Ah, Comic Con. Geek Mecca, if you will. Where those of us obsessed with all things sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture-related gather together to get the latest news and scoop on our favorite comics, television shows, and movies.
Fellow tv-slutter Monkey Sri and I headed to San Diego last week and participated in our first Comic Con so we could report back on all the happs for you, our gentle reader. From Wednesday night to Sunday I spent almost every day in the San Diego Convention Center visiting as many panels as I could and taking copious notes to ensure I could regurgitate all the details. I figure the easiest way to do this is to go chronologically, which means we start with....
Wednesday, July 22*
Wednesday was preview night, when people who had signed up for 4-day passes could pick up their badges and avoid the HUGE line that forms on Thursday morning. After procuring our passes, my friend Rachel (avid television viewer and vampire lover) and I got the lay of the land of the convention center and attended our first Comic Con event: screenings of the pilot episodes for V (on ABC) and The Vampire Diaries (on the CW).
V: As any fan of Sci-Fi television knows (or really anyone who has ever watched I Love the 80s on VH1), V was a weekly drama series that ran in 1984 on NBC for one season. As everything old is new again, ABC has retooled the series and it is now slated to air in the fall of this year.
The plot of the show is basic: aliens show up one day (in a scene basically ripped from Independence Day) and inform us that they need vital minerals from our planet. In exchange they offer us some of their technology (including cures to most known diseases) and repeated promises that they come in peace. Some people welcome them with open arms, others are more questioning. It's not a huge spoiler to give away that the Vs aren't everything they appear to be, but that's all I'll say. If you aren't familiar with the prior series there are some surprises in store for you.
The show centers around an FBI Agent (Elizabeth Mitchell from Lost) and her son, as well as a large cast of other characters including a reporter (Scott Wolf), a priest, and a whole bunch of others I can't remember right now. Take from that what you will.
All in all, I really enjoyed the show. It was tense at all the right parts, had great production values, a talented cast, and appears to be modelled on a Lost and Heroes pattern where many different characters are weaved throughout a central storyline. There's nothing really groundbreaking here, like I said the images of the alien ships have been seen before, but the pilot was solid and interesting.
I was a little confused as to how Elizabeth Mitchell's FBI Agent character starts to suspect the Vs, something about stolen C4 or some such nonsense, but the show makes some interesting parallels with our modern fears, insinuating that the Vs have been present on our planet for a long time and have organized themselves into sleeper cells. And it's always nice to see familiar faces like Alan Tudyk (!!!), Elizabeth Mitchell, Morena Baccarin, and Scott Wolf. I'll definitely be tuning in this fall, and hope the show can keep up the quick pace of the pilot.
The Vampire Diaries: Oh, Kevin Williamson. You've never been able to recapture your former glory from the Dawson's Creek and Scream era. In a show that is so obviously a Twilight rip-off that Kevin Williamson basically came out and said it ("vampires are really hot right now") a high-school girl becomes enamoured with a mysterious vampire who has appeared in her town.
You've got the usual ingredients here: pretty 20-somethings pretending to be in high school, a pretty-boy vampire (who looks like a young William Shatner but didn't really do anything for me), a tortured female protagonist recovering from the death of her parents who feels disconnected from the world around her, blah blah.
There were a couple of good one-liners, but for the most part the dialogue and plot clunked along in a cliched manner. And then Ian Somerhalder from Lost showed up. He plays a vampire as well (a far more interesting one than the main character) and transfused some life into the show (get it? transfused? blood? vampires??). But once he left the screen, THUD. Back we came to reality.
In the words of Rachel, "I'll watch it, but it wasn't that good." That pretty much sums it up. Vampires and hotness = I'm there. But I'm only giving it a few episodes and if it doesn't get more interested I'm outta there.
So there you have it! Coming up from Thursday's panels: Female Power Icons in Pop Culture and Legend of the Seeker. Can you stand it??
*By the way, I'm not going to spend a lot of time writing about the general feeling or happening of the Con...that's going on my personal blog. These entries will be focused on news and reviews from the television specific panels I visited, which is after all, the focus of this blog.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Bruce Campbell is a Golden God
Hello, friends! I am foolishly lugging my laptop about in order to bring you updates directly from Comic Con. My shoulder will probably never be the same, but I couldn't keep these feelings inside.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to sit in on the Burn Notice panel, which included the incomparable Bruce Campbell. When he walked out on the stage there was so much fangirl and fanboy squee that Matt Nix, the show's creator, compared it to "a rock star working a room." Bruce definitely had all of us eating out the palm of his hand. Whenever someone yelled something he liked, he had them come up to the stage and gave them five bucks. He flirted shamelessly (and explicitly) with any and all young women, and was in general amazing. The best part was that, after he responded to a dedicated fan's query with a series of off-the-wall, hilariously funny comments he would say, completely deadpan, "thank you for your question."
Sorry, the picture sucks - we couldn't get anywhere close to the stage, so this is a picture from one of the giant screens set up throughout the room.
Of course, we got to see clips from the show and previews of the upcoming season. I won't spoil anything, especially since I myself haven't seen all of the episodes for this season ... *hangs head in shame* Also, people were asking some great questions and we learned a great deal about the show itself. Here are a few high points:
1. One woman asked about how they come up with the awesome "Spy Tips" Michael delivers as a voice-over in every episode. The answer is, disturbingly enough, the internet. Apparently they first guess what will work, Google it, and then consult an expert.
2. Matt Nix divulged that for all of Michael's jury-rigged weapons and tools, they have a few criteria. First, you can't make it work without knowing/researching something else. In other words they don't want to teach people how to kill themselves. Second, it has to be doable - but they give Micheal the benefit of the doubt. If their prop guy can make it work in half a day, a spy should be able to do it in half an hour... right?
3. There are no digital explosions in Burn Notice. This makes things are much more realistic, but significantly more dangerous. For example, when Sam blows up Madeline's house in "Lesser Evil," they were only supposed to blow out the windows. They ended up cracking an exterior wall and breaking 12 windows in the neighborhood. Oops.
Whatever. The explosions are totally worth it.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to sit in on the Burn Notice panel, which included the incomparable Bruce Campbell. When he walked out on the stage there was so much fangirl and fanboy squee that Matt Nix, the show's creator, compared it to "a rock star working a room." Bruce definitely had all of us eating out the palm of his hand. Whenever someone yelled something he liked, he had them come up to the stage and gave them five bucks. He flirted shamelessly (and explicitly) with any and all young women, and was in general amazing. The best part was that, after he responded to a dedicated fan's query with a series of off-the-wall, hilariously funny comments he would say, completely deadpan, "thank you for your question."
Sorry, the picture sucks - we couldn't get anywhere close to the stage, so this is a picture from one of the giant screens set up throughout the room.Of course, we got to see clips from the show and previews of the upcoming season. I won't spoil anything, especially since I myself haven't seen all of the episodes for this season ... *hangs head in shame* Also, people were asking some great questions and we learned a great deal about the show itself. Here are a few high points:
1. One woman asked about how they come up with the awesome "Spy Tips" Michael delivers as a voice-over in every episode. The answer is, disturbingly enough, the internet. Apparently they first guess what will work, Google it, and then consult an expert.
2. Matt Nix divulged that for all of Michael's jury-rigged weapons and tools, they have a few criteria. First, you can't make it work without knowing/researching something else. In other words they don't want to teach people how to kill themselves. Second, it has to be doable - but they give Micheal the benefit of the doubt. If their prop guy can make it work in half a day, a spy should be able to do it in half an hour... right?
3. There are no digital explosions in Burn Notice. This makes things are much more realistic, but significantly more dangerous. For example, when Sam blows up Madeline's house in "Lesser Evil," they were only supposed to blow out the windows. They ended up cracking an exterior wall and breaking 12 windows in the neighborhood. Oops.
Whatever. The explosions are totally worth it.Greetings from Comic Con!
Hi, tv-slutters! I wanted to pop by and let you know Monkey Sri and I are in San Diego at the world famous Comic Con this week, so alas, there might not be many updates unless we decide to cart our laptops around all day (which is unlikely given our tendencies toward laziness). HOWEVER, this means we will have lots of goddies for you upon our return. Look for info on:
-the V pilot
-The Vampire Diaries pilot
-updates on Legend of the Seeker, Burn Notice, 24, Bones, Dollhouse, Glee, Heroes, and True Blood.
We've sat in some other great panels and have lots to share, so look for some awesome updates coming your way!
-the V pilot
-The Vampire Diaries pilot
-updates on Legend of the Seeker, Burn Notice, 24, Bones, Dollhouse, Glee, Heroes, and True Blood.
We've sat in some other great panels and have lots to share, so look for some awesome updates coming your way!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Harper's Island Finale (spoilers within!)
