Premieres and Notables March 19-25, 2007

Monday, 3/19

Dancing With the Stars; ABC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I saw Billy Ray Cyrus in a publicity photo for the show. You'd think after the "Achy Breaky Mullet", he wouldn't take styling risks.


Tuesday 3/20

The Whitest Kids U'Know; Fuse. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
TV Guide said this show has the same type of comedy as Kids in the Hall-- but edgier. The mag also says it premieres Tuesday, but I checked my DVR scheduler, and there are episodes airing Sunday and Monday nights.

Tori & Dean: Inn Love; Oxygen. 9:30 CST. Series Premiere.
Newlyweds Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott open a bed and breakfast. And they brought the cameras along. For real...


Thursday, 3/22

Penn & Teller: Bull!; Showtime. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I love this show. I wish I had Showtime again, so I wouldn't miss it. In the fifth season premiere, the guys tackle the country's obesity problem and go after "peddlers of diet misinformation".

This American Life; Showtime. 9:30 CST. Series Premiere.
Ira Glass brings his NPR program to the video screen.


Friday, 3/23

Six Degrees; ABC. 8:01 CST. Return
Critics usually find one or three shows every TV season to beat up on (they usually have good reason to). This was one of those shows for the current TV season. ABC either believes in this show, or it wanted to stick its tongue out at the people who snickered when the show was promised to return after it got pulled last Fall. Or maybe it just wants to keep creator J.J. Abrams happy.

Acceptable TV; VH1. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Although I have banned the craptastic VH1 and MTV shows from this blog, I thought this would be of interest. Viewers can submit homemade shorts to this show, which will be aired along side professionally made sketches. I predict a lot of crap, but maybe some diamonds in the rough will pop up from time to time.


Sunday, 3/25

Planet Earth; Discovery. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
This 11-part series "examines Earth's habitats and wildlife by touring more than 200 locations around the globe".

Gene Simmons Family Jewels; A&E. 8 pm Season premiere.
The season begins as that wacky Gene searches for his missing costume and not-wife Shannon takes a pregnancy test.

Finale-a-palooza: Rome and Slings and Arrows go to that TV network in the sky with their series finales, Battlestar Galactica (whose finale is supposed to rock-- I've heard how big it is for months now) and The L Word just have season finales, and Grease: You're the One That I Want and Surreal Life Fame Games will, hopefully, never pollute the airwaves again.

Racing Reality

Here's a link to TV Guide dot com's news about ABC's new celeb reality racing show Fast Cars and Superstars.

Brian: you definitely need to check it out. You'll like at least one of the celebs.

Me? I'm pumped to see Shatner mashing the pedal to the floor. The WWE's John Cena should be entertaining as well (the dude is funny).


http://community.tvguide.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800010733

for more info, here's another link:

http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={B8AF9929-B069-431E-B78A-CADF5BC0298C}

More Van Halen HoF Induction Thoughts

After a lively communication via e-mail today with my music guru, Brian, I thought I should follow-up on with some comments about the post I made last night after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Brian told me that the bit at the end of Velvet Revolver's rendition of "Ain't Talkin' About Love" was supposed to be "Runaround". I've been a hardcore VH fan for 20 years, and I must have heard that song hundreds of times. The fact that I couldn't recognize the song when VR performed it means it was a complete botch-job. I'm sure VR is a good band. I've heard good things about them, and they do have some talent just on reputation. But if they couldn't do a recognizable rendition with a few weeks preparation, then they shouldn't have made the attempt.

Brian also gave me the idea to make sure Paul Schaffer got props for the obviously last-minute addition of "Why Can't This Be Love?" that Sammy and Mike performed with Schaffer and his CBS band. The word I got was that Sam & Mike were not going to be able to perform because the rets of the band wasn't going to attend. Schaffer, presumably, pulled some strings and allowed the two to bask in the moment and take the stage just as the others inductees got to. That's a classy move right there, and I gained much respect for Letterman's "sidekick" from that.

Also, I know I've been pretty snarky about Eddie's timing on his latest rehab stint in previous posts, but I do want to make clear that he IS in rehab, and from what Sam & Mike alluded to last night, he needed it. I do wish the guy luck and success. When he returns, hopefully clean and sober, there will still be problems, but maybe they can be worked on and the fans can get what they've been craving for over 20 years: a reunion and tour with Roth. Talent like Eddie's should not go to waste. I feel like his latest work was his best (the Van Halen 3 work; not the Hagar reunion work). He should not be relegated to soft-core porn soundtracks like he did last year. Hell, I didn't even buy the porno, and I bought the awful Wild Life movie Eddie did the soundtrack to in the '80s.

A Class Act

I'm a huge Van Halen fan. Have been for 20 years (I "discovered" them in 1987, and yes, that puts me in the Sammy camp). Admittedly when Sammy left/got booted from the band, some of the magic was lost. I was excited Gary Cherone got the gig after Sammy, but that fell flat (no fault of Gary's). Then the breakups and makeups. The "almost reunions" and then nothing from the Van Halen Bros for so long. Mike getting the boot for daring to go on tour with Hagar (like he was just supposed to sit around for almost a decade). And then the past two months...

But to say I was excited the band finally got into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a little of an understatement (even though I think the whole thing is a farce at times).

Of course, drama seems to plague the band. First Roth and Sammy joked that "who knows what'll happen" at the induction, hinting that there could be some good backstage antics/fights. Then Van Halen announced a tour with Roth, but without Mike. Then Ed and Alex weren't going to go to the induction. Then Dave hemmed and hawed (yeah, like Roth would ever shy from the spotlight). Then Ed announced he was going into rehab. Then Dave said if he couldn't sing with Velvet Revolver (the band that was tapped to play VH songs at the induction), he wasn't going. The only thing anyone knew for sure was that Sammy and Mike were going to be there.

Frankly, I was tired of it all. It's a big honor, and some of the children weren't going. It's embarrassing that Van Halen has become a punchline as opposed to just being the best band in the world/universe. I was pretty soured by it (and the past ten years of B.S.).

But as I FF'ed through the 4+ hrs of the live induction ceremony, I stopped at the part I was interested in: the Van Halen induction. The opening "package" reminded me that this band was it in their heyday. When these guys got together, magic happened.

After the package, the members of Velvet Revolver introduced the band as inductees into the Hall. Why this band was chosen, I can't guess. It was like watching five clowns behind the podium. Thank God they weren't drunk (or didn't act like it).

As expected, only Sammy and Mike were there to accept the honor (I can't believe Roth didn't show, but maybe he was discouraged from attending by the Brothers Van Halen). Mike started out by thanking the people and the band members who helped make the band what it was. You saw real emotion there. This guy got what it was all about-- a celebration of the accomplishments a band he was in had. He wished Eddie luck (maybe there really is something to the whole rehab thing-- I admit I thought it was an excuse to not attend). He also gave a shout out to Gary Cherone, which was a classy move. He said Gary was a part of the band, so he deserved some recognition. Poor Gary has been erased from existence (think you'll ever see a Cherone song on a future VH "Best Of"? Don't hold your breath), and that's tragic.

After Mike spoke, Sammy said some words. He, too, wished Eddie luck. He also expressed how honored he was that he was included. One of the B.S. parts of The RnR Hall of Fame is they can induct certain lineups and exclude others (for example: Gary didn't get an award). And not including Hagar could have happened-- especially since Van Halen pulled Roth back into the fold for a tour as the inductees were announced. Hagar knew the worth of the honor as well.

Which is what's so disappointing that Dave, Alex, and Ed didn't show. You get inducted once. Maybe Ed & Alex can be inducted with the Gary lineup, but I'm not thinking that'll happen. And while I like some of Dave's solo stuff, I don't think that'll be his second-chance ticket into the Hall. Childish antics robbed them of a chance to be honored by their peers.

Back to the show: after Sammy and Mike left the stage, Velvet Revolver sang "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love". I'll give the band the benefit of the doubt and say the mix sucked. If you're a fan of cymbals, then the performance was for you. If you like vocals, then you were out of luck because the mic was turned way down. And Weiland's movements were unnerving and distracting. Are we sure he's not on the nose-candy again?

