I just saw on TV.com that Direct TV will again fund with NBC the production of Friday Night Lights. The best part is that we will have two seasons of 13 episodes a piece. Direct TV will do the first run and NBC will follow.
This is good news as this series is a very high quality show. Excellent in scripts and acting. I am a big fan of Kyle Chandler who plays Coach Taylor, loved him in Early Edition and have followed his career since them. He also made a very memorable appearance in Grey's Anatomy as a bomb disposal police officer, who unfortunately (or fortunately come to think of it given how dopey the scripts have been on Grey's Anatomy) was killed when his story arc ended.
I also like doing series in 12-13 episodes runs. It seems that a lot of good shows get hurt when you go for 22 episodes each year. For example, House would be improved if they would just focus on 13 good scripts a year. 24 is the only series that makes good use of 24 episodes.
So I am happy to see this show saved and now am looking forward to the season finale this Friday. I don't know how many people actually read this blog, but rent the DVD sets of Friday Night Lights and discover a great series.
Oh well.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thoughts: 30-March-2009
I watched the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency last night on HBO. This was a BBC and HBO funded venture and I am assuming that this has already be on in the UK. Definitely a delight and a show that could never make it on the regular US TV networks. Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Lucian Misamati, and Desmond Dube are such a delight in bringing these characters to life. This show reminds me of the British series Rumple of the Baily and A Touch of Frost, in the way things are set up and presented. There are five more episodes to go for this first season.
Private Practice, a spin off from Grey's Anatomy on ABC, is a prime example of how US networks get it all wrong and why we need to watch Showtime and HBO for quality TV. First they push for a spin off of a very popular show and then cannot get anything right with it. The latest episode which I watched via DVR, a 12 year old girl wanted birth control pills as she was active sexually and her mother was allowing it as long as she knew what was going on. Horrible parenting, sure when it is on a show like Marcus Welby MD, but the one doctor was trolling on the Internet for sex while the therapist has unprotected sex with two different men, ending up in a pregnancy where she has no clue who the father is. And of course, she refuses to be tested to find out which guy is the father. Talk about the blind leading the blind. If this show stays on the air while good shows like Friday Night Lights struggle to stay on, when it just is not fair at all.
One sports item I wanted to mention, Joe Paterno, HC for the Penn State football team has 383 victories. His nearest rival, Bobby Bowden, HC for Florida State has 382. Now I read in The Sporting News that due to NCAA recruiting violations, 14 victories could be taken away from Bowden. Now I know that JoePa has always claimed that he does not care about this record, but I always have felt that deep down, he does not want to retire until he knows he has it in the bag. In today's college football scene, there is no way anybody would last long enough to get 383 victories. I don't really know if it is fair to take away those victories from Bowden, but JoePa's retirement could come in three years if it happens.
Speaking of the Sporting News, when did it become the New York Yankee Monthly? This past issue which had a MLB preview, they picked the Yankees to win it all over the Cubs due to its great pitching staff? WTF? Great pitching staff? Then what the hell does the Red Sox have, I will take their pitching staff over the Yankees any day of the week. And I think Jason Bay is going to put up some nice power numbers as he gets to start his first full season with the Red Sox.
Oh well.
Private Practice, a spin off from Grey's Anatomy on ABC, is a prime example of how US networks get it all wrong and why we need to watch Showtime and HBO for quality TV. First they push for a spin off of a very popular show and then cannot get anything right with it. The latest episode which I watched via DVR, a 12 year old girl wanted birth control pills as she was active sexually and her mother was allowing it as long as she knew what was going on. Horrible parenting, sure when it is on a show like Marcus Welby MD, but the one doctor was trolling on the Internet for sex while the therapist has unprotected sex with two different men, ending up in a pregnancy where she has no clue who the father is. And of course, she refuses to be tested to find out which guy is the father. Talk about the blind leading the blind. If this show stays on the air while good shows like Friday Night Lights struggle to stay on, when it just is not fair at all.
One sports item I wanted to mention, Joe Paterno, HC for the Penn State football team has 383 victories. His nearest rival, Bobby Bowden, HC for Florida State has 382. Now I read in The Sporting News that due to NCAA recruiting violations, 14 victories could be taken away from Bowden. Now I know that JoePa has always claimed that he does not care about this record, but I always have felt that deep down, he does not want to retire until he knows he has it in the bag. In today's college football scene, there is no way anybody would last long enough to get 383 victories. I don't really know if it is fair to take away those victories from Bowden, but JoePa's retirement could come in three years if it happens.
Speaking of the Sporting News, when did it become the New York Yankee Monthly? This past issue which had a MLB preview, they picked the Yankees to win it all over the Cubs due to its great pitching staff? WTF? Great pitching staff? Then what the hell does the Red Sox have, I will take their pitching staff over the Yankees any day of the week. And I think Jason Bay is going to put up some nice power numbers as he gets to start his first full season with the Red Sox.
Oh well.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thoughts on College Basketball: 29-March-2009
I don't really follow the NCAA tournament. I never understood the interest and excitement of March Madness. Growing up in Central PA, I am a big time loyal Penn State fan. This year the men's team made it to the NIT. They beat George Mason, URI (my boss's Alta Mater) and Florida to make it to the semifinals (I guess NCAA has Final Four as a copyright). Tomorrow night they play Notre Dame for a chance to make it to the championship game.
Years ago, when I was at Kent State, I used to listen to Pete Franklin who called the NIT, the NITWIT as only nitwits care who wins that tournament. Regardless of the late Mr. Franklin's beliefs, this is a big boost for the men's team and maybe will help with recruiting.
Pitt got beat last night in the NCAA, and as a Penn State fan, hate Pitt with a passion. I don't mind seeing UConn make it to the Final Four, I hope that can win it all. Was nice to see Pitt get beat by Villianova.
The only time I ever watch the NCAA championship came was when Villanova beat Georgetown. I was in grad school and there was nothing else to watch on TV. Very exciting game and I am glad I saw it. Just don't have too much interest in watching it now.
The nice thing about Pitt losing is that there is a big time jerk at work who worships Pitt and it will be nice to laugh at him when he starts crying about Pitt losing tomorrow. I also have a co-worker who is really into basketball who told me Pitt is going all the way. He tends to be a bit smug about his sports expertise and it will be nice to see his explanation for why he was wrong. He also is a Buffalo Bills fan.
UConn's women's team is undefeated and is looking to sweep the tournament. Penn State has had a successful women's team in the past, never won the championship but made it to the Final Four a couple of times. Now they are rebuilding with a new coach who finished her second year at Penn State. I would like to see UConn win it all.
Oh well.
Years ago, when I was at Kent State, I used to listen to Pete Franklin who called the NIT, the NITWIT as only nitwits care who wins that tournament. Regardless of the late Mr. Franklin's beliefs, this is a big boost for the men's team and maybe will help with recruiting.
Pitt got beat last night in the NCAA, and as a Penn State fan, hate Pitt with a passion. I don't mind seeing UConn make it to the Final Four, I hope that can win it all. Was nice to see Pitt get beat by Villianova.
The only time I ever watch the NCAA championship came was when Villanova beat Georgetown. I was in grad school and there was nothing else to watch on TV. Very exciting game and I am glad I saw it. Just don't have too much interest in watching it now.
The nice thing about Pitt losing is that there is a big time jerk at work who worships Pitt and it will be nice to laugh at him when he starts crying about Pitt losing tomorrow. I also have a co-worker who is really into basketball who told me Pitt is going all the way. He tends to be a bit smug about his sports expertise and it will be nice to see his explanation for why he was wrong. He also is a Buffalo Bills fan.
UConn's women's team is undefeated and is looking to sweep the tournament. Penn State has had a successful women's team in the past, never won the championship but made it to the Final Four a couple of times. Now they are rebuilding with a new coach who finished her second year at Penn State. I would like to see UConn win it all.
Oh well.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thoughts: 28-March-2009
I watched Fox TV last night. Terminator, the Sarah Connor Chronicles was its usually snooze. We don't see much of Sarah Connor in this show, and I am at a point where I really don't care if John Connor survives to save the world in the future. Two more episodes and the season and most likely the series is done. Maybe then Summer Glau can get a decent show, a nice sitcom maybe?
Dollhouse had an episode last night where everyone was exposed to a drug and went crazy/lost their inhibitions. Already saw this twice in Star Trek, once in the original series and then again in a sequel to that show in Next Generation. Next week, the dolls recover their memories and rise up against the Dollhouse. You know, it just seems to me a lot of trouble to basically have a high end cat house. That is all the dolls seem to get to do, go off to satisfy some super rich guy's fantasy. I wish I had that kind of money to blow. Right now, I would say Dollhouse is gone after this season's shows end.
Oh well.
Dollhouse had an episode last night where everyone was exposed to a drug and went crazy/lost their inhibitions. Already saw this twice in Star Trek, once in the original series and then again in a sequel to that show in Next Generation. Next week, the dolls recover their memories and rise up against the Dollhouse. You know, it just seems to me a lot of trouble to basically have a high end cat house. That is all the dolls seem to get to do, go off to satisfy some super rich guy's fantasy. I wish I had that kind of money to blow. Right now, I would say Dollhouse is gone after this season's shows end.
Oh well.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thoughts: 27-March-2009
I received my information packet from Legendary Times, the ancient astronaut theory magazine, and found that I did get a free copy of LT. So, I misread their email and did get what was promised in their free offer. If anybody is interested, the website is www.legendarytimes.com. It is $40 for a year and $80 for two. Erich Von Dainken has a very active presence in this magazine.
