Comfort in an instant

I am forever Changed!!

2012-12-27T21:44:00.000-08:00

I have always been a fan of Les Miserables. As you may know, the original story was a novel by Victor Hugo, published in the 1860's. I loved the movie version with Liam Neeson as Jean Val Jean. The story touches me in ways I have had a hard time explaining. It has been a novel, a mini series on the radio produced by the great Orson Welles, TV Miniseries, musicals, even a Japanese TV series called Inochimoyu. The story has been done over and over. So when I went for my Christmas present, I wasn't sure what to expect.

I went on Wednesday as a Christmas gift from my 15 year old son. Through out the experience I was constantly crying. At one point I looked over at him, he too had tears in his eyes reflected by the light on the screen. He hates things emotional. What 15 year guy doesn't? So after the experience I asked him what he thought about it. He told me it was the best movie he ever saw. High praise for a guy that loves Call of Duty: black ops or Assassins Creed III. He said that it was powerful. So we talked about it for awhile afterward. He loved the character of Jean Valjean, my son wants to be a really good man. It changed his view about religion too. He normally questions it with his scientific mind. He saw how powerful on a persons life it can be. He watched Bishop Myriel restore Jean Valjeans faith, and forever change his life. Nick was angry and touched by Fantine's journey in trying to care for her daughter and how she was mistreated. So if I had no other feelings for the movie, that would have been enough for me.

That said, I was so moved by the movie it affected me the rest of the day. The movie it's self is so well done, it should have more than 4 Golden Globe nominations. It will be a contender for Oscar night too. I think definitely Ann Hathaway as Fantine and Hugh Jackman as Jean ValJean should be named. Russel Crowe did amazing job as the nemesis Javert. A surprise for me was in the performances of Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as Thenardier and Madam Thenardier, the corrupt inkeepers that cared for Fantine's daughter Cosette. They were one of the lighter parts of the movie, and there were not many. They registered stupid more than corrupt. Samantha Barks played Eponine their daughter. That actress did an amazing part as the girl who loved Marius (Eddie Redmayne), while he pined for the 17 year old Cossette (the wonderful Amanda Seyfried). The acting in this movie was superb as was the singing. In fact Amanda Seyfried was trained vocally in the technique she used to make her voice sound so young. It was beautiful.

There is another part of the movie for me that was thrilling, and moving. The struggle of Jean Valjean to be completely transformed to a loving, caring honest man after all he had experienced. Like my son I was motivated by his journey, and the quality he tried to have. I also thought he was able to reinvent himself over and over because of his faith in God and his ability to go back to the convent as needed. It was as if he could go home again and recharge his batteries. The reason for this being thrilling to me is that when I hear of transformations now, they are usually being said about some new age philosophy. As a new-ager I think we forget that our greatest journeys are about how we treat our fellow beings and what kind of humans we are. It is one of my struggles also.

So the movie was magnificent. the music was good, the actors brilliant and the story timeless. If you have a chance to, go see it, I think it could remind you of what it is to be human. I have known humans that on the outside look good to the world, but on the inside they are unkind and judgmental. Javert reminded me why being with the law is important, but being human and flawed is where the joy and love are.

One More Time A Christmas Story

2012-12-26T00:07:00.000-08:00

So now the night is winding down. It has been A Christmas Story all day long, like background music. The narration of Jean Shepard who wrote the Book "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash", takes on us on a family vacation to Hohman, Indiana in 1949. The war was over, Americans were making babies, buying cars and houses, and living the American dream. Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. With every authority at Christmas repeating, "You'll Shoot Your Eye out".

The cast is wonderful, with the toe head blond, be-speckled 10 year old boy retelling the story of his family Christmas. His father is played by the reknown Darrin McGavin, and though McGavin is no longer with us, he will live on as the cursing father of Ralphie Parker. The man enamored with a cheap the looking plastic leg lamp, and net stockings. His mother is Melinda Dillon who I best remember in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. She is the long suffering wife and mother, who never gets a warm bite of food and protects Ralphie from the wrath of his father when he beats up the school bully. She is first to tell Ralphie "you'll shoot your eye out". When he answers her question as to what he wants for Christmas.

His little brother Randy (Ian Pretella) runs along behind him encased in a snow suit that allows no movement not even the dropping of his arms to his sides. Randy won't eat so his mother engages him in eating "like the piggie does" allowing Randy eat off his plate like an piggie, snorting and laughing through dinner. The "old man" as Ralphie refers to his father as, has his head in the paper not seeming to care about the goings on of his family during dinner. His job is sneaking turkey, introducing the word Fragile (pronounced by the old man as Fra Jill lay) to the world and hitting the ailing furnace.

Ralphie has 2 side kicks, Flick (Scott Schwartz) and Schwartz (R.D. Robb). Schwartz is the genius who is "triple dogged dared" to stick his tongue to the flagpole to see what happens. The next scene is Ralphie's teacher, Miss Shields (Tedde Moore) standing out in the falling snow, as the firemen and police men get Schwartz' tongue off the pole. To punish those encouraging Schwartz, Miss Shields assigns a theme paper, "What I want for Christmas". Ralph can't wait to do the paper, fantasizing about an A +++, only to get a C+ and the words "you'll put your eye out".

The 3rd naysayer in the tale is Santa Claus at the department store downtown Hohman.He says this as he uses his foot to push Ralphie down the slide after his visit with Santa. The story is heartwarming with snow scenes that would do any Christmas proud, parents who love their boys, and a dad who gets his son the BB gun. Ralphie also gets footie pajamas that make him look like a girl Easter Bunny. The funniest scene is that his mother makes him try the pj's on. I think personally she took pleasure in seeing him in them. Who could blame her? I just rolled with laughter the first I saw it almost 30 years ago. It is not Christmas without TBS' 24 hour marathon of A Christmas Story.

So Christmas is over this year, we are tired, and I am off to bed, I just wanted to share a piece of my Christmas. My son turned 15 today, it is permit year. Some sane person suggested I hire someone to teach him to drive. I haven't decided, and as I am not the most sane person, it should not come as a shock to anyone. For now I will just say good night, and have a great day tomorrow.

HO HO HO

2012-12-24T22:34:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas Eve, and since this blog has always been about entertainment I want to discuss my favorite Christmas movies. Now some of them are not Christmas at all, but hold some part of my heart during the season. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, I am immediately ready for my Christmas movies.

This is true of my first Christmas favorite, Mamma Mia. I saw it about 4 years ago at Christmas time. I loved it and am a huge Abba fan. I have fond memories of driving around North Phoenix looking at Christmas lights with my son, listening to Abba in the car. So when I think of that movie it is along with Christmas lights. This year I have fallen in love with another movie, that is becoming part of my Christmas movie marathon, it has nothing to do with Christmas, but is about love and a second chance. It is We Bought a Zoo. I love Matt Damon and Scarlett Johanson, however, Maggie Elizabeth Jones is my new star. It tells the story of a man who has lost his wife, and drifts until he buys a house in the country that comes with a Zoo. It has the warmth of a great Christmas movie. So it is now part of my experience.

The second movie is slightly irreverent, and yet after turkey at Thanksgiving, it is my first of the season. Christmas Vacation. The wonderful Griswold Christmas, with exploding cats, Christmas tree fires, sleeping with your prepubescent brother, and green jello with kitty litter. Who doesn't love Randy Quaid as the white trash brother-in-law Eddie.

For a more British Christmas I found one in Love Actually. Honestly this is my new favorite of them all. Love really is all around. It has Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister who falls for the cute yet foul-mouthed Natalie. There is Alan Rickman as the straying husband of the very brilliant Emma Thompson. Laura Linney as a codependent sister. Keira knightly and Andrew Lincoln (now of The Walking Dead fame) play part of an unrequited love triangle. Colin Firth is a jilted man who finds a new life with Portuguese Aurelia. Kris Marshall, finds love in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Shy sex body doubles Martin Freeman and Joanna Page fall in love and marry. Finally, Liam Neeson is the great and widowed step father to orphaned and in-love Sam (Thomas Sangster). I love so many parts of the film it would be easier to tell you what I did not like, which is almost nothing.

I do love classics ! I always watch "It's a Wonderful Life", with the amazing Jimmy Stewart, and Donna Reed as the Baileys of Bedford Falls Then there is White Christmas with Bing Crosby and the amazing Danny Kaye help their former commanding officer at the Pine Tree Ski Lodge save his business. It includes Vera-Ellen and the wonderful Rosemary Clooney. There is another movie I love for Christmas, called Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. I used to confuse the two as they both take place at resorts, both are about buddies who are performers and both use the song "White Christmas". Both are great films, but I personally think White Christmas is more magical.

There are wonderful TV Cartoons around the Holidays that are classics from my youth. A Charlie Brown Christmas is a must see, along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, that follows the song, and Frosty the Snow Man also follows the song of the same name and is a classic narrated by the late Burl Ives.

I love movies, and TV. This time of year there are so many wonderful shows and movies I possess, but these are really the ones that introduce the Christmas season for me. Movies are one the my most treasured experiences in my life, and I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

The number is 666!!

2012-10-09T01:12:00.003-07:00

Now that school is started I am committed to writing this blog at least twice a week. No matter the work load. I have come to love reviewing my favorite TV shows, movies, comics and anything that entertains me. So that takes me to my favorite TV viewing day, Sunday. I sat down to Dexter, and Homeland, when flipping through the channels I had picked up a new show called 666 Park Avenue.

Now that Deb Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) has uncovered her brother is a serial killer, she has decided Dexter (Michael C.Hall) has an addiction and she can help him beat it. He only has to spend every moment of everyday with her. Our clever Dexter however has learned to drug her steak (loaded syringe) to get a little time to himself when needed. Not only that, La Guerta (Lauren Velez) is really trying to find out who the Bay Harbor Butcher is. If that were not enough, Dexter is having a problem with Louis Cook (Josh Greene). Louis appears to not fear Dexter, even after being threatened. So Dexter is having to "up" the terror in Louis' life.

On the Homeland front Carrie (Clair Danes) simply can not trust herself after being so wrong about Brodie ( Damian lewis-though we know she is dead on target). So when of the informers she made will not speak to anyone else, they send Carrie with Saul (Mandy Patinkin) to Lebanon. It seems that Abu Nazir, a terrorist (who is a contact of Brodie's) is set up for capture. Brodie finds out and warns him at the last minute. Carrie captures papers and a video of Brodie's involvement. Saul watches it knowing she was right all along. Carrie runs through the streets of Beruit looking like a crazy woman, but crazy like a fox. When she goes home she is a little lonely for the CIA, she's missing being a part of it. So there is more than enough for an adrenaline rush with this show.

Now to my new find. The infamous number 666, the mark of the beast is part of the title of this new supernatural drama, 666 Park Avenue. It is based on a book of the same name, and tells the story of a couple who live in the Drake in NYC. While living there they discover, that it is haunted, possessed and otherwise disturbed. Jane Van Veen and Henry Martin (Rachael Taylor and Dave Annable) co-manage The Drake (filmed using the Beaux-Arts building, upper East Side Manhattan). Early on, Jane is having a psychic connection with the building when it invades her sleep with a dream about a 53 year old murder. The building is haunted by murderous starlings, and even stranger owners, Olivia and Gavin Doran (Vanessa Williams and Terry O'Quinn). I am thinking this kind of weirdness is right up my alley and can't wait to see what develops.