After VR left the stage, Paul Schaffer's band (with Mike on bass) backed up Sammy in a rendition of "Why Can't This Be Love?". Again, the mix sucked. And I know Schaffer's band isn't hard rock (although Paul does have a healthy appreciation for bands such as Van Halen), but horns during the song? Didn't work. But at least Sam and Mike got to do their thing on stage. That could have been a last-minute addition as VR was supposed to play Hagar-era song "Runaround". And Dave's comments that he wasn't going to attend because he couldn't sing also lead me to believe that last-second changes were made.

And at the end of the show, we got to see the jam song, where the inductees and presenters (except Velvet Revolver) all come together. Sammy got some good solo time-- and I could actually hear him.

After they were inducted, we got to see a little bit of Mike and Sammy in the press area. They looked to be on top of the world posing for the cameras. And while I couldn't hear some of the questions, it looked as if Mike was explaining why he was booted from the band. His answer: an incredulous "I don't know". Sammy also answered a reunion question by saying Roth needs to go out on tour with the band. When that one's done, everyone needs to grow up-- himself included-- and go out together; he and Dave and the others.

It'll never happen, but it was a nice thing to say, and a nice dream to give a guy after 20 years.

300 reasons to see 300

I don't get pumped up for movies. I've found that if I keep my expectations low, I'm much more satisfied (how do you think I got through Star Wars Episode 1?).

But ever since I saw the 300 trailer, when Leonidas screams, "We are Sparta!" and kicks the Persian messenger into the well, I knew I needed to see this movie.

I watched it last night, and I have to say I was not disappointed in the least.

Here are 300 reasons to see this movie (no real spoilers here):

1. Gerard Butler kicks all sorts of ass.
2. The Spartans have funny phrases and act like any action heroes do-- but I actually believed it when they laughed at death instead of thinking it was the usual heroic posturing.
3. Visually stupendous (there were no sets; just actors and a green screen).
4. If your favorite color is red, you'll see lots of it.
5. For the ladies: the Spartans wore loincloths and capes in battle.
6. For the guys: the ladies didn't wear much more.
7. A movie based on a graphic novel without the requisite cartoony stuff-- and the movie wasn't as full of itself as, say, Sin City was.
8. "Then we'll fight in the shade."
9. Leonidas eating an apple while his men are making sure the piles of bodies contain dead opponents.
10. The wall the Spartans build before "The Immortals" arrive.
11. Leonidas would make Arnie, Stallone, and Eastwood piss their pants.
12. Xerxes' travelling throne.
13. The men laughing while being bombarded by arrows.
14. Learn about anatomy as various body parts are split from the torso.
15-299. It just plain kicks ass.
300. "We are Sparta!"

Seriously, I wish I could write more, but I don't have time. Maybe after my friend, Tom, sees it this week, he'll fire my memory up a little more, but I just wanted to put it out there that this is a must see movie.

Note: If you haven't heard, it's pretty violent, so if that kinda thing makes you queasy, you may want to pass.

Did you listen?

I just finished watching Frisky Dingo episode 2 ("Meet Awesome X"), and I was reminded how freakin' hilarious that show is. Hopefully you took my advice last week and watched it.

I can't describe it; ya just need to watch. Definitely catch this episode, though.

"You paid five million dollars for a blow job?"

See if YouTube has it...

Premieres and Notables March 12-18, 2007

Quite a bit of stuff to get to. Here goes:

Monday, 3/12

The Prisoner airs on BBC America every weekday for the next 17 days at 3 pm CST. I happy I can finally catch this classic mystery-drama from the beginning.

Style Her Famous; Style. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.

And while I heard the movie isn't that great, A&E is airing Kings of South Beach at 8 pm. It's notable because two stars of the much-missed Boomtown (Donnie Wahlberg and Jason Gedrick) star in it.

The Riches; FX. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver star in this show about a family of con-artists who move into the house of a dead couple and take on their identities. Sure, Dirt let us down, but since this is an FX show, it's recommended.

And even though some members of Van Halen are being dicks (*cough* Eddie *cough*) and won't show, Sammy and Mike will still be there, watching Velvet Revolver perform some of their hits on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony airing on VH1 Classic at 7:30 pm CST. Watch it here as it's live. Who knows what will be cut out when the official broadcast airs later in the week?

[Official note: The offical word is Eddie Van Halen is going/has checked himself into rehab, so he can't attend the ceremony. My best wishes to him. Although, it's awfully suspect timing, don't you say?]


Tuesday, 3/13

Bullrun; Spike. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Described as The Amazing Race meets Cannonball Run, so it's sounds interesting. But it airs on Spike and is hosted by Bill Goldberg, so it'll probably crash and burn.

American Heiress; MyNetwork TV. 7-9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I smell something. Oh yeah: crap.

The real American Idol begins tonight as they've actually finally gotten to the Final 12 after 2 months.

Wednesday, 3/14

Saint and Sinners; MyNetworkTV. 7-9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
More crap.

Jon Stewart is the guest on this week's Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg (TV Land, 9 pm).

Halfway Home; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Another improvised comedy show. This one is based in a halfway house for paroles.


Thursday, 3/15

As I noted in a previous post, The Office (NBC, 7 & 7:30) is airing repeats, but ones that have been reworked to include new footage.

Andy Barker, P.I.; NBC. 8:30 CST. Series Premiere.
I've liked Andy Richter's shows in the past, but I've been reading that this newest show isn't as good as 30 Rock, and that's saying something because Rock's pretty uneven.

Raines; NBC. 9:01 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Jeff Goldblum stars as a homicide detective who imagines the victims in his investigations are speaking to him, trying to help him solve the murders.

October Road; ABC. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
A young author returns to his hometown after ten years.

The Showbiz Show with David Spade; Comedy Central. 9:30 CST. Season Premiere.
Spade normally grows old fast, but this show is a hilarious enough send-up of the ridiculous entertainment shows (Entertainment Weekly, Access Hollywood, The Inside) that by the time the half-hour is up, I kinda miss him. Highly recommended.

Addiction; HBO. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
The beginning of a 14-part documentary series (made up of different specials) looking at substance dependency and addictive behaviors.


Friday, 3/16

Identity; NBC. 8 pm. Return.
The Penn Jillette-hosted game show returns for a seven week run.


Saturday, 3/17

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony; Vh1. 8 pm. Special
The "official" broadcast of Monday's ceremony. Should have the extraneous things clipped out, but not the "live" moments (you know someone's gonna drop the F-Bomb).

Hellboy: Blood and Iron; Cartoon Network. 6 pm. Special
The second animated sequel to the motion picture airs before you can buy it on DVD.


Sunday, 3/18

Galapagos; National Geographic. 7-10 pm CST. Special.
A look at the ecosystem that helped Darwin form his theories on evolution.

Christopher Titus: The 5th Annual End of the World Tour; Comedy Central. 9 pm. Special.
Get your fix of Titus that has been missing since his sitcom was canned.

And the top-notch supermarket hostage episode of Desperate Housewives repeats tonight (ABC, 8 pm). If you gave up on the show after last season (I don't blame you), check this one out and see what you've been missing. Laurie Metcalf better get an Emmy nom from this.

OFFICE new-peats

In an effort to freshen up the repeat doldrums of March, producers of The Office have re-edited two previously aired episodes ("Traveling Salesman" and "The Return") and added previously unseen footage for the March 15 airings.

So, while you've seen the episodes before, you haven't seen them quite like this.

My DVR is considering the episodes repeats, so if you use one yourself, you may want to double-check that the episodes will record.

Also, Paul Leiberstein ("Toby") will host a five-episode "Human Resource Nightmare" marathon on March 29 (the episodes will air around Andy Barker, P.I.).

Music to Melt Your Face

I've recently had to relocate to a new building/city for my job. One of the perks of the new place is a workout room. So I've decided to take advantage of it.

