Have you guys ever heard of a show called "The Middleman"? I'm guessing no. It only got signed for 13 episodes, of which only 12 were ever made, and this was several years ago. I don't watch all that much TV. In fact, I watch none when it airs. Through the miracle of Netflix I'm beggining to understand why- the best stuff gets buried. It's given crummy time slots, moved around, canceled quick, no promotion. I could ramble for hours about why TV studios aren't wholly wrong to do this and why I think it' still short sighted of them, but I won't. I'm not even going to discuss the middleman itself in any further detail than that it's a top tier spy/super hero spoof that aired on ABC around 2007 or 2008, the same time as such other quickly canceled shows as Better off Ted and Pushing Daisies. I guess someone on staff had some balls. I'm guessing they don't anymore. I wonder whether they willingly handed them in for a paycheck or if they were removed. Either way, what I really wanted to talk about today isn't the show or the business side of the media industry. I just wanted to talk about the opening theme. "My plan is sheer elegance in its simplicity." That's what all the Middlemen villains claim of their ludicrously elaborate plots. Personally, I'm a fan of both silliness and minimalism. Tell me you don't think this opening succeeds with flying colors.
Two colors specifically. Just yellow and black. The song is catchy and has the easiest lyrics in the world to remember. Only two characters appear, and only three credits are given, every one of which is also used as a design element. Pretty undeniable what the show would be like from the opening, too. And while we're on the subject of colors, Javier Grillo-Marxwhatzit, you may color me impressed. I'll have to add the graphic novels it's based on to my reading list. And it moves surprisingly far up the ladder since it wouldn't be availible on the e-reader I haven't got, but which I could potentially own and which has, to date, more or less caused me to stop buying print books entirely.
I don't watch a lot of tv either. why do that when there are just so many books out there that need my attention?
ReplyDeletehowever, i have to admit to a certain facsination with HBO's Game of Thrones which is weird because I'm not one for fantasy. in fact, i haven't read an epic fantasy since the third grade when i devoured LOTR...makes me think i might have to break my no fantasy rule and seek out GRRM for perusal