Monday, 2/5
Sara and Michael reunite on Prison Break, and a third escapee takes a dirt nap. Here are my odds (and my comments are strictly my own-- I know nothing):
Michael: 1,000,000 to 1. I think one of the bros dies by season's end, but it's way too early for that yet.
Lincoln: 250,000 to 1: Not Linc's time (yet).
T-Bag: 200,000 to 1: Yeah, right. There's lots of story left with Mr. Bagwell.
Sucre: 100 to 1: Getting to the more likely suspects, but ya can't kill off Sucre before he finds Maricruz.
C-Note: 5 to 1: He could go down saving his wife or daughter, but I think there's still something left for him story-wise.
Haywire: 2 to 1: The only escapee who is not a series regular (and barely appears at all); he was good for a laugh, but his actions last week reminded us he's got a violent screw loose. I don't see Mahone in on it at all, though.
Rules of Engagment; CBS. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I've, actually, liked David Spade on most of the shows he's done (even if it's usually the same type of character), and it's also got Patrick Warburton (who I've always liked) and Megyn Price (who I just love). But the commericals have looked pretty crappy and the premise (think 'til Death, but with the addition of a smarmy single guy) looks weak. I'll check it out, but don't expect it to make it past April, when King of Queens returns.
NASCAR Now; ESPN2. 5:30 CST. New Series.
Racing-fever is now hitting more mainstream sports channels...
Wednesday, 2/7
Lost returns after 13 weeks with an uninterrupted run of episodes through May. And it's moved to 9:00 CST to stay out of harm's (American Idol) way.
Thursday, 2/8
Survivor; CBS. 7 pm. Season premiere.
The fourteen season begins. This time, the two tribes are split between those with lavish (for this show) digs, and the others with nothing. I keep thinking I can stop watching the show, but it always manages to keep me watching.
Friday, 2/9
Ladette to Lady; Sundance. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
Rough around the edges women learn to become "proper" ladies.
Saturday, 2/10
Kim Possible; Disney. 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, & 8:30. Season Premiere.
The fourth season of this (supposedly good) show starts with 4 new eps in a row.
Sunday, 2/11
The Grammys are on CBS at 7pm if you care about that sort of thing. I don't care, so that's probably why I don't recognize more than one or two songs up for nomination.
And a show I just inexplicably loved also airs its entire first season on Sundance from 2-7 pm (six 50-minute episodes). The show is Slings and Arrows, and it follows the trials of getting a theatrical production of Hamlet going after the director has died-- and the replacement is a guy who had a nervous breakdown in the middle of playing Hamlet years before.
There's way too much to this show to give it the proper introduction. Let's just leave it at "trust me". It's funny, dramatic, and superbly well-acted (lead actor Paul Gross absolutely grabbed my attention every time he was on screen in one of my all-time favorite performances). I couldn't believe that a show about a Shakespearian play would be this enjoyable, but it is.
And did I mention that it also co-stars Rachel McAdams? If you don't recognize the name, shame on you. She's one of the rare young actresses who's actually very good (and hot, if you go for that sort of thing-- admittedly, I do).
And a notable mention I've seen from my DVR schedule:
[adult swim]'s Moral Orel now airs every night from Monday to Thursdays from 11:15-11:30 pm and repeats the ep at 2:45-3:00 am.
This is a brutally funny show about a naive young boy who is all about Jesus and the church. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite understand life, so he usually completely misinterprets the teachings of the Bible and the religious leaders he speaks to and things get all screwed up (usually nothing so bad that a meeting with his dad's belt can't fix) . Much like the major religious leaders of today ("What, no touching little boys?", "But GOD wants me to make a million dollars a year-- even if that means a little embezzelment.").
So, okay, the show isn't for everyone (mainly religious people with no sense of humor), but for anyone who can take a joke-- or can at least see some of the folly of religious dogma, check it out.
Highlights this week:
Tuesday's episode "God's Chef" where Orel discovers masturbation-- but learns that God doesn't want anyone's seed go to waste. So he thinks way outside the box and keeps from wasting his seed (I won't say what he does, but I will admit I was shocked). It also has one of my favorite lines on any TV show when Orel's principal asks him if he knows what happens to boys who masturbate, and Orel replies with, "Well, up until a few days ago I didn't. But since then, a whole new world has opened up for me!" Reading the line DOES NOT do justice to how Orel delivers it on the show.
And my favorite episode of the series, "Waste", airs on Thursday. In this one, Orel learns from his scoutmaster that in a pinch, one's urine can be consumed if there isn't anything else to drink. Shortly after, Orel's pastor gives a sermon that says to waste is a sin. So Orel decides he can be even closer to God if he doesn't waste anything-- including his urine. Soon after he starts drinking it, he breaks school records in track. Now everyone wants to try Orel's "sports drink". There's also a great line in this ep when Orel is asked by a friend if his drink has Vitamin C in it, and Orels replies with, "I don't know about Vitamin C... but it does have Vitamin P." Classic.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
The Terrorists Have Won
A guy at work told me about how Boston is going after some people who were promoting the [adult swim] movie Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and I thought, "Man, this doesn't sound good for the network."
Then I checked out a post on newsarama about it and realized the authorities in Boston are just fu**ing morons.
Here's the link:
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=99821
Okay, so the "Cradle of American Democracy" (my label, as I believe the colonists in Boston had the largest effect on gathering support in the bid for independence) is planning on sticking Turner Broadcasting and the two performance artists who "planted" the advertisements with a million dollars worth of charges. Over some LED artwork.
There are number of things wrong here:
1. The artwork looks like a f***ing Light Brite!!! Are they nuts?
2. The figure has its middle finger sticking up. Do we think al Queda is going to be that obvious when they plant bombs?
3. NINE (!!!) other cities had the exact same guerrilla marketing go on, and there was not one single instance in any of them that there was some sort of terrorist plot.
4. Did it really cost a million dollars to investigate? (I did a little more reading on the story, and the whole thing took less than 11 hours from the beginning to when Turner said they were responsible).
5. Does Boston really think they can hide behind the "Well, after 9/11, things are different" bullshit that the White House has been feeding us for five years?
All this is, is an attempt to blame a governmental fu** up on something else. "Let's make this story WAAAAAY bigger than it is, and maybe the populace will forget how stupid this all is."
Morons.
Here's a link to a writer who noted the story:
http://www.peterdavid.net/
Follow the link on his page to a Boston TV Channel webpage (I tried doing a direct link, and it didn't go right to the story) and then scroll through the stories and click on "Boston Hoax Suspects Mock Media" for the best press conference I've ever seen. Since the guys who put the ads all over the city were advised by their lawyer to not discuss any elements of the case, they held a press conference discussing '70s hair styles. Classic.
It thumbs their noses at the jackass media and the city-- and does it all with an [adult swim] flair.
Then I checked out a post on newsarama about it and realized the authorities in Boston are just fu**ing morons.
Here's the link:
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=99821
Okay, so the "Cradle of American Democracy" (my label, as I believe the colonists in Boston had the largest effect on gathering support in the bid for independence) is planning on sticking Turner Broadcasting and the two performance artists who "planted" the advertisements with a million dollars worth of charges. Over some LED artwork.
There are number of things wrong here:
1. The artwork looks like a f***ing Light Brite!!! Are they nuts?
2. The figure has its middle finger sticking up. Do we think al Queda is going to be that obvious when they plant bombs?
3. NINE (!!!) other cities had the exact same guerrilla marketing go on, and there was not one single instance in any of them that there was some sort of terrorist plot.
4. Did it really cost a million dollars to investigate? (I did a little more reading on the story, and the whole thing took less than 11 hours from the beginning to when Turner said they were responsible).
5. Does Boston really think they can hide behind the "Well, after 9/11, things are different" bullshit that the White House has been feeding us for five years?
All this is, is an attempt to blame a governmental fu** up on something else. "Let's make this story WAAAAAY bigger than it is, and maybe the populace will forget how stupid this all is."
Morons.
Here's a link to a writer who noted the story:
http://www.peterdavid.net/
Follow the link on his page to a Boston TV Channel webpage (I tried doing a direct link, and it didn't go right to the story) and then scroll through the stories and click on "Boston Hoax Suspects Mock Media" for the best press conference I've ever seen. Since the guys who put the ads all over the city were advised by their lawyer to not discuss any elements of the case, they held a press conference discussing '70s hair styles. Classic.
It thumbs their noses at the jackass media and the city-- and does it all with an [adult swim] flair.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Something to make your head hurt
I was reading some posts on newsarama.com, and from out of nowhere, someone posted this song from Melt Banana.
Here's proof that the whole MP3, MySpace, anyone can market their own songs, is not the perfect filter of decent music:
http://www.skingraftrecords.com/mp3/LP_MP3/MeltBanana_RoughDogs.mp3
Here's proof that the whole MP3, MySpace, anyone can market their own songs, is not the perfect filter of decent music:
http://www.skingraftrecords.com/mp3/LP_MP3/MeltBanana_RoughDogs.mp3
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Okay, Here's Your Second Chance...
Now I've recommended you all watch [adult swim]'s Frisky Dingo a number of times. Hell, it even made my Top Ten of 2006.
Now you've got a second chance. [adult swim] (Cartoon Network's night schedule) is reairing the series on Sunday nights at 11:30 pm CST.
Okay, I missed informing everyone about it last week as the first episode ("Meet Killface") aired last Sunday, BUT-- the second episode is actually the better one to watch first because it gets right into it by introducing Awesome X, the alter ego of Xander Crews. Crews is an absolute riot. He's Bruce Wayne mixed in with a any of the smart-asses from Sealab 2021.
Besides, any hero whose sidekicks are called X-Ticles is a hero worth following.
You didn't miss much from the first episode. There was the introduction of Killface, a powerfully built, white "man" with a skull face, red eyes, hooves for feet, and who wears no clothes (don't worry, he's got the "boy parts" of a Ken doll). Killface built a giant engine called the Annihilatrix that will send the Earth hurtling to into the sun. But he wants the world to know what he's going to do, and he used all his money to build the Annihilatrix, so he's put his plans on hold until he can raise more capital.
We were also introduced to Killface's son, Simon, who mumbles in such a soft voice, I could never understand him (I think it was all gibberish anyway). Simon is a good boy, but he's rebelling against his father; but his biggest act of defiance is slowly pushing his cereal bowl off the counter.
We also met Sin, a beautiful cyborg who is Killface's assistant. Paul, the technical guy who is building the Annihilatrix, and has a wife who hasn't lost the baby weight (it's been six months). Valerie, one of the people Killface kidnapped to market his plans. And twin film students Trent and Brent. There's no reason to remember them; Killface killed them both by the end of the episode.
So, anyway, check it out. The series is only thirteen 10-minute episodes long, and it's bat-shit insane. But it's funny. Really funny.
And beautiful as well. The look is kind of like the look from the film A Scanner Darkly, painted over pencils.
Check out episode 2 and then go to YouTube and check out the first episode (do a "Frisky Dingo" search, and at least the first few episodes are there as two 5-minute clips).
And while you're at You Tube, check out this awesome minute-long clip of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It has the Birthday Song Master Shake got Zakk Wylde (for real) to play and Geddy Lee (fake) to sing. It's awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5ft7EhX5W8&mode=user&search=
"Gee willikers. It must be Obvious Day at Camp Stupid."
If you find yourself entertained, do some "Aqua Teen" or "Venture Brothers" searches. There are some great clips on YouTube.