I flipped through some of the mix CDs and tapes the room had. "Joe's Workout '98", " '80s Dance", and "Rob's Party Mix" just weren't gonna do it for me. I needed some way to let people know I am a hardcore badass-- even though my abdomen screams: "Eight months pregnant".

I needed to make my own mix CD.

But I had rules: nothing expected (sorry Metallica) or too profane (Disturbed's "Sickness"), or something too "poppy" (311's "Down"). And I needed to spread the love a little; no more than one song per CD; no duplicate artists (except Van Halen; but I had different singers for that one and Anthrax because I had enough room for two). No, I needed heavy songs that will make people stand up and notice (and have a few favorites thrown in as well); songs that would up the blood pressure before I even got on a machine. I think I made the perfect CD for my needs: 79:50 minutes of attitude.

Let me know what you think:

1. "Gravity", Nuno; Schizophonic
2. "Only", Anthrax; Sound of White Noise
3. "Serious Juju" (radio edit), Sammy Hagar; "Serious Juju" Single
4. "Symphony of Destruction", Megadeth; Countdown to Extinction
5. "Cult of Personality", Living Color; Vivid
6. "Bawitdaba", Kid Rock; Devil Without a Cause
7. "Wild Thing", Sam Kinison; Have You Seen Me Lately
8. "Unchained", Van Halen; Best of Both Worlds
9. "Come Out and Play", Offspring; Smash
10. "Different Breed", Dead On; Shocker Soundtrack
11. "Bring the Noise", Anthrax (with Public Enemy); Attack of the Killer A's
12. "Break Down the Wall" (Chris Jericho); WWF The Music Vol 4
13. "Thunder Kiss '65" (LP version), White Zombie; Nightcrawlers: the KMFDM Remixes
14. "Spacelord", Monster Magnet; Powertrip
15. "Humans Being", Van Halen; Best of Volume 1
16. "Rusty Cage", Soundgarden; Badmotorfinger
17. "Shame", Stabbing Westward; Wither Blister Burn + Peel
18. "Unholy", KISS; Revenge
19. "Mouth of War", Pantera; Vulgar Display of Power

Rock is back

I just read this on THE ONION's website. Classic...

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/unreleased_jimmy_page_guitar_riff

KNIGHTS Tabled

ABC has benched Knights of Prosperity effective immediately. There are four unaired epiosdes in the can and nine scripts that are still on order, so it's possible it may return. But its (painfully low) 4.2 million member audience was too small to continue right now. The ABC classics (*snicker*) According to Jim and George Lopez will fill the timeslot for the time being.

This development is a disappointment. Knights is an odd duck, but I think it had a lot of heart. I found it along the lines of My Name is Earl with the ability to continue to tell stories based around a very limited premise.

ROCKETMAN Repeats

The six-hour Rocketman mini-series/season repeats on BBC America on Wed and Thurs from 2-5 am CST.

I watched the first hour, and was very moved by the emotional impact it had on me. I didn't get the chance to watch the last 5 episodes, but I hope to get to them soon.

The show follows the efforts of a widower who is trying to launch a rocket that will take his wife's ashes out into space. The first episode was very moving, and I'll admit, it brought tears to my eyes on a few occassions. While the man tries to fulfill his promise to his dead wife to get her into space, he has all but abandoned his two children. Their attempts to get him to remember they were still alive were heartbreaking.

Anyway, take some time and check it out. It's only six hours (five or less when you take out the commercials).

STAR WAAAAARS! Nothing but STAAAR WAAAARS! Pt 1: Legacy of the Force

I've had trouble in the past trying to follow the Star Wars Universe. The sheer volume of books, comics, games, and everything else makes it virtually impossible to keep track of everything. I certainly gave up when 2-3 books every month were published back in the late '90s. I just couldn't afford it. And the comics I kept buying kept piling up, and I used the backlog I had as an excuse to stop buying (always with the intention of buying the trade paperback that collected the stories).

But over the past two months, I dove into the expanded (non-movie) universe in a big way. Let's start with some books:

It started last Spring, when I read some great books that were accessible to someone who'd been away for years like I had. And then, last Fall, I read the first of the Legacy of the Force books: Betrayal. I wrote about it here:

http://teameck.blogspot.com/2006/08/disturbance-in-force.html


I didn't give away the big spoiler in my original post, but it's been six months, and in order to explain the next two books, I need to reveal the big betrayal.

Spoilers follow...






At the end of Betrayal, Jacen Solo ran into former Darth Vader apprentice Lumiya with his cousin Jedi apprentice Ben Skywalker (who eventually was knocked unconscious) and fellow Jedi Nelani Dinn and decided he needed to turn her in to the authorities. Lumiya told him to search the future to see what would happen if she was arrested, and Jacen used the Force to create visions of him arresting Lumiya, and, in each one, he eventually killed his uncle Luke. He decided he could not arrest her. When Nelani decided to arrest Lumiya herself, Jacen overpowered her. When she admitted defeat, Jacen hesitated and then killed her. He later wiped Ben's memories of events that had happened prior to his injury and decided to follow Lumiya's teachings of the Sith order to get a better grip on events that are beginning to happen in the galaxy.

Pretty ballsy stuff for someone who has become a major character in the Expanded Universe.

The next two books on the Legacy of the Force series are Bloodties by Karen Traviss and Tempest by Troy Denning. Due to them somehow becoming available at the same time from my library, I read them back-to-back over a three week span, so they've kinda become merged together in my memory.

The two books show Jacen's further descent into the Dark Side of the Force (all while trying to do it for a larger good, just as his grandfather Anakin attempted). His power is growing by leaps and bounds, and while he still believes Luke is the strongest in the Force, It's becoming pretty obvious that Jacen will soon surpass him due to some Dark Side tricks he's learning. Once he completely gives himself over to the Dark Side (he's still trying to ride a fine line between Light & Dark), he just may be unstoppable.

Meanwhile, his parents (Han & Leia) and sister (Jaina) think he's gone insane (and secretly fear he's gone over to the Dark Side). His uncle Luke is too afraid to think of the worst-case scenario. His aunt Mara wants to believe that Jacen's still good, if only because he's training her son, Ben. Ben knows something is "off" with Jacen, but he still trusts him-- and Jacen's never steered Ben wrong. So while we've got a galaxy-wide problem with Corellia trying to defect from the Alliance, and Jacen's commando unit trying to keep them from doing so, there is also a strong familial element to the storyline.

I'm pretty wrapped up into the storyline, and I can't wait to see how it all sorts out (figuratively; literally, I've got a year or so before all the books eventually get released). It's not a real big secret, so I'll mention it here (it's announced in an ad in Bloodlines, anyway). Jacen will take on a Darth name in a book coming out this year.

As a side note, there was a fan contest at http://www.starwars.com/darthwho to come up with the best Darth names for Jacen, and either the fans didn't get it-- or they're much more subtle than Mr. Lucas. You see, the fans came up with names like Darth Acheron, Caedus, Judicar, Paxis, Taral (these were the five finalists), which all have some meaning to them that aren't obvious words in the English language. I find it really funny that Lucas created such overtly dastardly names for his Sith Lords: Tyrannus, Bane, Maul, Sidious, Plagueous. "Vader" is really the only name that doesn't sound like something destructive from first hearing it. I think it's pretty funny that the fans are not smacking the galaxy over the head with a name like "Darth Annihilate" or "Darth Decimate", or (my favorite) "Darth Bad Guy", but maybe that's just me.

Anyway, we'll learn what Jacen's new Darth name is in the fifth book: Sacrifice, due out in May.

Back to the books...

Bloodties did have an initial drawback: a side-story on my least favorite character, Boba Fett. But there was an upside: Fett's clone body is rapidly deteriorating, and he'll die within a year. But I will admit, I found the overhyped bounty hunter a good fit to the story.

The series seems to be pulling out all the stops now that George Lucas is not going to be playing in the post-original trilogy sandbox anymore. A couple of minor characters die, and some others surprisingly turn up when not expected. They really are making some plot moves that will change the galaxy far, far away forever.

