Even though producers haven't hammered out a premise yet, they are starting to hire actors for the show.
Aziz Ansari of MTV's Human Giant and the upcoming final season of Scrubs is the first actor aboard the show without a defined concept. According to his imdb profile, he is also a writer (following in The Office tradition).
The little fan reaction I've read pretty much agree that this is a quality hire, so I'm not real worried. And even though I've made a couple of "they still don't know what the show is about" comments, I'm confident the team can pull off a good show.
It's just that this whole thing feels like a network thing and not a creative thing.
But that's TV for you...
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Casting Odds and Ends
Just some things I'm trying to remember I've read the past few weeks-- nothing new here; sometimes I get behind...
I just read that Ray Stevenson has the lead role in the new Punisher War Zone film. I liked Thomas Jane well enough in the last Punisher movie, but anyone who saw Stevenson's work on Rome knows this new Punisher will be scary. I'm digging that casting.
In that same article I read, I found out that the talented-- and hot- Julie Benz is in it; as is Dominic West. Looks like Marvel Studios is really committed to putting the best talent they can get on the silver screen.
Michael Rapaport will play a government agent that will help out Michael and Linc on Prison Break. I really like Rapaport, and even though I'm not sure his style fits in with the show, I'm looking forward to it.
Jimmy Smits will be in most of Dexter Season 3's episodes this Fall.
Gary Cole is signed up to costar on ABC's Good Behavior pilot. I dig Gary Cole.
Tony Hale (Arrested Development's Buster) gets a recurring role on Chuck.
And my favorite casting news: Julie Bowen (Ed, Boston Legal) will be in the fourth season of Weeds as a single mother friend-- and eventual love interest-- for the 17-year old Silas. You just gotta love these MILF plotlines-- especially ones featuring someone as gorgeous as Bowen. (And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how talented she is as an actress as well.)
I just read that Ray Stevenson has the lead role in the new Punisher War Zone film. I liked Thomas Jane well enough in the last Punisher movie, but anyone who saw Stevenson's work on Rome knows this new Punisher will be scary. I'm digging that casting.
In that same article I read, I found out that the talented-- and hot- Julie Benz is in it; as is Dominic West. Looks like Marvel Studios is really committed to putting the best talent they can get on the silver screen.
Michael Rapaport will play a government agent that will help out Michael and Linc on Prison Break. I really like Rapaport, and even though I'm not sure his style fits in with the show, I'm looking forward to it.
Jimmy Smits will be in most of Dexter Season 3's episodes this Fall.
Gary Cole is signed up to costar on ABC's Good Behavior pilot. I dig Gary Cole.
Tony Hale (Arrested Development's Buster) gets a recurring role on Chuck.
And my favorite casting news: Julie Bowen (Ed, Boston Legal) will be in the fourth season of Weeds as a single mother friend-- and eventual love interest-- for the 17-year old Silas. You just gotta love these MILF plotlines-- especially ones featuring someone as gorgeous as Bowen. (And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how talented she is as an actress as well.)
Premieres and Notables; June 9-15, 2008
Looks like I somehow missed the season 2 premiere of Army Wives (Lifetime; 9 pm CST) on Sunday, 6/8 on last week's post.
Monday, 6/9
Alter Eco; Planet Green. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Entourage's Adrian Grenier and his posse show us how we can live more green. I don't know much about it, but Grenier's involvement has me sold. Recommended..
Nashville Star; NBC. 8 pm. 6th season premiere.
After five seasons on cable, the show moves to a big network-- all with new host Billy Ray Cyrus.
Roman Polanksi: Wanted and Desired; HBO. 8 pm. Special.
A compelling documentary that investigates the talented director's legal problems.
Greek (ABC Family; 7 pm). Season finale.
Gimme Sugar; Logo. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Here's what Entertainment Weekly had to say about the show: "Five lesbian friends try to launch a club night."
I have no idea what that means.
Quads With 2 Moms; Discovery Health. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
A lesbian couple gets fertility treatments, and they both end up pregnant-- with twins.
I swear, people will do anything to get a reality show...
Tuesday, 6/10
Comic Books Unbound; STARZ. 9 pm. Special.
A documentary looking at the influence of comic books in Hollywood.
Work Out (Bravo; 9 pm). Season Finale.
Wednesday, 6/11
Celebrity Circus; NBC. 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Another network takes the "let's throw minor-celeb shit on the wall to see what sticks"; this time with people like Rachel Hunter, Christopher Knight, and Antonio Sabato Jr training to be circus performers.
Men in Trees (ABC; 9 pm). Series Finale. After much abuse, ABC takes it behind the barn and puts it out of its misery.
Top Chef (Bravo; 9 pm). Season finale.
Thursday, 6/12
The Road Hammers; GAC. 7:30 pm. Mini-series.
Jason Priestly directs this 8-part series that follows a Canadian country-western group that tries to make it in Nashville.
Bill Engvall Show; TBS. 8 pm. 2nd season premiere.
Here's what's on my sign: "This show sucks!" (at least the first two eps of last season that I suffered through did).
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List; Bravo. 8 pm. 4th season premiere.
I gave up on this show half-way through last year. I may actually give it another chance this time.
My Boys; TBS. 8:30. 2nd season premiere.
One of the best summer shows out there. Check it out. Highly Recommended.
Friday, 6/13
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi; 9 pm). End of Season Four, Pt 1. It's supposed to be huge. And those dicks at Sci Fi haven't announced when the final episodes of BSG will air, so it may be a while until you see it again.
Sunday, 6/15
The Tony Awards; CBS. 7 pm. Special.
I don't go to the theatre, but it may be cool to hear what Patrick Stewart has to say if he wins one.
Jammin; Si TV. 8 pm. Season premiere.
Monday, 6/9
Alter Eco; Planet Green. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Entourage's Adrian Grenier and his posse show us how we can live more green. I don't know much about it, but Grenier's involvement has me sold. Recommended..
Nashville Star; NBC. 8 pm. 6th season premiere.
After five seasons on cable, the show moves to a big network-- all with new host Billy Ray Cyrus.
Roman Polanksi: Wanted and Desired; HBO. 8 pm. Special.
A compelling documentary that investigates the talented director's legal problems.
Greek (ABC Family; 7 pm). Season finale.
Gimme Sugar; Logo. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Here's what Entertainment Weekly had to say about the show: "Five lesbian friends try to launch a club night."
I have no idea what that means.
Quads With 2 Moms; Discovery Health. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
A lesbian couple gets fertility treatments, and they both end up pregnant-- with twins.
I swear, people will do anything to get a reality show...
Tuesday, 6/10
Comic Books Unbound; STARZ. 9 pm. Special.
A documentary looking at the influence of comic books in Hollywood.
Work Out (Bravo; 9 pm). Season Finale.
Wednesday, 6/11
Celebrity Circus; NBC. 8:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Another network takes the "let's throw minor-celeb shit on the wall to see what sticks"; this time with people like Rachel Hunter, Christopher Knight, and Antonio Sabato Jr training to be circus performers.
Men in Trees (ABC; 9 pm). Series Finale. After much abuse, ABC takes it behind the barn and puts it out of its misery.
Top Chef (Bravo; 9 pm). Season finale.
Thursday, 6/12
The Road Hammers; GAC. 7:30 pm. Mini-series.
Jason Priestly directs this 8-part series that follows a Canadian country-western group that tries to make it in Nashville.
Bill Engvall Show; TBS. 8 pm. 2nd season premiere.
Here's what's on my sign: "This show sucks!" (at least the first two eps of last season that I suffered through did).
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List; Bravo. 8 pm. 4th season premiere.
I gave up on this show half-way through last year. I may actually give it another chance this time.
My Boys; TBS. 8:30. 2nd season premiere.
One of the best summer shows out there. Check it out. Highly Recommended.
Friday, 6/13
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi; 9 pm). End of Season Four, Pt 1. It's supposed to be huge. And those dicks at Sci Fi haven't announced when the final episodes of BSG will air, so it may be a while until you see it again.
Sunday, 6/15
The Tony Awards; CBS. 7 pm. Special.
I don't go to the theatre, but it may be cool to hear what Patrick Stewart has to say if he wins one.
Jammin; Si TV. 8 pm. Season premiere.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Premieres and Notables June 2-8, 2008
If you still haven't caught on that summer is no longer the repeat Hell it used to be, then you're in for a surprise. This week sees many premieres.
Firstly, a premiere snuck in on me since last week, so I'm going to start with tonight:
Sunday, 6/1
The Venture Brothers; Cartoon Network/[adult swim]. 11 pm CST. 3rd series premiere.
I haven't been this excited for a premiere all year. It's been too long since this show last aired a new ep (I believe in the Fall of 2006). It's always hard to recommend a [swim] show, but this is a pretty straightforward series that's not "out there". It's a take-off of Johnny Quest, but this series has two naive teens (Hank and Dean) who have a super-genius (yet completely inept) father (Dr. Venture) who get into trouble. Add a badass bodyguard (Brock Samson) to the mix as well as a nemesis (The Monarch) who just can't seem to close the deal when it comes to killing Dr. Venture, and you've got it all: action, humor, and completely strange situations. Recommended.
