FanGrrl Magnet

Falling hard... for SKINS

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:32:00 +0000

Just watched all of season one, and part of season two of the British TV show SKINS on Netflix Watch Instantly. Pretty incredible. The energy of Doug Liman's GO, the pathos of FREAKS AND GEEKS, the raw cinema verite style that sucker-punches you like the film FISH TANK or, farther back, the US film KIDS. Forever meandering between ecstacy, hilarity, and heartbreak...with possibly the best musical score since THE SOPRANOS.

I'm hooked. Especially on poor, sweet little Sid.

An Historic Moment

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:22:00 +0000

Congrats to Kathryn Bigelow for finally breaking Hollywood's big glass ceiling for women in film, by winning a Best Director Oscar last night. Let us all hope the trend continues...

j/k with James Cameron (I hope...)

CAPRICA fans: are we about to get some good news?

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:17:00 +0000

For those of you watching the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA spinoff show CAPRICA, SFX Magazine apparently has word from sources behind the show's production that season two may be a reality. The back half of season one airs this summer, and season two if it happens would air in 2011.

CAPRICA's fifth episode "There Is Another Sky" brings the series into some wide new territory -- reminiscent of some of the biggest concepts from THE MATRIX. I09's Annalee Newitz has written a terrific analysis that teases out some of the other sci-fi concepts percolating on the show:

What's worse than being a teenage girl trapped in the body of a massive robot? Being a teenage girl trapped in the collective fantasy of a million other teenagers. And that's exactly what's happening to Tamara, as she tries to find her way home. After what is apparently weeks of wandering through dance clubs and orgy rooms, she falls in with a group of game hackers and modders who promise to get her out of V-World. If she promises to do them one little favor. You see, Tamara has a superpower in V-World: Unlike every other gamer, who accesses the place via holoband, she can't be killed when you shoot her. She just heals up and stays in the game. She's basically the perfect mod for cheating, and that's exactly what the gang - led by a very Mondo 2000-looking lady named Vesta - wants her to do... Are Tamara's powers now more awesome than Zoe's? The answer to that question is what makes this episode pure genius.

...Daniel is about to be ousted from his company after announcing that they will be making holoband code free, no longer requiring people to pay a licensing fee for it. But he convinces the board to keep him by giving this speech, which is almost ripped from today's headlines about the music and movie industry's efforts to stay profitable in a world where everybody expects media to be free online.

If you think about it, the message here is both weird and chilling. If we can't sell media online, we'll just sell slaves instead. That's right, kids. All that pirating you're doing of media? It's forcing media companies to change their business models from selling content to selling sentient beings. Why doesn't the RIAA consider that?
...From its humble origins as a spinoff of Battlestar Galactica, Caprica has grown into a terrific show in its own right. A show that nimbly asks big questions about the nature of sentience and justice, while also spinning a terrific yarn about old-fashioned gangsters in a world of high-tech corporate warfare.
This is definitely not Battlestar Galactica anymore. It's something else.

As Slate Magazine says, CAPRICA is such a different show from BSG that comparing the two is probably doing CAPRICA a huge diservice:

The first few episodes of Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica re-imagination reached out and clenched viewers by the throat, but with Caprica, the highly anticipated prequel series, Moore & Co. opted for a more grounded approach.

...Like Battlestar, Caprica takes on a bevy of weighty social issues, picking up the familiar religious and metaphysical threads while taking shots at a few new subjects like sensationalized journalism, corporate crime, and cultural identity.

...It's difficult to imagine people reacting to the show with the same fervor as Battlestar; there are far too few explosions and generally awesome things for that. But Caprica still manages to take on some daring themes with that familiar dedication to character and plot.

Much as it did in support of the miniseries and first season of BSG, the SyFy network remains staunchly behind their new production. Let's hope this Season 2 rumor pans out for us CAPRICA fans... Meanwhile March 17th brings a New York City Paley Center panel for the show featuring cast and crew, and there are rumblings that CAPRICA will almost certainly get a panel at this summer's ComicCon in San Diego.

Herrrrre's Johnny!