Check it out.

SIX DEGREES producers sold souls

Okay, ABC promised the show wasn't cancelled, but no one believed it. Six Degrees was considered dead as a doornail last fall when ratings dropped below "see level" (Holy sh--, that was a bad pun...) and was dropped from the schedule.

But ABC announced last week that it'll come back on Friday, March 23.

You gotta wonder if ABC brought it back just to say "I told you so." It's like a game of chicken where they made the critics blink.

Premieres and Notables, March 5-11, 2007

Monday, 3/5

The most improved show I watched all season, The Class, has its season finale tonight (CBS, 7:30 pm CST).

A sneak-preview of Spider-Man 3 is on Heroes tonight (NBC, 8 pm CST). I saw a screen shot of Spidey punching through the Sandman. You just know this movie's gonna be good...


Tuesday, 3/6

And the longest title of a show goes to:
The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll; The CW. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
You know, most show titles give just a hint (at most) of what the show is about. Not this show. What you see is what you get.

College Hill; BET. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
So judging from the title, what is this show about?
See what I mean?


Wednesday, 3/7.

South Park; Comedy Central. 9 pm CST. Season premiere.
The best satire on TV begins its eleventh season. That's a lot of poop jokes.

Wedding Bells; FOX. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A show about wedding consultants, created by David E. Kelley.
Its regular timeslot is Fridays at 8 (where this pilot will repeat this week).


Friday, 3/9
Fridays... Where stupid pilots go to die...

Debbie Does Dallas Again; Showtime. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
A behind-the-scenes documentary series that follows production of the sequel to the 1978 porn flick.

Karaoke-Dokey; CMT. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
These "singers" give their all to Dolly Parton songs.

Star on Stars; FSN. 3:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
NBA star Stephon Marbury brings an insider's viewpoint to this interview show. First up: Kobe Bryant.

Clatterford; BBC America. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Now here's something that could be good. 1. It's on BBC America. 2. It's on their pretty-good Friday night comedy block.

And Las Vegas has its big blow-out season finale. I won't spoil with details, but I know two cast members aren't coming back next season (way to go NBC, for spoiling what could be a killer moment or two).


Sunday, 3/11

Blood Ties; Lifetime. 8 & 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A (male) vampire and a (female) private investigator team up. Hmmm: smells a liitle like Buffy to me.

Second Chance at FRISKY DINGO

Okay, a month or so ago, I posted that [adult swim] was reairing the awesome Frisky Dingo series. And, after it aired the first episode "Meet Killface", it didn't air again.

I see the first ep scheduled to air again tonight, and then the second ep, "Meet Awesome X" is scheduled to air next Sunday.

The time it's on is Sunday's from 11:30 pm to 11:45 pm CST.

Check it out. I can't explain it, but all you need to know is it's funny as all get out.

News of the Year

It's old news by now, but I just read that [adult swim] renewed The Venture Brothers for TWO new seasons. That is about as kick-ass as I can imagine.

The bad news: new eps won't be ready until early 2008.

Good news: Season Two is going to be released on April 17.

"Go Team Venture!"

Why this dude got fired...

Here's a great clip about a guy and his story about why he got fired from Apple Computer.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QFS0xl4_LAA

Flogging a Dead Horse

Comic Book writer, Paul Jenkins, does a semi-regular column called "Flogging a Dead Horse" that showcases his creativity as well as highlights his insanity.

I found his latest missive absolutely hilarious. You don't have to understand comics at all; although, if you do, it certainly enhances the experience (especially if you decide to listen to the song his little group created).

The background: Marvel Editor-in-Chief, Joe Quesada, creates and performs with his band a little song every year around Christmas that pokes fun at the industry. It's all a lark and certainly not of professional caliber (although, with computers these day, anyone can do a competant job-- how else can you explain Jessica Simspon's singing success?).

Anyway, Jenkins decided to poke fun at his boss and get a group of people together who were willing to poke fun at themselves as well, and make a little song to put the Marvel one to shame.

Here's the link, and, like I said, even if you don't listen to the song, Jenkins' set-up and picture captions are well-worth checking out.

http://http://www.newsarama.com/general/Flogging/Flogging31/Flogging31.html

Ve Dub in tha Hizz-ouse

Ever since I first saw Peter Stormare as John Abruzzi in Prison Break, I've been a fan. During his hiatus after T-Bag attacked him, he did a few commercials for Volkswagon that I find pretty funny (especially since the chracter is such a departure from Abruzzi).

Here are three of the commericals. Go to the third row and the first three from the left are Stormare's "Unpimp My Ride" commercials.

I gotta give a shout out to my homie, Brian, for sending me this link:

http://www.vw.com:80/vwlife/commercial.html

Premieres and Notables: Feb 26- Mar 4, 2007

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.

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.]

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?".

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/

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."

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.

Punkin' for the Lord

Just a quick recommendation for all of you who may be looking for something different:

Check out One Punk Under God that the Sundance Channel is airing. It's six (half-hour) episodes long, and Sundance has run it through a few times, so you should be able to catch up on it quickly. One episode airs multiple times every week.

The show follows Jim (and Tammy Faye) Bakker's son, Jay, as he tries to reconnect with his dad, comfort his dying mom, goes through a crisis of conscience (which results in a crisis to his ministry), and agonizes whether it is time to pack up and move, so his wife can follow her dreams.

I wasn't really keen on watching this show. As you can surmise from my comments in previous posts, I don't "go to church", and, frankly, I have a lot of issues with organized religion (I don't think they're wrong for people as a whole; just wrong for me). I've spent many years really being disgusted with the innundation of Christianity that has been shoved down my throat by politicians and other heads of churches the past two decades.

But new media looks at religion by shows like Big Love (yeah, they're polygamists, but it was fascinating to see their love of God as an every day thing), The Book of Daniel (a very positive show that got the shaft from right-wing nutjobs who hadn't watched the damn thing), Joan of Arcadia (a sometimes overdone show, which had a great version of God as a character), and, yes, it's true: Real Time With Bill Maher (which had an episode that summed up my disgust with religion mixed with politics so perfectly, I was able to let go of the rage) gave me a new look at religion.

No, I didn't find God or anything, but I was able to be reminded that there are many more religious people out there in the world than the zealots that whine about anything rated above something a 7-year-old could watch, or say gays or single mothers or divored people are affronts to humanity, or politicians who say they prayed for guidance-- and then did the wrong thing.

Aaaaanyway, to get back on track (I did feel I needed to explain my background a little, though), One Punk gives us a look at a man who started a church (called Revolution) that meets in a bar, and has taken in many people whom other religions have left behind. Jay, himself, would probably be shunned (or given strange looks) at many churches because he's scraggly, he smokes, he's got tattoos all over his body, and he's got a few piercings to boot.

It was pretty inspiring to see the kind of church he built. I've long felt that the outdated views some religions have will ultimately be their undoing.

And to add to it, he's trying to reconnect with his father, and, throughout the six episodes, you really get a sense of how each views the other-- and I have to say what happens in the final episode couldn't have been better if it was written that way. He's also trying to comfort his terminally ill mother, and he lets the camera film how he deals with it. To see a woman who knows she is dying fight through it to spread her message as long as she can was pretty inspiring.

And, just as warning (because it could turn some people off), Jay felt that God spoke to him and said gay people are okay. So Jay gave a heartfelt sermon about how, maybe, it's wrong to discriminate. As you can imagine, his backers (who, oddly enough, are Christian Conservatives) pulled out, which sent his ministry in a tailspin.

That storyline right there (especially when he discusses the events with his father) sums up large religion for me. Jay went out on a limb by saying "the right thing", and forces conspired to shut him down. Because Jay doesn't pass the collection plate around at church, he really relies on his financial backers. I won't say what happens to him and the church, but I will say he stuck with his convictions which, in it's own way, is very heroic (and Jim comments about that in the finale).

