Wash

This post contains spoilers for the movie Serenity if you are one of those Nimen dou shi shagua who hasn't seen it.


I can't watch any episode of Firefly without feeling a sadness that Wash didn't make it through the movie. Whenever he is typical Wash, funny, frustrated with the latest maneuver he has to do that the ship wasn't made to do... I almost cannot bear the episode knowing that he will die. I don't know what it was. I watched Serenity before I ever saw Firefly. Yet in the theatre, at my first viewing of this cast ever, after watching him talking about floating like a leaf on the wind, the horror and reality of the Reaver's spear through him had me curl into a ball in my movie theatre chair and bawl like a baby. When Kaylee asks after Wash, and realizes "he ain't comin'", I started to cry all over again. I liked Wash's character. The jokes, the happy go lucky, loving his wife - these were all things that made me feel close to the character. In fact, I "fell in love" with everyone from Serenity (one viewing) and immediately went to Firefly for my fix. Yet the "ghost" of Wash's death hangs over the show, bringing a bit of sadness at odd moments, like in the episode Trash, when Mal gets back on the ship at the beginning, tissue in his bloody nose, and Wash recoils at the sight of him. I laughed and then felt sick to the pit of my stomach because he doesn't make it. No, he didn't make it, but boy would I have liked to see his and Zoe's kids.

George of the Jungle

My guilty pleasure movie, the movie I always love to watch, a movie I own in VHS, but must get on DVD is George of the Jungle. When I worked at Sears, that movie would always play on the big screens. Of course, after maybe the 5th viewing, I became the reason the movie played constantly.

George of the Jungle has some of the best humourous lines I've heard in a movie. It isn't that great of a movie, but I love it. I always laugh when they're in the jungle. Everyone does an excellent job being their character. I love Ursula's high pitched peppiness. I love John Cleese's Ape. I love the narrator's inclusion in the story. That may be what lead to my fascination with Arrested Development, the comedic inclusion of the narrator.

The best thing about George of the Jungle was the Bujumburan guides. I love the looks on their faces whenever they talked to or about Lyle. Especially when they "rescue" the guy Lyle knocked off the bridge.

After watching the movie twice in as many days, my liking of this movie is greatly enhanced. Brendan Fraser is great in the movie. Leslie Mann makes the name, Ursula, much prettier than it is alone. The lines from the Bujumburan guides make me laugh every time and Christian Haydn Church as Lyle Van deGroot is aptly and humourously irritating. The best, though, is Ursula's mother, played by Holland Taylor. She does an excellent job in a similar role on Two and a Half Men. I love that character on her.

There's something about having a guilty pleasure movie. It's the movie you feel little or no shame in watching. You know everyone has theirs. However, if you have too many guilty pleasure movies, then you may just like bad movies, which is what brought us to MST3K... a show I wish would come back. So what's your guilty pleasure movie? Do you have a television show that reminds you of it?

What Have YOU Been Watching?

The course of true television never did run smooth, as I've had several incidences with my cable. As such, my television viewing was severely limited. But now, I live in television nirvana since we've purchased a big screen television with HD output. It is amazing what a big screen has done for my overall television enjoyment because I could not have imagined that love could grow. It has, exponentially. And I can pass the enjoyment on to you. Well, possibly not, but I'll write more, so that's a start.

Mondays have become must see TV night at our house. Despite many people's thoughts of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, I find that I am LOVING that show. Mainly because I am Matt Albie in real life. I am slightly neurotic about my writing and I can get into a tizzy when it comes to getting it done in time. I am personally and forever thankful I don't have my own countdown clock. The way the characters interact is beautiful, like a dance. It doesn't matter that real people don't talk "like that". It is a television show with interesting and funny dialogue (although my husband points out they laugh very little for being comedy writers and actors). I love the way this fictional set gets along, the flow of conversation, the peeks into their lives and their heads. I enjoy ever installment and I think I will continue to do so. I never fell for the reality show mindset. I like my shows with a lot of unnecessary drama, fantastic character development, moments that make me think or laugh, and people who could never really exist. Which is pretty important because I LOVE Heroes. My husband is growing bored with the show, which is this weird mix of absolutely fantastic moments surrounded by dull pacing and uninteresting character development. Sometimes, it feels as if, each week, the writers find one big moment (recently, the scenes where Peter saves Claire and the interaction of all the characters in that group of scenes) and then try valiantly, most times in vain, to come up with something to put around that moment. That moment makes you hold your breath, the rest of the show makes you roll your eyes. But it is those breath taking moments, those little twists, that make me keep coming back. And Hiro. I love Hiro and can't wait to see him grow from the happy go lucky office worker intent on saving the world to the hardcore badass that visited Peter on the train, truly saving the world. The exposition of last week's show was certainly interesting, putting many things into perspective, but they are certainly nothing we couldn't have figured out on our own. It was nice, however, to put a face to Sylar.

Tuesdays is still an overcrowded night, but I have to talk about three shows. House, Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. I don't know why I've seen House as Superman, but I've wanted him to put Tritter in his place and have been increasingly frustrated that he hasn't done so. At the same times, I am absolutely adoring Tritter's ruthlessness. Tritter is also a bully with the exact same mentality as Dr. House. The frustration that Tritter may not get his comeuppance (sans rectal thermometer moment) is what makes House great Tuesday night viewing. Gilmore Girls, on the other hand, I continue to watch strictly out of loyalty to the hours I've put into the series. I had a month long marathon of ingesting Gilmore Girls in time to catch up midway through last season, watching the beginning in re-runs. While I enjoy the other characters in dialogue, especially Lane and her husband, the main characters relationships and dialogue feel flat, like they are just going through the motions, or like they were given lines, but no direction and just can't figure it out for themselves. The addition of two new characters, new friends of Rory, help bring back the spitfire dialogue the show is known for, but not enough to cover how much the main character actors have to think during their sometimes asinine lines. Repetition does not a spitfire dialogue make. Veronica Mars' double mystery adventure continues as the Case of the Hearst Rapist is solved only to be supplanted by the Case of Who Shot Dean O'Dell. Dean O'Dell was a fantastic character. He made a lot of enemies in his nine episodes, but was a perfect foil/complement to Veronica. The money shot was when Logan beats the cop car's windshield in with a bat, gets thrown into the clink so that he can beat the stuffing out of the guy that tried to rape/kill his woman. Logan manned up! I'm interested in seeing this new mystery and I would love to see more Weevil being Weevil. I wish he could get back that veneer of danger though. Overweight janitor does not a street tough make.

