The Patriots defeated the Jaguars at home 35-7, clinching the AFC East title. This weekend they will be in Houston taking on the Texans. They made the playoffs and this game is kind of meaningless for the Patriots while the Texans have a shot at the wild card with a win. I pick Houston to win in a close game, given how badly the Patriots have done on the road and the fact the Houston has more to gain with a win that New England does, 21-14.
I saw Sherlock Holmes this past weekend. This film directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law was very good. Some Holmesian purists are complaining about the portrayal of Holmes and the acting of Downey. I thought he was very good and it was true to the spirit of the books, the movie was great and I look forward to a sequel. I also thought that Rachel McAdams was very good playing Irene Adler. A
The release of this film has encouraged the DVD release of a number of Sherlock Holmes films. Peter Cushing played the character in a series of BBC shows and the surviving episodes have been released. Also a number of public domain Sherlock Holmes films have been released in a collection called The Sherlock Holmes Archive. Boris Karloff plays a Mr. Mycroft in the Sting of Death, a retired beekeeper who discovers that one of his neighbors is raising Killer Bees. Very good and Karloff does a nice job of playing this mysterious character who may be Sherlock Holmes.
I have been watching the DVD set of Perry Mason from Season 3. Nice episode that featured a young George Taki whose love interest is suspected of murder. Also included is an episode where Paul Drake gets arrested for murder and another where Perry is on vacation and has to defend a young man who is hated by the entire town. I could watch those episodes all day long.
Oh well.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thoughts: 25-December-2009
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night.
After my fun Sunday falling in the snow at work, I thought this weather could not get any worst for me. It did. I took the bus to see my optometrist and the bus broke down in front of Stop and Shop. The driver said that he did not know when there would be a replacement bus coming in, so since the City of Groton built all these nice sidewalks down Long Hill Road, I thought it would be an easy walk.
Of course I was wrong. None of the sidewalks were plowed so I had to walk on the highway praying cars would not hit me. Finally by the Hampton Inn, they had plowed the sidewalks so I could walk in safety. And of course I fell hitting my left knee hard on the sidewalk. Luckily the optometrist had some ibuprofen. then I found out I have the beginnings of a cataract on my left eye, which means that someday I will need that surgery. Joy.
I do have to say that I can now endorse Icy Hot and swear that it works. I covered my knee with it and it felt very good and have had minimum pain after that fall.
I am going to my best friend's house for Christmas dinner, we are going to have a ham. I got her, her husband, and her mom, whose birthday was yesterday, cards with CT scratch off tickets. I hope they win big as I am very happy and appreciative that they are having me over for Christmas.
The Patriots take on the Jaguars this weekend at home and a win would help out a couple of other team's playoff chances. I like the Patriots to win, 24-10.
I have been watching lots of DVDs these past few days. Here are some quick comments.
Loch Ness Terror. I saw this movie on the SyFy channel and wanted the DVD. Brian Krause, Leo on Charmed, and Don S. Davis from Twin Peaks were in this movie. No nudity or sex, but the monster kills quite a few people in a gory fashion. And none of those scenes were edited out on the SyFy Channel. I guess you cannot show nudity, but you can show gore on cable. C
The Twilight Zone Movie. I just finished watching the original series on DVD and had not seen this movie in years. I have to say that it holds up better than I remembered. George Miller's remake of Nightmare at 35,000 Feet with John Lithgow was excellent. I also found that Steven Spielberg's remake of Kick the Can was also quite good. I kind of wish that they did more original stories than remakes with this film, it did lead to a revival of the show on CBS which I have the DVD sets for. The Twilight Zone lives on. I also caught a lot of references to other episodes that I had missed previously. B
A Touch of Frost Season 14. I loved this show when A&E showed (when they still ran good shows and not crap like Dog the Bounty Hunter) and have been buying the DVDs Excellent shows and we still have one more set to come out. A
Oh well.
After my fun Sunday falling in the snow at work, I thought this weather could not get any worst for me. It did. I took the bus to see my optometrist and the bus broke down in front of Stop and Shop. The driver said that he did not know when there would be a replacement bus coming in, so since the City of Groton built all these nice sidewalks down Long Hill Road, I thought it would be an easy walk.
Of course I was wrong. None of the sidewalks were plowed so I had to walk on the highway praying cars would not hit me. Finally by the Hampton Inn, they had plowed the sidewalks so I could walk in safety. And of course I fell hitting my left knee hard on the sidewalk. Luckily the optometrist had some ibuprofen. then I found out I have the beginnings of a cataract on my left eye, which means that someday I will need that surgery. Joy.
I do have to say that I can now endorse Icy Hot and swear that it works. I covered my knee with it and it felt very good and have had minimum pain after that fall.
I am going to my best friend's house for Christmas dinner, we are going to have a ham. I got her, her husband, and her mom, whose birthday was yesterday, cards with CT scratch off tickets. I hope they win big as I am very happy and appreciative that they are having me over for Christmas.
The Patriots take on the Jaguars this weekend at home and a win would help out a couple of other team's playoff chances. I like the Patriots to win, 24-10.
I have been watching lots of DVDs these past few days. Here are some quick comments.
