All Hail Larry David!!!
The show is awesome. He makes being a total D&$# absolutely hilarious. Here are the highlights as I see it...in terms of cause and effect as it pertains to 4 road heads. SPOILER ALERT if you haven't read it!
- Road Head #1 - Richard Lewis and his new girlfriend - Richard gets his RH on the way to dinner. He tells Jeff. Jeff tells Larry causing Larry to be comically awkward and rude to the new girlfriend. That causes Richard to confront Larry which causes Larry to come clean to the new girlfriend which caused the end of the new girlfriend.
- Road Head #2 - Cancer Doc and her silver fox - Larry sees a cancer doc on Doctor Phil say that her mission is to get cancer patients out of poisonous relationship. Since Larry wants out of his relationship, he talks up the new doc to the point where Loretta is teetering on the brink. Larry is driving her to a seminar when they catch the doc performing on her hubby. This ruins the doc for Loretta and seemingly ruins Larry's chances to get out of the relationship. This causes Larry to confront the doc and utter the greatest line in a long time..."eehhh, I think you blew him".
- Road Head #3 - Larry and Leon's girl - Leon asks Larry to call a friend because he loves Seinfeld. Larry mentions that Leon thinks his wife is beautiful. This causes the guy to think Leon is laying down his wife, which he is. This causes Leon to bring Larry into the deception. The husband shows up at the house when Leon has the wife over. Leon asks Larry to hide the wife in his car. This causes Loretta to think she sees Larry getting RH from the wife causing a great line about Larry loving chocolate. The end result is Larry gets the freedom from the Blacks, except Leon, that Larry needed to pursue Cheryl.
- Road Head #4 - Jeff and Susie - Let's just say that plastic wrappers are tough to get into without the proper tools. Also, RH is as dangerous as texting or drinking and driving.
...lastly, a fearless prediction - the argument about the broken glasses will come back to bite Larry at a future point in time.
This is a five star show in a four star world.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
What to Watch tonight - 09/29/09
As today is my birthday, I will be celebrating with some TV and alcohol.
Tuesday is very light again. We have SYTYCD and The Forgotten, of which I still haven't seen the first one. I still have plenty to catch up on. I haven't watched Curb, Californication, Bored, Entourage, Heroes, and Fringe. The DVR is bursting at the seams with fun.
Tuesday is very light again. We have SYTYCD and The Forgotten, of which I still haven't seen the first one. I still have plenty to catch up on. I haven't watched Curb, Californication, Bored, Entourage, Heroes, and Fringe. The DVR is bursting at the seams with fun.
Mad Men - All about the Women
The key to this show for me is that through all the male chauvinism and bravado, it is the women of the show that shine brightest. They show true bravery, determination, grace, and intelligence. Their beauty blinds the men around them to these qualities (almost) all of the time. They take an OK show with some cool set and turn it into the best show on TV right now.
Peggy - She is best of the bunch. She is young, energetic, has a no nonsense attitude, but also is mature beyond her years and increasingly sexually assertive. She is extremely progressive in her mindset but also is a devout Catholic. She has overcome adversity, faced her demons, and risen from the ashes, but now she is faced with the possibility that she has peaked at Sterling Cooper. She has stood up to the men and likes the way she measures up, but now she is faced with the prospect of being alone and with never being an equal no matter how good she is. I find myself rooting for her very hard.
Mate Rater - While she can seem stiff and kind of a wet blanket, I imagine her as very good in bed. Her looks are underrated. 9 out of 10.
Betty - She is so repressed. Brutally so. She is also very passive aggressive. She has been trained to keep her mouth shut and obey. Be pretty and be quiet. In an age where the Peggy's of the world are coming out of their shells, she doesn't have the social skills and fears she is missing the boat. She is a very sub-par mother. Have you ever seen her in a tender moment or acting in any way nurturing? Don treats her like garbage and I think she is tremendously bored.
Mate Rater - She is adorable and gorgeous. But she is cold and I imagine her to be a bit of a dead fish. 5 out of 10.
Joan - This season I have seen Joan in a totally new light. She is almost like a wild horse who was broken by the office rape. She has proven to be a faithful wife-to-be, even in the face of his worsening career prospects. She played the accordion like a monkey in front of his high society friends. She was Peggy and now she wants to be Betty. She probably thought it would never happen once Roger chose another. Through it all, she showed tremendous class and composure under pressure. I feel like she is on the verge of either a meltdown or a comeback.
Mate Rater - Has to be a little gun shy since the office rape, right? Otherwise, she seemingly does it all. 8 out of 10.
Peggy - She is best of the bunch. She is young, energetic, has a no nonsense attitude, but also is mature beyond her years and increasingly sexually assertive. She is extremely progressive in her mindset but also is a devout Catholic. She has overcome adversity, faced her demons, and risen from the ashes, but now she is faced with the possibility that she has peaked at Sterling Cooper. She has stood up to the men and likes the way she measures up, but now she is faced with the prospect of being alone and with never being an equal no matter how good she is. I find myself rooting for her very hard.
Mate Rater - While she can seem stiff and kind of a wet blanket, I imagine her as very good in bed. Her looks are underrated. 9 out of 10.
Betty - She is so repressed. Brutally so. She is also very passive aggressive. She has been trained to keep her mouth shut and obey. Be pretty and be quiet. In an age where the Peggy's of the world are coming out of their shells, she doesn't have the social skills and fears she is missing the boat. She is a very sub-par mother. Have you ever seen her in a tender moment or acting in any way nurturing? Don treats her like garbage and I think she is tremendously bored.
Mate Rater - She is adorable and gorgeous. But she is cold and I imagine her to be a bit of a dead fish. 5 out of 10.
Joan - This season I have seen Joan in a totally new light. She is almost like a wild horse who was broken by the office rape. She has proven to be a faithful wife-to-be, even in the face of his worsening career prospects. She played the accordion like a monkey in front of his high society friends. She was Peggy and now she wants to be Betty. She probably thought it would never happen once Roger chose another. Through it all, she showed tremendous class and composure under pressure. I feel like she is on the verge of either a meltdown or a comeback.
Mate Rater - Has to be a little gun shy since the office rape, right? Otherwise, she seemingly does it all. 8 out of 10.
Monday, September 28, 2009
What to Watch tonight - 09/28/09
Tonight is back to normal night at the Golden house...except we have a dog. I am still a little tired from the beating my body took this weekend. Here is the good work that will get done by my DVR...
Heroes - 8pm on NBC
House - 8pm on Fox
HIMYM - 8pm on CBS
AoP - 830pm on CBS
Gossip Girl - 9pm on CW
Trauma - 9pm on NBC
J&K+8 - 9pm on TLC
Big Bang - 930pm on CBS
That is a full slate. The good news is the football game promises to be boring for everyone who isn't a fan of the two teams. Carolina and Dallas are two of the biggest choking dog teams out there.
My DVR is near capacity after last night's TV action. I haven't seen Fringe, Top Chef, Simpsons, Family Guy, Mad Men, Curb, Californication, and I am sure there are more. I am hoping to get in a solid six hours tonight.
Heroes - 8pm on NBC
House - 8pm on Fox
HIMYM - 8pm on CBS
AoP - 830pm on CBS
Gossip Girl - 9pm on CW
Trauma - 9pm on NBC
J&K+8 - 9pm on TLC
Big Bang - 930pm on CBS
That is a full slate. The good news is the football game promises to be boring for everyone who isn't a fan of the two teams. Carolina and Dallas are two of the biggest choking dog teams out there.
My DVR is near capacity after last night's TV action. I haven't seen Fringe, Top Chef, Simpsons, Family Guy, Mad Men, Curb, Californication, and I am sure there are more. I am hoping to get in a solid six hours tonight.
Soggy and miserable...and a dog.
I finally dried off from the horrible, wet, cold, and rainy 14 hour day in Happy Valley. I got sick. The game was terrible. I lost my voice. Oh, and I got a dog. I bought a toy Rat Terrier. His name is Bruiser and he weighs about 2 pounds.
I got back Sunday afternoon, watched some football, did dog and house stuff, and squeezed in a little TV.
I watched about 4 episodes of Big Bang. I am now about halfway through season 2 and Sheldon keeps getting better and better. I love how nerdy the crew is too. The episode where Penny gets strike 3 was great as was the one where Sheldon had a "girlfriend".
I watched the premiere of Cougar Town and Accidentally on Purpose back to back, which is funny because they are basically the same show. I think the two are both OK but if I had to pick a winner it would be Cougar Town b/c I am picking up on the serious Bill Lawrence vibe of the show. Very Scrubs-y. I am giving these shows a personal three episode extension. Let's see if either turns out to be something.
I got back Sunday afternoon, watched some football, did dog and house stuff, and squeezed in a little TV.
I watched about 4 episodes of Big Bang. I am now about halfway through season 2 and Sheldon keeps getting better and better. I love how nerdy the crew is too. The episode where Penny gets strike 3 was great as was the one where Sheldon had a "girlfriend".
I watched the premiere of Cougar Town and Accidentally on Purpose back to back, which is funny because they are basically the same show. I think the two are both OK but if I had to pick a winner it would be Cougar Town b/c I am picking up on the serious Bill Lawrence vibe of the show. Very Scrubs-y. I am giving these shows a personal three episode extension. Let's see if either turns out to be something.
Friday, September 25, 2009
What to Watch this weekend
As I head north to State College for a football weekend, my DVR will be dutifully recording the season premieres of Dollhouse (Fox at 9) and Smallville (CW at 8)
Monk and Psych are both new on USA.
Football weekend...The PSU-Iowa is a revenge match from last year. Don't let PSU's ranking fool you. They have not looked like world beaters against vastly inferior teams. Were they just unable to get up for the weaker teams or are they not as good as advertised? We will find Saturday at 8PM.
Other college games of note...Kentucky-Florida, Oregon-Cal, LSU-Miss State, and Arkansas-Alabama are all upset potentials. Yes I learned my mistake from last weeks terrible prediction about USC. The VTech-Miami game is suddenly elevated by the sudden rise of the Hurricanes the past couple of weeks.
As far as the NFL, there is one matchup of 2-0 teams...San Fran at Minnesota. Brett Favre in the limelight where he is most comfortable.
Also, do not miss the PGA Tour Championship with $10 million on the line and Tiger in the hunt.
Monk and Psych are both new on USA.
Football weekend...The PSU-Iowa is a revenge match from last year. Don't let PSU's ranking fool you. They have not looked like world beaters against vastly inferior teams. Were they just unable to get up for the weaker teams or are they not as good as advertised? We will find Saturday at 8PM.
Other college games of note...Kentucky-Florida, Oregon-Cal, LSU-Miss State, and Arkansas-Alabama are all upset potentials. Yes I learned my mistake from last weeks terrible prediction about USC. The VTech-Miami game is suddenly elevated by the sudden rise of the Hurricanes the past couple of weeks.
As far as the NFL, there is one matchup of 2-0 teams...San Fran at Minnesota. Brett Favre in the limelight where he is most comfortable.
Also, do not miss the PGA Tour Championship with $10 million on the line and Tiger in the hunt.
Work gets in the way...
I have been tied up getting a brief together and planning my trip to Happy Valley and have fallen behind a little here in navigator-land. Here is a snap shot of what I have watched...
Always Sunny (great)
The Office (eh)
Parks & Rec (good)
Community (good)
SYTYCD (eh)
Glee (eh)
Old Christine (good)
That leaves me with some catching up to do...with the blog and with my DVR. Just have to put the finishing touches on this work week...
Always Sunny (great)
The Office (eh)
Parks & Rec (good)
Community (good)
SYTYCD (eh)
Glee (eh)
Old Christine (good)
That leaves me with some catching up to do...with the blog and with my DVR. Just have to put the finishing touches on this work week...
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Lost - Episode titles released
The titles for the first four episodes of the final season are out. Click here to see the article and Doc Jensen's analysis. Here are the titles -
6x01/6x02 - LA X
6x03 - What Kate Does (Kate-centric)
6x04 - The Substitute (Locke-centric)
Assuming Doc is right and the final season will mirror the first season thematically, what clue does that give us as to what will happen and how this will all unfold?
I need to spend some time coming up with my theory.
6x01/6x02 - LA X
6x03 - What Kate Does (Kate-centric)
6x04 - The Substitute (Locke-centric)
Assuming Doc is right and the final season will mirror the first season thematically, what clue does that give us as to what will happen and how this will all unfold?
I need to spend some time coming up with my theory.
The machine knows...
This article makes me feel good in that I am not the only one but it also puts pressure on for me to keep up. 8 hours a day is some serious TV watching, America. Now wonder we are obese.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What to Watch tonight - 09/23/08
Tonight is a night to be optimistic about TV. There are actually some good shows out there. Here is what to watch.
8PM
SYTYCD on Fox
Old Christine (season premiere) on CBS
9PM
Glee on Fox
Modern Family (series premiere) on ABC
Cougar Town (series premiere) on ABC
10PM
Top Chef on Bravo
I am looking forward to the new shows. I am penciling in Cougar Town as this year's Sam Who, a show I will watch and few will join me but maybe the critics will like. Glee is always fun, and the reality shows are getting to the end of the preliminary phase where the ones who suck are weeded out and the actual competition can begin.
