Last week, I posted my list of the 20 best TV sitcoms of my lifetime. Today, we look at TV dramas. The majority of the shows on this list are from the last decade. The Sopranos took TV dramas to a new level, and at this point, I expect every new series on HBO and Showtime to blow me away. We are spoiled by the amount of quality shows on TV right now.
I thought the breakdown of networks with shows on my list was interesting: HBO (6), Showtime (3), AMC (3), Fox (2), FX (2), BBC America (1), The CW/UPN (1), NBC (1), and ABC (1). AMC, which has only aired eight original, scripted series in its history, has more shows on the list than CBS, ABC, and NBC combined.
I should mention that I've never seen Lost, 24, Oz, or The Shield so they are not on the list. I really wanted Dawson's Creek in my top 20, but it barely missed the cut. Sorry, Dawson.
20 Best TV Dramas (I will not give away any spoilers in my rankings.)
20. Big Love: The first of six HBO shows on the list. Polygamist compounds, sister wives, Mormon hardware stores -- this show had it all.
19. Orphan Black: I highly recommend this BBC America series. The first season just ended, and all of the episodes are on demand. 10 episodes were good enough to make this list. Worth watching.
18. The Walking Dead: I did not expect to like a zombie show, but The Walking Dead is entertaining and suspenseful. I'm not sure how many more seasons it can go because there are only so many more places the group can hide.
17. The Tudors: Very entertaining historical fiction. A poor man's Game of Thrones, and I mean that as a compliment.
16. Boardwalk Empire: I've always liked Steve Buscemi in supporting roles, but he excels in the lead role in Boardwalk Empire. If you like the Sopranos, you should be watching this series about mobsters set in Atlantic City during the Prohibition period.
15. Damages: The pilot episode is as good as any pilot I've ever seen. Glenn Close was born to play Patty Hewes. Had some great guest stars in Ted Danson, Martin Short, and John Goodman, among others.
14. Six Feet Under: Morbid subject matter, but it was a very good show. Michael C. Hall was good as a supporting character before landing the lead role in Dexter. The show also launched the career of Rainn Wilson, better known as Dwight from The Office.
13. Veronica Mars: Kristen Bell has been in some bad movies so if you haven't seen Veronica Mars, then you probably don't realize that she's a good actress. From 2004-2007, Veronica was the most bad ass female character on TV. The movie -- fully funded by generous fans of the TV program through a kickstarter -- comes out in 2014.
12. The O.C.: The unlikely duo of brooding Ryan and nerdy/funny Seth made for one of the best bromances in TV history. It had better looking girls, more interesting parental figures, and funnier dialogue than 90210, but it couldn't maintain its excellence for more than two and a half seasons (out of four total seasons). At its best, it was better than 90210. At its worst, it was worse than One Tree Hill. This week marks the 10-year anniversary of the series premiere, and that is not all depressing.
11. Dexter: I've binge-watched all 8 seasons of Dexter over the last three months, and I like it much more than I expected. The show is dark and light-hearted at the same time. Dexter's dark passenger doesn't overshadow the strong supporting cast.
10. Beverly Hill, 90210: The benchmark for high school and college TV dramas. The college years (despite the ridiculous fact that everyone from West Beverly High enrolled at Cal U) put BH9er slightly ahead of The O.C. Pregnancy scares, prom night hookups, house party fires, acoustic guitar serenades, peach pie, and sideburns. Lots of sideburns. What more can you ask for from a teen drama?
9. The Americans: Very impressive first season -- impressive enough to make my top 10 after only one season. Felicity (Keri Russell) is amazing in her role as a KGB spy living in America -- never saw that coming and it makes me wonder if I need to go back and watch Felicity. The performances of Russell of her husband/colleague on the show are so compelling that I actually find myself rooting for the KGB instead of the Americans.
8. The Wonder Years: I referenced this in a post a few years ago, but writer Chuck Klosterman once wrote, "The Wonder Years was the only TV program that allowed me to be nostalgic at the age of seventeen." In my case, The Wonder Years made me nostalgic at age 10. Winnie Cooper was, without a doubt, my first crush.
7. Mad Men: Mad Men can be slow at times, but it is well-written and well-acted. If not for Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad, Jon Hamm would have several Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) is underrated as a lead actress as well.
6. Game of Thrones: Winter is coming. Sometimes it's hard to keep up with all the characters in Game of Thrones -- luckily there are many great characters because the writers are not scared to kill off anyone.
5. Homeland: Angela from My So-Called Life (Claire Danes) is excellent as a CIA agent. 15 years ago, no one could have predicted that Keri Russell and Claire Danes would be the best actresses on TV in 2013. I'll be interested to see what happens in season 3 (starting September 29) given the interesting events that ended season 2.
4. Friday Night Lights: Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose. Coach and Tami Taylor were the best married couple in dramatic TV history. The show took a risk by bringing in a whole new set of high school characters in season 4 (rather than follow the high school graduates to college), and for the most part the risk paid off. Please watch this show. Texas forever.
3. The Sopranos: Damn, the late James Gandolfini was good as Tony Soprano. The Sopranos deserves a lot of credit for revolutionizing original programming on the premium channels. It wasn't HBO's first original series, but no prior HBO drama series had garnered the critical acclaim or lasted as many seasons as The Sopranos. On this list, there are six HBO series and three Showtime series, and all of them were created after The Sopranos.
2. Breaking Bad: The final half-season starts on August 11 -- that makes me excited and sad at the same time. Walter White is one of the most interesting characters in TV history. A high school chemistry teacher gets cancer and decides to team up with a former student to sell meth to provide for his family after his death. In the first few seasons, we, as viewers, root for Walt to get out of trouble and make money for his family. I would expect that most viewers are now rooting against Walt. The following three things are certain for the final season: Walt, Jr. will eat breakfast onscreen, Marie will wear purple, and Walt will die. What a tremendous show.