Wednesdays is Bones night. Yes, I watch other things like Criminal Minds and Lost (or Daybreak until after the break), but it is Bones all the way. Nevermind my girl crush on Emily Deschanel's character Dr. Temperance Brennan, and the general eye candy (David Boreanaz as Seely Booth, Michaela Conlin as Angela Montenegro and TJ Thyne as Jack Hodgens) and interesting characters that abound in the series, but I love the way that show tells a story. I love the humour, the romance, the derring-do of the characters. I love seeing smart people use their brains. I love the mysteries they get. I love watching the characters grow and learn in this show. I am entertained every week watching Bones and I have not yet come away from the show feeling let down, even when an event disappointed me.

Thursdays is a veritable cornucopia of dual recordings in one room while I watch other shows in another. I'm going to focus on 30 Rock. The show started out pretty rocky, with very little that was funny, but I had a perverse need to see it through and I'm glad I did. This show has become one of the funniest comedies this season. All of the characters work well together to create a funny, funny show. Tina Fey as Liz Lemon is extremely funny while Alec Baldwin's Jack is humour incarnate. While I questioned the choice of Jane Krakowski, I have permanently changed my mind after last week's show. The botox'd face sight gag was extremely hilarious. I have been very pleased with the show and how much I laugh. The Office, of course, has begun to grow past the British show in my mind because it is giving us that squirm worthy office experience and every character is coming into their comedic own. I was somewhat disappointed with Scrubs initial offering, but I still love the show.

Fridays are all about Battlestar Galactica, although soon, Sundays will be all about the BSG. I agree that the move to Sundays is a good move, which now frees up my Friday nights a little more. Don't get me wrong, I am quick to Tivo that bad boy, but there's nothing like experiencing it live with irritating commercials breaks. While the artistic shooting, a la Kubrick, style of the show has been vastly intriguing, the storyline is only stumbling along. There are brilliant moments of course, Adama fighting the Captain to prove a point most especially, but we are just biding time until someone definitively discovers the roadmap to the 13th colony. Numbers is still a smart bit of a show. I really enjoyed watching Megan and Fleinhardt grow close, so it will be a shame that he will be out of the picture for 6 months (although I don't know what that is in show time). It will be interesting seeing Charlie becoming a man as opposed to the self absorbed math professor as he grows in his relationship with Amita. I once scoffed at Numb3rs, but now I find my Fridays are not complete unless I keep up.

Saturdays, of course, are Tivo catch up days, leaving Sundays for Desperate Housewives, which has begun to add back the drama, which I am all for. The psychology of the last few episodes have been excellent, putting our characters back into rare form.

Well, that's it for me and a much welcomed release for myself since I've not been writing about shows. Any other must watches that I should know about?

America's New Trade: Television

While America may be on the outs with the rest of the world, American TV is experiencing a popularity surge across the world. If you can believe it, the last big television heyday was the 80s, when "Dallas", "Dynasty" and "The Dukes of Hazzard" were the big shows. Now, according to The New York Times story here, American TV is experiencing a new life with British television networks.

As much as our shows are racing over there, the number of those watching British television shows in America is growing as well. Starting with The Office, the hit sitcom done as a fake documentary that helped us see that squirm worthy/uncomfortable real life situational material could also be funny, gave us our start, spurring an Americanized replica that has just recently come into its own. Stations like BBC America and imported DVDs are introducing more and more people to shows like Little Britain and Life on Mars as well as the duplication of shows that were hits there, like Coupling and the yet unseen and slightly feared remake of Life on Mars.

This export is growing, with more British stations offering American television than ever before, some even adding additional nights of programming. For the last few years, some of the best comedies on American television has been from Britain. Most notably, I remember watching several hours of Brit-com on my local PBS station and Absolutely Fabulous marathons whenever I could catch them on Comedy Central. It is gratifying to see Americans aren't the only ones noticing how good the last couple of seasons of television have been.

Now, I'm all for importing British shows, but sometimes I think American television writers/producers see British shows that are funny and think that the concept is what makes it funny. Their shortsightedness has been what has traditionally led to failed remakes, like the aforementioned Coupling. This year is the first year where The Office, which has always been funny to me, has had writing that makes me compare it to the British version. The British version was brilliant, more than funny, a great commentary of the cubicle work environment which brought fascination out of the frustration. Originally, the writers of the Office duplicated episodes, hoping to find the funny in the repetition. Then, they came up with their own office antics, which, while funny, did not have the UK Office's brilliance. This year, they are uncomfortably funny and compelling as it picks at the scab of a work experience that we all hope to find humour in. For those who export the drama, Life on Mars, I hope you can look past the interesting premise and see what it really is that makes this show work.

My Veronica Mars Season 3 Premiere Review

How about you try not to piss anyone off this time around.

Oh, but what would Veronica Mars be without people pissed off at Veronica? And this season started wonderfully with Veronica solving a fake crime for a class. The pissed off person in question is the Teaching Assistant, Tim, who thinks a little much of himself (although I'm pretty sure he needs to rethink shaving). I wanted to kick his butt when he started talking about Elementary Education, so it was very gratifying when she said, "I know who did it" with a dismissive glance. The professor was a cutie though and I like how he looked when Veronica asked about using the internet and when she said he helped her pick the blind guy. Pissed off 1, Friends 0

You a bounty hunter boy?

I think this is my favourite Veronica line. I loved the way she said it. I enjoyed the interaction between her and Logan in this scene. Pissed off 1, Friends 1

Wonder Twins power activate.

Vinnie Van Lowe's line to Keith. My favourite line not spoken by Veronica.
I have a continued appreciation for the Vinnie character.

Did you make any friends? Lord No!

My favourite Keith and Veronica scene (or was it the only one? C'mon! More Keith and Veronica scenes!). Keith is after a bounty and Backup is in charge, set to maul Logan if he stays after midnight. I think Backup would do it to. But what about the bitch he's been seeing?

Qu'est ce que c'est? Frak?
Battlestar strikes again. And for you people who don't watch Gilmore Girls, Luke's brother in law brought up BSG at the dinner table. BSG is so in there!

Wallace meets his roommate, Piz, who loses all his worldly possessions in a heinous scheme that only Veronica can solve. Piz wants to go to the police, until he meets Veronica. Veronica gets information from the sheriff's office about other suspects, questions them and is lead by a clue on Piz's car to a concert. With Mac and her "boy-nip" roommate, Parker, they head to a concert. (favourite Mac line? If college was a boy buffet, she has two plates full and boys wrapped in napkins in her purse) Three young boys go up after the show when Veronica asks for witnesses. Their story is that a blonde who seemed fat, but had a slammin' bod and two black guys stole their stuff. A guy who has Piz's Holy Grail Guitar also says he bought it from a blonde with a smokin' bod. Well, it turns out the guy with the guitar, who was part of the criminology department and was a mentor to young delinquents, had used his young delinquents to help rob freshmen of their possessions. Bad mentor! Yes, Veronica found you. Friends 3, Enemies 5


I'll be sure to call unexpectedly again.

