Alec Baldwin hits the nail on the head

"Bible Spice" - priceless.

Another moment for a political pause

My sister pointed this out to me from the Fivethirtyeight.com site: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/10/on-road-raleigh-north-carolina.html I love the pictures of Sonja Sohn, Seth Gilliam and Gbenga Akinnagbe of The Wire but the last portion of the text is really, really powerful. Read it all the way through but please make it to the piece beneath the second slideshow.

Eli Stone - Fantasyland Attorney at Law

I am still really enjoying Eli Stone and I think Jonny Lee Miller and company are doing a great job but there is a reason why I never watch law shows. It's a given that the speed at which they progress each case to trial every week is absolutely ludicrous but last night's episode pushed the bounds of legal reality so far afield the episode may have well been taking place through the looking glass. Please, please, please don't ever casually toss around the Supreme Court again and maybe I can try to suspend my disbelief. Sure, sure a junior associate would rapidly make her way to defend a case there just a few months after the case began - why not also show the characters successfully getting a U.S. president to legalize gay marriage while you're at it - fantasy land is such a nice place!

Also, no law firm would ever, ever, ever, ever put their property in an individual lawyer's name. Oy, oy.

As I said, I Looooove Gavin and Stacey!

There were some moments in last night's episode that were absolutely pitch-perfect, wonderful. These mainly involved Nessa and Bryn who are just the best characters on TV right now. I desperately searched the internet for footage of the two of them, sitting in Nessa's arcade token booth, staring into space, practicing a lovely a cappella duet of "Something Stupid" but I couldn't find it anywhere (please, please share if you have it). That moment made me so happy that I'm still grinning today thinking about it. Also, Nessa's conversation with Bryn, Gwen and neighbor Doris about her stock portfolio and whether to wait for Tokyo to open was one of the funniest things I've seen on that show.

I don't know if the episode will air again during the week or if it can be find on BBC America on Demand but it should at least be on iTunes. Even if you've never seen the show, I guarantee this episode will make you smile.

More Eddie Izzard - In Cleveland with Special Guest!

Believe me, if I could somehow get to Cleveland on Sunday I would love to see this: http://www.playhousesquare.org/Events/Events.aspx?EventID=1709 Izzard and Kucinich - a duo whose time has come.

An Eddie Izzard Birthday Shout-Out

Bon Anniversaire a mon cousin Jared! Le singe est sur la branche.

Heroes Free and Loving It!

Hi my name is Heather and I was a Heroes addict but I am glad to report that I am two weeks sober!

I gave up on Heroes when my DVR couldn't tape Prison Break, Samantha Who and Heroes at the same time. However, I've been glancing at the recaps on ew.com and I think I really made the right choice. Today's recap pointed out that the show is becoming a soap opera but I just felt that the whole thing was going in circles with no real story or point. Tim Kring should call the Cuse/Lindehof duo and ask them for advice about plotting - whereas Lost clearly has some larger, intricate picture in mind and a real conclusion to get to (a satisfying one I hope!), Heroes simply has no idea where it is going. They bounce the characters around like doll house figures - let's make him do this and then maybe we can make him do that - leaving the characters without clear personality or motivation. Season 1 certainly had some promise but it is all gone now. Contrary to this week's Entertainment Weekly cover, I'm not sure the show can be saved.

Samantha Who Tony Hale v. Chuck Tony Hale

In the head to head Monday night battle between Tony Hale guest star roles, I would have to pick the Samantha Who Tony Hale. He was just so adorable and sad as the doctor with a crush! Chuck Tony Hale will be around longer it seems but he's just too mean.

As for the shows themselves, while it was nice to see some of the missing backstory on Samantha Who, I wish we could have gotten the backstory without the lame plot device. The magic remembering pills made her remember (and brought us into the loop) but then they all disappeared and she is conveniently left once again as a blank slate - pretty ridiculous. Will that engagement ring now have to make a repeat appearance though?

As for Chuck, the whole 80s nerd saving the world by playing video games was a bit blah - WarGames did that much better. I much prefer Chuck when he is doing some undercover work - let's hope that resumes in a couple weeks.

Just Chilling in the Dugout at Yankee Stadium

Yep, that's me. And dad. Sitting in the home dugout at Yankee Stadium. Maybe we'll make a call to the bullpen. Why not? Or maybe we'll just take a little stroll back into the clubhouse. Sounds good. It's all possible on the good 'ol Yankee Stadium tour which will purportedly be offered through the end of the year. The tickets are put up sporadically on Ticketmaster and sell really fast but you can get some through StubHub. Yes, Aaron Deutsch (whoever you are) charged me $70 for a $20 ticket but I don't really mind. Why? Because that's me. Sitting. In. The. Dugout. Awesome...

Happy Go Lucky is Indeed a Happy Time

I really enjoyed the new Mike Leigh film Happy Go Lucky. The film doesn't have much in the way of plot but it follows a very upbeat 30 year old primary school teacher named Poppy who refuses to let herself get down. I have to say that I identified with Poppy in a number of ways and I found Sally Hawkins' portrait of her very real and inspiring. Although there are some more troubling sequences in the film (I'm not sure how she ended up in an abandoned lot at night - very strange), all in all, I definitely left the movie theater feeling uplifted. If you're looking for a film that will cheer you up a bit, I highly recommend it. You can get a really good taste of the film by watching this clip from imdb (where Poppy goes with her co-worker Heather to a flamenco class):

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2977497113/

Yes there is a character named Heather and my friend Zoe was also excited that Poppy's roommate was also named Zoe - it's the little things that entertain.

I have to point out that there was one particular scene where Poppy's pregnant, settled younger sister insists that Poppy must want the same things. The way Poppy politely tells her she is happy with her life as is made me smile - I'll have to remember that speech next time someone tries to tell me how I should want to live.

Theater Ideas that Make Me Cringe

From the subject line of an e-mail I received today: CATS is Back by Popular Demand

At NJPAC at least. Oy.

Pop Culture v. High Art Oscars

So it's getting to be that time of year again and the New York Times is already asking whether this is the year of the pop culture Oscars. http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/movies/28stud.html?8dpc My sister and I, who attend the movies every week and are thus well acquainted with what has come out and what will be coming out, were actually hard pressed to name the true Oscar bait on the horizon - other than Milk and Revolutionary Road I haven't seen too many previews for true "Oscar films." With Angelina Jolie getting somewhat blasted for Changeling, I would say that it's shaping up to be a weak fall for the Oscar bait film.

But what does that really mean? I hated the Dark Knight but recognized that Heath Ledger did a heck of a job - is it time for the comic book movie nomination? There may also be a push for Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder - he is certainly a great actor who had a fabulous year and why not nominate a truly inspired comedic performance?