Well, the great experiment is over. CBS's attempt at a limited run murder mystery series, Harper's Island aired its finale this Saturday night. After premiering to low ratings, CBS banished the show to Saturday nights, but promised to air all the episodes so the few people who were tuning in could see the show's resolution.
Harper's Island worked well as summer series. The writing was never all that great, and the acting was kind of hit or miss, but it was cheesy fun and scary at places, so what else do you really need?
I even liked the conclusion of the show; the killer ended up being the not-really dead John Wakefield (who had previously gone on a killing rampage on the island years ago), but the big "surprise reveal" was that his accomplice was the groom Henry, portrayed by Christopher Gorham. I had kind of guessed that the other killer would be Henry, but it was still a nice reveal since there were other characters still in the running for the title of duplicitous psycho killer.
In the end, only four characters survived the series; one of which included the creepy little girl, Madison. She was annoying, so it would have been nice for her to get the literal axe, but this is a network television show, so I wasn't really expecting them to horribly murder a ten year old. I was pleasantly surprised that Jimmy, the main character's love interest, made it to the end since I'm a sucker for a good love story. Especially when the guy looks like a manlier Orlando Bloom.
Manly? Check. Orlando Bloom look-alike? Check. Say no more.
While I enjoyed watching Harper's Island, there weren't that many memorable moments. Other than the deaths of Cal and Chloe (whom I went from hating to actually really liking...so well done on that writers), none of the murders were especially exciting or emotionally resonant. It was kind of surprising that Harry Hamlin got cut in half in the first episode, but otherwise, meh. And I'm still kind of confused by the motivation behind the murderers, but really, who cares. The show promised pretty people running around getting chopped into bits and it definitely delivered on that.
Overall, I give it a B-. The show did what it needed to do, had a satisfying conclusion, and provided plenty of eye candy. If you missed the show during it's run, check it out on DVD, I bet it plays well watching back to back.
Harper's Island worked well as summer series. The writing was never all that great, and the acting was kind of hit or miss, but it was cheesy fun and scary at places, so what else do you really need?
I even liked the conclusion of the show; the killer ended up being the not-really dead John Wakefield (who had previously gone on a killing rampage on the island years ago), but the big "surprise reveal" was that his accomplice was the groom Henry, portrayed by Christopher Gorham. I had kind of guessed that the other killer would be Henry, but it was still a nice reveal since there were other characters still in the running for the title of duplicitous psycho killer.
In the end, only four characters survived the series; one of which included the creepy little girl, Madison. She was annoying, so it would have been nice for her to get the literal axe, but this is a network television show, so I wasn't really expecting them to horribly murder a ten year old. I was pleasantly surprised that Jimmy, the main character's love interest, made it to the end since I'm a sucker for a good love story. Especially when the guy looks like a manlier Orlando Bloom.
Manly? Check. Orlando Bloom look-alike? Check. Say no more.While I enjoyed watching Harper's Island, there weren't that many memorable moments. Other than the deaths of Cal and Chloe (whom I went from hating to actually really liking...so well done on that writers), none of the murders were especially exciting or emotionally resonant. It was kind of surprising that Harry Hamlin got cut in half in the first episode, but otherwise, meh. And I'm still kind of confused by the motivation behind the murderers, but really, who cares. The show promised pretty people running around getting chopped into bits and it definitely delivered on that.
Overall, I give it a B-. The show did what it needed to do, had a satisfying conclusion, and provided plenty of eye candy. If you missed the show during it's run, check it out on DVD, I bet it plays well watching back to back.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Two new shows to get excited about
While killing at time at work today (as you do), I happened to come across some news articles discussing two television series that are currently in development. What makes me so excited is that these shows are based on two of the best books I have ever read.
First, HBO has optioned Jeffrey Eugenides' Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Middlesex. The book tells the story of Calliope Stephanides, an intersexed person who was born with a 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. The novel is amazing, addressing issues of gender and sexuality and raising questions of what makes us male versus female. I think everyone can relate to the a book based on the struggles with identity, puberty, and life in general endured by the protagonist.
The novel is certainly rife with drama and themes of self-discovery and sexual identity, so it could without a doubt make for compelling viewing. However, a tv series on of this kind of story could easily go wrong, so I'm banking on HBO's pedigree for great drama to live up to the book.
The other exciting find of the day was the news that a Canadian-German joint effort will be bringing Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth to the small screen. This book is about the building of a cathedral in twelfth century England and the many lives impacted by its rise. The book is huge; I'm just about done with the audiobook, but it's been quite an effort since the darn thing is 32 discs long. So finding about the tv series now is like the cherry on top of my giant literary ice cream sundae.
There's a website for the show which has a little bit of info and a summary of some of the plot. The names attached to the project are pretty impressive: Ian McShane, Donald Sutherland, Rufus Sewell, but according to the site, no US distributors have stepped up yet. But with this kind of star power, I'm sure one of the cable networks, or maybe a Canadian station will be airing it. And there's always DVDs, right? It's not scheduled for broadcast until the later half of 2010, but I'm still pretty excited already.
I knew the combination of all that book-learning, tv watching, and web surfing would pay off some day!
First, HBO has optioned Jeffrey Eugenides' Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Middlesex. The book tells the story of Calliope Stephanides, an intersexed person who was born with a 5-alpha-reductase deficiency. The novel is amazing, addressing issues of gender and sexuality and raising questions of what makes us male versus female. I think everyone can relate to the a book based on the struggles with identity, puberty, and life in general endured by the protagonist.
The novel is certainly rife with drama and themes of self-discovery and sexual identity, so it could without a doubt make for compelling viewing. However, a tv series on of this kind of story could easily go wrong, so I'm banking on HBO's pedigree for great drama to live up to the book.
The other exciting find of the day was the news that a Canadian-German joint effort will be bringing Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth to the small screen. This book is about the building of a cathedral in twelfth century England and the many lives impacted by its rise. The book is huge; I'm just about done with the audiobook, but it's been quite an effort since the darn thing is 32 discs long. So finding about the tv series now is like the cherry on top of my giant literary ice cream sundae.
There's a website for the show which has a little bit of info and a summary of some of the plot. The names attached to the project are pretty impressive: Ian McShane, Donald Sutherland, Rufus Sewell, but according to the site, no US distributors have stepped up yet. But with this kind of star power, I'm sure one of the cable networks, or maybe a Canadian station will be airing it. And there's always DVDs, right? It's not scheduled for broadcast until the later half of 2010, but I'm still pretty excited already.
I knew the combination of all that book-learning, tv watching, and web surfing would pay off some day!
Monday, July 06, 2009
Its Well Hung
I am a huge fan of Trueblood and I haven't missed an episode yet this summer (but that's for another blog entry) therefore it was IMPOSSIBLE to miss the countless commercials for HBOs new show HUNG. For those of you unaware, year after year HBO has tried to fill the spot after Entourage or the void. I previously blogged about this slot as being a black hole that shows enter into but never make it out of. First i think it was The Comeback with Lisa Kudrow in 2005, then Lucky Louie in 2007. More recently they attempted the Life and Times of Tim, this show was great and got signed for another season...in two years.
So HBO has set its new show HUNG to be doomed by putting it in the 10 30 Sunday night time slot. However, last week they played it at 10 and I had a chance to watch.
First of all, it is a really great show that both my husband and I truly enjoyed.
It is about a high school teacher who can not get by on the salary, especially after a divorce and his house burning down, so he decides to join the world's oldest profession. After taking a "how to be a millionaire course," Ray Drecker (played by Thomas Pane) decided to put in add in a local paper and begin turning tricks.
The show is set in Detroit, and the director is really playing up the gloom, but cutting to pictures of empty factories and municpal buildings in the opening credits. It is clear this show is meant to be a drama with humorous undertones and not vice versa.
So far I truly like the acting, the characters and the premise. Just to mix it up the show includes Anne Heche as Dreckers ex wife. And of course there is sex.....if you are in the mood for a nice naked scene...tune in. However, I wouldn't count on seeing the package the show is named for. I get this will be nudity, but not the XXX kind.
I hope this show makes it despite its doomed time slot.
So HBO has set its new show HUNG to be doomed by putting it in the 10 30 Sunday night time slot. However, last week they played it at 10 and I had a chance to watch.
First of all, it is a really great show that both my husband and I truly enjoyed.
It is about a high school teacher who can not get by on the salary, especially after a divorce and his house burning down, so he decides to join the world's oldest profession. After taking a "how to be a millionaire course," Ray Drecker (played by Thomas Pane) decided to put in add in a local paper and begin turning tricks.
The show is set in Detroit, and the director is really playing up the gloom, but cutting to pictures of empty factories and municpal buildings in the opening credits. It is clear this show is meant to be a drama with humorous undertones and not vice versa.