Supernatural had a great episode last night in which Dean deals with is crisis of faith from the end of last week's episode. Just the right mix of comedy and drama. This is such a constantly well crafted show, when is Entertainment Weekly going to do a story on this show?
I have to do laundry this weekend, I hate doing laundry.
Oh well.
Supernatural had a great episode last night in which Dean deals with is crisis of faith from the end of last week's episode. Just the right mix of comedy and drama. This is such a constantly well crafted show, when is Entertainment Weekly going to do a story on this show?
I have to do laundry this weekend, I hate doing laundry.
Oh well.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thoughts: 26-March-2009
There are a couple of new shows that are starting up that intrigue me.
Harper's Island (CBS, TH 10 pm) This is a 13 part mystery-horror series where a person is going to get killed each week. TV Guide ripped into this series as a bloody bore, not gory enough for the Friday the 13th crowd and too tacky and grisly for Agatha Christie crowd. Given that this is CBS which had a very tame Swingtown show, that was billed as being something quite naughty, I sort of doubt that this will be any different than what you see on the CSI shows. The sheriff is played by the actor who plays Bobby on Supernatural, so I would like to see him in this. I like that idea of a series that will give closure if you stick with it for the whole run.
The Unusuals (ABC, Wed 10 pm) Looks interesting and I like several of the actors in this show. But that time slot for ABC is where series go to die, Private Eyes for example. I think that I will check it out since it most likely will get axed after a couple of episodes.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (HBO, Su 8 pm) This is best on a best selling series of detective novels set in South Africa. I have never read any of them, but given the good reviews they get and given that this is HBO, and that True Blood was better than expected, I will be checking this out.
American Chopper is returning with new episodes on TLC, I was wondering if there was anything left for these guys to do. I figured that this show has run its course, but it must still be getting decent ratings.
Oh well.
Harper's Island (CBS, TH 10 pm) This is a 13 part mystery-horror series where a person is going to get killed each week. TV Guide ripped into this series as a bloody bore, not gory enough for the Friday the 13th crowd and too tacky and grisly for Agatha Christie crowd. Given that this is CBS which had a very tame Swingtown show, that was billed as being something quite naughty, I sort of doubt that this will be any different than what you see on the CSI shows. The sheriff is played by the actor who plays Bobby on Supernatural, so I would like to see him in this. I like that idea of a series that will give closure if you stick with it for the whole run.
The Unusuals (ABC, Wed 10 pm) Looks interesting and I like several of the actors in this show. But that time slot for ABC is where series go to die, Private Eyes for example. I think that I will check it out since it most likely will get axed after a couple of episodes.
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (HBO, Su 8 pm) This is best on a best selling series of detective novels set in South Africa. I have never read any of them, but given the good reviews they get and given that this is HBO, and that True Blood was better than expected, I will be checking this out.
American Chopper is returning with new episodes on TLC, I was wondering if there was anything left for these guys to do. I figured that this show has run its course, but it must still be getting decent ratings.
Oh well.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Thoughts: 25-March-2009
The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly had a letter disputing that Battlestar Galactica was the best SF TV series. They cite Farscape and Firefly as being better series, well I don't know.
Farscape was a pretty good SF series, definitely a top five. I just thought that the aliens were not that convincing and that characters seem to be smart or dumb when the writers needed them to be. It was good series and ended in a nice finale, I am currently reading the comic limited series that is being published, but better than BSG, no way.
Firefly, if Fox gave this series a chance I would say it might have ranked up there. A couple of the episodes reminded me too much of other shows in copying plots. And the movie that was supposed to give us closure, Serenity, that was not very good at all. Too many key characters just got killed which I did not care for at all. Firefly is not better than BSG.
A couple of issues ago, Psychology Today published a letter that makes me still laugh. Some teenage girl writes it and says that she likes PT because it is so easy to understand unlike Scientific American Mind which is too hard for her to get. So I guess PT should have ads saying "Psychology Today, the magazine for people who are too stupid to understand Scientific American Mind". I still laugh given how anybody with a advanced psychology degree would see how bad PT is and how much superior SAM is. Sad, that PT would actually publish a letter like that, I wonder if the psychologists who are published in that magazine cringe.
Oh well.
Farscape was a pretty good SF series, definitely a top five. I just thought that the aliens were not that convincing and that characters seem to be smart or dumb when the writers needed them to be. It was good series and ended in a nice finale, I am currently reading the comic limited series that is being published, but better than BSG, no way.
Firefly, if Fox gave this series a chance I would say it might have ranked up there. A couple of the episodes reminded me too much of other shows in copying plots. And the movie that was supposed to give us closure, Serenity, that was not very good at all. Too many key characters just got killed which I did not care for at all. Firefly is not better than BSG.
A couple of issues ago, Psychology Today published a letter that makes me still laugh. Some teenage girl writes it and says that she likes PT because it is so easy to understand unlike Scientific American Mind which is too hard for her to get. So I guess PT should have ads saying "Psychology Today, the magazine for people who are too stupid to understand Scientific American Mind". I still laugh given how anybody with a advanced psychology degree would see how bad PT is and how much superior SAM is. Sad, that PT would actually publish a letter like that, I wonder if the psychologists who are published in that magazine cringe.
Oh well.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thoughts: 24-March-2009
On Showtime.com, the latest L Word Interrogation tape is with Helena. Her big secret, the money that she stole is not hidden away but given away to various progressive charities. This was done to piss off the Republican social conservative lesbian that she stole it from. Also, Sgt Duffy is hot for Helena. Yeah, these cops are really going to get to the bottom of Jenny's death.
The word on the L Word message boards is that Jenny is not really dead, which would make this last season totally bizarre. And some folk are actually having the nerve to say on the Internet that the Battlestar Galactica series finale was lame. Watch the L Word series finale for what is lame really means.
The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly has the last episode of Eleventh Hour at 17, which means that the last two episodes were top 20 picks. And this show is marked for cancellation? NBC would kill for those kind of ratings. Hopefully if CBS pulls the plug on this great show, another network will pick it up.
I was watching Season One of Mission:Impossible the other day. What a great series, and you can still see its influence on shows like Burn Notice (USA) and Leverage (TNT). Too bad Tom Cruise killed the movie franchise. Maybe this might be a good series for to try and revive with an update. I could see Jeffery Donovan played the lead.
Some big excitement in CT is that folks are showing up at the Southington ex Funeral Home which is the basis for this horror film coming out this weekend entitled "A Haunting in Connecticut". The people currently living there have never seen any ghosts or unusual occurrences. The people who claimed to have discovered this hocus pocus were the same ones who discovered the Amityville Horror house. When that first movie came out, the people living in the house reported nothing strange, no ghosts. Interesting coincidence.
The word on the L Word message boards is that Jenny is not really dead, which would make this last season totally bizarre. And some folk are actually having the nerve to say on the Internet that the Battlestar Galactica series finale was lame. Watch the L Word series finale for what is lame really means.
The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly has the last episode of Eleventh Hour at 17, which means that the last two episodes were top 20 picks. And this show is marked for cancellation? NBC would kill for those kind of ratings. Hopefully if CBS pulls the plug on this great show, another network will pick it up.
I was watching Season One of Mission:Impossible the other day. What a great series, and you can still see its influence on shows like Burn Notice (USA) and Leverage (TNT). Too bad Tom Cruise killed the movie franchise. Maybe this might be a good series for to try and revive with an update. I could see Jeffery Donovan played the lead.
Some big excitement in CT is that folks are showing up at the Southington ex Funeral Home which is the basis for this horror film coming out this weekend entitled "A Haunting in Connecticut". The people currently living there have never seen any ghosts or unusual occurrences. The people who claimed to have discovered this hocus pocus were the same ones who discovered the Amityville Horror house. When that first movie came out, the people living in the house reported nothing strange, no ghosts. Interesting coincidence.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Futurama and Dead Like Me
Two shows that I liked which met a premature death, have recently gotten a renewed life via direct to DVD movies.
Futurama was a great show on Fox (the killer of all good shows with their constant moving about the time slots) and has been in reruns on the Cartoon Network. Four Direct to DVD movies were made, the first three were quite good, and I am waiting for the chance to watch the fourth. If sales are good, we may get some more DVD movies.
Dead Like Me was on Showtime for two seasons, great cast and a well done show. They just did a direct to DVD movie called Life after Death, with a good number of the original cast back on. Nicely done, and again if sales are good we may get to see more DVD movies.
You know, this shows that with the DVD market and cable channels, great series that are not given a chance to make it by the networks because of poor ratings can live on in new versions. Maybe the networks might get a clue, I doubt it.
Futurama was a great show on Fox (the killer of all good shows with their constant moving about the time slots) and has been in reruns on the Cartoon Network. Four Direct to DVD movies were made, the first three were quite good, and I am waiting for the chance to watch the fourth. If sales are good, we may get some more DVD movies.
Dead Like Me was on Showtime for two seasons, great cast and a well done show. They just did a direct to DVD movie called Life after Death, with a good number of the original cast back on. Nicely done, and again if sales are good we may get to see more DVD movies.
You know, this shows that with the DVD market and cable channels, great series that are not given a chance to make it by the networks because of poor ratings can live on in new versions. Maybe the networks might get a clue, I doubt it.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thoughts: 22-March-2009
I just finished reading the 400th issue of Asimov's Science Fiction. I remember when this magazine premiered in 1977, a time when a lot of new and old SF magazines were going under. Asimov's SF made and is still going strong.
