The idea of censorship is an issue of major importance to me. My beloved comics books have been plagued with idiot government officals looking to make a name for themselves by picking on an easy target during election years for decades. The FCC has made waves about going after cable networks the past few years (they don't use the public airwaves, morons), and the TV industry has started to pull back on their attempts to diversify their products. Let's also not even mention the freakin' debates over whether Saving Private Ryan on ABC or a PBS documentary chronicling soldiers' experiences should have the F-Bomb. Sure, let's hack up a masterpiece that would otherwise run uncut over a word that military personnel (and most others) use in conversation.
An interview I read with [This Film Not Yet Rated] director Kirby Dick is what got me on this tangent. He explains what he found when he did an investigation of the MPAA Board that rates the motion picture industry. As a father, I have to say I like having the idea of the ratings, but as an American, I have troubles with how they get to the ratings-- and how directors and studios "play the game" to get the rating they need.
For example: I was watching Eight Below with my kids (4 and 2-1/2 years old), and I was disappointed that they needed to say "Hell" so much (at least three times) to get the coveted PG rating.
The MPAA's guidelines are nebulous at best and contradictory at worst. Here's the link. Hopefully it works. If not, it's from tvguide.com's Insider section for 9/1. It's worth a look.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Insider/default.htm?cmsGuid={1773DCD6-A322-4087-AAF4-685E134AAD23}
Friday, September 01, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Emmy fallout
I couldn't wait any more. It was bugging me.
I went 5 for 20 on my Emmy predictions.
I got Keifer Sutherland, The Office, Jeremy Piven, Leslie Jordan, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition right.
I'd like to handicap it a little by saying not many other prognosticators made picks for mini-series or TV movie categories, so if you remove those (which I admitted I knew nothing about), I have a more respectable 5 for 16.
And I'd like to mention it was way too hard to find the winners. I actually didn't find all the winners of the 20 categories I picked from until I actually visited the Television Arts and Sciences webpage. Couldn't find it on tvguide.com, cnn.com, or a few others I Googled. Pathetic...
I went 5 for 20 on my Emmy predictions.
I got Keifer Sutherland, The Office, Jeremy Piven, Leslie Jordan, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition right.
I'd like to handicap it a little by saying not many other prognosticators made picks for mini-series or TV movie categories, so if you remove those (which I admitted I knew nothing about), I have a more respectable 5 for 16.
And I'd like to mention it was way too hard to find the winners. I actually didn't find all the winners of the 20 categories I picked from until I actually visited the Television Arts and Sciences webpage. Couldn't find it on tvguide.com, cnn.com, or a few others I Googled. Pathetic...
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Odds and Ends
Sorry for not posting for a few days. Just got too busy and couldn't get on the computer. Here's random stuff I read on tvguide.com or from shows I watched:
The Emmy predictions: I haven't counted the tally of how badly I picked, but Michael Ausiello went 4 for 11, and he gets paid to do this.
All I can say is I'm glad Jeremy Piven won, so I don't have to take a dump on anyone's front porch...
Lane Garrison (Prison Break's "Tweener") confirmed that the first escapee he runs into is T-Bag. In Utah. Uh oh.
Sounds as if this will be Zach Braff's last season as a member of Scrubs. Producers of the show say they will go on without him (assuming NBC doesn't do something stupid like cancel it).
Jenna Fischer and John Krazinski of The Office say that the first episode will touch on the Jim/Pam kiss.
Ricky Gervais (the co-ator of BBC America's The Office) said the episode he wrote will focus on Michael trying (and failing) to be more P.C. And Jim and Pam send Dwight out on a wild goose chase. Gervais also said that the British cast is not slated to appear in the U.S. version, and that some tabloid spread it around and it somehow became gospel. Finally, he said there is little to no chance of a reunion show with the British cast. It saddens me, but the British series ended perfectly (and that ending is why I'm not happy about the Jim/Pam revelation from the NBC season finale).
If you're a Desperate Housewives fan, you may want to know that the main character who gets killed won't be Mike. And I have a good reason to think it's a she.
Well, I better wrap it up. Hopefully next time, I'll fess up and admit how badly I did on my Emmy predictions (seriously, I don't know yet) and maybe touch on some Prison Break thoughts from the second ep.
The Emmy predictions: I haven't counted the tally of how badly I picked, but Michael Ausiello went 4 for 11, and he gets paid to do this.
All I can say is I'm glad Jeremy Piven won, so I don't have to take a dump on anyone's front porch...
Lane Garrison (Prison Break's "Tweener") confirmed that the first escapee he runs into is T-Bag. In Utah. Uh oh.
Sounds as if this will be Zach Braff's last season as a member of Scrubs. Producers of the show say they will go on without him (assuming NBC doesn't do something stupid like cancel it).
Jenna Fischer and John Krazinski of The Office say that the first episode will touch on the Jim/Pam kiss.
Ricky Gervais (the co-ator of BBC America's The Office) said the episode he wrote will focus on Michael trying (and failing) to be more P.C. And Jim and Pam send Dwight out on a wild goose chase. Gervais also said that the British cast is not slated to appear in the U.S. version, and that some tabloid spread it around and it somehow became gospel. Finally, he said there is little to no chance of a reunion show with the British cast. It saddens me, but the British series ended perfectly (and that ending is why I'm not happy about the Jim/Pam revelation from the NBC season finale).
If you're a Desperate Housewives fan, you may want to know that the main character who gets killed won't be Mike. And I have a good reason to think it's a she.
Well, I better wrap it up. Hopefully next time, I'll fess up and admit how badly I did on my Emmy predictions (seriously, I don't know yet) and maybe touch on some Prison Break thoughts from the second ep.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Emmy picks
Not much time, so I'll jump the chase. As flawed as the Emmy's are, how can I not make picks?
Outstanding Drama Series:
All good choices from what I understand (I don't watch Grey's Anatomy, and I haven't gotten to the tapes of House, Sopranos, or 24 yet; and West Wing was good but not great).
I think it's Grey's Anatomy's year.
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series:
I think it's Sutherland's, but I understand Leary has a legit show. Who knows if the Emmy voters will actually give FX its due?
Keifer Sutherland.
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series:
No idea. West Wing was the only one I watched, and Janney wasn't a main player (although, believe it or not, that's not really an Emmy consideration).
I think it's going to Kyra Sedgwick.
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series:
All are good choices. I'm gonna give the front runner status to Gregory Itzen and Alan Alda. I've heard Itzen had a huge turn on 24 and Alda was great as the man who we should hate (but couldn't) on West Wing.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Gregory Itzen.
Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series:
I'd have to say Jean Smart and Chandra Wilson are the front runners. Some people are hoping for a Smart win to pair with Itzen, but I think Grey's Anatomy is going to have a huge year.
Winner: Chandra Wilson.
Outstanding guest actor in a drama series:
I don't much about these nominees, but they all got props when they appeared. I did see Michael J. Fox's appearances on Boston Legal, and I thought they were great. And it had nothing to do with his Parkinson's-- it was a very powerful role that any actor could have played, but not many could have played it as well as Fox.
I'll go with Fox.
Outstanding guest actress on a drama series:
Wow. Didn't see a single performance. Haven't heard anything about them either. There's a lot of love for Six Feet Under, but, like I said, Grey's is gonna be big.
Christina Ricci for Grey's Anatomy.
Outstanding comedy series:
Tough group (so tough, Two and a Half Men got in over many other worthy choices-- I'll chalk that up to split votes). I'd love to see Arrested Development get a nice goodbye, but with its screwed up scheduling last year, I think it lacked what previous seasons had. Curb Your Enthusiasm has always been solid, but it slipped a little this year. Scrubs badly needs the win, but I think The Office will take it.
Winner: The Office.
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series:
Jason Lee. What? He wasn't nominated? Oh yeah, of course-- there wasn't room after Kevin James and Charlie Sheen's noms (I'm trying not be hard on those two because they are competent-- but the best? Hardly). Larry David and Tony Shalhoub are worthy candidates, but I think Carell's taking it.
Winner: Steve Carell.
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series:
Jane Kaczmarek seemed to be going through the paces this year. She was much more worthy in years past. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is funny on Christine, but I don't know if she's outstanding. Stockard Channing wasn't either. I haven't watched Will & Grace since it was good, so it's been a few years since I can remember Messing when the show was decent. I gave Kudrow's The Comeback about two eps before I gave up. But she's got big buzz.
I'll give it to Lisa Kudrow.
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series:
All the nominees are decent, and I'd love to see Will Arnet get props for Arrested Development, but Piven deserves this Emmy like no other candidate in the entire show.
If Jeremy Piven doesn't win, I will personally visit each Emmy voter's house and take a crap on their front door.
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series:
Nominees aren't bad in this category, either, but Pressly has to win. She probably won't because redneck characters usually don't get love-- look at f-ing Jason Lee's snub--, but I'm not gonna pick anyone but her and hope voters have a brain.
Winner: Jamie Pressly.
Outstanding guest actor on a comedy series:
Patrick Stewart and Ben Stiller were great on Extras, but Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin are the "sexier" noms.
But I'm going to pick the deserving Leslie Jordan for a long history of fantastic supporting characters. It's not the right thing to do (pick a winner for a lifetime's work instead what s/he was actually nominated for), but it's done all the time.
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series:
All decent nominees, but Kate Winslet was a blast as the dirty-talking "self" dressed a nun on Extras. Besides, Emmy voters love to pick motion picture actors/actresses as winners to keep them coming back.
Kate Winslet.
Outstanding reality program:
I only watched Penn & Teller's Bullsh-t and Kathy Griffen: My Life on the D-List, but Bullsh-t is not only funny but informative. And it doesn't rely on weepiness that will probably give the statue to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
I'll have to go with Extreme Makeover, but I'd love to be proven wrong by having Penn Gillette give an acceptance speech.
Outstanding reality-competition program:
I like Amazing Race and Survivor, but neither series was at its peak this year. American Idol has done its part to dumb down people's expectations when it comes to music. Dancing with the Stars is the hot program right now. But...
I've heard good things about Project Runway, so I'll pick that.
Outstanding miniseries:
I only saw the slow-starting, but solid as a whole Sleeper Cell, but the rest were given high praise in the things I read as well.
I'll give it to Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) just because it got lots of press time.
Outstanding made for television movie:
Don't know.
Let's guess: Mrs. Harris.
Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie:
Big names. Still no idea.
Let's say: Donald Sutherland.
Outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie:
More big names. But one stood out in all the reviews I read:
Gillian Anderson.
There you are. If you want a list of nominees and don't have TV Guide handy, print off a list here:
http://online.tvguide.com/special/Emmys2006/nominees.asp
I won't be watching the show live. FF-ing through the commercials and stuff I don't care about will drop my watching time to about an hour with the DVR. I can't even recommend watching these shows anymore because they're so lame, but they're a big deal in the TV world, and the TV world is a big deal to me. And you never know when someone will knock your socks off with a joke or a speech...
Outstanding Drama Series:
All good choices from what I understand (I don't watch Grey's Anatomy, and I haven't gotten to the tapes of House, Sopranos, or 24 yet; and West Wing was good but not great).
I think it's Grey's Anatomy's year.
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series:
I think it's Sutherland's, but I understand Leary has a legit show. Who knows if the Emmy voters will actually give FX its due?
Keifer Sutherland.
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series:
No idea. West Wing was the only one I watched, and Janney wasn't a main player (although, believe it or not, that's not really an Emmy consideration).
I think it's going to Kyra Sedgwick.
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series:
All are good choices. I'm gonna give the front runner status to Gregory Itzen and Alan Alda. I've heard Itzen had a huge turn on 24 and Alda was great as the man who we should hate (but couldn't) on West Wing.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Gregory Itzen.
Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series:
I'd have to say Jean Smart and Chandra Wilson are the front runners. Some people are hoping for a Smart win to pair with Itzen, but I think Grey's Anatomy is going to have a huge year.
Winner: Chandra Wilson.
Outstanding guest actor in a drama series:
I don't much about these nominees, but they all got props when they appeared. I did see Michael J. Fox's appearances on Boston Legal, and I thought they were great. And it had nothing to do with his Parkinson's-- it was a very powerful role that any actor could have played, but not many could have played it as well as Fox.
I'll go with Fox.
Outstanding guest actress on a drama series:
Wow. Didn't see a single performance. Haven't heard anything about them either. There's a lot of love for Six Feet Under, but, like I said, Grey's is gonna be big.
Christina Ricci for Grey's Anatomy.
Outstanding comedy series:
Tough group (so tough, Two and a Half Men got in over many other worthy choices-- I'll chalk that up to split votes). I'd love to see Arrested Development get a nice goodbye, but with its screwed up scheduling last year, I think it lacked what previous seasons had. Curb Your Enthusiasm has always been solid, but it slipped a little this year. Scrubs badly needs the win, but I think The Office will take it.
Winner: The Office.
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series:
Jason Lee. What? He wasn't nominated? Oh yeah, of course-- there wasn't room after Kevin James and Charlie Sheen's noms (I'm trying not be hard on those two because they are competent-- but the best? Hardly). Larry David and Tony Shalhoub are worthy candidates, but I think Carell's taking it.
Winner: Steve Carell.
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series:
Jane Kaczmarek seemed to be going through the paces this year. She was much more worthy in years past. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is funny on Christine, but I don't know if she's outstanding. Stockard Channing wasn't either. I haven't watched Will & Grace since it was good, so it's been a few years since I can remember Messing when the show was decent. I gave Kudrow's The Comeback about two eps before I gave up. But she's got big buzz.
I'll give it to Lisa Kudrow.
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series:
All the nominees are decent, and I'd love to see Will Arnet get props for Arrested Development, but Piven deserves this Emmy like no other candidate in the entire show.
If Jeremy Piven doesn't win, I will personally visit each Emmy voter's house and take a crap on their front door.
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series:
Nominees aren't bad in this category, either, but Pressly has to win. She probably won't because redneck characters usually don't get love-- look at f-ing Jason Lee's snub--, but I'm not gonna pick anyone but her and hope voters have a brain.
Winner: Jamie Pressly.
Outstanding guest actor on a comedy series:
Patrick Stewart and Ben Stiller were great on Extras, but Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin are the "sexier" noms.
But I'm going to pick the deserving Leslie Jordan for a long history of fantastic supporting characters. It's not the right thing to do (pick a winner for a lifetime's work instead what s/he was actually nominated for), but it's done all the time.
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series:
All decent nominees, but Kate Winslet was a blast as the dirty-talking "self" dressed a nun on Extras. Besides, Emmy voters love to pick motion picture actors/actresses as winners to keep them coming back.