Sports Update - All is well right now and I don't want to jinx it. The Yankees have the best record in baseball, but I am worried about the depth of the rotation right now. The Giants are one of the five best teams in football again and just beat the Cowboys at the opening of their new stadium. Penn State is #5 and through the easy part of the schedule facing Iowa this weekend, where I will be in attendance. ESPN Gameday will also be there. 8PM game. White-Out. Revenge for last year. The only issue is the health of LBs Dean Lee and Navarro Bowman. I am feeling a PSU blowout.
8PM
SYTYCD on Fox
Old Christine (season premiere) on CBS
9PM
Glee on Fox
Modern Family (series premiere) on ABC
Cougar Town (series premiere) on ABC
10PM
Top Chef on Bravo
I am looking forward to the new shows. I am penciling in Cougar Town as this year's Sam Who, a show I will watch and few will join me but maybe the critics will like. Glee is always fun, and the reality shows are getting to the end of the preliminary phase where the ones who suck are weeded out and the actual competition can begin.
Sports Update - All is well right now and I don't want to jinx it. The Yankees have the best record in baseball, but I am worried about the depth of the rotation right now. The Giants are one of the five best teams in football again and just beat the Cowboys at the opening of their new stadium. Penn State is #5 and through the easy part of the schedule facing Iowa this weekend, where I will be in attendance. ESPN Gameday will also be there. 8PM game. White-Out. Revenge for last year. The only issue is the health of LBs Dean Lee and Navarro Bowman. I am feeling a PSU blowout.
TOP TEN - DRAMAS (hour long shows)
This weeks top ten list is the top ten dramas on TV. This is an especially thin list when you have my ground rules... 1. No reality and 2. No show I haven't seen yet. I am including Glee even though it is only three episodes in and is more musical comedy than drama. I am also including Mad Men even though the show is a month into the season. Finally, I am including Friday Night Lights even though most of us have to wait till summer to watch.
10. Heroes - I am a sucker. In the beginning I watched to see what happened and was disappointed. Then I watched to see if it could get better and was disappointed. Now I watched to see how bad it could get and it got boring. Disappointed again. I will take bad. Boring is unacceptable. There just isn't 10 good dramas on TV. Everything is freaking reality or the same crime show over and over.
9. Grey's - This show has been getting steadily worse every year since season 2. Since Denny. It just isn't quite as bad as Heroes.
8. Smallville - I have really enjoyed this show for many years. Through budget cuts, network changes, and replacement of nearly the entire cast...and for the most part it held up really well. I will follow this show till the bitter end.
7. House - This show is great. Some of the sharpest writing on TV. My only beef is it is a bit of a downer.
6. Glee - I may have only seen three episodes, but I really love the originality and cast so far. I have serious doubts that it can maintain this pace but I will remain optimistic for now.
5. Gossip Girl - I worry that the show has peaked. Most high school shows don't do well in college. It has been so much fun so far though. I am anxious to see where the show goes.
4. Dexter - I am through episode 4 of season 3 and I have to say that this show is money. The colors, the music, the dark humor...most dark shows are set in LA, in NY, or rural USA at night...dark grey cement and cemeteries or woods. Not Dexter. It is vibrant. It is as much about life as it is about death.
3. Fringe - It was the best new show of last year. It is a tad derivative but I really love the father son duo on the show. I hope the expanding mythology is as big and bold as the characters.
2. FNL - This show makes me want to move to Texas. I think the first three seasons have all been fabulous, with the exception of Landry murdering a guy. The Taylor's are the first family of TV. Riggins is the man. Sarazan is such a good kid. Smash, Jason, the music, the girls...all great. Most sports shows are weak in story and in the sports highlights. This show is the exception that proves the rule. It sucks that I have to wait till spring to watch.
1. Mad Men - I have said this before, but this show puts me in a trance. It is so cool to look at. It brings a flood of nostalgia for a time in which I wasn't even alive...hell my parents were infants. There is something to this show that strikes a chord. Maybe it is comforting knowing how the world turns out. Maybe we wish it still was a little more that way now.
Sorry this was a day late, but between the bad shows I have been watching and the sad state of this list, it took some time to get this together.
10. Heroes - I am a sucker. In the beginning I watched to see what happened and was disappointed. Then I watched to see if it could get better and was disappointed. Now I watched to see how bad it could get and it got boring. Disappointed again. I will take bad. Boring is unacceptable. There just isn't 10 good dramas on TV. Everything is freaking reality or the same crime show over and over.
9. Grey's - This show has been getting steadily worse every year since season 2. Since Denny. It just isn't quite as bad as Heroes.
8. Smallville - I have really enjoyed this show for many years. Through budget cuts, network changes, and replacement of nearly the entire cast...and for the most part it held up really well. I will follow this show till the bitter end.
7. House - This show is great. Some of the sharpest writing on TV. My only beef is it is a bit of a downer.
6. Glee - I may have only seen three episodes, but I really love the originality and cast so far. I have serious doubts that it can maintain this pace but I will remain optimistic for now.
5. Gossip Girl - I worry that the show has peaked. Most high school shows don't do well in college. It has been so much fun so far though. I am anxious to see where the show goes.
4. Dexter - I am through episode 4 of season 3 and I have to say that this show is money. The colors, the music, the dark humor...most dark shows are set in LA, in NY, or rural USA at night...dark grey cement and cemeteries or woods. Not Dexter. It is vibrant. It is as much about life as it is about death.
3. Fringe - It was the best new show of last year. It is a tad derivative but I really love the father son duo on the show. I hope the expanding mythology is as big and bold as the characters.
2. FNL - This show makes me want to move to Texas. I think the first three seasons have all been fabulous, with the exception of Landry murdering a guy. The Taylor's are the first family of TV. Riggins is the man. Sarazan is such a good kid. Smash, Jason, the music, the girls...all great. Most sports shows are weak in story and in the sports highlights. This show is the exception that proves the rule. It sucks that I have to wait till spring to watch.
1. Mad Men - I have said this before, but this show puts me in a trance. It is so cool to look at. It brings a flood of nostalgia for a time in which I wasn't even alive...hell my parents were infants. There is something to this show that strikes a chord. Maybe it is comforting knowing how the world turns out. Maybe we wish it still was a little more that way now.
Sorry this was a day late, but between the bad shows I have been watching and the sad state of this list, it took some time to get this together.
Bad TV Blues...
There is a lot of bad TV out there and I have been on a streak lately. For instance...
I got halfway through the Heroes premiere and went to the PS3 to play college football and Beatles Rock Band. I am this close to quitting that show for good.
I also only got halfway through The Watchmen. Three hours of sad superheroes. It could not have been slower.
I didn't even get halfway through The Beautiful Life. It was dreadful.
I was so down on TV that I didn't watch The Forgotten. I also still have Gossip Girl and Accidentally On Purpose on the DVR. And I have to finish season three of Dexter and season 2 of Big Bang. Plus, tonight's TV promises to be better than the dregs of yesterday's TV.
I got halfway through the Heroes premiere and went to the PS3 to play college football and Beatles Rock Band. I am this close to quitting that show for good.
I also only got halfway through The Watchmen. Three hours of sad superheroes. It could not have been slower.
I didn't even get halfway through The Beautiful Life. It was dreadful.
I was so down on TV that I didn't watch The Forgotten. I also still have Gossip Girl and Accidentally On Purpose on the DVR. And I have to finish season three of Dexter and season 2 of Big Bang. Plus, tonight's TV promises to be better than the dregs of yesterday's TV.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Bored, HIMYM, and the Emmys
Playing catch up last night I watched Mad Men, Bored to Death, the Emmy's (with heavy fast forwarding), and the HIMYM premiere.
The Emmys are great when boiled down to 40 minutes. Boring speech...blip blip blip (me FF'ing)...lame skit...blip blip blip...dead guy montage...you get the idea. NPH was OK. His likability makes you want to like him regardless of how good he actually is. It is such a hard job and almost all of it relies on how likable the host is. As far as the awards go, 30Rock and Mad Men are both awesome shows and deserve all the awards they got. The one award I am most happy with is Ben from Lost. Michael Emerson is Lost. He is the number one reason Lost is Lost and not Heroes.
Bored to Death was everything I wanted it to be. Awkward, kinda funny, very odd, very neurotic. I think I am really going to enjoy this show. Jason Schwartzman is the man and Ted Danson is freaking Sam Malone for crying out loud. A very bored and stoned Sam Malone, but still. I am sold on the show 100%.
The HIMYM premiere was better than expected. I have given up on Ted. He is a prop guy now. Give him a goat, a tattoo, an Indiana Jones getup and he is OK. Otherwise his storylines are FF-able. The key to this season is Barney and Robin. The characters are so great as their insecure alpha types that the danger is there of ruining it by turning them into couples. We don't need two more Teds. So far, so good. I am a little nervous about this show.
The Emmys are great when boiled down to 40 minutes. Boring speech...blip blip blip (me FF'ing)...lame skit...blip blip blip...dead guy montage...you get the idea. NPH was OK. His likability makes you want to like him regardless of how good he actually is. It is such a hard job and almost all of it relies on how likable the host is. As far as the awards go, 30Rock and Mad Men are both awesome shows and deserve all the awards they got. The one award I am most happy with is Ben from Lost. Michael Emerson is Lost. He is the number one reason Lost is Lost and not Heroes.
Bored to Death was everything I wanted it to be. Awkward, kinda funny, very odd, very neurotic. I think I am really going to enjoy this show. Jason Schwartzman is the man and Ted Danson is freaking Sam Malone for crying out loud. A very bored and stoned Sam Malone, but still. I am sold on the show 100%.
The HIMYM premiere was better than expected. I have given up on Ted. He is a prop guy now. Give him a goat, a tattoo, an Indiana Jones getup and he is OK. Otherwise his storylines are FF-able. The key to this season is Barney and Robin. The characters are so great as their insecure alpha types that the danger is there of ruining it by turning them into couples. We don't need two more Teds. So far, so good. I am a little nervous about this show.
North Station Sports blog
I was off yesterday and away from a computer...but I did get out a guest post on my friend Nick's basketball blog...North Station Sports. The article is about the forgotten aspects of Michael Jordan's legacy and how horrible his acceptance speech was at the Hall of Fame.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
10 hours of TV....a Live Blog
I am feeling good about TV today. So good I am going to spend the better part of 10 hours watching it today.
2:06pm - Watching the lame Eagles and I just saw the commercial for Zombieland. It looks like it is right up my alley. I like comedy that is almost mocking itself. And I like Woody Harrelson going back to his Woody Boyd days on Cheers.
2:12pm - Bloody Mary #1 is fantastic. I like em spicy. I just made an awesome Sunday brunch. Scrambled eggs with a garden tomato and American Cheese and homemade breakfast potatoes (from the garden) with garden green peppers, garden onions, garlic, and Italian spices...
2:30pm - The Saints offense is nasty. They have put up 250 yards on the Eagles in the 1st half. Trouble is their D doesn't seem very good. Kevin Kolb is marching up and down the field after Matthew Stafford did the same last week. They aren't going to get QBs making their first career start all year.
2:53pm - The Adrian Petterson-as-a-lizard commercial with the Lost music behind it is sufficiently creepy.
5:08pm - The Eagles game was a joke so I went to Hell Boy II. The most surprising final of the early games was the Jets over the Patriots. I loathe the Patriots.
5:19pm - The second bloody Mary went down like glass...on to beer. Saranac variety pack. Hell Boy just got into the troll market.
6:35pm - Finally got through Hell Boy II after being put into chore mode for a while. If I am free to watch the entire G-Men game, it will be worth it.
8:45pm - John Madden and George W. Bush?!?
9:16pm - Typical Giants. They will outplay just about every opponent all season but for some reason every game will be close. I made Orange Blossom honey glazed shrimp over polenta for dinner. It was pretty good. I would have liked it a little sweeter actually.
9:37pm - Jeff Feagles...single handedly keeping alive the coffin corner kick. He might as well be shooting free throws underhanded.
9:53pm - This better be a TD. I love when the Cowboys get screwed.
10:10pm - Halftime as the Giants play lousy D on the last drive and give up a FG. Gonna sneak in Curb right now. I can't wait.
10:21pm - I am a 68 degree guy myself. I even go lower at night. 65-ish.
10:47pm - I love having Curb back. I feel like it has been gone too long. Has there ever been a dinner party turn out well on TV, especially an HBO show? They are always disaster and always hilarious. Meanwhile, the Giants are going to blow this game.
10:52pm - TD Cowboys. Tuck was the victim of a cheap shot. The Giants can't run and are getting run on. It isn't looking good.
11:21pm - Does any team choke more than the Cowboys? Man, it is a decade of choking. The G-Men look to be in control...but 1 play and they blow it. All things being equal, 4 turnovers to zero should mean the GMen win every time. But why am I still nervous as they settle for a FG?
11:25pm - I have tried Saranac Octoberfest, IPA, Pumpkin Ale, and Caramel Porter. I would rank them like this...
1. Octoberfest - very smooth and not too heavy.
2. Pumpkin Ale - it is really very tasy and not in that way that beer ruins itself.
3. Caramel Porter - it tastes like candy. A little too much.
4. IPA - I don't like 99% of IPAs. This one is no exception.
Overall, very good for a smaller middle of the road micro. The local beers are so heavy and sweet. These feel right and deliver on flavor without bloating me out.
11:30pm - The Cowboys march right down the field...31-30. What did I say earlier? Eli, 3 and a half minutes left, down 1...
11:36pm - a bogus penalty puts them in a hole...but that is poor clock management not getting a play off before the 2 minute warning. This is now 4 down territory. With the way the Cowboys are running, it probably was anyway.
