Whew. I hope that the three or four of you that actual read my blog didn't start worrying about my absence. I have finished my last Masters assignment for this winter term. I must say it was quite an intensive term and now I only have TWO more classes left.
Unfortunately, I have a stack of marking staring at me that has piled up since my two week focus on my school work. *sigh* Only three more days of class.
Let's see, not a lot of TV out there. I got so desperate last week that I ended up watching one episode of Deal or No Deal. Sad isn't it?
Our hockey team is a smashing success right now and the guys are playing well. I am proud to be the third leading scorer on the team. Check out my stats. Watch out Vancouver Canucks here I come. I do find that in the third year of hockey that I have improved a bit. One day I will have a slapshot. One day.
I am pretty tired and I will be flying to Atlanta to stay with Mina's family (her brother lives there). I will be taking in one Atlanta Hawks game, where the tickets are ridiculously cheap. I wish I had time to see a Thrashers game as well, but we only have time to see one game. I will also try to visit the Coca-Cola factory wearing all Pepsi paraphernalia. I also hope to bump into Ted Turner and give him my best "This is CNN." impression.
I am pretty beat tired so I leave you with these three links.
The first one is to the NEW Batman trailer. I cannot remember the last time I anticipated a movie like this. Maybe Return of the King?
The next one is the sweet international poster they have released for the movie.
Lastly, this is a sweet little video (thanks EW magazine!) involving Snape, Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine as puppets. You have to check it out.
Hope all of you are well in respective lands.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
More "Dark Knight" madness...
This is one of the coolest teaser trailer posters I have seen in a long time.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Inspirational Speech...
I was just reading excerpts from The Sports Guy's length 8 hour marathon chat session on ESPN and it linked to this great speech from Jim Valvano, the former coach of NC State, who upset University of Houston (Hakeen the Dream!) in the 1983 NCAA tourney.
Jim Valvano had cancer when he gave this speech accepting the ESPY Arthur Ashe Award in 1993. I remember seeing a clip of it (we didn't get ESPN live feeds back then) and after viewing it again, it is a nice reminder of the things that are important in our lives. Enjoy.
Click here.
Jim Valvano had cancer when he gave this speech accepting the ESPY Arthur Ashe Award in 1993. I remember seeing a clip of it (we didn't get ESPN live feeds back then) and after viewing it again, it is a nice reminder of the things that are important in our lives. Enjoy.
Click here.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Juicy Pic of the Joker...
I have always liked comic books. There I said it. In the year of the geek, an announcement like this is nothing to be ashamed of. Before I continue, I would like to be clear that I love books. I love reading. I enjoy good literature.
However, I always thought comics were unjustifiably put down by the general public. I only really got into comics in grade seven. That was the year when Batman The Movie came out. The one directed by Tim Burton. The one with the comical Joker played by Jack Nicholson. The one that I thought miscast Michael Keaton, but after viewing the movie, thought that he did a good job. I remember going to see that movie with my dad and afterwards he bought me a graphic novel called "The Dark Knight Returns".
This story written by Frank Miller (of "300" and "Sin City" fame) was about Batman returning back as a old man set in an apocalyptic future set in Gotham City. I never knew comics could be so dark and create such a complex story full of character development. Miller's Batman was an enigma, wracked with psychological despair from witnessing his parent's murder. Through the rejuvenation of his crime fighting career, we witness Batman's unwavering vision of his truth ultimately juxtaposed against the American virtues embodied by Superman. Plus Batman and Superman's fight kicks some massive butt.
There are so many complex issues tackled in this seminal work in terms of graphic novels. The grim tone and story structure has been mimicked and aped by so many other comic writers since.
I know comics are purely fantasy, but the best comics tackle the same sort of themes that, dare I say, Shakespeare does. Doing the right thing? Spiderman. Prejudice? X-Men. Tragic love? Daredevil and Elektra. It is no mistake that some of today's most popular shows are simply stealing ideas from comics. And the popularity of shows like Lost and Heroes, simply proves that the themes from comics speak to people. And the improvement of special effects has allowed the visions of Stan Lee (this guy is THE MAN when it comes to comics... can you believe he created The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, X-Men AND Spiderman... what a resume!) to flourish on the screen. Spiderman and X-men proved to be a box office hit.
Which brings me to "Batman Begins". The Batman franchise was ruined by Joel Schumacher and no one remembers the ugly mess that involved George Clooney as Batman. I mean, that Batman suit had nipples! When I learned that Christopher Nolan was restarting the franchise I was excited. When Christian Bale was cast as Bruce Wayne, I became very eager to see this movie. It did not disappoint. "Batman Begins" took a nod from the dark tones of "The Dark Knight Returns" and presented a troubled character who would become a hero. An obsessed person who wanted to make sure his brand of vigilante justice was applied to the criminals of Gotham City. It was the type of Batman movie I had always wanted to see. I liked how Batman wasn't a Boy Scout like Superman. I liked how Christopher Nolan clearly knew he was making a comic book movie, but rooted it an environment that seemed perfectly plausible that a guy with a cape could exist.
"Batman Begins" is my favourite superhero movie. I could go on and on about all the nuances that I love about this movie. I am highly excited for next summer's "Dark Knight" the sequel to "Batman Begins". I love that Christopher Nolan and the rest of the cast are back. I find the title perfect. And I highly anticipate that Joker will be the evil, psychotic villain that I read about, not the campy version portrayed by Jack Nicholson.
This entire blog is a roundabout way to say that you have to check out this picture that shows the promise that "Dark Knight" will not disappoint. Heath Ledger as Joker looks simply too cool.
I will now unplug my geekiness and return to my normal life.
However, I always thought comics were unjustifiably put down by the general public. I only really got into comics in grade seven. That was the year when Batman The Movie came out. The one directed by Tim Burton. The one with the comical Joker played by Jack Nicholson. The one that I thought miscast Michael Keaton, but after viewing the movie, thought that he did a good job. I remember going to see that movie with my dad and afterwards he bought me a graphic novel called "The Dark Knight Returns".
This story written by Frank Miller (of "300" and "Sin City" fame) was about Batman returning back as a old man set in an apocalyptic future set in Gotham City. I never knew comics could be so dark and create such a complex story full of character development. Miller's Batman was an enigma, wracked with psychological despair from witnessing his parent's murder. Through the rejuvenation of his crime fighting career, we witness Batman's unwavering vision of his truth ultimately juxtaposed against the American virtues embodied by Superman. Plus Batman and Superman's fight kicks some massive butt.
There are so many complex issues tackled in this seminal work in terms of graphic novels. The grim tone and story structure has been mimicked and aped by so many other comic writers since.
I know comics are purely fantasy, but the best comics tackle the same sort of themes that, dare I say, Shakespeare does. Doing the right thing? Spiderman. Prejudice? X-Men. Tragic love? Daredevil and Elektra. It is no mistake that some of today's most popular shows are simply stealing ideas from comics. And the popularity of shows like Lost and Heroes, simply proves that the themes from comics speak to people. And the improvement of special effects has allowed the visions of Stan Lee (this guy is THE MAN when it comes to comics... can you believe he created The Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, X-Men AND Spiderman... what a resume!) to flourish on the screen. Spiderman and X-men proved to be a box office hit.
Which brings me to "Batman Begins". The Batman franchise was ruined by Joel Schumacher and no one remembers the ugly mess that involved George Clooney as Batman. I mean, that Batman suit had nipples! When I learned that Christopher Nolan was restarting the franchise I was excited. When Christian Bale was cast as Bruce Wayne, I became very eager to see this movie. It did not disappoint. "Batman Begins" took a nod from the dark tones of "The Dark Knight Returns" and presented a troubled character who would become a hero. An obsessed person who wanted to make sure his brand of vigilante justice was applied to the criminals of Gotham City. It was the type of Batman movie I had always wanted to see. I liked how Batman wasn't a Boy Scout like Superman. I liked how Christopher Nolan clearly knew he was making a comic book movie, but rooted it an environment that seemed perfectly plausible that a guy with a cape could exist.
"Batman Begins" is my favourite superhero movie. I could go on and on about all the nuances that I love about this movie. I am highly excited for next summer's "Dark Knight" the sequel to "Batman Begins". I love that Christopher Nolan and the rest of the cast are back. I find the title perfect. And I highly anticipate that Joker will be the evil, psychotic villain that I read about, not the campy version portrayed by Jack Nicholson.
This entire blog is a roundabout way to say that you have to check out this picture that shows the promise that "Dark Knight" will not disappoint. Heath Ledger as Joker looks simply too cool.
I will now unplug my geekiness and return to my normal life.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Greatest Band Halftime show ever...
Just stumbled across this halftime show by the band from Cal.
See if you can recognize the different games... I believe there are six of them. The only problem with the video is it is filmed from the wrong side of the field.
(Click on the title of this blog for the link)
See if you can recognize the different games... I believe there are six of them. The only problem with the video is it is filmed from the wrong side of the field.
(Click on the title of this blog for the link)
Friday, November 23, 2007
Alternative choices...
Hello everyone out there. I hope your American Thanksgiving was swell. I only wish I could have participated in the Black Friday shopping madness.
I am getting a little nervous after realizing the writer's strike is sucking humour out of my life. Thursday brought no new episodes of 30 Rock, The Office, and My Name is Earl. I feel especially bad for 30 Rock, because it had the makings of a MVP season. I liken it to the baseball strike back in 1994 when the Montreal Expos were in first place. The strike occurred and the franchise was never the same. Bye bye Pedro. Bye bye Larry. Good-bye Expos.
I hope 30 Rock can continue the magic.
I feel the threat of no new television episodes on the horizon, which would mean I would have to find something else to fill my time. I came up with a possible list of what that may entail:
1) Phone people I haven't talked to in a long time. Come to the realization that I can actual interact with real people that were formerly important to me.
2) Use email instead to contact those "friends" after they repeatedly ignore my calls.
3) Contact former students and try to hang out with them.
4) Follow those same former students around in my car after they avoid me for weeks on end.
5) Go watch a movie instead. That "Enchanted" movie looks attractive, only because McDreamy is in it. And I just wrote that, so I could write "McDreamy", which I think is one of the stupidest monikers of all time. Does that even make sense? How does McDonald's and someone who is hot, come together? I don't want to think of lard and fat when thinking about someone that is hot.
6) Take up knitting.
7) Build a gingerbread house. Then eat it. I like this one.
8) Write my pointless thoughts and drivel out in a communicative form that sporadically appears on the Internet.
9) Wonder if ABC and Pushing Daisies, purposely putting their female leads into costumes to show major amounts of cleavage, has anything to do with why I might enjoy HiDef so much?
10) Keep carefully protecting my Markus Naslund voodoo doll, which is solely responsible for his returning scoring touch.
Ciao!
I am getting a little nervous after realizing the writer's strike is sucking humour out of my life. Thursday brought no new episodes of 30 Rock, The Office, and My Name is Earl. I feel especially bad for 30 Rock, because it had the makings of a MVP season. I liken it to the baseball strike back in 1994 when the Montreal Expos were in first place. The strike occurred and the franchise was never the same. Bye bye Pedro. Bye bye Larry. Good-bye Expos.
I hope 30 Rock can continue the magic.
I feel the threat of no new television episodes on the horizon, which would mean I would have to find something else to fill my time. I came up with a possible list of what that may entail:
1) Phone people I haven't talked to in a long time. Come to the realization that I can actual interact with real people that were formerly important to me.
2) Use email instead to contact those "friends" after they repeatedly ignore my calls.
3) Contact former students and try to hang out with them.
4) Follow those same former students around in my car after they avoid me for weeks on end.
5) Go watch a movie instead. That "Enchanted" movie looks attractive, only because McDreamy is in it. And I just wrote that, so I could write "McDreamy", which I think is one of the stupidest monikers of all time. Does that even make sense? How does McDonald's and someone who is hot, come together? I don't want to think of lard and fat when thinking about someone that is hot.
6) Take up knitting.
7) Build a gingerbread house. Then eat it. I like this one.
8) Write my pointless thoughts and drivel out in a communicative form that sporadically appears on the Internet.
9) Wonder if ABC and Pushing Daisies, purposely putting their female leads into costumes to show major amounts of cleavage, has anything to do with why I might enjoy HiDef so much?
10) Keep carefully protecting my Markus Naslund voodoo doll, which is solely responsible for his returning scoring touch.
Ciao!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Enjoying your long weekend...
Hope all of you are doing well on this long weekend. Remembrance Day is one of my favourite times, because I love reading about all of the stories of people who had so much courage in difficult times. It saddens me to think that there are not many surviving WWII veterans. I always feel a bit emotional reading all of the different celebrations across Canada and I wonder if I wisely use the freedoms afforded to me.
From "freedom" to "free", I have been reading about intellectual property, especially when it comes to music. If you want a good read try reading about this one person's view about the music industry and the shut down of the #1 file sharing site Oink's.
Another good article is one published by a music industry guy from three years back.
Enjoy if you have some free time to spare.
From "freedom" to "free", I have been reading about intellectual property, especially when it comes to music. If you want a good read try reading about this one person's view about the music industry and the shut down of the #1 file sharing site Oink's.
Another good article is one published by a music industry guy from three years back.
Enjoy if you have some free time to spare.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Long time no post...
Sorry I haven't written anything in awhile. I was sick all weekend feeling BLAH. Probably from all the candy that I stole from all the kids trick or treating during Halloween.
Also, time will be freed up after the jr boys volleyball season winds down. I think I may be up for coach of the year after having a winless season until last week, where we managed to win two games (there are only five teams in the district!) and somehow end up with the third seed in playoffs due to a tiebreak won because of sets won. This meant we avoided an extra playoff game and entered into the playoffs against the #2 seed. We hadn't beaten Burnaby North all year and we dropped the first two sets in the best of five. Somehow we stormed back to win three straight and now on Friday we are playing the number 1 seed for all the marbles.
OK that was a complex paragraph to explain what I have been up to.
Just thought I would update a couple of things that I have been watching and then I will try to do a nice big post this upcoming long weekend. (I have such a soft spot for Remembrance Day... I hope we can continue to honour so many of the true heroes from the past.)
Sunday:
Desperate Housewives: I personally think this has been a great season, much like season 1. There have been pretty good subplots and all the women are in fine form. The big bonus is Susan Myers is not annoying this year, but rather goofy in an endearing way. Every time I see Eva Longoria, I wonder how Tony Parker can even focus on basketball.
Monday:
Heroes: This week it finally turned a corner by presenting the big problem. The only nice connection was Peter and Adam (Kensei) at the end. Is it too late to save this show? Ratings have plummeted and fans have been angry. For sure, this show is in a sophomore jinx. I used to be eager to polish off an episode of Heroes. Not anymore.
Chuck: Glad to see that they talked about Chuck's past with Bryce. Superb choice using my favourite Oasis song, "Don't Look Back in Anger". I like this show. Now will anyone join me in the Morgan Must Go Club?
How I Met Your Mother: I still watch this show because of Barney, but I find I don't laugh out loud like other comedies. Still amusing and the writing pulls of quirky plot transitions and time elapses.
Tuesday:
House: I know some people are growing tired of this show, but this is one show that makes me laugh out loud. I really wish there were more House and Wilson moments, but this week's episode with the double entendres and CIA lies were precious. Thoroughly enjoying this show still.
Pushing Daisies: Where was it this week? Best new show on TV.
Wednesday:
Bionic Woman: BORING! I am done with this show. Nuff said.
Reaper: Getting a bit better. I did like how the Devil was depressed on Halloween.
Gossip Girl: Still my guilty pleasure. Except can shows stop doing the cliche "Mask Party"? Do people really get confused when someone is covering their eyes? Is it that tough to not notice that someone is not your sister? "Hey look I am wearing a mask! Of course you don't know it is me." Enough of this masquerade! (You know you are sick when you start chuckling at your own puns).
Thursday:
MY FAVOURITE NIGHT...
My Name is Earl: Just a rollicking good ride.
The Office: Last week's 30 minute episode felt tighter. This show always delivers the goods.
30 Rock: THE BEST COMEDY that you are not watching. Alec Baldwin is genius. Give him the Emmy after last episode's crazy monologue. I never was a fan of his, but I am now.
Scrubs: It's back! I haven't watched it yet! I am going to keep using exclamations to make a point that is really not there!
Ugly Betty: I really enjoy the Betty-Rocco dynamic and actually good ole Henry is starting to grate on me. He seems like a wuss. More John Cho! And I never thought that Vanessa Williams could be so good in a role. She absolutely nails her character Wilhemina Slater.
Friday:
Friday Night Lights: Landry, Landry, Landry! Landry's storyline was going well and then I forgot about the unspeakable act that he committed. Then I remembered and thought "Damn there goes all the goodwill this show was building back up after a false start to this season." Still I do enjoy my FNL and I think I got Mina hooked after last episode's great arc.
TTYL IMO BFF BRB LOL JK MTFBWY
Rob out.
Also, time will be freed up after the jr boys volleyball season winds down. I think I may be up for coach of the year after having a winless season until last week, where we managed to win two games (there are only five teams in the district!) and somehow end up with the third seed in playoffs due to a tiebreak won because of sets won. This meant we avoided an extra playoff game and entered into the playoffs against the #2 seed. We hadn't beaten Burnaby North all year and we dropped the first two sets in the best of five. Somehow we stormed back to win three straight and now on Friday we are playing the number 1 seed for all the marbles.
OK that was a complex paragraph to explain what I have been up to.
Just thought I would update a couple of things that I have been watching and then I will try to do a nice big post this upcoming long weekend. (I have such a soft spot for Remembrance Day... I hope we can continue to honour so many of the true heroes from the past.)