Kate Winslet.
Outstanding reality program:
I only watched Penn & Teller's Bullsh-t and Kathy Griffen: My Life on the D-List, but Bullsh-t is not only funny but informative. And it doesn't rely on weepiness that will probably give the statue to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
I'll have to go with Extreme Makeover, but I'd love to be proven wrong by having Penn Gillette give an acceptance speech.
Outstanding reality-competition program:
I like Amazing Race and Survivor, but neither series was at its peak this year. American Idol has done its part to dumb down people's expectations when it comes to music. Dancing with the Stars is the hot program right now. But...
I've heard good things about Project Runway, so I'll pick that.
Outstanding miniseries:
I only saw the slow-starting, but solid as a whole Sleeper Cell, but the rest were given high praise in the things I read as well.
I'll give it to Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) just because it got lots of press time.
Outstanding made for television movie:
Don't know.
Let's guess: Mrs. Harris.
Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie:
Big names. Still no idea.
Let's say: Donald Sutherland.
Outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie:
More big names. But one stood out in all the reviews I read:
Gillian Anderson.
There you are. If you want a list of nominees and don't have TV Guide handy, print off a list here:
http://online.tvguide.com/special/Emmys2006/nominees.asp
I won't be watching the show live. FF-ing through the commercials and stuff I don't care about will drop my watching time to about an hour with the DVR. I can't even recommend watching these shows anymore because they're so lame, but they're a big deal in the TV world, and the TV world is a big deal to me. And you never know when someone will knock your socks off with a joke or a speech...
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Episodes of note coming up
So I was going through my upcoming "scheduled to record" listing on my DVR, and the next two weeks look to have some great moments. I often keep some shows scheduled-- even though I've seen them before-- just to check them out again. Or, to remind myself to remind someone else to watch them.
Here we go:
Venture Brothers Sunday night 8/28; 9:30-10 pm CST (repeats 1:30- 2 am) on Cartoon Network's [adult swim]. Episode "Assassinanny 911".
I can't remember too many particulars about this episode-- other than I laughed like a mo-fo. Brock gets called away on a secret mission, so he asks deadly mercenary Molotov Cocktease to watch the boys. Hank, of course, falls in love.
Moral Orel Sunday night/ Monday morning 8/28; 12:15-12:30 am CST (repeats 4:15-4:30 am) on Cartoon Network's [adult swim]. The episode is "Waste".
This insane 10-minute episode follows Orel's decision to drink his own urine because at Scout Camp, he was told that, in a pinch, urine could help hydrate the body; and, in church, he was told that God thinks to waste is a sin. He decides to mix both pieces of advice-- and hilarity ensues. Best line came when Orel was asked if what he was drinking had Vitamin C in it, and he answers, "I don't know. But there is Vitamin P."
***Please note: Moral Orel does hit on some of the more fervent messages of the Christian Fundamentalists. I would not recommend this show to anyone who does not have a sense of humor about their religion. Seriously, you will be offended. I also wouldn't recommend this show to anyone that absolutely cannot find the humor in a ten year old that doesn't realize that drinking his own urine regularly probably isn't a good thing.
Everyone else: go nuts and check it out...
Green Wing Sunday night/Monday morning 9/4; 2-5 am CST on BBC America. The first three episodes of the first season.
Green Wing is one of the funniest shows I watched last year, hands down. Scrubs has nothing on this racy show. The show opens with new surgical registrar Caroline Todd locked out of her house and has to go to her first day of work with bed head (or "car head" since she slept in her car). After meeting her colleagues, she probably wishes she stayed in her car.
We've got anesthesiologist Guy Secretan, who hits on her immediately. Surgeon (with the "girl hair") Mac McCartney tries not to notice her, but he does try to thwart Guy's attempts at getting close to her. Horny HR Director Joanna Clore both accepts and rejects radiologist Alan Statham's advances. Staff Liason Officer Sue White goes to enormous lengths to keep the residents at a distance. Intern Martin Dear is a subject of constant belittlement. And Junior Intern Boyce does whatever he can to humiliate Statham.
This show is way insane-- and way hilarious. It's not a "typical" U.K. show; its comedy works very well for an American sensibility. It's very surreal until you get acclimated to the "world" the show inhabits. And it is much racier than any American Network would allow.
The only thing I'm afraid of is BBC America won't follow through with the remaining six episodes right away. It did the same thing this summer when it reaired the first three episodes of the brilliant Bodies and haven't reaired the remaining three episodes. I'm sure the remaining eps will air eventually, but it's been a long time...
Well, I hope I pointed you in the right direction for some of the standout episodes of some great shows I had the privilege of watching the past year.
Here we go:
Venture Brothers Sunday night 8/28; 9:30-10 pm CST (repeats 1:30- 2 am) on Cartoon Network's [adult swim]. Episode "Assassinanny 911".
I can't remember too many particulars about this episode-- other than I laughed like a mo-fo. Brock gets called away on a secret mission, so he asks deadly mercenary Molotov Cocktease to watch the boys. Hank, of course, falls in love.
Moral Orel Sunday night/ Monday morning 8/28; 12:15-12:30 am CST (repeats 4:15-4:30 am) on Cartoon Network's [adult swim]. The episode is "Waste".
This insane 10-minute episode follows Orel's decision to drink his own urine because at Scout Camp, he was told that, in a pinch, urine could help hydrate the body; and, in church, he was told that God thinks to waste is a sin. He decides to mix both pieces of advice-- and hilarity ensues. Best line came when Orel was asked if what he was drinking had Vitamin C in it, and he answers, "I don't know. But there is Vitamin P."
***Please note: Moral Orel does hit on some of the more fervent messages of the Christian Fundamentalists. I would not recommend this show to anyone who does not have a sense of humor about their religion. Seriously, you will be offended. I also wouldn't recommend this show to anyone that absolutely cannot find the humor in a ten year old that doesn't realize that drinking his own urine regularly probably isn't a good thing.
Everyone else: go nuts and check it out...
Green Wing Sunday night/Monday morning 9/4; 2-5 am CST on BBC America. The first three episodes of the first season.
Green Wing is one of the funniest shows I watched last year, hands down. Scrubs has nothing on this racy show. The show opens with new surgical registrar Caroline Todd locked out of her house and has to go to her first day of work with bed head (or "car head" since she slept in her car). After meeting her colleagues, she probably wishes she stayed in her car.
We've got anesthesiologist Guy Secretan, who hits on her immediately. Surgeon (with the "girl hair") Mac McCartney tries not to notice her, but he does try to thwart Guy's attempts at getting close to her. Horny HR Director Joanna Clore both accepts and rejects radiologist Alan Statham's advances. Staff Liason Officer Sue White goes to enormous lengths to keep the residents at a distance. Intern Martin Dear is a subject of constant belittlement. And Junior Intern Boyce does whatever he can to humiliate Statham.
This show is way insane-- and way hilarious. It's not a "typical" U.K. show; its comedy works very well for an American sensibility. It's very surreal until you get acclimated to the "world" the show inhabits. And it is much racier than any American Network would allow.
The only thing I'm afraid of is BBC America won't follow through with the remaining six episodes right away. It did the same thing this summer when it reaired the first three episodes of the brilliant Bodies and haven't reaired the remaining three episodes. I'm sure the remaining eps will air eventually, but it's been a long time...
Well, I hope I pointed you in the right direction for some of the standout episodes of some great shows I had the privilege of watching the past year.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Premieres (and others eps) for 8/28 - 9/3
When I was double-checking the credits for the Prison Break premiere after Snoop's comments from yesterday's post (yes, Stormare is listed as a "guest star"-- a little too obvious for me to believe Abruzzi takes a dirt nap), I also double checked if my eyes were playing tricks on me about Schofield's origami message to Sara. On the DVD screener I watched, there was just the written message. In the episode that aired on FOX, there was a written message AND the dots below it.
Don't know what that means, but I'm thinking it means something. (I hope it isn't something the producers threw out there as an experiment to see just how insane some of us are...)
Aaaaaaanyway, here are next week's premieres and shows I am pointing out for whatever reason-- according to TV GUIDE.
Monday, 8/28
Prison Break, FOX. 7-8 pm CST. Duh.
Tuesday, 8/29
Celebrity Duets, FOX 7-9 pm CST. Normally, I'd avoid this claptrap like the plague, but it does have Chris Jericho as a contestant. Sure, he's a pro wrestler (which will be pounded in our heads, I'm sure), but he's all about '80s metal (he's got a whole band-- Fozzy-- that's in the '80s vein). Plus, the dude's funny. It doesn't hurt that one of my Hollywood crushes growing up-- Lea Thompson-- is also a contestant. Or the always-fun Lucy Lawless...
The Rescue Me season finale is also airing at 9 pm on FX. I haven't watched the show since the pilot (I've got every episode on tape; just waiting for the perfect weekend to watch it), but I hear it's good.
Wednesday, 8/30.
Bones, FOX, 7-8 pm CST. Season Premiere. I haven't watched the tapes yet, but how can you go wrong with David Boreanez?
Justice, FOX, 8-9 pm. Series Premiere. I dug Victor Garber on Alias, but I don't have high hopes for this show. I'm going to try to catch the screener DVD this weekend to give a little preview.
30 Days, FX, 9-10 pm. Morgan himself lives in prison for 30 days.It should be eye opening.
Thursday, 8/31.
Who Wants to be Superhero? Sci Fi Channel, 8-9 pm. Season finale. I haven't watched the show yet, but it's gotten some good buzz (even if it is cheesy).
Windfall, NBC, 9-10. SEASON finale. I cannot imagine for a second that this show is coming back, but I guess the ratings were decent, so who knows? It's not as if NBC is just swimming in hits right now (ask again in October, and maybe that comment will have to be changed).
Friday, 9/1
FOX reairs this week's Prison Break and Vanished episodes. This is subject to change, so don't take a chance and miss Monday's airings.
Saturday, 9/2
Icons: The Onion, G4, 6:30 pm. The kick-*ss weekly satirical newspaper/website gets the Icon treatment.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, HBO, 7-8:30 pm. One of the best movies in recent history. Funny, smart, brilliantly acted and directed. Gromit is one of the best sidekicks in history, bar none. Won the 2005 Oscar for Best Animated Film-- deservedly so.
A Day in the Life of Television/ CBS Fall Preview, CBS, 7-9 pm. The first 1-1/2 hrs gives us a behind the scenes look at 12 shows (not all are CBS shows). The last half hour is the Fall Preview. Both shows are bound to be fluff, but there could be a gem in the middle of it all.
Mad TV, FOX, 10-11 pm. A repeat from last year where Kurt Busch takes Ike Berinholtz and Bobby Lee around the track. Dude just abuses Bobby Lee.
Sunday, 9/2.
Family Guy, FOX 7:30-9 pm. If you didn't pony up the money for the "exclusive" Uncensored Stewie movie when it came out on DVD last Fall, catch it here for free (you'll miss maybe a half-dozen bad words). When I watched the DVD (yeah I bought it-- I'm sooo naive), I kept thinking "this just feels like three Family Guy episodes strung together." Imagine my surprise when the last three episodes of last season were these fricking episodes from the DVD. If it ends up on the Family Guy Volume 4 DVD set, I'm gonna be p*ssed.
Don't know what that means, but I'm thinking it means something. (I hope it isn't something the producers threw out there as an experiment to see just how insane some of us are...)
Aaaaaaanyway, here are next week's premieres and shows I am pointing out for whatever reason-- according to TV GUIDE.
Monday, 8/28
Prison Break, FOX. 7-8 pm CST. Duh.
Tuesday, 8/29
Celebrity Duets, FOX 7-9 pm CST. Normally, I'd avoid this claptrap like the plague, but it does have Chris Jericho as a contestant. Sure, he's a pro wrestler (which will be pounded in our heads, I'm sure), but he's all about '80s metal (he's got a whole band-- Fozzy-- that's in the '80s vein). Plus, the dude's funny. It doesn't hurt that one of my Hollywood crushes growing up-- Lea Thompson-- is also a contestant. Or the always-fun Lucy Lawless...
The Rescue Me season finale is also airing at 9 pm on FX. I haven't watched the show since the pilot (I've got every episode on tape; just waiting for the perfect weekend to watch it), but I hear it's good.
Wednesday, 8/30.
Bones, FOX, 7-8 pm CST. Season Premiere. I haven't watched the tapes yet, but how can you go wrong with David Boreanez?
Justice, FOX, 8-9 pm. Series Premiere. I dug Victor Garber on Alias, but I don't have high hopes for this show. I'm going to try to catch the screener DVD this weekend to give a little preview.
30 Days, FX, 9-10 pm. Morgan himself lives in prison for 30 days.It should be eye opening.
Thursday, 8/31.
Who Wants to be Superhero? Sci Fi Channel, 8-9 pm. Season finale. I haven't watched the show yet, but it's gotten some good buzz (even if it is cheesy).
Windfall, NBC, 9-10. SEASON finale. I cannot imagine for a second that this show is coming back, but I guess the ratings were decent, so who knows? It's not as if NBC is just swimming in hits right now (ask again in October, and maybe that comment will have to be changed).
Friday, 9/1
FOX reairs this week's Prison Break and Vanished episodes. This is subject to change, so don't take a chance and miss Monday's airings.
Saturday, 9/2
Icons: The Onion, G4, 6:30 pm. The kick-*ss weekly satirical newspaper/website gets the Icon treatment.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, HBO, 7-8:30 pm. One of the best movies in recent history. Funny, smart, brilliantly acted and directed. Gromit is one of the best sidekicks in history, bar none. Won the 2005 Oscar for Best Animated Film-- deservedly so.
A Day in the Life of Television/ CBS Fall Preview, CBS, 7-9 pm. The first 1-1/2 hrs gives us a behind the scenes look at 12 shows (not all are CBS shows). The last half hour is the Fall Preview. Both shows are bound to be fluff, but there could be a gem in the middle of it all.
Mad TV, FOX, 10-11 pm. A repeat from last year where Kurt Busch takes Ike Berinholtz and Bobby Lee around the track. Dude just abuses Bobby Lee.
Sunday, 9/2.
Family Guy, FOX 7:30-9 pm. If you didn't pony up the money for the "exclusive" Uncensored Stewie movie when it came out on DVD last Fall, catch it here for free (you'll miss maybe a half-dozen bad words). When I watched the DVD (yeah I bought it-- I'm sooo naive), I kept thinking "this just feels like three Family Guy episodes strung together." Imagine my surprise when the last three episodes of last season were these fricking episodes from the DVD. If it ends up on the Family Guy Volume 4 DVD set, I'm gonna be p*ssed.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
More Tidbits
Lots of interesting things in the news today:
Stargate SG-1 exec producer Brad Wright said he has plans to keep the show going as a motion picture, a series of TV movies, or a miniseries. I don't watch the show, but I gotta like the guy's commitment to the fans.