11:44pm - My two least favorite critters...snakes and spiders. They don't make a noise. They are right up on you before you know they are there.
11:46pm - How lame is the TO right before the FG? Sad. But Tynes makes it anyway as Eli marches right down the field. He may throw some ducks from time to time, but game on the line there are few better. On to Entourage finale...
2:06pm - Watching the lame Eagles and I just saw the commercial for Zombieland. It looks like it is right up my alley. I like comedy that is almost mocking itself. And I like Woody Harrelson going back to his Woody Boyd days on Cheers.
2:12pm - Bloody Mary #1 is fantastic. I like em spicy. I just made an awesome Sunday brunch. Scrambled eggs with a garden tomato and American Cheese and homemade breakfast potatoes (from the garden) with garden green peppers, garden onions, garlic, and Italian spices...
2:30pm - The Saints offense is nasty. They have put up 250 yards on the Eagles in the 1st half. Trouble is their D doesn't seem very good. Kevin Kolb is marching up and down the field after Matthew Stafford did the same last week. They aren't going to get QBs making their first career start all year.
2:53pm - The Adrian Petterson-as-a-lizard commercial with the Lost music behind it is sufficiently creepy.
5:08pm - The Eagles game was a joke so I went to Hell Boy II. The most surprising final of the early games was the Jets over the Patriots. I loathe the Patriots.
5:19pm - The second bloody Mary went down like glass...on to beer. Saranac variety pack. Hell Boy just got into the troll market.
6:35pm - Finally got through Hell Boy II after being put into chore mode for a while. If I am free to watch the entire G-Men game, it will be worth it.
8:45pm - John Madden and George W. Bush?!?
9:16pm - Typical Giants. They will outplay just about every opponent all season but for some reason every game will be close. I made Orange Blossom honey glazed shrimp over polenta for dinner. It was pretty good. I would have liked it a little sweeter actually.
9:37pm - Jeff Feagles...single handedly keeping alive the coffin corner kick. He might as well be shooting free throws underhanded.
9:53pm - This better be a TD. I love when the Cowboys get screwed.
10:10pm - Halftime as the Giants play lousy D on the last drive and give up a FG. Gonna sneak in Curb right now. I can't wait.
10:21pm - I am a 68 degree guy myself. I even go lower at night. 65-ish.
10:47pm - I love having Curb back. I feel like it has been gone too long. Has there ever been a dinner party turn out well on TV, especially an HBO show? They are always disaster and always hilarious. Meanwhile, the Giants are going to blow this game.
10:52pm - TD Cowboys. Tuck was the victim of a cheap shot. The Giants can't run and are getting run on. It isn't looking good.
11:21pm - Does any team choke more than the Cowboys? Man, it is a decade of choking. The G-Men look to be in control...but 1 play and they blow it. All things being equal, 4 turnovers to zero should mean the GMen win every time. But why am I still nervous as they settle for a FG?
11:25pm - I have tried Saranac Octoberfest, IPA, Pumpkin Ale, and Caramel Porter. I would rank them like this...
1. Octoberfest - very smooth and not too heavy.
2. Pumpkin Ale - it is really very tasy and not in that way that beer ruins itself.
3. Caramel Porter - it tastes like candy. A little too much.
4. IPA - I don't like 99% of IPAs. This one is no exception.
Overall, very good for a smaller middle of the road micro. The local beers are so heavy and sweet. These feel right and deliver on flavor without bloating me out.
11:30pm - The Cowboys march right down the field...31-30. What did I say earlier? Eli, 3 and a half minutes left, down 1...
11:36pm - a bogus penalty puts them in a hole...but that is poor clock management not getting a play off before the 2 minute warning. This is now 4 down territory. With the way the Cowboys are running, it probably was anyway.
11:44pm - My two least favorite critters...snakes and spiders. They don't make a noise. They are right up on you before you know they are there.
11:46pm - How lame is the TO right before the FG? Sad. But Tynes makes it anyway as Eli marches right down the field. He may throw some ducks from time to time, but game on the line there are few better. On to Entourage finale...
Sundays In the Fall
Sundays in the fall have a feel to them. A smell. They kind of have a golden haze. There is the beginnings of a chill in the air. The leaves are just starting to change...and football all day and TV premieres at night. It is early enough in the season that just about every team thinks their team can make the playoffs. And just about every TV show looks good until it airs.
Today I am watching Eagles-Saints, Steelers-Bears, and Giants-Cowboys. There is also the premiere of Curb and Bored to Death. And the finale of Entourage. And Mad Men. And the Emmys.
Watch the football, DVR the Emmys, and watch the HBO shows on OnDemand.
Today I am watching Eagles-Saints, Steelers-Bears, and Giants-Cowboys. There is also the premiere of Curb and Bored to Death. And the finale of Entourage. And Mad Men. And the Emmys.
Watch the football, DVR the Emmys, and watch the HBO shows on OnDemand.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
College Football - Lame Saturday
There is one every year. A week where the matchups are so week that you make a big deal out of mismatches because there may be an upset. There is only game between ranked teams tomorrow...Nebraska-Virginia Tech...and that game doesn't do anything for me. USC-Washington could be an upset in the making. Letdown game for USC. Tough place to play. Same upset theory for Florida-Tennessee. I don't think either will happen.
I will take advantage of the lull to do some house work. I want to install a rain barrel and stain and paint the garage floor. More likely, I will watch season 2 of Big Bang Theory and play Beatles Rock Band. I was secretly hoping for bad weather but it will be perfect out.
I have to say that Beatles Rock Band is phenomenal. The opening sequence alone is worth renting it for. It is the coolest 2 minutes. The songs are kinda easy, but you know everyone and you enjoy the ride and return it. Worth renting.
I will take advantage of the lull to do some house work. I want to install a rain barrel and stain and paint the garage floor. More likely, I will watch season 2 of Big Bang Theory and play Beatles Rock Band. I was secretly hoping for bad weather but it will be perfect out.
I have to say that Beatles Rock Band is phenomenal. The opening sequence alone is worth renting it for. It is the coolest 2 minutes. The songs are kinda easy, but you know everyone and you enjoy the ride and return it. Worth renting.
Always Sunny - Vic Vinegar has a big house
Last night I watched the 4 NBC sitcoms and the ridiculously funny Always Sunny. It was comedy night. The NBC shows went like this.
SNL News - The opening skit was great. It was actually funny. The Madonna thing was lame. The Michael Steele debate was a C+. The news bits are really uneven. Some are OK, some miss awkwardly. But I will tell you this...they are better than the opening of Conan, Dave, an Jay. I find this show a legit waste of 20 minutes.
Parks & Rec - I think this was the funniest episode of the show ever. I actually laughed out loud a couple times. I still think of it as Office-lite, but this was a good start. I was on the verge of taking it off the season pass on the DVR but this episode bought it a couple more weeks.
The Office - Being from the Scranton area, I will always love this show if for no other reason than the references to the area, almost all of which are real. Last night, the reference was to Tinks, which of course is a cheesy night club in downtown Scranton. The episode wasn't the funniest ever, but the Andy Bernard and the Kevin lies were funny. The show is like an old friend now and it is nice to have it back around.
Community - This pilot was actually funny. It was basically a Breakfast Club send up featuring community college misfit toys. I love Chevy Chase, the guy from Daily Show, and the guy from Talk Soup. This show has a lot of potential. I really hope it makes it. There are so few good new shows.
Then there was Always Sunny, which is so funny it almost had me in tears. The top moments for me, in no particular order, are -
- Charlie v. the lawyer... whether it was the duel or the bird law debate, this was awesome. Anything Charlie says is hilarious.
- the gang v. the squatters... we could crush your skull. Sure we could kill your kids and smear their blood on the walls...or we could just get the deed.
- Dee v. everyone... She has almost taken on Meg Griffin status as being hated by everyone. Is she the skinniest girl on TV or what? Was that a 6 pack or her ribs? Either way her sweet setup was ruined by the guys as usual.
- Vic Vinegar v. the prospective buyers - What's the matter, your wife used to small houses? You believe that he would have hit them. It is hilarious and disturbing. I love it.
Didn't get to Fringe. It is on the to-do list for the weekend.
SNL News - The opening skit was great. It was actually funny. The Madonna thing was lame. The Michael Steele debate was a C+. The news bits are really uneven. Some are OK, some miss awkwardly. But I will tell you this...they are better than the opening of Conan, Dave, an Jay. I find this show a legit waste of 20 minutes.
Parks & Rec - I think this was the funniest episode of the show ever. I actually laughed out loud a couple times. I still think of it as Office-lite, but this was a good start. I was on the verge of taking it off the season pass on the DVR but this episode bought it a couple more weeks.
The Office - Being from the Scranton area, I will always love this show if for no other reason than the references to the area, almost all of which are real. Last night, the reference was to Tinks, which of course is a cheesy night club in downtown Scranton. The episode wasn't the funniest ever, but the Andy Bernard and the Kevin lies were funny. The show is like an old friend now and it is nice to have it back around.
Community - This pilot was actually funny. It was basically a Breakfast Club send up featuring community college misfit toys. I love Chevy Chase, the guy from Daily Show, and the guy from Talk Soup. This show has a lot of potential. I really hope it makes it. There are so few good new shows.
Then there was Always Sunny, which is so funny it almost had me in tears. The top moments for me, in no particular order, are -
- Charlie v. the lawyer... whether it was the duel or the bird law debate, this was awesome. Anything Charlie says is hilarious.
- the gang v. the squatters... we could crush your skull. Sure we could kill your kids and smear their blood on the walls...or we could just get the deed.
- Dee v. everyone... She has almost taken on Meg Griffin status as being hated by everyone. Is she the skinniest girl on TV or what? Was that a 6 pack or her ribs? Either way her sweet setup was ruined by the guys as usual.
- Vic Vinegar v. the prospective buyers - What's the matter, your wife used to small houses? You believe that he would have hit them. It is hilarious and disturbing. I love it.
Didn't get to Fringe. It is on the to-do list for the weekend.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
What to Watch tonight - 09/17/09
Tonight marks the first truly huge night of TV of the Fall. Delete those Seinfeld reruns because here comes some of the god stuff.
Season premieres of SNL News/Parks & Rec/Office and the first ever episode of Community on NBC from 8-10. This is as good as it gets on NBC.
You also have the season premiere of Fringe on Fox at 9PM. They hung it all on the line with the alternative reality bit. Will be be Heroes all over again or will it be the next X-Files?
Finally, I will be watching the instant classic that will be the season premiere of Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The funniest show no one watches. You may be disturbed and repulsed but you will most definitely laugh.
I understand that Vampire Diaries may be good but I am Vampired out. Enough with the vampire shows already.
Season premieres of SNL News/Parks & Rec/Office and the first ever episode of Community on NBC from 8-10. This is as good as it gets on NBC.
You also have the season premiere of Fringe on Fox at 9PM. They hung it all on the line with the alternative reality bit. Will be be Heroes all over again or will it be the next X-Files?
Finally, I will be watching the instant classic that will be the season premiere of Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The funniest show no one watches. You may be disturbed and repulsed but you will most definitely laugh.
I understand that Vampire Diaries may be good but I am Vampired out. Enough with the vampire shows already.
What I have been watching...
It has been a busy couple days at work and at home and I haven't had much blogging time. I thought I could give a couple quick blasts about the shows that have kept my attention while bandying about.
Hung - After a slow start, this show really picked up steam for me. The finale was only OK though. I really wanted him to go into that hotel room and reveal himself to his ex-wife. His kids give me the creeps. Next season I want Anne Heche's character to shine a little more.
Entourage - The stalker was only a sorority. Kind of a yawn of a season. I feel as frustrated as Lloyd. Very disappointing, especially when compared to...
Californication - I finished season 2. The season found the right note to end on. It was funny, a little sad and tragic, but yet still endearing and chalk full of awkward honesty. The birth scene and the cat fight scene were the highlights for me.
Dexter - I watched the first 2 episodes of season 3 and I am not yet hooked into the season. The first two had such great hooks. A killer was speaking to him and the Bay Harbor Butcher hunt were so tense they made for really gripping TV. Season 3 needs to bring me in quick. I am running out of time.
So You Think You Can Dance - Some are good, some are bad, some are funny. I mostly worked on rebuilding my itunes library (damn you itunes 9!).
Glee - I find myself getting into the show. It is funny and awkward. I don't know how long this can last though. Josh Groban was hilarious. The dad from Alias showed up. There was a middle aged boy band singing I Wanna Sex You Up. It was great. I fear that the song and dance routine will tire quickly but for now I will enjoy the ride. Even if it has a busted window.
Top Chef - This week was cowboy cooking. The quick fire had them making something out of cactus. I feel like it would taste like aloe smells. But it does make me want to bite into the one on the shelf (after I take out the thorns). Most of the dishes looked terrible. The elimination challenge provided some of the worst judge reactions I have seen on the show. There was a spit out, a comment of disgusting, a comparison to tasting like chlorine, and best of all a judge was still sick from the dish at judges table. Marteen was a terrible contestant. The next to go is the Haitian. He makes bad dish after bad dish. He seems likable so I am half rooting for him to make a comeback and show he worth a spot on the show. But the other half wants him gone now.
Hung - After a slow start, this show really picked up steam for me. The finale was only OK though. I really wanted him to go into that hotel room and reveal himself to his ex-wife. His kids give me the creeps. Next season I want Anne Heche's character to shine a little more.
Entourage - The stalker was only a sorority. Kind of a yawn of a season. I feel as frustrated as Lloyd. Very disappointing, especially when compared to...
