ABC has pulled Day Break and Show Me the Money from its programming. Doubtful either will come back.
Help Me, Help You also had its new episode this week pulled from the schedule due to low ratings.
ABC has decided to not try to use Lost to lead into a show anymore as it hasn't worked in two years and will move the show to 9pm CST when it returns from the planned hiatus. A nice side effect: it won't air against American Idol.
Sadly, the promising Knights of Prosperity will air against Idol-- and will probably get trounced and cancelled quickly.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Awards Season Has Begun
The AFI Top Ten TV programs of the year were:
Battlestar Galactica
Dexter
Elizabeth I
Friday Night Lights
Heroes
The Office
South Park
24
The West Wing
The Wire
Not a bad list. The panel of critics, AFI trustees, academics, and industry professionals chose from the best fictional narrative programming of the year to compile their ten best. The discussions for the list are secret in order to preserve the list and allow the panel to debate freely. That's probably why the list includes only the best-- and not weird calls like the Golden Globes and Emmys can have.
Speaking of the Golden Globes, the major TV-related nominations were:
Best Drama Series
24
Big Love
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Lost
Best Actress in a Drama:
Patricia Arquette
Edie Falco
Evangeline Lilly
Ellen Pompeo
Kyra Sedgwick
Best Actor in a Drama:
Patrick Dempsey
Michael C. Hall
Hugh Laurie
Bill Paxton
Kiefer Sutherland
Best Comedy:
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Ugly Betty
Weeds
Best Actress in a Comedy:
Marcia Cross
Felicity Huffman
America Ferrera
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Mary-Louise Parker
Best Actor in a Comedy:
Alec Baldwin
Zach Braff
Steve Carell
Jason Lee
Tony Shalhoub
Supporting Actress:
Emily Blunt
Toni Collette
Katherine Heigl
Sarah Paulson
Elizabeth Perkins
Supporting Actor:
Thomas Hayden Church
Jeremy Irons
Justin Kirk
Masi Oka
Jeremy Piven
And here we see some of the problems with a five-nominee process with an eventual winner: you just can't win. Where's Deadwood? Sally Field? The Shield? Kyle Chandler? Michael Chiklis? Scrubs? My Name is Earl?
I think the AFI has it right by picking ten shows to say were the cream of the crop for the year-- many of which need a little recognition.
Battlestar Galactica
Dexter
Elizabeth I
Friday Night Lights
Heroes
The Office
South Park
24
The West Wing
The Wire
Not a bad list. The panel of critics, AFI trustees, academics, and industry professionals chose from the best fictional narrative programming of the year to compile their ten best. The discussions for the list are secret in order to preserve the list and allow the panel to debate freely. That's probably why the list includes only the best-- and not weird calls like the Golden Globes and Emmys can have.
Speaking of the Golden Globes, the major TV-related nominations were:
Best Drama Series
24
Big Love
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Lost
Best Actress in a Drama:
Patricia Arquette
Edie Falco
Evangeline Lilly
Ellen Pompeo
Kyra Sedgwick
Best Actor in a Drama:
Patrick Dempsey
Michael C. Hall
Hugh Laurie
Bill Paxton
Kiefer Sutherland
Best Comedy:
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Ugly Betty
Weeds
Best Actress in a Comedy:
Marcia Cross
Felicity Huffman
America Ferrera
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Mary-Louise Parker
Best Actor in a Comedy:
Alec Baldwin
Zach Braff
Steve Carell
Jason Lee
Tony Shalhoub
Supporting Actress:
Emily Blunt
Toni Collette
Katherine Heigl
Sarah Paulson
Elizabeth Perkins
Supporting Actor:
Thomas Hayden Church
Jeremy Irons
Justin Kirk
Masi Oka
Jeremy Piven
And here we see some of the problems with a five-nominee process with an eventual winner: you just can't win. Where's Deadwood? Sally Field? The Shield? Kyle Chandler? Michael Chiklis? Scrubs? My Name is Earl?
I think the AFI has it right by picking ten shows to say were the cream of the crop for the year-- many of which need a little recognition.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Premieres & Notables Dec 18- Dec 24
It's the week before Christmas, so not much is new. Use this time to catch up on the tapes, DVR shows, DVDs, books, magazines, etc that have piled up since September. Or hang with your family/friends.
Monday, 12/18
Identity, NBC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Penn Jillette (of "Penn & Teller" and Penn & Teller's Bullsh**!) hosts this game show where contestants try to match character traits to 12 strangers. Sounds lame, but Jellette is a fantastic entertainer. May be worth checking out. This show airs on NBC every night this week; 8 pm on Monday and 7 pm on Tues-Fri.
Jenna ("Pam") Fisher of The Office is a guest on Craig Ferguson's late night show.
Saturday, Dec 23
FX has a 13-hour block of Christmas-themed episodes of various shows:
6 am-6:30: Dharma and Greg
6:30 am- 9:00: Spin City
9:00 am- 11:00: Fear Factor
11:00 am- 2:30 pm: Married With Children (Classic Episodes "It's a Bundyful Life Pt 1 & 2" guest starring Sam Kinison air 11:30-12:30).
2:30 pm-5:00: King of the Hill
5:00 pm- 7:00: That '70s Show
Sunday, 12/24
It's a Wonderful Life; NBC. 7 pm CST
The classic holiday movie.
Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog; G4. 6:30 pm
If you're not into the "Ho ho ho" thing.
And lots of marathons. I'll list what TV Guide has, but it may be best to check out the marathons you may be interested in online at the network website just to be sure.
Nickelodeon: 16 hours of seasonal cartoons starting at 5 am.
Discovery: 18 hours of Dirty Jobs starting at 8 am.
AMC: 18 hours of the classic Miracle on 34th Street, beginning at 11 am.
ABC Family: 12 hours of Rankin Bass classics; 11 am.
Speed: 15-1/2 hrs of Nascar Beyond the Wheel; noon.
TV Land: 24 hours of Christmas episodes of classic shows; 5 pm.
TBS: The yearly 24-hour non-stop airing of A Christmas Story; 7 pm.
FX: Ice Age-- interspersed with other programming-- for 20 hours; 7 pm.
Court TV: 4 hours of COPS; 7 pm.
Or there's football of course. I may finally check out the man who's kicked major ass for me in Fantasy Football all year, LaDainian Tomlinson, when his Chargers face the Seahawks at 3:15 pm. He's been on a massive record-breaking year, and from what I've seen and heard others say about him, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. No BS touchdown dances and "look at me, look at me" shenanagins; just an amazing player who lets his work speak for him.
Sadly, I won't be personally invested in the game as I just lost my semi-final game this week (not LT's fault-- my receivers suuuuucked) and my work league will not enjoy my presence in the Championship game. Boo!
But I all but wrapped up the Championship in my other league (with a monster performance by Mr. Tomlinson). Pray for a low-performing game tomorrow night with the Bengals vs. the Colts. I've got 80 points on my opponent, but she's got three heavy-hitters in the game to my one decent player.
Monday, 12/18
Identity, NBC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Penn Jillette (of "Penn & Teller" and Penn & Teller's Bullsh**!) hosts this game show where contestants try to match character traits to 12 strangers. Sounds lame, but Jellette is a fantastic entertainer. May be worth checking out. This show airs on NBC every night this week; 8 pm on Monday and 7 pm on Tues-Fri.
Jenna ("Pam") Fisher of The Office is a guest on Craig Ferguson's late night show.
Saturday, Dec 23
FX has a 13-hour block of Christmas-themed episodes of various shows:
6 am-6:30: Dharma and Greg
6:30 am- 9:00: Spin City
9:00 am- 11:00: Fear Factor
11:00 am- 2:30 pm: Married With Children (Classic Episodes "It's a Bundyful Life Pt 1 & 2" guest starring Sam Kinison air 11:30-12:30).
2:30 pm-5:00: King of the Hill
5:00 pm- 7:00: That '70s Show
Sunday, 12/24
It's a Wonderful Life; NBC. 7 pm CST
The classic holiday movie.
Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog; G4. 6:30 pm
If you're not into the "Ho ho ho" thing.
And lots of marathons. I'll list what TV Guide has, but it may be best to check out the marathons you may be interested in online at the network website just to be sure.
Nickelodeon: 16 hours of seasonal cartoons starting at 5 am.
Discovery: 18 hours of Dirty Jobs starting at 8 am.
AMC: 18 hours of the classic Miracle on 34th Street, beginning at 11 am.
ABC Family: 12 hours of Rankin Bass classics; 11 am.
Speed: 15-1/2 hrs of Nascar Beyond the Wheel; noon.
TV Land: 24 hours of Christmas episodes of classic shows; 5 pm.
TBS: The yearly 24-hour non-stop airing of A Christmas Story; 7 pm.
FX: Ice Age-- interspersed with other programming-- for 20 hours; 7 pm.
