In the spring of 2005, I knew The Office was gonna be hot. In the Fall of 2005, I knew Prison Break was gonna be hot. In 2006, I was looking forward to Friday Night Lights and Heroes (both of which I haven't watched beyond the pilot, but they got buzz from critics and fans for being high quality shows). I watched most everything new in each of those seasons, but I targeted those shows as the ones I knew I'd like.
This fall, I'm looking forward to two shows: CW's Reaper and NBC's Chuck.
My cable company's On Demand feature has some of NBC's pilot episodes, and I was able to check out Chuck tonight.
I think I got it "right" again-- this is a show I'll be watching all season.
Zachary Levi (formerly the great "Kipp Steadman" in the not-so-great Less Than Perfect) plays Chuck. He's a nerd; in fact, he's a member of the Best Buy-esque's "Nerd Herd" tech department. Chuck's old college roommate, who went on to be a CIA agent, sent Chuck an e-mail that contained all of the CIA and NSA's secrets. Chuck opened the e-mail and was flooded with the information that worked its way into his brain. Now the CIA and NSA both want him for what is contained in his mind.
The pilot had a great mix of humor, drama, and action. My only quibble is that the camerawork was sometimes disorienting (which didn't seem to have a purpose). But all in all, this pilot was a great start to the show.
I'm a bit tired of how being a tech/comic/scifi/fantasy "geek" is played for laughs the last few years, but Levi plays Chuck a little more "normal" than Hollywood usually lets its "geeks" get. That is a welcome change. And while I loved his Kipp Steadman, I can see myself growing to like his Chuck just as much.
And I can't go without mentioning Yvonne Strzechowski as the CIA agent who saves Chuck's life. She has the incredibly rare traits of both (extreme) beauty and talent. I checked her out on imdb.com. and she didn't have many entries at all, which made her all the more impressive to me. The chemistry she has with Levi is great. She's definitely got "it", and I'll be looking forward to watching her career.
Rounding out the main players are Joshua Gomez as Chuck's geekier friend Morgan (who had some good parts and some bad parts), Sarah Lancaster (playing another doctor) as Chuck's sister Ellie, and Adam Baldwin as NSA agent John Casey (who seems to be playing ally and antagonist to Chuck).
And I do have to mention one of the funnier parts of the pilot: Ellie's boyfriend, who Chuck has dubbed with an appropriate nickname. One that I'm not going to spoil here.
If you want to know the joke, you've gotta watch the pilot.
Chuck premieres on my birthday, Sept 24, on NBC at 7 pm CST. Nice present for me.
If you didn't get the hint, this show is highly recommended.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Premieres and Notables Pt 2-- Sept 13-16, 2007
And here's the rest of the week...
Thursday, 9/13
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; FX. 9 & 9:30 CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
It's mean-spirited-- and funny. If you gave up during Season One, check it out because Season Two was much improved. Recommended.
Friday 9/14
Out of Jimmy's Head; Cartoon. 6 pm. Series Premiere.
Cartoon Network has been hyping this like crazy as "the network's first live-action show". Why? Your network is called the freakin' CARTOON Network. [adult swim] went live action for a couple horseshit shows, so let's learn from that, and keep live action off this network.
Nashville; FOX. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
And the fall season has begun (I'm not counting gameshows that premiered earlier-- why should I?). Laguna Beach producers follow singers trying to catch a break in Nashville. Snore...
Saturday, 9/15
Mad TV; FOX. 10 pm. 13th Season premiere.
The new season begins with a clip show spotlighting the most memorable skits. I so hope the Jessica Alba/Ike Berinholtz as Brit & K-Fed skit is included. I still use the phrase "dumber than a box of hammers" in casual conversation. Anyway, check it out. Like SNL, it kinda has boring moments, but I think the cast is stellar.
Talkshow With Spike Feresten; FOX. 11 pm. 2nd season premiere.
This show got renewed?