1. The Wire: The most compelling drama series of my lifetime. The Wire allowed viewers to follow many different perspectives, including those of law
enforcement agents, attorneys, drug dealers, politicians, port workers,
teachers, homeless people, and journalists. I have trouble choosing my 10 favorite characters on the show -- there were no weak links in the cast. The acting felt authentic, and that is not usually the case in shows that deal with poverty, drugs, and the police. The series inexplicably did not win a single Emmy award, but being named #1 on this list must be some consolation.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The 20 Best TV Sitcoms of My Lifetime
Although we are in the golden era of TV, today's sitcoms are usually not as good as the best dramas on TV. Having said that, there have been some great sitcoms in my lifetime. I have set the following ground rules for my rankings:
1) The show must have been created during my lifetime -- so All in the Family, I Love Lucy, and the Andy Griffith Show are out.
2) No animated shows.
3) 30 Rock is not funny.
4) Entourage is not funny unless Ari Gold is speaking.
5) Despite my proclaimed love for Saved By the Bell, Full House, Boy Meets World, and Family Matters, I have used objective criteria to determine that those shows are not that funny.
6) I have not yet seen the new Netflix series Orange is the New Black, but I have heard nothing but good things.
20 Best Sitcoms
20. Weeds: Weeds started out strong and things slowly got weirder and weirder. It still makes the list based on the high (no pun intended) comedy of Uncle Andy and Kevin Nealon. (Video below is potentially NSFW).
19. Eastbound and Down: Kenny F'in' Powers. Enough said.
18. New Girl: I went into this show with low expectations because I thought Zooey Deschanel would be annoying, but New Girl has had two solid seasons. Schmidt and Nick usually steal the show.
17. Golden Girls: Classic and still funny. I love that Betty White is still on TV today.
16. Cheers: Started the Thursday night must-see TV on NBC. Doesn't quite hold up as well as some other sitcoms from the 80s and 90s. Outstanding theme song.
15. Happy Endings: ABC really shit the bed in canceling its 2nd funniest sitcom. At its best, Happy Endings could hold its own with just about any show on the list, but I guess the ratings didn't reflect that.
14. Friends: A little too dramatic at times for me, but it had its moments. Bonus points for Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox in their pre-cougar prime.
13. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Back when Will Smith was funny. The Carlton dance and the theme song will never get old.
12. Flight of the Conchords: Very little plot, but hilarious original songs. Would have loved to see a third season on HBO.
11. Parks and Rec: In my opinion, Amy Poehler is the funniest woman on TV.
10. Freaks and Geeks: Only had one season before being inexplicably canceled, but it was a great season.
9. How I Met Your Mother: Bob Saget is a horrible storyteller and a worse parent. This series should have ended after 4 or 5 seasons, but it is still entertaining and, at its best, it was really funny. We should finally and mercifully meet the mother in the upcoming final season.
8. Modern Family: Great ensemble cast. Even the kids (except Lily) are hilarious.
7. The Office: Went way down hill after Steve Carell's departure, but the series finale was a good way to go out.
6. The Cosby Show: There's nothing funnier than Bill Cosby talking to kids.
5. The League: This show is a little bit under the radar, but you should be watching it. The first season was a little bit too much about the fantasy football league, but now the show has a good balance between the premise of the fantasy league and the everyday antics of the main characters.
4. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Always Sunny as been described as Seinfeld on crack, and I think that's a good description. It has been a little watered down the past few seasons, but it's still one of the best comedies of the last decade.
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm: No one gets himself in more awkward situations than Larry David, and hilarity almost always ensues.
2. Arrested Development: I would put the first two seasons of Arrested Development up against any sitcom, including my #1 on this list. Season 3 was still funny, but not quite on the same level. Season 4 on Netflix came about 6 years too late.
1. Seinfeld: The show about nothing is in a league of its own. I relate things in my life to Seinfeld on almost a daily basis. The acting, writing, pop culture references, and comedic timing are second to none. Thank you TBS for four reruns a day.
Which shows did I miss?
1) The show must have been created during my lifetime -- so All in the Family, I Love Lucy, and the Andy Griffith Show are out.
2) No animated shows.
3) 30 Rock is not funny.
4) Entourage is not funny unless Ari Gold is speaking.
5) Despite my proclaimed love for Saved By the Bell, Full House, Boy Meets World, and Family Matters, I have used objective criteria to determine that those shows are not that funny.
6) I have not yet seen the new Netflix series Orange is the New Black, but I have heard nothing but good things.
20 Best Sitcoms
20. Weeds: Weeds started out strong and things slowly got weirder and weirder. It still makes the list based on the high (no pun intended) comedy of Uncle Andy and Kevin Nealon. (Video below is potentially NSFW).
19. Eastbound and Down: Kenny F'in' Powers. Enough said.
18. New Girl: I went into this show with low expectations because I thought Zooey Deschanel would be annoying, but New Girl has had two solid seasons. Schmidt and Nick usually steal the show.
17. Golden Girls: Classic and still funny. I love that Betty White is still on TV today.
16. Cheers: Started the Thursday night must-see TV on NBC. Doesn't quite hold up as well as some other sitcoms from the 80s and 90s. Outstanding theme song.
15. Happy Endings: ABC really shit the bed in canceling its 2nd funniest sitcom. At its best, Happy Endings could hold its own with just about any show on the list, but I guess the ratings didn't reflect that.
14. Friends: A little too dramatic at times for me, but it had its moments. Bonus points for Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox in their pre-cougar prime.
13. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Back when Will Smith was funny. The Carlton dance and the theme song will never get old.
12. Flight of the Conchords: Very little plot, but hilarious original songs. Would have loved to see a third season on HBO.
11. Parks and Rec: In my opinion, Amy Poehler is the funniest woman on TV.
10. Freaks and Geeks: Only had one season before being inexplicably canceled, but it was a great season.
9. How I Met Your Mother: Bob Saget is a horrible storyteller and a worse parent. This series should have ended after 4 or 5 seasons, but it is still entertaining and, at its best, it was really funny. We should finally and mercifully meet the mother in the upcoming final season.
