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[Memles]

There are a few things that have always been fairly consistent with Alias. They are as follows.

1. Jennifer Garner is hot.
2. Kevin Weisman's Marshall is an incredibly cool geek.
3. Jennifer Garner is hot.
4. The Show has a CRAPPY lead-in (I'm looking in your direction, Wonderful World of Disney) or a lead-in that performs well but whose audience has no correlation with that of Alias (Exteme Makeover: Home Edition)
5. One of the great television villians, in Arvin Sloane.

Numbers one and three are enough reason to watch the show from a visual standpoint. Number two and five will keep the show humorous and interesting. I could probably think of a whole lot of other ones, but this is fine for now. But it is the fourth that is important. Because number four has crippled its ability to find a broad audience.

In a time when scripted "Drama" (I can't simply use the term Drama, since idiotic ABC classified Desperate Housewives as a Comedy for the Golden Globes, when it could really go either way, although I'm more on the side of Drama personally) has returned to the forefront of ratings success for the networks, most specifically ABC, a show like Alias is exactly what television viewers are now embracing, but that has generally been shunned by a bulk of the viewing public.

It's a show that is readily available on DVD; all three Seasons are out there, waiting to be found by more people. The show has a strong cult following, but is lacking a major breakthrough. But now, it's airing at 9/8C Wednesdays, directly after Series Creator JJ Abrams' other big show, Lost. So, thus my plea.

If you watch Lost on Wednesday Night, stick around for Alias.

From all indications, what JJ Abrams has developed with the Season Premiere of Alias is both a new beginning and an extension of the series thus far. It will both serve as a summary of past events, to allow new viewers to get into the series, as well as starting these characters off on a whole new journey.

Alias has not had this much potential since the middle of the second season, when...well I won't spoil it, but a major shake-up that changed the balance of the series dramatically. The Third Season was a let-down in terms of quality (Damn Lena Olin, I blame her), but all signs point to Abrams and Co. having their priorities straight.

What Lost is for Science Fiction and Action/Adventure, Alias is to Espionage and Action/Adventure. They both feature fascinating characters, exciting moments and strong character interaction, but they do it in two different genres.

Alias will be running rerun free from now until May. Over that period of time, Abrams Wednesdays on ABC will be a highlight of the week for me, personally, even though I'll only be able to watch one live as it airs. There is something about both shows that is very fascinating while at the same time incredibly fun to watch. Enough humour to keep you entertained, enough indepth mythology to keep you interested, and enough Jennifer Garner to...well, yeah.

So thus, that is my pathetic plea. Watch Alias this Wednesday, 9/8C on ABC. If you're in Canada, and for some reason cannnot get ABC in your area but do have access to the internet and happen to post on GAF, the two-hour premiere will be airing at 4pm EST on Sunday. In a time when scripted television is thriving, Alias should get the audience it deserves.

Resources
TV Tome - Alias
San Diego Union-Tribune Article (Features short summaries of the first three seasons)
*Insert "Illegal" Download Site of Choice, if you so please*

 

[Wario64]

I liked the show until season two. I dont know why but I just lost interest on the show at the point.

Lost, however, is awesome. Finally saw all 11 episodes last week and I'm hooked

 

[Trakball]

Alias has always intrigued me, but I've yet to watch an episode. Is it harder than fuck to understand what's going on, if you don't know the backstory?

Let me switch my point around a bit: I'm a fan of 24, The Wire and basically intelligent writing. Will I like Alias, or is it just a showcase for Jennifer Garner and her various outfits? No offense to you or anyone else who digs the woman, but I think she looks like a monkey. She makes my penis soft.

 

[Dice]

I always wanted to watch Alias but it's on at a bad time for me. I might get the DVD sets or something, or at least get them from the library to watch them like we did The Sopranos.

 

[Wario64]

Jennifer Garner does nothing for me as well, so points 1 and 3 are moot to me

 

[Memles]

Alias has always intrigued me, but I've yet to watch an episode. Is it harder than fuck to understand what's going on, if you don't know the backstory?

Let me switch my point around a bit: I'm a fan of 24, The Wire and basically intelligent writing. Will I like Alias, or is it just a showcase for Jennifer Garner and her various outfits? No offense to you or anyone else who digs the woman, but I think she looks like a monkey. She makes my penis soft.

I don't find her overly attractive most of the time, but "Phase One" (Superbowl Episode) kind of opened my eyes a bit more to it.

It's a different beast than say 24, a show I love as well. It's slightly less "serious", but I think the writing is just as intelligent in terms of the threats at hand and the mythology.

I don't think it will be TOO hard to catch onto; only thing I can suggest is to watch the premiere. If you find it REALLY hard to understand and don't think you can continue watching, so be it. But, I think if you even do a bit of reading or know someone who watches it, it can be explained fairly well. All signs point to this season being more contained, in that each episode (Other than cliffhangers) will be more or less one mission.