Sunday:
Desperate Housewives: I personally think this has been a great season, much like season 1. There have been pretty good subplots and all the women are in fine form. The big bonus is Susan Myers is not annoying this year, but rather goofy in an endearing way. Every time I see Eva Longoria, I wonder how Tony Parker can even focus on basketball.
Monday:
Heroes: This week it finally turned a corner by presenting the big problem. The only nice connection was Peter and Adam (Kensei) at the end. Is it too late to save this show? Ratings have plummeted and fans have been angry. For sure, this show is in a sophomore jinx. I used to be eager to polish off an episode of Heroes. Not anymore.
Chuck: Glad to see that they talked about Chuck's past with Bryce. Superb choice using my favourite Oasis song, "Don't Look Back in Anger". I like this show. Now will anyone join me in the Morgan Must Go Club?
How I Met Your Mother: I still watch this show because of Barney, but I find I don't laugh out loud like other comedies. Still amusing and the writing pulls of quirky plot transitions and time elapses.
Tuesday:
House: I know some people are growing tired of this show, but this is one show that makes me laugh out loud. I really wish there were more House and Wilson moments, but this week's episode with the double entendres and CIA lies were precious. Thoroughly enjoying this show still.
Pushing Daisies: Where was it this week? Best new show on TV.
Wednesday:
Bionic Woman: BORING! I am done with this show. Nuff said.
Reaper: Getting a bit better. I did like how the Devil was depressed on Halloween.
Gossip Girl: Still my guilty pleasure. Except can shows stop doing the cliche "Mask Party"? Do people really get confused when someone is covering their eyes? Is it that tough to not notice that someone is not your sister? "Hey look I am wearing a mask! Of course you don't know it is me." Enough of this masquerade! (You know you are sick when you start chuckling at your own puns).
Thursday:
MY FAVOURITE NIGHT...
My Name is Earl: Just a rollicking good ride.
The Office: Last week's 30 minute episode felt tighter. This show always delivers the goods.
30 Rock: THE BEST COMEDY that you are not watching. Alec Baldwin is genius. Give him the Emmy after last episode's crazy monologue. I never was a fan of his, but I am now.
Scrubs: It's back! I haven't watched it yet! I am going to keep using exclamations to make a point that is really not there!
Ugly Betty: I really enjoy the Betty-Rocco dynamic and actually good ole Henry is starting to grate on me. He seems like a wuss. More John Cho! And I never thought that Vanessa Williams could be so good in a role. She absolutely nails her character Wilhemina Slater.
Friday:
Friday Night Lights: Landry, Landry, Landry! Landry's storyline was going well and then I forgot about the unspeakable act that he committed. Then I remembered and thought "Damn there goes all the goodwill this show was building back up after a false start to this season." Still I do enjoy my FNL and I think I got Mina hooked after last episode's great arc.
TTYL IMO BFF BRB LOL JK MTFBWY
Rob out.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Pop Junk...
There was a great post from someone anonymous from a couple of days back:
"Hmmm great article, but really Rob, Sadness and anger over things that are so trivial in the greater scheme.. You are talking about TV shows, sporting events, music and movies.. They are merely forms of entertainment. When you wake up the next morning, have they really changed your life? I know you love them and they do create suspense and excitement, but what about anticipation vs reality when it comes to important stuff.. love, family, dreams? Its when the reality of these don't live up to the anticipation that you truly experience sadness and anger. All these forms of media are created just to mildly amuse us as we go through out day to day lives.."
This person is quite correct that all these are "trivial in the greater scheme". I hope that this person doesn't think that I do not have dreams and passion for the more important things in life. The reason I call this site "Pop junk" is because I am wholly aware that all of this is junk.
However, after thinking about this all day, I think these media creations do add a nice dimension to my life and I am not ashamed to admit that. Is it OK for me to recognize that these things are trivial yet they can still challenge and shape my life in small ways? I can vividly remember going to my first movie with my parents (Snow White) and the entire experience of viewing that movie with my family is still fresh in my mind. Movies were a way that my family could come together. I can remember with clarity the first time I saw Star Wars in a small dark gym during a summer day camp in Comox. The movie jumped out of the TV and into my fertile mind. I credit that moment with pushing me into sciences (I became fascinated by the real night sky) and developing my imagination (I became a voracious reader of all types of books). Movies and books challenged me to think critically and to observe different environments that I could not be a part of. Pop culture is often devoid of deeper resonant meaning and I am fully aware of that. You can't beat real life. I can't think of better moments when I interact with the students I teach everyday, or the moments when my fiance smiles at me accepting me for who I am. I can't wait to become a father.
So where does that leave me at this moment? Take music for example. There are so many songs out there that I can pin to moments in my life, moments where I need to just listen to cope with what was going on, or moments of pure ecstatic joy in being in the moment of that song. If music disappeared I know my life would be altered, but it would go on.
I know the world won't end if the Canucks don't win the Cup. If television disappeared I would be able to survive. But I don't know if I necessarily agree that all pop culture exists to "mildly amuse us as we go through out day to day lives". I think at times, even pop junk, like great works of art can go beyond the mildly amusing. I recognize that pop culture is not a necessity. But I am not ashamed to admit that I like it. My statements of anticipation and disappointment I guess need to be taken into context. These sort of feelings I feel towards things within pop culture do not equate to the real things in life, but they are still feelings that I experience on a lesser scale.
I wish I was more articulate with what I want to exactly express. Instead, I leave you with two decent articles about pop culture from Stephen King:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20056512,00.html
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20050107,00.html
Take care everyone.
"Hmmm great article, but really Rob, Sadness and anger over things that are so trivial in the greater scheme.. You are talking about TV shows, sporting events, music and movies.. They are merely forms of entertainment. When you wake up the next morning, have they really changed your life? I know you love them and they do create suspense and excitement, but what about anticipation vs reality when it comes to important stuff.. love, family, dreams? Its when the reality of these don't live up to the anticipation that you truly experience sadness and anger. All these forms of media are created just to mildly amuse us as we go through out day to day lives.."
This person is quite correct that all these are "trivial in the greater scheme". I hope that this person doesn't think that I do not have dreams and passion for the more important things in life. The reason I call this site "Pop junk" is because I am wholly aware that all of this is junk.
However, after thinking about this all day, I think these media creations do add a nice dimension to my life and I am not ashamed to admit that. Is it OK for me to recognize that these things are trivial yet they can still challenge and shape my life in small ways? I can vividly remember going to my first movie with my parents (Snow White) and the entire experience of viewing that movie with my family is still fresh in my mind. Movies were a way that my family could come together. I can remember with clarity the first time I saw Star Wars in a small dark gym during a summer day camp in Comox. The movie jumped out of the TV and into my fertile mind. I credit that moment with pushing me into sciences (I became fascinated by the real night sky) and developing my imagination (I became a voracious reader of all types of books). Movies and books challenged me to think critically and to observe different environments that I could not be a part of. Pop culture is often devoid of deeper resonant meaning and I am fully aware of that. You can't beat real life. I can't think of better moments when I interact with the students I teach everyday, or the moments when my fiance smiles at me accepting me for who I am. I can't wait to become a father.
So where does that leave me at this moment? Take music for example. There are so many songs out there that I can pin to moments in my life, moments where I need to just listen to cope with what was going on, or moments of pure ecstatic joy in being in the moment of that song. If music disappeared I know my life would be altered, but it would go on.
I know the world won't end if the Canucks don't win the Cup. If television disappeared I would be able to survive. But I don't know if I necessarily agree that all pop culture exists to "mildly amuse us as we go through out day to day lives". I think at times, even pop junk, like great works of art can go beyond the mildly amusing. I recognize that pop culture is not a necessity. But I am not ashamed to admit that I like it. My statements of anticipation and disappointment I guess need to be taken into context. These sort of feelings I feel towards things within pop culture do not equate to the real things in life, but they are still feelings that I experience on a lesser scale.
I wish I was more articulate with what I want to exactly express. Instead, I leave you with two decent articles about pop culture from Stephen King:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20056512,00.html
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20050107,00.html
Take care everyone.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Serial Killers...
So I have been still watching the following new shows:
Pushing Daisies
Bionic Woman
Gossip Girl
Reaper
Chuck
I have already wrote about how I like Gossip Girl. Pushing Daisies has quickly become a quirky hit in my books. The production and the set designs are gorgeous to look at while the many characters from Chuck (another Chuck?) to Olive to Ned have great personalities and tremendous chemistry with each other.
I am close to giving Bionic Woman the heave-ho. The characters on the show do too many bone-headed things and there are just too many holes in the storylines. I am a fan of Lucy Hale, the younger sister of Bionic Woman, but I am not a fan of much anything else.
Bionic Woman, Reaper, and Chuck all suffer from the scared mentality of networks these days. Too many networks are afraid of creating serialized shows, because it is hard for new viewers to join plus a lot of money is lost if these shows become syndicated.
Reaper is getting repetitive with the find-the-lost-soul every episode. Ray Wise absolutely kills as Satan, but this show is losing steam after such a good premise.
Chuck is all over the place. I do enjoy this one, except I really am annoyed by Chuck's friend Morgan. He is simply not that funny. I will also vomit in my shoe, a gross proposition, if Morgan and Chuck's sister start dating each other. I mean the show can't get rid of Captain Awesome can they? Chuck also suffers from one off episodes. I wish they could pull everything together by introducing a big baddie to give the show a bit more direction.
Maybe all three of these shows could take a page out of House's book. House manages to tackle different patients every episode, yet there is a running storyline from episode to episode. If only Reaper, Chuck, and Bionic Woman could have some of the witty dialogue that makes House such a joy to watch.
Of the three new ones, I think I will stick with Chuck for longer than the others. My excitement is judged by which shows I want to watch immediately off of my PVR. Reaper and Bionic Woman are the episodes that I always have left over.
Pushing Daisies
Bionic Woman
Gossip Girl
Reaper
Chuck
I have already wrote about how I like Gossip Girl. Pushing Daisies has quickly become a quirky hit in my books. The production and the set designs are gorgeous to look at while the many characters from Chuck (another Chuck?) to Olive to Ned have great personalities and tremendous chemistry with each other.
I am close to giving Bionic Woman the heave-ho. The characters on the show do too many bone-headed things and there are just too many holes in the storylines. I am a fan of Lucy Hale, the younger sister of Bionic Woman, but I am not a fan of much anything else.
Bionic Woman, Reaper, and Chuck all suffer from the scared mentality of networks these days. Too many networks are afraid of creating serialized shows, because it is hard for new viewers to join plus a lot of money is lost if these shows become syndicated.
Reaper is getting repetitive with the find-the-lost-soul every episode. Ray Wise absolutely kills as Satan, but this show is losing steam after such a good premise.
Chuck is all over the place. I do enjoy this one, except I really am annoyed by Chuck's friend Morgan. He is simply not that funny. I will also vomit in my shoe, a gross proposition, if Morgan and Chuck's sister start dating each other. I mean the show can't get rid of Captain Awesome can they? Chuck also suffers from one off episodes. I wish they could pull everything together by introducing a big baddie to give the show a bit more direction.
Maybe all three of these shows could take a page out of House's book. House manages to tackle different patients every episode, yet there is a running storyline from episode to episode. If only Reaper, Chuck, and Bionic Woman could have some of the witty dialogue that makes House such a joy to watch.
Of the three new ones, I think I will stick with Chuck for longer than the others. My excitement is judged by which shows I want to watch immediately off of my PVR. Reaper and Bionic Woman are the episodes that I always have left over.
Anticipation vs Reality: How Heroes has fallen
The anticipation of something new or something that you look forward to can overwhelm your thoughts. The sense of anticipation slows down time and every mundane minute feels like one long episode of America’s Next Top Model: it is never going to end. While time slows to a crawl, every human sense becomes heightened and more aware. The smell of bacon in the morning becomes sharper. The taste of orange juice becomes tarter. The humming of the fridge becomes louder. The colours of the newspaper print becomes brighter. It is like every cell in your body is alerted to the anticipation of a particular event and every ounce of your being is geared and focused to welcome the sensation of being in that moment.
I have noticed over my short lifetime that very rarely does the anticipation match reality. The anticipating is much more exciting than the participating. I bring forth the evidence:
1) Whenever you crave your favourite meal or food, you can go all day thinking about that meal, but when you finally sit down to eat, the actual experience is a bit dull in contrast to the mental drooling that preceded.
2) The anticipation of going on a date rarely matches the date itself. You can spend all day wondering how things are going to go, what the person is going to be like, and often those expectations are too hard to match. Dates more often than not fizzle immediately at the start. I am so glad that I don’t have to make my way through the dating scene anymore.
3) As a young boy during Christmas, I would work myself into a frenzy wondering what gifts I was about to receive. The anticipation of what was under the shimmering gift wrap was beyond the elation I felt when I actually laid my eyes on my present.
4) I have patiently anticipated every new Vancouver Canuck season during the summer. Thoughts of how the team would perform or who would do what or what it would feel like if the Canucks raised the Cup rarely matched the fleeting moments of joy that were felt during the season. I was crushed after waiting all summer to see Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov play for our team. I was crushed after waiting all summer to see Alexander Mogilny play with Pavel Bure for our team. I was crushed after waiting to see Mark Messier play for our team. I was crushed by disappointment of experiencing my first Stanley Cup playoff game in 1994, game 3 versus the New York Rangers, in a game which saw Pavel Bure score on a breakaway only later to be kicked out of the game because of him throwing an elbow, which then was proceeded by the Brian Leetch and Alexei Kovalev show (where Kovalev absolutely undressed Kirk McLean). I had anticipated this game for so long. I was crushed by the many fruitless years of Dan Cloutier, Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund, and Brenda Morrison. I waited through long regular seasons anticipating a great playoff run only to be crushed by continual underachievement.
4) I was disappointed by the fourth Star Wars movie. I had waited forever wondering what this new movie would look like. I had been traveling Europe during the summer it was released and after a long flight home from Portugal, my friends picked me up from the Vancouver airport and we drove straight to Silvercity Richmond to watch the Phantom Menace. Suffice to say my enormous anticipation of this movie could not be matched (let’s just ignore the unhealthy amount of devotion I have to Star Wars).
5) Often our expectations cannot hope to survive because we expect more. Something new can catch us off guard because we had no previous expectations. The second time through we have preconceptions and demand similar results. Nowhere is this more evident than in music. I wonder if a band can possibly follow up a great album with another great one, simply because our expectations are different. I remember listening to every single track off of Pearl Jam’s Ten back in grade ten. I was flush with excitement for their second album in grade eleven. I remember my friends and I bought the CD at A&B Sound during lunch and we immediately went to my friend’s house to listen to the entire album (*ahem* that did not mean I missed school). VS was a decent album, but it was no Ten. And looking back fourteen years, what I remember clearly is not actually listening to the tracks. I vividly recall continuous discussions about Pearl Jam leading up to the release date. I remember the elaborate planning involved for acquiring the disc. I even remember which friend’s house we went to listen. I can even recollect the exact moment where we pulled up into his driveway in a white Sprint. Anticipation can be that powerful.
I deal with disappointment in two ways. I get depressed or I get angry. I got depressed after the Canucks lost game seven in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. I was so forlorn that I went straight home from the Pacific Coliseum thus missing the riots that my friends got to see firsthand. I got angry after the new Star Wars trilogy was finished. I lament all those times bands like Guns N Roses, Weezer, The Killers, and Radiohead failed to follow through on their newest offerings. Damn Guns N Roses! Appetite For Destruction was amazing. Use Your Illusions I & II could have been put together into one album.
The second season of Heroes has been one major disappointment. The sense of anticipation of the season 1 finale was much too great. I don’t think the show could have ever delivered something big enough in that final hour. The actual finale episode was a big letdown, and that air has continued to hiss out of this show well into five episodes this year. Kristen Bell’s appearance in the latest episode was underwhelming. There are too many storylines that are going on at once and there is no focus to the show. Snippets of a plot here and there has caused this show to meander. No longer do we get a sense of elation of discovering character’s powers as they themselves discover what the can do. There is very little intrigue or mystery. Most of the time I am asking myself "What the heck is going on?" out of confusion. I am almost at the point that I no longer care about any of the characters.
Hiro is trapped in feudal Japan, but really he is trapped a storyline that is boring and offers no compelling moments considering Hiro had the majority of those sort of moments last year. HRG does not seem as sinister. Mohinder still sucks. Parkman now seems like a wimpy character to scared to take charge. Sylar doesn’t scare me. I could go on and on about the failings of this season. I thought the show may have rounded a corner last week, but so many plotlines are still in disarray.
Last year this show took charge by using conventional comic book storylines that had a freshness to it, because there wasn’t anything like this scale being down on television. Last year established some great characters with some really cool powers. All that goodwill and great foundation that was laid last year has been swept away by the winds of disappointment. My anticipation of this second season was maybe too high. The reality of these episodes makes me yearn for last year’s newness and originality. I don’t know if there are enough heroes to save this mess of a show.
PS
One of the few things that I can remember that exceeded my expectations were the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was a huge fan of the books and I loved the first movie. Each movie thereafter managed to wow me and surpass all expectations I had. My anticipation for the Return of the King was astronomical and the movie delivered in spades.
I have noticed over my short lifetime that very rarely does the anticipation match reality. The anticipating is much more exciting than the participating. I bring forth the evidence:
1) Whenever you crave your favourite meal or food, you can go all day thinking about that meal, but when you finally sit down to eat, the actual experience is a bit dull in contrast to the mental drooling that preceded.
2) The anticipation of going on a date rarely matches the date itself. You can spend all day wondering how things are going to go, what the person is going to be like, and often those expectations are too hard to match. Dates more often than not fizzle immediately at the start. I am so glad that I don’t have to make my way through the dating scene anymore.
3) As a young boy during Christmas, I would work myself into a frenzy wondering what gifts I was about to receive. The anticipation of what was under the shimmering gift wrap was beyond the elation I felt when I actually laid my eyes on my present.