Loch Ness Terror. I saw this movie on the SyFy channel and wanted the DVD. Brian Krause, Leo on Charmed, and Don S. Davis from Twin Peaks were in this movie. No nudity or sex, but the monster kills quite a few people in a gory fashion. And none of those scenes were edited out on the SyFy Channel. I guess you cannot show nudity, but you can show gore on cable. C
The Twilight Zone Movie. I just finished watching the original series on DVD and had not seen this movie in years. I have to say that it holds up better than I remembered. George Miller's remake of Nightmare at 35,000 Feet with John Lithgow was excellent. I also found that Steven Spielberg's remake of Kick the Can was also quite good. I kind of wish that they did more original stories than remakes with this film, it did lead to a revival of the show on CBS which I have the DVD sets for. The Twilight Zone lives on. I also caught a lot of references to other episodes that I had missed previously. B
A Touch of Frost Season 14. I loved this show when A&E showed (when they still ran good shows and not crap like Dog the Bounty Hunter) and have been buying the DVDs Excellent shows and we still have one more set to come out. A
Oh well.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thoughts: 21-December-2009
Yesterday I go into work with tons and tons of snow out there. It came up halfway on my front door and was still snowing when I walked into work. I get to my place of employment and our landscape contractors are out there cleaning up the sidewalks and the streets. I figure on walking down to the parking garage and going in through there as that would be the easiest way to get to my lab. In front of the exit and entrance, there is a big pile of snow. I figure I can walk through it into the garage. I figured wrong.
I fall into the snow pile and like a turtle on this back cannot get up. I slip and slide as there was no traction or leverage. I get to one knee and there is nothing but snow to grab on to and I fall down. Finally on my hands and knees I crawl into the garage and by the wall manage to pull myself up. Now I am not hurt, the snow cushioned my fall. I dust myself off and walk a few feet into the garage when I hear "Are you okay?"
Why do people ask if you are okay after you get up from falling in the snow? Of course I am frakking okay, I got up. How about cleaning the frakking snow piles up in front of the openings to the garage. It never ceases to amaze me how people are quick to offer help after it is clear that you are okay.
Patriots beat the Bills 17-10 in Buffalo. New England is now 9-5 with games against the Jaguars at home and the Texans on the road, two teams New England should beat but will struggle against.
The Bills are 5-9 and have gone 7-9 in the last three seasons. Can they make it four straight seasons? They have the Falcons on the road and the Colts at home, which looks to me like a 5-11 season for them.
Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars (BBC America) had its US premiere this past Saturday. What a dark tale of the Doctor allowing power to go to his head. I love this more mature look at the Doctor, these shows have been a big hit. A
Oh well.
I fall into the snow pile and like a turtle on this back cannot get up. I slip and slide as there was no traction or leverage. I get to one knee and there is nothing but snow to grab on to and I fall down. Finally on my hands and knees I crawl into the garage and by the wall manage to pull myself up. Now I am not hurt, the snow cushioned my fall. I dust myself off and walk a few feet into the garage when I hear "Are you okay?"
Why do people ask if you are okay after you get up from falling in the snow? Of course I am frakking okay, I got up. How about cleaning the frakking snow piles up in front of the openings to the garage. It never ceases to amaze me how people are quick to offer help after it is clear that you are okay.
Patriots beat the Bills 17-10 in Buffalo. New England is now 9-5 with games against the Jaguars at home and the Texans on the road, two teams New England should beat but will struggle against.
The Bills are 5-9 and have gone 7-9 in the last three seasons. Can they make it four straight seasons? They have the Falcons on the road and the Colts at home, which looks to me like a 5-11 season for them.
Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars (BBC America) had its US premiere this past Saturday. What a dark tale of the Doctor allowing power to go to his head. I love this more mature look at the Doctor, these shows have been a big hit. A
Oh well.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thoughts: 20-December-2009
Tons of snow out there, halfway up my front door. And of course today I have to go into work to run a stupid experiment that just could not wait until January. I curse the project team and its leader.
The Saints got their first loss of the season, Cowboys beat them yesterday. I thought that New Orleans would run the table, but I guess not. Of course this loss may improve their chances of winning the Super Bowl, I still cringe at the memory of my Patriots falling to the hated New York Giants.
I finished reading Kristin Chenoweth's autobiography, A Little Bit Wicked. It was a pretty superficial account, I thought she may go a little more in depth on her philosophy of life and her Christian beliefs while working in an industry that really makes it hard for someone to have a public expression of faith. I did learn that after I turn fifty next month to never ever eat any cookies baked by her, an inside joke from her book. C
Dollhouse (Fox) actually was pretty good this week. Echo and the rest of the Dollhouse regulars are going to take down the system. Maybe if Joss Whedon had gotten to this point much earlier, the show would have had better ratings. B
Nip/Tuck (FX) has a terrible season finale this past week. Point by point complaints:
1. What happened to Julie's mother after she got busted for cocaine possession at the airport? A plot line that just disappeared.
2. Matt was the Mime Robber, one would think that he would be fairly notorious in this media climate. He kills his rapist in prison and nothing happens to him. Then he Christian and Shawn suck out the fat of this death role inmate he gets out of jail? And no media coverage of these plastic surgeons doing this? Where does any of this make sense?
3. And not only does Matt not get charged with murder, he finds out from an inmate that this death role guy is innocent of the crime. What a lame plot development.
4. Wilbur shows up after being absent all season for a cameo dinner appearance. Kind of wondering what he has been up to or do I care at this point?
This season of Nip/Tuck has been quite bad. The show returns for its last nine episodes in January. Maybe the Carver will return and put this show to rest, that was the last time this show was must see TV. F
American Chopper (TLC) had its last new episode of the year and boy did it suck. Point by Point complaints:
1. Jeanette Lee, the famous Black Widow professorial pool player, comes in to get a bike built for her. She comments on how her fans think she inspired the Black Widow OCC bike, which helped put OCC on the map. A bike designed by Jr. when OCC actually did creative and innovative bikes. Sr. vows to build a bike that looks better than Jr's creation. Jason Poole goes to design a bike.
a) First they thrown Jason's design out and do their own design on the fly. No fabrication on the tank, some really crappy looking webbing on the fenders, then off to paint. Jason starts complaining and Sr cuts him right down. So Jason starts trashing Paul Jr Designs to get back into Sr's good graces. So this big better than Jr's bike turns out to be the usual slap together bike that they have been making for the last several builds.
b) Lee gets the bike and she cannot even turn it on. She is the OCC customer that they like the best, one who knows nothing about bikes and accepts what ever they slap together. The paint job on the tank looks nice, showing Lee playing pool, other than that a big ripoff for the customer. No wonder guys like Jay Leno and Billy Joel who know something about bikes were not happy with the OCC product.