I love Keith. Keith, on the other hand, is getting a convict, Cormac, to Kendall. And who saw that ending coming? After Keith gets him there, and he and Kendall seem cozy, Keith goes out to get some papers and discovers Vinnie bugged his briefcase. He runs back to the house to warn that Liam might be near, and finds that Cormac has killed Kendall and is about to come after him. Here's hoping that Vinnie comes in at crunch time.

Well, frak! Give me your keys.

It's official. Veronica Mars loves Battlestar Galactica. She also walks in on Parker with a guy - is it the guy who ends up shaving her head?

Piz was so cute having his crush on Veronica.
And that poor excuse for hackey sack...
And of course, kudos to Kristen Bell for the look she has when Piz asks her if Logan was her boyfriend. I could (and have) replayed that look. It says so much in less than 5 seconds. And the ending is still chilling, even after so many views. Of course, we knew Veronica wouldn't really turn into the Nancy Drew of Hearst, working on small time crimes. She's back in the big girl leagues with the case of the head shaving rapist. And she will get 'em, don't you worry. She will get 'em. Great episode! I love this show.

repost from my tvguide.com blog

Veronica Mars Season 3

Over at MSN, you can catch the first episode of the new season of Veronica Mars and you should, because it is the best. Now, for those of you who are already VM fans, no further urging is needed. But for those of you who haven't given the show a try, this is the best way to move from ignorance to bliss. Veronica Mars is at her best, snarky, perceptive, making enemies with the snap of her fingers. It's too bad that Michael Cera (of Arrested Development fame) couldn't reprise his role, but I'm hoping that when he's done shooting his movie, he'll make his television return. I had the idea of writing my own update of Nancy Drew a few years ago, right before I heard about the Veronica Mars premise. Six months later, it was on the air, but I had the grave misfortune of working nights, so I never had the chance to catch it. Now, my already crowded Tuesday night will be more so because Veronica Mars is my definite must see. Rob Thomas, the creator of the show, has a great gift as a writer and the actors help carry out his vision. I'm please with the introduction of new characters, with the changing storylines, with how the characters continue to grow. I even felt some empathy/sympathy for Dick Casablancas and it takes great writing to bring that out after he's been such a... dick... for two seasons. Anyhow, you don't have to love television to want to watch this show. Smart writing, deft acting and an excellent cast makes this show a must watch for even the casual viewer. If you only have one hour a week to watch television, make it Tuesdays at 9pm. Unless you don't have the CW, and then I feel sorry for you.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

I watch alot of television. It should be my job, but alas, it isn't. Right now, I am loving Studio 60. It has good, hard laughs, a great soundtrack, and awesome actors, both dramatic and humourous. Just as Aaron Sorkin took on the job of translating the White House and politics into an arena that made us feel as if the little man could have an opinion in the political arena. With this show, will we feel as if we know how shows like Saturday Night Live could be funnier? Or will we have more sympathy since SNL doesn't have a Matt and Danny. This show is one of the best new shows of the fall. I hope you're watching.

Ratings

Dear Nielsen Ratings System,

For so long, you have had a part in deciding what shows stay and which shows go. You help regulate the amount of money that gets made from commercials per each hour, per channel, and right now, I only know one person who has ever gotten to keep a television diary and he doesn't like House. Now, there's competition for your television affection.

Your reign of tyranny is ending. You are no longer the sole officiator of how well a show does. Your power is quickly dwindling. People can now go online the next day and watch a show. People are no longer chained to a certain night for television watching and as networks gain money through internet advertising, they will see that there has always been more viewers out there than you predicted.

I think the reason I am glad for your waning power is because I was never included. Oh, it's not that I necessarily wanted to be a Nielsen family. It's that something always kept me from prime time viewing. I wanted to get into shows, but I was always working at night. It would have been nice if network television did what cable television has been doing with their shows, replaying them at different times for those who work and can't catch shows. Now, with the internet, I am able to arrange my television viewing schedule to suit my timetable. In the world of television viewing, I am FREE!

So I hope that every network gets on the bandwagon. CBS, your Innertube looks good. You just need to make sure it runs smoothly for the millions of unanticipated people who visit your site. ABC, nice try. Fox, you are normally known for being cutting edge, but now you're letting your conservative side show... don't be scared spitless when it comes to new technology. NBC, call me when you get your videos to work correctly.

Yes, it is a flawed system, but if we, the huddled masses, were to rise up and watch videos on our computer, we would have more say in the shows we get to see at a later date. Who's with me!?!

Yours Truly,
This Girl

Sitcoms

I don't know why I haven't seen it. Maybe because I've been so captivated by some of the really good drama being produced these days. Maybe because so many dramas have such a high level of humour. Whatever it was, as I looked through google calendar to chronicle my television shows, I realize I have very few 30 minute spots, the length of time that sitcoms take up, in the calendar. I could watch Nick at Night and revel in my own personal glory days of sitcoms, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Roseanne, The Cosby Show, A Different World or turn to TV Land for shows like Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, All In The Family or, I can take you back to Nick at Night when I was 12, the first time I could watched tv with a free hand and picked shows like Dick van Dyke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, My Three Sons... in fact, if it was black and white or had Lucy in the title, I watched it voraciously. I consumed sitcoms like peanut butter m&ms - by the pound bagfuls and without thought or effort. Maybe I should be ashamed, but I'm not.

Now, sitcoms are so sparse, I forgot they were even part of the television viewing landscape. I forgot, that is, until today, when I was forced to watch 'Til Death, Brad Garrett's new sitcom dealing with marriage, and Happy Hour, a new sitcom that looks at the lives of singles in NY through the eyes of a guy from Minnesota or Wisconsin or someplace with an accent the character didn't sport. I lamented that we lost Arrested Development to these shows, and will weep the bitter tears of rejection if either of these shows easily last to next season. I can't say we don't have excellent sitcoms airing. Who can watch The Office, Everybody Hates Chris, My Name Is Earl, Scrubs, or even How I Met Your Mother without at least one good laugh. To some of us, a laugh is just a name away. Barnie. Michael Scott. Dwight Shrute. Julius (although just saying "Chris's Dad" make us laugh as well). Anyway, if you watch these shows, you know what I mean.