Here's the issue I have: while I applaud all efforts to leave out actors who were trying to give "Oscar" performances filled with heavy amounts of tears and rage (ahem Ms. Jolie) should the big commercial movies reap the benefit or should it be even more of a chance for the smaller, wonderful films to shine? I personally would favor inclusion of both Downey Jr. and Bill Irwin from Rachel Getting Married in a supporting actor race - really spread the honors around amongst all kinds of films. I would also favor included the beauty that is Wall-E (as suggested by the Times) since that has to be one of the best executed films I saw all year.

I would say that all in all I've been underwhelmed by the films I've seen this year. Some of the summer blockbusters were entertaining but I wouldn't say I saw much that was truly great. Right now, Wall-E and Rachel Getting Married would actually be my top contenders for movie of the year although it is a long way movie-wise until December 31st and here's hoping that some film comes out of nowhere to sweep us all off our feet!

Mad Men Goes Out with the Threat of a Bang

I have to say that while I enjoyed the episode overall, there was something a little stagy and artificial about having everyone unburden themselves under the threat of nuclear annihilation. I guess we are supposed to believe that after taking a dip in the Pacific, Don really does want his wife back but the episode made it seem as if the world crisis was urging him along a bit - I want to be in the bosom of my family when the bomb hits kind of thing (although as he pointed out, the public couldn't really know what was going on). The same kind of motivation was working its mojo on Pete who confessed to Peggy that it was her that he really loved. That seems a bit out of left field to me considering that Pete seemed to be well over Peggy all season but it was a nice plot way to allow Peggy to confess the truth about the baby. That was a great scene for Elisabeth Moss - her intro was perfect ("I could have had you if I wanted you") and the way she tried to explain her reasons for doing what she did worked really well. Pete's reaction was also perfect - it'll be interesting to see how these two get along in Season 3.

I again have to point out that January Jones irks me no end. Her character just seems so cruel and naive that I can't feel any sympathy for her at all. Cheating with a mystery man (am I crazy or was that Chuck's Captain Awesome?) was entertaining but it just makes me like her less and less. I really believe that a more capable actress would have been able to humanize Betty more and make you feel sorry for her as the wrong spouse. As it is, I feel the urge to call social services every time she even looks at her children. We'll see how the pregnancy changes her but let's hope she finds a reason to perk up soon. All dour is no fun.

As for my other favorite part of the episode, it offends my sense of duty but I do love that Don with his three week absence still managed to get the $500,000, the girl and the best of Duck Phillips in the end. The way Duck spoke to Pete was just so smarmy that I nearly cheered when Don casually said "I have no contract." Go creative!

Finally, I have to point out Pete's most excellent point that if he has to die, he'd rather die in Manhattan. Pete, I couldn't agree more.

When does Season 3 start?

Election Fun!

This is a hilarious custom video you can send to a friend - sponsored by Moveon.org, accessed on www.cnnbc.com. Please send it to anyone who needs a little push in going to vote:

Chance to See 30 Rock a Whole Week Early!

So the new episode of 30 Rock, set to air on October 30th, is already up on Hulu. You can find it here http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi459931673/.

Personally, I think that I concentrate better when I am watching something actually on TV as opposed to on the internet. I do use the internet as a back-up when my DVR forgets to tape something (still mad about Chuck) but I don't think I want to ruin the experience of watching the premiere of 30 Rock by giving in to the on-line temptation. Anyone feel differently? If so, please don't spoil it and we can discuss next week.

A Birthday Shout-out with a Matthew Broderick Twist

A very happy birthday to my friend Lauren! We had dinner last night to celebrate and found ourselves seated within arm's reach (not that we actually did reach) of Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker. I noticed them right away and since they were within both visual and audible distance, I had to slip Lauren a note to make sure she saw them too! They're quite cute together - at one point he got up and pulled out her chair when she returned to the table.

In honor of Lauren (who finds Matthew Broderick cute) and to reminisce about my favorite Broderick film, please enjoy the trailer for 1990's The Freshman (from www.videodetective.com). If you haven't seen it (you know what's coming) rent it now!

visit videodetective.com for more info

Dirty Sexy Money become Boring Pointless Money

I had a very hard time struggling to stay awake during last night's episode of Dirty Sexy Money. They just keep plugging the same plots around and around and around and it's very tiresome that everything just goes nowhere (Brian's upset about his kid, Patrick's upset about Carmelita, Karen's upset about Nick, blah, blah, blah). At some point Dan Rather was on screen which just confused me and another actor was attempting to butcher the French language but that's about all I got from last night's episode. I think I'm even past the point where I care what Simon Elder is really up to with Karen - he can't just take a mysterious phone call every single week with no explanation without the whole story becoming a big old yawn. Even Jeremy and the prosecutor is getting boring - multiple weeks of no we can't do this so let's stay in - whatever. If the writers don't come up with some new ideas soon I may just give up on the whole big mess.

At least Kiki made an appearance - I was starting to worry the Darlings were holding her hostage in a gift wrapping room at the mansion or something.

Counting the Days Until Lost

Oh god, I can't wait:

More Wonderful Actors on Bad TV: Fringe Edition

About the only thing I enjoyed in last night's episode of Fringe was the guest star turn of Chris Eigeman (a Noah Baumbach and Whit Stillman regular). Granted, he got just a couple short speeches as the evil scientist of the week but the rest of the episode was pretty weak. Are they just going to have a different evil scientist perform a different type of horrible experiement on a different unsuspecting human every week? It's getting gross and boring.

I don't know why so many great actors have to accept roles in these weird TV shows (oh Wire stars on Heroes just kills me) but I will just watch them on screen and imagine them in better times. Such as Max in Kicking and Screaming (I love the snarkiness):

Chinese Democracy: A sign the apocalypse is at hand

As if the economic markets weren't enough of a sign, Chinese Democracy is actually being released which must mean the world is coming to an end!

Now GnR was popular when I was in high school and I still have some of their songs on my iPod. But the new song just sounds like a big mess to me. It certainly doesn't stir any pangs of nostalgia. You can listen to it here http://www.q1043.com/pages/news/gunsnroses/. Anyone feel differently?

Why oh why Palin do you hate New York?

A political timeout - sorry, but it's only two weeks until election day.

I'm completely with Jon Stewart on this. You can't wrap yourselves in the flag and patriotism rising from our pain and then imply that we're not a real part of this country. If New Yorkers are not real Americans then don't you ever take the 9-11 name in vain again.

Here's last night's Daily Show dedicated to this issue (minus the Eugene Jarecki interview which was certainly interesting but unrelated):

Go Rays! Worst to First!

I am a diehard Yankees fan so any team beating the Red Sox makes me smile but I am also a sucker for an underdog story. So even though I did live in Philly for three years, I have to say I'm excited to see if the Rays can pull it off in the World Series. If they do, who do you think will star in the movie?

Why oh why Skins do you hate New York?