2. We get lots of trashing of both Jr and Mikey in this show, one where Mikey gets out of rehab. Sr barely acknowledges it at the show, eating an apple while supposing having this emotional talk with the crew. Then he goes to Grandma Tetuel's house where he trashes his sons for not visiting her and we get to hear from her on how Sr is a saint, which explains why the sons do not visit her. She must hound them to reconcile with Sr. We also find out that Sr does not talk to any of his sons, no surprise here.
3. On the TLC Turbo website, I saw on the message board that Sr is suing Jr. It seems that Jr owns 20% of OCC and Sr wants to buy him out. Problem is that they cannot agree to a buyout price. So Sr is suing Jr for millions. I do not understand why Sr would sue Jr, it seems Jr should be suing? I am sure more information will be coming out on this and I also think that may explain the trashing of the sons on the show. Comments have been very negative toward Sr for this and could backfire with a jury deciding the case. I also find it interesting that Jr owns 20% and still gets fired by Sr. It would seem to me that Jr should be getting a 20% share of the profits that OCC generates. I am very interested in following this story.
This show needs to end soon and it gets worst and worst. F
Oh well.
The Saints got their first loss of the season, Cowboys beat them yesterday. I thought that New Orleans would run the table, but I guess not. Of course this loss may improve their chances of winning the Super Bowl, I still cringe at the memory of my Patriots falling to the hated New York Giants.
I finished reading Kristin Chenoweth's autobiography, A Little Bit Wicked. It was a pretty superficial account, I thought she may go a little more in depth on her philosophy of life and her Christian beliefs while working in an industry that really makes it hard for someone to have a public expression of faith. I did learn that after I turn fifty next month to never ever eat any cookies baked by her, an inside joke from her book. C
Dollhouse (Fox) actually was pretty good this week. Echo and the rest of the Dollhouse regulars are going to take down the system. Maybe if Joss Whedon had gotten to this point much earlier, the show would have had better ratings. B
Nip/Tuck (FX) has a terrible season finale this past week. Point by point complaints:
1. What happened to Julie's mother after she got busted for cocaine possession at the airport? A plot line that just disappeared.
2. Matt was the Mime Robber, one would think that he would be fairly notorious in this media climate. He kills his rapist in prison and nothing happens to him. Then he Christian and Shawn suck out the fat of this death role inmate he gets out of jail? And no media coverage of these plastic surgeons doing this? Where does any of this make sense?
3. And not only does Matt not get charged with murder, he finds out from an inmate that this death role guy is innocent of the crime. What a lame plot development.
4. Wilbur shows up after being absent all season for a cameo dinner appearance. Kind of wondering what he has been up to or do I care at this point?
This season of Nip/Tuck has been quite bad. The show returns for its last nine episodes in January. Maybe the Carver will return and put this show to rest, that was the last time this show was must see TV. F
American Chopper (TLC) had its last new episode of the year and boy did it suck. Point by Point complaints:
1. Jeanette Lee, the famous Black Widow professorial pool player, comes in to get a bike built for her. She comments on how her fans think she inspired the Black Widow OCC bike, which helped put OCC on the map. A bike designed by Jr. when OCC actually did creative and innovative bikes. Sr. vows to build a bike that looks better than Jr's creation. Jason Poole goes to design a bike.
a) First they thrown Jason's design out and do their own design on the fly. No fabrication on the tank, some really crappy looking webbing on the fenders, then off to paint. Jason starts complaining and Sr cuts him right down. So Jason starts trashing Paul Jr Designs to get back into Sr's good graces. So this big better than Jr's bike turns out to be the usual slap together bike that they have been making for the last several builds.
b) Lee gets the bike and she cannot even turn it on. She is the OCC customer that they like the best, one who knows nothing about bikes and accepts what ever they slap together. The paint job on the tank looks nice, showing Lee playing pool, other than that a big ripoff for the customer. No wonder guys like Jay Leno and Billy Joel who know something about bikes were not happy with the OCC product.
2. We get lots of trashing of both Jr and Mikey in this show, one where Mikey gets out of rehab. Sr barely acknowledges it at the show, eating an apple while supposing having this emotional talk with the crew. Then he goes to Grandma Tetuel's house where he trashes his sons for not visiting her and we get to hear from her on how Sr is a saint, which explains why the sons do not visit her. She must hound them to reconcile with Sr. We also find out that Sr does not talk to any of his sons, no surprise here.
3. On the TLC Turbo website, I saw on the message board that Sr is suing Jr. It seems that Jr owns 20% of OCC and Sr wants to buy him out. Problem is that they cannot agree to a buyout price. So Sr is suing Jr for millions. I do not understand why Sr would sue Jr, it seems Jr should be suing? I am sure more information will be coming out on this and I also think that may explain the trashing of the sons on the show. Comments have been very negative toward Sr for this and could backfire with a jury deciding the case. I also find it interesting that Jr owns 20% and still gets fired by Sr. It would seem to me that Jr should be getting a 20% share of the profits that OCC generates. I am very interested in following this story.
This show needs to end soon and it gets worst and worst. F
Oh well.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thoughts: 18-December-2009
It was a very busy week at work, long studies and lots and lots of data crunching. And I get to go in both days this weekend to boot. I hate December.
The Patriots take on the Bills in Buffalo this Sunday. New England has not won a road game in the U.S.A. this year. Buffalo has a really bad team and their O-Line is the worst in the league. Who will win? The Patriots should by a big score, but I am calling it 14-3 in a very cold and snow filled day in Buffalo.
