I know some people hate this song, but I love it!
31 January 2008
Missing WGN Morning News
Even though I don't miss Chicago -like tonight, as they are getting dumped with nearly a foot of snow - I still miss one thing, the WGN Morning News. KTLA is no WGN, and KTTV is just a pale and very bad imitation of WGN.
What makes the Morning News so special is that there is more fun going on than news. The anchors are very repesctable of the news, but they tend to have fun with jokes and pranks. Its often been cited because of its controversially comedic bent.
I began watching it around '94-'95 when the personalities included anchors Larry Potash and Roseanne Tellez, with sports by Bill Weir, weatherman Paul Konrad and traffic reporter Robin Baumgarten. Also there was the late Randy Salerno, who would fill-in from time to time.
When Weir left for ABC in Los Angeles in 1998 (and now works at ABC's Good Morning America), Mike Barz came in and easily fit in with the rest of the bunch. Before I left Chicago in 2005, Salerno and Tellez had jumped to rival WBBM and Barz joined GMA (and is now back in Chicago doing mornings on WFLD, the FOX station there.
What made the morning news so interesting was that joking around and pulling pranks were everyday things. Sure, sometimes they got in trouble with the managment -much like what The Simpsons do by ribbing the FOX Network, Paul Konrad and Larry Potash would take pot shots at The Tribune Company - but it was usually all done in clean fun.
Sadly, here in the LA market, nothing comes close to WGN. I'm disappointed that the Superstation does not air the Morning News here, though they do the noon and 9 o'clock ones. I'm sure it has something to do with WGN and KTLA being both owned by Tribune, but I would rather watch that, then that horrible KTTV (LA's Fox Station) morning thing.
So, don't miss the weather, but I miss my WGN Morning News.
What makes the Morning News so special is that there is more fun going on than news. The anchors are very repesctable of the news, but they tend to have fun with jokes and pranks. Its often been cited because of its controversially comedic bent.
I began watching it around '94-'95 when the personalities included anchors Larry Potash and Roseanne Tellez, with sports by Bill Weir, weatherman Paul Konrad and traffic reporter Robin Baumgarten. Also there was the late Randy Salerno, who would fill-in from time to time.
When Weir left for ABC in Los Angeles in 1998 (and now works at ABC's Good Morning America), Mike Barz came in and easily fit in with the rest of the bunch. Before I left Chicago in 2005, Salerno and Tellez had jumped to rival WBBM and Barz joined GMA (and is now back in Chicago doing mornings on WFLD, the FOX station there.
What made the morning news so interesting was that joking around and pulling pranks were everyday things. Sure, sometimes they got in trouble with the managment -much like what The Simpsons do by ribbing the FOX Network, Paul Konrad and Larry Potash would take pot shots at The Tribune Company - but it was usually all done in clean fun.
Sadly, here in the LA market, nothing comes close to WGN. I'm disappointed that the Superstation does not air the Morning News here, though they do the noon and 9 o'clock ones. I'm sure it has something to do with WGN and KTLA being both owned by Tribune, but I would rather watch that, then that horrible KTTV (LA's Fox Station) morning thing.
So, don't miss the weather, but I miss my WGN Morning News.
30 January 2008
Randy Salerno
When growing up -no matter where - you end up watching a lot of local news. And you usually watch one channel, one local news program. Thus, you come attached to those anchors and reporters -some who come and go, and others that stay.
When I lived in Chicago, I always watched WLS -the ABC afflicate. But in later years, I ended up watching WGN -especially the morning news, which while informative, always made me laugh. There was always a sense of fun when you watched, and its anchors like Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten, Paul Konrad, Roseanne Tellez, Micah Materre, Mike Barz, Bill Weir and Randy Salerno always made you giggle, even during the worst aspects of news.
WGN Morning News was 60% news and 40% fun. The wit of the team, especially Larry, Paul and Randy was awesome.
Tonight, while watching WGN Superstation here, I learned of the tragic death of Randy Salerno on January 24th in a snowmobile accident in Eagle River Wisconsin. He was 45.
And I'm left with a great sadness for a man I never met.