So that is it for tonight, I am hoping you have a great week. I will see you later!!

It's a Family Affair

2012-10-03T23:45:00.001-07:00

I have not always appreciated the Family Channel from ABC. I have feared mediocre entertainment disguised as wholesome family entertainment. I have a new perspective because of a couple of things. First I have discovered they run the Gilmore Girls at 11am Monday-Friday. Who doesn't love Rory Gilmore? The Secret Life of The American Teenager has 1980's teen queen Molly Ringwald. My most favorite find is Switched at Birth.

It is the story of Bay Kennish (Vanessa Marano-April Nardini from Gilmore Girls) and Daphne Vasquez (Katie LeCleric). They were switched at birth in a hospital in Kansas. Bay's father was a famous ball player John Kennish (D.W. Moffett). Her mother was stay at home Kathryn (the wonderful Lea Thompson-Caroline in the City and The Back to The Future series). Her brother Toby (Louis Graebel from High School Musicals) resembles Daphne more than Bay. Daphne grew up abandoned by her father early after she gets an ear infection and goes deaf. Her mother Regina (Constance Marie-George Lopez Show) is a recovering alcoholic hair dresser They live in a working class neighborhood in Riverside, Missouri, with Daphne's grandmother played by Ivonne Coll.

After studying blood types in school, Bay wonders why she is different than her family.. Bada-bing bada-bang, and some genetic testing later, Bay is discovered not to be a biological Kennish. It is discovered that the hospital switched her with Daphne Vasquez. When they meet it makes sense, Daphne, who is athletic with light colored hair blends right in with the Kennishes. There is where the story begins. The Vasquez's come to live with the Kennishes in the guest house. This enabled them to get to know each other, and to help Regina out in a financial bind.

Well now, the long lost husband (of Regina) Angelo Sorrento has come back, and learned the truth. It seems he left Regina because he believed she cheated. How could a Puerto Rican woman and an Italian man give birth to a light haired baby? I guess it never occurred to him, that maybe genetically someone married a blond, or that they were switched at birth. Anyway Regina has now had to marry him to keep him from being deported. One other fact, Bay started dating Emmett Bledsoe (Sean Birdy) who Daphne secretly had a crush on. They were friends from childhood. His mother is played by the famous Marlee Matlin. Eventually though Emmett slept with Toby's girlfriend and Bay dumped him. So long faced Emmett is trying to be Bay's friend. Yeah, like that works all the time.

Anyway, during October, from the 19th on, the ABC Family channel is going to have Halloween films every night. They are among the likes of Beetlejuice and Hocus Pocus. I am sure there will be a Tim Burton film in there too. So even though it is mostly G or PG13, the ABC Family Channel will have me watching. Those are some fun films!! I love Switched at Birth and can't wait for next Monday!!

Dexter is BACK!!

2012-10-01T01:20:00.002-07:00

Ok, this was an exciting night on Showtime. Dexter came back, with a Homeland Chaser. I have watched both since their beginnings, Dexter since 2006 and Homeland since 2011. Dexter (Michael C. Hall), I call the serial killer with good intentions. He only kills killers. It seems Dexter was rescued by a Miami cop when he was 3. The cop, Harry Morgan (James Remar) saw something in Dexter, and because Dexter was witness to his mother's murder, and was sitting in a pool of her blood, Harry thought his urge to kill needed to be contained. So he coached him and taught him how to use his powers for good. He still haunts Dexter now and then. Harry and his wife had a daughter, named Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) who basically lived in Dexter's shadow after Harry rescued and adopted him. With both of their parents gone both Debra and Dexter work for Miami Metro. He is a blood splatter specialist and Debra this year is the Lieutenant of his division.

Homeland began last season and introduces us to characters Carrie Mathison (Clair Danes), and Nicholas Brody (Brit Damien Lewis). Carrie is an CIA agent who was tipped off that an American Prisoner of War in Iraq, has turned Al-Queda. Immediately after, her Boss David Estes (David Harewood calls a meeting to divulge an American Marine had been rescued, thus enter Nicholas Brody. So after 8 years Nicholas goes home to his wife Jessica Brody (Morena Baccarin) who played Anna in "V"). She is one of the most gorgeous women on TV. It turns out Nicholas is Al-Queda and has been sent to take out some politicians. Carrie comes to his own and convinces his daughter to call him, so he does not follow through on his suicide bombing mission. Carrie is unceremoniously tossed from the CIA, and abandoned even by her mentor Saul (played by one of my faves Mandy Patinkin). In the last frame Carrie is getting electro shock therapy for her bipolar disorder.

Last season on Dexter, Debra reveals in therapy she has a break through. She confesses that Dexter has always been there for her, and she might actually be in love with him. Before you judge, remember technically they are not related. Fast forward as she walks in on Dexter performing his ritual killing of Travis (Colin Hanks) the religious serial killer. She is shocked but agreed to help Dexter cover it up. So they remove the plastic and tell tale signs of Dexter's involvement, stab Travis with his sword in the same wound, and set the whole place on fire. Deb gets the gasoline. Deb is having a Post Traumatic Stress experience most of the rest of the episode. At the scene Det. La Guerta (Lauren Velez) finds the blood slide in a crevice that Dexter dropped (you have to have souvenirs).

Dexter is having nightmares of trying to get away, and having all his credit cards declined. Which turns out to be a psychic premonition. Jamie (Aimee Garcia) his son's Harrison's babysitter has become involved a millionaire gamer Louis Greene (Josh Cooke) who is fascinated with Dexter. He logs on to Dexter's computer and steals credit card numbers from Dexter's aliases and cancels them. The exact premonition Dexter had. After a cop is killed, Dexter who is needing to get control back in his life, goes after the killer and finishes him off.

When he goes home Deb is setting in Dexter's home with every piece of evidence strewn across his living room, including his blood splatter collection. The end for this week. I am looking forward to this season #7, some guest stars are Calista Flockhart (Brothers and Sisters), Ray Stevenson, Jason Gedrick, and Yvonne Strahovski. So keep your hats on!!

This season begins in Homeland with people starting to doubt Nicholas Brody as he is now up for presidential running mate, and is acting funny. No one doubts him more than his wife Jessica who finds his Koran and throws it on the floor. Nicholas freaks out just a little. Carrie is called back from her docile life with her sister and her father in to action. It seems an operative Carrie brought in will speak to no one else. So with a brunett wig, Carrie is off to Iraq, soon is evading capture, and it is clear, mania has over taken her. My son said she had crazy eyes. Brody has found an ally in his daughter, who later helps him bury his desecrated Koran. This show won Emmy's for Best Drama, Best Actor Damien Lewis and Best Actress Claire Danes. This season they say will answer all your questions, so I would suggest you not miss it. Have a good night!!

I know where Andy Botwin Went!!

2012-09-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well, this one of my favorite times on television. It is the new television season. Now on the cable channels new shows and seasons of beloved shows, start throughout the year. On the mainstream ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, fall is a big deal. In fact I am a little behind. I love fall. I have fond memories of school starting and the new fall lineup on television. I am determined to catch up with them over the next couple of weeks. There are 2 shows I want to address and both are on the fab 4 network shows.

The other day I was lamenting the ending of Weeds. Mary-Louise Parker is already jumping into new work, with Red 2, remember how great she was with Bruce Willis? That is not all though, she is filming Feed The Dog, Les Passages, and finished up Jamesy Boy. So she is still a type A personality. I was flipping through the channels and there he was, Andy Botwin, or Justin Kirk as he is known IRL. That's In Real Life for those of you who didn't know. I knew, I saw The Net.

He is the lead in a new NBC show called Animal Practice. He plays Dr. George Coleman. Whereas Andy Botwin could never find a way to keep his thoughts to himself, Dr. George Coleman, hates people. So his conversations are limited. He loves his patients. There are 2 break away stars for me. First a Capuchin monkey named Dr. Rizzo (Crystal). He loves to paint to music, and dresses in the cutest clothes (Ok, I will stop the cuteness). Next is animal handler Angela (Betsy Sodaro) she is quirky, even odd, yet loveable. This last week she sold Dr. Rizzo's painting to a gallery, only to feel so much guilt she bought it back for an additional $200. They all work at Crane Animal hospital which caters to the rich and famous. Where Dr. Coleman's boss is his ex-girl-friend who inherited the business. She is Dorothy Crane (Joann Garcia Swisher). If you love quirky comedies, you will certainly love this.

That leads me into a show I already watch and love. One that boasts a Weeds alumni. It is Suburgatory. It is in it's second season on ABC. Jeremy Sisto plays single father George Altman. George moves his teenage daughter Tessa (Jane Levy) to the burbs to give her a better life. A redhead in a sea of blonde girls. They move from NYC to the fictitious suburb of Chatswin. Now as someone who lives in the burbs, I completely understand Tessa's desire to chew her arm off to escape the burbs for NYC. She makes a friend in the awkward Lisa Marie Shay (Allie Grant also a Weeds alumni- Isabel Hodes).

George has a girlfriend, Eden (the famous Alicia Silverstone). She is about 8 months pregnant, as she is a surrogate mother for Noah and Jill (Alan Tudyk and Gillian Vigman). I love that they wove Alicia Silverstone's vegan lifestyle in with Eden. I am sure they did this to annoy Tessa. How are you supposed eat wonderful hot gooey pastries with frosting, while Eden is shoving whole grain down your throat? I get It. I know where Tessa is coming from. Even with a girlfriend the easy going George is a chick magnet, yet he doesn't exactly get it. There are some great supporting actors in the show. Ana Gesteyer (SNL alum), Jay Mohr, and Cheryl Hines. The show's writing is clever and funny. So I would tell you to watch the show and enjoy the casting!!

Well, there is so much to write about for weeks to come, so I am stopping for tonight. Tomorrow night Dexter the serial killer with a heart is back on. This year it should be great. His cop sister caught him knife hand over one of his victims. Homeland is coming back tomorrow too, so have a great day and stay tuned!!

They Really Are Incredible!!

2012-09-26T01:18:00.003-07:00

I am so sorry I have not paid better attention to you! I started school again, and suffered a momentary lapse!! I promise not to do it frequently. So I was sitting down doing some homework (yes I can do that) and guess what I found? My favorite Animated movie of all time, The Incredibles. I had only 1 child in life, and one of my best joys was having a wonderful second childhood. Never a time has there been so much great entertainment for kids. Watching The Incredibles was like a trip to the 1960's.

The first thing I love about the movie, is the jazzy theme music by Michael Giacchino. It was like watching Mission Impossible, I Spy or any of the spy type shows of the 60's. The movie is about Superheros that are ban from performing good deeds, and protecting the innocent. What does happen to a superhero that can't capture villains? According to this movie, he marries another superhero (Elastigirl), moves to the suburbs and becomes an insurance adjuster. Whoa, an adjuster that suffers from a slight case of melancholy. Who can blame him?