4) I have patiently anticipated every new Vancouver Canuck season during the summer. Thoughts of how the team would perform or who would do what or what it would feel like if the Canucks raised the Cup rarely matched the fleeting moments of joy that were felt during the season. I was crushed after waiting all summer to see Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov play for our team. I was crushed after waiting all summer to see Alexander Mogilny play with Pavel Bure for our team. I was crushed after waiting to see Mark Messier play for our team. I was crushed by disappointment of experiencing my first Stanley Cup playoff game in 1994, game 3 versus the New York Rangers, in a game which saw Pavel Bure score on a breakaway only later to be kicked out of the game because of him throwing an elbow, which then was proceeded by the Brian Leetch and Alexei Kovalev show (where Kovalev absolutely undressed Kirk McLean). I had anticipated this game for so long. I was crushed by the many fruitless years of Dan Cloutier, Todd Bertuzzi, Markus Naslund, and Brenda Morrison. I waited through long regular seasons anticipating a great playoff run only to be crushed by continual underachievement.
4) I was disappointed by the fourth Star Wars movie. I had waited forever wondering what this new movie would look like. I had been traveling Europe during the summer it was released and after a long flight home from Portugal, my friends picked me up from the Vancouver airport and we drove straight to Silvercity Richmond to watch the Phantom Menace. Suffice to say my enormous anticipation of this movie could not be matched (let’s just ignore the unhealthy amount of devotion I have to Star Wars).
5) Often our expectations cannot hope to survive because we expect more. Something new can catch us off guard because we had no previous expectations. The second time through we have preconceptions and demand similar results. Nowhere is this more evident than in music. I wonder if a band can possibly follow up a great album with another great one, simply because our expectations are different. I remember listening to every single track off of Pearl Jam’s Ten back in grade ten. I was flush with excitement for their second album in grade eleven. I remember my friends and I bought the CD at A&B Sound during lunch and we immediately went to my friend’s house to listen to the entire album (*ahem* that did not mean I missed school). VS was a decent album, but it was no Ten. And looking back fourteen years, what I remember clearly is not actually listening to the tracks. I vividly recall continuous discussions about Pearl Jam leading up to the release date. I remember the elaborate planning involved for acquiring the disc. I even remember which friend’s house we went to listen. I can even recollect the exact moment where we pulled up into his driveway in a white Sprint. Anticipation can be that powerful.
I deal with disappointment in two ways. I get depressed or I get angry. I got depressed after the Canucks lost game seven in the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. I was so forlorn that I went straight home from the Pacific Coliseum thus missing the riots that my friends got to see firsthand. I got angry after the new Star Wars trilogy was finished. I lament all those times bands like Guns N Roses, Weezer, The Killers, and Radiohead failed to follow through on their newest offerings. Damn Guns N Roses! Appetite For Destruction was amazing. Use Your Illusions I & II could have been put together into one album.
The second season of Heroes has been one major disappointment. The sense of anticipation of the season 1 finale was much too great. I don’t think the show could have ever delivered something big enough in that final hour. The actual finale episode was a big letdown, and that air has continued to hiss out of this show well into five episodes this year. Kristen Bell’s appearance in the latest episode was underwhelming. There are too many storylines that are going on at once and there is no focus to the show. Snippets of a plot here and there has caused this show to meander. No longer do we get a sense of elation of discovering character’s powers as they themselves discover what the can do. There is very little intrigue or mystery. Most of the time I am asking myself "What the heck is going on?" out of confusion. I am almost at the point that I no longer care about any of the characters.
Hiro is trapped in feudal Japan, but really he is trapped a storyline that is boring and offers no compelling moments considering Hiro had the majority of those sort of moments last year. HRG does not seem as sinister. Mohinder still sucks. Parkman now seems like a wimpy character to scared to take charge. Sylar doesn’t scare me. I could go on and on about the failings of this season. I thought the show may have rounded a corner last week, but so many plotlines are still in disarray.
Last year this show took charge by using conventional comic book storylines that had a freshness to it, because there wasn’t anything like this scale being down on television. Last year established some great characters with some really cool powers. All that goodwill and great foundation that was laid last year has been swept away by the winds of disappointment. My anticipation of this second season was maybe too high. The reality of these episodes makes me yearn for last year’s newness and originality. I don’t know if there are enough heroes to save this mess of a show.
PS
One of the few things that I can remember that exceeded my expectations were the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was a huge fan of the books and I loved the first movie. Each movie thereafter managed to wow me and surpass all expectations I had. My anticipation for the Return of the King was astronomical and the movie delivered in spades.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
The Office: Halloween Heartbreak
As a teacher, I have no idea what is really running through the minds of the students I teach. I have no idea what drama my students are in the midst of. I have no idea of the pain and hurt that they may be in. I can only relate thinking back to my days in high school and remembering how certain events seemed so dramatic for me at the time.
I remember one particular instance around Halloween in grade twelve. I had the biggest crush on one girl for a long time. I remember thinking that a relationship was going to work out (finally!), but it got derailed. I remember acutely how I was distraught, devastated, and angry that things didn’t work out. I was bitter and I clearly remember aimlessly walking the streets in the rain, not knowing what to do next.
I look back now thirteen years later and chuckle at how crazy I must have seemed back then. To me, it seemed like my world was ending and that the hurt inside myself threatened to cause me to explode. Now, I wish I could tell my younger self that it was not the end of the world, that I could survive this minor episode of my life. Even though the constant buzz in my head would rattle me and everything else around me seemed less important, I would rebound.
I was reminded about all this as I watched The Office last Thursday. These one hour episodes have allowed for the writers to explore many of the characters in a deeper manner. At times, the one hour episodes have sagged under the strain of stretching silly plots for far too long. But this last episode was full of comedy and sorrow. And sometimes the best comedy arises out of pain and sorrow, something that The Office has done so well over the last two seasons (see anything involving Michael or Pam/Jim’s storyline). Dwight Schrute has been a crazy character at times that has been played for much comedic relief. We all anticipate his over the top antics and this episode was full of them. His bed and breakfast farm experience was classical Schrute: weird and disturbing. But this episode also managed to speak about love and the pain that it can bring sometimes. Dwight was a shell of himself and simply destroyed by the loss of Angela. His painful moaning in the stairwell was humourous, yet we could feel his anguish. Then Jim, reaching out to his mortal enemy, succinctly summed up what the feeling of love denied feels like. Jim was right that food doesn’t taste right and it becomes difficult to even be around the person. Jim ran away from Pam, because he couldn’t bear the thought of her getting married. Jim’s wise words brought Dwight out of his stupor and Dwight actually reached out to get a hug from Jim, who had already disappeared.
The brilliance of The Office is in the midst of over-the-top comedy, they can reveal nuggets of truth about life. The next scene where Dwight marches back into The Office and proceeds to clear Jim’s stuff off his desk with a ruler, while making a call to a prospective paper buyer, is one of the reasons I love this show. Dwight was back and the loss of a loved one would not ruin his life. We all get stronger from experiences that bring us pain. We just need to deal with it and move on to the next chapter in our lives.
Many years after grade 12, Halloween would bring a certain jabbing pain as a reminder of what I thought I had “endured” around that time. As time passed, the pain subsided and all that was left was a faint impression of what had occurred before. Sure there would be more love lost and heartbreak through the years, but each relationship or failed relationship only added more dimensions to my life. Now, Halloween brings a smile to my face, not because of the candy, but because it was around this time, three years ago, that I, dressed up as Harry Potter, met my fiancé at a UBC Halloween party. Jim has found love with Pam and there moments are good. I have found love and life is good (sorry to rip you off LG). There will always be hope for all us Dwight Schrutes of the world.
(Feel free to throw up at the end of my last paragraph if you wish… but it is a true story)
I remember one particular instance around Halloween in grade twelve. I had the biggest crush on one girl for a long time. I remember thinking that a relationship was going to work out (finally!), but it got derailed. I remember acutely how I was distraught, devastated, and angry that things didn’t work out. I was bitter and I clearly remember aimlessly walking the streets in the rain, not knowing what to do next.
I look back now thirteen years later and chuckle at how crazy I must have seemed back then. To me, it seemed like my world was ending and that the hurt inside myself threatened to cause me to explode. Now, I wish I could tell my younger self that it was not the end of the world, that I could survive this minor episode of my life. Even though the constant buzz in my head would rattle me and everything else around me seemed less important, I would rebound.
I was reminded about all this as I watched The Office last Thursday. These one hour episodes have allowed for the writers to explore many of the characters in a deeper manner. At times, the one hour episodes have sagged under the strain of stretching silly plots for far too long. But this last episode was full of comedy and sorrow. And sometimes the best comedy arises out of pain and sorrow, something that The Office has done so well over the last two seasons (see anything involving Michael or Pam/Jim’s storyline). Dwight Schrute has been a crazy character at times that has been played for much comedic relief. We all anticipate his over the top antics and this episode was full of them. His bed and breakfast farm experience was classical Schrute: weird and disturbing. But this episode also managed to speak about love and the pain that it can bring sometimes. Dwight was a shell of himself and simply destroyed by the loss of Angela. His painful moaning in the stairwell was humourous, yet we could feel his anguish. Then Jim, reaching out to his mortal enemy, succinctly summed up what the feeling of love denied feels like. Jim was right that food doesn’t taste right and it becomes difficult to even be around the person. Jim ran away from Pam, because he couldn’t bear the thought of her getting married. Jim’s wise words brought Dwight out of his stupor and Dwight actually reached out to get a hug from Jim, who had already disappeared.
The brilliance of The Office is in the midst of over-the-top comedy, they can reveal nuggets of truth about life. The next scene where Dwight marches back into The Office and proceeds to clear Jim’s stuff off his desk with a ruler, while making a call to a prospective paper buyer, is one of the reasons I love this show. Dwight was back and the loss of a loved one would not ruin his life. We all get stronger from experiences that bring us pain. We just need to deal with it and move on to the next chapter in our lives.
Many years after grade 12, Halloween would bring a certain jabbing pain as a reminder of what I thought I had “endured” around that time. As time passed, the pain subsided and all that was left was a faint impression of what had occurred before. Sure there would be more love lost and heartbreak through the years, but each relationship or failed relationship only added more dimensions to my life. Now, Halloween brings a smile to my face, not because of the candy, but because it was around this time, three years ago, that I, dressed up as Harry Potter, met my fiancé at a UBC Halloween party. Jim has found love with Pam and there moments are good. I have found love and life is good (sorry to rip you off LG). There will always be hope for all us Dwight Schrutes of the world.
(Feel free to throw up at the end of my last paragraph if you wish… but it is a true story)
Thursday, October 18, 2007
My guilty pleasure...
I will freely admit that the one new show of the season that I enjoy is Gossip Girl. What type of show typifies a "guilty pleasure"?
1) A show that I am not too keen to tell other people that I watch/watched, which obviously accounts for the "guilty". See "The Hills", "Saved The Bell", "Teddy Ruxpin", or "Jem".
2) Recognition that the show is full of unbelievable coincidences, ridiculous setups, corny production, and a general sense that you would not find a lot of redeeming lessons from the episodes of the show. "The Hills" fits perfectly. So does "Jem". "Saved by the Bell" would have some moral messages, but let's be honest. The show was brutal. The only one that doesn't fit the bill is "Teddy Ruxpin" which I honestly found to be a first rate cartoon with a great driving story involving a search for these magical crystal shards. But the fact, that I am defending a show about a talking teddy bear and his caterpillar friend, puts it into the "guilty pleasure" category, because I really don't want to be going to bat for this show with the general populace.
So keeping the above criteria in mind, Gossip Girl fits the bill. The first episode presented a lot of the characters as downers, especially Serena who was moody and enigmatic because of all the secrets she was harbouring. After catching up on two more episodes last night, Serena has become one of my favourite characters on TV. She just has a natural charm around her and her goofiness, especially in yesterday's episode, is infectious. However there is a lot of ridiculousness in the storylines that puts this show in the "guilty pleasure" category:
This show is about high schoolers. Spoiled rotten high schoolers. Their lifestyles are so over the top. And they don't really act like high schoolers. In fact, I make myself think I am watching college kids, because it is a bit creepy watching high schoolers act this way and enjoy myself fully when watching the show.
Did I mention that these kids are all supposedly underage? How the heck do they get into a nightclub when the age limit is 21? Serena's brother manages to get in with the group and he looks like Aaron Carter, back when he was a cute little kid, not the bratty selfish Aaron Carter on their reality TV show (I will pretend that I didn't see one episode of "House of Carters").
Did I mention that these kids are underage? Yet I have a crush on Serena. Thank goodness she is played by an actress in her 20s (Blake Lively). I should also mention that this is just a harmless crush, like Serena-is-so-cool-I-have-a-crush-on-her crush. Again, this high school time frame is making it difficult for me to fully enjoy the show.
Every guy on this show has perfectly manicured eyebrows. It really creeps me out.
Chuck, owns the baseball that Babe Ruth supposedly called THE SHOT and he keeps it locked up in a drawer? That baseball would be priceless. It would be in a museum or in a safe. How the heck does a kid like Chuck even own something like that? And seeing Chuck in basketball gear, makes me buy-in that he can even dribble the ball? Puhleeze.
The most unrealistic part of the show? Dan's dad and Serena's mom used to have a thing for each other. Doesn't sound bad? Well Dan and Serena are dating. And last episode there were sparks flying between the single parents again. So what if Rufus (Dan's dad possessing the worst name ever) and Darla start dating again? Or get married? That would mean Dan would be dating his sister!! And then to top it all off, the show has hinted at a romantic connection between Dan's younger sister and Serena's younger brother. Which would mean the ENTIRE family would be dating the other family. Not right.
A minor quibble is that with all of the blazers that the kids are wearing, along with their scarf ensembles, I half expect to see Harry Potter and friends to stroll past the camera.
Even still I find the show very watchable. The romance between Dan and Serena is actually kind of cute and the actress that plays Blair, Leighton Meester, managed to add a bit of depth in the modelling episode, which went beyond her bitchy bossy personality. Even creepy Chuck, managed to show some redeeming qualities by saving his buddy Nate from a swindle.
This show will probably last, because it is on CW. What shows exist on CW now? OC Creator Josh Schwartz has produced two guilty pleasures for this new TV season to replace the departure of the OC for me. This show, Gossip Girl and Chuck are two shows that are all over the place at times, but ones that I do enjoy watching. We'll see how they pan out, but for now I will be watching both of them.
Last quibble... Kristen Bell's narration which ends off with "XOXO Gossip Girl" is a stupid ending. What's with all the narration in all the shows these days? It just doesn't work for this show as opposed to something like Pushing Daisies.
XOXO
Gossip guy
1) A show that I am not too keen to tell other people that I watch/watched, which obviously accounts for the "guilty". See "The Hills", "Saved The Bell", "Teddy Ruxpin", or "Jem".
2) Recognition that the show is full of unbelievable coincidences, ridiculous setups, corny production, and a general sense that you would not find a lot of redeeming lessons from the episodes of the show. "The Hills" fits perfectly. So does "Jem". "Saved by the Bell" would have some moral messages, but let's be honest. The show was brutal. The only one that doesn't fit the bill is "Teddy Ruxpin" which I honestly found to be a first rate cartoon with a great driving story involving a search for these magical crystal shards. But the fact, that I am defending a show about a talking teddy bear and his caterpillar friend, puts it into the "guilty pleasure" category, because I really don't want to be going to bat for this show with the general populace.
So keeping the above criteria in mind, Gossip Girl fits the bill. The first episode presented a lot of the characters as downers, especially Serena who was moody and enigmatic because of all the secrets she was harbouring. After catching up on two more episodes last night, Serena has become one of my favourite characters on TV. She just has a natural charm around her and her goofiness, especially in yesterday's episode, is infectious. However there is a lot of ridiculousness in the storylines that puts this show in the "guilty pleasure" category:
This show is about high schoolers. Spoiled rotten high schoolers. Their lifestyles are so over the top. And they don't really act like high schoolers. In fact, I make myself think I am watching college kids, because it is a bit creepy watching high schoolers act this way and enjoy myself fully when watching the show.
Did I mention that these kids are all supposedly underage? How the heck do they get into a nightclub when the age limit is 21? Serena's brother manages to get in with the group and he looks like Aaron Carter, back when he was a cute little kid, not the bratty selfish Aaron Carter on their reality TV show (I will pretend that I didn't see one episode of "House of Carters").
Did I mention that these kids are underage? Yet I have a crush on Serena. Thank goodness she is played by an actress in her 20s (Blake Lively). I should also mention that this is just a harmless crush, like Serena-is-so-cool-I-have-a-crush-on-her crush. Again, this high school time frame is making it difficult for me to fully enjoy the show.
Every guy on this show has perfectly manicured eyebrows. It really creeps me out.
Chuck, owns the baseball that Babe Ruth supposedly called THE SHOT and he keeps it locked up in a drawer? That baseball would be priceless. It would be in a museum or in a safe. How the heck does a kid like Chuck even own something like that? And seeing Chuck in basketball gear, makes me buy-in that he can even dribble the ball? Puhleeze.
The most unrealistic part of the show? Dan's dad and Serena's mom used to have a thing for each other. Doesn't sound bad? Well Dan and Serena are dating. And last episode there were sparks flying between the single parents again. So what if Rufus (Dan's dad possessing the worst name ever) and Darla start dating again? Or get married? That would mean Dan would be dating his sister!! And then to top it all off, the show has hinted at a romantic connection between Dan's younger sister and Serena's younger brother. Which would mean the ENTIRE family would be dating the other family. Not right.
A minor quibble is that with all of the blazers that the kids are wearing, along with their scarf ensembles, I half expect to see Harry Potter and friends to stroll past the camera.