Of course, people are experimenting with shows and the boundaries that comedy gets to push. The internet darling (at least for a little while) Nobody's Watching is one attempt at sitcomedy, following a normal sitcom format in an abnormal way. It is interesting, but it doesn't "bring it" like FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This has been one of the funniest new shows, mainly because of the ridiculous situations the writers(who are the characters) put the characters into and the issues they deal with. Well, not just the issues, but how they deal with those issues. Never in a healthy way, but it is right for them. They are not healthy. They continually make poor choices and they remind us of friends we know who still haven't figured it out. But on the Sunny crew, it's funny.

I look forward to the healthy resurgence of sitcoms. Tina Fey's 30 Rock seems promising. Even if it's not, I am glad that the chaff shows are sifted out from the rest, culled and branded "no good" and sent to languish in some version of Bad Sitcom Hell. And for me, that is good.

The One Thing I Love is a Happy Ending or How Superheroes Took Over My Life

do not watch reality shows. When I heard about this ridiculous concept called Who Wants To Be A Superhero, I laughed and turned my television to Tivo to re-watch Veronica Mars, re-watched Firefly and various other things to make up for the lack of television on Thursday nights before It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Then, while going through iTunes to see what new shows were added, I noticed they were giving away a free episode of WWTBASuperhero. I'll download it, I thought, and check it out. It was early in the day, I wasn't preempting anything and so I watched. From the moment when I knew the challenge was about saving the girl and not about getting to a finish line, I was hooked. Not just hooked, emotionally attached to the cheesy, campy, corny characters of this show.

For the finale, I started crying right from the beginning and I'm not ashamed of it! While both Feedback and Fat Momma seemed much more coached with how to react to each other and on the screen, Stan's lead in was amazing. I loved that he showed some of the best scenes from the show. I remember watching that first episode and seeing how jazzed Feedback was to be a true superhero, in every sense of the word, for Stan Lee, then how hurt I was when I knew he failed the very first challenge. Of all the superheroes, Feedback has grown the most throughout the series. He took this seriously and it affected him on more than a surface level. Fat Momma did pass the challenges. She was really good at being a superhero. She was never self conscious about it. She didn't reveal her identity at the restaurant (neither did Feedback), she did what she was supposed to do at every turn. Although she failed the initial test of self sacrifice on the show where Tyveculus turned in his costume, she proved she was willing for the best one to win by trying to pull herself from the show when it was down to her, Major Victory, and Feedback. She didn't want it bad enough to break fanboy Feedback's heart.

Tears flowed freely through the one on one time with Stan. There was nothing about this time that would have helped me choose between the two contestants if I were Stan Lee. Both were sincere in speaking about Stan - nothing seemed as if it were done to get Stan to choose them. I think this was my favourite part.

Stan Lee is a master storyteller in that he made a "reality" show palatable to me. The subject, becoming a superhero, was so farfetched that it might as well be fiction.

The fake shows were too funny! Campy goodness with crappy images. Chicken Man? C'mon, they could have put one of the stunt guys in a costume and had him be something else! In the end, Feedback looked much better on the screen, although I did laugh a little bit more at Fat Momma's awful lines. I also laughed when they called Feedback intense. Yes. Yes he is. Whether the shows are made that horribly or with better quality, I think I will get a kick out of it.

Finally, at Universal City Walk, Stan Lee chooses the Superhero by eliminating Fat Momma. I think everybody but Feedback knew Feedback was going to win. It was very nice and tear inducing to see the other Superheroes. I really wanted Major Victory to win myself - or Monkey Woman because MAN! I can't get over her changing in the tree! I would love to see THAT in the movie. I think, for the last few episodes, Fat Momma has been Feedback's biggest cheerleader and it was nice to see how easily she flowed into his win. When it seemed like everything was done, Stan's monitor blinks out and suddenly, he appears to finally meet his Superhero face to face. Fanboy meets Biggest Hero for a hug. It rounded out the show nicely with tears.

Excelsior!

Nobody Likes A Blonde in a Hamster Ball

You're wrong about that!



The first time I saw this show, I didn't think I would like it. But as I watched more shows, I realized that the writing was awesome, I loved the snark, I loved the acting and here was teenage television drama I could get behind. If you've never watched Veronica Mars, give it a shot. If you have, happy watching!

Veronica Mars season 3 premieres October 3rd at 9pm on CW, but MSN will be playing the the show from Sept. 26 until it premieres Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 9 p.m."

Emmys: Humourous or Tasteless?

Conan O'Brien is on a flight heading towards the Emmys, for which he's hosting. When asked if he was nervous, he says, "What could go wrong." The plane proceeds to crash a la LOST (with Conan climbing into the overhead compartment). A totally hilarious scene, except for one thing. A plane crashed hours before in Kentucky.
Tim Gilbert, the general manager of the NBC affiliate in Lexington, Ky., told the Lexington Herald-Leader he was “stunned” by the opening.
“It was a live telecast - we were completely helpless,” said Gilbert, whose station covered the local air tragedy that killed 49 people only hours before. “By the time we began to react, it was over. At the station, we were as horrified as they were at home.”
Additional criticism of the sequence appeared on numerous Web sites including the Los Angeles Times’ where a critic called the spot “cringe-inducing” and “of questionable taste.”
Gilbert, who will file a complaint with the network, said he believes the spoof should have never aired.
“They could have killed the opening and it wouldn’t have hurt the show at all,” said the Kentucky GM. “We wish somebody had thought this through. It’s somewhere between ignorance and incompetence.”

What's unfortunate is that the plane crash spoof was not the funniest part of the opening sequence, but it was an absolutely fantastic beginning. The hatch leading to the Office was what was funny. The fact that it came from LOST's hatch made it all the more so. I cannot imagine being in Kentucky following the story and then watching the Emmys, but I also cannot imagine being so incensed about something that was not mocking plane crashes, but spoofing a television show. Where was the uproar when the show LOST came out? There are hundreds of plane victim mourners who could have been upset with it. If the spoof was entirely about plane crashing or was spoofing only plane crashes, I could understand the disappointment. But it was making fun of a show.

I read an article at Blogcritic.org about E! asking if they could do a re-enactment of Dimebag Darrell's murder. The article stated that his murder was not entertainment. Pantera's publicist had this to say to E!:
"The answer is no, and on behalf of everyone that was there that night and everyone that misses him every day, you can take that no and shove it up your collective asses."