Paramount decided not to renew their contract with Tom Cruise (a 14 year relationship). Or did Cruise decide not to accept a (greatly reduced monetary) renewal? Depend on who you ask. Paramount got the upper hand when Sumner Redstone made a public acknowledgement that they were no longer interested in working with the outspoken (and borderline nutjob) actor.
Huge Survivor: Cook Islands rumor from yesterday about splitting the contestants into ethnic groups is confirmed. Oh, the media frenzy this is bound to create...
Prison Break's season premiere won its timeslot with 9.37 million viewers (about a million less than the series debut and season this spring, but still strong). Its follow-up, Vanished, won its timeslot 8.65 million viewers.
Details on these bits-- and lots more-- can be found at:
http://community.tvguide.com/forum.jspa?forumID=700000044
TV Guide's Michael Ausiello's latest "Ask Ausiello" has LOADS of teasers about dozens of shows. One thing he said about his reaction to Veronica getting killed on Prison Break, was that he was surprised, and that we should "prepare yourself for more bloodshed."
I'm almost afraid to think about who it'll be, but a clue could lie in the credits. Peter Stormare was listed in the episode credits, not during the show opening (where season regulars like Miller, Purcell, et al have their names). I hope not. Sure, the twists and turns got me into this show, but Stormare's work really got me to appreciate it.
If you want to hear tidbits about darn near every show, check out Ask Ausiello every Wednesday at tvguide.com.
Here's today's link: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ausiello/AskAusiello/
I also read a rumor while I surfed the web last night that claimed that Prison Break's Dominic Purcell may play Bruce Banner in the upcoming Hulk movie. BTW: the movie is rumored to be a complete overhaul of the concept and may go as far as redoing the origin of the monster in the attempt to distance itself as much as possible from the failed theatrical movie directed by Ang Lee.
Finally, http://www.newsarama.com/ had an interview with cover artist god, Adam Hughes on his work writing AND doing the art for the upcoming All-Star Wonder Woman (due next summer). Hughes is one of the three comics creators that I will buy ANYTHING (with about a $10 cover price limit-- anything more will usually break the bank) he works on.
I can't wait. The best "good girl" artist on the planet (and his work has grown by leaps and bounds since he last worked on interiors). This is good news. Hopefully, I'll figure out how to get pics on this thing and include some of his recent work (no luck so far).
Stargate SG-1 exec producer Brad Wright said he has plans to keep the show going as a motion picture, a series of TV movies, or a miniseries. I don't watch the show, but I gotta like the guy's commitment to the fans.
Paramount decided not to renew their contract with Tom Cruise (a 14 year relationship). Or did Cruise decide not to accept a (greatly reduced monetary) renewal? Depend on who you ask. Paramount got the upper hand when Sumner Redstone made a public acknowledgement that they were no longer interested in working with the outspoken (and borderline nutjob) actor.
Huge Survivor: Cook Islands rumor from yesterday about splitting the contestants into ethnic groups is confirmed. Oh, the media frenzy this is bound to create...
Prison Break's season premiere won its timeslot with 9.37 million viewers (about a million less than the series debut and season this spring, but still strong). Its follow-up, Vanished, won its timeslot 8.65 million viewers.
Details on these bits-- and lots more-- can be found at:
http://community.tvguide.com/forum.jspa?forumID=700000044
TV Guide's Michael Ausiello's latest "Ask Ausiello" has LOADS of teasers about dozens of shows. One thing he said about his reaction to Veronica getting killed on Prison Break, was that he was surprised, and that we should "prepare yourself for more bloodshed."
I'm almost afraid to think about who it'll be, but a clue could lie in the credits. Peter Stormare was listed in the episode credits, not during the show opening (where season regulars like Miller, Purcell, et al have their names). I hope not. Sure, the twists and turns got me into this show, but Stormare's work really got me to appreciate it.
If you want to hear tidbits about darn near every show, check out Ask Ausiello every Wednesday at tvguide.com.
Here's today's link: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ausiello/AskAusiello/
I also read a rumor while I surfed the web last night that claimed that Prison Break's Dominic Purcell may play Bruce Banner in the upcoming Hulk movie. BTW: the movie is rumored to be a complete overhaul of the concept and may go as far as redoing the origin of the monster in the attempt to distance itself as much as possible from the failed theatrical movie directed by Ang Lee.
Finally, http://www.newsarama.com/ had an interview with cover artist god, Adam Hughes on his work writing AND doing the art for the upcoming All-Star Wonder Woman (due next summer). Hughes is one of the three comics creators that I will buy ANYTHING (with about a $10 cover price limit-- anything more will usually break the bank) he works on.
I can't wait. The best "good girl" artist on the planet (and his work has grown by leaps and bounds since he last worked on interiors). This is good news. Hopefully, I'll figure out how to get pics on this thing and include some of his recent work (no luck so far).
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Little Bits
Just random thoughts today. My head still hurts from yesterday.
So, do you think the SciFi Channel could have timed the non-renewal of Stargate SG1 any better? Friday, the show aired it's 200th episode with much hoopla and fanfare, and on Monday, it's announced the current tenth year will be it's last. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was never able to get into the show, but the fact is it ran ten years (longer than any science fiction show in history-- and longer than most any other show of any genre), so it needs to be applauded for that. The folks at SciFi could have let them celebrate the historic achievement for at least a week before making its announcement. Jerks...
Every year a show lasts adds to the expense of producing it, but Igotta say I feel bad for Ben Browder and Claudia Black, who've had a second show pulled out from under them (the cancellation of Farscape still stings-- how do you take one of the best shows ever, one of the highest rated shows SciFi had at the time, and cancel it?).
Oh well, at least SciFi is cleaning up in the ratings with ECW...
-----------------
I tried figuring out what the dots meant on Schofield's note to Sara on Prison Break, but I couldn't. Morse code seems too obvious, and there are only four distinct series of dots, which means only 4 letters are used in the whole message. I'm sure I'll play with it when I'm bored sometime.
This must be what a Lost fan feels like. (No, I haven't watched Lost yet-- I've got the DVD of Season One and all of Season Two taped, I just haven't gotten to it).
---------------------
Is it wrong to be so happy that Brooke Burke still wears skimpy clothes on Rock Star: Supernova even though I know she's got a bun in the oven?
----------------------
USA Network renewed The 4400 for a fourth season of 13 episodes. That's another series I've been taping from the beginning but haven't watched yet.
----------------------
Huge rumor that this fall's Survivor will split the contestants up via ethnicity: whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. Stunt to get press (I'm guessing mostly negative)-- or an honest attempt to see the differences-- and commonalities-- between races?
----------------------
And, finally, I watched the first episode of this season's 30 Days, and it continues to be an essential television series to watch. It's a shame that FX doesn't repeat this show throughout the year after the finale airs because I firmly believe that if each American watched it, this would be a much better country to live in.
A friend of mine complained about the show last year because it skewed "too left", but the fact of the matter is, these kind of issues are what The Right tries to ignore. If trying to gain an understanding of what a gay person, or a Muslim, or an illegal immigrant goes through in this country is a Left or Right issue, then my current belief to permanently dismantle the Two Party system is only reinforced.
What Morgan Spurlock tries to accomplish in this series about bringing together opposing viewpoints for 30 days can go a long way toward helping everyone have an understanding of their neighbors. These issues are what the people who lead this country should be trying to address as opposed to the stupid sh*t they usually discuss on Capitol Hill.
I'm sorry I was slow on recommending this show. The six episode first season is on DVD, and I would hope that your local library carries it for loaning out. It's well worth it (even if you buy the set). And there's still one or two new episodes left to air on FX. It airs Wednesdays at 9pm CST and usually repeats around four times during the next week.
So, do you think the SciFi Channel could have timed the non-renewal of Stargate SG1 any better? Friday, the show aired it's 200th episode with much hoopla and fanfare, and on Monday, it's announced the current tenth year will be it's last. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was never able to get into the show, but the fact is it ran ten years (longer than any science fiction show in history-- and longer than most any other show of any genre), so it needs to be applauded for that. The folks at SciFi could have let them celebrate the historic achievement for at least a week before making its announcement. Jerks...
Every year a show lasts adds to the expense of producing it, but Igotta say I feel bad for Ben Browder and Claudia Black, who've had a second show pulled out from under them (the cancellation of Farscape still stings-- how do you take one of the best shows ever, one of the highest rated shows SciFi had at the time, and cancel it?).
Oh well, at least SciFi is cleaning up in the ratings with ECW...
-----------------
I tried figuring out what the dots meant on Schofield's note to Sara on Prison Break, but I couldn't. Morse code seems too obvious, and there are only four distinct series of dots, which means only 4 letters are used in the whole message. I'm sure I'll play with it when I'm bored sometime.
This must be what a Lost fan feels like. (No, I haven't watched Lost yet-- I've got the DVD of Season One and all of Season Two taped, I just haven't gotten to it).
---------------------
Is it wrong to be so happy that Brooke Burke still wears skimpy clothes on Rock Star: Supernova even though I know she's got a bun in the oven?
----------------------
USA Network renewed The 4400 for a fourth season of 13 episodes. That's another series I've been taping from the beginning but haven't watched yet.
----------------------
Huge rumor that this fall's Survivor will split the contestants up via ethnicity: whites, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. Stunt to get press (I'm guessing mostly negative)-- or an honest attempt to see the differences-- and commonalities-- between races?
----------------------
And, finally, I watched the first episode of this season's 30 Days, and it continues to be an essential television series to watch. It's a shame that FX doesn't repeat this show throughout the year after the finale airs because I firmly believe that if each American watched it, this would be a much better country to live in.
A friend of mine complained about the show last year because it skewed "too left", but the fact of the matter is, these kind of issues are what The Right tries to ignore. If trying to gain an understanding of what a gay person, or a Muslim, or an illegal immigrant goes through in this country is a Left or Right issue, then my current belief to permanently dismantle the Two Party system is only reinforced.
What Morgan Spurlock tries to accomplish in this series about bringing together opposing viewpoints for 30 days can go a long way toward helping everyone have an understanding of their neighbors. These issues are what the people who lead this country should be trying to address as opposed to the stupid sh*t they usually discuss on Capitol Hill.
I'm sorry I was slow on recommending this show. The six episode first season is on DVD, and I would hope that your local library carries it for loaning out. It's well worth it (even if you buy the set). And there's still one or two new episodes left to air on FX. It airs Wednesdays at 9pm CST and usually repeats around four times during the next week.
Monday, August 21, 2006
PRISON BREAK Season Two Episode One "Manhunt"
Spoilers abound in this blow-by-blow of the season premiere. Proceed only if you've seen it-- or just can't wait to find out.
Passages in italics are my thoughts. If you don't want to read the whole recap, scroll down to my end of episode thoughts. If you have a thought yourself, go ahead and post it. This could be a fun exercise (and ease up on the burden I put Brian and Neal through every Tuesday when I dissect the previous night's episode).
Please excuse any mispellings or whatnot, my fingers were flying on the keyboard trying to keep up-- and I know a post this long would cause Hell on the spellcheck...
I have to admit: even though I've already seen the season premiere, I was still shaking like a six-year old who just ate a box of Captain Crunch. I've waited all summer for this...
The episode opens the day after the daring prison escape.
We are introduced to Federal Agent Mahone. He asks his assistant who the escapees are. The assistant rattles off everyone's names and their crimes. A nice background and a primer for new viewers and a refresher for those who haven't seen the show since May.
Mahone asks if Schofield is the ringleader. When it is confirmed, he asks for all the information pertaining to him.
Next we see The Five (Michael Schofield, Lincoln Burrows, Benjamin "C-Note" Franklin, John Abruzzi, and Fernando Sucre) still together. They're still being closely chased by the prison guards and the dogs. They run to a train track where a train is just starting to go past. They end up getting around the train and losing their pursuers. Bellick almost hits Schofield hit a shotgun blast. He's got the wild look in his eye.
Mahone gives a press conference where he opens with passages from John Wilkes Booth's journal he kept while on the run. He mentions that while on the run, all the fears and paranoias a man would have from the original crime are heightened while being chased. Good foreshadowing as the escapees are showing signs that they are getting desperate. Mahone finishes by saying that things will be even tougher now that TV has become a part of the manhunt.
Cut to the escapees, as they argue with each other. C-Note blames Abruzzi's pilots for leaving early; Abruzzi informs him that he wasn't going to be a passenger anyway. C-Note calls out Schofield about Westmoreland's money, and Sucre is shocked to find out that there is a plan to nab money that Schofield never mentioned to him.
Mahone asks Pope to combine resources, and that includes interviewing prison staff, specifically Dr. Tancredi (and mentions that he knows Sara may have left the door unlocked on purpose). Pope refuses, and says, "She isn't going to be speaking to anyone."
Cut to Sara in a coma, hooked to a respirator. We overhear hospital staff saying she's stable but will have to fight to live. Clips from the previous season containing Michael and Sara are shown, and suddenly she wakes up.
T-Bag is rummaging through a campground, grabbing a cooler and all the ice he can fit in there. He threatens the campers with a screwdriver, and in typical T-Bag fashion, gives an almost honest "thank you" before he leaves.
Mahone looks at pictures of Schofield's tattoos and asks an assistant how long it would take a person to undergo that much ink. The answer is "100 hours... 200." The order is given to find the tatoo artist.
Next, Mahone mentions to Bellick the cooperation agreement he has with Pope, and Bellick's having none of it. Looks like Bellick will have to contend with the escapees and the Feds this season.
Next we find out what happened with Veronica and Steadman (who looks a little different than last year due to a necessary recasting-- note to producers: try to secure contracts with your minor characters who play major roles on the show; let's just call it the Patricia Wettig Clause since our new President will now be unseen since she was cast on another series). Veronica finds out she is locked inside the house with Steadman and has no way out.
Privately, Linc tells Schofield to ditch the others, but Michael tells him he can't because they all know about Utah, and the money buried there is paramount to their plans. He tells Lincoln they need to stick together to make sure they succeed (nice touch I think). Michael tells Lincoln that even though the jet is gone, he still has a plan.
Mahone interviews Michael's tattoo artist. She tells him that he was a "detail Nazi"; everything had to be perfect. He begins to piece together the meaning of the English, Fitz, Percy tattoo (remember, they are roads that intersect the prison, tattooed on Michael's wrist).