Monday, 6/2
New episodes of Spongebob Squarepants debut on Nick at 4 pm CST every day this week.
Instant Star; The N. 7 pm CST. 4th season premiere.
The Mole; ABC. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
After a four year hiatus (and two years of Celebrity editions before that-- ugh), my favorite reality competition returns. This is gonna be good...
And the Sci Fi Channel is now airing Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. Looks like they'll be doing 4 hour blocks on Mondays, starting at 6 pm. This is great stuff. And I fell in love with the series after watching the DVDs-- 3-4 episodes at a time-- so this should be perfect.
Tuesday, 6/3
30 Days; FX. 9 pm. 3rd season premiere.
After way too long (almost two years) Morgan Spurlock's show about taking someone out of their element and putting them somewhere else for 30 days is back. Tonight, Morgan himself spends a month as a coal miner. I honestly believe this series should be mandatory viewing for people. It will open your eyes to other ideas, beliefs, and concepts, and it never goes for the cheap moment other reality shows throw out where someone goes off (such as the "Oh no, you di'n't" moment). This is a grown-up show that just wants us to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Highest possible recommendation.
Lawrence of America; Travel. 10 & 10:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Englishman Lawrence Beldon-Smythe pokes fun at American culture. The pilot episode has him passing up Vegas casinos, so he can visit strip clubs instead.
Season finale:
Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love (Oxygen; 9:30). Are we sure it's just the season premiere?
Wednesday, 6/4
Making News: Savannah Style; TV Guide Network. 7 pm. 2nd season premiere.
On the Road in America; Sundance. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Twelve-part documentary about four young Arabs who travel around America to learn about our culture.
She's Got the Look; TV Land. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Yet another modeling competition-- but this one features "real women" over 35.
Thursday, 6/5
Fear Itself; NBC. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Twelve-part anthology series that features a one-hour "horror movie" every week.
Swingtown; CBS. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
This show had some buzz as a mid-season replacement last season, but now it's premiering in the summer. Not a good sign. This drama, set in the '70s, follows three married couples as they traverse the drugs, horrible fashion, and swinger-style sex of that decade.
The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack; Cartoon Network. 7:30. Series Premiere.
A boy who lives in a whale goes on adventures with his dog.
Step It Up and Dance (Bravo, 9 pm). Season finale.
Friday, 6/6
Meerkat Manor; Animal Planet. 8 pm. 4th season premiere.
I've never caught this show, but I have heard many good things about it.
Live at Gotham; Comedy Central. 9 pm. Season premiere
Naked Brothers Band (Nick; 6:30). Season finale
Saturday, 6/7
Housecat Housecall; Animal Planet. 8 am. Series Premiere.
A veterinarian helps cat owners having problems with their pets.
It's Easy Being Green; Fine Living. 11:30 am. Series Premiere.
Celebs explain how average Joes (and Janes) can live more green.
Sunday, 6/8
Your Place or Mine; TLC. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Something about a dude giving away furniture...
When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions; Discovery. 8 & 9 pm. Mini-series
This six-part series looks at the history of NASA. I've read Discovery had total access to archive NASA footage, so that should just add to what looks to be a great series. Recommended
Law and Order: Criminal Intent; USA. 8 pm. 7th season premiere
HGTV Design Star; HGTV. 8 pm. Season premiere
Design Star; HGTV. 8 pm. 3rd season premiere
Ice Road Truckers; History. 8 pm. 2nd season premiere
Ax Men (History; 9 pm). Season finale
The American Life (Showtime; 9 pm). Season finale. Damn! I was just starting to get into this show.
Firstly, a premiere snuck in on me since last week, so I'm going to start with tonight:
Sunday, 6/1
The Venture Brothers; Cartoon Network/[adult swim]. 11 pm CST. 3rd series premiere.
I haven't been this excited for a premiere all year. It's been too long since this show last aired a new ep (I believe in the Fall of 2006). It's always hard to recommend a [swim] show, but this is a pretty straightforward series that's not "out there". It's a take-off of Johnny Quest, but this series has two naive teens (Hank and Dean) who have a super-genius (yet completely inept) father (Dr. Venture) who get into trouble. Add a badass bodyguard (Brock Samson) to the mix as well as a nemesis (The Monarch) who just can't seem to close the deal when it comes to killing Dr. Venture, and you've got it all: action, humor, and completely strange situations. Recommended.
Monday, 6/2
New episodes of Spongebob Squarepants debut on Nick at 4 pm CST every day this week.
Instant Star; The N. 7 pm CST. 4th season premiere.
The Mole; ABC. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
After a four year hiatus (and two years of Celebrity editions before that-- ugh), my favorite reality competition returns. This is gonna be good...
And the Sci Fi Channel is now airing Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes. Looks like they'll be doing 4 hour blocks on Mondays, starting at 6 pm. This is great stuff. And I fell in love with the series after watching the DVDs-- 3-4 episodes at a time-- so this should be perfect.
Tuesday, 6/3
30 Days; FX. 9 pm. 3rd season premiere.
After way too long (almost two years) Morgan Spurlock's show about taking someone out of their element and putting them somewhere else for 30 days is back. Tonight, Morgan himself spends a month as a coal miner. I honestly believe this series should be mandatory viewing for people. It will open your eyes to other ideas, beliefs, and concepts, and it never goes for the cheap moment other reality shows throw out where someone goes off (such as the "Oh no, you di'n't" moment). This is a grown-up show that just wants us to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Highest possible recommendation.
Lawrence of America; Travel. 10 & 10:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Englishman Lawrence Beldon-Smythe pokes fun at American culture. The pilot episode has him passing up Vegas casinos, so he can visit strip clubs instead.
Season finale:
Deion & Pilar: Prime Time Love (Oxygen; 9:30). Are we sure it's just the season premiere?
Wednesday, 6/4
Making News: Savannah Style; TV Guide Network. 7 pm. 2nd season premiere.
On the Road in America; Sundance. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Twelve-part documentary about four young Arabs who travel around America to learn about our culture.
She's Got the Look; TV Land. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Yet another modeling competition-- but this one features "real women" over 35.
Thursday, 6/5
Fear Itself; NBC. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Twelve-part anthology series that features a one-hour "horror movie" every week.
Swingtown; CBS. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
This show had some buzz as a mid-season replacement last season, but now it's premiering in the summer. Not a good sign. This drama, set in the '70s, follows three married couples as they traverse the drugs, horrible fashion, and swinger-style sex of that decade.
The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack; Cartoon Network. 7:30. Series Premiere.
A boy who lives in a whale goes on adventures with his dog.
Step It Up and Dance (Bravo, 9 pm). Season finale.
Friday, 6/6
Meerkat Manor; Animal Planet. 8 pm. 4th season premiere.
I've never caught this show, but I have heard many good things about it.
Live at Gotham; Comedy Central. 9 pm. Season premiere
Naked Brothers Band (Nick; 6:30). Season finale
Saturday, 6/7
Housecat Housecall; Animal Planet. 8 am. Series Premiere.
A veterinarian helps cat owners having problems with their pets.
It's Easy Being Green; Fine Living. 11:30 am. Series Premiere.
Celebs explain how average Joes (and Janes) can live more green.
Sunday, 6/8
Your Place or Mine; TLC. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Something about a dude giving away furniture...
When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions; Discovery. 8 & 9 pm. Mini-series
This six-part series looks at the history of NASA. I've read Discovery had total access to archive NASA footage, so that should just add to what looks to be a great series. Recommended
Law and Order: Criminal Intent; USA. 8 pm. 7th season premiere
HGTV Design Star; HGTV. 8 pm. Season premiere
Design Star; HGTV. 8 pm. 3rd season premiere
Ice Road Truckers; History. 8 pm. 2nd season premiere
Ax Men (History; 9 pm). Season finale
The American Life (Showtime; 9 pm). Season finale. Damn! I was just starting to get into this show.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Premieres, Finales, and Notables-- May 26- June 1, 2008
Monday, 5/26
The Andromeda Strain; A&E. 8 pm CST. 2-part mini-series.
Adaptation of Michael Critchon's novel. Part 2 on Tuesday.
Denise Richards: It's Complicated; E!. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
What's "complicated"? It's easy: your career fell into the toilet, so you set up a reality show with that honest and reliable network E!. Funny thing, Denise, now Charlie actually looks like the stable one in your former relationship.
Living Lohan; E!. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Lindsey Lohan's f-bombing MOM gets a reality show. I'm sure it'll be classy.
Series Finale:
Wildfire; ABC Family. 8 pm.
Tuesday, 5/27
The Moment of Truth; FOX. 7 pm. Return.
Like you missed it...
Season Finales:
According to Jim; ABC. 7 & 7:30 pm. James Lipton shows up as The Devil (so that's how this show has stayed on the air this long).
College Hill: Atlanta; BET. 9 pm.
Reaper's great pilot repeats at 8 pm (CW).