Sunday, 9/16
The 59th Annual Emmy Awards; FOX. 7 pm. Special.
I'll DVR it, and then FF through most of it. Meh...
Finales:
Design Star, The 4400, The Dead Zone.
And don't forget, Curb Your Enthusiasm is back. Last night's premiere was awesome. Check it out. Buy/rent the DVDs.
And I can't go without mentioning Frisky Dingo. Last night's ep had me roaring, especially when Xander humiliates his girlfriend during a press conference: "That's how she sounds when I'm bangin' her."
It's much funnier than it looks on paper...
Thursday, 9/13
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; FX. 9 & 9:30 CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
It's mean-spirited-- and funny. If you gave up during Season One, check it out because Season Two was much improved. Recommended.
Friday 9/14
Out of Jimmy's Head; Cartoon. 6 pm. Series Premiere.
Cartoon Network has been hyping this like crazy as "the network's first live-action show". Why? Your network is called the freakin' CARTOON Network. [adult swim] went live action for a couple horseshit shows, so let's learn from that, and keep live action off this network.
Nashville; FOX. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
And the fall season has begun (I'm not counting gameshows that premiered earlier-- why should I?). Laguna Beach producers follow singers trying to catch a break in Nashville. Snore...
Saturday, 9/15
Mad TV; FOX. 10 pm. 13th Season premiere.
The new season begins with a clip show spotlighting the most memorable skits. I so hope the Jessica Alba/Ike Berinholtz as Brit & K-Fed skit is included. I still use the phrase "dumber than a box of hammers" in casual conversation. Anyway, check it out. Like SNL, it kinda has boring moments, but I think the cast is stellar.
Talkshow With Spike Feresten; FOX. 11 pm. 2nd season premiere.
This show got renewed?
Sunday, 9/16
The 59th Annual Emmy Awards; FOX. 7 pm. Special.
I'll DVR it, and then FF through most of it. Meh...
Finales:
Design Star, The 4400, The Dead Zone.
And don't forget, Curb Your Enthusiasm is back. Last night's premiere was awesome. Check it out. Buy/rent the DVDs.
And I can't go without mentioning Frisky Dingo. Last night's ep had me roaring, especially when Xander humiliates his girlfriend during a press conference: "That's how she sounds when I'm bangin' her."
It's much funnier than it looks on paper...
Premieres and Notables, September 10-16, 2007
Sorry for the late post. I'll try to get as far as I can.
Monday 9/10
Sin City Law; Sundance. 8 & 9:00 pm CST. Series Premiere.
An eight-part doc about the Las Vegas justice system.
Fat March, History Detectives, Greek, The Closer, and one of my favorites: My Boys, close out their seasons today.
Tuesday, 9/11
Lots of 9/11, 2001 specials-- many on The History Channel.
The Biggest Loser; NBC. 7 pm. Fourth Season Premiere.
Wednesday, 9/12
Decision House; MNT. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
This show locks troubled couples in a house for observation and intervention.
Inside the NFL; HBO. 9 pm. 31st Season Premiere.
The granddaddy of football shows begins a third decade.
Rescue Me and America's Next Top Producer wrap their seasons up.
Well, that's it for now. I'll finish the week a little later.
Monday 9/10
Sin City Law; Sundance. 8 & 9:00 pm CST. Series Premiere.
An eight-part doc about the Las Vegas justice system.
Fat March, History Detectives, Greek, The Closer, and one of my favorites: My Boys, close out their seasons today.
Tuesday, 9/11
Lots of 9/11, 2001 specials-- many on The History Channel.
The Biggest Loser; NBC. 7 pm. Fourth Season Premiere.
Wednesday, 9/12
Decision House; MNT. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
This show locks troubled couples in a house for observation and intervention.
Inside the NFL; HBO. 9 pm. 31st Season Premiere.
The granddaddy of football shows begins a third decade.
Rescue Me and America's Next Top Producer wrap their seasons up.