It's a showcase for her outfits and her antics, but I can honestly say that it isn't JUST a showcase, and is instead an intelligent show with that as a ...side attraction.

Jennifer Garner does nothing for me as well, so points 1 and 3 are moot to me

I knew that was shaky ground...but in selling the show it's how ABC is selling the show. Plus, any real fans would argue any of my other consistency points would be decllined due to the third season.

The Library is a brilliant plan; I watched all of Alias Seasons One and Two this summer through the local library. It was great. I had seen a majority of the episodes, but it proved to be a great refresher in terms of the backstory, if that's what you're looking for in the show.

 

[Funky Papa]

No offense to you or anyone else who digs the woman, but I think she looks like a monkey. She makes my penis soft.

Ghost, get your ass here, we have some work to do with this mansnack.

 

[skip]

they need to redeem themselves for last season. "Ima Gonnakickyerass" isn't doin' it, so far.

 

[Memles]

they need to redeem themselves for last season. "Ima Gonnakickyerass" isn't doin' it, so far.

I can't say I agree with ABC's marketing campaign for the show...essentially, it appears that they're marketing it to the Desperate Housewives crowd...which might be good for business, but it really shows nothing of what actually makes the show as good as it is.

 

[totoro'd]

It's also a chance to watch a female lead kick ass (literally), which is enough for me

I haven't been the same since Xena went off the air...

 

[Prospero]

I loved Alias right up until halfway through season two, when the producers sold out every aspect of the show that made it interesting in order to boost the ratings.

 

[border]

I really hope the show gets a solid reboot. The backstory arc is so ridiculously convoluted, it's like The X-Files all over again. It should have been a 1 or 2 season story. If they are planning on trying to string us along with Rambaldi nonsense for the rest of the show then I'll probably be tuned out by May.

I thought that the Lauren plotlines last season were actually a good idea, but just poorly executed. They should have exposed her a bit earlier. It would have been a nice throwback to Season 1, where being a double agent was focused on -- except this time you'd be rooting against the double agent.

Do something interesting with Vaughn or get rid of him, also....

 

[Trakball]

Hey you like The Amazing Race too Memles, don't you? What do you think about this fucking "To Be Continued" action!?

 

[Memles]

Hey you like The Amazing Race too Memles, don't you? What do you think about this fucking "To Be Continued" action!?

I threw a nearby chip bag clip at the television.

I loved Alias right up until halfway through season two, when the producers sold out every aspect of the show that made it interesting in order to boost the ratings.

"Phase One", as an hour of television, was brilliant. It is tension-filled, suspenseful, and was an amazing experience, through and through. And, as long as Lena Olin stuck around afterwards, and the search for Sloane, I think the show was fine. It was the third season where none of this existed (Olin or the threat of Sloane), that it became obvious that the loss off SD-6 was a negative for the show.

 

[Trakball]

I threw a nearby chip bag clip at the television.

Dude, I think some out-of-hand action went down at the next leg, which will lead to

Spoiler

a team dropping out at the pit stop

. Causing the schedule to get all screwed up, leading The Powers That Be to throw a clip show into the mix (which wasn't bad, all in all. I felt really bad for Adam in the train, when Rebecca got a sandwich from that dude).

But they probably just didn't want to do a leg in the middle of the holidays. That's probably it.

 

[Memles]

Dude, I think some out-of-hand action went down at the next leg, which will lead to

Spoiler

a team dropping out at the pit stop

. Causing the schedule to get all screwed up, leading The Powers That Be to throw a clip show into the mix (which wasn't bad, all in all. I felt really bad for Adam in the train, when Rebecca got a sandwich from that dude).

But they probably just didn't want to do a leg in the middle of the holidays. That's probably it.

You're derailing my Alias thread, but you know I don't care, since it's TARTalk.

The real reason I think it occured? Because they want to drum up support for the episode tomorrow night. They got fairly good ratings for the clip show; I think that they wanted to kind of give people who watched the clip show to catch up with the series for the first time to have something to look forward to...like a cliffhanger.

I half expect it to just end up being either a slightly extended leg (Surprise, Double Leg!) or else it's simply a non-elimination, or else it's an elimination and they just dragged it out. I don't expect anything REALLY shocking, such as your suggested idea.

 

[SKluck]

"I look goooooood."

Unfortunately I will be working wednesday night, missing the return of Lost and Alias. Thank God for Bit Torrent. I wouldn't be able to watch 1/10th of the tv I do without it.

 

[Fifty]

Dude, I think some out-of-hand action went down at the next leg, which will lead to

Spoiler

a team dropping out at the pit stop

. Causing the schedule to get all screwed up, leading The Powers That Be to throw a clip show into the mix (which wasn't bad, all in all. I felt really bad for Adam in the train, when Rebecca got a sandwich from that dude).

