NBC is the Hero We, and "Brooklyn 99", Needed All Along

That'll do peacock, That'll do.

Friday Fox cancelled 3 great shows, most notably, “Brooklyn 99”. Later, like a kick to the chest, Fox un cancels a shit show like “Last Man Standing”, seemingly right after canceling one of their best shows. This made us fans even more upset.

Assholes.

Then, like a god damn eagle, NBC came in and swooped it up for a sixth season. This is thrilling news for me as a tv fan, and a fan of “Brooklyn 99”. This really does prove, in this day and age of social media being so prevalent and important, that fans have a voice. I went on pretty much all social media platforms Friday, and there was a large, humongous number of people expressing their feelings. It was nice to see so many other people who felt just like I did by this news. After hearing news that Hulu or Netflix might pick up “Brooklyn 99”, the rumors died down, and I had pretty much given up on a revival. But, NBC stepped in and, metaphorically, saved the day.

When I look at it now, “Brooklyn 99” seems like it should have always been on NBC. First off, it is a Mike Schur show. NBC has been his place to put his genius shows out to the world. He was involved in the American “Office”. He was a creator of “Parks and Rec”. He has hit another home run with “The Good Place”, and they have/are all on NBC. The fact that “Brooklyn 99” was on Fox never really seemed right. Now, it’s home. It’s at a network that will let them take chances. Schur pretty much has carte blanche at the network. He has made them a ton of money. Then, as my wife pointed out, the cast, and NBC, just fit perfectly. Samberg is from “SNL”. Joe Lo Truglio has that improv potential that NBC let’s flourish. Chelsea Peretti is one of Schur’s former writers. Melissa Fumero and Stephanie Beatriz have been on shows on bigger networks than Fox, so NBC will be a piece of cake. Terry Crews can fit in anywhere, especially on “Brooklyn 99”. And Andre Braugher, as Captain Holt, he would shine on any network.

As I said, this is too perfect a pairing. It makes so much sense. I’ve read that NBC had a chance to take it at first, but passed. They should be thrilled to have it back. To get that second chance. I’m so happy by this news. I feel like the show is going to only get better from here on out on NBC.

NBC is the rightful home for “Brooklyn 99” and the cast. This is a match like no other. Screw you Fox, and thank you NBC. You’ve proved, once again, to be the much better 21st century company. What a coup. I cannot wait for season 6.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is now going to try and use social media to revive other shows cancelled far too soon. How about another chance for the animated classic "Clone High"? Your move NBC.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Fox Network Does Not Like Quality Television Programming

No Fox because this cat only likes good tv

Yesterday the Fox network brought the hammer down on three seemingly popular shows.

"The Mick" was one. I never watched this show, but I knew people that did, and they seemed to really like it. I'm pretty sure Kaitlin Olsen was great as the lead too. I never watched it, but maybe I will check it out on some streaming device soon.

The second was "Last Man on Earth". I loved this show from day one. I am a big time Will Forte fan, and I was very into what he was doing with a post apocalyptic show. He made it funny and charming. The cast, who would join him from episode to episode, was pretty great. Mary Steenburgen, Mel Rodriguez, Kristen Schaal, January Jones and Cleopatra Coleman were all very good in their roles. The spot guests were good too. I'm not a big Kristin Wiig fan, but she was good on this show. Jason Sudeikis was funny. I liked any special guest they brought on. I also loved the flow of the show. As I said, it is a post apocalyptic show, where almost everyone has been killed off by a mysterious virus, but the people involved made it funny. The pilot episode is one of the best things I have seen on TV. Seeing Forte, all alone for the majority of the episode, make friends with sports balls, travel around and take whatever he wanted and almost end his life, until he saw smoke, was such a treat. From there, I thought the show only got more interesting. There were times where it felt repetitive, but the cast always made me come back. "Last Man on Earth" is the type of show that will be much more appreciated in 10 years. My kids will watch it when they are older and tell me how much they like it. It will age nicely.