Wednesday, 5/28
Men in Trees (ABC, 9 pm) has three more eps to air, and the first one airs tonight. Who wants to take a bet that ABC won't actually air all three in the next three weeks? What a shitty way to treat a show...
Dress My Nest; Style. 10 pm. 3rd Season Premiere.
Thursday, 5/29
Season Finale:
Lost; ABC. 8 pm
Friday, 5/30
Next Food Network Star; Food Network. 9 pm. 4th Season Premiere.
Season Finale:
Sarah Jane Adventures; Sci Fi. 7:30 pm
Sunday, 6/1
Bridezillas; WE. 8 pm. 5th Season Premiere
Platinum Weddings; WE. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Code Monkeys; G4. 6 pm. Season Premiere.
In Plain Sight; USA. 9 pm. Series Premiere
Mary McCormack plays a marshall with the Witness Protection Program. USA has a good track record for original dramas, and McCormack is usually pretty great, so check it out.
Million Dollar Password; CBS. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Regis Philbin stars in another game show that promises a cool mil for a lucky winner.
The Andromeda Strain; A&E. 8 pm CST. 2-part mini-series.
Adaptation of Michael Critchon's novel. Part 2 on Tuesday.
Denise Richards: It's Complicated; E!. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
What's "complicated"? It's easy: your career fell into the toilet, so you set up a reality show with that honest and reliable network E!. Funny thing, Denise, now Charlie actually looks like the stable one in your former relationship.
Living Lohan; E!. 9:30 pm. Series Premiere.
Lindsey Lohan's f-bombing MOM gets a reality show. I'm sure it'll be classy.
Series Finale:
Wildfire; ABC Family. 8 pm.
Tuesday, 5/27
The Moment of Truth; FOX. 7 pm. Return.
Like you missed it...
Season Finales:
According to Jim; ABC. 7 & 7:30 pm. James Lipton shows up as The Devil (so that's how this show has stayed on the air this long).
College Hill: Atlanta; BET. 9 pm.
Reaper's great pilot repeats at 8 pm (CW).
Wednesday, 5/28
Men in Trees (ABC, 9 pm) has three more eps to air, and the first one airs tonight. Who wants to take a bet that ABC won't actually air all three in the next three weeks? What a shitty way to treat a show...
Dress My Nest; Style. 10 pm. 3rd Season Premiere.
Thursday, 5/29
Season Finale:
Lost; ABC. 8 pm
Friday, 5/30
Next Food Network Star; Food Network. 9 pm. 4th Season Premiere.
Season Finale:
Sarah Jane Adventures; Sci Fi. 7:30 pm
Sunday, 6/1
Bridezillas; WE. 8 pm. 5th Season Premiere
Platinum Weddings; WE. 9 pm. Season Premiere.
Code Monkeys; G4. 6 pm. Season Premiere.
In Plain Sight; USA. 9 pm. Series Premiere
Mary McCormack plays a marshall with the Witness Protection Program. USA has a good track record for original dramas, and McCormack is usually pretty great, so check it out.
Million Dollar Password; CBS. 7 pm. Series Premiere.
Regis Philbin stars in another game show that promises a cool mil for a lucky winner.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Premieres, Finales, etc: May 19-25, 2008
Monday, 5/19
American Gladiators; NBC. 7 pm CST. 2nd season premiere.
The Bachelorette; ABC. 8:02 CST. season premiere.
Season Finales:
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 7 pm)
Bones (FOX, 7 pm)
Gossip Girl (CW, 7 pm)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:30)-- Season finale, thank God
House (FOX, 8 pm)
One Tree Hill (CW, 8 pm)
Two and a Half Men (CBS, 8 pm)
Rules of Engagement (CBS, 8:30)
CSI: Miami (CBS, 9 pm)
Tuesday, 5/20
Not Going Out; BBC America. 7:40 pm. Series Premiere
Lee Mack stars as a guy who gets caught in a love triangle when he moves in with a woman who happens to be his best friend's ex.
Season Finales:
NCIS (CBS, 7 pm)
Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 8 pm)
Reaper (CW, 8 pm)
Shark (CBS, 9 pm)
Wednesday, 5/21
MI-5; BBC America. 8 pm. Season premiere.
I haven't watched it yet, but I hear it's a great show.
Mind of Mencia; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm. 4th season premiere.
Reno 911; Comedy Central. 9 pm. Return.
Season Finales:
American Idol (FOX, 7 pm)-- two of the longest hours in television. BTW: last year ran a few minutes long, so if you're recording it, make sure to record the few minutes after 9 pm.
Criminal Minds (CBS, 8 pm)
CSI: NY (CBS, 9 pm)
Law & Order (NBC, 9 pm)
Thursday, 5/22
So You Think You Can Dance; FOX. 7 pm. 4th season premiere.
Last Comic Standing; NBC. 8:30. 6th season premiere.
Let's hope they learned their lessons from the last few boring-ass seasons, and actually show some of their comedy routines this year.
Season Finales:
Ugly Betty (ABC, 7 pm)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 8 pm)-- now two hours long (Lost's finale is next week)
Friday, 5/23
USA could possibly destroy the world today. They're airing a Walker, Texas Ranger marathon from 5 am to 11 am. Can humanity stand that much ass-kickery at one time?
On a related note: did you hear that Chuck Norris visited the Virgin Islands?
Now they're just called The Islands.
Dr G Medical Examiner; Discovery Health. 8 pm. Season premiere.
Saturday, 5/24
Austin City Limits; PBS. 8 pm (check local listings). 34th Season premiere.
An 2008 concert by R.E.M. starts out the season.
Mary Louise Parker alert! For you poor slobs who don't get Showtime (or the Weeds DVDs) get a little MLP fix on CBS at 7 pm for a movie called Vinegar Hill. It didn't get a great review in Entertainment Weekly, but so what? -- It's Mary Louise Parker!
There's a Law & Order: Criminal Intent marathon on USA, from 8 am to 11 pm. It's a viewer's choice marathon, so expect some fanboy goodness.
Sunday, 5/25
Recount; HBO. 8 pm. Movie
Hey kids! Let's look at the 2000 Presidential Election again!
I'm torn here.
On the one hand, it's HBO; and it's stars Laura Dern, Kevin Spacey, and a slew of top talent.
On the other hand: I really don't want to go back to that time when Emperor Rove, along with the loyal Darth Cheney, and the easily-controlled Darth Bush stole the presidency and gave us at least eight years of tyranny that set the United States back a few decades, if not centuries.
[On a completely unrelated note: Is it just me, or does anyone else out there hear the "Imperial March"-- Darth Vader's theme music-- played with banjos whenever that retarded president we have is on TV?]
[No disrepect to those mentally-challenged people who used to be known as "retards" in our less culturally-sensitive Dark Ages of not long ago. Let's just get over that whole bigotry thing right now. I think we should limit the word "retard" to complete f-bombing idiots who have no excuse for being idiots.
You know, like Dubya...]
American Gladiators; NBC. 7 pm CST. 2nd season premiere.
The Bachelorette; ABC. 8:02 CST. season premiere.
Season Finales:
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 7 pm)
Bones (FOX, 7 pm)
Gossip Girl (CW, 7 pm)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:30)-- Season finale, thank God
House (FOX, 8 pm)
One Tree Hill (CW, 8 pm)
Two and a Half Men (CBS, 8 pm)
Rules of Engagement (CBS, 8:30)
CSI: Miami (CBS, 9 pm)
Tuesday, 5/20
Not Going Out; BBC America. 7:40 pm. Series Premiere
Lee Mack stars as a guy who gets caught in a love triangle when he moves in with a woman who happens to be his best friend's ex.
Season Finales:
NCIS (CBS, 7 pm)
Dancing With the Stars (ABC, 8 pm)
Reaper (CW, 8 pm)
Shark (CBS, 9 pm)
Wednesday, 5/21
MI-5; BBC America. 8 pm. Season premiere.
I haven't watched it yet, but I hear it's a great show.
Mind of Mencia; Comedy Central. 9:30 pm. 4th season premiere.
Reno 911; Comedy Central. 9 pm. Return.
Season Finales:
American Idol (FOX, 7 pm)-- two of the longest hours in television. BTW: last year ran a few minutes long, so if you're recording it, make sure to record the few minutes after 9 pm.
Criminal Minds (CBS, 8 pm)
CSI: NY (CBS, 9 pm)
Law & Order (NBC, 9 pm)
Thursday, 5/22
So You Think You Can Dance; FOX. 7 pm. 4th season premiere.
Last Comic Standing; NBC. 8:30. 6th season premiere.
Let's hope they learned their lessons from the last few boring-ass seasons, and actually show some of their comedy routines this year.
Season Finales:
Ugly Betty (ABC, 7 pm)
Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 8 pm)-- now two hours long (Lost's finale is next week)
Friday, 5/23
USA could possibly destroy the world today. They're airing a Walker, Texas Ranger marathon from 5 am to 11 am. Can humanity stand that much ass-kickery at one time?
On a related note: did you hear that Chuck Norris visited the Virgin Islands?
Now they're just called The Islands.