Court TV: 4 hours of COPS; 7 pm.
Or there's football of course. I may finally check out the man who's kicked major ass for me in Fantasy Football all year, LaDainian Tomlinson, when his Chargers face the Seahawks at 3:15 pm. He's been on a massive record-breaking year, and from what I've seen and heard others say about him, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. No BS touchdown dances and "look at me, look at me" shenanagins; just an amazing player who lets his work speak for him.
Sadly, I won't be personally invested in the game as I just lost my semi-final game this week (not LT's fault-- my receivers suuuuucked) and my work league will not enjoy my presence in the Championship game. Boo!
But I all but wrapped up the Championship in my other league (with a monster performance by Mr. Tomlinson). Pray for a low-performing game tomorrow night with the Bengals vs. the Colts. I've got 80 points on my opponent, but she's got three heavy-hitters in the game to my one decent player.
Monday, December 11, 2006
A PRISON BREAK spoiler of sorts
Okay, if the title didn't scare you away, this bit contains a spoiler that directly follows something from the fall season finale.
You've been warned...
Okay, so Kellerman "flipped" and now is helping Linc and Michael-- and confirmed it by shooting Mahone.
Now, I'm pretty leery that Kellerman actually is on the side of the angels for the long haul. I'm predicting that he's just trying to use the boys to get to Sara and then will kill all three of them. And then he'll get back that which means the most to him: his job.
And while there was hype that "someone major" dies in the fall finale, I just read from Michael Ausiello that Mahone is not dead. I guess it's no real surprise considering I have heard NOTHING about what William Fichtner is going to be working on (which would have happened had he been off the show for real). And, let's face it, it was a pretty bloodless "death" for this show. Of course I'm not happy about being lied to as the only other death on the show was with the woman T-Bag hooked up with that episode.
Oh well...
Other tidbits: Bellick's new nickname: "Fish". Awesome.
Lane Garrison ("Tweener") was involved in a car accident that killed a 15 year old girl and injured some others. Bad, bad news. Worse because alcohol is believed to be involved as well.
And another odd thing I learned: Lane lived with Jessica Simpson for a year when he was 17 and credits her father, Joe, (you know, the one who's pretty much been Jessica's pimp all those years) for helping him get his life together (he was a juvenile delinquent, for sure). Garrison mentioned it was "torture" living there because Jessica is "gorgeous".
Maybe Lane's troubles are one reason why Jess couldn't get through "9 to 5" in the Dolly Parton Tribute Special... Weirder things have happened.
You've been warned...
Okay, so Kellerman "flipped" and now is helping Linc and Michael-- and confirmed it by shooting Mahone.
Now, I'm pretty leery that Kellerman actually is on the side of the angels for the long haul. I'm predicting that he's just trying to use the boys to get to Sara and then will kill all three of them. And then he'll get back that which means the most to him: his job.
And while there was hype that "someone major" dies in the fall finale, I just read from Michael Ausiello that Mahone is not dead. I guess it's no real surprise considering I have heard NOTHING about what William Fichtner is going to be working on (which would have happened had he been off the show for real). And, let's face it, it was a pretty bloodless "death" for this show. Of course I'm not happy about being lied to as the only other death on the show was with the woman T-Bag hooked up with that episode.
Oh well...
Other tidbits: Bellick's new nickname: "Fish". Awesome.
Lane Garrison ("Tweener") was involved in a car accident that killed a 15 year old girl and injured some others. Bad, bad news. Worse because alcohol is believed to be involved as well.
And another odd thing I learned: Lane lived with Jessica Simpson for a year when he was 17 and credits her father, Joe, (you know, the one who's pretty much been Jessica's pimp all those years) for helping him get his life together (he was a juvenile delinquent, for sure). Garrison mentioned it was "torture" living there because Jessica is "gorgeous".
Maybe Lane's troubles are one reason why Jess couldn't get through "9 to 5" in the Dolly Parton Tribute Special... Weirder things have happened.
Quick Reviews
Just a few quick notes on things I've read/watched lately.
Last week's 30th Anniversary show of Inside the NFL was a classy bit of television. There were a few looks back, but mostly, it was a tribute to a show that has become must-see for me (and I don't even care about football).
I love the Wallace & Gromit "shorts" and the feature length-movie, so I used my "daddy persuasion" (not too much as my kids enjoy them as well) and chose Aardman's (with Dreamworks) new feature Flushed Away as a movie to watch with the kids. The movie was made using CGI as opposed to the "Claymation"-style of other Aardman pieces, but the look was the same as Wallace and Chicken Run.
It was a fun movie. Smart for adults, and they didn't dumb it down for kids. Check it out.
Happy Feet on the other hand, was a freakin' mess. It was at least three, distinct movies, and the end sucked ass. The animation was pretty good, but this movie had the biggest thing I hate about the mainstream animated feature business: they got a bunch of "name" actors who had no reason playing voices in this movie.
Pixar movies and a few select others can get away with it because the actors and the characters mesh so well, but many movies just use an actor's name to sell the studio and the audience on a film. There are fantastic voice actors that could have done the voices-- and made them their own.
Okay-- rant over. Anyway, Happy Feet had many more problems than the voices, and I apologize for getting on my soapbox.
Ultimate Fantastic Four Volume 5 "Crossover" also had the good and the bad of the "Ultimate" Marvel Universe (which was designed to use characters/concepts that are 40 years old and reinvent them as if they were created today). It was good, even great, but it took the equivalent of six issues to tell a story that original Fantastic Four creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby would have taken two issues to tell. At least that's cut down from the first few issues of the titles telling a story over six issues that Stan and Jack would have knocked out in one.
"Crossover" is broken into two stories: the first is one where Reed opens a portal to a universe that looks very similar to the one in the regular Marvel Universe (the one fans have been reading about since the '60s), but it's all a trap to lure Reed to a world where the superheroes are actually zombies. It leads to a harrowing adventure (and led to the blockbuster Marvel Zombies mini-series of 2006).
The second tale is about the finding of Atlantis. And the introduction of Namor to the Ultimate Universe. This Namor looks and acts the same, but his background is much different than the regular Marvel's King of Atlantis. I did like the end of the story where the terribly over-matched Fantastic Four ended the fight in an unusual way (and established the Ultimate Namor as a total prick in a different way than the regular Marvel Namor is).
All in all, this is a good read. Mark Millar's story and dialogue were above par. I just wonder why some of the changes between the two universes have to be made. Some changes are so abrupt, it's as if he's painting himself (and others) into a corner. But then again, this is supposed to be a new universe where anything can happen. One change I do like in this "universe" is the attempt to make the fantastic a bit more realistic. Sure they still do crazy stuff, but time is taken to explain the principles of the power/ability whereas in most comic books, things that are just taken for granted "just because" (the team can go deep into the ocean due to a combination of powers-- without Johnny-- whereas the Marvel Reed would just whip up a submarine that would do all the work).
Not to knock Millar, but the stars of this book are penciller Greg Land, inker Matt Ryan, and colorist Justin Ponsor (and Laura Martin). My God, were the pictures gorgeous (as is beginning to be expected of Land). This is some of the most photo-realistic artwork I've ever seen in a comic book. Many, many panels had me stopping (many to say, "Damn, Sue is HOT!") just to take it all in.
The downside to the artwork is it looks as if Land used a number of sources for reference (one is an obvious reproduction of Jessica Alba as Sue from the movie of last year), and a number of times, the same character just didn't look the same (I noticed it mostly with Sue, but then I paid the most attention to her). But, let's face it, that's a pretty small complaint.
Ta Ta for now...
Last week's 30th Anniversary show of Inside the NFL was a classy bit of television. There were a few looks back, but mostly, it was a tribute to a show that has become must-see for me (and I don't even care about football).
I love the Wallace & Gromit "shorts" and the feature length-movie, so I used my "daddy persuasion" (not too much as my kids enjoy them as well) and chose Aardman's (with Dreamworks) new feature Flushed Away as a movie to watch with the kids. The movie was made using CGI as opposed to the "Claymation"-style of other Aardman pieces, but the look was the same as Wallace and Chicken Run.
It was a fun movie. Smart for adults, and they didn't dumb it down for kids. Check it out.
Happy Feet on the other hand, was a freakin' mess. It was at least three, distinct movies, and the end sucked ass. The animation was pretty good, but this movie had the biggest thing I hate about the mainstream animated feature business: they got a bunch of "name" actors who had no reason playing voices in this movie.
Pixar movies and a few select others can get away with it because the actors and the characters mesh so well, but many movies just use an actor's name to sell the studio and the audience on a film. There are fantastic voice actors that could have done the voices-- and made them their own.
Okay-- rant over. Anyway, Happy Feet had many more problems than the voices, and I apologize for getting on my soapbox.
