Fox has a history of killing my shows (Firefly, Arrested Development, Wonderfalls). And they have a history of jacking with Joss Whedon. And the buzz on this show has been ... troubling ... to say the least.
So please, Fox. Please. Think of me. Think of the children. And give Dollhouse a chance to find its legs. Because based just on this little teaser, originally posted by Michael Ausiello at EW, I really want this show to last more than 3 episodes. I want to know what happens next.
And having Helo on my teevee twice weekly isn't such a bad thing either.
ABC has released another teaser promo. Can. Not. Wait.
Dark UFO has the reversed audio, and it's a man saying, "When am I?"
EEEEEEEEP!!!!!
If you need to get caught up, here's Seasons 1-3 in 8:15
In Season 4, they called the boat, bad things happened, Michael, Rousseau, Carl, and Alex died (damn you Steamy Keamey!), Claire and Jin maybe died, Locke has always been special, Penneh is Desmond's constant, Des is Manson Lamp's constant, Jack, Kate, Sun, Sayid, Hurley, and Aaron are the Oceanic 6, Ben moved the Island, very bad things are going to happen, and they all HAVE TO GO BAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!
Sorry, T. Jin is totes dead.
If you aren't already you should be reading Therese's fantabulous Lost recaps at the Houston Chronicle. She's funny and snarky and brings wonderful insight and analysis to the story and mytharc, and helps makes sense of all the symbols and references that Team Darlton throw at us.
There's also a delightful group of regular commenters (hey y'all!) who weigh in each week with their thoughts and opinions. As it is here, it's a mostly spoiler free zone over there, so play nice and when in doubt, don't.
Oh, and did I mention that Therese also hosts a live online chat each Friday lunchtime to further dissect the previous evening's epi? Not that I have ever taken time out of my busy workday to participate.
UPDATE: She's also been cited on Wikipedia. T has reached nerd nirvana as far as I'm concerned.
Nineteen episode of Square Pegs are available now on hulu.com (sadly, only for users in the US. I know, these effers need to get with the program already. Spread the love. Go global).
I fear that the actual show won't live up to my memories of it. As happened with a failed revisiting of Land of the Lost. Wow was that show terrible. It did not take much to impress me when I was 7. Although the sleestaks still freak me right the hell out.
I'm still pretty psyched that wax|wendy has gone global. This morning Ms. Constantine (Antipodes, represent!) posted this comment regarding my quest for a doctor:
I'm a bit surprised if I ring my doctor in town in the morning and can't get an appointment for the next day at the latest. Usually if I ring in the morning I can get an appointment in the afternoon.
But then I live in New Zealand, there are constant news stories about a lack of doctors but it sounds like we are doing well compared.
What do you do if you're really sick?
That is an excellent question. And it's part of what prompted me to finally get a GP. Two events occurred in close succession back in the spring. First, I fell on my knee and bruised it quite badly. It was hugely swollen, and I really thought I might have fractured the knee cap. Then, a few weeks later, I developed an ear infection. In both cases, my initial reaction was "Shit! What do I do?! What do I do?!".
With my knee, I got lucky. My company has a nurse on staff, who made a call, and got a doctor to fit me in that afternoon. I had briefly considered going to the Emergency room. Which, for a lot of people in the US, insured and uninsured, is where they go for primary care. But I decided I didn't want to sit around for 5 or 6 hours to have some resident poke at me, tell me it was a bruise, ice and elevate it. I could do that for free at home.
With the ear, I went to a MinuteClinic - a walk-in drugstore clinic staffed by a nurse practitioner. Its not a perfect model, but it definitely fills a need. You don't need an appointment. You get in, get your self diagnosis confirmed, get some drugs (maybe pick up some milk and glossy celebrity tabloids), and you're on your way.
In the past, when I did have a regular doctor, I rarely had a problem getting a last minute appointment. She was part of a fair sized practice, including several other MDs and nurse practitioners. So even if she didn't have an opening, someone else did.