Well, I certainly wrote more than I expected (and ended up saying very little), but if you're looking for a very well-done reality show (Jay really let us see into his life) or maybe to get a glimpse of an alternative religion, then check it out. It's a very honest look at one man's life. The ups and downs, triumphs and defeats.

I'm glad I took Entertainment Weekly's advice and watched it, and I really don't think you'll be disappointed if you watch it too.

Premieres and Notables Feb 12- 18

Sorry for the lateness again-- but this is a quiet week (finally), so you're not gonna miss anything.


Wednesday, 2/14

Catch up with one of the hottest new shows of the season when CBS runs a Jericho recap at 7 CST. Next week begins the new epsiodes.


Thursday, 2/15

Buffy creator, Joss Whedon, directs an episode of The Office where Michael speaks at Ryan's business school, and Dwight tangles with a bat in the office.

Friday, 2/16

Instant Star; The N. 7:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.

Mail Call; History Channel. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I wish I had more time to watch this fascinating show.

Real Time With Bill Maher; HBO. 10 pm. Season Premiere.
Must See TV, right here.

Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry; HBO. 11 pm. Season Premiere.


Saturday, 2/17

Justin Timberlake's last hosting duty on Saturday Night Live caused a buzz with the video "Dick in a Box", and tonight's your chance to catch it again (or the first time). But since SNL sucks-- hard-- here's a link to the (uncensored) video without having to watch all the rest of the garbage:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1dmVU08zVpA

SNL usually makes me puke, but those three minutes made me laugh.


Sunday, 2/18

Amazing Race; CBS. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
I had been a faithful watcher of the show until last year, when I stopped watching due to time constraints. But this season is an All-Star one. Yeah, frickin' Rob & Amber are on it (now using family and friends' fifteen minutes of fame, apparently), but so are Kevin and Drew-- two of the funniest reality show contestants on any show. Recommended.

Planet Carnivore; National Geographic. 7 & 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Series looking at some of the most skilled predators on the planet. The first ep is about a lioness in Tanzania.

An, finally, the Sundance Channel airs the entire second season on Slings and Arrows from 2-7 pm CST (six 50-minute episodes). Admittedly, I wasn't as excited about the second season as I was the first, but it's still great television. The 2nd season followed the attempts to get a performance of MacBeth made. Also, there was some great moments and commentary about marketing when the festival's main financial contributor pulled out, and the marketing firm hired to raise awareness of the show continually insulted all their season ticket holders as well as theatre itself.

After the season rerun, the third season of the show begins (7 pm CST).

The Perfect Addition to Any OFFICE

Ed Helms, whose character, Andy, was last seen punching a hole in a wall after a prank on The Office, has been made a series regular.

He hasn't been in the last few episodes because he was in Anger Management class, but when he returns he'll be around for longer than the 13 episodes he was originally hired for.

I wasn't sure about the long-term success for Andy, but he does let us sympathize with Michael and Dwight when needed (like when Dwight quit).

After last week's episode, I hope Helms (and Andy) return soon. Michael was waaaaaay over-the-top, and there has to be some way to make him sympathetic (and just plain pathetic) again. I had hoped the crazy-obnoxious Michael Scott was dead and gone, but it doesn't look like it.

Better Late Than Never News

So, this weekend, I read that Joss Whedon is officially off the Wonder Woman movie. I'm not a huge WW fan, but I've been impressed with Whedon's dedication to his shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly (and the movie sequel Serenity), so I was looking forward to seeing what he would do with the comic book icon.

Of course, part of the fun of comic book movie speculation is guessing who will be cast in roles (until it gets so heated on some fan boards that it's ridiculous). With Wonder Woman, I have to say I was pulling for someone who has gotten lots of work from Whedon over the years: Charisma Carpenter.

But through the whole process, Whedon insisted he never even got to the casting part (he's been hung up on the script). And, when he announced he was officially off the project, he continued to insist that he had no one in mind for the lead role.

Then, right at the end of his announcement, he admitted he had thought of the perfect actress for the role: How I Met Your Mother's Cobie Smulders.

Now, that could have been interesting movie.

And I'm sure the message boards will be all fired up with opinions on Smulders as Wonder Woman... I like it. I guess we'll have to see who gets tapped for directing (and maybe writing) the movie now, and learn what s/he thinks of casting.

Premieres February 5-11, 2007

Monday, 2/5

Sara and Michael reunite on Prison Break, and a third escapee takes a dirt nap. Here are my odds (and my comments are strictly my own-- I know nothing):

Michael: 1,000,000 to 1. I think one of the bros dies by season's end, but it's way too early for that yet.
Lincoln: 250,000 to 1: Not Linc's time (yet).
T-Bag: 200,000 to 1: Yeah, right. There's lots of story left with Mr. Bagwell.
Sucre: 100 to 1: Getting to the more likely suspects, but ya can't kill off Sucre before he finds Maricruz.
C-Note: 5 to 1: He could go down saving his wife or daughter, but I think there's still something left for him story-wise.
Haywire: 2 to 1: The only escapee who is not a series regular (and barely appears at all); he was good for a laugh, but his actions last week reminded us he's got a violent screw loose. I don't see Mahone in on it at all, though.

Rules of Engagment; CBS. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I've, actually, liked David Spade on most of the shows he's done (even if it's usually the same type of character), and it's also got Patrick Warburton (who I've always liked) and Megyn Price (who I just love). But the commericals have looked pretty crappy and the premise (think 'til Death, but with the addition of a smarmy single guy) looks weak. I'll check it out, but don't expect it to make it past April, when King of Queens returns.

NASCAR Now; ESPN2. 5:30 CST. New Series.
Racing-fever is now hitting more mainstream sports channels...


Wednesday, 2/7

Lost returns after 13 weeks with an uninterrupted run of episodes through May. And it's moved to 9:00 CST to stay out of harm's (American Idol) way.


Thursday, 2/8

Survivor; CBS. 7 pm. Season premiere.
The fourteen season begins. This time, the two tribes are split between those with lavish (for this show) digs, and the others with nothing. I keep thinking I can stop watching the show, but it always manages to keep me watching.


Friday, 2/9

Ladette to Lady; Sundance. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
Rough around the edges women learn to become "proper" ladies.


Saturday, 2/10

Kim Possible; Disney. 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, & 8:30. Season Premiere.
The fourth season of this (supposedly good) show starts with 4 new eps in a row.


Sunday, 2/11

The Grammys are on CBS at 7pm if you care about that sort of thing. I don't care, so that's probably why I don't recognize more than one or two songs up for nomination.

And a show I just inexplicably loved also airs its entire first season on Sundance from 2-7 pm (six 50-minute episodes). The show is Slings and Arrows, and it follows the trials of getting a theatrical production of Hamlet going after the director has died-- and the replacement is a guy who had a nervous breakdown in the middle of playing Hamlet years before.

There's way too much to this show to give it the proper introduction. Let's just leave it at "trust me". It's funny, dramatic, and superbly well-acted (lead actor Paul Gross absolutely grabbed my attention every time he was on screen in one of my all-time favorite performances). I couldn't believe that a show about a Shakespearian play would be this enjoyable, but it is.

And did I mention that it also co-stars Rachel McAdams? If you don't recognize the name, shame on you. She's one of the rare young actresses who's actually very good (and hot, if you go for that sort of thing-- admittedly, I do).


And a notable mention I've seen from my DVR schedule:
[adult swim]'s Moral Orel now airs every night from Monday to Thursdays from 11:15-11:30 pm and repeats the ep at 2:45-3:00 am.

This is a brutally funny show about a naive young boy who is all about Jesus and the church. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite understand life, so he usually completely misinterprets the teachings of the Bible and the religious leaders he speaks to and things get all screwed up (usually nothing so bad that a meeting with his dad's belt can't fix) . Much like the major religious leaders of today ("What, no touching little boys?", "But GOD wants me to make a million dollars a year-- even if that means a little embezzelment.").

So, okay, the show isn't for everyone (mainly religious people with no sense of humor), but for anyone who can take a joke-- or can at least see some of the folly of religious dogma, check it out.

