Today’s Rant No. 32: Television Show Edition

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Abstract

entary “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist,” which told the story of Manti Te’o, arguably the top college linebacker in the United States a decade ago. He was an unstoppable force on the football field and a successful career in the NFL seemed like a no-brainer. During his time as a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, he developed an online romantic relationship with a woman in his home state of Hawaii named Lennay Kekua. After Kekua died following a battle with leukemia, Te’o used her death as motivation to play even harder, eventually earning a nomination for the Heisman Trophy, college football’s top honor…</li><li>…But there was a problem: Kekua did not die because she never existed — “she” was actually a man named Naya Tuiasosopo, an acquaintance of Te’o. This two-part show gives viewers an in-depth look at the controversy and shows how the media had been quick to falsely accuse Te’o of conspiring with Tuiasosopo to carry out the scheme as a publicity stunt. Although Te’o is an innocent victim in the fiasco, the aftermath has forever tainted his legacy on and off the football field. I highly recommend watching it, regardless of whether or not you follow sports. Grade: A</li><li>“Never Have I Ever” is my favorite comedic series at the moment. Created by Mindy Kaling, the show stars

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Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in the lead role as Devi, a nerdy, Indian American teenager who is dealing with the sudden death of her father. In almost every episode, Devi finds herself torn between following her strict cultural ideals and trying to gain her personal independence. To make matters more complicated, she also develops romantic feelings for two classmates: Ben (played by Jaren Lewison), who is a fellow nerd, and Paxton (Darren Barnet), the most popular boy at school. Although “Never Have I Ever” has plenty of recycled adolescent cliches, the show’s focus on the Indian culture and its attempts to break South Asian racial stereotypes provide a breath of fresh air that viewers should enjoy. Grade: A</li><li>I might be late to the party with this one, but “The Great British Baking Show” (also known as “The Great British Bake Off”) is one of my favorite reality shows. The format is straightforward where aspiring bakers compete against one another in each episode. Yet, there are still enough surprises and controversial moments to keep viewers interested. Although the judges and presenters have changed throughout the years, the lineup with Paul Hollywood (the only remaining original cast member) and Prue Leith along with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig is my favorite one. Grade: A-</li></ul></article></body>

Today’s Rant No. 32: Television Show Edition — Part Three

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I have quite a few favorite hobbies. Writing (of course). Hiking. And watching quality television shows. I recently checked out the first season of the science fiction series “From.” It stars Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino, and Eion Bailey. The show is about a community of people who live in what appears to be a quaint town in the middle of a forest. But the truth is the town is in an alternate universe and the residents cannot escape it. They are also terrorized at night by monsters who have human-like physical features. Although I am not a huge sci-fi fan, I really like this show. Solid plot and good acting, particularly with Perrineau in the lead role as the pragmatic and heroic Sheriff Boyd Stevens. The storyline has something for every viewer, from far-fetched elements (which is expected in a sci-fi series) to romance to heartwarming family moments. Grade: B+

As a sportswriter, I loved the documentary “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist,” which told the story of Manti Te’o, arguably the top college linebacker in the United States a decade ago. He was an unstoppable force on the football field and a successful career in the NFL seemed like a no-brainer. During his time as a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, he developed an online romantic relationship with a woman in his home state of Hawaii named Lennay Kekua. After Kekua died following a battle with leukemia, Te’o used her death as motivation to play even harder, eventually earning a nomination for the Heisman Trophy, college football’s top honor…

…But there was a problem: Kekua did not die because she never existed — “she” was actually a man named Naya Tuiasosopo, an acquaintance of Te’o. This two-part show gives viewers an in-depth look at the controversy and shows how the media had been quick to falsely accuse Te’o of conspiring with Tuiasosopo to carry out the scheme as a publicity stunt. Although Te’o is an innocent victim in the fiasco, the aftermath has forever tainted his legacy on and off the football field. I highly recommend watching it, regardless of whether or not you follow sports. Grade: A

“Never Have I Ever” is my favorite comedic series at the moment. Created by Mindy Kaling, the show stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in the lead role as Devi, a nerdy, Indian American teenager who is dealing with the sudden death of her father. In almost every episode, Devi finds herself torn between following her strict cultural ideals and trying to gain her personal independence. To make matters more complicated, she also develops romantic feelings for two classmates: Ben (played by Jaren Lewison), who is a fellow nerd, and Paxton (Darren Barnet), the most popular boy at school. Although “Never Have I Ever” has plenty of recycled adolescent cliches, the show’s focus on the Indian culture and its attempts to break South Asian racial stereotypes provide a breath of fresh air that viewers should enjoy. Grade: A

I might be late to the party with this one, but “The Great British Baking Show” (also known as “The Great British Bake Off”) is one of my favorite reality shows. The format is straightforward where aspiring bakers compete against one another in each episode. Yet, there are still enough surprises and controversial moments to keep viewers interested. Although the judges and presenters have changed throughout the years, the lineup with Paul Hollywood (the only remaining original cast member) and Prue Leith along with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig is my favorite one. Grade: A-