I'm hopeful that once I'm established with my new doctor, that will be the case again.
But for a lot of people, I think they just make the most of whatever services are available. Otherwise, they just do without and hope for the best.
Jezebel has been reporting on recent "news" articles decrying the pixie cut trend because, according to the authors, it makes you less attractive to the mens, and you'll never get the sex with short hair, and blahblahblah, you know what? FUCK YOU.
Because I rock this look.
In other news, welcome readers (okay, reader) from New Zealand!!!! I was delighted to read your comment this morning Ms. Constantine. A response and follow up will be forthcoming.
I spent 90 minutes today trying to make a doctor's appointment. I have a lady doctor, but it's been at least 5 years since I've had a regular GP. I was hoping to find someone close to home. My boss recommended his doctor's practice, but they're *whine* all the way in Capitol Hill. I don't want to go to Capitol Hill when I'm sick *end whine*.
Unfortunately, Georgetown isn't taking new patients. None of the other university hospitals are either. Or they don't take my insurance. Or I couldn't get an appointment before May. I found one doctor who could see me in February, but on reflection, the requirement to send her a check for 25 bucks to hold my appointment seemed a little sketchy.
30 seconds after bitching about my no-good-very-bad situation on Facebook, the wondrous Kate came to my rescue. 10 minutes later I had a new doctor who could see me on January 5, and is 2 blocks from work. She's in the medical district. Its one street over from the hammock district.
In addition to my lady doctor, I'm also established with a dentist, an optometrist, and a dermatologist. Who are all 2 blocks from work. And I have insurance to pay for them. And a job that provides me with generous medical leave and a boss who doesn't begrudge me popping out for a few hours in the middle of the work day.
All of which is to remind myself that I am extrodinarily lucky, and had no business bitching. Because it could be a whole lot worse.
credit: Michael Williamson - The Washington Post (all)
Because HOLY SHIT! I used to have that dream all the time! I've been told it's a classic anxiety motif, so I guess it's a good sign that it doesn't pop up in my subconscious as much anymore.
I'll save the stories of waking myself up screaming for another time.
I like Fringe, although it hasn't become appointment TV for me yet. I do loves me some John Noble as Walter Bishop though. So I found this little recap vid quite entertaining.
And then Pixar came along to show us what animation can really do. That the "cartoon" format can be used to tell amazing, honest, real stories.
Monsters, Inc. is probably my favorite. In part, I think, because it has a similar vibe to the best of the classic Warner Bros. and MGM/Tex Avery cartoons.
And then there's Ratatouille, which can't really be ranked, because it's just a whole 'nother beast. imho.
It happens at the 2:30 mark. In 30 seconds of animation, the film's creators manage to convey the very essence of a sublime meal.
The other thing I love about Pixar is that they choose voice talent based on who can best serve the character. So instead of hearing Will Smith play a fish, or Bruce Willis play a raccoon, or Jack Black play a panda ... you just hear the character.
Brad Bird, who directed Ratatouille, cast Patton Oswalt to play Remy the Rat because he felt he could convey real passion about food and cooking. Never heard of him? Doesn't matter. He was the right guy for the job, and that's what mattered.
How did Brad Bird know? Two words - the Black Angus Steak bit
If you've actually read this far, and I haven't completely driven you off the deck, check out this Fresh Air interview from 2007 with Brad Bird and Patton Oswalt.
True confession time. I once applied to be on MTV's The Real World.
I know, right?
To be fair, it was almost 15 years ago when they were casting for Season 3 in San Francisco. Somewhere, in a box in my parents' basement, is a politely worded letter of rejection from MTV explaining that I just wasn't quite what they were looking for.
Oh, come on! I totes could have been the naive blond girl who cried a lot and had difficulty being confrontational and felt out of place most of the time.
Whatever. They went with this naive blond girl who cried a lot instead.
I was reminded of this bit of personal trivia after catching a promo clip for the upcoming season at Best Week Ever
Huh. So I guess if my 22 year old self was applying now, I would be rejected on the grounds that I'm not suffering from PTSD, have a borderline personality disorder, and/or anger management issues.