Highlights this week:
Tuesday's episode "God's Chef" where Orel discovers masturbation-- but learns that God doesn't want anyone's seed go to waste. So he thinks way outside the box and keeps from wasting his seed (I won't say what he does, but I will admit I was shocked). It also has one of my favorite lines on any TV show when Orel's principal asks him if he knows what happens to boys who masturbate, and Orel replies with, "Well, up until a few days ago I didn't. But since then, a whole new world has opened up for me!" Reading the line DOES NOT do justice to how Orel delivers it on the show.

And my favorite episode of the series, "Waste", airs on Thursday. In this one, Orel learns from his scoutmaster that in a pinch, one's urine can be consumed if there isn't anything else to drink. Shortly after, Orel's pastor gives a sermon that says to waste is a sin. So Orel decides he can be even closer to God if he doesn't waste anything-- including his urine. Soon after he starts drinking it, he breaks school records in track. Now everyone wants to try Orel's "sports drink". There's also a great line in this ep when Orel is asked by a friend if his drink has Vitamin C in it, and Orels replies with, "I don't know about Vitamin C... but it does have Vitamin P." Classic.

The Terrorists Have Won

A guy at work told me about how Boston is going after some people who were promoting the [adult swim] movie Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and I thought, "Man, this doesn't sound good for the network."

Then I checked out a post on newsarama about it and realized the authorities in Boston are just fu**ing morons.

Here's the link:
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=99821


Okay, so the "Cradle of American Democracy" (my label, as I believe the colonists in Boston had the largest effect on gathering support in the bid for independence) is planning on sticking Turner Broadcasting and the two performance artists who "planted" the advertisements with a million dollars worth of charges. Over some LED artwork.

There are number of things wrong here:
1. The artwork looks like a f***ing Light Brite!!! Are they nuts?
2. The figure has its middle finger sticking up. Do we think al Queda is going to be that obvious when they plant bombs?
3. NINE (!!!) other cities had the exact same guerrilla marketing go on, and there was not one single instance in any of them that there was some sort of terrorist plot.
4. Did it really cost a million dollars to investigate? (I did a little more reading on the story, and the whole thing took less than 11 hours from the beginning to when Turner said they were responsible).
5. Does Boston really think they can hide behind the "Well, after 9/11, things are different" bullshit that the White House has been feeding us for five years?

All this is, is an attempt to blame a governmental fu** up on something else. "Let's make this story WAAAAAY bigger than it is, and maybe the populace will forget how stupid this all is."

Morons.

Here's a link to a writer who noted the story:
http://www.peterdavid.net/

Follow the link on his page to a Boston TV Channel webpage (I tried doing a direct link, and it didn't go right to the story) and then scroll through the stories and click on "Boston Hoax Suspects Mock Media" for the best press conference I've ever seen. Since the guys who put the ads all over the city were advised by their lawyer to not discuss any elements of the case, they held a press conference discussing '70s hair styles. Classic.

It thumbs their noses at the jackass media and the city-- and does it all with an [adult swim] flair.

Something to make your head hurt

I was reading some posts on newsarama.com, and from out of nowhere, someone posted this song from Melt Banana.

Here's proof that the whole MP3, MySpace, anyone can market their own songs, is not the perfect filter of decent music:

http://www.skingraftrecords.com/mp3/LP_MP3/MeltBanana_RoughDogs.mp3

Okay, Here's Your Second Chance...

Now I've recommended you all watch [adult swim]'s Frisky Dingo a number of times. Hell, it even made my Top Ten of 2006.

Now you've got a second chance. [adult swim] (Cartoon Network's night schedule) is reairing the series on Sunday nights at 11:30 pm CST.

Okay, I missed informing everyone about it last week as the first episode ("Meet Killface") aired last Sunday, BUT-- the second episode is actually the better one to watch first because it gets right into it by introducing Awesome X, the alter ego of Xander Crews. Crews is an absolute riot. He's Bruce Wayne mixed in with a any of the smart-asses from Sealab 2021.

Besides, any hero whose sidekicks are called X-Ticles is a hero worth following.

You didn't miss much from the first episode. There was the introduction of Killface, a powerfully built, white "man" with a skull face, red eyes, hooves for feet, and who wears no clothes (don't worry, he's got the "boy parts" of a Ken doll). Killface built a giant engine called the Annihilatrix that will send the Earth hurtling to into the sun. But he wants the world to know what he's going to do, and he used all his money to build the Annihilatrix, so he's put his plans on hold until he can raise more capital.

We were also introduced to Killface's son, Simon, who mumbles in such a soft voice, I could never understand him (I think it was all gibberish anyway). Simon is a good boy, but he's rebelling against his father; but his biggest act of defiance is slowly pushing his cereal bowl off the counter.

We also met Sin, a beautiful cyborg who is Killface's assistant. Paul, the technical guy who is building the Annihilatrix, and has a wife who hasn't lost the baby weight (it's been six months). Valerie, one of the people Killface kidnapped to market his plans. And twin film students Trent and Brent. There's no reason to remember them; Killface killed them both by the end of the episode.

So, anyway, check it out. The series is only thirteen 10-minute episodes long, and it's bat-shit insane. But it's funny. Really funny.

And beautiful as well. The look is kind of like the look from the film A Scanner Darkly, painted over pencils.

Check out episode 2 and then go to YouTube and check out the first episode (do a "Frisky Dingo" search, and at least the first few episodes are there as two 5-minute clips).

And while you're at You Tube, check out this awesome minute-long clip of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It has the Birthday Song Master Shake got Zakk Wylde (for real) to play and Geddy Lee (fake) to sing. It's awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5ft7EhX5W8&mode=user&search=

"Gee willikers. It must be Obvious Day at Camp Stupid."


If you find yourself entertained, do some "Aqua Teen" or "Venture Brothers" searches. There are some great clips on YouTube.

Oh Baby!!!! I found it!!! My favorite clip of The Venture Brothers; when Dean sets his crotch on fire. Check it out. And then check it out again (it's only 90 seconds long):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwuxLYcrTJU&mode=related&search=

And if you've got a slow connection, here's the best part in a 30-second clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuBiAnJLpXg

"Dude!! ...Stop wailin' on my junk!"
And don't miss the minion mention that he's got to take a "Count Dookoo".

T-Bag Links

I read an interview with Prison Break's Robert "T-Bag" Knepper in Entertainment Weekly from a few weeks back, and have to commend the guy for being so obviously humble and warm-- despite the fact that he plays a truly villianous character. A link to part of the interview is here:

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,__20008040_4,00.html

And TV Guide online just did a feature on him as well. The link is here:


http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={316FE6E1-87BC-423B-893F-1517B293E0A0}

I hope they work. If not, you should be able to copy and paste it in your browser. (Someday, I'll figure out how to link in this thing...)

Premieres and Notables: Jan 29 - Feb 4

Whoa! Time sure flies. Sorry (to my half-dozen readers) this is late. But to just let you know my commitment to this blog: I could be watching Prison Break on the big screen TV right now-- but I'm writing this post.

Feel blessed...

Monday, 1/29

Sorry you missed it: the Miss America pageant, hosted by Mario Lopez.


Tuesday, 1/30

Camp Reality; Fox Reality. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Former reality show contestants face off in a series of challenges. Johnny Fairplay is now using someone else's fifteen minutes of fame because his ran out with Kill Reality.

Some sh** shows on MTV premiere tonight; one actually has something (just barely) to do with music. Check out the website because I'm boycotting the network.


Wed, 1/31

Top Design; Bravo. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Yet another crap reality show from a formerly respectable network. If the title doesn't give it away, this one is about: interior designers. I'm excited; how about you?

The Supreme Court; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Series Premiere.
Four-part special on the history of the court.

America's Ballroom Challenge; PBS. 7 pm (check local). Season Premiere.
I'd dismiss it, but PBS is airing it. Maybe there is some value to it.


Thursday, 2/1

On The Office, Michael hires a Ben Franklin impersonator and a stripper for Phyllis' wedding shower. 'Nuff said.