Ultimate Fantastic Four Volume 5 "Crossover" also had the good and the bad of the "Ultimate" Marvel Universe (which was designed to use characters/concepts that are 40 years old and reinvent them as if they were created today). It was good, even great, but it took the equivalent of six issues to tell a story that original Fantastic Four creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby would have taken two issues to tell. At least that's cut down from the first few issues of the titles telling a story over six issues that Stan and Jack would have knocked out in one.
"Crossover" is broken into two stories: the first is one where Reed opens a portal to a universe that looks very similar to the one in the regular Marvel Universe (the one fans have been reading about since the '60s), but it's all a trap to lure Reed to a world where the superheroes are actually zombies. It leads to a harrowing adventure (and led to the blockbuster Marvel Zombies mini-series of 2006).
The second tale is about the finding of Atlantis. And the introduction of Namor to the Ultimate Universe. This Namor looks and acts the same, but his background is much different than the regular Marvel's King of Atlantis. I did like the end of the story where the terribly over-matched Fantastic Four ended the fight in an unusual way (and established the Ultimate Namor as a total prick in a different way than the regular Marvel Namor is).
All in all, this is a good read. Mark Millar's story and dialogue were above par. I just wonder why some of the changes between the two universes have to be made. Some changes are so abrupt, it's as if he's painting himself (and others) into a corner. But then again, this is supposed to be a new universe where anything can happen. One change I do like in this "universe" is the attempt to make the fantastic a bit more realistic. Sure they still do crazy stuff, but time is taken to explain the principles of the power/ability whereas in most comic books, things that are just taken for granted "just because" (the team can go deep into the ocean due to a combination of powers-- without Johnny-- whereas the Marvel Reed would just whip up a submarine that would do all the work).
Not to knock Millar, but the stars of this book are penciller Greg Land, inker Matt Ryan, and colorist Justin Ponsor (and Laura Martin). My God, were the pictures gorgeous (as is beginning to be expected of Land). This is some of the most photo-realistic artwork I've ever seen in a comic book. Many, many panels had me stopping (many to say, "Damn, Sue is HOT!") just to take it all in.
The downside to the artwork is it looks as if Land used a number of sources for reference (one is an obvious reproduction of Jessica Alba as Sue from the movie of last year), and a number of times, the same character just didn't look the same (I noticed it mostly with Sue, but then I paid the most attention to her). But, let's face it, that's a pretty small complaint.
Ta Ta for now...
Dec 11-17 Premieres/Notables
Tuesday, 12/12
How the Grinch Stole Christmas; ABC. 7-8 pm CST
Gotta love this classic.
Rickey Gervais shows up on Letterman. I just saw a commercial for HBO's season 2 premiere of Gervais' Extras that said it begins January 14. Awesome.
Wednesday, 12/13
George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute; AMC. 7-8 pm.
I can't pronounce the title of this tribute, but I have to give a shout out to Clooney, who is one of the best.
Thursday, 12/14
Now The Office gets an hour-long show-- directed by Harold Ramis-- and My Name is Earl gets a rest this week. NBC, 7-8 pm CST.
And Turner Classic Movies is airing Gary Cooper movies all night. If you haven't seen Pride of the Yankees, now's the time to check it out (1:45-4:00 am CST). And, yes, it's okay to cry. If you don't after seeing this movie, then you must be dead.
Sunday, 12/17
Big night for season finales as Survivor, Sleeper Cell: American Terror, Dexter, Breaking Bonaduce, and Celebrity Paranormal Project all end tonight.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas; ABC. 7-8 pm CST
Gotta love this classic.
Rickey Gervais shows up on Letterman. I just saw a commercial for HBO's season 2 premiere of Gervais' Extras that said it begins January 14. Awesome.
Wednesday, 12/13
George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute; AMC. 7-8 pm.
I can't pronounce the title of this tribute, but I have to give a shout out to Clooney, who is one of the best.
Thursday, 12/14
Now The Office gets an hour-long show-- directed by Harold Ramis-- and My Name is Earl gets a rest this week. NBC, 7-8 pm CST.
And Turner Classic Movies is airing Gary Cooper movies all night. If you haven't seen Pride of the Yankees, now's the time to check it out (1:45-4:00 am CST). And, yes, it's okay to cry. If you don't after seeing this movie, then you must be dead.
Sunday, 12/17
Big night for season finales as Survivor, Sleeper Cell: American Terror, Dexter, Breaking Bonaduce, and Celebrity Paranormal Project all end tonight.
Monday, December 04, 2006
December 10 Premieres and Notables
AAAAAARGH!!! I typed the Sunday notables and then gave a longer-than-usual heads up for Sleeper Cell-- and then hit "publish post" and lost everything because there was a burp in my connection.
Well, here's the brief finale to this afternoon's Premieres:
Sunday, Dec 10.
The Amazing Race 10 ends (CBS 7 pm), as does what most critics consider the best show on television: The Wire (HBO, 9 pm).
House of Tiny Terrors, TLC. 7 & 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Families with problem kids move into a house to be studied and counseled by clinical psychologist Tanya Byron.
Alpha Company: Iraq Diary; Military Channel. 7 & 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Profiles of Marines in Iraq.
TV's Best 2006; TV Guide Channel. 7 pm.
This two-parter (part 2 is the next night, same time) looks at the best TV had to offer in 2006 (early). I hope to make a few lists of my own for this blog, so I'll be taking notes.
And the highlight of the night:
Sleeper Cell: American Terror; Showtime. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
Man, I wish I still had Showtime... The network is airing this eight-episode season over the next eight nights (or Showtime On-Demand is offering all the eps at once when it premieres).
Michael Ealy's undercover agent infiltrates another cell, but this time, he's leading it. Last year's cell mastermind Farik (the fantastic Oded Fehr, who gave one of my favorite performances of last year) also is returning as the now-jailed leader, who is still running things.
If this season is anything like last year's, it gets my highest recommendation. Much like I noted about BBC America shows, though, it can't be judged until all episodes are shown. Season One was a little uneven, but as a whole it was great. Check it out on DVD. Unlike the snobbish HBO DVDs, Shwotime DVD season sets can usually be found at a decent price (I've seen Sleeper Cell for as low as $20).
Well, here's the brief finale to this afternoon's Premieres:
Sunday, Dec 10.
The Amazing Race 10 ends (CBS 7 pm), as does what most critics consider the best show on television: The Wire (HBO, 9 pm).
House of Tiny Terrors, TLC. 7 & 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Families with problem kids move into a house to be studied and counseled by clinical psychologist Tanya Byron.
Alpha Company: Iraq Diary; Military Channel. 7 & 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Profiles of Marines in Iraq.
TV's Best 2006; TV Guide Channel. 7 pm.
This two-parter (part 2 is the next night, same time) looks at the best TV had to offer in 2006 (early). I hope to make a few lists of my own for this blog, so I'll be taking notes.
And the highlight of the night:
Sleeper Cell: American Terror; Showtime. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
Man, I wish I still had Showtime... The network is airing this eight-episode season over the next eight nights (or Showtime On-Demand is offering all the eps at once when it premieres).
Michael Ealy's undercover agent infiltrates another cell, but this time, he's leading it. Last year's cell mastermind Farik (the fantastic Oded Fehr, who gave one of my favorite performances of last year) also is returning as the now-jailed leader, who is still running things.
If this season is anything like last year's, it gets my highest recommendation. Much like I noted about BBC America shows, though, it can't be judged until all episodes are shown. Season One was a little uneven, but as a whole it was great. Check it out on DVD. Unlike the snobbish HBO DVDs, Shwotime DVD season sets can usually be found at a decent price (I've seen Sleeper Cell for as low as $20).
Premieres Dec 4 - Dec 10 Pt 1
Monday, Dec 4
Incredible Journeys; Animal Planet. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Documentary about animals who migrate. This week: a polar bear.
The Eleventh Hour; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere
Patrick freakin' Stewart plays a crime-solving physics professor. Stewart + BBC America = Must See.
Supernanny, ABC. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Third Season. A perfect lead-in to What About Brian. :)
And CBS is reairing the season two premiere of How I Met Your Mother at 7:30. Here's your chance to check it out if you still haven't taken my advice and watched it yet.
Tuesday, Dec 5
Campus Ladies; Oxygen. 10 pm. Season Premiere.
Cash and Treasures; Travel. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Host becky Worley travels the country looking for vaulable, offbeat items.
Bad Girls Club; Oxygen. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Another booze-soaked "reality" show from the producers of The Real World. This one is about seven "bad girls" who live together in L.A. The opener highlights the roommates clashing after a night of drinking. Hmmm: drinking and fighting amongst themselves. Wasn't that on an episode of Real World once?
And if there was anyone still watching, MyNetworkTV's first telenovels end tonight.
Wednesday, Dec 6
The King of Queens; CBS. 7 & 7:30 pm. Season premiere.