So it starts with Mr. Incredible talking about his secret identity. He is followed by the fetching Elastigirl, and Frozone who talk about their lives and frustrations being super. "Leave the saving to the men? I don't think so, I don't think so." a direct quote from Elastigirl, Because of the collateral damage from being super, all heros are banned from using their powers, and put into a "Witness Protection" type program called a "Supers Relocation Program".

Fast forward about 15-16 years later, Mr. Incredible is now Bob Parr (Craig T. Nelson), married to Helen Parr (the former Elastigirl Holly Hunter). The two are married, he an insurance adjuster, and she is a housewife. They have 3 children, Violet (Sara Vowell) about 15, Dash (Spencer Fox) about 10, and baby Jack-Jack (Eli Fucile and Maeve Andrews). Bob accidentally shows his powers one day, and is fired from being an adjuster. He does not tell his wife, but he retreats to his office. His children meanwhile display super powers, to which Bob and Helen warn them against. Dash is as his name suggests super fast, faster than the eye can see. Violet can disappear. Helen tells Dash they need to blend into the rest of society.

Now Bob is contacted by an anonymous woman named Mirage (Elizabeth Pena), she has a job for Bob in which he can again use his super powers. Thus his and his families' journey begin to being Super again. Bob being several pounds heavier than his super hero days trains to get in shape. Enter my favorite character ever, Edna Mode (Brad Bird). She styles the superheros, and reminds me of the Hollywood costume designer Edith Head. They even gave her the bob and glasses. She is a blast. She designs a new costume for Mr. Incredible. Now another of my favorite parts this is movie is the 1960's suburb setting of the Parrs. In fact the whole film is styled in this fashion. It reminds me of a pseudo Jetsons type animation. Who did not love George Jetson, Jane his wife?

Now Helen finds out Bob is no longer in insurance when she calls his office . Insecure, Helen sets off to find out what he is up to. The once pudgy office worker has recently gotten into shape and is much more affectionate. Seems suspicious to me. She finds Edna, who has designed an entire wardrobe for the Parr family. Then with a little information sets off to find Bob. Violet and Dash have stowed away in their borrowed jet so they are off with Helen on an adventure. Syndrome (Jason Lee) is a stalker/fan who wanted to be Mr Incredible's sidekick (but was turned down and turned evil villain). He has lured Mr. Incredible to his island. It seems Syndrome has become ultra wealthy, and invented a secret weapon the Omnidroid. He has planned to destroy Mr. Incredible for humiliating him years ago. Of course in the end Syndrome is defeated, as evil always is in the cartoons.

Now an interesting side note is about Baby Jack-Jack. He discovers his own powers while The Incredibles are away, and sends his normal babysitter into a frenzy. Jack-Jack shapeshifts, teleports, has laser vision and can fly. So as the Parr family settles back into their lives, the suburbs are quiet again. However, when a new villian arrives, they put on their uniforms and again become The Incredibles fighting crime and saving the world from destruction.

It's Gonna Be A Great Day at The SyFy Channel

2012-09-22T11:18:00.003-07:00

My shows are over this weekend. The only bright spot is The 64th Emmy Awards on Sunday, too early for Dexter and Homeland, too late for Drop Dead Diva and Weeds. Now I did see Treme, which I liked the first season, but I have not watched the shows on HBO, so I will have to do that another time. When I flipped to the SyFy Channel on Saturday, I was as happy as a clam. It is bug day on the SyFy Channel. More of the wonderful movies they are famous for.

I can't wait for Saturday on SyFy. For their first selection today they have Swarmed. It is a SyFy pictures original, made in Canada. This is about a scientist Ken Horvath (Michael Shanks) who is trying to invent a pesticide for wasps. He experiments on these 8 wasps. All but 2 are killed. The last 2 kill the janitor, one of the wasps is killed So there is one lonely wasp left who is trapped in the janitors mouth. When it is released, it goes on a killing spree. Model Carol Alt plays a teacher/scientist Cristina Brown, who explains about pheromones to her students. Which sets up the premise of why bees and wasps keep attacking. Between it being an election year, and having dirty politicians, and pesticide resistant wasps, the movie is chock full of twists and turns.

There are so many good ones on today, I say get the popcorn and the tissue, as you will be laughing your heads off to the point of tears. I will be only writing bits on some them because who can cover 6-7 great campy films in my small blog? Ok, next is Infestation, which is billed as comedic. What do you do when wake up and a bug has wrapped you up in webbing? Well slacker Cooper (Chris Marquette) finds out in this film. There is an infestation of disgusting bugs, and Cooper hooks up with a group of survivors to take them on. This one is supposed to have a surprise end, Soprano style.

Next are Growth and Arachnoquake, that is right you saw it correctly. Lets talk about Arachnoquake After hurricanes Issac and Katrina, New Orleans area has had enough problems. Now they have an earthquake in the area. It releases a herd(?) of fire breathing spiders is going to take over Louisiana. I can not wait for this film. Is the SyFy Channel ever going to run out of ideas for B movies? I think not. This one has child star from Growing Pains, Tracey Gold in it as Katelynn. Again kudos to SyFy for casting our former stars, giving them a job, and us a chance to see them again. Growth is about human evolution, and stars Charmed alum Brian Krause who plays Marco. Growth looks dark, and "The Ring" like in its setting.

The next great one I can't wait to see is Camel Spiders. I discovered camel spiders when I was researching the big wolf spider in my garage. It seems these middle eastern spiders, gnaw on you while you sleep. The have like an anesthesia in their bite. So I can't wait to see this. It also stars Brian Krause from Charmed fame. He plays Capt. Sturges. It also has C.Thomas Howell from Southland fame. The thing about these spiders is they are huge. I am including a picture. So this has got to be good. I am taking bigger than a bread box. If you know that cliche.

Thank God for the SyFy channel or my addiction to having running TV would make me have to go cold turkey. I might have to read a book. I guess I could go out with friends, but like I said, I work on the weekends. Anyway there is one last movie I am pushing on SyFy today Ice Spiders. Just when you thought colder climates would keep you bug free, Lost Mountain resort is infested with gigantic spiders. They were produced by a governmental experiment and have escaped. So between eating everyone in sight, there is plenty of running and screaming to fulfill that horror craving. So tune in and have a great Saturday!! Oh by the way Brian Krause is not in this one. Someone else is I loved, Steven J. Cannell. He was a writer who worked on all kinds of TV shows, Mission Impossible, Adam 12, 21 Jump Street, Baretta, the A team, The Commish and tons more. This was his last movie as he died in 2010. Steven is an actor in this film. Have a great day!!

What About Dr. Frasier Crane?

2012-09-20T23:59:00.002-07:00

I was groggy this morning and not wanting to work. So I took my coffee, sat down and I watched an hour of Fraiser. Of course it is now well into reruns, and my view of Kelsey Grammar is very different than it was during the show. I had forgotten though how really wonderful the show was, with David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney and Jane Leeves. It was really a relationship, character driven show. Most of the really good shows are. I also love the theme song-Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs, sung by Kelsey Grammar. Check it out on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DeQDv7P3QY

As a lot of you may know the character of Fraiser Crane made his appearance on the 1980's hit, Cheers. When Diane left Sam, she came back with Fraiser, he was so quirky, and fit so well, he never left. Then later after Diane was gone again, Fraiser found a perfect mate in Lillith(the beautiful Bebe Neuwirth). Here they were, 2 anal retentive therapists passionately in love. As Cheers ended, Fraiser and his Lillith broke up and he got a job on a radio show in Seattle, Washington so he moved to his own show.

Fraiser Crane lives in a penthouse apartment over looking the Downtown of Seattle. He shares the apartment with his father, Martin Crane (John Mahoney), a retired Seattle cop. I love the back drop of the manly man who has his broken down plaid recliner in the middle Fraiser's well decorated apartment. Martin has 2 sons, Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Fraiser, both intellectual metrosexual therapists. Martin is cared for by his British therapist Daphne (Jane Leeves). Niles most of the show is secretly in love with Daphne. After his divorce he finally marries her and has a child.

The episodes I watched were wonderful,. The first was Ski Lodge (season 5, episode 14). Roz (Peri Gilpin) who works with Fraiser, wins tickets for a ski lodge. She gives them to Fraiser, and he brings his whole family, Niles, Martin, Daphne and her friend Annie. Fraiser tries to get next to Annie, who is trying to get next to Niles, who is trying to get next to Daphne, who is trying to get next the ski instructor, who is trying to get next to Niles. Amid the many closing and opening of doors, the comedy plays out like a good Ira Levin Broadway show. Fraiser, whose ego is suffering, realizes at the end, no one was lusting after him.

The second episode I watched was Room Service (season 5, episode 15). In this one Fraiser's ex Lillith comes to him for comfort when her present husband leaves her for a male interior designer. Her self esteem is low. Fraiser trying to avoid temptation gets Niles to help him. Fast forward to the next day, and Lillith awakes in a hotel room next to the naked Niles. They order breakfast, and Fraiser shows up. Comically They try to hide Niles in the bathroom which leads to laughs and a frustrated room service attendant.

I miss this show. It was on for 11 seasons, and frankly Kelsey Grammar is not the Fraiser I remember. I am totally glad it is in reruns regularly!! As a northwest girl, it makes me miss the rain, the Puget Sound, and the Pike Street Market of Seattle.

Close Encounters of the Alien Kind

2012-09-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

I worked Friday and Saturday night at home, I know it is the weekend, sigh... However during my unfortunate incarceration (Anthony Bouvier-Designing Women) at home, I managed to discover a variety of interesting movies. The theme was aliens. I went between HBO, and AMC. There were actually 5 movies about aliens in a short Amount of time. Most of these I have seen before, all were thoroughly enjoyable.

Two of these were my part of my all time favorite movies. Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Cocoon. I think Cocoon needs to be covered in my other blog as I had a spiritual experience after watching it. For this blog however I just love it!

I stumbled on to Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This is a wonderful movie came out in 1977 and was done by Steven Spielberg. It starred the very popular (at the time) Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillion. Their characters, Roy and Jillian are part of a group of people in Indiana that have a UFO encounter one night. Afterward they are driven by visions of this mountain. Jillian is a young mother who after that night, has another visit from the aliens and they abduct her small son. Roy, a handy man type who lives in the suburbs of Indiana with his family (his wife is played by Terri Garr-also popular actress of the time). He is so driven, he loses his job, and his family abandons him.

Roy and Jillian are driven to go to the mountain, they are start to make some connections, after seeing it on TV. Roy says, "I want answers." That is his drive through out this movie. From their shared UFO encounter on an Indiana highway, to connecting on their way out of town. The two have a bond to find out the truth. The government has a role, and actually sets up a place to meet with the aliens in Wyoming.

This movie draws on all the popular culture of time; abductions, the Bermuda Triangle, little grey men, music as communication, and government conspiracy. The encounter is wonderful. The aliens return the abductees, including Jillian's little son and Roy is allowed to go on an exchange program with the aliens. I think it was inspiring and beautiful. The interactions with the aliens were about mutual exchanges, not war, and invasion. I love Spielberg's movies.