Even still I find the show very watchable. The romance between Dan and Serena is actually kind of cute and the actress that plays Blair, Leighton Meester, managed to add a bit of depth in the modelling episode, which went beyond her bitchy bossy personality. Even creepy Chuck, managed to show some redeeming qualities by saving his buddy Nate from a swindle.
This show will probably last, because it is on CW. What shows exist on CW now? OC Creator Josh Schwartz has produced two guilty pleasures for this new TV season to replace the departure of the OC for me. This show, Gossip Girl and Chuck are two shows that are all over the place at times, but ones that I do enjoy watching. We'll see how they pan out, but for now I will be watching both of them.
Last quibble... Kristen Bell's narration which ends off with "XOXO Gossip Girl" is a stupid ending. What's with all the narration in all the shows these days? It just doesn't work for this show as opposed to something like Pushing Daisies.
XOXO
Gossip guy
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Boss...
Bruce Springsteen's new album, Magic, is out and I have listened to it once so far. It is good, but I am still going through Radiohead's new one. I am pretty ticked off that the Boss is only visiting Ottawa and Toronto for his current tour.
The people in Ottawa got a treat Sunday night, because Arcade Fire took the stage for the encore set with Bruce. I am posting Arcade Fire's Keep the Car Running, but they did a Springsteen song as well. Enjoy.
I am seriously so envious of those people in Ottawa. Also, be aware of copious amounts of swearing during the video. The pure joy of the audience is captured by the swearing reaction of the people taking the footage. Quite funny actually.
Got to go to bed. Good night.
The people in Ottawa got a treat Sunday night, because Arcade Fire took the stage for the encore set with Bruce. I am posting Arcade Fire's Keep the Car Running, but they did a Springsteen song as well. Enjoy.
I am seriously so envious of those people in Ottawa. Also, be aware of copious amounts of swearing during the video. The pure joy of the audience is captured by the swearing reaction of the people taking the footage. Quite funny actually.
Got to go to bed. Good night.
Stupid Joe Thornton... and Heroes
the guy is a Canuck killer! Remember two seasons ago when he personally killed the Canucks and single handedly extinguished their playoff hopes? In the span of five minutes, he worked his magic and made me regret spending $50 of my hard earned bucks on a ticket. To think I missed curling to watch Canuck after Canuck miss the net. I will say it right now: I can't stand Ryan Kesler. He can't pass and he can't shoot. What does that leave for a supposed center? The Canucks have too many forwards who do all the same thing. They are tiny grinders that have lots of grit, terrible hands, and bounce off of big forwards like Joe Thornton like gnats at a garbage dump.
Yet I still believe. Go Canucks!
On a more positive note, Heroes has finally picked up the pace! Finally.
SPOILER ALERT!
I kept a running diary of Heroes: The Kindness of Strangers: Chapter 4
Molly storyline avec Mohinder and Parkman. Boring. We get it. She is having nightmares of some creepy guy. This has been drawn out too long. Still creeped out by the fact that Mohinder and Parkman are living together in a dingy apartment raising this girl that has no real connection to either of them.
Nathan Petrelli: The bushman. What is up with him and that beard?
Maya and Alejandro and Derek… intersecting with Sylar! Now that’s better. Maybe there is some hope after all for this storyline.
The commercial for this week's Office... can't wait. "I declare bankruptcy." -Michael Scott
Back to Heroes!
We find Micah living with his grandmother and his cousins. What is with all these Star Trek connections? First Sulu and now Uhura? I also find it weird that this is the first time that Heroes is blending our own world with the TV world by referencing Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. I don't know if I necessarily agree with this move.
Are you reading my mind right now? No, yes. Sorry.
Brilliant exchange between Parkman and the now clean shaven Nathan.
Monica Dawson: Micah’s cousin. She looks like Gabrielle Union… identical lookalike played by Dana Davis, from the short-lived series last season called The Nine. Another show that Tim Daly could not survive in.
Finally, something cool. Parkman finds his dad in the big wig group photo.
Claire and West: Gag me. The cheesiest romance lines. I don’t want to see you hurt. Such a real lack of chemistry. What the heck does Claire see in West? What do I know about teen relationships? This whole relationship feels forced.
Parkman’s dad is the nightmare man! Good twist.
Sylar, such a bad ass. What is with the cockroach again? We saw that in the season finale. I can totally see Sylar playing Spock. Again more Star Trek connections.
Wow, Monica Dawson. Imagine being able to watch TV and learn anything from what you see. Does that mean if she watched an episode of Heroes she could learn all those superpowers?
This episode was finally something to start driving this season after what felt like a lot of wheels spinning in mud.
The promo for next week got me excited, because Kristen Bell, she of Veronica Mars fame will be on. *Sigh* I have a crush on her, except I don't like her new haircut with the bangs (what is with all these bangs that we see cropping up on all of the TV shows out there?).
Should be good. Very encouraged after this episode.
Yet I still believe. Go Canucks!
On a more positive note, Heroes has finally picked up the pace! Finally.
SPOILER ALERT!
I kept a running diary of Heroes: The Kindness of Strangers: Chapter 4
Molly storyline avec Mohinder and Parkman. Boring. We get it. She is having nightmares of some creepy guy. This has been drawn out too long. Still creeped out by the fact that Mohinder and Parkman are living together in a dingy apartment raising this girl that has no real connection to either of them.
Nathan Petrelli: The bushman. What is up with him and that beard?
Maya and Alejandro and Derek… intersecting with Sylar! Now that’s better. Maybe there is some hope after all for this storyline.
The commercial for this week's Office... can't wait. "I declare bankruptcy." -Michael Scott
Back to Heroes!
We find Micah living with his grandmother and his cousins. What is with all these Star Trek connections? First Sulu and now Uhura? I also find it weird that this is the first time that Heroes is blending our own world with the TV world by referencing Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. I don't know if I necessarily agree with this move.
Are you reading my mind right now? No, yes. Sorry.
Brilliant exchange between Parkman and the now clean shaven Nathan.
Monica Dawson: Micah’s cousin. She looks like Gabrielle Union… identical lookalike played by Dana Davis, from the short-lived series last season called The Nine. Another show that Tim Daly could not survive in.
Finally, something cool. Parkman finds his dad in the big wig group photo.
Claire and West: Gag me. The cheesiest romance lines. I don’t want to see you hurt. Such a real lack of chemistry. What the heck does Claire see in West? What do I know about teen relationships? This whole relationship feels forced.
Parkman’s dad is the nightmare man! Good twist.
Sylar, such a bad ass. What is with the cockroach again? We saw that in the season finale. I can totally see Sylar playing Spock. Again more Star Trek connections.
Wow, Monica Dawson. Imagine being able to watch TV and learn anything from what you see. Does that mean if she watched an episode of Heroes she could learn all those superpowers?
This episode was finally something to start driving this season after what felt like a lot of wheels spinning in mud.
The promo for next week got me excited, because Kristen Bell, she of Veronica Mars fame will be on. *Sigh* I have a crush on her, except I don't like her new haircut with the bangs (what is with all these bangs that we see cropping up on all of the TV shows out there?).
Should be good. Very encouraged after this episode.
Monday, October 15, 2007
First Canuck Game of the Season...
Going to my first Canuck game of the season versus the San Jose Sharks. I really am onboard with this version of the Canucks, but really it is about one thing for me: I will be cheering for the Canucks on their run to capture Lord Stanley's Cup.
I know good things are in store for us considering we have such a high caliber goaltender. Now if Markus and Brenda can keep up their production we will be in good shape.
Everything is coming up rosy for the Canucks this season. Heck, even those ugly jerseys of theirs are growing on me. Maybe I will try to shoplift one tonight from the team store.
Watch for me on Sportsnet. I will be the only Asian in the crowd with a large head.
I know good things are in store for us considering we have such a high caliber goaltender. Now if Markus and Brenda can keep up their production we will be in good shape.
Everything is coming up rosy for the Canucks this season. Heck, even those ugly jerseys of theirs are growing on me. Maybe I will try to shoplift one tonight from the team store.
Watch for me on Sportsnet. I will be the only Asian in the crowd with a large head.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Radiohead...
Unless you have been sleeping in a digital cave, you are all aware that Radiohead released a new album online that YOU, the paying customer, can name your own price for.
I paid 5 pounds for mine. You can be a real cheap bastard and pay "Zero". One friend of mine paid 1 pound which I thought to be too cheap. Don't be that guy.
I am a huge Radiohead fan, and so far the album has a lot of mellow tracks. It is not my favourite album, but it is growing on me with every listen. These guys are still the best out there.
Personally before this album:
1) The Bends: Their most "poppiest" album. It truly rocks out.
2) OK Computer: "Paranoid Android" The Led Zepplin "Stairway to Heaven" of the 90s. One of the few albums that I can listen through its entirety (Weezer's Pinkerton included).
3) Kid A: "How to Disappear Completely" lifts my spirits every time when the strings go into chaos and then Thom's voice breaks through.
4) Tie between Hail to the Thief and Amnesiac: Both albums feature some great songs: "2+2 =5" is one of my favourite tracks of all time and tracks like "Spinning Plates" show the talented nature of Radiohead... I find an immense suspense in that track.
5) Pablo Honey: I know a lot of people like this album (see Little Buddy), but in grade 12, I got so sick and tired of "Creep" that I couldn't even begin to give the rest of an album a whirl.
I wish Radiohead would come back to Vancouver soon. They haven't been here since the magical night at UBC where REM played the night before and Thom Yorke actually joined REM on stage for "Shiny Happy People" and I could have seen this for free if only my good friend Kavie Toor and spoken up quicker and snagged the tickets this promotions girl was trying to give away and Kavie knew her but he was too slow and some other guy beside us said "I will take them" and he most certainly did take those four free tickets.
But I don't hold that against my friend. No way. I am above that.
Radiohead is one of the best bands live. I have seen them four times and each show was a musical masterpiece. Do not hesitate to see them live. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Werd.
I paid 5 pounds for mine. You can be a real cheap bastard and pay "Zero". One friend of mine paid 1 pound which I thought to be too cheap. Don't be that guy.
I am a huge Radiohead fan, and so far the album has a lot of mellow tracks. It is not my favourite album, but it is growing on me with every listen. These guys are still the best out there.
Personally before this album:
1) The Bends: Their most "poppiest" album. It truly rocks out.
2) OK Computer: "Paranoid Android" The Led Zepplin "Stairway to Heaven" of the 90s. One of the few albums that I can listen through its entirety (Weezer's Pinkerton included).
3) Kid A: "How to Disappear Completely" lifts my spirits every time when the strings go into chaos and then Thom's voice breaks through.
4) Tie between Hail to the Thief and Amnesiac: Both albums feature some great songs: "2+2 =5" is one of my favourite tracks of all time and tracks like "Spinning Plates" show the talented nature of Radiohead... I find an immense suspense in that track.
5) Pablo Honey: I know a lot of people like this album (see Little Buddy), but in grade 12, I got so sick and tired of "Creep" that I couldn't even begin to give the rest of an album a whirl.
I wish Radiohead would come back to Vancouver soon. They haven't been here since the magical night at UBC where REM played the night before and Thom Yorke actually joined REM on stage for "Shiny Happy People" and I could have seen this for free if only my good friend Kavie Toor and spoken up quicker and snagged the tickets this promotions girl was trying to give away and Kavie knew her but he was too slow and some other guy beside us said "I will take them" and he most certainly did take those four free tickets.
But I don't hold that against my friend. No way. I am above that.
Radiohead is one of the best bands live. I have seen them four times and each show was a musical masterpiece. Do not hesitate to see them live. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Werd.
So hard to vie for my attention...
There is so much stuff that I am trying to do these days that I find myself wondering "What if I had kids?". After all, I am at the age where I probably should have one or two little ones. If I did have a family, I don't know where I would find the time to do so many of the extracurricular things that I do right now.
Take for instance my love for hockey. I am playing ice hockey twice a week. Every Tuesdays after school, I play with a bunch of Burnaby teachers out at lovely Bill Copeland Arena, home of the Burnaby Express (Kyle Turiste!). The ice is magnificent.
I also play with a bunch of guys on a team called Motown Friendship Tour (don't ask). Check us out at www.ice604.com. It was very satisfying setting up Duncan Barber for the game winning overtime goal in our last game. I always chuckle when I think of grown men celebrating like little kids over a victory in a beer league hockey game.
I also have been very occupied with a NFL Survivor Pool. My friend, Bryan Chi and two of his coworkers have entered two teams into this HUGE massive pool out in the East. Over 6000 teams with the winner taking it all. The premise is simple. Pick one team to win every week. If you are right, you move on. If you are wrong you are out. We have survived Week 6 and there are 1300 teams left. This may not sound exciting, but for me it certainly has put a charge into my Sundays. So sad.
Along with coaching volleyball, playing curling, hockey twice a week, my masters, and my teaching gig, I am acutely aware that I would not be able to do all this if I had children. Add in my TV viewing, and time becomes real precious to me. Which may explayin why I am fed up with some shows that are wasting my time.
That's right Grey's Anatomy. I am talking about you. This show is a complete mess right now. I know I knock it every week, but I get completely flustered with what it has become. Somehow the writers have to get away from this George-Izzie storyline. For Izzie to look right at George and say what she was thankful for in terms of what the old man made her realize. How awkward is that?
There is very little humour to be mined in any of the situations now. About the only thing that was nice to see (and it wasn't a nice action by the character) was to see the jerk ass Karev return. He had become such a nice guy and I sort of missed the cocky Karev from seasons ago. The show has lost a bit of bite with Burke, I am afraid to say, eliminating a good dynamic between Isiah Washington and Sandra Oh. George's wife is severely overmatched as chief and doesn't remotely strike me as one. I don't care about her enough to even look up her name (Ramirez? Gonzalez? Pedro? Whocares?) which totally escapes me right now.
I don't know how this show is going to fix itself. The treacle music must go now. The Snow Patrol thing is done. I mean, they could easily use the same song each week. I have no way of differentiating between any of the slow songs used at the end of each episode to make the viewers cry and to tie up all the plots that share a common theme while Meredith's voice narrates the obvious for us.
Inspired by my NFL football day (Cleveland and San Diego win!! This week we had to make TWO picks) here are some fearless predictions:
2 to 1 odds that Karev and Grey's half sister hook up.
2 to 1 odds that as soon as Grey and McDreamy become official, Grey's half sister will somehow bungle the entire thing.
5 to 1 odds that George ends up without either of his two ladies.
10 to 1 odds that the Asian intern girl, Lucy (crap, George's wife's name is Callie Torres... could not avoid that information) is the quarter sister of Yang. How can you be a quarter sibling? Grey's Anatomy writers will somehow figure out a plausible explanation.
Interesting fact: The actress who plays "Lucy" is a Korean adoptee. Her name is Joy Osmanski. Sandra Oh is Korean. Will Yun Lee from Bionic Woman is Korean. The sales guy from Chuck is Korean. And let's not forget about our two Lost actors, Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim. This is the height of Koreans in Hollywood. Domination is inevitable. Oh and as if that wasn't enough, John Cho, from Harold and Kumar fame has been cast to play Sulu in the brand new Star Trek movie. A Korean playing the most famous Asian character ever? And a Japanese one to boot? What am I getting at?
I have no idea, but when you are Korean, you tend to notice these sorts of things.
100 to 1 odds: Addison returns back to Seattle Grace, bringing 2/5ths of her coworkers (let's say Taye Diggs and Tim Daly, because they are nice looking gentlemen) and asks to combine their two hospitals into a brand new super show called Grey's Privates.
Really is anything private for Meredith if she is willing to continually have sex at her work, IN A HOSPITAL!!! Does anyone else find it disturbing that these two adults can't wait to get it on back in their private residence? Once may be plausible, but I believe Meredith and Derek have slept with each other more than 5 times at the hospital. Grody to the max. The hospital is supposed to be a clean place.
1000 to 1 odds: Rob actually stops watching Grey's Anatomy.
1500 to 1 odds: Rob manages to say something positive about the show.
Take for instance my love for hockey. I am playing ice hockey twice a week. Every Tuesdays after school, I play with a bunch of Burnaby teachers out at lovely Bill Copeland Arena, home of the Burnaby Express (Kyle Turiste!). The ice is magnificent.
I also play with a bunch of guys on a team called Motown Friendship Tour (don't ask). Check us out at www.ice604.com. It was very satisfying setting up Duncan Barber for the game winning overtime goal in our last game. I always chuckle when I think of grown men celebrating like little kids over a victory in a beer league hockey game.
I also have been very occupied with a NFL Survivor Pool. My friend, Bryan Chi and two of his coworkers have entered two teams into this HUGE massive pool out in the East. Over 6000 teams with the winner taking it all. The premise is simple. Pick one team to win every week. If you are right, you move on. If you are wrong you are out. We have survived Week 6 and there are 1300 teams left. This may not sound exciting, but for me it certainly has put a charge into my Sundays. So sad.
Along with coaching volleyball, playing curling, hockey twice a week, my masters, and my teaching gig, I am acutely aware that I would not be able to do all this if I had children. Add in my TV viewing, and time becomes real precious to me. Which may explayin why I am fed up with some shows that are wasting my time.
That's right Grey's Anatomy. I am talking about you. This show is a complete mess right now. I know I knock it every week, but I get completely flustered with what it has become. Somehow the writers have to get away from this George-Izzie storyline. For Izzie to look right at George and say what she was thankful for in terms of what the old man made her realize. How awkward is that?
There is very little humour to be mined in any of the situations now. About the only thing that was nice to see (and it wasn't a nice action by the character) was to see the jerk ass Karev return. He had become such a nice guy and I sort of missed the cocky Karev from seasons ago. The show has lost a bit of bite with Burke, I am afraid to say, eliminating a good dynamic between Isiah Washington and Sandra Oh. George's wife is severely overmatched as chief and doesn't remotely strike me as one. I don't care about her enough to even look up her name (Ramirez? Gonzalez? Pedro? Whocares?) which totally escapes me right now.