The man had a wit that I can only dream of having and was a hugely funny. A tribute from his friends at WGN -where he worked for 11years - is here
Click on the Noon News Tribute.
His co-workers at the CBS affliate -WBBM- where he worked for the last three years, also paid tribute to him here.
So tonight, while I intended to do other things, I have spent hours watching video from WGN and WBBM. And I realize that since I left Chicago in 2005, the local news is one thing I miss. The LA stations are fine, but nothing can be as good as WGN morning news. And its newscasters like Randy, who while reporting the most horrible news, still could provide a laugh here and there.
I watched his funeral, and listened to the tributes, and cried when his wife spoke. It's funny, I'm 2000 miles away and have not seen him since I left Chicago 2 plus years ago, yet I feel a great loss and sadness for his wife and three children.
When I lived in Chicago, I always watched WLS -the ABC afflicate. But in later years, I ended up watching WGN -especially the morning news, which while informative, always made me laugh. There was always a sense of fun when you watched, and its anchors like Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten, Paul Konrad, Roseanne Tellez, Micah Materre, Mike Barz, Bill Weir and Randy Salerno always made you giggle, even during the worst aspects of news.
WGN Morning News was 60% news and 40% fun. The wit of the team, especially Larry, Paul and Randy was awesome.
Tonight, while watching WGN Superstation here, I learned of the tragic death of Randy Salerno on January 24th in a snowmobile accident in Eagle River Wisconsin. He was 45.
And I'm left with a great sadness for a man I never met.
The man had a wit that I can only dream of having and was a hugely funny. A tribute from his friends at WGN -where he worked for 11years - is here
Click on the Noon News Tribute.
His co-workers at the CBS affliate -WBBM- where he worked for the last three years, also paid tribute to him here.
So tonight, while I intended to do other things, I have spent hours watching video from WGN and WBBM. And I realize that since I left Chicago in 2005, the local news is one thing I miss. The LA stations are fine, but nothing can be as good as WGN morning news. And its newscasters like Randy, who while reporting the most horrible news, still could provide a laugh here and there.
I watched his funeral, and listened to the tributes, and cried when his wife spoke. It's funny, I'm 2000 miles away and have not seen him since I left Chicago 2 plus years ago, yet I feel a great loss and sadness for his wife and three children.
29 January 2008
28 January 2008
Whirlwinded
There was a point in yesterday's shoot, that I wanted to leave and just chuck it all into the drink. I felt drained and stepped upon. Most of it had to do with not being able to shoot on location as planned, due to the rain that saturated the area starting on Friday. Thus, by default, the studio became a caged pen for me; locked in and tied down.
Then came the skills of certain actors who could not remember their lines. I would grant you that most actors have trouble with the techno-babble of Trek, but some just choose to remember some and hope to bluff their way through the rest.
And that, in my opinion is what causes most of our delays (the ironic part, maybe, is that even if the day was sunny, with all the blown lines, we might've run out of light to film). I can accept lighting issues, but topped that with the actors line issues, and we got a long ass day.
Still, that being said, I'm hopeful Rob will find good performances. Brandon was great, settleing nicely into his role as Ro. I have some serious worries that we'll have issues with him when it comes to Ro's sexuality, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Michelle, of course, was brilliant as well as our guest-actress, Melodee. She is a find, which is why after filming on Odyssey's Lotus Eaters episode, she'll pop-up in the next Helena Chronicles episode we film on 2/16.
When we wrap this coming Saturday on 1.03, it should be another year before I can get behind the camera again as director. At this point, I'll probably helm the second season opener of The Helena Chronicles.
But, unlike yesterday, I know this last shoot of The Lotus Eaters will go long. But, I'll have all of Sunday to recover.
Then came the skills of certain actors who could not remember their lines. I would grant you that most actors have trouble with the techno-babble of Trek, but some just choose to remember some and hope to bluff their way through the rest.
And that, in my opinion is what causes most of our delays (the ironic part, maybe, is that even if the day was sunny, with all the blown lines, we might've run out of light to film). I can accept lighting issues, but topped that with the actors line issues, and we got a long ass day.