Californication - I finished season 2. The season found the right note to end on. It was funny, a little sad and tragic, but yet still endearing and chalk full of awkward honesty. The birth scene and the cat fight scene were the highlights for me.
Dexter - I watched the first 2 episodes of season 3 and I am not yet hooked into the season. The first two had such great hooks. A killer was speaking to him and the Bay Harbor Butcher hunt were so tense they made for really gripping TV. Season 3 needs to bring me in quick. I am running out of time.
So You Think You Can Dance - Some are good, some are bad, some are funny. I mostly worked on rebuilding my itunes library (damn you itunes 9!).
Glee - I find myself getting into the show. It is funny and awkward. I don't know how long this can last though. Josh Groban was hilarious. The dad from Alias showed up. There was a middle aged boy band singing I Wanna Sex You Up. It was great. I fear that the song and dance routine will tire quickly but for now I will enjoy the ride. Even if it has a busted window.
Top Chef - This week was cowboy cooking. The quick fire had them making something out of cactus. I feel like it would taste like aloe smells. But it does make me want to bite into the one on the shelf (after I take out the thorns). Most of the dishes looked terrible. The elimination challenge provided some of the worst judge reactions I have seen on the show. There was a spit out, a comment of disgusting, a comparison to tasting like chlorine, and best of all a judge was still sick from the dish at judges table. Marteen was a terrible contestant. The next to go is the Haitian. He makes bad dish after bad dish. He seems likable so I am half rooting for him to make a comeback and show he worth a spot on the show. But the other half wants him gone now.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
True Blood - Nail polish in the morning
I love the smell of nail polish in the morning. Classic Jason. I am going to miss this show. It was clearly the best show of the summer. That being said, it was a weird finale. They dispatched the MaryAnn storyline in the too early in the first half of the episode. It was very satisfying to see her impaled. The rest of the episode was spent waiting for the other shoe to drop. The tension was flat and a drawn out. And the episode lacked enough Eric again. With as good as the season was, it feels like nitpicking to put down the finale. I think overall the season was fabulous. I love the progression (or regression) of Jason, the love triangle of Sookie, Eric, and Bill, and the church's storyline. See you next summer.
Click here to see an interview with series creater Alan Ball.
Click here to see an interview with series creater Alan Ball.
Top 10 Tuesday - TV Characters I want to be
In honor of Gossip Girl starting and the awesomeness of Chuck Bass, today's top ten list is What 10 TV Characters would I like to be. Ground Rules - You get their life and in their time. Factors included quality of life, happiness, appeal with the ladies, money, friends, psychological issues, among others. Here is the list.
10. Jim Halpert (The Office) - Pros - Got the girl of his dreams, is the puppet master of the office, seems to have everything he wants; Cons - No money, no ambition, struggled for years to summon the courage to go after the girl, sits next to Dwight and takes orders from Michael Scott.
9. Sam Malone (Cheers) - Pros - Surrounded by friends all day, is his own boss, has a boat, classic ladies man, loves his life; Cons - loses the bar a couple times, always being punked by Gary's, can't drink, doesn't get the girl of his dreams (or does he).
8. Denny Crane (Boston Legal) -Pros - He's Denny Crane, rich, powerful, successful (never lost), honest, happy, loves the ladies, makes no apologies for who he is; Cons - on the downside of life, has Alzheimer's, firm taken by the Chinese.
7. Jack Donaghy (30 Rock) - Pros - Similar to Denny, rich, powerful, successful, loves the ladies; Cons - mother issues, big time father issues, constantly has to look over his shoulder.10. Jim Halpert (The Office) - Pros - Got the girl of his dreams, is the puppet master of the office, seems to have everything he wants; Cons - No money, no ambition, struggled for years to summon the courage to go after the girl, sits next to Dwight and takes orders from Michael Scott.
9. Sam Malone (Cheers) - Pros - Surrounded by friends all day, is his own boss, has a boat, classic ladies man, loves his life; Cons - loses the bar a couple times, always being punked by Gary's, can't drink, doesn't get the girl of his dreams (or does he).
8. Denny Crane (Boston Legal) -Pros - He's Denny Crane, rich, powerful, successful (never lost), honest, happy, loves the ladies, makes no apologies for who he is; Cons - on the downside of life, has Alzheimer's, firm taken by the Chinese.
6. Eric Taylor/Tim Riggins/Matt Saracen (Friday Night Lights) - Pros - OK I combined these three because they are here for similar reasons...extremely decent, loyal, family oriented, the kind of guys you want to go into battle with and/or for, they all are with the girls they belong with, they love their lives and what they do, and they love their town; Cons - the have no money and no prospect to make money, either just graduated or got fired and face huge unknowns in a bad economy with questionable skill sets.
5. Clark Kent (Smallville) - Pros - Uh, how about the power of flight? That do anything for ya? It's levitation homes. He is invincible, immortal, and full of fun party tricks, has the ability to throw enemies into space, and the ladies love him; Cons - Can't ever seem to get with Lois, can't have sex with humans, responsible for the safety of all of humanity, entire family is dead.
4. Vincent Chase (Entourage) - Pros - a single A-list actor (or at least B+), surrounded by his best friends, surrounded by the most beautiful women in the world who throw themselves at him, might have one of the coolest jobs in the world, loyal, a great friend; Cons - not sure if he any good at his job, how long can he get by on his looks, can't drive, totally dependant on others, kind of lonely.
3. Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl) - Pros - an 18 year old billionaire playboy, got the girl of his dreams, does what he wants when he wants, He's Chuck Bass; Cons - his parents are dead, dad was mean to him, no real friends, questionable outfits, very restless.
2. Don Draper (Mad Men) - Pros - the American dream personified at a time when it was attainable and worth it, king of the world, a man's man, wealthy, beautiful wife, boozes and smokes at work, great at his job, every women wants him and every man wants to be him; Cons - has a lot of demons, mother was a whore, father was cruel, constantly living a lie, in a love-less marriage.
1. Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld) - Pros - Great job, great "friends", completely at ease with who he is and his place in the world, loves being himself, successful with the ladies and with creating a germ free environment; Cons - his friends are terrible friends and can't be relied on, relationships are doomed to failure, spent time in jail.
Honorable Mention:
Also considered - Sam Seaborn, Josiah Bartlet, Jack Bauer, JR Ewing, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Cliff Huxtable, Larry David, Lee Adama, Turtle, Ari Gold, Alex P. Keaton, Michael Seaver.
Monday, September 14, 2009
What to Watch tonight - 09/14/09
I watched True Blood and Hung last night, but with all the football I took in I didn't get to watch Entourage or Mad Men. So here are my top priorities of the night...
- Of course, the Gossip Girl premiere is tonight. (8pm on the CW) High School has never been more ridiculous. I mean every 16 year old bar hops, drinks martinis, and has a driver, right?
- Monday Night Football, specifically the early game Buffalo at New England. I am curious to see how Brady comes back from his knee injury and how T.O. handles his new team and their historically weak offense.
- I need to watch Mad Men. Entourage would be a bonus but that could be pushed back another day.
I will recap yesterday's football, True Blood, and Hung later on.
- Of course, the Gossip Girl premiere is tonight. (8pm on the CW) High School has never been more ridiculous. I mean every 16 year old bar hops, drinks martinis, and has a driver, right?
- Monday Night Football, specifically the early game Buffalo at New England. I am curious to see how Brady comes back from his knee injury and how T.O. handles his new team and their historically weak offense.
- I need to watch Mad Men. Entourage would be a bonus but that could be pushed back another day.
I will recap yesterday's football, True Blood, and Hung later on.
Guest Blogger - Sunday at the VMA's
A good friend of mine, MJH, has offered to guest blog from to time to time and offer his insight into pop culture and TV. Here is his inaugural contribution...
Sunday, for me, was both a good and very bad day of music television for me. Since my NFL team, the Bengals, doesn't get TV coverage on the east coast, I treated myself to flipping between the US Open Federer match (one of the best match's of the past few years IMO) and...get ready for it...Austin City Limits. ACL is one of those shows that I never know is on TV, but when it's on, I always watch it. Today I was treated to Drive by Truckers, an "alt-country" band a la Whiskeytown et. al. While the show originally aired last September, the music was still awesome. Watch some video and get the set list here:
Sunday, for me, was both a good and very bad day of music television for me. Since my NFL team, the Bengals, doesn't get TV coverage on the east coast, I treated myself to flipping between the US Open Federer match (one of the best match's of the past few years IMO) and...get ready for it...Austin City Limits. ACL is one of those shows that I never know is on TV, but when it's on, I always watch it. Today I was treated to Drive by Truckers, an "alt-country" band a la Whiskeytown et. al. While the show originally aired last September, the music was still awesome. Watch some video and get the set list here:
I then treated myself to the aural waterboarding that is the MTV Video Music Awards. There's really too much to blog about this one, so here are some bullet points:
- MJ tribute was cool...Madonna says her kids are running around the house grabbing their crotches as inspired by MJ. I suspect he wasn't their inspiration.
- Janet Jackson is still hot, although she clearly smoked a pack of Pfunks before the show.
- Russell Brand is awful. Painfully unfunny really. While England is the home of Burberry, The Rolling Stones, and Jude Law, Mr. Brand makes me proud to be an Amurrican (that's my shout out to my tea party peeps...wait...I don't have tea party peeps).
- We should send Dane Cook to Europe to host the Europe VMA's in retaliation.
- Katy Perry sucks. I have nothing more to say about that.
- If you didn't think Kanye was a dick when he told America that GWB hated black people, you must agree that his stunt tonight with Taylor Swift was pretty redic. I expect him to appear on youtube kicking a puppy or shaking a baby for his next trick.
- Kanye makes me feel that Joe Wilson is kinda' hip-hop.
- The house band that's playing when they cut to commercial is pretty good. I'd prefer to hear them over most of the acts tonight.
- Lady Ga Ga is bloody. Revoke my gay card. I don't get it.
- Beyonce is superhuman. Her performance tonight was great, even if you don't like the music.
- Lady Ga Ga accepts her award wearing a lace body stocking that covers her face with a matching crown. Perez gives her a standing-O, America says WTF?
- Lady Ga Ga changes outfits and now is wearing a birds nest on her head...or maybe it's a costume from the Lion King.
- Beyonce gave Taylor Swift another opportunity to give an acceptance speech. Suck it Kanye.
- Jay-Z performs with Alecia Keys...suck it Kanye.
- Madonna has had work done on her face
- There were only 3 music videos this year
In non-music-tv news:
- The Bengals are going to be shitty again. This is my lot in life.
- The Sunday morning pundits are starting to agree that there is no way Obama can keep all of his health care promises he made during his Wednesday speech.
- Joe Wilson maybe-kinda-sorta-a little bit-may have been right.
- Serena Williams is a beast. That line judge pissed herself.
- Roger Federer is a golden god.
- Thank you public television for giving us re-runs of Jacques Pepin and Julia Child culinary duet show.
- I can't wait for Glee this week.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Gus Johnson has a new one to add to the collection...
Gus Johnson is the best play by play guy in all of sports. His calls are so enthusiastic and emotional you can't help but get caught up in it. Click here to check out his call of today's best play (via the Big Lead).
I can't wait for March Madness. Long live Gus.
I can't wait for March Madness. Long live Gus.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Top 11 Returning Comedies this Fall
I did my fall preview. You can check it out right here. I have identified 40 shows I want to watch this fall. Am I sick? Yes. I know I am. You don't think I realize that. I relish in it. To relish in my sickness a little further, I love lists. I can't get enough of them. If I see an article or a website or a show that has a list or a countdown of anything, I have to watch. I must know what is number one. Did I see it? Was I there? Do I remember it? Are they completely wrong??? I am going to start a series of lists. I am thinking every Tuesday. Top Ten Tuesday. That my friends, is called alliteration.
But today is Saturday and this list has 11. As Bluto once said, why not? I couldn't narrow it down to 10 and I didn't want to wait till Tuesday. Here is my list of the best returning comedies this fall. Ground Rules - The shows have to be returning because I haven't watched any of the new ones yet. I will do a list of the top or most anticipated new shows in my mind. Also, it has to be airing new episodes this Fall. East Bound and Down, etc. will have to wait their turn. Let the countdown begin...
11. Parks & Recreation - This show is going into its second season and I am really hoping it picks up the pace a little. The awkward pause works for Steve Carrell but I am not in need of another slice of the same pie on the same night. If one of the new comedies is any good, this one is the clubhouse leader to fall out.
10. New Adventures of Old Christine - It is a nice show. It is somewhat funny, very familiar, and it has Elaine as a desperate MILF. But it lacks in originality. It is a little vanilla.
9. Family Guy / 8. The Simpsons - I may be a little low with these shows. Five years ago they would have been much higher. I think they may be becoming a little tired and old now. But more than that, I think I am taking them for granted. I am not surprised by them. They have been good for so long now that they can't do anything but disappoint. Has there ever been higher praise for a cartoon?
7. Big Bang Theory - Season 2 comes out on DVD on September 15. It is sitting on the top of my queue right now staring at me. Since I have only seen season 1, this ranking is subject to change.
6. How I Met Your Mother - Barney rules. This show rises and falls with Barney. The other characters don't suck, but Barney makes me set my DVR every week. The episode themes are great. The Crazy-Hot line is classic. Very Seinfeldian. The characters are also my age. I actually don't care who the mother is. Is that wrong of me?