But they probably just didn't want to do a leg in the middle of the holidays. That's probably it.

Love Alias, but I'm all burnt out bitching about S3 or talking about the show in general so I'll ride the TAR train.

How the hell can you feel bad for Adam? That "man" is the world's biggest pussy. The world's. Biggest. PUSSY! He's also so obviously gay that it makes any previous "romantic" connection with him and Rebecca a complete joke.

 

[Trakball]

You know why I feel bad for Adam? Because I just think he's a straight, slightly effeminate dude. I've known many people like that (mostly from Austin, TX, but whatever) and I think he's just getting the "hahahah, look what a fag this guy is" edit. Come on, you KNOW the editors of TAR fuck with people. They direct the show, for better or for worse. I'm not saying someone like Jonathan needs an edit 'cause that dude is straight up psychotic. But other people - like Colin, a good, competitive racer - got the shitty edit, over the whole "aren't Chip & Kim the best people ever?" one. But whatever, I like C&K too.

I love Kris & Jon. Where are they copping their bud from? Those two are SUCH a bunch of stoners. Maybe CBS is clearing customs for them

 

[border]

You guys know that this reality show shit you're obsessing over is what's killing the "good scripted dramas" you are begging for, right?

 

[Fifty]

Reality show shit? This isn't freaking paradise island. Obsessing over? Whatever, I'd write up a better reply, but you're talking out of your ass.

 

[Memles]

You guys know that this reality show shit you're obsessing over is what's killing the "good scripted dramas" you are begging for, right?

The Amazing Race is not reality show shit. It is a combination of human interaction, intense competition, and amazing locations. Sure, it's being run by producers and bunching is pretty well fixed by the way the race is designed, but there is something human about it that all other reality shows lack.

There is a place for reality television; it isn't in every single timeslot in a single night (The New ABC Mondays) and it isn't on every new season order. It's place is in providing 13 episodes of entertaining television. Very few have done this, and The Amazing Race has proven the most consistent in doing so. For every good scripted show I enjoy, I fully believe it is possible for there to be an unscripted show I enjoy as well. The ratio is of course nowhere near even, thanks to the bulk of good scripted TV compared to only TAR that I really enjoy on the reality side, but I fully believe that good reality TV is good TV period.

 

[The Faceless Master]

jen garner would make a handsome guy!
she's not hot at all...
i watch alias because of the entertaining plot, not because of the manly chick that stars in it...

 

[fart]

last season was pureed shit. hopefully this one will be better.

 

[radioheadrule83]

^_^ sorry, the show that starts on the plane in the lingerie and what I've seen of Elektra says Jen Garner is hot.

I only started watching Alias recently.

I've only seen some season 3, but I've seen all of the first two and recommend them.

It's like old school Mission Impossible meets the kind of girl-kicking-ass action you get in the likes of Buffy or Xena, only performed far better in my opinion. As you progress the espionage theme takes on a bit of a super-natural side too with talk of a prophet going by the name of Rambaldi. There are episodes that miss the mark substantially... there's a recap episode in particular that just isn't worth watching. But on the whole it's very entertaining.

I wouldn't recommend watching mid-season episodes, I'd try and watch important early ones before you go delving in. Otherwise it will probably seem like the cheesiest drama you've ever seen. I had a friend watch the first episode with Tarantino in, and the brief episode recap at the intro made him laugh out loud because of all the twists it glossed over regarding Sydney's parents, and the people she works for. It isn't so rediculous when you watch from the off. And even then, you shouldn't be taking it so serious anyway really...

There's some good guest star roles in this show. The ones I've seen include Roger Moore, Quentin Tarantino, Christian Slater, Ethan Hawke, David Carradine, Ricky Gervais etc

I can't wait to finish season 3 and get onto 4. Sloane is one of the best characters ever btw.

 

[Trakball]

You guys know that this reality show shit you're obsessing over is what's killing the "good scripted dramas" you are begging for, right?

You know that you have no idea what you're talking about, right?

 

[border]

Reality TV has already killed the Alias thread! Won't be long before it kills the Alias TV show!

 

[Trakball]

If at first you don't succeed, keep trying, eh? :lol

 

[Dilbert]

There was an interview with Kevin Weisman this morning on KROQ. Apparently the Rambaldi plotline is almost completely gone this season -- there was a huge backlash over that stuff, so they are simplifying things a bit going forward. Angela Bassett will be a recurring guest star this season (including tomorrow night's premiere), and there are some other surprise guests this year that he couldn't mention.

Sydney's sister is also going to be far more involved in the action...I'm in favor of that.