Well, that's it for now. I'll finish the week a little later.
Monday, September 03, 2007
My Favorite Things-- Theme Songs
As each TV season passes, so, too does the TV show theme song. It's an unfortunate thing it seems to be dying off. Thinking of my favorite shows of all time, most of them had a memorable theme song (and no, not those moronic "jingle-style" theme songs that stick in your head-- "Facts of Life", Growing Pains", "Family Ties"). What will fans of the future get?
Two of my current favorites theme songs somehow worked themselves into my head the past few weeks.
Ever since I started watching Entourage, I've been in love with the theme song "Superhero". It took years, but I finally found out who sang it (oddly enough, when the series soundtrack got released, it didn't have the song in the track list, and someone commented on it-- that's how I found out who did it). Why, it was Jane's Addiction. Who woulda thunk?
Here's a clip to it (kinda grainy, but it's what I found).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0sV4s-jzA
Is that not the coolest TV series theme song and credits on the air right now?
Next, when I watched Frisky Dingo for the third time last month, the song at the end of the pilot really bore itself into my brain. It's not the show's theme song, per se, but I think it can count.
I have no affinity for rap music, but this tune had a great hook. So I went on a search, which didn't pan out very early because there is nowhere you can download this song. Apparently, a guy named Killer Mike created the tune for the show, and "sang it" as the character Ta'Quil. Unfortunately, it's a pretty raw song (called "All That Jizz"-- it must be a love song) that is pretty much talking about spraying one's "man milk" all over his partner, so I'm guessing that's why I can't find a damn place where I can download it.
I learned something, though. I had no idea that "skeet" was a colloquialism for ejaculation until I put aside the music and listened to the lyrics.
Here's a link to a video from someone much more talented that I, who found a way to get it using other means I don't have. --Just in case you want to have idea what I'm talking about. I'm telling you, it's pretty raw. I find it funny, but I'm sure others won't.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T--N4j74-WY&mode=related&search=
And if that didn't offend you, how 'bout taking the song, and mixing it with a perfectly innocent old school cartoon. Seriously, if you don't have a liberal sense of humor, don't click on this. It's way wrong.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=meePPXqlTWc&mode=related&search=
Two of my current favorites theme songs somehow worked themselves into my head the past few weeks.
Ever since I started watching Entourage, I've been in love with the theme song "Superhero". It took years, but I finally found out who sang it (oddly enough, when the series soundtrack got released, it didn't have the song in the track list, and someone commented on it-- that's how I found out who did it). Why, it was Jane's Addiction. Who woulda thunk?
Here's a clip to it (kinda grainy, but it's what I found).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0sV4s-jzA
Is that not the coolest TV series theme song and credits on the air right now?
Next, when I watched Frisky Dingo for the third time last month, the song at the end of the pilot really bore itself into my brain. It's not the show's theme song, per se, but I think it can count.
I have no affinity for rap music, but this tune had a great hook. So I went on a search, which didn't pan out very early because there is nowhere you can download this song. Apparently, a guy named Killer Mike created the tune for the show, and "sang it" as the character Ta'Quil. Unfortunately, it's a pretty raw song (called "All That Jizz"-- it must be a love song) that is pretty much talking about spraying one's "man milk" all over his partner, so I'm guessing that's why I can't find a damn place where I can download it.
I learned something, though. I had no idea that "skeet" was a colloquialism for ejaculation until I put aside the music and listened to the lyrics.
Here's a link to a video from someone much more talented that I, who found a way to get it using other means I don't have. --Just in case you want to have idea what I'm talking about. I'm telling you, it's pretty raw. I find it funny, but I'm sure others won't.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T--N4j74-WY&mode=related&search=
And if that didn't offend you, how 'bout taking the song, and mixing it with a perfectly innocent old school cartoon. Seriously, if you don't have a liberal sense of humor, don't click on this. It's way wrong.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=meePPXqlTWc&mode=related&search=
Duncan Hill Coffee
I couldn't dig up a clip from the actual show, but here's the audio from METALOCALYPSE's jingle for coffee mixed in with pics form the show.