Well, not that any of you know about at least.
I'm mildly intrigued. Not enough to, you know, actually get cable. But what I'm most fascinated by is the show's longevity and influence on the reality genre. Bunim-Murray kind of invented it. At the very least, The Real World provided a proof of concept. And the kids who are cast now have grown up with it. When I applied, it was still new enough to seem like a grand adventure. A lark before I got on with the business of being a grown up. Now, being on a reality show is practically a viable career option.
Hellannoying Beth S. from Season 2, I'm looking at you.
So good luck Season 21 fresh meat. We're rooting for you. WE'RE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!!!!
I've had lots of friends encourage me to start blogging, but somehow, it was Winona who tipped the scales. So you can thank - or blame her - for what you find here.
This is now the second time today that I've seen or heard an actual news piece that reads like an Onion headline. Am I in Bizarroland? I must be in Bizarroland. Because only in Bizarroland would smelling like a BK fry guy be a turn on.
Supernatural is also sleepy night nights until January (KILLING ME!), but there are a few morsels to tide us over. io9 has the deets on the first 4 stand-alone epis:
The brothers investigate a haunted house. Then they meet a trio of aging magicians (including one played by Barry Bostwick. [Can we have a"Dammit, Janet" joke, please??]) They investigate a ghost at their high school and we see flashbacks to the brothers, aged 14 and 18. And then a dangerous siren enthralls the boys and makes them turn on each other, allowing them to say some stuff they've been bottling up all season [Squeeee! Brotherly angst and fisticuffs!]. And in the longer run, Ruby pushes Sam to uses his supernatural powers, and Dean learns what the angels want from him. And it's not a good thing.
Hey, as long as Castiel is back on my teevee at the new year, I say its a very good thing.
Mo Ryan is on the Supernatural bandwagon big time this season, and has a teaser compilation from the first three epis up at the Watcher.
Wow. My tv boyfriend Jensen Ackles in gym teacher shorts. My eyes?
I'm going to try not to condemn the episode before I've even seen it, but I'm not feeling confident about After School Special. Dean pegs a kid with the dodgeball? Really new writers, really? Did you not get the memo from Kripke that Dean isn't a dick? No? Well, here's what Dean and I have to say about that.
Watching the clip from my last post, I was reminded of something I overheard the other night. I was on my way into Best Buy (to buy rabbit ears to make the teevee work. Stop. Judging.), and I overheard this kid describing the overdose scene in Pulp Fiction to a bunch of his friends. He was going on and on about how great it was. As if they'd never seen it.
Seriously?
I had to text NoShowMo to confirm the date, and make sure I hadn't experienced some sort of temporal time shift or worm hole while on the metro.
Because the movie came out almost 15 years ago. It seems like one of those things that's just now part of the collective consciousness. The same way that even if you've never seen the movies, you know that Darth Vader is Luke's father, and Bruce Willis is dead.
Oops. Spoiler alert. But not. That's my point.
Anyhoodle, don't tell me the scene is good. I buy the fucking syringes. I don't need you to tell me how good the scene is.
And this too, because Vincent's reaction is just so nonplussed.
Extra special bonus points if you can name all the movies.
A few things this clip brings to mind:
Picard rocks.
Charlie Chaplin had a speaking voice?
Colin Farrell and Brad Pitt make me cringe with their terrible, terrible acting every time I watch it.
After seeing 300, I understand when people say that violent images lead to violent actions. Because that movie seriously made me want to kill somebody.
Galaxy Quest is a great and highly underrated movie.
I am Sparticus
My favorite bits are from Henry V and Pulp Fiction. We few, we happy motherfucking few.
Supernatural 4.03, "In the Beginning", in which instead of just telling him the salient plot points, Castiel sends Dean back in time to experience it first hand. Because Dean wasn't already fucked up enough, he needed extra special fucked up sprinkles on top.