I watched the series finale of Battlestar Galactica yesterday via DVR. I thought it was very good, and was an excellent end to the show. I checked around on the Internet and saw that some folks really hated it. I don't know, I like it and BSG is the best SF series on TV in my humble opinion.
I also have been reading Marvel Comics' Dark Reign cross-over series, I have to say I am getting a bit tired of reading these things in both Marvel and DC. It just seems to me that we are getting a bunch of hype and having to pay more money for stories that are just not that interesting. I miss the days when comic series were self contained and you did not have to buy comics featuring characters that you don't care about in order to get the whole. story.
Oh well.
I watched the series finale of Battlestar Galactica yesterday via DVR. I thought it was very good, and was an excellent end to the show. I checked around on the Internet and saw that some folks really hated it. I don't know, I like it and BSG is the best SF series on TV in my humble opinion.
I also have been reading Marvel Comics' Dark Reign cross-over series, I have to say I am getting a bit tired of reading these things in both Marvel and DC. It just seems to me that we are getting a bunch of hype and having to pay more money for stories that are just not that interesting. I miss the days when comic series were self contained and you did not have to buy comics featuring characters that you don't care about in order to get the whole. story.
Oh well.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Thoughts: 21-March-2009
When I started writing this blog, my assumption was that nobody was going to read it other than the few that I told about it. What surprises me is that people are reading it, one person from the Classic Horror Film Board commented on my Godzilla blog and two Reaper fans commented on blogs when I wrote about this show.
Just to set the record straight, I have watched every episode of Reaper and would like to see the show continue. It is the best show, after Supernatural on CW (Smallville is tied with Reaper for second place) and is better than Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I just would have liked to seen the main characters beefed up a bit. Sam needs to take some smart pills, Sock needs to be less annoying (though he was very good in the past episode) and Ben actually is coming into his own, I like his romance with the demon.
Brimstone had a similar premise, they played it straight as opposed to the comic take of Reaper. Cop kills the guy who rapes his wife, gets sent to hell, 100 souls break out, and the Devil (played by John Glover) sends him to get them back for possible redemption. Show did not last too long, I know it is on Chiller via Direct TV, and it is one of the most requested series to come out on DVD. From the two episodes I saw of it on Chiller at a friend's house, I would buy this set.
Yesterday, I was posting about revisionist TV series, and I wanted to comment on how cable channels such as TNT, FX, Sci-Fi, HBO, and Showtime seem to be taking a chance with these kind of series. When Fox takes a chance on something, it usually gets killed after a couple of episodes. Cable channels are willing to take chances and stick with a show. That is why we get some pretty good runs, of course HBO did kill Deadwood prematurely.
Oh well.
Just to set the record straight, I have watched every episode of Reaper and would like to see the show continue. It is the best show, after Supernatural on CW (Smallville is tied with Reaper for second place) and is better than Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I just would have liked to seen the main characters beefed up a bit. Sam needs to take some smart pills, Sock needs to be less annoying (though he was very good in the past episode) and Ben actually is coming into his own, I like his romance with the demon.
Brimstone had a similar premise, they played it straight as opposed to the comic take of Reaper. Cop kills the guy who rapes his wife, gets sent to hell, 100 souls break out, and the Devil (played by John Glover) sends him to get them back for possible redemption. Show did not last too long, I know it is on Chiller via Direct TV, and it is one of the most requested series to come out on DVD. From the two episodes I saw of it on Chiller at a friend's house, I would buy this set.
Yesterday, I was posting about revisionist TV series, and I wanted to comment on how cable channels such as TNT, FX, Sci-Fi, HBO, and Showtime seem to be taking a chance with these kind of series. When Fox takes a chance on something, it usually gets killed after a couple of episodes. Cable channels are willing to take chances and stick with a show. That is why we get some pretty good runs, of course HBO did kill Deadwood prematurely.
Oh well.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Revisionist TV shows that I liked
Tonight Battlestar Galactica will be ending as part 2 and 3 of the series finale will be airing on the Sci-Fi Channel. This leads me to ponder great revisionist shows that have come to an end.
Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi Channel, 2003-2009): This has to be one of the best SF shows on TV. I think it is better than Star Trek. Ronald D. Moore took a lame space opera premise and turned it into gold. You believe that the events in this show could happen. In the Star Trek universe, everything was too shiny, too new, and had more in common with Buck Rodgers. Great stories, great characters, and any series with Edward James Olmos in, it has to be good. This series took the standard SF premise and made it real. Enterprise came close to the grittiness of Battlestar Galactica, maybe Deep Space Nine with the Dominion War episodes, but this show is the winner. At least we will have the prequel spin off Caprica to watch.
Deadwood (HBO, 2004-2006): David Milch's revisionist take on the Western turned this TV staple upside down. John Wayne in the introduction to the first episode of Gunsmoke called that a gritty adult Western. This is a gritty adult Western. Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, and Robin Weigert really brought their characters to life. This show ended way to soon.
Canterbury's Law (Fox, 2008): I love Perry Mason and this show was the ultimate revise of the Perry Mason myth. Elizabeth Canterbury played by Julianna Margulies seemed to win as much as Mason did, but she put herself on the line doing so and was not above playing hardball and using dirty tactics to do so. Her regular opponent played by Terry Kinney (who just ate up playing this nasty character after being such a nice good guy in HBO's Oz) was a mean and nasty Hamilton Burger who wanted not just to win but to destroy Canterbury. This show ended way too soon.
The Shield (FX, 2002 - 2008): My pick for best revisionist cop show. Shawn Ryan created a great show and while the focus was on Vic Mackey, brilliantly played by Michael Chiklis, I want to focus on two other characters, Claudetter (CCH Pounder) and Dutch (Jay Karnes). These two characters are the closest to what I think is a real top detective. No Sherlock Holmes or Columbo, or Monk, but two real hardworking cops dealing with the BS around them as they solve cases. Karnes is to be commended in how he brings Dutch to life, brilliant detective weighed down by real life flaws. Just a great show that brings a whole new dimension to the TV cop show.
Oh well.
Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi Channel, 2003-2009): This has to be one of the best SF shows on TV. I think it is better than Star Trek. Ronald D. Moore took a lame space opera premise and turned it into gold. You believe that the events in this show could happen. In the Star Trek universe, everything was too shiny, too new, and had more in common with Buck Rodgers. Great stories, great characters, and any series with Edward James Olmos in, it has to be good. This series took the standard SF premise and made it real. Enterprise came close to the grittiness of Battlestar Galactica, maybe Deep Space Nine with the Dominion War episodes, but this show is the winner. At least we will have the prequel spin off Caprica to watch.
Deadwood (HBO, 2004-2006): David Milch's revisionist take on the Western turned this TV staple upside down. John Wayne in the introduction to the first episode of Gunsmoke called that a gritty adult Western. This is a gritty adult Western. Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, and Robin Weigert really brought their characters to life. This show ended way to soon.
Canterbury's Law (Fox, 2008): I love Perry Mason and this show was the ultimate revise of the Perry Mason myth. Elizabeth Canterbury played by Julianna Margulies seemed to win as much as Mason did, but she put herself on the line doing so and was not above playing hardball and using dirty tactics to do so. Her regular opponent played by Terry Kinney (who just ate up playing this nasty character after being such a nice good guy in HBO's Oz) was a mean and nasty Hamilton Burger who wanted not just to win but to destroy Canterbury. This show ended way too soon.
The Shield (FX, 2002 - 2008): My pick for best revisionist cop show. Shawn Ryan created a great show and while the focus was on Vic Mackey, brilliantly played by Michael Chiklis, I want to focus on two other characters, Claudetter (CCH Pounder) and Dutch (Jay Karnes). These two characters are the closest to what I think is a real top detective. No Sherlock Holmes or Columbo, or Monk, but two real hardworking cops dealing with the BS around them as they solve cases. Karnes is to be commended in how he brings Dutch to life, brilliant detective weighed down by real life flaws. Just a great show that brings a whole new dimension to the TV cop show.
Oh well.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
TV shows marked for Death
I was watching TV last night and was wondering how my favorite shows were lining up for renewal. So thanks to TV.com and TV Guide, here is how is shapes up for the Big Five.
ABC: They already cancelled Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth is doing a pilot where she plays a crazy lawyer. Private Practice is the only thing I watch that I wish ABC would kill. Very stupid show and I cannot believe that Shondra Rhimes carries that much clout from Grey's Anatomy.
NBC: With Jay Leno being on at 10 pm M-F, this leaves only ten hours of prime time viewing. Shows like Medium, Life, and Law and Order are potential cancellations. I like Law and Order, but with the show being in reruns and constantly on, I am not surprised that it may go. Heroes may stay though the ratings have not been very good. Friday Night Lights will require a bigger financial commitment from Direct TV for NBC to keep it going. I read that the producers want a two season commitment. Does not look good for one of my favorite actors, Kyle Chandler who was so good in Early Edition and the guest star role on Grey's Anatomy.
FOX: Terminator, the Sarah Connors Chronicles looks like it will be gone. Dollhouse, I would be very surprised if it gets renewed. I am hoping that Bones and Lie to Me will be back. House and 24 are a lock to return, but a word of warning the House producers, USA network is killing you guys by showing over and over again House reruns. It killed Law and Order.
CBS: They just announced that Cold Case and Without a Trace are in danger of cancellation. I don't watch Cold Case but liked the show the few times I have watched it. Without a Trace, sorry do not care for that show, no way the FBI spends that kind of money searching for nobodies. I was surprised to see that Eleventh Hour is in danger. I thought that the last issue of Entertainment Weekly had this how in the top 20, so how is it in danger? I hope it gets renewed, one of the best shows on TV.
