There is a shit-ton of awesome in this pic

These two always look like they're having fun...

Televison Premieres and Notables: December 16-22, 2013

Tuesday, 12/17

The Voice (NBC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Hardcore Pawn; TruTV. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 12/18

Mob City (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.


Thursday, 12/19

The X-Factor (Fox; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.

Naked and Afraid; Discovery. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Saturday, 12/21

Whale Wars; Discovery. 8 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.

Superman 75th Animated Anniversary

Can't remember if I've posted this before. If I did, it's worth a repost because it's so damn cool.

Behind the scenes at the Superman Vs. Batman set

Walking Dead Mid-season spoilers.

Minor spoilers.
You've been warned...

Television Premieres and Notables: December 9-15, 2013

Monday, 12/9

The Great Christmas Light Fight; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Families compete to make the most dazzling Christmas light show.

The Sing-Off; NBC. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.


Tuesday, 12/10

Sons of Anarchy (FX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.


Sunday, 12/15

Survivor (CBS; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.

Homeland (Showtime; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Masters of Sex (Showtime; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.

Television Premieres and Notables: December 2-8, 2013

Tuesday, 12/3

Shipping Wars; A&E. 9 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 12/4

State of Play; HBO. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Mob City; TNT. 8 & 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
After getting pushed out of The Walking Dead, Frank Darabont started creating this series set in the early days of Los Angeles, where the mob and the cops are at odds with each other. It's got a film-noir vibe.
So, the cool thing is: its only a six episode season, and TNT is airing them back-to-back for three weeks in the dead month of December, so give it a chance.
Not only did Darabont create the series, but he wrote three scripts and polished the others-- and also directed four of the six episodes.

Best Ink; Oxygen. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Kirstie; TV Land. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Kirstie Alley plays an actress who is surprised to meet a young man who claims to be the son she gave up for adoption years ago.


Sunday, 12/8

The Amazing Race (CBS. 7 pm CST.) Season Finale.

Dude You're Screwed; Discovery. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.

Television Premieres and Notables: November 25-December 1, 2013

Well, it's doomed to be a quieter week now that the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary has passed. (But wasn't "Day of the Doctor" wonderful? There is no way it could satisfy everyone's hopes and dreams-- so it did its own thing. And two of the cameos brought a big smile to my face.)


Tuesday, 11/26

Boston's Finest; TNT. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Chopped; Food Network. 9 pm CST. 18th Cycle Premiere.

Marshal Law: Texas; TNT. Series Premiere.


Wednesday, 11/27

Haunted Highway; Syfy. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Sunday, 12/1

Treme; HBO. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

$$

Television Premieres and Notables: November 18-24

Esquire finally launches a ton of new shows this week. Too many to list here, and none that tell me what its identity is yet. Check it out online or on your DVR scheduler. if there's anything that I think sounds cool, I'll list it.

But what is cool this week is BBC America is giving us lots of Doctor Who goodness for its 50th Anniversary. Episode of the series, reruns of the The Doctors Revisited, and some original programming later in the week.


Tusday,11/19

Futurescape With James Woods; Science. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
James Woods hosts this show that looks at future technology.


Wednesday, 11/20

The League (FXX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Well, I missed this season because Charter Communications kept FXX in the sports tier, and I don't watch enough sports to make it worth paying for.
So: big middle finger salute to the dipshits at my cable company.
Sunday
F-you Charter.


Friday, 11/22

Nikita; CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but I've heard rumors this is the last season. That's too bad as this show has really hit a groove the last few seasons and was completely unpredictable from episode to episode.
I mean: in this very episode, we deal with the fact that Nikita was framed for assassinating the president. That's kind of a big deal.

An Adventure in Time; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Special.
An original movie about the creation of Doctor Who.


Saturday, 11/23

Saturday is The Day of The Doctor. The long-awaited fiftieth anniversary special airs at 2:50 pm CST on BBC America in the US and on Who mother stations all over the globe-- and it's even going to be shown in select (meaning nowhere near me) movie theatres.

So: as the show has done for past milestone anniversaries, multiple Doctors join forces to handle whatever threat has developed. This is the NuWho era, so current (but soon to be leaving) Doctor Matt Smith and the dynamic Clara (Jenna Coleman) find themselves alongside Tenth Doctor (and fan favorite) David Tennant and first NuWho companion Rose (Billie Piper).

