My Run Into DMC 12/27/2009

Have you ever ran into a celebrity in a non-celebrity setting?  About five years ago while shopping at a Walmart in Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, I spotted a very short checkout line and proceeded to make a beeline for it, when I noticed someone walking nonchalantly toward the same cashier.   He was ahead of me a few yards but was perpendicular to my path.  I thought to myself, “Look at this Run DMC-looking dude.  I’m going to beat him there.”  He wore a black brimmed hat, a black T-shirt and pants, and the signature glasses -  I didn’t notice his shoes so I can’t tell you if he donned some Adidas’.  I didn’t actually think it was him.

When I reached the line before him, I was happy because there was only one person ahead of me, but the cashier was really taking her sweet time.   After waiting a few minutes, people in the store started turning around and looking my way.   I was wondering what was going on and then I heard a voice behind me say, “Hey man, I love your music.”  Then I realized that it was the dude from Run DMC!  I knew it wasn’t Run because he has a more familiar face and I knew Jam Master Jay had passed away, so it had to be DMC, Darryl McDaniels.   The fan asked to take a picture with him and DMC casually said, “No problem.”  All that time, I was listening to everything more than watching it because I didn’t want to be a dork and keep turning around in line to stare at him, nor did I want to suddenly whip out my cell phone to take a snapshot of him.  While the cashier rang my stuff up, people kept flocking to DMC and they asked to take pictures with him or to sign something.  He was extremely nice to everyone and cool with the whole situation – he was just a guy trying to buy some soap or something at Walmart.

When I paid for my stuff, I didn’t stick around, though, I kind of wanted to.  After I walked out the door, I had to call a friend to tell him about it – my first celebrity sighting.  Maybe DMC lived up the hill or something because I would expect to see a celebrity more on Ventura Blvd., the southern end of the Valley, rather than at a Walmart on Rinaldi and Corbin.

But you see, if I didn’t beat DMC to the line, I could have had a better vantage point of everything, and I probably would have taken a quick picture of him.  My bad.

The Cove: The Secret is Out – Help the Dolphins 12/17/2009

The Cove is a documentary that plays like a spy or heist movie at times, only instead of trying to figure out how to steal the loot in a bank, a group of activists are trying to expose the dolphin massacres at a guarded cove located in Taiji, Japan.  You may have heard about it when Hayden Panettierre (Heroes) was issued a Japanese arrest warrant for donning a wetsuit and paddling her surfboard out into the cove with a group of brave supporters to protest the slayings.

After watching this on DVD, which was just released this Tuesday, I am left shaken by the red waters of the cove and I’m compelled to get on my computer to let you know about this must-see documentary.   The film also offers insight about the high levels of mercury in the dolphin meat, the spread of misinformation, the cover-ups and the corruption by officials.   It’s informative and suspenseful, but you will also get a kick out of a guy dubbed as “Private Space.”

But the hero of this film is Ric O’Barry, who helped to capture and train the dolphins on the TV show Flipper.  He now blames himself for the captivation and slaughter of so many dolphins because of the success of that show.  I don’t blame him for this, though, but you can tell that he is personally tortured by his past involvements and is now devoting his life to save the dolphins.

The next time you rent a movie, please choose The Cove. I was gushing about how much I loved Inglourious Basterds yesterday, but this film is so much more important.  As a lover of dolphins, dogs, elephants, giraffes and horses – in that order, by the way – my heartstrings were tugged at quite hard today.  And when O’Barry described how his dolphin Cathy died, I cried my eyes out; I sobbed.

The secret is out.  Get the word out.

For more information about The Cove, go to http://takepart.com/thecove

Five things you can do now:

1. Write to our leaders or sign the petition
2. Share the petition with your friends living in Japan
3. Post the “Secret is Out” widget on your blog, MySpace or Facebook
4. Text DOLPHIN to “44144″
5. Join the Facebook cause online

Recent updates since its opening this summer: http://thecovemovie.info

*UPDATE*

So I watched The Cove again and my favorite line in the movie was when Ric O’Barry said that “the dolphin’s smile is nature’s greatest deception.”  And when you think about it, it’s true.  Dolphins always look like they’re smiling but it doesn’t mean that they’re always happy.   After watching this film, it really got me thinking about the animals in captivity – at zoos and especially at aquarium-themed amusement parks like Sea World or Discovery Kingdom, formerly known as Marine World.  It reminds me years ago when I read Life of Pi by Yann Martel – something about how the animals in zoos are lucky because they don’t have to hunt for their food and are protected by predators.   Those are advantages but are they happy and doesn’t happiness count for a fuller life?  I’m not saying that we should release all the animals in zoos everywhere, but it’s just something to think about.

As for dolphins in captivity, I’ve always loved to see them at theme parks and I love how they interact with you behind the glass panel or at the surface of the water.   I’ve never been that lucky to swim with a dolphin but the closest I’ve got to one was at Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden at The Mirage in Las Vegas.   There’s a pond with a low ridge around it where you can sit and a dolphin can swim right by you within arm’s reach, but you are not allowed to touch them or reach out for them – hand and arms in!   I sat there and a dolphin swam by slowly, and as it made eye contact with me it rolled around on its back so that it was swimming belly-up right past me.  Amazing!   I definitely knew that it was checking me out and saying hello.  The only time I’ve encountered a dolphin in the wild was when I got freaked out sitting on the beach at Point Dume in Malibu having a picnic with a friend.  I saw a dorsal fin in the water very near to the shore and thought it was a shark but someone told me that it was a dolphin.  I didn’t know there were dolphins out there!  I guess I was so used to seeing them in captivity.

But now after watching The Cove, I don’t ever want to go to Sea World and endorse the dolphin’s and whale’s captivity.   I don’t think I want to go to Discovery Kingdom ever again, either, because I’ll just feel super sad wondering if those smiling dolphins are really happy to be there.

I hope Ric O’Barry lives a long life so he can continue his noble efforts to save the dolphins.

2009 American Music Awards 11/23/2009

I didn’t even know this was on today until I was flipping through the channels, so I missed the entire first hour.   It was a diva fest for sure, except for one out-of-place person, J-Lo, who had to follow up Mary J. Blige’s amazing performance with her lip synching and corny boxing intro.   You ain’t Manny Pacquiao!  And if I remember correctly, Whitney Houston performed right after J-Lo, or somewhere after her – it was like a sandwich with fresh baked bread and spoiled meat in the middle. 

Some ladies went the rock way.  Rihanna, clad in her mummy outfit, rocked out the night and so did country sweetheart Carrie Underwood.   It’s nice to see a different mix of sounds but sometimes you just want to hear straight country from Carrie and straight R&B from Rihanna.