While I was watching/ taping Close Encounters, also on was Cocoon. It is a Ron Howard film It came out in 1984. It left me with this desire to go out and!! The cast of this movie is incredible, Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Brian Dennehy, Gwen Verdon, Maureen Stapleton and Steve Guttenberg. Alot of these people are now deceased, but they were at that time, broadway stars, old time movie actors, really respected people. It seems Antareans who were peaceful race from another planet (Antares) set up a presence here during Atlantis. As it fell, they had to leave, not all of them could so they stored them in cocoons in the Gulf of Mexico. The movie is set in Florida, and love the Tampa Bay/ St. Petersburg area. Each time I see this movie I feel the potential of what could be, positively, instead of the invasion premises that are so prevalent today.

I am a huge fan of the Alien films and shows. I do believe in life outside of our existence. I am also remember a time of more positive expectations, now our aliens are bent on invasion for a seek and destroy mission. Though are graphics are superb, I fear the aliens of District 9 or Falling Skies. Which of course I watch anyway. Modern day alien films serve up my alien visitations with the depravity of human beings turning them into persecuted minorities living in the slums of Africa or having them taking over the world to destroy us. The best part occurred on Saturday when the mother of all alien movies from Steven Spielberg came on, ET The Extraterrestrial. Starring the beautiful Drew Barrymore. I personally take my aliens with a pinch of hope, instead of a dash of doom.

Weeds Front to Back!!

2012-09-17T06:13:00.002-07:00

I said goodbye to an old friend tonight, Weeds. My Adrian died of a brain tumor in 2004 he was 33. Weeds began in 2005 with character Nancy Botwin's (Mary-Louise Parker) husband dying of a heart attack. It set the stage for the mother of 2, as she became pot dealer to the suburbs of Agrestic, California. With brother-in-law Andy Botwin(Justin Kirk) and friend Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon), we went through 7 seasons (countless years) of her struggle to raise her sons, from California across country to prison and finally settling down in Connecticut.

The opening scene ends as it started. Steve Reyes Blume is now bar mitzvah age (13). His step father rabbi Blume is now deceased. Nancy again stands at a podium at a PTA meeting as she did in the first episode ever. Then she was arguing with Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins), for diet soda in the school, and this time it was for no helmets during soccer. Both times she failed. It seemed from the start, that beautiful Nancy Botwin was on the wrong side. The one thing she finally got right is she bought land, and in this future, she owns 50 shops that sell pot products, now legal. So successful that Starbucks wants to buy them out.

I watched as the writers closed up story lines, Silas (Hunter Parrish) has married his deaf girlfriend Megan (Shosannah Stern)and they have a baby that she won't let Nancy hold. She is resentful for Silas' childhood. Silas tells Nancy, when she asks him to make his wife be nice to her, "It is not about you anymore." This wonderful series wraps up the story lines to these characters and lets us see their progress, and then takes us back to beginning. Shane is a cop, a dirty cop, and hangs out with the old man who mentored him. He is a mess, alcoholic and resentful. It seems like a cruel joke from the universe that their marijuana business has flourished, as he tried to go legit as a cop. Clearly his journey through the last years have been hard for him to deal with. When Nancy asks him to come home, he agrees to go to therapy and rehab, but not home.

Doug Wilson is a guru of his own church. He travels around in a bus, wearing purple with beautiful young women that he uses as sex toys. They bring back his gay drug dealing son Josh Wilson (Justin Chatwin) all grown up. He is a lawyer, who lives with his famous artist boyfriend. Through out the episode Doug has his flock kidnap the son in order to make up with him. They finally do. Celia Hode's ex husband Dean (Andy Milder) can walk again and is present at Stevie's party, he lets everyone know daughter Isabel (Allie Grant) now is a boy. Conrad (Romany Malco) is not present as his wife is ready to have twins. Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) shows up in the finale like he did in the first season, making breakfast in the kitchen for the family. He now has a little cafe where he cooks and is happy. He has a daughter, and though not with the mother, they are raising their daughter Leni together.

Nancy begins the prospect of facing her life alone. Young Stevie, does not get bar mitzvahed. He learns about his drug lord father from Guillermo (Guillermo Diaz), and decides his methodist mother, and catholic birth-father, really make him confused. He does want to go to boarding school, which Nancy finally agrees to. Nancy runs into Andy and offers to make him a partner in her business 50/50 (she was unwilling to do that when she opened the bakery as a front for the drug dealing), Andy says no. She offers to sell everything and come near him. He still turns her down, and tells her it is time for her to find herself. She decides to sell her stores and do just that.

As the original 5 cast members, Kevin Nealon (Doug), Mary-Louise Parker (Nancy), Justin Kirk (Andy), Hunter Parris (Silas) and Alexander Gould (Shane) sit on the porch for the last minute, we say good bye and good luck, I reflect on my own journey these last 8 years. I realize it is time for me to reinvent myself and go off on my own. First I am rewatching all seasons.Then I will put them away, say thank you for making my life a little more enjoyable, bringing me a laugh and taking me on an adventure.

So What Now???

2012-09-10T13:12:00.001-07:00

Here it is my favorite TV night, Sunday!! Tonight is significant for a few reasons. First it is the end of one of my favorite Sunday shows, Army Wives. I mean the series finale!! Then we are one week away from the end of another show I adore,Weeds. Last it was the season finale of Drop Dead Diva. This is quite a bit of emotional TV for one woman, considering I was up all Saturday night with Shark Swarm.

First Let Me Say, Good Bye Army Wives, and What The Hell Was That?

So I am sitting as the cast closes up the story lines. The soldiers of the 1st Brigade at Fort Marshall are getting ready to deploy again to Afghanistan. This time Joan (Wendy Davis) is bumped up in rank, so she is a commanding officer and is required to go with the soldiers. The gay couple Charlie (Ryan Michele Bath) and Nicole (Kelli Martin) who were recently married miraculously get Hector's (Joseph Julian Soria) baby to raise, just as Nicole is leaving on deployment. Roxy (Sally Pressman), Trevor/Drew Fuller) and family are safely in their van headed to Tacoma, Washington. The next scene is the plane carrying the soldiers is in bad weather, we go to General Michael Holden (Brian McNamara) who is answering the phone in his office, and the says, "OH My God". Then the series is over? It reminded of me when The Sopranos ended. With the fade to black. I am hoping this will mean there is a movie? Or they tell me What The Hell Happened? I just got to know!!

Let Her Have Greyson!!

Ok, so that was pretty good, but lets discuss Drop Dead Diva. Ok so we know Deb (Brook D'orsay) has been in Jane's (Brook Elliot) body for these 3 years. We know Greyson (Jackson Hurst) and Jane are really good friends. Jane pined over Greyson and then finally moved on with Owen. So Jane and Owen (Lex Medlin) are getting married tonight. We have real Jane in heaven, watching Deb/Jane these many years, ticked off that the "bimbo blonde" was turning her life into a train wreck. It seems when your body is kept alive with the intervention of another soul, in this case Deb Dobkins, you have permission to watch it from heaven. Jane is not happy and finds Deb/Jane's old guardian angel Fred (Ben Feldman), and like Deb presses the return button. Back to Deb/Jane who in her wedding dress which is caught on a nail. Greyson comes and they share a moment and a kiss. Then Greyson tells her he loves her, Owen walks in, goes into a cardiac episode, and upon waking says to Jane/Deb, "Where am I". It is at that time Jane realizes something has happened to Owen. It appears to me Owen is now the old Jane. That should make some great plot twists. So if Deb/ Jane marries Jane/Owen, does that make them lesbians? I am sooooo confused........That is where the series ends until the next season. Please TV writers, Let Jane Have Greyson! What a wacky plot, I actually think it is brilliant!!

Lastly, we are a week away from the series finale of Weeds. It is the end of an era. Carrying on after your man dies, is hard. Especially when you live in expensive Agrestic, California. It requires some creative thinking. The sunny life of the California suburbs paints a lovely picture. I love the contrast of a housewife selling weed to the neighbors to support her family. This begins the journey of Nancy Botwin (Mary- Louise Parker). We follow Nancy and her family from the burning of Agrestic (by the way Nancy's fault) to the California Coast. Nancy finds love again, marries a Mexican drug dealer/politician, and then has baby Stevie.

After Shane ( Alexander Gould---younger son of Judah) kills the drug dealers/politicians sister, Pillar (Kate Del Castillo), the Botwin's escape to Seattle. They journey across the USA all the way to prison, NYC and finally landing in Connecticut. We have watched her journey, her ability to survive, even thrive at times, and now it is almost over. This year Nancy has her feet in Connecticut, but has gone back to her roots in Regrestic, California (the rebirth of Agrestic). Ever being the entrepreneur, she has bought some land to grow marijuana. Nancy plans on legally distributing it in California. She is also mending fences with Guillermo (Guillermo Diaz) and Conrad (Romany Malco), drawing them in as partners the business. We have one more episode and I am dying to see what happens!!

Shark Saturday on the SyFy Channel!!

2012-09-08T20:27:00.001-07:00

I blogged a few weeks ago on Shark Week. August 13th to be exact. I love Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. However, more exciting is Shark Saturday on the SyFy Channel. It started at 9:00 am today with DinoShark. It finishes at 3:00am with Shark Swarm Part II. The SyFy Channel has some really interesting new movies that are so campy, they are funny. The are like the B movies of the 1950's, low budget, and full of gore, topped off with tons of screaming!! These Shark Movies are no exception. So grab your popcorn and soda, pull up a sofa and laugh your head off.

First we have DinoShark, man's contribution to global warming starts this film. A chunk of ice from the Artic breaks loose and you see a baby dino shark swim away. Years later, he is a fierce predator. He swims into Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and begins eating his way through the tourists. Eric Balfour plays the main character Trace, who runs around trying to convince everyone this is happening, from to tourist to law enforcement. Of course no one believes him, until either he is devoured by Dino Shark, or watches someone else become human sushi. I first saw him on Six Feet Under, now he plays one of my favorite characters free-spirit Duke Crocker on Haven. Which is also on the SyFy Channel and coming back in a couple of weeks.

Our next selection is Sharktopus. I had never seen a half-shark/half-octopus walk up on the beach to feast on his "beautiful young girl buffet" before. Well, at least not until Sharktopus. This has got to be one of the campiest movie I have seen from SyFy. He is genetically engineered by the military and escapes to feast on the beaches of Southern California. A place where he can eat to his heart's content and yet eat mostly a low fat menu. It stars Eric Roberts, brother to the famous Julia Roberts in the starring role of Dr. Nathan Sands. Roger Gorman, an academy award winning producer, does this film. There is a sequel called Piranhaconda. So that should be a thriller!!

