, which ended the same day Friends With Better Lives first aired, the show received mixed ratings and wasn't a huge hit with fans. This is another show with a great cast, including Kevin Connolly and Brooklyn Decker. The show didn't look like it had long-term potential from the start, but at least two or three seasons would have been nice.
3. Blue Mountain State- The show about life at a college football powerhouse had three seasons from 2010-2011. Despite the limited run, the show developed a massive fan following. Rumors flew that there would be a fourth season, but it was announced in 2012 that the show would not have another season. A BMS movie was announced in April this year, but no word yet on when it will be released.
4. Trophy Wife- I'm sure most of you haven't heard of this show, but I can assure you, it was a good one. It's only season aired from 2013-2014 before ABC gave it the axe. Malin Ackerman starred as Kate Harrison, the third wife to a lawyer with three kids already. The show revolved around her transition from party girl to married woman, a story that could definitely have been squeezed a little more.
5. We Are Men- I personally guarantee that none of you watched more than two episodes of this show. Why? Because only two episodes aired, that's why. CBS pulled the plug on the show after low ratings and low reviews. Starring guys like Tony Shalhoub and Kal Penn, the show was envisioned as a possible heir to Two and a Half Men. Granted, the show wasn't too great, and the end was in sight almost immediately, but would two more episodes have been so bad?
6. Go On- Ever since Friends ended, Matthew Perry has had a little difficulty in the TV biz. There was Mr. Sunshine, which got cancelled after nine episodes, The End of Steve didn't even get a pilot, and then there was Go On. Perry played the role of Ryan King, a radio personality who just lost his wife. The show focuses on his healing process as well as his interactions with the members of his group therapy. After only one season, the show was axed. A group therapy show isn't going to get far, but it could at least go for two seasons.
7. Almost Human- This science-fiction show ran on Fox from November 2013 to March 2014. Not only did it have some critical acclaim, but the show generated a massive online fan following. It doesn't seem as if the work of the fans changed anything, but it was nice to see some support for the show. In the show, Karl Urban starred as a lone-wolf cop forced to pair with an android. From the very beginning, the future of the show was mapped out, and it would have been nice to see how it unfolded. There are rumors that another channel may pick up the show, but no official word.
8. Men at Work- This TBS comedy starring Danny Masterson got the axe this year after three seasons on the air. Masterson and the three other main cast members worked at a magazine. The show revolved around their work and personal lives. It's by no means an original recipe, but it worked out well. Throughout the three seasons, it continued to entertain and bring on new storylines. A fourth season was necessary just so everything could get tied up.
9. Awake- This NBC thriller was heralded with quite a bit of fanfare when it first aired. Jason Isaacs played a detective with LAPD who lives in two separate realities. The premise of the show is based on the two realities, and how they are connected yet different. The show did not have great ratings, but it had a lot of critical and popular acclaim. Fans created a "Save Awake" campaign, but it failed. The main reason this show deserved better: it's complex and convoluted plot. 13 episodes certainly did not do it justice.
10. Are You There, Chelsea?- Another NBC show that was cancelled in 2012, Are You There, Chelsea? was based on a book by Chelsea Handler 2008. The show wasn't incredibly popular, didn't receive great ratings, and wasn't loved by critics. So why did it deserve another season? Simple, the show had potential. With the right casting and storylines, it could have gone on to become a fan-favorite.
Know any other shows that got cancelled too early? Comment and let me know.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
20 Great South Park Episodes Part 1
In my last article, I listed the ten best episodes of South Park ever made. While making the list, I felt bad for having to leave out some episodes that are truly great but not good enough to make the top ten. I considered making it a top 20 list, but felt that would ruin the point of the whole article. The goal was to name the ten best episodes, not identify all the good ones. That would take weeks. Instead, I decided to write another article about twenty great South Park episodes. They may not be the best, but they sure are good. In this article I'll write about ten and write about the next ten in my next article. Of course, there are SPOILERS, so be careful.