I love "Do you like COFFEE???!!!"
Metalocalypse Brutal and Funny Moments (Season 1) [Part 2]
A pretty good collection from the adult swim show METALOCALYPSE.
Star Trek XI - 2008
This fan-made "trailer" is pretty cool. It's easy to forget how many great moments this franchise brought us in the last 40 years.
10 Things I Hate About Commandments
I don't remember if I posted this one before. I ran across it again and thought I HAD to post this...
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Premieres and Notables, Sept 3-9, 2007
Monday, 9/3
Wordgirl; PBS. 2 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Fifth-grader Becky Botsford becomes WordGirl and uses her vocabulary to defeat her adversaries.
Digging For the Truth; History. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
The fourth season begins with a trip to Gibraltar in the search for evidence that Neanderthals existed longer than previous thought.
Tuesday, 9/4
Lincoln Heights; ABC Family. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
Season two begins.
Jail; MNT. 8:00 & 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
A look at what happens to people after they get behind bars.
Have Fork, Will Travel; Food. 8:30. Series Premiere.
Zane Lamprey searches the globe for exotic foods.
Dale; CMT. 7 pm. Documentary.
A look at the life of Dale Earnhardt.
Neil Young: Heart of Gold; Showtime. 7 pm. Movie.
a 2006 concert film directed by Jonathan Demme.
Thursday, 9/6
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; FOX. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
Don't Forget the Lyrics!; FOX. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
Timm Gunn's Guide to Style; Bravo. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Friday, 9/7
Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered; C-Span. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
A look at presidential libraries, beginning with Herbert Hoover's.
Dog Whisperer; National Geographic. 7 pm. Season premiere.
The fourth season begins.
Lockup; MSNBC. 10 pm. Season premiere.
A look at San Quentin.
Saturday, 9/8
Good Lord, the premieres... I'm doing 'em pellet-style:
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies; PBS. 5 am (check listings). Series prem.
Thomas & Friends; PBS. 9:30 am. Season prem.
Bob the Builder; PBS. 10 am. Season prem.
iCarly; Nickelodeon. 7 & 7:30 pm. Series Premiere.
COPS; FOX. 7 pm. 20th season prem.
America's Most Wanted; FOX. 8 pm. 21st season prem.
Extreme Ghost Stories; WE. 7 pm. Series Prem.
Rescue Mediums; WE. 8 & 8:30 pm. Series prem.
John Edward Cross Country; WE. 9 pm. Season prem.
and
Torchwood; BBC America. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
This X-Files-ish Doctor Who spin-off looks pretty good. Might be worth checking out.
Sunday, 9/9
Deserving Design; HGTV. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Sounds like a poor-network's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where deserving people get makeovers for rooms in their house.
Tell Me You Love Me; HBO. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Sex lives of three couples are examined (very thoroughly) in this drama. It's usually a bad sign when all I've heard about a show if how graphic the sex scenes are, but I hope that's just dumb-ass media hype (everyone's got to do a "Has TV Gone Too Far?" cover article).
Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq; HBO. 9:30. Special.
The Sopranos' James Gandolfini has ten one-on-one interviews with wounded veterans. This special has gotten major hype. Should be worth checking out.
Curb Your Enthusiasm; HBO. 9 pm. Season premiere.
After 21 long months, we're finally treated to more Larry David hi-jinks. Highly recommended.
Wordgirl; PBS. 2 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Fifth-grader Becky Botsford becomes WordGirl and uses her vocabulary to defeat her adversaries.
Digging For the Truth; History. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
The fourth season begins with a trip to Gibraltar in the search for evidence that Neanderthals existed longer than previous thought.
Tuesday, 9/4
Lincoln Heights; ABC Family. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
Season two begins.