The Producers is a hilarious movie/musical. This is because while its show within a show deals with crazy offensive material (it's Springtime for Hitler!), Mel Brooks knows how to turn it all into ludicrous parody and turn it around on itself. Skins is neither written nor directed by Mel Brooks and thus, they should never, never, never, never have attempted Osama! the Musical.

I'm sorry but making fun of the New Yorker/Wall St. way of life (complete with student in bagel costume) and then setting a love song to a fiery backdrop (complete with the lyrics "then came the day Osama blew us away") is just not funny. Yes, the musical is supposed to be the product of a misguided "American" drama teacher (with a British accent) but it's not presented as enough of a joke to bring us in on the joke. And combining the musical with a crazy stalker, All About Eve-esque plot only helps suck all the humor out of it. If we're supposed to be taking the stalker drama seriously, the Osama musical is just going to fall dead on the screen.

I am going to keep watching the show because (a) there aren't that many more episodes and (b) Sid is next week's focus and he's my favorite character but please, no more offending New Yorkers.

Mad Men become Unconcerned Men

Um, I generally enjoyed this week's episode of Mad Men but I find it utterly out of character and incomprehensible that NO ONE would give a flying fig about Don and his whereabouts. I understand that Pete seems to think it's within his lying nature that he disappeared but how could Roger simply shrug his shoulders and say gosh gee he must be at the beach working out his marital troubles?!? Given all we've seen happen between Roger and Don, you think the man might be a tad concerned? Also, given what we know of Bert Cooper, it seems radically out of character for him to not be even a tad miffed that Don is in deriliction of his duties. Was Pete able to capture any new aerospace business on his own? If yes, shouldn't someone ask how Don was able/not able to assist with that and if no, shouldn't Pete be running around blaming Don to the high heavens? Even loyal, loyal Peggy can only bring herself to ask mildly curious questions about his whereabouts and hold on to the blind faith hope that he will return. Personally, I'm a real stickler for duty and responsibility and I just can't believe that Don could just run out on his life with no consequences - indeed, he's going to make $500,000 (in 1962) by being absent! I'm sorry, but while I enjoy each of the plot lines in a vacuum, the complete disinterest in Don is just ridiculous.

Mad Men question of the week: Is Betty pregnant and spotting? Anyone got an idea? Sure all will seemingly be revealed next week but inquiring minds want to know.

Guy Ritchie wants to be a Rocknrolla

And I'm sure with his nice divorce settlement he will have the chance! In the meantime, his film Rocknrolla is a real good time. Yes the plot is outlandish (who knew American crayfish were so nasty!) but the actors all look like they are having a good time and the movie cruises along at a party pace. There are many funny sequences and when I told my sister as the credits started to roll that my personal highlight was watching Gerald Butler dance (in a way in which I can't reveal without spoiling the fun), the credits obligingly moved to the side and gave me some more dance footage - yay! Gerald Butler and his friends (hello Idris Elba/Stringer Bell!) are certainly the best part of the film but watching Tom Wilkinson bark at everyone has its charms as well.

I will say that Ritchie is still way off his pace - Lock, Stocking and Two Smoking Barrels was an absolute blast, Snatch couldn't quite hold up to that and Rocknrolla doesn't quite hold up to Snatch (who had an incomprehensible Brad Pitt to steal the show) but if you're just looking for a party, Rocknrolla could be your film.

W. A Movie About [Yawn] George [zzzzzz]

Did anyone else take a nice nap on Friday night? I could foresee that W. would entertain me or annoy me or make me angry but I did not guess that it would lull me into such a sleepy state. Now I did manage to keep from flat out falling asleep but I did keep having to check my watch to make sure that the movie would end before I passed out.

I think the movie felt boring because it was just a series of disjointed vignettes, most of which we've all heard before, and they collectively said nothing new about W. himself. Stone's only point seems to be that he has daddy issues which you can't seriously take as the sole explanation for why the world is now so f*&cked up. I think that Stone raced to throw this movie together and didn't really have time to focus on what would make a powerful message. In my opinion, the movie either should have told W.'s back story leading up to his election as president and then it could end because (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) you know how it all turns out. Or the movie could have focused on his presidency but with an eye towards some critical commentary and less of an SNL eye for shenanigans. Stone, the master of the conspiracy theory expose could have had a field day analyzing all the things that might have been happening behind closed doors at the White House. However, in the interest of hanging his hat on accuracy, he incorporates bits and pieces of accurate information and mushes them together to form a few long Iraq discussions. W.'s frat boy attitude toward invading Iraq is one thing but I would have preferred to see Stone guess how he might have emotionally reacted to 9/11 and Katrina.

As for the performances, everyone does a fine job but they are all doing Fey/Palin-esque impersonations with little depth. The only ones who hint at a deeper character are James Cromwell's Bush Sr. and Jeffrey Wright's Colin Powell. Although high marks have to be awarded to Thandie Newton for her Condoleeza Rice impersonation - at the screening I attended, when she first opened her mouth the audience gasped and then fell into hysterics. Best non-Fey political impersonation of the month by far.

New York Film Festival: A Christmas Tale - Follow-up

Further to my last post about this film, IFC now has a video of the interview Lisa Schwartzbaum of EW conducted with Arnaud Desplechin and Catherine Deneuve. I don't know if this makes much sense without having seen the film but Deneuve looks fabulous!

Leanne Wins Project Runway!

So I've been championing Leanne for awhile now, ever since she made that fabulous structural black dress in the New York at Night challenge. And I certainly think she deserved to win Project Runway for having the most cohesive, original, beautiful and interesting collection - particularly for the huge collared shirt (sags and all), the vest/pant combo and the long flowing blue gown (all seen in the picture at left). Korto's collection had a lot of beautiful pieces (particularly the green dress on her official model) but I didn't think they looked as well crafted as Leanne's. And Kenley's collection had a lot of fun pieces but if it is true that she is very derivative of other designers (I am not a fashionista but I trust Michael Kors and Nina Garcia), she certainly does not deserve to win (although I did LOVE the white dress with the one line of hand-painted flowers). Thus, congratulations Leanne on a well-earned victory.

However, I still maintain that this was one weak, weak season of Project Runway overall which is particularly evident when you look at the collections of Jerell, Joe and Suede who got to put shows on the runway at Bryant Park to keep the mystery of the finale alive. Their collections are absolutely hideous (what is up with Jerell's purple sequins dress?!? Or Suede's little girl blue/pink palate with white sequins and what looked like plastic leis for a skirt?!? Joe had to steal Stella's look for pete's sake and pair a skimpy strapless leather bustier/vest with skin tight jeans? That those three made it so far in the competition speaks to how low the season sank. You can see photos of their collections at http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5/photos/gallery.php?e=final_collections and let me know if you agree.

The Daily Show makes fun of my hometown!

Well technically Hofstra is just into the next town but my high school is a five minute drive down Hempstead Turnpike. For the record, I think this is absolutely hilarious and I love to see John Oliver trying to take on that accent but someone should maybe tell him that the Sopranos was set in Stewart's home state of New Jersey:

Happy Birthday Dominic West!