So far I truly like the acting, the characters and the premise. Just to mix it up the show includes Anne Heche as Dreckers ex wife. And of course there is sex.....if you are in the mood for a nice naked scene...tune in. However, I wouldn't count on seeing the package the show is named for. I get this will be nudity, but not the XXX kind.
I hope this show makes it despite its doomed time slot.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Ho-Hum
I was late to the game of So You Think You Can Dance. I started watching last year, around the time of the top 8, at the behest of some friends who kept telling me how cool it was and how everyone was doing it and just a little bit won't hurt you.
I got hooked real quick (it's so sad when a good girl goes bad) and have basically been looking forward to it all year. But alas. I'm underwhelmed.
Maybe it's because I jumped in with the top dancers last year and didn't have to wallow through the auditions or two hour episodes full of filler when the dancers are still only performing one dance a week. Or maybe it's because Comcast has clearly been conspiring against me and not recording the first half of the results shows. Anyway, it just hasn't been doing it for me this year.
While some of the dancers have made an impression (Evan, Brandon), for the most part I'm mostly meh towards them. And although Nigel occasionally provides some actual critique of the dancing, Mary's constant screeching is driving. me. crazy. Not to mention the incoherent ramblings of guest judges like Lil C, Mia Michaels, and Toni Basil.
But I can't laythe blame on the judges or the dancers. I'm afraid it's the choreographers who haven't stepped it up this year. For the most part, the routines are kinda dull or just incomprehensible (example: the alien woman trying to impregnate the last man on Earth? Really?). There have been a few exceptions: the crash test dummy dance, the Twilight inspired dance from last week, but overall, they've left me feeling kind of cold. Thankfully the dancers that are good are able to fill the so so routines with enough personality to make them memorable.
This week we've got the top 12 dancers and hopefully the soon-to-be combination of great talent, less filler, and exciting routines will bring back the show I love. Because I think it's going to take all three working together to get me interested again.
One thing I'll never stop loving: the host, Cat. She is so awesome and classy. Keep it up, girl!
I got hooked real quick (it's so sad when a good girl goes bad) and have basically been looking forward to it all year. But alas. I'm underwhelmed.
Maybe it's because I jumped in with the top dancers last year and didn't have to wallow through the auditions or two hour episodes full of filler when the dancers are still only performing one dance a week. Or maybe it's because Comcast has clearly been conspiring against me and not recording the first half of the results shows. Anyway, it just hasn't been doing it for me this year.
While some of the dancers have made an impression (Evan, Brandon), for the most part I'm mostly meh towards them. And although Nigel occasionally provides some actual critique of the dancing, Mary's constant screeching is driving. me. crazy. Not to mention the incoherent ramblings of guest judges like Lil C, Mia Michaels, and Toni Basil.
But I can't laythe blame on the judges or the dancers. I'm afraid it's the choreographers who haven't stepped it up this year. For the most part, the routines are kinda dull or just incomprehensible (example: the alien woman trying to impregnate the last man on Earth? Really?). There have been a few exceptions: the crash test dummy dance, the Twilight inspired dance from last week, but overall, they've left me feeling kind of cold. Thankfully the dancers that are good are able to fill the so so routines with enough personality to make them memorable.This week we've got the top 12 dancers and hopefully the soon-to-be combination of great talent, less filler, and exciting routines will bring back the show I love. Because I think it's going to take all three working together to get me interested again.
One thing I'll never stop loving: the host, Cat. She is so awesome and classy. Keep it up, girl!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Make It or Break It
I'm a sucker for girly movies about athletics. The Cutting Edge, Bring it On, Stick It...all suck me in with their numerous cable viewings, and hell, I own two of them on DVD. Just something about young women kicking ass in sports is inspirational. Especially since lord knows I could never do that crap.So I was really excited to hear about ABC Family's new series Make It or Break It about some high school level gymnasts. I was concerned how the show would structure itself to fit into a weekly hour drama format, since it seems like the kind of idea that is best served by a movie. After all, it's going to lead up to the big competition where the main character conquers adversity to win, right?
And I think that's going to end up being true, but on the way, there are many twists and turns with relationships between the characters, including in a nice change, the lives of the parents of the kids.
The main character of the show is Emily, a promising gymnast whose family has moved to Boulder, Colorado, so she can train at The Rock (a very prestigious gymnastics facility) with head couch Marty. Emily can only afford to be there because she received a scholarship. Her mom is an Erin Brokovich-esque character, single mom, hoping to find work at a salon, dresses like a ho because she likes it blah blah, which sets up the usual "daughter acting as the mother" cliche. But the characters are likeable so it works.In the pilot we are introduced to the other main characters: the other three girls at the gym, including the wildly bitchy Lauren, their parents, Marty, the head coach, and Alex Cruz, the owner of the gym. Due to Emily's skill, Lauren gets pushed out of a bid to go to Nationals and in retaliation gets her to Dad to lure Marty away to a new gym. This leaves Emily and the other gymnasts high and dry without a head coach.
There's the usual teen drama plots: Emily has two possible suitors, one of the other girls is involved in a forbidden relationship with a male gymnast, Lauren's Dad is involved with his secretary (played by Candice Cameron!), the wife of the owner of the gym is having an affair with Marty, etc. etc. While nothing here is really original, the acting and writing of the show is well done and I find myself rooting for the characters.
As I noted above, there's actually a lot of time spent on the interactions and relationships between the adults on the show which is a nice touch. Clearly ABC Family wants this to be the kind of show that parents and kids can watch, at least the female members of the family, and I think they have succeeded.
So, if you enjoy movies like Bring it On and Stick It, you'll probably also like Make It or Break It. It's a harmless bit of teen fluff with bonus gymnastics! The show airs Mondays at 9pm on ABC Family.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
BTW ... WTF?
In case you've been under a rock, word on the street is that the director of the gag-reflex inducing Buffy movie is considering a remake, sans Joss. It think this article from NPR sums it up best ... Very Bad Ideas: Making A Whedon-Free 'Buffy' Reboot.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Moon... Prism... POWER!
I love anime. The characters are expressive, constantly jumping and flailing about. The dialogue is completely random - possibly because something gets lost in the Japanese-to-English translation. The plots are so fantastic that a willing suspension of disbelief is not only helpful, it is necessary. I think it has to do with the manga/anime market in Japan - the audience is voracious, and is willing to read weird-ass stuff. The result is a lot of WTFery, but also a lot of awesomeness. Case in point: Sailor Moon.
Original manga cover. Seriously.
Possibly one of the most well-known anime shows in the U.S., Sailor Moon was at the forefront of the Japanese cartoon invasion. It has something for everyone - short skirts and fighting for the boys, romance and badass chicks for the girls. Serena, the heroine of the show, is a below-average student, a goof ball, a klutz. She also has an enormous capacity to love and can vaporize baddies with a wave of her magic wand. Her pure heart inspires loyalty - she is the undisputed leader of the Sailor Scouts, even though everyone refers to her as "meatball head."
In their defense, she doesn't have to wear her hair like that.
And okay, maybe a sexy superheroine who can't do math is not the best role-model for impressionable young girls. But I'm currently watching the third season, Sailor Moon Super, and was pleasantly surprised at the inclusion of a genderqueer character. Sailor Uranus (pronounced Ura-nis, plx kthx) always dresses in men's clothes when she's not on duty. She has "manly" hobbies and habits, and speaks in a deep voice. It's treated as something surprising but not freakish or wrong, and several of the other Sailor Scouts develop crushes on her masculine persona. Spoiler alert: though she and Sailor Neptune are billed as cousins in the English dubbing, everyone knows they are lesbian life-partners.
"Cousins." Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
It's unusual for a show that is purportedly for children to deal with such issues, at least in the U.S. Even sanitizing of the Uranus/Neptune relationship, in Sailor Moon Super you can't get around the fact that the character is a girl who acts like a boy. Which is probably why DiC Entertainment (a subsidiary of - you guessed it - Disney) only licensed and aired the first two seasons. Oh, well. That's what Netflix is for ... or friends with awesome anime collections. Thanks to Rachel for the loan!
Monday, June 22, 2009
In Plain Sight
The summer can be boring. And let me tell you television goes down in caliber. And this year between Entourage seasons and reality drivel I have been entertaining myself on Sunday nights with USA's "In Plain Sight." Initially I was reluctant to begin watching this show, the commercials were blah and I didn't have the energy to commit to yet another program. However,I couldn't resist trying out the new show after the Law and Order CI time slot.
First of all, the show is good. The characters are well rounded. The main character, Mary (played by Mary McCormick) has got a lot of depth and you can really feel her inner turmoil. She is a US Marshall helping place witnesses into protection in Albuquerque. Each episode has elements of the US Marshall service mixed with details of Mary's social life. She has a mom who is a drunk, a sister who is a drug dealer, and a HOT baseball playing bf.