The ninth (and probably final) season begins. Let's all hope it's better than last season...
Wicked Wicked Games; MyNetworkTV. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Another 13-week telenovela; this one starring Tatum O'Neal.
Watch Over Me; MyNetworkTV. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Does it matter what it's about? I'm sure it's classy.
Dirty Dancing; WE. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Another f-ing reality series. This one's hosted by Chris Judd.
Twentyfourseven; MTV. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
A reality-show Entourage ripoff. On MTV. I'm not even gonna comment.
Mythbusters (Discovery, 9 pm) will delve into what it would take for Santa's sleigh to fly.
Inside the NFL (HBO, 9 pm-- and lots of reairs during the week) welcomes back original hosts Len Dawson and Nick Buoniconti for the 30th Anniversary show. Now that's what classy really is.
Thursday, Dec 7
My Name is Earl airs a 2-parter at 7 pm and 7:30 pm.
Friday, Dec 8
Mean Girls. For those of you who don't get movie channels or haven't watched the DVD, here's a chance to see Lindsay Lohan in a good role-- and Tina Fey being funny (kinda rare on 30 Rock or SNL). TBS, 8 pm.
Hey, lunch is almost over. I'll get to Sunday's shows within the next day or two...
Incredible Journeys; Animal Planet. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Documentary about animals who migrate. This week: a polar bear.
The Eleventh Hour; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere
Patrick freakin' Stewart plays a crime-solving physics professor. Stewart + BBC America = Must See.
Supernanny, ABC. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Third Season. A perfect lead-in to What About Brian. :)
And CBS is reairing the season two premiere of How I Met Your Mother at 7:30. Here's your chance to check it out if you still haven't taken my advice and watched it yet.
Tuesday, Dec 5
Campus Ladies; Oxygen. 10 pm. Season Premiere.
Cash and Treasures; Travel. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Host becky Worley travels the country looking for vaulable, offbeat items.
Bad Girls Club; Oxygen. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Another booze-soaked "reality" show from the producers of The Real World. This one is about seven "bad girls" who live together in L.A. The opener highlights the roommates clashing after a night of drinking. Hmmm: drinking and fighting amongst themselves. Wasn't that on an episode of Real World once?
And if there was anyone still watching, MyNetworkTV's first telenovels end tonight.
Wednesday, Dec 6
The King of Queens; CBS. 7 & 7:30 pm. Season premiere.
The ninth (and probably final) season begins. Let's all hope it's better than last season...
Wicked Wicked Games; MyNetworkTV. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Another 13-week telenovela; this one starring Tatum O'Neal.
Watch Over Me; MyNetworkTV. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Does it matter what it's about? I'm sure it's classy.
Dirty Dancing; WE. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Another f-ing reality series. This one's hosted by Chris Judd.
Twentyfourseven; MTV. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
A reality-show Entourage ripoff. On MTV. I'm not even gonna comment.
Mythbusters (Discovery, 9 pm) will delve into what it would take for Santa's sleigh to fly.
Inside the NFL (HBO, 9 pm-- and lots of reairs during the week) welcomes back original hosts Len Dawson and Nick Buoniconti for the 30th Anniversary show. Now that's what classy really is.
Thursday, Dec 7
My Name is Earl airs a 2-parter at 7 pm and 7:30 pm.
Friday, Dec 8
Mean Girls. For those of you who don't get movie channels or haven't watched the DVD, here's a chance to see Lindsay Lohan in a good role-- and Tina Fey being funny (kinda rare on 30 Rock or SNL). TBS, 8 pm.
Hey, lunch is almost over. I'll get to Sunday's shows within the next day or two...
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Must See TV?
Fantastic News about NBC's new Thursday comedy block:
It was a success! Each show experienced some of their the highest ratings of the season.
My Name Is Earl had 9.5 million total viewers; best since Oct 12.
The Office had 9.7 mil; best since Sept 21 (awesome as that was the season premiere that "answered" the Jim/Pam finale).
Scrubs had 7.7 mil; best since Feb 28.
30 Rock had about 6.56 million-- and got a full-season pickup on Friday after the numbers came in.
The numbers aren't fantastic, but we all should be happy that if NBC stuck with the shows with lower numbers, that's pretty good news for these four shows (especially with 30's back nine pickup).
To put things in perspective, Ugly Betty had 13.85 million viewers and Grey's Anatomy had 24.27 million. But, other than Betty, there are no other comedies airing that night, so the counter-programming attempt seems to have worked-- thankfully (especially for Scrubs, which is continually on the verge of non-renewal).
Good news for the first episode of Men In Trees to air on Thursday as well: it had its highest numbers since its premiere (11.85 mil) and took second in its slot (Shark was a repeat, BTW).
It was a success! Each show experienced some of their the highest ratings of the season.
My Name Is Earl had 9.5 million total viewers; best since Oct 12.
The Office had 9.7 mil; best since Sept 21 (awesome as that was the season premiere that "answered" the Jim/Pam finale).
Scrubs had 7.7 mil; best since Feb 28.
30 Rock had about 6.56 million-- and got a full-season pickup on Friday after the numbers came in.
The numbers aren't fantastic, but we all should be happy that if NBC stuck with the shows with lower numbers, that's pretty good news for these four shows (especially with 30's back nine pickup).
To put things in perspective, Ugly Betty had 13.85 million viewers and Grey's Anatomy had 24.27 million. But, other than Betty, there are no other comedies airing that night, so the counter-programming attempt seems to have worked-- thankfully (especially for Scrubs, which is continually on the verge of non-renewal).
Good news for the first episode of Men In Trees to air on Thursday as well: it had its highest numbers since its premiere (11.85 mil) and took second in its slot (Shark was a repeat, BTW).
Friday, December 01, 2006
NBC Mid-Season News
Finally, a network stepped up and announced its mid-season schedule. Predictably, it's NBC, which has some hits again-- but not a good schedule to fit them in yet.
Dateline NBC takes over the Tuesdays at 7 pm spot beginning Dec 26.
Friday Night Lights moves to Wednesdays at 7 pm starting Jan 10, followed by Deal or No Deal. The move should keep it out of the horrorshow that American Idol would inflict upon it on Tuesdays. But it still has to lead off the night, which is gonna be tough.
Grease: You're the One That I Want (a reality contest to find actors for the Broadway revival) begins Sunday, Jan 7 at 7 pm followed by the show that should just die already: The Apprentice (Season 6 in L.A.) at 8:30 pm. Crossing Jordan takes the Sunday at 9 pm slot starting Jan 21.
The supposed-to-be-good Black Donnellys will finally premiere in early March and will take Studio 60's spot (leaving four episodes unaired-- unless they find another spot for it; it's a very lucky show to enjoy the Heroes lead-in for much longer than most people would have expected). And Raines will take over Las Vegas' timeslot in early March as well.
Dateline NBC takes over the Tuesdays at 7 pm spot beginning Dec 26.
Friday Night Lights moves to Wednesdays at 7 pm starting Jan 10, followed by Deal or No Deal. The move should keep it out of the horrorshow that American Idol would inflict upon it on Tuesdays. But it still has to lead off the night, which is gonna be tough.
Grease: You're the One That I Want (a reality contest to find actors for the Broadway revival) begins Sunday, Jan 7 at 7 pm followed by the show that should just die already: The Apprentice (Season 6 in L.A.) at 8:30 pm. Crossing Jordan takes the Sunday at 9 pm slot starting Jan 21.
The supposed-to-be-good Black Donnellys will finally premiere in early March and will take Studio 60's spot (leaving four episodes unaired-- unless they find another spot for it; it's a very lucky show to enjoy the Heroes lead-in for much longer than most people would have expected). And Raines will take over Las Vegas' timeslot in early March as well.
Maybe It's Cursed
3 lbs got the ax after three episodes.
Oddly enough, it was in the Tuesday at 9 pm slot that Smith resided in for all of three episodes earlier this season.
Two shows down in less than three months, both starring great actors. How did Jericho make it at this network?
Thankfully, CBS has planty of CSI-related shows they can throw in there-- assuming they don't think the timeslot is cursed.
Oddly enough, it was in the Tuesday at 9 pm slot that Smith resided in for all of three episodes earlier this season.
Two shows down in less than three months, both starring great actors. How did Jericho make it at this network?
Thankfully, CBS has planty of CSI-related shows they can throw in there-- assuming they don't think the timeslot is cursed.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
A MUST SEE show to watch out for
One of the best shows I watched all year, Bodies, is re-airing on BBC America Tuesday am (Dec 5) from 2 am to 5 am (episodes 1-3) and Wednesday am (Dec 6) from 2 am to 5 am (episodes 4-6). That's right: over the course of two mornings, the entire series is airing. Put a tape in or set the DVR.
This six-episode series is amazing. It is truly one of the best shows I've ever watched.