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Now that the Olympic Games are done, Sundance Channel will be airing the rest of their new episodes of BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR on Monday nights. A very fun show about a playful, dedicated, magnetic athlete and artist.

There was a lot of talk about Weir during the Vancouver games... not all of it friendly. One needs to keep this stuff in perspective, dontchathink?

Skates + Drama + Olympics = Film Festival!

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:18:00 +0000

US Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir
during his long program skate at the 2010 Olympics last week

This past week of the 2010 Winter Olympics has allowed me to relive some of my childhood adoration for the great athletics and artistry of skating. It also allows the unusual pleasure of combining a love for Stephen Colbert - who has been goofing it up in Vancouver while taping tons of material for his upcoming shows - with love for outspoken, sexy and stylish fabulousness: in this case personified by figure skater Johnny Weir. Johnny, by the way, now also has his own TV show as well! I hope you are watching it: Sundance Channel is in the midst of running the 8-episode series, called BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR.

Stephen Colbert salutes the Canadian Mounties for his 2nd visit
to Bob Costas' NBC Olympics studio on Friday night
(click image to see video)

FanGrrl Magnet Fandom Mashup FTW!

With all eyes on Vancouver this week, there's been plenty of hilarity and skating dramas to witness - which gave me inspiration for an adhoc, at-home film festival, courtesy of Netflix...

From the Netflix Watch Instantly selections: the best film about hockey ever made, SLAP SHOT; 70s drama ICE CASTLES; and in honor of the outspoken, inspiring verve of Johnny Weir, FOOTLOOSE.

Other films to rent on DVD: cult classic romance THE CUTTING EDGE; MYSTERY, ALASKA with Russell Crowe and Hank Azaria; wacky BLADES OF GLORY of course; ICE PRINCESS with Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg, THE ICE PRINCESS with Olympic skater Katerina Witt; Olympic hocket drama MIRACLE with Kurt Russell.

Anyone have any other favorites I should be watching? Shout 'em out!

Bill Maher is back. Thank goodness.

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:52:00 +0000

REAL TIME WTH BILL MAHER returns to HBO tonight at 10pm.

It pays to have a little perspective...

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:18:00 +0000

In these tough times. Stay focused.

(click to enlarge)

Transforming The Magazine Experience

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:59:00 +0000

From Adobe TV - Wired Magazine and Adobe are collaborating on "a new digital magazine concept that provides an immersive, interactive content experience for readers and innovative possibilities for advertisers." I hope this is the future of print publications because it looks like a lot of fun for consumers...

New GLEE footage at last!

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:58:00 +0000

A tiny crumb for we starving GLEE fans, patiently waiting for the rest of season one to air in April... from Entertainment Tonight:

ETA: another new promo from later this evening -

Happy Valentine's Day

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Here is my Eye Candy Calculus this weekend after a few new photographs hit teh interwebs:

New RPattz Photo Spread

+

New ECLIPSE Set Photos

EQUALS =

Delicious. Enjoy your holiday girls...

This Is Our Moment... Email Your Senators.

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:47:00 +0000

Let's do this!

Incredibly creepy LOST video

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:26:00 +0000

Disturbing.

ETA: Damon Lindelof twittered about this video: "Person who made this? You complete me."

["Lost OCD Thing of the Day" via Vulture]

Lady Gaga 2005

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Back when she was still calling herself Stefani Germanotta...

Jon Hamm on SNL

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:29:00 +0000

MAD MEN's Jon Hamm rocked it on Saturday Night Live this weekend, his second time hosting. Here are my favorite skits -- there are so many!

New Senator

The Curse

The Closet Organizer

Sports Show

Hamm & Buble

The Bar

You didn't need to watch the Grammys, just go to YouTube

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:09:00 +0000

The best parts are up - and it looks like a replay of last fall's VMA broadcast with more from Pink, Gaga (with assist this time from fellow hothouse orchid Elton John), and Beyonce...

WORK IT GIRLS.

Prece-don't

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:31:00 +0000

Stephen Colbert ponders the deeper implications of this week's Supreme Court decision about corporations sponsoring political campaigns. In his own very special way.