Dexter (Showtime) had a great season finale. Dexter kills the Trinity Killer, but unknown to him Rita forgot something on her way to the Florida Keys, comes home, and gets killed by Trinity. Dexter finds her in the bathtub dead with his son sitting in a pool of water and blood on the bathroom floor. Great ending for the season, and what will Dexter do? If he calls the cops and they investigate, they will find out about him posing as Kyle Butler when he was stalking Trinity. Can he fake a suicide or will he just get rid of the body or what? I cannot wait for the next season. A
Eastwick (ABC). Watching a cancelled show is kind of boring. While it is watchable enough, you know it will end soon and perhaps with unresolved plot lines. Same deal with Dollhouse (Fox), at least Eastwick is not as bad a show as Craphouse. C
Oh well.
The Patriots take on the Bills in Buffalo this Sunday. New England has not won a road game in the U.S.A. this year. Buffalo has a really bad team and their O-Line is the worst in the league. Who will win? The Patriots should by a big score, but I am calling it 14-3 in a very cold and snow filled day in Buffalo.
Dexter (Showtime) had a great season finale. Dexter kills the Trinity Killer, but unknown to him Rita forgot something on her way to the Florida Keys, comes home, and gets killed by Trinity. Dexter finds her in the bathtub dead with his son sitting in a pool of water and blood on the bathroom floor. Great ending for the season, and what will Dexter do? If he calls the cops and they investigate, they will find out about him posing as Kyle Butler when he was stalking Trinity. Can he fake a suicide or will he just get rid of the body or what? I cannot wait for the next season. A
Eastwick (ABC). Watching a cancelled show is kind of boring. While it is watchable enough, you know it will end soon and perhaps with unresolved plot lines. Same deal with Dollhouse (Fox), at least Eastwick is not as bad a show as Craphouse. C
Oh well.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thoughts: 14-December-2009
Patriots beat the Panthers 20-10 and did not look good doing so. I think that we are going to be looking at an early exit for the Pats in the playoffs.
Marvel Comics is cancelling Ms. Marvel with issue 50. I liked this book, my only complaint was that there were too many tie-ins to the big story lines going on and not enough focus on the character. I always thought that Marvel wanted to make this character their big female superhero icon like Wonder Woman over at DC Comics. Maybe it will be rebooted.
Marvel has not had much like going with a female lead in their comic books. Right now only Spider-Woman is the star of her own book. DC, on the other hand, has Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, and Power Girl as stars of their own books. Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Posion Ivy are featured in Gotham Sirens. And in Detective Comics the lead feature is now Batwoman with a female version of The Question as the second feature. I guess DC has better creative teams for their female characters than Marvel does.
CSI: NY (CBS) had a very clever episode this past week. Someone in the 1930's created a deathtrap in this penthouse to get revenge on someone who cheated him out of his inventions. That person gets killed and the penthouse gets sealed for 100 years and at that point two people break in and get caught in the trap. Very interesting and enjoyable. A
CSI (CBS) had a fun episode where Dr. Jekyll makes his next appearance killing two people. And the birthday adventure in Harry's Hog Heaven was just too funny, I love this episode. A
Dollhouse (Fox). TV.com claims that now that this show is cancelled, it is getting good. I wonder what show they are watching, what I watch is one crappy show after the other. When will they finish broadcasting Craphouse? F
Santa Baby 2 (ABC Family) was the sequel to Jenny McCarthy's turn as Merry Claus, the daughter of Santa who saved Christmas in the first film. This time around, only a couple of actors bothered to come back to reprise their roles, the plot made no sense and was a tad dopier than last time. Should have just rerun the first film rather than make a sequel. D
While watching ABC Family, I did see tons of promos for the old Christmas specials that run quite a bit on this network. Some are classics, some are just okay, and some are unnecessary sequels like Santa Baby 2 and the Miser Brothers Christmas. I saw the latter last year and while it was okay, why did they have to make everyone so nice when they were originally mean?
Oh well.
Marvel Comics is cancelling Ms. Marvel with issue 50. I liked this book, my only complaint was that there were too many tie-ins to the big story lines going on and not enough focus on the character. I always thought that Marvel wanted to make this character their big female superhero icon like Wonder Woman over at DC Comics. Maybe it will be rebooted.
Marvel has not had much like going with a female lead in their comic books. Right now only Spider-Woman is the star of her own book. DC, on the other hand, has Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, and Power Girl as stars of their own books. Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Posion Ivy are featured in Gotham Sirens. And in Detective Comics the lead feature is now Batwoman with a female version of The Question as the second feature. I guess DC has better creative teams for their female characters than Marvel does.
CSI: NY (CBS) had a very clever episode this past week. Someone in the 1930's created a deathtrap in this penthouse to get revenge on someone who cheated him out of his inventions. That person gets killed and the penthouse gets sealed for 100 years and at that point two people break in and get caught in the trap. Very interesting and enjoyable. A
CSI (CBS) had a fun episode where Dr. Jekyll makes his next appearance killing two people. And the birthday adventure in Harry's Hog Heaven was just too funny, I love this episode. A
Dollhouse (Fox). TV.com claims that now that this show is cancelled, it is getting good. I wonder what show they are watching, what I watch is one crappy show after the other. When will they finish broadcasting Craphouse? F
Santa Baby 2 (ABC Family) was the sequel to Jenny McCarthy's turn as Merry Claus, the daughter of Santa who saved Christmas in the first film. This time around, only a couple of actors bothered to come back to reprise their roles, the plot made no sense and was a tad dopier than last time. Should have just rerun the first film rather than make a sequel. D
While watching ABC Family, I did see tons of promos for the old Christmas specials that run quite a bit on this network. Some are classics, some are just okay, and some are unnecessary sequels like Santa Baby 2 and the Miser Brothers Christmas. I saw the latter last year and while it was okay, why did they have to make everyone so nice when they were originally mean?