Paul Reubens guests on 30 Rock as a foreign prince. I watched Pee Wee's Playhouse on [adult swim] this summer as well as have been watching Pee Wee's Big Adventure with my kids, and I have to say I'm glad Reubens is working again. He's a genius.

After the jaw-dropper end two weeks ago, you gotta be there for Ugly Betty this week. Ca-razy!!!!

The Sarah Silverman Program; Comedy Central. 9:30. Series Premiere.
Mildly funny, but mostly offensive for offensive sake (and I'm not an easily offended person-- unless the show/bit just sucks-- then I'm offended). I'll check it out, but I don't have high hopes for this show.

Friday, 2/2

Jon Stewart guests on Jack's Big Music Show, which totally kicks ass. It's on Noggin at 11 am. Let's just hope he doesn't sing (his appearance on Elmopalooza wasn't his finest hour). Thankfully, "pros" get the best musical spots on the show. This episode features a video by alt rock band Flaming Lips members Steven Drozd and Steve Burns (formerly of Blues Clues). Wouldn't it be awesome if the dude is covered with tats now?

Saturday, 2/3
I hate how BBC America runs some of it's shows (the amazing first epsiode of Bodies airs this week-- with no mention of when the other five air next), but you may want to check out the first three eps of the fourth season of Coupling on BBC America from 3-5 am this morning. Yes, the show does have a continuing plot, but you can catch up as you watch (I did it this summer). The first ep was great. It follows the gang as the episode shows the same 9-1/2 minutes from a different point of view three times. It's a definite taste of the brilliance of the show, and, hopefully, the network will air the rest of the series soon. This is highly recommended, and puts American comedies to shame.


Sunday, 2/4

A little thing called The Super Bowl has scared away almost all the shows tonight. Take a rest and watch the game. Or catch up on shows you're behind on, like I will.

Change of plans; another person's 15 mins up; older and hotter

When I was a hardcore (free TV) WWE watcher, one of my favorite parts was finding out what went on behind the scenes and then seeing how it played out on TV. A guy tapped to be the next Champ gets hurt and plans change. The fans don't take to another guy, and his program is scratched. Stuff like that.

I found it interesting that Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross needs to be on bedrest until her twins are born in April-- a bit sooner than they had hoped. So producers had Bree's house brought to Cross' by building the character's set into the first floor of Cross' home. All in an effort to wrap up the Bree character's arc for the season.

In the meantime, Nicolette Sheridan will benefit from the extra time (of having less Bree than expected) and see her character getting more screen time and becoming a main character.


Speaking of changed plans, David Chase needed (and got) a ninth episode for the last Sopranos run. The final nine episodes begin on April 8 (along with the back half of Entourage).


And it seems as if Paula Abdul just won't go away. Bravo has ordered a reality show that follows her around. It's bound to be a masterpiece.


And normally I don't mention birthdays and such, but I saw this jawdropping picture of one of today's birthday celebs. The absolutely beautiful Diane Lane turned 42 today. I haven't followed her career at all, and have only seen a handful of her more recent films, so I don't know what she was in or how she acted in her twenties, but the Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohans, and Paris Hiltons of the world could learn a lot about what is attractive by taking a look at her.

Let's go old school today: "Peace out!"

Top Ten Honorable Mentions.

Just a quick follow-up to my post a week ago on my Top Ten of 2006. Obviously, I couldn't include everything that deserves a shout-out. This is pretty much off the top of my head, here, so if I missed something, I apologize.

I mentioned Noggin's The Upside Down Show before, and if it played more for adults, it would have made the Top Ten. Also, I've mentioned before how I tend to dislike animated voice work by people we know from in front of the camera, but William H. Macy's work on the PBS Curious George series deserves praise.

There are many BBC America shows that are worth watching-- especially if the American comedy show scene has got you down.

Shows that I couldn't include because I didn't watch new episodes-- but were f-ing brilliant are: Bodies (BBC America; I've praised it before); Coupling (BBC America; four seasons of fantastically funny stuff); Deadwood (HBO; vulgar, violent at times, and incredible); The Sopranos (HBO; while not seeming as groundbreaking now as it was when it premiered, it's still earned everything it's gotten).

Peter Stormare's "Vee Dub" commericals. Like 'em or hate 'em, you gotta love Stormare's work. Ever since Abruzzi was Swiss-cheesed by the feds on Prison Break, this is the only way you'll see him (unless you check out his numerous movie/TV appearances from the past).

ESPN's NFL Countdown on Sundays has a feature called "Mayne Event" that still has me watching-- well after the Fantasy Football season is over. Every week, Kenny Mayne finds some ridiculous story to comment on-- and he gets players and coaches to go along with it. Like when he did a piece on players throwing the football out into the crowd after a touchdown. One player lamented his actions by saying, "The worst is the fine. Two thousand dollars! Sure, it doesn't hurt me too much, but what about the college players? They don't get paid as much as they used to." Check it out; it usually airs in the last half-hour.

And, finally TV Guide Channel's Square Off. It's not exciting, it's certainly not sexy, but that suits me just fine. Kevin and Andy talk to actors, producers, network execs, and others in a straight-up manner. No "Who are you dating?" or "Who are you wearing?" bullshit. But more along the lines of "How do you see the future of TV?" or "What did you go through to get this show on the air?" If you want to get a glimpse of how TV works behind the scenes, check it out.

And, in the same vein, check out Bill Carter's book Desperate Networks. It's a great look at the stories behind Survivor, Lost, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Joey, and many others as he sees how luck and hard work saved some companies (ABC, CBS) and the lack of luck and hard work ruined others (NBC). You may know how the story ends, but you'll be amazed to find out how they got there.

Fax From Sarajevo

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how humanity can transcend borders, as depicted in the film Joyeux Noel.

Now the other side: Fax From Sarajevo. Legend Joe Kubert relates (via graphic novel) the true story of Ervin Rustemagic and the eighteen months of Hell he and his family went through during the ethnic cleansing of Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1992.

Ervin was a respected businessman and art agent in Sarajevo, and had gained many friends all over the world in his decade of dealings. Then the Serbs decided to rid the country of anyone not of Serbian blood. And the world just watched...

Due to iffy electrical and phone lines, Ervin found his best method of communication to be via fax. Using it, he updated his friends (including Kubert) about the goings-on in the city.

I was in college at the time of the war, and like most college students, the world wasn't really a consideration for me. I must say I'm embarrased that I was alive while this was going on-- and I never knew how bad it was. I'm even more embarrassed that my country (and the rest of the world) did little to nothing as it went on.

Just a little list of atrocities: Entire cities were leveled; tanks would run through a neighborhood and keep shooting until nothing was left standing. Men were rounded up and killed on sight. Women (from young girls to older women) were taken to "rape camps" and abused by soldiers in an effort to create more Serbians. The roads were nearly impassible (even by clearly marked emergency vehicles).

And, the most heinous thing of all: snipers were given $300 for every target they hit. The favored target were children because after they went down, parents/adults would try to save them (and, thus, becoming targets themselves).

I don't really want to give too many details about the story, but don't let the fact that it's a graphic novel keep you away. This is an important story about survival that is well worth checking out. It only helps that Kubert is a master of the craft-- and had a very personal stake on the main characters.

And it's important to just be reminded (or taught, if your knowledge of the war is like mine) of what went on half a world away just fifteen years ago.

Premieres and Notables Jan. 22-28

Monday, 1/22

Big big big day here.

Heroes; NBC. 8 pm CST. Return from hiatus.
The new season's hottest show returns to face its greatest enemy: 24. They're pulling out all the stops with the addition of former Dr. Who Christopher Eccleston into the cast as well as planning major events for February sweeps.

Digging For the Truth; History. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The third season's first show is the search for Atlantis.

E-Vet Interns; Animal Planet. 8 pm & 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams; E!. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
The pilot looks into Leif Garrett's troubles.

The Bryan Cranston-guested How I Met Your Mother I noted last week (which never aired) is supposed to air tonight.