New trailers for DAMAGES and JUSTIFIED

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:27:00 +0000

Last night just after the first episode of the new season of DAMAGES aired, FX showed these fantastic trailers for upcoming episodes of DAMAGES, and for their new show JUSTIFIED starring Tim Olyphant. JUSTIFIED premieres March 16 - looks like we DEADWOOD fans might get some small satisfaction from this show.

Sorry for the very bad shot-off-my-TV quality, but I hope you appreciate the instant gratification factor. ;-) Also the audio on my DVR was a bit wonky last night, so there are some level dropouts on this video.

Random YouTube thing I just learned

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:15:00 +0000

Did you know about the difference between

linking to a YouTube video page like this

and

linking like this?

Because I didn't. And it's WICKED COOL. Can't find any link on the normal video page to get to this nifty video-the-size-of-your-browser-window version -- so I retype the URL format by hand to get to it.

Ships for The Ages

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:02:00 +0000

Over at Watch With Kristin they are asking for readers' favorite romantic pairings, past and present, on television. That inspired me to make a list of some of my own favorites:

"Oh gosh. So many! Currently on air: Owen/Yang on GREY'S... the Sookie/Bill/Eric triangle on TRUE BLOOD... the Jack/Kate/Sawyer/Juliet quadrangle on LOST... And great foxy blasts from the past: Nate/Brenda on SIX FEET UNDER... Willow and all (Xander/Oz/Tara) on BUFFY... Apollo/Starbuck/Anders on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA... and Nikita/Michael on LA FEMME NIKITA."

Leave your favorites over on their post... or here in the comments... or both. :-)

(Wait, wait! I forgot Joan/Roger on MAD MEN, Beecher/Keller on OZ and Mal/Inara on FIREFLY...)

Searching for some WebDev advice from the cloud...

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:47:00 +0000

Hello all, hope you're having a great weekend. I'm reaching out for a bit of webdev advice on a new site project I am building this month. While I'm working, I'd love to hear from you with any experience/comments you have about the following:

- For reader/member commenting: what you think of Disqus commenting system (like it? prefer another system?)

- For setting up a community site: would recommend WordPress (hosted versus self-hosted?), or do you prefer Squarespace or some other?

- Widget hunt part 1: I'm seeking the best side column widget feature that will feed in bookmarked news items from other sites, and allow me to include a short written note about the link - any one of you have a favorite for that purpose?

- Widget hunt part 2: also looking for the best live-chatting widget for the side column. Any favorites?

- Once the site is online I am also seeking the simplest, best way to activate a mobile version for readers on the move. Looking for recs...

Thanks in advance for any advice!
xoxo E.

Fandom PSA: all of LA FEMME NIKITA is online

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Thanks to fangrrl alissabobissa for noticing that The WB dot com has all episodes of all 5 seasons of LA FEMME NIKITA online right now.

Pretty damned sweet. And a great DOLLHOUSE withdrawl medicine, I might add.

A peek at BBC in 2010

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:58:00 +0000

The BBC just released their Winter/Spring 2010 trailer - lots of fun peeks at series and telefilms including:

- THE SECRET DIARIES OF ANNE LISTER, based on the sexually explicit diaries of a woman who is often considered "the first modern lesbian"

- A PASSIONATE WOMAN w/Billie Piper

- Biopic LENNON NAKED with Christopher Eccleston (DOCTOR WHO) as Lennon, Naoko Mori (TORCHWOOD) as Yoko Ono, and Claudie Blakley (CRANFORD) as Cynthia Lennon

- Kenneth Branagh returning for more WALLANDER

- THE DEEP, a five-part thriller set in a submarine below the Arctic ice, starring James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver and Goran Visnjic

Let's hope some of this makes it onto BBC America this year too!

You thought Avatar was good, get a load of this.

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:35:00 +0000

If you were astounded by the computer generated images (CGI) in AVATAR, take a look at this hyper-realistic short video:

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

(Make sure you have HD set ON and watch it FULLSCREEN)

Here is another video showing some of the compositing work done on it. Pretty astounding stuff, I cannot believe that isn't real filmed footage.

(HT Nerdist)

What I'll Be Watching: Mid-Season TV 2010

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Happy New Year to all my FanGrrlish readers!