Oh Baby!!!! I found it!!! My favorite clip of The Venture Brothers; when Dean sets his crotch on fire. Check it out. And then check it out again (it's only 90 seconds long):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwuxLYcrTJU&mode=related&search=
And if you've got a slow connection, here's the best part in a 30-second clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuBiAnJLpXg
"Dude!! ...Stop wailin' on my junk!"
And don't miss the minion mention that he's got to take a "Count Dookoo".
Now you've got a second chance. [adult swim] (Cartoon Network's night schedule) is reairing the series on Sunday nights at 11:30 pm CST.
Okay, I missed informing everyone about it last week as the first episode ("Meet Killface") aired last Sunday, BUT-- the second episode is actually the better one to watch first because it gets right into it by introducing Awesome X, the alter ego of Xander Crews. Crews is an absolute riot. He's Bruce Wayne mixed in with a any of the smart-asses from Sealab 2021.
Besides, any hero whose sidekicks are called X-Ticles is a hero worth following.
You didn't miss much from the first episode. There was the introduction of Killface, a powerfully built, white "man" with a skull face, red eyes, hooves for feet, and who wears no clothes (don't worry, he's got the "boy parts" of a Ken doll). Killface built a giant engine called the Annihilatrix that will send the Earth hurtling to into the sun. But he wants the world to know what he's going to do, and he used all his money to build the Annihilatrix, so he's put his plans on hold until he can raise more capital.
We were also introduced to Killface's son, Simon, who mumbles in such a soft voice, I could never understand him (I think it was all gibberish anyway). Simon is a good boy, but he's rebelling against his father; but his biggest act of defiance is slowly pushing his cereal bowl off the counter.
We also met Sin, a beautiful cyborg who is Killface's assistant. Paul, the technical guy who is building the Annihilatrix, and has a wife who hasn't lost the baby weight (it's been six months). Valerie, one of the people Killface kidnapped to market his plans. And twin film students Trent and Brent. There's no reason to remember them; Killface killed them both by the end of the episode.
So, anyway, check it out. The series is only thirteen 10-minute episodes long, and it's bat-shit insane. But it's funny. Really funny.
And beautiful as well. The look is kind of like the look from the film A Scanner Darkly, painted over pencils.
Check out episode 2 and then go to YouTube and check out the first episode (do a "Frisky Dingo" search, and at least the first few episodes are there as two 5-minute clips).
And while you're at You Tube, check out this awesome minute-long clip of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It has the Birthday Song Master Shake got Zakk Wylde (for real) to play and Geddy Lee (fake) to sing. It's awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5ft7EhX5W8&mode=user&search=
"Gee willikers. It must be Obvious Day at Camp Stupid."
If you find yourself entertained, do some "Aqua Teen" or "Venture Brothers" searches. There are some great clips on YouTube.
Oh Baby!!!! I found it!!! My favorite clip of The Venture Brothers; when Dean sets his crotch on fire. Check it out. And then check it out again (it's only 90 seconds long):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwuxLYcrTJU&mode=related&search=
And if you've got a slow connection, here's the best part in a 30-second clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuBiAnJLpXg
"Dude!! ...Stop wailin' on my junk!"
And don't miss the minion mention that he's got to take a "Count Dookoo".
T-Bag Links
I read an interview with Prison Break's Robert "T-Bag" Knepper in Entertainment Weekly from a few weeks back, and have to commend the guy for being so obviously humble and warm-- despite the fact that he plays a truly villianous character. A link to part of the interview is here:
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,__20008040_4,00.html
And TV Guide online just did a feature on him as well. The link is here:
http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={316FE6E1-87BC-423B-893F-1517B293E0A0}
I hope they work. If not, you should be able to copy and paste it in your browser. (Someday, I'll figure out how to link in this thing...)
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,__20008040_4,00.html
And TV Guide online just did a feature on him as well. The link is here:
http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Interviews-Features/Article/default.aspx?posting={316FE6E1-87BC-423B-893F-1517B293E0A0}
I hope they work. If not, you should be able to copy and paste it in your browser. (Someday, I'll figure out how to link in this thing...)
Monday, January 29, 2007
Premieres and Notables: Jan 29 - Feb 4
Whoa! Time sure flies. Sorry (to my half-dozen readers) this is late. But to just let you know my commitment to this blog: I could be watching Prison Break on the big screen TV right now-- but I'm writing this post.
Feel blessed...
Monday, 1/29
Sorry you missed it: the Miss America pageant, hosted by Mario Lopez.
Tuesday, 1/30
Camp Reality; Fox Reality. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Former reality show contestants face off in a series of challenges. Johnny Fairplay is now using someone else's fifteen minutes of fame because his ran out with Kill Reality.
Some sh** shows on MTV premiere tonight; one actually has something (just barely) to do with music. Check out the website because I'm boycotting the network.
Wed, 1/31
Top Design; Bravo. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Yet another crap reality show from a formerly respectable network. If the title doesn't give it away, this one is about: interior designers. I'm excited; how about you?
The Supreme Court; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Series Premiere.
Four-part special on the history of the court.
America's Ballroom Challenge; PBS. 7 pm (check local). Season Premiere.
I'd dismiss it, but PBS is airing it. Maybe there is some value to it.
Thursday, 2/1
On The Office, Michael hires a Ben Franklin impersonator and a stripper for Phyllis' wedding shower. 'Nuff said.
Paul Reubens guests on 30 Rock as a foreign prince. I watched Pee Wee's Playhouse on [adult swim] this summer as well as have been watching Pee Wee's Big Adventure with my kids, and I have to say I'm glad Reubens is working again. He's a genius.
After the jaw-dropper end two weeks ago, you gotta be there for Ugly Betty this week. Ca-razy!!!!
The Sarah Silverman Program; Comedy Central. 9:30. Series Premiere.
Mildly funny, but mostly offensive for offensive sake (and I'm not an easily offended person-- unless the show/bit just sucks-- then I'm offended). I'll check it out, but I don't have high hopes for this show.
Friday, 2/2
Jon Stewart guests on Jack's Big Music Show, which totally kicks ass. It's on Noggin at 11 am. Let's just hope he doesn't sing (his appearance on Elmopalooza wasn't his finest hour). Thankfully, "pros" get the best musical spots on the show. This episode features a video by alt rock band Flaming Lips members Steven Drozd and Steve Burns (formerly of Blues Clues). Wouldn't it be awesome if the dude is covered with tats now?
Saturday, 2/3
I hate how BBC America runs some of it's shows (the amazing first epsiode of Bodies airs this week-- with no mention of when the other five air next), but you may want to check out the first three eps of the fourth season of Coupling on BBC America from 3-5 am this morning. Yes, the show does have a continuing plot, but you can catch up as you watch (I did it this summer). The first ep was great. It follows the gang as the episode shows the same 9-1/2 minutes from a different point of view three times. It's a definite taste of the brilliance of the show, and, hopefully, the network will air the rest of the series soon. This is highly recommended, and puts American comedies to shame.
Sunday, 2/4
A little thing called The Super Bowl has scared away almost all the shows tonight. Take a rest and watch the game. Or catch up on shows you're behind on, like I will.
Feel blessed...
Monday, 1/29
Sorry you missed it: the Miss America pageant, hosted by Mario Lopez.
Tuesday, 1/30
Camp Reality; Fox Reality. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Former reality show contestants face off in a series of challenges. Johnny Fairplay is now using someone else's fifteen minutes of fame because his ran out with Kill Reality.
Some sh** shows on MTV premiere tonight; one actually has something (just barely) to do with music. Check out the website because I'm boycotting the network.
Wed, 1/31
Top Design; Bravo. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Yet another crap reality show from a formerly respectable network. If the title doesn't give it away, this one is about: interior designers. I'm excited; how about you?
The Supreme Court; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Series Premiere.
Four-part special on the history of the court.
America's Ballroom Challenge; PBS. 7 pm (check local). Season Premiere.
I'd dismiss it, but PBS is airing it. Maybe there is some value to it.
Thursday, 2/1
On The Office, Michael hires a Ben Franklin impersonator and a stripper for Phyllis' wedding shower. 'Nuff said.
Paul Reubens guests on 30 Rock as a foreign prince. I watched Pee Wee's Playhouse on [adult swim] this summer as well as have been watching Pee Wee's Big Adventure with my kids, and I have to say I'm glad Reubens is working again. He's a genius.
After the jaw-dropper end two weeks ago, you gotta be there for Ugly Betty this week. Ca-razy!!!!
The Sarah Silverman Program; Comedy Central. 9:30. Series Premiere.
Mildly funny, but mostly offensive for offensive sake (and I'm not an easily offended person-- unless the show/bit just sucks-- then I'm offended). I'll check it out, but I don't have high hopes for this show.
Friday, 2/2
Jon Stewart guests on Jack's Big Music Show, which totally kicks ass. It's on Noggin at 11 am. Let's just hope he doesn't sing (his appearance on Elmopalooza wasn't his finest hour). Thankfully, "pros" get the best musical spots on the show. This episode features a video by alt rock band Flaming Lips members Steven Drozd and Steve Burns (formerly of Blues Clues). Wouldn't it be awesome if the dude is covered with tats now?
Saturday, 2/3
I hate how BBC America runs some of it's shows (the amazing first epsiode of Bodies airs this week-- with no mention of when the other five air next), but you may want to check out the first three eps of the fourth season of Coupling on BBC America from 3-5 am this morning. Yes, the show does have a continuing plot, but you can catch up as you watch (I did it this summer). The first ep was great. It follows the gang as the episode shows the same 9-1/2 minutes from a different point of view three times. It's a definite taste of the brilliance of the show, and, hopefully, the network will air the rest of the series soon. This is highly recommended, and puts American comedies to shame.
Sunday, 2/4
A little thing called The Super Bowl has scared away almost all the shows tonight. Take a rest and watch the game. Or catch up on shows you're behind on, like I will.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Change of plans; another person's 15 mins up; older and hotter
When I was a hardcore (free TV) WWE watcher, one of my favorite parts was finding out what went on behind the scenes and then seeing how it played out on TV. A guy tapped to be the next Champ gets hurt and plans change. The fans don't take to another guy, and his program is scratched. Stuff like that.
I found it interesting that Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross needs to be on bedrest until her twins are born in April-- a bit sooner than they had hoped. So producers had Bree's house brought to Cross' by building the character's set into the first floor of Cross' home. All in an effort to wrap up the Bree character's arc for the season.
In the meantime, Nicolette Sheridan will benefit from the extra time (of having less Bree than expected) and see her character getting more screen time and becoming a main character.
Speaking of changed plans, David Chase needed (and got) a ninth episode for the last Sopranos run. The final nine episodes begin on April 8 (along with the back half of Entourage).
And it seems as if Paula Abdul just won't go away. Bravo has ordered a reality show that follows her around. It's bound to be a masterpiece.
And normally I don't mention birthdays and such, but I saw this jawdropping picture of one of today's birthday celebs. The absolutely beautiful Diane Lane turned 42 today. I haven't followed her career at all, and have only seen a handful of her more recent films, so I don't know what she was in or how she acted in her twenties, but the Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohans, and Paris Hiltons of the world could learn a lot about what is attractive by taking a look at her.
Let's go old school today: "Peace out!"
I found it interesting that Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross needs to be on bedrest until her twins are born in April-- a bit sooner than they had hoped. So producers had Bree's house brought to Cross' by building the character's set into the first floor of Cross' home. All in an effort to wrap up the Bree character's arc for the season.