1. "Woodland Critter Christmas"- The last episode of Season 8, this is one of the best South Park episodes ever. Some people told me that I should have included this along with the Imaginationland series in my previous articles ("10 Best South Park Episodes Ever"), but I feel it's a good enough episode to stand alone. The 200 series got the tie-in to "Scott Tenorman Must Die" because it is too critical to the series's plot. Both "Woodland Critter Christmas" and the Imaginationland series can be seen as seperate entities because they do not need to be supported by the other. This episode just missed my top ten after losing out to the Coon series. This episode turns out to be nothing more than a story by Cartman, but the plot is too good to ignore.
2. "Good Times With Weapons"- From the last episode of Season 8 to the first, you can find this episode on some best episode lists, but it didn't make the cut here. The best parts of this episode are the fight sequences, which are shown in traditional anime style. Changing up the norm doesn't always work, but here it did. The ending sequence was also pretty great.
3. "Medicinal Fried Chicken"- In an poll on southparkstudios.com, fans voted this episode as the best of Season 14. The episode, which deals with the legalization of marijuana, focuses primarily on Randy Marsh and Cartman. It's usually a lot of fun to see Randy in a prominent role, he's an intelligent man but also dim-witted. Another thing that makes this episode stand out: a shockingly sobering moment towards the end of the episode.
4. "Super Fun Time"- The seventh episode of Season 12 is one of the most underrated in South Park history. There is no real underlying message, but it doesn't matter. Like in "The Death of Eric Cartman", the comedic duo of Cartman and Butters really shines. It also highlights the relationship between Stan and Wendy, which we don't get to see to often.
5. "Kenny Dies"- This is easily one of the most depressing episodes of South Park. The episode came about when Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the creators of the show) decided to kill off Kenny permanently and make Butters a main character. Without this episode, we would never have had the classic "Butters' Very Own Episode". Of course, Kenny was brought back, but at the time, this was supposed to be it for him. It resulted in a very somber episode that moved us all.
6. "Fun with Veal"- This is one of the Season 6 episodes in which Butters replaced Kenny as a main character (see previous entry). He provides some comic effect in this episode that Kenny could not have pulled off. Though all four main characters work as a team here (something that is surprisingly uncommon), Cartman steals the episode with his great negotiating skills. Cartman is typically a total jerk, so it was nice to see him work with the others. That's something that should happen more often.
7. "Lil' Crime Stoppers"- The fifth episode of Season 7, this episode is well-liked but generally underrated. The plot focuses on the four boys playing detective, and what happens when things get out of hand. The Park County Police Force show up in this episode, something that should happen more often. This episode highlights the fact that the four main characters are just kids, something we sometimes forget.
8. "Christian Rock Hard"- Three episodes after "Lil' Crime Stoppers" came "Christian Rock Hard", one of the best episodes of Season 7. In this episode, Cartman and Kyle have a bet to see who can make a platinum album first. Cartman forms a Christian rock band with Token and Butters while Kyle is distracted by the FBI. The satirical takes on downloading music illegally and the world of Christian music are pretty great.
9. "Pre-School"- This Season 8 episode shows what our favorite animated fourth graders were like when they were fourth-graders. In the episode, it is revealed that Stan, Cartman, Kyle, Kenny, and Butters were involved in an incident that took place five years ago. They let another kid take the fall, resulting in that kid going to Juvie. Now, that kid, Trent Boyett, has been released and he is looking for revenge.
10. "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow"- A spoof on the movie The Day After Tomorrow, this episode aired in Season 8. It's a huge fan favorite and gave a great satirical take on the climate change debate. In the episode, Stan and Cartman destroy a beaver dam, leading to the flooding of a nearby city. While the whole city's response to the impending disaster of global warming, it is the reporting of the news channel that makes this episode so entertaining.
As you can see, South Park has a plethora of good episodes. In a future article, I'll list even more great episodes.
1. "Woodland Critter Christmas"- The last episode of Season 8, this is one of the best South Park episodes ever. Some people told me that I should have included this along with the Imaginationland series in my previous articles ("10 Best South Park Episodes Ever"), but I feel it's a good enough episode to stand alone. The 200 series got the tie-in to "Scott Tenorman Must Die" because it is too critical to the series's plot. Both "Woodland Critter Christmas" and the Imaginationland series can be seen as seperate entities because they do not need to be supported by the other. This episode just missed my top ten after losing out to the Coon series. This episode turns out to be nothing more than a story by Cartman, but the plot is too good to ignore.