I don't know how this show is going to fix itself. The treacle music must go now. The Snow Patrol thing is done. I mean, they could easily use the same song each week. I have no way of differentiating between any of the slow songs used at the end of each episode to make the viewers cry and to tie up all the plots that share a common theme while Meredith's voice narrates the obvious for us.
Inspired by my NFL football day (Cleveland and San Diego win!! This week we had to make TWO picks) here are some fearless predictions:
2 to 1 odds that Karev and Grey's half sister hook up.
2 to 1 odds that as soon as Grey and McDreamy become official, Grey's half sister will somehow bungle the entire thing.
5 to 1 odds that George ends up without either of his two ladies.
10 to 1 odds that the Asian intern girl, Lucy (crap, George's wife's name is Callie Torres... could not avoid that information) is the quarter sister of Yang. How can you be a quarter sibling? Grey's Anatomy writers will somehow figure out a plausible explanation.
Interesting fact: The actress who plays "Lucy" is a Korean adoptee. Her name is Joy Osmanski. Sandra Oh is Korean. Will Yun Lee from Bionic Woman is Korean. The sales guy from Chuck is Korean. And let's not forget about our two Lost actors, Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim. This is the height of Koreans in Hollywood. Domination is inevitable. Oh and as if that wasn't enough, John Cho, from Harold and Kumar fame has been cast to play Sulu in the brand new Star Trek movie. A Korean playing the most famous Asian character ever? And a Japanese one to boot? What am I getting at?
I have no idea, but when you are Korean, you tend to notice these sorts of things.
100 to 1 odds: Addison returns back to Seattle Grace, bringing 2/5ths of her coworkers (let's say Taye Diggs and Tim Daly, because they are nice looking gentlemen) and asks to combine their two hospitals into a brand new super show called Grey's Privates.
Really is anything private for Meredith if she is willing to continually have sex at her work, IN A HOSPITAL!!! Does anyone else find it disturbing that these two adults can't wait to get it on back in their private residence? Once may be plausible, but I believe Meredith and Derek have slept with each other more than 5 times at the hospital. Grody to the max. The hospital is supposed to be a clean place.
1000 to 1 odds: Rob actually stops watching Grey's Anatomy.
1500 to 1 odds: Rob manages to say something positive about the show.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Bionic Woman, The Office, 30 Rock
Episode 2: So mad! They could have done such a good training episode. Instead, they show Jamie Sommers doing some karate and some one hand chin-ups (OK she did look pretty hot doing that) and then running. RUNNING! We know she can run fast. You need to train to be a faster runner? What a let down.
I don't know what to make of this show. Some potential for some cool moments. Some of the action scenes do deliver. Jamie breaking the guy's ribs while making out with a random guy was a good chuckle. I will hold my judgement on this show.
Question: If Will was dying, why the heck did they not use the same technology on Bionic Woman to save his own life? Kinda stupid to me. And hey it is Dr. Burke from Grey's Anatomy! Do you think he will perform surgery? Will he say some homophobic remarks to lose this job as well? Was it weird to see Dr. Burke holding a gun? Once a giver of life, he now takes it away.
The Office:
Pam and Jim are outed. Michael's spech and gathering of the two was priceless. Michael driving into the lake following his GPS... excellent. Man, I love this show. I also want to punch Ryan the temp in the face. What a slimey weasel. I love how he struck out with Pam. Best comedy on TV. I am said when all these special one hour episodes end later this month.
30 Rock:
Funny to think two similar themed shows started on NBC. Both revolved around a Saturday Night Live theme. Funny how only 30 Rock survived (bye bye Studio 60). To be honest, this show was pretty bad for 1-3 episodes last year. Then the writing became more focused, the actors understood their roles, and things started humming along. I really enjoy my Thursday NBC comedy lineup and I know I may be shot for saying this, but I think it is almost better than the old "Must See TV" days. I mean it is tough to beat Seinfeld, but Friends was vastly overrated. It wasn't that funny. The current line-up of My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock, and Scrubs is as solid as the KLM line (that's Krutov, Larionov, and Makarov to you hockey ignoramuses out there).
Speaking of Seinfeld, it was great to see Jerry Seinfeld guesting on this episode. The different uses of Seinfeld was midly amusing, but mostly disturbing. Seinfeld did prove once again that his acting skills are lacking, but I did like his acknowledgement of his shameless plug for his new movie, Bee Movie. (From the commercial, I find it disturbing that it looks like a bee is dating a human. I am not against interspecies dating, I just hate bees. OK I am deadly scared of them.)
30 Rock rocks! What a lame line. 30 Rock rocks!
OK I hope those are enough posts for now. You probably won't hear from me for a couple of days or so. Enjoy Thursday night viewing!
PS I forgot about Chuck and The Reaper. Still sticking with these new ones. Chuck tries hard to do everything but I really like Chuck. The Reaper... so quirky and I am enjoying it, so these guys still make my PVR cut.
Also, please all hail the PVR machine. Without it, I could not watch all these shows. Possibly my favourite invention behind the wheel, iPod, and electric toothbrush. Maybe the toilet makes that list as well.
I don't know what to make of this show. Some potential for some cool moments. Some of the action scenes do deliver. Jamie breaking the guy's ribs while making out with a random guy was a good chuckle. I will hold my judgement on this show.
Question: If Will was dying, why the heck did they not use the same technology on Bionic Woman to save his own life? Kinda stupid to me. And hey it is Dr. Burke from Grey's Anatomy! Do you think he will perform surgery? Will he say some homophobic remarks to lose this job as well? Was it weird to see Dr. Burke holding a gun? Once a giver of life, he now takes it away.
The Office:
Pam and Jim are outed. Michael's spech and gathering of the two was priceless. Michael driving into the lake following his GPS... excellent. Man, I love this show. I also want to punch Ryan the temp in the face. What a slimey weasel. I love how he struck out with Pam. Best comedy on TV. I am said when all these special one hour episodes end later this month.
30 Rock:
Funny to think two similar themed shows started on NBC. Both revolved around a Saturday Night Live theme. Funny how only 30 Rock survived (bye bye Studio 60). To be honest, this show was pretty bad for 1-3 episodes last year. Then the writing became more focused, the actors understood their roles, and things started humming along. I really enjoy my Thursday NBC comedy lineup and I know I may be shot for saying this, but I think it is almost better than the old "Must See TV" days. I mean it is tough to beat Seinfeld, but Friends was vastly overrated. It wasn't that funny. The current line-up of My Name is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock, and Scrubs is as solid as the KLM line (that's Krutov, Larionov, and Makarov to you hockey ignoramuses out there).
Speaking of Seinfeld, it was great to see Jerry Seinfeld guesting on this episode. The different uses of Seinfeld was midly amusing, but mostly disturbing. Seinfeld did prove once again that his acting skills are lacking, but I did like his acknowledgement of his shameless plug for his new movie, Bee Movie. (From the commercial, I find it disturbing that it looks like a bee is dating a human. I am not against interspecies dating, I just hate bees. OK I am deadly scared of them.)
30 Rock rocks! What a lame line. 30 Rock rocks!
OK I hope those are enough posts for now. You probably won't hear from me for a couple of days or so. Enjoy Thursday night viewing!
PS I forgot about Chuck and The Reaper. Still sticking with these new ones. Chuck tries hard to do everything but I really like Chuck. The Reaper... so quirky and I am enjoying it, so these guys still make my PVR cut.
Also, please all hail the PVR machine. Without it, I could not watch all these shows. Possibly my favourite invention behind the wheel, iPod, and electric toothbrush. Maybe the toilet makes that list as well.
More stuff...
I feel like I sounded really bitter in my summary of Heroes. I will talk about one show that I am fully enjoying.
House! What a great premise interviewing different candidates. It was great to see the crew from last year (Cameron, Chase, and Foreman!). What I didn't buy in this week's episode is House letting the one girl (I have no idea what her name is) off the hook for her mistake. What a cop out for the writers. They can't write her off because she is too pretty. I am sure she will become a regular on the show. What I hate is knowing that Kal Penn has already signed on for more episodes, so he is pretty much going to make the cut as well.
Touching moment of the night? House saying "I love you" to Cuddy. What a great dynamic between these two characters. Also, I chuckled when both of these guys were show to give an extra sideways glance as they watched Cuddy in a skirt walking away from them down the hallway.
My Name is Earl:
This show can be infantile, juvenile, silly, and tends to tie up many plots with deus ex machina, and other contrived coincidences. However, I fully enjoy this show. There is something just feel good about the show. I like how the writers manage to mock all of the characters, yet they show a human side to each of them. The line between comedy and karma works for me. This season's interesting twist has Earl in jail. Again, network TV has come a long way. The third episode showed two guys kissing and I don't think there was a mention of it anywhere, which I think is a good indication that people are becoming a bit more relaxed out there. Remember the brouhaha in the infamous Seinfeld "Contest" episode? They couldn't even say the word that they wanted to say.
Where was I? My Name is Earl features great work by the entire cast and is good for a chuckle or so.
House! What a great premise interviewing different candidates. It was great to see the crew from last year (Cameron, Chase, and Foreman!). What I didn't buy in this week's episode is House letting the one girl (I have no idea what her name is) off the hook for her mistake. What a cop out for the writers. They can't write her off because she is too pretty. I am sure she will become a regular on the show. What I hate is knowing that Kal Penn has already signed on for more episodes, so he is pretty much going to make the cut as well.
Touching moment of the night? House saying "I love you" to Cuddy. What a great dynamic between these two characters. Also, I chuckled when both of these guys were show to give an extra sideways glance as they watched Cuddy in a skirt walking away from them down the hallway.
My Name is Earl:
This show can be infantile, juvenile, silly, and tends to tie up many plots with deus ex machina, and other contrived coincidences. However, I fully enjoy this show. There is something just feel good about the show. I like how the writers manage to mock all of the characters, yet they show a human side to each of them. The line between comedy and karma works for me. This season's interesting twist has Earl in jail. Again, network TV has come a long way. The third episode showed two guys kissing and I don't think there was a mention of it anywhere, which I think is a good indication that people are becoming a bit more relaxed out there. Remember the brouhaha in the infamous Seinfeld "Contest" episode? They couldn't even say the word that they wanted to say.
Where was I? My Name is Earl features great work by the entire cast and is good for a chuckle or so.
Quick Pick Summary
Well I am super behind, but I have been watching TV.
First, I hope you are watching the second episode of Pushing Daisies. The first episode was a super slick setup with a very confining plot device. The main character, Ned, can bring back the dead with a touch of his hand, but if they stay alive for more than a minute, someone else in the vicinity dies. The kicker is if he touches the person again, they will die for good. Factor in Ned bringing back the love of his life and you have some great potential at work here. My only concern is how this will possibly play over an entire series.
How I Met Your Mother:
I am no prude, but it is amazing how far TV has come. The third episode revolves around Ted's potential threesome. A topic like this would have sent out some ripples. Now, no one even bats an eye. I still watch this show for Barney. Legend... wait for it! -dary
Gossip Girl:
This show is quickly turning into my guiltest pleasure. However, I need to address one thing... I find it disturbing that these are all teenagers. Do they go to school? Do they do anything else besides going to brunches and soirees? For some reason I am becoming a fan of Serena. Didn't like her character at all, but now? She is pretty cool. Once again, I have no real justification for my reason. If you like the OC, I think you will like this show.
Heroes:
I can't stand all these multiple storylines. The twins, Alejandro and Maya... do I really care about dark stuff flowing out of their eyes? Enough of them. Nikki is back! BOOOOOO. Micah looks like he is 10 years older. He is no longer cute. Child actors absolutely kill the continuity of shows. Somehow we need to figure out how to stunt children so they will be perfectly preserved to look the same age (kidding!). I don't like West, the new love interest of Claire's. He has that moppy haircut and I find him creepy. The flying scene with him and Claire was just a bad hokey version of the flying scene from Superman 1. Give Peter his memory back. More Sylar! This show has not been creating enough mystery. Things are just unfolding with too many storylines. I hope we can see something that drives the show forward in a way that Heroes did in Season 1. The first half of "Save the Cheerleader, save the world" created interest. The second half with the mystery of HRG worked very well to give the show some pace along with the unfolding events of New York possibly blowing up. So far there is no plot to unspool and connect all of these different characters.
Also, I want to know why Ando keeps a samurai sword at work? If I brought a sword to work, I think I might be fired. Wouldn't a more appropriate place be, hmmm I don't know, maybe your home?
Even Hiro has been failing me. We don't even get to see Kensei take on those 99 Ronin. That sounded cool.
First, I hope you are watching the second episode of Pushing Daisies. The first episode was a super slick setup with a very confining plot device. The main character, Ned, can bring back the dead with a touch of his hand, but if they stay alive for more than a minute, someone else in the vicinity dies. The kicker is if he touches the person again, they will die for good. Factor in Ned bringing back the love of his life and you have some great potential at work here. My only concern is how this will possibly play over an entire series.
How I Met Your Mother:
I am no prude, but it is amazing how far TV has come. The third episode revolves around Ted's potential threesome. A topic like this would have sent out some ripples. Now, no one even bats an eye. I still watch this show for Barney. Legend... wait for it! -dary
Gossip Girl:
This show is quickly turning into my guiltest pleasure. However, I need to address one thing... I find it disturbing that these are all teenagers. Do they go to school? Do they do anything else besides going to brunches and soirees? For some reason I am becoming a fan of Serena. Didn't like her character at all, but now? She is pretty cool. Once again, I have no real justification for my reason. If you like the OC, I think you will like this show.
Heroes:
I can't stand all these multiple storylines. The twins, Alejandro and Maya... do I really care about dark stuff flowing out of their eyes? Enough of them. Nikki is back! BOOOOOO. Micah looks like he is 10 years older. He is no longer cute. Child actors absolutely kill the continuity of shows. Somehow we need to figure out how to stunt children so they will be perfectly preserved to look the same age (kidding!). I don't like West, the new love interest of Claire's. He has that moppy haircut and I find him creepy. The flying scene with him and Claire was just a bad hokey version of the flying scene from Superman 1. Give Peter his memory back. More Sylar! This show has not been creating enough mystery. Things are just unfolding with too many storylines. I hope we can see something that drives the show forward in a way that Heroes did in Season 1. The first half of "Save the Cheerleader, save the world" created interest. The second half with the mystery of HRG worked very well to give the show some pace along with the unfolding events of New York possibly blowing up. So far there is no plot to unspool and connect all of these different characters.
Also, I want to know why Ando keeps a samurai sword at work? If I brought a sword to work, I think I might be fired. Wouldn't a more appropriate place be, hmmm I don't know, maybe your home?
Even Hiro has been failing me. We don't even get to see Kensei take on those 99 Ronin. That sounded cool.
Desperate Housewives
Sunday ABC
There was a spot on 72nd and Scott Road in North Delta that was a graveyard for restaurants. I remember growing up and driving by that area and noticing that no matter what restaurant came in there, a few months later, it would be gone. I vaguely remember a restaurant “Georgie’s” among many of the restaurants that met their demise in that cursed location. I always felt sad when I saw a new restaurant appear there, because you just knew they would be doomed. Weren’t these owners aware of the history of that location? Could they not sense the futility of trying to start a business there? Did they not know the preordained fate of that location? It was only until the arrival of White Spot did the curse break. White Spot stabilized the constant upheaval of that site. It took an established name to finally settle things down. (Actually, the Cactus Club in North Delta also did the same thing for a similarly cursed location down near 84th Ave).
The house of mystery on Desperate Housewives reminds me of the rotating restaurants. How many different new neighbours have moved into that house harbouring some sort of secret? I think every season has seen some family hiding something in that house. Wouldn’t a real estate seller recognize the terrible history of this house? Wouldn't the neighbours push to condemn this house?
Rant over.
So far through two episodes, I have been duly impressed with the storylines that have been on display. Bree vs the new neighbour (Dana Delaney, where have you been?) has been delicious. The Carlos-Edie-Gabby triangle has been great. And finally, it has been nice to see that with Susan and Mike finally together, the writers have managed to still put Susan in some amusing situations. Susan's visit to get her daughter Julie, dressed up in a negligee and getting mistaken for a hooker was pretty funny.
I know many people are dubious of this show. It is campy at times, but I do enjoy the whimsical nature of the show. I only wish that the great Nathan Fillion could be used in a better manner.
Pop Junk Summary: Sweet as Lik-M-Stick powder... dissolves quickly in your mouth and then it is gone.
There was a spot on 72nd and Scott Road in North Delta that was a graveyard for restaurants. I remember growing up and driving by that area and noticing that no matter what restaurant came in there, a few months later, it would be gone. I vaguely remember a restaurant “Georgie’s” among many of the restaurants that met their demise in that cursed location. I always felt sad when I saw a new restaurant appear there, because you just knew they would be doomed. Weren’t these owners aware of the history of that location? Could they not sense the futility of trying to start a business there? Did they not know the preordained fate of that location? It was only until the arrival of White Spot did the curse break. White Spot stabilized the constant upheaval of that site. It took an established name to finally settle things down. (Actually, the Cactus Club in North Delta also did the same thing for a similarly cursed location down near 84th Ave).
The house of mystery on Desperate Housewives reminds me of the rotating restaurants. How many different new neighbours have moved into that house harbouring some sort of secret? I think every season has seen some family hiding something in that house. Wouldn’t a real estate seller recognize the terrible history of this house? Wouldn't the neighbours push to condemn this house?
Rant over.