Still, that being said, I'm hopeful Rob will find good performances. Brandon was great, settleing nicely into his role as Ro. I have some serious worries that we'll have issues with him when it comes to Ro's sexuality, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Michelle, of course, was brilliant as well as our guest-actress, Melodee. She is a find, which is why after filming on Odyssey's Lotus Eaters episode, she'll pop-up in the next Helena Chronicles episode we film on 2/16.
When we wrap this coming Saturday on 1.03, it should be another year before I can get behind the camera again as director. At this point, I'll probably helm the second season opener of The Helena Chronicles.
But, unlike yesterday, I know this last shoot of The Lotus Eaters will go long. But, I'll have all of Sunday to recover.
25 January 2008
24 January 2008
My picks for the Oscars
The Oscars are really the only award show I like. I know all this self-congratulatory thing is weird, but shit, take my gay card away.
But even as gay man, I was never into the glamour aspect of it, though when with friends, I can be. But now, I just watch it because I enjoy guessing who’ll win.
So, here’s my prediction for Visual Effects, and (with the winner highlighted) nominees are:
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"
But even as gay man, I was never into the glamour aspect of it, though when with friends, I can be. But now, I just watch it because I enjoy guessing who’ll win.
So, here’s my prediction for Visual Effects, and (with the winner highlighted) nominees are:
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"
Pseudo Celebrities, a Prick named John Gibson and death of Heath Ledger
We do have a sick fascination with pseudo-celebrities, don’t we? How many of you have subscriptions to People, Us Weekly and any other tabloids newspaper? How many of you thumb through them at the checkout when buying groceries, and then toss them into the cart?
Why do we care about Victoria Beckham? Why do follow the stupid antics of attention whores known as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse. Why do we put this assholes on such a high pedestal? Are our lives so empty that we need to worship these people as if they were more than human?
Sure we laugh at them, and point our fingers at their crazy antics, but we still want to know what they’re up too.
People, we need to stop dumb, idol worship of stars. Stop buying People, Us Weekly and any other tabloid. Stop watching the vain and empty shows like Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, which under the guise of reporting the “news,” is just another way to exploit people. And the Billy Bush is a complete wanker.
Meanwhile, the death of Heath Ledger has brought the worst in fans, acting as if his death -while a tragic loss for his family - is somehow a crucial juncture in history. The there’s the hate mongers, pricks like Fake News host John Gibson, who his radio show Tuesday called Ledger a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem" and suggested that Ledger killed himself because he had "a serious position in the (stock) market" or perhaps "watched the Clinton-Obama debate last night.”
Anyways, the bizarreness will continue when People Magazine releases its issue tomorrow on the death of Ledger. My company has already notified us that they could not get their hands on any more copies than our usual draw. Which means, the ghouls of the universe, ones like Best Buy who had a display of Ledger movies set up mere hours after his death, will be out in force looking to buy his videos.
Why do we care about Victoria Beckham? Why do follow the stupid antics of attention whores known as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse. Why do we put this assholes on such a high pedestal? Are our lives so empty that we need to worship these people as if they were more than human?
Sure we laugh at them, and point our fingers at their crazy antics, but we still want to know what they’re up too.
People, we need to stop dumb, idol worship of stars. Stop buying People, Us Weekly and any other tabloid. Stop watching the vain and empty shows like Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, which under the guise of reporting the “news,” is just another way to exploit people. And the Billy Bush is a complete wanker.
Meanwhile, the death of Heath Ledger has brought the worst in fans, acting as if his death -while a tragic loss for his family - is somehow a crucial juncture in history. The there’s the hate mongers, pricks like Fake News host John Gibson, who his radio show Tuesday called Ledger a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem" and suggested that Ledger killed himself because he had "a serious position in the (stock) market" or perhaps "watched the Clinton-Obama debate last night.”
Anyways, the bizarreness will continue when People Magazine releases its issue tomorrow on the death of Ledger. My company has already notified us that they could not get their hands on any more copies than our usual draw. Which means, the ghouls of the universe, ones like Best Buy who had a display of Ledger movies set up mere hours after his death, will be out in force looking to buy his videos.