In the meantime, Nicolette Sheridan will benefit from the extra time (of having less Bree than expected) and see her character getting more screen time and becoming a main character.
Speaking of changed plans, David Chase needed (and got) a ninth episode for the last Sopranos run. The final nine episodes begin on April 8 (along with the back half of Entourage).
And it seems as if Paula Abdul just won't go away. Bravo has ordered a reality show that follows her around. It's bound to be a masterpiece.
And normally I don't mention birthdays and such, but I saw this jawdropping picture of one of today's birthday celebs. The absolutely beautiful Diane Lane turned 42 today. I haven't followed her career at all, and have only seen a handful of her more recent films, so I don't know what she was in or how she acted in her twenties, but the Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohans, and Paris Hiltons of the world could learn a lot about what is attractive by taking a look at her.
Let's go old school today: "Peace out!"
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Top Ten Honorable Mentions.
Just a quick follow-up to my post a week ago on my Top Ten of 2006. Obviously, I couldn't include everything that deserves a shout-out. This is pretty much off the top of my head, here, so if I missed something, I apologize.
I mentioned Noggin's The Upside Down Show before, and if it played more for adults, it would have made the Top Ten. Also, I've mentioned before how I tend to dislike animated voice work by people we know from in front of the camera, but William H. Macy's work on the PBS Curious George series deserves praise.
There are many BBC America shows that are worth watching-- especially if the American comedy show scene has got you down.
Shows that I couldn't include because I didn't watch new episodes-- but were f-ing brilliant are: Bodies (BBC America; I've praised it before); Coupling (BBC America; four seasons of fantastically funny stuff); Deadwood (HBO; vulgar, violent at times, and incredible); The Sopranos (HBO; while not seeming as groundbreaking now as it was when it premiered, it's still earned everything it's gotten).
Peter Stormare's "Vee Dub" commericals. Like 'em or hate 'em, you gotta love Stormare's work. Ever since Abruzzi was Swiss-cheesed by the feds on Prison Break, this is the only way you'll see him (unless you check out his numerous movie/TV appearances from the past).
ESPN's NFL Countdown on Sundays has a feature called "Mayne Event" that still has me watching-- well after the Fantasy Football season is over. Every week, Kenny Mayne finds some ridiculous story to comment on-- and he gets players and coaches to go along with it. Like when he did a piece on players throwing the football out into the crowd after a touchdown. One player lamented his actions by saying, "The worst is the fine. Two thousand dollars! Sure, it doesn't hurt me too much, but what about the college players? They don't get paid as much as they used to." Check it out; it usually airs in the last half-hour.
And, finally TV Guide Channel's Square Off. It's not exciting, it's certainly not sexy, but that suits me just fine. Kevin and Andy talk to actors, producers, network execs, and others in a straight-up manner. No "Who are you dating?" or "Who are you wearing?" bullshit. But more along the lines of "How do you see the future of TV?" or "What did you go through to get this show on the air?" If you want to get a glimpse of how TV works behind the scenes, check it out.
And, in the same vein, check out Bill Carter's book Desperate Networks. It's a great look at the stories behind Survivor, Lost, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Joey, and many others as he sees how luck and hard work saved some companies (ABC, CBS) and the lack of luck and hard work ruined others (NBC). You may know how the story ends, but you'll be amazed to find out how they got there.
I mentioned Noggin's The Upside Down Show before, and if it played more for adults, it would have made the Top Ten. Also, I've mentioned before how I tend to dislike animated voice work by people we know from in front of the camera, but William H. Macy's work on the PBS Curious George series deserves praise.
There are many BBC America shows that are worth watching-- especially if the American comedy show scene has got you down.
Shows that I couldn't include because I didn't watch new episodes-- but were f-ing brilliant are: Bodies (BBC America; I've praised it before); Coupling (BBC America; four seasons of fantastically funny stuff); Deadwood (HBO; vulgar, violent at times, and incredible); The Sopranos (HBO; while not seeming as groundbreaking now as it was when it premiered, it's still earned everything it's gotten).
Peter Stormare's "Vee Dub" commericals. Like 'em or hate 'em, you gotta love Stormare's work. Ever since Abruzzi was Swiss-cheesed by the feds on Prison Break, this is the only way you'll see him (unless you check out his numerous movie/TV appearances from the past).
ESPN's NFL Countdown on Sundays has a feature called "Mayne Event" that still has me watching-- well after the Fantasy Football season is over. Every week, Kenny Mayne finds some ridiculous story to comment on-- and he gets players and coaches to go along with it. Like when he did a piece on players throwing the football out into the crowd after a touchdown. One player lamented his actions by saying, "The worst is the fine. Two thousand dollars! Sure, it doesn't hurt me too much, but what about the college players? They don't get paid as much as they used to." Check it out; it usually airs in the last half-hour.
And, finally TV Guide Channel's Square Off. It's not exciting, it's certainly not sexy, but that suits me just fine. Kevin and Andy talk to actors, producers, network execs, and others in a straight-up manner. No "Who are you dating?" or "Who are you wearing?" bullshit. But more along the lines of "How do you see the future of TV?" or "What did you go through to get this show on the air?" If you want to get a glimpse of how TV works behind the scenes, check it out.
And, in the same vein, check out Bill Carter's book Desperate Networks. It's a great look at the stories behind Survivor, Lost, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Joey, and many others as he sees how luck and hard work saved some companies (ABC, CBS) and the lack of luck and hard work ruined others (NBC). You may know how the story ends, but you'll be amazed to find out how they got there.
Fax From Sarajevo
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how humanity can transcend borders, as depicted in the film Joyeux Noel.
Now the other side: Fax From Sarajevo. Legend Joe Kubert relates (via graphic novel) the true story of Ervin Rustemagic and the eighteen months of Hell he and his family went through during the ethnic cleansing of Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1992.
Ervin was a respected businessman and art agent in Sarajevo, and had gained many friends all over the world in his decade of dealings. Then the Serbs decided to rid the country of anyone not of Serbian blood. And the world just watched...
Due to iffy electrical and phone lines, Ervin found his best method of communication to be via fax. Using it, he updated his friends (including Kubert) about the goings-on in the city.
I was in college at the time of the war, and like most college students, the world wasn't really a consideration for me. I must say I'm embarrased that I was alive while this was going on-- and I never knew how bad it was. I'm even more embarrassed that my country (and the rest of the world) did little to nothing as it went on.
Just a little list of atrocities: Entire cities were leveled; tanks would run through a neighborhood and keep shooting until nothing was left standing. Men were rounded up and killed on sight. Women (from young girls to older women) were taken to "rape camps" and abused by soldiers in an effort to create more Serbians. The roads were nearly impassible (even by clearly marked emergency vehicles).
And, the most heinous thing of all: snipers were given $300 for every target they hit. The favored target were children because after they went down, parents/adults would try to save them (and, thus, becoming targets themselves).
I don't really want to give too many details about the story, but don't let the fact that it's a graphic novel keep you away. This is an important story about survival that is well worth checking out. It only helps that Kubert is a master of the craft-- and had a very personal stake on the main characters.
And it's important to just be reminded (or taught, if your knowledge of the war is like mine) of what went on half a world away just fifteen years ago.
Now the other side: Fax From Sarajevo. Legend Joe Kubert relates (via graphic novel) the true story of Ervin Rustemagic and the eighteen months of Hell he and his family went through during the ethnic cleansing of Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1992.
Ervin was a respected businessman and art agent in Sarajevo, and had gained many friends all over the world in his decade of dealings. Then the Serbs decided to rid the country of anyone not of Serbian blood. And the world just watched...
Due to iffy electrical and phone lines, Ervin found his best method of communication to be via fax. Using it, he updated his friends (including Kubert) about the goings-on in the city.
I was in college at the time of the war, and like most college students, the world wasn't really a consideration for me. I must say I'm embarrased that I was alive while this was going on-- and I never knew how bad it was. I'm even more embarrassed that my country (and the rest of the world) did little to nothing as it went on.
Just a little list of atrocities: Entire cities were leveled; tanks would run through a neighborhood and keep shooting until nothing was left standing. Men were rounded up and killed on sight. Women (from young girls to older women) were taken to "rape camps" and abused by soldiers in an effort to create more Serbians. The roads were nearly impassible (even by clearly marked emergency vehicles).
And, the most heinous thing of all: snipers were given $300 for every target they hit. The favored target were children because after they went down, parents/adults would try to save them (and, thus, becoming targets themselves).
I don't really want to give too many details about the story, but don't let the fact that it's a graphic novel keep you away. This is an important story about survival that is well worth checking out. It only helps that Kubert is a master of the craft-- and had a very personal stake on the main characters.
And it's important to just be reminded (or taught, if your knowledge of the war is like mine) of what went on half a world away just fifteen years ago.
Premieres and Notables Jan. 22-28
Monday, 1/22
Big big big day here.
Heroes; NBC. 8 pm CST. Return from hiatus.
The new season's hottest show returns to face its greatest enemy: 24. They're pulling out all the stops with the addition of former Dr. Who Christopher Eccleston into the cast as well as planning major events for February sweeps.
Digging For the Truth; History. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The third season's first show is the search for Atlantis.
E-Vet Interns; Animal Planet. 8 pm & 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams; E!. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
The pilot looks into Leif Garrett's troubles.
The Bryan Cranston-guested How I Met Your Mother I noted last week (which never aired) is supposed to air tonight.
Todd Bridges begins a recurring role as a "crazed ex-military man" on Everybody Hates Chris.
Marjorie returns on What About Brian?, so that's probably not gonna help his fling with Bridget.
Oh yeah I almost forgot:
Prison Break; FOX. 7 pm. Return from Hiatus.
Who will T-Bag kill next? Is Kellerman really one of the good guys? Will Sucre get the girl? Will Sara figure out what the key is for? Will Avocado make guacamole out of Bellick? Can C-Note save his wife while keeping himself out of jail? How close to Holland will Haywire get? Is Maghone dead? And just how much ass are Michael and Linc going to kick as they take the fight to The Company?
And how will this show manage to answer all those questions in the nine episodes they have left?
Tuesday, 1/23
Rickey Gervais talks Extras on Letterman (10:35 pm, CBS).
The Oscar Nominations are announced on the morning shows at 7:30 am, or catch TV Guide Channel's special at 7 pm.
Wednesday, 1/24
George Lopez; ABC. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
The sixth season starts here.
Thursday, 1/25
Pros vs. Joes; Spike. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Best Evidence; Discovery. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Conspiracy theories are put to the test. The prem features the theory that TWA Flight 800 crash of 1996 was caused by a missle.
NBC's "C0medy Done Right" lineup chooses some of their best episodes of the current season, with The Office also getting ER's slot tonight (that's right: three episodes).
And I can't believe there is no new Ugly Betty on tonight after the jaw-dropper ending of last week's episode...
Sunday, 1/28
King of the Hill; FOX. 7:30. Season Premiere.
The eleventh season begins here.
And Daniel Radcliff sheds the Harry Potter persona he's had the last few years and goes raw as a hormonally-charged young man on Extras. Anyone who saw Orlando Bloom make fun of himself on the show last week should know what an appearance on this show "as himself" should do to Radcliff.
Big big big day here.
Heroes; NBC. 8 pm CST. Return from hiatus.
The new season's hottest show returns to face its greatest enemy: 24. They're pulling out all the stops with the addition of former Dr. Who Christopher Eccleston into the cast as well as planning major events for February sweeps.
Digging For the Truth; History. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The third season's first show is the search for Atlantis.