As we saw at the end of last season, there was a regeneration we previously didn't know about; one where the character didn't live up to/rejected/we don't know the name of The Doctor, so he was never spoken of again. Rumor has it, this Doctor landed between the Eighth and Ninth (the break between "Classic" and "New" eras) and played a pivotal role in the Time War that saw the destruction of the Daleks and the Time Lords.

Okay, all that sounds crazy and confusing. Here's what you need to know: the Doctor who cannot be named as such is played by John Hurt. What more do you need?

Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston supposedly was asked to participate and declined. No word on any "Classic" Doctor Who appearances or references, but this show likes to surprise (and they did a nice tribute to the past in the last season's "Name of The Doctor" episode).

Bill Cosby: Far From Finished; Comedy Central. 7 pm CST. Special.
The Cos performs in his first televised concert in thirty years.
I'm not sure if this will be even a fraction as great as his legendary "Himself" concert, but I'm willing to give it a shot.

Atlantis; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A young man looks for his father, and finds himself in a mysterious land.


Sunday, 11/24

Boardwalk Empire (HBO; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Getting On; HBO. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Laurie Metcalf, Alex Bornstein, and Niecy Nash star as nurses in a geriatric wing of a hospital.
I'm guessing it's a comedy...

Ja'mie: Private School Girl; HBO. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Chris Lilley brings his Summer Heights High standout character to her own show.
Fantastic!

Television Premieres and Notables: November 11-17, 2013

Monday, 11/11

Brain Games; Nat Geo. 8:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Church Rescue; Nat Geo. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Churches get into the whole makeover fad...


Thursday, 11/14

Ground Floor; TBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Friday, 11/15

America's Next Top Model (CW; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.

Raising Hope; Fox. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Saturday, 11/16

Pit Bulls and Parolees; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.


Sunday, 11/17

Almost Human; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Karl Urban stars as an injured police officer in 2048, and Michael Ealy plays his android partner.
Even if sci-fi isn't your thing, that duo alone deserves a try. I mean Karl freakin' Urban; that dude is on fire lately.

Eastbound & Down; HBO. 9 pm CST. Series Finale.
Sure, they said Season Three was the last one-- but I'm pretty sure they mean it this time.

Television Premieres and Notables: November 4-10, 2013

Monday, 11/4

Mike & Molly; CBS. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.


Tuesday, 11/5

The Chase; GSN. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

On New Girl (Fox; 8 pm CST),  Damon Wayans returns for an ep or two as Coach, the character that he played in the pilot, but had to bow out of due to his Happy Endings commitment.


Wednesday, 11/6

Beverly Hills Pawn; Reelz. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.


Thursday, 11/7

Inside the Actor's Studio; Bravo. 7 pm CST. 19th Season Premiere.


Friday, 11/8

Storage Wars New York; A&E. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Sunday, 11/10

Ax Men; History. 8 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.

Superman vs Batman -- Pete Holmes Show

Awesome Costume

Henri Pt 4: L'Haunting

The Snowman and the Snowdog DVD review

Hey-- look at that: a review!

I was sent a copy of the new DVD The Snowman and the Snowdog, so, yeah, I'll review it.

The long-awaited sequel to the 1982 short animated film based on Raymond Briggs' children's book  is told in much the same style as the original. Hand-drawn, hand-colored, and without dialogue, this short (about 30 minutes) film has a timeless, magical quality about it.

A young boy finds a hidden box in his bedroom and uses the contents to make a snowman and a snowdog companion. One night, the snowman and snowdog come alive and take the boy on an adventure.

So, as I mentioned above, there is no dialogue and no words at all aside from a song, but the storytelling and music are so wonderful, that none are needed. We feel the boy's pain at being lonely, and we feel his excitement at going on this magical trip.

It also can't be dismissed that this film is hand-drawn. No insult intended to computer animation, but this film had a certain soul about it because hands touched each frame. The animators lovingly recreated Briggs' style with colored-pencils filling in the lines that computer-rendered animation just wouldn't be able to capture.