According to IMBD, today is Dominic West's 39th birthday. Also according to IMDB, he has nothing on his plate right now except The Punisher sequel and a turn as Oliver Cromwell on a British television miniseries (set to air in the U.K. in November). [sigh]

Here's a birthday toast to West who will always be McNulty to me! May you be gifted with many more scenes in the future as genius as this one (the very first scene of The Wire):

ETHEL'S Truck Stop: The Beginning

When my friend Patrick invited to join him at BAM last night for a performance by the string quartet ETHEL, I certainly was not expecting what I saw, namely, a live recording session featuring a string quartet, banjo, hawaiian guitar, tejano accordion and native american flutes and percussions. The stage was set up with 60s-colored sound panels, a variety of furniture and, in the back, an actual recording booth featuring a recording engineer who recorded each song in the 90 minute performance (according to the program the set was inspired by Olympic Studios in London circa 1968). In between each piece, the performers casually discussed on stage what they liked, what they would play next as well as other random and idle conversation almost as if the audience wasn't there (there was some direct communication to the audience but most of it was amongst themselves). It certainly created a sense of intimacy in the Harvey Theater although it was a little strange to have a voyeuristic view of how they work together and record.

The music itself was very eclectic as one might imagine. According to the program, TruckStop (with a TM - yay trademarks!) is "a collaborative musical exploration of humanity's universal connections and relations." I'm not sure exactly what that means but I now see that Hawaiian guitar, Tejano accordian and Native American flute can all work together. One of the best pieces of the evening was when the string quartet sat out and the four other musicians formed a square facing each other and enjoyed a very spirited jam. Eva Ybarra, "the undisputed queen of the Tex-Mex Conjunto accordion" also had an amazing voice - in one solo, she sang in Spanish in a very sad but powerful fado-esque style (she told one of the violinists it was a song about an ex). Robert Mirabal, the Native American floutist/percussionist, joined in the singing and also displayed a very powerful voice. He was certainly the most lively of the bunch, never sitting still, even dancing on stage with audience members when he was not playing (when told that he shouldn't start playing before the red recording light went on, he declared that he "doesn't play for no red light.")

While the bluegrassy pieces certainly had the most energy, one of the best moments was a beautiful Hawaiian song played alone by Jeff Peterson on Hawaiian guitar - I don't think they recorded that but they should have! Other pieces did not quite work - at some point the quartet engaged in an atonal piece while Mirabal shouted out famous film lines and the guitarist and banjo player played random, well-known intros to songs (from Louie, Louie to Dueling Banjos to Stairway to Heaven) - I have no idea what that was about. However, when the group all worked together and picked up the rhythm the music was really infectious and certainly made for a most interesting and different evening.

Learn more about this project here:

My Own Worst Enemy - Prophetic Title?

I'm not sure what to make of My Own Worst Enemy. I did enjoy certain things about it, particularly each half of Christian Slater's personality learning to communicate and work with the other (or work against the other as the case may be - apparently driving someone else's car is not the same as driving someone else's wife). However, the action sequences were somewhat boring and I wasn't too intrigued by any of the other characters. I also wish that the show were funnier - the few funny moments were really good and the more serious, action-packed moments just brought the show down. It seemed to me that the writers were having trouble deciding which tone to take so they just waffled along the line. If the show stays on the lighter, funny side I think I will keep watching but if it becomes a serious action show, they may lose me. What did you think?

I Love Gavin & Stacey!

Is anyone else watching this show on BBC America? I am absolutely hoooked. In a break during last night's Season 2 premiere, BBC America showed an interview with the creators of the show (who also hilariously feature in the show) and one of them, Ruth Jones, talked about how her favorite thing about the show is that everyone really has affection for each other and they all get along. I have to agree - even though plenty of wacky things happen and there is lots of comedy all around, the show is absolutely charming because everyone on the screen is having such a good time and the joy is infectious. If you haven't been watching, I highly recommend you try and catch up on demand if possible - it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Now I can't wait to see how Smithy reacts to Nessa's news! Tune in next week!

No Worries, I saw Chuck

I watched Chuck on-line before I had to leave for work this morning. Thank god for TV shows on the web. Still not the same as watching it on the big TV though - damn DVR.

BTW, I continue to think that Chuck is absolutely adorable although his Buy More companions are a lot less charming. What exactly was Michael Strahan doing there?

Heroes Disappointment of the Day

Watching Andre Royo, or Bubs as I will always think of him, outact the cast, script and general plot of Heroes last night made me so sad. Seeing him and Jamie Hector (oh Marlo) trapped on this crumbling show makes me want to disappear into a vortex too! God I miss The Wire.

ARRGGHHH!

So I compulsively check my DVR before I go out every morning to make sure that it is set to tape all that I want it to tape that evening (since, if you haven't guessed by now, I rarely come home before the shows start). This morning my DVR assured me that it would start taping tonight with the 8pm new episode of Chuck so when I just came home at 9pm, I settled in on the couch and got ready to watch how Chuck would deal with the return of Bryce. Except somehow, my DVR decided at the last minute not to tape the show after all!!! The on-screen TV guide assures me that Chuck was on and it was indeed new but why oh why would my DVR drop it?!? At the very least, my DVR could have been nice enough to drop Heroes for me - I was going to quit watching Heroes but now with no Chuck on the DVR I'll have to fill the time. Bezu Fache!!!

Things that Make Me Close My Eyes

When I was a toddler, I was absolutely engrossed and obsessed with Sesame Street. I couldn't get enough and even imagined the entire cast was traveling with me at all times (my mom was not too thrilled about having to hold open elevator doors until I assured her they were all inside). However, as much as I liked Sesame Street, there was one sequence that turned me off - an old 1970s sequence where the actors are at a circus and one of them slips on a banana peel and another gets doused with water. The same cartoon intro came before that sequence every time and I rapidly learned to get up and leave the room when that cartoon came on so I could avoid the sequence which irrationally disturbed me so. Many years later, when I no longer remembered this, I was watching Sesame Street with a young cousin and when the cartoon came on, felt compelled to leave the room without even knowing why (my mom saw what was on the show and eplxained).

I am happy to say that I have gotten over my irrational compulsions to leave the room when scenes I have subconsciously ruled upsetting appear on the TV but I am forced to admit that there are still one or two things that make me close my eyes. For instance, I am genuinely hooked on Tru Blood, as discussed below, including its theme song and opening sequence but I have now learned at which moment the decomposing fox appears on the screen and I shut my eyes tight every time. Similarly, when I watch the Colbert Report, I have learned to close my eyes when that eagle comes screeching out at you. I can not explain why I do not want to watch these things but all I know is that if they can be avoided, I am happier for it.

Does anyone else have things which make them avert their eyes or am I alone in this?

