Let's get right to it:
Monday, 2/26
The Black Donnellys, NBC. 9:03 -10:00 CST. Series Premiere.
Four Irish-American brothers defend their turf in this mob drama. I've heard nothing but good about the pilot. Must See.
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern; Travel Channel. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Zimmern travels the world in search for odd foods.
Gregory Itzen returns as VP (according to TV Guide; I thought he was Pres) Charles Logan on 24.
And, following the emotional episode of Prison Break last week (was it not great seeing Stacy Keach again?), this week finds Sara and the brothers with the evidence needed to exonerate Linc, Mahone uses a former inmate to trap the brothers, and Kellerman goes after the president on his own.
Tuesday, 2/27
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; FOX. 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Yet another show from Survivor producer Mark Burnett. Yet another game show hosted by a comedian; this time it's Jeff Foxworthy. Like the title implies, this game show asks questions from elementary school textbooks to adults. Yippee! I guess the most-asked question in any school can finally be answered: "When am I gonna need to know this?"
Thursday, 3/1
Swinging; Sundance. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
An ensemble sketch show about sex and relationships from the U.K.
The Office November repeat where the Scranton branch shut-down was leaked will repeat at 7:30. It's an amazing coincidence that my job had a similar thing go down just days before this episode aired, so it was especially relevant to me at the time.
If you're not a regular watcher, now's the time to try Scrubs as the regulars reminisce about the past six years in this clip show episode (8:00).
Friday, 3/2
For my friend, Brian: U2's Bono will be honored at the NAACP Image Awards (FOX, 7 pm) along with Bill Cosby (I just watched Bill Cosby: Himself on DVD last weekend-- good stuff) and Soledad O'Brien from CNN. (Is she the "hottie" Soledad from The Today Show?).
Saturday, 3/3
Robin Hood; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
An old-school story with new-school attitude. The commercials and reviews makes this look really promising. Must See.
Sunday, 3/4
The Winner; FOX. 7:30. Series Premiere.
And, yet again, FOX throws a live-action comedy into the middle of its successful animated Sunday block... This one looks pretty good, though. Rob Corddry plays a guy who finally becomes a man at the age of 32.
Robin Hood; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
PRIDE of the comic industry
I just finished Pride of Baghdad and had to make my comments about, arguably, the best graphic novel of 2006 (unfortunately, I can't read many GNs anymore, but most critics made the book their Top Pick).
The DC Comics/Vertigo Imprint GN written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Niko Henrichon takes a bit of real life and adds multiple dimensions to it to get a very complex look at the price of freedom.
In 2003, four lions escaped a Baghdad zoo and roamed the streets. Vaughan took that bit of information and molded a story around this pride of lions. He created a world where animals spoke (not in a cartoony way at all) and struggled with the concept and realities of freedom as they walked the streets.
The pride of lions consisted of the male, Zill, his mate, Noor, an older lioness, Safa, and a cub, Ali. Noor longs to escape the zoo, and when U.S. fighter jets bomb the area and damage their cage, she gets her chance. But Safa remembers what it was like to be in the wild, and she's perfectly content to remain where she has been safe for years. Ali wants to explore; his animal instinct hasn't been dulled yet by the easy life at the zoo. Zill doesn't seem to care (in the lion world, the lionesses do the work).
Through the conversations and situations the pride gets into, a very thought-provoking story comes out. I tend not to read too much into movies, comics, books, etc, but the intent is there. Vaughan wants us to wonder if freedom can be given, or does it have to be earned? Obviously, you can take it a step further and relate that question to what is going on in Iraq.
I don't want to give too much away, so I'll let you discover the story for yourselves. It's wonderous; funny at times and also gut-wrenching at times. There are scenes and panels that will stick with me for a long while. It's wonderfully written, and, as you can see in the pic, the art is amazing and the colors are beautiful.
Check it out from the library, or if you've got a GN collection, by all means, add this one to the bookshelf without hesitation.
Here's a link to the Vertigo solicitation:
http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=5723
Like Ya Didn't See THAT Coming...