The show follows Rob Lake, a new doctor in the Ob Gyn department of a city hospital as he runs up against his incompetent boss, Roger Hurley. Rob makes a mistake, and Roger covers it up. Roger makes a mistake, and Rob looks the other way. Roger makes another mistake and Rob starts to question his boss' abilities. More and more mistakes, and Rob finds himself in a no-win situation: report his boss and lose his job and career or keep quiet and lose his soul.
You'd think you could easily guess how the story will go, but this isn't American TV. Rob Lake is no Doug Ross (George Clooney's flawed, but heroic character on ER). He doesn't want to lose his job-- especially knowing that Hurley could and will bury his career. He also isn't the most moral man, either; letting a mistake he made be covered up-- or having an affair with a married woman.
As with many BBC America shows, it takes an episode or two to get into. DON'T be discouraged if you aren't feeling a pay-off by the end of the first hour. Most times, a BBC America series is made to be 6 or so episodes long, start to finish, so they often utilize the full episode order to tell a complete story; a luxury American shows don't have.
But be warned: this is a very dark show. Very bloody and very emotional (could they have chosen a more heart-wrenching place to have these mistakes than a birthing unit?).
If you can stomach the blood, the emotions, and the nebulous morality of this show, the rewards will be tremendous.
Seriously, record it and give yourself an afternoon or evening to watch it, start to finish. It gets my highest recommendation. This was the show that made me buy a cable box, so I could record the series to tape to keep (until a DVD set is released, of course).
For added fun, you might recognize the actor who plays Roger Hurley. Yes, it's Patrick Baladi from BBC America's The Office. He played David Brent's boss Neil Godwin on the second season; a nice bloke, who was very friendly and down-to-earth. In Bodies, Baladi plays Hurley as a similar character, outwardly (nice, caring), but Hurley will do anything to maintain his status at the hospital, and there's a very dark side to this character.
This six-episode series is amazing. It is truly one of the best shows I've ever watched.
The show follows Rob Lake, a new doctor in the Ob Gyn department of a city hospital as he runs up against his incompetent boss, Roger Hurley. Rob makes a mistake, and Roger covers it up. Roger makes a mistake, and Rob looks the other way. Roger makes another mistake and Rob starts to question his boss' abilities. More and more mistakes, and Rob finds himself in a no-win situation: report his boss and lose his job and career or keep quiet and lose his soul.
You'd think you could easily guess how the story will go, but this isn't American TV. Rob Lake is no Doug Ross (George Clooney's flawed, but heroic character on ER). He doesn't want to lose his job-- especially knowing that Hurley could and will bury his career. He also isn't the most moral man, either; letting a mistake he made be covered up-- or having an affair with a married woman.
As with many BBC America shows, it takes an episode or two to get into. DON'T be discouraged if you aren't feeling a pay-off by the end of the first hour. Most times, a BBC America series is made to be 6 or so episodes long, start to finish, so they often utilize the full episode order to tell a complete story; a luxury American shows don't have.
But be warned: this is a very dark show. Very bloody and very emotional (could they have chosen a more heart-wrenching place to have these mistakes than a birthing unit?).
If you can stomach the blood, the emotions, and the nebulous morality of this show, the rewards will be tremendous.
Seriously, record it and give yourself an afternoon or evening to watch it, start to finish. It gets my highest recommendation. This was the show that made me buy a cable box, so I could record the series to tape to keep (until a DVD set is released, of course).
For added fun, you might recognize the actor who plays Roger Hurley. Yes, it's Patrick Baladi from BBC America's The Office. He played David Brent's boss Neil Godwin on the second season; a nice bloke, who was very friendly and down-to-earth. In Bodies, Baladi plays Hurley as a similar character, outwardly (nice, caring), but Hurley will do anything to maintain his status at the hospital, and there's a very dark side to this character.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Hey, I read a little, too
I know I focus on TV, big time. Especially during the Fantasy Football season when most of my computer time is spent on my teams (I'm #1 in one league and #2 in the other, so it's paying off).
But I also find time to read. I go on spurts where I read a ton. The last month has been one of those times.
I've promoted library use before, and I will again. If libraries have done anything for me beyond expanding my horizons, so to speak, they also force me to read. Because unlike when I buy books (which doesn't happen so much anymore-- which is okay since I've got hundreds on shelves at home), when I borrow them from the library, I have to take them back.
So I usually end up reading them.
Here's what I've read in the last few weeks:
The Van Halen Encyclopedia, C. J. Chilvers.
I'm a big Van Halen fan. Probably a bigger fan than most. I have every album, nearly every solo work any member has done, an enormous collection of magazines with interviews of any band member, and I've also tried to keep up on the goings on of the members throughout the years.
C.J. Chilvers is a mega-fan. This labor of love must have been an enormous undertaking. He's listed every album, release dates, dates they went gold, platinum, diamond. He's got every album of every member (including Hagar and Roth's solo work, and albums Cherone has been on). He's got as many tour dates as he could dig up (and even gives the usual set list-- or any aberrations).
There's a ton of info in this book.
I plan to hunt down a copy and buy it for my book shelf someday. That's probably the highest recommendation I can give.
Sir Apropos of Nothing, Peter David.
I'm a long-time Peter David fan. It began when he revolutionized the comic book The Incredible Hulk (which I was really lucky to get in on just as he started his 10-year run). I was the owner of some of his earliest work in books (the great Knight Life) until a copy I lent out never came back (it took me years to track down another copy). I can't/won't claim to have read all of his novel work; I'm probably closer to having read about half his work. Apropos, at 500 pages, is, by far, his longest work, and did he ever pack in the story.
Apropos is about as low in the medieval food-chain as one can get (bastard son of a whore who lives in the back room of a tavern), and he's not a very heroic character by any means. In fact, his entire existence is to exist. So he's not about to stick his neck out for someone else. David uses a first person narrative, which is about the only way an outwardly unsympathetic character can gain any possibility of sympathy from the reader. It works very well.
As can be expected in a fantasy novel (which this one is very accessible to any reader), Apropos finds himself in an adventure (actually, a long string of many adventures). I won't go into detail, but let's just say there's enough here to sustain an entire series of books.
As with most Peter David books I've read, the tone of the book is very playful. There's loads of humor and wordplay, and that can be a little offputting to some. I'll admit, once in a while the names pulled me out of the book briefly. Names like Apropos, Sir Umbrage (Apropos "had to take Umbrage"), Queen Beatrice (who likes to be known as Bea; Queen Bea), and King Meander (whose kingdom is a gypsy-like caravan; you know, it meanders from place to place). But that's a small quibble. There's also a number of pretty graphic scenes, some of which involve battles (or Apropos' ways of getting out of battles) and some of which involve sex (no Penthouse-style stuff, but it was in stark contrast to the rest of the book) which probably hit so hard because the book is so playful otherwise.
But I really did like this book, and I've got the next in the series (Woad to Wuin) on hold at the library.
Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth, Jenny McCarthy.
Yes, that Jenny McCarthy. The hot blonde, who may not be a great actress, but knows what she's good at-- being funny.
McCarthy took a chance and wrote this book for women. It's a chance because she can pretty much hook a readership of men (although there's no pictures in this book), but women are usually a little less forgiving to let a "hot chick" with no medical or writing experience tell them about pregnancy.
But McCarthy immediately puts herself down and shows she's no different than any other woman, and I'm sure she did a good job (as she's got two more books published since this one). You see, she had the worst pregnancy of anyone I've ever read or heard about. I can't imagine everything that goes on to women when they're pregnant-- even though I'm married to a mother of two-- but Jenny let me into her world.
And she didn't use flowery language. She had to pee like crazy, she puked, she was constipated, she feared crapping on the bed at the hospital (which many women do when giving birth, I guess) and she had much, much more bodily stuff go on that I probably should know.
I can't say this was a great book, but it was fun-- and very easy (and fast) to read. I liked it enough to start reading her next book Baby Laughs.
And saving the best for last:
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Max Brooks
I don't really dig zombie movies. I've seen a few of the better ones (the original Night of the Living Dead and the comedy Shaun of the Dead) and I like the comic book series The Walking Dead, but zombies don't really do it for me.
But I really, really liked this book.
Brooks takes a very unique approach to this book. Imagine the earth was overrun by zombies, and humans had to fight back. Imagine the humans won (at least have made the planet nearly 100% zombie-free). Now imagine a journalist travelling the world and recording the stories of politicians, soldiers, military leaders, fathers, mothers, children, heroes, scumbags, astronauts, and on and on about their experiences during the Zombie War.
This entire book reads like dozens of people telling their stories. Each story is a few pages long, and all together, they tell a very whole tale.
I found the premise brilliant and very engaging. Each story tells a different piece of the war, or how the zombies acted, or how people reacted. Each storyteller comes from a different walk of life. Many stories move the plot along, others tell a very emotional tale, and a few even gave me the creeps.