The five escapees run across a young girl. They almost talk their way out of a confrontation, but her dad arrives and aims his hunting rifle at them when he sees the men in prison garb talking to his daughter. Abruzzi grabs the girl and holds a gun of his own to her head until the father drops his gun. They take the father's gun and car.
Sara is interviewed by an agent and denies leaving the door open. She is told that not only Schofield escaped, but seven other men did, too. She looks genuinely shocked, and manages to ask "Who?" Side note: Sarah Wayne Callies said in an interview I saw that Sara thought she was saving Lincoln's life by helping Michael and had no idea others were escaping as well. Yet another of Michael's lies she will pay for...
T-Bag finds himself at a veterinary clinic. Even though it is closed, he sees a doctor in there and breaks in. He insists that he be helped and threatens the doctor until he agrees to attempt to reattach his hand.
The Five in the stolen car discuss Abruzzi's actions, and say he went too far. Abruzzi justifies his actions by saying they got away. C-Note finds out they're headed west, and says they need to go east to hook up with his family. Abruzzi remnds him that's the first place the police will be looking.
Bellick gets a hold of Schofield's credit card records and finds that he spent $8000 in just over a month in the immediate area before he was arrested.
Mahone visits Schofield's apartment and notices all the pin holes on the wall. He pieces together that Schofield planned the escape methodically and then destroyed the plans by throwing them out the window and into the river. He orders divers to search the river.
Veronica won't give up her efforts to escape from the Steadman house. She tries to get a cell phone signal. He says he is a victim-- and even though he is alive, no one else knows it, so he can't save Lincoln.
Bellick sees from the credit card records that Schofield rented a unit at a storage facility, so he heads off to check it out.
Sara's nurse friend visits her to apologize for letting the police and Feds know that Sara probably left the door to the infirmary unlocked. Sara tells her she has nothing to apologize for. She also tells her friend that her dad's office called, but not her dad as of yet. Her friend reminds her that she isn't the first person that fell for a con, and Sara replies with regret that "He never cared".
In the car, Sucre asks Michael what he is thinking about, and Michael answers: "Mistakes". Sucre knows immediately that he is talking about Sara and reminds Michael that he had to do it. Michaels answers that he didn't have to do it like he did and that he ruined her life. Sucre tells him there's nothing he can do about it now. Michael says, "That's not true."
Steadman pulls a gun on Veronica, but she calls the cops anyway. Steadman does not fire.
T-Bag's doctor tells him he is not qualified to perform the reattachment. T-Bag doesn't care and tells him to try and threatens his family. The doctor tells T-Bag that he has to put him under, but T-Bag refuses any pain killer. The doctor insists that no one can undergo a procedure like that without an anesthetic, but T-Bag replies, "I... ain't... nobody..." Daaaaaamn!
Mahone figures out more of the tattoo's meaning, and then hears that the cops are checking out a storage facility.
Bellick and his men arrive at the storage facility and he tells Mahone (who also just showed up) to stay out of the way. The cops close in, and we see The Five in a storage room grabbing shovels. Bellick opens the unit Schofield rented and finds it empty. "Schofield set us up."
The Five walk through a cemetary, carrying shovels. We are about to see what Schofield was digging up last season in a flashback.
Mahone figures out another tattoo; one that explains where he is headed: the cemetary.
The Five dig up a grave and grab the clothes Schofield had buried before his arrest. They change into the civilian outfits (Abruzzi, being a larger guy, has to wear pants two inches too short). Lincoln and Schofield are about to make a break from the others to a parked car Schofield has the keys to when Mahone shows up. Schofield looks worried that Mahone figured it out so quickly.
Mahone catches a glimpse of The Five as they run away. He chases them into a nearby city and loses them in the crowd.
Veronica gets a call from Lincoln. She tells him to stop running because she found Steadman. The police arrive and shoot Veronica point blank in the head and chest. Lincoln hears everything and is crushed. Another important person in his life is dead.
The "cops" in Steadman's house remind him that he doesn't need a gun in the house as he has them to protect him (and intercept any police calls to check out the house).
Back in the hospital, Sara sees the origami swan Schofield gave her. She opens it up and sees a note from him: "There's a plan to make this all right" with what looks like Morse Code below it. I'm not a hardcore fan of the Michael/Sara romance, but I thought this was the coolest surprise of the episode.
Mahone tells his assistant what the tattoos mean-- that they contain the plans for the prison break as well as the plans for outside of the walls.
The episode ends with Michael dropping the handcuffs he finally got off his wrist into the dirt. Poetic...
Scenes from next week's episode include some faces we didn't see tonight:
Tweener buying a ticket-- to Utah. L.J. (wow, where's he been?) is interrogated by Mahone, and Linc & Michael attempt to break him out of lockup while they have a chance.
The only question marks are "Haywire" and Agent Kellerman. I know Kellerman plays a role this season as Paul Adelstein's been interviewed on the subject and he confirms, but I've heard nothing about Silas Weir Mitchell's "Haywire"...
All in all, a great episode. Things were tied up a little: Veronica, the only one beside L.J. to know a conspiracy exists, gets killed; Pope is being phased out (Stacy Keach is only supposed to be in the first two episodes of the season... for now). And while we didn't see Tweener, Haywire, or L.J., at least two of three will show up next week. Also, threads are being thrown out for this season: Lincoln taking a more active role, The Five beginning to unravel-- even without T-Bag around, Sucre realizing he wasn't told some big parts of the post-escape plans.
And the biggest question of all (although it really shouldn't be a surprise): how will Michael fix the problems he got Sara got into by allowing them to escape? I'm not sure why I'm fixated on that-- maybe because it was a complete surprise-- and gives just a little hope that someone will have a happy ending. Think about it: what are Sucre, Abruzzi, Tweener, T-Bag, Haywire, C-Note and Schofield himself gonna do? Lincoln could get pardoned, but the others still have to pay for their crimes. Heck, Linc escaped from jail, so he's not off the hook even if the murder rap goes away (although, again, he could get pardoned for the escape; maybe even Michael could).
Creator Paul Scheuing and Wentworth Miller have both said that there will be deaths this season, and I don't think they'll stop at Veronica. I'm scared to imagine who'll else will die. Sucre seems the most obvious, but he's a fan favorite (and has a great story yet to be told). C-Note has a great story to tell as well. Stormare and Knepper are too great of actors to lose. Stormare's Abruzzi was brought back from "death" already, and T-Bag, I think, will play a huge part as monkey wrench for the others. I doubt Schofield, Lincoln and Sucre, at least, would allow T-Bag to run wild in public-- their consciences wouldn't allow it.
As I said earlier, Agent Kellerman has a role this year as well, but I'm not sure in what capacity. Tweener is supposed to find love on the outside and is also supposed to play a little comic relief for the show. And President Reynolds will "disappear" for a bit until the ratings for ABC's Brothers and Sisters come in (I think the producers of Prison Break have all the voodoo dolls, prayer beads, and rain dances they can handle hoping Patricia Wetting's new show doesn't take off and she can return to the show-- okay that's pretty harsh, and I don't want to imply anything).
JESUS! Did I just spend two hours analyzing an hour-long show? Oh man, I think I have a problem...
And as if Prison Break wasn't enough, I also watched the other two great scripted shows airing new eps this summer tonight.
Last night's Entourage was fantastic. Drama got busted rubbing one out in his trailer while the director and crew waited for him to show on set. Vince and Turtle were on a quest for limited edition Nikes. And f-ing Jeremy Piven and Martin Landau on the same screen most of the episode. Incredible work. It's a young man's show, but Landau owned his scenes. Piven, of course, took it up a notch to meet Landau head-on. Great work-- there better be Emmy noms for both next summer. And how lucky was Kevin Connolly to be able to have scenes with both of those greats? Connolly held his own, by the way-- muy impressive.
And, finally, last night's Venture Brothers was also a classic. The usual great lines, and the added bonus of the main characters being in costumes. Dr. Venture was Obi Wan Kenobi, Brock was Chewbacca, 12-year old Dean was Princess Leia as Jabba's slave, and Hank was... Batman. Classic lines as Dr. Venture disparaged Hank for ruining yet another attempt at best costumed family. Hank's only response? "I am The Bat!"
Well, I've got some more TV to watch... Catch ya later!
***And if you've got something to say about anything I wrote, post it. If you just want to bask in my genius, that's okay, too... :) ***
Passages in italics are my thoughts. If you don't want to read the whole recap, scroll down to my end of episode thoughts. If you have a thought yourself, go ahead and post it. This could be a fun exercise (and ease up on the burden I put Brian and Neal through every Tuesday when I dissect the previous night's episode).
Please excuse any mispellings or whatnot, my fingers were flying on the keyboard trying to keep up-- and I know a post this long would cause Hell on the spellcheck...
I have to admit: even though I've already seen the season premiere, I was still shaking like a six-year old who just ate a box of Captain Crunch. I've waited all summer for this...
The episode opens the day after the daring prison escape.
We are introduced to Federal Agent Mahone. He asks his assistant who the escapees are. The assistant rattles off everyone's names and their crimes. A nice background and a primer for new viewers and a refresher for those who haven't seen the show since May.
Mahone asks if Schofield is the ringleader. When it is confirmed, he asks for all the information pertaining to him.
Next we see The Five (Michael Schofield, Lincoln Burrows, Benjamin "C-Note" Franklin, John Abruzzi, and Fernando Sucre) still together. They're still being closely chased by the prison guards and the dogs. They run to a train track where a train is just starting to go past. They end up getting around the train and losing their pursuers. Bellick almost hits Schofield hit a shotgun blast. He's got the wild look in his eye.
Mahone gives a press conference where he opens with passages from John Wilkes Booth's journal he kept while on the run. He mentions that while on the run, all the fears and paranoias a man would have from the original crime are heightened while being chased. Good foreshadowing as the escapees are showing signs that they are getting desperate. Mahone finishes by saying that things will be even tougher now that TV has become a part of the manhunt.
Cut to the escapees, as they argue with each other. C-Note blames Abruzzi's pilots for leaving early; Abruzzi informs him that he wasn't going to be a passenger anyway. C-Note calls out Schofield about Westmoreland's money, and Sucre is shocked to find out that there is a plan to nab money that Schofield never mentioned to him.
Mahone asks Pope to combine resources, and that includes interviewing prison staff, specifically Dr. Tancredi (and mentions that he knows Sara may have left the door unlocked on purpose). Pope refuses, and says, "She isn't going to be speaking to anyone."
Cut to Sara in a coma, hooked to a respirator. We overhear hospital staff saying she's stable but will have to fight to live. Clips from the previous season containing Michael and Sara are shown, and suddenly she wakes up.
T-Bag is rummaging through a campground, grabbing a cooler and all the ice he can fit in there. He threatens the campers with a screwdriver, and in typical T-Bag fashion, gives an almost honest "thank you" before he leaves.
Mahone looks at pictures of Schofield's tattoos and asks an assistant how long it would take a person to undergo that much ink. The answer is "100 hours... 200." The order is given to find the tatoo artist.
Next, Mahone mentions to Bellick the cooperation agreement he has with Pope, and Bellick's having none of it. Looks like Bellick will have to contend with the escapees and the Feds this season.
Next we find out what happened with Veronica and Steadman (who looks a little different than last year due to a necessary recasting-- note to producers: try to secure contracts with your minor characters who play major roles on the show; let's just call it the Patricia Wettig Clause since our new President will now be unseen since she was cast on another series). Veronica finds out she is locked inside the house with Steadman and has no way out.
Privately, Linc tells Schofield to ditch the others, but Michael tells him he can't because they all know about Utah, and the money buried there is paramount to their plans. He tells Lincoln they need to stick together to make sure they succeed (nice touch I think). Michael tells Lincoln that even though the jet is gone, he still has a plan.
Mahone interviews Michael's tattoo artist. She tells him that he was a "detail Nazi"; everything had to be perfect. He begins to piece together the meaning of the English, Fitz, Percy tattoo (remember, they are roads that intersect the prison, tattooed on Michael's wrist).
The five escapees run across a young girl. They almost talk their way out of a confrontation, but her dad arrives and aims his hunting rifle at them when he sees the men in prison garb talking to his daughter. Abruzzi grabs the girl and holds a gun of his own to her head until the father drops his gun. They take the father's gun and car.
Sara is interviewed by an agent and denies leaving the door open. She is told that not only Schofield escaped, but seven other men did, too. She looks genuinely shocked, and manages to ask "Who?" Side note: Sarah Wayne Callies said in an interview I saw that Sara thought she was saving Lincoln's life by helping Michael and had no idea others were escaping as well. Yet another of Michael's lies she will pay for...
T-Bag finds himself at a veterinary clinic. Even though it is closed, he sees a doctor in there and breaks in. He insists that he be helped and threatens the doctor until he agrees to attempt to reattach his hand.
The Five in the stolen car discuss Abruzzi's actions, and say he went too far. Abruzzi justifies his actions by saying they got away. C-Note finds out they're headed west, and says they need to go east to hook up with his family. Abruzzi remnds him that's the first place the police will be looking.
Bellick gets a hold of Schofield's credit card records and finds that he spent $8000 in just over a month in the immediate area before he was arrested.
Mahone visits Schofield's apartment and notices all the pin holes on the wall. He pieces together that Schofield planned the escape methodically and then destroyed the plans by throwing them out the window and into the river. He orders divers to search the river.
Veronica won't give up her efforts to escape from the Steadman house. She tries to get a cell phone signal. He says he is a victim-- and even though he is alive, no one else knows it, so he can't save Lincoln.
Bellick sees from the credit card records that Schofield rented a unit at a storage facility, so he heads off to check it out.
Sara's nurse friend visits her to apologize for letting the police and Feds know that Sara probably left the door to the infirmary unlocked. Sara tells her she has nothing to apologize for. She also tells her friend that her dad's office called, but not her dad as of yet. Her friend reminds her that she isn't the first person that fell for a con, and Sara replies with regret that "He never cared".
In the car, Sucre asks Michael what he is thinking about, and Michael answers: "Mistakes". Sucre knows immediately that he is talking about Sara and reminds Michael that he had to do it. Michaels answers that he didn't have to do it like he did and that he ruined her life. Sucre tells him there's nothing he can do about it now. Michael says, "That's not true."
Steadman pulls a gun on Veronica, but she calls the cops anyway. Steadman does not fire.
T-Bag's doctor tells him he is not qualified to perform the reattachment. T-Bag doesn't care and tells him to try and threatens his family. The doctor tells T-Bag that he has to put him under, but T-Bag refuses any pain killer. The doctor insists that no one can undergo a procedure like that without an anesthetic, but T-Bag replies, "I... ain't... nobody..." Daaaaaamn!