2. "Good Times With Weapons"- From the last episode of Season 8 to the first, you can find this episode on some best episode lists, but it didn't make the cut here. The best parts of this episode are the fight sequences, which are shown in traditional anime style. Changing up the norm doesn't always work, but here it did. The ending sequence was also pretty great.
3. "Medicinal Fried Chicken"- In an poll on southparkstudios.com, fans voted this episode as the best of Season 14. The episode, which deals with the legalization of marijuana, focuses primarily on Randy Marsh and Cartman. It's usually a lot of fun to see Randy in a prominent role, he's an intelligent man but also dim-witted. Another thing that makes this episode stand out: a shockingly sobering moment towards the end of the episode.
4. "Super Fun Time"- The seventh episode of Season 12 is one of the most underrated in South Park history. There is no real underlying message, but it doesn't matter. Like in "The Death of Eric Cartman", the comedic duo of Cartman and Butters really shines. It also highlights the relationship between Stan and Wendy, which we don't get to see to often.
5. "Kenny Dies"- This is easily one of the most depressing episodes of South Park. The episode came about when Trey Parker and Matt Stone (the creators of the show) decided to kill off Kenny permanently and make Butters a main character. Without this episode, we would never have had the classic "Butters' Very Own Episode". Of course, Kenny was brought back, but at the time, this was supposed to be it for him. It resulted in a very somber episode that moved us all.
6. "Fun with Veal"- This is one of the Season 6 episodes in which Butters replaced Kenny as a main character (see previous entry). He provides some comic effect in this episode that Kenny could not have pulled off. Though all four main characters work as a team here (something that is surprisingly uncommon), Cartman steals the episode with his great negotiating skills. Cartman is typically a total jerk, so it was nice to see him work with the others. That's something that should happen more often.
7. "Lil' Crime Stoppers"- The fifth episode of Season 7, this episode is well-liked but generally underrated. The plot focuses on the four boys playing detective, and what happens when things get out of hand. The Park County Police Force show up in this episode, something that should happen more often. This episode highlights the fact that the four main characters are just kids, something we sometimes forget.
8. "Christian Rock Hard"- Three episodes after "Lil' Crime Stoppers" came "Christian Rock Hard", one of the best episodes of Season 7. In this episode, Cartman and Kyle have a bet to see who can make a platinum album first. Cartman forms a Christian rock band with Token and Butters while Kyle is distracted by the FBI. The satirical takes on downloading music illegally and the world of Christian music are pretty great.
9. "Pre-School"- This Season 8 episode shows what our favorite animated fourth graders were like when they were fourth-graders. In the episode, it is revealed that Stan, Cartman, Kyle, Kenny, and Butters were involved in an incident that took place five years ago. They let another kid take the fall, resulting in that kid going to Juvie. Now, that kid, Trent Boyett, has been released and he is looking for revenge.
10. "Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow"- A spoof on the movie The Day After Tomorrow, this episode aired in Season 8. It's a huge fan favorite and gave a great satirical take on the climate change debate. In the episode, Stan and Cartman destroy a beaver dam, leading to the flooding of a nearby city. While the whole city's response to the impending disaster of global warming, it is the reporting of the news channel that makes this episode so entertaining.
As you can see, South Park has a plethora of good episodes. In a future article, I'll list even more great episodes.
Monday, May 12, 2014
10 Best South Park Episodes Ever
Depending on who you ask, South Park is either an annoying show with high-pitched voices or a highly entertaining show. No matter what their answer, it's hard to deny that South Park is truly a brilliant show. In its 17 seasons so far, the show has tackled issues such as the Lance Armstrong doping scandal, the Trayvon Martin case, illegal immigration, global warming, and animal rights. Though they haven't always hit the mark, sometimes they hit the bullseye, then split that arrow right down the middle. In this article, we look at the ten best South Park episodes ever made. Note: I'll be treating a series of episodes as one episode (example: "Pandemic" and "Pandemic 2: The Startling" becomes the Pandemic series). This is because it's hard to treat each episode in a series as an individual, as it's supported by the other episode/s in its series. Another note: there are some SPOILERS, so be careful if you haven't watched all the episodes.