Oh well.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thoughts: 11-December-2009
I have to go in this weekend and work both days. Just a couple of hours each day, but a drag to have to do it. Get to do it again next weekend.
The Patriots take on the Panthers at home this weekend. The Panthers are a pretty bad team but the way the Patriots have been playing who knows? I will go with New England, 21-7.
Penn State will be traveling to the Capital One Bowl to take on LSU. This is a pretty good team for the Nittany Lions to play, I remember how last year USC manhandled them in the Rose Bowl. I don't think that Penn State will have an easy time of it, hope that I am wrong.
TV is winding down for the year as most shows are going on hiatus before the holidays. For some reason TLC is showing some very depressing episodes of American Chopper which really do not fit in with the season. Fox is burning off Dollhouse episodes, cannot blame them there.
Fringe (Fox). This season has been very good, great shows that are getting bad ratings because Fox decided to air Fringe on Thursday at 9 pm. What they should do, is rerun episodes on a different night, say Tuesday at 9 pm, and then start showing new episodes in 2010 at that time. Why Fox is wasting such a good show in a bad time slot is beyond me. A
Dexter (Showtime) has its season finale this Sunday and it is going to be good. This show gets better and better, and has been renewed for another season. A
Oh well.
The Patriots take on the Panthers at home this weekend. The Panthers are a pretty bad team but the way the Patriots have been playing who knows? I will go with New England, 21-7.
Penn State will be traveling to the Capital One Bowl to take on LSU. This is a pretty good team for the Nittany Lions to play, I remember how last year USC manhandled them in the Rose Bowl. I don't think that Penn State will have an easy time of it, hope that I am wrong.
TV is winding down for the year as most shows are going on hiatus before the holidays. For some reason TLC is showing some very depressing episodes of American Chopper which really do not fit in with the season. Fox is burning off Dollhouse episodes, cannot blame them there.
Fringe (Fox). This season has been very good, great shows that are getting bad ratings because Fox decided to air Fringe on Thursday at 9 pm. What they should do, is rerun episodes on a different night, say Tuesday at 9 pm, and then start showing new episodes in 2010 at that time. Why Fox is wasting such a good show in a bad time slot is beyond me. A
Dexter (Showtime) has its season finale this Sunday and it is going to be good. This show gets better and better, and has been renewed for another season. A
Oh well.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thoughts: 08-December-2009
Theatermania.com reports that As the World Turns will be signing off Sept 2010. The only two soap operas my mother (80 years old) watched was this and the Guiding Light which bit the dust this past September. Why are these two soap operas are getting the ax and not all of them? Who watches them other than senior citizens in their 70's? I know of nobody in my generation who watches them, and none of the younger kids are.
Desperate Housewives (ABC) had its 2009 last new episode which was the plane crash into Wisteria Lane. Bree, Orson, and Carl were battling in Santa Claus' house when the plane crashed into it, my guess is that Bree lives and Orson and Carl get killed. Kyle Mclaughlin has been wasted this system and I don't really care about Carl. Bree will feel tremendous guilt over the death of her husband and lover. The nurse who showed up three episodes ago who tried to blackmail Angie out of $67,000 was the first to get hit by the plane, my guess she is dead. TV.com speculated that Lynette in saving one of Gabrielle's kids loses the twins. If that is true, that would end a very bad and awkward subplot that I did not care for. Catherine (another waste of a good actress aka Dana Delaney) gets committed by her daughter and could be the end of that subplot. Overall not bad, but I hate waiting until the end of January to find out who is still alive. C
Carrie Underwood, A holiday special (Fox) was on last night. Most of the show focused on Underwood and her music. I was expecting more Christmas songs and more duets with Kristin Chenoweth and Christina Applegate (who was very good in the musical number she did, I can see why she got a Tony nomination). Too much American Idol promotion and I loved how they did not mention Kristin's Emmy for Pushing Daises or what show (on ABC) that Christina won her TV Guide award. And come on, Kristin could not be allowed to do one duet with Dolly Parton in a two hour show? I felt that Underwood, in her first TV special, was not secure enough to let her co-stars do more. Underwood had some nice bits, thought she was a tad awkward about the gay jokes, and has a great voice. Her duets with Dolly Parton were very nice. B
Oh well.
Desperate Housewives (ABC) had its 2009 last new episode which was the plane crash into Wisteria Lane. Bree, Orson, and Carl were battling in Santa Claus' house when the plane crashed into it, my guess is that Bree lives and Orson and Carl get killed. Kyle Mclaughlin has been wasted this system and I don't really care about Carl. Bree will feel tremendous guilt over the death of her husband and lover. The nurse who showed up three episodes ago who tried to blackmail Angie out of $67,000 was the first to get hit by the plane, my guess she is dead. TV.com speculated that Lynette in saving one of Gabrielle's kids loses the twins. If that is true, that would end a very bad and awkward subplot that I did not care for. Catherine (another waste of a good actress aka Dana Delaney) gets committed by her daughter and could be the end of that subplot. Overall not bad, but I hate waiting until the end of January to find out who is still alive. C
Carrie Underwood, A holiday special (Fox) was on last night. Most of the show focused on Underwood and her music. I was expecting more Christmas songs and more duets with Kristin Chenoweth and Christina Applegate (who was very good in the musical number she did, I can see why she got a Tony nomination). Too much American Idol promotion and I loved how they did not mention Kristin's Emmy for Pushing Daises or what show (on ABC) that Christina won her TV Guide award. And come on, Kristin could not be allowed to do one duet with Dolly Parton in a two hour show? I felt that Underwood, in her first TV special, was not secure enough to let her co-stars do more. Underwood had some nice bits, thought she was a tad awkward about the gay jokes, and has a great voice. Her duets with Dolly Parton were very nice. B
Oh well.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thoughts: 07-December-2009
Dec. 7, 1941 A Day that shall live in infamy.