I highly recommend this book. It's another easy one to read. As I said, each story is only a few pages long, so it's easy to find a break to set the book down if you're short on time.
But I'll say it is a very difficult book to put down. It pulls you in.
The only quibble I have is that there wasn't a timeline at the end of the book. It's not necessary to the story, but as a reader who was fascinated by the world, I was hoping for a way to really see how long the war took (was it three years? five? it was less than ten?) and how the zombie invasion progressed and then was repelled.
But I suppose I'll have to read it again, and maybe this time, I'll note the places/events as they're told so I can have a concise overview of the war.
Or maybe I'll cheat and Google it...
But I also find time to read. I go on spurts where I read a ton. The last month has been one of those times.
I've promoted library use before, and I will again. If libraries have done anything for me beyond expanding my horizons, so to speak, they also force me to read. Because unlike when I buy books (which doesn't happen so much anymore-- which is okay since I've got hundreds on shelves at home), when I borrow them from the library, I have to take them back.
So I usually end up reading them.
Here's what I've read in the last few weeks:
The Van Halen Encyclopedia, C. J. Chilvers.
I'm a big Van Halen fan. Probably a bigger fan than most. I have every album, nearly every solo work any member has done, an enormous collection of magazines with interviews of any band member, and I've also tried to keep up on the goings on of the members throughout the years.
C.J. Chilvers is a mega-fan. This labor of love must have been an enormous undertaking. He's listed every album, release dates, dates they went gold, platinum, diamond. He's got every album of every member (including Hagar and Roth's solo work, and albums Cherone has been on). He's got as many tour dates as he could dig up (and even gives the usual set list-- or any aberrations).
There's a ton of info in this book.
I plan to hunt down a copy and buy it for my book shelf someday. That's probably the highest recommendation I can give.
Sir Apropos of Nothing, Peter David.
I'm a long-time Peter David fan. It began when he revolutionized the comic book The Incredible Hulk (which I was really lucky to get in on just as he started his 10-year run). I was the owner of some of his earliest work in books (the great Knight Life) until a copy I lent out never came back (it took me years to track down another copy). I can't/won't claim to have read all of his novel work; I'm probably closer to having read about half his work. Apropos, at 500 pages, is, by far, his longest work, and did he ever pack in the story.
Apropos is about as low in the medieval food-chain as one can get (bastard son of a whore who lives in the back room of a tavern), and he's not a very heroic character by any means. In fact, his entire existence is to exist. So he's not about to stick his neck out for someone else. David uses a first person narrative, which is about the only way an outwardly unsympathetic character can gain any possibility of sympathy from the reader. It works very well.
As can be expected in a fantasy novel (which this one is very accessible to any reader), Apropos finds himself in an adventure (actually, a long string of many adventures). I won't go into detail, but let's just say there's enough here to sustain an entire series of books.
As with most Peter David books I've read, the tone of the book is very playful. There's loads of humor and wordplay, and that can be a little offputting to some. I'll admit, once in a while the names pulled me out of the book briefly. Names like Apropos, Sir Umbrage (Apropos "had to take Umbrage"), Queen Beatrice (who likes to be known as Bea; Queen Bea), and King Meander (whose kingdom is a gypsy-like caravan; you know, it meanders from place to place). But that's a small quibble. There's also a number of pretty graphic scenes, some of which involve battles (or Apropos' ways of getting out of battles) and some of which involve sex (no Penthouse-style stuff, but it was in stark contrast to the rest of the book) which probably hit so hard because the book is so playful otherwise.
But I really did like this book, and I've got the next in the series (Woad to Wuin) on hold at the library.
Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth, Jenny McCarthy.
Yes, that Jenny McCarthy. The hot blonde, who may not be a great actress, but knows what she's good at-- being funny.
McCarthy took a chance and wrote this book for women. It's a chance because she can pretty much hook a readership of men (although there's no pictures in this book), but women are usually a little less forgiving to let a "hot chick" with no medical or writing experience tell them about pregnancy.
But McCarthy immediately puts herself down and shows she's no different than any other woman, and I'm sure she did a good job (as she's got two more books published since this one). You see, she had the worst pregnancy of anyone I've ever read or heard about. I can't imagine everything that goes on to women when they're pregnant-- even though I'm married to a mother of two-- but Jenny let me into her world.
And she didn't use flowery language. She had to pee like crazy, she puked, she was constipated, she feared crapping on the bed at the hospital (which many women do when giving birth, I guess) and she had much, much more bodily stuff go on that I probably should know.
I can't say this was a great book, but it was fun-- and very easy (and fast) to read. I liked it enough to start reading her next book Baby Laughs.
And saving the best for last:
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Max Brooks
I don't really dig zombie movies. I've seen a few of the better ones (the original Night of the Living Dead and the comedy Shaun of the Dead) and I like the comic book series The Walking Dead, but zombies don't really do it for me.
But I really, really liked this book.
Brooks takes a very unique approach to this book. Imagine the earth was overrun by zombies, and humans had to fight back. Imagine the humans won (at least have made the planet nearly 100% zombie-free). Now imagine a journalist travelling the world and recording the stories of politicians, soldiers, military leaders, fathers, mothers, children, heroes, scumbags, astronauts, and on and on about their experiences during the Zombie War.
This entire book reads like dozens of people telling their stories. Each story is a few pages long, and all together, they tell a very whole tale.
I found the premise brilliant and very engaging. Each story tells a different piece of the war, or how the zombies acted, or how people reacted. Each storyteller comes from a different walk of life. Many stories move the plot along, others tell a very emotional tale, and a few even gave me the creeps.
I highly recommend this book. It's another easy one to read. As I said, each story is only a few pages long, so it's easy to find a break to set the book down if you're short on time.
But I'll say it is a very difficult book to put down. It pulls you in.
The only quibble I have is that there wasn't a timeline at the end of the book. It's not necessary to the story, but as a reader who was fascinated by the world, I was hoping for a way to really see how long the war took (was it three years? five? it was less than ten?) and how the zombie invasion progressed and then was repelled.
But I suppose I'll have to read it again, and maybe this time, I'll note the places/events as they're told so I can have a concise overview of the war.
Or maybe I'll cheat and Google it...
PRISON BREAK-- non spoilers
Holy Sh**!!!!
Okay, I did not see that coming (until 30 seconds before it happened).
But I wish I would have told SOMEONE about my prediction as I was hoping/expecting one of the characters to do what he ended up doing.
I even e-mailed my friend, Tom, today and almost told him my prediction, but since I didn't know if he's been watching, I didn't mention it.
Well, the producers said "no one is safe", and this episode proves it.
Did anyone else notice the last shot of Bellick was an identical one of Schofield very early on in the series? I really dig Wade (Bellick) Williams, so I hope we continue to see more of him.
Thankfully, we only have until Jan 29 to see what happens (I know FOX was touting Jan 22, but I've been reading that the first date is a recap show to get us primed for the remaining episodes).
Okay, I did not see that coming (until 30 seconds before it happened).
But I wish I would have told SOMEONE about my prediction as I was hoping/expecting one of the characters to do what he ended up doing.
I even e-mailed my friend, Tom, today and almost told him my prediction, but since I didn't know if he's been watching, I didn't mention it.
Well, the producers said "no one is safe", and this episode proves it.
Did anyone else notice the last shot of Bellick was an identical one of Schofield very early on in the series? I really dig Wade (Bellick) Williams, so I hope we continue to see more of him.
Thankfully, we only have until Jan 29 to see what happens (I know FOX was touting Jan 22, but I've been reading that the first date is a recap show to get us primed for the remaining episodes).
Premieres and Notables 11/27- 12/3
Big Week; I'll try to get through them all. If not, expect Part 2 a little later.
Monday, 11/27
The Fall Season of Prison Break ends tonight in what's supposed to be a pretty high-octane episode (I've heard rumblings that another major character bites it this ep) loaded with cliff-hangers. It's been confirmed that the break will be a short one this year, as the show comes back on 1/22 to a recap show, and then with new eps starting 1/29-- with no repeats until the season ends.
For those of you wondering-- The conspiracy storyline is supposed to end this season, so there will be a close to the two-year storyline. Things are hush-hush on next year's storyline, but the body count is supposed to be so high that there are only a handful of characters left to embark on the new story next season. I'm hoping it'll be Schofield hunting T-Bag.
My Super Sweet 16, MTV. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Fourth season? Seriously?
10 Items or Less, TBS. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
Another partly-improvised comedy; this time, a guy returns home to run the family store.
Tuesday, 11/28
My Boys, TBS. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Comedy about a tomboy sports journalist and the male friends she hangs with. It's gotten good reviews so far. Check it out.
Dirty Jobs, Discovery. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
American Gangster, BET. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Profiles on infamous black criminals and their stories, while taking pains to not glorify them.