Then there was the award for Breakthrough Artist, where Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, Keri Hilson and Gloriana (who?) were nominated.   I love Keri Hilson but I’m a major Kid Cudi fan and I think he deserved the award because he doesn’t have a mainstream sound or look.  I thought for sure Lady Gaga was going to get it since she’s so damn popular (I’ll get back to her) but the viewers voted for Gloriana.  Who the heck is Gloriana?  That’s exactly what one of the group members said in jest to the audience after they won.  I’ve never heard of them and still don’t know who they are but at least someone mainstream didn’t win.  What I’m wondering is who were the people that voted?

But let me say something real quick about Lady Gaga.  Yes, she’s talented and she sells tons of albums, but I’m not a fan of her music.  I’m not saying she can’t sing, though, because every time she performs live, she’s never off key and she puts in one hundred percent of her energy.   But what is up with the outrageous costumes and bizarre performances that verge on psychosis?   And why did Stefani Germanotta have to come up with a character name instead of just using her real name?   When you create another persona as outlandish as Lady Gaga, I guess you have to use another name than Stef.  But why can’t artists just be themselves instead of being FAKE?  Take a look of a video of Lady Gaga before her transformation.

How awesome was she before her fake character emerged?!  Did Stefani sell herself out?  Anyways…

Now back to the AMA’s.  Kudos to Taylor Swift for beating Michael Jackson, who we all thought would win the final award.  How exciting this year has been for her.  Michael, I’ll always miss you.

Adam Lambert ended the show with his new single, which was a slap in the face to American Idol winner Kris Allen – and I’m happy about it because he never deserved to win.

All in all, it was an enjoyable show.

My Sister’s Keeper: The Screenplay is a Travesty 11/18/2009

Fans of the book My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult are probably so disappointed with the film adaptation – I, for one, am.   I read the book four or five years ago so my memory of every detail is foggy, but I clearly remember that the ending was unexpected and that I cried.  I watched the movie today because it came out on DVD, and when the end came, nary a tear dropped from my eye and something was off – the ending was completely different from the book.  What a travesty!  (If you want to know the differences, I’ll put it at the end of this post.)

I understand how things must be cut out of a screenplay because of the time limit, such as subplots or characters, but when they totally change the ending just to “Hollywoodize” it or make it more appealing to a certain group, then that’s when the audience, and especially that fans of the original work, get cheated and hoodwinked.  It wasn’t just a little difference; it was huge. This reminds me of another film adaptation that robbed the book of its wonder: Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres.   The movie starred Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz and it just ruined the book.  But let me get back to My Sister’s Keeper.

Another thing that didn’t work quite well on screen was the different narrations, which works when you read it, but on screen it just felt a little disjointed.

If you saw the movie, though, and enjoyed it, then I guess you have nothing to rant about.   But readers know that we really got robbed.

WARNING!  SPOILER ALERT!  DO NOT READ ON UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW.

Movie ending:  Kate, the cancer-stricken sister, dies in her sleep.  The next day, Anna is informed that she won her medical emancipation case.  They family goes on vacation every year to Montana in honor of Kate’s memory.

Book ending:  Anna wins her case.  Before making a decision to help or not help her sister, she is left brain-dead because of a car accident.  Anna’s kidney is transplanted into Kate, saving her life.  Anna dies.

What was the point of changing the character who died when someone was going to die anyway?  Most importantly, how did Picoult allow this to happen?

 

What Not To Rent: List #3 11/08/2009

October rentals turned out to be decent, although I know this list is coming to you a little off schedule.  I apologize for that.  On with the list.

1. Land of the Lost – This is possibly one of the worst movies ever, and it ranks in the same horrible category as Cabin Boy. Don’t let Will Ferrell persuade you to rent this even though you know he is mad funny.  I’m telling you, this was horrible!  The opening fight scene with Matt Lauer was hilarious and it made me say, “Hmm, this movie doesn’t seem so bad.”  Wrong!  From there, it goes downhill until it grows into a giant hairy ball of drain clog.  The movie also has one of the most annoying characters, a monkey man named Chaka, who is thrown in for comic relief but he’s as bothersome as Jar Jar Binks.  Stay very far away from this movie.  I feel sorry for those who went to see this at the theaters.  Have you recovered yet?  I hope you walked out and got your money back. On another note, I’ve never seen Gigli yet.
2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – If you read a previous post of mine entitled, “My Top 3 Most Lousy Directors”, then you’ll know that I think Michael Bay is the corniest, cheesiest, lamest movie director ever.  I hated the first Transformers as much as I hate this one.  Why, oh why, did the producers choose Michael Bay to direct these movies – Steven Spielberg, too!  I’d expect Spielberg as executive producer to make better decisions because he’s one of the best directors ever, along with my other favorite, John Ford.   But back to the movie.  They turned one of my favorite cartoons as a kid into a show of silly characters.  But if you’re a 13-year-old boy or a hardcore Megan Fox fan, then you’ll love this movie.  Please don’t let Micheal Bay anywhere near a Robotech movie!  He will ruin it!  I heard that Tobey Maguire has something to do with the upcoming movie.  Thank goodness!
3. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – Yet another 80’s cartoon that’s been turned into a movie.  After the first five minutes of nanomites – microscopic robots used as weapons – and Marlon Wayans, I already knew it was going to be bad.  Wayans is funny if he’s doing a movie like White Chicks, but as a soldier, he just doesn’t cut it.  The way the hero was saved near the end was very predictable.  There were some cool moments of action but it didn’t make up for the lack of luster and substance. Oh, but you already know there’ll be a sequel someday.  Sigh.  Now when are they going to do a Thundercats movie?  Ho!
4. In the Name of the King – Starring Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds and Leelee Sobieski.  This is a Medieval fantasy that totally fails.  Ray Liotta is such a good actor but why did he seem so low rate in this?   Stick with Lord of the Rings.  Or better yet, read the book because you non-readers haven’t heard about the scouring of the Shire at the end when the Hobbits returned home, or Tom Bombadil and other elements.  Movies are shortened versions of books!  But here I am again off on a tangent.