CW: I only watch three shows on CW, Smallville, Supernatural, and Reaper. Smallville and Supernatural are both renewed for the next season. Reaper, no word, but I did see that Tyler Labine who plays Sock is filming a pilot for a comedy where he is in the lead. Does not look good for Reaper, and this past show with the boxer was pretty good. I even liked Sock and his fictional co-worker Les Nesman.
Oh well.
ABC: They already cancelled Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth is doing a pilot where she plays a crazy lawyer. Private Practice is the only thing I watch that I wish ABC would kill. Very stupid show and I cannot believe that Shondra Rhimes carries that much clout from Grey's Anatomy.
NBC: With Jay Leno being on at 10 pm M-F, this leaves only ten hours of prime time viewing. Shows like Medium, Life, and Law and Order are potential cancellations. I like Law and Order, but with the show being in reruns and constantly on, I am not surprised that it may go. Heroes may stay though the ratings have not been very good. Friday Night Lights will require a bigger financial commitment from Direct TV for NBC to keep it going. I read that the producers want a two season commitment. Does not look good for one of my favorite actors, Kyle Chandler who was so good in Early Edition and the guest star role on Grey's Anatomy.
FOX: Terminator, the Sarah Connors Chronicles looks like it will be gone. Dollhouse, I would be very surprised if it gets renewed. I am hoping that Bones and Lie to Me will be back. House and 24 are a lock to return, but a word of warning the House producers, USA network is killing you guys by showing over and over again House reruns. It killed Law and Order.
CBS: They just announced that Cold Case and Without a Trace are in danger of cancellation. I don't watch Cold Case but liked the show the few times I have watched it. Without a Trace, sorry do not care for that show, no way the FBI spends that kind of money searching for nobodies. I was surprised to see that Eleventh Hour is in danger. I thought that the last issue of Entertainment Weekly had this how in the top 20, so how is it in danger? I hope it gets renewed, one of the best shows on TV.
CW: I only watch three shows on CW, Smallville, Supernatural, and Reaper. Smallville and Supernatural are both renewed for the next season. Reaper, no word, but I did see that Tyler Labine who plays Sock is filming a pilot for a comedy where he is in the lead. Does not look good for Reaper, and this past show with the boxer was pretty good. I even liked Sock and his fictional co-worker Les Nesman.
Oh well.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Can you live on $3700 a day?
I glanced over at CNN.com today and saw that some CEO was crying about not being able to live on $3700 a day. And these guys are getting bailouts from the government? Why?
We would be better off taking that bailout money and giving each US taxpayer a one time bailout of $200,000. That way, folks could pay off their debts and reinvest in the economy. Instead we give this money to the people who created the problems and in turn they give themselves a frakking bonus.
Give me a break, this is so frakking ridiculous. Maybe we should find people who are able to live on $37 a day and put them in charge. (Reminds me of the scene in Aliens when Bill Paxton is freaking out and Sigourany Weaver says "This little girl was able to survive for 4 months with no weapons", and Paxton says "Hell maybe we should put her in charge")
Oh well.
We would be better off taking that bailout money and giving each US taxpayer a one time bailout of $200,000. That way, folks could pay off their debts and reinvest in the economy. Instead we give this money to the people who created the problems and in turn they give themselves a frakking bonus.
Give me a break, this is so frakking ridiculous. Maybe we should find people who are able to live on $37 a day and put them in charge. (Reminds me of the scene in Aliens when Bill Paxton is freaking out and Sigourany Weaver says "This little girl was able to survive for 4 months with no weapons", and Paxton says "Hell maybe we should put her in charge")
Oh well.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thoughts: 17-March-2009
I got my package from Midtown Comics today and discovered that Simon Dark is cancelled with issue 18. Too bad, it was an interesting comic and had some potential. Once again, a comic I like goes under.
Yesterday I mentioned that you could get a free issue of Legendary Times from their website. In the email I got from them, it turns out that you get a free information pack. Oh well.
The latest L Word webisode on Showtime.com is Shane's interrogation. What did we find out? Shane burned her own business down 18 months ago and that the statute of limitations for arson is one year. I think Sgt. Duffy is going a little bit off field here, and Shane committed insurance fraud when she burned down her business and collected on it. What that has to do with Jenny's death is beyond me. Where is Columbo when you need him?
NBC ran a rerun of Heroes last night. I thought we were in sweeps month, a rerun already, they just start showing Heroes again. Next week Fox is showing a rerun of House. If they are running out of new episodes how about showing two hours of 24? Crap, Fox can show two hours of American Idol.
Oh well.
Yesterday I mentioned that you could get a free issue of Legendary Times from their website. In the email I got from them, it turns out that you get a free information pack. Oh well.
The latest L Word webisode on Showtime.com is Shane's interrogation. What did we find out? Shane burned her own business down 18 months ago and that the statute of limitations for arson is one year. I think Sgt. Duffy is going a little bit off field here, and Shane committed insurance fraud when she burned down her business and collected on it. What that has to do with Jenny's death is beyond me. Where is Columbo when you need him?
NBC ran a rerun of Heroes last night. I thought we were in sweeps month, a rerun already, they just start showing Heroes again. Next week Fox is showing a rerun of House. If they are running out of new episodes how about showing two hours of 24? Crap, Fox can show two hours of American Idol.
Oh well.
Monday, March 16, 2009
History Channel: Ancient Aliens
In 1968 Erich Von Dankien published Chariots of the Gods? which proposed the in ancient times aliens visited the Earth and were treated as gods. He suggests proof via his interpretation of ancient writings including the Bible and by structures, statues, and various paintings and carvings. This lead to a documentary that showed up on US TV in 1973, entitled In Search of Ancient Astronauts with Rod Sterling as the narrator.
Von Dankien went on to write 26 books, only his first three made the bestseller lists. He, according to Fortean Times, invested in an amusement park in Switzerland devoted to his theories which closed in 2006.
His ancient astronaut theories have been criticized as having little proof for such a broad theory. One book, entitled Crash Go the Chariots was an early debunking of this theory. They have been other books and both the Skeptical Inquirer (Committee for Scientific Inquiry) and Skeptic (The Skeptical Society) have published articles critical of Von Dankien's theories.
Now the History Channel presents a two hour documentary entitled Ancient Aliens which is an update of the 1973 film mentioned previously. Von Dankien still pushing his theories, careful not to mention things like the rust proof pillar in India or the Easter Island statutes that could not be erected by the natives, as these have been quite thoroughly debunked. He still makes some wild exaggerations about size and weights of things to make his point that only an advanced technology could do build some of the structures found from ancient times.
One thing new is that there is a publication called Legendary Times magazine, published by Giorgio A. Tsoukalos which is a quarterly on ancient astronaut theory. I did not know that Von Dankien's theories were that popular to have a magazine devoted to them. Tsoukalos was present throughout the show, maybe he helped get the funding for it, presenting his views that Von Dankien was correct. If you go to his website, he is offering a free issue to encourage people to join up.
Bottom line, this was slanted pro Von Dankien, very little skeptical viewpoints were represented. What was there, was edited to make the skeptics look close minded. Given that there is plenty of published work rebutting the ancient astronaut theory, I wonder why the History Channel could be present a better balanced show.
At least this was better than that horrible 7 Signs of the Apocalypse.
Von Dankien went on to write 26 books, only his first three made the bestseller lists. He, according to Fortean Times, invested in an amusement park in Switzerland devoted to his theories which closed in 2006.
His ancient astronaut theories have been criticized as having little proof for such a broad theory. One book, entitled Crash Go the Chariots was an early debunking of this theory. They have been other books and both the Skeptical Inquirer (Committee for Scientific Inquiry) and Skeptic (The Skeptical Society) have published articles critical of Von Dankien's theories.
Now the History Channel presents a two hour documentary entitled Ancient Aliens which is an update of the 1973 film mentioned previously. Von Dankien still pushing his theories, careful not to mention things like the rust proof pillar in India or the Easter Island statutes that could not be erected by the natives, as these have been quite thoroughly debunked. He still makes some wild exaggerations about size and weights of things to make his point that only an advanced technology could do build some of the structures found from ancient times.
One thing new is that there is a publication called Legendary Times magazine, published by Giorgio A. Tsoukalos which is a quarterly on ancient astronaut theory. I did not know that Von Dankien's theories were that popular to have a magazine devoted to them. Tsoukalos was present throughout the show, maybe he helped get the funding for it, presenting his views that Von Dankien was correct. If you go to his website, he is offering a free issue to encourage people to join up.
Bottom line, this was slanted pro Von Dankien, very little skeptical viewpoints were represented. What was there, was edited to make the skeptics look close minded. Given that there is plenty of published work rebutting the ancient astronaut theory, I wonder why the History Channel could be present a better balanced show.
At least this was better than that horrible 7 Signs of the Apocalypse.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Favorite Sayings and Quotes
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Never refuse an offer that has not been made.
Let's be careful out there.
Ruth 1: 16 Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.
Revelation 6:8 Before me came forth a pale horse, and he who rode on him was called Death and hell followed in his wake.
John 9:25 One thing I do know, I was blind and now I see.
Oh well.
Never refuse an offer that has not been made.
Let's be careful out there.
Ruth 1: 16 Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.
Revelation 6:8 Before me came forth a pale horse, and he who rode on him was called Death and hell followed in his wake.
John 9:25 One thing I do know, I was blind and now I see.