Wednesday, 11/29
My Celebrity Home, Style. 8 pm. Season premiere
Undercover History, National Geographic. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Fresh perspecitves on unsolved events in history.
Corkscrewed, FOX Reality. 7:30. Series Premiere.
Reality series of two American Idol producers and their efforts to buy and maintain a vineyard.
Thursday, 11/30
NBC gets back "Must See TV" with My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock, and the season Premiere of Scrubs.
***Alert: the episode of The Office is written by the original series creator: Ricky Gervais. This is MUST SEE TV, right here.***
Crimes That Shook the World, Discovery. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Horrifying crimes are recalled. This week's ep: the BTK killer.
Friday, 12/1
BBC America is running new series and season premieres in it's Friday comedy block.
My Family (8 pm), The Worst Week of My Life (8:40), and Black Book (10:30)
I love this channel, and will be checking out most of these.
That's it. Unless you want to check out the new The Librarian: The Return to King Solomon's Mines (Sunday, TNT, 7 pm) or Big in '06 Awards (Sunday, VH1, 8 pm). I'm sure they're both garbage...
Monday, 11/27
The Fall Season of Prison Break ends tonight in what's supposed to be a pretty high-octane episode (I've heard rumblings that another major character bites it this ep) loaded with cliff-hangers. It's been confirmed that the break will be a short one this year, as the show comes back on 1/22 to a recap show, and then with new eps starting 1/29-- with no repeats until the season ends.
For those of you wondering-- The conspiracy storyline is supposed to end this season, so there will be a close to the two-year storyline. Things are hush-hush on next year's storyline, but the body count is supposed to be so high that there are only a handful of characters left to embark on the new story next season. I'm hoping it'll be Schofield hunting T-Bag.
My Super Sweet 16, MTV. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Fourth season? Seriously?
10 Items or Less, TBS. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
Another partly-improvised comedy; this time, a guy returns home to run the family store.
Tuesday, 11/28
My Boys, TBS. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Comedy about a tomboy sports journalist and the male friends she hangs with. It's gotten good reviews so far. Check it out.
Dirty Jobs, Discovery. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
American Gangster, BET. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Profiles on infamous black criminals and their stories, while taking pains to not glorify them.
Wednesday, 11/29
My Celebrity Home, Style. 8 pm. Season premiere
Undercover History, National Geographic. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Fresh perspecitves on unsolved events in history.
Corkscrewed, FOX Reality. 7:30. Series Premiere.
Reality series of two American Idol producers and their efforts to buy and maintain a vineyard.
Thursday, 11/30
NBC gets back "Must See TV" with My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock, and the season Premiere of Scrubs.
***Alert: the episode of The Office is written by the original series creator: Ricky Gervais. This is MUST SEE TV, right here.***
Crimes That Shook the World, Discovery. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Horrifying crimes are recalled. This week's ep: the BTK killer.
Friday, 12/1
BBC America is running new series and season premieres in it's Friday comedy block.
My Family (8 pm), The Worst Week of My Life (8:40), and Black Book (10:30)
I love this channel, and will be checking out most of these.
That's it. Unless you want to check out the new The Librarian: The Return to King Solomon's Mines (Sunday, TNT, 7 pm) or Big in '06 Awards (Sunday, VH1, 8 pm). I'm sure they're both garbage...
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Premieres & Notables 11/20- 11/26
Sorry I'm late.
At least it's Thanksgiving Week, and very little new stuff is happening aside from Holiday Specials.
Wednesday, 11/22
Real World: Denver; MTV. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Season 18 begins. Remember when this show meant something beyond gettin' drunk and gettin laid? Heck, remember when MTV was innovative? 'Been a long time, hasn't it?
Thursday, 11/23
I love Thanksgiving Week. It used to mean I'd have less to tape/watch. I finally got a little break from the craziness of the past three months because TV shows took a 1-3 week rest and aired repeats. Somehow that all changed the past few years. New episodes are airing tonight for Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Survivor, CSI, Shark, Deal or No Deal, and ER. And that's just on the major networks!
Friday, 11/24
Off The Record, HBO. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
A preview of next year's new show. This pilot features Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics interviewing Bono and The Edge of U2.
Sunday, 11/26
Assy McGee, Cartoon Network [adult swim]. 10:30 pm. Series Premiere.
I'm not sure if this is a worthy replacement for Robot Chicken, but a show about a vigilante shaped like two butt cheeks is something I'm going to have to check out. I tend to watch almost all of the Sunday [swim] shows because they make me laugh. And a couple make me think. And a few make me go: "What the f*** was that?"
Speaking of making me laugh, was Monday's How I Met Your Mother not the funniest thing you've seen in a long while? When Barney slapped Marshall three times in succession, I almost fell off the couch from laughing so hard. And then the ending when Marshall backhanded Barney off the chair was a riot as well.
What wasn't funny on Monday is how hardcore Sara showed she is on Prison Break this week. Daaaaaamn!
(SPOILERS)
First, she tries to iron Kellerman's shirt-- while the dude is still wearing it!. Then she stitches a gash on her own arm in a bathroom stall using a needle and thread. Girl is taking herself to a whole 'nother level...
(END SPOILERS)
And I've got to say: Prison Break is gonna rock next week. I've been hearing big hints that someone major is supposed to die. Also, every character will find themselves in some sort of cliffhanger to make us wait in agony until the back-half of the season airs.
I also gotta say I'm glad I called how Bellick got in trouble a few weeks ago (no, I didn't read the details on a spoiler website).
At least it's Thanksgiving Week, and very little new stuff is happening aside from Holiday Specials.
Wednesday, 11/22
Real World: Denver; MTV. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Season 18 begins. Remember when this show meant something beyond gettin' drunk and gettin laid? Heck, remember when MTV was innovative? 'Been a long time, hasn't it?
Thursday, 11/23
I love Thanksgiving Week. It used to mean I'd have less to tape/watch. I finally got a little break from the craziness of the past three months because TV shows took a 1-3 week rest and aired repeats. Somehow that all changed the past few years. New episodes are airing tonight for Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Survivor, CSI, Shark, Deal or No Deal, and ER. And that's just on the major networks!
Friday, 11/24
Off The Record, HBO. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
A preview of next year's new show. This pilot features Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics interviewing Bono and The Edge of U2.
Sunday, 11/26
Assy McGee, Cartoon Network [adult swim]. 10:30 pm. Series Premiere.
I'm not sure if this is a worthy replacement for Robot Chicken, but a show about a vigilante shaped like two butt cheeks is something I'm going to have to check out. I tend to watch almost all of the Sunday [swim] shows because they make me laugh. And a couple make me think. And a few make me go: "What the f*** was that?"
Speaking of making me laugh, was Monday's How I Met Your Mother not the funniest thing you've seen in a long while? When Barney slapped Marshall three times in succession, I almost fell off the couch from laughing so hard. And then the ending when Marshall backhanded Barney off the chair was a riot as well.
What wasn't funny on Monday is how hardcore Sara showed she is on Prison Break this week. Daaaaaamn!
(SPOILERS)
First, she tries to iron Kellerman's shirt-- while the dude is still wearing it!. Then she stitches a gash on her own arm in a bathroom stall using a needle and thread. Girl is taking herself to a whole 'nother level...
(END SPOILERS)
And I've got to say: Prison Break is gonna rock next week. I've been hearing big hints that someone major is supposed to die. Also, every character will find themselves in some sort of cliffhanger to make us wait in agony until the back-half of the season airs.
I also gotta say I'm glad I called how Bellick got in trouble a few weeks ago (no, I didn't read the details on a spoiler website).
Saturday, November 18, 2006
VANISHED Vanishes
Another one bites the dust...
FOX pulled Vanished, finally, and will air the rest of the episodes on its website (and maybe myspace.com's as well).
I gave this show a lot of chances. I tried really hard to like it, but it was a mess. Even killing off the main character (a radical move that allowed the show a chance to change direction) didn't do it for me.
Add it to the graveyard and bring on another...
FOX pulled Vanished, finally, and will air the rest of the episodes on its website (and maybe myspace.com's as well).
I gave this show a lot of chances. I tried really hard to like it, but it was a mess. Even killing off the main character (a radical move that allowed the show a chance to change direction) didn't do it for me.
Add it to the graveyard and bring on another...
NBC Opens Doors to Immigration
NBC is hoping the success they found with The Office can allow lightning to strike twice.
It's developing a BBC Three show called I'm With Stupid with the Farrelly Brothers, which should be interesting. It's also looking to snatch a Channel 4 show called The IT Crowd and an Australian show called Kath & Kim.