SO-SO’s OF THE MONTH

• Chaos - Starring Jason Statham and Wesley Snipes.  It first looked like it was going to be a bank-robbers-carry-out-a-heist-and-how-are-they-going-to-save-the-hostages movie, but it turned out to be more than that.   Pay attention at the explosion scene.  I knew something was fishy.
• The Proposal – Starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds and Betty White.  If you hate romantic comedies or Sandra Bullock, then you don’t need to see this.  Ryan Reynolds was actually pretty good in this role, though, and Betty White is fun to watch.
• Imagine That – Starring Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church and Nicole Ari Parker.  Eddie Murphy tries to deal with his daughter’s imaginary friends while becoming a better dad. It was cute and had the usual Eddie Murphy comedy.  The little girl who plays his daughter steals the show.
• The Statement – Starring Michael Caine and Tilda Swinton.  Michael Caine’s character has been on the run and in hiding for many years as a war criminal.  Will they get him?  This is a drama-thriller and it’s supposedly based on true events.
• Grey Gardens – Starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange.  This is about the Edie Beales, the cousin and aunt of Jackie Kennedy.  Both actresses were outstanding in their roles.

SURPRISE OF THE MONTH

• Drag Me to Hell – Starring Alison Loman and Justin Long.  This Sam Raimi (Spiderman) directed movie is not your typical slasher horror flick with scantily clad girls running away from getting bloody.  Don’t let the title fool you into thinking it is.  It’s not scary so it’s okay if you watch it at night (I, myself was afraid of that).  It has some gross moments but they make you laugh and you’ll love the fight scene in the car – very Raimi-esque.  Guys may walk away loving the movie but hating Justin Long’s character because he was the perfect boyfriend!  This will be a Halloween classic filled with fun.

RECO OF THE MONTH

• The Taking of Pelham 123 – Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini and Luis Guzman.  I was skeptical in the beginning because of the choppy editing that was trying to be too artsy, but it turned out to be a solid dialogue movie.  And it stars Denzel and John Travolta so you know it’s going to be enjoyable.  Will Denzel bring home that gallon of milk?  Find out for yourself and rent it.

Unpleasant Reads 10/30/2009

The following books were some miserable reads for me.   We all have different preferences, though, and some of these are classics.   But there is no way I could ever recommend any book on this list.

• THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV by Fyordor Dostoevsky:  I read this for pleasure after reading Crime and Punishment because I highly enjoyed the psychological thrills and drama.  Oh, that rascal Raskolnikov.  So I thought I’d delve into more Russian literature by this author, but that was a big mistake.  The book was probably the number one most tortuous book I’ve ever tried to get through, but I can proudly say that I did, in fact, finish it.  It’s filled with too much philosophical ramblings, so be warned.  And did I mention it’s about a thousand pages long?
• FOUCAULT’S PENDULUM by Umberto Eco:  Want to be confused?  Read this.  It sounds like a book for a Da Vinci Code fan but this is very different from a Dan Brown book.  I always knew I should have read The Name of the Rose instead, but after finally getting to the end of this terror, I’ve been wary to pick up another Eco book.
• THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger:   I read this about five years ago and I just could not stand it!  I know, I know – some people love this novel so much and put it on their favorites list.  But I cannot stand it!
• THE HOUSE OF MIRTH by Edith Wharton:  This definitely did not live up to its name.  It was more like the house of depression.
• THE MOONSTONE by Wilke Collins: I was watching Jeopardy one day and this book happened to be the answer, er I mean, the question to the answer.  Alex Trebek proclaimed that he loved to read this at night with his flashlight when he was younger.  I should have known better because I think Alek Trebek has some very dry humor and I would never want to hang out with him.  The book was a bore and the mystery wasn’t intriguing.
• STRANGE FITS OF PASSION by Anita Shreve:  This was my first Anita Shreve book and I never picked up another.
• THE WOLF’S HOUR by Robert R. McCammon:  This author wrote one of my top five books, Boy’s Life, and I was so excited to start reading this.  Huge disappointment.   If you haven’t heard of this author and you’re a fan of Stephen King, you must check him out because they are comparable to each other – they can both write horror and thrills but amaze you even more when they write non-horror stories.
• THE STRANGER by Albert Camus:  A classic that was a requirement for a class I took, so I was forced to read it.  Good thing that it’s short!
• WINESBURG, OHIO by Sherwood Anderson:  A pick by the lousiest English teacher I’ve ever had in my life.   Have you ever wondered why some teachers ever became teachers or professors in the first place when they don’t give a darn about their students and their teaching methods are horrendous?  Just imagine this guy talking to a roomful of college students like kindergartners.   But getting back to the book, it was as lousy as my English teacher.

Next time, I’ll do a post about my favorite books…

The Wedding: Why I Love The Office 10/10/2009

You’ve probably seen that wedding video on YouTube that came out this summer when the wedding party danced down the aisle to Chris Brown’s Forever (he’s still on my sh*tlist for being a punk).  If you haven’t, view it below.

And if you didn’t see the recent episode of The Office, they parodied this video during Jim and Pam’s wedding.  Hilarious!  (See The Office video here.)  Not only was it funny, but I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.  I laughed at the first bars of Forever because I knew what was coming.  Then I laughed out loud at Andy happily struggling down the aisle on his walker with an ecstatic expression on his face, Oscar vouging, Kevin crashing into the candelabra and floral arrangement, Dwight kicking his one-night-stand in the face, and the look on Michael’s face while leading the Soul Train line in rainbow arms (and Andy still happily struggled).   But Jim and Pam already knew that their office friends would ruin their wedding in some way, so during the dance, they smiled at each other because they held a secret – they already got married a few minutes earlier on a boat with the beautiful Niagara Falls behind them.  How romantic!  I didn’t even know people could get married on a boat (Maid of the Mist) at Niagara Falls.   Their flashback of their intimate and dreamy wedding vows during the hilarious dancing made me smile and want to cry for them.  I know, mushy-mushy, huh?

If that YouTube video didn’t come out when it did, then Jim and Pam’s wedding would have played out differently.  I wonder what the writers would have come up with instead.  So, Season 6 was the perfect time for their wedding.

I love The Office!  Steve Carrell and The Office get robbed every year whenever Alec Baldwin and 30 Rock win Emmy’s.

What Not To Rent: List #2 10/04/2009

In my last WNTR list, I said that I would only include new DVD releases specific to that particular month.   But, I’ve changed my mind and decided to include whatever movies or TV shows I’ve Netflixed for that month.  Here’s the September list:

1. Alias: Season 1: Disc 1 – This was a very popular TV show that I never watched, plus I’m not all into Jennifer Garner, but I decided to give it a try since I’m such a Lost (J. J. Abrams) fan.  Big mistake!  Sydney Bristow did not convince me that she was some hot shot spy.  She looked somewhat unsure of herself at times and the fighting is slow and choreographed-looking.  It was like I was watching a girl fantasizing about being a cool spy.
2. 28 Weeks Later – Starring Rose Byrne and Robert Carlyle.  After being pleasantly surprised with 28 Days Later, I’ve been wanting to see this flick for the longest time.  I should have known that it was one of those bad sequels and not the good kind, not to mention predictable.
3. Angela’s Ashes – Starring Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle.  The most depressing movie ever.  If you want to be put into a bad mood or put others into one, then rent this.
4. The Sopranos: Season 1: Disc 1 – I don’t get it.  I was majorly bored.

