BSG Syndrome

So I haven't been sleeping a lot in the past few weeks, and a curious side effect thereof seems to be an increased ability to multitask. So, I've been filling the extra hours and seeming extra ability to attend with hours and hours of back-logged media. Here are some of the things that I've been watching, along with my observations about them:

Burn Notice: It's really good, actually. Especially for a pretty no-name show, it's funny and exciting in that new TV way, where everything comes basically back to status quo but there's a main storyline that develops a tiny bit every episode.

Mad Men: I don't really like it. Like, it's not really that much fun, and it's sort of depressing. I can understand why it's critically acclaimed, but also why people aren't watching it.

The Unit: I caught up with it, and I've kind of become disillusioned with it lately. It suffers from what I like to call Battlestar Galactica Syndrome, where a fun action series with endearing characters and a cool storyline strives to become more, and just ends up getting all morose and preachy, with vague hints at a larger story that turns out to be stupid trite faux-enlightened garbage. Seriously, they should have stuck with the wives being bitches and the dudes kicking ass, rather than dealing with complex issues of life, death and duty.

Flight of the Conchords: This is seriously, seriously awesome. It reminds me of Always Sunny in Philadelphia, in that it would be depressing if it weren't so silly and the dudes weren't so dopey. Run, don't walk, to your nearest Bit Torrent.

Band of Brothers: I'd never watched this until a couple weeks ago. It's actually pretty good, though it once again gets into the BSG syndrome in the last couple episodes, but not nearly as bad.

Californication: Also similar to Always Sunny and Conchords. They should invent a new word to describe these new comedies that are sometimes uncomfortable, rather than overtly funny, and seem to flow easily into laughter rather than forcing you into it. David Duchovny screws everything, which is kind of the main premise, and that can be disturbing sometimes, as I'm not a big fan of the man-ass at the best of times, much less when I'm expecting aliens, ghosts and other supernaturals to pop out of it at any moment.

Psych: Very silly and funny in the same vein as Monk, with a super-sleuth in psychic guise who solves crimes in San Diego. It's really light and fun.

Dexter: If you haven't seen this one, you all really should. The first season is by far the best, if you ask me, but it's all excellent. Plus, the actor who plays the main character married the actor who plays his sister, isn't that messed up? Killer killing killers. Awesome.

Life on Mars: The British one, not the new American lameness. It's pretty good, though I'm only a little ways into it. Plus, there's a sequel, Ashes to Ashes, meaning there's plenty of goodness out there. A neat twist on the police procedural, especially since it's got a British feel to it, which is a nice change.

Fringe: It's very good, actually. I would say this went backwards on the BSG-scale. The first episode or two were ok, then it sucked terribly, and after 6 or 7 episodes it's sheer awesome, x-files style coolness. It really is like the x-files, with the overarching story and cool episodes. JJ Abrams really is well-suited to this kind of show.

I was going to talk in another segment about movies, but that seems a little silly, frankly. You guys all know how to look up movies and such. At any rate, you should really check these out, if you have the time and mindspace.