Dr G Medical Examiner; Discovery Health. 8 pm. Season premiere.
Saturday, 5/24
Austin City Limits; PBS. 8 pm (check local listings). 34th Season premiere.
An 2008 concert by R.E.M. starts out the season.
Mary Louise Parker alert! For you poor slobs who don't get Showtime (or the Weeds DVDs) get a little MLP fix on CBS at 7 pm for a movie called Vinegar Hill. It didn't get a great review in Entertainment Weekly, but so what? -- It's Mary Louise Parker!
There's a Law & Order: Criminal Intent marathon on USA, from 8 am to 11 pm. It's a viewer's choice marathon, so expect some fanboy goodness.
Sunday, 5/25
Recount; HBO. 8 pm. Movie
Hey kids! Let's look at the 2000 Presidential Election again!
I'm torn here.
On the one hand, it's HBO; and it's stars Laura Dern, Kevin Spacey, and a slew of top talent.
On the other hand: I really don't want to go back to that time when Emperor Rove, along with the loyal Darth Cheney, and the easily-controlled Darth Bush stole the presidency and gave us at least eight years of tyranny that set the United States back a few decades, if not centuries.
[On a completely unrelated note: Is it just me, or does anyone else out there hear the "Imperial March"-- Darth Vader's theme music-- played with banjos whenever that retarded president we have is on TV?]
[No disrepect to those mentally-challenged people who used to be known as "retards" in our less culturally-sensitive Dark Ages of not long ago. Let's just get over that whole bigotry thing right now. I think we should limit the word "retard" to complete f-bombing idiots who have no excuse for being idiots.
You know, like Dubya...]
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Deal With SCRUBS
Here's a link to Michael Ausiello's interview with Scrubs creator/producer Bill Lawrence (who quite possibly became my favorite behind-the-scenes person with this interview). This dude lays it straight out there. If you have any qualms about the move to ABC for a final season, read this.
And NBC: if what Lawrence said you did to this show is even half-true, you suck ass.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Ausiello-Scoop-Lawrence/800039701
And NBC: if what Lawrence said you did to this show is even half-true, you suck ass.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Ausiello-Scoop-Lawrence/800039701
Monday, May 12, 2008
SCRUBS news
It's (almost) official: Scrubs is moving to ABC for its 8th-- and final-- season.
Bravo to ABC for letting the show end on its own terms (and not with rushed storylines forced by a strike).
Bravo to ABC for letting the show end on its own terms (and not with rushed storylines forced by a strike).
Prelim Upfront News
Not much went on today at the Upfronts, which I believe was NBC's day (if you recall, they gave their "in front" last month), but here are some renewals and cancellations (as reported by TV Guide's Michael Ausiello:
Renewed:
Eli Stone (Hell yes!)
The Unit (possibly on Fridays at 8 pm CST-- scaring all the Moonlight fans on the planet)
'Til Death
How I Met Your Mother has very good odds of renewal
Could go either way:
New Adventures of Old Christine (seriously, CBS? idiots... At least ABC will likely pick it up).
Cancelled:
Back to You
October Road (shoulda happened last year)
Women's Murder Club
Renewed:
Eli Stone (Hell yes!)
The Unit (possibly on Fridays at 8 pm CST-- scaring all the Moonlight fans on the planet)
'Til Death
How I Met Your Mother has very good odds of renewal
Could go either way:
New Adventures of Old Christine (seriously, CBS? idiots... At least ABC will likely pick it up).
Cancelled:
Back to You
October Road (shoulda happened last year)
Women's Murder Club
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Premieres and Notables; May 12-18, 2008
Lots of goings this week; let's jump in.
Monday, 5/12
American Gladiators; NBC. 7 pm CST. 2nd season premiere.
Who'da thunk it?
Season Finales:
Medium (NBC, 9 pm)
Samantha Who? (ABC, 8:32)
The Bachelor: London Calling (ABC, 9:02)
And Britney Spears reprises her role as receptionist Abby, as she and Barney team up to annoy Ted on How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:30).
Tuesday, 5/13
Season Finales:
Beauty and the Geek (CW, 7 pm)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 pm)
Women's Murder Club (ABC, 9:02)
Wednesday, 5/14
Season Finales:
America's Next Top Model (CW, 7 pm)
'Til Death (FOX, 7 pm)-- J.B. Smoove's hilarious Kenny is back.
Back to You (FOX, 7:30)-- this would be the series finale
Thursday, 5/15
Season Finales:
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (FOX, 7 pm)-- for the record: yes, I am
My Name is Earl (NBC, 7 pm)-- hour-long ep
Smallville (CW, 7 pm)-- Lex, Lana, and maybe even Chloe's last ep as series regulars.
CSI (CBS, 8 pm)-- Gary Dourdan's last ep
Don't Forget the Lyrics! (FOX, 8 pm)
Supernatural (CW, 8 pm)
The Office (NBC, 8 pm)-- hour-long ep
ER (NBC, 9 pm)
Without a Trace (CBS, 9 pm)
Friday, 5/16
Mobile Home Disaster; CMT. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Mobile Homes get the Extreme Home Makeover treatment. [I don't make these up, people.]
Season Finales:
Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 7 pm)
America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7 pm)-- That show is still airing new eps?
Moonlight (CBS, 8 pm)
Numb3rs (CBS, 9 pm)
Saturday, 5/17
Season Finales:
Mad TV (FOX, 10 pm)-- guest-starring Dave Navarro
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 10:30)-- Starring Steve Carell
Talkshow With Spike Feresten (FOX, 11 pm)
Sunday, 5/18
Metalocalypse; adult swim. 11 pm. 2nd season premiere
Dethklok travels to Wisconsin for Pickles' brother's wedding.
Season Finales:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC, 6 pm)
Everybody Hates Chris (CW, 7 pm)
The Simpsons (FOX, 7 pm)
Aliens in America (CW, 7:30)-- series finale
King of the Hill (FOX, 7:30)
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 8 pm)-- two hour ep
The Game (CW, 8 pm)
American Dad (FOX, 8:30)
Monday, 5/12
American Gladiators; NBC. 7 pm CST. 2nd season premiere.
Who'da thunk it?
Season Finales:
Medium (NBC, 9 pm)
Samantha Who? (ABC, 8:32)
The Bachelor: London Calling (ABC, 9:02)
And Britney Spears reprises her role as receptionist Abby, as she and Barney team up to annoy Ted on How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 7:30).
Tuesday, 5/13
Season Finales:
Beauty and the Geek (CW, 7 pm)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 9 pm)
Women's Murder Club (ABC, 9:02)
Wednesday, 5/14
Season Finales:
America's Next Top Model (CW, 7 pm)
'Til Death (FOX, 7 pm)-- J.B. Smoove's hilarious Kenny is back.
Back to You (FOX, 7:30)-- this would be the series finale
Thursday, 5/15
Season Finales:
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (FOX, 7 pm)-- for the record: yes, I am
My Name is Earl (NBC, 7 pm)-- hour-long ep
Smallville (CW, 7 pm)-- Lex, Lana, and maybe even Chloe's last ep as series regulars.
CSI (CBS, 8 pm)-- Gary Dourdan's last ep
Don't Forget the Lyrics! (FOX, 8 pm)
Supernatural (CW, 8 pm)
The Office (NBC, 8 pm)-- hour-long ep
ER (NBC, 9 pm)
Without a Trace (CBS, 9 pm)
Friday, 5/16
Mobile Home Disaster; CMT. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
Mobile Homes get the Extreme Home Makeover treatment. [I don't make these up, people.]
Season Finales:
Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 7 pm)
America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC, 7 pm)-- That show is still airing new eps?
Moonlight (CBS, 8 pm)
Numb3rs (CBS, 9 pm)
Saturday, 5/17
Season Finales:
Mad TV (FOX, 10 pm)-- guest-starring Dave Navarro
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 10:30)-- Starring Steve Carell
Talkshow With Spike Feresten (FOX, 11 pm)
Sunday, 5/18
Metalocalypse; adult swim. 11 pm. 2nd season premiere
Dethklok travels to Wisconsin for Pickles' brother's wedding.
Season Finales:
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC, 6 pm)
Everybody Hates Chris (CW, 7 pm)
The Simpsons (FOX, 7 pm)
Aliens in America (CW, 7:30)-- series finale
King of the Hill (FOX, 7:30)
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 8 pm)-- two hour ep
The Game (CW, 8 pm)
American Dad (FOX, 8:30)
ALIENS Exiled
I knew it was coming, but I still held out hope that some miracle would happen...
The fantastic Aliens in America is not being renewed for next year. I'm totally bummed out. I haven't sorted out all the TV I've watched in the last year in my head yet, but Aliens was probably my favorite new show of the year.
It was funny, it was sweet, and it also said a little something about the human condition. You can't ask for more than that.
And it got "bumped" so we could see more Beauty and the Geek and Pussycat Dolls garbage. Life's just not fair.
If you missed it while it aired (and you probably did), I'm crossing my fingers there will be a DVD set of the series someday.
