Posts Tagged ‘2000’s’

 
There’s something about the late ’90’s/early 2000’s that will forever remain a better time. Even as the innocence of the late ’90’s was crushed under the weight of 9/11, the early 2000’s retains a certain level of a “better days” vibe, which trailed into the mid 2000’s and seemed to be gone by 2010. Life was different, in a way that kids today will never understand. The internet hadn’t fully immersed itself into every second of our lives, but allowed music, art, and social connections to thrive in a way that had never existed before. You were still hanging out with friends in person, movies required a trip to the movie theater or a video rental store, and streaming was just a tech concept.
 
In short, the mid ’90’s – mid 2000’s was the last great decade of primetime network TV.  You had to be home to catch your shows or set your VCR or early version DVR to record. You lived for each week that a new episode would drop. Binging consisted of watching repeats or box sets of previous seasons. You never had the opportunity to watch a show, in full, start to finish, at your own whim until that show ended. And you bought the box sets. Not to mention that show seasons of that time period were very often over 20 episodes, which is nearly unheard of now.
 
The WB was the crown of primetime network TV as the millennium approached. “Dawson’s Creek”, arguably the most iconic show of the time period, humbly premiered in early 1998 as a mid season replacement and “Felicity” hit the airwaves in September 1998 as a full season premiere. Both launched huge fanbases, but “Felicity” always lived a little under the radar, as “Dawson’s Creek” rose to be the crown jewel of the network.
 

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the-oc-slice-1 “Welcome to The OC, bitch.”

“The OC”, one of the most famous and glitzy teen drama shows of all time, and the inspiration for arguably the most influential and genre defining reality show franchises: “Laguna Beach”/”The Hills”/”The City”.

The spring of 2003 saw the series finale of “Dawson’s Creek”, which is itself arguably one of the most defining TV shows of the late ’90’s, and of all time in its genre. The crown of The WB. As the sun set on Capeside and my generation’s favorite love triangle, Dawson, Pacey, and Joey (big Pacey fan here), the final episode ended much as the show started. Heartfelt, a little cheesy, and relatable in some way to the average young person. They could all be your friends, classmates, a neighbor.

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The Black Donnellys

Episode 12: “The Black Drop”

“How shall a man … draw off from his veins the black drop he drew from this father …” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Also known as the episode in which Kevin hates people who cut the line and your heart breaks into a million pieces for Jimmy. 

Joey Ice Cream gets stabbed in the shower, appears to be fairly minor, and reveals that his friends have a contract out on him. Dun dun dun, the plot thickens about the real reason Joey’s in jail. I have my own theories I’ll share after the final episode.

Tommy and Kevin are still trying to help Mr. Reilly save the diner, and Joey third wheels by revealing Anthony Lino’s (the building inspector) location. Or so he says. Tommy tricks Lino into an inspection of a local business and they kidnap him, hiding him in the basement of the Firecracker, Louie Downtown style. Joey gleefully joins the basement session, except when he’s left in charge of keeping an eye on Lino.

Kevin continues to prove his fascination and ability for violence, while Tommy puts the pressure on with just a nod of the head to Kevin. Have I mentioned how much I love their working relationship in the family business?

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The Black Donnellys

Episode 11: “Wasn’t That Enough?”

“Father, you died once … wasn’t that enough?” – Anne Sexton

Also known as the episode in which Kevin gives his number to a “human hate machine” and Tommy wears a black t-shirt.

Joey: “Enterprise? You guys talk like it was some kind big kind of corporation. It wasn’t like that at all, we were just a bunch of kids hanging out in a bar. At least, that’s how it started.”

That building the Donnellys cleared? Torched, presumably by the building management. But they still get paid, with an extra $10,000, so I guess a deal’s a deal? Dokey wasn’t too happy with that. Mr. Reilly reveals that his building is still in danger, but so eloquently telling Tommy he hates him and his family. What a way to request a favor. The city has deemed the building structurally unsound, but Mr. Reilly knows that Dokey is behind it. Tommy refuses to take half the diner as payment, but Mr. Reilly is Mr. Reilly.

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The Black Donnellys

Episode 10: When the Door Opens

“There is always one moment in childhood when the door open and lets the future in.” – Graham Greene

Also known as the episode in which Kevin gets hit with a “piss balloon”, and Jimmy is involved in one of the most brilliantly composed murder scenes of all time.

Tommy: “We’re all going to die.”

Just a casual declaration in the Firecracker, after Tommy turns down the deal with Nicky because Nicky won’t work with Jimmy. Tommy’s plan? To get on Dokey’s side to build up funds and manpower, to prepared when Nicky kills Dokey.

Sean meanwhile gets the boot from the real family business, crime, and momentarily quits as the beverage manager to make a point. But he ends up hanging with Nadine, the jukebox sales girl, so maybe his life is taking a better turn.