23 January 2008
Star Trek teaser grabs the ire of purist fans; me, I'm mellow about it
I’m trying to mellow with age, you know. It’s something I’m actually working on. I guess, I just can no longer be bothered by certain things. Take for example the Star Trek teaser that was just released online (and in theaters attached to the Cloverfield monster movie.). Now as a fan, and not an over obsessed purist, I can take what certain liberties director JJ Abrams will do with the reboot due this Christmas.
The writers, along with the director, are known to be huge fans of the 42 year-old franchise. And given the chance to, more or less save it from itself (see Voyager and Enterprise), I’m hoping they deliver a great picture.
Now the teaser, somewhat ambiguously, shows construction workers welding something big while excerpts from the Apollo 11 mission are heard, words from President Kennedy . It eventually pulls back to show the saucer section with the name USS Enterprise emblazoned on it in big letters held in giant construction scaffolding as Leonard Nimoy says "Space...Where No Man Has Gone Before". Dissolve to the Federation symbol glowing in blue outline (with the original series transporter effect heard) and the words “Under Construction” and “Christmas 2008" are displayed.
Now, some fans are saying that the Enterprise was built in space (and according to lore, Starfleet built Utopia Planitia in orbit of Mars just to build ships) and not on Earth, as the trailer implies. This, they’re already saying, will be the reboots main mission: to ignore the Canon of Trek. As far as I know, that has never been confirmed on screen (which is what is called The Canon of Trek), and books and other resource materials do not count.
They are saying that a ship “under construction” would not have the name of the ship put on it, until its complete. And there’s also something about the nacelles that seem out of place.
What I saw was a teaser. If I was a betting man, I would say this has absolutely nothing to do with the movie. All we really know about the film is that its set sometime between the first pilot, The Cage, and the second one, Where No Man Has Gone Before. It features Leonard Nimoy returning as Spock, suggesting that time-travel plays within plot (as it also features Romulans from the 24th Century). We know the cast, and that’s just about it.
Sure, there has been a many fanboy web sites reporting unreliable information about the production, which has caused the hearts of Star Trek purist -the ones who think the show should never violate canon one bit -to type out loads of whiny assed complaints.
Here’s where the mellowing comes in. Yeah, I was pretty vocal during Enterprise’s TV run. I was -and still am - not keen on going back, and doing an origin type project. After all, most comic book geeks will tell you, origin stories are usually the weakest stories. And, at times, I would get on Enterprise’s ass for violating certain precepts with in the franchise; where they ignored The Canon of Trek for the story.
My real issue with Enterprise was the show sucked big time, with a miscast captain (like Scott Backula, but Jebus he was wrong for this role) and stories that broke many cardinal rules, but the greatest sin they made was the episodes were dull as dishwater and boring.
In many ways, I can ignore minor inconsistences, the changes here and there with what has been established in TOS, TNG and DS9. As long as the story is good. Enterprise failed to make good stories, so I felt justified to complain about that and then make comments about canon being violated.
But before Enterprise began, I tried to keep an open mind. Much like I will do with Abrams’ reboot of the classic series.
So, when I hear people complain that this movie will ignore all that has come before, all I can do is just nod and keep notes to myself.
Once upon a time, I probably was like them-as a matter of fact, I was - but now time and sand has made me just nod and say whatever.
The writers, along with the director, are known to be huge fans of the 42 year-old franchise. And given the chance to, more or less save it from itself (see Voyager and Enterprise), I’m hoping they deliver a great picture.
Now the teaser, somewhat ambiguously, shows construction workers welding something big while excerpts from the Apollo 11 mission are heard, words from President Kennedy . It eventually pulls back to show the saucer section with the name USS Enterprise emblazoned on it in big letters held in giant construction scaffolding as Leonard Nimoy says "Space...Where No Man Has Gone Before". Dissolve to the Federation symbol glowing in blue outline (with the original series transporter effect heard) and the words “Under Construction” and “Christmas 2008" are displayed.