Jail; MNT. 8:00 & 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
A look at what happens to people after they get behind bars.
Have Fork, Will Travel; Food. 8:30. Series Premiere.
Zane Lamprey searches the globe for exotic foods.
Dale; CMT. 7 pm. Documentary.
A look at the life of Dale Earnhardt.
Neil Young: Heart of Gold; Showtime. 7 pm. Movie.
a 2006 concert film directed by Jonathan Demme.
Thursday, 9/6
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; FOX. 7 pm. Season Premiere.
Don't Forget the Lyrics!; FOX. 8 pm. Season Premiere.
Timm Gunn's Guide to Style; Bravo. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Friday, 9/7
Presidential Libraries: History Uncovered; C-Span. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
A look at presidential libraries, beginning with Herbert Hoover's.
Dog Whisperer; National Geographic. 7 pm. Season premiere.
The fourth season begins.
Lockup; MSNBC. 10 pm. Season premiere.
A look at San Quentin.
Saturday, 9/8
Good Lord, the premieres... I'm doing 'em pellet-style:
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies; PBS. 5 am (check listings). Series prem.
Thomas & Friends; PBS. 9:30 am. Season prem.
Bob the Builder; PBS. 10 am. Season prem.
iCarly; Nickelodeon. 7 & 7:30 pm. Series Premiere.
COPS; FOX. 7 pm. 20th season prem.
America's Most Wanted; FOX. 8 pm. 21st season prem.
Extreme Ghost Stories; WE. 7 pm. Series Prem.
Rescue Mediums; WE. 8 & 8:30 pm. Series prem.
John Edward Cross Country; WE. 9 pm. Season prem.
and
Torchwood; BBC America. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
This X-Files-ish Doctor Who spin-off looks pretty good. Might be worth checking out.
Sunday, 9/9
Deserving Design; HGTV. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Sounds like a poor-network's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where deserving people get makeovers for rooms in their house.
Tell Me You Love Me; HBO. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Sex lives of three couples are examined (very thoroughly) in this drama. It's usually a bad sign when all I've heard about a show if how graphic the sex scenes are, but I hope that's just dumb-ass media hype (everyone's got to do a "Has TV Gone Too Far?" cover article).
Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq; HBO. 9:30. Special.
The Sopranos' James Gandolfini has ten one-on-one interviews with wounded veterans. This special has gotten major hype. Should be worth checking out.
Curb Your Enthusiasm; HBO. 9 pm. Season premiere.
After 21 long months, we're finally treated to more Larry David hi-jinks. Highly recommended.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
More ONION-y Goodness
I'm on my semi-monthly theonion.com reading and found some gems:
Honey, Let's Never Pass Out Angry Again
Naked Man Only One Comfortable With His Body. R-Rated material in this one.
Harsh Light Of Morning Falls On One-Night Stand's DVD Collection
I Have To Admit: I Love The Nuts. It's not what you think.
And my favorite of this session:
Heartbroken Bush Runs After Departing Rove's Car
Ooo oo oo! I found my all-time FAVORITE Onion piece: You're Going To Love My Balls . And this is what you think-- but done beautifully. Pure genius. And this one is a hard-PG-13 rating.
Enjoy!
Honey, Let's Never Pass Out Angry Again
Naked Man Only One Comfortable With His Body. R-Rated material in this one.
Harsh Light Of Morning Falls On One-Night Stand's DVD Collection
I Have To Admit: I Love The Nuts. It's not what you think.
And my favorite of this session:
Heartbroken Bush Runs After Departing Rove's Car
Ooo oo oo! I found my all-time FAVORITE Onion piece: You're Going To Love My Balls . And this is what you think-- but done beautifully. Pure genius. And this one is a hard-PG-13 rating.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
PRISON BREAK Preview
My movie/internet guru, Tom, hooked me up with a link to a website showing the first seventeen minutes of the Prison Break season premiere.