SO-SOs OF THE MONTH

• True Romance – Starring Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper and Brad Pitt.  I love Patricia Arquette for her fight scene.  Brad Pitt was a stoner in this movie.
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Starring Hugh Jackman and Liev Shcreiber.  X-Men fans finally get to see Gambit in a movie.  It’s one of those movies where the introduction of a character has to be explained, so hopefully X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 will move along quicker and be better.
• Bangkok Dangerous – Starring Nick Cage.  You know, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.   But there was definitely some corniness in there, like when Nick Cage’s character fell in love with a deaf girl and really had no way to communicate with her except through some body gestures.  Then there was that fight scene in the kitchen with his future apprentice.  I preferred the alternative ending in the special features.

SURPRISE OF THE MONTH

• The Wiz – Starring Diana Ross, Richard Pryor and Michael Jackson.  I don’t know why this movie got bad reviews.  It was a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz with a Motown sound.  Michael Jackson was actually a really good actor in this movie, as well as the guy who played the Tin Man.   Ease on down the road with this one, however, it was a little too long.  I also kept wondering where Toto was throughout the movie because he had little screen time.  Maybe they had trouble training the dog or something.

HO-HUM OF THE MONTH

• Monsters vs Aliens – Voiced by Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Laurie, Keifer Sutherland, Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan.  This was definitely NOT a Pixar movie, which always has a great, smart story with wonderful characters, and at least one teary-eyed moment.   With this movie, I didn’t even care one bit about the characters, nor was the story touching.  The whole premise seemed exciting but most of all the funny moments were already in the trailer.  I loved the Axel Foley scene, though.

RECOs OF THE MONTH

• On Golden Pond – This movie earned 10 Academy Awards in 1982 and starred the iconic Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda as a grumpy old man in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.  Take note of the cinematography.  Jane Fonda also stars.
• Life on Mars- Starring Jason O’Mara, Harvey Keitel, Gretchen Mol and Michael Imperioli.  The best cancelled TV show is out on DVD.  Make sure you check it out!

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There were hardly any exciting new releases this month.  Hopefully, October will be better.

Fall TV: Pilots & Premieres 09/29/2009

I’m a little late doing this post but here we go…

*THE USUAL GREATS*

1.  CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION – The best premiere of the season with its Matrix-inspired opening shootout scene that left you wondering what the heck happened at their headquarters.  Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) makes a guest appearance, also.  I gotta give ya a link: see the episode, “Family Affair”, here.

2. GREY’S ANATOMY – So George is dead.  I thought they fooled us all this summer when T. R. Knight was definitely not returning to the show.  But, he really is gone.  Why couldn’t it be Izzy instead?  The first hour was better than the second, though, and I don’t even know why they had to make it two hours.

3. MEDIUM - Why did NBC even drop that show?  I admit, I’m not a loyal follower, only because I used to always get scared at night of the opening credits, which are the creepiest out there, but I always liked the writing and the characters.  It’s like a drama and a mystery, then all of the sudden, there are scary and eerie moments that startle you.  I’m glad CBS picked it up.

4. THE OFFICE – OMG, the opening parkour scene was so freaking hilarious!  It died down a bit throughout the rest of the show but it was still funny.

5. DANCING WITH THE STARS – Alec Mazo is back and I hope he lasts longer than in previous seasons.  Michael Irving is a disappointment though, especially after trying to best Jerry Rice.  I’m surprised he didn’t mention Emmitt Smith. Go Maya and Mark!

*THE MAYBES*

1. THE FORGOTTEN – Christian Slater and his citizen volunteers get together to help identify John and Jane Doe’s.  So far, it’s keeping me interested and it looks promising.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed.  UPDATE: I officially love the show.

2.  NCIS: LOS ANGELES – I could never get into the original series but LL Cool J and the setting attracted me to this show.  The pilot had cool people, a cool mission office and LL’s cool looking Dodge Charger.  Oh, wait, that’s a Challenger that looks like a modern old school Charger.  (I want that car!)  But the fight scene was corny and so choreographed, and the way G (Chris O’Donnell) got out of his sticky situation was also lame.  Hetty, the gadget gal, is a fun character and you’ll automatically think of The Incredibles when you see her.

I’m watching the second episode right now and I’m not really impressed anymore.  Hmm…

3.  FLASH FORWARD – I wasn’t really going to watch this but had to check it out because of Joseph Fiennes.  John Cho from the horrible Harold & Kumar movies can actually be taken seriously in this show.  But after the first half hour, I wasn’t buying it anymore and the whole premise seemed silly.  Was this really supposed to appeal to Lost fans?  If I’m not intrigued by the second episode, I’m dropping this show.  UPDATE:  I’m dropping this show off my TV schedule.

*THE REJECTS*

1.  EASTWICK - I always loved the movie but after the first ten minutes, it was too much of a chick’s show – and I am a chick.

2.  MODERN FAMILY – It’s shot documentary style like The Office and has the same exact feel as The Office, except that it’s not funny.

*THE I-HAVE-NO-INTEREST-IN-WATCHING-THIS SHOWS*

1. THE GOOD WIFE – I can’t believe they made a TV show out of dirty politician’s antics.  And I literally mean, dirty.

2.  THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE – I love you Ashton but I’d expect you to pick a better subject than models living in New York.  And guess what?  It’s already been canceled.

3.  TRAUMA - Looks like a dorky Grey’s Anatomy.

4.  THREE RIVERS – Looks like a dorky Grey’s Anatomy.

5.  CASTLE – Last season, I highly looked forward to this show and was bored with it in the first 20 minutes.  I never watched it again.

6. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES – I’m sick of vampires, already.

7. COUGAR TOWN – I think this is marketed toward certain ladies – and I’m not one of them.

8. THE JAY LENO SHOW – He was never funny and still isn’t.  Go Letterman!

*THE GOTTA-SEE-BUT-THERE’S-NO-VIDEO-AVAILABLE SHOWS*

1.  THE MENTALIST – Come on, CBS!

2. CRIMINAL MINDS - What’s up, CBS?

3. THE BIG BANG THEORY – Where’s the video, CBS?

4.  SOUTHLAND - Cops shot documentary style with bleeped-out curse words.

*THE I-NEED-TO-CHECK-OUT SHOWS*

1. FRINGE

2. PARKS AND RECREATION

3. GLEE

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Then there are all those cable shows, too.  Ah, too much TV to watch!