Now, some fans are saying that the Enterprise was built in space (and according to lore, Starfleet built Utopia Planitia in orbit of Mars just to build ships) and not on Earth, as the trailer implies. This, they’re already saying, will be the reboots main mission: to ignore the Canon of Trek. As far as I know, that has never been confirmed on screen (which is what is called The Canon of Trek), and books and other resource materials do not count.
They are saying that a ship “under construction” would not have the name of the ship put on it, until its complete. And there’s also something about the nacelles that seem out of place.
What I saw was a teaser. If I was a betting man, I would say this has absolutely nothing to do with the movie. All we really know about the film is that its set sometime between the first pilot, The Cage, and the second one, Where No Man Has Gone Before. It features Leonard Nimoy returning as Spock, suggesting that time-travel plays within plot (as it also features Romulans from the 24th Century). We know the cast, and that’s just about it.
Sure, there has been a many fanboy web sites reporting unreliable information about the production, which has caused the hearts of Star Trek purist -the ones who think the show should never violate canon one bit -to type out loads of whiny assed complaints.
Here’s where the mellowing comes in. Yeah, I was pretty vocal during Enterprise’s TV run. I was -and still am - not keen on going back, and doing an origin type project. After all, most comic book geeks will tell you, origin stories are usually the weakest stories. And, at times, I would get on Enterprise’s ass for violating certain precepts with in the franchise; where they ignored The Canon of Trek for the story.
My real issue with Enterprise was the show sucked big time, with a miscast captain (like Scott Backula, but Jebus he was wrong for this role) and stories that broke many cardinal rules, but the greatest sin they made was the episodes were dull as dishwater and boring.
In many ways, I can ignore minor inconsistences, the changes here and there with what has been established in TOS, TNG and DS9. As long as the story is good. Enterprise failed to make good stories, so I felt justified to complain about that and then make comments about canon being violated.
But before Enterprise began, I tried to keep an open mind. Much like I will do with Abrams’ reboot of the classic series.
So, when I hear people complain that this movie will ignore all that has come before, all I can do is just nod and keep notes to myself.
Once upon a time, I probably was like them-as a matter of fact, I was - but now time and sand has made me just nod and say whatever.
22 January 2008
No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood lead the 2007 Oscar race
The 2007 Oscars nominations were announced this morning. No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood tied with 8 nominations. While there was no big surprises, thus making it fairly predictable if you ask me, the big question remains will the WGA strike be over by the February 24th telecast? It's been reported that the WGA will not pickett the award show if things are not resloved by then, but most actors and what not will probably make the same choice as Best Actor nominee Viggo Mortensen, who says he'll not cross lines if the strike is on that night. Here's the list:
Best Picture
"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
Actor
George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises"
Actress
Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney, "The Savages"
Ellen Page, "Juno"
Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"
Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton"
Supporting Actress
Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"
Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"
Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton"
Director
Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Jason Reitman, "Juno"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Foreign Film
"Beaufort," Israel
"The Counterfeiters," Austria
"Katyn," Poland
"Mongol," Kazakhstan
"12," Russia
Adapted Screenplay
Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"
Sarah Polley, "Away from Her"
Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Original Screenplay
Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"
Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, "Ratatouille"
Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages."
Animated Feature Film
"Persepolis"
"Ratatouille"
"Surf's Up"
Art Direction
"American Gangster"
"Atonement"
"The Golden Compass"
"Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood"
Cinematography
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
Sound Mixing
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"3:10 to Yuma"
"Transformers"
Sound Editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"No Country for Old Men"
"Ratatouille"
"There Will Be Blood"
"Transformers"
Original Score
"Atonement," Dario Marianelli
"The Kite Runner," Alberto Iglesias
"Michael Clayton," James Newton Howard
"Ratatouille," Michael Giacchino
"3:10 to Yuma," Marco Beltrami
Original Song
"Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush," Nominees to be determined
"So Close" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz
"That's How You Know" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz
Costume
"Across the Universe"
"Atonement"
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
"La Vie en Rose"
"Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Documentary Feature
"No End in Sight"
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience"
"Sicko"
"Taxi to the Dark Side"
"War/Dance"
Documentary (short subject)
"Freeheld"
"La Corona (The Crown)"
"Salim Baba"
"Sari's Mother"
Film Editing
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"Into the Wild"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"
Makeup
"La Vie en Rose"
"Norbit"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
Animated Short Film
"I Met the Walrus"
"Madame Tutli-Putli"
"Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
"Peter & the Wolf"
Live Action Short Film
"At Night"
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)"
"Tanghi Argentini"
"The Tonto Woman"
Visual Effects
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
"Transformers"
Gifted and talented actor Heath Ledger found dead in New York
Like most, I was stunned to hear of the death of Heath Ledger. I would not say I'm a fan, having seen only a handful of his movies and the TV series he produced before he hit it big, but I liked him.