E-Vet Interns; Animal Planet. 8 pm & 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Boulevard of Broken Dreams; E!. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
The pilot looks into Leif Garrett's troubles.
The Bryan Cranston-guested How I Met Your Mother I noted last week (which never aired) is supposed to air tonight.
Todd Bridges begins a recurring role as a "crazed ex-military man" on Everybody Hates Chris.
Marjorie returns on What About Brian?, so that's probably not gonna help his fling with Bridget.
Oh yeah I almost forgot:
Prison Break; FOX. 7 pm. Return from Hiatus.
Who will T-Bag kill next? Is Kellerman really one of the good guys? Will Sucre get the girl? Will Sara figure out what the key is for? Will Avocado make guacamole out of Bellick? Can C-Note save his wife while keeping himself out of jail? How close to Holland will Haywire get? Is Maghone dead? And just how much ass are Michael and Linc going to kick as they take the fight to The Company?
And how will this show manage to answer all those questions in the nine episodes they have left?
Tuesday, 1/23
Rickey Gervais talks Extras on Letterman (10:35 pm, CBS).
The Oscar Nominations are announced on the morning shows at 7:30 am, or catch TV Guide Channel's special at 7 pm.
Wednesday, 1/24
George Lopez; ABC. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
The sixth season starts here.
Thursday, 1/25
Pros vs. Joes; Spike. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Best Evidence; Discovery. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Conspiracy theories are put to the test. The prem features the theory that TWA Flight 800 crash of 1996 was caused by a missle.
NBC's "C0medy Done Right" lineup chooses some of their best episodes of the current season, with The Office also getting ER's slot tonight (that's right: three episodes).
And I can't believe there is no new Ugly Betty on tonight after the jaw-dropper ending of last week's episode...
Sunday, 1/28
King of the Hill; FOX. 7:30. Season Premiere.
The eleventh season begins here.
And Daniel Radcliff sheds the Harry Potter persona he's had the last few years and goes raw as a hormonally-charged young man on Extras. Anyone who saw Orlando Bloom make fun of himself on the show last week should know what an appearance on this show "as himself" should do to Radcliff.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Odds and ends
Bits and pieces culled from tvguide.com (mainly from Michael Ausiello & "Today's News: Our Take" by Matt Webb Mitovich):
Heroes, Law & Order: SVU, The Office, and My Name is Earl have all been renewed for another season. And Identity received an order for seven more episodes.
Survivor has been renewed for two more competitions.
American Idol's premiere on Tuesday averaged 37.3 million viewers. The show hit a high of 41.84 million in its last half hour. The second season finale is the only higher rated episode of the series.
Spurred on by the documentary This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated (which looked into the secretive-- and frequent "made up as they go along" ratings decisions-- of the ratings board), the MPAA and the NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) are planning on making changes to the ratings systems. Changes are expected to include: admonishments that some R-rated movies are just not appropriate for children, remove some of the secrecy of the board, formalize a rule that a board member cannot stay on after their child has grown, and detail (for the first time; on the MPAA website) the standards of each film ratings.
Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse announced they are in discussions with ABC to finalize an "end point" for the series. It's pretty unprecedented for something like this to go down; networks aren't really interested in ending shows they have some measure of control over when there's money to be had. Lindelof & Cuse want to have the series wrap up somewhere around episode #100 (they'll have 93 eps produced at the end of season four next year).
ABC could decline the plans, and replace whichever creators leave (like The CW did with The Gilmore Girls this year) or they could recognize that fans of the show just aren't going to keep watching if some of the mysteries don't get solved (and the quality of the show could decline-- a la X-Files-- if the show gets renewed past its useful life).
The idea behind planning an "exit strategy" for the show can bring a number of benefits: creators will have a target to shoot for to tie the loose ends. Fans will know that there is a plan and things aren't just being thrown in there to extend the series. Having an end point could help "ensure" the show makes it that far. (Let's say ratings drop next season; ABC could order episodes they normally wouldn't just because they know there is an end point).
It's an interesting move, but the creators and actors have always been pretty aware that they have a high-quality show and they don't want to see it go down the tubes just because it became a sensation.
My favorite show of all time, Babylon 5, had a planned storyline from the start-- five seasons-- and it worked (even though there were numerous changes to the storyline due to not having a fifth season ensured until after the fourth season ended). I hope Lost can find a way to do the same.
And, finally, I read in Prison Break Magazine that the role of Abruzzi was originally intended for Chris Penn. I can't imagine anyone other than Peter Stormare in the role, but it would have been something for Penn to be on the show.
Heroes, Law & Order: SVU, The Office, and My Name is Earl have all been renewed for another season. And Identity received an order for seven more episodes.
Survivor has been renewed for two more competitions.
American Idol's premiere on Tuesday averaged 37.3 million viewers. The show hit a high of 41.84 million in its last half hour. The second season finale is the only higher rated episode of the series.
Spurred on by the documentary This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated (which looked into the secretive-- and frequent "made up as they go along" ratings decisions-- of the ratings board), the MPAA and the NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners) are planning on making changes to the ratings systems. Changes are expected to include: admonishments that some R-rated movies are just not appropriate for children, remove some of the secrecy of the board, formalize a rule that a board member cannot stay on after their child has grown, and detail (for the first time; on the MPAA website) the standards of each film ratings.
Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse announced they are in discussions with ABC to finalize an "end point" for the series. It's pretty unprecedented for something like this to go down; networks aren't really interested in ending shows they have some measure of control over when there's money to be had. Lindelof & Cuse want to have the series wrap up somewhere around episode #100 (they'll have 93 eps produced at the end of season four next year).
ABC could decline the plans, and replace whichever creators leave (like The CW did with The Gilmore Girls this year) or they could recognize that fans of the show just aren't going to keep watching if some of the mysteries don't get solved (and the quality of the show could decline-- a la X-Files-- if the show gets renewed past its useful life).
The idea behind planning an "exit strategy" for the show can bring a number of benefits: creators will have a target to shoot for to tie the loose ends. Fans will know that there is a plan and things aren't just being thrown in there to extend the series. Having an end point could help "ensure" the show makes it that far. (Let's say ratings drop next season; ABC could order episodes they normally wouldn't just because they know there is an end point).
It's an interesting move, but the creators and actors have always been pretty aware that they have a high-quality show and they don't want to see it go down the tubes just because it became a sensation.
My favorite show of all time, Babylon 5, had a planned storyline from the start-- five seasons-- and it worked (even though there were numerous changes to the storyline due to not having a fifth season ensured until after the fourth season ended). I hope Lost can find a way to do the same.
And, finally, I read in Prison Break Magazine that the role of Abruzzi was originally intended for Chris Penn. I can't imagine anyone other than Peter Stormare in the role, but it would have been something for Penn to be on the show.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Because No One Demanded It
Okay okay okay. I've mentioned it enough and procrastinated enough that now it's become anti-climatic.
I dug through the nearly 100 shows I watched that aired new episodes in 2006 and then started cutting until I came up with a Top Ten. Are they the best? Not always. Are they my favorites? Surprisingly, not always. Are these better than others that didn't make the cut? For the most part. But I wanted to hit some shows that I love, some that are important to see, and some that really need the mention.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
My Top Ten TV Shows of 2006 (and, yes, I cheated and had more than 10-- even the legit critics do it):
1. [adult swim] (Cartoon Network). Specifically Venture Brothers and Frisky Dingo. For crazy-ass shenanigans and hilarious lines, go no further than the swim.
2. Conviction (BBC America). A fantastic tale about guilt, and how it can slowly drive a man crazy.
3. Entourage. Unique, profane, quoteworthy... And the icing on the cake of Jeremy Piven. And Martin Landau this season: "Would that be something you might be interested in?"
4. HBO Sports. Costas Now, Inside the NFL, and Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel always has some feature every episode that moves me. These shows hit the stories that others won't touch, and even though I don't follow sports, I have to watch these shows.
5. "The New Face of Comedy": My Name is Earl and The Office (NBC) as well as How I Met Your Mother (CBS). Great writing, acting, and directing on these shows just proves that comedies aren't dead, they're just transforming beyond the set-up and punchline method that has been used for decades.
6. Prison Break. If you're new to this blog, you may not know that I am into this show. I read everything I can about it in magazines and on the Internet, and I am surprised every... single... episode. That's amazing.
7. Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO). There is no show out there that hits on the same beliefs I have about the world as this one. Things I've felt for years but couldn't explain get talked about, and I can suddenly express my thoughts and beliefs better. And while Maher is notoriously anti-Bush/Republican (and I can't blame him), he's also pretty negative about the Democrats (mainly for being p*ssies). He's an equal opportunity critic-- and now that the Dems have the House, I expect them to catch some of his wrath in 2007.
8. South Park (Comedy Central). There is no better (or needed) satire airing today than this show about a group of elementary students. Admittedly, it hits some low points, but the next episode always puts it back on top. The amazing one-week turnaround from script to air allows this show to be right on top of events. Or eerily ahead of the times (they called out Mel Gibson as a loon before he had his "episode" last year). And if the satire isn't for you, there are always plenty of poop jokes and swearing to go around.
9. 30 Days (FX). Mandatory viewing. What happens when someone is taken out of their element and put into the complete opposite of it? Understanding and friendship. What a neat concept: get people with opposing views together and they learn to respect each other. Imagine the progress humanity could achieve if we all walked in another's shoes...
10. Ugly Betty (ABC). The characters are garishly colored, the head of the company is a silver spoon horndog, the antagonists are more cartoony than a Bond villain, the acting can be borderline Soap Opera-ish (always by design)... And it works. Wonderfully. It's a breath of fresh air to see a show that isn't mean-spirited (remember: cartoony villains; as awful as they are, you can't hate them) and the "good guys" value friendship and family above all else.
So there you go. I wrote more detailed thoughts for the first half (long-hand, by the way), but I knew if I waited until I wrote them all (and then typed them), it'd be close to 2008. Maybe I'll add to them at a later date.
No promises, though. You see, I've discovered a method of time travel, and it's made it difficult to focus on the blog.
You take a DVD-ROM and insert it into your computer. When the screen comes up, click on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and then click on "load game". It's amazing, but that's all it takes to travel through time.
Take last night: I put the disk in at 10:30 pm, and the next thing I knew, it was 12:30 am. I jumped forward in time two whole hours, and it felt like ten minutes.
Try it if you'd like, but I warn you: this method only works to jump forward through time. I haven't found a way to go back in time or slow it down.
I dug through the nearly 100 shows I watched that aired new episodes in 2006 and then started cutting until I came up with a Top Ten. Are they the best? Not always. Are they my favorites? Surprisingly, not always. Are these better than others that didn't make the cut? For the most part. But I wanted to hit some shows that I love, some that are important to see, and some that really need the mention.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
My Top Ten TV Shows of 2006 (and, yes, I cheated and had more than 10-- even the legit critics do it):
1. [adult swim] (Cartoon Network). Specifically Venture Brothers and Frisky Dingo. For crazy-ass shenanigans and hilarious lines, go no further than the swim.
2. Conviction (BBC America). A fantastic tale about guilt, and how it can slowly drive a man crazy.
3. Entourage. Unique, profane, quoteworthy... And the icing on the cake of Jeremy Piven. And Martin Landau this season: "Would that be something you might be interested in?"
4. HBO Sports. Costas Now, Inside the NFL, and Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel always has some feature every episode that moves me. These shows hit the stories that others won't touch, and even though I don't follow sports, I have to watch these shows.