Each character is interesting. Fred Weller who plays Mary's partner Marshall Marshall (yes punny huh). Adds some much needed comedy show. Their partnerships, as is most male female partnerships on television, is up and down and mixed with comedy and sexual innuendos. As a huge West Wing fan, I was happy to see Joshua Malina (Will Bailey) and Richard Schiff (Toby) show up this season.
I don't think during the regular line up in the fall I would watch this show, and in fact, I doubt I would have noticed it. However, during a blah television summer it fills an ever growing void.
First of all, the show is good. The characters are well rounded. The main character, Mary (played by Mary McCormick) has got a lot of depth and you can really feel her inner turmoil. She is a US Marshall helping place witnesses into protection in Albuquerque. Each episode has elements of the US Marshall service mixed with details of Mary's social life. She has a mom who is a drunk, a sister who is a drug dealer, and a HOT baseball playing bf.
Each character is interesting. Fred Weller who plays Mary's partner Marshall Marshall (yes punny huh). Adds some much needed comedy show. Their partnerships, as is most male female partnerships on television, is up and down and mixed with comedy and sexual innuendos. As a huge West Wing fan, I was happy to see Joshua Malina (Will Bailey) and Richard Schiff (Toby) show up this season.I don't think during the regular line up in the fall I would watch this show, and in fact, I doubt I would have noticed it. However, during a blah television summer it fills an ever growing void.
"The name is *Mer-lin.* And I happen to be the world's most powerful wizard! "
Summer television premieres continued last night with NBC broadcasting a BBC import, Merlin. I assume you all are capable of figuring out the basic plot (come on, it's called Merlin people), but think of it as the CW's Smallville meets BBC's Robin Hood.
In the same vein as the recent Star Trek reboot, Merlin, Arthur, and the whole gang have been youngified to appeal to a younger demographic and hijinks predictably result. The show's basic concept is simple: Merlin is a rare person born with innate magical ability (most people have to study and use incantations to make magic, but Merlin can just...do it) who has come to Camelot to study with King Pendragon's and the court's physician. While there he instantly takes a dislike to the King's son, Arthur, a toothy pretty boy bully, but is told by a talking dragon that it is his destiny to protect and guide Arthur so he can become a great King.
Other characters from the Arthurian legends making an appearance are Lady Morgana, a young ward of the King who is a seer and not evil (yet), and "Gwen," Morgana's maid who is also her best friend. She takes a liking to Merlin, and really, who wouldn't, since he is all big-eared, floppy-haired adorkableness.
The show is well-acted, has great production values, and seems so far to be a quintessential summer program: easy on both the eyes and the brain.
It's always nice to see Anthony Head from Buffy, who plays King Pendragon, and some other familiar faces pop up as well. Torchwood fans will recognize Eve Myles as an evil sorceress, and John Hurt (Mr. Ollivander in Harry Potter) provides the voice of the dragon. Word on the street (and by street I mean wiki) is that Michelle Ryan from the defunct Bionic Woman will play this season's big bad.
While the plot seems to deviate pretty sharply from established Arthurian canon, it's fun, doesn't take itself too seriously, and has pretty costumes and people. I wouldn't suggest viewing it to see what life in a medieval court was really like (I'm pretty certain they didn't have teeth-whitening capabilities), but if you like action-adventure and fantasy shows this is right up your ally.
Old Merlin...
....meet young Merlin.
In the same vein as the recent Star Trek reboot, Merlin, Arthur, and the whole gang have been youngified to appeal to a younger demographic and hijinks predictably result. The show's basic concept is simple: Merlin is a rare person born with innate magical ability (most people have to study and use incantations to make magic, but Merlin can just...do it) who has come to Camelot to study with King Pendragon's and the court's physician. While there he instantly takes a dislike to the King's son, Arthur, a toothy pretty boy bully, but is told by a talking dragon that it is his destiny to protect and guide Arthur so he can become a great King.
Other characters from the Arthurian legends making an appearance are Lady Morgana, a young ward of the King who is a seer and not evil (yet), and "Gwen," Morgana's maid who is also her best friend. She takes a liking to Merlin, and really, who wouldn't, since he is all big-eared, floppy-haired adorkableness.The show is well-acted, has great production values, and seems so far to be a quintessential summer program: easy on both the eyes and the brain.
It's always nice to see Anthony Head from Buffy, who plays King Pendragon, and some other familiar faces pop up as well. Torchwood fans will recognize Eve Myles as an evil sorceress, and John Hurt (Mr. Ollivander in Harry Potter) provides the voice of the dragon. Word on the street (and by street I mean wiki) is that Michelle Ryan from the defunct Bionic Woman will play this season's big bad.
While the plot seems to deviate pretty sharply from established Arthurian canon, it's fun, doesn't take itself too seriously, and has pretty costumes and people. I wouldn't suggest viewing it to see what life in a medieval court was really like (I'm pretty certain they didn't have teeth-whitening capabilities), but if you like action-adventure and fantasy shows this is right up your ally.
Old Merlin...
....meet young Merlin.Friday, June 19, 2009
The Other Summer Drama
We all know and love Burn Notice, but what of it's successor Royal Pains? It seems like USA is trying to reproduce a formula - handsome young man, being punished for his precocity by the people who were supposed to be the good guys, decides to become a vigilante and use his powers for good. Michael Westen is a spy who gets burned by his government agency. Hank Lawson is an ER doctor who gets fired by his hospital. They both have some serious MacGyver skills - Westen can build a bomb with what you find in a hardware store, and Lawson can perform surgery with what you've got in the kitchen. Throw in a couple of sidekicks and/or family members, set everything at the beach, and boom - instant smash hit!
Time for a nap.
I will give USA some credit - the premiere of Royal Pains had some artistry to it, like the montage of Lawson's decline into destitution or crazy Ms. Newberg's wrap billowing in the wind as she looks over the Hamptons. And I dig Divya, Lawson's PA, an Indian American princess who dreams of doing something with her life. Sure, if this show was coming out on network TV in the fall, I probably wouldn't give it a second glance. But it's the summer - what else am I going to do, go outside?
Work it, Reshma Shetty.
Time for a nap.I will give USA some credit - the premiere of Royal Pains had some artistry to it, like the montage of Lawson's decline into destitution or crazy Ms. Newberg's wrap billowing in the wind as she looks over the Hamptons. And I dig Divya, Lawson's PA, an Indian American princess who dreams of doing something with her life. Sure, if this show was coming out on network TV in the fall, I probably wouldn't give it a second glance. But it's the summer - what else am I going to do, go outside?
Work it, Reshma Shetty.Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Hell: Summer or War?
Sure, I’m trying not to write another blog/story about the doldrums of summer for TV, but it’s an annual rite of passage, right?
I’ve never been a fan of reality TV (okay I admit I did watch a couple seasons of The Real World and Road Rules but American Idol and Survivor never really appealed to me). So the summer is even more troubling for me than for some. Couple that with my recent decision to give up on satellite. Well… in actuality my wife and I recently moved in the house we are living in, and thus no longer have access to the satellite. Sure, we could go downstairs and watch, but why bother when we have an HDTV upstairs and most of the shows we watch during the year can be found on Hulu or ABC.com For those rare shows we do like to watch live (CHUCK) we have a trusty pair of digital rabbit ears. And to be honest, it hasn’t been too bad, except for that fact that for some reason we cannot get the local ABC station. So with summer now here and in full bloom, what am I to do?
Let me back up a week. My Grandfather was a WWII Vet. In fact he landed on
It took me a while to find some time when Andi wasn’t around (she is not a fan of war films), but I finally popped in the DVDs and started watching. You know what surprised me most? How many current TV stars were in this show. Names most people wouldn’t know then, but now may know. Actors from Band of Brothers went on to current and recent hits (and bombs) like Life, Boomtown, Desperate Housewives, Fringe, What About Brian, Battlestar Galatica, Life on Mars (US), and others [Pop quiz: Can anyone match the actors with the shows I just listed?]. Not to mention hit movies like Wanted. Now, Band of Brothers is not for everyone but there are some amazing moments in that mini-series and it shows in great detail, not so much the acts of war, but the day-to-day grind of war. Mostly though, it’s proving me a road map for shows to watch this summer. Ways to pass the time.
I’m starting with Boomtown. It’s a natural evolution since one of the writers for Band created Boomtown, while dragging some actors with him. I’m already two discs in to Season 1(will Season 2 ever see the light of day?), and I have to say how much I miss this show. Not so much for the basic premise of showing the crime from different perspectives as much as the heart of the show, which is these characters. There are definitely some shows out there that could learn a thing or two from this show. But after watching Life, I’m not sure where to go as I have to wait for some of these shows to hit DVD (after watching Star Trek I think I need to give Fringe another shot).
So... any suggestions on how to survive TV hell, after all Burn Notice is only on once a week and Eli Stone will only be back for 3 or 4 episodes?