For many gay men, he'll always be remembered for his haunting performance in Brokeback Mountain, as a gay man unable to come to turns with his sexuality. His role as Ennis Del Mar earned him wide spread praise, that included an Oscar nomination for best actor (and there is some irony, that he dies on the day the 2007 Oscar's were announced).
This summer, in what was probably his biggest film of his career, he'll be seen as The Joker in The Dark Knight, the Batman Begins sequel.
While nothing is confirmed, reports indicate that his death may have been accidental. What that means, I'm unsure, as reports say sleeping pills were strewn around his bed where his housekeeper found him.
There is much more to come from this, I know.
For many gay men, he'll always be remembered for his haunting performance in Brokeback Mountain, as a gay man unable to come to turns with his sexuality. His role as Ennis Del Mar earned him wide spread praise, that included an Oscar nomination for best actor (and there is some irony, that he dies on the day the 2007 Oscar's were announced).
This summer, in what was probably his biggest film of his career, he'll be seen as The Joker in The Dark Knight, the Batman Begins sequel.
While nothing is confirmed, reports indicate that his death may have been accidental. What that means, I'm unsure, as reports say sleeping pills were strewn around his bed where his housekeeper found him.
There is much more to come from this, I know.
21 January 2008
Shelter
Saddled with responsibility beyond his means, a young man takes care of his five year-old nephew, his irresponsible older sister and his alcoholic dad while holding down a job at a diner and struggling with his burgeoning feelings for his friend's older brother.
20 January 2008
Torchwood: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
Torchwood's second season launched with Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (and for trivia hounds, film critic Pauline Kael came up with this phrase in the 1960's to describe the James Bond movies) and the introduction of someone from Jack's past.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James Marsters shows up as another Time Agent named Captain John Hart. While his mission -about some thermal devices - is silly, what he does to the team is much more interesting.
Everyone, still upset about Jack's vanishing act (at the end of season one, he joined the Doctor for three episodes) and his sudden reappearance are even more thrown for loop when Hart arrives and makes things worse.
The pacing of the show got better, but this is the season opener, and the added humor and less back biting from the team is also a reward. Marsters shines as Hart, reminding me many times why Spike on Buffy was so much fun to watch. I guess without using the Previously on...notice, it forced the series to tell all that stuff at the opening, which I find distracting. What's the point of restating the mission statement again and again. Oh. Can't count on the viewers to pay attention.
There appears to be a more overt romance planned for Jack and Inato, and liked how jealous he became when he realized John was everything he wasn't. But Jack did ask Ianto on a date.
And in typical Buffy/Angel style that the series tries so hard to emulate, John let's out a secret for Jack to mull over until his return (seen in the previews) at the last few moments of the episode. Who is Gray and why did Jack go all pale?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James Marsters shows up as another Time Agent named Captain John Hart. While his mission -about some thermal devices - is silly, what he does to the team is much more interesting.
Everyone, still upset about Jack's vanishing act (at the end of season one, he joined the Doctor for three episodes) and his sudden reappearance are even more thrown for loop when Hart arrives and makes things worse.
The pacing of the show got better, but this is the season opener, and the added humor and less back biting from the team is also a reward. Marsters shines as Hart, reminding me many times why Spike on Buffy was so much fun to watch. I guess without using the Previously on...notice, it forced the series to tell all that stuff at the opening, which I find distracting. What's the point of restating the mission statement again and again. Oh. Can't count on the viewers to pay attention.