If there were a show about a heavy metal band and one episode was about the drummer who was murdered, that wouldn't be tacky. What E! wants to do is tacky. If the Emmy preshow was specifically about plane crashes or mocking a specific crash, that would be tacky. When planes crash, that's sad. When shows spoof other shows to honor them, that's funny. To make it anything else is to as "cringe worthy" as some may have thought the Emmy preshow was.

Twilight Zone

Why does that music still strike fear into my heart? How can it still be the scariest show on television? In all its black and white glory, its talk of communists or body doubles, it is a show that still makes me pause before watching it. More than any scary movie, more than any book, this show has the ability to do something nothing else can do. Give me nightmares.

I don't really have nightmares caused by an outside source. I remember once dreaming about a gigantic spider on Gilligan's Island (and I hate spiders), but that's all I can remember in all my 30 years of dreams. I've had my share of nightmares, just not television or movie inspired.

Don't get me wrong. There are alot of cheesy, campy, funny elements to the show to, but when it's scary, it gets me.

Who Wants To Be A Superhero?

You don't understand the pure joy in my heart as I think about tonight's episode. The Iron Enforcer was eliminated and turned into The Dark Enforcer. Now he's back to make everything super hard for our heroes. And apparently he stole someone's cape. "What is this treachery!?" yells Tyveculus (I think, from the previews). I clap my hands in glee and can't wait until tonight.

On a different note, to show the tv/real life crossover - today when I went to a meeting, one of the guys had a gianormous dog slowly coming towards me and it reminded me of th challenge from Who Wants To Be A Superhero. I told the dog I hoped he was a nice, big dog and not one of those dogs that would tear your leg from your body. He was nice, but pushy.

Fall Season Premiere Dates

New Shows and Returning Shows
August

• M 8/21 @ 8:00 PM - Prison Break (FOX)
• M 8/21 @ 9:00 PM - Vanished (FOX)
• W 8/30 @ 8:00 PM - Bones (FOX)
• W 8/30 @ 9:00 PM - Justice (FOX)

September

• T 9/05 @ 9:00 PM - Standoff (FOX)
• T 9/05 @ 10:00 PM - Nip/Tuck (FX)
• R 9/7 8:00 PM - 'til Death (FOX)
• R 9/7 8:30 PM - Happy Hour (FOX)
• M 9/18 @ 8:00 PM - The Class (CBS)
• M 9/18 @ 8:30 PM - How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
• M 9/18 @ 9:00 PM - Two and a Half Men (CBS)
• M 9/18 @ 10:00 PM - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC)
• T 9/19 @ 8:00 PM - NCIS (CBS)
• T 9/19 @ 9:00 PM - The Unit (CBS)
• T 9/19 @ 10:00 PM - Smith (CBS)
• W 9/20 8:00 PM - Jericho (CBS)
• W 9/20 10:00 PM - Kidnapped (NBC)
• R 9/21 @ 8:00 PM - My Name Is Earl (NBC)
• R 9/21 @ 9:00 PM - Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
• R 9/21 @ 10:00 PM - ER (NBC)
• R 9/21 10:00 PM - Shark (CBS)
• R 9/21 10:00 PM - Six Degrees (ABC)
• F 9/22 8:00 PM - Ugly Betty (ABC)
• F 9/22 8:30 PM - Men in Trees (ABC)
• F 9/22 @ 10:00 PM - Numb3rs (CBS)
• S 9/24 @ 9:00 PM - Desperate Housewives (ABC)
• S 9/24 @ 10:00 PM - Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
• M 9/25 @ 8:00 PM - 7th Heaven (CW)
• M 9/25 @ 9:00 PM - Heroes (NBC)
• T 9/26 @ 8:00 PM - Gilmore Girls (CW)
• T 9/26 @ 9:30 PM - Help Me Help You (ABC)
• T 9/26 @ 10:00 PM - Boston Legal (ABC)
• R 9/28 @ 8:00 PM - Smallville (CW)
• R 9/28 @ 9:00 PM - Supernatural (CW)

October

• T 10/03 @ 8:00 PM - Friday Night Lights (NBC)
• T 10/03 @ 9:00 PM - Veronica Mars (CW)
• W 10/04 @ 8:00 PM - 20 Good Years (NBC)
• W 10/04 @ 9:00 PM - Lost (ABC)
• W 10/04 @ 10:00 PM - The Nine (ABC)
• R 10/05 @ 8:00 PM - Big Day (ABC)
• R 10/05 @ 8:30 PM - Notes from the Underbelly (ABC)
• W 10/11 @ 8:30 PM - 30 Rock (NBC)
• T 10/17 @ 9:00 PM - The Knights of Prosperity (ABC)
• F 10/20 @ 9:00 PM - Las Vegas (NBC)

November

• R 11/02 @ 9:00 PM - The O.C. (FOX)
• W 11/15 @ 9:00 PM - Daybreak (ABC)

Spring 2007 Premier

• Scrubs (NBC)
• 1/09/07 @ 10:00 PM - The Shield (FX)*

Current Season In Progress

• Stargate Atlantis (SciFi)
• Stargate SG-1 (SciFi)
• The 4400

From Spoilerfreaks.com

Eureka Me

Every Tuesday I've watched Eureka followed by Rescue Me. Yes, I have it programmed into Google Calendar. I get my 10 minute reminders. Hush, I love TV! Anyway, since Eureka's been broadcasting, I've watched the two in combination and I have to say, never has my schedule held such a different combo. My Monday combo is Kyle XY and The Closer. The Closer is the better show and I wished to GOD I liked Saved (some of the story situations are getting interesting) but I dislike the storyline of every main character. I hate how they're written, I hate how they're being played. This past Saved, I wanted to watch, I wanted to know why that guy blew up the building, but my innards wouldn't let me. I watched the news instead.

On topic. Eureka is kind of a sleepy show. There are plausibly exciting things going on, but the feel of the show never moves faster than a lanky stroll through town. The only time I believe the agent is when she's with her son. The only mystery that attracts me is what, exactly, the red-headed psychopsychiatrist is up to. I really like the guy who plays the sheriff. He is exactly how he should be in this town. Clueless, ready to laugh everything off, but not dumb. Just clueless. The guy who plays Henry is great too. I really like the absentminded savant way he plays the character. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lupo. If I could ever fall in love with a woman, it would be Dr. Temperance Brennan, but Lupo would be a very close second. Max Headroom, I hate. I will keep watching the show because what is interesting is very interesting, but riddle me this. Why does Zoe, Carter's daughter, get to go in and out of town at whim and where does her mother think she goes?