Next we have Mega Shark Vs. Crocosaurus, yep I said it. The SyFy Channel has brought back the extinct megladon and paired it with a giant crocodile. In this movie Lt. Terry McCormick (Jaleel White- that is Steve Irkel for those of you who remember him) is transporting a giant crocodile when it is attacked by a megladon. The crocodile has laid eggs all over the Pacific Coastline. The ship also has some of her eggs. Which the megladon can detect. So we have the battle between the two giants while crocodiles are hatching all over and the hatchlings go on a rampage to the Santa Monica Pier. Veteran actor Robert Picardo plays Admiral Calvin in this thriller. I love that the SyFy Channel uses actors that have been successful before on TV and in film. Robert Picardo was on one of my faves from the 80's China Beach, and was in the Star Trek family as Dr.Zimmerman in Deep Space Nine.

I am not going to review all of today's films, but one of the titles takes me back, Land Sharks. Anyone who remembers Saturday Night Live when Chevy Chase and the late Gilda Radner were on, remembers their famous Land Sharks skit. Super Shark and The 2 headed Shark Attack are on tonight. The Cool thing about The 2 Headed Shark Attack, is that it stars Carmen Electra, Charlie O'Connell (the bachelor, and Jerry O'Connell's brother) and Brook Hogan (daughter of Hulk Hogan).

We finish the night with a two part movie, Shark Swarm Part One and Part two. Now this movie has some well known stars like; Daryl Hannah-Splash fame, John Schneider of Dukes of Hazard and Smallville, Armand Assante whose resume dates back to 1974, F. Murray Abraham who I loved in Amadeus, and those are just the really well known actors. The story is that Lux (Armand Assante) is a developer who wants to make a wealthy community on the shore of this little seaside town. He releases a chemical in the water which alter the area sharks, and make them want to feast more on humans. I can't wait to watch this tonight!!

I love the SyFy Channel, and they are making movies all the time. I love they use some of all time favorite actors and that their movies are so campy. If you miss any of these today, check back, Shark Swarm was made in 2008, so they are shown regularly. They also have a great reality show called Face Off, where make up artists put together costumes and looks. It is one of the better reality shows, and the make up design is incredible. Have a great Weekend!

I SPY

2012-09-06T23:22:00.005-07:00

As a child I longed for stability, family, and to be completely one of the gang. Those were things sorely lacking in my young life. After many years of recovery, and therapy, I have learned to embrace the part of my experiences that made me who I am. As an adult, one of my many fantasies is to be a part of the world of espionage. I long to be a covert spy. It is my fantasy. I want to travel internationally, have access to money, to be a different identity at the drop of a hat, to hop a jet and go from Russia to Spain in a few hours. To walk among the tall new buildings of Berlin, stroll long side the Seine River in France, and to have a mission.

That is why I love is The Bourne Legacy films. I don't love that Jason is thrown over board, or his girl is killed, but I love his ability to travel, the excitement and the adventure. So that brings me to a show I watch religiously. Covert Affairs, where Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) is recruited by the CIA, while living at her sisters house. Her ex-boyfriend is being sought by the CIA, and so Annie is sent to the DPD (Domestic Protection Division) in order to help capture him. Other missions grow out of that beginning premise. Her cover is that she works for the Smithsonian Institute.

I have to say watching Annie, I get the feeling she is being slightly used. Maybe that is how CIA views operatives. They have a purpose for them, and so it appears like using to me. Annie is new, and one hell of an agent. She is a cross between Gidget and Chuck Norris, perky and yet can pack one hell of a punch.

One person that seems to have her back is "Auggie" (Christopher Gorham), who is a special ops/ MI (military intelligence). He was blinded in Iraq and now handles tech ops for Annie. He is also her closest friend. Auggie is incredibly athletic, and has one hell of a body. He is extremely competent with what he does. I guess he would have to be to work CIA wouldn't he? He was engaged, but when his fiance found out he was CIA, she broke up with him.

Her handler is the manager of DPD Joan Campbell (Kari Matchett). She is tough on Annie, to enable her to become a stronger agent. I have read she sees herself in Annie, though at times it doesn't appear like that. Joan is Married to her boss Aurthur Campbell (veteran actor Peter Gallagher). They actually work well together and appear to have a decent marriage. Joan's cover is that she works for World Bank. Now I thought Joan was tough until Annie was sent to Lena Smith's (Sarah Clarke) division. Lena sent Annie back to DPD when she wasn't happy with her progress.

Now we are caught up. There is a lot of excitement this 3rd season. Annie has fallen in love with another spy she was sent to bring in Simon Fischer (Richard Coyle). Simon is suspected of killing CIA operative Jai Wilcox (Sendhi Ramamurthy). Simon is handsome, rich, also a spy, with a great British accent, and he loves Annie. Who wouldn't love him right? He loved her enough to kill his own handler in order to protect her. This year is dicey with the introduction of Lena Smith, and Simon Fischer. I can't say anymore I will give it away. So I just say WATCH the show!

Lets Dance Moms!!

2012-08-31T09:04:00.002-07:00

Now I really am not a big fan of reality TV. I want a story, and not an a story of swapping wives between families that are polar opposites. I think the reactions are slightly staged, nor do I like billionaire families living on the bayou in communal trailers, or dysfunctional extravagant housewives that I can't relate to. However, I have a guilty sin, it is Abby Lee Miller!! Yes I love Dance Moms!! I have my son watch it with me, we adore the drama, chaos and beauty of the dance.

Now I have been watching since the beginning as Abby starts every episode with the pyramid. We all know her pyramid, it is her way of praising or chastising her preteen minions. Her girls are listed in pyramid form from bottom to the top according to their performances in competitions. Now this year she is considering improvement, and leadership too as criteria, so it has expanded since the beginning. The first year I swear most of the year Nia Frazier, Paige Hyland, and Mackenzie Zeigler were on the bottom. Brook Hyland (Paige's older sister), and Chloe Lukasiak were the middle and Maddie Zeigler, Joy of Abby's life, and dance perfectionist was on top. Now all the girls on this show are amazing dancers. That is why they are in Abby's Dance Company.

There have been a couple of additions to the original dance company. Cathy Stein brought her daughter Vivi-Anne to train with Abby. Cathy owns a dance studio herself. It is called the Candy Apple Dance Studio in Canton, Ohio. Living in the west the ideal of going that far for a dance class seems like a lot of work. It is about 100 miles and 2 hours away, too much for me. Our class was 10 minutes away and I thought that was interrupting to my schedule. Ok, so I am not the most dedicated dance mom. Anyway, Vivi-Anne was not that good, and really not that interested in dance. Cathy soon became Abby's enemy. She is controlling, self centered, and annoying, with a voice that would strip a bird of its feathers as it flew over. She is periodically on the show just to irritate the Abby Lee Miller Dance Company, and it does make good ratings to have antagonists. She is perfect for that role.

Then there is Jill and Kendall. Jill is a dance center hopper, trying to promote Kendall her daughter. Kendall is actually a good dancer and is worthy of being in the company. In fact she was in the company, that is until overbearing Jill got frustrated that Abby was not giving Kendall the solos she deserved and took her to Candy Apple Dance Company. Cathy loving to stick it to Abby, took in the pair and gave Kendall some breaks. The bloom wore off, and now Jill has again hopped back to Abby studio. Abby has refused to let her come back, she does let Kendall dance in group, but she is not in the company and not on the holy pyramid. I fully expect her to get frustrated, fight with Abby and hop again. For now she is trying. Abby is far more generous than I would be, but Kendall is good, and she can not help who her mother is.

So now you have met the dancers, lets meet the moms. Christy is a blonde who has become better looking and more polished since season one. She is Chloe's mom. I loved her classic blond beauty, now her personality has regressed. She is like roller derby mom. Sometimes that is needed on the show, sigh... I love Chloe, in fact that girl is a beautiful dancer. She is my favorite, but I do favor a ballet dance better than jazz or acro. She is going to do well.

Maddy and Mckenzie's mom is Melissa. Melissa used to work for Abby. Abby does favor Maddy. Maddy produces. She has more crowns than most drag queens. Melissa is hard to figure, she is evasive to the point of ridiculous around her engagement, people pleases to try to make friends with moms who are jealous of her daughters position with Abby. She is at times uptight and other times quite likable and pleasant. Nia's mom is Holly. Holly is my favorite mom. She is Dr. Holly to all of us. She is well educated, woman the least chaotic. Yet when needed she is capable of taking care of business. Lastly is Kelly. Kelly is an attractive woman, but a drama queen. twice she has withheld one of her girls from competition to make a point with Abby. If I were Abby I would drop kick out of the studio. Her Paige has the look of Chloe, though she is not as developed.

Every week these people entertain the hell out of me. I can't wait to sit down at the end of the day on Tuesdays and watch them. I love that Abby is not the perfect body dance instructor, she is over bearing, antagonistic, and yet her girls are great dancers. Actually Abby does have a beautiful face, so if I am addressing her size, I need to state that fact. The mothers are gossipy, drama queens (some more than others) and God forbid you be a new dance mom, they will eat you up and spit out the bones. Yet I sure do love them and this show!!

Let's talk, Tick!!

2012-08-27T23:43:00.002-07:00

He was an invention of New England Comics, as a mascot for their newsletter. New England Comics is a chain of comic book stores in Massachusetts. The Tick is the undisputed spoof king of superheroes. Later Ben Edlund (original artist) started writing stories with The Tick in them. In 1986 he wrote a 3 page story in the newsletter about how our hero, The Tick, escapes from a mental hospital. His crime fighting life has begun.

He is first a black and white comic that the store helps finance. The Tick gets his sidekick Arthur in 1989. Every super hero needs a side kick. Some of his characters are Chainsaw Vigilante, Man eating cow, and Paul the samurai. One of my favorite networks finally gave The Tick his own television show in 1994, the Fox Network, home of the X Files which you know I love. When I first met started dating my husband he loved The Tick. He watched the show every Saturday. Townsend Coleman was the voice of The Tick and the famous Monkee (from the 1960's singing group) Mickey Dolenz was the voice of his sidekick Arthur. That was season one. Ron Paulsen was Arthur in seasons 2 and 3. TV brought a weirdo, shallow, wimpy Batman named Die Fledermaus, Sewer Urchin, who was a stupid Aquaman, and lastly American Maid. She was a combo Wonder Woman and Captain America. There was also a live action series in 2001 by Fox, but it was gone in a short 9 episodes. The Comic lives on!!

I was reading tonight No. 9, from March 1991. It is one of the black and white versions from New England Comics. The first page The Tick wakes from sleeping to say, "I just had the most horrifying nightmare...That I stop existing for 8 months." On the page under the comics it says over and over "NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.........."

The Tick and Arthur are going across country in a car to New York, they are going to take the exit 749, Deertown-Hobbleville Expressway, on a 1959 map. This will get them into NYC. As they leave town, they discover that all the inmates from the asylum have escaped with the Tick, and have become his following. Though they are saddened by his departure, but they are determined to make him proud. They are beginning a new society called, "Mystic Order of the Arachnid Vigilance". They will support it by buying real estate for no-money down and sell it for huge profits. I think they were watching too much late night television.

As we drive cross country we discover that our super hero does not ask for directions, which results in The Tick and Arthur being lost in the desert after week 2. To which they swear to ask for directions. Later Arthur says they have made an important discovery when they have discovered the "road to no where". I too have been on that road before.... More than I care to admit. The heroes eventually find exit 749, and after filling their Merury Bobcat Villager with gas, they are on their way. They run into the "Civic Minded Five" a crime fighting group who is battling "Chainsaw Vigilante". At this time the comic of course is to "be continued" until next time.