5. "The New Face of Comedy": My Name is Earl and The Office (NBC) as well as How I Met Your Mother (CBS). Great writing, acting, and directing on these shows just proves that comedies aren't dead, they're just transforming beyond the set-up and punchline method that has been used for decades.
6. Prison Break. If you're new to this blog, you may not know that I am into this show. I read everything I can about it in magazines and on the Internet, and I am surprised every... single... episode. That's amazing.
7. Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO). There is no show out there that hits on the same beliefs I have about the world as this one. Things I've felt for years but couldn't explain get talked about, and I can suddenly express my thoughts and beliefs better. And while Maher is notoriously anti-Bush/Republican (and I can't blame him), he's also pretty negative about the Democrats (mainly for being p*ssies). He's an equal opportunity critic-- and now that the Dems have the House, I expect them to catch some of his wrath in 2007.
8. South Park (Comedy Central). There is no better (or needed) satire airing today than this show about a group of elementary students. Admittedly, it hits some low points, but the next episode always puts it back on top. The amazing one-week turnaround from script to air allows this show to be right on top of events. Or eerily ahead of the times (they called out Mel Gibson as a loon before he had his "episode" last year). And if the satire isn't for you, there are always plenty of poop jokes and swearing to go around.
9. 30 Days (FX). Mandatory viewing. What happens when someone is taken out of their element and put into the complete opposite of it? Understanding and friendship. What a neat concept: get people with opposing views together and they learn to respect each other. Imagine the progress humanity could achieve if we all walked in another's shoes...
10. Ugly Betty (ABC). The characters are garishly colored, the head of the company is a silver spoon horndog, the antagonists are more cartoony than a Bond villain, the acting can be borderline Soap Opera-ish (always by design)... And it works. Wonderfully. It's a breath of fresh air to see a show that isn't mean-spirited (remember: cartoony villains; as awful as they are, you can't hate them) and the "good guys" value friendship and family above all else.
So there you go. I wrote more detailed thoughts for the first half (long-hand, by the way), but I knew if I waited until I wrote them all (and then typed them), it'd be close to 2008. Maybe I'll add to them at a later date.
No promises, though. You see, I've discovered a method of time travel, and it's made it difficult to focus on the blog.
You take a DVD-ROM and insert it into your computer. When the screen comes up, click on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and then click on "load game". It's amazing, but that's all it takes to travel through time.
Take last night: I put the disk in at 10:30 pm, and the next thing I knew, it was 12:30 am. I jumped forward in time two whole hours, and it felt like ten minutes.
Try it if you'd like, but I warn you: this method only works to jump forward through time. I haven't found a way to go back in time or slow it down.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
January 15-21 Premieres and Notables
Monday, 1/15
Malcolm in the Middle dad, Bryan Cranston returns as Ted's (former) boss on How I Met Your Mother (7 pm CST, CBS). His previous work on the show was great, so I expect nothing less this time around.
Futureweapons, Discovery. 8 pm CST. Season premiere.
Season 2.
And tonight has hours 3 & 4 of 24's latest season on FOX.
And the big "event" of the night, The Golden Globes, airs on NBC at 7 pm (with E! and TV GUIDE Channel doing pre-and post-show specials). I'm kinda torn on the Globes, which doesn't get much respect. Like all awards shows, someone is missed-- and someone will win who doesn't deserve it (over another). But this year, the major nominations don't appear to be too out-there. Maybe I'll do a post on the noms before the show, maybe not.
I'll record the show on the DVR and blast through all the slow bits. It should take all of an hour to get through...
Tuesday, 1/16.
If you haven't seen what Homer Simpson's voice "looks" like, actor Dan Castelleneta appears in front of the camera on Campus Ladies (Oxygen, 10 pm).
Bigg Snoop Dogg's Youth Authority: California; Spike. 10 pm. Special.
This doc looks at gang violence through Snoop's story.
The Real Housewives of Orange County; Bravo. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Bravo gets closer to getting on my "never to be mentioned again" list...
And a little show called American Idol has its season premiere tonight at 7pm on FOX (2 hrs tonight; 2 hrs tomorrow night).
Wednesday, 1/17:
22nd Century; PBS. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
New series about scientific advances expected this century. The pilot explores a device that would link minds like the Inetrnet links computers.
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
I couldn't do justice to the premise (a duo relate stories in the studio and then filmed flashbacks are shown) here. Just check out the show for yourself.
Thursday, 1/18:
John Waters plays a funeral director on My Name is Earl.
Jim, Pam, and Karen plan a gag on someone new (now that Dwight is gone), Oscar returns from vacation, and Andy continues to get into Michael's good graces on The Office.
The long-awaited (and highly reviewed) musical episode of Scrubs finally airs tonight.
And Kenneth the Page and Jack trade jobs for a day on 30 Rock.
Ace of Cakes; Food Network. 9:30 CST. Season premiere.
Really? The synopsis of this ep is "Duff and his team are back for a second season of enormous challenges. Tonight, they must bake a birthday cake that's a replica of Wrigley Field."
Wow... exciting. (honestly, I'm almost intriuged.)
And American Chopper heads to a new night (Thursday) and a new network (TLC).
I, honestly, didn't even realize the show was still on.
Friday, 1/19:
A repeat of the moving Newsradio episode that acknowledged Phil Hartman's death by having his character, Bill McNeal, die airs on TBS at noon.
Lots of cable premieres (since the networks have abandoned the night):
Video Justice; Court TV. 7 & 7:30. Season premieres.
Ms. Adventure; Animal Planet. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Comic-actress Rachel Reenstra compares human behavior with those in the wild kingdom.
Hyperspace; BBC America. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Nick Frost as a spaceship commander charged with exploring the universe. Could be good, could be bad. I'll be checking it out.
Feel the Force; BBC America. 8:40. Series Premiere.
A duo of female cops try to keep Edinburgh safe.
Monk; USA. 8 pm. Return.
A liked the show when I watched it, but it all seemed so "I've seen this before" too much.
Psych; USA. 9 pm. Return.
I've been diligently taping this show, which has gotten good reviews. I'll watch it someday, I hope.
Sunday, 1/21:
David Bowie guest stars on Extras. I saw a clip from this ep on the internet, and it was a riot. Bowie writes a song for Andy that is titled "Pathetic Little Fat Man".
The THIRTY-SEVENTH (!!!) season of Masterpiece Theatre begins on PBS tonight (8 pm, but check your local listings).
The Dresden Files; Sci Fi. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
A Chicago private eye (who is also a wizard) does his thing. I've heard good things.
Battlestar Galactica; Sci Fi. 9 pm. Season premiere.
The best show I'm not watching (but have taped every single ep) moves to Sunday night. I have not heard a bad thing about this show (and you know how fickle/vocal sci fi fans are). This is a must see.
And the Discovery Channel is airing Steve Irwin ("The Crocodile Hunter") specials all night. Ocean's Deadliest (the doc Irwin was working on when he died) airs at 7 pm. and Crikey, What an Adventure! (a retrospective on his life, featuring an interview with his widow) airs at 8:30. I have a feeling this is must see viewing as well.
Malcolm in the Middle dad, Bryan Cranston returns as Ted's (former) boss on How I Met Your Mother (7 pm CST, CBS). His previous work on the show was great, so I expect nothing less this time around.
Futureweapons, Discovery. 8 pm CST. Season premiere.
Season 2.
And tonight has hours 3 & 4 of 24's latest season on FOX.
And the big "event" of the night, The Golden Globes, airs on NBC at 7 pm (with E! and TV GUIDE Channel doing pre-and post-show specials). I'm kinda torn on the Globes, which doesn't get much respect. Like all awards shows, someone is missed-- and someone will win who doesn't deserve it (over another). But this year, the major nominations don't appear to be too out-there. Maybe I'll do a post on the noms before the show, maybe not.
I'll record the show on the DVR and blast through all the slow bits. It should take all of an hour to get through...
Tuesday, 1/16.
If you haven't seen what Homer Simpson's voice "looks" like, actor Dan Castelleneta appears in front of the camera on Campus Ladies (Oxygen, 10 pm).
Bigg Snoop Dogg's Youth Authority: California; Spike. 10 pm. Special.
This doc looks at gang violence through Snoop's story.
The Real Housewives of Orange County; Bravo. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Bravo gets closer to getting on my "never to be mentioned again" list...
And a little show called American Idol has its season premiere tonight at 7pm on FOX (2 hrs tonight; 2 hrs tomorrow night).
Wednesday, 1/17:
22nd Century; PBS. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
New series about scientific advances expected this century. The pilot explores a device that would link minds like the Inetrnet links computers.
The Naked Trucker and T-Bones; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
I couldn't do justice to the premise (a duo relate stories in the studio and then filmed flashbacks are shown) here. Just check out the show for yourself.
Thursday, 1/18:
John Waters plays a funeral director on My Name is Earl.
Jim, Pam, and Karen plan a gag on someone new (now that Dwight is gone), Oscar returns from vacation, and Andy continues to get into Michael's good graces on The Office.
The long-awaited (and highly reviewed) musical episode of Scrubs finally airs tonight.
And Kenneth the Page and Jack trade jobs for a day on 30 Rock.
Ace of Cakes; Food Network. 9:30 CST. Season premiere.
Really? The synopsis of this ep is "Duff and his team are back for a second season of enormous challenges. Tonight, they must bake a birthday cake that's a replica of Wrigley Field."
Wow... exciting. (honestly, I'm almost intriuged.)
And American Chopper heads to a new night (Thursday) and a new network (TLC).
I, honestly, didn't even realize the show was still on.
Friday, 1/19:
A repeat of the moving Newsradio episode that acknowledged Phil Hartman's death by having his character, Bill McNeal, die airs on TBS at noon.
Lots of cable premieres (since the networks have abandoned the night):
Video Justice; Court TV. 7 & 7:30. Season premieres.
Ms. Adventure; Animal Planet. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Comic-actress Rachel Reenstra compares human behavior with those in the wild kingdom.
Hyperspace; BBC America. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Nick Frost as a spaceship commander charged with exploring the universe. Could be good, could be bad. I'll be checking it out.
Feel the Force; BBC America. 8:40. Series Premiere.
A duo of female cops try to keep Edinburgh safe.
Monk; USA. 8 pm. Return.
A liked the show when I watched it, but it all seemed so "I've seen this before" too much.
Psych; USA. 9 pm. Return.
I've been diligently taping this show, which has gotten good reviews. I'll watch it someday, I hope.
Sunday, 1/21:
David Bowie guest stars on Extras. I saw a clip from this ep on the internet, and it was a riot. Bowie writes a song for Andy that is titled "Pathetic Little Fat Man".
The THIRTY-SEVENTH (!!!) season of Masterpiece Theatre begins on PBS tonight (8 pm, but check your local listings).
The Dresden Files; Sci Fi. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
A Chicago private eye (who is also a wizard) does his thing. I've heard good things.
Battlestar Galactica; Sci Fi. 9 pm. Season premiere.
The best show I'm not watching (but have taped every single ep) moves to Sunday night. I have not heard a bad thing about this show (and you know how fickle/vocal sci fi fans are). This is a must see.
And the Discovery Channel is airing Steve Irwin ("The Crocodile Hunter") specials all night. Ocean's Deadliest (the doc Irwin was working on when he died) airs at 7 pm. and Crikey, What an Adventure! (a retrospective on his life, featuring an interview with his widow) airs at 8:30. I have a feeling this is must see viewing as well.