8. Modern Family: Great ensemble cast. Even the kids (except Lily) are hilarious.
7. The Office: Went way down hill after Steve Carell's departure, but the series finale was a good way to go out.
6. The Cosby Show: There's nothing funnier than Bill Cosby talking to kids.
5. The League: This show is a little bit under the radar, but you should be watching it. The first season was a little bit too much about the fantasy football league, but now the show has a good balance between the premise of the fantasy league and the everyday antics of the main characters.
4. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Always Sunny as been described as Seinfeld on crack, and I think that's a good description. It has been a little watered down the past few seasons, but it's still one of the best comedies of the last decade.
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm: No one gets himself in more awkward situations than Larry David, and hilarity almost always ensues.
2. Arrested Development: I would put the first two seasons of Arrested Development up against any sitcom, including my #1 on this list. Season 3 was still funny, but not quite on the same level. Season 4 on Netflix came about 6 years too late.
1. Seinfeld: The show about nothing is in a league of its own. I relate things in my life to Seinfeld on almost a daily basis. The acting, writing, pop culture references, and comedic timing are second to none. Thank you TBS for four reruns a day.
Which shows did I miss?
Sunday, February 10, 2013
ACC Hoops Midseason Report
Back in November, Chop Culture made its preseason ACC predictions. I made the following league predictions:
1) Duke
2) NC State
3) UNC
4) Miami
5) FSU
6) Maryland
7) UVA
8) Virginia Tech
9) Wake Forest
10) Clemson
11) Georgia Tech
12) Boston College
Through games on February 10, the league standings are as follows:
1) Miami (10-0)
2) Duke (8-2)
3) Virginia (7-3)
4) UNC (6-4)
5) NC State (6-5)
6) FSU (5-5)
7) Maryland (5-6)
8) Clemson (4-7)
9) Wake Forest (4-7)
10) Georgia Tech (3-7)
11) Virginia Tech (2-8)
12) Boston College (2-8)*
I don't think anyone expected Miami to be quite this good, although CC did make this comment in the November post -- "If you're looking for a sleeper in the ACC, look no further than the U." But I picked them to finish 4th in the league so I can't say I called it. I expect the Canes to lose two conference games and then get upset in the ACC tourney. I see the Canes as a 3 seed in March.
Duke needs Ryan Kelly to get healthy if they have any Final 4 aspirations. Even without him, they are good enough to finish 2nd in the regular season and potentially win the ACC tourney. Duke looks like a solid 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
UVa is a strange team. They play tenacious d and shoot the three ball well, but their three conference losses are to bad ACC teams and their three non-conference losses were to bad CAA teams. They play up or down to the competition, which means they don't often get blown out but they also don't have any guaranteed wins left on the schedule. In my opinion, they need to get to 12-6 in league play to get an invitation to Madness. To get there, they need to learn to close out games on the road.
UNC has one of the laziest teams I've seen in awhile. By UNC standards, they are not as talented as usual, but McAdoo and Bullock could start for any team in the nation. UNC plays sloppy and selfish on offense, and their defense is even worse. McAdoo could've been a top 5 NBA pick last year (despite not starting last season) -- his uninspired play this season has hurt his draft stock. The Heels will win enough games to make it to the Big Dance, but it will not be a long trip.
NC State has struggled more than I expected, but some of the losses can be attributed to Lorenzo Brown's injury. Even still, they lost to Wake with Brown in the lineup. The Wolfpack could be a factor in the ACC tournament. State has all the pieces to be great, but they haven't quite put it together this season. They are in danger of missing out on Madness, which would be shocking after their top 10 preseason ranking.
FSU has struggled. They have a lot of ground to make up if they want to play in the postseason. I don't see it happening -- which means that the ACC could end up with just 3 or 4 teams dancing.
Maryland started off the season on a tear, but conference play has not gone as well as expected. They are young and talented, and right now the youth is outweighing the talent. They could be preseason top 15 next season if Alex Len passes up the NBA for one more year.
Clemson's two best players -- Devin Booker and Milton Jennings -- can both disappear for long stretches during games. They're both also seniors so next season will be worse for the Tigers.
Wake Forest has some talent, but they also have the worst coach in the ACC. They have been competitive in most of their games and will be better next season.
Georgia Tech is young -- I think Brian Gregory has that program going in the right direction.
Virginia Tech had a promising start to the season, but they have fallen back to reality in conference play. Erick Green leads the nation in scoring -- he is a fun player to watch. Unfortunately for him, he gets no help whatsoever. Green has excelled in new coach James Johnson's uptempo offense, but his teammates can't keep pace.
Boston College is a really good Patriot League team. The only problem is that they don't play in the Patriot League.
Midseason All-ACC teams
1st Team
Mason Plumlee - Duke
Erick Green - VT
Shane Larkin - Miami
Joe Harris - UVA
Seth Curry - Duke
2nd team
James Michael McAdoo - UNC
Michael Snaer - FSU
Richard Howell - NC State
Lorenzo Brown - NC State
Reggie Bullock - UNC
1) Duke
2) NC State
3) UNC
4) Miami
5) FSU
6) Maryland
7) UVA
8) Virginia Tech
9) Wake Forest
10) Clemson
11) Georgia Tech
12) Boston College
Through games on February 10, the league standings are as follows:
1) Miami (10-0)
2) Duke (8-2)
3) Virginia (7-3)
4) UNC (6-4)
5) NC State (6-5)
6) FSU (5-5)
7) Maryland (5-6)
8) Clemson (4-7)
9) Wake Forest (4-7)
10) Georgia Tech (3-7)
11) Virginia Tech (2-8)
12) Boston College (2-8)*
I don't think anyone expected Miami to be quite this good, although CC did make this comment in the November post -- "If you're looking for a sleeper in the ACC, look no further than the U." But I picked them to finish 4th in the league so I can't say I called it. I expect the Canes to lose two conference games and then get upset in the ACC tourney. I see the Canes as a 3 seed in March.