I love the back of the comic book as it is filled with articles, editorials, and fan mail. They have the worlds best stalker fan who sends them limericks like:

The Tick is a crime fighting hero-

whose intelligence is very narrow

In fact with that jerk

Arthur the clerk

Their I.Q. totals less than Zero.

Also:

Tis the night for ghosts and ghouls

to stalk and prey on wandering fools

but those hellspawns from the grave

All bow down to their master Dave, he, he, he

His stalking fan was Dave Lavictoire, from Ontario, Canada. So that is my information about The Tick. So now I am off to get another Tick Comic. Have a good one.

The Field Where I died, and the Real Housewives....

2012-08-26T22:07:00.002-07:00

Ok, I have been on a binge of the X Files for the last week. I am in season 4. Until yesterday, I watched nothing else. So I have been out of touch with my favorite appendage, my cable box. I have also given up sugar. I gave up drinking 22 years ago. When I got pregnant, I thought it was license to put anything and everything into my mouth. So now is the time to let go of my favorite food group sugar!! Not a food group? Yeah right, tell that to my detoxing body. Anyway the X Files have comforted me all week long, like an old friend. My favorite episode of all time is Season 4, The Field Where I died. It was the 5th episode that year. It aired in 1996.

This person named Sidney calls in a tip about a cult named "Temple of the Seven Stars", so the FBI does a raid on the cult. They have an arsenal of weapons and the leader is abusing the children. During the raid they can't find the members. Mulder has this weird feeling like, Deja vu walks into a field, finds a bunker underground and there they are, ready to drink the Koolaid. This is a wonderfully romantic story of reincarnation, Mulder's story. The wife of the leader Ephesian, appears to have multiple personality disorder upon questioning or at least that is how it appears! Her name is Melissa.

There is a weird connection between Melissa and Mulder. It is at that time she slips into other characters. One of them being Sydney. Later as they further question her, a character begins speaking with a southern drawl, and leads Mulder and Scully out to the field reciting a journal entry from 1863. She tells them she was there, and so was Mulder. Melissa is this very lost, 25 year old woman who has stumbled into this cult, married Ephesian, and can not find her way out. She has witnessed the abuse of the children, and it has fractured her psyche. Her past lives are bleeding through this life. Mulder wants to embrace it while the predictable Scully thinks Mulder may be on the edge himself.

Mulder goes through past life regression and discovers two recent past lives. In the first one he is a Jewish woman, in Poland during WWII. The second life reveals he was alive during the Civil War. He was a soldier that was killed on the site the cult resides on. His name was Sullivan Biddle, Scully was his Captain, and Melissa was his girl named Sarah Kavanaugh. Scully goes to the library finds the census records for both people and pictures of the lovers. Mulder is having a spiritual experience, and I with him as he relives this period of time. It does not turn out well for Melissa as she is released along with Ephesian, they go back with the cult, and commit suicide. The story is haunting with a powerful love story, references to reincarnation, and our ability to live again. It speaks of what I know to be true, that true love never dies.

Anyway coming out of the sweet fog of the X Files I got stuck on the Bravo network. I used to watch the channel with fervor, Kathy Griffin, The Real Housewives of Orange County, New York, and New Jersey. The I got bored at the same chaos over and over and over. Since it has been a while since I watched, I caught a couple of my faves tonight. The NEW, Real Housewives of NYC, my favorite Ramona is still there though there were many new faces for her to misunderstand, and create problems with. I just love her. I will blog more about the Bravo network another time, though it is good to know somethings never change.

Tonight I am signing off early. Drop Dead Diva is over in 2 weeks until next year, and I am dying to see if Greyson is going to step up for Jane, before she marries Owen. Also Army wives is going to be gone for good in 2 episodes, so I now need to focus, and catch the last two episodes. TV shows have been a part of my life, all my life from Felix the Cat through Army Wives and beyond. I love writing this blog about the joy they bring me, so watch them and let them bring you the same joy!!

I Want to Believe!!

2012-08-21T00:52:00.002-07:00

Lets talk about The X-Files!! Now this show is one of my top 5 shows ever. It was the first show on the Fox Network to break through the Nielsons top 20 rated shows. It is a story of Spooky Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), the once the potential fair haired boy for the FBI. Fox (Spooky) Mulder, is now the butt of jokes about his drive for finding answers in the cases with paranormal, and alien origins. The FBI relegated him to a space in a corner of the basement, with a poster that says, "I Want to Believe". It has a UFO on it.

FBI agent and medical doctor Dana Scully is sent to keep watch on Mulder, apply scientific reason to his enthusiastic embrace of the paranormal. She is to report back to director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), and the other "higher ups." They have become frustrated with Mulder's "unbecoming professional behavior" in the pursuit of the X-files (the paranormal cases). He is the believer and Scully is the skeptic in all areas, except she is a catholic. Stories around religion seem to bring out a believer in her. It is usually Mulder in these cases who becomes the skeptic.

I can not tell you how much I love this show!! It incorporates my love of horror, mythology, paranormal and UFO conspiracies. It also taps into the fear of ordinary peoples distrust with the federal government. As Mulder always says, "The truth is out there!!" Mulder believes the government is covering up the existence and even interaction with the extra terrestrials. Mulder's sister Samantha (Megan Leitch) was abducted out of their living room while he was watching her. He was 12 years old. As the show progresses Mulder's father Bill Mulder is found to be part of the conspiracy. His mother, Teena Mulder ( Rebecca Toolan) has some idea of what happened, and the whole family is part of the backdrop of the show.

Scully's family too plays a part. Her father William Scully (Don Davis) dies early in the show, during an episode called Beyond the Sea. He is a retired naval officer. He and Scully share a love of Moby Dick, as evidenced by the nick names Ahab and Starbuck they have for each other. Her mother Margaret Scully (Sheila Larkin) is a recurring character, as well as her intuitive sister Melissa Scully (Melinda McGraw). Melissa Scully is killed in season 3.

The supporting cast in this show was brilliant. In season one they introduce a character called "Deep Throat", (Jerry Hardin). He was cast in the vein of President Nixon's Watergate Scandal of the 1970's. He met with Mulder and Scully in secret to give them information. He was killed at the end of the first season. His replacement was "X", played by Steven Williams. These men were inside the government and remind me of the Men in Black. Director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) plays their supportive and yet grumpy director. There is an antagonist that belongs to a "secret society" trying to keep the knowledge of the aliens and the experimentation of the human/alien hybrid a secret. The call him first the Cigarette Smoking Man, later I called him cancer man. His name CGB Spender (William B.Davis) who turns out later to be Mulder's bio dad.

Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea) is sent to work with Mulder in the second season by Cigarette Smoking man. Gillian Anderson gets pregnant season 2 and her pregnancy is written into the script as an abduction. Krycek murders Bill Mulder, helps in the kidnapping of Dana Scully and is part of the team that murders Melissa Scully. He is really an enemy that seems to shift lines, but never really does.

The Lone Gunman, are 3 UFO conspiracy theorists who are the fan club of Fox Mulder. They actually help him and Scully with several cases, and get a spin off of their own. They are; Richard "Ringo" Langly (Dean Haglund), Melvin Frohike (Tom Braidwood) and John Fitzgerald Byers (Bruce Harwood). They are the comic relief of the X files, and one of my favorite parts of the show.

The last 2 years of the show David Duchovny, only made recurring appearances on the show. However this is one show where the guy gets the girl. Eventually Mulder and Scully have a baby, William. He is adopted out because the journey had gotten difficult for our heroes, and the federal government wants Mulder. Scully and Mulder fall in love. Eventually Mulder is cleared, and they are off to Canada, and the filming of their 2 movies. The saddest thing was to see this show over. It was a wonderful part of the romance with my science fiction loving mate, and the beginning of our lives together. I still think it is one of the best shows ever made. This show will require many blogs to evaluate the episodes and the characters.

Sex And The City

2012-08-17T23:03:00.002-07:00

I had a difficult week, dealing with bureaucracy (my senior year in college), the failure of my CPA and my son started high school. Today the bug man came while I was in my office with a client, and my cat was unaccounted for, the last in a line of frustrations. My cat is about 13, we are not really sure, but I am sure if he died from poisoning I would be really upset. That cat and I are kindred spirits. I knew the first time I saw him. The bug man was early, can you believe it? He was a half an hour early. Tonight, tattered as I was, I was flipping through the channels and I came up on Sex And the City. It was on the E shows channel, so it wasn't one of the movies but the original show. Not only was it the show but the last 1 1/2 hours of the shows original run.

I do not claim to have much in common with Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), except earlier in my life, I had a group of good friends. Unlike Carrie, my group grew apart years ago, but I remember that time in my life with great joy. I felt about them, like she did about her friends. My city was Portland, Oregon, not NYC. Again when I was young it felt great. So I know that my guides are watching out for me when it comes on tv. It is like a rich dessert. Sex And The City feels like it can cure everything, as if that show was meant for me. Ok, maybe me and 10,000,000 others in the world. Tonight though, it was for me.

Big (Chris Noth) has comeback to NYC and Carrie Bradshaw. He says he has something to tell her. Carrie says she has had enough, that 6 years later it is still the same. Carrie goes to Paris France with Alexander Petrosky (my all time favorite ballet dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov). She is alone with out her friends. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and her wonderful Harry (Evan Handler) are trying to adopt a baby, without a lot of support from the universe, Harry says he thinks, "God has forgotten our address." To which Charlotte replies, "We're Jews, we have been through a lot worse." Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) mother-in-law, Mary (all time great comedienne), Anne Meara, has had a stroke and comes to live with Miranda, Steve (David Eigenberg)and little Brady. Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is recovering from breast cancer, and is insistent that her actor boyfriend, Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis), can have sex on location if he wants to. He does not want to. Later Samantha tells him not to when he sends her crocus bulbs. He tells her that she will recover in spring, and he is waiting for spring. We see Samantha grow in her ability to share intimacy. I think he is her best boyfriend of all time.

In Paris, Alexander is consumed with his exhibit that includes a light demonstration. He keeps telling Carrie, "when the exhibit is over"(a line his ex-wife says drove her crazy), they will have more time together. Carrie meets some of her fans, who want to throw her a party. It is the same night as the curators at the art museum want to examine Alexander's exhibit. So Carrie sacrifices her party, only to be ignored by him. They later fight, she leaves him and runs into Big, who has come to take her home. On the bridge over the river Seine, he tells Carrie "she's the one".

The last few scenes revolve around the 4 women back in NYC in a restaurant, and the show finishes as they walk down the streets of Manhattan. My response to that show is always the same. Whenever I have a bad day, or a difficult time in my life, I can be guaranteed whether, it is the show, or one of the movies, when it is done, I have been with wonderful group, of interesting and loving women. When it is over, I am regenerated, and have my enthusiasm for life back on track!! Of all my favorite shows, this is definitely in the top 10, top 5 if we are talking feel good shows.

