I Got a Big New Love . . . . . .

I have a question for you.

When you find that you really like something that you assumed you wouldn't, does it annoy you, or delight you?

I must admit, it rather annoys me. Let me explain -

I don't watch a lot of regular TV. I simply don't have time to get involved in a series. Yes, I have a DVR, (what a wonderful invention!), and it helps, but I still rarely find the time to actually sit and watch something. Because of that, I just don't even start to watch a weekly TV series, even one I'm sure I would love, because I don't want to spend the time trying to keep up with each episode.

When I see advertisements for a new show, I tune them out just for that reason. So, when Big Love started a couple of years ago, I didn't pay a lot of attention. The premise alone was enough to turn me off of it. Let's face it; I have some very prejudicial, preconceived notions about far right Mormon pluralist, and the entire idea of multiple wives creeps me out to no end. Easy to avoid that show, right?

Well, it was.

The new season started three weeks ago, and I caught a few minutes here and there of the show. Then, I watched the entire third episode.

Damn you HBO for making such intriguing and interesting characters!!!!

I'm hooked. I've already set the DVR to record all the episodes, and this Friday is a back to back to back catch up for all of this season.

**sigh**

It is a good show. Even if I feel like I need a shower after I watch it.

Merry Freakin' Christmas

Ok, I know I posted this last year, but for those of you who missed it . . . .

If Martin Scorsese directed animated Christmas specials . . . . .

Raging Rudolph

Still Busy . . . .

Is the mad rush to the Holidays getting you down? Keeping you busy?

Clinton had his first basketball game last night, and tonight, the boys go to their Mother's for Thanksgiving.

I will work Wednesday, and then?

I plan to get up early Thursday morning and spend the day with Scottie, then drive back and spend the evening at the Bayhouse. We'll see. I may even drive up there Wednesday night.

Meantime, here's something to enjoy.

As God as my witness . . .

Merry Christmas To Me? . . . .UPDATE!!

UPDATE!!

AWKKK!!!

It's not on sale this morning!!

It was $69.99 yesterday, and now it's $186.99

OK, I haven't done it, but I probably will.

In this morning's Petulant Rumblings, I saw this nugget.

Do you have any idea how long I have wanted this? And for only $69.99?

Yes, I already have every individual season in the original DVD releases. Yes, this version has one disk of extras, that has some interviews and such, but really, do I need them all in a single package? (40 disks!)

This Amazon.com reviewer, who has a daughter in college thinks so. His reason?

I Quote:

You buy "The Chosen Collection" so your kids will leave your "BtVS" DVDs alone

I mean, that's sensible, right? The kids will be going off to college before you know it, and technically, some of those seasons are theirs, birthday gifts and the like. So what's a Dad to do when the offspring run off with his Buffy DVDs?

I know some of you still haven't jumped on the Buffy Bandwagon.

Do you trust Brave Sir Robin's judgment?

OK - other than in Women.

Would I steer you wrong? This is the perfect opportunity for those of you who have to this point been reluctant to enter the Buffyverse. It's 65% off!!

Still not convinced? (Yes, I know which ones of you aren't), here is the Amazon editorial review:

From its charming and angst-ridden first season to the darker, apocalyptic final one, Buffy the Vampire Slayer succeeds on many levels, and in a fresher and more authentic way than the shows that came before or after it. How lucky, then, that with the release of its boxed set of seasons 1-7, you can have the estimable pleasure of watching a near-decade of Buffy in any order you choose. (And we have some ideas about how that should be done.)

First: rest assured that there's no shame in coming to Buffy late, even if you initially turned your nose up at the winsome Sarah Michelle Gellar kicking the hell out of vampires (in Buffy-lingo, vamps), demons, and other evil-doers. Perhaps you did so because, well, it looked sort of science-fiction-like with all that monster latex. Start with season 3 and see that Buffy offers something for everyone, and the sooner you succumb to it, the quicker you'll appreciate how textured and riveting a drama it is.