So far through two episodes, I have been duly impressed with the storylines that have been on display. Bree vs the new neighbour (Dana Delaney, where have you been?) has been delicious. The Carlos-Edie-Gabby triangle has been great. And finally, it has been nice to see that with Susan and Mike finally together, the writers have managed to still put Susan in some amusing situations. Susan's visit to get her daughter Julie, dressed up in a negligee and getting mistaken for a hooker was pretty funny.
I know many people are dubious of this show. It is campy at times, but I do enjoy the whimsical nature of the show. I only wish that the great Nathan Fillion could be used in a better manner.
Pop Junk Summary: Sweet as Lik-M-Stick powder... dissolves quickly in your mouth and then it is gone.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Plenty to be thankful for...
Well, I have been making an assignment for the past three hours for one of my Masters courses and I needed to take a break.
I hope all of you are enjoying your turkey dinners with family and friends. Today I heard someone speak on the difficulties children face growing up in Cambodia. Imagine being sold by your family for cash to the sex trade industry at the age of eight? What I heard goes beyond my own reality and it is a reminder that I have so much to be thankful for as I complain about mundane issues like why America’s Top Model sucks, or when the heck Ryan Shannon will hit an open net (wait, he already did).
My particular assignment has been looking at pop culture vs elite art. It has been very interesting reading all the differing opinions about what constitutes high art or what elevates art beyond “low” level art. The definitions of “mass culture” or “pop culture” change depending on who is speaking. Personally, I know what I like and I know what causes emotions in me. I can fully appreciate why Michelangelo’s David is considered to be one of the finest sculptures out there (I was truly in awe), yet I can also appreciate the comedic musings of a classic Simpsons episode (season 4 is my favourite). I also appreciate that I have the wherewithal to view and experience all forms of art and that I have the opportunity to speak my mind if I wish. Seeing Rembrandt’s Night Watch in person is something that I have been lucky enough to experience. I have been lucky enough to see Radiohead live as well. (How cool is it that Radiohead is allowing you to name your price for their new disc?) These experiences are luxuries that some cannot partake in.
As you can see I do enjoy many forms of art. I have always enjoyed television. I know many people look down on this form of entertainment. I agree that the majority of television is unhealthy. However, this medium can be illuminating at times, and it can even challenge. But I am not fooling myself. I certainly realize all that I view and review are not necessary. But then, sociologists like Herbert Gans would argue otherwise.
What am I getting at? Simply that I am truly thankful that I can partake in “Pop Junk”, because this means I have freedom that many people do not have. Whether or not I am using this freedom wisely is another discussion entirely.
I watched a lot of TV yesterday, so I will get to some reviews sooner or later. I got to go back to work. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I hope all of you are enjoying your turkey dinners with family and friends. Today I heard someone speak on the difficulties children face growing up in Cambodia. Imagine being sold by your family for cash to the sex trade industry at the age of eight? What I heard goes beyond my own reality and it is a reminder that I have so much to be thankful for as I complain about mundane issues like why America’s Top Model sucks, or when the heck Ryan Shannon will hit an open net (wait, he already did).
My particular assignment has been looking at pop culture vs elite art. It has been very interesting reading all the differing opinions about what constitutes high art or what elevates art beyond “low” level art. The definitions of “mass culture” or “pop culture” change depending on who is speaking. Personally, I know what I like and I know what causes emotions in me. I can fully appreciate why Michelangelo’s David is considered to be one of the finest sculptures out there (I was truly in awe), yet I can also appreciate the comedic musings of a classic Simpsons episode (season 4 is my favourite). I also appreciate that I have the wherewithal to view and experience all forms of art and that I have the opportunity to speak my mind if I wish. Seeing Rembrandt’s Night Watch in person is something that I have been lucky enough to experience. I have been lucky enough to see Radiohead live as well. (How cool is it that Radiohead is allowing you to name your price for their new disc?) These experiences are luxuries that some cannot partake in.
As you can see I do enjoy many forms of art. I have always enjoyed television. I know many people look down on this form of entertainment. I agree that the majority of television is unhealthy. However, this medium can be illuminating at times, and it can even challenge. But I am not fooling myself. I certainly realize all that I view and review are not necessary. But then, sociologists like Herbert Gans would argue otherwise.
What am I getting at? Simply that I am truly thankful that I can partake in “Pop Junk”, because this means I have freedom that many people do not have. Whether or not I am using this freedom wisely is another discussion entirely.
I watched a lot of TV yesterday, so I will get to some reviews sooner or later. I got to go back to work. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Pushing Daisies
I forgot! This show premiering on ABC Wednesday is getting great reviews. Make sure to check it out.
Heroes
Season 2 Episode 2
This show suffers from a problem that faces many fantasy/sci-fi novels. Books like the Wishsong of Shannara, Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time (after book 3) and a host of others, introduce way too many characters and what happens is the author is forced to follow different storylines. When I was younger I would read faster just so I could get to the storylines and characters that I enjoyed. Too many competing storylines is a bad thing sometimes.
Heroes got into trouble with that last year. This episode, even though lots happened, was quite slow, because it advanced the plots of so many different characters in small increments.
We were left wanting to see more Peter (his powers are kick ass now) and more Hiro (I was so made when I thought they were getting rid of Sark... Alias reference).
Claire is cool, but I think the new potential bf is a bit of weirdo. I just don't like the look of him. Plus he seems really stalkerish.
Mohinder... please go away.
I enjoy episodes that focus more on one character. Thank goodness we still haven't seen Jessica/Niki and family. I can't wait to see Sylar.
This show suffers from a problem that faces many fantasy/sci-fi novels. Books like the Wishsong of Shannara, Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time (after book 3) and a host of others, introduce way too many characters and what happens is the author is forced to follow different storylines. When I was younger I would read faster just so I could get to the storylines and characters that I enjoyed. Too many competing storylines is a bad thing sometimes.
Heroes got into trouble with that last year. This episode, even though lots happened, was quite slow, because it advanced the plots of so many different characters in small increments.
We were left wanting to see more Peter (his powers are kick ass now) and more Hiro (I was so made when I thought they were getting rid of Sark... Alias reference).
Claire is cool, but I think the new potential bf is a bit of weirdo. I just don't like the look of him. Plus he seems really stalkerish.
Mohinder... please go away.
I enjoy episodes that focus more on one character. Thank goodness we still haven't seen Jessica/Niki and family. I can't wait to see Sylar.
Bionic Woman
Wednesdays NBC
I hope you read this in time, so you can catch the new episode. I really liked the premise of the show and I think there is a lot of potential.
First let's discuss some minor quibbles:
1) I have mentioned previously how I hate school scenes. Bionic Woman's Will Anthros is lecturing at a university for some sort of bioethics course. As Jamie Sommers walks in, he finishes up his last slide, by saying this is what we will be looking at in bioethics. Are you telling me he took one hour and managed not even to get through his course syllabus? What a tool of a teacher and a waste of class time.
2) "Why do you like me?" Jamie Sommers
"You're different" Will Anthros
Boy, that is real glowing reason why you like someone. You're different? Like she smells? She has six toes? She eats with her hands from out of a bowl? What the heck does that mean?
3) The obvious setup that Jamie Sommers dad, not yet seen, but supposedly involved in revolutions, protests, and demonstrations, will turn up later in some sort of manner to further the conspiracy-like atmosphere already established in this episode.
4) Jamie Sommers drops a blade into CONCRETE! Shouldn't the blade just clatter on the ground?
Other than that, I really enjoyed how quickly this show established a framework which contains enough mysteries and questions for a watcher to come back to. I am stoked about the training sequences that will certainly appear in the future. Any good action show has to have training sequences to reach legendary status (re: Rocky III, Karate Kid, Empire Strikes Back, heck even The Last Starfighter). Any other suggestions? The potential mentor "Jae Kim" is Korean and he is even played by a Korean actor, Will Yun Lee! Usually Hollywood gets a Chinese actor to fill in the role, which I hate. Props to LOST for actually casting Korean actors for Korean parts. Katee Sackhoff, from Battlestar Galactica (not the old one), is essential in the role of Sarah Corvis, because Bionic Woman is obviously too powerful so it helps to have a foil who is just as strong.
The scenes where Jamie Sommers discovers her powers a la Spiderman are pretty freakin' cool and I can't wait to see some more of this show.
Finally, I was surprised to see that this show was filmed in Vancouver. Hello UBC Library masquerading as a US university. Hello Monk McQueens? Or was that the Cannery. Hello Hastings St, doubling as a seedy place where criminals meet. Hello Granville St. I might just watch this show to see what I recognize. What mystifies me is with our high Canadian dollar, what would be the reasons for filming this show up here now?
I leave you by saying, CHECK THIS SHOW OUT.
I hope you read this in time, so you can catch the new episode. I really liked the premise of the show and I think there is a lot of potential.
First let's discuss some minor quibbles:
1) I have mentioned previously how I hate school scenes. Bionic Woman's Will Anthros is lecturing at a university for some sort of bioethics course. As Jamie Sommers walks in, he finishes up his last slide, by saying this is what we will be looking at in bioethics. Are you telling me he took one hour and managed not even to get through his course syllabus? What a tool of a teacher and a waste of class time.
2) "Why do you like me?" Jamie Sommers
"You're different" Will Anthros
Boy, that is real glowing reason why you like someone. You're different? Like she smells? She has six toes? She eats with her hands from out of a bowl? What the heck does that mean?
3) The obvious setup that Jamie Sommers dad, not yet seen, but supposedly involved in revolutions, protests, and demonstrations, will turn up later in some sort of manner to further the conspiracy-like atmosphere already established in this episode.
4) Jamie Sommers drops a blade into CONCRETE! Shouldn't the blade just clatter on the ground?
Other than that, I really enjoyed how quickly this show established a framework which contains enough mysteries and questions for a watcher to come back to. I am stoked about the training sequences that will certainly appear in the future. Any good action show has to have training sequences to reach legendary status (re: Rocky III, Karate Kid, Empire Strikes Back, heck even The Last Starfighter). Any other suggestions? The potential mentor "Jae Kim" is Korean and he is even played by a Korean actor, Will Yun Lee! Usually Hollywood gets a Chinese actor to fill in the role, which I hate. Props to LOST for actually casting Korean actors for Korean parts. Katee Sackhoff, from Battlestar Galactica (not the old one), is essential in the role of Sarah Corvis, because Bionic Woman is obviously too powerful so it helps to have a foil who is just as strong.
The scenes where Jamie Sommers discovers her powers a la Spiderman are pretty freakin' cool and I can't wait to see some more of this show.
Finally, I was surprised to see that this show was filmed in Vancouver. Hello UBC Library masquerading as a US university. Hello Monk McQueens? Or was that the Cannery. Hello Hastings St, doubling as a seedy place where criminals meet. Hello Granville St. I might just watch this show to see what I recognize. What mystifies me is with our high Canadian dollar, what would be the reasons for filming this show up here now?
I leave you by saying, CHECK THIS SHOW OUT.
Grey's Anatomy
Thursdays ABC
Is a blog useless if I am posting things way after an episode airs? I feel like I still have things to say after the fact. I would like to apologize and I wish I could write about shows right away, but life keeps on interfering. The gr. 10 boys volleyball team I coach lost today. I feel bad because I yell a lot. I hate those type of coaches, which means I hate myself. I started curling yesterday with three of my friends. Our goal is get to the 2010 Winter Olympics representing team Korea. Wish us luck.
Every year, teaching 100 + students means you get a mix of students with different abilities. The students that struggle are the ones that take up most of my time. Sometimes, I feel like a student is so far behind or just doesn't care enough, which almost makes me want to give up on them. But I just can't. I feel like if I can even motivate ONE student or help out with one student, then all the effort I put in will be worthwhile. I can't stop caring about all of my students.
Grey's Anatomy is like one of my struggling students. I am almost want to give up on the show, but I just can't let go. I have invested so much time into it. I understand the show. I can see the potential. I remember the first season of goodness.
But man, is this show really trying to push things.
Let's see:
Meredith and Derek like each other but can't quite get their relationship to work out after fighting over Derek meeting Meredith's half-sister who helps out George who finds himself not only interning again but being caught between Callie, his wife who is the resident chief and Izzie, his best friend that he slept with, who is just over the loss of her lover Denny, yet she had already slept with Karev, who is pining over a girl who he met in the hospital, which mirrors Yang's feelings over losing Burke who left her at the altar, but Yang now has responsibilities which include watching over a new group of interns, one of which is Meredith's half sister.
That last run-on sentence shows how truly stupid the storylines of this show are getting.
This season premiere did nothing to alleviate my concerns:
-No satisfactory explanation is given for why Burke just left. I found his excuse for walking away from the wedding ridiculous.
-George is an intern again and he gets put under Meredith's watch!?! Stupid stupid stupid.
-George and Izzie (Gizzie) are just a terrible match.
-George and Callie are even worse.
-I dislike Callie. I find it so fake that she got the coveted chief spot ahead of so many better candidates.
-Meredith's half-sister is cute. But I have no idea why Meredith couldn't have at least said "hello". Did she really have to just stare at her and then turn around to walk towards McDreamy? What a cow. And really, why did the show make it look like it was some sort of huge choice for Meredith? She couldn't have taken the time to talk to both people?
-Good to know that you can waste a doctor and three interns on reviving a deer. Would Seattle Grace approve of spending money and resources to do that?
-Izzie's Bambi dialogue made absolutely no sense. "I am Bambi" is prime example of the horrid dialogue from week to week.
-Finally, how dare they use the cliche in Meredith's narration "The more things change, the more things stay the same". That is just lazy lazy writing.
I can't stand this show, yet I can't fully tear myself away. I hope that Shondra Rimes can make me care about this show once again. Make me care. Make. Me. Care. Me? Care? Yes, care.
I thought I would drop this show, but I guess, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Is a blog useless if I am posting things way after an episode airs? I feel like I still have things to say after the fact. I would like to apologize and I wish I could write about shows right away, but life keeps on interfering. The gr. 10 boys volleyball team I coach lost today. I feel bad because I yell a lot. I hate those type of coaches, which means I hate myself. I started curling yesterday with three of my friends. Our goal is get to the 2010 Winter Olympics representing team Korea. Wish us luck.
Every year, teaching 100 + students means you get a mix of students with different abilities. The students that struggle are the ones that take up most of my time. Sometimes, I feel like a student is so far behind or just doesn't care enough, which almost makes me want to give up on them. But I just can't. I feel like if I can even motivate ONE student or help out with one student, then all the effort I put in will be worthwhile. I can't stop caring about all of my students.
Grey's Anatomy is like one of my struggling students. I am almost want to give up on the show, but I just can't let go. I have invested so much time into it. I understand the show. I can see the potential. I remember the first season of goodness.
But man, is this show really trying to push things.
Let's see:
Meredith and Derek like each other but can't quite get their relationship to work out after fighting over Derek meeting Meredith's half-sister who helps out George who finds himself not only interning again but being caught between Callie, his wife who is the resident chief and Izzie, his best friend that he slept with, who is just over the loss of her lover Denny, yet she had already slept with Karev, who is pining over a girl who he met in the hospital, which mirrors Yang's feelings over losing Burke who left her at the altar, but Yang now has responsibilities which include watching over a new group of interns, one of which is Meredith's half sister.
That last run-on sentence shows how truly stupid the storylines of this show are getting.
This season premiere did nothing to alleviate my concerns:
-No satisfactory explanation is given for why Burke just left. I found his excuse for walking away from the wedding ridiculous.
-George is an intern again and he gets put under Meredith's watch!?! Stupid stupid stupid.
-George and Izzie (Gizzie) are just a terrible match.
-George and Callie are even worse.
-I dislike Callie. I find it so fake that she got the coveted chief spot ahead of so many better candidates.
-Meredith's half-sister is cute. But I have no idea why Meredith couldn't have at least said "hello". Did she really have to just stare at her and then turn around to walk towards McDreamy? What a cow. And really, why did the show make it look like it was some sort of huge choice for Meredith? She couldn't have taken the time to talk to both people?
-Good to know that you can waste a doctor and three interns on reviving a deer. Would Seattle Grace approve of spending money and resources to do that?
-Izzie's Bambi dialogue made absolutely no sense. "I am Bambi" is prime example of the horrid dialogue from week to week.
-Finally, how dare they use the cliche in Meredith's narration "The more things change, the more things stay the same". That is just lazy lazy writing.
I can't stand this show, yet I can't fully tear myself away. I hope that Shondra Rimes can make me care about this show once again. Make me care. Make. Me. Care. Me? Care? Yes, care.
I thought I would drop this show, but I guess, the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
The Office
Thursdays NBC
This is the show that I am trying so hard to convert people to watch. It is one of the few comedies out there that makes me laugh out loud. The writing is superb. I love all the actors and often the minor characters outshine the major ones. The scenarios involving the boss, Michael, are just too awkward and a lot of humour is mined from these awkward situations.
Perhaps the tone of the show is not for everyone? Perhaps it is too silly for people? Maybe the lack of a laugh track and the silence that ensues makes people feel uncomfortable?
I don't know what it is, but people I know don't enjoy this show. Maybe I need new people?
My only worry coming into this season was seeing how the writers would make their way through Sam-Diane Syndrome. A show works best when there is tension between two characters-do they like each other? Will they get together? And TV history has dictated that not many shows survive for much longer once the writers have painted themselves into a corner and are left with only one choice... the characters get together. Let's see some examples:
Cheers: Sam and Diane had great chemistry. The show revolved around these two opposites and their zany relationship. Cheers survived because Shelley Long left.
Moonlighting: Once Maddie and Dave got together, the show wasn't the same. Or maybe it was because Bruce Willis' career took off with Die Hard.
X-Files: This show was an example of great tension between Scully and Mulder, yet the writers let things drag out too long, as not enough of their relationship was advanced season after season, until all that tension was drained away.