The most egregious cancellation made by Fox was giving "Brooklyn 99" the axe. This show was so perfect in so many ways. This was a show that was becoming as important to me as "The Simpsons". I looked forward to watching it every Sunday night. I am a big time Andy Samberg fan, and this was the perfect role for him after "SNL". I also love Mike Schur, and this came from him and his company. They created a perfect comedy cop show. And, besides Samberg the cast was what made this show so awesome. Terry Crews was amazing on the show. He was so good as the loving husband, caring father and sergeant of the cop squad in Brooklyn. He had some of the best jokes on the show. Chelsea Peretti was so great as the monotone, phone obsessed and self obsessed office worker. The stories of her dancing, her takedowns of her enemies, when she got pregnant, pretty much everything she did, it was all hilarious. She was one of the funniest people on the show. Melissa Fumero, a former soap opera actress, really shined as Amy, the uptight, goody goody police officer. She was always looking for a way to get her bosses praise, and she would go lengths to get noticed. Then, when her character started dating Jake, Andy Samberg, she took on a whole new side, and I loved it. She was wonderful. Stephanie Beatriz, as Rosa, was a total badass, and totally awesome. She was so cool. She had the coolest stuff on the show. She was always doing what was best for her, but would help out when she needed too. She was so great. Jo Lo Truglio was awesome as well. He was Jake's buddy. He was always looking for Jake's affection. But, as the show grew, so did he. He found a wife, had a kid, opened his own food truck and got to throw Jake an awesome bachelor party. He was still the "buddy cop", but he made it his own, and he was great. Andy Samberg, who I have mentioned a few times already, was so perfectly cast as Jake. He was an action movie junkie that assumed the movies were true, and that would be what being a cop was like. While it wasn't always like that, Jake made it fun. Also, the stuff with Amy was great. The stuff with his folks was great. The way he keeps the crew together was great. Everything he did was great. Jake was awesome.

You can probably tell that I think this actors are pretty good, but Andre Braugher, as Captain Holt, was the absolute star of this show. His dry wit, facial expressions, his monotone voice, his one liners, his enemy, his love for his cops, his love for his husband and dog, just everything he did was tremendous. Braugher was amazing on the show. I will miss him most of all. In fact, last night after I heard the news, I went on YouTube and watched clips of Captain Holt delivering his best jokes, and it was amazing.

I'm so annoyed and angry at Fox for cancelling this show. I have heard rumors that some streaming devices are trying to get the rights to it, and that would be great. But, for Fox to cancel one of its most critically acclaimed, and best shows, is so stupid. This is utterly ridiculous, and I am legitimately angry at this news. What a dumb decision, and I hope Fox gets all the bad things they deserve for doing this. The fact that they are keeping their news network and getting rid of these three shows, shows they don't care about the fans, they only care about money. What a crock. This is a mockery. Bring "Brooklyn 99" back.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is even more angry to learn that Fox is replacing these shows with the already cancelled Tim Allen vehicle "Last Man Standing". Welcome to the end of great Fox programming. 

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

SeedSing's Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Television Programs: Day 20 - "King of the Hill: Pretty, Pretty Dresses"

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a new awesome holiday television program for every day of Advent. This is the greatest tv of the season. Enjoy.

Day 20 "King of the Hill - Pretty, Pretty, Dresses"

Original air date - December 15th, 1998 

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen,  Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen

We will stand by our good friends through almost anything, at any time of the year. These people became our best friends because they did something that made our lives better. Sometimes it is the little things, like sitting nest to you at lunch in the second grade when no one else would, or standing up for you when a bigger kid was being a bully. Maybe you were on the same sports team, and this particular friend was blocking the opposing team as you got all the glory. They took some big hits for you, and you will in turn take some big hits for them.

King of the Hill is the often forgotten Fox Animated show that aired alongside the early years of The Simpsons.  King of the Hill was centered on Hank Hill, his family, and his group of best friends. Nearly every week, Hank's existence would be upset by the misadventures of his wife Peggy, his son Bobby, or one of his alleyway drinking buddies. Even if he hesitated, Hank would always try to do the right thing, because that is what you do for friends and family.