Thursday, June 11, 2009
MSCR: Word Girl
Recently, I switched from cable TV to a digital antenna ... please contain your gasps of horror. It's actually been great - instead of flipping endlessly before finally settling on some random VH1 "reality" show, I stick to the network shows that I actually want to watch. Besides, I do a significant amount of watching online (if Hulu subscriptions are in the future, I may have to succumb - it will still be most cost-effective than paying for 50 channels of crap). But I do miss a few things ... like cartoons. More specifically, random toonage from Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.
Cartoons are a colorful, zany escape from the daily grind and the laws of physics. I added “Monkey Sri’s Cartoon Round-up” to the blog a long time ago, to celebrate this genre. Once I cut the cable, I wondered if I'd be able to continue these posts. Luckily, it's PBS to the rescue! While these cartoons lack the senseless violence and adult humor I've so grown to love, many of them are freakin' adorable. Take, for example, Word Girl.
If you read her back story, it becomes obvious that
Word Girl is an... *ahem*... homage to Superman.
Okay, first off - she has a pet monkey. Bonus points right there. Secondly, she flies around town, using her super speed and strength to battle costumed villains, all while improving your vocabulary. Each segment of the show teaches two pretty tough words - things like "edible" and "cumbersome." The key of course, is repetition and colorful demonstrations. It's actually quite entertaining, and I can see how it would be great for kids.
According to Wikipedia, Word Girl started as a short that aired along with Maya and Miguel. This spin-off is now going strong in it's second season. The show's website also offers several flash games and puzzles, as well as a ton of resources for parents and educators. It airs (at least where I am) Monday-Friday at 5:30 pm.
Cartoons are a colorful, zany escape from the daily grind and the laws of physics. I added “Monkey Sri’s Cartoon Round-up” to the blog a long time ago, to celebrate this genre. Once I cut the cable, I wondered if I'd be able to continue these posts. Luckily, it's PBS to the rescue! While these cartoons lack the senseless violence and adult humor I've so grown to love, many of them are freakin' adorable. Take, for example, Word Girl.
If you read her back story, it becomes obvious thatWord Girl is an... *ahem*... homage to Superman.
According to Wikipedia, Word Girl started as a short that aired along with Maya and Miguel. This spin-off is now going strong in it's second season. The show's website also offers several flash games and puzzles, as well as a ton of resources for parents and educators. It airs (at least where I am) Monday-Friday at 5:30 pm.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Secret Boyfriend of the Week: Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Some shows from your youth stay with you forever. They don't have to be particularly good, they just have to come along at a particular time. Saved by the Bell is just such a show. And anyone in their late 20s who grew up with a television in their home and doesn't agree is lying.
I happen to think that Saved by the Bell was a good show that had good actors, but that's neither here nor there. What actually is here is the awesomeness of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Most tv-savy people know that he went on to find success on shows like NYPD Blue and the current Raising the Bar (which I hear is kind of terrible), but he will forever be known as Zack Morris of Bayside High.
And you know what? He owns it. He doesn't disavow the show that made him famous and gave him his start, he's ok with it. He likes talking about, and he sure as hell as a great sense of humor about it.
All this was confirmed in his appearance on Jimmy Fallon's late night show last night when Mark-Paul came out as Zack Morris. And conducted the entire interview as Zack. He never broke character, never let on that it was just a joke, but he played it straight the whole time. And it was awesome. But don't take my word for it:
I found this interview with Mark-Paul about his appearance here. And what really makes him SBOTW worthy, is that the whole thing? Was his idea. He had to sell Jimmy Fallon on the plan to come out as Zack. And thank god he did, because it's one of the funniest and best things I have ever seen.
I happen to think that Saved by the Bell was a good show that had good actors, but that's neither here nor there. What actually is here is the awesomeness of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Most tv-savy people know that he went on to find success on shows like NYPD Blue and the current Raising the Bar (which I hear is kind of terrible), but he will forever be known as Zack Morris of Bayside High.
And you know what? He owns it. He doesn't disavow the show that made him famous and gave him his start, he's ok with it. He likes talking about, and he sure as hell as a great sense of humor about it.
All this was confirmed in his appearance on Jimmy Fallon's late night show last night when Mark-Paul came out as Zack Morris. And conducted the entire interview as Zack. He never broke character, never let on that it was just a joke, but he played it straight the whole time. And it was awesome. But don't take my word for it:
I found this interview with Mark-Paul about his appearance here. And what really makes him SBOTW worthy, is that the whole thing? Was his idea. He had to sell Jimmy Fallon on the plan to come out as Zack. And thank god he did, because it's one of the funniest and best things I have ever seen.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Drinking the Kool-Aid
When Gossip Girl started two years ago, I was over-stuffed with shows and it didn't make the cut. And then I resisted the urge to get involved even though a lot of people kept going on and on about how great it was. It's not every show that gets consistent A+s from Jacob over at TWOP.
And then I went to Las Vegas with my friend Chris and he brought the first season on DVD. And we watched the first episode. And I got hooked.
It's not like I really wanted to get addicted to a show about a bunch of privileged self-involved high schoolers. And it's not like ANYONE's high school experience is actually like this. And don't point me in the direction of Bravo's new series NYC Prep, because you know those kids are lying through their teeth and just want to be on reality television.
ANYWAY. Gossip Girl is really good, the characters aren't as one dimensional as I was expecting, the clothes are just as ridiculous as I was hoping*, and this show is totally going to be the current generation's Dynasty.
And how can I resist something that has the involvement of Kristen Bell? She is the gossip girl, after all.
*speaking of clothes, what the eff is up with Chuck Bass' wardrobe? Seriously, it just gets more and more weird. Scarves are his thing? Ugh. Also, I have some trouble telling all the white boys apart on this show. Chuck, Nate, Dan...they kind of all look the same.
Scarves? Really?
I mean, seriously.
And then I went to Las Vegas with my friend Chris and he brought the first season on DVD. And we watched the first episode. And I got hooked.
It's not like I really wanted to get addicted to a show about a bunch of privileged self-involved high schoolers. And it's not like ANYONE's high school experience is actually like this. And don't point me in the direction of Bravo's new series NYC Prep, because you know those kids are lying through their teeth and just want to be on reality television.
ANYWAY. Gossip Girl is really good, the characters aren't as one dimensional as I was expecting, the clothes are just as ridiculous as I was hoping*, and this show is totally going to be the current generation's Dynasty.
And how can I resist something that has the involvement of Kristen Bell? She is the gossip girl, after all.
*speaking of clothes, what the eff is up with Chuck Bass' wardrobe? Seriously, it just gets more and more weird. Scarves are his thing? Ugh. Also, I have some trouble telling all the white boys apart on this show. Chuck, Nate, Dan...they kind of all look the same.
Scarves? Really?
I mean, seriously.Saturday, June 06, 2009
I knew it was too good to be true...
Something about Hulu always seemed too good to be true. All the network shows I want, free of charge on my computer, with only minimal commercials? It just never smelled right.
And now I know why.
They were just lulling us into a false sense of security before charging our asses for content! According to articles all over the internet, Jonathan Miller, the new chief digital officer* of the corporation that owns Hulu stated recently that he sees Hulu charging for content in the near future. Meaning you would need a subscription to view all your favorite shows.
So I would think twice before throwing out my television for good....
You lied to me Baldwin! Lied to meeeeeeeeee!
And now I know why.
They were just lulling us into a false sense of security before charging our asses for content! According to articles all over the internet, Jonathan Miller, the new chief digital officer* of the corporation that owns Hulu stated recently that he sees Hulu charging for content in the near future. Meaning you would need a subscription to view all your favorite shows.
So I would think twice before throwing out my television for good....
You lied to me Baldwin! Lied to meeeeeeeeee!* Chief digital officer?? Seriously? LAME.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Viewer Discretion Advised
One of the benefits of living near your parents (well, it's a benefit if you actually like them), is being able to stop by and visit whenever you want. In fact, I have a standing Wednesday night appointment with my Dad and Stepmother; they agree to provide me dinner and I agree to grace them with my presence. Seems fair.
During these visits, we typically watch one episode of a series television show, and it's kind of our "family television hour." But I realized the other day that the shows we usually pick are not what you would call family friendly. Actually, they're pretty much as far from that as you could get.
Example: the first show that kicked off this lovely tradition was Showtime's Dexter. That's right. Our family television hour was centered around a serial killer (on a quest for justice!) and included explicit violence and language. We followed that up with Supernatural, Dexter Seasons 2 and 3, and have now moved onto True Blood. Which not only has graphic violence and adult language, but also has the added bonus of really explicit sexual content.
As we sat around the table eating our dinner and watching a vampire fucking a woman from behind while drinking her blood, I started wondering: is this normal?