Tru Blood Gets Good

Now there is still a lot of strange stuff going on on this show that I'm not quite sure I understand (couldn't Sam be the dog and the killer?) but I really enjoyed the new displays of genuine emotion on Tru Blood last night. The scene where Sookie tried to choke down the last of her grandmother's last pie between her tears was heartbreakingly wonderful as was the sequence at the funeral (particularly when Tara's mom spoke). I do hope that some of the mysteries are explained soon (do we think the uncle abused Sookie?) but I hope more that we get to see some more real emotion soon. I was a doubter but now I think I am hooked on Tru Blood.

Mad Men Goes to L.A. and Suffers Heat Stroke

Um, I understand that Don has a wanderer's nature, he's not the most job conscious, he likes the pretty ladies, yada yada but did anyone else think his complete abandonment of all work propriety for the nomads of Palm Springs was disturbingly bizarre? It seems that in the next episode he will be inspired to visit someone from his Dick Whitman past but I'm not quite sure I approve of him becoming completely derelict in his duties - at least when he sneaks out of work for a movie he comes back with some attempt at an excuse. Perhaps my own sense-of-duty nature made me more horrified than the average viewer but I am very, very nervous for him given the ill-timed Duck power play. Oy Don, please return to your senses so I can stop stressing for you!

My favorite part of the episode had to be the blase admission of the young, European media consultant that he is gay. The looks on everyone's faces, including the thinly veiled jealousy/panic coming from Salvatore, were priceless. I also liked that Peggy discovered the power of a gay friend, something I have long relied upon! Hopefully her friendly makeover will pay off soon!

My other favorite part of the episode was the Betty did not appear - hooray! Let's hope that continues (although the coming attractions say otherwise).

New York Film Festival: Parlez-moi de la Pluie (Let it Rain)

Let It Rain is not an exact translation of the French title but apparently, according to filmmaker Agnès Jaoui, Talk to Me of the Rain doesn't make any sense in French either (it comes from a popular French song). Regardless of the awkwardness of the title, I absolutely adored this film which I saw at the festival on Friday.

The movie revolves around a feminist scholar who is on the brink of a political career, two would be filmmakers who seek to make a documentary about her and her sister and brother-in-law whom she is visiting. Jaoui plays the scholar and her writing partner Jean-Pierre Bacri plays one of the filmmakers, a supposed journalist who manages to leave little messes wherever he goes. Jaoui and Bacri also starred in the excellent Jaoui 2004 film Look at Me which you should absolutely rent. This time, they have wisely added the wonderful Jamel Debbouze (who French film watchers will recognize from Amelie, Days of Glory and Angel-A) who Jaoui indicated she specifically had in mind for the role of the other young novice filmmaker.

The film has many hysterical sequences (including an all-time sheep classic) but it also tackles some weighty issues of family and politics, including most pointly the treatment of the arab/North African community in France (Debbouze gets a wonderful speech related to this issue). All of the issues are perfectly handled and none of them take you out of the joy of the film. The film even manages to have a happy ending for all (which Jaoui said was not the original intent but made the most sense in the end). It is also filmed in the beauty of Provence (I was happy when I recognized a few of the locations) which certainly doesn't hurt. I do hope that this film is released because I think that it is definitely worth seeing!

New York Film Festival: Un Conte de Noel (A Christmas Tale)

The new Arnaud Desplechin film A Christmas Tale, which I saw at the festival on Friday night, stars Catherine Deneuve who made an appearance at a Q&A session after the film. Ms. Deneuve is a film legend so it was very exciting to see her in person and that made the whole trip worthwhile.

Unfortunately, the film alone was not enough to justify the evening. Although the film, which tells the story of a fractured family reunited to deal with the mother's failing health, had some interesting moments, all in all I found it to be a very disconnected, muddled piece. The character's motivations are only sketchily explained in a hasty introduction and then are left maddeningly vague for the rest of the film. All of the characters are very self-interested, cold and detached which makes it impossible to really sympathsize with any of them. Mathieu Amalric, an actor I usually enjoy, plays the black sheep son who has a very fractured relationship with his mother and who has been banished from the family by his sister although the sister never explains why she took such drastic action. Amalric's character is a lout for sure but he spends most of the film getting drunk and yelling while you are left in the dark as what he really has to be angry about. Likewise, the youngest brother caught between his siblings and his wife have very questionable motivations and attitudes towards the end of the film which left me completely confused.

The film also employs too many cute devices which don't work with each other. There are introductory character cards which later on become chapter cards between different days in the story but they don't quite match each other. Also, there are a few instances where the characters speak directly to the camera about what they are thinking (or what they have written) but they come out of nowhere and don't really fit into the scenes in which they appear. The director indicated afterwards that he is a fan of Wes Anderson and Deneuve said she was instructed to watch the Royal Tennenbaums before filming. To the extent the director sought to emulate that film, the wackiness was too disjointed, the characters too dispassionate which simply left me unenthusiastic.

Watching TV Old School

So for the first time in a long time last night, I watched an entire evening of TV live, commercials and all. I also watched primarily one channel and whatever happened to come on that channel (hello NBC), whether I was really interested in it or not. Call it a post-Yom Kippur laziness but there was something oddly comforting in watching TV in a DVR free way. I realized that although I don't want to watch them all the time, I sometimes miss commercials even though I can safely say NBC that I have already committed to Obama's tax plan, already decided to watch My Own Worst Enemy and have zero intention of watching Crusoe (which I had never even heard of until last night) - that sums up nearly all of the commercials right there. I also have zero intention of ever watching Kath and Kim again - John Michael Higgins was entertaining as always but the rest was just dreck. I also hardly ever watch the Office - I missed the boat way back when and have been too lazy to jump on - but I enjoyed catching a random episode last night (I do love that Amy Ryan). Finally at 10 I switched to ABC but still watched Life on Mars in real time. So after three hours, I had seen two shows I was interested in (My Name is Earl and Saturday Night Live), one show I disliked and one show I found mildly amusing. That is certainly a time consuming and wasteful way to watch television and I am certainly not giving up my DVR any time soon but aimless, commercial-filled viewing felt like eating macaroni and cheese - it's bad for you but sometimes it just feels right.

New York Film Festival: Afterschool

I saw the screening of Afterschool at the film festival on Wednesday night. The movie is written, edited and directed by 25 year old Anthony Campos who is the youngest filmmaker at the festival. The film was a very interesting look at modern day teenagers and the effect the on-line, video culture has on them. The star of the film was Ezra Miller who plays Rob, a somewhat awkward, shy boarding school kid who is obsessed with on-line video images of all sorts (including some horrifyingly violent porn). Rob gets unwittingly caught up in a disturbing, violent incident at the school which was truly horiffic to watch. Rob's reaction and way of coping with this incident is also very difficult to witness and it certainly creates a bleak picture of the morality of the average teenager.