In related news, the other big bubble show on CW, Reaper, has a good shot at returning. We'll know soon as upfronts are being presented this week.
And, finally, FOX's up-and-down Back to You also got the no renewal. I like the cast, but that show was pretty inconsistent-- and rarely funny.
The fantastic Aliens in America is not being renewed for next year. I'm totally bummed out. I haven't sorted out all the TV I've watched in the last year in my head yet, but Aliens was probably my favorite new show of the year.
It was funny, it was sweet, and it also said a little something about the human condition. You can't ask for more than that.
And it got "bumped" so we could see more Beauty and the Geek and Pussycat Dolls garbage. Life's just not fair.
If you missed it while it aired (and you probably did), I'm crossing my fingers there will be a DVD set of the series someday.
In related news, the other big bubble show on CW, Reaper, has a good shot at returning. We'll know soon as upfronts are being presented this week.
And, finally, FOX's up-and-down Back to You also got the no renewal. I like the cast, but that show was pretty inconsistent-- and rarely funny.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
One Leg at a Time
Check out this 2 minute video of guys putting on jeans in onorthodox ways. The last one is pretty amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pShf2VuAu_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pShf2VuAu_Q
Monday, May 05, 2008
ABC Fells TREES
It was announced today that Men in Trees is not getting picked up for next year.
Luckily (smartly) enough a series ending was filmed, just in case. Trees will finish out its run beginning at the end of May.
Creators and fans are blaming ABC for the shoddy treatment (six time changes and two extra-long hiatuses over barely two seasons), and that's partly to blame.
But I'm going to go on a limb here and say the second season was quite a bit a letdown when compared to the first. The cast was great, and the storylines are okay, but something really was missing. Was it Patrick's moronic amnesia? Partly. Or the fact that Jack was getting pretty unlikeable (especially compared to Cash)? For me, yes. Or the silly fish out of water moments Sam ("Plow Guy") had with whatever her name was.
Anyway, I would have liked to see the show continue if only to see if it could right itself. Now we won't get the chance.
But we will get an ending, and that's pretty unusual, so I'll take it.
Luckily (smartly) enough a series ending was filmed, just in case. Trees will finish out its run beginning at the end of May.
Creators and fans are blaming ABC for the shoddy treatment (six time changes and two extra-long hiatuses over barely two seasons), and that's partly to blame.
But I'm going to go on a limb here and say the second season was quite a bit a letdown when compared to the first. The cast was great, and the storylines are okay, but something really was missing. Was it Patrick's moronic amnesia? Partly. Or the fact that Jack was getting pretty unlikeable (especially compared to Cash)? For me, yes. Or the silly fish out of water moments Sam ("Plow Guy") had with whatever her name was.
Anyway, I would have liked to see the show continue if only to see if it could right itself. Now we won't get the chance.
But we will get an ending, and that's pretty unusual, so I'll take it.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Premieres and Notables May 5-11, 2008
Monday, 5/5
Life's a Trip (Travel). 10 pm. Series premiere.
I would have loved to sit in this pitch meeting... "Hey, boss, new show idea: let's film peoples' vacations and then air the footage!" I mean, that's just ratings gold right there. Who wouldn't want to see other people on vacation?
This week, CSI and Two and a Half Men trade writers. Tonight we see the CSI crew tackle Men (CBS, 8:00 pm CST). I tried and gave up on this show three times over the years, but I have to check this out. One of the coolest behind-the-scenes ideas of the year.
Tuesday, 5/6
One of my favorite TV actresses joins Shark (CBS, 9 pm) while Jeri Ryan is on maternity leave. I almost started watching the series last year, but decided against it when I didn't hear great things. But Paula Marshall pitching in for a while means I'll be watching. I love Paula Marshall.
Wednesday, 5/7
Secrets of the Dead; PBS. 7 pm (check local listings). Season premiere.
Thursday, 5/8
Together in Alaska; History. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
NPR commentator and newspaper columnist Geo Beach takes on jobs in Alaska, beginning with gold prospector.
Scrubs has its season finale (and probable series finale on NBC) at 7:30 when they blow their budget doing a Princess Bride-esque fairy tale told by Dr. Cox to his son.
Two and a Half Men's creators take a whack at writing CSI (CBS, 8 pm).
Another season finale:
30 Rock (NBC, 8:31)
Saturday, 5/10
Big Girl's Blouse; Sundance. 8 pm. (American) series premiere.
This Australian sketch series come to the U.S. for a six ep tryout.
Sunday, 5/11
Season Finales:
Survivor (CBS, 7 pm)
Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 9:02)
Life's a Trip (Travel). 10 pm. Series premiere.
I would have loved to sit in this pitch meeting... "Hey, boss, new show idea: let's film peoples' vacations and then air the footage!" I mean, that's just ratings gold right there. Who wouldn't want to see other people on vacation?
This week, CSI and Two and a Half Men trade writers. Tonight we see the CSI crew tackle Men (CBS, 8:00 pm CST). I tried and gave up on this show three times over the years, but I have to check this out. One of the coolest behind-the-scenes ideas of the year.
Tuesday, 5/6
One of my favorite TV actresses joins Shark (CBS, 9 pm) while Jeri Ryan is on maternity leave. I almost started watching the series last year, but decided against it when I didn't hear great things. But Paula Marshall pitching in for a while means I'll be watching. I love Paula Marshall.
Wednesday, 5/7
Secrets of the Dead; PBS. 7 pm (check local listings). Season premiere.
Thursday, 5/8
Together in Alaska; History. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
NPR commentator and newspaper columnist Geo Beach takes on jobs in Alaska, beginning with gold prospector.
Scrubs has its season finale (and probable series finale on NBC) at 7:30 when they blow their budget doing a Princess Bride-esque fairy tale told by Dr. Cox to his son.
Two and a Half Men's creators take a whack at writing CSI (CBS, 8 pm).
Another season finale:
30 Rock (NBC, 8:31)
Saturday, 5/10
Big Girl's Blouse; Sundance. 8 pm. (American) series premiere.
This Australian sketch series come to the U.S. for a six ep tryout.
Sunday, 5/11
Season Finales:
Survivor (CBS, 7 pm)
Brothers and Sisters (ABC, 9:02)
Thursday, May 01, 2008
I Am (Not) IRON MAN
So I mentioned yesterday that I had tickets to the new Iron Man film, and I thought I should give some quick thoughts on it now that I've seen it.
First: some personal background...
It started in fifth grade when I bought Iron Man #216. It was one of the first comics I ever bought, but it rocked my world so much, I was hooked on comics for the next two decades. Even though I had read a couple of comics before then, that's the issue I credit when people ask "What was the first comic book you read?" It had me from the cover; it was like crack cocaine.
First: some personal background...
It started in fifth grade when I bought Iron Man #216. It was one of the first comics I ever bought, but it rocked my world so much, I was hooked on comics for the next two decades. Even though I had read a couple of comics before then, that's the issue I credit when people ask "What was the first comic book you read?" It had me from the cover; it was like crack cocaine.
Watching that movie tonight was a lot like being in fifth grade again.
Without getting too into it, I haven't been really excited by the direction Marvel has taken Iron Man in the past few years (he's pretty much the biggest prick in the Marvel Universe right now), so I haven't kept up with the character beyond what I've read in news forums and the occasional trade paperback I read from the library.
But the Iron Man in the movie is old school IM.
Rich, genius playboy Tony Stark develops and sells (through his company) the most advanced weapons in the world. During a test run of a new weapon, he's injured (shrapnel embeds itself near his heart) and is taken captive by the enemy. He's told he must redesign that weapon for his captors or they will kill him and his fellow captive. Tony and his co-prisoner work on a suit of armor and plan their escape using it.
After the escape, Tony dedicates his life to saving people instead of killing them. He builds a more advanced suit of armor, and, after a few stumbles, he goes out to kick ass and take names.
There are tweaks to the story (the war is in Afghanistan instead of Korea-- and later Vietnam-- as in the comics; Obediah Stane and James Rhodes are there from the beginning), but it follows the comics very closely. And, why not? It's a great origin story that still works wonderfully in current times.
From there, the story hits many of the beats that every classic Iron Man story has to have: his company is being wrested from his grip, his technology falls into the wrong hands, he has moments where his technology to keep his heart beating fails, and he has a big, knock-down drag-out fight with someone else in a suit of armor.
He's even got the support staff from the comics: Rhodey to cover his back, super-assistant Pepper Potts, and driver Happy Hogan (played by director Jon Favreau-- as if a fan such as himself would not try to be part of the fun...). A tweak that may set some fanboys off, but worked for me: Jarvis the butler takes on a different role for the movie.
Like I said: classic stuff here.
Favreau did a great job not only directing but also casting. I, seriously, can't think of any actor who could have been replaced. Robert Downey Jr. was perfect. He was allowed to be funnier than Stark is in the comics, and it really helped the movie. And anyone who has seen his work knows he also can play vulnerable as well as cocky. Gwyneth Paltrow was great as Pepper. She nailed the slightly adventurous nature of Potts as well as brought the sweet sexual tension she has with Stark from the comics to the movie. Jeff Bridges played Stane perfectly; from supporting mentor to stone-cold badass. Terrance Howard felt a little "soft" as Rhodey, but I think when he dons a suit of armor in the next movie (it was so hinted at in this one), he'll be as tough as Rhodes is in the comics. I also liked the nod to SHIELD in the film as well.