OMG, It's Sunday again!!

2012-08-13T01:35:00.003-07:00

I have said it before, but I love Sundays on TV. As I get ready to settle in for a few of my favorite shows, there is an additional treat for me. For those of us who loved the movie Jaws, and love the water, it is Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. Once a year the Discovery Channel presents a whole week, of different shows of sharks, their attacks on humans, their feeding habits and their patrols. Sharks, Sharks, Sharks!!

TV guide says Shark Week starts at 9pm today. However there have been shows on about sharks from 9am. In fact my favorite was at 1pm pacific standard time, called "The Summer of the Shark". It was filmed in Australia, about the summer of 2008 when 18 shark attacks happened in Australia. 15 of them were great white sharks. I love watching the gigantic white shark leap from the water and grab at a seal in mid air. So I am having a shark fest all week long. I have always wanted to say this. I have an issue when scientists say they are just biting us to see if we are edible, they don't feed on humans. I don't believe it matters. It is minimizing a behavior that can kill us. I don't think I care what their motivation is. They are still biting us. With their steel trap jaws.

Enough shark week, I want to talk about Drop Dead Diva, one of my Sunday faves. Brook Elliot stars as Jane Bingum a Los Angeles attorney. Jane died protecting her boss, Jay Parker (Josh Stamberg), and she was revived. Now she has the spirit of Deb Dobkins living in her, the original Jane passed on. Deb was a model/actress killed in a traffic accident. Deb hits the button for return and comes back to earth. Jane Bingum is a plus sized attorney who is brilliant, charitable, and a productive attorney. Watching Jane morph into the shallow Deb, and back to Jane is hilarious. She becomes more clothes conscious, and I love to watch her flip her hair back, with a flick of her wrist. That shows Deb is still alive and well in Jane. You really can't keep a good shopper down.

One twist, is that Deb was engaged to Greyson Kent (Jackson Hurst), a handsome, very sad attorney who works in the same office as Jane. He and Jane are good friends. He started to catch on that Jane could be Deb, and so Jane had to throw him off. One of the provisions of her return is that she doesn't get the guy. Jane is now engaged to Owen French (Lex medlin) a court judge with a heart problem. Deb's best friend was Stacy (April Bowlby), and she is also the only person, besides Jane's guardian angel who knows her secret. Stacy is a slightly vapid blond, with a good heart. She is Jane's roommate and best friend (obviously, after all she very loyal).

The premise of the show is that Deb assumes Jane's life and develops herself. One character I love is Jane's secretary, Teri Lee, who is always up to something wacky. Her goal now is to become a singer, so she is donning wacky clothes. She is played by comedienne Margaret Cho. This week was great, they had cast members from Abby Lee Millers Dance Studio, in particular, Abby Lee, and Maddy. You know them from the reality show on Lifetime, Dance Moms!! I still hold out hope that Greyson and Jane will get together, damned be the guardian angel. I liked the old one Fred (Ben Feldman- he left when he got a job on MAD MEN). Who can blame him? I don't like the new one.

The other show I love on Lifetime Sundays is Army Wives. Now I have absolutely no ties to the American military. I have never been that interested. That is until this show. It shows the nobility of the military that keeps us safe, and the wives who sacrifice to be their mates. I have a whole new view on patriotism and the military. The wives, Claudia Joy Holden (played by a fave Kim Delaney-NYPD), Denise Sherwood (the famous Catherine Bell), Roxy LeBlanc (Sally Pressman), Pamela Moran (Brigid Brannagh, who has moved to California), new transplant Jackie Clark (Kelli Williams), Joan Burton (Wendy Davis- Joan is actually an officer, it is her husband that hangs out with the wives), Roland Burton, (Sterling K.Brown, therapist on base-civilian), and the privates wife, Gloria (Alyssa Diaz). Wow, a lot of cast mates, and I didn't even include the husbands, well except Roland.

The focus of the show is the wives, how they band together and their experiences in the military. They deal with many topics the real military faces from terrorism to the closure of bases due to budget cuts, deployment, post traumatic stress disorder, addictions and Denise Sherwood loses her son in battle, as he enlisted like his father. One of my favorite story lines is gay soldier Army Captain Nicole Galassin (Kelli Martin), and her girlfriend Tonya (whom I could not find the name of). Kelli Martin was in a wonderful show in the 1990'a called Life Goes On, with Patty LuPone as her mother. There is an episode where Captain Galassin comes out to her mother, and they bring in Patty LuPone. I loved it.

Well that's it for tonight. As I sit with popcorn on lap, watching my shows, I know tomorrow I must rise to the occasion of a new week, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Tonight I am TV girl. I now disappear into Fort Marshall, home of Army Wives. Have a good week.

Michael Weston and His Merry Band of Men

2012-08-10T02:21:00.002-07:00

Last year I seemed to be on a Netflix kick. I was watching TV shows I never caught for one reason or another while they were on TV. Then I discovered Burn Notice. I saw ads, it just never looked that appealing from the ads. Well, on Netflix, I watched all 4 seasons they had to offer and almost expired waiting for the release of season 5. Which was unfair, because they did not release it until right before season 6. Grrr...

It is like good ice cream. That would be Haagen Das, for me. Sweet, rich and can not be replaced by cheap imitations. So Michael Weston (Jeffery Donovan) is a spy given a "Burn Notice" from the CIA. For those who don't know what a burn notice is, the intelligence agency discredits or basically fire agents. In this case Michael Weston is dumped in Miami, Florida, no bank accounts (they are frozen), no I.D. nothing. In the show an old girl friend, Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar, Love Her!!), is called to come to his aid, as he awakens bruised and battered in a cheap motel. Fiona (who sticks around, God only knows why), is joined by Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) a drunken, semi retired Navy Seal who a has a penchant for rich middle aged women. Michael is Robin Hood and they are his merry band of men. Later they are joined by his chain smoking mother, Maddie (who finds out he is in Florida), and his slightly ne'er do well younger brother Nate. His mother is the wonderful actress Sharon Gless who won my heart in Cagney and Lacey, and his brother Nate is Seth Peterson. This is the basic line up until later when Jesse Porter (Coby Bell), a spy Michael accidentally burns, joins the band. He eventually finds out Michael burned him, is angry for a while but then forgives him.

The premise of the show was to find out why Michael was burned and get him back into the CIA, it is the only life Michael can imagine. Even when he and Fiona rekindle their relationship and she questions why he can not just have a regular life, he tells her it is all that he is. Anyway, He rents a $200 a month ratty loft in a warehouse building behind a club. It kinda grows on you after awhile, and they go to work doing odd jobs that require the wonderful sleuthing skills he acquired while in the CIA.

Fiona is an former IRA bomber, who has extensive knowledge of making homemade bombs, she also buys and sells guns. She makes herself very useful to Michael, which provides them the opportunity to grow close again. Sam Axe is charming in his tropicals shirts, and unshaven manly man appearance. He provides contact with people he knows at the "agency". He helps Michael in his jobs too and sometimes goes undercover as "Chuck". He and Fiona become friends, though at times they seem to be at each others throats. One character I love is Barry (Paul Tei) He is the metro-sexual bookie, fake ID maker and money laundering genius that helps them, and even goes to them for help. He is also called "Bad Checks Barry".

I love this show, this year in sadness, I had a hard time watching the first few episodes this season. They put Fiona in prison. I glanced at the show a few times, but until the episode came that let her out of prison, I did not watch them all the way through. Sadly the episode she is released, Nate, Michael's brother is shot and killed while helping them catch Michael's arch nemesis, Anson Fullerton (Jere Burns). Seth Peterson did a great job, my only hope is that they will find a way to bring him back. TV can bring anyone back from the dead.

One of my favorite parts of the show is the narrating during the show. When they are assembling bombs, or bugging cell phones, Michael narrates spies techniques, used in surveillance and espionage. In my next life I want to be a high tech spy. So every Thursday, when I am not watching Project Runway you can find me at Burn Notice, on the USA Network. If not there I will be on Netflix watching the reruns, or my purchased copy of season 5.

I Love Spike!!

2012-08-07T14:24:00.002-07:00

Ok, we are still talking Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but let's discuss Spike. Played by American actor James Marsters. He comes to Sunnydale originally with vampire Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Drusilla turned Spike. Spike's human name was William Pratt. He lived in 19th century England with his mother Anne (Caroline Lagerfelt). He was a very mild, well mannered upper middle class young man. He was also awkward and innocent to the ways of women and the world in general. He wrote poetry and Spike (then William) was a momma's boy. Good thing for her, because he eventually turned his mother too. She lost about 30 years off her life and became vital, and cured her tuberculosis. I swore if anyone were going to turn me into a vampire, they had to do it before 38. Who wants to live hundreds of years old? Well after seeing his mother, I changed my mind, I am up for it anytime in the future. Anyway off topic. He then staked his mother and ran off with Drusilla.

William was a passionate vampire. He was originally called "William the Bloody" for the bad poetry he wrote. It was mentioned in season 2 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. He got his nickname (Spike) because of how he tortured people, with railroad spikes. He also killed 2 vampire slayers. In his vampire meets punk rock look, he walked around Buffy like the conquering demon. He actually came to Sunnydale to kill Buffy, to add to his count. Along the way the journey changed. Angel or Angelus (David Boreanaz) as he was originially called, was his grandsire. Sire is the term the series uses to explain the vampire turning a human. There are scenes of the 2 of them roaming the country side wreaking havoc on the people. Spike said, "Drusilla sired me, but you made me a monster."

Now lets talk about that weird co-dependent relationship with the crazy Drusilla. Before she comes to Sunnydale, I guess she is attacked by an angry mob in Prague and is weakened, I say insane. Spike takes care of her to the point of stupidity. Whats worse is that after Angel sleeps with Buffy and becomes Angelus again (evil), he takes Drusilla for his own. Spike and Angel then are rivals. Spike then forms an alliance with Buffy. This eventually offends Drusilla and she runs off with a demon. Talk about a relationship ripe with bad karma. After losing Drusilla, he kidnaps Willow (Alyson Hannigan). He wants Willow to put a spell on Drusilla, so she will love him again. When that doesn't work, he decides to torture people again to win her back. Strutting around arrogantly he takes a lover in Harmony (Kendall McNab), cheerleader of Sunnydale high, and turns her. She is loyal, scatterbrained and needy. Of course, Spike really could care less.

Spike discovers this ring called the gem of Amarra, that can make a vampire indestructible. He decides he must have it, and goes after Angel (who has the ring) to get it. He loses and is temporarily implanted with a chip that basically makes him impotent in regard to harming anyone. Every time he goes to hurt someone, human or demon, it zaps him, creating great pain. He goes to Buffy for protection during this period. Now Spike becomes pathetic, taking bits of money for information. He is like a snitch to the Scooby Gang, with loyalty toward none. At this point he is repulsive to Buffy and the gang.