Patriots lose to the Dolphin 22-21 blowing a big lead in the fourth quarter. These are the games that the Patriots must win, no excuses to lose to the Dolphins. While I still expect the Patriots to go to the playoffs, I am now expecting an exit by them in the first round.
Private Practice (ABC) had back to back episodes this past Thursday. Who comes up with these dumb plots is beyond me. Addison's father has affairs because his wife is gay and has a live in lover to take care of her. Cooper, who is the biggest asshole ever, should be on his knees thanking God that a great lady like Charlotte would want to be with him, instead of being bent out of shape that she did not tell him that she was previously married. Yeah Coop, she used to be married and you used to troll for sex on the internet, who is the class act in this picture? Bratty teenagers, meth addicted moms who blow up themselves and their homes, just one barrel of laughs after another on this show. Hard to believe that these characters are doctors in their 40's. F
American Chopper (TLC) had one of the worst episodes I ever saw this past week. They build a theme bike for the Iraqi Star Foundation who pays for plastic surgery for disfigured vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Now when Paul Jr. was with OCC, he would have designed and build a great bike with lots of fabrication. Instead, we get a house bike with a simple desert army paint job. No fabrication that I could see, and Robb who usually does a great paint job, just did a fairly simple job. And Sr. bitches how he cannot understand why Jr. and Mikey do not want to build bikes for a great cause like this. Again, you slap a bike together without any creativity and while the auction raised 100 grand it had to come from Sr., Dr. Phil, Gary Sinise, and Jon Vought. I doubt that anybody else would have bid on this bike. Then TLC ruins a plot development that happened in the last minute of the show, by running a commercial telling us that Mikey was in rehab. Unbelievable. F
12 Men of Christmas (Lifetime) was a nice fell good Christmas movie with Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Hopkins who was on Pepper Dennis (last new series on the WB before it merged with UPN and was very underrated). Nice chemistry and I always like seeing Kristin perform. B
Cold Case (CBS). This show pretty much follows a formula where the cases get solved with a lot of luck and the murderers usually end up confessing. The reason I mention this today was because of a line in yesterday's show that made me laugh out loud. This kid, who is on a prep school debate team, comes home to his dad suffering from PTSD and using beer and pills to deal with it. He asks his son if he ate and the son replies that he had sushi. The father says, that is not a real meal, want me to fry you up some scrapple. Scrapple, a real meal! LOL Growing up in PA, I have seen this "food" offered at rural diners and low cost restaurants and have never been able to figure out what the hell is is made of. Some meat products from the pig, some corn meal, and something else mixed together to make a patty. People eat it with maple syrup, or with ketchup, or with steak sauce, or well I guess about anything you can think of. I have no desire to eat that stuff and still find it funny that they mentioned it on Cold Case. B
Oh well.
Patriots lose to the Dolphin 22-21 blowing a big lead in the fourth quarter. These are the games that the Patriots must win, no excuses to lose to the Dolphins. While I still expect the Patriots to go to the playoffs, I am now expecting an exit by them in the first round.
Private Practice (ABC) had back to back episodes this past Thursday. Who comes up with these dumb plots is beyond me. Addison's father has affairs because his wife is gay and has a live in lover to take care of her. Cooper, who is the biggest asshole ever, should be on his knees thanking God that a great lady like Charlotte would want to be with him, instead of being bent out of shape that she did not tell him that she was previously married. Yeah Coop, she used to be married and you used to troll for sex on the internet, who is the class act in this picture? Bratty teenagers, meth addicted moms who blow up themselves and their homes, just one barrel of laughs after another on this show. Hard to believe that these characters are doctors in their 40's. F
American Chopper (TLC) had one of the worst episodes I ever saw this past week. They build a theme bike for the Iraqi Star Foundation who pays for plastic surgery for disfigured vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Now when Paul Jr. was with OCC, he would have designed and build a great bike with lots of fabrication. Instead, we get a house bike with a simple desert army paint job. No fabrication that I could see, and Robb who usually does a great paint job, just did a fairly simple job. And Sr. bitches how he cannot understand why Jr. and Mikey do not want to build bikes for a great cause like this. Again, you slap a bike together without any creativity and while the auction raised 100 grand it had to come from Sr., Dr. Phil, Gary Sinise, and Jon Vought. I doubt that anybody else would have bid on this bike. Then TLC ruins a plot development that happened in the last minute of the show, by running a commercial telling us that Mikey was in rehab. Unbelievable. F
12 Men of Christmas (Lifetime) was a nice fell good Christmas movie with Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Hopkins who was on Pepper Dennis (last new series on the WB before it merged with UPN and was very underrated). Nice chemistry and I always like seeing Kristin perform. B
Cold Case (CBS). This show pretty much follows a formula where the cases get solved with a lot of luck and the murderers usually end up confessing. The reason I mention this today was because of a line in yesterday's show that made me laugh out loud. This kid, who is on a prep school debate team, comes home to his dad suffering from PTSD and using beer and pills to deal with it. He asks his son if he ate and the son replies that he had sushi. The father says, that is not a real meal, want me to fry you up some scrapple. Scrapple, a real meal! LOL Growing up in PA, I have seen this "food" offered at rural diners and low cost restaurants and have never been able to figure out what the hell is is made of. Some meat products from the pig, some corn meal, and something else mixed together to make a patty. People eat it with maple syrup, or with ketchup, or with steak sauce, or well I guess about anything you can think of. I have no desire to eat that stuff and still find it funny that they mentioned it on Cold Case. B
Oh well.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thoughts: 05-December-2009
I have to enjoy this weekend, the next two weekends I have to go into work. Ugh.