10. Coon Series- This series comprises of four episodes: Season 13's "The Coon" as well as "Coon 2: Hindsight", "Mysterion Rises", and "Coon vs. Coon & Friends" from Season 14. Individually, these episodes are good, but together they are fantastic. The whole story develops incredibly well and is incredibly entertaining. But the main reason the series is on this list: Mysterion. This masked superhero is Kenny's alter ego, and is one of the best characters in the show's history. We've never really got a chance to see Kenny being characterized outside of this series, which is a disappointment.
9. "The Last of the Meheecans"- One of the most underrated episodes in South Park history. This was the 9th episode of Season 15, and was the first episode after the two You're Old episodes. Those were a bit depressing and unsettling, "The Last of the Meheecans" went in a totally different direction. The writers ignored what happened in the previous two episodes, and it worked out very well. It's not as if this episode was really funny or anything, it just proved to be quite good. The main reason it makes this list is because it changed the direction the show seemed to be heading.
8. "Butters' Very Own Episode"- This was the finale of Season 6. In the previous episode, Kenny died, and this was seen as a permanent thing. The writers wanted to focus on secondary characters, such as Butters. The whole purpose of this episode was to set up Butters becoming a main character. In the end, Butters did not become a main character, but the episode was still excellent. The writers previously did a whole episode on a secondary character. That was "Pip", which turned out to be kind of a dud. This episode on the other hand, was great.
7. "Casa Bonita"- The eleventh episode of Season 7, this is an episode commonly seen on South Park's best episode lists. Why? It's a highly entertaining episode that features a great plot. In the episode, Kyle decides to have his birthday party at Casa Bonita, a place Cartman loves. Unfortunately for Cartman, Kyle invites Butters over him. Desperate to go to Casa Bonita, Cartman cooks up an elaborate scheme to make sure Butters will be unable to go. When it's all said and done, the storyline of this episode is excellent.
6. "The Death of Eric Cartman"- Some may consider it to be a bit of a stretch to call this episode one of the best ever, but it certainly deserves strong consideration. In this episode, the boys decide to ignore Cartman. Cartman however, believes instead that he has died, and is now wandering the Earth as a ghost. There was no real underlying message here, but it didn't need one. The plot more than made up for it. Also, the team of Cartman and Butters is truly comedic.
5. "Butters' Bottom Bitch"- Another episode that stars young Butters Stotch, and another fan favorite. In this episode, we see Butters come of age after he receives his first kiss. It's fun to see Butters transform, yet have him keep his innocent, child-like side. The ninth episode of Season 13, this episode highlighted just how different Butter is from all the other kids in South Park.
4. "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers"- The thirteenth episode of Season 6, this episode has one of the best plots of any South Park episode. Cartman, Kyle, and Stan are asked by Stan's parents to go deliver a movie to Butters's house. This spirals into an out-of-control adventure that involves horny sixth graders, kids playing Harry Potter, and a hardcore adult film. Elegant, yet still a little simple.
3. "Make Love Not Warcraft"- The eight episode of Season 10, this is easily one of the best episodes in South Park history. One thing that sets it apart is it most of the real action takes place in the World of Warcraft, rather than the town of South Park. The plot is also pretty interesting. The four boys play World of Warcraft for days on end in order to level up and defeat a very experienced player. In the end however, it is Randy Marsh who saves the day.
2. Imagionationland Series- The series combination really comes into play here. The three episodes in this series are "Imaginationland", "Imaginationland, Episode II", and "Imaginationland, Episode III" from Episode 11. These are all great episodes, especially the last one, but together they are unbelievable. This is South Park at its finest. A completely original idea, great storylines, and laugh-out-loud hilarious.
1. "Scott Tenorman Must Die" and 200 Series- Make no mistake about it: "Scott Tenorman Must Die" is the greatest South Park episode ever, it's not even close. But of course, you can't think of this episode without thinking of the infamous 200 series (made up of "200" and "201"). These episodes are very controversial, and as a result, hard to find. They're not great episodes, but their link with 'Scott Tenorman Must Die" propels them to the top of this list. If you haven't watched these episodes yet, it is strongly, strongly recommended.
Think I forgot an episode or ranked one too high? Comment and let me know.
