Being a fan of Tom Cavanagh “Ed,” I’ve been looking forward to his new television show Love Monkey.  I’ll get to the point quickly, I love it. Don’t take me to the woodshed just yet. I know it has some problems but it does a bunch of things right. Love Monkey is based on a book by Kyle Smith, and a little bit of “High Fidelity.” When Tom’s character Tom Farrell puts the needle to some KISS vinyl to get his first day on the new job morning started, it speaks to me. I too flashed back to the days of putting on KISS makeup and thinking how cool it would be to wear it to school, thank God my mother stopped me.

Love Monkey is for grown-ups, a refreshing idea huh. Monkey also has a very indie feel, not a typical CBS series.  Tom is an A&R guy with a golden ear for new music talent, but not so lucky at love. The cast also includes Jason Priestly, Judy Greer and Ivana Milicevic. What’s also at play in Love Monkey is style and coolness from Tom’s clothes to the music.  A first day at the new job, becomes a wardrobe mission shuffling between a New York Dolls or Wham tee. I dig the Dolls but Wham. This show made me do a closet audit of my own clothes, Tom’s style is not metrosexual but it does say cool.

What I really think makes this show worth talking about is the music. Nic Harcourt of KCRW-FM is the music genius behind the show. Harcourt the first DJ to play Moby and Coldplay in America, doesn’t just play hip music he weaves it into the moments of the story. From wake up music to what should be played while Tom’s sister goes into labor, Harcourt is right on the money.

With shows like Arrested Development hitting the cutting room floor, can a show like Love Monkey be allowed the time to develop and gain an audience. I hope so but today’s formula for success is reality, cops and autopsies. A lot of television today is mindless entertainment, I welcome the change to some things that make me connect to characters and my own life. Give Tom some love check out Love Monkey.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 18th, 2006 at 6:26 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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