It's a completely different animal, here. I hope the show gets back to reality a little bit more than last year, and it looks like they're on the right track with this sneak peek.
Check it out:
http://foxbc.edgeboss.net/wmedia/foxbc/episodes/prisonbreak/pb3_preview.wvx
It's a completely different animal, here. I hope the show gets back to reality a little bit more than last year, and it looks like they're on the right track with this sneak peek.
Check it out:
http://foxbc.edgeboss.net/wmedia/foxbc/episodes/prisonbreak/pb3_preview.wvx
Monday, August 27, 2007
Premieres and Notables Aug 27- Sept 2, 2007
Sorry this is late, but nothing new is going on except for what's on my "banned" list (MTV, VH1, CMT, Court TV-- the banned list gets bigger and bigger as the shows get crappier and crappier).
Tuesday, 8/28
The Education of Ms. Groves; Sundance. 7 pm. Mini-Series Premiere.
Documentary about a language-arts teacher who begins her career in a tough Atlanta middle school in a four-part series.
Wednesday, 8/29
Pantry Raid; Style. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Love the name; but the concept's been done before: a chef raids an average family's pantry to make a gourmet meal.
Sunday, 9/2
The Entourage season finale (HBO, 9 pm) is gonna bum me out. It'll be too long until it returns, I'm sure. I will be happy I won't have to hear the word "Medellin" anymore, though.
And that's it. I don't have a list yet, but you just know there will be lots of TV show marathons over the Labor Day weekend.
And tomorrow the Friday Night Lights Season One DVD set goes on sale. I saw Best Buy and Target has it for an unheard of $20. Pick it up. Major props to NBC for allowing retailers to sell it so cheaply (it's entirely possible there aren't many extras-- but so what? $20 is less than a dollar an episode). This show needs some big-time love. I didn't get to watch it yet, but it was pretty unanimous by critics I read and friends who did watch that it's excellent.
Tuesday, 8/28
The Education of Ms. Groves; Sundance. 7 pm. Mini-Series Premiere.
Documentary about a language-arts teacher who begins her career in a tough Atlanta middle school in a four-part series.
Wednesday, 8/29
Pantry Raid; Style. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Love the name; but the concept's been done before: a chef raids an average family's pantry to make a gourmet meal.
Sunday, 9/2
The Entourage season finale (HBO, 9 pm) is gonna bum me out. It'll be too long until it returns, I'm sure. I will be happy I won't have to hear the word "Medellin" anymore, though.
And that's it. I don't have a list yet, but you just know there will be lots of TV show marathons over the Labor Day weekend.
And tomorrow the Friday Night Lights Season One DVD set goes on sale. I saw Best Buy and Target has it for an unheard of $20. Pick it up. Major props to NBC for allowing retailers to sell it so cheaply (it's entirely possible there aren't many extras-- but so what? $20 is less than a dollar an episode). This show needs some big-time love. I didn't get to watch it yet, but it was pretty unanimous by critics I read and friends who did watch that it's excellent.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Movie Etiquette
Here's a video clip from the beginning of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theatres that's pretty hilarious.
I think every film should run this at the beginning because sometimes people need to be reminded "Don't pull your penis out-- unless you really have to".
http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a25c392145e74420114604d869b0022
I think every film should run this at the beginning because sometimes people need to be reminded "Don't pull your penis out-- unless you really have to".
http://www.adultswim.com/video/?episodeID=8a25c392145e74420114604d869b0022
Premieres and Notables August 20-26, 2007
Monday, 8/20
Slap #2 of the slap bet happens at the end of this week's episode of How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:00 pm CST). It's a doozy-- and one of the funniest moments of last year.
As You Like It; HBO. 8 pm CST. Movie.
Shakespeare's classic, but set in 19th-Century Japan. Don't worry, if anyone can pull it off, it's director Kenneth Branagh.
On The Lot (FOX, 7 pm) finally comes to a close. It started out great, but has been kinda tedious the last few weeks.