I know a lot of families watch television together, but I find it hard to believe that most watch such adult shows. But the thing is, my Dad has a loooong history of allowing his children to watch what most people would consider inappropriate television and movies. Every other weekend when we stayed with him, he would often nap on the couch leaving my brother and me to our own devices and with possession of the remote control. This meant a steady diet of movies such as Predator, RoboCop, Rambo, Jaws, etc. etc. I wouldn't say I became desensitized to R-rated movies, but it has definitely made me something of a connesieur.
So it's not a surprise that now as a family we enjoy such adult entertainment. After a steady diet of R-rated movies in my youth, my Dad and I connected in later years over shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dark Angel, The West Wing, and Veronica Mars. If you think about it, all the premium cable series we now watch are really just mature extensions of those other shows. I guess.
Or maybe we're just a really odd family. Either way, it's going to take a while for me to get totally comfortable watching graphic sex scenes with my family, but we'll get there eventually. I just haven't figured out if that's a good thing.
During these visits, we typically watch one episode of a series television show, and it's kind of our "family television hour." But I realized the other day that the shows we usually pick are not what you would call family friendly. Actually, they're pretty much as far from that as you could get.
Example: the first show that kicked off this lovely tradition was Showtime's Dexter. That's right. Our family television hour was centered around a serial killer (on a quest for justice!) and included explicit violence and language. We followed that up with Supernatural, Dexter Seasons 2 and 3, and have now moved onto True Blood. Which not only has graphic violence and adult language, but also has the added bonus of really explicit sexual content.
As we sat around the table eating our dinner and watching a vampire fucking a woman from behind while drinking her blood, I started wondering: is this normal?
I know a lot of families watch television together, but I find it hard to believe that most watch such adult shows. But the thing is, my Dad has a loooong history of allowing his children to watch what most people would consider inappropriate television and movies. Every other weekend when we stayed with him, he would often nap on the couch leaving my brother and me to our own devices and with possession of the remote control. This meant a steady diet of movies such as Predator, RoboCop, Rambo, Jaws, etc. etc. I wouldn't say I became desensitized to R-rated movies, but it has definitely made me something of a connesieur.
So it's not a surprise that now as a family we enjoy such adult entertainment. After a steady diet of R-rated movies in my youth, my Dad and I connected in later years over shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dark Angel, The West Wing, and Veronica Mars. If you think about it, all the premium cable series we now watch are really just mature extensions of those other shows. I guess.
Or maybe we're just a really odd family. Either way, it's going to take a while for me to get totally comfortable watching graphic sex scenes with my family, but we'll get there eventually. I just haven't figured out if that's a good thing.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
+2 Intelligence, -3 Charisma
You may know her as Penny from Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, Vi from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that ballet snob from Bring It On Again, or even as that girl from the Sears commercial. But Felicia Day is actually a formidable script-writer and producer, as evidenced by her delightful web series, The Guild. Which is why that you should love her as much as I do.
Of course, I have a well-documented weakness for redheads.
The Guild will make you crack up, but it will also make you cringe. The show concerns itself with the lives of six painfully awkward role-playing gamers who finally meet each other IRL ("in real life"). Each of them is hilariously inept and uncomfortably real. My favorite is Zaboo (played by my homeboy, Sandeep Parikh). He's a "HinJew" - Hindu mother, Jewish father - with a stalker-ish crush on Day's character, Codex. Parikh steals the show - his comedic timing is second to none.
Damn, but these geeks are hot.
You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy The Guild. You just need a couple hours to watch the entire series (a total of 22 episodes, each 3-9 minutes long), and a l33t dictionary. Some key phrases...
QQ moar, n00b
Keep crying/whining, newbie. It amuses me.
AFK
Away From Keyboard (this happens very rarely).
Pwned
I just made you my bitch!
The latest news is that Microsoft has signed on for a third season of The Guild. Bonus: there will be a sneak peak at Comic Con in July! Meanwhile, catch up and support the show online.
Of course, I have a well-documented weakness for redheads. The Guild will make you crack up, but it will also make you cringe. The show concerns itself with the lives of six painfully awkward role-playing gamers who finally meet each other IRL ("in real life"). Each of them is hilariously inept and uncomfortably real. My favorite is Zaboo (played by my homeboy, Sandeep Parikh). He's a "HinJew" - Hindu mother, Jewish father - with a stalker-ish crush on Day's character, Codex. Parikh steals the show - his comedic timing is second to none.
Damn, but these geeks are hot.You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy The Guild. You just need a couple hours to watch the entire series (a total of 22 episodes, each 3-9 minutes long), and a l33t dictionary. Some key phrases...
QQ moar, n00b
Keep crying/whining, newbie. It amuses me.
AFK
Away From Keyboard (this happens very rarely).
Pwned
I just made you my bitch!
The latest news is that Microsoft has signed on for a third season of The Guild. Bonus: there will be a sneak peak at Comic Con in July! Meanwhile, catch up and support the show online.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Does anyone watch the MTV Movie Awards live anymore? Or more importantly, do the MTV Movie Awards represent anything more than a 3 hour commercial for upcoming movies? Answers: no and no.*
So, confession time. I did not watch the MTV Movie Awards. Shocker! But then again, I'm not really their target demographic anymore. I'm a girl, yes, but I am not 14 years old. But even though I missed the show, after reading about the best and worst moments on EW.com, I decided to check out some of the clips on MTV.com.
While I probably could have skipped seeing Sacha Baron Cohen smash his genitals into Eminem's face, I had to see the New Moon trailer and the Harry Potter preview. Oh, and check out the clip for best kiss. It's pretty hot.
*Ok, so I took a little artistic license. The awards show actually had it's best ratings in the last 5 years....most likely due to all those tween Twilight fans. Never underestimate the power of the tweens!
So, confession time. I did not watch the MTV Movie Awards. Shocker! But then again, I'm not really their target demographic anymore. I'm a girl, yes, but I am not 14 years old. But even though I missed the show, after reading about the best and worst moments on EW.com, I decided to check out some of the clips on MTV.com.
While I probably could have skipped seeing Sacha Baron Cohen smash his genitals into Eminem's face, I had to see the New Moon trailer and the Harry Potter preview. Oh, and check out the clip for best kiss. It's pretty hot.
*Ok, so I took a little artistic license. The awards show actually had it's best ratings in the last 5 years....most likely due to all those tween Twilight fans. Never underestimate the power of the tweens!
Friday, May 29, 2009
The Doctor Is In
Well, at least the Doctor is back for those of us lucky enough to have BBCA. Here's what TV Guide has to say about it all! I feel a little bad for Sci-Fi getting dissed, but since I've got DISH with BBC America I am not too upset.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
In other retcon news...
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains plot details from the season finale of Bones.
--
The season finale of Bones came off like alternate-universe fan fiction - amazingly good fan fiction, but still. It opens with a huge fan service for all us Booth/Brennan shippers - the two principles obviously in a loving relationship, jumping right into bed. Then you realize, Booth and Brennan have been recast as the married owners of a nightclub called The Lab.
How cute is John Francis Daley?
Angela, Zack, and the rest of the "squinterns" play employees at the club - with the exception of Clark Edison, who plays a rapper who wants to debut at The Lab, and Arastoo Vaziri, who plays a Persian businessman interested in buying B&B out. Sweets is the bartender/budding musical talent. Caroline plays, surprise surprise, the nightclub's attorney. Cam and Jared play cops, investigating a murder that had taken place on the premises, and Max Brennan plays a corrupt councilman trying to blackmail B&B. Randomly, Angela's ex-husband Grayson Barasa shows up as Clark's gangsta brother. Finally, Hodgins provides the narrative voice as a booze hound crime writer.
Best Line goes to Mr. Nigel-Murray:
"I’m not going to fare well in jail... I'm lovely."
You'll spend about 30 seconds going, "the hell?" And then you just go with it. It's a fun ride, with lots of great lines. After the serious revelation of Booth's brain tumor in last week's episode, it was a relief just to be silly with these characters for a while. Wait a minute ... OMG brain tumor!
Well played, Bones. Well played.
Yes, it all turned out to be Booth's coma dream. Or is it? Right at the end, Hodgin's narration switches to Brennan's voice, and we see her typing by Booth's beside. She deletes the story just as he wakes up mumbling, "it was so real!" *sniff, sniff* And now, just to make me feel better, here is some gratuitous cuddling.
Awwww...
--
The season finale of Bones came off like alternate-universe fan fiction - amazingly good fan fiction, but still. It opens with a huge fan service for all us Booth/Brennan shippers - the two principles obviously in a loving relationship, jumping right into bed. Then you realize, Booth and Brennan have been recast as the married owners of a nightclub called The Lab.