As is typical with Van Halen and David Lee Roth, a wrench has been thrown in the works...
The tour that was planned (and never officially announced) is on indefinite hold.
I just can't believe something got messed up with this group.
But at least they were all together to take a picture (or maybe not; PhotoShop can do amazing things):
Ya gotta wonder what fifteen-year-old Wolfgang thinks of his fifty-year-old dad wearing a goofy hat for the shot. I can just imagine the after-picture scenario: "God, Dad, you're so embarrassing."
[Thanks to Brian for the info and the pic.]
The tour that was planned (and never officially announced) is on indefinite hold.
I just can't believe something got messed up with this group.
But at least they were all together to take a picture (or maybe not; PhotoShop can do amazing things):
Ya gotta wonder what fifteen-year-old Wolfgang thinks of his fifty-year-old dad wearing a goofy hat for the shot. I can just imagine the after-picture scenario: "God, Dad, you're so embarrassing."
[Thanks to Brian for the info and the pic.]
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Premieres and Notables Feb 19- 25
Well, I should be in bed since I have to get up earlier for work tomorrow, and exhaustion is going to beat the insomnia thing tonight, but since I know I'm such an invaluable resource, my dedication to giving you the lowdown on what's new every week demands I push on. I am an unstoppable force of TV info (those of you I work with know where the joke is in that... does anyone I work with actually read this?).
Besides, I can't do it during lunch anymore...
Monday, 2/19
The Wiggles; Disney. 6 am CST. Season Premiere.
I like the Wiggles, and my kids (well, the youngest one as the oldest has moved on) love them. I'm not a big fan of the show because it seems as if the secondary characters and animation has taken over, but the fact that this show is in its fifth season is pretty cool. I don't know if this season has Greg at all (he had to leave the group due to an illness), so it may be interesting to check out.
And, Brian, I am starting to get that "Wiggles: Behind the Music" bug again. Thanks again for putting it in my head.
Three never-before-seen episodes of Spongebob Squarepants debut on Nickelodeon at 6 pm CST.
And Pope returns to Prison Break; and, I'm guessing we'll get some follow-up to the splat from two weeks ago.
Wednesday, 2/21
Sit Down Comedy With David Steinberg; TV Land. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The second season opens with a chat with Jerry Seinfeld.
Thursday, 2/22
Say goodbye to The O.C., bitch. Series finale at 8 pm.
And after, what, a MONTH of B.S. auditions, American Idol actually has a results show tonight.
A January repeat of Smallville brings us the episode when the Justice League formed.
Jan and Michael go public with their relationship on The Office.
Speaking of The Office, I've been meaning to mention that Rashida "Karen" Jones is in a Fall pilot, so if it gets picked up, the Pam/Jim/Karen love triangle will probably fall apart (good move on creators' parts by getting Roy and Pam back together early).
Sunday, 2/25
A little awards show called the Academy Awards finally happens. ABC gets the ceremony, which begins at 7:30 CST and ends who knows when. The TV Guide Channel and E! will be running Oscar-related shows all day long, so you'll know everybody's answer to "What are you wearing?".
Besides, I can't do it during lunch anymore...
Monday, 2/19
The Wiggles; Disney. 6 am CST. Season Premiere.
I like the Wiggles, and my kids (well, the youngest one as the oldest has moved on) love them. I'm not a big fan of the show because it seems as if the secondary characters and animation has taken over, but the fact that this show is in its fifth season is pretty cool. I don't know if this season has Greg at all (he had to leave the group due to an illness), so it may be interesting to check out.
And, Brian, I am starting to get that "Wiggles: Behind the Music" bug again. Thanks again for putting it in my head.
Three never-before-seen episodes of Spongebob Squarepants debut on Nickelodeon at 6 pm CST.
And Pope returns to Prison Break; and, I'm guessing we'll get some follow-up to the splat from two weeks ago.
Wednesday, 2/21
Sit Down Comedy With David Steinberg; TV Land. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The second season opens with a chat with Jerry Seinfeld.