5. Californication - I still have two episodes left in season 2. This show gets bumped up a couple slots solely because of Mulder. The show is also a little bit of a cry for help, isn't it? It is so unapologetically sexually impulsive you almost miss the fact that it is smart and sometimes has a heart.
4. The Office - Pam and Jim are the first TV relationship I care about in a sitcom since Sam and Rebecca on Cheers (I am a little too young for Diane). Maybe Kevin and Winnie are a better comparison. I mean who doesn't want them together? The comedy comes from Michael playing the role of a one man band, running around like a nut trying to get these workers to laugh, cry, love, or feel anything...while they try to keep a straight face and not be terribly insulted. Jim makes snide comments and goofy faces. Dwight says something crazy. Throw in a prank and you have the office. This show has the biggest heart in all of TV.
3. Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The trend, started by Seinfeld, is that it is funny when people are selfish, borderline evil, crazy, and/or mean to each other. Arrested Development took it farther, Family Guy a little more, and this show went way farther. It is like a live action Family Guy, but meaner. It has the interwoven story lines of Seinfeld too. The show is one of the very few shows that can actually surprise you and make you laugh out loud.
2. 30 Rock - This show was a total surprise to me. A revelation of the genius of Tina Fey. I am 100% sold on her. She plays self deprecating better than anyone right now. The show basically is Tina Fey having her spirit slowly crushed by the world, her poor choices, and most of all, by her co-workers. Alec Baldwin is epic as Jack Donaghy. And nobody plays crazy like Tracy Morgan. It is the best network comedy by a clear margin.
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm - I always described this show as Seinfeld with curses. EW described it as Seinfeld on steroids and downers. Larry is the opposite of Liz Lemon. Instead of fielding insults and trying to organize chaos, Larry dishes out the insults and brings a hurricane of chaos wherever he goes. The legend of the show is that it is mostly ad libbed. The storylines are laid out as an outline and the actors fill in the spaces. The celebrities that play themselves are almost always classic. The show is everything you want it to be. I can't wait to see how the Seinfeld reunion turns out.
But today is Saturday and this list has 11. As Bluto once said, why not? I couldn't narrow it down to 10 and I didn't want to wait till Tuesday. Here is my list of the best returning comedies this fall. Ground Rules - The shows have to be returning because I haven't watched any of the new ones yet. I will do a list of the top or most anticipated new shows in my mind. Also, it has to be airing new episodes this Fall. East Bound and Down, etc. will have to wait their turn. Let the countdown begin...
11. Parks & Recreation - This show is going into its second season and I am really hoping it picks up the pace a little. The awkward pause works for Steve Carrell but I am not in need of another slice of the same pie on the same night. If one of the new comedies is any good, this one is the clubhouse leader to fall out.
10. New Adventures of Old Christine - It is a nice show. It is somewhat funny, very familiar, and it has Elaine as a desperate MILF. But it lacks in originality. It is a little vanilla.
9. Family Guy / 8. The Simpsons - I may be a little low with these shows. Five years ago they would have been much higher. I think they may be becoming a little tired and old now. But more than that, I think I am taking them for granted. I am not surprised by them. They have been good for so long now that they can't do anything but disappoint. Has there ever been higher praise for a cartoon?
7. Big Bang Theory - Season 2 comes out on DVD on September 15. It is sitting on the top of my queue right now staring at me. Since I have only seen season 1, this ranking is subject to change.
6. How I Met Your Mother - Barney rules. This show rises and falls with Barney. The other characters don't suck, but Barney makes me set my DVR every week. The episode themes are great. The Crazy-Hot line is classic. Very Seinfeldian. The characters are also my age. I actually don't care who the mother is. Is that wrong of me?
5. Californication - I still have two episodes left in season 2. This show gets bumped up a couple slots solely because of Mulder. The show is also a little bit of a cry for help, isn't it? It is so unapologetically sexually impulsive you almost miss the fact that it is smart and sometimes has a heart.
4. The Office - Pam and Jim are the first TV relationship I care about in a sitcom since Sam and Rebecca on Cheers (I am a little too young for Diane). Maybe Kevin and Winnie are a better comparison. I mean who doesn't want them together? The comedy comes from Michael playing the role of a one man band, running around like a nut trying to get these workers to laugh, cry, love, or feel anything...while they try to keep a straight face and not be terribly insulted. Jim makes snide comments and goofy faces. Dwight says something crazy. Throw in a prank and you have the office. This show has the biggest heart in all of TV.
3. Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The trend, started by Seinfeld, is that it is funny when people are selfish, borderline evil, crazy, and/or mean to each other. Arrested Development took it farther, Family Guy a little more, and this show went way farther. It is like a live action Family Guy, but meaner. It has the interwoven story lines of Seinfeld too. The show is one of the very few shows that can actually surprise you and make you laugh out loud.
2. 30 Rock - This show was a total surprise to me. A revelation of the genius of Tina Fey. I am 100% sold on her. She plays self deprecating better than anyone right now. The show basically is Tina Fey having her spirit slowly crushed by the world, her poor choices, and most of all, by her co-workers. Alec Baldwin is epic as Jack Donaghy. And nobody plays crazy like Tracy Morgan. It is the best network comedy by a clear margin.
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm - I always described this show as Seinfeld with curses. EW described it as Seinfeld on steroids and downers. Larry is the opposite of Liz Lemon. Instead of fielding insults and trying to organize chaos, Larry dishes out the insults and brings a hurricane of chaos wherever he goes. The legend of the show is that it is mostly ad libbed. The storylines are laid out as an outline and the actors fill in the spaces. The celebrities that play themselves are almost always classic. The show is everything you want it to be. I can't wait to see how the Seinfeld reunion turns out.
Friday, September 11, 2009
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The Ballad of GI Joe
I posted this once, but it bears reposting. I have watched this about 10 times and it gets better each time. My favorite lines are :
Scarlett sits at night and wonders...
Night falls on the Cobra Terrordrome... and
Cobra Commander loves 70s boogie.
MUST WATCH THIS
Scarlett - Julianne Moore
Zartan - Billy Crudup
Snowjob - Zach Galifianakis
Baroness - Olivia Wilde
Lady Jaye - Alexis Bledel
Dr. Mindbender - Tony Hale
Duke - Henry Rollins
Gung-Ho - Chuck Liddell
Shipwreck - Alan Tudyk
Destro - Vinnie Jones
Doc - Laz Alonso
Tomax/Zamot - Joey Kern
and also featuring...
Sargent Slaughter as himself
Jamin Fite as Cobra Commander
Frankie Kang as Storm Shadow
Geoff Mann as Buzzer
Andreas Owald as Snake Eyes
Daniel Strange as Torch
Kevin Umbricht as Ripper
(* Props to Glen for the cast list.)
Scarlett sits at night and wonders...
Night falls on the Cobra Terrordrome... and
Cobra Commander loves 70s boogie.
MUST WATCH THIS
Scarlett - Julianne Moore
Zartan - Billy Crudup
Snowjob - Zach Galifianakis
Baroness - Olivia Wilde
Lady Jaye - Alexis Bledel
Dr. Mindbender - Tony Hale
Duke - Henry Rollins
Gung-Ho - Chuck Liddell
Shipwreck - Alan Tudyk
Destro - Vinnie Jones
Doc - Laz Alonso
Tomax/Zamot - Joey Kern
and also featuring...
Sargent Slaughter as himself
Jamin Fite as Cobra Commander
Frankie Kang as Storm Shadow
Geoff Mann as Buzzer
Andreas Owald as Snake Eyes
Daniel Strange as Torch
Kevin Umbricht as Ripper
(* Props to Glen for the cast list.)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
FALL PREVIEW - Sunday
8PM
Extreme Makeover Home Edition - ABC
Amazing Race - CBS
Sunday Night Football - NBC
Simpsons/Cleveland Show* - Fox
If you are between the ages of 25 and 40, you had to have watched the Simpsons. It is the kind of show where you can jump in and out, skip a year, watch a batch of repeats. It has been a Sunday staple for 15 years... The Cleveland Show is a spin off of Family Guy. I am slightly curious but it will probably be less than Family Guy. How can't it be?... Ty and the boys do good work but I don't want to see sad story after sad story every week... Amazing Race wins the Emmy for best reality show every year and I have never seen an episode... Football is game dependent but most Sunday Night games are good and deserve some measure of your attention.
Verdict - DVR Simpsons and Cleveland and watch football.
9PM
Desperate Housewives - ABC
Three Rivers* - CBS
Family Guy/American Dad - Fox
Next Iron Chef - Food Network
Curb Your Enthusiasm/Bored To Death* - HBO
Dexter - Showtime
I watched 2 1/2 seasons of Housewives. That was enough for me... Three Rivers is about transplant donors, donees, and doctors. Not interested... Family Guy was a hidden gem ala Arrested Development, ressurected after it was the original TV DVD phenom, became a huge success and was hilarious, got a little old and tired, and is now poised for a bounce back... I am over American Dad... I love Next Iron Chef if for no other reason than AB is the host... Curb is the hottest show on TV thanks to the Seinfeld reunion... I have a gut feeling Bored to Death is going to be the funniest new show on TV. It features Jason Schwartzman (of Wes Anderson fame), Zach Galifianakis (the bearded guy from The Hangover), and Ted Danson (uh, Sam Malone) in a modern noir detective comedy... Dexter is a killer show (pun on the house)
Verdict - Best hour of TV of the week. Curb and Bored are must watch. Family Guy will be DVR'd. Dexter will be watched On Demand, and Next Iron Chef will be on a bunch of times over the course of the week.
10PM
Brothers & Sisters - ABC
Cold Case - CBS
Mad Men (in progress) - AMC
**10:30** Entourage (in progress) - HBO
Californication - Showtime
It is all testosterone baby. Mad Men, Entourage, and Californication are all must see shows. Entourage is almost done, Mad Men is about half way though, and Californication is fresh in my mind.
Verdict - Man Shows.
Recap - The best night of TV and football make Sunday a day to stay in. It is there to soften the blow that is the realization that the work week is staring you in the face. Here is how to work the DVR...
8:00-9:15 - Football or Simpsons/Cleveland
9:15-9:40 - Curb
9:40-10:05 - Bored
10:05-10:30 - Californication
10:30-11:00 - Entourage
11:00-12:00 - Football/Dexter
Extreme Makeover Home Edition - ABC
Amazing Race - CBS
Sunday Night Football - NBC
Simpsons/Cleveland Show* - Fox
If you are between the ages of 25 and 40, you had to have watched the Simpsons. It is the kind of show where you can jump in and out, skip a year, watch a batch of repeats. It has been a Sunday staple for 15 years... The Cleveland Show is a spin off of Family Guy. I am slightly curious but it will probably be less than Family Guy. How can't it be?... Ty and the boys do good work but I don't want to see sad story after sad story every week... Amazing Race wins the Emmy for best reality show every year and I have never seen an episode... Football is game dependent but most Sunday Night games are good and deserve some measure of your attention.
Verdict - DVR Simpsons and Cleveland and watch football.
9PM
Desperate Housewives - ABC
Three Rivers* - CBS
Family Guy/American Dad - Fox
Next Iron Chef - Food Network
Curb Your Enthusiasm/Bored To Death* - HBO
Dexter - Showtime
I watched 2 1/2 seasons of Housewives. That was enough for me... Three Rivers is about transplant donors, donees, and doctors. Not interested... Family Guy was a hidden gem ala Arrested Development, ressurected after it was the original TV DVD phenom, became a huge success and was hilarious, got a little old and tired, and is now poised for a bounce back... I am over American Dad... I love Next Iron Chef if for no other reason than AB is the host... Curb is the hottest show on TV thanks to the Seinfeld reunion... I have a gut feeling Bored to Death is going to be the funniest new show on TV. It features Jason Schwartzman (of Wes Anderson fame), Zach Galifianakis (the bearded guy from The Hangover), and Ted Danson (uh, Sam Malone) in a modern noir detective comedy... Dexter is a killer show (pun on the house)
Verdict - Best hour of TV of the week. Curb and Bored are must watch. Family Guy will be DVR'd. Dexter will be watched On Demand, and Next Iron Chef will be on a bunch of times over the course of the week.
10PM
Brothers & Sisters - ABC
Cold Case - CBS
Mad Men (in progress) - AMC
**10:30** Entourage (in progress) - HBO
Californication - Showtime
It is all testosterone baby. Mad Men, Entourage, and Californication are all must see shows. Entourage is almost done, Mad Men is about half way though, and Californication is fresh in my mind.
Verdict - Man Shows.
Recap - The best night of TV and football make Sunday a day to stay in. It is there to soften the blow that is the realization that the work week is staring you in the face. Here is how to work the DVR...
8:00-9:15 - Football or Simpsons/Cleveland
9:15-9:40 - Curb
9:40-10:05 - Bored
10:05-10:30 - Californication
10:30-11:00 - Entourage
11:00-12:00 - Football/Dexter
'Leeeeerrs tonight!!
Holy S&#^ I almost forgot the most important pick tonight. The Tennessee Titans at the Pittsburgh Steelers. I can dig my man card out of the trash. Truth be told I am a Giants fan and I can't watch just any old football game. A Browns-Chiefs game in January is tortue. I am a baseball guy first. But this is the first game of the year. I miss football a little. If I had to root for a team other than the Giants, it would be Pittsburgh. I love the style of football. Blue collar. Tough. Run the ball. Stop the run. Blitz on every play. Linebackers and running backs. Win the game and to hell with stats.