The second season begins tomorrow
For decades now, there have been two television seasons every year: the main one that runs from September to May and the summer season where repeats prevailed and shows the netowrks didn't have faith in were "burned off", so the networks didn't completely lose their investments.
But all that changed with American Idol. The 800 pound gorilla has actually split the traditional Sept-May season and created another (typically referred to as the "second season"). FOX goes into hibernation during the Fall (especially this past fall, which had no new breakout hits)-- exacerbated by the Baseball playoffs in October-- and then explodes in January with Idol (as well as the hit 24, which premieres tomorrow). About all the other networks can do is do their best to stay out of the way.
I watched the second season of Idol fairly regularly, but the lead-up to the final 12 in subsequent seasons was so excruciating for me (and, let's face it, the show is very time-consuming with over 40 hours in just a few months) that I stopped watching altogether.
But ratings have, miraculously (in Neilsen standards), kept getting better throughout the years, so FOX is not about to change the schedule and air fewer tedious try-out episodes. I just saw the schedule in the paper, so I thought I'd post it here.
This week, Idol has two-hour episodes on Tuesday, 1/16 & Wednesday, 1/17, which will showcase the auditions in Minneapolis and Seattle.
1/23 & 1/24: Memphis & New York (1 hr eps)
1/30 & 1/31: Birmingham & San Antonio (1 hr eps)
2/6: L.A. (1 hr ep)
2/7: "Rest of the Best"
2/13 & 2/14: The Hollywood round, which ends with the Top 24 announcement. (2 hr)
2/20 & 2/21: 2-hour episodes with the top 12 men and then women performing and the viewers finally get to vote.
2/22 (Thursday): Hour-long results episode.
2/27 & 2/28: The Top Ten men & then women perform in 90-minute episodes. Viewers vote.
3/1 (Thurs): Hour-long results show.
3/6 & 3/7: Top 8 men and then women perform. Voting.
3/8 (Thurs): The final 12 is announced.
3/13: First of the Top 12. Voting.
3/14: First show where one contestant gets booted.
So, basically, FOX is airing its Sunday shows, Prison Break, 24, House, Bones, 'Til Death, The O.C. (until the end of Feb) and American Idol the next 2 months.
And you know what? It'll work this year, just like it did last year and the year before. FOX hammers the competition so hard from January to May that it actually catches up to the ratings of the other networks that put their best efforts into the entire Sept-May season.
It's amazing. But Idol-fever will cool sometime-- and FOX will be in big trouble when it can't adequately fill its schedule without it (remember how NBC was the past two years? This will actually be worse).
But all that changed with American Idol. The 800 pound gorilla has actually split the traditional Sept-May season and created another (typically referred to as the "second season"). FOX goes into hibernation during the Fall (especially this past fall, which had no new breakout hits)-- exacerbated by the Baseball playoffs in October-- and then explodes in January with Idol (as well as the hit 24, which premieres tomorrow). About all the other networks can do is do their best to stay out of the way.
I watched the second season of Idol fairly regularly, but the lead-up to the final 12 in subsequent seasons was so excruciating for me (and, let's face it, the show is very time-consuming with over 40 hours in just a few months) that I stopped watching altogether.
But ratings have, miraculously (in Neilsen standards), kept getting better throughout the years, so FOX is not about to change the schedule and air fewer tedious try-out episodes. I just saw the schedule in the paper, so I thought I'd post it here.
This week, Idol has two-hour episodes on Tuesday, 1/16 & Wednesday, 1/17, which will showcase the auditions in Minneapolis and Seattle.
1/23 & 1/24: Memphis & New York (1 hr eps)
1/30 & 1/31: Birmingham & San Antonio (1 hr eps)
2/6: L.A. (1 hr ep)
2/7: "Rest of the Best"
2/13 & 2/14: The Hollywood round, which ends with the Top 24 announcement. (2 hr)
2/20 & 2/21: 2-hour episodes with the top 12 men and then women performing and the viewers finally get to vote.
2/22 (Thursday): Hour-long results episode.
2/27 & 2/28: The Top Ten men & then women perform in 90-minute episodes. Viewers vote.
3/1 (Thurs): Hour-long results show.
3/6 & 3/7: Top 8 men and then women perform. Voting.
3/8 (Thurs): The final 12 is announced.
3/13: First of the Top 12. Voting.
3/14: First show where one contestant gets booted.
So, basically, FOX is airing its Sunday shows, Prison Break, 24, House, Bones, 'Til Death, The O.C. (until the end of Feb) and American Idol the next 2 months.
And you know what? It'll work this year, just like it did last year and the year before. FOX hammers the competition so hard from January to May that it actually catches up to the ratings of the other networks that put their best efforts into the entire Sept-May season.
It's amazing. But Idol-fever will cool sometime-- and FOX will be in big trouble when it can't adequately fill its schedule without it (remember how NBC was the past two years? This will actually be worse).
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Odds & Ends
I remembered six more shows I watched last year, bringing my total to 97 shows, which irritates me for not hitting 100 (although I caught 4 previous shows on DVDs, so maybe I'll count them. The missing six were added to my last post. Nothing special except 30 Days, which I'm very embarrassed to have forgotten (I'm still whittling down my list, and the show is still one of the "keepers").
Fan of The O.C. should watch every new episode they can because the show just got cancelled. FOX was cool about it, though, and gave producers plenty of time to wrap up storylines and the series. The finale will air at the end of February.
Best Buy has been having great sales on DVDs the past few weeks. Three highly recommended series that are on sale right now are: The Office: The Complete Series (the original British version that is amazing; for $35), The Shield (the groundbreaking basic cable show's first four seasons are $20 each), Buffy The Vampire Slayer (all seven seasons are $20 each), and Angel (all five seasons are $20 each).
Each series is fantastic, and if and when I do a Top Ten shows I've ever watched, Angel and The Office will for sure be on it.
Well, gotta run.
Fan of The O.C. should watch every new episode they can because the show just got cancelled. FOX was cool about it, though, and gave producers plenty of time to wrap up storylines and the series. The finale will air at the end of February.
Best Buy has been having great sales on DVDs the past few weeks. Three highly recommended series that are on sale right now are: The Office: The Complete Series (the original British version that is amazing; for $35), The Shield (the groundbreaking basic cable show's first four seasons are $20 each), Buffy The Vampire Slayer (all seven seasons are $20 each), and Angel (all five seasons are $20 each).
Each series is fantastic, and if and when I do a Top Ten shows I've ever watched, Angel and The Office will for sure be on it.
Well, gotta run.
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Best of Prelims
Before I get to the long-promised Best of 2006, I thought I had better kind of lay out the main ground rule: What I actually watched. I watch an insane amount of television (and I do take a shortcut-- I NEVER watch commericals, which gains me about 30% time), and below is a list of what I watched that had episodes that were new in 2006.
Titles in italics are ones that I didn't watch every single episode of. I either dropped the show, came in "late", or in the case of Boston Legal, I watched last season but haven't gotten to this one yet.
All others, I watched every ep that aired (including situations like Runaway's three episodes before cancellation).
Hopefully, this can kind of give you an idea of what I watch and why I'll (eventually) choose a Top 10 from them and not include shows I'd love such as Deadwood or Battlestar Galactica but haven't watched as of yet.
And I hope I can point you in a direction of what I find good enough to watch when I list many, many more shows in my weekly premieres posts.
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Dad (FOX)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (adult swim)
Big Brother (CBS)
Big Day (ABC)
Big Love (HBO)
Black Books (BBC America; to be referred to as "BBC" from now on)
Book of Daniel (NBC)
Boston Legal (ABC)
Bromwell High (BBC)
Brothers and Sisters (ABC)
The Class (CBS)
Comedians of Comedy (Comedy Central)
Conviction (BBC)
Conviction (NBC)
Costas Now (HBO)
Courting Alex (CBS)
Crumbs (ABC)
Curious George (PBS)
Dane Cook's Tourgasm (HBO)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
ECW (SciFi)
Ed vs. Spencer (BBC)
Emily's Reasons Why Not (ABC- the one ep that aired--owch!)
Entourage (HBO)
Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW)
Family Guy (FOX)
Fantasy Show (ESPN 2)
Fred Willard's American Festivals (Travel)
Free Ride (FOX)
Frisky Dingo (adult swim)
Happy Hour (FOX)
Hardware (BBC)
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (adult swim)
Help Me Help You (ABC)
The Hill (Sundance)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Iconoclasts (Sundance)
Identity (NBC)
Inside the NFL (HBO)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Kath & Kim (Sundance)
King of the Hill (FOX)
King of Queens (CBS)
Legion of Super-Heroes (CW)
Less Than Perfect (ABC)
Little Britain (BBC)
The Loop (FOX)
Love Monkey (VH1)
Love Soup (BBC)
Lucky Louie (HBO)
Mad TV (FOX)
Malcolm in the Middle (FOX)
Men in Trees (ABC)
Metalocalypse (adult swim)
Minoriteam (adult swim)
Moral Orel (adult swim)
My Boys (TBS)
My Life on the D-List (Bravo)
My Name is Earl (NBC)
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
One Punk Under God (Sundance)
Prison Break (FOX)
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
Reno 911 (Comedy Central)
Robot Chicken (adult swim)
Rock Star: Supernova (CBS)
Runaway (CW)
Scrubs (NBC)
Showbiz Show with David Spade (Comedy Central)
The Simpsons (FOX)
Slings and Arrows (Sundance)
So NoTORIous (VH1)
Sons and Daughters (ABC)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Square Off (TV Guide)
Spaced (BBC)
Spongebob Squarepants (Nickelodeon)
Standoff (FOX)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
Survivor (CBS)
10 Items or Less (TBS)
That '70s Show (FOX)
30 Days (FX)
30 Rock (NBC)
'Til Death (FOX)
Twenty Good Years (NBC)
Ugly Betty (ABC)
Unan1mous (FOX)
The Upside Down Show (Noggin)
Vanished (FOX)
The Venture Brothers (adult swim)
The West Wing (NBC)
What About Brian? (ABC)
Wonder Showzen (MTV 2)
Ninety-one shows. I guess I certainly trimmed down my list from 2005 when I watched over 120 shows (it was knid of a New Year's Resolution for 2006).
And seasons I watched this year, but don't qualify because they weren't new in 2006:
Bodies (BBC, all six eps-- entire season)
Coupling (BBC, all 4 seasons)
Deadwood (HBO-- first and second seasons)
The Sopranos (HBO-- first five seasons)
Hopefully, in the next week or so, I'll give my Top 10 list. Not because it's important but because everyone else is doing it.
Titles in italics are ones that I didn't watch every single episode of. I either dropped the show, came in "late", or in the case of Boston Legal, I watched last season but haven't gotten to this one yet.
All others, I watched every ep that aired (including situations like Runaway's three episodes before cancellation).
Hopefully, this can kind of give you an idea of what I watch and why I'll (eventually) choose a Top 10 from them and not include shows I'd love such as Deadwood or Battlestar Galactica but haven't watched as of yet.
And I hope I can point you in a direction of what I find good enough to watch when I list many, many more shows in my weekly premieres posts.
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Dad (FOX)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (adult swim)
Big Brother (CBS)
Big Day (ABC)
Big Love (HBO)
Black Books (BBC America; to be referred to as "BBC" from now on)
Book of Daniel (NBC)
Boston Legal (ABC)
Bromwell High (BBC)
Brothers and Sisters (ABC)
The Class (CBS)
Comedians of Comedy (Comedy Central)
Conviction (BBC)
Conviction (NBC)
Costas Now (HBO)
Courting Alex (CBS)
Crumbs (ABC)
Curious George (PBS)
Dane Cook's Tourgasm (HBO)
Desperate Housewives (ABC)
ECW (SciFi)
Ed vs. Spencer (BBC)
Emily's Reasons Why Not (ABC- the one ep that aired--owch!)