Why season 3? Because it offers you a winning cast of characters who have fallen from innocence: their hearts have been broken, their egos trampled in typically vicious high-school style, and as a result, they've begun to realize how fallible they are. As much as they try, there are always more monsters, or a bigger evil. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the core crew remains something of a unit--there's the smart girl, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) who dreams of saving the day by downloading the plans to City Hall's sewer tunnels and mapping a route to safety. There are the ne'r do wells--the vampire Spike (James Marsters), who both clashes with and aspires to love Buffy; the tortured and torturing Angel (David Boreanz); the pretty, popular girl with an empty heart (Charisma Carpenter); and the teenage everyman, Xander (Nicholas Brendon).

Then there's Buffy herself, who in the course of seven seasons morphs from a sarcastic teenager in a minidress to a heroine whose tragic flaw is an abiding desire to be a "normal" girl. On a lesser note, with the boxed set you can watch the fashion transformation of Buffy from mall rat to Prada-wearing, kickboxing diva with enviable highlights. (There was the unfortunate bob of season 2, but it's a forgivable lapse.) At least the storyline merits the transformations: every time Buffy has to end a relationship she cuts her hair, shedding both the pain and her vulnerability.

In addition to the well-wrought teenage emotional landscape, Buffy deftly takes on more universal themes--power, politics, death, morality--as the series matures in seasons 4-6. And apart from a few missteps that haven't aged particularly well ("I Robot" in season 1 comes to mind), most episodes feel as harrowing and as richly drawn as they did at first viewing. That's about as much as you can ask for any form of entertainment: that it offer an escape from the viewer's workaday world and entry into one in which the heroine (ideally one with leather pants) overcomes demons far more troubling than one's own. --Megan Halverson

Ok - I wouldn't advise you to start with season three, because one of the things Joss does so well, is allow the characters to grow, to mature and to act age appropriately. It's damn fun to watch. Also, the amazing way he presents story arcs over multiple seasons. If you watch closely, he'll drop story hints a full two season ahead of when they actually happen.

This series should be required watching for every television executive, producer or writer, before they're allowed to work in the business. This is how you do it people.

It's not about the monsters, it's not about the special effects, it's not even about a hot chick in a miniskirt. It's about relationships, it's about characters who are real to us, no matter how fantastic their circumstances may be. It's about growing, and learning, and love, and yes, loss.

Sigh.

OK. I was gonna buy myself the new Blackberry . . . . . .

I'm Trying

Blogger has been screwed up all morning. I've been trying to post a few pictures from last weekend, but I've tried to make the post three times.

So, while I try to figure it out, go look at this.

Talk about, *SWOON* would I love to attend that.

Am I the only one interested?

Yes, I Do Read the Comments

Your wish is my command - (You know who you are)

But seriously, I just can't start watching that show. Maybe just the opening . . . .

Meow!

I Suck

I am officially an imbecile. I am part of the great unthinking, unwashed masses. I am what's wrong with America.

Not only did I watch an entire episode of American Idol, I actually voted.

FSM, just shoot me.

Ok, in my defense, it was Andrew Lloyd Webber night. I get a pass for that, right?

For what it’s worth – my ranking last night.

1. Carly Smithson -- "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Hmm Judas as a female?? I'd buy a ticket to see her sing that role)

2. Syesha Mercado -- "One Rock & Roll Too Many" from Starlight Express (The dress alone was worth second place)

3. David Archuleta -- "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera. (Dude, you do know that song is sung by a girl right? Oh wait. . . yeah)

4. David Cook -- "Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera (Meh - whatever)

5. Jason Castro -- "Memory" from Cats. (My cat left the room)

6. Brooke White -- "You Must Love Me" from the film adaptation of "Evita" (Seriously, the Film version ? WTF?)

Quote Of The Day

The rest of the article isn't really worth reading, but Adam McKay nailed this one:

Senator McCain just got the thumbs up from Bush. Isn't an endorsement from W like a job reference from that astronaut chick who lost it and wore diapers?

And The Winner Is . . . .

I refuse to talk about the game, suffice to say, I'll be listening to Billie Holiday all week.