Today’s Hodgepodge 09/14/2009

*THE 2009 VMAS*

• Kanye West has always been an attention-getter to make up for his lack in stature, muscles and probably something else.  Ahem.  He always speaks before he thinks, and I remember a time when Justin Timberlake had won an award (a Grammy, or something) and he boasted how he should have won instead because his song was better and blasé, blasé – it’s all about me, me, me, me, me.  Then yesterday, not only did he diss Taylor Swift but he embarrassed Beyoncé as well by dragging her into his mud, and ultimately stole both their winning moments.   But, Beyoncé’s classy and gracious invitation to Taylor during her own acceptance speech was so heartwarming.  Way to go, ladies!  Now everyone hates Kanye, including his colleagues.  (UPDATE: Even Obama has been quoted to say, “What a jackass.”)  Ya got what was comin’ to ya and you should learn about Karma.   He just doesn’t need to be invited to award shows anymore.   (And because of this controversy, Jay Leno might get a major boost in his ratings tonight for his new show, which might also boost his ego.  Letterman is the man!)
• The Michael Jackson Tribute was awesome and seeing Janet dancing next to her brother got me all choked up.
• Lady GaGa is too much of a character, right down to her outrageous outfits, her stage name and her over-the-top “I’m-bleeding-because-of-the-paparazzi-chasing-me-and-I’m-going-to-die-hanging-here” performance.  I started laughing like hell when she started playing the piano with one leg up on the piano keys – open wide.  But she sells a bunch of records and I don’t think she’ll go away soon.
• I don’t really care about the New Moon trailer, just like how I didn’t really care about the mediocre, overrated books either.  I only liked the Italy sequence in the New Moon book, but I thought that when they try to adapt it to the screen, it would come off really corny. Bella went all suicidal in the book and she would see flashbacks of Edward and hear his voice in her head.  This would be hard to translate on to the screen without looking pathetic.  And yup, the trailer exudes corniness.  Edward’s not looking so hot anymore, either.

*SERENA WILLIAMS*

• After her ugly tirade, she finally made a public apology during her press conference before her Doubles match.  Although it was through a smiling face, I doubt how sincere it was.  I bet she’s damn happy that Kanye’s outburst is taking the attention off of her today.

*ROGER FEDERER VS. JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO*

• *Sniffle*  Roger Federer didn’t win his 6th straight US Open title, but that’s okay because he already has 15 Grand Slam wins.  A determined Del Potro outplayed a flustered Federer today, who made a lot of errors and double faults.  I don’t know what was pressuring Federer; maybe he wanted to win a title for his newborn twins.  He was out of touch today and the better player won.  If he can beat Nadal and Federer, then Del Potro deserves to be the new champion.  A pat on the back for him and Argentinian fans.

*THIS IS IT*

• The trailer for Michael Jackson’s This Is It movie looks amazing and it got me all choked up again.  It looks like it would have been one of his best concerts ever, if not, the best.  RIP.  See the trailer here if the video below is no longer available.

*PATRICK SWAYZE PASSED AWAY*

• “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.” Who’s ever going to forget that line by Johnny Castle in the cult classic Dirty Dancing?  Patrick Swayze’s other most memorable role was Sam Wheat in Ghost, which featured the iconic romantic scene of wet clay and sex to the song Unchained Melody.  Rest easy, Patrick. I’d like to mention a few of his other roles that people may have forgotten about.
• Darrel “Darry” Curtis, Ponyboy’s brother, in The Outsiders
• Bouncer Dalton in Roadhouse
• Surfer dude bank-robbing Bodhi in Point Break
• Sweet and sensible transvestite Vida in To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (I forgot about that movie!)
• He was also good in City of Joy.  His character’s name was Max Lowe

Champions Have Class, and Serena Lost Because of Her Threats, Not the Foot Fault 09/13/2009

Winners have the will to keep cool and refocus their minds in bad situations in order to come back and improve their game with their unquestionable talents.  Champions have class, and especially if you are a woman, you would want to act ladylike and not let the anger monster in you get too wild, especially when millions of people are watching.

Because Serena Williams acted a fool yesterday, she lost a point for making threats to a linesperson and lost the match.  It’s okay to get mad but you can’t threaten people!  She already showed her frustrations after the first set when she broke her racquet, and was near to losing the match in the second set – Clijsters just outplayed her.  Serena brought it on to herself and got what was coming to her so there’s no one to blame but herself.  Not only did she embarrass herself, but her family, also, who sure as hell didn’t teach her to act that way, especially when she’s been so successful at her game.  And don’t try to make it into a racial thing, like some people are, because that has nothing to do with it.

Then some people want to blame the linesperson for the controversial call, but because there is no video footage of the side angle, we don’t really know if it was accurate or not.  Despite that, rules are rules, and in tennis – as well as baseball – you can’t challenge certain calls.  You may be able to mouth off a few harsh words (a la John McEnroe, who has lost a game for an outburst, as well), but when you start making threats, you are penalized or ejected from that game, like in many other sports.  Michelle Wie once lost a golf game because she forgot to sign her card at the end of the game.  Rules are rules, people, and why should there be any exceptions?  Another thing about the linesperson, she wasn’t a tattle-tale; she was summoned by the chair umpire to report what was said to her – that’s part of her job.

Maybe I should explain what happened now if you missed yesterday’s fiasco.  Serena Williams was already frustrated with herself after losing the first set to Kim Clijsters, who was calm, cool and happened to be playing better than Serena that day.   So Serena bounced her racquet on the ground then slammed it into the pavement and “broke” it – actually it was severely dented.  That’s a code violation and many others have been cited for that.  Then in the second set when a potential win for Clijsters was apparent, a serving Serena was trailing at 15-30 and a foot fault was called, resulting in 15-40, and match point for Clijsters.  Serena started to walk toward the linesperson with an accusing finger and a ball in her hand and said, “I swear to God, I would take this f*ucking ball and shove it down your f*cking throat.” She has also been quoted to say, “You better be f*ucking right.  You don’t f*ucking know me.”  Dang, was she implying that the linesperson would be jumped or something?  Okay, she had her words and it was time to just collect herself, drop the attitude, get back into the game, and ace a point.  She went to the base line and started bouncing the ball to ready herself for the serve.  Then Serena turned back to the linesperson a second time, pointed her racket at her and mouthed off more words. The tournament referees were already on their way onto the court, and took into consideration the previous code violation with this new violation for her threats, and Clijsters was given match point.  Game over.  If she said less harsh words like, “Are you f*cking serious?  Are you blind or something?” instead of making threats, then maybe they would have kept on playing.