Rescue Me... what can I say about the show that hasn't already been said? It's a really great show. Dennis Leary does awkward really well, why does the captain keep letting himself get into these situations, I want to see Tommy beat the crap out of his brother again, etc. etc. I revel in the selfish grittiness of the series. I like how they are all for themselves yet for an instance in time (every fire), they are all for each other. And from what I can tell from the show, 9/11 is never going to be over for New Yorkers. It will always be there. You will look up some days and not see the Towers, or when the new towers are up, you'll remember the old ones, you'll catch a whiff of air that reminds you of that day, hear the voice of someone in the crowd who shouldn't be there... All of that is in Rescue Me. Every dramatic, overwhelming, WTF moment of it is embedded in the way these actors play their characters. Most of all, I love the humour. When Tommy tried to get them to stop saying kittie, when Sean was sleepwalking, when Tommy thought the teacher had chlamydia and was scared to pee... too funny. I can only add to the accolades, not the stink. If you can get over the message that the cursing, racism, sex and such sends, how can you not get over the display of yet another transgression? But as my husband says, it's just a tv show, nothing happened to her, I saw her in something else and she was fine.

Justice, But At What Cost?

First, I have to say I love the opening teaser for The Closer. It is always informative, sometimes funny, always brilliantly acted. This episode was no different. It was a "stereotypes of the sexes" type episode. It was immediately evident that the Administrative Director was biased against women by the women's reaction to him. Daniels' and Johnson's faces were very expressive at Mr. Pierce's balking. Hysterical women vs. Logical decision making men. The doctors vs. the over emotional mother, Brenda's case vs Taylor's case. Good cop (woman) vs. bad cop (man). Even the false lead was given because statistically, it's committed by women significantly more than men.

Taylor is back to his old tricks, doing whatever he can to get his way. I could feel myself getting physically angry and I could hear my husband (in my head) telling me it was alright, that they are probably friends in real life, but since it is fake, I shouldn't be getting so upset. My husband's realistic like that. But since I'm a television junkie, I don't know how much I agree with him.

The ending made me want to cry. I felt sorry because society is the loser in this. As Brenda said, "Before I let these doctors go, I want to apologize to the mother for the world we live in." Brenda's face when the police lawyer walks out is so... it's almost graphic. Daniels look so close to crying. What I love the most, though, is how their feminine vunerability is all but gone when they hear the shots at the very end. They are, after all, the L.A.P.D. This is such a great show!

Nobody's Watching

Self fulfilled prophecy or "I dare you" title? We will be the judge.

NCIS (contains spoilers)

I just watched an episode from the first season that made me admire the writers. There is a secondary character, Gerald, who is in a few episodes very briefly. He was given a dry sense of humour, played very wryly by Pancho Demmings , the character was a natural, though overlooked, part of the cast... until episode 16, when a terrorist breaks into NCIS in a body bag and begins threatening his life if Duckey, the lead medical examiner, lied. Right before the first break, it looks as if the guy was going to shoot Gerald and suddenly, it was as if I were fearing for the life of someone I knew very well. When he did get shot, I started crying. My husband wondered what was wrong and despite how silly it was to cry about a fictional character, I still shed tears.

Bravo Donald Bellasario and writing staff.

What I've been waiting for: Monk and Psych

I had to create a Google Calendar for the shows I'm trying to catch. I may catch a few reality shows, but for the most part, the shows I focus on are written by a staff. I've been waiting for the Monk season premier and the Psych series premier. Bated breath waiting. Creating my own calendar waiting.

I did not wait in vain. The Monk premier was awesome. Stanley Tucci guest stars as an actor playing Monk in a television show about last season's Astronaut Murder. A nationally known astronaut murders his lover because she is writing a tell all book. Her murder happened while the astronaut was in space, but Monk figures out how he killed her. The television movie is about that case. The case for the premier is a woman is murdered, but the case is secondary to the plot. We know early on who the murderer is. He doesn't truly come into play until later. It starts off with Monk on the road to recovery, planning a trip, looking to the future with some real hope, reducing the number of times he sees Dr. Kroger, his psychiatrist (or psychologist - I never know the difference, but he prescribes drugs, so psychologist?) etc. Then he finds out that a television movie is being made about a previous case and an actor whom Trudy, his wife, liked would be playing him. He's is awed and doesn't want to look weird in front of the man. But something weird happens. The actor starts to truly take on Monk's characteristics. He finds out what drives Monk to function despite his phobias and idiosyncracies. Then he takes them on, studying Monk's case of Trudy, becoming Monk. Stanley Tucci reminds Monk of his previous guilt. Monk always thought it was his fault that Trudy died. In the end, Monk has regressed back to his needy, phobic worse. And we love it.
I've always hated that Randy Disher, the lieutenant detective, has been portrayed as stupid. I hope they do something about that in this season. Natalie is getting better. She isn't as hateful towards men for the past season. I like the growth. I hope they don't take her back. She mentioneed something about her husband being portrayed as a coward by the other guys. I hope that the storyline brings him back into the picture. I guess if Traylor Howard leaves, they can bring him back. But I like her character, Natalie, so I hope not.

Now, for Psych - What a phenomenal show. This first show was a little slow, but that's what we've come to expect from a new show. The first episode has to tell you/show you the whole setup for the show. Shawn Spencer has been trained by his father to be a detective, but when Shawn grows up, he is everything but. However, he can't help solving cases when he sees the answer through keen observation. The police see the many cases he solves without help and believe Shawn may be in on the crimes. To keep himself out of jail, Shawn pretends that he's a psychic, which is how he came by all the information. Then he has to convince the cops that he's really a psychic and convince his friend, Gus, that this will work. Shawn had some really funny lines, especially working with Detective Lassiter. Lassiter's faces are funny when it comes to Shawn. Gus, however, is the funny person to me. Gus getting his coat, Gus jumping around when they find the kidnap victim, Gus needs to use the bathroom, Gus is just funny. I hated that it took fifteen minutes to get to him. I hope that Gus plays into more scenes in the upcoming episodes. Overall, this is a fantastic show and the mysteries are none too shabby. I hope that the smarminess (is that even a word?) of Shawn being a "psychic" levels out so that it's not so cartoony, but I loved Gus's reactions to Shawn.

Two great shows. I am oh so glad!

Commercials

Monk and John Smith are at a party. Monk is waiting for the punch to come out so that he can be the first to get it. He can only drink punch if he is the first to get it. He carefully measures out the punch for several minutes while John watches. Finally, John picks up a cup to grab some punch (since Monk still has the ladle) and he flashes back to see the guy who brought the punch out drinking straight from the bowl. John looks at Monk, who is about to drink and says, "I wouldn't drink that." He leans over and whispers in Monk's ear. Monk, with great disgust and disappointment, pours the punch back into the bowl. There is a break and then it comes back to Monk covering the entire punch bowl in crime scene tape.