Call 911; Court TV. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Hey! Look at this! Another freakin' new series on Court TV! Here's a tell-tale sign of a network: If they have to premiere a half-dozen new shows a week, then it means the shows they premiered a month ago have pretty much bombed and need to be replaced.
Wednesday, 8/22
Anchorwoman; FOX. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Yet another reality show. A former swimsuit model and WWE diva gets hired to be in a Texas-based CBS affiliate news show. I have no idea why I should care.
Thursday, 8/24
Real Time With Bill Maher; HBO. 10 pm. Return.
After a long summer break, the smartest show I watch is back to finish its fifth season. Thank God-- my brain is fried from all the sh** I watched since May.
Sunday, 8/26
Living With Ed; HGTV. 9 pm. Season premiere.
The second season of this Ed Begley, Jr. show begins.
Lots of Princess Diana specials going on.
Frisky Dingo; adult swim. 11pm. Season premiere.
I love this show. I can't explain it. It does have a plot-- kinda. It's got funny moments... And I love the animation style... I have no idea how a second season can begin since Simon triggered the explosion of the Annihilatrix while he, Killface, and Xander were on it, but I didn't know how they could explain the deaths of Hank & Dean on The Venture Bros. either, and they had a second season as well.
Slap #2 of the slap bet happens at the end of this week's episode of How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:00 pm CST). It's a doozy-- and one of the funniest moments of last year.
As You Like It; HBO. 8 pm CST. Movie.
Shakespeare's classic, but set in 19th-Century Japan. Don't worry, if anyone can pull it off, it's director Kenneth Branagh.
On The Lot (FOX, 7 pm) finally comes to a close. It started out great, but has been kinda tedious the last few weeks.
Call 911; Court TV. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Hey! Look at this! Another freakin' new series on Court TV! Here's a tell-tale sign of a network: If they have to premiere a half-dozen new shows a week, then it means the shows they premiered a month ago have pretty much bombed and need to be replaced.
Wednesday, 8/22
Anchorwoman; FOX. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Yet another reality show. A former swimsuit model and WWE diva gets hired to be in a Texas-based CBS affiliate news show. I have no idea why I should care.
Thursday, 8/24
Real Time With Bill Maher; HBO. 10 pm. Return.
After a long summer break, the smartest show I watch is back to finish its fifth season. Thank God-- my brain is fried from all the sh** I watched since May.
Sunday, 8/26
Living With Ed; HGTV. 9 pm. Season premiere.
The second season of this Ed Begley, Jr. show begins.
Lots of Princess Diana specials going on.
Frisky Dingo; adult swim. 11pm. Season premiere.
I love this show. I can't explain it. It does have a plot-- kinda. It's got funny moments... And I love the animation style... I have no idea how a second season can begin since Simon triggered the explosion of the Annihilatrix while he, Killface, and Xander were on it, but I didn't know how they could explain the deaths of Hank & Dean on The Venture Bros. either, and they had a second season as well.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Prison Break Season 3 Preview
ea186 gets my pick for favorite video of the week.
I will admit, I was let down quite a few times in season two, but this promo has me pumped up for the new one.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Elvis is Rolling Over in His Grave
Okay, I read about this on Matt Berry's Fantasy Blog, and I had to check it out, it was so f-bombed up.
Get this: Viagra did a little commerical where there's a group of guys in a cabin out in the woods singing "Viva Las Vegas"... Except it's not the Elvis song, but their version, which is "Viva Viagra".
Are you f-bombing kidding me?
I know erectile disfunction is serious, and can be an embarrassing thing for guys who suffer from it, but is a song like this the way to bring it all in the open? And not just making up a song-- noooooo, we have to commit a horrible travesty and ruin a classic Elvis tune. I'm not even an Elvis fan, and I'm offended.
And, seriously, what guy is gonna get a band together to sing about this miracle cure? Can you imagine that recruiting phase?
"Hey, would you like to join my band?"