I'm happy the movie worked as well as it did. That's a huge win for Marvel Studios (this was the first movie Marvel produced on its own-- and a failure could have doomed the production company before it got off the ground). I hope fans will flock to the theatre this weekend. I'm a little worried because the theatre I was in tonight was less than half full. But the movie officially opens tomorrow, and the 8 pm first showing I went to wasn't advertised. Hopefully people will tear themselves away from Grand Theft Auto 4 for two hours this weekend.
It also needs to continue to be strong for a few weeks to help lead it into The Incredible Hulk, which opens next month (and had a few issues as can be expected since Edward Norton had a larger role in production than just acting).
Speaking of the new Hulk movie: it's been confirmed that Downey as Tony Stark makes a cameo in it, and it's heavily rumored that his gold-alloyed alter-ego appears on screen as well (one of the perks that Marvel Studios enjoys now that it is producing almost all the upcoming movies starring Marvel Comics characters).
I'm sure part of this is adrenaline here, and I did see it in the theatre (which tends to inflate my grade), but I have to give it a solid A-. It's not going to win Best Picture, but it was fun, action-packed, funny...
...And it was true to my favorite super-hero as a kid.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Ya Gotta Love This Guy
Every comic book fan has story ideas. I don't know if it's the abounding love of characters and concepts or the prevalent belief among fanboys that they could do better if a company would let them work on their favorite book.
Hey, even I have a kick-ass idea for an epic comic book series I've never told anyone about just in case I ever get the chance to write a it (yes, delusion also runs in the veins of fanboys). Although my ideas have been used in Star Trek Voyager, Wolverine, The Hulk, The Avengers, many by Brian Michael Bendis, and on and on. It sucks when my ideas are formed over fifteen years ago and were stolen from me-- and I never got to tell my story!
Just kidding. (About my rage.)
I'm still available to Marvel if they want me to send my series outline...
Anyway, here's a fun blog post by a guy (tongue-in-cheek-ish in spirit, but the dude would take the shot if DC gave it to him) who's offering his ideas for Legion of Super-Heroes. I love this guy's enthusiasm-- and the post was a great reminder of why I love that team.
Don't forget to read the word balloons. Most are pretty funny.
Here's the link: http://mightygodking.com/index.php/i-should-write-the-legion/
I thought the ideas were kick-ass, and that's why I love comics-- everyone's got ideas.
("UltraBoy will not be a stupid [f-bomb]ing jackass"... Classic.)
Hey, even I have a kick-ass idea for an epic comic book series I've never told anyone about just in case I ever get the chance to write a it (yes, delusion also runs in the veins of fanboys). Although my ideas have been used in Star Trek Voyager, Wolverine, The Hulk, The Avengers, many by Brian Michael Bendis, and on and on. It sucks when my ideas are formed over fifteen years ago and were stolen from me-- and I never got to tell my story!
Just kidding. (About my rage.)
I'm still available to Marvel if they want me to send my series outline...
Anyway, here's a fun blog post by a guy (tongue-in-cheek-ish in spirit, but the dude would take the shot if DC gave it to him) who's offering his ideas for Legion of Super-Heroes. I love this guy's enthusiasm-- and the post was a great reminder of why I love that team.
Don't forget to read the word balloons. Most are pretty funny.
Here's the link: http://mightygodking.com/index.php/i-should-write-the-legion/
I thought the ideas were kick-ass, and that's why I love comics-- everyone's got ideas.
("UltraBoy will not be a stupid [f-bomb]ing jackass"... Classic.)
The 2008 Q1 DVD list: A's & B's
Once-- I raved about this one in a previous post, and I will again because the movie has stuck with me a month later. I just listened to some songs from the film soundtrack, and it all came back. There are great movies to watch, and then there are very rare gems that “change” you after watching them. This is one of those gems. A
The Simpsons Movie— At the beginning of the movie, Homer stands up during a showing of the Itchy and Scratchy movie and asks, “Why pay for something we can see for free?” Because you can’t get this kind of quality on free TV. Everything you love about The Simpsons is multiplied by a hundred for the movie. The animation was better and more adventurous, and the story was also beyond what would fit into the show (props to the creators for making an actual movie, and not something that could conveniently be broken up into TV episodes). I still like The Simpsons, but I haven’t loved it in years. I loved this movie, though. A-
The Bourne Ultimatum— A great capper to a great series. Jason gets closer to the truth of his existence. I must say I was surprised to learn his “origin story”. The action was smart and crazy, and the cast was stellar. A-
Eastern Promises— The story was good enough, but the direction and the performances really put this film near the top of the heap. Viggo Mortenson was phenomenal. A-
Shoot ‘Em Up— Imagine every action movie you’ve ever seen turned up to 11. This movie went beyond the point of ridiculous (as was intended), and it’s a testament to Clive Owen (as well as Paul Giamatti)’s abilities that kept it all within the context of the story. Lesser actors would have easily lost control of the ludicrous situations herein. I mean, is there any other actor you can think of that could make chewing a carrot stick as badass as Owen does? The film was a satire of sorts, but the kind where the players are winking at us as if to say “Listen, we know this is beyond over the top, but doesn’t it look cool?” And if you have time, check out the special features on the DVD as they’re pretty funny in their own rights, like the question asked of cast and crew of how many people are killed in the movie and then get answers like “Lots” or “I lost track after 100/200/300”. A-
3:10 To Yuma-- Christian Bale and Russell Crowe at their best. Wow. Just a pleasure to watch them work. And the story was great as well. You kinda know who's gonna die by the credits(there is a bit of a "formula"), but there were a few twists just before and after it that made it very interesting. A-
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-- Each film in the series has a more grown up Harry, and this no exception. Harry gets a band of “rebels” together to fight against Valdemort because no one else will. Good moments and effects, and the kids are growing into pretty good actors (how cool are their lives, working with the incredible talent they get to work with?) B+
Dexter: Season One -- It’s a cheat that I’ve included a TV series, but it’s a really good one that I saw for the first time on DVD. B+
Stardust-- I read a number of mixed reviews about this fantasy movie, but I really enjoyed it. The effects were good and the story and characters had a nice humor about them. B+
Rescue Dawn—Great story, but nothing groundbreaking other than Christian Bale’s usually great work and Steve Zahn’s very great attempt at pure drama. B
Hairspray— I watched this on a whim, but I’m glad I saw it. I’m not one for musicals, but it worked in this movie. The young cast was great—and the message of the movie was a good one to keep in mind. The biggest downside to this movie was John Travolta’s ridiculous-looking makeup job to look like a woman. I know the part is traditionally played by a man, but they could have done better. Not that Travolta was bad (he was actually quite effective), but I never saw "Mrs. Turnblad", I just saw Travolta in drag. B
The Waitress— I liked the “realistic” attitude of the movie (sometimes pregnancy is not a “wondrous gift” due to circumstances), but some of the characters were a bit over the top. It was very funny (black humor) in many spots, so it’s worth watching. B
Live Free or Die Hard— About half-way through this movie, I completely expected John McClain to get caught in an explosion and emerge from the flames with his skin melted off and continue the movie as a Terminator T-800. I haven’t watched a Die Hard movie since Die Hard with a Vengeance was in the theatres, so I forgot how unbelievably over the top they can be. This one was even more so. But it was fun. And it had Justin Long and Timothy Olyphant (who I really wish could snag a movie role that comes close to the ultra-cool/badass Sheriff Bullock he played in Deadwood). B
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters— A documentary about the struggle between two men to attain the highest score ever achieved on Donkey Kong. It was crazy. And pretty effective. B
Underdog— I watched the cartoon as a kid, but I don’t remember hardly anything about it, so this was a fresh take for me. Yeah, it’s a kid movie, but there were some good lines and good scenes. I doubt I would have watched it if I was childless, but the boys and I liked it enough. B
Superbad— funny but vulgar. But that’s what you can expect from the Apatow clan. Laughs, laughs, and then the inevitable thing that makes you say, “Okay, that was a bit much.” And then repeat the cycle. B
No End in Sight— I don’t know why I do this to myself. Let’s see: a movie that looks at the failings of the United States as it created the Iraq War. No big surprises here when I say the Administration [f-bomb]ed up. Not that the movie isn’t worth checking out—especially since the irritation at the clowns in the White House seems to have worn off for the average American. We should remember that a group of complete morons got us into a war that we’re going to have an incredibly difficult time getting out of. I (and the movie) am not saying we shouldn’t be there to help out—but it’s obvious we went about it the wrong way. B
The Best of the Colbert Report-- Good on moderation. Don’t try to watch the whole thing from start to finish like I did because it almost becomes a chore. B-
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End-- Kind of a mess. Okay, quite a bit of a mess. It had enough action and fun scenes, but it tried so hard to wrap up storylines that it jumped around quite a bit—even though the film was squarely hinged on Captain Sparrow; most everyone else was just a player in his story. Depp was better than he should have been considering the movie didn’t expect much from anyone else. B-
Pan’s Labyrinth— Pretty to look at, but very odd. I have to admit I didn’t know what was going on half the time. And the ending made the usual quote from critics: “fairy tale for adults” pretty much sum it up. B-