The film is shot in an unusual, home-video like style. Often, the action is taking place on the edge of the screen or even off-screen such that you are left to piece together what is really going on. Also, there are a number of moments where characters are deliberate put out of focus, particularly the adults, which also leaves you with a feeling that you are only getting a snapshot of the full picture. Rob is involved with a video class and there are a lot of extended sequences which you are merely viewing what is being recorded by the video camera which deliberately makes the audience feel like another internet voyeur. The movie feels very realistic - it was filmed on the campus of an actual boarding school using the actual dorms and classrooms as its setting - and this feeling that it could all really happen kept me glued to the screen.

The realism also left me feeling very depressed - Rob's impulses and thoughts are quite disturbing and the sense that this is what today's teenage boy could be thinking is quite a shock to the system. Even the opening images, which are of videos Rob watches on the internet, made me really think about what kids are really watching on the internet (which is pretty obvious but still hard to process). In the end, I needed to cling to the thought of the inane, cute videos which he throws in to the mix and hope that the levity of those can somehow win in the end. In particular, Rob mentions but the film does not show one video which I happen to love so to cheer myself up I just tried to think about this all the way home:

The Slightly Americanized Version of Life on Mars

So I did watch Life on Mars the New York version on ABC last night and I was pretty impressed with how well the show lived up to its British original. This was probably because the show was nearly identical to the British version in its plot and cast of characters. I felt that the British actors brought a little more life and punch to their characters - Philip Glenister makes for a much more imposing boss than Harvey Keitel who seemed less quick and more relaxed while Michael Imperioli was less angry than his British counterpart. However, once the ABC show settles in, perhaps more of the anger and quick wit will come through. The show will certainly have to veer off from the plot a bit since the British show wrapped up in two short seasons. I'm not sure how the new Life on Mars will draw out the mystery and overarching plot but I'm excited to be interested to find out. I will definitely keep tuning in and not just for nostalgia for the original.

Project Runway Finds Their Final Three

So I'm a little behind on the commentary but the holiday set me back a day (have we all properly atoned?). I did watch the penultimate episode of Project Runway on Wednesday night and I felt a little better about three of the candidates than I did last week which is definitely a step in the right direction. I also finally think that the judges made the right decision - although Kenley's attitude is still questionable, it was not nearly as questionable as Jerell's taste. Left to run amok for two months, Jerell seemed to have found his way to the tacky side - the few glimpses we got of his collection involved a lot of mesh and bedazzles. The judges correctly guessed from the jeweled cups on his wedding dress that tackiness would reign in his overall collection and I think he deserved to be the odd man out. Now Korto's wedding dress was a disaster as well but at least from having seen glimpses of her collection, we know that it's not really representative of the other pieces. It will still probably sink her in the finale but at least she gets her place at Bryant Park.

Now Kenley's dresses were cute and there seems like there may be a few more cute pieces in her collection but I was really impressed with Leanne. Leanne's wedding dress (as pictured, thanks about.com) was really stunning with its angular architectural details that still managed to project an overall grace. I also really liked her bridesmaid dress (not that it would fit me but it is certainly more elegant than some bridesmaid dresses I have worn) and her overall scheme for her collection. Unless the judges view the color palate and details as too repetitive, I think Leanne may be walking home with the Project Runway crown. We'll see next week!

The Riches - Anyone sad to see it go?

FX has spoken and The Riches are cancelled.

Now while I was faithfully watching The Riches on FX, I'm not sure that I would say I was enjoying it. The show was very dark and the plot was starting to spin off in odd directions. My favorite part of the show was the cast - I am a HUGE Eddie Izzard fan but I also thought Minnie Driver was very good. The show's overarching premise just seemed to run out of the gas - there really was no way they could keep pulling such an elaborate con.

Clearly not too many people were watching this show but does anyone out there care to stick up for it and mourn its demise?

When Art Imitates Life

I'm a cranky blogger today because this is exactly what happened to me at 3am last night, removed battery and all. Turns out it was the carbon monoxide detector - whoops.

Morphoses - the Wheeldon Company

I went to see the final performance of Morphoses' New York season at City Center on Sunday. I am a huge fan of choreographer and founder Christopher Wheeldon and I am happy to support his fledgling company as they move into their second year. His pieces are always interesting, beautiful and fun and he employs wonderful dancers including this time Wendy Whelan of the New York City Ballet and Leanne Benjamin of the Royal Ballet. The program I attended included only two Wheeldon pieces - Commedia, which is a brand new piece intended to celebrate next year's anniversary of the Ballet Russes, and Fool's Paradise which is a piece from last fall. Although Commedia was entertaining (particularly the short pas de deux featuring Benjamin and her fellow Royal principal Edward Watson), I felt more inspired by Fool's Paradise which incorporates a lot of beautiful, fluid movement ending in the startling pose pictured to the left. The following is just a short section of the piece courtesy of Sadler's Wells in London where it was recently performed:



The program also featured three short non-Wheeldon pieces. "One" by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa featured Rubinald Pronk, billed in the program as the sexiest Dutch ballet dancer (my sister and I agree). The piece had a lot of energy and Pronk and Drew Jacoby (of Boise - yay Idaho!) displayed a lot of skill. Frederick Ashton's Monotones II (set to Trois Gymnopedies) was also on the program and although Wendy Whelan got to show off her astounding range of flexibility, I always find Ashton a little too muted for my taste. The most interesting of the non-Wheeldon program was Shutter Shut, a piece by the the duo Lightfoot and Leon, which moves two dancers across the stage in a series of interesting repetitive movement to the wonderfully deep and rhythmic voice of Gertrude Stein. While it sounds strange, the piece actually works quite well and even has some funny moments. Just a taste of the piece, from a previous performance in the Netherlands, follows:

Choke Joke

"A lot of people would say it’s a bad idea, on your first day out of prison, to go right back to stalking the tranny hooker that knocked out five of your teeth. But that's how I roll." That's a line from Choke said by, yes it's true, Joel Grey. It's one of the funniest lines in the film and made me wish Grey had more scenes.

There are plenty of other zingers though to keep the action rolling along. Sam Rockwell is always very entertaining and Choke allows him to easily flow through a lot of funny scenarios (including a wacky doozy of a scene with the widely underused, hilarious Heather Burns). I also always love Kelly MacDonald although I again wished she had a little more to do in the film. I can say there are some very funny sequences involving a colonial village (featuring the funny director of the film, Clark Gregg) and a running joke about rocks (I like picking up rocks myself). The movie also features a fine turn from, as always, Angelica Houston as Rockwell's demented mother with a shady past.

All in all, I wouldn't say that this movie achieves what were perhaps it's outside the mainstream aspirations but it has enough laughs to make the time fly by.

When is Going On on Heroes?!?

Can anyone explain to me all this four years in the future crap? I mean didn't they just change the future from the desolate wasteland quarantine thing so wouldn't the gee some people know how to fly thing be a much better outcome? As they said last night, the world is always going to need saving so how about chilling in your own time instead? I mean Peter was remarkably calm about the fact that his future self got shot by his niece before his very eyes, no? I can't believe I'm still watching this garbage. Someone please help me stop.