Todd Bridges begins a recurring role as a "crazed ex-military man" on Everybody Hates Chris.

Marjorie returns on What About Brian?, so that's probably not gonna help his fling with Bridget.

Oh yeah I almost forgot:
Prison Break; FOX. 7 pm. Return from Hiatus.
Who will T-Bag kill next? Is Kellerman really one of the good guys? Will Sucre get the girl? Will Sara figure out what the key is for? Will Avocado make guacamole out of Bellick? Can C-Note save his wife while keeping himself out of jail? How close to Holland will Haywire get? Is Maghone dead? And just how much ass are Michael and Linc going to kick as they take the fight to The Company?
And how will this show manage to answer all those questions in the nine episodes they have left?


Tuesday, 1/23

Rickey Gervais talks Extras on Letterman (10:35 pm, CBS).

The Oscar Nominations are announced on the morning shows at 7:30 am, or catch TV Guide Channel's special at 7 pm.


Wednesday, 1/24

George Lopez; ABC. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
The sixth season starts here.


Thursday, 1/25

Pros vs. Joes; Spike. 9 pm. Season Premiere.

Best Evidence; Discovery. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Conspiracy theories are put to the test. The prem features the theory that TWA Flight 800 crash of 1996 was caused by a missle.

NBC's "C0medy Done Right" lineup chooses some of their best episodes of the current season, with The Office also getting ER's slot tonight (that's right: three episodes).

And I can't believe there is no new Ugly Betty on tonight after the jaw-dropper ending of last week's episode...


Sunday, 1/28

King of the Hill; FOX. 7:30. Season Premiere.
The eleventh season begins here.

And Daniel Radcliff sheds the Harry Potter persona he's had the last few years and goes raw as a hormonally-charged young man on Extras. Anyone who saw Orlando Bloom make fun of himself on the show last week should know what an appearance on this show "as himself" should do to Radcliff.

Odds and ends

Bits and pieces culled from tvguide.com (mainly from Michael Ausiello & "Today's News: Our Take" by Matt Webb Mitovich):

Heroes, Law & Order: SVU, The Office, and My Name is Earl have all been renewed for another season. And Identity received an order for seven more episodes.

Survivor has been renewed for two more competitions.

American Idol's premiere on Tuesday averaged 37.3 million viewers. The show hit a high of 41.84 million in its last half hour. The second season finale is the only higher rated episode of the series.

Spurred on by the documentary This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated (which looked into the secretive-- and frequent "made up as they go along" ratings decisions-- of the ratings board), the MPAA and the NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) are planning on making changes to the ratings systems. Changes are expected to include: admonishments that some R-rated movies are just not appropriate for children, remove some of the secrecy of the board, formalize a rule that a board member cannot stay on after their child has grown, and detail (for the first time; on the MPAA website) the standards of each film ratings.



Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse announced they are in discussions with ABC to finalize an "end point" for the series. It's pretty unprecedented for something like this to go down; networks aren't really interested in ending shows they have some measure of control over when there's money to be had. Lindelof & Cuse want to have the series wrap up somewhere around episode #100 (they'll have 93 eps produced at the end of season four next year).

ABC could decline the plans, and replace whichever creators leave (like The CW did with The Gilmore Girls this year) or they could recognize that fans of the show just aren't going to keep watching if some of the mysteries don't get solved (and the quality of the show could decline-- a la X-Files-- if the show gets renewed past its useful life).

The idea behind planning an "exit strategy" for the show can bring a number of benefits: creators will have a target to shoot for to tie the loose ends. Fans will know that there is a plan and things aren't just being thrown in there to extend the series. Having an end point could help "ensure" the show makes it that far. (Let's say ratings drop next season; ABC could order episodes they normally wouldn't just because they know there is an end point).

It's an interesting move, but the creators and actors have always been pretty aware that they have a high-quality show and they don't want to see it go down the tubes just because it became a sensation.

My favorite show of all time, Babylon 5, had a planned storyline from the start-- five seasons-- and it worked (even though there were numerous changes to the storyline due to not having a fifth season ensured until after the fourth season ended). I hope Lost can find a way to do the same.


And, finally, I read in Prison Break Magazine that the role of Abruzzi was originally intended for Chris Penn. I can't imagine anyone other than Peter Stormare in the role, but it would have been something for Penn to be on the show.

Because No One Demanded It

Okay okay okay. I've mentioned it enough and procrastinated enough that now it's become anti-climatic.

I dug through the nearly 100 shows I watched that aired new episodes in 2006 and then started cutting until I came up with a Top Ten. Are they the best? Not always. Are they my favorites? Surprisingly, not always. Are these better than others that didn't make the cut? For the most part. But I wanted to hit some shows that I love, some that are important to see, and some that really need the mention.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

My Top Ten TV Shows of 2006 (and, yes, I cheated and had more than 10-- even the legit critics do it):

1. [adult swim] (Cartoon Network). Specifically Venture Brothers and Frisky Dingo. For crazy-ass shenanigans and hilarious lines, go no further than the swim.

2. Conviction (BBC America). A fantastic tale about guilt, and how it can slowly drive a man crazy.

3. Entourage. Unique, profane, quoteworthy... And the icing on the cake of Jeremy Piven. And Martin Landau this season: "Would that be something you might be interested in?"

4. HBO Sports. Costas Now, Inside the NFL, and Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel always has some feature every episode that moves me. These shows hit the stories that others won't touch, and even though I don't follow sports, I have to watch these shows.

5. "The New Face of Comedy": My Name is Earl and The Office (NBC) as well as How I Met Your Mother (CBS). Great writing, acting, and directing on these shows just proves that comedies aren't dead, they're just transforming beyond the set-up and punchline method that has been used for decades.

6. Prison Break. If you're new to this blog, you may not know that I am into this show. I read everything I can about it in magazines and on the Internet, and I am surprised every... single... episode. That's amazing.

7. Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO). There is no show out there that hits on the same beliefs I have about the world as this one. Things I've felt for years but couldn't explain get talked about, and I can suddenly express my thoughts and beliefs better. And while Maher is notoriously anti-Bush/Republican (and I can't blame him), he's also pretty negative about the Democrats (mainly for being p*ssies). He's an equal opportunity critic-- and now that the Dems have the House, I expect them to catch some of his wrath in 2007.

8. South Park (Comedy Central). There is no better (or needed) satire airing today than this show about a group of elementary students. Admittedly, it hits some low points, but the next episode always puts it back on top. The amazing one-week turnaround from script to air allows this show to be right on top of events. Or eerily ahead of the times (they called out Mel Gibson as a loon before he had his "episode" last year). And if the satire isn't for you, there are always plenty of poop jokes and swearing to go around.

9. 30 Days (FX). Mandatory viewing. What happens when someone is taken out of their element and put into the complete opposite of it? Understanding and friendship. What a neat concept: get people with opposing views together and they learn to respect each other. Imagine the progress humanity could achieve if we all walked in another's shoes...

10. Ugly Betty (ABC). The characters are garishly colored, the head of the company is a silver spoon horndog, the antagonists are more cartoony than a Bond villain, the acting can be borderline Soap Opera-ish (always by design)... And it works. Wonderfully. It's a breath of fresh air to see a show that isn't mean-spirited (remember: cartoony villains; as awful as they are, you can't hate them) and the "good guys" value friendship and family above all else.

So there you go. I wrote more detailed thoughts for the first half (long-hand, by the way), but I knew if I waited until I wrote them all (and then typed them), it'd be close to 2008. Maybe I'll add to them at a later date.

No promises, though. You see, I've discovered a method of time travel, and it's made it difficult to focus on the blog.

You take a DVD-ROM and insert it into your computer. When the screen comes up, click on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and then click on "load game". It's amazing, but that's all it takes to travel through time.

Take last night: I put the disk in at 10:30 pm, and the next thing I knew, it was 12:30 am. I jumped forward in time two whole hours, and it felt like ten minutes.

Try it if you'd like, but I warn you: this method only works to jump forward through time. I haven't found a way to go back in time or slow it down.