Mahone figures out more of the tattoo's meaning, and then hears that the cops are checking out a storage facility.
Bellick and his men arrive at the storage facility and he tells Mahone (who also just showed up) to stay out of the way. The cops close in, and we see The Five in a storage room grabbing shovels. Bellick opens the unit Schofield rented and finds it empty. "Schofield set us up."
The Five walk through a cemetary, carrying shovels. We are about to see what Schofield was digging up last season in a flashback.
Mahone figures out another tattoo; one that explains where he is headed: the cemetary.
The Five dig up a grave and grab the clothes Schofield had buried before his arrest. They change into the civilian outfits (Abruzzi, being a larger guy, has to wear pants two inches too short). Lincoln and Schofield are about to make a break from the others to a parked car Schofield has the keys to when Mahone shows up. Schofield looks worried that Mahone figured it out so quickly.
Mahone catches a glimpse of The Five as they run away. He chases them into a nearby city and loses them in the crowd.
Veronica gets a call from Lincoln. She tells him to stop running because she found Steadman. The police arrive and shoot Veronica point blank in the head and chest. Lincoln hears everything and is crushed. Another important person in his life is dead.
The "cops" in Steadman's house remind him that he doesn't need a gun in the house as he has them to protect him (and intercept any police calls to check out the house).
Back in the hospital, Sara sees the origami swan Schofield gave her. She opens it up and sees a note from him: "There's a plan to make this all right" with what looks like Morse Code below it. I'm not a hardcore fan of the Michael/Sara romance, but I thought this was the coolest surprise of the episode.
Mahone tells his assistant what the tattoos mean-- that they contain the plans for the prison break as well as the plans for outside of the walls.
The episode ends with Michael dropping the handcuffs he finally got off his wrist into the dirt. Poetic...
Scenes from next week's episode include some faces we didn't see tonight:
Tweener buying a ticket-- to Utah. L.J. (wow, where's he been?) is interrogated by Mahone, and Linc & Michael attempt to break him out of lockup while they have a chance.
The only question marks are "Haywire" and Agent Kellerman. I know Kellerman plays a role this season as Paul Adelstein's been interviewed on the subject and he confirms, but I've heard nothing about Silas Weir Mitchell's "Haywire"...
All in all, a great episode. Things were tied up a little: Veronica, the only one beside L.J. to know a conspiracy exists, gets killed; Pope is being phased out (Stacy Keach is only supposed to be in the first two episodes of the season... for now). And while we didn't see Tweener, Haywire, or L.J., at least two of three will show up next week. Also, threads are being thrown out for this season: Lincoln taking a more active role, The Five beginning to unravel-- even without T-Bag around, Sucre realizing he wasn't told some big parts of the post-escape plans.
And the biggest question of all (although it really shouldn't be a surprise): how will Michael fix the problems he got Sara got into by allowing them to escape? I'm not sure why I'm fixated on that-- maybe because it was a complete surprise-- and gives just a little hope that someone will have a happy ending. Think about it: what are Sucre, Abruzzi, Tweener, T-Bag, Haywire, C-Note and Schofield himself gonna do? Lincoln could get pardoned, but the others still have to pay for their crimes. Heck, Linc escaped from jail, so he's not off the hook even if the murder rap goes away (although, again, he could get pardoned for the escape; maybe even Michael could).
Creator Paul Scheuing and Wentworth Miller have both said that there will be deaths this season, and I don't think they'll stop at Veronica. I'm scared to imagine who'll else will die. Sucre seems the most obvious, but he's a fan favorite (and has a great story yet to be told). C-Note has a great story to tell as well. Stormare and Knepper are too great of actors to lose. Stormare's Abruzzi was brought back from "death" already, and T-Bag, I think, will play a huge part as monkey wrench for the others. I doubt Schofield, Lincoln and Sucre, at least, would allow T-Bag to run wild in public-- their consciences wouldn't allow it.
As I said earlier, Agent Kellerman has a role this year as well, but I'm not sure in what capacity. Tweener is supposed to find love on the outside and is also supposed to play a little comic relief for the show. And President Reynolds will "disappear" for a bit until the ratings for ABC's Brothers and Sisters come in (I think the producers of Prison Break have all the voodoo dolls, prayer beads, and rain dances they can handle hoping Patricia Wetting's new show doesn't take off and she can return to the show-- okay that's pretty harsh, and I don't want to imply anything).
JESUS! Did I just spend two hours analyzing an hour-long show? Oh man, I think I have a problem...
And as if Prison Break wasn't enough, I also watched the other two great scripted shows airing new eps this summer tonight.
Last night's Entourage was fantastic. Drama got busted rubbing one out in his trailer while the director and crew waited for him to show on set. Vince and Turtle were on a quest for limited edition Nikes. And f-ing Jeremy Piven and Martin Landau on the same screen most of the episode. Incredible work. It's a young man's show, but Landau owned his scenes. Piven, of course, took it up a notch to meet Landau head-on. Great work-- there better be Emmy noms for both next summer. And how lucky was Kevin Connolly to be able to have scenes with both of those greats? Connolly held his own, by the way-- muy impressive.
And, finally, last night's Venture Brothers was also a classic. The usual great lines, and the added bonus of the main characters being in costumes. Dr. Venture was Obi Wan Kenobi, Brock was Chewbacca, 12-year old Dean was Princess Leia as Jabba's slave, and Hank was... Batman. Classic lines as Dr. Venture disparaged Hank for ruining yet another attempt at best costumed family. Hank's only response? "I am The Bat!"
Well, I've got some more TV to watch... Catch ya later!
***And if you've got something to say about anything I wrote, post it. If you just want to bask in my genius, that's okay, too... :) ***
This week's premieres, 8/21-8/27
Here's what I hope will be a weekly feature for a while. Includes network premieres as well as notable cable ones (I'm more apt to include them if I intend on watching them). This is by no means all-inclusive, even if I do try...
Monday, 8/21:
Prison Break, FOX. 7 pm CST. Reairs Wed @ 8 pm
Vanished, FOX. 8 pm CST. Reairs Tues @ 8 pm
Wedmesday, 8/23
The Hill, Sundance. 8-8:30 pm CST. Reality series that follows Florida Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler on Capitol Hill. A little dated (at least the opener is) as he drums up support for John Kerry in the fiasco that is "2004: The Year the Putz Actually Got Elected."
Two-a-Days, MTV. 9:30- 10:30 pm CST. I'm guessing it'll re-air a whole lot the next week. An Alabama high school football team tries for a fourth consecutive state title. Friday Night Lights, but with real kids.
Friday, 8/25:
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO. 10-11 pm CST. Will re-air throughout the week. Yeah, yeah, The Right complains about him (boo hoo-- turn the channel to FOX News and have O'Rilley cup your balls, then), but Maher actually makes sense. He hates Bush, but mainly because he's such a tool. He also despises much of the Democratic Party for laying down the last four years and letting the Republicans have their way with the country and the Constitution. Maher will be out of a job once people use common sense-- so he should stay employed until he keels over dead. He has a bonus on other truth tellers/pundits: he's funny. You may not agree with him, but you should laugh (unless you're on The Right-- they usually don't have a sense of humor). If you get HBO, open your head, cut through the bullsh**, and get reminded of what's really important in the world.
Sunday, 8/27:
The Emmys, NBC. 7:00 -God knows when pm CST. Yes, there were horrible exclusions this year-- but they happen every year. At least the voters tried to get some right, so watch it for them.
Unfortunately, the Emmys will never be perfect until the people who actually watch lots of TV make up the nomination/voting process.
I'm talking critics, not the public. Quality shows finally are getting decent ratings, but I still wouldn't trust the masses to determine what is great art. Hell, we've got f-ing Charlie Sheen and Kevin James nominated for lead actor in a comedy series (along with the actually worthy Steve Carell, Larry David, and Tony Shalhoub)-- and that was by people who are supposed to know a little something. What, afraid Jason Lee wouldn't show up for the awards or something?
Monday, 8/21:
Prison Break, FOX. 7 pm CST. Reairs Wed @ 8 pm
Vanished, FOX. 8 pm CST. Reairs Tues @ 8 pm
Wedmesday, 8/23
The Hill, Sundance. 8-8:30 pm CST. Reality series that follows Florida Democratic Congressman Robert Wexler on Capitol Hill. A little dated (at least the opener is) as he drums up support for John Kerry in the fiasco that is "2004: The Year the Putz Actually Got Elected."
Two-a-Days, MTV. 9:30- 10:30 pm CST. I'm guessing it'll re-air a whole lot the next week. An Alabama high school football team tries for a fourth consecutive state title. Friday Night Lights, but with real kids.
Friday, 8/25:
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO. 10-11 pm CST. Will re-air throughout the week. Yeah, yeah, The Right complains about him (boo hoo-- turn the channel to FOX News and have O'Rilley cup your balls, then), but Maher actually makes sense. He hates Bush, but mainly because he's such a tool. He also despises much of the Democratic Party for laying down the last four years and letting the Republicans have their way with the country and the Constitution. Maher will be out of a job once people use common sense-- so he should stay employed until he keels over dead. He has a bonus on other truth tellers/pundits: he's funny. You may not agree with him, but you should laugh (unless you're on The Right-- they usually don't have a sense of humor). If you get HBO, open your head, cut through the bullsh**, and get reminded of what's really important in the world.
Sunday, 8/27:
The Emmys, NBC. 7:00 -God knows when pm CST. Yes, there were horrible exclusions this year-- but they happen every year. At least the voters tried to get some right, so watch it for them.
Unfortunately, the Emmys will never be perfect until the people who actually watch lots of TV make up the nomination/voting process.
I'm talking critics, not the public. Quality shows finally are getting decent ratings, but I still wouldn't trust the masses to determine what is great art. Hell, we've got f-ing Charlie Sheen and Kevin James nominated for lead actor in a comedy series (along with the actually worthy Steve Carell, Larry David, and Tony Shalhoub)-- and that was by people who are supposed to know a little something. What, afraid Jason Lee wouldn't show up for the awards or something?
Sunday, August 20, 2006
FOX has VANISHED
My latest screening of a FOX pilot was for Vanished (premieres Monday, Aug 21 @ 8 pm CST-- after Prison Break). The premise is: a U.S. senator's wife disappears at a public function, and the FBI are brought in to figure out what happened-- and find the wife.
This show is a cross between a political thriller and a crime procedural, and while it suffers from the cliches of both genres, I'm still intrigued enough to catch the second episode.
Joanne Kelly plays Sara Collins, the disappeared wife of John Allen Nelson's senator Jeffrey Collins. As can be expected of any politician marriage from Hollywood, there is more than meets the eye and there are many skeletons in the closet (check-- although huge props for Nelson actually playing the role of wounded husband; don't know if it's an act for the Feds-- or if he really does love her). Their children fall into the cliched roles of this type of show: rebel (check-- Margarita Levieva) and supporter to a fault (check-- John Patrick Amedori). Both children are biological offspring of Jeffrey, but adopted by Sara (check-- easier to make the cliches work this way).
The FBI is called in, and damaged Senior Agent Graham Kelton (Gale Harold) is put on the case. He had a bad resolution to his last case, so he has a lot to prove (check). The case isn't helped by Senator Collins' previous criticisms of the FBI, so Kelton is repeatedly reminded to handle this matter delicately. Kelton's partner is played by always-great supporting actor Ming-Na, whose job is to keep him in check (calm partner to determined "lead"-- check).
And, finally, Rebecca Gayheart plays the reporter on the case (hot chick who first appears onscreen wearing underwear-- check). [For equal opportunity, Gayheart's boyfriend is seen in only his underwear later in the episode.]
Even though I joke and say "check" after every cliche, this show still has potential. Every lead the agents followed revealed yet another clue-- and more questions. There is much, much more to the disappearance than what we could see from one episode (and if the really obvious scene before the disappearance explains it all in the end, I just may fly to Hollywood and smack around the producers). If this show follows true to the format, I expect a twist and turn at least every episode. In fact, the ending of the pilot had a very intriguing question posed.
It certainly doesn't live up to it's Prison Break lead-in, but it could be a good companion until 24 comes back in January. I just hope this serialized drama actually makes it through the whole season, so we can have some sort of resolution. But the acting and script is much better than last year's Reunion, which also attempted a season-long storyline-- and was cancelled six-eight episodes in, so maybe people will follow along. FOX, smartly, is airing this after the hottest show they've got in the fall-- and well before the other networks start airing new episodes of their shows.
Oh yeah-- in case I don't post before tomorrow: Prison Break Season Two premiere is Monday at 7 pm CST. You'll hate yourself if you miss it. Trust me on that.
This show is a cross between a political thriller and a crime procedural, and while it suffers from the cliches of both genres, I'm still intrigued enough to catch the second episode.
Joanne Kelly plays Sara Collins, the disappeared wife of John Allen Nelson's senator Jeffrey Collins. As can be expected of any politician marriage from Hollywood, there is more than meets the eye and there are many skeletons in the closet (check-- although huge props for Nelson actually playing the role of wounded husband; don't know if it's an act for the Feds-- or if he really does love her). Their children fall into the cliched roles of this type of show: rebel (check-- Margarita Levieva) and supporter to a fault (check-- John Patrick Amedori). Both children are biological offspring of Jeffrey, but adopted by Sara (check-- easier to make the cliches work this way).
The FBI is called in, and damaged Senior Agent Graham Kelton (Gale Harold) is put on the case. He had a bad resolution to his last case, so he has a lot to prove (check). The case isn't helped by Senator Collins' previous criticisms of the FBI, so Kelton is repeatedly reminded to handle this matter delicately. Kelton's partner is played by always-great supporting actor Ming-Na, whose job is to keep him in check (calm partner to determined "lead"-- check).
And, finally, Rebecca Gayheart plays the reporter on the case (hot chick who first appears onscreen wearing underwear-- check). [For equal opportunity, Gayheart's boyfriend is seen in only his underwear later in the episode.]
Even though I joke and say "check" after every cliche, this show still has potential. Every lead the agents followed revealed yet another clue-- and more questions. There is much, much more to the disappearance than what we could see from one episode (and if the really obvious scene before the disappearance explains it all in the end, I just may fly to Hollywood and smack around the producers). If this show follows true to the format, I expect a twist and turn at least every episode. In fact, the ending of the pilot had a very intriguing question posed.