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The Black Donnellys

Episode 9: “All of Us are in the Gutter”

“All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars” – Oscar Wilde

Also known as the episode in which Kevin proves his loyalty to Jenny by saying “I’ll stay”, and you feel in that moment who Kevin really is.

Tommy takes Kate up on meeting her art friend, Munst. Except he doesn’t realize that it’s actually an internship and shows up all prepared to present his work. Poor Tommy. He’s slinging disgusting studio garbage into a too high dumpster and gets a visit from Kate who wants more than to just visit. Munst fairly calls out that everyone needs a benefactor, and it seems like Tommy is just realizing what Kate’s bigger plan is. Again I wonder, would something more have happened between them in future seasons?

Jimmy got a new sign for the Firecracker Lounge, which is literally an illustration of a flame and a Saltine-like cracker. Too literal or so basic its creative? 

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The Black Donnellys

Episode 4: The World Will Break Your Heart

“To be Irish is to know that in the end the world will break your heart”. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Definitely my favorite quote slide of the show.

AKA the episode in which Kevin Donnelly and Joey Ice Cream steal kosher wine for an Irish wake, while Jimmy’s making a birdhouse.

We kick off episode 4 with Jimmy in a bar, saying that his brothers killed for him. This how we get the lead into the condensed Joey Ice Cream voice over about what happened in the highly important, yet unaired, Episode 3. Has my hatred for NBC come through yet? I’m not sure.

Cut to Kate Farrell, Huey’s widow and a fantasy for all the neighborhood boys, showing up at the Donnelly door, nearly killing Tommy by asking to hold Huey’s wake at the Firecracker. The flashback scene of the brothers and Joey looking at pictures supposedly of Kate reminds me SO much of the Sleepers scene with the four boys (Jonathan Tucker included) looking at the Rockettes through a hole in a window. Ah, young boys, they were so … industrious. And now, there is the internet. (more…)

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The Black DonnellysEpisode 2: “A Stone of the Heart”

“Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart” – W.B. Yeats, Easter 1916

Also known in my mind as the “RIP Tommy’s Jacket” episode.

Something I love about the structure of the show is the quotes within the first few minutes of each episode, starting with episode 2. Each quote relates to the episode title.  Kind of feels like you’re watching a play, with each quote setting up the next act.

Episode 2 finds Tommy and Kevin trying to cover up their involvement the murders of Louie, Sal, and Huey. RIP Tommy’s jacket from the epic Minetta Tavern hallway scene in Episode 1, which burns along with the rest of their clothes to get rid evidence. Kevin didn’t burn his jacket though, ’cause it’s his favorite, and I think we can all relate to Kevin in that moment. (more…)

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118849186Episode 1: Pilot 

What I loved about this show when it first aired is we jump right in from the start of the pilot. No build up or introductory first episode. 2007 was heavy in the midst of the 20+ episode season era, and this was unusual.

The condensed formatting of The Black Donnellys, which fit well as a mid-season hiatus candidate (and then bumped back a month early to replace a failing show, another NBC nail in the coffin) required a quick jump into the deep end. But, given that it was supposed to air the previous fall, its hard to say if 13 episodes would’ve completed the first season, or if there was a chance to do another 10-12 episodes had NBC not fucked up and it was more successful.

Detective 1: “So where are the bodies?” 

Prisoner: “Oh man, these guys are my friends.”

Detective 1: “Here’s the deal, Joey.  You tell us where the bodies are, how they got there, you’ll stay in solitary, nice and safe.  You lie, you go to general population, where more people than I can count want to see you dead.”

Detective 2: “Where are the bodies?”

Joey: “There’s two things that happened to Jimmy Donnelly that made him turn out the way he did …”

30 seconds into the pilot, haven’t even hit the opening credits, and we’re in. It’s brilliant. Who’s Joey? What bodies? Jimmy Donnelly? (more…)

The Black DonnellysLet’s take it back to early 2007, it’s my senior of college, final semester. Deeply entrenched in the indie music scene (I miss you, 2000’s), I was spending a lot time between college, Boston, and my beloved New York City. An interesting era as lower Manhattan climbed from the ashes, and small clubs became victim again to the relentless progress machine that is NYC. But that’s for another day.

This was also the infancy of on demand video services (beyond PPV) and online streaming, tapping into the beginnings of the yet unknown that Netflix would capitalize on.

So, as every TV worshipper does, I planned much of my week around shows I couldn’t miss, agonizing over which to prioritize if time slots were doubled up, and utilized the quickly becoming ancient VHS tape to record anything I’d miss, on my little TV with its built in video tape deck and timer features.

I’d heard rumor of a new show set in Hell’s Kitchen, an NYC neighborhood with a long list of real and fictional Irish Mob and Italian Mafia dramas playing out in its streets for years. (more…)