Television Show Review: Justified

Well this new show doesn't waste time. Right from the start we are thrust into a situation that defines the lead, Marshal Raylan Givens. He is a slow-burning all or nothing lawman that is a quickdraw that the old west would have immortalized.

Of course that same ability, penchant really, to take down the bad guy permanently leads our hero into hot water. So hot that he is forced to leave his position in Miami and sent back to the Kentucky backwoods that were his home. Obviously he is no fan of going back to his hometown, but less of a fan of being unemployed (I imagine the Obama Stimulus doesn't help the U.S. Marshals either).



Once back he learns that an old friend took a bad turn, becoming a neo-nazi and more than willing to burn, blow-up, kill or otherwise create havok in his desire to get money. The story at this point becomes somewhat predictable.



Timothy Olyphant plays Marshal Givens. He is not far from his character in Live Free or Die Hard, in that he is determined and smooth in his actions. His character is somewhat of a minimalist, a man of few words and generally low key. Even so he gives off a clear indication of having no remorse for those he kills in the line of duty, and having a very strong sense of honor (giving certain criminals the option of leaving town before he comes after them).

Overall the character is likeable. Olyphant makes him believeable, but also quite predictable. There are no surprises in the character. But that might be the fault of the writers or director. Still the acting is better than average.

For the first episode everyone else is in the background. Obviously there will be the recurring character of his former best friend Boyd (Walton Goggins). Boyd seems to have saved the life of Givens back when the 2 were 19 and working in a coal mine. A guess, but it seems likely.

The co-workers of Marshal Givens are barely seen, though we know that one is a sniper of some skill. There is a Black woman who is competent and very serious. Plus a boss who is a great match for Givens in that he doesn't care much how things get done, as long as they get done. All of these things may change once we get to see more of these characters than the 2 minutes of screentime in the opening episode.

None of that matters really. The key to any television show is how it makes you feel after watching it. Did you enjoy it? Was it worth seeing again? Is there anything that caught your attention?

As for how it makes you feel, Justified hasn't really given the viewer much to go on. You like Marshal Givens. You can see potential in some of the characters around him. But you just aren't sure what you think about it.

What did catch the attention is the attraction of an old friend who once had a crush on Givens. She killed her abusive husband with a shotgun while he was eating dinner. She has made it clear she still likes Givens. And I would not want to be the man that pisses this woman off. Which you know Givens will do at some point.

Watching the show you just get the feeling that like it's rustic surroundings, it has meat but you are wondering where the potatoers are. There just is something missing, and you can't quite place your finger on it. Maybe it was the speed in which Boyd was introduced and then removed - at least for a while. Maybe its the way all the characters have immediate connections to Givens that we never got to see develop. Maybe it's because the defining purpose of this drama has yet to be revealed.

That may be it. Marshal Givens needs something to drive him, and thus the viewer as well. If we get to see that in the next episode or 2 this could become a very intersting show. If we don't, the show will likely not make it another season.

King of Pop, now and forever?

Michael Jackson was many things to many people. A great musician, a troubled man, a businessman with the ability to make hoards of money, and a man who could spend money as fast as he made it. All are true, to varying degrees, but one thing may stand out above them all. He is still the King of Pop.

After all only a king could pull off what the Jackson estate is doing. Sony has now inked a deal of no less than $200 million, potentially $250 million, over 7 years with the Jackson estate. While that would not make the top 10 list of LIVING entertainers (actors in particular) it does make the top 20 I believe.

In fact this deal raises Michael Jackson from the top 3 position on the Forbes highest paid dead celebrity list, to almost assuredly 1st. With $90 million already made, plus the proceeds from This Is It, and now the Sony deal I would imagine he tops $350 million. Probably by quite a bit.

Elvis by comparison only had $55 million. Tupac, Biggie, and other notable dead singers that continued to have records published after their deaths don't even make the list.

Hell, this deal for the Jackson estate is so big even living celebrities are taking a back seat. Jay-Z only got $120 million. Maddona had $120 million. This doesn't even touch on the music library rights that the Jackson estate owns, worth roughly $2 billion (which includes rights to songs of Elvis and the Beatles among others).

When you add it all up, it really does become clear that Michael Jackson is (even after death), and for a long time to come will be, the King of Pop.

Tiger returns!

The fears of the PGA have been swayed. Tiger Woods has announced a return to golf competition at the Masters at Augusta this year. With the return of the king, golf will retain all the gains he has created for them.

Ok, more seriously, Woods being back in golf does mean a return of television ratings and thus more money for the PGA and all the players. That's just a fact. The biggest fear the PGA had was the retirement of Woods or an extended leave. That now being releieved, well the gravy is back.

Woods stated so far

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta.

The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played."

So Woods is going to go for another jacket. And if he gets it, he can shut up the guaranteed comments from commentators about how it all has affected his game, ect.

But you have to imagine that the time off, the problems with his family, the media attention (negative that is), all of it has to have some effect on him. He may play golf at the peak of mortal ability, but he isn't superhuman.

So how might Tiger Woods do at the Masters? He could miss the cut completely. Which would drive a huge number of tabloid specualtions about the state of his marriage and his sponsorship deals. He could come in the middle of the pack. Which would result in much of the same, with more focus on his sponsors and a bit of sympathy from some sportswriters. Or Tiger could rally hard, maybe even lead all the way, and win again.

That would be spectacular. Ratings for golf would skyrocket again. Sponsors would flock back to Woods. The top pros would be intimidated like never before, worse than when Tiger first showed up and beat them all almost without trying.

What are the odds of that happening? Who knows. When Tiger Woods wants to win, he does and by as much as he wants. So the question is does Tiger really want to play now, or does he just want to keep up appearances?

All answers will come on April 8th.