It certainly doesn't live up to it's Prison Break lead-in, but it could be a good companion until 24 comes back in January. I just hope this serialized drama actually makes it through the whole season, so we can have some sort of resolution. But the acting and script is much better than last year's Reunion, which also attempted a season-long storyline-- and was cancelled six-eight episodes in, so maybe people will follow along. FOX, smartly, is airing this after the hottest show they've got in the fall-- and well before the other networks start airing new episodes of their shows.
Oh yeah-- in case I don't post before tomorrow: Prison Break Season Two premiere is Monday at 7 pm CST. You'll hate yourself if you miss it. Trust me on that.
One final thing: the beginning of this week's Venture Brothers just came on while I typed this. " I am The Bat." Funny...
Saturday, August 19, 2006
I oughta be COMMITTED
I just finished the funny, informative book Committed by Mark St. Amant and I have to say I'm jealous as Hell...
Firstly, the guy related the year he spent completely devoted to Fantasy Football. I'd love to do that. He, like so many other players, has a deep passion for the game, but can't seem to find success (in Fantasy Football, success means winning the Championship). He has just one team in just one league (I've read the average player has 2.6 teams) and has never won The Big One, so his lack of success was disturbing him to no end.
So he quit his job and spent an entire year devoted to "Project Kick My League's Ass".
Interspersed with his intention to decimate his opponents, he travelled to a nearby draft party, and met guys really into the whole Fantasy Football draft (they make a weekend of it). He also went to the World Championship of Fantasy Football held in Las Vegas. This high-end tournament has a $200,000 payout for the champion. In an odd coincidence, the winner of the first WCOFF, was an average guy who lives in the city next to mine: a mere 5 minute drive. I didn't even know it. And he visited online football forums and got to learn how other people got into and what their startegies were.
Now the second reason I'm jealous: the book is fantastically well-written. I don't know what credits St. Amant has to his resume (the job he left was one at an ad agency), but his style of writing is one I'd love to adopt one day (being a 2 decade-long aspiring writer who'll never write anything beyond a blog...). The book is informative, but it's all "hidden" in telling his story. The humor is top-notch-- I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times.
St. Amant took me for a ride. The highs and lows of a single Fantasy Football season are all laid out, and while I've only played one season myself, I could completely relate to his experiences. No matter how much preparation you make, you still have no control over the outcome. Any single team can beat any other single team on any given week. I've been there, so has St. Amant.
Beyond that, he gave a very informative (and entertaining) history lesson as well as stories about other people's experiences. He also told the tale of Fantasy Football as it relates to the "outside world". In the past few years, it's gotten mainstream respect (now that over 14 million people play and shell out tons of money to do so), but as little as five years ago, the whole concept was laughed at by most sports reporters, and the players were considered sports-killing geeks. While I don't have to feel shame about playing now since I'm in the middle of it's popularity upswing, I have been a comic book reader for over 25 years, so I know what the early players went through.
Anyway, this book is a great read for anyone who plays the game. It's also a great read for anyone who's in a relationship with someone who plays the game. And, finally, it's a great read for someone looking for a good time. It's got a breezy feeling to it as if a buddy was telling you his stories. And, yes, he gets specific about players and rules, but they're expplained enough that it's not as if he's writing in a foreign language.
The third reason I'm jealous: he's married, and his wife supported his decision to take a year off. They're not wealthy, but they made it work. He gives his wife the proper thanks all throughout the book, but, My God, she actually let him quit his job to play a game. I'm almost tempted to file this book as a work of fiction...
Firstly, the guy related the year he spent completely devoted to Fantasy Football. I'd love to do that. He, like so many other players, has a deep passion for the game, but can't seem to find success (in Fantasy Football, success means winning the Championship). He has just one team in just one league (I've read the average player has 2.6 teams) and has never won The Big One, so his lack of success was disturbing him to no end.
So he quit his job and spent an entire year devoted to "Project Kick My League's Ass".
Interspersed with his intention to decimate his opponents, he travelled to a nearby draft party, and met guys really into the whole Fantasy Football draft (they make a weekend of it). He also went to the World Championship of Fantasy Football held in Las Vegas. This high-end tournament has a $200,000 payout for the champion. In an odd coincidence, the winner of the first WCOFF, was an average guy who lives in the city next to mine: a mere 5 minute drive. I didn't even know it. And he visited online football forums and got to learn how other people got into and what their startegies were.
Now the second reason I'm jealous: the book is fantastically well-written. I don't know what credits St. Amant has to his resume (the job he left was one at an ad agency), but his style of writing is one I'd love to adopt one day (being a 2 decade-long aspiring writer who'll never write anything beyond a blog...). The book is informative, but it's all "hidden" in telling his story. The humor is top-notch-- I found myself laughing out loud more than a few times.
St. Amant took me for a ride. The highs and lows of a single Fantasy Football season are all laid out, and while I've only played one season myself, I could completely relate to his experiences. No matter how much preparation you make, you still have no control over the outcome. Any single team can beat any other single team on any given week. I've been there, so has St. Amant.
Beyond that, he gave a very informative (and entertaining) history lesson as well as stories about other people's experiences. He also told the tale of Fantasy Football as it relates to the "outside world". In the past few years, it's gotten mainstream respect (now that over 14 million people play and shell out tons of money to do so), but as little as five years ago, the whole concept was laughed at by most sports reporters, and the players were considered sports-killing geeks. While I don't have to feel shame about playing now since I'm in the middle of it's popularity upswing, I have been a comic book reader for over 25 years, so I know what the early players went through.
Anyway, this book is a great read for anyone who plays the game. It's also a great read for anyone who's in a relationship with someone who plays the game. And, finally, it's a great read for someone looking for a good time. It's got a breezy feeling to it as if a buddy was telling you his stories. And, yes, he gets specific about players and rules, but they're expplained enough that it's not as if he's writing in a foreign language.
The third reason I'm jealous: he's married, and his wife supported his decision to take a year off. They're not wealthy, but they made it work. He gives his wife the proper thanks all throughout the book, but, My God, she actually let him quit his job to play a game. I'm almost tempted to file this book as a work of fiction...
Friday, August 18, 2006
Quick news from TV GUIDE
tvguide.com had a few interesting tidbits today:
ABC's Men in Trees will now debut on Tues, Sept 12 and then will move to it's normal Friday timeslot on the 15th. Why? Because I spent an hour creating the schedule last night, and the network gods like to f*** with me.
The Ausiello Report informs us that the sixth episode of Scrubs will be a musical episode. Normally, a stunt like that would reek of desperation, but it's Scrubs. Trust it to work just fine.
Rock Star's Dave Navarro, rock journalist Neil Strauss, and Cliff Dorman (a writer on Entourage) will develop a show for FX called The Product. It's a drama about a band that reunites after three years of bad blood.
Normally, I wouldn't report this but, I found it comical (especially since I took the real story and made jokes about it): Haley Joel Osmet was busted for driving with a .16 blood alcohol level and possessing marijuana when a mailbox jumped out on the road and ran into his car. The 18-year-old faces up to six months in jail, where he could see things worse than dead people.
And our favorite nutcase (how the hell did Matt Stone and Trey Parker know this so long ago?) Mel Gibson got three years of probation for his actions that prompted his anti-Semetic tirade (not very Christian of him). I also have to wonder: wasn't Jesus Christ officially a Jew? I'm not up on my Bible, but I thought I read that somewhere.
And I guess the media just won't leave Boy George alone. Dude had to do five days of community service, and those vultures just wouldn't let him sweep in peace. Dicks. [That's not really news in my book, but a guy who dressed like a woman and wore LOADS of makeup suddenly doesn't want attention?]
ABC's Men in Trees will now debut on Tues, Sept 12 and then will move to it's normal Friday timeslot on the 15th. Why? Because I spent an hour creating the schedule last night, and the network gods like to f*** with me.
The Ausiello Report informs us that the sixth episode of Scrubs will be a musical episode. Normally, a stunt like that would reek of desperation, but it's Scrubs. Trust it to work just fine.
Rock Star's Dave Navarro, rock journalist Neil Strauss, and Cliff Dorman (a writer on Entourage) will develop a show for FX called The Product. It's a drama about a band that reunites after three years of bad blood.
Normally, I wouldn't report this but, I found it comical (especially since I took the real story and made jokes about it): Haley Joel Osmet was busted for driving with a .16 blood alcohol level and possessing marijuana when a mailbox jumped out on the road and ran into his car. The 18-year-old faces up to six months in jail, where he could see things worse than dead people.
And our favorite nutcase (how the hell did Matt Stone and Trey Parker know this so long ago?) Mel Gibson got three years of probation for his actions that prompted his anti-Semetic tirade (not very Christian of him). I also have to wonder: wasn't Jesus Christ officially a Jew? I'm not up on my Bible, but I thought I read that somewhere.
And I guess the media just won't leave Boy George alone. Dude had to do five days of community service, and those vultures just wouldn't let him sweep in peace. Dicks. [That's not really news in my book, but a guy who dressed like a woman and wore LOADS of makeup suddenly doesn't want attention?]
Screening FOX
As I mentioned in my last entry, I received some preview copies of pilots for new and season premieres for returning FOX shows. I would expect my exuberance over Prison Break would qualify me to get any subsequent preview copies. I mean, what better cheerleader are you gonna get than me for any show I like that much?
Of course, the Powers That Be probably won't like what I have to say about the other three previews I've watched so far, so maybe I'm gonna blow my chance for more.
But then, who the hell reads this anyway?
First up: the much ballyhooed return of Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett to television comedy: 'Til Death. He play the husband to former Ellen co-star (and a crush of mine) Joely Fisher as the long-time married couple that imparts its wisdom to their newlywed neighbors played by American Pie's Eddie Kaye Thomas and newcomer (to series TV, anyway) Kat Foster.
The show's got promise, but I really don't think it's gonna take off. I laughed at a number of the gags mainly because after only a few years of marriage under my belt, I "get" the humor in the naivety of the young couple. But, as with most "standard" comedies, everything's hyper-realized with these characters. The older couple is really cynical, and the younger couple is really naive. This will grow tiring quickly-- if you made it through the first episode.
But it is a comedy in a season where very few comedies are even being aired, so it'll probably get a better than usual shot from me.
Happy Hour won't get much more of a chance from me. If I'm not hooked within two more episodes (max), it'll be coming off the DVR schedule. John Sloan plays Henry, a guy who moved to the big city to be with his girlfriend. So, naturally she dumps him and boots him from their apartment. He ends up rooming with Lex Medlin's Larry; one of those lazy, yet very cool-wise guys that only appear on television. And because Larry is such an odd duck himself, he has to surround himself with really overdone friends (the p*ssy-whipped ex-roomate, his ball-busting fiance, and his drunkenly horny boss).
Yeah, it doesn't get better... I should have mentioned this is a comedy-- I just forgot. I think the writers did, too.
[Was that too bitchy? I swear I'm not trying to be one of "those" internet critics-- the show is bad, okay?]
Finally, I watched the FBI hostage negotiators who are lovers show Standoff. Now, I should like this show. It stars the very good Ron Livingston and Gina Torres as well as Michael Cudlitz, who's appeared in most every show ever aired (like last season's Prison Break guard who T-Bag killed after he learned about the escape plot). It's also got a good concept. But the pilot doesn't give me much hope that it'll be on the air long. In fact, TV Guide's Michael Ausiello predicted this show would be the first cancelled for the new season.
A big problem is, like the other two shows I watched, it's so cliched in execution. Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt are lovers (taboo since they're partners). He's a little aloof about the relationship, and she's mad at him for it (seen it just a few times before). In a role wasting her talents, Torres plays the tough boss, every show like this needs, who knows about the relationship, but doesn't want to split them up because they're the best team she's got. That's about it for her part: acting tough/mean and giving disapproving looks . Cudlitz plays every over-eager a**hole foil to our protagonists that ever been seen on TV (he's the the SWAT-type leader; when the negotiations go South, his team rushes in and eliminates the target-- of course, he always wants to "save the day"). And Raquel Alessi plays the super-smart support person in the hostage situation; the woman who can punch a few keys into her computer and have instant, relevant information to help out.
The pilot had a few nice moments, like when Tom Wopat "loses it" in traffic, and brandishes a gun-- with his young boys in the car-- but it felt like I had seen all the story beats before. That's not always bad, but even the extremely likable Livingston seemed to be walking through his lines. If the dude saying the words doesn't seem to be into the show, how am I supposed to be into it? And the biggest transgression, Livingston and DeWitt have been lovers for three months, and I wasn't buying it for a second.
Okay, those are my thoughts on three new FOX shows. Kinda depressing, I know, but what I saw wasn't worth the time.
Of course, there is always a rule I try to follow with brand new shows: give it two-three episodes. Pilots can sometimes be very poor, only to have the subsequent episodes pull it together to make it a watchable show. I'm hoping at least 'Til Death and Standoff find their voices (at least ones I'd listen to) because they have solid premises and good casts. It's a shame when good/great actors get stuck in garbage.
Well, after my ringing endorsements, you're probably itching for me to reveal the premiere dates, so here goes:
'Til Death and Happy Hour: Sept 7 at 7:oo and 7:30 pm CST
Standoff: Sept 5 at 8:00 pm CST
***Speaking of premiere dates, I made an Excel file of the network shows, their air dates, and their premiere dates (the best that I know, anyway). I'll send it to anyone who requests it.
Send an e-mail to teameckblog@charter.net with the subject line "Fall Schedule".
Of course, the Powers That Be probably won't like what I have to say about the other three previews I've watched so far, so maybe I'm gonna blow my chance for more.
But then, who the hell reads this anyway?
First up: the much ballyhooed return of Everybody Loves Raymond's Brad Garrett to television comedy: 'Til Death. He play the husband to former Ellen co-star (and a crush of mine) Joely Fisher as the long-time married couple that imparts its wisdom to their newlywed neighbors played by American Pie's Eddie Kaye Thomas and newcomer (to series TV, anyway) Kat Foster.
The show's got promise, but I really don't think it's gonna take off. I laughed at a number of the gags mainly because after only a few years of marriage under my belt, I "get" the humor in the naivety of the young couple. But, as with most "standard" comedies, everything's hyper-realized with these characters. The older couple is really cynical, and the younger couple is really naive. This will grow tiring quickly-- if you made it through the first episode.
But it is a comedy in a season where very few comedies are even being aired, so it'll probably get a better than usual shot from me.
Happy Hour won't get much more of a chance from me. If I'm not hooked within two more episodes (max), it'll be coming off the DVR schedule. John Sloan plays Henry, a guy who moved to the big city to be with his girlfriend. So, naturally she dumps him and boots him from their apartment. He ends up rooming with Lex Medlin's Larry; one of those lazy, yet very cool-wise guys that only appear on television. And because Larry is such an odd duck himself, he has to surround himself with really overdone friends (the p*ssy-whipped ex-roomate, his ball-busting fiance, and his drunkenly horny boss).