Three Fictional Characters that inspire me and why:
1. Walter Bishop from Fringe: I love the way he is stimulated by the joy and love of scientific discovery and that he gets results by doing it his way. Granted he was a skewed view of reality and tends to say what he thinks. That makes him more of a real person to me. Best scientist on TV ever. Though I do like the Doctor (Time Lord from Gallifrey) and John Hood from the Eleventh Hour.
2. Edgewood Dirk from the Magic Kingdom of Landover series: A Prism cat who had powerful magics at this disposal, tends to provide information in such a way that the person he is trying to help needs to figure it out on their own, which is the best route to go, and he is a cat. I love cats even though I am very allergic to them. I wish a Prism cat would help me out through life's dilemmas.
3. Wally from Dilbert: A lazy non working employee at the company Dilbert and crew work at, he learned how to play the game. Drink coffee, evade doing the worthless tasks set before you, and go with the flow. I wish I could adapt Wally's nonchalance at my job, things would go a lot better for me as I would not get so worked up at the dumb stuff that they make us do that detract from real work.
Real life Scientist who are my inspiration: Robert Ballard and Stephen Jay Gould.
Monk (USA) had its series finale last night. Trudy's murder is solved and the guilty party is punished, if only Monk had opened her last gift to him years ago. Everyone has a happy ending, and Monk with Natalie will continue to solve crime in San Fransisco. A
White Collar (USA) had its fall finale last night, will return in January. Great cliffhanger that I did not see coming. I cannot wait until January to see how it gets resolved. A
Burn Notice, Psych, and White Collar return to USA in January, The Closer starts a three episode arc this Monday on TNT. Lots of good stuff coming on.
Kristin Chenoweth has a Christmas movie on Lifetime tonight, 12 Men of Christmas. She also appears on the Carrie Underwood Christmas special this Monday on Fox. My heart is overjoyed at getting to see Kristin in two new TV outings. I also see that she will be back on Broadway March 2010 in Promises, Promises. Also will be reprising her guest role on an episode of Glee next year. I also see that Entertainment Weekly named Wicked the best stage musical of the decade, a show I got to see Kristin in and and which made me a big fan of hers. Now Hollywood, let's get Kristin and Indina Menzel and make the film version already.
Robin Hood (BBC America) comes to an end tonight. Great show, sad that it will end so soon.
Oh well.
Three Fictional Characters that inspire me and why:
1. Walter Bishop from Fringe: I love the way he is stimulated by the joy and love of scientific discovery and that he gets results by doing it his way. Granted he was a skewed view of reality and tends to say what he thinks. That makes him more of a real person to me. Best scientist on TV ever. Though I do like the Doctor (Time Lord from Gallifrey) and John Hood from the Eleventh Hour.
2. Edgewood Dirk from the Magic Kingdom of Landover series: A Prism cat who had powerful magics at this disposal, tends to provide information in such a way that the person he is trying to help needs to figure it out on their own, which is the best route to go, and he is a cat. I love cats even though I am very allergic to them. I wish a Prism cat would help me out through life's dilemmas.
3. Wally from Dilbert: A lazy non working employee at the company Dilbert and crew work at, he learned how to play the game. Drink coffee, evade doing the worthless tasks set before you, and go with the flow. I wish I could adapt Wally's nonchalance at my job, things would go a lot better for me as I would not get so worked up at the dumb stuff that they make us do that detract from real work.
Real life Scientist who are my inspiration: Robert Ballard and Stephen Jay Gould.
Monk (USA) had its series finale last night. Trudy's murder is solved and the guilty party is punished, if only Monk had opened her last gift to him years ago. Everyone has a happy ending, and Monk with Natalie will continue to solve crime in San Fransisco. A
White Collar (USA) had its fall finale last night, will return in January. Great cliffhanger that I did not see coming. I cannot wait until January to see how it gets resolved. A
Burn Notice, Psych, and White Collar return to USA in January, The Closer starts a three episode arc this Monday on TNT. Lots of good stuff coming on.
Kristin Chenoweth has a Christmas movie on Lifetime tonight, 12 Men of Christmas. She also appears on the Carrie Underwood Christmas special this Monday on Fox. My heart is overjoyed at getting to see Kristin in two new TV outings. I also see that she will be back on Broadway March 2010 in Promises, Promises. Also will be reprising her guest role on an episode of Glee next year. I also see that Entertainment Weekly named Wicked the best stage musical of the decade, a show I got to see Kristin in and and which made me a big fan of hers. Now Hollywood, let's get Kristin and Indina Menzel and make the film version already.
Robin Hood (BBC America) comes to an end tonight. Great show, sad that it will end so soon.
Oh well.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thoughts: 04-December-2009
The Patriots open up a four game stretch of easy opponents in December starting with the Dolphins at Miami, Panthers at home, the Bills in Buffalo, and the Jaguars at home. This team should and needs to go 4-0 with this schedule. I like the Patriots to rebound after the loss to New Orleans to win their first real road game 38-3. I do not count the win in the UK over Tampa Bay as a real road game as neither team had a home field advantage.
Marvel Comics cancels Son of Hulk with issue 17 and War Machine with issue 12 coming out next week. Son of Hulk followed the adventures first of Skaar and then his twin whose name alludes me on planet Hulk. Skaar is now battling and working with his father, Bruce Banner aka the Hulk in the Incredible Hulk while his twin will show up in a new series in Feb. I never cared for the book or the characters, I do like Skaar better in the Incredible Hulk series, the twin could care less.
War Machine on the other hand, is a character who was in his own series previously and a member of the West Coast Avengers when that book was around. With the Iron Man 2 due out next year, I am surprised that Marvel did not make better use of this character. The book was a bit boring and the character unrecognizable from previous runs. Not going to miss this book at all.