On the other hand, if I had to pick a player other than a Giant to root for, it would be Kerry Collins. He is a Penn State boy (from the best college team of my lifetime) and he is a Giant at heart. I choose the remember the NFC Championship game against the Vikings and not the Super Bowl beat down.
Steelers starting 22 were all major contributors last year. They are at home. Opening night. Pittsburgh will pull away in the 4th quarter. 27-17
On the other hand, if I had to pick a player other than a Giant to root for, it would be Kerry Collins. He is a Penn State boy (from the best college team of my lifetime) and he is a Giant at heart. I choose the remember the NFC Championship game against the Vikings and not the Super Bowl beat down.
Steelers starting 22 were all major contributors last year. They are at home. Opening night. Pittsburgh will pull away in the 4th quarter. 27-17
What to Watch tonight - 09/10/09
There is the season premiere of Supernatural and the series premiere of Vampire Diaries. (CW from 8PM to 10PM). I will probably watch neither as I have just completed season 2 of Dexter and think it is the coolest show.
I was hoping Sgt. Doakes would stay around a little longer because I like Dexter having someone to talk to honestly. The only honest comments you get are in his head and in there he is very sarcastic. I must plow through season 3 in the next week. I also only have two episodes of season 2 of Californication left. I have grown a little tired of the rock producer. Hank is the real rock god. Find these shows if you have not seen them for I promise they are better than Vampire Diaries.
I was hoping Sgt. Doakes would stay around a little longer because I like Dexter having someone to talk to honestly. The only honest comments you get are in his head and in there he is very sarcastic. I must plow through season 3 in the next week. I also only have two episodes of season 2 of Californication left. I have grown a little tired of the rock producer. Hank is the real rock god. Find these shows if you have not seen them for I promise they are better than Vampire Diaries.
Mouse Hunt, Chef Yoda, and Ellen on Idol
I had my first encounter with a mouse and it wasn't pretty. I am not cut out to deal with vermin. I put out traps and got my first hit. The thing was cuter than I thought it would be and I hated killing it but I feel like it is an either-them-or-me situation. The first sign of one in the kitchen could spell doom for my psyche. Peppermint oil, steel wool, and more traps are being deployed tonight. We are going to DEFCON 2.
On Top Chef last night, they cooked for the Chef of the Century as proclaimed by France. They have that power (and culinary ego), you know. The Chef was the old guy in a robe-y linen-y outfit and he only spoke french. He was very Yoda. Anyway, Chef Yoda would ramble about the successful dish in French and all the other judges would stare at him. They were the French Jedi Counsel. The top three are the brothers and the weathered Eric Ripert girl. I was completely cool with the two people that went home.
The big news of the night Ellen is the new full time Idol host. She was a little heavy on the jokes and on the complements when she hosted SYTYCD this summer. I think she is probably the perfect choice, although the Posh Spice/Lady Gaga/Katy Perry route would have been great too. Are they still going to guest judge?
On Top Chef last night, they cooked for the Chef of the Century as proclaimed by France. They have that power (and culinary ego), you know. The Chef was the old guy in a robe-y linen-y outfit and he only spoke french. He was very Yoda. Anyway, Chef Yoda would ramble about the successful dish in French and all the other judges would stare at him. They were the French Jedi Counsel. The top three are the brothers and the weathered Eric Ripert girl. I was completely cool with the two people that went home.
The big news of the night Ellen is the new full time Idol host. She was a little heavy on the jokes and on the complements when she hosted SYTYCD this summer. I think she is probably the perfect choice, although the Posh Spice/Lady Gaga/Katy Perry route would have been great too. Are they still going to guest judge?
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
What to Watch tonight - 9/9/9
A decent night of TV tonight. Here is what to check out.
SYTYCD (premiere) - Fox at 8PM
Obama's Speech - every other network at 8PM
Glee - Fox at 9PM
Top Chef - Bravo at 10PM
For flipping or the disinterested...
Yanks v. D-Rays on ESPN at 7PM (Jeter 3 hits away from Gehrig)
State & Main - on ENCL at 9PM (a great and underrated quirky movie...classic David Mamet)
I will watch Obama, then watch a DVR'd SYTYCD, throw in some flips to the Yanks...the real question is do I watch Glee. If not, it is Yankees and the movie until Top Chef.
SYTYCD (premiere) - Fox at 8PM
Obama's Speech - every other network at 8PM
Glee - Fox at 9PM
Top Chef - Bravo at 10PM
For flipping or the disinterested...
Yanks v. D-Rays on ESPN at 7PM (Jeter 3 hits away from Gehrig)
State & Main - on ENCL at 9PM (a great and underrated quirky movie...classic David Mamet)
I will watch Obama, then watch a DVR'd SYTYCD, throw in some flips to the Yanks...the real question is do I watch Glee. If not, it is Yankees and the movie until Top Chef.
FALL PREVIEW - Friday and Saturday
8PM
Supernanny - ABC
Ghost Whisperer - CBS
Law & Order - NBC
Brothers*/Till Death - Fox
Smallville - CW
Star Wars Clone Wars/Ben 10 - Cartoon Network
Supernanny is super dumb. The Ghost Whisperer on a Friday night....nah. Ditto Law & Order, which has well over 300 episodes running on a loop on cable. Can you believe this is season 20? Brothers stars one of my favorite all time football players, Michael Strahan. The odds this show will be good are about the same as his record breaking sack of Favre being legit. Till Death is terrible... which brings me to the good stuff for the fan boy. Smallville transitioned over the last couple years into an almost entirely new show. No Lionel, no Lex, no Martha, no Jonathon, no Pete, no Lana...and no Smallville really. Is the show bad at this point? No, but it is much more for the comic book fan now. I have been in for the first 8 years, so I am gonna see this through to the end. Lastly, the Clone Wars are a really neat and well done little cartoon. I sneak them in on a Sunday morning. Give it a shot if you are remotely a Star Wars fan (and a kid over the age of 5).
Verdict - DVR Smallville and Clone Wars and go out.
9PM
Ugly Betty - ABC
Medium - CBS
Southland - NBC
Dollhouse - Fox
Stargate Universe - SyFy
Monk (in progress) - USA
Ugly Betty is loved by its fans. You have to respect a show like that. I don't watch it but I root for it... Never got into Medium either... I tried Southland but thought it kinda sucked... I may give Dollhouse a chance but it is hanging on by a thread... I need to watch the Monk DVDs as the ones I have seen were really good... Never saw an episode of anything remotely Stargate. Every fanboy has his limits.
Verdict - DVR a couple Dollhouse and put Monk in the Queue.
10PM
20/20 - ABC
Numbers - CBS
Crash - Starz
Sanctuary - SyFy
Psych - USA
Sadly, I have to say I never saw any of these shows except 20/20. Crash is based the movie. Psych has Charlie from West Wing and is probably the best of the bunch. Numbers is the 84th procedural mystery solver on CBS. And I had to google Sanctuary to find out what it is.
Verdict - Watch a movie, go out, catch up on your DVR...but if I had to pick one it would be Psych.
SATURDAY
8PM
Dateline - NBC
Cops - Fox
9PM
America's Most Wanted - Fox
Robin Hood - BBC
10PM
48 Hours Mystery - CBS
I never saw Robin Hood but I bet it is really well done.
Verdict - Watch college football, DVR, movie, or go out.
Recap - Weekends are not made for new shows. It is a time for sports, DVRs, movies, socializing, and whatnot.
Supernanny - ABC
Ghost Whisperer - CBS
Law & Order - NBC
Brothers*/Till Death - Fox
Smallville - CW
Star Wars Clone Wars/Ben 10 - Cartoon Network
Supernanny is super dumb. The Ghost Whisperer on a Friday night....nah. Ditto Law & Order, which has well over 300 episodes running on a loop on cable. Can you believe this is season 20? Brothers stars one of my favorite all time football players, Michael Strahan. The odds this show will be good are about the same as his record breaking sack of Favre being legit. Till Death is terrible... which brings me to the good stuff for the fan boy. Smallville transitioned over the last couple years into an almost entirely new show. No Lionel, no Lex, no Martha, no Jonathon, no Pete, no Lana...and no Smallville really. Is the show bad at this point? No, but it is much more for the comic book fan now. I have been in for the first 8 years, so I am gonna see this through to the end. Lastly, the Clone Wars are a really neat and well done little cartoon. I sneak them in on a Sunday morning. Give it a shot if you are remotely a Star Wars fan (and a kid over the age of 5).
Verdict - DVR Smallville and Clone Wars and go out.
9PM
Ugly Betty - ABC
Medium - CBS
Southland - NBC
Dollhouse - Fox
Stargate Universe - SyFy
Monk (in progress) - USA
Ugly Betty is loved by its fans. You have to respect a show like that. I don't watch it but I root for it... Never got into Medium either... I tried Southland but thought it kinda sucked... I may give Dollhouse a chance but it is hanging on by a thread... I need to watch the Monk DVDs as the ones I have seen were really good... Never saw an episode of anything remotely Stargate. Every fanboy has his limits.
Verdict - DVR a couple Dollhouse and put Monk in the Queue.
10PM
20/20 - ABC
Numbers - CBS
Crash - Starz
Sanctuary - SyFy
Psych - USA
Sadly, I have to say I never saw any of these shows except 20/20. Crash is based the movie. Psych has Charlie from West Wing and is probably the best of the bunch. Numbers is the 84th procedural mystery solver on CBS. And I had to google Sanctuary to find out what it is.
Verdict - Watch a movie, go out, catch up on your DVR...but if I had to pick one it would be Psych.
SATURDAY
8PM
Dateline - NBC
Cops - Fox
9PM
America's Most Wanted - Fox
Robin Hood - BBC
10PM
48 Hours Mystery - CBS
I never saw Robin Hood but I bet it is really well done.
Verdict - Watch college football, DVR, movie, or go out.
Recap - Weekends are not made for new shows. It is a time for sports, DVRs, movies, socializing, and whatnot.
Jon & Kate, GM and SportsCenter
I have been busy with move and the weddings just life in general. I am craving a return to normalcy. I fear I have become a creature of routine. Is that such a bad thing? After all, organization will set you free. Having to put your life in boxes and then take it all out again is a mind-numbingly tedious and long task. And it is just the tip of the home owning iceberg. But I digress.
In the spirit of being my own ombudsman, due to the above mentioned issues, I have let a few things slide by that I regret. These three show I neglected to tell you about were all worth watching and probably very cool. I dropped the ball. Will it happen again? Mos def. You will never be able to watch every thing there is. Deal with it. Anyway here are the shows...
The Last Truck - the documentary about a GM truck plant closing in Ohio. It is done is classic HBO style and tugs at all the right heartstrings. You can catch this On Demand or rerun the numerous times it will be on HBO family of channels in the next month.
SportsCenter 30th Anniversary Special - Can you believe there was life before SportsCenter? While it is a mere shadow if its former self, it is still the background noise for millions of men in around the world. I can watch the same hour of highlights over and over to see if I missed a good joke or play. The mistakes made by the anchors were the best. And the commercials. Classic. So they aired a special . Will they re-air it? I dunno. I will try to find out. In the meantime, check out the highlights.
Lastly, there was Jon Gosslin's train wreck of a performance last night on ABC. He said he despises Kate. He blames the show. He admits to drinking a lot. This guy is circling the drain. Or having the time of his life. Or both. Click here for a story.
In the spirit of being my own ombudsman, due to the above mentioned issues, I have let a few things slide by that I regret. These three show I neglected to tell you about were all worth watching and probably very cool. I dropped the ball. Will it happen again? Mos def. You will never be able to watch every thing there is. Deal with it. Anyway here are the shows...
The Last Truck - the documentary about a GM truck plant closing in Ohio. It is done is classic HBO style and tugs at all the right heartstrings. You can catch this On Demand or rerun the numerous times it will be on HBO family of channels in the next month.
SportsCenter 30th Anniversary Special - Can you believe there was life before SportsCenter? While it is a mere shadow if its former self, it is still the background noise for millions of men in around the world. I can watch the same hour of highlights over and over to see if I missed a good joke or play. The mistakes made by the anchors were the best. And the commercials. Classic. So they aired a special . Will they re-air it? I dunno. I will try to find out. In the meantime, check out the highlights.
Lastly, there was Jon Gosslin's train wreck of a performance last night on ABC. He said he despises Kate. He blames the show. He admits to drinking a lot. This guy is circling the drain. Or having the time of his life. Or both. Click here for a story.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
FALL PREVIEW - Thursday
8PM
Flash Forward* - ABC
Survivor - CBS
SNL News/Community*/Parks & Recreation - NBC
Bones - Fox
The Vampire Diaries* - CW
I have a lot of hope for Flash Forward and Community... On the high side, FF could become the next obsession show like Lost. It could also have a great season 1 and fade quickly like Heroes. Or it could be like Life On Mars and be good, misunderstood, and underwatched. Or it could really stink like Knight Rider. That's a wide margin. I am very curious to find out... Community is the replacement for My Name Is Earl (which I still can't believe is gone). I just got sad. Anyway, Community will hopefully be funny. It stars the host of The Soup and Chevy Chase. I can't believe I will never see Randy and Earl and Crabman and Joy again...Parks is the show you root for mostly because it is on in between two show you watch and you just don't want it to suck. Plus everyone likes Gob's wife and her super huge cans, er, Amy Poehler. But the truth is the first show had far too many misses. It is still a watchable show but is on a short leash...Never got into Bones although I think it is probably a good show. Maybe on a rerun marathon some day...I am boycotting all non-True Blood vampire shows...and Survivor is seriously on season 19. Who is still watching this?