Duke needs Ryan Kelly to get healthy if they have any Final 4 aspirations. Even without him, they are good enough to finish 2nd in the regular season and potentially win the ACC tourney. Duke looks like a solid 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.
UVa is a strange team. They play tenacious d and shoot the three ball well, but their three conference losses are to bad ACC teams and their three non-conference losses were to bad CAA teams. They play up or down to the competition, which means they don't often get blown out but they also don't have any guaranteed wins left on the schedule. In my opinion, they need to get to 12-6 in league play to get an invitation to Madness. To get there, they need to learn to close out games on the road.
UNC has one of the laziest teams I've seen in awhile. By UNC standards, they are not as talented as usual, but McAdoo and Bullock could start for any team in the nation. UNC plays sloppy and selfish on offense, and their defense is even worse. McAdoo could've been a top 5 NBA pick last year (despite not starting last season) -- his uninspired play this season has hurt his draft stock. The Heels will win enough games to make it to the Big Dance, but it will not be a long trip.
NC State has struggled more than I expected, but some of the losses can be attributed to Lorenzo Brown's injury. Even still, they lost to Wake with Brown in the lineup. The Wolfpack could be a factor in the ACC tournament. State has all the pieces to be great, but they haven't quite put it together this season. They are in danger of missing out on Madness, which would be shocking after their top 10 preseason ranking.
FSU has struggled. They have a lot of ground to make up if they want to play in the postseason. I don't see it happening -- which means that the ACC could end up with just 3 or 4 teams dancing.
Maryland started off the season on a tear, but conference play has not gone as well as expected. They are young and talented, and right now the youth is outweighing the talent. They could be preseason top 15 next season if Alex Len passes up the NBA for one more year.
Clemson's two best players -- Devin Booker and Milton Jennings -- can both disappear for long stretches during games. They're both also seniors so next season will be worse for the Tigers.
Wake Forest has some talent, but they also have the worst coach in the ACC. They have been competitive in most of their games and will be better next season.
Georgia Tech is young -- I think Brian Gregory has that program going in the right direction.
Virginia Tech had a promising start to the season, but they have fallen back to reality in conference play. Erick Green leads the nation in scoring -- he is a fun player to watch. Unfortunately for him, he gets no help whatsoever. Green has excelled in new coach James Johnson's uptempo offense, but his teammates can't keep pace.
Boston College is a really good Patriot League team. The only problem is that they don't play in the Patriot League.
Midseason All-ACC teams
1st Team
Mason Plumlee - Duke
Erick Green - VT
Shane Larkin - Miami
Joe Harris - UVA
Seth Curry - Duke
2nd team
James Michael McAdoo - UNC
Michael Snaer - FSU
Richard Howell - NC State
Lorenzo Brown - NC State
Reggie Bullock - UNC
Monday, November 5, 2012
2012-13 ACC Hoops Predictions
Outside of Florida State and Clemson, the ACC has sufficiently embarrassed itself in football this season. It's safe to say that most ACC fans are ready for basketball season. And, fortunately for them, hoops season begins this week. Although the ACC has no real national title contenders this year (maybe one), I think the league is deeper than it was last season and could have as many as 7 teams dancing in March. There are no easy outs like there have been the last few years (see: Wake Forest). The league is moving from 16 to 18 conference games, and I think every team will win at least 4 league games. Without further ado, ChopCulture's predictions for 2012-13 are as follows:
1) Duke
NC State is getting all of the hype, but Duke is the best team in the conference and easily a top 10 squad nationally. 7 of Duke's top 9 scorers return, and they bring in two 5-star freshmen -- Amile Jefferson and Rasheed Sulaimon. Seth Curry, Mason Plumlee (the best of the 3 Plumlees), and Ryan Kelly make for a dangerous inside-outside trio. The Blue Devils lost Austin Rivers to the Association, but Curry, Tyler Thornton, and Quinn Cook can carry the load in the backcourt.
2) NC State
NC State is without question a team on the rise, but they are also a bit overrated. The Pack brings back its top four scorers and also landed three McDonald's All-Americans, but let's not forget that this team barely squeezed into the NCAA Tournament last year. Don't get me wrong -- this is a dangerous team that deserves to be ranked in the preseason top 15-20 (just not the top 5). Scott Wood is arguably the best shooter in the ACC, Lorenzo Brown is a proven floor general, CJ Leslie is the consensus pick for ACC player of the year, and Richard Howell is a beast on the boards. No one will look past the Pack this season, but they have to prove to the doubters that they are the kings of Tobacco Road.
3) UNC
The Heels' lineup was gutted by the NBA draft including 4 of the top 5 scorers, the top three rebounders, and their assist leader, but the cupboard is not bare. James Michael McAdoo is an outstanding athlete in the post, Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland return from injury, and Reggie Bullock and PJ Hairston can both flat out shoot. The X factor will be freshman point guard Marcus Paige. If Paige can step in and manage the offense efficiently, then the Heels could challenge for the conference crown.
4) Miami
If you're looking for a sleeper in the ACC, look no further than the U. The Canes are a senior-laden squad with four returning starters. Reggie Johnson is a load down low at 6'10'' and 300 pounds. There are very few post players in the league that can guard Johnson straight up. Durand Scott and the supporting cast are experienced and will not be intimidated playing on the road in the ACC.
5) FSU
I am not completely sold on the Noles. Michael Snaer is one of the best players in the ACC, but the rest of last year's starters are gone. Juniors Ian Miller and Okaro White will need to increase their roles and their scoring averages for the Noles to finish better than the middle of the conference.
6) Maryland
Mark Turgeon is quietly putting together a solid rebuilding job at Maryland. I thought it would take much longer to recover from Gary Williams' retirement. The Terps lost their top two scorers from last season, including sophomore Terrell Stoglin who was suspended from the team after last season and then promptly left school. Stoglin was a huge loss, but the young nucleus of 7'1'' Alex Len (soph), Nick Faust (soph), Shaq Cleare (fresh), and Jake Layman (fresh) will do good things for the next several years. In addition, the Terps add transfers Dez Well (Xavier) and Evan Smotrycz (Michigan) and a strong recruiting class next season.