The season three episode "Pretty, Pretty, Dresses" takes place Christmastime in Arlen Texas. The Hills are planning their annual holiday party, and Hank's sad sack friend Bill is feeling down. Bill's wife Lenore left him on Christmas many years ago, and he is not over the separation. Bill embarrasses the Hill's a few times with his mental agony, until Peggy finally decides that Bill is not welcome at the party. 

Hank attempts to help his friend out by destroying the lot of old gifts Bill has left for Lenore. This causes Bill to seemingly get better, until the next day when Hank sees his friend outside wearing a dress. Hank is not at all comfortable with this, and asks Bill what in the hell is going on. Bill is not Bill, he is Lenore. Hank's friend has lost his mind.

Through this struggle, Hank goes above and beyond to try and shield his friend from ridicule. Hank explains to the family that Bill blocked for him when they both played football at Arlen High. Bill's blocking helped Hank set the season record for rushing yards. When Bill shows up to the Hill's holiday party as Lenore, Hank is left with only one choice. As the crowd mocks and laughs at Bill, Hank emerges from his bedroom in a dress. He went above and beyond his own comfort to help a friend. Once outside, Hank gets Bill to finally understand that Lenore is gone and it is time to move on. Bill takes off the dress and thanks Hank for being a good friend.

The holidays are not an easy time for a lot of people. We may be filled with joy, while our friends are on the edge of a nervous breakdown. The best we can do is find a way to reach to these freinds and to let them no know we will do almost anything to get them back to good spirits. They were pushing opoosing players out of the way so we can reach glory, wearing a dress is the least we can do for them.

RD

RD Kulik is the Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He has been sad, and he has worn a dress, but never at the same time.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

"Hell's Kitchen" is Still Trashy, and Still Awesome

I have seen this donkey make a better risotto than the "Hell's Kitchen" chefs

I watch a lot of cooking shows. I've blogged about some, Ina Garten's and "Top Chef" to name a few. But, my wife and I have recently been watching the trashiest, sleaziest and downright most hilarious cooking competition show I think has ever been created. We have been watching "Hell's Kitchen" on demand.

We have caught up on all our regular shows, so when we eat dinner we like to watch something light. We found "Hell's Kitchen" on Fox on demand, and we have fallen back in love with the show. We used to watch it when it was first on TV, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, but we didn't enjoy or understand the campiness of it back then. Now, we cannot get enough of the camp. Gordon Ramsey, who is a world renowned chef and restaurant owner has to be in on the joke that this show is. I love Gordon Ramsey. He is a very loud and boisterous guy, but even he has to know how ridiculous "Hell's Kitchen" truly is. I've ragged on "Top Chef" before, and I don't usually care for cooking competition shows, but at least most of the chefs on other shows are James Beard winners or nominees, or they have their own restaurants, or they're executive chefs, basically, they are well established.

What makes "Hell's Kitchen" so great is the contestants are competing to become a head chef at one of Ramsey's throw away restaurants in Las Vegas. They don't win money or a spread in a cooking magazine, they just get to go work long, tedious hours at a new, fancier restaurant than they worked at before, and it's in Las Vegas. That's so hilarious to me. What puts "Hell's Kitchen" over the top is the contestants. They are the most ignorant, grossest, shady, back stabbing, ugly in personality people that the executives at Fox could find. They are all line cooks for the most part. Now, I'm not denigrating line cooks, I tried it and I failed tremendously, but line cook is just one step above dishwasher in the restaurant industry. I know "Top Chef" is pompous and pretentious, but they wouldn't take a line cook if that was the last chef available. Hell, most cooking competition shows on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel would never take a line cook. They all want well established chefs that know what in the hell they are doing and chefs that can create new, exciting dishes.