Entourage (HBO)
Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW)
Family Guy (FOX)
Fantasy Show (ESPN 2)
Fred Willard's American Festivals (Travel)
Free Ride (FOX)
Frisky Dingo (adult swim)
Happy Hour (FOX)
Hardware (BBC)
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (adult swim)
Help Me Help You (ABC)
The Hill (Sundance)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Iconoclasts (Sundance)
Identity (NBC)
Inside the NFL (HBO)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Kath & Kim (Sundance)
King of the Hill (FOX)
King of Queens (CBS)
Legion of Super-Heroes (CW)
Less Than Perfect (ABC)
Little Britain (BBC)
The Loop (FOX)
Love Monkey (VH1)
Love Soup (BBC)
Lucky Louie (HBO)
Mad TV (FOX)
Malcolm in the Middle (FOX)
Men in Trees (ABC)
Metalocalypse (adult swim)
Minoriteam (adult swim)
Moral Orel (adult swim)
My Boys (TBS)
My Life on the D-List (Bravo)
My Name is Earl (NBC)
New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)
The Office (NBC)
One Punk Under God (Sundance)
Prison Break (FOX)
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
Reno 911 (Comedy Central)
Robot Chicken (adult swim)
Rock Star: Supernova (CBS)
Runaway (CW)
Scrubs (NBC)
Showbiz Show with David Spade (Comedy Central)
The Simpsons (FOX)
Slings and Arrows (Sundance)
So NoTORIous (VH1)
Sons and Daughters (ABC)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Square Off (TV Guide)
Spaced (BBC)
Spongebob Squarepants (Nickelodeon)
Standoff (FOX)
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
Survivor (CBS)
10 Items or Less (TBS)
That '70s Show (FOX)
30 Days (FX)
30 Rock (NBC)
'Til Death (FOX)
Twenty Good Years (NBC)
Ugly Betty (ABC)
Unan1mous (FOX)
The Upside Down Show (Noggin)
Vanished (FOX)
The Venture Brothers (adult swim)
The West Wing (NBC)
What About Brian? (ABC)
Wonder Showzen (MTV 2)
Ninety-one shows. I guess I certainly trimmed down my list from 2005 when I watched over 120 shows (it was knid of a New Year's Resolution for 2006).
And seasons I watched this year, but don't qualify because they weren't new in 2006:
Bodies (BBC, all six eps-- entire season)
Coupling (BBC, all 4 seasons)
Deadwood (HBO-- first and second seasons)
The Sopranos (HBO-- first five seasons)
Hopefully, in the next week or so, I'll give my Top 10 list. Not because it's important but because everyone else is doing it.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Jan 11-14 Prems, Part 3
Thursday, 1/11
Nashville Star; USA. 9 pm. Season premiere.
The fifth season begins.
Friday, 1/12
Comedy Central Presents; Comedy Central. 9 & 9:30. Season Premiere.
Marc Maron and John Heffron are showcased.
Cory in the House; Disney. 8:30. Series Premiere.
My kids aren't old enough for these "tween" shows, but Disney has promoting the Hell out of it for a month now. Must be a big deal.
Giada's Weekend Getaways; Food Network. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Giada DeLaurentis and a show about great restaurants. I don't get it. The pilot is in Seattle.
Cowboy U: Colorado; CMT. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
Sixth season? Never heard of it.
Saturday, 1/13
Louis C.K.: Shameless; HBO. 9 pm. Special.
I hope this stand-up show is better than his sitcom.
Grendel; Sci Fi. 8 pm. Movie.
The oldest story in human history. Every heroic book, movie, play, show, etc comes from this one.
And SciFi is doing it.
I have a bad feeling about this...
Sunday 1/14
24; FOX. 7pm. Season Premiere.
It may not be as big as Idol, but this show is huge for FOX. The sixth season airs a 2-hr block tonight and Monday before falling into its 8 pm slot-- right after Prison Break. Even though I haven't watched the series yet (I've got the past five seasons on tape), I know this is Must See.
Rome; HBO. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
The second, and final, season begins here. Must See.
Extras; HBO. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Ricky Gervais starts Round 2 of the show that makes him look even more pathetic than The Office did. I saw a killer clip of of the show with David Bowie singing a song about the Gervais character called "Pathetic Little Fat Man" that made me laugh so hard I nearly cried. Must see.
Living With the Kombai Tribe: The Adventures of Mark and Olly; Travel. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
I have no idea...
Crossing Jordan; NBC. 9 pm. Season premiere.
Star Trek Tech; History. 9 pm. Special.
I'm not sure what it's about, either.
Nashville Star; USA. 9 pm. Season premiere.
The fifth season begins.
Friday, 1/12
Comedy Central Presents; Comedy Central. 9 & 9:30. Season Premiere.
Marc Maron and John Heffron are showcased.
Cory in the House; Disney. 8:30. Series Premiere.
My kids aren't old enough for these "tween" shows, but Disney has promoting the Hell out of it for a month now. Must be a big deal.
Giada's Weekend Getaways; Food Network. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Giada DeLaurentis and a show about great restaurants. I don't get it. The pilot is in Seattle.
Cowboy U: Colorado; CMT. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
Sixth season? Never heard of it.
Saturday, 1/13
Louis C.K.: Shameless; HBO. 9 pm. Special.
I hope this stand-up show is better than his sitcom.
Grendel; Sci Fi. 8 pm. Movie.
The oldest story in human history. Every heroic book, movie, play, show, etc comes from this one.
And SciFi is doing it.
I have a bad feeling about this...
Sunday 1/14
24; FOX. 7pm. Season Premiere.
It may not be as big as Idol, but this show is huge for FOX. The sixth season airs a 2-hr block tonight and Monday before falling into its 8 pm slot-- right after Prison Break. Even though I haven't watched the series yet (I've got the past five seasons on tape), I know this is Must See.
Rome; HBO. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
The second, and final, season begins here. Must See.
Extras; HBO. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Ricky Gervais starts Round 2 of the show that makes him look even more pathetic than The Office did. I saw a killer clip of of the show with David Bowie singing a song about the Gervais character called "Pathetic Little Fat Man" that made me laugh so hard I nearly cried. Must see.
Living With the Kombai Tribe: The Adventures of Mark and Olly; Travel. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
I have no idea...
Crossing Jordan; NBC. 9 pm. Season premiere.
Star Trek Tech; History. 9 pm. Special.
I'm not sure what it's about, either.
Jan 8-14 Prems Pt 2
Tuesday, 1/9
The People's Choice Awards air on CBS at 8 pm (CST). Sometimes the people choose wisely, but mostly they don't.
Spike airs the Quentin Tarantino CSI 2-parter from 8-10. I haven't watched the show the last two years, but this episode kept me watching for a while. You can see Tarantino's handprints all over the epsiode (and that's a good thing).
Wednesday, 1/10
The Wire; BET. 8 pm. Syndication Premiere.
BET (a channel I don't get-- and am now mad about that fact) airs the show nearly every critic has said is the best on TV.
The Sopranos; A&E. 8 pm. Syndication Premiere.
A&E goes for some actual quality after airing the garbage it has for years by showing not only one of the best shows ever, but also one of the most groundbreaking. I'll admit, I wasn't blown away by it when I watched it for the first time last summer, but its influence is undeniable. Without it, there would be no Deadwood, Rescue Me, or The Shield. This is highly recommended viewing.
And now for something of much lesser quality:
Armed & Famous; CBS. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
"Celebs" like La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, and Erik Estrada get trained as cops in Muncie, IN.
Seriously.
Tease; Oxygen. 8 pm. Series Premiere
Reality competition among hairstylists. Oh you know this has to be good.
Okay, back to actual "good":
China From the Inside; PBS. 8 & 9 pm (check local listings). Series Premiere.
The history of China-- from the Chinese residents' perspective.
More later...
The People's Choice Awards air on CBS at 8 pm (CST). Sometimes the people choose wisely, but mostly they don't.
Spike airs the Quentin Tarantino CSI 2-parter from 8-10. I haven't watched the show the last two years, but this episode kept me watching for a while. You can see Tarantino's handprints all over the epsiode (and that's a good thing).
Wednesday, 1/10
The Wire; BET. 8 pm. Syndication Premiere.
BET (a channel I don't get-- and am now mad about that fact) airs the show nearly every critic has said is the best on TV.
The Sopranos; A&E. 8 pm. Syndication Premiere.
A&E goes for some actual quality after airing the garbage it has for years by showing not only one of the best shows ever, but also one of the most groundbreaking. I'll admit, I wasn't blown away by it when I watched it for the first time last summer, but its influence is undeniable. Without it, there would be no Deadwood, Rescue Me, or The Shield. This is highly recommended viewing.
And now for something of much lesser quality:
Armed & Famous; CBS. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
"Celebs" like La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, and Erik Estrada get trained as cops in Muncie, IN.
Seriously.
Tease; Oxygen. 8 pm. Series Premiere
Reality competition among hairstylists. Oh you know this has to be good.
Okay, back to actual "good":
China From the Inside; PBS. 8 & 9 pm (check local listings). Series Premiere.
The history of China-- from the Chinese residents' perspective.
More later...
Premieres & Notables for Jan 8-14.
Lots and lots of stuff this week. The wife and kids will be back in 20 mins, so I'll get through as much as I can now and post the rest later.
Firstly, I missed the announcement of one of my (and my kids') favorite shows season premiere: Jack's Big Music Show started airing new eps yesterday. Noggin will trickle them in along with the 10 eps from the first season throughout the next few weeks. If you have preschool-age kids and the Noggin channel, this is mandatory viewing.
I love kids shows that don't talk down to them (or resort to bodily noises to get laughs), and Jack is great. Jack and his friends get together and discover music (right up my kids' alley) and let their imaginations run wild. For a "puppet show", it's pretty darn good.
And since I'm on a roll, check out The Upside Down Show on Noggin. This show rules. It's for kids, but adults will like the humor. And those of us who watch lots and LOTS of TV should be able to see the genius of Shane Dundas and David Collin's performances. Those dudes (along with whoever the genius is behind the camera) do amazing physical "stunts". And as I watched more and more episodes, I noticed many of the scenes are done in one take. It's wild. I'll never get to a "best performances of 2006" list, but Shane and David would definitely be on it if I did.
And something else I missed: HBO is reairing the first season of ROME all week. This is a show best watched in 2-3 hr blocks. I almost gave up on it after the first two eps, but it really clicked as it headed toward the final episodes. Just as many HBO and BBC America shows work, this is one story, beginning to end, that takes over the whole season. It just kept building and building until Titus Pullo exploded in violence when he was to be executed (in one of the most brutal, yet satisfying sequences I've ever seen on TV) and all the way to the finale, where the bodies just kept lining up (including the Julius Caesar-- I knew the dude was gonna die, but I thought they'd hold it off a bit longer). With half the cast dead after the first season, I don't know where season 2 (the final season, beginning next Sunday) will go. I can't wait.
Okay, on to this upcoming week:
Monday, 1/8:
Want to see a great performance by a young actor? Check out the episode on Desperate Housewives that airs on Lifetime at 6 pm (CST). Andrew confesses (to a priest!) how he's going to ruin his mother, Bree. It was a major shock.