7) UVA
The Hoos will probably take a step back this year, but the future looks bright in Charlottesville. Mike Scott is gone and will be missed. None of UVA's returning post players have anywhere near the offensive talent of Scott. Transfer Anthony Gill (South Carolina) will sit out this season and be ready to start from day 1 next season. UVA's two best point guards (Jontel Evans and Malcolm Brogdon) are both nursing foot injuries and their returns are uncertain. The good news: wing Joe Harris is one of the best players in the ACC and UVA has three of the best freshmen in the league in Justin Anderson, Evan Nolte, and Mike Tobey. The 6'11'' Tobey's adjustment to college hoops will be the most critical as UVA needs frontcourt help immediately.
8) Virginia Tech
Most experts are picking the Hokies to finish 11th or 12th, but I think the Hokies are underrated. Although they lost prized recruit Montrezl Harrell to Louisville and Dorian Finney-Smith transferred after Seth Greenberg's departure, Virginia Tech has an impressive backcourt in point guard Erick Green and shooters Jarrell Eddie and Robert Brown. New coach James Johnson wants to get out on the run and play an up-tempo style, and he has the guards to do it. The frontcourt is a bigger question mark.
9) Wake Forest
The scoring of Travis McKie and CJ Harris will keep the Demon Deacons out the ACC's cellar this season. Wake Forest has a few promising recruits, most notably point guard Codi Miller-McIntyre and small forward Arnaud Moto. They will play and contribute right away.
10) Clemson
Milton Jennings and Devin Booker will lead the Tigers in scoring and rebounding this year, but it remains to be seen if anyone else on the roster can play at a high level. I expect Jennings, a former McDonald's All-American, to have a solid senior season after a somewhat disappointing first three years.
11) Georgia Tech
Leader scorer Glen Rice, Jr. was dismissed from the team after a shooting incident. With only one senior on the team, the Jackets will need their promising freshmen to step up if they have any chance of playing in the postseason. Brian Gregory has the Ramblin' Wreck on the right track, although the results might not come until next season.
12) Boston College
BC has some talent -- there is no doubt about that. They are just very young. BC could feature a starting five of all sophomores. The frontcourt will be led by Dennis Clifford and Ryan Anderson. I picked the Eagles last because of their lack of veteran leadership, but it would not surprise me to see them finish somewhere closer to the middle of the pack.
1) Duke
NC State is getting all of the hype, but Duke is the best team in the conference and easily a top 10 squad nationally. 7 of Duke's top 9 scorers return, and they bring in two 5-star freshmen -- Amile Jefferson and Rasheed Sulaimon. Seth Curry, Mason Plumlee (the best of the 3 Plumlees), and Ryan Kelly make for a dangerous inside-outside trio. The Blue Devils lost Austin Rivers to the Association, but Curry, Tyler Thornton, and Quinn Cook can carry the load in the backcourt.
2) NC State
NC State is without question a team on the rise, but they are also a bit overrated. The Pack brings back its top four scorers and also landed three McDonald's All-Americans, but let's not forget that this team barely squeezed into the NCAA Tournament last year. Don't get me wrong -- this is a dangerous team that deserves to be ranked in the preseason top 15-20 (just not the top 5). Scott Wood is arguably the best shooter in the ACC, Lorenzo Brown is a proven floor general, CJ Leslie is the consensus pick for ACC player of the year, and Richard Howell is a beast on the boards. No one will look past the Pack this season, but they have to prove to the doubters that they are the kings of Tobacco Road.
3) UNC
The Heels' lineup was gutted by the NBA draft including 4 of the top 5 scorers, the top three rebounders, and their assist leader, but the cupboard is not bare. James Michael McAdoo is an outstanding athlete in the post, Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland return from injury, and Reggie Bullock and PJ Hairston can both flat out shoot. The X factor will be freshman point guard Marcus Paige. If Paige can step in and manage the offense efficiently, then the Heels could challenge for the conference crown.
4) Miami
If you're looking for a sleeper in the ACC, look no further than the U. The Canes are a senior-laden squad with four returning starters. Reggie Johnson is a load down low at 6'10'' and 300 pounds. There are very few post players in the league that can guard Johnson straight up. Durand Scott and the supporting cast are experienced and will not be intimidated playing on the road in the ACC.
5) FSU
I am not completely sold on the Noles. Michael Snaer is one of the best players in the ACC, but the rest of last year's starters are gone. Juniors Ian Miller and Okaro White will need to increase their roles and their scoring averages for the Noles to finish better than the middle of the conference.
6) Maryland
Mark Turgeon is quietly putting together a solid rebuilding job at Maryland. I thought it would take much longer to recover from Gary Williams' retirement. The Terps lost their top two scorers from last season, including sophomore Terrell Stoglin who was suspended from the team after last season and then promptly left school. Stoglin was a huge loss, but the young nucleus of 7'1'' Alex Len (soph), Nick Faust (soph), Shaq Cleare (fresh), and Jake Layman (fresh) will do good things for the next several years. In addition, the Terps add transfers Dez Well (Xavier) and Evan Smotrycz (Michigan) and a strong recruiting class next season.
7) UVA
The Hoos will probably take a step back this year, but the future looks bright in Charlottesville. Mike Scott is gone and will be missed. None of UVA's returning post players have anywhere near the offensive talent of Scott. Transfer Anthony Gill (South Carolina) will sit out this season and be ready to start from day 1 next season. UVA's two best point guards (Jontel Evans and Malcolm Brogdon) are both nursing foot injuries and their returns are uncertain. The good news: wing Joe Harris is one of the best players in the ACC and UVA has three of the best freshmen in the league in Justin Anderson, Evan Nolte, and Mike Tobey. The 6'11'' Tobey's adjustment to college hoops will be the most critical as UVA needs frontcourt help immediately.