Thursday, 2/22
Say goodbye to The O.C., bitch. Series finale at 8 pm.
And after, what, a MONTH of B.S. auditions, American Idol actually has a results show tonight.
A January repeat of Smallville brings us the episode when the Justice League formed.
Jan and Michael go public with their relationship on The Office.
Speaking of The Office, I've been meaning to mention that Rashida "Karen" Jones is in a Fall pilot, so if it gets picked up, the Pam/Jim/Karen love triangle will probably fall apart (good move on creators' parts by getting Roy and Pam back together early).
Sunday, 2/25
A little awards show called the Academy Awards finally happens. ABC gets the ceremony, which begins at 7:30 CST and ends who knows when. The TV Guide Channel and E! will be running Oscar-related shows all day long, so you'll know everybody's answer to "What are you wearing?".
Watch SCRUBS?
Scrubs has had a number of real phone numbers and web sites on it over the past few years that have actual content, and this past week had an awesome bit about a website called TheToddTime.
Check this link out. You probably won't "get it" if you're not a Scrubs watcher, but if you've got a juvenile sense of humor, you just may like it in spite of having no knowledge of "The Todd".
http://thetoddtime.com/
Check this link out. You probably won't "get it" if you're not a Scrubs watcher, but if you've got a juvenile sense of humor, you just may like it in spite of having no knowledge of "The Todd".
http://thetoddtime.com/
I've "Ignored" the VH Subject Long Enough
Anyone who knows me fairly well knows I'm a huge Van Halen/Sammy Hagar fan, so I'm sure it's a bit of a surprise to those people that I haven't had much to say about the Roth reunion. I've had lengthy e-mails with my buddy Brian (who, interestingly, I got "into" VH/Hagar and has since become my source of VH/Hagar info) about the situation, and we've covered most of the details I'm outlining below.
But when my friend, Tom, asked me my take, I wrote a pretty concise (and funny in parts) response back. Hopefully he'll forgive me for posting my personal response to him, but my brain's kinda fried from my current state of insomnia (let's just say I'm loving my job right now), and I felt I should use some of my awake time to post to this thing before people give up on it.
Here is my response to Tom about the Roth/Van Halen reunion. Get some info, get some laughs:
"I could, of course, write forever on the subject, but it's gotten obvious I just need to answer and leave the rest of the comments alone.
Roth is back with Van Halen-- for just a 40 date tour. It coincides very nicely with the B.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (B.S. because they should have gotten in already, and B.S. because Grandmaster Flash does not exactly count as RnR in my book). This is the third attempt at some sort of reunion with Roth, so I'm not holding my breath it'll be a happy ending.
Also, in a typical "Eddie's a prick" move: Michael Anthony is no longer in Van Halen. Ed's been pushing him out for a decade now, but since Mike's been touring with Hagar (like what the f*** else is he supposed to do while waiting for the VH Bros to actually do something?), Ed found this to be the perfect time to kick Mike to the curb.
Mike's replacement: Edward's son, Wolfgang Van Halen. Wolfie will turn 16 next month.
The pluses: 1. the teenage son/nephew of the Bros probably won't put up much of a struggle for power, leaving Roth all by himself. 2. Ed says he kicks all sorts of a** on bass, so I'm willing to believe it.
Minuses: He's SIXTEEN! Handing off the bass duties from one of the most beloved members of the group-- who got kicked out no less-- is a Hell of a lot of pressure for anyone, let alone a teenager.
For Wolfgang, pluses: a member of one of the most beloved bands of all time should get all the tail and drugs he could ever want.
Minuses: his dad and uncle will probably cock block him at every turn.
Up until a few weeks ago, Roth had never met with VH-- even though VH had put the feelers out for a tour with Roth singing. In the meantime, the VH Bros and son have been playing away amongst themselves, with Wolfie doing most of the singing.
My prediction: sometime before the end of the tour, they'll announce that Roth wasn't working out, and that Wolfgang will be handling the vocals.
It may not mean they won't finish the 40 dates with Roth, but he'll definitely be gone once their tour is up.