There is an astounding array of new and returning TV shows coming around the bend this month. What will you be watching? Here's my list below. If you are trying to track the dizzying list of premiere and return dates, I also recommend you check out Ausiello's list, and TV Addict's very thorough debut calendar.

December 28

- Day Of The Triffids (UK only)
BBC just aired this new version of the horror classic Day Of The Triffids, adapted once again as TV miniseries. I'm curious, mainly because the 1962 British film version was always one of my best cheesy pleasures of childhood. We'll see if BBC America or SyFy ever get this one.

December 30

- Patti Smith: Dream Of Life
I missed this PBS documentary on "the highly-influential Godmother of punk," but I'm sure I will have more chances to see it this winter.

January 6

- Friday Night Lights returns. The show has been subtle gold so far this season, with a command performance by Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen, and enough Riggins Time to keep any woman real happy. Hope you're watching...or will be when the show starts later this year on NBC.

- Cougar Town returns. This show has kept me in big stitches as my favorite TV comedy right now (sorry 30 Rock and Modern Family!)...upcoming episodes are going to feature Lisa Kudrow as a new hilarious nemesis for Courtney Cox's character.

- The Human Spark
I'm quite curious about this PBS 3-part series hosted by Alan Alda, which asks the question: What is the nature of human uniqueness? Part 1 starts January 6, continuing once a week for 2 more weeks.

January 8

- Dollhouse continues with its final 3 episodes starting tonight. Le Sigh. I am quite sure that this will end up a permanent Joss-ish DVD hit once all is said and done -- but the show and its squicky, freaky subject matter, dystopian tone (...and horrendous on-air marketing) put it squarely in the Cult Department. And I say: SO FRAKKIN WHAT. Meanwhile, for us Whedon junkies: Joss has announced that by the time the show ends we are going to have news of his next project(s). So...there.

January 10

- Big Love returns for a new season, cannot wait. Last year was the best yet. I'm sure season 3 is on HBO's VOD now and if you need a quick video refresher of all seasons to date -- check this out:

- Being Human returns for season 2 on BBC 3, and we Americans can look forward to it on SyFy later this year.

- Return To Cranford
For you fans of the PBS/BBC miniseries Cranford (and the Gaskell novels it was based on), we are now getting a second, two-part mini which begins airing today and finishes on January 17. The best description I've read is from PBS itself: "an ode to small-town life that combines the love interests of Jane Austen with the social consciousness of Charles Dickens in enchanting stories of merriment, romance and life's absurdities and tragedies."

- Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Finally, Syfy airs their Battlestar Galactica coda tonight. I realize all we BSG truefans have all already seen it like 3 times and may or may not own a copy. I know a lot of you were disappointed with this final piece of BSG lore... but I really did enjoy it. Like the longest, most complex DVD extra ever made, it does a nice job of weaving previous story threads together with new material. And, since I love evil, conniving Cavil, and all the various and sundry Six models...well it was a field day for me really. Those of you who enjoyed all the cylon story threads the most will get a real kick out of this telefilm. So say we all.

January 14

- Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice
The two best smexy soap operas on TV return with a crossover show tonight. By the by, showrunner Shonda Rhimes has been twittering up a storm this season if you're into that sort of thing.

- Archer
Also starting today on FX is this new animated comedy series about spies, which has a cool voice cast (Jessica Walter, Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell). I'm intrigued... especially from EW's description: "Crass, crammed with verbal and visual gags, seems to have absorbed every spy genre from the Bond canon to The Man from U.N.C. L.E. to Get Smart. And smart it is."

January 17

- 24
The venerable action TV franchise starts its new season tonight -- now with more Katee Sackhoff! You've got a total of 4 hours to plow through this week - this 2-hour premiere and another 2 hours tomorrow night. Go Cherry Jones, go. I'm mainly watching for Katee at this point.

Speaking of Katee...she has a rocking official web site that is updated often and highly recommended for her fans. Also, a Facebook page that will remind you when the site gets updated.

- The Golden Globes will be on...if you care about such things.