Yeah, it doesn't get better... I should have mentioned this is a comedy-- I just forgot. I think the writers did, too.
[Was that too bitchy? I swear I'm not trying to be one of "those" internet critics-- the show is bad, okay?]
Finally, I watched the FBI hostage negotiators who are lovers show Standoff. Now, I should like this show. It stars the very good Ron Livingston and Gina Torres as well as Michael Cudlitz, who's appeared in most every show ever aired (like last season's Prison Break guard who T-Bag killed after he learned about the escape plot). It's also got a good concept. But the pilot doesn't give me much hope that it'll be on the air long. In fact, TV Guide's Michael Ausiello predicted this show would be the first cancelled for the new season.
A big problem is, like the other two shows I watched, it's so cliched in execution. Livingston and Rosemarie DeWitt are lovers (taboo since they're partners). He's a little aloof about the relationship, and she's mad at him for it (seen it just a few times before). In a role wasting her talents, Torres plays the tough boss, every show like this needs, who knows about the relationship, but doesn't want to split them up because they're the best team she's got. That's about it for her part: acting tough/mean and giving disapproving looks . Cudlitz plays every over-eager a**hole foil to our protagonists that ever been seen on TV (he's the the SWAT-type leader; when the negotiations go South, his team rushes in and eliminates the target-- of course, he always wants to "save the day"). And Raquel Alessi plays the super-smart support person in the hostage situation; the woman who can punch a few keys into her computer and have instant, relevant information to help out.
The pilot had a few nice moments, like when Tom Wopat "loses it" in traffic, and brandishes a gun-- with his young boys in the car-- but it felt like I had seen all the story beats before. That's not always bad, but even the extremely likable Livingston seemed to be walking through his lines. If the dude saying the words doesn't seem to be into the show, how am I supposed to be into it? And the biggest transgression, Livingston and DeWitt have been lovers for three months, and I wasn't buying it for a second.
Okay, those are my thoughts on three new FOX shows. Kinda depressing, I know, but what I saw wasn't worth the time.
Of course, there is always a rule I try to follow with brand new shows: give it two-three episodes. Pilots can sometimes be very poor, only to have the subsequent episodes pull it together to make it a watchable show. I'm hoping at least 'Til Death and Standoff find their voices (at least ones I'd listen to) because they have solid premises and good casts. It's a shame when good/great actors get stuck in garbage.
Well, after my ringing endorsements, you're probably itching for me to reveal the premiere dates, so here goes:
'Til Death and Happy Hour: Sept 7 at 7:oo and 7:30 pm CST
Standoff: Sept 5 at 8:00 pm CST
***Speaking of premiere dates, I made an Excel file of the network shows, their air dates, and their premiere dates (the best that I know, anyway). I'll send it to anyone who requests it.
Send an e-mail to teameckblog@charter.net with the subject line "Fall Schedule".
Thursday, August 17, 2006
PRISON BREAK premiere
First off, the TV GUIDE Channel is reairing two Prison Break specials from last season in the next few days to get a jump on Monday's premiere. They are: Prison Break Unlocked on Thurs, 8/17 from 8-9 pm CST or Sat, 8/19 from midnight to 1 am CST, and Infanity: Prison Break on Friday, 8/18 from 6-7 pm CST.
They're both typical TV GUIDE Channel fluff, but they do offer a glimpse at the actors as well as the challenges of filming at a real (although "retired") prison. And Robert "T-Bag" Knepper has a great moment in one of those shows when he offers his pocket to Lisa Joyner. It's worth watching both just for that moment.
And, as we all know, the season premiere is on Monday, Aug 21 at 7pm CST, right? Just a few more days...
...Unless you're one of the luckiest S.O.B.s alive like me and have already seen it.
The coolest thing was in my mailbox this afternoon: 8 screeners of FOX fall shows. I've watched four of them already, but the one I was just nuts about getting is, of course: Prison Break.
Now: I will be giving my impressions in non-spoiler form (if you've seen the first season-- or at least the finale). If you don't want any inkling of what's going on, stop reading. But I promise not to ruin anything. Okay, I'll hit "enter" a few times just to give everyone a chance to pull out if they want.
The guys who escaped are still on the run-- duh. But, as always, Schofield's got a plan. The problem is: the Fox River Pen crew led by Bellick is hell-bent on getting them back. The dude is nuts. I fully expect Bellick to resign from the prison as the guys cross the state line, because he's fired up. Not only were there escapees on his watch, but he was beaten by them. It's personal. I'm glad Wade Williams is getting a chance to tear it up. I've been a fan since he played the bad-ass priest on Bernie Mac.
But there's another player in the chase: FBI agent Alexander Mahone (played by William Fichtner), who looks to be nearly as brilliant as Schofield is. He may be behind right now, but it seems inevitable that as soon as the guys cross the state line and the escapees fall under his jurisdiction, he'll pull out all the stops. Schofield had to battle circumstances and luck last season; this season looks like it'll be a battle of brains.
And, while a number of new avenues were explored, there were also a number of "loose ends" left dangling last season that are tied up or redirected in this first episode. And it didn't even touch on a few minor characters (yes, we'll learn the fate of Dr. Sarah in the first ep-- the producers aren't that cruel).
For those who are worried: the tattoos play a large part in the season opener.
And, as can be expected with this show: the last five minutes were intense for two reasons. Neither of which I'll go into here.
I was pumped for the premiere before, but now I'm in a full-on frenzy for this new season to begin. And because I watched a screener, I know what I'll see on Monday will be even better (because the colors and sound will be touched up and the "stock footage" cutaways will be stock footage and not a screen saying "stock footage").
Along with the screener DVD, there was a TV GUIDE article about the new season that was already (mostly) on tvguide.com, but it was fun to revisit. Highlights include:
Wentworth Miller says Schofield will not be the leader out of the pen. The escapees will not have a unified agenda, so they don't feel the need to follow his lead as much as they needed to in the prison. Linc will take over more of the leadership because the street is Lincoln's forte.
Creator/Exec producer Paul Scheuring said 95% of the season will be shot on location, so we can expect lots of outdoor scenes. He also said the gang will split up at times and come together at others (they all know that Westmoreland hid money in Utah, for example).
Okay, your mission is: spread the word that the new season starts on Monday. While the show is now out of the prison, the show's vibe is still intact. And, just like last year, I have no idea what will or could happen this season.
There are not many shows that can surprise me like this one does.
They're both typical TV GUIDE Channel fluff, but they do offer a glimpse at the actors as well as the challenges of filming at a real (although "retired") prison. And Robert "T-Bag" Knepper has a great moment in one of those shows when he offers his pocket to Lisa Joyner. It's worth watching both just for that moment.
And, as we all know, the season premiere is on Monday, Aug 21 at 7pm CST, right? Just a few more days...
...Unless you're one of the luckiest S.O.B.s alive like me and have already seen it.
The coolest thing was in my mailbox this afternoon: 8 screeners of FOX fall shows. I've watched four of them already, but the one I was just nuts about getting is, of course: Prison Break.
Now: I will be giving my impressions in non-spoiler form (if you've seen the first season-- or at least the finale). If you don't want any inkling of what's going on, stop reading. But I promise not to ruin anything. Okay, I'll hit "enter" a few times just to give everyone a chance to pull out if they want.
The guys who escaped are still on the run-- duh. But, as always, Schofield's got a plan. The problem is: the Fox River Pen crew led by Bellick is hell-bent on getting them back. The dude is nuts. I fully expect Bellick to resign from the prison as the guys cross the state line, because he's fired up. Not only were there escapees on his watch, but he was beaten by them. It's personal. I'm glad Wade Williams is getting a chance to tear it up. I've been a fan since he played the bad-ass priest on Bernie Mac.
But there's another player in the chase: FBI agent Alexander Mahone (played by William Fichtner), who looks to be nearly as brilliant as Schofield is. He may be behind right now, but it seems inevitable that as soon as the guys cross the state line and the escapees fall under his jurisdiction, he'll pull out all the stops. Schofield had to battle circumstances and luck last season; this season looks like it'll be a battle of brains.
And, while a number of new avenues were explored, there were also a number of "loose ends" left dangling last season that are tied up or redirected in this first episode. And it didn't even touch on a few minor characters (yes, we'll learn the fate of Dr. Sarah in the first ep-- the producers aren't that cruel).
For those who are worried: the tattoos play a large part in the season opener.
And, as can be expected with this show: the last five minutes were intense for two reasons. Neither of which I'll go into here.
I was pumped for the premiere before, but now I'm in a full-on frenzy for this new season to begin. And because I watched a screener, I know what I'll see on Monday will be even better (because the colors and sound will be touched up and the "stock footage" cutaways will be stock footage and not a screen saying "stock footage").
Along with the screener DVD, there was a TV GUIDE article about the new season that was already (mostly) on tvguide.com, but it was fun to revisit. Highlights include:
Wentworth Miller says Schofield will not be the leader out of the pen. The escapees will not have a unified agenda, so they don't feel the need to follow his lead as much as they needed to in the prison. Linc will take over more of the leadership because the street is Lincoln's forte.
Creator/Exec producer Paul Scheuring said 95% of the season will be shot on location, so we can expect lots of outdoor scenes. He also said the gang will split up at times and come together at others (they all know that Westmoreland hid money in Utah, for example).
Okay, your mission is: spread the word that the new season starts on Monday. While the show is now out of the prison, the show's vibe is still intact. And, just like last year, I have no idea what will or could happen this season.
There are not many shows that can surprise me like this one does.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Venture to [adult swim]
There are a number of things to like about Cartoon Network's [adult swim]. One of the best things to check it out with is Venture Brothers. A take-off of Jonny Quest and comic books, Venture Brothers hits the high notes of hilarity without having to resort to the normal super-vulgarity or violence other [swim] shows seem to thrive on (not that there's anything wrong with that).
And there's almost always a superb line every episode. Last night's episode ("Victor. Echo. November.)" had a few:
"There were two side effects. One: he can mess up a guy just by touching him. And two: he became a humorless dick."
And there's almost always a superb line every episode. Last night's episode ("Victor. Echo. November.)" had a few:
"There were two side effects. One: he can mess up a guy just by touching him. And two: he became a humorless dick."
The Monarch, describing The Phantom Limb's origin.
"Ah, c'mon! Why does that happen? I shook it so hard, I almost hit that pink puck."
Hank, lamenting the fact that he had a"pee stain"
on his pants after using the urinal.
"We need one of these at home, it's better than riding sideways on a swing."
Hank, while using the hot air hand dryer to
dry the aforementioned stain off his pants.
"Dude, stop wailing on my junk!"Hank to Dean, who was trying to put out the
fire on his pants caused by the hand dryer.
As if that weren't enough, we had a naked, blood-covered Brock in full assassin mode, the beautiful (if deep voiced) Dr. Girlfriend, the boys on a date, Dr. Venture using a Christmas Tree stand as as tourniquet...
The only thing that was missing was deadly mercenary Molotov Cocktease.
Check it out Sunday nights. And Season One is on DVD.
{Sorry about the weird way the lines ended up. I tried fixing them four times before I gave up. (Still not used to Blogger, I guess.)}
I Can't Believe I Missed This
A day late! A freakin' DAY! (Well, now two days since it's past midnight).
Two days ago, August 12, was the tenth anniversary of the death of a very important person in my life. I never met him, didn't know his voice, or his family life. But I did know a good deal about his professional life.
I was introduced to Mark Gruenwald after reading Iron Man #215. There was nothing really special about the comic book, but it hooked me. I had read comic books before-- as had most kids before the '90s-- but this one stood out to me, and I consider it one of the three most important issues as it pertains to my enjoying this hobby.
This issue opened up an entire universe for me. It issue prompted me to buy West Coast Avengers, which led to to Avengers and then to the other Avengers-related titles of the time (including Thor and the Gruenwald-written Captain America). And that all led me to try every other Marvel title published at the time.
Anyway, Mark Gruenwald edited most of those early favorites as he was the Avengers-guru at the time. I could never write what he meant for me (or all of comics, really) in this short amount of time, but I did want to pay recognition to him. Saturday was a pretty significant day as it reminded me how I got into this addicting hobby that I've never been able to completely abandon-- no matter how broke I was.
As I noted earlier, Gruenwald was the editor of my favorite line of titles, wrote wrote some of my favorite titles, and he actually spoke to me (okay, the fans) in his letters pages, which I found to be pretty cool.
At the time, I actually took him at his "word" that being a comic book editior was the coolest job in the world because he got to read comics all day. I thought it was so cool, that in a seventh grade speech assignment, I declared I wanted to be an editor because they sat and read comics all day. That was my only rationale. I didn't mention a thing about hiring writiers, pencillers, inkers, colorists, letterers, working with Marketing, making a direction for the books, working to simplify continuity, or any of the myriad of other duites an editor is responsible for. I think the only reason I didn't get an "F" was because one of my classmates declared he wanted to be a lottery winner...
As the years passed, and I grew to be an even more passionate comic book reader, I realized some of the above duties of an editor, and then got to see all of what Mark brought to the table as a creator.
He edited the Avengers titles for years.
He created the Marvel Handbook series, which is pretty remarkable (even convincing his bosses that an encyclopedia for comic book characters must have been a heckuva sales pitch).
He wrote Captain America for ten years (completely unheard of in this day and age-- and ten years in the entire history of comics has not been achieved many times)-- including the amazing "Cap No More" storyline where Steve Rogers stepped down as Cap and the government brought in a borderline psychotic to wear the costume).
He wrote the vastly underrated Squadron Supreme mini-series (thankfully, this title has been getting more and more respect as the concept of super-heroes taking over the world gets addressed more often).
He also co-created and wrote the nearly forgotten about "New Universe" title DP7, which still holds a special place in most people who actually read it's hearts. (yeah, that was a clumsy sentence, forgive me).
And, finally (at least his major works), he also wrote the complete five-year run of Quasar.
Pretty remarkable for a guy who really held Marvel continuity together. [For those of you who don't know, continuity is a concept many larger comics companies use to acknowledge that their various characters live in the same universe/world. People who abide by continuity try not to contradict what came before. Because Gwen Stacy died in an issue of Amazing Spider-Man, she doesn't show up in comics books relating tales of Spider-Man after that event.]
Mark tried to keep everything together for the company as it related to continuity, and he really shaped what Marvel became in the '80s and '90s.
I could write so much more about this man, and maybe I will when I have more time.