:(



Hey, but how about those ads?

Did you like them? Did you have a favorite?

Among the group I watched with, the baby buying stock seemed to be the favorite, with the crowd split 50-50 between the first one where the baby spits up, or the second with the clown. (My favorite)

The Planter's Cashew ad was well received as well.

thoughts?



Among the most cringe worthy had to be the Ad with the stereotypical Chinese accent on the Panda Bear. Are you kidding me? This is 2008 for Fuck's sake.

What, Micky Rooney's character from Breakfast At Tiffany's wasn't available?

Sheesh!

It's Good! It's Really Good!

Ok Fanboys and Fangirls, there's a new reason to watch TV on Monday night.

Terminator
The Sarah Connor
Chronicles

I watched the pilot Sunday night and loved it. We had a basketball game Monday, so we DVR'd episode one, . We watched it last night. Excellent once again. I can see at least three or four long term story arcs already setting up. While a pilot and one episode don't a series make, I am very excited about the potential of this series.

If you want to catch up with what has happened so far, you can watch complete episode's here.

Anyone else out there see it?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Tag, I'm it. - My Cultural Life

I've been tagged by Konagod

1. What am I reading at the moment?

I'm looking for something to read!! Actually, I'm in the middle of 1776 , by David McCullough. I need to make a run to the bookstore, but that is a trip out of town. I hope to read soon:

The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy
Atonement by Ian McEwan (So I can go see the film)
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman (So I can make sense of the very blah film I saw in December.)


2. What Am I Listening To At The Moment?

In the car, mostly one of the two NPR stations on Sirius. I particularly look for The Bryant Park Project. As for music, I'm on a "Bitter Chicks" kick. Lucinda, Amy mostly. A little Edie, Diana, Natalie, and Joss thrown in for good measure. I know they aren't all bitter, but when I'm listening to the ladies, I tend to listen to them all together.


3. What Am I Watching At The Moment?

The Complete Season 2 of Saturday Night Live, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the new season of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. And of course, the NFL playoffs.



In keeping with the theme, I give you this. Best cover ever? Probably not, but it's right up there. It takes a great song and re-imagines it in a delicious way. This is my favorite song by her.

Enjoy:



I tag Phydeaux, Red Queen, and Robin

It's My Blog And I'll Wax Nostalgic If I Want To

Just because I like it . . . .



So who do you like better? Heat Miser or Snow miser?

I'm a snow guy. He's so damn smooth.

Raging Rudolph

Remember that old Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer animation that was on TV every year when you were a kid?

Now imagine if Martin Scorsese directed it. You get the idea. Just think of it as my little contribution to the War On Christmas.



Merry Freakin' Christmas!!

I remember this on Mad TV many, many years ago. I was very glad to find it on You Tube.

Isn't the internet wonderful?

Pearl Jam - H.R. Pufnstuf Theme

How is it possible that I have never seen this before?

Awesome.

I loved this show as a kid.

You might want to have a little "something to share" before viewing.

I'm just sayin' .....

Damn Good Pie........

Brave Sir Robin is not materialistic. Really, I'm not. Sure, there are a few small indulgences I enjoy, I am a sucker for fine food and drink, but it is quality more than quantity I desire.

I do however have one glaring weakness.

DVDs , ......(and to a lesser extent - CDs)

I have an embarrassingly large collection.

There is a hole in my collection exactly the size of this:

The Twin Peaks Definitive Gold Box Collection.

Sigh, This show was the first show in my whole life that I simply had to see. I forced myself to learn the rites of the fourth hell that was programing a mid 80's model VCR so I wouldn't miss an episode of this show.

It has been incompletely available until now. The first season has been out for while, but alas, without the Pilot, which was FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

The second season came out a few weeks ago, but this, ......oh this has every episode, and TWO versions of the pilot plus interviews and geeky extras and...... I better stop. I'll need to go freshen up if I don't slow down here.

Ok, it's $65.00 at Amazon. Maybe a paper route..........

Excuse me while I go find some "Damn fine coffee".