Friends: This show was able to survive the Ross and Rachel drama, but man did they milk things. How many times did they almost get together? How many times did they break up? This show survived, but I don't really know how.
Frasier: Niles and Daphne finally get together. I think the show ended a season or two after that.
That brings us to Jim and Pam. These two add heart to the show and elevate this show from simply being a silly comedic look at office life. I really hope that this show can survive now that Jim and Pam are together. I am very interested how the writers will produce tension now that the relationship drama between Jim and Pam is gone.
Ok, finally, the season premiere? A bit uneven, but an hour of Office still produces great amounts of laughter.
How could you not laugh at the race that Michael organizes? Check out the name:
Michael Scott Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run For The Cure
which ensured the best race t-shirt logo ever. I would love to get my hands on one of those shirts.
Other highlights?
-Darrel feeding the squirrel while Michael is giving a speech on rabies
-Andy's disturbing nipple troubles during his run
-Michael mounting Meredith to give her a hug forgetting she had a broken pelvis
-Michael handing over one of those big cheques to a stripper dressed as a nurse and the cheque was written out to "Science"
I wish that some of you could give The Office another chance. It is one of my favourites.
Postings later tonight for Bionic Woman, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and Gossip Girl. I will say that I enjoyed Bionic Woman and am definitely looking forward to the second episode.
Rob
Myth: 3 Americans every year die from rabies.
Fact: 4 Americans every year die from rabies.
-Michael Scott, from The Office
This is the show that I am trying so hard to convert people to watch. It is one of the few comedies out there that makes me laugh out loud. The writing is superb. I love all the actors and often the minor characters outshine the major ones. The scenarios involving the boss, Michael, are just too awkward and a lot of humour is mined from these awkward situations.
Perhaps the tone of the show is not for everyone? Perhaps it is too silly for people? Maybe the lack of a laugh track and the silence that ensues makes people feel uncomfortable?
I don't know what it is, but people I know don't enjoy this show. Maybe I need new people?
My only worry coming into this season was seeing how the writers would make their way through Sam-Diane Syndrome. A show works best when there is tension between two characters-do they like each other? Will they get together? And TV history has dictated that not many shows survive for much longer once the writers have painted themselves into a corner and are left with only one choice... the characters get together. Let's see some examples:
Cheers: Sam and Diane had great chemistry. The show revolved around these two opposites and their zany relationship. Cheers survived because Shelley Long left.
Moonlighting: Once Maddie and Dave got together, the show wasn't the same. Or maybe it was because Bruce Willis' career took off with Die Hard.
X-Files: This show was an example of great tension between Scully and Mulder, yet the writers let things drag out too long, as not enough of their relationship was advanced season after season, until all that tension was drained away.
Friends: This show was able to survive the Ross and Rachel drama, but man did they milk things. How many times did they almost get together? How many times did they break up? This show survived, but I don't really know how.
Frasier: Niles and Daphne finally get together. I think the show ended a season or two after that.
That brings us to Jim and Pam. These two add heart to the show and elevate this show from simply being a silly comedic look at office life. I really hope that this show can survive now that Jim and Pam are together. I am very interested how the writers will produce tension now that the relationship drama between Jim and Pam is gone.
Ok, finally, the season premiere? A bit uneven, but an hour of Office still produces great amounts of laughter.
How could you not laugh at the race that Michael organizes? Check out the name:
Michael Scott Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run For The Cure
which ensured the best race t-shirt logo ever. I would love to get my hands on one of those shirts.
Other highlights?
-Darrel feeding the squirrel while Michael is giving a speech on rabies
-Andy's disturbing nipple troubles during his run
-Michael mounting Meredith to give her a hug forgetting she had a broken pelvis
-Michael handing over one of those big cheques to a stripper dressed as a nurse and the cheque was written out to "Science"
I wish that some of you could give The Office another chance. It is one of my favourites.
Postings later tonight for Bionic Woman, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and Gossip Girl. I will say that I enjoyed Bionic Woman and am definitely looking forward to the second episode.
Rob
Myth: 3 Americans every year die from rabies.
Fact: 4 Americans every year die from rabies.
-Michael Scott, from The Office
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Too much TV...
I find I am having a tough time trying to cram in all of these TV shows, considering that I am coaching a gr. 10 boys volleyball team ("coach" is a relative loose term). Finding time to do my Masters is a bit tough as well. Thank goodness I don't have children. I should be able to make some comments sooner than later.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Reaper
CityTV Tuesdays
I finally got around to watching this quirky show. The first episode, directed by Kevin Smith of "Clerks" fame, establishes that the slacker character finds out his soul was sold to the devil by his parents and now the devil has enlisted him to become his bounty hunter to find souls that managed to escape out of hell.
I know, it sounds crazy right?
I actually really enjoyed the show. The acting was great and the writing was funny. I thought it was the funniest new show I had seen this week. If you like quirky sort of shows then I recommend you check this one out.
Don't fear the Reaper.
I wish I could elaborate further but Thursday is a big night of TV. Take care.
I finally got around to watching this quirky show. The first episode, directed by Kevin Smith of "Clerks" fame, establishes that the slacker character finds out his soul was sold to the devil by his parents and now the devil has enlisted him to become his bounty hunter to find souls that managed to escape out of hell.
I know, it sounds crazy right?
I actually really enjoyed the show. The acting was great and the writing was funny. I thought it was the funniest new show I had seen this week. If you like quirky sort of shows then I recommend you check this one out.
Don't fear the Reaper.
I wish I could elaborate further but Thursday is a big night of TV. Take care.
Private Practice
ABC Wednesdays
Hey everybody... sorry for the lack of post yesterday. I played hockey last night, so I couldn't get around to any comments. Here we go...
I confess that Addison's character from Grey's Anatomy has grown on me. But all that goodwill is undone by this new spinoff show. I will say that last season's introduction of this new show's cast in GA was one of the first signs that GA was going down in quality. I actually remember being super angry after that episode, because I was forced to watch these characters that I did not give a crap about.
So ABC, in their infinite wisdom of milking the golden cow, decided hey lets give Shonda Rimes a chance to do a spin off!
I could barely watch the first episode and I actually fast forwarded through much of it. It was that bad.
My first beef? I HATE (notice the ALL CAPS) when characters dance and sing on a show. Spontaneous family sing alongs drive me up the wall. Who the heck breaks out into singing and dancing? Or was I just raised in a family devoid of artistic culture? Lo and behold, Addison moves to LA and then she starts dancing naked in front of an OPEN WINDOW! She is a world class doctor and she is not aware of an open window? Just stupid. Of course, her co-worker is living beside her and spies her. Just a cringe inducing moment.
My second beef? What is this show trying to achieve? I didn't laugh. I didn't cry. I don't know what niche this show hopes to fill.
Another thing? All this TV talent has been assembled to act out lame lines.
Mina (my fiance) and I like to play a game (not that kind of game you dirty minded people) where we pretend we are on Grey's Anatomy. Try it out sometime. All you have to do is repeat a line, then rephrase that same line using different intonation, and repeat the line again to emphasize your point. It works in every situation.
IE. "You know this is a really good chicken sandwich!"
"Chicken sandwich?"
"Yes, chicken sandwich."
"It's good?"
"It's good."
"The chicken sandwich is good. I like the chicken sandwich. Chicken is good."
It really makes ordinary days seem extraordinary. Really. Really? Really.
This bad writing habit infects Private Practice. The situations are hokey. The characters are a little too wacky. And really I don't care about any of them, which probably stems from all the ill will I felt towards them in that bad 2 hr GA episode last year.
Finally, I was a bit weirded out by the actress switch, from Merrin Dungey of Alias fame, to this new lady, Audra Ann McDonald,who reminds of the cousin of Serina Williams.
I don't think I will be coming back to Private Practice.
Pop Junk Summary: You know those Halloween candies with the orange and black wrappers? The ones that you open up and they look like caramel, but they end up tasting like... the only apt description I can think is that they taste like how I envision the colour "gray" would taste like. Well, Private Practice reminds me of those candies. I disliked them, but I always tricked myself into eating one again the following year, because they still looked good. Which means I am probably doomed to watch this show again.
Hey everybody... sorry for the lack of post yesterday. I played hockey last night, so I couldn't get around to any comments. Here we go...
I confess that Addison's character from Grey's Anatomy has grown on me. But all that goodwill is undone by this new spinoff show. I will say that last season's introduction of this new show's cast in GA was one of the first signs that GA was going down in quality. I actually remember being super angry after that episode, because I was forced to watch these characters that I did not give a crap about.
So ABC, in their infinite wisdom of milking the golden cow, decided hey lets give Shonda Rimes a chance to do a spin off!
I could barely watch the first episode and I actually fast forwarded through much of it. It was that bad.
My first beef? I HATE (notice the ALL CAPS) when characters dance and sing on a show. Spontaneous family sing alongs drive me up the wall. Who the heck breaks out into singing and dancing? Or was I just raised in a family devoid of artistic culture? Lo and behold, Addison moves to LA and then she starts dancing naked in front of an OPEN WINDOW! She is a world class doctor and she is not aware of an open window? Just stupid. Of course, her co-worker is living beside her and spies her. Just a cringe inducing moment.
My second beef? What is this show trying to achieve? I didn't laugh. I didn't cry. I don't know what niche this show hopes to fill.
Another thing? All this TV talent has been assembled to act out lame lines.
Mina (my fiance) and I like to play a game (not that kind of game you dirty minded people) where we pretend we are on Grey's Anatomy. Try it out sometime. All you have to do is repeat a line, then rephrase that same line using different intonation, and repeat the line again to emphasize your point. It works in every situation.
IE. "You know this is a really good chicken sandwich!"
"Chicken sandwich?"
"Yes, chicken sandwich."
"It's good?"
"It's good."
"The chicken sandwich is good. I like the chicken sandwich. Chicken is good."
It really makes ordinary days seem extraordinary. Really. Really? Really.
This bad writing habit infects Private Practice. The situations are hokey. The characters are a little too wacky. And really I don't care about any of them, which probably stems from all the ill will I felt towards them in that bad 2 hr GA episode last year.
Finally, I was a bit weirded out by the actress switch, from Merrin Dungey of Alias fame, to this new lady, Audra Ann McDonald,who reminds of the cousin of Serina Williams.
I don't think I will be coming back to Private Practice.
Pop Junk Summary: You know those Halloween candies with the orange and black wrappers? The ones that you open up and they look like caramel, but they end up tasting like... the only apt description I can think is that they taste like how I envision the colour "gray" would taste like. Well, Private Practice reminds me of those candies. I disliked them, but I always tricked myself into eating one again the following year, because they still looked good. Which means I am probably doomed to watch this show again.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
House
FOX Tuesdays
This is the fourth season of House and it is one of my more favourite shows. I will confess that I am not a fan of any of the CSI's, which manage to solve a case tidily in one hour episodes. Then why would I like House which solves the most outrageous medical cases in the span of one hour as well?
I think it would have to do something with the excellent acting of Hugh Laurie (sorry David Caruso). He is simply amazing as an actor that conveys so much complexity beneath his character's supposed gruffness.
What further elevates this show is the strong cast. Dr. James Wilson played by Robert Sean Leonard, he of Dead Poets Society fame, along with his crack team has a wonderful witty report and great chemistry.
Minor Spoiler Alert:
Season 3 ends with House's team all quitting on him. It was a decent season except for maybe the storyline about his drug addiction, a storyline that I always find weak in shows, because it allows the writers to justify any of their character's wild actions.
Season 4 finds House alone without his team. I loved this episode because of the "terrorist" battle between House and Wilson, after Wilson kidnaps his guitar. I am also excited at the shake up of this show and the anticipation of seeing how House picks his new staff.
Pop Junk Summary: House is like Everlasting Gobstoppers. Sour on the outside, sweet on the inside and full of long lasting flavour.
I will have to report later about Reaper. And also about episode 2 of Gossip Girl.
Wednesday:
Dirty Sexy Money
Bionic Woman
Private Practice (there is a joke in that title somewhere but I won't stoop that low)
Thursday:
This is the power day of television.
The Office, My Name is Earl, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy (this show is on a short leash), and Ugly Betty. Oh yeah and the last season of Scrubs.
This is the fourth season of House and it is one of my more favourite shows. I will confess that I am not a fan of any of the CSI's, which manage to solve a case tidily in one hour episodes. Then why would I like House which solves the most outrageous medical cases in the span of one hour as well?
I think it would have to do something with the excellent acting of Hugh Laurie (sorry David Caruso). He is simply amazing as an actor that conveys so much complexity beneath his character's supposed gruffness.
What further elevates this show is the strong cast. Dr. James Wilson played by Robert Sean Leonard, he of Dead Poets Society fame, along with his crack team has a wonderful witty report and great chemistry.
Minor Spoiler Alert:
Season 3 ends with House's team all quitting on him. It was a decent season except for maybe the storyline about his drug addiction, a storyline that I always find weak in shows, because it allows the writers to justify any of their character's wild actions.
Season 4 finds House alone without his team. I loved this episode because of the "terrorist" battle between House and Wilson, after Wilson kidnaps his guitar. I am also excited at the shake up of this show and the anticipation of seeing how House picks his new staff.
Pop Junk Summary: House is like Everlasting Gobstoppers. Sour on the outside, sweet on the inside and full of long lasting flavour.
I will have to report later about Reaper. And also about episode 2 of Gossip Girl.
Wednesday:
Dirty Sexy Money
Bionic Woman
Private Practice (there is a joke in that title somewhere but I won't stoop that low)
Thursday:
This is the power day of television.
The Office, My Name is Earl, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy (this show is on a short leash), and Ugly Betty. Oh yeah and the last season of Scrubs.
Monday revisited...
I thought more about The Big Bang Theory. It is a very interesting theory. To think that the beginning of the universe started with all this condensing matter and then in one instant a big explosion created the universe and explains why the universe is still expanding.
Or something like that.
Which leads to my startling Stephen-Hawking-revelation about the TV show, The Big Bang Theory. I don't think I will watch it again. What led to my revelation? It just wasn't funny enough.
OK. That's all I wanted to say.
Or something like that.
Which leads to my startling Stephen-Hawking-revelation about the TV show, The Big Bang Theory. I don't think I will watch it again. What led to my revelation? It just wasn't funny enough.
OK. That's all I wanted to say.
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Big Bang Theory
CBS Mondays
I gave this one a whirl against my better reasoning. This show was created by THE Chuck Lorre.
He created Dharma & Greg, which I do not like.
He created Two and a Half Men, which I do not understand why half of America watches.
This show was mildly amusing, but it is not the best comedy out there. I also have a tough time watching any show with a canned studio laugh track.
The other big mistake? The pretty girl in the show that woos a bunch of high IQ nerds (is the fall theme nerds?) could have been better utilized. The show's creators had a chance to show the lady scantily clad therefore ensuring the show's success (see my previous theory in my blurb about CHUCK), but they instead opted for the towel look. Boo-urns.
I really don't think I will watch this one again.
Tuesday's viewing? House and Reaper (really excited about this one)
For any diehard Star Wars fans out there, I hope you caught the one hour parody done by the Family Guy. Not a lot of laughs but it was still amusing for a Star Wars nerd like me.
Ciao!
I gave this one a whirl against my better reasoning. This show was created by THE Chuck Lorre.
He created Dharma & Greg, which I do not like.
He created Two and a Half Men, which I do not understand why half of America watches.
This show was mildly amusing, but it is not the best comedy out there. I also have a tough time watching any show with a canned studio laugh track.
The other big mistake? The pretty girl in the show that woos a bunch of high IQ nerds (is the fall theme nerds?) could have been better utilized. The show's creators had a chance to show the lady scantily clad therefore ensuring the show's success (see my previous theory in my blurb about CHUCK), but they instead opted for the towel look. Boo-urns.
I really don't think I will watch this one again.
Tuesday's viewing? House and Reaper (really excited about this one)
For any diehard Star Wars fans out there, I hope you caught the one hour parody done by the Family Guy. Not a lot of laughs but it was still amusing for a Star Wars nerd like me.
Ciao!
Heroes Season 2 Premiere
NBC Mondays
For those of you who haven't seen this show, do yourself a favour and go get season 1. It was one of the best shows from last year. Heroes is based on people that discover superpowers and learn slowly about their links to each other. Highlights like the episode "Company Man" were some of the best crafted episodes of all time. Hiro, the Japanese time traveller is among my favourites and Sylar is one of the best villians to come along in awhile.
The negatives?
Unfortunately, a show of this scope and magnitude is bound to let you down because it is not working on a movie budget. The actual fight scenes and scenes showing characters using their powers is a bit disappointing at times. Also this show suffers from having too many characters. Storylines involving Ali Larter and her family were boring in comparison to others. I don't care about your stupid sister that we can see in mirrors! And Mohinder, the narrator is annoying as well. And the finale was really a major letdown.
So where does that leave us coming into season 2?
This premiere was uneven. I hope the show doesn't suffer from season 2 LOST-itis, where too many new characters that we don't ultimately care about are introduced. Two characters from the Honduras (the girl looks like J. Lo Lite) are introduced and I did not even find a ounce of suspense in their story. I just did not care JLoLite and Marc Anthony. Also enough of the "Nuuhuhhhuuh" chanting at the beginning with Mohinder's narration. I can't take it. Molly the cerebral finding mutant girl is boring. It seems weird that Parkman and Mohinder live together with Molly. It reminds me of that old sitcom with Paul Reiser called "My Two Dads". The blatant Nissan Forge product placement was despicable. But then, what do I know, because I have this sudden urge to go out and buy a Nissan.
The three things that I did like:
Claire the cheerleader's new storyline. Very Clark Kentish.
The actor, David Anders (he was Sark from Alias), is excellent as an Englishman trapped in feudal Japan. Hiro's storyline and interaction with "Sark" was great.