The SciFi Channel finally begins its run of Star Trek: Enterprise. It'll air in four-hour (why not six, so I can fill a whole tape?) blocks every Monday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm CST. It's a very underrated show that did have it's problems, but the third season was one of the most ambitious (and best) seasons of any show I've watched. And the fourth (and final) season took what came before (in the series as well as the other Trek shows) and closed up the show with some phenominal stories. Plus it stars one of the best TV actors out there: Scott Bakula.
Quick hits:
Ellen's Acres; Cartoon. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Show for preschoolers about a 5-year-old who lives in a hotel.
Lincoln Heights; ABC Family. 6 pm & 9 pm. Series Premiere.
An L.A. cop moves his family into the inner city; into a community who hates police.
Gay, Straight, or Taken?; Lifetime. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
A dating show where women must pick who is gay, straight, or taken. Isn't this one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse?
No, wait, this piece of crap is:
I Love New York; VH1. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
One of the losers (in more ways than one) of Flavor of Love gets her own "finding love" show.
[teameck's note: I'm really sorry I keep including VH1 and MTV shows in this blog. I try to be thorough, so I'm forced to. But I won't be including them anymore. This is the last straw. I'm not even mentioning the other VH1 premiere tonight about white rappers going after a $100G prize. I'm done. If you watch this garbage, go to vh1.com or mtv.com and find out for yourself what's on. I am completely against censorship of any kind, but typing what's on VH1 and MTV makes my head and fingers hurt-- and I'm afraid too many people will bypass actual decent shows to watch these shows which are about the equivalent of watching stool get flushed down the toilet..
If, by any chance, there is actually something that sounds remotely good on either network, I will include it. Otherwise: I'm DONE with this claptrap.]
Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence; PBS. 9 pm (but check your local listings). Special.
This documentary looks at the growing anti-Semitism in the world. I don't get it. This is the Twenty-First Century, for cryin' out loud! We're supposed to be hating gay people now. Don't you listen to Darth Bush and his Christian coalition?
[That was a joke, you idiots... Hate for any religion/color/sexuality should not be tolerated. It's time to wipe bigotry off the face of the earth. Hate the jackass you work with, or the one who broke your heart, or the prick that stole your car. But don't hate someone because they believe in a different God or because their skin is different color than yours, or because they fall in love with people you never would. Until we as a society can abolish bigotry, we'll never be at the pinnacle of civilization.]
Okay, my family's taking longer than I expected, but I've gotten a little heavy (but real), so how 'bout I take a break and finish out the week in a bit?
Later.
Firstly, I missed the announcement of one of my (and my kids') favorite shows season premiere: Jack's Big Music Show started airing new eps yesterday. Noggin will trickle them in along with the 10 eps from the first season throughout the next few weeks. If you have preschool-age kids and the Noggin channel, this is mandatory viewing.
I love kids shows that don't talk down to them (or resort to bodily noises to get laughs), and Jack is great. Jack and his friends get together and discover music (right up my kids' alley) and let their imaginations run wild. For a "puppet show", it's pretty darn good.
And since I'm on a roll, check out The Upside Down Show on Noggin. This show rules. It's for kids, but adults will like the humor. And those of us who watch lots and LOTS of TV should be able to see the genius of Shane Dundas and David Collin's performances. Those dudes (along with whoever the genius is behind the camera) do amazing physical "stunts". And as I watched more and more episodes, I noticed many of the scenes are done in one take. It's wild. I'll never get to a "best performances of 2006" list, but Shane and David would definitely be on it if I did.
And something else I missed: HBO is reairing the first season of ROME all week. This is a show best watched in 2-3 hr blocks. I almost gave up on it after the first two eps, but it really clicked as it headed toward the final episodes. Just as many HBO and BBC America shows work, this is one story, beginning to end, that takes over the whole season. It just kept building and building until Titus Pullo exploded in violence when he was to be executed (in one of the most brutal, yet satisfying sequences I've ever seen on TV) and all the way to the finale, where the bodies just kept lining up (including the Julius Caesar-- I knew the dude was gonna die, but I thought they'd hold it off a bit longer). With half the cast dead after the first season, I don't know where season 2 (the final season, beginning next Sunday) will go. I can't wait.
Okay, on to this upcoming week:
Monday, 1/8:
Want to see a great performance by a young actor? Check out the episode on Desperate Housewives that airs on Lifetime at 6 pm (CST). Andrew confesses (to a priest!) how he's going to ruin his mother, Bree. It was a major shock.
The SciFi Channel finally begins its run of Star Trek: Enterprise. It'll air in four-hour (why not six, so I can fill a whole tape?) blocks every Monday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm CST. It's a very underrated show that did have it's problems, but the third season was one of the most ambitious (and best) seasons of any show I've watched. And the fourth (and final) season took what came before (in the series as well as the other Trek shows) and closed up the show with some phenominal stories. Plus it stars one of the best TV actors out there: Scott Bakula.
Quick hits:
Ellen's Acres; Cartoon. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Show for preschoolers about a 5-year-old who lives in a hotel.
Lincoln Heights; ABC Family. 6 pm & 9 pm. Series Premiere.
An L.A. cop moves his family into the inner city; into a community who hates police.
Gay, Straight, or Taken?; Lifetime. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
A dating show where women must pick who is gay, straight, or taken. Isn't this one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse?
No, wait, this piece of crap is:
I Love New York; VH1. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
One of the losers (in more ways than one) of Flavor of Love gets her own "finding love" show.
[teameck's note: I'm really sorry I keep including VH1 and MTV shows in this blog. I try to be thorough, so I'm forced to. But I won't be including them anymore. This is the last straw. I'm not even mentioning the other VH1 premiere tonight about white rappers going after a $100G prize. I'm done. If you watch this garbage, go to vh1.com or mtv.com and find out for yourself what's on. I am completely against censorship of any kind, but typing what's on VH1 and MTV makes my head and fingers hurt-- and I'm afraid too many people will bypass actual decent shows to watch these shows which are about the equivalent of watching stool get flushed down the toilet..
If, by any chance, there is actually something that sounds remotely good on either network, I will include it. Otherwise: I'm DONE with this claptrap.]
Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence; PBS. 9 pm (but check your local listings). Special.
This documentary looks at the growing anti-Semitism in the world. I don't get it. This is the Twenty-First Century, for cryin' out loud! We're supposed to be hating gay people now. Don't you listen to Darth Bush and his Christian coalition?
[That was a joke, you idiots... Hate for any religion/color/sexuality should not be tolerated. It's time to wipe bigotry off the face of the earth. Hate the jackass you work with, or the one who broke your heart, or the prick that stole your car. But don't hate someone because they believe in a different God or because their skin is different color than yours, or because they fall in love with people you never would. Until we as a society can abolish bigotry, we'll never be at the pinnacle of civilization.]
Okay, my family's taking longer than I expected, but I've gotten a little heavy (but real), so how 'bout I take a break and finish out the week in a bit?
Later.
Monday, January 01, 2007
A MUST SEE
I'm pretty fortunate that most of the movies/DVDs/shows I watch are of above-average quality. I've used some of the best resources in magazines/friends/the internet to ensure that I filter out the garbage the best that I can and I try to catch as much of the good stuff as possible.
Once in while, though, I watch something that makes me feel changed after watching it. Once in a while, I watch something that so moves me, I'm not sure if I will ever be the same again.
In the waning hours of 2006, I watched one of those movies.
Joyeux Noel ("Merry Christmas") was one of the most beautiful, powerful things I've witnessed in a long time. This movie (now on DVD) told the story of the infamous "Christmas Truce" in World War I.
I heard about the truce a few years ago, and I found the whole thing amazingly unbelievable. On Christmas Eve, 1914, enemies put down their guns, rose from their trenches and celebrated Christmas together. Naturally, the Powers That Be didn't want word getting out about the unwarlike behavior, so actual proof that the truce occurred is hard to come by. But there is proof.
Enough proof that writer/director Christian Carion was able to piece together accounts and create this wonderful (fiction, but "based on real events") film.
In the movie, German forces face French and Scottish troops, and, in a miraculous series of events, they end up coming out of the trenches and meeting each other. They share stories, show pictures of their loved ones to each other, even play football (soccer) against one another on Christmas Eve and through Christmas. They allow each other to bury their dead on the day Christ was born and come together to celebrate the birth of their savior. Even though their states are enemies, the humanity of the individuals allowed them to find peace with each other-- even if it was for only a day.
I won't go it it any more (I'm tearing up just thinking about the movie-- not that it's sad-- it's just that wonderful), so as not to spoil anything. But, seriously, rent this movie. It's amazing.
The movie itself is worth the time, but it really behooves one to also watch the Interview with Director Christian Carion in the special features area after watching the movie. He goes over the history and research (in a very lively way) he put into the preparation of the movie. He also shares anecdotes he discovered (and wove into the story) and proves just how much truth is in the fiction of the movie.
Full disclosure alert: the movie is a French film, and the director (wisely) chose to have the characters speak in their own languages, so the Scots speak English, the French speak French and the Germans speak German. The non-English languages are subtitled. But you cannot let that deter you. Man-up and watch (read) this movie.
I have given a large number of "highly recommend"s in this blog, but this gets my highest. I have not watched or read anything this excellent in the entire year of 2006.
If you find it half as profound as I have, you will find you've changed a little inside as well.
Once in while, though, I watch something that makes me feel changed after watching it. Once in a while, I watch something that so moves me, I'm not sure if I will ever be the same again.
In the waning hours of 2006, I watched one of those movies.
Joyeux Noel ("Merry Christmas") was one of the most beautiful, powerful things I've witnessed in a long time. This movie (now on DVD) told the story of the infamous "Christmas Truce" in World War I.
I heard about the truce a few years ago, and I found the whole thing amazingly unbelievable. On Christmas Eve, 1914, enemies put down their guns, rose from their trenches and celebrated Christmas together. Naturally, the Powers That Be didn't want word getting out about the unwarlike behavior, so actual proof that the truce occurred is hard to come by. But there is proof.
Enough proof that writer/director Christian Carion was able to piece together accounts and create this wonderful (fiction, but "based on real events") film.
In the movie, German forces face French and Scottish troops, and, in a miraculous series of events, they end up coming out of the trenches and meeting each other. They share stories, show pictures of their loved ones to each other, even play football (soccer) against one another on Christmas Eve and through Christmas. They allow each other to bury their dead on the day Christ was born and come together to celebrate the birth of their savior. Even though their states are enemies, the humanity of the individuals allowed them to find peace with each other-- even if it was for only a day.
I won't go it it any more (I'm tearing up just thinking about the movie-- not that it's sad-- it's just that wonderful), so as not to spoil anything. But, seriously, rent this movie. It's amazing.
The movie itself is worth the time, but it really behooves one to also watch the Interview with Director Christian Carion in the special features area after watching the movie. He goes over the history and research (in a very lively way) he put into the preparation of the movie. He also shares anecdotes he discovered (and wove into the story) and proves just how much truth is in the fiction of the movie.
Full disclosure alert: the movie is a French film, and the director (wisely) chose to have the characters speak in their own languages, so the Scots speak English, the French speak French and the Germans speak German. The non-English languages are subtitled. But you cannot let that deter you. Man-up and watch (read) this movie.
I have given a large number of "highly recommend"s in this blog, but this gets my highest. I have not watched or read anything this excellent in the entire year of 2006.
If you find it half as profound as I have, you will find you've changed a little inside as well.
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