Verdict - Watch Community, Parks, and Flash Forward...mourn Earl.
9PM
Grey's Anatomy - ABC
CSI - CBS
Office/30 Rock - NBC
Fringe - Fox
Supernatural - CW
This is a veteran's hour here. Some serious heavyweights... I have been a Grey's watcher since day 1 when it was a mid-season replacement for Boston Legal (a great show) and have defended the show when deep down I knew it was sucking. The show has fallen on tough times, starting with Doc Burke turning bigot which in turn ruined George's character which in turn led to the lesbian fiasco which partially included the Mer's crazy intern friend disaster etc. etc. Anyway, I am not at the point of quitting the show but I don't like what I am hearing about the new season (eg. Pompeo's maternity leave and Heigl walking away). I would have to call this a show on its last legs... I don't do CSI... Office/30 Rock is the best comedy hour on TV. The Office dipped a tad last year but I like how it ended. Jim and Pam are a great couple and Michael is better when he is down on his luck... 30 Rock is a riot. You are really missing something fabulous of you are not watching it... I watched season 1 of Supernatural and thought it was a great CW version of The X-Files. You know, younger and with less substance. Season 2 is near the top of my queue... Fringe was my favorite new show of the year last year. It is another X-Files ripoff but Walter cracks me up. And I want Pacey to lay down Olivia. This is a murderous time slot. Will it help bring about the demise of Grey's or fade into an alternate dimension? Fox must have high hopes.
Verdict - Office/30 Rock and Fringe...Grey's gets booted to 2nd DVR/Internet viewing.
10PM
Private Practice - ABC
Mentalist - CBS
Always Sunny - FX
An easy choice here. Always Sunny is outrageously funny. Private Practice is terrible. Never saw Mentalist.
Verdict - Sunny by a mile.
Recap - A night of comedy heaven. Here's the breakdown.
8:20 - 9:00 - Flash Forward
9:00 - 9:25 - Community
9:25 - 9:50 - Office
9:50 - 10:35 - Fringe
10:35 - 11:00 - 30 Rock
11:00 - 11:25 - Always Sunny
11:25 - 11:50 - Parks & Rec
Flash Forward* - ABC
Survivor - CBS
SNL News/Community*/Parks & Recreation - NBC
Bones - Fox
The Vampire Diaries* - CW
I have a lot of hope for Flash Forward and Community... On the high side, FF could become the next obsession show like Lost. It could also have a great season 1 and fade quickly like Heroes. Or it could be like Life On Mars and be good, misunderstood, and underwatched. Or it could really stink like Knight Rider. That's a wide margin. I am very curious to find out... Community is the replacement for My Name Is Earl (which I still can't believe is gone). I just got sad. Anyway, Community will hopefully be funny. It stars the host of The Soup and Chevy Chase. I can't believe I will never see Randy and Earl and Crabman and Joy again...Parks is the show you root for mostly because it is on in between two show you watch and you just don't want it to suck. Plus everyone likes Gob's wife and her super huge cans, er, Amy Poehler. But the truth is the first show had far too many misses. It is still a watchable show but is on a short leash...Never got into Bones although I think it is probably a good show. Maybe on a rerun marathon some day...I am boycotting all non-True Blood vampire shows...and Survivor is seriously on season 19. Who is still watching this?
Verdict - Watch Community, Parks, and Flash Forward...mourn Earl.
9PM
Grey's Anatomy - ABC
CSI - CBS
Office/30 Rock - NBC
Fringe - Fox
Supernatural - CW
This is a veteran's hour here. Some serious heavyweights... I have been a Grey's watcher since day 1 when it was a mid-season replacement for Boston Legal (a great show) and have defended the show when deep down I knew it was sucking. The show has fallen on tough times, starting with Doc Burke turning bigot which in turn ruined George's character which in turn led to the lesbian fiasco which partially included the Mer's crazy intern friend disaster etc. etc. Anyway, I am not at the point of quitting the show but I don't like what I am hearing about the new season (eg. Pompeo's maternity leave and Heigl walking away). I would have to call this a show on its last legs... I don't do CSI... Office/30 Rock is the best comedy hour on TV. The Office dipped a tad last year but I like how it ended. Jim and Pam are a great couple and Michael is better when he is down on his luck... 30 Rock is a riot. You are really missing something fabulous of you are not watching it... I watched season 1 of Supernatural and thought it was a great CW version of The X-Files. You know, younger and with less substance. Season 2 is near the top of my queue... Fringe was my favorite new show of the year last year. It is another X-Files ripoff but Walter cracks me up. And I want Pacey to lay down Olivia. This is a murderous time slot. Will it help bring about the demise of Grey's or fade into an alternate dimension? Fox must have high hopes.
Verdict - Office/30 Rock and Fringe...Grey's gets booted to 2nd DVR/Internet viewing.
10PM
Private Practice - ABC
Mentalist - CBS
Always Sunny - FX
An easy choice here. Always Sunny is outrageously funny. Private Practice is terrible. Never saw Mentalist.
Verdict - Sunny by a mile.
Recap - A night of comedy heaven. Here's the breakdown.
8:20 - 9:00 - Flash Forward
9:00 - 9:25 - Community
9:25 - 9:50 - Office
9:50 - 10:35 - Fringe
10:35 - 11:00 - 30 Rock
11:00 - 11:25 - Always Sunny
11:25 - 11:50 - Parks & Rec
Always Sunny prep for the new season
Here is the video clip of the day. Charlie never read the fine print in the contract and pays the price. Great cameo from Fred Savage. Click here to laugh.
What to Watch tonight - 09/08/09
Tonight marks the real beginning of the Fall Season as 90210 and Melrose Place premiere on the CW tonight at 8pm. Part of me really wants to check these shows out. They are young, hip, and full of hot people. But then I realize that these shows are re-treads. They are made for 16 year old girls and people my age who want to be 16...not that there is anything wrong with that. I love Gossip Girl. But that show is original and fresh. These shows are not.
But since they are the first shows out of the gate, tonight is the night to give them a shot.
Shout out to my friend John, who took issue with my perceived lack of love for How I Met Your Mother. I must be clear about this. I love HIMYM. It is right up my alley. The characters are my age and I can relate to their trials and tribulations. I absolutely consider it Must-See TV.
But since they are the first shows out of the gate, tonight is the night to give them a shot.
Shout out to my friend John, who took issue with my perceived lack of love for How I Met Your Mother. I must be clear about this. I love HIMYM. It is right up my alley. The characters are my age and I can relate to their trials and tribulations. I absolutely consider it Must-See TV.
Long Weekends
I was off to Pittsburgh for a wedding this weekend and I have to say it was one of the best weekends I have had in a long time. The whole weekend was a blast. Today is back to the grind and back to the blog. One is a lot of fun.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Lost - Awesome posters
Please follow this poster series that is celebrating Lost leading up to the final season. The Locke on is awesome.
FALL PREVIEW - Wednesday
8PM
Hank*/The Middle* - ABC
Old Christine/Gary Unmarried - CBS
Mercy* - NBC
SYTYCD (results) - Fox
America's Next Top Model - CW
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton made a show together and it bombed, so naturally they should each get a below average sitcom and take up a whole hour. Both Hank and The Middle are guaranteed to bomb... Old Christine is a guilty pleasure of mine. It is probably only a C+ show but Wanda Sykes cracks me up and Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays the part like an older and more desperate Elaine... I am not hearing good things about the Mercy, a show about a bunch of nurses... Top Model at its best is about cat fights and at its worst is about fashion...either way I won't be watching.
Verdict - Old Christine and the SYTYCD results show.
9PM
The Modern Family*/Cougar Town* - ABC
Criminal Minds - CBS
Law & Order SVU - NBC
Glee* - Fox
Beautuful Life* - CW
Friday Night Lights - Direct TV only
Mythbusters - Discovery
Living with Ed - Green Planet
Finally some interesting shows...it was getting depressing trying to breakdown horrible show A with boring show B... The Modern Family promises to be the best new network comedy (along with Community). It stars Ed O'Neil, of Married w/ Children fame and deserves a fair shake... Cougar Town is the brain child of the creator of Scrubs and Courtney Cox, conceived during her stint as the Chief of Medicine at Sacred Heart. The title gives all the plot details you need to know. Worth a shot... All the critics love Glee, a High School Musical meets Breakfast Club singing high school show. It has an uphill battle to win me over. I can take a little bit of musical but this looks like it may be over the top... Beautiful Life is worth a shot for three reasons - 1. It is made by Ashton Kutcher, 2. it stars Misha Barton, and 3. b/c it stars Misha Barton and is made by Ashton Kutcher, it has at least a 50% of flaming out in a fantastic display of crazy... I don't have Direct TV so I have to wait till summer (?!?) for Friday Night Lights... Mythbusters reruns all week and is a nice show to flip to during commercials of football games on a lazy Sunday... The random pick of the day goes to Living with Ed, a show about Ed Begley Jr. 's borderline insane adventures in attempting to live in harmony with the environment. Everyone should check out the show once, just to see how dedicated (and nuts) he is... The procedurals are boring same old solve-a-murder-in-an-hour blah.
Verdict - Modern Life, Cougar Town, and Beautiful Life. Catch Ed and Mythbusters on reruns and watch FNL whenever NBC airs it.
10PM
Eastwick* - ABC
CSI-NY - CBS
Top Chef - Bravo (already in progress)
South Park/New Girlfriend* - Comedy Central
Nip/Tuck - FX
RW/RR Challenge - MTV
No chance Eastwick is good. Another attempt at a Witches of Eastwick show. Yawn... I am sad to say I never watched Nip/Tuck. It is on a long list of DVDs to try someday... Anyone who watches RW/RR Challenge may in fact be challenged... New Girlfriend looks dumb and gimmicky. It is a 1st person sitcom, shot from the viewers perspective Halo-style. I will give it 1 episode... South Park is a legendary show but my wife hates it so I have to sneak it in on the side... Top Chef Vegas is chugging along nicely. The weathered blond and the brothers are the early favorites.
Verdict - Top Chef.
Recap - Much better than Tuesday. Here is how to plan a DVR'd night of TV.
8:15 - 8:40 Old Christine
8:40 - 9:15 SYTYCD (extra fast forward some b/c of wasted time of results shows)
9:15 - 9:40 Modern Family
9:40 - 10:05 Cougar Town
10:05 - 10:55 Beautiful Life
10:55 - 11:45 Top Chef
You can really pack a lot of TV into 3 and a half hours.
Hank*/The Middle* - ABC
Old Christine/Gary Unmarried - CBS
Mercy* - NBC
SYTYCD (results) - Fox
America's Next Top Model - CW
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton made a show together and it bombed, so naturally they should each get a below average sitcom and take up a whole hour. Both Hank and The Middle are guaranteed to bomb... Old Christine is a guilty pleasure of mine. It is probably only a C+ show but Wanda Sykes cracks me up and Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays the part like an older and more desperate Elaine... I am not hearing good things about the Mercy, a show about a bunch of nurses... Top Model at its best is about cat fights and at its worst is about fashion...either way I won't be watching.
Verdict - Old Christine and the SYTYCD results show.
9PM
The Modern Family*/Cougar Town* - ABC
Criminal Minds - CBS
Law & Order SVU - NBC
Glee* - Fox
Beautuful Life* - CW
Friday Night Lights - Direct TV only
Mythbusters - Discovery
Living with Ed - Green Planet
Finally some interesting shows...it was getting depressing trying to breakdown horrible show A with boring show B... The Modern Family promises to be the best new network comedy (along with Community). It stars Ed O'Neil, of Married w/ Children fame and deserves a fair shake... Cougar Town is the brain child of the creator of Scrubs and Courtney Cox, conceived during her stint as the Chief of Medicine at Sacred Heart. The title gives all the plot details you need to know. Worth a shot... All the critics love Glee, a High School Musical meets Breakfast Club singing high school show. It has an uphill battle to win me over. I can take a little bit of musical but this looks like it may be over the top... Beautiful Life is worth a shot for three reasons - 1. It is made by Ashton Kutcher, 2. it stars Misha Barton, and 3. b/c it stars Misha Barton and is made by Ashton Kutcher, it has at least a 50% of flaming out in a fantastic display of crazy... I don't have Direct TV so I have to wait till summer (?!?) for Friday Night Lights... Mythbusters reruns all week and is a nice show to flip to during commercials of football games on a lazy Sunday... The random pick of the day goes to Living with Ed, a show about Ed Begley Jr. 's borderline insane adventures in attempting to live in harmony with the environment. Everyone should check out the show once, just to see how dedicated (and nuts) he is... The procedurals are boring same old solve-a-murder-in-an-hour blah.
Verdict - Modern Life, Cougar Town, and Beautiful Life. Catch Ed and Mythbusters on reruns and watch FNL whenever NBC airs it.
10PM
Eastwick* - ABC
CSI-NY - CBS
Top Chef - Bravo (already in progress)
South Park/New Girlfriend* - Comedy Central
Nip/Tuck - FX
RW/RR Challenge - MTV
No chance Eastwick is good. Another attempt at a Witches of Eastwick show. Yawn... I am sad to say I never watched Nip/Tuck. It is on a long list of DVDs to try someday... Anyone who watches RW/RR Challenge may in fact be challenged... New Girlfriend looks dumb and gimmicky. It is a 1st person sitcom, shot from the viewers perspective Halo-style. I will give it 1 episode... South Park is a legendary show but my wife hates it so I have to sneak it in on the side... Top Chef Vegas is chugging along nicely. The weathered blond and the brothers are the early favorites.