8) Virginia Tech
Most experts are picking the Hokies to finish 11th or 12th, but I think the Hokies are underrated. Although they lost prized recruit Montrezl Harrell to Louisville and Dorian Finney-Smith transferred after Seth Greenberg's departure, Virginia Tech has an impressive backcourt in point guard Erick Green and shooters Jarrell Eddie and Robert Brown. New coach James Johnson wants to get out on the run and play an up-tempo style, and he has the guards to do it. The frontcourt is a bigger question mark.
9) Wake Forest
The scoring of Travis McKie and CJ Harris will keep the Demon Deacons out the ACC's cellar this season. Wake Forest has a few promising recruits, most notably point guard Codi Miller-McIntyre and small forward Arnaud Moto. They will play and contribute right away.
10) Clemson
Milton Jennings and Devin Booker will lead the Tigers in scoring and rebounding this year, but it remains to be seen if anyone else on the roster can play at a high level. I expect Jennings, a former McDonald's All-American, to have a solid senior season after a somewhat disappointing first three years.
11) Georgia Tech
Leader scorer Glen Rice, Jr. was dismissed from the team after a shooting incident. With only one senior on the team, the Jackets will need their promising freshmen to step up if they have any chance of playing in the postseason. Brian Gregory has the Ramblin' Wreck on the right track, although the results might not come until next season.
12) Boston College
BC has some talent -- there is no doubt about that. They are just very young. BC could feature a starting five of all sophomores. The frontcourt will be led by Dennis Clifford and Ryan Anderson. I picked the Eagles last because of their lack of veteran leadership, but it would not surprise me to see them finish somewhere closer to the middle of the pack.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Mailbag
You may (or may not) have noticed that ChopCulture has been on hiatus for about a year. My last mailbag was posted on June 24, 2010. I could blame the Virginia bar exam for my extended sabbatical, but I really only spent three months studying for that bad boy. Quite frankly, I was just lazy for the other nine months.
During the blog’s absence, I expected my Twitter (@ChopCulture) following to be stronger so as to quench your thirst for semi-daily sports and pop culture observations, but many of you have been hesitant to join…which brings me to my first mailbag question. As always, these are real questions from actual readers.
Q: I recently joined Twitter (@chiefhunt) and I don’t know who to follow. Can you give me some recommendations?
· Hunter R., Greenville, SC
ChopCulture: Hunter, let me start by welcoming you to Twitter. Prepare to start getting your breaking news, sports updates, and comedy all in one simple location – iPhone and Blackberry both have very user-friendly apps. I was reluctant to join Twitter. I thought it was basically the celebrity version of Facebook’s status update – which is my least favorite aspect of Facebook. I didn’t care to know what some B list actor had for lunch. I signed up on the recommendation of @JGPraytor, and I was completely wrong about the purpose of Twitter. Now, instead of checking ESPN.com and CNN.com 15-20 times a day each, I get all of my world news and sports information from Twitter. If there is a sports trade, I know about it instantly. I found out on Twitter that we killed Bin Laden. I follow several UVa beat writers to get updates on untelevised UVa sporting events. I also get a tweet from Deadspin and a few other sports blogs every single time they put up a new post.
The worst people to follow on Twitter are athletes because 90% of them do use Twitter like it is a Facebook status update. Athletes are always either working out, eating, watching a movie, or tweeting about something that could get them in trouble. I don’t care if they are working out, eating, or watching a movie. If they are tweeting about something that could get them in trouble, one of the several sports journalists that I follow will keep me informed. I only follow about 100 people, broken down as follows: about 25 national sports journalists, 15 personal friends, 15 comedians, 15 writers associated with UVa or ACC athletics, 10 actors, 10 athletes, 5 people affiliated with the Detroit Lions, and about 5 national sports blogs. I would recommend that you follow –
1) @sportsguy33 (Bill Simmons – ESPN.com) – funny and informative
2) @ClayTravisBGID (Clay Travis – Outkickthecoverage.com) – SEC football coverage and funny commentary
3) @Rob Huebel – comedian with hilarious yet often bizarre sense of humor
4) @Deadspin – Sports News without Access, Favor, or Discretion
5) @sepinwall (Alan Sepinwall) – by far the best TV critic on Twitter
6) @sportspickle – witty sports commentary
7) @TFLN – texts from last night
8) @ConanOBrien and @Andy_Richter – neither will blow up your Twitter feed and both are usually funny
9) @slmandel (Stewart Mandel – CNNSI) – best national college football news
10) @Grantland33 – new sports and pop culture website featuring Bill Simmons and Chuck Klosterman
Hunter, based on your fanship – I also highly recommend that you follow the beat writers for the Atlanta Braves, South Carolina Gamecocks football and baseball, and the Jack Delhomme Fan Club.
Q: Have you given “Franklin & Bash” a shot?
· Adam C., Jackson, MS
CC: I have watched one episode of “Franklin & Bash” and was not overly impressed. I like Mark-Paul Gosselaar (how could someone our age not like the former Zack Morris?) and Breckin Meyer from their previous roles, but I have never been a fan of legal shows – with the exception of “Damages.” It bothers me when a crime takes place in the first 5 minutes of an episode and the trial has already started and ended by the end of the episode. Granted, I understand that “Franklin & Bash,” unlike most legal TV series, is supposed to be a comedy – even though it’s on a network that knows drama. I had to change the channel when Franklin (or was it Bash?) showed up drunk for trial and then high-fived a juror after his closing argument. Also, as a practicing attorney, I would like to sign up for the job that involves me hosting a hot tub party every weeknight. I definitely plan to give “F&B” another shot.
Q: What are the 5 most mentally unstable positions in sports?