TNT canceled Raising the Bar after two seasons according to TV.com. I liked the series and the interplay between the DAs and Public Defenders. Too bad, given that Private Practice (ABC) is still on the air.
Last night I recorded back to back new episodes of Private Practice to watch over the weekend. This viewing pleasure will be joined by back to back new episodes of Dollhouse (Fox). Four hours of crap TV, at least I am warmed by the fact that Fox has cancelled CrapHouse.
Sons of Anarchy (FX) had its season finale and what a way to end the season. Gemma on the lam from the police after killing Zobelle's daughter. Jak's son kidnapped by one of the IRA gun runners. What a great show, and it has been renewed for two more seasons. Check it out on DVD if you have not seen this great show. A
I read A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks, the latest book in the Magic Kingdom of Landover series. I had read the previous five books in the series and enjoyed them alot. So it was ten years ago that the last book had been written when I read this newest book. I did not care for the main character of the Mistaya Holiday at first, I thought she was a teenage brat who needed a can of whoop ass opened up on her. Then I saw why Brooks wrote the character the way he did, so that we can see her grow and become a more mature and better person as a result of her trials and tribulations. My favorite character in the series, Edgewood Dirk, a Prism Cat, has a big role in the book. I thought that folks were talking a bit mean about him, they seem to want him to just give out the answers to all the problems instead of allowing the person to learn and reach their own solution. I also like Strabo the Dragon and he was used quite well in this book. All in all a good read and Brooks sets up the return of Nightshade in the conclusion of the book. B
My three favorite characters who inspire me:
Walter Bishop from Fringe
Edgewood Dirk from the Magic Kingdom of Landover series
Wally from the Dilbert Comic strips.
Why, that is to be continued.
Oh well.
Marvel Comics cancels Son of Hulk with issue 17 and War Machine with issue 12 coming out next week. Son of Hulk followed the adventures first of Skaar and then his twin whose name alludes me on planet Hulk. Skaar is now battling and working with his father, Bruce Banner aka the Hulk in the Incredible Hulk while his twin will show up in a new series in Feb. I never cared for the book or the characters, I do like Skaar better in the Incredible Hulk series, the twin could care less.
War Machine on the other hand, is a character who was in his own series previously and a member of the West Coast Avengers when that book was around. With the Iron Man 2 due out next year, I am surprised that Marvel did not make better use of this character. The book was a bit boring and the character unrecognizable from previous runs. Not going to miss this book at all.
TNT canceled Raising the Bar after two seasons according to TV.com. I liked the series and the interplay between the DAs and Public Defenders. Too bad, given that Private Practice (ABC) is still on the air.
Last night I recorded back to back new episodes of Private Practice to watch over the weekend. This viewing pleasure will be joined by back to back new episodes of Dollhouse (Fox). Four hours of crap TV, at least I am warmed by the fact that Fox has cancelled CrapHouse.
Sons of Anarchy (FX) had its season finale and what a way to end the season. Gemma on the lam from the police after killing Zobelle's daughter. Jak's son kidnapped by one of the IRA gun runners. What a great show, and it has been renewed for two more seasons. Check it out on DVD if you have not seen this great show. A
I read A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks, the latest book in the Magic Kingdom of Landover series. I had read the previous five books in the series and enjoyed them alot. So it was ten years ago that the last book had been written when I read this newest book. I did not care for the main character of the Mistaya Holiday at first, I thought she was a teenage brat who needed a can of whoop ass opened up on her. Then I saw why Brooks wrote the character the way he did, so that we can see her grow and become a more mature and better person as a result of her trials and tribulations. My favorite character in the series, Edgewood Dirk, a Prism Cat, has a big role in the book. I thought that folks were talking a bit mean about him, they seem to want him to just give out the answers to all the problems instead of allowing the person to learn and reach their own solution. I also like Strabo the Dragon and he was used quite well in this book. All in all a good read and Brooks sets up the return of Nightshade in the conclusion of the book. B
My three favorite characters who inspire me:
Walter Bishop from Fringe
Edgewood Dirk from the Magic Kingdom of Landover series
Wally from the Dilbert Comic strips.
Why, that is to be continued.
Oh well.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thoughts: 01-December-2009
The Saints beat the Patriots 38-17 and look like the team to beat this year. I do not see anybody beating them in the NFC and the Colts look like crap compared to the Saints.
Bobby Bowden, the FSU head football coach, retires withe 388 wins. Joe Paterno has 393 wins and I am betting that he retires in two years, after he builds a nice little 20 game cushion over Bowden. I know that both coaches say the record is not important to them, but in the current College Football climate, nobody is going to have the longevity of Bowden and Paterno.
Charlie Weiss was fired as the head football coach at Notre Dame. I predict that he will be back in the NFL next year as an OC for somebody. Look for big improvements in that team's offense.
Not too much to say about TV. Nothing is really outstandingly bad or good enough to blog about.
CBS is putting Three Rivers on hiatus for a bit, Cold Case will start airing at 9 pm on Sunday. Does not look good for Three Rivers to be renewed.
Oh well.
Bobby Bowden, the FSU head football coach, retires withe 388 wins. Joe Paterno has 393 wins and I am betting that he retires in two years, after he builds a nice little 20 game cushion over Bowden. I know that both coaches say the record is not important to them, but in the current College Football climate, nobody is going to have the longevity of Bowden and Paterno.
Charlie Weiss was fired as the head football coach at Notre Dame. I predict that he will be back in the NFL next year as an OC for somebody. Look for big improvements in that team's offense.
Not too much to say about TV. Nothing is really outstandingly bad or good enough to blog about.
CBS is putting Three Rivers on hiatus for a bit, Cold Case will start airing at 9 pm on Sunday. Does not look good for Three Rivers to be renewed.
Oh well.
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