Oh well.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Favorite Comic Books
Before I go into what my favorite comic books are, I wanted to give a shout out to Midtown Comics, the best Internet comic book source ever. Each Thurs/Fri. they put out a list of new comics coming out the following Wed, you put in an order and they ship them out to you. When I used UPS, I used to get them the next day. Then I had some problems with a new driver who always wanted a signature, and have now gone to USPS, I get them on Tues, but at least I don't need to butt heads with UPS.
You can sign up for subscriptions on Midtown Comics and they also have a great list of magazines they offer each week. Fangoria, Starlog, Hogan's Alley, Fortean Times, Comics Journal, the list goes on and on. Simply the best.
Favorite comics
Futurama Comics: This comes up quarterly and is similar to getting an new episode of this classic show. With the last new DVD having just come out, this is the only place to get new material. Very good and very funny.
Fables: Bill Willingham's great series where Story book characters live and interact with the real world. The opening story arc, we find Bigby Wolf (the big bad wolf) sheriff of Fabletown investigating the murder of Rose Red. Twists, turns, and a very rich plot with excellent character development. A pilot is being made for a proposed TV series. Let's hope this works out.
You can sign up for subscriptions on Midtown Comics and they also have a great list of magazines they offer each week. Fangoria, Starlog, Hogan's Alley, Fortean Times, Comics Journal, the list goes on and on. Simply the best.
Favorite comics
Futurama Comics: This comes up quarterly and is similar to getting an new episode of this classic show. With the last new DVD having just come out, this is the only place to get new material. Very good and very funny.
Fables: Bill Willingham's great series where Story book characters live and interact with the real world. The opening story arc, we find Bigby Wolf (the big bad wolf) sheriff of Fabletown investigating the murder of Rose Red. Twists, turns, and a very rich plot with excellent character development. A pilot is being made for a proposed TV series. Let's hope this works out.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thoughts: 13-March-2009
It is Friday the 13th. Never really noticed anything bad ever happening to me on this date.
I watched Bones last night, constantly a high quality show.
Shepard aka McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy is playing the whiner while his girlfriend Meredeth is trying to get him back on track. Izzie has revealed that she has a cancer with only a 5% survival rate, guess Katherine Hegel is going back to the movies, at least she gets decent scripts out there.
Tonight, Battlestar Galactica goes into its three part series finale. It has to be good, it just has to.
MonsterQuest the other night had one of the lamest shows ever. The least amount of evidence to support the idea that a snow beast is living off elk by Pike's Peak. One footprint in the ground was only semi-explained which for this show counts as the highest of evidence. When are the producers of this show going to read some of Elizabeth Loftus' research on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. And passing a polygraph test just means that the person believes they are telling the truth, not that a strange creature exists.
I am going to watch Nina and Monk on YouTube, I need a pick me up.
Oh well.
I watched Bones last night, constantly a high quality show.
Shepard aka McDreamy on Grey's Anatomy is playing the whiner while his girlfriend Meredeth is trying to get him back on track. Izzie has revealed that she has a cancer with only a 5% survival rate, guess Katherine Hegel is going back to the movies, at least she gets decent scripts out there.
Tonight, Battlestar Galactica goes into its three part series finale. It has to be good, it just has to.
MonsterQuest the other night had one of the lamest shows ever. The least amount of evidence to support the idea that a snow beast is living off elk by Pike's Peak. One footprint in the ground was only semi-explained which for this show counts as the highest of evidence. When are the producers of this show going to read some of Elizabeth Loftus' research on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. And passing a polygraph test just means that the person believes they are telling the truth, not that a strange creature exists.
I am going to watch Nina and Monk on YouTube, I need a pick me up.
Oh well.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thoughts: 12-March-2009
I am still trying to recover from the change over with Daylight Savings Time. My alarm goes off at 6:50 am and my body tells me, it is only 5:50, go back to sleep. Why do we continue to do Daylight Savings Time? Does it really make that big a difference?
Good news, Realms of Fantasy magazine has been bought by Warren Lapine of Tir Na Nog Press. This 15 year old fantasy magazine will continue to be published. Very good news indeed.
I started to watch Castle, the new show on ABC starring Nathan Fillion. I liked his work in the Joss Whedon series, Firefly and thought I would check this show out. After ten minutes in, I totally lost interest and stopped watching it. We have seen this all before and I have enough shows to watch without adding this. If it was something new and different, maybe.
CW is going to renew Smallville and Supernatural. Both shows are great and I am glad that we are going to get another season of both. Supernatural is one of the most underrated shows out there, it is very good and one of the best on the tube today.
I watched Season 2 Episode two of Reaper this week. I find Sock and his sexual interest in his Japanese step sister a tad creepy, not so much in him, but in the way she walks around half naked and jumps in his bed to play wrestle. Sam is a boring as usual, Ray Wise is excellent as the Devil. As usual there are these flashes of insight which reveal a great show, just need better characters.
One show that does not have this problem, is Lie to Me. Excellent premise, very well written characters portrayed by great actors, and fascinating plots. Check it out.
What is up with all these remakes, Friday the 13th, Last House on the Left, is Hollywood that hard up for new ideas?
Oh well.
Good news, Realms of Fantasy magazine has been bought by Warren Lapine of Tir Na Nog Press. This 15 year old fantasy magazine will continue to be published. Very good news indeed.
I started to watch Castle, the new show on ABC starring Nathan Fillion. I liked his work in the Joss Whedon series, Firefly and thought I would check this show out. After ten minutes in, I totally lost interest and stopped watching it. We have seen this all before and I have enough shows to watch without adding this. If it was something new and different, maybe.
CW is going to renew Smallville and Supernatural. Both shows are great and I am glad that we are going to get another season of both. Supernatural is one of the most underrated shows out there, it is very good and one of the best on the tube today.
I watched Season 2 Episode two of Reaper this week. I find Sock and his sexual interest in his Japanese step sister a tad creepy, not so much in him, but in the way she walks around half naked and jumps in his bed to play wrestle. Sam is a boring as usual, Ray Wise is excellent as the Devil. As usual there are these flashes of insight which reveal a great show, just need better characters.
One show that does not have this problem, is Lie to Me. Excellent premise, very well written characters portrayed by great actors, and fascinating plots. Check it out.
What is up with all these remakes, Friday the 13th, Last House on the Left, is Hollywood that hard up for new ideas?
Oh well.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Thoughts on Science Fiction Magazines
I just got the latest issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (F&SF) in the mail. Due to rising postal costs, it will be coming out only 6 per year instead of 11, but these bi-monthly issues will be double sized. I no longer see these magazine at the newsstands and bookstores that I visit, its circulation is around 18,000 mostly from subscriptions. I don't know how new readers are going to find out about this magazine which is one of the best out there.
F&SF is the second oldest continuously published SF magazine out there, Analog is number one while Asimov's is third. And that pretty much is it for SF magazines. There are some small press ones out there, but they are harder to find than the three I mentioned. I remember back in 1975 you could reliably find five monthly SF magazines, now we are down to three.
These magazines used to serve as a well to get people interested in reading SF, and also allowed new writers a place to get started. I guess there are websites where people post their fiction, I don't know just is not the same as getting the latest issue of F&SF and seeing who has new stories this time around.
I started reading SF after discovering Marvel Comic's Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. This was a black and white comic magazine that featured new SF stories and adaptations of classic stories. They also had prose features on the history of the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, and the SF magazines. Also would have a profile of the writer that had work adapted for that issue. I wish Marvel would bring back this publication, it was one of my favorites.
Lets hope that the SF magazine sales stabilize and that we can have many more years of reading enjoyment.
F&SF is the second oldest continuously published SF magazine out there, Analog is number one while Asimov's is third. And that pretty much is it for SF magazines. There are some small press ones out there, but they are harder to find than the three I mentioned. I remember back in 1975 you could reliably find five monthly SF magazines, now we are down to three.
These magazines used to serve as a well to get people interested in reading SF, and also allowed new writers a place to get started. I guess there are websites where people post their fiction, I don't know just is not the same as getting the latest issue of F&SF and seeing who has new stories this time around.
I started reading SF after discovering Marvel Comic's Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction. This was a black and white comic magazine that featured new SF stories and adaptations of classic stories. They also had prose features on the history of the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, and the SF magazines. Also would have a profile of the writer that had work adapted for that issue. I wish Marvel would bring back this publication, it was one of my favorites.
Lets hope that the SF magazine sales stabilize and that we can have many more years of reading enjoyment.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The L Word Series Finale Fiasco
This is a sequel to yesterday's blog on series finales. It seems that I am not the only fan of the L Word that hated this past Sunday's season finale. On Showtime.com, the message board for fans of this show was loaded with comments complaining about how lame and unresolved this finale was.
I decided to watch the first webisode which is entitled Interrogation tapes. Tina was the first as she is questioned by the police in regards to Jenny's death. Basically we get stuff like, she would be more threaten by Bette sending a love poem to someone as opposed to sleeping with her. And we find out that Bette was not Tina's first lesbian lover, she had a sexual relationship with her older sister who is now born again and thinks Tina is going to hell.
To those who just read this preceding, you must be wondering what the F? Why are the police interested in this, wouldn't they be more interested in the fact that Shane showed Tina that the missing Les Girls film was hidden in Jenny and Shane's attic, the film that Tina was framed for stealing and lost her job over??? Who cares other than a therapist that Tina was in an incestuous relationship with her sister? I swear, that so called interrogation went more like a therapy session. These cops are never going to solve this murder.