· Jack L. M., Toano, VA
CC: I am only listing players from team sports, although you could argue that golfers and tennis players often become “head cases” when the pressure is on. My list of the 5 most unstable positions in sports is as follows:
1) Closer (baseball) – You have to be a little crazy to be a closer. You want the opponent to fear your game and you personally. The best closers embrace the loose cannon personality. Closers also usually have the best entrance music. For about 10 years, all Red Sox fans loathed Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” because it reminded them that Mariano Rivera was about to come in and end the game. Best examples: Brian Wilson, John Rocker, Jonathan Papelbon, Mitch Williams.
2) Placekickers (football) – Placekickers have good reason to be mentally unstable. If they miss a few kicks, they will likely get cut. They rarely get any respect, even if they make a game-winning kick. Sometimes I feel bad for kickers and their bi-polar role on the team…but then I remember that they make hundreds of thousands of dollars for very little work and very little risk of injury. Best examples: Scott Norwood, Gary Anderson, Ray Finkle.
3) Linebackers (football) – To be a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker in the NFL (or as every ESPN analyst calls it – The National Football League), you have to want to murder someone. I would not want to make these people angry. Best examples: Ray Lewis, Brian Bosworth, Lawrence Taylor, James Harrison.
4) Goalie (hockey) – Why would anyone volunteer for this position? You have to crouch down and squat like a catcher the whole game (not just on defense like a baseball catcher) while wearing skates and then you have opponents relentlessly shoot heavy pucks at you for 60 minutes. You wear so much equipment that you are literally soaked with sweat after the game…a game that was played on ice. For these reasons alone, I suspect you are mentally unstable. Best examples: insert any NHL goalie here.
5) Wide receiver (football) – Football is clearly a game dominated by mentally unstable individuals. Wide receivers are not crazy like linebackers or head cases like kickers, but they are prima donnas. They are often selfish. They must have the ball. Just throw them the damn ball. They need constant attention. After touchdowns, they need props like cell phones, sharpies, and pom poms. One of them cannot spell “85” in Spanish. One of them spends straight cash, homey. Best examples: Chad Ochocinco, Keyshawn Johnson, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss.
Q: Is liking Justin Timberlake as an actor acceptable?
· Dave F., Richmond, VA
CC: Yes. I think the “Dick in a Box” skit from Saturday Night Live in 2006 was a turning point for Timberlake’s public image among men. Prior to “D in a B,” we only knew him from the Mickey Mouse Club, the boy band ‘NSync, his pop solo career, and as the guy that cried on Punk’d. We also had trouble understanding why Britney Spears and other girls were so infatuated with him. To some extent, we still wonder about this, but I digress. After his success on SNL, Timberlake came across more as a regular guy. I thought he was surprisingly good in the 2006 film Alpha Dog and even better in The Social Network. I never expected him to a be a lead actor in a movie (Friends with Benefits – which I have not yet seen), but he seems to be doing more acting than singing lately. Even though Timberlake has been one of the better hosts of SNL and the ESPYs in recent years, I am still not sold on his comedic ability. However, I am willing to admit that he is a good and likable actor.
Q: Should I start “Friday Night Lights” at season 1, episode 1?
· Adam C., Jackson, MS
Q: Most memorable line from “Friday Night Lights”?
a) Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose!
b) Texas Forever
c) All of the above
· Tony R., Baltimore, MD
CC: Yes, everyone should watch “Friday Night Lights” – in its entirety. I’ve had some time to reflect on the show since the series finale, and I would rank it as the third best show of my lifetime behind “Seinfeld” and “The Wire” (“Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men” fans – I’m only counting shows on permanent hiatus). FNL made me nostalgic, and I didn’t even play high school football or grow up in Texas. The theme song made me shed a few tears every time. The football scenes were exciting and realistic (although it was frustrating that every game came down to the last play), but the show was about much more than football. It was basically BH9er with better athletes, better-looking girls, and more developed parental characters. With all due respect to Jim and Cindy Walsh and Sandy and Kiki Cohen, Coach and Tami Taylor were the best married couple in dramatic TV history. The show also avoided the “college years” dilemma by spreading out the ages of the stars in season 1 and bringing in new high school characters in season 4. It was a risky move because several key characters had to be written off the show when they graduated from Dillon, but it was the right move to make and for the most part it worked. As much as I loved BH9er, it was ridiculous that every single character enrolled at Cal U after high school. “Friday Night Lights” was in constant danger of being canceled – the show probably lasted longer than it expected to and bowed out earlier than it wanted to – but the series finale was without question the best series finale I have ever seen. I cannot imagine a better way to end a show. There are rumors of a new movie based on the TV show, and I am not sure how I feel about it. As much as I love these characters – it would basically be a movie based on a TV show that was based on a movie that was based on a book.
Q: What’s your favorite women’s sport? I think mine just became women’s soccer. I was most impressed with the attitude of the players. The men were wimps compared to these ladies. I saw fewer flops, less cat-fighting, less drama between superstar-diva teammates, no mutinies against coaches (see France), and Brazilian players that are actually human.
· Hunter R., Greenville, SC
CC: Tennis and soccer are definitely my two favorite women’s sports – and not just because these sports typically feature highly attractive ladies. I use the following standard to determine whether I really enjoy a women’s sports: would I rather watch a men’s high school team or a professional women’s team play the sport? Without question, I would rather watch professional women’s soccer or tennis than watch a high school men’s team play either. Conversely, I would MUCH rather watch guys play high school basketball than watch the WNBA. Likewise, I would rather watch any men’s or co-ed office league softball game in America than college or pro or Olympic ladies softball.
Although I have followed women’s tennis more closely than women’s soccer in the past, I think soccer may have passed tennis as my favorite women’s sport this year. While no-name Russian and Asian players have dominated women’s tennis in recent months (Williams sisters have been injured), the women’s World Cup captivated the nation this summer. I tuned into the US-Brazil quarterfinal game pretty much because there was nothing else on TV that Sunday afternoon. I tweeted before the game that Abby Wambach was Steve Nash’s doppelganger. At the time, I believed that making pointless observations like that would be more interesting than the game itself. I was wrong. By the end of the game, I was ready to buy a Wambach jersey and plan the rest of my week around watching the US team’s semifinal and final games.
