Aug 262015
 
Changing the Channel: Some Final Thoughts

Hello one and all, and welcome to my final article as the writer of Channel Chaser. Yes, you heard right: it’s the last one. But before I go, I thought that I might try to tie things up with a bit of a reflection on why I talk so much about TV, and why this form of entertainment that everyone [Read more…]

Aug 192015
 
Ascension’s Ship in a Bottle Really Soars

Welcome back to Channel Chaser! Last year, some of you may have seen that SyFy released a mini-series called Ascension that was billed as a return to form for a channel that many, myself included, believe has lost its way. Instead of sticking to its science fiction roots firmly set in space sagas like Battlestar Galactica or Star Trek, it’s [Read more…]

Aug 132015
 
The End of an Era: Jon Stewart Signs Off

Welcome to another edition of Channel Chaser! While I acknowledge that I may be a bit behind the times, last week was a landmark moment in television as audiences across the country and the world said goodbye to a comedy legend. I’m speaking of course about Jon Stewart, who had his final night on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show last [Read more…]

Aug 052015
 
Wet Hot American Remix: A Review of… You Get the Idea

Welcome back to Channel Chaser! I’m not sure how many readers will be familiar with it, but back in 2001, a comedy film called Wet Hot American Summer came out. It was mostly buried and got terrible reviews at the time, but it quickly evolved into a cult classic on the level of The Big Lebowski and similar films. But [Read more…]

Jul 292015
 
The Dark Side of the Whoniverse: A Review of Torchwood

Welcome to another edition of Channel Chaser! For those out there who, like myself, are fans of Doctor Who, you may remember some passing references to a group called “Torchwood” over the course of the series. Not only is the group central to the plot of at least one season of Doctor Who, but the writers even saw fit to [Read more…]

Jul 232015
 
Facing the Music: The Best TV Soundtracks

Welcome back to Channel Chaser! One of the things that can really make or break a series in my experience is the clever use of music. Whether it is a simple orchestral soundtrack or an addition of popular music into the story and drama of a TV series, music has lead to some truly magical and touching moments in television [Read more…]

Jul 172015
 
Analyzing Doctor Who’s Series Nine Trailer

Welcome to another edition of Channel Chaser! Well, it’s that time of year again: time to speculate on what could be coming next on that wackiest of sci-fi shows, the long-running British series Doctor Who. The creators of the show recently put out a trailer for the new series to start in September, and oh my, is it exciting. First [Read more…]

Jul 082015
 
Twin Peaks: Time for Some Fire Talking

Welcome back to Channel Chaser! I hope you’ve enjoyed your Fourth of July weekend as much as I have, and now we’re back into this week’s review. In today’s column, I’ll be talking about the mind-bending and definitely ahead of its time drama Twin Peaks. And boy, is it a lot to cover. Let me just preface this review by [Read more…]

Jul 012015
 
Top Five Canceled TV Shows

It’s an unfortunate fact that not every television program is built to last. But while some shows deserve have their plugs pulled due to inferior content and poor writing, many other vastly superior programs are cancelled through no fault of their own, and despite their maintaining a massive cult following. Presented here, for your consideration, are five cult shows that [Read more…]

Jun 242015
 
Unintentional Genius in Syfy’s Eureka

Welcome back to Channel Chaser! For this week’s review, I’ll once again be looking back a few years to cover a show that has since ended, although to my great regret. It’s time to talk about Syfy’s quirky sci-fi dramedy Eureka. When it first premiered in 2006, Eureka was more or less an unprecedented phenomenon. While many of its fellow [Read more…]