I laughed so hard when I saw that commercial. It perfectly explains both characters, their attitudes, their oddities; it gives you an excellent picture of what you can expect from the show. That is why I have so much hope for Psych. The commercials for the show are funny. The commercials involving the lead character, like the one where Monk knows he's a fake but because he's been eating Cheetos Monk won't let him touch him, makes me think that Psych will be another good dramedy to USA's lineup.

Rescue Me

For this show, the last 5 minutes are always so arresting, whether Tommy is beating the living, holy crap out of someone or breaking down in tears. I find that, no matter what I'm doing, my attention is drawn back to the show and completely caught for the last few minutes. I'm still laughing at the episode where Tommy is trying to get the rest of the guys to call the money can for their no smoking money "the can" as opposed to "the kitty" (or however that would be spelled).

I didn't watch the controversial "rape" scene from last week's show. I saw it in the previews, but I didn't know where it was going and their conversation didn't seem any more messed up for what happened. Based on the comments going on about this show, I can't wait to watch it.

Spotted

Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (Richard Tyler from The 4400) was spotted as an extra on Seinfeld. He was the ticket person for the movie Sack Lunch, the movie Elaine liked better than The English Patient.

I like playing "Spotted" as I watch television because it's so much fun to be able to see some of my favourite actors before they became my favourite actors.

30 Rock

After watching a preview of the show, I completely change my mind about 30 Rock. I watched the preview several times and found myself laughing at the same thing each time, just as hard, as well as catching new things that were funny. In fact, re-watching made certain things funnier. This is going to be a good show to record, I'm thinking. I am beginning to be pretty excited about this comedy. I'm not sure if Tracy Morgan will be funny in the role though. His character really seems over the top, but that might be the point. What I am most interested in, though, is that the sketch the show is preparing will be viewed online, not on the show, as a cool way for this show to tie in with internet viewers. It's a smart way to keep viewers interested in the show, possibly gain new viewers, and use the internet in a productive, cohesive manner.

Spotted

Ted Levine (Captain Stottlemeyer from Monk) was Spotted in The Fast and the Furious and Memoirs of a Geisha.

Spotted is a regular feature where I exclaim to no one in particular when I "spot" a regular from favourite television show in movies or other shows.

Spotted

I love finding out where I've seen someone before. Justin Chambers (Karev from Grey's Anatomy) played Mossimo, another almost husband for J.Lo in The Wedding Planner. Wow! What a great accent! That just lets me know he's one to watch, because I really like his character as Mossimo and I think his jerky good guy on Grey's is a good conflicted character (my fave is still Sandra Oh's Christina). Just another favourite show character Spotted!

Inspiration

TV shows inspire me as a writer. Firefly is the show that told the best stories I've ever seen. Well written characters with reactions that come naturally out of the situations and I loved the Futuristic Western language, a lingo all its own. When I started doing my own reading about Japanese culture, I realized how indepth the American-Asian mixture was and it made me appreciate the show even more.

Bones is another show that inspires me. It's relatively new, but the Temperance Brennan character is such a uniquely naive character. It's interesting seeing her develop, it's interesting seeing Sealy Booth's overprotective streak, it's great watching the secondary characters who are in no way secondary, with just as much development as the main characters. I love the Angela character, so worldly, yet optimistic.

The Dead Zone - Book, movie, and television show - I've loved every incarnation of this story. I saw the movie first, then read the book, and was really excited to see Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny, though I am not excited about his end. I think that while Christopher Walken made the story a creepy coming of age tale, Anthony Michael Hall make it engaging, having you understand all of the conflict that would come from having this eerie talent. Too bad it's a brain tumor.

Summer's Here!

New episodes of The 4400, Rescue Me... So far so good. Today The Closer and Saved. These are both playing commercial free. Normally, I sort of TiVo shows and watch them one after the other without commercials, so it will be interesting to see what it's like watching it this week without commercials. Sometimes, when I watch The Closer, I miss California. What makes this show so good is watching the characters. They are well written, growing characters. Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson is a hard ass. It's her job to be so. So watching her trying to soften herself in different situations is hilarious and heart rending. The personal conflict is probably the most realistic of any procedural show I've watched, not counting Law & Order: SVU. I'm pretty excited about this season, the caliber of writing and acting that the 2nd season opener portrayed was exactly where you'd expect the show to go from last season. Chalk one up to another good drama from TNT.

You'd think a show about EMTs would be adrenaline filled, exciting, but Saved was not. The opening was stale, reusing CSI musical and visual conventions. The first scene was the best part of the show, but not exciting. The introduction of the main character was, to say the least, lame. A very realistic fight though. It made me laugh. The main idea of the season opener was "just another quiet day" where nothing is quiet, but each vignette was brief and emotionless, nothing drawing us into the characters, nothing to make us emotionally connect with the secondary characters or the stories. The pacing was slow, anti-adrenaline if you will, and the storyline was generic. The most irritating thing was the music, drawing so much attention to itself, you felt musically manipulated. However, even that didn't work because it was all so colourless, redoing what was done before. I would like to say I didn't like any part of it, but John the Baptist was actually funny (not as funny as it could have been, but the actor that played him had a very good voice) and the little boy was extremely cute. It will be interesting to see where the writers and directors take the show, but my guess is that this show doesn't stand a chance.

2006 Fall Season Line-up

This season is ending, some shows with a bang and some with a farewell. Some new shows are returning for their second season - Bones, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother (Barney!) and of course new shows that take the place of the shows leaving after their first season - Courting Alex, Commander In Chief, and Stacked.

Of all the networks, ABC has the most upcoming fall shows, with 9. Fox is next with 7 shows, NBC has 6, and CBS has 4. This is not including new midseason shows (and I'm only including scripted shows)

Now let's play Which Show Gets Cancelled! (C) - Comedy; (D) - Drama

CBS:
(C) The Class - People from the same third grade class are brought together for a surprise reunion. David Crane of Friends and Jeffrey Klarik of Mad About You are involved with this sitcom. Jason Ritter, Sean Maguire, and Lizzy Caplan star. CANCELLED

(D) Jericho - A baffling explosion causes social, psychological, and physical chaos in a small, isolated town. Stars Skeet Ulrich, Erik Knudsen. This could be good, so NOT CANCELLED

(DC) Smith - Diverse crew of career criminals as they plot and carry out high stakes heists at prominent locations. The thing is, the main character wants the one big heist that will set him for life, allowing him to finally retire. Starring Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen, Simon Baker and Amy Smart. Since I'm really stoked to see this one, NOT CANCELLED. If it turns out anything like Thief, CANCELLED.