There appears to be a more overt romance planned for Jack and Inato, and liked how jealous he became when he realized John was everything he wasn't. But Jack did ask Ianto on a date.
And in typical Buffy/Angel style that the series tries so hard to emulate, John let's out a secret for Jack to mull over until his return (seen in the previews) at the last few moments of the episode. Who is Gray and why did Jack go all pale?
Actress Suzanne Pleshette and "Brady Bunch" actor Allan Melvin die
Do things happen in three's?
It may just be imagination, but tragic things (does it happen with the opposite, three good things?) seem to happen in three's.
Take deaths of Hollywood stars.
This past week, Brad Renfro died.
Over this weekend, Suzanne Pleshette and Allan Melvin passed. Pleshette will be remembered for her role as the voice of reason on the the brilliant Bob Newhart Show, while Melvin played Sam the Butcher on the classic TV series The Brady Bunch and Archie's best friend Barney on All in the Family.
Pleshette was 70, and passed from respiratory failure, while Melvin was 84 and passed from cancer.
It may just be imagination, but tragic things (does it happen with the opposite, three good things?) seem to happen in three's.
Take deaths of Hollywood stars.
This past week, Brad Renfro died.
Over this weekend, Suzanne Pleshette and Allan Melvin passed. Pleshette will be remembered for her role as the voice of reason on the the brilliant Bob Newhart Show, while Melvin played Sam the Butcher on the classic TV series The Brady Bunch and Archie's best friend Barney on All in the Family.
Pleshette was 70, and passed from respiratory failure, while Melvin was 84 and passed from cancer.
19 January 2008
Book: Next by Michael Crichton
As I read Next, I was of one mind: what the hell is this book about?
Michael Crichton has spent decades combining fact and fiction together, and with Next he takes on genetics and the slippery slope that comes with it. The book has way too many characters and seemly jumps to them with little narrative ideas. His chapters are short, much like the pattern developed by the craptacular James Patterson. The novel also sort of concludes with little or no plot resoultions for most of the characters -like the brother who accidentally made that drug that cured people of their addictions, and then administered it to his brother and his mom's friend's son, only to find out that ended up turning them old?
This abrupt ending is Cricthton's style, and the next seven or eight pages is the authors real feelings on the future of genetic research. And not surprising, the same as he did with his anti-global warning novel State of Fear, he's against it.
Still, I gues the point of the novel is to get people to think, and offer information that most people -given the effort - can find themselves. However, it is way to cluttered with stereotype characters and unbelievable and downright wacky scenarios -the talking African grey and the halfhuman monkey named Dave.
But that being said, Crichton offers his own personal views on what could happen if we let genetics run the course its going. While it may offer humans hope for a better, richer life, one free of many diseases, in the hands of people who put profit before anything else, it has a potential to become a nightmare.
Michael Crichton has spent decades combining fact and fiction together, and with Next he takes on genetics and the slippery slope that comes with it. The book has way too many characters and seemly jumps to them with little narrative ideas. His chapters are short, much like the pattern developed by the craptacular James Patterson. The novel also sort of concludes with little or no plot resoultions for most of the characters -like the brother who accidentally made that drug that cured people of their addictions, and then administered it to his brother and his mom's friend's son, only to find out that ended up turning them old?
This abrupt ending is Cricthton's style, and the next seven or eight pages is the authors real feelings on the future of genetic research. And not surprising, the same as he did with his anti-global warning novel State of Fear, he's against it.
Still, I gues the point of the novel is to get people to think, and offer information that most people -given the effort - can find themselves. However, it is way to cluttered with stereotype characters and unbelievable and downright wacky scenarios -the talking African grey and the halfhuman monkey named Dave.
But that being said, Crichton offers his own personal views on what could happen if we let genetics run the course its going. While it may offer humans hope for a better, richer life, one free of many diseases, in the hands of people who put profit before anything else, it has a potential to become a nightmare.
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