I don't know what I'm With Stupid is about, but I'm sure it'll be over-the-top with the Farrellys on board. The IT Crowd is about three IT-support workers who are exiled to the basement of their company's otherwise posh office building and is being adapted by Just Shoot Me veterans. I've actually seen Kath & Kim since The Sundance Channel airs it, and it'll be interesting to see how they translate it since I found the original slow (it's faux-documentary/reality show where cameras follow around a woman and her adult daughter).
Now, NBC scored with The Office, but let's not forget the disasters that were Coupling and Men Behaving Badly; two other BBC shows it tried to adapt. BTW: I watched the original, BBC version of Coupling over the summer and found it absolutely hilarious; truly one of the best comedies I've ever seen. Check it out if you have a chance. It's not currently on the BBC America rotation, but I'm sure they'll air it again soon.
I got on a BBC America search today, looking for other shows to record, and I see it's airing the first three eps of Rocketman again this week . I have all six eps in my DVR as I haven't gotten to them yet-- but I did see the first episode, and it was very good. It brought tears to my eyes a couple times (it's a very rare show that can get that reaction from me). It's about a man's quest to send his wife's ashes into space-- just as they always wished-- but he doesn't have the funds or the proper equipment to make it happen. But that doesn't stop him from trying, again and again. But it is taking a toll on him emotionally, as well as on his children, who he has practically abandoned while he pursued his quixotic quest.
December 1 has the premieres of two promising-looking BBC America shows.
First is Hardware starring The (original) Office's Martin Freeman (who played the "Jim" inspiration "Tim"), which airs at 10pm on December 1. It's about four hardware store employees who help their customers and annoy each other.
Second is the second season of Worst Week of My Life. I didn't see the first season (the first three eps of which re-air Monday morning from 2-4 am). Each seven episode "season" follows a week in a new couple's life (the couple are played by Ben Miller and Sarah Alexander; Alexander is all over the BBC, having starred in Coupling and Green Wing as well as NBC's Teachers from last year-- but don't blame her for that NBC garbage). Week (Season) One was about their wedding, and this new season follows the week leading up to the birth of their baby. The second season begins at 8:40m on December 1, and runs the next seven weeks.
I'm trying both shows out, for sure.
I highly recommend trying out various shows on BBC America. It's not the Monty Python or Benny Hill- only network it once was. I've seen tremendous shows on it the past year and a half. Not every show is for everybody, but there are very "American-feeling" shows on it that aren't as foreign as past shows were (even The Office took me a while to "get", but "get it" I did after I understood the language differences).
Just a short list of shows I'd recommend: The Office (the first, and the harshest), Conviction (a morality tale about a guy who had a terrible secret-- has NOTHING to do with the piece-of-crap show of the same name NBC aired last spring), Coupling (seriously, one of the best comedies I've ever seen), Bodies (an extremely dark show about cover-ups, lying, and how far can one person let it go before taking action-- one of my Top Ten shows of the past year), Green Wing (Think Scrubs mixed with the attitude of M.A.S.H. and take away the FCC-- and make some of the characters bat-sh** insane), Ed vs. Spencer (two guys compete to see who is better-- or worse in various contests; a real life "Goofus and Gallant" strip), and Bromwell High (England's answer to South Park and The Simpsons; off-the-wall animation; bad-ass Keisha is one of my favorite characters of the year).
It's developing a BBC Three show called I'm With Stupid with the Farrelly Brothers, which should be interesting. It's also looking to snatch a Channel 4 show called The IT Crowd and an Australian show called Kath & Kim.
I don't know what I'm With Stupid is about, but I'm sure it'll be over-the-top with the Farrellys on board. The IT Crowd is about three IT-support workers who are exiled to the basement of their company's otherwise posh office building and is being adapted by Just Shoot Me veterans. I've actually seen Kath & Kim since The Sundance Channel airs it, and it'll be interesting to see how they translate it since I found the original slow (it's faux-documentary/reality show where cameras follow around a woman and her adult daughter).
Now, NBC scored with The Office, but let's not forget the disasters that were Coupling and Men Behaving Badly; two other BBC shows it tried to adapt. BTW: I watched the original, BBC version of Coupling over the summer and found it absolutely hilarious; truly one of the best comedies I've ever seen. Check it out if you have a chance. It's not currently on the BBC America rotation, but I'm sure they'll air it again soon.
I got on a BBC America search today, looking for other shows to record, and I see it's airing the first three eps of Rocketman again this week . I have all six eps in my DVR as I haven't gotten to them yet-- but I did see the first episode, and it was very good. It brought tears to my eyes a couple times (it's a very rare show that can get that reaction from me). It's about a man's quest to send his wife's ashes into space-- just as they always wished-- but he doesn't have the funds or the proper equipment to make it happen. But that doesn't stop him from trying, again and again. But it is taking a toll on him emotionally, as well as on his children, who he has practically abandoned while he pursued his quixotic quest.
December 1 has the premieres of two promising-looking BBC America shows.
First is Hardware starring The (original) Office's Martin Freeman (who played the "Jim" inspiration "Tim"), which airs at 10pm on December 1. It's about four hardware store employees who help their customers and annoy each other.
Second is the second season of Worst Week of My Life. I didn't see the first season (the first three eps of which re-air Monday morning from 2-4 am). Each seven episode "season" follows a week in a new couple's life (the couple are played by Ben Miller and Sarah Alexander; Alexander is all over the BBC, having starred in Coupling and Green Wing as well as NBC's Teachers from last year-- but don't blame her for that NBC garbage). Week (Season) One was about their wedding, and this new season follows the week leading up to the birth of their baby. The second season begins at 8:40m on December 1, and runs the next seven weeks.
I'm trying both shows out, for sure.
I highly recommend trying out various shows on BBC America. It's not the Monty Python or Benny Hill- only network it once was. I've seen tremendous shows on it the past year and a half. Not every show is for everybody, but there are very "American-feeling" shows on it that aren't as foreign as past shows were (even The Office took me a while to "get", but "get it" I did after I understood the language differences).
Just a short list of shows I'd recommend: The Office (the first, and the harshest), Conviction (a morality tale about a guy who had a terrible secret-- has NOTHING to do with the piece-of-crap show of the same name NBC aired last spring), Coupling (seriously, one of the best comedies I've ever seen), Bodies (an extremely dark show about cover-ups, lying, and how far can one person let it go before taking action-- one of my Top Ten shows of the past year), Green Wing (Think Scrubs mixed with the attitude of M.A.S.H. and take away the FCC-- and make some of the characters bat-sh** insane), Ed vs. Spencer (two guys compete to see who is better-- or worse in various contests; a real life "Goofus and Gallant" strip), and Bromwell High (England's answer to South Park and The Simpsons; off-the-wall animation; bad-ass Keisha is one of my favorite characters of the year).
Friday, November 17, 2006
Welcome PRISON BREAK news
Sounds like FOX doesn't have much in the pipeline for mid-season-- which isn't helped by the failures of their new shows thus far, so they may have to bring back an All-Star early.
Prison Break was supposed to disappear until March after it's Nov. 27 episode, but now there's talk of bringing it back in late-January.
Good news to not have such a huge gap in the middle of the season, but it could mean the show will wrap early (in March; with a killer cliff-hanger, for sure) or air repeats in between new episodes.
Another tricky thing about it: apparently the show is running really tight now, with very little time between wrapping and airing an episode. The moved-up second half of the season could wreak havok on the filming schedule.
Oh well, I'll take my Break wherever I can get it.
Prison Break was supposed to disappear until March after it's Nov. 27 episode, but now there's talk of bringing it back in late-January.
Good news to not have such a huge gap in the middle of the season, but it could mean the show will wrap early (in March; with a killer cliff-hanger, for sure) or air repeats in between new episodes.
Another tricky thing about it: apparently the show is running really tight now, with very little time between wrapping and airing an episode. The moved-up second half of the season could wreak havok on the filming schedule.
Oh well, I'll take my Break wherever I can get it.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Some pick ups-- and drops
It's the mid-season point of the new TV season, and we have four cancelled shows: Smith, Runaway, Kidnapped, and Happy Hour and three that are "on hiatus": Twenty Good Years, Six Degrees, and the latest, Justice, which was pulled from tonight's lineup at the last second.
These shows were given full-season pickups: Men In Trees, Studio 60, Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights (picked up just today), The Game, Brothers and Sisters, Shark, and Jericho (which, it was just announced, will go the Lost and Prison Break route and air in two repeat-free blocks).
To follow up with Jericho: the last episode this year will be on Nov 29 and then the aging King of Queens will air in its timeslot until Jericho returns in late-February.
These shows were given full-season pickups: Men In Trees, Studio 60, Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights (picked up just today), The Game, Brothers and Sisters, Shark, and Jericho (which, it was just announced, will go the Lost and Prison Break route and air in two repeat-free blocks).
To follow up with Jericho: the last episode this year will be on Nov 29 and then the aging King of Queens will air in its timeslot until Jericho returns in late-February.
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