TV Critic Assignment Links

I have collected a few links from various critics who write about TV. Maybe these will inspire you or lead you to find some other useful sources...

First, Stephanie Zacharek. Former film critic for Salon.com, she also wrote about television a fair amount, especially Buffy the Vampire Slayer (maybe no other Salon critics wanted to write about it? or did she win the coin toss?). Here is her review of Me Without You, with the description of the torn dress...

Joyce Millman was Salon's first TV critic, and has also written for The Boston Phoenix. Her"Blue Glow awards" are always a good read.

The blogs at Television without Pity have a few good reviewers; amateurs, mainly, but this need not preclude good, insightful writing.

Many big city, mainstream newspapers like The L. A. Times have top-notch reviewers. Likewise the Chicago Tribune; here is their review of American Horror Story: COVEN.

Freakshow Carnivàle

While I was watching the pilot episode of Carnivale, I could not help but see some similarities between this critically acclaimed television series and the anthology series of American Horror Story. In it's most recent season: FREAK SHOW, many stylistic elements either parallel or even borrow heavily from Carnivale.

 Set of Carnivale

American Horror Story: Freak Show takes place during the 1950's in Florida and Carnivale takes place in 1930's Oklahoma during the Great Depression/Dust Bowl. The characters who are present in both traveling carnivals include conjoined twins, a bearded lady, little people and a psychic. Also, the aesthetic of both set design and props are similar in that the trailers used by the traveling "carnies" look authentic in both their interior and exterior designs for their appropriated time periods. Moreover, these trailers are personalized with decor, style and tidiness according to which character lives there. Also, the carnival tents, lights and giant ferris wheel all add to the effect of looking genuine. In my opinion, AHS's aesthetic is more modern and brightly colored and vibrant in appearance while Carnivale's style is more sepia-toned, catering to a dusty appearance.

 Set of AHS: Freak Show

Moreover, traveling carnivals in the past were a form of entertainment for the public. I think both shows highlight the accuracy of the dynamic between the carnival characters to be like a close family. They all eat together, drink together, smoke cigarettes together, play cards with one another and are there for each other.

Carnies from Carnivale 

Other similarities between the two series is that there is some play with scenes that contain dark elements and nightmares. This is shown through the nightmares of Ben in Carnivale and the conjoined twins in AHS. Both of these shows set their tone of episodes through their detailed opening credits. For example, within the intricate kind of stop motion technique used in AHS  it portrays to the audience the kind of complexity the show has to offer as well as it's elements of creepiness, horror, drama and mystery. These primary elements parallel those present in Carnivale's opening credits as well, where Tarot cards are utilized to tell it's story that has it's own twists and turns. In addition, Carnivale's opening credit sequence heavily depicts the struggle of good versus evil.

Carnies from AHS 

What do you guys think? Is American Horror Story: Freakshow a rip-off of Carnivale!? 

TV Critic assignment

As we talked about in class today, this assignment is in many ways more about the research and preparation process than the writing. Try to figure out who this writer is and what their style is, based on some of the ideas discussed yesterday: perspective, vocabulary, rhythm, etc.

Some Guidelines:

1. Choose a TV show you watch now or have watched. Must be narrative (i.e. not news, sports or documentary; reality TV is okay)
2. Look around for some well-written criticism. It can be formal or informal, professional quality or more amateur. Snarky is fine!
3. Consider the publication and audience. Does the critic's style change from one venue (website or magazine) to another? In what ways?
4. You don't have to agree with what the critic says to find his or her style or viewpoint interesting.
5. It will be helpful to make a list of some words that describe the critic's style.


First step of the assignment:

Post to the blog in the next few days, 2 or 3 television critics whose work you like, who have written about the same show you're planning to write on, and a few thoughts (a couple sentences) on why you like it or find it interesting. Provide at least one link to their work. This should be somewhere between 200-400 words total.


Your assignment, a 500-800 word blog post in the style of the critic you choose, is due by Tuesday November 18th.

Please ask any questions here! I will continue to post links of TV critics here, and we will also continue to discuss the assignment in class.

From an outside perspective

I'm new to this whole Murphy-Falchuk scene. That being said, there are some observations I can make from the outside.

Nip-Tuck foreshadows the edgy cinematic look and content that is being displayed in American Horror Story. In a way both of these shows revolutionized the way that television is viewed. Murphy and Falchuk never cease to push the limits in what can be gotten away with.

But how? Sure, controversy follows them like a newborn duckling but the ever increasing higher tolerance of the American people tends to reflect the amount of content that is pushing the limit. In other words, as we watch more killing and violence, we become more conditioned to it.

Nip-Tuck did a great job of giving it's audience content to analyze. What Murphy and Falchuk can do where others fail, is delivering that "controversial" content in a way that the audience feels uncomfortable but wants more. They are able to take a subject that is buried in taboo and present it to "outsiders" like a zoo of our own inner fantasies.

American Horror Story was foreshadowed and so will the next shows that be created by this duo. They have realized that their own creations are effecting the industry that they work in. As time goes on television will continue to push the limits. As the limits are being pushed, it will get the public ready for the next round that is bound to show up.

I look forward to continuing to watch these shows and to see what Murphy and Falchuk will come up with next.

What's your fix?

After watching one episode of Nip/Tuck (the only one I have ever seen) and looking at the foreshadowing of the stylistic elements in the newest series of American Horror Story (also I have not seen) is the acceptance of stealing kidneys and leaving medical waste in a car. Both of which were pretty graphic and disturbing. I suppose one social issue would be how the public is okay with horror present on television. Another example would be how all of the components of horror are condensed into one series. This could be a reflection of how people have different needs that they seek while watching a show, and American Horror Story with its shifting historical and geographical settings, gives people that satisfaction. I guess there are people out there who need their fix of viewing gory, spooky-scary, and supernatural all into one. Just as the next person needs to know who Christian will sleep with next.

Nip/Tuck: an iconic series?

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's series Nip/Tuck was groundbreaking for its visual intensity and commentary upon the superficiality of contemporary culture.

How does the series foreshadow the stylistic elements of their newest series America Horror Story? What social trends or issues are explored via this series, with its shifting historical and geographical settings?

Hello; WTF

What is up with these clowns?

 This story from comicbook.com explores the insane backlash against the recent portrayal of a homicidal clown on American Horror Story: FREAKSHOW.

Wow. Just. Wow.