That's another thing that I think is funny about "Hell's Kitchen", they still have the exact same menu as when my wife and I first watched it almost a decade ago. We turned it on the other night and I said, "I wonder if they are still making beef wellington", and wouldn't you know it, Chef Ramsey was yelling at someone for under cooking a beef wellington! I was cracking up! This caused my wife to say, "well, I bet they don't do snapper or risotto anymore, I'm sure they've gotten better fish and newer appetizers". Nope. The chefs are still under cooking risotto and burning the skin on snapper. The only thing they have really mixed up or done differently is the challenges. Sometimes, with the newer challenges, the chefs get to be a tad creative, but these chefs are so green, they never stray to far, and they end up doing something safe and easy.

The "chefs" are the absolute best. As I stated before, they are gross, both inside and out, but mainly on the inside. Even the "nice" people are total assholes. There is one nice guy, I think his name is Jarrad, and he just totally screwed over his only friend in the competition recently. The things these people say, on national television mind you, is appalling. They are constantly cursing each other out, constantly back stabbing one another, constantly blaming one another and never taking blame when they are clearly at fault. It's a whole show of people saying, "I did this because so and so was screwing up on something else, so I only messed up because this other person messed up. It's not my fault Chef Ramsey". A bunch of spineless competitors. The men on this show are the worst representation of meat heads that I've seen on TV. There was one guy in this particular season, his name is Frank, who always bad mouthed and talked down to any female competitor. He said, on way more than one occasion, "this is why you can't have women in the kitchen. They're terrible listeners and impossible to work with". I mean, how crazy and how sexist is that?! And Fox put in on the air! WTF! The women are not much better though, They talk behind each others backs. I've seen two girls get into a fist fight on the show. I've seen girls spit into another girls face. It's just all around gross, from both the men and the women.

This show is entertaining as hell. You know why it's entertaining? It's not the chefs and it's not the competition and it's not the back stabbing and double crossing, it's Chef Ramsey. He is so god damn good on the show. He knows that these chefs are the bottom of the barrel and he treats them that way. But, he also gives the winners of the challenges, and the whole thing, some very great gifts. Stuff I would love to have, he hands over with a smile. But, he also yells and berates and screams and calls people failures and tells them he's ready for them to quit at the drop of the hat. You under cook a wellington, Chef Ramsey will call you a donkey. You don't have his veggies ready in time, he calls you an imbecile. You burn his fish, he will curse you out. He has no patience for slacking chefs, yet he takes on a dozen of them each season of this show. I don't know that any winner of "Hell's Kitchen" has gone on to be a famous chef or restaurant owner. I haven't dug that deep. But, I know Chef Ramsey will keep doing this show because it's easy money for him.

I'm glad my wife and I rediscovered this ridiculous cooking show. It's fun to watch and make fun of and I don't have to take it seriously. Go watch "Hell's Kitchen" if you like trashy reality show, because it's one of the best.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He never heard of Beef Weelington until "Hell's Kitchen". Ty is not interested in food that fance people ate 100 years ago. Ty is on twitter, go follow him @tykulik.

Sunday Night TV on Fox is Mostly All Right

Stop hanging out with Mother Nature. Good TV is back on.

Sunday night TV is back people.

I've been waiting all summer, now we are in fall technically, for good TV shows. In the summer, we are subjected to reality show after reality show. These shows are cheap to make and viewers flock to them for reasons I'll never understand. My wife loves reality TV. She watches all the iterations of "Teen Mom", she likes all the reality cooking shows, anything except the Kardashian crap that's on TV basically. I inevitably end up watching some of these shows with her because I enjoy spending time with her. But, these are really awful shows. They're all the same and they tend to be very boring because reality is pretty boring.

There was some good summer TV though. I loved "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll", season two of "Married" has been great, and "Review" is the best show on TV right now in my personal opinion. But, most of these are just about done with their seasons as summer comes to an end. Well, last night Fox returned to its Sunday night programming with four of the best, most enjoyable shows on TV right now. There's technically five shows on their Sunday night lineup, but I don't care for "Family Guy", so I don't watch it. But, we got season premieres from "Bob's Burgers", "The Simpsons", "Brooklyn 99" and "Last Man on Earth". I absolutely adore all four of these shows. Everyone who reads my writings knows that I'm a HUGE "Simpsons" fan and if you listened to the most recent podcast, you all know how I feel about "Last Man on Earth". "Bob's Burgers" and "Brooklyn 99" are just as good.