How cute is John Francis Daley?Angela, Zack, and the rest of the "squinterns" play employees at the club - with the exception of Clark Edison, who plays a rapper who wants to debut at The Lab, and Arastoo Vaziri, who plays a Persian businessman interested in buying B&B out. Sweets is the bartender/budding musical talent. Caroline plays, surprise surprise, the nightclub's attorney. Cam and Jared play cops, investigating a murder that had taken place on the premises, and Max Brennan plays a corrupt councilman trying to blackmail B&B. Randomly, Angela's ex-husband Grayson Barasa shows up as Clark's gangsta brother. Finally, Hodgins provides the narrative voice as a booze hound crime writer.
Best Line goes to Mr. Nigel-Murray:"I’m not going to fare well in jail... I'm lovely."
You'll spend about 30 seconds going, "the hell?" And then you just go with it. It's a fun ride, with lots of great lines. After the serious revelation of Booth's brain tumor in last week's episode, it was a relief just to be silly with these characters for a while. Wait a minute ... OMG brain tumor!
Well played, Bones. Well played.Yes, it all turned out to be Booth's coma dream. Or is it? Right at the end, Hodgin's narration switches to Brennan's voice, and we see her typing by Booth's beside. She deletes the story just as he wakes up mumbling, "it was so real!" *sniff, sniff* And now, just to make me feel better, here is some gratuitous cuddling.
Awwww...Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Doctor of Mindf*ckery
SPOILER ALERT: This post contains plot details from the last two episodes of House, M.D.
--
I'm of two minds about the House, M.D. season finale (pun intended, for those who've seen the episode). I was actually pretty bored with the first 35 minutes. I'm not a Huddy shipper, so their hookup in last week's episode didn't really do anything for me. This episode opened with House waking up alone, and acting all nostalgic about the night before. Which, while really really cute, was disappointingly out of character for him.
Gregory House getting all schmoopy over forgotten cosmetics? Really?
Then, of course, it fell to Cuddy to be a raging bitch the next day and screw everything up. No one can be as bitchy as House, but she gave it her best shot. Next there was a lot of Wilson-enabled sophomoric behavior, as well as some tooth-achingly sweet moments of playing with Cuddy's lipstick. At this point, I was surfing the internet and seriously considering taking a bathroom break without pausing my Hulu playback. Yeah, it was that bad.
And then they drop the bomb - it was all a drug-induced hallucination. House never detoxed. He and Cuddy never hooked up. And the lipstick he was playing with? Actually a bottle of vicodin. My mind, she is blown. Side note: ghost of Kutner cameo! Kal Penn = LOVE.
"Sup?"
Overall, I liked the finale. The side stories with Cameron and Chase's wedding and the old man who squawked (played by the hilarious Carl Reiner) really tugged at the old heartstrings. But I don't know if the payoff of the big reveal was worth slogging through the hot Huddy mess that was the first 3/4 of the episode.
--
I'm of two minds about the House, M.D. season finale (pun intended, for those who've seen the episode). I was actually pretty bored with the first 35 minutes. I'm not a Huddy shipper, so their hookup in last week's episode didn't really do anything for me. This episode opened with House waking up alone, and acting all nostalgic about the night before. Which, while really really cute, was disappointingly out of character for him.
Gregory House getting all schmoopy over forgotten cosmetics? Really?Then, of course, it fell to Cuddy to be a raging bitch the next day and screw everything up. No one can be as bitchy as House, but she gave it her best shot. Next there was a lot of Wilson-enabled sophomoric behavior, as well as some tooth-achingly sweet moments of playing with Cuddy's lipstick. At this point, I was surfing the internet and seriously considering taking a bathroom break without pausing my Hulu playback. Yeah, it was that bad.
And then they drop the bomb - it was all a drug-induced hallucination. House never detoxed. He and Cuddy never hooked up. And the lipstick he was playing with? Actually a bottle of vicodin. My mind, she is blown. Side note: ghost of Kutner cameo! Kal Penn = LOVE.
"Sup?"Overall, I liked the finale. The side stories with Cameron and Chase's wedding and the old man who squawked (played by the hilarious Carl Reiner) really tugged at the old heartstrings. But I don't know if the payoff of the big reveal was worth slogging through the hot Huddy mess that was the first 3/4 of the episode.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Gobsmacked
Well, slap my ass and call me Sally.
Two shows that I never thought had a chance at renewal got a reprieve. Both Dollhouse and Better Off Ted have been renewed by FOX and ABC, respectively.
According to Michel Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly, the budget for Dollhouse has been drastically reduced (and I loooove his idea of giving the douchey Topher the boot) all as part of the deal for renewal.
In other good news, Castle has been renewed as well! Hurray!
I suggest checking over at Ausiello's page at least daily for updates. The networks are due to make all their final decisions regarding their fall schedules next week starting on Monday.
UPDATES: Chuck is now officially renewed for 13 episodes! Yay! But, Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles is officially cancelled. Boo! You suck FOX! I can't believe they would keep Dollhouse but can T:TSCC. Maybe because it's so much more expensive with all that terminator CGI?
Two shows that I never thought had a chance at renewal got a reprieve. Both Dollhouse and Better Off Ted have been renewed by FOX and ABC, respectively.
According to Michel Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly, the budget for Dollhouse has been drastically reduced (and I loooove his idea of giving the douchey Topher the boot) all as part of the deal for renewal.
In other good news, Castle has been renewed as well! Hurray!
I suggest checking over at Ausiello's page at least daily for updates. The networks are due to make all their final decisions regarding their fall schedules next week starting on Monday.
UPDATES: Chuck is now officially renewed for 13 episodes! Yay! But, Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles is officially cancelled. Boo! You suck FOX! I can't believe they would keep Dollhouse but can T:TSCC. Maybe because it's so much more expensive with all that terminator CGI?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Make Me A Supermodel
... no, seriously, go make me one.
While skimming the site for Popular Science, I came across this: The Latest Model. It's a robotic fashion model! Several LOL-inducing thoughts:
1. Even though it approximates human movement, right now it can't really walk, or glide, or strut down the catwalk. It stomps.
2. The programmers are experimenting with a variety of facial expressions, but apparently they all come across as "surprised."
3. I cannot wait until this makes it into the zeitgeist and I get to hear Tyson tell some poor hapless model, "You look like one of those crazy Japanese robots that is going to make us all useless by the year 2030."
That's right, bitches. Your days are numbered.
While skimming the site for Popular Science, I came across this: The Latest Model. It's a robotic fashion model! Several LOL-inducing thoughts:
1. Even though it approximates human movement, right now it can't really walk, or glide, or strut down the catwalk. It stomps.
2. The programmers are experimenting with a variety of facial expressions, but apparently they all come across as "surprised."
3. I cannot wait until this makes it into the zeitgeist and I get to hear Tyson tell some poor hapless model, "You look like one of those crazy Japanese robots that is going to make us all useless by the year 2030."
That's right, bitches. Your days are numbered.Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Looks like Ted's heading for a better place
A few weeks ago I raved about ABC's Better Off Ted. Unfortunately, real life got in the way and I missed a few episodes. So the other night I went to the show's website to catch up. Immediately, I noticed something was wrong. First of all, they only have episodes 6 and 7 (out of 7) online. Secondly, episode 7 was labeled "season finale." Cold dread began to creep up my spine. I rushed to Wikipedia... a total 13 episodes are listed, but the air dates for everything after episode 7 are listed as "TBA." Finally, I found this A.V. Club article that shares my suspicions. Looks like the show will be canceled mid-season.
I know, Phil. I'm upset, too.
This news is just depressing. Sure, Better Off Ted may not have been the next Lost. What did ABC expect - hardly any promotion, a moving time slot (okay, so they moved it once, but still!), and only 7 weeks to make things work? They hardly gave the show a chance.
But maybe it's not too late! There's an informal poll on Entertainment Weekly's site about saving the show. It's slightly inconvenient to fill out (they ask for an email address, even though they don't display it, and one of those 'confirm you are a person' code thingies), but well worth the effort! According to EW, ABC announces it's new prime time schedule in less than a week - sign the poll and help save Better Off Ted!
I know, Phil. I'm upset, too.This news is just depressing. Sure, Better Off Ted may not have been the next Lost. What did ABC expect - hardly any promotion, a moving time slot (okay, so they moved it once, but still!), and only 7 weeks to make things work? They hardly gave the show a chance.
But maybe it's not too late! There's an informal poll on Entertainment Weekly's site about saving the show. It's slightly inconvenient to fill out (they ask for an email address, even though they don't display it, and one of those 'confirm you are a person' code thingies), but well worth the effort! According to EW, ABC announces it's new prime time schedule in less than a week - sign the poll and help save Better Off Ted!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
It's not Project Runway.
Don't be looking for Tim, Heidi, Nina, or Michael. There are two challenges every episode, including a mini-challenge that the designers have only 1 hour to complete. The runway show is performed in front of a crowd of "fashion industry insiders." There's no independent mentor; co-hosts Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland are both judges AND mentors.