Serena didn’t lose because of the foot fault because it was still 15-40 after that call.  All she had to do was keep aceing her serves to save her game.  But because she lost her cool, showed no class, got all ghetto and made threats to the linesperson instead of concentrating on much needed points, she got another code violation – her second one of the match – and Clijster was awarded match point in a game that she was already winning. Serena has no one to blame but herself.  What a poor sport.   Then at the press conference, she tried to play it off and act like she couldn’t remember what she said to the linesperson.  Yeah, right!  It was obvious she was caught on video and a bunch of witnesses were within earshot.  If she doesn’t offer an apology to the linesperson, to the game, to her fans, or to the little girls who look up to her, then I can’t see how a champion can act this way.

Mary Carillo, an well-known tennis commentator, said that Serena deserved an Oscar for her press conference.

UPDATE:  I just heard during the Federer v. Djokovic game (woo hoo Federer!) that Serena will be fined $10,000 for her threats and an extra $500 for the broken racquet.  That’s small potatoes for her.  She should have dinner with John McEnroe because he’s so nice now.

Pittsburgh Steelers Put a Win on the Board 09/11/2009

Woo Hoo!  Football season is back and my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are now 1-0, but it was a little frustrating last night.  I’m the type that yells at the TV whenever I watch football and it was pretty noisy yesterday.

I am so freaking bummed that my favorite athlete, Troy Polamalu, got injured in the very first game of the season and had to leave just before halftime.  Boo hoo.  It turns out he sprained his left knee – well, that dude landed on it – and Coach Tomlin said it could be three to six weeks before he returns.  Nooooo!  Their defense isn’t so exciting without him, even though they still can stop people.  But what was up with that face mask penalty, Troy?  You know you don’t play dirty.  That pass interference call was total BS, too.

Now, I love Troy Polamalu because he is fierce on the field and plays with all his heart.  He’s not cocky or showy (that’s why Roger Federer is my #2 favorite athlete),  he doesn’t do little dances nor will he ever legally change his last name to Cuatrotres (a la Chad Johnson).  He’s humble but he can take you down in a heartbeat!  His five Pro Bowl games and two Super Bowl rings back up his talent and his trademark is his poofy, long, curly hair streaking the field.  If you see it, watch out.   But he isn’t as scary as he looks and some of his teammates has said he’s the sweetest guy off the field.  Number 43, please get well and come back soon!

When Hines Ward was about to seal the win for the team during the last several seconds, I admit, I was yelling, “Go, go, go” and wanted him to go for the touchdown because I was in the heat of the moment, just like Hines – he hardly fumbles, either.  Then crap, the ball got stripped and that’s when we all knew he should have done the textbook thing and take a knee or slide down, so that they could run the clock down to 4 or 5 seconds, and kick an easy field goal for the win.  But no; that’s when my yelling got louder.  Hines knew he made a mistake, and really started to beat himself up  because he’s usually smarter than that.  But I was like, “It’s ok, game ain’t over yet and you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Ben is going to get it down the field for you and you’ll end up winning anyway.”  And what happened?  Exactly that.  Gosh, it’s so nerve-racking when I watch football.

Keep racking up the wins, boys, and you’ll be in the Super Bowl again.

The last thing I want to discuss is the issue with Ben Roethlisberger, which I think is a fake accusation just so that girl can get attention.  Rape is not a joke; it’s a serious offense but knowing Ben as an athlete, I do not believe these allegations and that biatch is a liar!  It’s a shame that she has to smear his name, especially to those who don’t really know who Ben is.   Hopefully, the truth and justice will prevail.

Oprah Got Flash Mobbed 09/11/2009

Yesterday during Oprah’s Kickoff Party for her 24th season, the Black Eyed Peas performed a different version of I Gotta Feeling (they changed the lyric night into day) to a huge crowd on Chicago’s Miracle Mile.  After 30 seconds into the song, I thought it was the deadest crowd I’d ever seen because nary a soul was moving or dancing, except for one girl in blue in the front row – bless her little heart.  I was like, “Man, this crowd is embarrassing Oprah and the Peas.”  Then when a small group in the front started to dance in synchronicity with the girl in blue, I knew it was one of those mass dance routine thingies, which is called a flash mob.   They tricked us!  Check out the video because it’s pretty cool.

Image Credit: Kiichiri Sato/ AP Photo

American Idol: Ellen is the People’s Judge 09/11/2009

I was completely shocked when Ellen announced that she would be the new judge on American Idol.  But, I immediately smiled and cheered because I love her!  She seems like an unlikely choice for the show since they usually invite guest judges that are a part of the music industry (except for that one ridiculous time when Quentin Tarantino was invited for Movie Week).

I believe she’s a great choice because she’s a fan of the show who’s been watching since the very first season, and she always critiques it on her own show.  She can dance, she listens to a lot of R&B, Rap and Hip-Hop music, and she definitely knows what she likes and doesn’t like when she hears a song, just like us – the viewers at home. Ellen represents us, and will be the people’s, or consumer’s, judge who will offer her opinion among the panel of “elites” – Simon, Randy and Kara.

“But wait”, you say, “she can’t sing!”  Can Simon sing?  No!  But Simon has an ear for music and an eye for talent, just like we, the viewer.   He always offers his honest opinions – which is why I appreciate his criticisms – and I feel Ellen will offer honesty but in a non-condescending way.  Then there’s – I mean, was - Paula Abdul, whom I also love  and I remember the days when I’d sing along to Forever Your Girl, but is Paula a great singer like Whitney Houston?  No!  But no one complained about her being a judge for a singing show.  Then there’s Randy, who played bass for Journey but whenever he tries to sing some notes, it doesn’t sound so great.  Instead, Randy uses his talents for the behind-the-scenes aspect of music, just like Kara Dioguardi, who has an extra talent for writing songs.

So I don’t see why some people are talking smack about Ellen.  She offers something different and AI needs something new and fresh to boost their ratings.  I can’t even remember the name of the guy who won last season.  I remember Adam, but not the “winner.”  Anyway, Ellen will be working on her talk show on days, and on AI at nights, and if someone has that kind of commitment and work ethic, then how can you slam her?  Give her a chance Ellen-haters.  She will actually boost ratings and I’m looking forward to watching a new season of AI more than ever before.

So just because you’re not a musician or part of the music industry doesn’t mean you don’t know anything about music.  And thank God the new permanent judge isn’t Posh Spice!  If Paula wasn’t such a great singer, Victoria Beckham sure ain’t, and I wouldn’t have wanted another British judge on American Idol, nor someone with a “plastic” image who has said that she’d never wear flat shoes.  What?!