(D) Shark - A show about lawyers (duh). Starring James Woods with Spike Lee directing the pilot episode. They're pulling out the big guns and I think James Woods is hit or miss - plus my lack of interest in this show makes me think CANCELLED, but the interest of most people in law shows, especially with a name like Shark could equal NOT CANCELLED.

ABC

(DC) Big Day - Danny and Alice are getting married today and we see it in 22 episodes. I remember my wedding and I say YES! because watching my wedding fall apart was utterly hilarious. It's 24 does a wedding day. NOT CANCELLED.

(C) Let's Rob... - Donal Logue (The Tao of Steve) is a janitor who puts together a motley crew to rob Mick Jagger's swank New York apartment. The only problem is that not one of them has stolen so much as a candy bar. What kind of show name is "Let's Rob..." anyway. It should be cancelled just on name alone. Donal Logue is funny, but I still think CANCELLED

(C) Help Me Help You - Self help group therapy where the Dr. may be just as crazy as the patients. Stars Ted Danson. CANCELLED, although Danson shows usually last a couple of seasons.

(C) Notes From The Underbelly - "The politics of parenthood can be just as demanding as raising he child. A group of friends watch their lives change to accomodate the little stranger. CANCELLED

(D) Betty The Ugly - An ugly duckling and a mogul's son are the "Working Girl couple who tackle the colourful, cutthroat world of fashion head on. This stars America Ferrerra and she made me cry in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. NOT CANCELLED

(D) Brothers and Sisters - Calista Flockhart narrates this tale of a family whos recent loss brings their own pressing personal issues to light. Family McBeal. The strength of the actors may bring this drama through. NOT CANCELLED

(D) Day Break - Brett Hopper keeps reliving the day he was framed for murder (that's weird) - and no cute groundhog can help him get out of it. Stars Taye Digg and Adam Baldwin (Jayne!). Even though this is a midseason show, I had to give a shout out to someone from the Firefly crew! NOT CANCELLED

(D) Men In Trees - A horrible title for a "fun and sexy drama about finding love in the most unexpected places". Stars Anne Heche. CANCELLED

(D) Six Degrees - " A story that will prove just how small the world really is and how someone just five people away could be shaping your future. From the creators of Lost and Alias, this give us all hope for another great drama, so, NOT CANCELLED

(D) The Nine - Nine people trapped in a bank robbery gone wrong and a 52 hour hostage stand off are irrevocably and forever linked. Stars Tim Daly, Chi McBride, and Scott Wolf. This promises a Lost-esque flashback/ 24ish filmed show. Done well, this will definitely be a NOT CANCELLED. Plus, being told from the linked after a tragedy story, there are so many directions the story line could go and the actors are top notch. I'm hoping this does well.

NBC
(D) Heroes - "Heroes chronicle the lives of those [with supernatural ability] whose destiny just might be saving human kind. Stars Milo Ventimiglia (of Gilmore Girl fame). NOT CANCELLED because people always want more X:MEN.

(D) Friday Night Lights - Football story, like the movie, but every Tuesday (unless they change the schedule). I loved the movie, but will miss Billy Bob Thornton. NOT CANCELLED

(D) Kidnapped - A couple's 15 year old son is kidnapped. Shocking crime or business vendetta? Watch as the event unfold. Delroy Lindo, therefore NOT CANCELLED.

(C) Twenty Good Years - Old men live the rest of their lives to the fullest. John Lithgow and Jeffrey Tambor (George Bluth) so NOT CANCELLED, although networks didn't take too kindly to Arrested Development, so CANCELLED

(C) 30 Rock - Tina Fey is Dick Van Dyke. It's full of SNL alums and Alex Baldwin. CANCELLED, even though I think Tina Fey is funny.

(D) Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Josh Lyman and Chandler Bing are Dick Van Dyke breaking new life into a sketch comedy series. I still think this is a drama though. Starring Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford and Amanda Peet. This sounds like it has potential, but CANCELLED

FOX
(C) Happy Hour - "Happy Hour... free buffalo wings... half priced drinks... and the time between the end of one relationship andthe start of another". CANCELLED, but I'll take the free wings and half priced drinks.

(D) Justice - "An unflinching, behind the scene look at the way high profile cases are tried in the media age. Starring Victor Garber, Kerr Smith, Eamonn Walker. CANCELLED

(D) Standoff - Two of the top ranked negotiators in the FBI's Crisis Negotiation Unit are sleeping together and when it's revealed, it cause friction with the group. Gina Torres stars. NOT CANCELLED 'cause of my girl Gina aka Zoe aka good to see you on TV again Torres.

(C) 'Til Death - A comedy about new marriages vs. old marriages. Starring Brad Garrett and Joely Fisher. Two funny people and a good comedy for Fox. NOT CANCELLED

(D) Vanished - A woman disappears and the investigation into that disappearance brings up more than anyone ever thought. Rebecca Gayheart, Ming Na star. NOT CANCELLED our of sheer voyeurism and guilty pleasurism.

The Wedding Album - "Things are definitely more interesting when every day at the 'office' is the most important day of someone else's life." CANCELLED - doesn't seem to have much substance. I couldn't even tell if it were a comedy or a drama.

(C) The Winner - A 43 year old looks back to the tender age of 32 when he became a man. Now rich, he leads us through the steps he took to get there, with the help of his true love's 13 year old son. Stars Rob Corddry (of Daily Show fame - And some Arrested Development), Julie Hagerty (Airplane!) and Lenny Clarke (funny!) NOT CANCELLED

So let's recap:
So that's 10 shows cancelled, 14 shows not cancelled, and 3 shows I'm not sure of, all in my own humble opinions. Of the 27 shows mentioned, 10 shows are strangers come together shows with two of them being about strangers who used to be in the same class; 3 are law and order shows, 2 are heist knockoffs, even though the show Heist won't be coming back for a second season and Thief was horrible; 4 deal with marriage (all aspects of it) and 3 have a hostage aspect to it.

I can't wait to see:
Smith (CBS)
Big Day (ABC)
Betty The Ugly (ABC)
Day Break (ABC)
The Nine (ABC)
Standoff (FOX)
The Winner (FOX)

And Surface, I will miss you and your water monstery goodness. I downloaded you religiously. Farewell my friend. Especially you Nim.

I hope you've enjoyed your read. Good Night.