No They Didn't Just Say That - Prison Break Edition

"The only thing Whistler ever gave anyone was the clap." Oy.

In Bruce We Trust

So Bruce Springsteen is on a Barack Obama tour, playing shows on behalf of his campaign. His upcoming concert with Billy Joel and Obama himself in New York is a little pricey for me but I was glad to find this video of his entire acoustic show on the Ben Franklin parkway in Philly. I find Bruce and his music to be quite inspirational and this show certainly demonstrates his power. Listening to him sing his classic American anthems makes me want to shout out loud yes we can change the world! Contrary to how Bush has run the country for the last eight years, this land was indeed made for you AND me, all the way to that New York island and it's time to sound that out.

Please do watch it and let me know what you think (don't be discouraged if the sound fades out for a bit, it comes back):

http://cbs3.com/video/?id=65837@kyw.dayport.com

New York Film Festival - L'heure d'été (Summer Hours)

I very much enjoyed the new Olivier Assayas film L'heure d'été which screened the last two nights at the New York Film Festival. How could anyone not enjoy a story that involves Odilon Redon decorative panels and the Musee d'Orsee! Ok, Ok so those may be particular interests of mine (Redon is one of my favorite artists) and they weren't exactly the main point of the film but I still put them in the pro column!

I also really enjoyed the story of the family, particularly three siblings, who must deal with each other and their different opinions over what to do with their mother's estate. It was an issue that hit home for me since my own mother recently faced the same problem with her siblings. Apparently, French siblings have a reasonable discussion, go along with the majority vote and just find ways to cope with any disappointments they may have which is let's say slightly different from the New York Jewish way of negotiating.

The actors were all great in their roles, particularly Charles Berling as the eldest child who was left to deal with the details of the estate (as well as Juliette Binoche who plays his sister). However, the true star of the film was the mother's house filled to the brim with wonderful museum-quality decorative pieces (and, as is repeatedly mentioned, two Corots) and the beautiful gardens and grounds on which the house sat. To watch the house host the entire family, then play host to a gaggle of art dealers and then finally to be left in the hand of the next generation really told the tale of family and the changes that must inevitably be made by the passing of time. The film should certainly be seen by anyone interested in stories of family, art or desirable French real estate.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Nick and Norah is exactly the kind of movie my teenage self would have fallen in love with and seen repeatedly. That Michael Cera is absolutely adorable (as was already more than evident from Arrested Development, Superbad and Juno) and is the perfect teen idol for the thinking teenage girl. I could watch him stumble and smile for hours. Kat Dennings also does an excellent job at playing the slightly outsider but still gorgeous teenage girl and the two of them look wonderful together.

There's not much plot in the movie (certainly nothing you can't see from a mile off) but watching Nick and Norah spend the night together running around New York is more than enough entertainment and the film seems to only aspire to be entertaining. There is a plot thread involving Norah's drunk friend Caroline and although more than one review found this thread to be quite funny, I could have lived a happy life without having to watch the story of the friend's gum (trust me, if the gum appears just close those eyes fast). All in all, Nick and Norah is just a sweet film about teenage love and the New York music scene and it certainly makes for a fun evening at the movies.

Side note: Although it may be targeted at a crowd younger than myself (as was evident at the sold out show), I was proud that I still occasionally visit nearly every music venue in the film. Guess I'm still young at heart!

Skins Season 1 Finale

Now I know that Tony has his share of faults but did he really deserve to be hit by a bus? I see that he will be back when Season 2 starts next week but with a few handicaps. I just hope that we get to see more of Sid and Cassie who finally found each other at the end of the episode. I'm a sucker for those sweet, teenage romances!

Tru Blood - Last Night's Spoilers!!!

Um, Alan Ball, what did that nice, sweet grandmother ever do to you?!? I was nowhere near ready to see her go - her tolerant, folksy wisdom was a nice touch in the general craziness of the show. You will be missed Lois Smith.

Are we all agreed that the crazy, Jason-framing killer is Sam the barman with his psychopathic nonsense thoughts? Feel free to disagree below.

P.S. Does anyone else have the theme song stuck in their heads? I've been singing it to myself all day!

Religulous

Now I'm a fan of Bill Maher's HBO show which I find to be one of the best, most honest commentaries on these crazy times, but watching Religulous, I kept wishing that he would stop talking and let his interview subjects get a word in edgewise. He goes after most of them like an attack dog, spouting his opinions and accusatory questions with only brief pauses for fumbling answers. He even has additional screen titles (pointing out when the interviewees are particularly wrong) to help him further belittle his subjects while they struggle to speak. As a result, I mainly came out of the film feeling sorry for his subjects.

Which is no mean feat for him to pull off since I personally completely agree with Maher in principle. In my opinion, his point is sound, namely that religions are founded on stories of questionable accuracy which at one time helped people explain the world around them but which are now unnecessary in the age of modern science and now simply fuel greed, hate and intolerance. And his subjects would have proven this point for him just by trying to explain themselves in an uninterrupted manner. For instance, I was very eager to hear the minister who used to engage in homosexual behaviors (but he was never gay), explain how he thinks a person can be coerced into a heterosexual lifestyle but Bill Maher kept shouting at the man and never really let him speak. It would have also been interesting to hear more from the minister in Florida who believes he is the second coming of Christ but again, he could only squeeze in short answers amidst all the sneering questions. Indeed, with the exception of the actor playing Jesus at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, who momentarily quieted Maher with his trinity as water analogy, all of the subjects struggled for time to explain their literal, religious beliefs. Had Maher allowed them more time to struggle with the answers instead, the movie and its message would have been much enhanced. In the future Bill, stick to the show.

Rachel Getting Married

Now I know that the family of the bride in Rachel Getting Married has its fair share of problems, but man that looked like one fun wedding! The extended scenes of speeches, dancing and general celebrating were so beautifully scripted and filmed, with a wonderful, very diverse cast, that I wanted to hop through the screen and join in a toast or bust out on the dance floor. It certainly seemed that a good time was had by all the film guests.

A good time is even somewhat had by the bride's family in the end although pure heartbreak dogs them along the way. The entire main cast did a wonderful job of showing the mix of joy and misery on the occasion of Rachel's wedding and her sister Kym's release from rehab. Anne Hathaway, as has been touted in the reviews and buzz, is very good as Kym the struggling addict but in her scenes with Rosemarie DeWitt (as Rachel), Bill Irwin (as the father) and Debra Winfer (as the mother), the rest of the cast more than carry their share of the emotional weight. Bill Irwin and Debra Winger in particular each get one startling, heartbreaking, gut wrenching scene (you'll know them when you seen them) that will ensure you shed plenty of tears. However, one look at Rachel and her husband a glow in wedded bliss and you will leave uplifted from all the despair.