Along with the film is a 40 minute documentary about making it interspersed with details about Briggs' sometimes difficult life. This was actually a fantastic extra as it really gave viewers a look into what goes into making even a 30 minute animated feature. It probably wouldn't surprise an animation enthusiast, but I hope people who don't know the process-- such as kids-- will gain an appreciation for what goes into it.  I think Briggs also has an interesting story, and it really informs us of why much of his work is tinged with sadness.

So is it worth the $10 it retails for?  Well, I'm pretty cheap, and I think it's a bit much for just over an hour of content.  BUT-- I remember how many times a young child will ask to watch the same thing over and over, and even if a parent only pulls it out every few months, that $10 is a good return on investment because I don't see kids or parents getting tired of it. This is a story that I think offers more with repeat viewings.

If you have young children-- or remember the original fondly-- this is a good pick-up to add to your collection.

Television Premieres and Notables: October 28- November 3, 2013

Monday, 10/28

Wild Grinders; Nicktoons. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Independent Lens; PBS. 9 pm CST (check local listings). 15th Season Premiere.


Wednesday, 10/30

Hoarding: Buried Alive; TLC. 9 pm CST. 6th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/31

The Returned; Sundance. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A French series about a group of men, women, and children who do not realize they've been dead for a number of years.


Saturday, 11/2

Misfits; Logo. 12 am CST. 4th Season Premiere.

Littlest Pet Shop; Hub. 10 am CST. 2nd Season Premiere.

Flipping Vegas; A&E. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

It Takes a Choir; USA. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.


Sunday, 11/3

Lego Friends; Disney. 8 am CST. Series Premiere.

Walking Dead Sing-along

This is pretty brilliant.
If you aren't into curb-stomping or zombie head mutilation, you may want to pass...

Day of The Doctor trailer

I really dig this one. The BBC really knows how to get us excited for the 50th...

Love all the Easter Eggs in it.

Television Premieres and Notables: October 21-27, 2013

Sooo, we're hip-deep in the new TV season.

My very brief thoughts:

Mom: great cast; lazy writing. Gave it three eps and dropped it.

The Blacklist: wanted to like it; Spader is great. But I barely even looked up when the second ep was on; couldn't tell you anything about it. Ain't no one got time for that. Done.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: You'd think a show "spun-off" from a billion dollar film would have a bigger budget... But Clark Gregg is holding the rapidly-gelling cast together so far, and he hits the moments he needs to in order to keep the plots going, so I'm sticking with it. I think it's just going to get better.

The Goldbergs: This is my favorite new show of the season. I find it tremendously entertaining.

The Crazy Ones: A quiet comedy. Not great, but solid.

Sean Saves the World: I couldn't get fifteen minutes into it. The laugh track was distracting-- and just enhanced the fact that the show is not funny.

The Michael J Fox Show : I like the small moments that keep this show going, and MJF still has that charisma that made him such a well-loved star.

Super Fun Night: I'm sticking with it for now, but don't find it all that funny or charming yet. But I see potential...

The Neighbors: Not a new show, but one that barely got a second season-- and grabbed the chance by the throat. Every episode is killing it. The ladies are getting more A-Plots, and that's been a good thing. This is my favorite comedy right now.


Anyway: what's new this week?


Monday, 10/21

At Midnight; Comedy Central. 11 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A new, nightly, game show hosted by The Nerdist himself: Chris Hardwick.
I know nothing beyond that...


Tuesday, 10/22

Ravenwood; ABC Family. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Pretty Little Liars gets a spin-off...

American Hoggers; A&E. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.

House Hunters; HGTV. 9 pm CST. 79th Season Premiere.
HTF is this show on its 79th season? Do they count a season as four weeks?


Wednesday, 10/23

Duck Dynasty (A&E; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.

Restaurant Impossible; Food Network. 9 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.


Thursday, 10/24

Project Runway All Stars; Lifetime. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.


Friday, 10/25

Grimm; NBC. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.

Dracula; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as the titular vampire, who is posing as an American entrepreneur in 19th century London while trying to hunt-down the group who made him what he now is.


Sunday, 10/27

The Doctors Revisited; BBC America. 7 pm CST. Special.
Get acquainted (or reacquainted) with David Tennant's Tenth Doctor before next month's 50th Anniversary episode where he returns to team up with Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor and John Hurt's mysterious Doctor-Who-Can-Not-Be-Called-"Doctor".

Austin & Ally; Disney. 7:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.