by Julius Albert Custodio

Created on: February 22, 2009

"Blood Splatter or Bloody Comedy?"

I have a problem. I can't seem to decide between "Dexter" and "30 Rock". The former is a drama about a vigilante serial killer who masquerades as a member of a forensics team at day, the latter is an outstanding comedy show about writers, actors, a network head and a woman undergoing a mid-life crisis. Talk about polarizing choices!

Let's start with Dexter. It's a show that heavily relied on its unique plot and the fantastic group of people who portrayed the various roles in the show. It's probably one of the shows you might have missed because you watch too much popular fluff.

Dexter is technically, a perfect show. The mood is set to a dark tone, exactly what the script asks for. The actors and actresses are perfectly cast. There's no rotten apple here. From Michael C. Hall, playing the role of the wickedly charming Dexter Morgan to Jennifer Carpenter playing the role of his spunky sister Debra down to the guy who plays Masuka, the Dexter's perverse lab partner. The subplots never stray from the general plotline unlike most shows today. Dexter didn't resort to a convenient deus ex machina to close loose ends, they relied more on good old storytelling. For me, that is one of the most commendable acts a show can do. I hate it when other shows insult the intelligence of its viewers. Dexter, on the other hand, never treated its viewers like they're mindless sheep. This show is truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

I don't really know how people can hate this show. I don't want to turn this into a rant, but Dexter is one of the best shows ever and I have to defend its status. The violence present in "Dexter" may stir a lot of controversy but the people don't need to cry foul. It's the selling point of the show! Furthermore, some may disagree with Dexter Morgan's noble code of killing serial killers. Some bible-thumpers actually trashed this show because they say: "It's promoting that killing is OK." How close minded can people get? I can only roll my eyes.

Now, 30 Rock, is completely different from Dexter. I'm not saying it's not perfect. In fact, it's just the opposite: It's the nirvana of comedy shows. Tina Fey is a brilliant writer. She proves that here in 30 Rock, her brainchild.

Today, more and more comedy shows tend to push the envelope a bit further than necessary. 30 Rock, pushes the envelope and throws it over a cliff. I love how this show pokes fun at the corporate bigwigs, the government officials, and people in general. 30 Rock doesn't compromise just so it can pull off its own brand of humor. Add to that a fantastic script which jumps right out of the paper plus a terrific cast and crew, and you have a comedy gem that almost rivals Arrested Development. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin aren't the only stars here, in fact, they shine more because they have a wonderful supporting cast. The crazy Tracy Morgan, the crazier Jane Krakowski, the relative unknown prior to the show, Jack McBrayer, and the rest of the gang all chips in to make the viewers guffaw and spill Coke on their laps. Truly, 30 Rock delivers in all of those aspects.

Now, it's up to you if you agree with me or not. If you watch these two shows I mentioned, I cannot guarantee that you'll be a satisfied viewer. But let me assure you, that after watching these addictive shows, it would be really hard to keep your eyes off the screen.

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