"Sure, what songs do you play?"
"Oh, you, know, a little bit of everything, but mainly songs about E.D."
Maybe they'll eventually expand into singing about male pattern baldness or something.
Anyway, if you want to to see this trainwreck, check out viagra.com.
Get this: Viagra did a little commerical where there's a group of guys in a cabin out in the woods singing "Viva Las Vegas"... Except it's not the Elvis song, but their version, which is "Viva Viagra".
Are you f-bombing kidding me?
I know erectile disfunction is serious, and can be an embarrassing thing for guys who suffer from it, but is a song like this the way to bring it all in the open? And not just making up a song-- noooooo, we have to commit a horrible travesty and ruin a classic Elvis tune. I'm not even an Elvis fan, and I'm offended.
And, seriously, what guy is gonna get a band together to sing about this miracle cure? Can you imagine that recruiting phase?
"Hey, would you like to join my band?"
"Sure, what songs do you play?"
"Oh, you, know, a little bit of everything, but mainly songs about E.D."
Maybe they'll eventually expand into singing about male pattern baldness or something.
Anyway, if you want to to see this trainwreck, check out viagra.com.
Monday, August 13, 2007
It's a Sad Day
I know I'm not very methodical with these. Many people come and go, and I don't have the time or ability to write about them all.
But this one is hitting me harder than most.
Mike Wieringo was a favorite comic book artist of mine. I didn't keep up with his output at times when my budget didn't allow it, but the books I did pick up he drew were always of excellent quality.
Wieringo died yesterday (Sunday, 8/12-- in case I don't post this until after midnight) of a massive heart attack. Friends are stunned that a young man of 44 years, who was a vegetarian as well as someone in great physical shape could just die like that.
The comic book world is equally stunned that such a great talent has left us.
His first big break was during Mark Waid's legendary run of The Flash (one of my all-time favorite comic book runs). He broke onto the scene in style-- and also co-created and developed an important character in the Flash Universe: Bart Allen, Barry's grandson and Wally's nephew. Bart became Impulse, then Kid Flash, and finally took on the mantle of The Flash when Wally retired.
Bart's first appearance, courtesy of Wieringo.
And more Flash work.
After The Flash, he moved to Marvel and did some work on the Spider-Man titles.
And teamed up with Waid again for a run on Fantastic Four.
But this one is hitting me harder than most.
Mike Wieringo was a favorite comic book artist of mine. I didn't keep up with his output at times when my budget didn't allow it, but the books I did pick up he drew were always of excellent quality.
Wieringo died yesterday (Sunday, 8/12-- in case I don't post this until after midnight) of a massive heart attack. Friends are stunned that a young man of 44 years, who was a vegetarian as well as someone in great physical shape could just die like that.
The comic book world is equally stunned that such a great talent has left us.
His first big break was during Mark Waid's legendary run of The Flash (one of my all-time favorite comic book runs). He broke onto the scene in style-- and also co-created and developed an important character in the Flash Universe: Bart Allen, Barry's grandson and Wally's nephew. Bart became Impulse, then Kid Flash, and finally took on the mantle of The Flash when Wally retired.
Bart's first appearance, courtesy of Wieringo.
And more Flash work.
After The Flash, he moved to Marvel and did some work on the Spider-Man titles.
And teamed up with Waid again for a run on Fantastic Four.
When Marvel announced they were replacing the team, fans went apeshit, and Marvel relented and kept the duo on the book.
I love this cover of The Thing and some monster. 
Mike also did other work, most notably on his creator-owned title Tellos he created with frequent collaborator Todd DeZago.
And the last sketch he posted on his website:
Wieringo had a great style that was very simple, yet dynamic. That is one of the marks of a great illustrator-- the ability to convey a picture with few lines. His style left nothing to hide.
If you liked what you saw and want to check out more, his website is mikewieringo.com.
My sympathies to his friends and family.
Rest in peace, 'Ringo...
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