Leisha Hailey who plays Alice is supposed to be cast in a spin off entitled The Farm where she is in prison. The Internet talk is that she goes to jail for Jenny's murder. She was the only one in the series finale who wanted to forgive Jenny for stealing her idea for a movie script. So, she gets to take the rap. Really bad idea.
Six Feet Under had a great series finale, where we learn the fate of all the characters and we get closure. Sex and the City ended with Carrie and Big back together and the movie gave us the wedding we always wanted. That is how you end a series.
I will continue to watch the webisodes on Showtime.com and let you know if we ever get any real information or closure.
I decided to watch the first webisode which is entitled Interrogation tapes. Tina was the first as she is questioned by the police in regards to Jenny's death. Basically we get stuff like, she would be more threaten by Bette sending a love poem to someone as opposed to sleeping with her. And we find out that Bette was not Tina's first lesbian lover, she had a sexual relationship with her older sister who is now born again and thinks Tina is going to hell.
To those who just read this preceding, you must be wondering what the F? Why are the police interested in this, wouldn't they be more interested in the fact that Shane showed Tina that the missing Les Girls film was hidden in Jenny and Shane's attic, the film that Tina was framed for stealing and lost her job over??? Who cares other than a therapist that Tina was in an incestuous relationship with her sister? I swear, that so called interrogation went more like a therapy session. These cops are never going to solve this murder.
Leisha Hailey who plays Alice is supposed to be cast in a spin off entitled The Farm where she is in prison. The Internet talk is that she goes to jail for Jenny's murder. She was the only one in the series finale who wanted to forgive Jenny for stealing her idea for a movie script. So, she gets to take the rap. Really bad idea.
Six Feet Under had a great series finale, where we learn the fate of all the characters and we get closure. Sex and the City ended with Carrie and Big back together and the movie gave us the wedding we always wanted. That is how you end a series.
I will continue to watch the webisodes on Showtime.com and let you know if we ever get any real information or closure.
Monday, March 9, 2009
TV Series Finales
Last night I watched the series finale of The L Word. I have been watching this show for its entire run, and while it can be soap opera like at times (Helena going from bad to good), implausible (Alice and Shane just kicking drug habits with little effort), and very endearing (Bette and Tina's relationship), I for the most part like this show.
For its last season, Jenny Schector was going to get killed and we were going to see how events lead up to this and who killed her. And we are told nothing. Ilene Chaiken, couldn't you have gotten a two hour finale and tied up all the loose ends? And what is this about going to Showtime.com and watching webisodes to get some answers. This is not the way to end your show.
David Chase did the same thing for The Sopranos. Tony and his family sitting down to dinner and then blackout. I thought my fracking cable went out. And the next day, reviewers were praising Chase for this ending. What ending? Tony wiped out the gang leader who was trying to kill him, made peace with the survivors of that gang, and was getting ready to rebuild his crew. That is how Chase should have ended it, not that stupid blackout. You know, in a few more years, Chase is going to do a Sopranos movie.
The Shield had a good finale. Vic Mackey, betraying his crew, losing his family, and forced to sit at a desk in a suit and tie writing meaningless reports for the next three years. Then he grabs his gun and goes off into the night like a shark looking for his prey. Great ending, loose ends all tied up, and a classic show concludes.
Battlestar Galactica ends with a three part series finale over the next three-four weeks. I hope that this will be a good one, that show is one of the best on TV. It also shows how a premise that previously was done as a lame space opera can be made into something great with the right creative minds.
Those Showtime.com webisodes better answer some questions.
Oh well.
For its last season, Jenny Schector was going to get killed and we were going to see how events lead up to this and who killed her. And we are told nothing. Ilene Chaiken, couldn't you have gotten a two hour finale and tied up all the loose ends? And what is this about going to Showtime.com and watching webisodes to get some answers. This is not the way to end your show.
David Chase did the same thing for The Sopranos. Tony and his family sitting down to dinner and then blackout. I thought my fracking cable went out. And the next day, reviewers were praising Chase for this ending. What ending? Tony wiped out the gang leader who was trying to kill him, made peace with the survivors of that gang, and was getting ready to rebuild his crew. That is how Chase should have ended it, not that stupid blackout. You know, in a few more years, Chase is going to do a Sopranos movie.
The Shield had a good finale. Vic Mackey, betraying his crew, losing his family, and forced to sit at a desk in a suit and tie writing meaningless reports for the next three years. Then he grabs his gun and goes off into the night like a shark looking for his prey. Great ending, loose ends all tied up, and a classic show concludes.
Battlestar Galactica ends with a three part series finale over the next three-four weeks. I hope that this will be a good one, that show is one of the best on TV. It also shows how a premise that previously was done as a lame space opera can be made into something great with the right creative minds.
Those Showtime.com webisodes better answer some questions.
Oh well.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Watchmen: A review
Yesterday I went to see Watchmen, the film based upon the classic comic series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. This 161 minute film was directed by Zack Snyder who has also directed 300, another film based on a classic comic by Frank Miller. Snyder was the perfect director for this, he handled the special effects necessary for this movie to perfection. This is no surprise given how 300 was very CGI heavy.
This film is a very literal adaptation of the comic. Snyder followed the comic very precisely until the end. He changes the ending, so no giant squid, but a more plausible ending that fits in perfectly with the spirit of the story.
The actors were well casted and really fit my view of the characters from the comic. Two in particular, Jeffery Dean Morgan (The Comedian) and Jackie Earle Haley (Rorshach) really do a good job in bringing these characters to life. Haley deserves an Oscar nomination for his portrayal.
This movie moved very fast for me, I don't understand the complaints that it was too long. Nowadays, movies are cut too damn short and do not leave enough time to fully tell the story. This movie had the time necessary to tell the story and is all for the better.
This is not your average 1950's comic story, it is a very rich and well detailed alternative history that is well presented. It is not the Batman TV show or the Donner Superman movies. This is a unique and well done original piece of work. This is what Hollywood needs to start doing, not just rehash of the same old stuff.
Oh well.
Some
This film is a very literal adaptation of the comic. Snyder followed the comic very precisely until the end. He changes the ending, so no giant squid, but a more plausible ending that fits in perfectly with the spirit of the story.
The actors were well casted and really fit my view of the characters from the comic. Two in particular, Jeffery Dean Morgan (The Comedian) and Jackie Earle Haley (Rorshach) really do a good job in bringing these characters to life. Haley deserves an Oscar nomination for his portrayal.
This movie moved very fast for me, I don't understand the complaints that it was too long. Nowadays, movies are cut too damn short and do not leave enough time to fully tell the story. This movie had the time necessary to tell the story and is all for the better.
This is not your average 1950's comic story, it is a very rich and well detailed alternative history that is well presented. It is not the Batman TV show or the Donner Superman movies. This is a unique and well done original piece of work. This is what Hollywood needs to start doing, not just rehash of the same old stuff.
Oh well.
Some
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thoughts on latest comic book news, 07-Mar-2009
I am getting ready to go see Watchmen this afternoon and wanted to make some comments about some of the latest comic book news.
Marvel is cancelling Young X-Men with issue #12. I liked this book that feature new characters who may be the last mutants in the Marvel Universe. Marvel is going to replace this book with a new version of their New Mutants comic. This first came out years ago and featured a new group of mutants that Xavier gathered together. I don't know what happened to most of these characters as I was not reading the X-Men comics for a while, Cannonball is going to be in this book, he is the only one I remember from the New Mutants.
Marvel really does not like to announce comic cancellations. I almost never read about any comics they plan to cancel until the deed is done. DC is a lot more upfront about cancelling books. I guess Marvel likes to pretend all their books are great sellers.
Marvel also cancelled She-Hulk with issue #38. This was the best rendition of this character to date, the book was constantly entertaining and well written. Marvel is planning on creating a new Savage She-Hulk character who will be an offspring of the Hulk and Thundra, some woman warrior that pops up in the Marvel Universe every so often. I guess Skarr must be doing better than expected, for this next creative action to take place.
When DC killed the Barry Allen Flash in Crisis on Infinite Earths those many years ago, I was surprised at their restraint in not bringing this character back. But true to the code, that no one dies a permanent death in comics, Barry Allen is coming back in April in The Flash Reborn. I liked the Wally West Flash and have to wonder why DC is doing this. Can Steve Rogers aka Captain America be far behind in the Marvel Universe?
Batman RIP was one of the worst written series ever, does anybody think that storyline made any sense at all? Then Bruce Wayne gets killed in the Final Crisis and we are going to have a mega issue story line of who will be the new Batman. The only thing that would make sense would be Dick Grayson getting the job, but given that DC green lit Batman RIP, I doubt that would happen.
I also see that Barbara Gordon is supposed to regain the use of her legs and become Batgirl again. One, I liked the Cassandra Cain Batgirl character and two, she was very good as Oracle with the Birds of Prey comic being one of the best around. I am intrigued by the Batwoman story taking over Detective Comics in June, I would like to see what is done with that concept.
Oh well.
Marvel is cancelling Young X-Men with issue #12. I liked this book that feature new characters who may be the last mutants in the Marvel Universe. Marvel is going to replace this book with a new version of their New Mutants comic. This first came out years ago and featured a new group of mutants that Xavier gathered together. I don't know what happened to most of these characters as I was not reading the X-Men comics for a while, Cannonball is going to be in this book, he is the only one I remember from the New Mutants.
Marvel really does not like to announce comic cancellations. I almost never read about any comics they plan to cancel until the deed is done. DC is a lot more upfront about cancelling books. I guess Marvel likes to pretend all their books are great sellers.