I'm excited to hear Van Halen again, but the s*** they've done to their former members really sours me on them. And putting Wolfgang in the band may seem good in the short-term, but the pressure and scrutiny he'll be under will be unbearable for a sixteen year old."
But when my friend, Tom, asked me my take, I wrote a pretty concise (and funny in parts) response back. Hopefully he'll forgive me for posting my personal response to him, but my brain's kinda fried from my current state of insomnia (let's just say I'm loving my job right now), and I felt I should use some of my awake time to post to this thing before people give up on it.
Here is my response to Tom about the Roth/Van Halen reunion. Get some info, get some laughs:
"I could, of course, write forever on the subject, but it's gotten obvious I just need to answer and leave the rest of the comments alone.
Roth is back with Van Halen-- for just a 40 date tour. It coincides very nicely with the B.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction (B.S. because they should have gotten in already, and B.S. because Grandmaster Flash does not exactly count as RnR in my book). This is the third attempt at some sort of reunion with Roth, so I'm not holding my breath it'll be a happy ending.
Also, in a typical "Eddie's a prick" move: Michael Anthony is no longer in Van Halen. Ed's been pushing him out for a decade now, but since Mike's been touring with Hagar (like what the f*** else is he supposed to do while waiting for the VH Bros to actually do something?), Ed found this to be the perfect time to kick Mike to the curb.
Mike's replacement: Edward's son, Wolfgang Van Halen. Wolfie will turn 16 next month.
The pluses: 1. the teenage son/nephew of the Bros probably won't put up much of a struggle for power, leaving Roth all by himself. 2. Ed says he kicks all sorts of a** on bass, so I'm willing to believe it.
Minuses: He's SIXTEEN! Handing off the bass duties from one of the most beloved members of the group-- who got kicked out no less-- is a Hell of a lot of pressure for anyone, let alone a teenager.
For Wolfgang, pluses: a member of one of the most beloved bands of all time should get all the tail and drugs he could ever want.
Minuses: his dad and uncle will probably cock block him at every turn.
Up until a few weeks ago, Roth had never met with VH-- even though VH had put the feelers out for a tour with Roth singing. In the meantime, the VH Bros and son have been playing away amongst themselves, with Wolfie doing most of the singing.
My prediction: sometime before the end of the tour, they'll announce that Roth wasn't working out, and that Wolfgang will be handling the vocals.
It may not mean they won't finish the 40 dates with Roth, but he'll definitely be gone once their tour is up.
I'm excited to hear Van Halen again, but the s*** they've done to their former members really sours me on them. And putting Wolfgang in the band may seem good in the short-term, but the pressure and scrutiny he'll be under will be unbearable for a sixteen year old."
Maybe she should just go back to no panties
[Normally I wouldn't comment on this, but it's just too bizarre.]
Well, it seems as if K-Fed was actually the common sense in the marriage because Brit's apparently forgotten that there are good ways to get media attention. First, she was skankin' around with Lindsay Lohan-- goin' commando, no less-- and now she's shaved her head after a brief stint in rehab (or, as they call it in Hollywood: "a vacation").
Here's a link to the fun stuff:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=5042740
Yeah, it's sad that a woman can't change her image a little-- or get tattoos-- without the vultures all over her, but it's also like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion. Have we reached the end of the crash, or does Brit have more in store? I'm thinkin' we'll get a short-term lesbian relationship to comment on by year's end.
Well, it seems as if K-Fed was actually the common sense in the marriage because Brit's apparently forgotten that there are good ways to get media attention. First, she was skankin' around with Lindsay Lohan-- goin' commando, no less-- and now she's shaved her head after a brief stint in rehab (or, as they call it in Hollywood: "a vacation").
Here's a link to the fun stuff:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=5042740
Yeah, it's sad that a woman can't change her image a little-- or get tattoos-- without the vultures all over her, but it's also like watching a train wreck happen in slow motion. Have we reached the end of the crash, or does Brit have more in store? I'm thinkin' we'll get a short-term lesbian relationship to comment on by year's end.
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