I just wanted to acknowledge the anniversary of his passing, and to give a "shout out" to him, if he's out there in Comic Book Heaven with the other greats.
Thanks, Gru. You are missed.
Two days ago, August 12, was the tenth anniversary of the death of a very important person in my life. I never met him, didn't know his voice, or his family life. But I did know a good deal about his professional life.
I was introduced to Mark Gruenwald after reading Iron Man #215. There was nothing really special about the comic book, but it hooked me. I had read comic books before-- as had most kids before the '90s-- but this one stood out to me, and I consider it one of the three most important issues as it pertains to my enjoying this hobby.
This issue opened up an entire universe for me. It issue prompted me to buy West Coast Avengers, which led to to Avengers and then to the other Avengers-related titles of the time (including Thor and the Gruenwald-written Captain America). And that all led me to try every other Marvel title published at the time.
Anyway, Mark Gruenwald edited most of those early favorites as he was the Avengers-guru at the time. I could never write what he meant for me (or all of comics, really) in this short amount of time, but I did want to pay recognition to him. Saturday was a pretty significant day as it reminded me how I got into this addicting hobby that I've never been able to completely abandon-- no matter how broke I was.
As I noted earlier, Gruenwald was the editor of my favorite line of titles, wrote wrote some of my favorite titles, and he actually spoke to me (okay, the fans) in his letters pages, which I found to be pretty cool.
At the time, I actually took him at his "word" that being a comic book editior was the coolest job in the world because he got to read comics all day. I thought it was so cool, that in a seventh grade speech assignment, I declared I wanted to be an editor because they sat and read comics all day. That was my only rationale. I didn't mention a thing about hiring writiers, pencillers, inkers, colorists, letterers, working with Marketing, making a direction for the books, working to simplify continuity, or any of the myriad of other duites an editor is responsible for. I think the only reason I didn't get an "F" was because one of my classmates declared he wanted to be a lottery winner...
As the years passed, and I grew to be an even more passionate comic book reader, I realized some of the above duties of an editor, and then got to see all of what Mark brought to the table as a creator.
He edited the Avengers titles for years.
He created the Marvel Handbook series, which is pretty remarkable (even convincing his bosses that an encyclopedia for comic book characters must have been a heckuva sales pitch).
He wrote Captain America for ten years (completely unheard of in this day and age-- and ten years in the entire history of comics has not been achieved many times)-- including the amazing "Cap No More" storyline where Steve Rogers stepped down as Cap and the government brought in a borderline psychotic to wear the costume).
He wrote the vastly underrated Squadron Supreme mini-series (thankfully, this title has been getting more and more respect as the concept of super-heroes taking over the world gets addressed more often).
He also co-created and wrote the nearly forgotten about "New Universe" title DP7, which still holds a special place in most people who actually read it's hearts. (yeah, that was a clumsy sentence, forgive me).
And, finally (at least his major works), he also wrote the complete five-year run of Quasar.
Pretty remarkable for a guy who really held Marvel continuity together. [For those of you who don't know, continuity is a concept many larger comics companies use to acknowledge that their various characters live in the same universe/world. People who abide by continuity try not to contradict what came before. Because Gwen Stacy died in an issue of Amazing Spider-Man, she doesn't show up in comics books relating tales of Spider-Man after that event.]
Mark tried to keep everything together for the company as it related to continuity, and he really shaped what Marvel became in the '80s and '90s.
I could write so much more about this man, and maybe I will when I have more time.
I just wanted to acknowledge the anniversary of his passing, and to give a "shout out" to him, if he's out there in Comic Book Heaven with the other greats.
Thanks, Gru. You are missed.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
News briefs: Prison Break and more
Quickies this time:
You all picked up Prison Break Season One, right? Okay, me neither. Hopefully I'll have a little money left over on Saturday.
Speaking of PB, creator Paul T. Scheuring said his plans for Patricia Wetting (VP Reynolds) are to "wait and see" if ABC's Brothers and Sisters is successful before deciding on what to do with the character. Hey, it worked for Charles ("C-Note") Dunbar, who had little presence in early episodes due to his commitment on Head Cases, which lasted all of two episodes. By episode 8, C-Note was a featured player.
You can read the rest of Scheuing's interview at http://www.tvguide.com/news/insider/. Be sure to check Tuesday's Insider as the link probably won't bring you right to it in a few hours.
Want to help choose an alternative to the Emmy's (which, somehow, really screwed up nominations this year), then head to http://www.mediavillage.com/fanawards/ and vote for the actors/shows that MediaVilliage lead critic Ed Martin nominated. I'll tell you, it's hard to pick just two in every category, but he sure got more right than the Emmy's.
Comedy Central has greenlit Jon Stewart's Three Strikes, about a minor league baseball team.
And, while I hate to even mention this waste of oxygen, I just wanted everyone to know that Paris Hilton has announced she's staying celibate for one whole year. I think she may just have reached the top of the Media Whore mountain.
All the above stories-- and tons more-- can be found on TV GUIDE online's news section (my mandatory daily check) by Matt Webb Mitovich. The link is http://community.tvguide.com/forum.jspa?forumID=700000044
Until next time...
You all picked up Prison Break Season One, right? Okay, me neither. Hopefully I'll have a little money left over on Saturday.
Speaking of PB, creator Paul T. Scheuring said his plans for Patricia Wetting (VP Reynolds) are to "wait and see" if ABC's Brothers and Sisters is successful before deciding on what to do with the character. Hey, it worked for Charles ("C-Note") Dunbar, who had little presence in early episodes due to his commitment on Head Cases, which lasted all of two episodes. By episode 8, C-Note was a featured player.
You can read the rest of Scheuing's interview at http://www.tvguide.com/news/insider/. Be sure to check Tuesday's Insider as the link probably won't bring you right to it in a few hours.
Want to help choose an alternative to the Emmy's (which, somehow, really screwed up nominations this year), then head to http://www.mediavillage.com/fanawards/ and vote for the actors/shows that MediaVilliage lead critic Ed Martin nominated. I'll tell you, it's hard to pick just two in every category, but he sure got more right than the Emmy's.
Comedy Central has greenlit Jon Stewart's Three Strikes, about a minor league baseball team.
And, while I hate to even mention this waste of oxygen, I just wanted everyone to know that Paris Hilton has announced she's staying celibate for one whole year. I think she may just have reached the top of the Media Whore mountain.
All the above stories-- and tons more-- can be found on TV GUIDE online's news section (my mandatory daily check) by Matt Webb Mitovich. The link is http://community.tvguide.com/forum.jspa?forumID=700000044
Until next time...
Monday, August 07, 2006
Make A Break For It
As I mentioned in a previous post, the Prison Break Season One DVD set goes on sale tomorrow. It comes highly recommended. There were only three shows I HAD to watch the night it aired last season, and Break was one of them.
I hate the cliche of it being a roller coaster ride, but it really was. Twists and turns abound. Every epsiode ended in some sort of cliffhanger (and the pilot ended with one of the coolest things I've ever seen on TV).
I will admit the twists got to be a little too much as the season wound on (I think it was due to the fact that the creators/network had no idea the show would actually make it though an entire season), and I wasn't a big fan of the conspiracy that raised its ugly head, but that is all minor compared to the pluses of the show.
The first plus would be the sheer imagination of the scripts. Yeah, sometimes the season drug on (usually during the scenes outside the prison), and other times things happened that made me say, "Oh, come on!" but those were pretty infrequent-- and there was always something to hold onto during those times that still made this the coolest show on TV last year.
The actors, led by Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are fantastic, and the supporting actors are excellent as well. Special notice has to be made for Peter Stormare, who plays mob heavy John Abruzzi, and Robert Knepper, who plays psychotic-scary Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell. Each time those two were on screen was magic. When they appeared together, it was as if the TV Gods smiled down on fans and said, "Hey, check out how great TV can really be." Yeah, that last sentence was over-the-top-- so what?
I see most places are advertising the show between $36 & $40, so catch it now before it goes up to insane 24-level prices: $60.
Just shut your head off, strap on the seat belt, and enjoy the ride.
I hate the cliche of it being a roller coaster ride, but it really was. Twists and turns abound. Every epsiode ended in some sort of cliffhanger (and the pilot ended with one of the coolest things I've ever seen on TV).
I will admit the twists got to be a little too much as the season wound on (I think it was due to the fact that the creators/network had no idea the show would actually make it though an entire season), and I wasn't a big fan of the conspiracy that raised its ugly head, but that is all minor compared to the pluses of the show.
The first plus would be the sheer imagination of the scripts. Yeah, sometimes the season drug on (usually during the scenes outside the prison), and other times things happened that made me say, "Oh, come on!" but those were pretty infrequent-- and there was always something to hold onto during those times that still made this the coolest show on TV last year.
The actors, led by Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are fantastic, and the supporting actors are excellent as well. Special notice has to be made for Peter Stormare, who plays mob heavy John Abruzzi, and Robert Knepper, who plays psychotic-scary Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell. Each time those two were on screen was magic. When they appeared together, it was as if the TV Gods smiled down on fans and said, "Hey, check out how great TV can really be." Yeah, that last sentence was over-the-top-- so what?
I see most places are advertising the show between $36 & $40, so catch it now before it goes up to insane 24-level prices: $60.
Just shut your head off, strap on the seat belt, and enjoy the ride.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
A Disturbance in the Force
The books I read tend to be non-fiction. I'm not quite sure why; probably because it takes less imagination and concentration (in general) to follow along with "real" things than imagining the fantastic elements of fiction.
I had troubles with the first few Star Wars books released in the mid-'90s. Sometimes it was because of the fantastic elements (nearly everything had to be new since The Empire was gone), sometimes it was the feeling that Luke, Han, Leia, and the others had had their big adventure, and adding more just seemed unrealistic (like: don't these people ever get a break to enjoy their success?), and maybe a large part of it was because I was in college at the time, and I'd get to the book every few weeks.
Anyway, in the past few months, I've read a half-dozen Star Wars related books, and I've actually enjoyed them all. I'll probably get to most of them on a later post. The one I'll discuss now is the only one I read set after "A New Hope" and one I just finished: Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal, by Aaron Allston.
I picked it up because a post-er on newsarama.com mentioned that it had a killer ending, and even after I was 90% sure of what was going to happen a few pages in (I won't give any spoilers away here), I liked the ride.
The gist of the book is: The Corellians are making plans to secede from the Galactic Alliance. It's not overt, but Corellia is doing things behind the scenes-- and against GA rules-- to set themselves up for independence. This is troublesome for Wedge Antilles and Han Solo, who are Corellian themselves, but dedicated to the GA. Throw in Han's wife, Leia, their children, Han's brother-in-law Luke (Jedi Master and leader of the new order), and his wife and son, and there is large amounts of conflict. And a number of moments where the betrayal from the title happens.
While the parents are handling the "big", galactic-level parts, the kids (namely Jacen Solo and Ben Skywalker) are charged with a betrayal of their own when they're sent on a mission to destroy a necessary component in the Corellian secession. After that assignment, they need to investigate common elements that look as if the Corellians are being influenced by an outside force. Again, elements of betrayal abound.
I'll leave the synopsis there and conclude by saying that Allston seems to have everyone's "voices" down. The book felt like a true Star Wars story. While it's been years since I read any post- "A New Hope" novels, I was able to follow along. This was especially nice since things really changed during the "New Jedi Order" series of books, of which this one was after. And, while I'm sure Allston hadn't acted alone in the decision for change, things do indeed change by the end of this book. I'm looking forward to reading what comes next.
My one complaint: the Star Wars universe has grown enormously, and it's essential to have some sort of timeline for people to be able to use to put events in relation to each other. But, I suppose they have the same problems they do in comic books: if they give an official timeline, things eventually won't add up. By that, I mean we'll know Han and his buddies are in their 60's at least, maybe even their 70's, and they're still flying around in fighter ships on missions.
But there's enough information given in the book that the most observant/loyal readers know where the story rests: about 15 years after the Yuuzhan Vong/"New Jedi Order" series. Now if I only knew how many years the Yuuzhan Vong War was after "A New Hope" ...
I had troubles with the first few Star Wars books released in the mid-'90s. Sometimes it was because of the fantastic elements (nearly everything had to be new since The Empire was gone), sometimes it was the feeling that Luke, Han, Leia, and the others had had their big adventure, and adding more just seemed unrealistic (like: don't these people ever get a break to enjoy their success?), and maybe a large part of it was because I was in college at the time, and I'd get to the book every few weeks.
Anyway, in the past few months, I've read a half-dozen Star Wars related books, and I've actually enjoyed them all. I'll probably get to most of them on a later post. The one I'll discuss now is the only one I read set after "A New Hope" and one I just finished: Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal, by Aaron Allston.
I picked it up because a post-er on newsarama.com mentioned that it had a killer ending, and even after I was 90% sure of what was going to happen a few pages in (I won't give any spoilers away here), I liked the ride.
The gist of the book is: The Corellians are making plans to secede from the Galactic Alliance. It's not overt, but Corellia is doing things behind the scenes-- and against GA rules-- to set themselves up for independence. This is troublesome for Wedge Antilles and Han Solo, who are Corellian themselves, but dedicated to the GA. Throw in Han's wife, Leia, their children, Han's brother-in-law Luke (Jedi Master and leader of the new order), and his wife and son, and there is large amounts of conflict. And a number of moments where the betrayal from the title happens.
While the parents are handling the "big", galactic-level parts, the kids (namely Jacen Solo and Ben Skywalker) are charged with a betrayal of their own when they're sent on a mission to destroy a necessary component in the Corellian secession. After that assignment, they need to investigate common elements that look as if the Corellians are being influenced by an outside force. Again, elements of betrayal abound.
I'll leave the synopsis there and conclude by saying that Allston seems to have everyone's "voices" down. The book felt like a true Star Wars story. While it's been years since I read any post- "A New Hope" novels, I was able to follow along. This was especially nice since things really changed during the "New Jedi Order" series of books, of which this one was after. And, while I'm sure Allston hadn't acted alone in the decision for change, things do indeed change by the end of this book. I'm looking forward to reading what comes next.
My one complaint: the Star Wars universe has grown enormously, and it's essential to have some sort of timeline for people to be able to use to put events in relation to each other. But, I suppose they have the same problems they do in comic books: if they give an official timeline, things eventually won't add up. By that, I mean we'll know Han and his buddies are in their 60's at least, maybe even their 70's, and they're still flying around in fighter ships on missions.
But there's enough information given in the book that the most observant/loyal readers know where the story rests: about 15 years after the Yuuzhan Vong/"New Jedi Order" series. Now if I only knew how many years the Yuuzhan Vong War was after "A New Hope" ...
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