 

[border]

If the Rambaldi plot is gone, that's good. If they are going to reduce things to "Mission of the Week" fare with no story arc just for the sake of appealing to casual television viewers....then that's bad. They were smart enough to kill the "double agent"/SD-6 angle just as it was beginning to get a bit too formulaic, and I hope this decision is one that's motivated because they genuinely realized the problems with Rambaldi plot rather their attempt to patch up ratings.

I would like it if they bring back Anna Espinoza. And WTF was up with that huge tease last season, where we heard Tarantino's voice but he never came back for an episode? It would be nice to see him again.

 

[CloudNL]

Season 1 and 2 were great.
Season 3 sucked so hard, it wasn't even funny!
Hopefully season 4 will be better. I heard it has a lot of stand-alone episodes.

 

[Dilbert]

If the Rambaldi plot is gone, that's good. If they are going to reduce things to "Mission of the Week" fare with no story arc just for the sake of appealing to casual television viewers....then that's bad. They were smart enough to kill the "double agent"/SD-6 angle just as it was beginning to get a bit too formulaic, and I hope this decision is one that's motivated because they genuinely realized the problems with Rambaldi plot rather their attempt to patch up ratings.

The story will definitely be a progression. In fact, that's one of the main reasons they delayed its return until January -- they are going to run 22 consecutive weeks with new episodes.

 

[Memles]

And WTF was up with that huge tease last season, where we heard Tarantino's voice but he never came back for an episode? It would be nice to see him again.

...Tarantino was in an episode last season.

From what I read...it seems to be heading toward more standalone episodes, while at the same time continuing a story arc. This means less in the way of huge ass mythology, and more in the way of underlying themes and storylines throughout the season with major story episodes at certain integral points.

 

[keeblerdrow]

I find Alias to be the dumb man's 24. They fucking explain EVERYTHING to you. In detail. 45 minutes after a person with full faculties had it all figured out. Sometimes 3-4 episodes later.

 

[Trakball]

Oh man, "the dumb man's 24"? Ah shit. I love 24, but it sure as hell isn't because of the intelligent writing!

 

[mrmyth]

It's also a chance to watch a guy dressed as a female lead kick ass (literally), which is enough for me

I haven't been the same since Xena went off the air...

Fixed.


I shouldn't be able to look at a 'woman's' face and plainly see her skull. And NO HIPS=MAN.

 

[border]

Funny, because for all of Alias's explaining I still didn't have any damned idea what was going on with most of the Rambaldi shit last season.

I only saw a little of 24 Season 2 but it seemed patently ridiculous at the time....they had a sideplot with PSYCHO ABUSIVE DAD chasing around Sutherland's daughter, spouting out every single PSYCHO ABUSIVE DAD cliche phrase. Apparently the show has no sense of irony, and if assured that it usually reaches such stoic absurdity I might be more inclined to watch it.

 

[Trakball]

I only saw a little of 24 Season 2 but it seemed patently ridiculous at the time....they had a sideplot with PSYCHO ABUSIVE DAD chasing around Sutherland's daughter, spouting out every single PSYCHO ABUSIVE DAD cliche phrase. Apparently the show has no sense of irony, and if assured that it usually reaches such stoic absurdity I might be more inclined to watch it.

You're as bad as Drinky Crow writing off KAR after playing two minutes of it at a TRU kiosk.

Not to say that I don't agree with you, though.

 

[border]

I wrote it off because it didn't look very interesting to me, and I never liked Kiefer Sutherland very much. The silliness of the second season's early episodes came long after that..

 

[The Faceless Master]

damn, the Rambaldi plot was a part of what made the storyline interesting and not just the average run of the mill action show...

 

[bob_arctor]

6. Jack Bristow is an undeniable badass who'd sooner rip out your throat than have you deceive him.


Me and the wife have been clocking marathon sessions of the Season DVD's and we are just at the part when all the shit starts going down w/ her mom, Sloane etc. at the end of Season 2. Just great, great stuff.

 

[border]

Are they going to find a way to write-out that mask bullshit from the Season 3 finale? It's so stupid, but if it's not addressed ("The technology was destroyed") I'll probably still find myself thinking "Why didn't they just give her a mask?" every time she has to infiltrate some place.

 

[Memles]

Are they going to find a way to write-out that mask bullshit from the Season 3 finale? It's so stupid, but if it's not addressed ("The technology was destroyed") I'll probably still find myself thinking "Why didn't they just give her a mask?" every time she has to infiltrate some place.

I half think that Abrams was planning on using that episode for his M:I3 application.

 

[CloudNL]

I wrote it off because it didn't look very interesting to me, and I never liked Kiefer Sutherland very much. The silliness of the second season's early episodes came long after that..

Alias has more silly stupid storylines then 24.
Can't wait till 24 returns this sunday!