Way to go for choosing Ellen Degeneres as the new judge for American Idol.  Get ready for more laughs!

EXTRA:  There’s one thing I’d like to see change on the show.  I wish they’d have one season where only the four judges get to decide who gets voted off each week instead of “America’s” votes, and ultimately pick the winner.  Sometimes, the show turns into a popularity contest and tweens just call in for the cutest guy.  Chris Daughtry, Melinda Doolitle, Jennifer Hudson and Michael Johns all got robbed in some way, but both Chris and Jennifer have found better fame.  I’m still looking out for Melinda and Michael, though.

9/11 09/11/2009

It’s September 11, 2009 – the eighth anniversary of that tragic day.  I just wanted to post a quick tribute for the family and friends of the victims in New York, the Pentagon, and the field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  I also thank the awesome New York Fire Department for their courage and the many volunteers of the aftermath.

I’m ashamed to say that I almost forgot about the 9/11 anniversary until yesterday.  For the family members, everyday is 9/11 and I can’t imagine what they have to deal with.  I wish you the best.

Image Credit: Jeff Christensen/Reuters

America’s Next Top Model: Go Shortie! 09/09/2009

This season of America’s Next Top Model is the most distinct because all the “petite” girls out there that are under 5′ 7″ are being allowed to rock the runway.  The average height of women is actually 5′ 4″ and petites would be shorter than that, but in the modeling world, if you’re  5′ 7″ or under, then you’re considered short.  But don’t say that to Kate Moss or Josie Maran because they are both vertically-challenged models who are excepted in the industry.

Cycle 13 of ANTM features fourteen girls and the show is back in L.A., baby.   Their house is decorated like a candied doll house complete with a swimming pool and V-shaped runway.

A new judge has arrived to take the place of Paulina Porizkova, who I never cared for anyway because of her slight meanness and unconstructive criticism.  Chanel Iman seems to be more like the Paula Abdul of ANTM – nice and sweet…so far.

Because of their certain looks, my favorite three girls are Lisa, the wild card who took the place of the weirdo girl who dropped out for some unknown reason, Courtney the “crutched” Floridian who persevered despite her broken foot, and Sundai, the last one picked who cried for joy.   However, they didn’t do so hot in their photo shoots except for Courtney, who came out with a beautiful and artsy photo.  Lisa (pictured right) kind of looks like a cross between Michelle Rodriguez and Vanessa Hudgens. What do you think?

Courtney and Sundai

So who went home?  Lisa, the girl who got a second chance but didn’t take full advantage of that opportunity.  Courtney’s got confidence and Sundai needs a little more.  I’ll be rooting for them but someone else might shine in the next episode.  I haven’t gotten a feel about all their personalities yet, so we’ll just have to see.

Go shawty!  It’s your birthday!  Go shawty!  It’s your birthday!

Top 10 Favorite TV Shows 09/09/2009

1. 24:  Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is a slight man, but he can scare any terrorist or miscreant and take them down in seconds.  He’s like Rambo, MacGuyver and Sam Fisher (Splinter Cell) wrapped up into one person.

This show depicts the events of one day, thus the name of twenty-four hours, and it’s usually fast-paced and highly exciting.  Not only is this show filled with thrills and suspense, but it also has a lot of drama, little comedic moments – usually from Jack’s right hand “man”, Chloe – romantic moments (please come back Audrey), and of course, action and adventure.  It’s one of those riveting shows where you can’t wait for the next episode.

If you’ve never seen 24, rent the best season, Season 5, and you’ll want to go back to Season One and watch the entire series.  I promise you!

Extra Tidbit:  Did you know Kiefer’s full name is Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland? …Dang.

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2. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2004):  BSG is NOT geeky like Star Trek. Not that Star Trek is a dorky show or anything because I have nothing against it, but it’s been dubbed as a geek’s show.  There’s a misconception that all sci-fi shows are like Star Trek.  Wrong!  Battlestar Galactica is mainly a DRAMA that is set in space and it is a character-driven show.  Like 24, there’s thrills, suspense, romance, funny moments, action and adventure, but BSG has more sex (non-HBO appropriate).  Guys out there will appreciate scantily clad Number Six while women have Lee Adama – aka Apollo – to swoon for.  Plus it has its own made up cuss word: frak.

In this reimagining of the old school show, Starbuck is a woman and there’s no fuzzy creatures in this one, also.  The Cylons are not aliens – as some of you non-watchers are thinking -  but machines created by humans which evolved into human-looking forms.  Finding out who are Cylons and who aren’t add to the suspense and anticipation of the show.  The writers , by the way, relied on a wing and a prayer to churn out the storyline but it all came together – genius!  They didn’t even know who the Cylons were going to be from the first episode and down to the Final Five.

It’s just a tight-knit drama that is one of the best shows ever.  I’m still sad it ended. =(  Colonel Tigh and Baltar are my favorite characters, and of course, Starbuck as well.  In fact, the entire ensemble deserves recognition, especially Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell.

I miss you BSG!  So say we all.

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3. CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION:  Forget the over-the-top CSI: Miami and it’s neon-lighted look.  The original series set in Las Vegas is the best of the CSIs.  This is probably the best crime-solving show there is and includes another stellar cast.  However, Grissom (William Peterson) has left the show, as well as Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan – I never liked him anyway), so it’s not the same as it used to be but it’s still a solid crime show.  Laurence Fishburne has been added to the cast as Dr. Raymond Langston who’s learning the ropes of his new job and Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) took the place of Grissom’s position.  Look out for the lab techies, David Hodges and Wendy Simms, for their comic relief, but that usually comes from all characters.  (Did you see the Star Trek episode?)

If you haven’t seen an episode of CSI, rent Season 7, which is the best because of its interesting miniature killer storyline.

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4.  GREY’S ANATOMY:   I’d probably would have never watched this show if I didn’t catch a recap episode during the middle of Season 1.  This is set at Seattle Grace Hospital (oh, the rainy days) and includes yet another outstanding cast, especially Bailey, who dubbed the word vajayjay.  The former interns are now attending physicians and have their own interns.  The show is about relationships but I wouldn’t call it a “chick’s show.”  The writing is witty and poignant, but if you’re easily sickened by the sight of blood and guts, you may get a little queasy.   It won a Golden Globe in 2007 for the best dramatic television series, though the recent seasons haven’t been as good as the earlier ones.

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5. THE OFFICE:  Simply hilarious!  It’s shot documentary style without an audience and set in Scranton.  If you don’t find Dwight Schrute’s antics funny then you need to lighten up.  I seriously think Steve Carrell, who plays the very inappropriate but fun-loving Michael Scott, deserves an Emmy for this role but Alec Baldwin keeps beating him.  =/  He’s nominated again this year, though.  Good luck, Steve!