- Being Erica
I keep hearing fun things about this Canadian series, which is about to start its 2nd season. We Americans can check out a season 1 marathon today on SoapNet...and the new season premieres on that channel January 20th.

January 21

- The Vampire Diaries
My guiltiest, YA-est, most supe-tastic pleasure of the Fall TV season is back at last with the second half of season 1. (Hey, at least these teen vampires get to take their clothes off and do the nasty with the townsfolk!) We also have some fun casting news: L WORD/indie film babe Mia Kirshner is now a part of the show...and as Hitfix points out, Gina Torres is going to show up first thing as we jump into the next episode.

If you're into this sort of stuff, this show also has some great official twitters going on: showrunners Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, and castmembers Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, and Katherina Graham.

January 22

As was pointed out last year when January air dates were set, this is a fun night for us Joss Whedon fans - the two genre shows starting today have big Jossir connections. And, natch, quality writing and producing.

- Caprica
What is left to say about this, the Battlestar Galactica prequel series, that has not already been said elsewhere? We BSG fans who enjoyed the pilot film are all waiting with baited breath to see how we feel about this show, whether it lives one season or five. I definitely liked the pilot myself, and will certainly tune in with hope and faith. In the writing and the casting. In the knowledge that most of the other departments (cinematography, production design, costumes, effects) are all being handled by much of the same team as BSG. So say we all.

A few links to enjoy while you fellow nuggets wait out the last few weeks before it starts: a run down of what the network has to say about the show; two interviews with former Joss collaborator and producer/writer Jane Espenson (old one/new one); some featurette videos; and the entire pilot film is currently streaming on Hulu & Syfy if you need a refresher.

- Spartacus: Blood And Sand
I was lucky enough to get my hands on the first two episodes of this new Starz series, and it is pretty hot stuff. Very brutal and sexy, with all the high drama, court intrigues, and ultraviolence you want in your Roman Epics. Blood splatters in sheets all over the place here -- but the real surprise is the intensely stylish visuals of the show. As you have probably been hearing since last spring: if you liked the artfulness of the film 300, you will love Spartacus' style. Computer special effects have gotten so efficient, affordable and seamless, that now TV makers can get in on the fun as well.

Alright now, GAME OF THRONES -- consider the gauntlet thrown...

This show also has the delightful perverse scheming of Gladiator owner/trainers Batiatus (John Hannah) and Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), who add as much to this show as Atia of The Julii (Polly Walker) and Mark Antony (James Purefoy) did to ROME. A few more enticing facts: former Joss collaborator Steve DeKnight is a co-producer/showrunner, with Sam Raimi's company (Xena, Hercules, Spiderman) producing. Starz has already announced a renewal for a 2nd season. Several Dollhouse writers are going to be working on scripts for that 2nd season. Yeah. I'm in too.

January 25

- Secret Diary of A Call Girl
I loved this show's hilarious/outrageous 1st season and was enthralled/moved by the intense 2nd...so I cannot wait to see where we are taken in this 3rd series - given that Belle (the wondrous Billie Piper) ended up outing herself on national television last time we saw her...Apparently with Ben's full support.

- Damages
Another hip show rolling into its 3rd season tonight -- with some enticing new castmembers including Martin Short, Campbell Scott and...Lily Tomlin! Can this show keep the tension and BitchDiva factor on high for another year? We shall see...

February 2

- Lost
At long last: the final season. A big frakkin' deal for so many of us. By the by, if you need to do that rewatch prep: seasons 1 through 5 are currently streaming online at Netflix and Hulu. You're welcome. PS - anyone have any ideas, suspicions, etc, about this tweet from Damon Lindelof?

February 19

- HBO's new animated series The Ricky Gervais Show debuts today. I didn't fall for his previous series Extras, but the guy is funny, and I'll keep trying...

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There is plenty more coming in March and April 2010... Just a taste, in my own personal order of interest rather than by premiere dates: Glee, Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara, The Tudors, Treme, Breaking Bad, V, Parenthood, Justified, FlashFoward. Booyah.

On The Fence

ProgGrrl@gmail.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:37:00 +0000

The interwebs just dug up this very cool supe tattoo. For you girls who just don't want to choose...