The Waterhorse—film. Another movie for kids that worked well enough for adults. It did follow the kids adventure formula strictly enough, but Alex Etel was fun to watch as Angus. B-
Iditarod 2007: As Tough As They Come-- I’ve always been intrigued by dog sledding (maybe because the biggest race in the lower 48 states begins in the area I grew up in), and this was a good recap of the 2007 race, but I wish there would have been more than just an hour-long recap of the race. I wonder what HBO Sports could have done with it. Now that would be awesome. B-
Mr. Bean’s Holiday-- Another movie for kids, but an adult can appreciate the goings on as well as the realization that Bean doesn’t speak hardly anything resembling English in the whole movie. It’s tough to have an audience sympathize with a character through just his actions (most of which get him into some sort of trouble). B-
The Simpsons Movie— At the beginning of the movie, Homer stands up during a showing of the Itchy and Scratchy movie and asks, “Why pay for something we can see for free?” Because you can’t get this kind of quality on free TV. Everything you love about The Simpsons is multiplied by a hundred for the movie. The animation was better and more adventurous, and the story was also beyond what would fit into the show (props to the creators for making an actual movie, and not something that could conveniently be broken up into TV episodes). I still like The Simpsons, but I haven’t loved it in years. I loved this movie, though. A-
The Bourne Ultimatum— A great capper to a great series. Jason gets closer to the truth of his existence. I must say I was surprised to learn his “origin story”. The action was smart and crazy, and the cast was stellar. A-
Eastern Promises— The story was good enough, but the direction and the performances really put this film near the top of the heap. Viggo Mortenson was phenomenal. A-
Shoot ‘Em Up— Imagine every action movie you’ve ever seen turned up to 11. This movie went beyond the point of ridiculous (as was intended), and it’s a testament to Clive Owen (as well as Paul Giamatti)’s abilities that kept it all within the context of the story. Lesser actors would have easily lost control of the ludicrous situations herein. I mean, is there any other actor you can think of that could make chewing a carrot stick as badass as Owen does? The film was a satire of sorts, but the kind where the players are winking at us as if to say “Listen, we know this is beyond over the top, but doesn’t it look cool?” And if you have time, check out the special features on the DVD as they’re pretty funny in their own rights, like the question asked of cast and crew of how many people are killed in the movie and then get answers like “Lots” or “I lost track after 100/200/300”. A-
3:10 To Yuma-- Christian Bale and Russell Crowe at their best. Wow. Just a pleasure to watch them work. And the story was great as well. You kinda know who's gonna die by the credits(there is a bit of a "formula"), but there were a few twists just before and after it that made it very interesting. A-
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix-- Each film in the series has a more grown up Harry, and this no exception. Harry gets a band of “rebels” together to fight against Valdemort because no one else will. Good moments and effects, and the kids are growing into pretty good actors (how cool are their lives, working with the incredible talent they get to work with?) B+
Dexter: Season One -- It’s a cheat that I’ve included a TV series, but it’s a really good one that I saw for the first time on DVD. B+
Stardust-- I read a number of mixed reviews about this fantasy movie, but I really enjoyed it. The effects were good and the story and characters had a nice humor about them. B+
Rescue Dawn—Great story, but nothing groundbreaking other than Christian Bale’s usually great work and Steve Zahn’s very great attempt at pure drama. B
Hairspray— I watched this on a whim, but I’m glad I saw it. I’m not one for musicals, but it worked in this movie. The young cast was great—and the message of the movie was a good one to keep in mind. The biggest downside to this movie was John Travolta’s ridiculous-looking makeup job to look like a woman. I know the part is traditionally played by a man, but they could have done better. Not that Travolta was bad (he was actually quite effective), but I never saw "Mrs. Turnblad", I just saw Travolta in drag. B
The Waitress— I liked the “realistic” attitude of the movie (sometimes pregnancy is not a “wondrous gift” due to circumstances), but some of the characters were a bit over the top. It was very funny (black humor) in many spots, so it’s worth watching. B
Live Free or Die Hard— About half-way through this movie, I completely expected John McClain to get caught in an explosion and emerge from the flames with his skin melted off and continue the movie as a Terminator T-800. I haven’t watched a Die Hard movie since Die Hard with a Vengeance was in the theatres, so I forgot how unbelievably over the top they can be. This one was even more so. But it was fun. And it had Justin Long and Timothy Olyphant (who I really wish could snag a movie role that comes close to the ultra-cool/badass Sheriff Bullock he played in Deadwood). B
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters— A documentary about the struggle between two men to attain the highest score ever achieved on Donkey Kong. It was crazy. And pretty effective. B
Underdog— I watched the cartoon as a kid, but I don’t remember hardly anything about it, so this was a fresh take for me. Yeah, it’s a kid movie, but there were some good lines and good scenes. I doubt I would have watched it if I was childless, but the boys and I liked it enough. B
Superbad— funny but vulgar. But that’s what you can expect from the Apatow clan. Laughs, laughs, and then the inevitable thing that makes you say, “Okay, that was a bit much.” And then repeat the cycle. B
No End in Sight— I don’t know why I do this to myself. Let’s see: a movie that looks at the failings of the United States as it created the Iraq War. No big surprises here when I say the Administration [f-bomb]ed up. Not that the movie isn’t worth checking out—especially since the irritation at the clowns in the White House seems to have worn off for the average American. We should remember that a group of complete morons got us into a war that we’re going to have an incredibly difficult time getting out of. I (and the movie) am not saying we shouldn’t be there to help out—but it’s obvious we went about it the wrong way. B
The Best of the Colbert Report-- Good on moderation. Don’t try to watch the whole thing from start to finish like I did because it almost becomes a chore. B-
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End-- Kind of a mess. Okay, quite a bit of a mess. It had enough action and fun scenes, but it tried so hard to wrap up storylines that it jumped around quite a bit—even though the film was squarely hinged on Captain Sparrow; most everyone else was just a player in his story. Depp was better than he should have been considering the movie didn’t expect much from anyone else. B-
Pan’s Labyrinth— Pretty to look at, but very odd. I have to admit I didn’t know what was going on half the time. And the ending made the usual quote from critics: “fairy tale for adults” pretty much sum it up. B-
The Waterhorse—film. Another movie for kids that worked well enough for adults. It did follow the kids adventure formula strictly enough, but Alex Etel was fun to watch as Angus. B-
Iditarod 2007: As Tough As They Come-- I’ve always been intrigued by dog sledding (maybe because the biggest race in the lower 48 states begins in the area I grew up in), and this was a good recap of the 2007 race, but I wish there would have been more than just an hour-long recap of the race. I wonder what HBO Sports could have done with it. Now that would be awesome. B-
Mr. Bean’s Holiday-- Another movie for kids, but an adult can appreciate the goings on as well as the realization that Bean doesn’t speak hardly anything resembling English in the whole movie. It’s tough to have an audience sympathize with a character through just his actions (most of which get him into some sort of trouble). B-
The Actual Q1 DVD List; C's-F
License to Wed—John Krasinski doing what he does best (being a lovable goof), Robin Williams doing what he does best (side gags around the script), and Mandy Moore (sadly) not really a part of it. I’m kinda stuck here. The movie wasn’t much, but it did have good performances at times. At times I was bored and at others I was interested. I didn’t find it great, but I also didn’t find it as bad as many reviews I read said it was. C+
Chalk— A humorous documentary-style look at teaching (think The Office, just not as funny). It had good moments, but I just didn’t care about the characters. C+
Hot Rod—Another one that I had low expectations for. It was dumb and not particularly funny, but worked for a Saturday night. C+
Reno 911: Miami— I usually tire of Reno 911 part-way through the season. This movie was pretty much the same. But instead of great gags in a bare plot as on TV, we got a decent (if unbelievable) plot and not many great gags. C
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams— I had heard such good things about this import from Serbia, but it was just so depressing, and it waited too long to get to the “reveal” that I wasn’t grabbed by it as I wanted to be. C
The Nanny Diaries—Good performances by Scarlett Johannson, Laura Linney, and a great one by Paul Giamatti, but I just didn’t care about them. C-
The Dead Girl—depressing. I can’t say it wasn’t a good movie but I was completely uninterested in these depressing as Hell characters. And that’s too bad because the movie took a unique approach at the aftermath of the murder of a young woman by showing a number of different angles/stories of women who were affected by it. C-
No Reservations—I wish there’d be a movie that explains the brains of “food people”. I read Kitchen Confidential but even that was a bit too “inside” for me (although I know not to get surf meals from Friday to Monday and that chefs used to get hopped up on some sort of drugs to keep going). This movie did nothing for me. Even though it starred Aaron Eckhart, I still wasn’t drawn in. It was everything a “chick flick” should be because it followed the formula to the letter. D+
Thunderpants—A story about a boy with terrible flatulence, and how he parlayed that “curse” into a gift by saving the world. I didn’t have any great expectations about it, and it certainly didn’t deliver. D-
Waiting—TV. I like Ryan Reynolds and I like Justin Long, but I did not like this movie. It tried being a 21st Century Clerks but it wasn’t funny; it just was vulgar. F.