I watched the 1999 women’s World Cup as closely and enthusiastically as any men’s World Cup, but then I forgot about women’s soccer for 12 years. I think this year’s World Cup will have more staying power than the 1999 Cup. The 1999 Cup successfully influenced young girls to care about and play soccer. The 2011 Cup convinced a worldwide audience that women can play soccer at a very high level and that women’s soccer can be as entertaining as any men’s sport. I also liked that – with the exception of some stalling and bad sportsmanship from Brazil – there was very little flopping and unnecessary gamesmanship in this year’s World Cup, which was a welcome change from the flopfest that was the 2010 men’s World Cup. Maybe I am still suffering from World Cup fever, but right now soccer is my favorite women’s sport.
Q: Following the women’s World Cup, there seems to be some debate about whether or not penalty kicks are a good way to end a game. Some people love it. Some people despise it. Your thoughts?
· Drew R., Atlanta, GA
CC: I was surprised at how many commentators criticized the rule of ending the game in a shootout. Maybe soccer purists just don’t like it. I don’t recall that many people complaining in 1999 or after the quarterfinal game when the US won in penalty kicks. I love penalty kicks. No one wants to play or watch soccer for more than 120 minutes. I like that soccer has overtime with no golden goal but after regulation and overtime, penalty kicks are the best way to settle the match. Who wouldn’t want to see a basketball game end with a 3-point shootout rather than double overtime?
Here is my list of the 5 most exciting ways to end a sporting event:
1) Penalty kicks (your goalie and 5 best players decide the game)
2) Basketball buzzer beater (especially in March)
3) Walk-off homerun (arguably the only exciting part of a baseball game)
4) Hockey sudden death overtime (works better in hockey than soccer because hockey is more fast-paced)
5) College football overtime (much more exciting than NFL overtime that almost always ends with a field goal)
Q: Did Ashley make the right decision on “The Bachelorette”?
· West L., Columbia, SC
CC: I would say yes. Ben put himself out there and made himself vulnerable, but it didn’t work out for him. J.P. took a leap of faith and...I mean, wait, I don’t watch “The Bachelorette.” How would I know if she made the right choice? I was watching some random baseball game or something that night. Let’s just move on.
Q: Would you rather have never had your umbilical cord disconnected from your mother OR be Gary Busey’s Siamese twin?
· Lindsey D., Nashville, TN
CC: On second thought, let’s keep talking about that Bachelorette finale…
Sunday, March 13, 2011
2011 NCAA Bracket Projection
Its that time a year again and BZNation is pleased to once again provide a preview of what the NCAA Tournament could look like when it is released at 6:00 this evening. I am sure there will be many mistakes but it's fun to see how we compare to the actual bracket.
Final Bracket Projection
1 Seeds - Ohio St., Kansas, Pitt, Duke
2 Seeds - Notre Dame, Texas, UNC, San Diego St.
3 Seeds - BYU, Florida, Purdue, UConn
4 Seeds - Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse, Wisconsin
5 Seeds - St. John's, Texas AM, Arizona, Kansas St.
6 Seeds - Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Georgetown, Missouri
7 Seeds - Cincinnati, Old Dominion, Washington, Florida St
8 Seeds - UNLV, UCLA, Xavier, Michigan
9 Seeds - George Mason, Temple, Tennessee, Utah St.
10 Seeds - Illinois, Michigan St., Villanova, Richmond
11 Seeds - Memphis, Butler, Gonzaga, Marquette
12 Seeds - Colorado, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, St. Mary's
13 Seeds - Oakland, Belmont, Princeton, Indiana St
14 Seeds - Wofford, Morehead St., Akron, Long Island
15 Seeds - St. Peters, Bucknell, Northern Colorado, Arkansas-LR
16 Seeds - UNC Asheville, Boston, UTSA, Alabama St, Hampton, UCSB
Final Bracket Projection
1 Seeds - Ohio St., Kansas, Pitt, Duke
2 Seeds - Notre Dame, Texas, UNC, San Diego St.
3 Seeds - BYU, Florida, Purdue, UConn
4 Seeds - Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse, Wisconsin
5 Seeds - St. John's, Texas AM, Arizona, Kansas St.
6 Seeds - Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Georgetown, Missouri
7 Seeds - Cincinnati, Old Dominion, Washington, Florida St
8 Seeds - UNLV, UCLA, Xavier, Michigan
9 Seeds - George Mason, Temple, Tennessee, Utah St.
10 Seeds - Illinois, Michigan St., Villanova, Richmond
11 Seeds - Memphis, Butler, Gonzaga, Marquette
12 Seeds - Colorado, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, St. Mary's
13 Seeds - Oakland, Belmont, Princeton, Indiana St
14 Seeds - Wofford, Morehead St., Akron, Long Island
15 Seeds - St. Peters, Bucknell, Northern Colorado, Arkansas-LR
16 Seeds - UNC Asheville, Boston, UTSA, Alabama St, Hampton, UCSB
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
ChopCulture on Twitter
I have bashed Twitter in the past, but after trying it out I am now on board. Since my blog posts have been few and far between lately, Twitter is a way to follow ChopCulture through videos and short posts. I will also announce new blog posts via Twitter. I will post Ramblings and Mailbags on the blog and post brief comments/observations/videos on Twitter. If you've never tried Twitter, give it a chance.
Follow me at www.twitter.com/chopculture
Follow me at www.twitter.com/chopculture
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Decision
I plan to write a lengthy post about LeBron's decision (or in Chief's words -- the Lebacle). The subject has become as overblown as Favre's decision to retire/unretire last season (and this season), but I need to put my position on the record. For "teaser" purposes, I think LeBron joining the Harlem Globetrotters would have been a better decision than taking his talents to South Beach and D-Wade's Miami Heat. Until I get around to full explaining my thoughts on LeBron, enjoy Steve Carell's Decision below (from the ESPYs).
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