Marvel also cancelled She-Hulk with issue #38. This was the best rendition of this character to date, the book was constantly entertaining and well written. Marvel is planning on creating a new Savage She-Hulk character who will be an offspring of the Hulk and Thundra, some woman warrior that pops up in the Marvel Universe every so often. I guess Skarr must be doing better than expected, for this next creative action to take place.
When DC killed the Barry Allen Flash in Crisis on Infinite Earths those many years ago, I was surprised at their restraint in not bringing this character back. But true to the code, that no one dies a permanent death in comics, Barry Allen is coming back in April in The Flash Reborn. I liked the Wally West Flash and have to wonder why DC is doing this. Can Steve Rogers aka Captain America be far behind in the Marvel Universe?
Batman RIP was one of the worst written series ever, does anybody think that storyline made any sense at all? Then Bruce Wayne gets killed in the Final Crisis and we are going to have a mega issue story line of who will be the new Batman. The only thing that would make sense would be Dick Grayson getting the job, but given that DC green lit Batman RIP, I doubt that would happen.
I also see that Barbara Gordon is supposed to regain the use of her legs and become Batgirl again. One, I liked the Cassandra Cain Batgirl character and two, she was very good as Oracle with the Birds of Prey comic being one of the best around. I am intrigued by the Batwoman story taking over Detective Comics in June, I would like to see what is done with that concept.
Oh well.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Marriage, the Ugly Truth
I am 49 and single, never been married. I often talk to my married friends and have a few drinks with them , they said things like "The worst thing I ever did was get married". My female friends tell me that this is not true and that their husbands are very happy, usually after bitching about them for 10 minutes.
One of the best insights into what marriage is like was in the film Knocked Up. Marriage is like an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, except it is not funny and does not end after 30 minutes.
Today in the van at work, I had a conversation with Tony (the driver who talks Yankees-Red Sox and Giants-Patriots with me) and Joe (a regular at that time of the morning). Here, in an attempt to immortalize this great conversation on what marriage is like, is the general gist.
Me: So Tony, did you see that Tom Brady got married to Giselle. That should help him get ready for the season.
Tony: Man, that is the worst thing that could happen to Brady. When he goes on road trips she is going to be worrying about him messing with these young good looking female groupies, he is going to be reading the National Enquirer and worrying about her going to these parties and having guys hit on her. It is going to be a big mess.
Me: Gee, all my female co-workers tell me that getting married is the best thing that happens to a guy.
Tony: Are you kidding? It is okay for the first year, then she takes all your stuff, your sports memorabilia, puts it in a box and sticks in the garage or the basement. You got to build yourself a little apartment to see any of your stuff.
Joe: I walk into my house and don't see anything of mine until I get to the bedroom.
Tony: And the bed, it gets made first thing in the morning with all these frilly bed covers and these fancy throw pillows and you don't dare look at it, let alone lay down before 11 pm. You got to buy a pullout coach to put in your garage or basement just so you can lay down for a while after getting home from work.
Me: Wow.
Tony: And TV, forget about watching anything you like, it is always what she wants to watch. You want to catch UFC, no way, you are going to be watching The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol. You have to buy a TV to go with your coach and sports stuff in the garage.
Joe: Last night she made me watch Ugly Betty.
Me: Now I know who watches Ugly Betty, man I am never going to get married.
Tony: Good Choice.
That was the conversation that took place between 7:50 am and 8:00 am.
One of the best insights into what marriage is like was in the film Knocked Up. Marriage is like an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, except it is not funny and does not end after 30 minutes.
Today in the van at work, I had a conversation with Tony (the driver who talks Yankees-Red Sox and Giants-Patriots with me) and Joe (a regular at that time of the morning). Here, in an attempt to immortalize this great conversation on what marriage is like, is the general gist.
Me: So Tony, did you see that Tom Brady got married to Giselle. That should help him get ready for the season.
Tony: Man, that is the worst thing that could happen to Brady. When he goes on road trips she is going to be worrying about him messing with these young good looking female groupies, he is going to be reading the National Enquirer and worrying about her going to these parties and having guys hit on her. It is going to be a big mess.
Me: Gee, all my female co-workers tell me that getting married is the best thing that happens to a guy.
Tony: Are you kidding? It is okay for the first year, then she takes all your stuff, your sports memorabilia, puts it in a box and sticks in the garage or the basement. You got to build yourself a little apartment to see any of your stuff.
Joe: I walk into my house and don't see anything of mine until I get to the bedroom.
Tony: And the bed, it gets made first thing in the morning with all these frilly bed covers and these fancy throw pillows and you don't dare look at it, let alone lay down before 11 pm. You got to buy a pullout coach to put in your garage or basement just so you can lay down for a while after getting home from work.
Me: Wow.
Tony: And TV, forget about watching anything you like, it is always what she wants to watch. You want to catch UFC, no way, you are going to be watching The Bachelor, Dancing with the Stars, American Idol. You have to buy a TV to go with your coach and sports stuff in the garage.
Joe: Last night she made me watch Ugly Betty.
Me: Now I know who watches Ugly Betty, man I am never going to get married.
Tony: Good Choice.
That was the conversation that took place between 7:50 am and 8:00 am.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
What has happened to the History Channel?
The other night, I noticed that the History Channel had a two hour show called the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse. I thought that it might be on the Book of Revelations, going over the historical context oh how the book was written and why it was included in the Holy Bible. They had run two excellent documentaries on Banned Books of the Bible, so I thought this would be worth checking out.
What a mistake. Two hours of crap. First, they purported to tell what the seven signs were and how science has answers. For example, the oceans would turn to blood. Then we got an overview of the phenomenon of Red Tide with some scientists explaining it. Very sensationalised via editing, I am sure we did not get the whole story. The worst was on global warning, some scientist attached to polar ice studies was ranting and raving about the seas flooding, at one point we get a wild eyed view of these guy's face that makes him look like a mad prophet of doom.
And intermixed with these minimalist scientific explanation, we got the guys who wrote the Left Behind books going on and on, pushing their end of the world crap. The Book of Revelation is taken super serious, no discussion of how it came to be. The only legitimate Biblical scholar was a professor of New Testament Studies from a seminary, who was given a few brief comments.
It was such a bunch of nonsense, what the hell has happened to the History Channel? The Book of Revelation was controversies from the get go. There was a strong disagreement that it should even be included in the Bible. Martin Luther and John Calvin both had doubts on it validity. Why was this not told, not these sensational nonsense that was put on the air.
History Channel used to have good shows like Civil War Journal, the Real West, Mail Call...now we get Ice Road Truckers and Ax Men. We used to have solid documentaries on the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and Sherman's march to the sea. Now we get pseudoscience like UFO Files and this show on the seven signs.
Like A&E which used to show A Touch of Frost, Lovejoy, Inspector Morse, and now shows Living Gotti, History Channel is going down hill showing reality TV crap instead of real history shows. Why, isn't there enough crap on TV already?
Oh well.
What a mistake. Two hours of crap. First, they purported to tell what the seven signs were and how science has answers. For example, the oceans would turn to blood. Then we got an overview of the phenomenon of Red Tide with some scientists explaining it. Very sensationalised via editing, I am sure we did not get the whole story. The worst was on global warning, some scientist attached to polar ice studies was ranting and raving about the seas flooding, at one point we get a wild eyed view of these guy's face that makes him look like a mad prophet of doom.
And intermixed with these minimalist scientific explanation, we got the guys who wrote the Left Behind books going on and on, pushing their end of the world crap. The Book of Revelation is taken super serious, no discussion of how it came to be. The only legitimate Biblical scholar was a professor of New Testament Studies from a seminary, who was given a few brief comments.
It was such a bunch of nonsense, what the hell has happened to the History Channel? The Book of Revelation was controversies from the get go. There was a strong disagreement that it should even be included in the Bible. Martin Luther and John Calvin both had doubts on it validity. Why was this not told, not these sensational nonsense that was put on the air.
History Channel used to have good shows like Civil War Journal, the Real West, Mail Call...now we get Ice Road Truckers and Ax Men. We used to have solid documentaries on the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and Sherman's march to the sea. Now we get pseudoscience like UFO Files and this show on the seven signs.
Like A&E which used to show A Touch of Frost, Lovejoy, Inspector Morse, and now shows Living Gotti, History Channel is going down hill showing reality TV crap instead of real history shows. Why, isn't there enough crap on TV already?
Oh well.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Reaper and Saving Grace
Last night I watched the Season 2 premiere of Reaper and on my DVR watched the winter premiere of Saving Grace. Both shows deal with an ongoing encounter with a supernatural entity, Reaper with the Devil, Saving Grace with a last chance angel.
What is interesting to me is that neither show has characters with very much curiosity. If I had a chance to talk to an angel or the Devil, I could think of lots of questions to ask them. Yet nobody on either show seems all that interested in asking questions. Now on Reaper, the characters are idiotic slackers so maybe that might explain why they are not curious, but come on slackers like these guys read comics, must of come across the classic Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Wouldn't that inspire questions? And Grace on Saving Grace, has a brother for a priest and went to church as a youth, must have some information that she would want.
Reaper gets hailed as this great TV show with strong writing and wonderful characters. I find the slacker humor to be boring, the character of Sock is really starting to get on my nerves, and each show is pretty much the same as the last. Every once in a while you get a tidbit that shows some promise, than we go back to the same formula as before. I wonder if the CW will keep these show on past this season or cancel it so they can put some cheap reality TV crap on. For all its faults, Reaper is preferable to reality TV crap.