Extra Tidbit:  You might recognize the warehouse guy, Darryl,  in many comedic movies, like Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Pineapple Express.

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6.  DEXTER:  This is my new found favorite show because of its great cast and writing.  Dexter Morgan is a serial killer who kills serial killers, and happens to be a cop.  He’s as lovable as Hannibal Lecter but only kills people who he thinks deserves to die, and takes his victims to what he calls his “cutting courtroom.”  Flashbacks to his childhood and adolescence offer more insight into his character, which reminds me of Lost flashbacks.  Whenever I saw posters for this show, I always thought of American Psycho, a movie which I never liked, but Dexter is far from psychotic and don’t let the posters fool you.   He’s a killer that the audience will root for and the show is filled with lots of humor.

Set in Miami, the soundtrack is all Cuban, which gives a different flair to this show and I love it!  The characters are also awesome. There’s Debra Morgan, Dexter’s sister who is also a cop and has a tendency of falling into bad relationships; Angel Batista, the cool cat cop who is having problems with his wife; James Doakes, the intense cop who thinks Dexter is a freakazoid (he reminds me of Carl Weathers for some reason); Lieutenant Laguerta, the Latina spitfire who’s headstrong and loves brightly-colored blazers and layers of necklaces; Vince Masuka, the sexually-inappropriate joker cop; Rita, Dexter’s mousey but sweet girlfriend that keeps him grounded; and other characters that come along throughout the seasons.  (By the way, it took me forever to place Rita’s face.  She was the receptionist at Melvin Udall’s – Jack Nicholson – editor’s office in As Good as It Gets.  She asked Udall, “How do you write women so well?”  He replied, “I think of a man, and I take away all reason and accountability.”)

Instead of solving one case for each episode, it deals with one case for the whole season.  And since Dexter is aired on Showtime, there is a lot of cussing, but to me, whenever any foul language is used on Dexter, it doesn’t seem like it’s being put in just because foul language is allowed, like with some other shows.  I don’t notice them cussing and it just seems like natural conversation, given the circumstances of things.  So I don’t find it offensive but some people may.  The show also has sex and nudity so it is not appropriate for children.  But if you like CSI, chances are that you’ll love Dexter.

Extra Tidbit:  Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) found love on the show and are married to each other.  It’s weird that they have to play brother/sister on the show, huh?

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7.  LOST:  It’s way more than a survivor show but you must watch Lost from the very first episode in order to understand everything.  It’s not something you can just start watching at some random time, and that’s the only con about this fabulous show.  Again, great writing filled with suspense, mystery and surprises, not to mention interesting characters with layered backgrounds makes this another favorite show of mine.  Season Three was the worst but don’t let that discourage you into continuing on with the series.

Terry O’Quinn as John Locke is amazing with a capital A!  He’s my absolute favorite character in this mysterious saga.  Oh the questions you’ll have, and just when you think you’ve got them answered, there’s a slew of new questions.  The final season is airing early next year and I just can’t wait!  Read more about Lost, here.

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8.  LIFE ON MARS:  The best cancelled show ever!  Maybe it was a victim of a bad time slot because I don’t know how ABC could cancel this very different and funny show.  It’s a cop show with no cell phones, Internet or DNA evidence – just old school grit and smarts, not to mention bell bottoms and Peter Pan collars.  Harvey Kietel is the LT and Jason Omara, whom I developed a crush for, plays Sam Tyler, a cop in the modern day who mysteriously wakes up in 1973.   Wanna know why and how it ended?  The complete series, only one season, is being released on September 29.  Everyone was robbed of another season of Life on Mars!

Extra Tidbit: How can you not laugh at Michael Imperioli’s costume?  I still remember him as Spider in Goodfellas.  LoL!

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9.  THE BIG BANG THEORY:  This is one of the two sitcoms on my list and it’s just as hilarious as The Office.  A group of four geeky friends live in L.A. and their discussions will make you laugh and howl.  Sheldon, Jim Parson’s character, is the star of the show and Leonard (Johnny Galecki, Darlene’s boyfriend in Roseanne) is his roommate.  Two of their friends, Howard, who still lives with his mother, and Rajesh, the shy but sweet Indian guy, visit the roommates each episode to add to the laughs.  Penny is Leonard’s neighbor, who works at The Cheesecake Factory and Leonard wants to get with her.  (If you’ve seen the show, they do not wear uniforms like that at The Cheesecake Factory!)

The opening credits is the most interesting of any show and flashes images throughout history.  I recorded it once and hit pause over and over again just to see each image.

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10.  KINGS: Another cancelled show that succumbed to bad ratings this summer.  Ian McShane, who plays King Silas, was made for this role.  Kings is set in a modern world but has a medieval feel with its language and architecture.  Strictly a drama with a bit of comedy from the two guards outside the gates, Kings has some tense moments and deals with relationships, especially familial.  The biblical references are very obvious with this show.  It’s too bad it was cancelled and I felt that the end was left somewhat open.  Maybe they’ll bring it back?

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Honorable Mentions

• Criminal Minds:  It was better with Lola Glaudini and Mandy Patinkin, though.  (“Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die.”  You’ll know what movie that quote is from if you’re a fan of it.)
• Monk (Seasons 1-3):  A San Francisco detective with OCD and little quirks made this show fun to watch, but that was only when Sharona, played by Bitty Schram was still on the show and the writing was much better.  (You’ll most likely remember Bitty from A League of Their Own; she was Evelyn, the “no crying in baseball” girl.)  But since then, she’s been replaced by a mousey and uninteresting character called Natalie Teeger, and it’s gone all downhill from then.  Season 4 was still enjoyable but the cases have been dumb-down.  I watched Seas0n 7 on DVD and it was horrible except for one episode, “Mr. Monk’s 100th Case,” which is one of my favorite episodes of all seasons.  “Mr. Monk and the Three Pies” is my top fave.

Simply put, I like shows that are smart, well-written, exciting and thrilling with strong characters, comedic moments and meaningful drama.  If I watch a pilot and it doesn’t grasp me, chances are that I’ll never watch it again, like True Blood.  I don’t watch Gossip Girl, 90210, ER, Prison Break or Terminator.  I also gave up on Heroes , Numb3rs and Desperate Housewives.  But if you enjoy any show on my Top 10 list, you may want to check out the others.  Also, check the sidebar for links to all these shows and other shows that I watch.

COMING SOON:  ShowzNBookz Top 10 TV Shows of Yore (80s & 90s)