Bizarre Bulk E-mail of the Day

This is certainly an intriguing approach to Continuing Legal Education but if your name happened to be Peter Frampton, would you ever agree to associate yourself with a "Comes Alive" program?

http://www.onestopcle.com/comesalive/curriculum.php?id=33

Say It Ain't So Joe

Just another political pause since the debate was the most interesting thing on television last night. I will admit that Sarah Palin is cute and "folksy" with her Alaskan accent and little wink. Too bad she has zero ability to actually address the questions asked of her (how many times did she say the answer is yes/no and now I will discuss whatever I feel like). She also seemed like an automaton up there as if she were reading the literal lines some adviser had programmed into her brain (the first time you pull the string she says maverick, the second time she says soccer mom!). At least she got to finally meet Joe Biden (and he let her call him Joe!) who seemed to be entertained by the proceedings.

Rather than hash the whole thing (since my overall aim here is not politics), I just have to put in one thought. When she discussed countries which hated us for our rights, she actually listed women's rights as one of the rights Americans enjoy. Did anyone else wish the moderator or Biden had asked her how any governor who makes women pay for their own rape kits and seeks to outlaw abortion even in the case of rape or intest could claim that America was the home of women's rights?

Oh Leo, Don't Vote, Vote, Make up Your Mind!

I'm not sure pieces like this are ultimately effective as advertising but hey, I've got at least 5 friends that read this blog so my job is done:



At least it features Sarah Silverman - she sure is funny.

Impressions on the Fall TV Season Thus Far

So it took a lot of time and effort, but I have successfully caught up with my DVR on all the TV happenings while I was sunning myself on the beaches of Italy . Here's what's hit me so far:

Prison Break: I'm not sure that the wacky Ocean's 11ish shenanigans really fit with the tone of the rest of the show but it's still a welcome relief I guess from all the silly seriousness. I like the capture all the card-holders mission although I think a little too much pain is being inflicted on poor Mahone (played by William Fichtner who spent some time growing up in my hometown!) My favorite moment thus far though has to be when the evil hitman was trying to diss Agent Self by explaining with a sneer that he went to Touro Law School on L.I. - um, I appreciate the shoutout to us N.Y. area lawyers but how many people could have interpreted that statement nationwide?

Heroes: What the frickin' hell? No more bringing people back from gunshot wounds - seriously, I just can't take it any more. Also, Sylar is driving me up a tree. The man is pure evil which is repetitive and boring but putting him in a suit for one episode doesn't really help. And please, please, please, please, please let's just kill Maya and Mohinder and be done with it - I think a number of fans have asked that before but the solution can not be buffing Mohinder up and giving us Mohinder-Maya sex scenes. No, no, no. As always then it is left to Masi Oka to save the day and while I really love his scenes, I just don't know if I can put myself through all the other tortuous scenes just to get to his. The new scene is called "Villains" and I've think I've got them all identified - the writing staff of Heroes.

Chuck: Although apparently its numbers were down from last year, I thought last week's episode of Chuck was pretty much as good as it gets and it was pretty darn good. All of the story lines were incorporated and everyone got a chance to do what they do best - which in the case of Zachary Levi is just stumble and be adorable but I love that he also got to show off some acquired agenty skills. Let's hope he gets to kick some more ass and Adam Baldwin gets plenty of more chances to sneer - I quite enjoy that. I have to ask though that we lose the stupid special guest stars - did you really need Michael Clark Duncan for that? I think not.

Fringe: I'm starting to think I literally can't stomach this show. Those wires up the nose to the brain had me covering my eyes in pain. I do love that Michael Cerveris was on but I'm not sure I understand anything about his character and what his deal is supposed to be. Is the show finding its way toward an alien plotline or will his abilities, agelessness and creepiness be explained some other way? God damn it, those questions combined with the return of Mark Valley will probably keep me tuned in even if I have to turn away once or twice an episode.

Pushing Daisies: Hooray for Pushing Daisies! Yes I know it is too precious and cute but I love, love, love it. It combines some of my favorite actors with such entertaining, adorable stories, colors and situations that it is certainly one of my favorite shows on TV right now. The sight of Kristen Chenoweth doing her best Maria spin last night made me cheer out loud. I also really enjoy the pies, the beekeeping and Emerson's cute pop-up book. More, more, more!

Dirty Sexy Money: I'm still not sure I really like this show but it's entertaining enough I suppose. I particularly enjoy Brian's new scary business side and Jeremy's new romantic side but why exactly did Patrick's poor wife deserve such treatment? Seems overly harsh. And why would Letitia be arrested for Dutch's murder? And who the hell is Lucy Liu supposed to be? Another god damn it, they've got me as well.

Coming up, the return of Eli Stone (hooray!) and I am planning on tuning in to My Own Worst Enemy - the premise looks intriguing and the lingering teenage girl in me wants to support Christian Slater. I'm also really looking forward to the return of Samantha Who - that Christina Applegate is one funny lady. Finally, I'll see if I can take the new American version of Life on Mars - I loved the original so much but it's just such a good premise that I may take the chance on the "americanized" version - I'll be sure to report my thoughts.

A Hot Project Runway Mess!

So let me get this straight - the designers are so absolutely inadequate this season that the judges were at a loss to separate the worst from the worst? I'm sorry but Kenley's attitude alone should have deserved an exit - once it was clear that all her fellow competitors, Tim and all the judges can't stand her attitude another second, it is incredibly unfair for the show to keep her on just so she can torture everyone some more. It's not as if a runway show of poufy dresses would deserve a final victory so what's the difference? I grant you that all of the designers were god awful this week - including the "winner" Jerell pictured - but how on earth can you tell all those suffering contestants that they have to deal with her another second. Ridiculous.

P.S. I have not peeked at the leaking advances of the shows which already took place at Bryant Park but if the coming attractions scenes were anything to go by, there is nothing good to come. We'll see.

British TV Alert!

BBC America is taking advantage of the fact that so many of its shows are being coopted by network television and are showing the British originals in Sunday marathons. This Sunday, they are showing Life on Mars all day. The show is alternatively funny, engrossing, freaky and really worth watching. Before you watch ABC take a hatchet to it on October 9th, please do check out the real thing.

Stay tuned on subsequent Sundays for a taste of the original Eleventh Hour with Patrick Stewart (which will appear Americanized but starring the great British actor Rufus Sewell on CBS on October 9th), Little Britain (Little Britain America is already on HBO) and Worst Week of My Life (already airing as Worst Week on CBS).

Classic Alert!

One of the funniest movies of all time, arguably THE funniest movie of all time, is screening for free on imdb.com. Please, please, please, please, please if you have somehow never seen Some Like it Hot (shame on you!) do take advantage of this chance to see it now.

Whatever you do, be sure to hang on for what is certainly the funniest last line in movie history!

http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi2900099097/