The first season of Gotham, FOX’s exploration of the Batman mythos beginning from the moment Thomas and Martha Wayne are murdered, was, at best, uneven. Driven by strong performances, including that of Shueyville, Iowa native Robin Lord Taylor as Penguin, the show nevertheless floundered about as characters and storylines were introduced, dropped and (sometimes) revisited. […]
The Tube
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The Tube: Losing the stigma, not the weight
As excited as we are for our annual respite from the cold, the heat of summer—also known as “swimsuit season”—can bring with it anxiety, and for some, feelings of shame. What does television have to do with swimsuits and bodies? For one, television has a long history of contributing to and exacerbating body anxiety both […]
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LV’s top television picks for summer 2015
The warmer months are usually thought of as a television hiatus reserved for re-runs and Saturday afternoon movies, but these summer releases will give you something to look forward to when you’re all sunburned out from your adventures. Bring those tropical drinks from the poolside to your side table and kick back with your year-round […]
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Feminist Police Procedural: ‘The Fall’ successfully avoids crime show cliches
American television is known for being especially violent against women, or for depictions of sexual violence. Crime shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, Stalker and True…
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The Tube: TV shows for hibernating
The following list of must-watch TV shows got started when the air outside my apartment felt like negative 35 degrees, and I wanted something to look forward to besides the thoughts of sun and drinking on my porch. These new and soon-to-air shows should keep you occupied until the grass is green again. Empire (FOX) […]
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The Tube: Bridging TV’s caricature gap
A couple issues ago, I put the ABC sitcom Black-ish on the list of new fall TV to skip. I rarely admit to something like this, but I was wrong. It may not be the funniest or most innovative show on television, but I think it’s a socially and politically important one. Black-ish features an […]
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The Tube: Rectify’s slow and deliberate pace makes for one of the most unique shows on television
“I can’t quite get a handle on the concept of time yet.” These words by Daniel Holden (Aden Young) in the first episode of Rectify describe both his experience…
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Fall television preview: The good, the bad and the unwatchable
This summer I watched every iteration of The Real Housewives, so needless to say a fresh crop of TV shows this fall is exciting. A few trends seem to be emerging…
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Tales of the weird: Public Access TV’s greatest triumphs
I recently came across the public access program Beyond Vaudeville, which aired on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network from 1987-1996. This odd talk show featured New York City artists, musicians and other “weird characters,” including a rapping grandma and whistling postal worker. This low budget public access show became so popular it actually turned into a […]
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The Tube: Vulgar, female-driven comedy challenges stereotypes of ‘ladylike’ behavior
Boner and boob jokes are now mainstays across numerous guy-centered, raunchy television comedies: Workaholics, Two and a Half Men, Blue Mountain…
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The Tube: On HBO’s Girls, Lena Dunham’s naked body gives audiences a body image reality check
Since its debut on HBO in the spring of 2012, Girls has polarized viewers. Some consider it to be a refreshing and humorous portrayal of less-than-likable female…
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The Tube: Catch up on some of the best shows of 2013
It’s cold and snowy outside, but despite our desire to stay indoors buried under piles of blankets with Netflix’s virtual fireplace crackling on our laptops, many of our favorite television shows are still on their mid-season breaks. While some started right on Jan. 1 (don’t be ashamed Dance Moms fans!), others will pick back up […]