The night started off with "Bob's Burgers". In the season premiere, we got three different stories, one from Gene, one from Tina and one from Louise, each talking about what would've happened had Bob and Linda never got married. This topic is brought up because Bob is losing his mustache, which is his most attractive quality to Linda. Tina believes that, no matter what, fate brought her parents together and, mustache or no mustache, they still would have found and married each other. The kids stories are all hilarious, Gene's being my favorite, and the episode is great. "Bob's Burgers" is the type of show that just gets better and stronger as each season goes on. I was very pleased with the premiere.

Next, we got the biggest story of the summer, in sitcom news, that Homer and Marge were going to split up on the season premiere of "The Simpsons". The episode started with the two of them in therapy, due to Homer's new found narcolepsy, and Marge is fed up with Homer's excuses. Homer isn't listening, classic Homer, and he falls asleep. Here we get the Simpsons version of the movie "Inception". Did Homer and Marge really split up, or was it just a dream from Homer? Marge was asleep at one point, so was it a dream from Marge? I'll leave that up to your own interpretation. Lena Dunham was excellent as Homer's new girlfriend. Another solid season premiere from "The Simpsons". I love that a show that's been on the air for almost thirty years can still come up with fresh and funny ideas.

"Brooklyn 99" started right where the last season left off. Jake and Amy kissed and their relationship is the thru line for the whole episode, but they get a new captain and we get to see where Holt and Gina are now. The precinct's new captain was played hilariously by Bill Hader. He was a total hard ass, but had an aortic problem and would have involuntary heart attacks. Hader was really, really good. Amy and Jake decide to date for real and the whole precinct eventually finds out, even with the two of them trying their best to keep it secret. Holt is now working for Wunch in a terrible circumstance. They hate each other and she's his superior and she's giving him tedious, menial tasks. The shouting match between the two of them is very funny. Gina is his secretary and she is still very full of herself and really great. Chelsea Peretti is perfect for this role. Back at the 99, Hader has a for real heart attack and dies, so they get yet another captain. The new captain is "the vulture", those of you who watch the show know exactly who I'm taking about, and everyone is extremely upset.

The final show of the night was "Last Man on Earth". When we left last season, Phil had been kicked out of Tucson and was told not to come back. To everyone's surprise, Carol came to his aid and they drove away. We opened this season by seeing a stealth plane on the streets of DC and Phil and Carol are driving to the store to get tequila. There's great moments in the White House with the two of them laying together in the margarita pool, they play with busts of the presidents, Carol tries on a lot of the former First Ladies clothes and they ride dune buggies around the house. We learn that they haven't found a place to stay yet and it's clear that Carol wants to go back to Tucson. This starts a fight between the two of them and Carol retreats to the back of the RV to sleep. Phil stops at a gas station to siphon gas and Carol goes into the store, unbeknownst to Phil, to get some clothes. Phil finishes with the gas and starts the RV and drives away, loudly listening to music. Carol gets stranded, and it's not until hours later that Phil realizes Carol isn't there and he turns around to try and find her. He ends up back in Tucson, but it's a ghost town and there looks to have been a fire. Carol isn't there and Phil doesn't know what to do next. All the while this is going on, there's another story involving Phil's brother who's in outer space. He's looking for any sign of life, but no luck so far. As the episode ends, Phil, Carol and Phil's brother are all alone. It was sad, but such a great ending to the season premiere.

I'm so excited for all four of these shows to be back. Sunday's are now complete and will be during these shows runs. So, make sure you all stop watching reality TV now that Sunday nights on Fox are providing you some excellent, original material.

As Homer would say, "woo hoo!"

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man podcast. He thinks HBO Sunday night is for suckers who still hide their 20 sided die. Follow him on twitter @tykulik.