It's not Project Runway.
But you know what? I like it.
The Fashion Show debuted last Thursday at 10pm on Bravo. Since losing Project Runway to Lifetime, I guess Bravo decided to just make the same show, but with some well-placed tweaks.
Isaac Mizrahi was delightfully bitchy (telling the designers how embarrassed and disappointed he was with the first runway show) and Kelly Rowland was kind of useless but looked great. The third regular judge Fern Mallis (the woman who runs New York Fashion Week) knew her stuff and the guest judge was an actual designer.
The challenges were interesting and really showed off what the designers were capable of. The mini-challenge was to create a little black dress from just a black t-shirt (they had only one hour) and the main challenge was to organize into teams, come up with one "must have" piece and incorporate it into five different looks to form a collection. So it was a team challenge, but each designer was in charge of one of the looks. They expressed themselves individually, but needed to design for a team collection as well.
I like that the runway show is performed in front of an actual crowd, but I'm not sure how I feel about having the crowd vote on the winner. Things could get....interesting. The judges are (so far) only responsible for picking the person who gets the boot.
As for the designers....most of them are difficult to distinguish at this point. Of course, Merlin stands out (watch the show, you'll know why--picture a gay latino fairy-magician), and I was really impressed with the initial design of Reco. Other than that, I'm going to shy away from making any predictions...you never know with these kind of competitions!
Don't be looking for Tim, Heidi, Nina, or Michael. There are two challenges every episode, including a mini-challenge that the designers have only 1 hour to complete. The runway show is performed in front of a crowd of "fashion industry insiders." There's no independent mentor; co-hosts Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowland are both judges AND mentors.
It's not Project Runway.
But you know what? I like it.
The Fashion Show debuted last Thursday at 10pm on Bravo. Since losing Project Runway to Lifetime, I guess Bravo decided to just make the same show, but with some well-placed tweaks.
Isaac Mizrahi was delightfully bitchy (telling the designers how embarrassed and disappointed he was with the first runway show) and Kelly Rowland was kind of useless but looked great. The third regular judge Fern Mallis (the woman who runs New York Fashion Week) knew her stuff and the guest judge was an actual designer.
The challenges were interesting and really showed off what the designers were capable of. The mini-challenge was to create a little black dress from just a black t-shirt (they had only one hour) and the main challenge was to organize into teams, come up with one "must have" piece and incorporate it into five different looks to form a collection. So it was a team challenge, but each designer was in charge of one of the looks. They expressed themselves individually, but needed to design for a team collection as well.
I like that the runway show is performed in front of an actual crowd, but I'm not sure how I feel about having the crowd vote on the winner. Things could get....interesting. The judges are (so far) only responsible for picking the person who gets the boot.
As for the designers....most of them are difficult to distinguish at this point. Of course, Merlin stands out (watch the show, you'll know why--picture a gay latino fairy-magician), and I was really impressed with the initial design of Reco. Other than that, I'm going to shy away from making any predictions...you never know with these kind of competitions!
Monday, May 11, 2009
MSCR: Ed, Edd, n Eddy
This is Cartoon Network's longest-running series (celebrating its 10th year), and it's easy to see why. "The Eds" are a trio of adolescent boys, scheming and dreaming through an endless summer in an idyllic suburban cul-de-sac. These kids are having the childhood we all wish we had – non-stop hijinks with our best friends. You might think that having three protagonists with the same first name would be confusing. But each is such a unique little miscreant that there's never any doubt.
Eddy: What, Ed?
Ed: I say, the cheese is always twice the fence post.
Eddy is the leader of the group, and a born con-man. His harebrained plots and unapologetic greed for jawbreakers are constantly getting The Eds into trouble – which is basically his element. He lovingly refers to his compatriots as "sock-head" and "lumpy."
Edd, aka Double D, is the brains of the operation. He's a tremendous nerd, trying to apply a rational approach to an irrational world. While he often tries to dissuade Eddy from his more dangerous stunts, he usually gives in and ends up helping. Ed's little sister Sara has a bit of a crush on Double D … and so do I.
Ed is a gentle giant, an amiable simpleton whose frequent non sequiturs are the highlights of the show.
Eddy: What, Ed?
Ed: I say, the cheese is always twice the fence post.
The cast is rounded out with a diverse group of frenemies from around the cul-de-sac, as well as the Eds' would-be paramours, a trio of trailer park girls known as the Cankers. I deliberately call it a "cast" because each character is well-developed and the interactions between them are complex and organic. In other words, despite the far-fetched plots, Ed, Edd n Eddy feels real in a way other cartoons don't. Check it out at the official website, or the next time it airs on Cartoon Network
Friday, May 08, 2009
Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Pile of Crap
In theory, I should love Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire. I liked Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, and I knew that this would be a parody of that genre. The production values are pretty good, which was one of my major concerns when I first heard about the project. The title has umlats in it, which makes me smile. And the lead actor is a dreamy Irish Englishman rock star, Sean Maguire. His Krod Mandoon is a new kind of hero - one who is more sensitive and in touch with his feelings.
Who said Hufflepuffs can't be hot?
But even the pretty cannot distract me from the fact that this show is basically shit. Sure, I found some elements funny - but that says more about me than about the show. To call the humor sophomoric would be an insult to sophomores everywhere. The writing is something a 14 year-old boy might come up with, full of gratuitous toilet and sex jokes. Beyond that, there is an undertone of misogyny that sticks in my craw. I'm referring to the token female character, Aneka.
Aneka is billed as a "pagan warrioress," an obvious send-up of Xena. Except, she's super slutty. In the first episode she goes home to her village to complete the Rite of the Raccoon or some such, where she sleeps with 300 men. Part of the rite is doing a strip tease for a catcalling crowd of lecherous men. And already I'm clutching my poor abused frontal lobe in agony.
Just one of many disturbing misconceptions about paganism.
That's when it hit me - there is no need for a parody of Hercules and Xena. Those shows were already parodies of themselves, because they were fully aware of their campy glory. And that was part of the fun - liking a show but also laughing at yourself for liking it. Krod Mandoon, in trying to take the genre "over the top," devolves into the lowest form of humor imaginable.
You people should be ashamed of yourselves.
The season (and with any luck, the series) finale aired yesterday. I didn't bother to watch. Though I may catch it in one of the million reruns of the show Comedy Central will use to fill air time.
Who said Hufflepuffs can't be hot?But even the pretty cannot distract me from the fact that this show is basically shit. Sure, I found some elements funny - but that says more about me than about the show. To call the humor sophomoric would be an insult to sophomores everywhere. The writing is something a 14 year-old boy might come up with, full of gratuitous toilet and sex jokes. Beyond that, there is an undertone of misogyny that sticks in my craw. I'm referring to the token female character, Aneka.
Aneka is billed as a "pagan warrioress," an obvious send-up of Xena. Except, she's super slutty. In the first episode she goes home to her village to complete the Rite of the Raccoon or some such, where she sleeps with 300 men. Part of the rite is doing a strip tease for a catcalling crowd of lecherous men. And already I'm clutching my poor abused frontal lobe in agony.
Just one of many disturbing misconceptions about paganism.That's when it hit me - there is no need for a parody of Hercules and Xena. Those shows were already parodies of themselves, because they were fully aware of their campy glory. And that was part of the fun - liking a show but also laughing at yourself for liking it. Krod Mandoon, in trying to take the genre "over the top," devolves into the lowest form of humor imaginable.
You people should be ashamed of yourselves.The season (and with any luck, the series) finale aired yesterday. I didn't bother to watch. Though I may catch it in one of the million reruns of the show Comedy Central will use to fill air time.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Hidden Sponsor?
Why is everyone so thankful to Oprah today? I don't get it. For those of you not aware on yesterday's episode Oprah announced she was giving away chicken (by way of a downloadable coupon)
All the interviews today of local people are people THANKING Oprah! Why?!? She is clearly getting paid by KFC! This is a purely sponsored event to sell KFC's chicken. Why are people pretending this is something other than a giant COMMERCIAL.
The news coverage, the online coverage and the radio coverage are all free advertising for KFC's grilled chicken (though I am sure it wasn't completely free given the amount they had to pay Oprah).
The link the coupon is below if you are dying for grilled chicken:
http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090430-tows-kfc-coupon-download
All the interviews today of local people are people THANKING Oprah! Why?!? She is clearly getting paid by KFC! This is a purely sponsored event to sell KFC's chicken. Why are people pretending this is something other than a giant COMMERCIAL.The news coverage, the online coverage and the radio coverage are all free advertising for KFC's grilled chicken (though I am sure it wasn't completely free given the amount they had to pay Oprah).
The link the coupon is below if you are dying for grilled chicken:http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090430-tows-kfc-coupon-download
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