Apparently, some crack addict has decided a remake of They Live is needed. I'm sorry, but you can't just up and recreate this kind of cinematic poetry. You'd have better luck catching lightning in a Coke bottle.
Behold!
And really, it's been done. I don't think you can hope to do much better.
Catherine Hardwicke is apparently out as director of the next installment of Twilight, reportedly for being "difficult" and "irrational". I thought that was the only flavor big time directors came in.
Anyhoodle, based on this clip from io9, may I suggest SpookyDan as her replacement?
You're pretty great Puppet!Edward, but it's still Angel for the win.
And just because it makes me giggle:
Evil's still afoot! And I'm almost out of that Nancy-boy hair-gel that I like so much. Quickly, to the Angelmobile. Away!
So this little slice of awesomeness has been making it way through the ether. Apparently on her current tour, Tina Turner gives "We Don't Need Another Hero" the full on Auntie Entity/Mad Max treatment. As one would, when you rock a look as hard as she does.
Two men enter. One man leaves. You'd do well to remember that Kanye.
Its Thursday. Supernatural is still in repeats until January 15. Tonight is 4.02 Are you There God, Its Me Dean Winchester.
And of course, what has become the best part of any episode of Supernatural this season, the final 5 minutes with Dean and Castiel ... in which we find out just how screwed the boys are this season.
This scene also raises two questions.
There are no guest rooms in the Stately Singer Manse? Really?
Why does Sam get the sofa? Dude, your brother just spent 40 years (oops, spoiler) in hell. Throw the guy a bone.
Pret-a-Portea at the Berkeley Hotel in the Knightsbridge section of London really does serve edible versions of designer collections, updated every six months for a fashionable high tea. The hotel's pastry chefs visit fashion shows to be inspired by the colors and textures of the new collections and a team of fashion editors from various publications are consulted about the latest trends and most emblematic pieces of the season.
Yay! Nathan Fillion will be back on my TV! I wonder if his new show will last longer than Firefly and Drive?
Wildly famous mystery novelist Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), who is bored with his own success, learns that a real-world copycat killer has started staging murder scenes depicted in his novels. Rick is soon questioned by NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic, “The Spirit”), a very bright, aggressive detective who keeps her investigations under tight rein. Rick and Kate’s styles instantly clash, yet sparks begin to fly, leading both to danger and a hint of romance as Castle steps in to help find the killer. And once that case is solved, he and Beckett build upon their new relationship as they look to solve strange homicides in New York – as much fun as one can have with death & murder.
Yeah ... I'm thinking not so much. Sorry, Mal.
Boo! Another reality based steaming POS from Ashton Kutcher.
GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD, a hidden camera game show from Ashton Kutcher. Ordinary people must perform extraordinary tasks on an unsuspecting public to win up to $50,000. Under the watchful eye of host Joe Rogan ("Joe's last name is Garelli?"), each contestant performs five outrageous, embarrassing and hilarious tasks worth $5,000 each. In a no-holds-barred bonus round, each contestant has the chance to double their money up to $50,000.
Hey, you know what would be HI-larious? Me, punching Ashton Kutcher in the throat repeatedly. Hell, I'll do it for free.
Courtney Love is bringing her own brand of batshit crazy to the cover of January's UK Elle. She may not always make sense, but at least she's never boring. Bless
Jason Statham is Frank. See Frank drive. Drive Frank, drive.
See Frank fight. Fight Frank, fight. Pow! Zap! Shazam!
Oh noes! Frank has lost his shirt. Flex Frank, flex.
2 1/2 henchmen out of 5
Transporter 3 stars Jason Statham and is currently in wide release
And! AND! We got a Watchmen, Star Trek, The Spirit, AND My Bloody Valentine (even though my TV boyfriend Jensen Ackles is only in it for 4 seconds) trailers.
While apartment hunting in Chicago, one of the main criteria was whether or not we could get the giant leather sofa into the building, up the stairs, and through the door. Hiring someone to disassemble it was not an option.