HRG (Horn rimmed glasses), Claire's dad's scenes in "Copy Kingdom" were deliciously funny.
One last thing that bothered me. There is a scene with Claire in her high school science class. I hate the stereotypical science class with the bright coloured Erlenmeyer flask and just about every single type of glassware on display. I teach science and I don't know if I have ever had a class where ever single chemical is out on the table. Go ahead kids, play with anything. And then the science teacher quotes Darwin, when the class specifically looks like a chemistry class. Puhleeze. Stupid school stereotypes. It almost bothers me as much as when the bell always rings halfway through a teacher's comments followed by: "We'll pick it up from here tomorrow." I only wish I could end my lessons whenever I fel...
We'll pick this up tomorrow.
For those of you who haven't seen this show, do yourself a favour and go get season 1. It was one of the best shows from last year. Heroes is based on people that discover superpowers and learn slowly about their links to each other. Highlights like the episode "Company Man" were some of the best crafted episodes of all time. Hiro, the Japanese time traveller is among my favourites and Sylar is one of the best villians to come along in awhile.
The negatives?
Unfortunately, a show of this scope and magnitude is bound to let you down because it is not working on a movie budget. The actual fight scenes and scenes showing characters using their powers is a bit disappointing at times. Also this show suffers from having too many characters. Storylines involving Ali Larter and her family were boring in comparison to others. I don't care about your stupid sister that we can see in mirrors! And Mohinder, the narrator is annoying as well. And the finale was really a major letdown.
So where does that leave us coming into season 2?
This premiere was uneven. I hope the show doesn't suffer from season 2 LOST-itis, where too many new characters that we don't ultimately care about are introduced. Two characters from the Honduras (the girl looks like J. Lo Lite) are introduced and I did not even find a ounce of suspense in their story. I just did not care JLoLite and Marc Anthony. Also enough of the "Nuuhuhhhuuh" chanting at the beginning with Mohinder's narration. I can't take it. Molly the cerebral finding mutant girl is boring. It seems weird that Parkman and Mohinder live together with Molly. It reminds me of that old sitcom with Paul Reiser called "My Two Dads". The blatant Nissan Forge product placement was despicable. But then, what do I know, because I have this sudden urge to go out and buy a Nissan.
The three things that I did like:
Claire the cheerleader's new storyline. Very Clark Kentish.
The actor, David Anders (he was Sark from Alias), is excellent as an Englishman trapped in feudal Japan. Hiro's storyline and interaction with "Sark" was great.
HRG (Horn rimmed glasses), Claire's dad's scenes in "Copy Kingdom" were deliciously funny.
One last thing that bothered me. There is a scene with Claire in her high school science class. I hate the stereotypical science class with the bright coloured Erlenmeyer flask and just about every single type of glassware on display. I teach science and I don't know if I have ever had a class where ever single chemical is out on the table. Go ahead kids, play with anything. And then the science teacher quotes Darwin, when the class specifically looks like a chemistry class. Puhleeze. Stupid school stereotypes. It almost bothers me as much as when the bell always rings halfway through a teacher's comments followed by: "We'll pick it up from here tomorrow." I only wish I could end my lessons whenever I fel...
We'll pick this up tomorrow.
How I Met Your Mother
CBS Mondays
A nice little comedy that dipped a bit in season two. This is the third season and I simply am starting to wonder, "It is season THREE and we still haven't met your mother!"
I wonder where this show is going to go seeing that it has really trapped itself in a weird story mode. The main character Ted, narrates to his son and daughter (from the future) about how he met their mother. Never mind that actually telling all the nitty gritty details about the women you have been and all the bad things that you did to your children probably is a little creepy and inappropriate, this show is still pretty funny. I do like that Robin is Canadian. And Neil Patrick Harris simply owns as Barney.
This episode sees Enrique and Mandy Moore drop by for cameos. I think at times this show is pretty funny, but last season it got a bit too sappy. We will see what this season holds for the show.
When we actually meet this "mother" it better not be a letdown. This meeting has been building for 2 seasons now.
Also, when did bangs come back in style. Allyson Hannigan (Willow from Buffy), you looked nicer without bangs. To those of you readers who have bangs, I did not mean to offend you. (Are there any guys out there that actually sport the bang look?)
Pop Junk Summary: Check out Season 1 and then you can decide. Or check out the Robin Sparkles episode from Season 2. Brilliant.
A nice little comedy that dipped a bit in season two. This is the third season and I simply am starting to wonder, "It is season THREE and we still haven't met your mother!"
I wonder where this show is going to go seeing that it has really trapped itself in a weird story mode. The main character Ted, narrates to his son and daughter (from the future) about how he met their mother. Never mind that actually telling all the nitty gritty details about the women you have been and all the bad things that you did to your children probably is a little creepy and inappropriate, this show is still pretty funny. I do like that Robin is Canadian. And Neil Patrick Harris simply owns as Barney.
This episode sees Enrique and Mandy Moore drop by for cameos. I think at times this show is pretty funny, but last season it got a bit too sappy. We will see what this season holds for the show.
When we actually meet this "mother" it better not be a letdown. This meeting has been building for 2 seasons now.
Also, when did bangs come back in style. Allyson Hannigan (Willow from Buffy), you looked nicer without bangs. To those of you readers who have bangs, I did not mean to offend you. (Are there any guys out there that actually sport the bang look?)
Pop Junk Summary: Check out Season 1 and then you can decide. Or check out the Robin Sparkles episode from Season 2. Brilliant.
CHUCK
Thanks for all who have read and cheers to those who even made some comments.
Monday night of the Fall premiere season was big. Here goes:
Chuck: NBC Mondays
Josh Schwartz, creator of the OC is at it again. This time he tries a blend of action/comedy/romance involving a nerd who accidently views all these fancy dancy government plans. Of course the CIA and NSA and NCAA and NHL all get involved and hijinks ensue.
If I were ever to make a TV show, I would ensure that my pilot episode had a gratitous shot of a lady scantily clad in underwear. This will pretty much clinch that the show will have a good following for awhile. It worked for LOST (the great Kate bathing in the water shot), it worked for "Alias" (the Super Bowl after episode that revived the show when Jen Garner appears in lingerie), it worked for "Heroes" (Ali Larter posing scantily clad in front of a video camera), and it almost works here for Chuck when the female CIA character is shown "suiting up". From the sounds of season 2 of Friday Night Lights, they will also be trying out this strategy, alas one season too late. When in doubt, show scantily clad females to discombobulate the male viewers until it is too late for them to figure out if the show is good or not. Sad but true.
Re-reading the last paragraph, I realize it almost makes me seem like a pervert. But then again, the fact that I can recall the scenes from LOST, Alias, and Heroes without having to look it up on the Internet, proves my point about making an impression with the male audience.
I also feel like I am part of an ugly society that cannot get past personal appearances. The female agent is pretty cute, but I could not help but look at her one tooth that was sticking out every time she talked. Actually in full HD glory, I was fixated by this one tooth that stuck out. I never knew I was so obsessive over teeth. I guess that is why I am marrying a dentist. So shallow. I apologize to the nice, Yvonne Strzechowski, who does a good job as the female CIA agent in Chuck.
**Random thought: Speaking of teeth, Adrianna on "The Hills" has teeth so white I almost envision her gargling a concoction of bleach and Colgate white strips to maintain the pearly sheen that she has, a lustre so bright that she could probably serve as a beacon of light for those lost 30 foot yachts that are attempting to dock at Laguna Beach. Just an observation. And also a shameful admission that I have been finally hooked in by "The Hills" season 3. I heart Lauren Conrad. Down with evil Speidi.
Other random thoughts:
The episode was directed by McG, of Charlie Angels and OC fame. What I want to know is when do you get single name status? Can I start calling myself McK?
I liked that Harry, the evil Asian manager at "Buy More" played by the wonderful actor, CS Lee, appeared in the pilot. CS Lee appears in a show called Dexter, which alas I cannot watch because I can't afford Movie Central. (Dexter is really messed up, but Michael C Hall simply owns in that show).
Adam Baldwin from Serenity/Firefly/Angel is great. I hope there is more of him in the future.
Pop Junk Summary: The pilot was overwhelming great as far as pilots go. I still like the title character Chuck and I think I will give it one more go, before I decide to chuck it or not.
That was a lame pun. But it had to be done.
Monday night of the Fall premiere season was big. Here goes:
Chuck: NBC Mondays
Josh Schwartz, creator of the OC is at it again. This time he tries a blend of action/comedy/romance involving a nerd who accidently views all these fancy dancy government plans. Of course the CIA and NSA and NCAA and NHL all get involved and hijinks ensue.
If I were ever to make a TV show, I would ensure that my pilot episode had a gratitous shot of a lady scantily clad in underwear. This will pretty much clinch that the show will have a good following for awhile. It worked for LOST (the great Kate bathing in the water shot), it worked for "Alias" (the Super Bowl after episode that revived the show when Jen Garner appears in lingerie), it worked for "Heroes" (Ali Larter posing scantily clad in front of a video camera), and it almost works here for Chuck when the female CIA character is shown "suiting up". From the sounds of season 2 of Friday Night Lights, they will also be trying out this strategy, alas one season too late. When in doubt, show scantily clad females to discombobulate the male viewers until it is too late for them to figure out if the show is good or not. Sad but true.
Re-reading the last paragraph, I realize it almost makes me seem like a pervert. But then again, the fact that I can recall the scenes from LOST, Alias, and Heroes without having to look it up on the Internet, proves my point about making an impression with the male audience.
I also feel like I am part of an ugly society that cannot get past personal appearances. The female agent is pretty cute, but I could not help but look at her one tooth that was sticking out every time she talked. Actually in full HD glory, I was fixated by this one tooth that stuck out. I never knew I was so obsessive over teeth. I guess that is why I am marrying a dentist. So shallow. I apologize to the nice, Yvonne Strzechowski, who does a good job as the female CIA agent in Chuck.
**Random thought: Speaking of teeth, Adrianna on "The Hills" has teeth so white I almost envision her gargling a concoction of bleach and Colgate white strips to maintain the pearly sheen that she has, a lustre so bright that she could probably serve as a beacon of light for those lost 30 foot yachts that are attempting to dock at Laguna Beach. Just an observation. And also a shameful admission that I have been finally hooked in by "The Hills" season 3. I heart Lauren Conrad. Down with evil Speidi.
Other random thoughts:
The episode was directed by McG, of Charlie Angels and OC fame. What I want to know is when do you get single name status? Can I start calling myself McK?
I liked that Harry, the evil Asian manager at "Buy More" played by the wonderful actor, CS Lee, appeared in the pilot. CS Lee appears in a show called Dexter, which alas I cannot watch because I can't afford Movie Central. (Dexter is really messed up, but Michael C Hall simply owns in that show).
Adam Baldwin from Serenity/Firefly/Angel is great. I hope there is more of him in the future.
Pop Junk Summary: The pilot was overwhelming great as far as pilots go. I still like the title character Chuck and I think I will give it one more go, before I decide to chuck it or not.
That was a lame pun. But it had to be done.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Fall Season 2007 Begins...
Having purchased a PVR two years ago has allowed me to enter back into the world of TV. I am a TV junkie and I have followed and watched way too much TV during my lifetime. This fall I have decided to embark on a mission to inform you about all the shows that I am watching. Unlike other blogs, I will not be posting immediate reactions of the shows, simply because I will not be able to watch all of the shows in real time. Thus the magic of my PVR. I hope to illuminate some shows that you should be watching (Friday Night Lights anyone?) and maybe get you to check something new out. I hope to entertain you but if anything else, I probably will shock you with the profane amount of shows that I am going to be watching.
September/October is a time for me to catch anything new and quickly weed out things that don't cut it for me.
Here are some new shows that I caught in the last week:
1) Prison Break: Season 3: FOX Mondays: I stopped watching during the outrageous second season when it looked to me like the writers were simply making things up on the run. This season, the production values remain high and the prison that they are in seems grotesque and "wild"... wild by restricted cable television standards. Pretty boy Wentworth Miller is a very handsome fellow, but such a wooden actor who seems to have one acting face: the squinting-serious-eye-face-that-tells-the-audience-I-am-deep-in-thought-and-brooding-about-my-next-move-and-escape. Miller conveys more emotion in his Mariah Carey videos.
Can anyone tell me why I can't embed hyperlinks onto this blog?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpgFk-tYbIY
I don't think this show is going to hold my interest and I am probably going to dump it faster than Derek Jeter did to Mariah. I am not even sure if I am going to see the second episode considering how stacked Monday night will be.
Pop Junk Summary: Prison Break is like Pop Rocks. The candy explodes in your mouth and is quite exciting, but the excitement fades away quickly and doesn't make a lasting impression. Not going to watch it.
2) Gossip Girl: CTV Mondays: I was quite excited to watch this new show by OC creator Josh Schwartz. I thoroughly enjoyed season 1 and season 4 of the OC. Unfortunately for Gossip Girl, there is not memorable tagline for the first episode (remember the OC's, "Welcome to the OC bitch"?). The first episode was about a girl with a cloudy past coming back to the high society she left behind. The same girl has two guys that have the hots for her, a former bff that hates her, and of course a suicidal brother that she wants to care for. I was actually really annoyed by the constant Gossip Girl narration (by the lovely Kirsten Bell from Veronica Mars fame), which involved silly text messaging, video, cell phone clips of the other characters. I don't think people even teens, check their favourite websites that quickly on their cellphones do they? What do I know living up in Canadad where it is impossible to access Internet on your cell phone unless you are rich enough to pay for all of that downloadable content. The show showed rich kids doing whatever they want (drinking and smoking) with parents that were trying to hard to be cool (one of the dad's in a rock band). One rich kid is super creepy and the tone of this first episode seemed a little too choppy and hasty. I will give this one more go and then possibly the heave ho.
Pop Junk Summary: A tad weak debut for OC creator Josh Schwartz. We will see what episode 2 holds.
3) Survivor China: CBS Thursdays: I haven't watched Survivor since I don't know season 4? I think I have lost track of all the different locales they have shot in. After settling down for 10 minutes, I realized why I don't watch this show anymore. I just don't find it that interesting. And thats that. Adios Jeff Probst.
Pop Junk Summary: Until there is a Survivor: Korea, I ain't going to give this one a chance.
This is a big week and I will report back to after Mondays huge night.
Monday:
Chuck
Heroes Season 2
How I Met Your Mother
Bye for now.
September/October is a time for me to catch anything new and quickly weed out things that don't cut it for me.
Here are some new shows that I caught in the last week:
1) Prison Break: Season 3: FOX Mondays: I stopped watching during the outrageous second season when it looked to me like the writers were simply making things up on the run. This season, the production values remain high and the prison that they are in seems grotesque and "wild"... wild by restricted cable television standards. Pretty boy Wentworth Miller is a very handsome fellow, but such a wooden actor who seems to have one acting face: the squinting-serious-eye-face-that-tells-the-audience-I-am-deep-in-thought-and-brooding-about-my-next-move-and-escape. Miller conveys more emotion in his Mariah Carey videos.
Can anyone tell me why I can't embed hyperlinks onto this blog?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpgFk-tYbIY
I don't think this show is going to hold my interest and I am probably going to dump it faster than Derek Jeter did to Mariah. I am not even sure if I am going to see the second episode considering how stacked Monday night will be.
Pop Junk Summary: Prison Break is like Pop Rocks. The candy explodes in your mouth and is quite exciting, but the excitement fades away quickly and doesn't make a lasting impression. Not going to watch it.
2) Gossip Girl: CTV Mondays: I was quite excited to watch this new show by OC creator Josh Schwartz. I thoroughly enjoyed season 1 and season 4 of the OC. Unfortunately for Gossip Girl, there is not memorable tagline for the first episode (remember the OC's, "Welcome to the OC bitch"?). The first episode was about a girl with a cloudy past coming back to the high society she left behind. The same girl has two guys that have the hots for her, a former bff that hates her, and of course a suicidal brother that she wants to care for. I was actually really annoyed by the constant Gossip Girl narration (by the lovely Kirsten Bell from Veronica Mars fame), which involved silly text messaging, video, cell phone clips of the other characters. I don't think people even teens, check their favourite websites that quickly on their cellphones do they? What do I know living up in Canadad where it is impossible to access Internet on your cell phone unless you are rich enough to pay for all of that downloadable content. The show showed rich kids doing whatever they want (drinking and smoking) with parents that were trying to hard to be cool (one of the dad's in a rock band). One rich kid is super creepy and the tone of this first episode seemed a little too choppy and hasty. I will give this one more go and then possibly the heave ho.
Pop Junk Summary: A tad weak debut for OC creator Josh Schwartz. We will see what episode 2 holds.
3) Survivor China: CBS Thursdays: I haven't watched Survivor since I don't know season 4? I think I have lost track of all the different locales they have shot in. After settling down for 10 minutes, I realized why I don't watch this show anymore. I just don't find it that interesting. And thats that. Adios Jeff Probst.
Pop Junk Summary: Until there is a Survivor: Korea, I ain't going to give this one a chance.
This is a big week and I will report back to after Mondays huge night.
Monday:
Chuck
Heroes Season 2
How I Met Your Mother
Bye for now.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Canucks
Never has such a group of hard-working, average players given me so much hope. That hope all lies in one person:
Mr. Roberto Luongo.
I cannot believe he is our goalie. Frank Caprice, Troy Gamble, John Vanbiesbrouk (we had him for one day!), Garth Snow, et al. you may all rest easy. We Canuck fans are in good hands.
Mr. Roberto Luongo.
I cannot believe he is our goalie. Frank Caprice, Troy Gamble, John Vanbiesbrouk (we had him for one day!), Garth Snow, et al. you may all rest easy. We Canuck fans are in good hands.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