Verdict - Top Chef.
Recap - Much better than Tuesday. Here is how to plan a DVR'd night of TV.
8:15 - 8:40 Old Christine
8:40 - 9:15 SYTYCD (extra fast forward some b/c of wasted time of results shows)
9:15 - 9:40 Modern Family
9:40 - 10:05 Cougar Town
10:05 - 10:55 Beautiful Life
10:55 - 11:45 Top Chef
You can really pack a lot of TV into 3 and a half hours.
Interesting Link
Do you remember what some of the most popular websites looked like when they first started?
Click here to flashback all the way back to the 90s...
Click here to flashback all the way back to the 90s...
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The state of family shows
Remember The Cosby Show? Full House? Growing Pains? Wonder Years? Urkel? Fresh Prince? Family Ties? on and on...
Now name the family sitcoms on the networks now...Old Christine? 2 1/2 Men? There are none. So where do you go for family shows today? To the marketing machine known as Disney. I had no idea that this market existed at all until last year when High School Musical 2 or 3 hit fever pitch. To me, Hanna Montana was a kids show. I had no idea how big the audience was. Now there is a witch show that is huge too. I have not seen any of these shows as I have no kids, but I am glad they still exist even if it has to be all a part of the Big Mouse.
Somehow I don't think they are as good as the Cosby gang, Alex P. Keaton, Michael Seaver, or even Zach Morris. The Disney shows are probably a little tamer so maybe that is a good thing.
The networks should think about getting back into the game...and maybe they are.
Now name the family sitcoms on the networks now...Old Christine? 2 1/2 Men? There are none. So where do you go for family shows today? To the marketing machine known as Disney. I had no idea that this market existed at all until last year when High School Musical 2 or 3 hit fever pitch. To me, Hanna Montana was a kids show. I had no idea how big the audience was. Now there is a witch show that is huge too. I have not seen any of these shows as I have no kids, but I am glad they still exist even if it has to be all a part of the Big Mouse.
Somehow I don't think they are as good as the Cosby gang, Alex P. Keaton, Michael Seaver, or even Zach Morris. The Disney shows are probably a little tamer so maybe that is a good thing.
The networks should think about getting back into the game...and maybe they are.
This show stinks...
The Tony Kornheiser radio show is one of the true joys in life. If you have a radio on at work or spend time in a car everyday, there can be nothing better. It is only occasionally about sports and never has athletes on. He is supremely self critical and neurotic. He can be very funny, nostalgic, and he isn't afraid to say what's on his mind.
The show kicks back up on Tuesday on an ESPN radio affiliate. It will be available via podcast or streaming. Check it out.
The show kicks back up on Tuesday on an ESPN radio affiliate. It will be available via podcast or streaming. Check it out.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
FALL PREVIEW - TUESDAY
8PM
Shark Tank* - ABC (V* starts in this slot in November)
NCIS - CBS
Biggest Loser - NBC
So You Think You Can Dance - Fox
90210 - CW
30 for 30 - ESPN
This hour is all about 30 for 30 until V starts. I wasn't into 90210 the first time around. Biggest Loser and Shark Tank are trash TV. I am legitimately excited for 30 for 30, a (hopefully) groundbreaking series of documentaries about various elements of sport over the past 30 years. The Iverson one promises to be epic (from the Hoop Dreams director).
Verdict - I will get pulled into SYTYCD and I will watch the 30 for 30s that intrigue me. Anything about the Red Sox is out.
9PM
Dancing with the Stars (results) - ABC
NCIS LA* - CBS
Biggest Loser hour 2 - NBC
SYTYCD hour 2 - Fox
Melrose Place* - CW
This is baaad TV. You have two dancing shows, a weight loss show, a spin off staring LL Cool J and a remake of a 15 year old show. Ugh. Both Dancing shows get 3 hours a week and Biggest Loser gets 2. You really do need to dig deep to find the good shows out there.
Verdict - As I said, I will get pulled into SYTYCD.
10PM
The Forgotten* - ABC
The Good Wife* - CBS
Sons of Anarchy - FX
The Hills/The City - MTV
I will give the nod here to The Forgotten, Christian Slater's detective show. I want the show to work, although I don't think it will. The Good Wife is a lawyer show starring Julianne Margulies that I have no interest in. I never got into Sons of Anarchy although my brother seems to be excited for its return. The MTV shows will turn your brain to mush but people watch to see the shiny people bop around.
Verdict - Forgotten and hoping for a full DVR.
Recap - This is not a good night. You should have plenty of time to catch up on the DVR or watch some sports.
Shark Tank* - ABC (V* starts in this slot in November)
NCIS - CBS
Biggest Loser - NBC
So You Think You Can Dance - Fox
90210 - CW
30 for 30 - ESPN
This hour is all about 30 for 30 until V starts. I wasn't into 90210 the first time around. Biggest Loser and Shark Tank are trash TV. I am legitimately excited for 30 for 30, a (hopefully) groundbreaking series of documentaries about various elements of sport over the past 30 years. The Iverson one promises to be epic (from the Hoop Dreams director).
Verdict - I will get pulled into SYTYCD and I will watch the 30 for 30s that intrigue me. Anything about the Red Sox is out.
9PM
Dancing with the Stars (results) - ABC
NCIS LA* - CBS
Biggest Loser hour 2 - NBC
SYTYCD hour 2 - Fox
Melrose Place* - CW
This is baaad TV. You have two dancing shows, a weight loss show, a spin off staring LL Cool J and a remake of a 15 year old show. Ugh. Both Dancing shows get 3 hours a week and Biggest Loser gets 2. You really do need to dig deep to find the good shows out there.
Verdict - As I said, I will get pulled into SYTYCD.
10PM
The Forgotten* - ABC
The Good Wife* - CBS
Sons of Anarchy - FX
The Hills/The City - MTV
I will give the nod here to The Forgotten, Christian Slater's detective show. I want the show to work, although I don't think it will. The Good Wife is a lawyer show starring Julianne Margulies that I have no interest in. I never got into Sons of Anarchy although my brother seems to be excited for its return. The MTV shows will turn your brain to mush but people watch to see the shiny people bop around.
Verdict - Forgotten and hoping for a full DVR.
Recap - This is not a good night. You should have plenty of time to catch up on the DVR or watch some sports.
Catching up on TC
Between the move and the lapse of cable, I have only seen the first episode of the new season of Top Chef. Tonight gives me my first real chance to catch up. There is a new 75 minute episode on at 10PM.
On the homefront, I am tasked with installing the washing machine tonight. Has a man ever drowned in his own basement?
On the homefront, I am tasked with installing the washing machine tonight. Has a man ever drowned in his own basement?
Paula Who?
Check out the ever growing list of stars who will sit as guest judges on Idol this year. NPH is my personal favorite. It will be legan - wait for it...click here...dary!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
HALL OF FAME - The X-Files
The Truth is out there. Trust No One. Wow this show just blew my mind. The first mythology based show I ever watched. It is the model by which Supernatural, Fringe, Warehouse 13, and countless other shows have based their season arcs and episode plots.
The X-Files was about 2 FBI agents, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as they investigated paranormal shenanigans. That statement is like saying Moby Dick is about a whale. I hate even typing it. The show is layered, original, funny, scary, and full of the kind of planning you which shows had today. Episodes are split into two general categories - stand alone and mythology.
The stand alone episodes were procedural in nature. They are wrapped up in a nice and tidy 45 minutes or so. That is not to say they were lesser in any way. Some of the greatest episodes are stand alone. They often featured great cameos and fantastic writing. The quality of the stand alones made X-Files one of the coolest shows you'll ever watch.
Then there was the mythology episodes. A tangled web of story that spanned continents and worlds and decades and bees and black oil. It started with Mulder's obsession with his sister's abduction which led to his relentless pursuit of the truth and those who attempt to obscure it. And obscure it they do. Led by the Cigarette Smoking Man, an all-time best bad guy, those who would keep the truth from Mulder were always two steps ahead. It was frustrating and fantastic. Thinking about it right now makes me want to pop in season 1 right now. These mythology episodes tied together over seasons and were what made the show one of a kind. You needed a map and a compass not to get lost.
Then there were the characters. Mulder was the first cool nerd of TV. His character was smart, sarcastic, fanatical, devoted, and a true believer. Duchovny is a legend. He has attained a level where he can do no wrong in my mind.
I own all nine seasons. I have gone through the DVDs twice. They remind me of a friend of mine from law school who spent the better part of a semester in his room smoking cigarettes and watching my X-files DVDs. Funny thing is he was the one who got me into the show. Duane Barry was my first - a triple episode in which Scully has a rough go of it. This is an addiction as much as it was a show. I see it in shows like Fringe and Smallville. But there can be only one.
The X-Files was about 2 FBI agents, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as they investigated paranormal shenanigans. That statement is like saying Moby Dick is about a whale. I hate even typing it. The show is layered, original, funny, scary, and full of the kind of planning you which shows had today. Episodes are split into two general categories - stand alone and mythology.
The stand alone episodes were procedural in nature. They are wrapped up in a nice and tidy 45 minutes or so. That is not to say they were lesser in any way. Some of the greatest episodes are stand alone. They often featured great cameos and fantastic writing. The quality of the stand alones made X-Files one of the coolest shows you'll ever watch.
Then there was the mythology episodes. A tangled web of story that spanned continents and worlds and decades and bees and black oil. It started with Mulder's obsession with his sister's abduction which led to his relentless pursuit of the truth and those who attempt to obscure it. And obscure it they do. Led by the Cigarette Smoking Man, an all-time best bad guy, those who would keep the truth from Mulder were always two steps ahead. It was frustrating and fantastic. Thinking about it right now makes me want to pop in season 1 right now. These mythology episodes tied together over seasons and were what made the show one of a kind. You needed a map and a compass not to get lost.
Then there were the characters. Mulder was the first cool nerd of TV. His character was smart, sarcastic, fanatical, devoted, and a true believer. Duchovny is a legend. He has attained a level where he can do no wrong in my mind.
I own all nine seasons. I have gone through the DVDs twice. They remind me of a friend of mine from law school who spent the better part of a semester in his room smoking cigarettes and watching my X-files DVDs. Funny thing is he was the one who got me into the show. Duane Barry was my first - a triple episode in which Scully has a rough go of it. This is an addiction as much as it was a show. I see it in shows like Fringe and Smallville. But there can be only one.
FALL PREVIEW - Monday (corrected)
UPDATED 3:05PM: I incorrectly had the Showtime shows on Monday as they are in the summer. They are Sunday shows.
UPDATE 8:55PM: My wife points out that triple D and J&K+8 are gonna be on Mondays for a little while longer.
8PM
8PM
Dancing With the Stars - ABC
How I Met Your Mother/Accidently On Purpose* - CBS
Heroes - NBC
House - Fox
One Tree Hill - CW
Monday Night Football - ESPN (8:30 - Midnight)
I have no interest in One Tree Hill or DWTS. Zero. HIMYM is a must and I will therefore give Jenna Elfman's Knocked Up ripoff a try. Heroes is a little like watching a car accident but I have been a fan since day 1 and won't let myself give it up. I am rooting for a comeback...mostly, but I also wouldn't mind seeing it crash spectacularly either. House is a top notch show and I love the sarcasm and intelligence of House and of the show. But he and it can get a little too cruel and morbid at times. MNF is game dependent. I will end up watching at least part of every game but only the games I deem worthy will receive my full attention.
Verdict - I will watch Heroes and HIMYM/AOP. I will squeeze in House online on the side.
9PM
Dancing With The Stars - ABC
Two and a Half Men/Big Bang Theory - CBS
Trauma* - NBC
Lie To Me - Fox
Gossip Girl - CW
Monday Night Football - ESPN (8:30 - Midnight)
Wow is this a packed time slot. Big Bang Theory is a must after I catch up on season 2. Gossip Girl is an A-list show I have been into since day 1. Lie To Me never caught on with me even though I am a big fan of Mr. Orange. Trauma, a new show about paramedics in San Fransisco, is worth a shot if for no other reason than it is from the Peter Berg (of Friday Night Lights fame).
Verdict - It will be Gossip Girl and Big Bang. That is, until they ruin Chuck Bass. I will catch at least one or two Traumas to make sure I am not missing anything special.
10PM
Castle - ABC
CSI - Miami - CBS
Monday Night Football - ESPN (8:30 - Midnight)
No offense to Jay Leno, but I am not counting his show at 10PM every night. I did not catch Castle's first season but it did seem to be the kind of show I could get into. I am on the fence about watching an episode or two. I don't watch the CSI's. The ones I have caught were good too. I have an anti-CBS bias I am working on. Maybe I am just over procedurals.
Verdict - Catch up on the previous hours' TV or watch the 4th quarter of MNF.
Recap - If you work a DVR just right, here is what you can accomplish on a non-good football Monday:
8:20 - 8:45 HIMYM
8:45 - 9:10 AOP
9:10 - 9:55 Heroes (or House for those who gave up on Heroes)
9:55 - 10:40 Gossip Girl
10:40 - 11:05 Big Bang
11:05 - 12:00 MNF
That still leaves Trauma, House, Castle, or football. More often than you think, especially in the beginning of the season, you can catch other shows because of premiere dates and reruns. So the newbies will get their fair shake. All in all this is a very busy TV night.
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