10. Coon Series- This series comprises of four episodes: Season 13's "The Coon" as well as "Coon 2: Hindsight", "Mysterion Rises", and "Coon vs. Coon & Friends" from Season 14. Individually, these episodes are good, but together they are fantastic. The whole story develops incredibly well and is incredibly entertaining. But the main reason the series is on this list: Mysterion. This masked superhero is Kenny's alter ego, and is one of the best characters in the show's history. We've never really got a chance to see Kenny being characterized outside of this series, which is a disappointment.
9. "The Last of the Meheecans"- One of the most underrated episodes in South Park history. This was the 9th episode of Season 15, and was the first episode after the two You're Old episodes. Those were a bit depressing and unsettling, "The Last of the Meheecans" went in a totally different direction. The writers ignored what happened in the previous two episodes, and it worked out very well. It's not as if this episode was really funny or anything, it just proved to be quite good. The main reason it makes this list is because it changed the direction the show seemed to be heading.
8. "Butters' Very Own Episode"- This was the finale of Season 6. In the previous episode, Kenny died, and this was seen as a permanent thing. The writers wanted to focus on secondary characters, such as Butters. The whole purpose of this episode was to set up Butters becoming a main character. In the end, Butters did not become a main character, but the episode was still excellent. The writers previously did a whole episode on a secondary character. That was "Pip", which turned out to be kind of a dud. This episode on the other hand, was great.
7. "Casa Bonita"- The eleventh episode of Season 7, this is an episode commonly seen on South Park's best episode lists. Why? It's a highly entertaining episode that features a great plot. In the episode, Kyle decides to have his birthday party at Casa Bonita, a place Cartman loves. Unfortunately for Cartman, Kyle invites Butters over him. Desperate to go to Casa Bonita, Cartman cooks up an elaborate scheme to make sure Butters will be unable to go. When it's all said and done, the storyline of this episode is excellent.
6. "The Death of Eric Cartman"- Some may consider it to be a bit of a stretch to call this episode one of the best ever, but it certainly deserves strong consideration. In this episode, the boys decide to ignore Cartman. Cartman however, believes instead that he has died, and is now wandering the Earth as a ghost. There was no real underlying message here, but it didn't need one. The plot more than made up for it. Also, the team of Cartman and Butters is truly comedic.
5. "Butters' Bottom Bitch"- Another episode that stars young Butters Stotch, and another fan favorite. In this episode, we see Butters come of age after he receives his first kiss. It's fun to see Butters transform, yet have him keep his innocent, child-like side. The ninth episode of Season 13, this episode highlighted just how different Butter is from all the other kids in South Park.
4. "The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers"- The thirteenth episode of Season 6, this episode has one of the best plots of any South Park episode. Cartman, Kyle, and Stan are asked by Stan's parents to go deliver a movie to Butters's house. This spirals into an out-of-control adventure that involves horny sixth graders, kids playing Harry Potter, and a hardcore adult film. Elegant, yet still a little simple.
3. "Make Love Not Warcraft"- The eight episode of Season 10, this is easily one of the best episodes in South Park history. One thing that sets it apart is it most of the real action takes place in the World of Warcraft, rather than the town of South Park. The plot is also pretty interesting. The four boys play World of Warcraft for days on end in order to level up and defeat a very experienced player. In the end however, it is Randy Marsh who saves the day.
2. Imagionationland Series- The series combination really comes into play here. The three episodes in this series are "Imaginationland", "Imaginationland, Episode II", and "Imaginationland, Episode III" from Episode 11. These are all great episodes, especially the last one, but together they are unbelievable. This is South Park at its finest. A completely original idea, great storylines, and laugh-out-loud hilarious.
1. "Scott Tenorman Must Die" and 200 Series- Make no mistake about it: "Scott Tenorman Must Die" is the greatest South Park episode ever, it's not even close. But of course, you can't think of this episode without thinking of the infamous 200 series (made up of "200" and "201"). These episodes are very controversial, and as a result, hard to find. They're not great episodes, but their link with 'Scott Tenorman Must Die" propels them to the top of this list. If you haven't watched these episodes yet, it is strongly, strongly recommended.
Think I forgot an episode or ranked one too high? Comment and let me know.
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