Saving Grace has Holly Hunter which really raises the bar for this show. Plus lots of very good actors in supporting roles and pretty solid scripts. Again TNT comes up with a winner which makes me wonder why the networks can't find better shows. And while Grace does not have any curiosity to ask about the rebellion lead by Lucifer, she does struggle with some pretty tough issues. All in all, TV done right.
So what did we learn from all this? Watch TNT, FX, and USA for the best shows on TV as the networks go to reality TV crap land.
What is interesting to me is that neither show has characters with very much curiosity. If I had a chance to talk to an angel or the Devil, I could think of lots of questions to ask them. Yet nobody on either show seems all that interested in asking questions. Now on Reaper, the characters are idiotic slackers so maybe that might explain why they are not curious, but come on slackers like these guys read comics, must of come across the classic Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. Wouldn't that inspire questions? And Grace on Saving Grace, has a brother for a priest and went to church as a youth, must have some information that she would want.
Reaper gets hailed as this great TV show with strong writing and wonderful characters. I find the slacker humor to be boring, the character of Sock is really starting to get on my nerves, and each show is pretty much the same as the last. Every once in a while you get a tidbit that shows some promise, than we go back to the same formula as before. I wonder if the CW will keep these show on past this season or cancel it so they can put some cheap reality TV crap on. For all its faults, Reaper is preferable to reality TV crap.
Saving Grace has Holly Hunter which really raises the bar for this show. Plus lots of very good actors in supporting roles and pretty solid scripts. Again TNT comes up with a winner which makes me wonder why the networks can't find better shows. And while Grace does not have any curiosity to ask about the rebellion lead by Lucifer, she does struggle with some pretty tough issues. All in all, TV done right.
So what did we learn from all this? Watch TNT, FX, and USA for the best shows on TV as the networks go to reality TV crap land.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Random Thoughts for 03-March-2009
I am thinking with going for a format change with my blog. Basically I want to do random thoughts and every once in the while do a theme blog when I have a lot to say about some subject.
I watched the double episodes of 24 last night. Jack is in quite a fix, trapped in the White House with the President about to be forced to make some statement prior to her death. If only she let Jack get the information he needed from that Senator's aide. I was also happy to see Tony Todd playing another great character. Todd must have a very impressive list of TV credits, he seems to guest star in all the shows I watch.
Before I watched 24, I watched via DVR the latest episode of The L Word. Poor Jenny, she sure is asking to be murdered. Next week we have the series finale, I will miss the Tina-Bette love story. Jennifer Beals and Laura Holliman have been so good in the series.
I also have on tap to watch the Dead Like Me movies that went straight to DVD. This is a sequel to a great series that had appeared on Showtime. Who knows, Family Guy came back when the sales of the DVD sets were better than expected, maybe we will see this for Dead Like Me.
I saw on the Futon Critic that Life on Mars is ending after this season. ABC choose not to renew this show. I never started watching it, just look a tad hokey to me and a waste of talent. Same thing for this show starting next Monday, Castle. Looks like a hokey concept and a waste of talent.
Oh well.
I watched the double episodes of 24 last night. Jack is in quite a fix, trapped in the White House with the President about to be forced to make some statement prior to her death. If only she let Jack get the information he needed from that Senator's aide. I was also happy to see Tony Todd playing another great character. Todd must have a very impressive list of TV credits, he seems to guest star in all the shows I watch.
Before I watched 24, I watched via DVR the latest episode of The L Word. Poor Jenny, she sure is asking to be murdered. Next week we have the series finale, I will miss the Tina-Bette love story. Jennifer Beals and Laura Holliman have been so good in the series.
I also have on tap to watch the Dead Like Me movies that went straight to DVD. This is a sequel to a great series that had appeared on Showtime. Who knows, Family Guy came back when the sales of the DVD sets were better than expected, maybe we will see this for Dead Like Me.
I saw on the Futon Critic that Life on Mars is ending after this season. ABC choose not to renew this show. I never started watching it, just look a tad hokey to me and a waste of talent. Same thing for this show starting next Monday, Castle. Looks like a hokey concept and a waste of talent.
Oh well.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Some thoughts on a day of snow in Groton, CT
It snowed last night, and there was a lot of snow on the way to work. Most of my co-workers opted to work at home, so I had to deal with things at work. At least it was nice and quiet.
I reflected on my enjoyment of Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, a TV movie on CBS last night which starred Tom Selleck as Stone. He plays the part perfectly, it is his best work as an actor. I was happy to read on the Internet that another Stone film will be on later this year.
I also was happy to see that on March 10, Howard the Duck comes to DVD. This movie which is considered one of the worst made, is a guilty pleasure of mine. I have seen it about 5 times and will be happy to get it on DVD to watch again. In some ways, I think that this could have become a great cult TV show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer which also came out of a not so great movie. Who knows, maybe someone may do it one day.
I also sent away for issues 1 and 2 of a Serial DVD magazine that Serial Squadron is putting out. This will be a monthly release which will contain a few chapters of a couple of different serials which will recapture how serials were originally presented. The DVDs offered by Serial Squadron are top notch, if you are interested in some high quality DVD sets of serials, check their website out.
I also am looking forward to the Watchman film set to come out in another couple of weeks. It looks great and I am really curious how well it holds up to the original comic book series.
Oh well.
I reflected on my enjoyment of Jesse Stone: Thin Ice, a TV movie on CBS last night which starred Tom Selleck as Stone. He plays the part perfectly, it is his best work as an actor. I was happy to read on the Internet that another Stone film will be on later this year.
I also was happy to see that on March 10, Howard the Duck comes to DVD. This movie which is considered one of the worst made, is a guilty pleasure of mine. I have seen it about 5 times and will be happy to get it on DVD to watch again. In some ways, I think that this could have become a great cult TV show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer which also came out of a not so great movie. Who knows, maybe someone may do it one day.
I also sent away for issues 1 and 2 of a Serial DVD magazine that Serial Squadron is putting out. This will be a monthly release which will contain a few chapters of a couple of different serials which will recapture how serials were originally presented. The DVDs offered by Serial Squadron are top notch, if you are interested in some high quality DVD sets of serials, check their website out.
I also am looking forward to the Watchman film set to come out in another couple of weeks. It looks great and I am really curious how well it holds up to the original comic book series.
Oh well.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Perry Mason
I am a big fan of Perry Mason. When I was younger, I used to read the books written by Earle Stanley Gardner and loved each one. At that time, his Perry Mason novels were in print and there was a huge selection.
I also am a big fan of Raymond Burr's portrayal of Mason and have been watching the DVD sets that have been coming out these past few years. I could watch episode after episode of these shows. I know that some feel that it is very formalistic but I love them. Burr was so good at playing Mason and had a great supporting cast with Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins, and William Talman.
I liked the TV movies that came out with Burr reprising the role, but felt that the two hour format was a bit padded. Mason mysteries can easily be told in one hour shows, neat and sweet.
I recently saw some of the Perry Mason movies that were made with Warren Williams and while they were not bad, the producers of that series tried to make them too much like the successful Thin Man movies which was not the way Gardner had written the characters.
I also remind the New Adventures of Perry Mason with Monte Markham as Mason. They were not bad, and some of the shows were based on Gardner novels that were not made into shows in the original series. I also remember that Hamilton Burger, the DA in the series, was played by Harry Guardino. I wish this series would pop up on DVD, it would be interesting to see how they hope up.
Burr was the classic Perry Mason and did a perfect job playing the part, he made it his own. Gene Siskel once wrote that Perry Mason could not be made into a successful movie series because of the heavy handed way Burr played the character. No offense to the late Mr. Siskel, but you are dead wrong. Burr's performance is the best of Mason that I have ever seen and fits in well with the character created by Gardner.
Given the lack of creative thinking in TV today, I would love to see Perry Mason revived as a TV show with a new cast, but sticking to the one hour format and style of the original series. You could easily update the series for 2009 and James Wood would make a interesting choice to play the character.
I also am a big fan of Raymond Burr's portrayal of Mason and have been watching the DVD sets that have been coming out these past few years. I could watch episode after episode of these shows. I know that some feel that it is very formalistic but I love them. Burr was so good at playing Mason and had a great supporting cast with Barbara Hale, William Hopper, Ray Collins, and William Talman.
I liked the TV movies that came out with Burr reprising the role, but felt that the two hour format was a bit padded. Mason mysteries can easily be told in one hour shows, neat and sweet.
I recently saw some of the Perry Mason movies that were made with Warren Williams and while they were not bad, the producers of that series tried to make them too much like the successful Thin Man movies which was not the way Gardner had written the characters.
I also remind the New Adventures of Perry Mason with Monte Markham as Mason. They were not bad, and some of the shows were based on Gardner novels that were not made into shows in the original series. I also remember that Hamilton Burger, the DA in the series, was played by Harry Guardino. I wish this series would pop up on DVD, it would be interesting to see how they hope up.
Burr was the classic Perry Mason and did a perfect job playing the part, he made it his own. Gene Siskel once wrote that Perry Mason could not be made into a successful movie series because of the heavy handed way Burr played the character. No offense to the late Mr. Siskel, but you are dead wrong. Burr's performance is the best of Mason that I have ever seen and fits in well with the character created by Gardner.
Given the lack of creative thinking in TV today, I would love to see Perry Mason revived as a TV show with a new cast, but sticking to the one hour format and style of the original series. You could easily update the series for 2009 and James Wood would make a interesting choice to play the character.
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