Chalk— A humorous documentary-style look at teaching (think The Office, just not as funny). It had good moments, but I just didn’t care about the characters. C+
Hot Rod—Another one that I had low expectations for. It was dumb and not particularly funny, but worked for a Saturday night. C+
Reno 911: Miami— I usually tire of Reno 911 part-way through the season. This movie was pretty much the same. But instead of great gags in a bare plot as on TV, we got a decent (if unbelievable) plot and not many great gags. C
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams— I had heard such good things about this import from Serbia, but it was just so depressing, and it waited too long to get to the “reveal” that I wasn’t grabbed by it as I wanted to be. C
The Nanny Diaries—Good performances by Scarlett Johannson, Laura Linney, and a great one by Paul Giamatti, but I just didn’t care about them. C-
The Dead Girl—depressing. I can’t say it wasn’t a good movie but I was completely uninterested in these depressing as Hell characters. And that’s too bad because the movie took a unique approach at the aftermath of the murder of a young woman by showing a number of different angles/stories of women who were affected by it. C-
No Reservations—I wish there’d be a movie that explains the brains of “food people”. I read Kitchen Confidential but even that was a bit too “inside” for me (although I know not to get surf meals from Friday to Monday and that chefs used to get hopped up on some sort of drugs to keep going). This movie did nothing for me. Even though it starred Aaron Eckhart, I still wasn’t drawn in. It was everything a “chick flick” should be because it followed the formula to the letter. D+
Thunderpants—A story about a boy with terrible flatulence, and how he parlayed that “curse” into a gift by saving the world. I didn’t have any great expectations about it, and it certainly didn’t deliver. D-
Waiting—TV. I like Ryan Reynolds and I like Justin Long, but I did not like this movie. It tried being a 21st Century Clerks but it wasn’t funny; it just was vulgar. F.
2008 Q1 DVDs
If you recall, earlier this year I gave my mini-reviews on all the movies I watched last year via DVD, premium cable channel, or actually in the theatre. The posts were a big hit (in my mind-- no one commented on the posts).
Part of the trouble of doing things that way was there was a pretty big distance between me watching and then "reviewing" some of them; sometimes a time gap of a year or longer.
I had some time to go over what I've watched so far this year (I'm on an even larger movie-watching pace than last year) and thought I should try to do it by quarter this year, so here are the movies I watched from January to March, 2008.
I tried to rank them from favorite to least favorite this time. Partially so it made a little sense (and since I haven't watched 100 movies yet this year, it made doing a Top 20 tough) and partially because I am able to remember all the movies I've watched so far better than doing a year at a time.
Before I begin, let me lay down the ground rules (hopefully they're similar to last time's): they were watched on DVD unless noted. Why's that important? I found last year that I graded films I saw in theatres maybe a half-grade higher probably because I was influenced by that experience. Also, DVD extras can play a part in determining a grade (if noted).
A friend of mine asked me how I see so many better than average movies, and the simple answer is: I try to keep abreast of good things out there. There is way too much crap on DVD, in theatres, in books, etc that I use critic reviews as guidelines often (not for my "reviews", but as a kind of guidebook to what to watch or read). If Entertainment Weekly or my newspaper gave a book or a movie a good review, I either put it on hold at the library or write it down on my "to watch/read someday" list (which is getting much too large). I also use friends a little (I'm usually the most-informed person I know of such things-- not bragging, just keepin' it real) and sometimes I just take a chance. And I watch 75-100 movies a year as well as around 100 TV shows a year, so I'm getting pretty good at picking out what I'll like. That's why you'll find many, many more B's than D's. I'm able to make better choices for me.
Maybe my choices can help you. I wish I had more time to review each one, but I barely had the time for these little writeups.
Like last time: A's are the cream of the crop, and a heartily recommend them. B's are better than average and good for entertainment in most cases (or at least showcase good to great acting or directing). C's still have value, but could be above or below average slightly (depending on how I was feeling when I watched it). D's have little going for them; maybe a good performance by an actor or enough funny lines to make watching it not completely a waste of time. F's have no redeeming value, and you are only going to put yourself through the misery I went through.
One last thing: if you actually paid any attention to the 2007 grades, note that I didn't consult that list to make these grades. It's possible that a movie I gave a B+ to last year would have earned a B- this year. Don't take too much stock in the grade other than just as the guidelines I established in the last paragraph. Ranking them as I do this year will help with that, too.
Lovely... My intro took up more space than I thought.
Okay, next post will be the list (or a part of it-- we'll see how big it gets).
Part of the trouble of doing things that way was there was a pretty big distance between me watching and then "reviewing" some of them; sometimes a time gap of a year or longer.
I had some time to go over what I've watched so far this year (I'm on an even larger movie-watching pace than last year) and thought I should try to do it by quarter this year, so here are the movies I watched from January to March, 2008.
I tried to rank them from favorite to least favorite this time. Partially so it made a little sense (and since I haven't watched 100 movies yet this year, it made doing a Top 20 tough) and partially because I am able to remember all the movies I've watched so far better than doing a year at a time.
Before I begin, let me lay down the ground rules (hopefully they're similar to last time's): they were watched on DVD unless noted. Why's that important? I found last year that I graded films I saw in theatres maybe a half-grade higher probably because I was influenced by that experience. Also, DVD extras can play a part in determining a grade (if noted).
A friend of mine asked me how I see so many better than average movies, and the simple answer is: I try to keep abreast of good things out there. There is way too much crap on DVD, in theatres, in books, etc that I use critic reviews as guidelines often (not for my "reviews", but as a kind of guidebook to what to watch or read). If Entertainment Weekly or my newspaper gave a book or a movie a good review, I either put it on hold at the library or write it down on my "to watch/read someday" list (which is getting much too large). I also use friends a little (I'm usually the most-informed person I know of such things-- not bragging, just keepin' it real) and sometimes I just take a chance. And I watch 75-100 movies a year as well as around 100 TV shows a year, so I'm getting pretty good at picking out what I'll like. That's why you'll find many, many more B's than D's. I'm able to make better choices for me.
Maybe my choices can help you. I wish I had more time to review each one, but I barely had the time for these little writeups.
Like last time: A's are the cream of the crop, and a heartily recommend them. B's are better than average and good for entertainment in most cases (or at least showcase good to great acting or directing). C's still have value, but could be above or below average slightly (depending on how I was feeling when I watched it). D's have little going for them; maybe a good performance by an actor or enough funny lines to make watching it not completely a waste of time. F's have no redeeming value, and you are only going to put yourself through the misery I went through.
One last thing: if you actually paid any attention to the 2007 grades, note that I didn't consult that list to make these grades. It's possible that a movie I gave a B+ to last year would have earned a B- this year. Don't take too much stock in the grade other than just as the guidelines I established in the last paragraph. Ranking them as I do this year will help with that, too.
Lovely... My intro took up more space than I thought.
Okay, next post will be the list (or a part of it-- we'll see how big it gets).
Something's Not Right
I don't want to jump on any bandwagon or anything, but something struck me as very odd this afternoon:
I went to Burger King to work on completing my Iron Man toy collection, and my cheeseburger meal came to $2.84.
I drove a mile down the road and noticed the price of a gallon of gas is $3.64.
I got a cheeseburger, a small Coke, and small fries-- and a freakin' toy-- for almost a dollar less than a gallon of gas. Crazy.
I also heard earlier today that the major oil companies had better than expected first quarters again this year.
Well, thank goodness the economic troubles we're in isn't affecting everyone.
Let's end on a happier note (for me anyway; I feel bad for you other suckas): my ticket to the first Iron Man showing on the big-ass UltraScreen tomorrow night just printed out of my printer. I don't let myself get excited for much (keep expectations low), but I am excited for this movie. I love Batman and Indiana Jones, but I was a BIG Iron Man fan back in the day...
I went to Burger King to work on completing my Iron Man toy collection, and my cheeseburger meal came to $2.84.
I drove a mile down the road and noticed the price of a gallon of gas is $3.64.
I got a cheeseburger, a small Coke, and small fries-- and a freakin' toy-- for almost a dollar less than a gallon of gas. Crazy.
I also heard earlier today that the major oil companies had better than expected first quarters again this year.
Well, thank goodness the economic troubles we're in isn't affecting everyone.
Let's end on a happier note (for me anyway; I feel bad for you other suckas): my ticket to the first Iron Man showing on the big-ass UltraScreen tomorrow night just printed out of my printer. I don't let myself get excited for much (keep expectations low), but I am excited for this movie. I love Batman and Indiana Jones, but I was a BIG Iron Man fan back in the day...
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