Now lets talk Buffy. In season 5 he discovers he has fallen in love with Buffy, much to his dismay. He tries to get closer to her, much to her chagrin. He becomes obsessed with Buffy, so much so, that he has Warren Mears (Adam Busch) create a Buffy robot that responds to him with love and loyalty. Spike is the anti poster child for mental health. Buffy is grossed out by this when she finds out. He continues to fight with Buffy to show loyalty to her, and frankly just to be near her. Buffy is killed off at the end of season five, or I should say she sacrifices herself to save Dawn (Michele Trachtenberg). When Willow makes a spell to bring Buffy back, for a time Buffy is disconnected from her friends and her life. It is during this time she starts sleeping with Spike. When Buffy dumps him, he goes through these trials and obtains a soul. He loves Buffy the rest of the show, so much so he sacrifices himself to save the world, and I think in part to show Buffy he is a better man.

Spike comes back and shows up in Los Angeles in Angel. He is resurrected by an amulet. He still has a soul, but he also has that smart mouth, punk attitude a long with it. Except for Buffy, Spike is my favorite character. In part because he is very flawed, therefore very human (in theory). He is a romantic too, as evidenced from his mother to Buffy. Every women he loves, he really is devoted to. He again becomes a rival for Angel, who has always been the vampire with a heart of gold, helping the helpless. Spike now has a soul, and Spike sacrificed himself to save the world. So who is the real vampire for the good? For a time in Angel he is a ghost that only Fred (Amy Acker) can see. Once she is killed, he joins Team Angel. He joins with them in battle bringing on the apocalypse at the end of Angel, again, losing his life.

Though losing his life a few times Spike keeps coming back, and slowly redeems his selfish, destructive ways as a vampire. I love that he is smart mouthed, arrogant, insecure, and vulnerable. . His looks are severe, and the punk look with the white blond hair against the black wardrobe and duster coat is very attractive. He is a paradox in character, which makes him interesting. I like him much more than Angel. Watch Spike and you will agree that Buffy without Spike is like eating nothing but white bread. James Marsters does a great job with the accent and his portrayal of spike.

Buffy and The Scooby gang

2012-08-06T19:49:00.002-07:00

I just discovered Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic books recently. I watched and adored it all 7 seasons on television. This year my son watched and adored all 7 seasons. Though I am now reading the comic books, I still yearn for Sarah Michelle Gellar's portrayal of Buffy. The spunky blond girl doing a flip over a grave stone and kicking a vampire in the head, then when he down, staking him in the heart. Sigh....The film came first. It is where the idea of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” came from.

I personally will never watch the movie. The story goes that in the world, at any one time, there is only one slayer to fight vampires, demons and dark entities. A watcher helps train her and guides her in her battles. The slayers are chosen from birth, or “fated”, and usually they lead a short, lonely existence. That is until Buffy Summers transfers to Sunnydale, California from Los Angeles. She was in a lot of trouble, so her mother moved her to the suburbs to give her a fresh start. This slayer is fresh all the way around. Petite, blond, rather cynically perky ( I know that is a contradiction in description, but true nonetheless), and she can kick the butt of any or all the demons and vamps necessary. Sunnydale sits on top of Hellmouth. The portal to hell is in the HS library, also known as the lair of librarian Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head). Giles, is Buffy’s watcher. So the demons and evil creatures are constantly available to fight.

Buffy unlike most slayers has friends, her side kicks helped her fight demons. She calls them the Scooby gang. On a slightly interesting note, Sarah Michele eventually plays in a Scooby Doo movie with her real life husband Freddie Prinze Jr. Anyway, I am veering off topic. She meets Xander (Nicholas Brendan) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) when she first comes to Sunnydale High. Xander and Willow have been friends for a long time, and are socially nerds. Willow has a secret crush on Xander, who pretends not to notice mostly. A couple of seasons go by and they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other until they are caught and damage their own relationships. Xander also always is crushed on Buffy but they remain friends. Well except for that episode when Xander does a spell that makes all the women love him.

The characters that appear in the show are some of my most favorites in television. Buffy dies twice in the show. Once very briefly, which introduces Kendra Young (Bianca Lawson), a new slayer. For the first time ever in history there are 2 slayers. She is killed by vampire Druscilla. When Kendra dies, obviously "the powers that be" have not caught up as to what is happening, and that generates Faith (Eliza Dushku), the dark slayer. Faith appears in the books, and the comic books. At first she tries to fit in with Buffy, and then goes Rogue. She is as bad as some of the vampires she kills. Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), and Harmony (Mercedes McNab) are the two popular girls who play rivals to Buffy during high school. Cordelia eventually dates Xander for a time, until he hooks up with Willow and is caught in a compromising position. Willow finds a quiet boyfriend in OZ (Seth Green) who plays a band and is a werewolf. Eventually he needs to find himself and leaves Sunnydale. Willow then meets Tara (Amber Benson), falls in love and is forever more a lesbian. Willow also becomes a powerful witch during the show. Now I almost forgot one of the most interesting characters, Dawn (Michele Trachtenberg). One day Buffy comes home to find out she has a sister. She is the only one who remembers a time before Dawn. To everyone else she has always been there. She was not a real person, but a "Key" created to protect Buffy From the villainous Glory ( Claire Kramer).

The high school is destroyed after graduation, Cordelia goes to Los Angeles and works for Angel (David Boreanaz) in his spin off. I actually like Cordelia, as she grows and evolves in Angel. One of my favorite characters is Anya Jenkins (Emma Caufield) the vengence demon that dated, almost married Xander. She was hilarious. I read Joss Whedon considered her comic relief. She was a cross between socially awkward and a girlfriend from the 1960's. She seemed to struggle with being human. She was a vengeance demon, turned human afraid of bunny rabbits, that's right I said bunny rabbits. Then there is Druscilla (Juliet Landau) and Spike (James Marsters). A pair of co-dependent vampires that come to Sunnydale. Druscilla is gone and leaves Spike behind. Spike really needs a blog of his own. He is a bane of Buffy, and helps eventually save the world.

Buffy has really 3 lovers (except for the creepy guy freshman year) during the show. Angel is the first. Their story line is a Romeo and Juliet kind of love. I say that because Angel is a Vampire with a soul. When he sleeps with Buffy the pure joy makes him lose his soul, and eventually Buffy has to send him to hell. Not to fear, he comes back, and when it is unbearable to be around a woman he loves but can't have, he moves to LA and has his own show. Angel then helps the helpless. Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) is a straight arrow, boy scout-military type guy, Buffy meets in college. Where Angel was elusive and mysterious, Riley was reliable. He is participant in a covert government project to rid the world of Vampires and demons. He was was written out of the show, and off he went. Which brings me to my favorite lover of Buffy's-- Spike. He was a complex character which seemed to be a bit of martyr. He seemed lack character, was selfish and yet he truly loved Buffy. For a long time Buffy hated him, then they were lovers. Buffy seemed to hate herself for her feelings for Spike, and was not afraid to let him know that constantly. In the end Spike sacrificed his life to save the world, proving him to be a true hero. Then he showed up in LA and was in Angel's show.

That is the basics, and if you have not had the pleasure of meeting or viewing Buffy and the Gang please do, I will introduce the comics later. I could go on and on with the topic of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The comics start after (SPOILER ALERT)the demise of Sunnydale and the television show. You can find these seasons on Amazon.com. I am sure they are on Ebay, and probably your local second hand entertainment store. So, Happy viewing and have a great week!!

It's a Square World After All!

2012-07-31T02:54:00.002-07:00

My son showed me this game he found online. He and his best buddy Jac were playing it constantly. It was a beta version of a game called Minecraft. Little did I know at the time that I would be up in the wee hours of the morning playing this game. I have been playing this game since 2009 and I am totally addicted. It is now on both Xbox and the computer.

Minecraft is a game of building. Wikipedia calls it a sandbox building game. I want to give a shout out to Markus "Notch" Persson of Sweden who invented the game, and now markets it through his company Mojang. Above is a city I built called Mishaville.

Minecraft begins when you are spawned in to an environment, with nothing. The world slightly resembles Legos in the fact everything is in 3-d blocks. Whether you are in the forest, the tropics, the desert or the artic, you start with nothing. I was lucky, my son taught me early on to kill sheep and get wood to make a bed. Otherwise in the beginning you are in for some long dark nights. When you sleep on your bed, you lay down and it is morning. You find wood for tools, and build some dwelling and learn to mine for ore. You mine for silver, iron, copper, gold, and diamond. You create everything. There is a challenge in getting the items you need to make things like axes, and shovels, furnaces, fishing poles and armour. Eating in the beginning of Minecraft was not such an issue. It now is a necessity in the survival mode.

I spent frustrating days where I was lost in a mine and could not find my way back, so I would go around in circles building my tunnels trying to get out. Or worse in the beginning not taking enough light and being trapped all night (which seemed like an eternity) underground in the dark. My own fears of claustrophobia became apparent as I kept hitting dirt with my hands trying escape from the dark and dank underground. You learn quickly. As you can see, I learned. I love this game, and have spent hours at a time building castles and towns.

There are several modes to the game. You can play in survival, which means you have dark creatures to battle. In any darkness (even shadows of day), creepers, skeletons, Zombies and spiders spawn to kill you. Oh the great thing is that if you are killed you are re-spawned. you lose what you have on you, but your homes are safe. There is a mode called Hardcore. If you are killed there, your world is deleted. I would never play that mode. There is a mode called peaceful mode. That is one I originally played in. You have day animals like pigs, cows and sheep, but no wolves, or creepers, skeletons, zombies or spiders. You can still die in peaceful mode.

Then there is creative mode, that is what I play in now. You can not die, unless you fall in lava. You can even create underwater, which I have done. I spent many months starting with nothing, mining for everything and making things from scratch. Then I decided one day why???? The creative mode has anything you could every want at your disposal, so you can get creative. I've built kingdoms. Now there are more complex capabilities, like building electrical, mechanical and even nuclear devices. My son does that, I don't even know how. You can build many different places at one time. The computer generates towns sporadically in the landscape, with beings in them that resemble Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants. They just walk around you can spawn them in creative mode. They really don't interact with you, but will react passively if you bump into them.

This is the back end of the castle I build in a city called Covert Cove. It has a theatre with real theatre seats like the opera, large restaurant with a kitchen, tunnels through the two sides, a ballroom, apartments, a school, swimming pools and many more things. It is acutally still under construction. It started with a small house away from the castle.

I read that Minecraft now has a pocket edition for Xperia play. There is also a Mine Con for addicts, I should have went last year, it was at Las Vegas. Next year it is in Europe. I am not really a gamer yet, though I may become one. Even if I never do I will always have a copy of Minecraft. I don't apologize for not playing in survival mode. I love it and will learn to do many more things. Also there are many creative amateurs developing mods to make it more interesting. There was a mod with pets. I had cats and it was a pain, they had cat boxes, and I had to feed them regularly. They reacted to you to by getting angry. You could do nothing else but feed your cats and empty their boxes. I had one mod called Twilight. It never gets more light than twilight, and there are more snowy areas in that mod. I had a dog and lived in the trees. You have to try this game, I promised you will love it. When I tire, I leave it alone for awhile and then I can't wait to get in and try something else. I have a town called Blow Up Doll, I just use TNT and blow up the mountains, it is a great stress reliever.