Watching TV With Cats

Life On Mars reviews...

2009-04-12T18:58:00.001-05:00

I've been reviewing Life On Mars for Firefox News. I should have been posting episode reviews shortly after the original air date. But being a professional procrastinator who lives the modern DVR lifestyle, I've been a bit tardy posting my reviews.

(A downside to actually making a living as a writer -- even a marketing writer -- is that I simply don't feel like writing when I get home in the evening.)

Well, I sucked it up and did a "Life On Mars" viewing marathon last weekend, up to and including the series finale. Then I churned out six reviews this week. Three were posted yesterday. Three more are pending and should be appear in the next few days. I have to admit that my opinion gets snarkier the closer we get to the finale. Stay tuned. More to come. ;)

Review -- Life on Mars: Revenge of the Broken Jaw, Original air date: 3/4/2009

Review -- Life on Mars: Coffee, Tea, or Annie, Original air date: 3/11/2009

Review -- Life on Mars: All The Young Dudes, Original air date: 3/18/2009

NCIS review up on Firefox news... but I'm still playing catchup

2009-04-01T22:25:00.003-05:00

I am embarrassingly behind in my reviews for Firefox News, but I posted two more last weekend:

Review -- NCIS: South by Southwest
http://firefox.org/news/articles/2644/1/Review--NCIS-South-by-Southwest/Page1.html
NCIS: Bounce
http://firefox.org/news/articles/2642/1/Review----NCIS-Bounce/Page1.html

New Life On Mars reviews on Firefox News

2009-03-01T21:17:00.002-06:00

I've finally caught up with my reviews for the ABC television series "Life On Mars", posted at Firefox News:

Review -- Life on Mars: Let All The Children Boogie, (Original air date: 2/11/2009)
Review -- Life on Mars: Home Is Where You Hang Your Holster, (Original air date: 2/18/2009)
Review -- Life on Mars: The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All, (Original air date: 2/25/2009)

Has Bones jumped the shark?

2009-01-23T21:17:00.000-06:00

Boris and Natasha, and their Russian Knives of Death. You've got to be kidding.

Catching Up On Fringe

2008-12-16T21:13:00.005-06:00

I've been catching up on "Fringe" and let me just say, watching five episodes in a row is a little mind-numbing. In a good way. This holiday-themed season recap made me smile.

It's a small, small Whedonverse...

2008-11-26T19:31:00.002-06:00

OMG! Zoe (from "Angel" "Firefly" and "Serenity") is playing a "person of interest" on "Bones", which stars David Boreanz, "Angel" himself. It truely is a small, small Whedonverse.

I totally forgot to mention my article on Pauley Perrette

2008-11-17T21:41:00.003-06:00

This ship has sailed, but I wrote my first potential controversial piece for Firefox News about NCIS Pauley Perrette's personal grass roots campaign against California Proposition 8

"Life On Mars" continues to please...

2008-11-17T21:38:00.002-06:00

I'm still writing reviews for Firefox News, but I am running a tad bit behind. And "Life On Mars" has a new timeslot beginning in January.

Yikes! It's Sweeps Month!

2008-11-17T21:36:00.001-06:00

It's November Sweeps Month and I'm waaaay behind in blogging about what I'm watching. Since I DVR just about everything I watch, I'll catch up with my blog notes eventually. Patience, please.

New Life On Mars Episode Review ...

2008-10-29T17:20:00.000-05:00

My latest "Life On Mars" episode review is now online at FireFox News.

Review -- "Life On Mars": My Maharishi Is Bigger Than Your Maharishi

NCIS: Nine Lives review now online

2008-10-28T23:40:00.002-05:00

My review of NCIS: Nine Lives is now online at Firefox News:
http://firefox.org/news/articles/2167/1/Review-NCIS----Nine-Lives/Page1.html

Political Attack Ads Are Just ... So... Negative...

2008-10-28T23:37:00.002-05:00

Negative attack ads take all the joy out of watching television. How low can they go? Damn low. Thank goodness this election cycle is almost over. Unfortunately, we've still got six more days to go...

And POOF! it was gone...

2008-10-26T21:21:00.002-05:00

Now that I've finally made time to watch the shows I DVR'd last week, I've discovered that a brief power outage occurred Tuesday evening at exactly the same moment as the final scene in "House" and "NCIS". ARGH! I lost less than a minute of air time on the downstairs DVR, but ARGH! I lost the entire ending on the ReplayTV upstairs due to a slower reboot. And ARGH! it was an important minute where Everything Is Revealed and Important Things Are Said. At least I assume important things were said... I guess I'll never know for sure...

A little ego-boo for "Life On Mars"

2008-10-26T21:15:00.001-05:00

I got a little ego-boo with my morning coffee last week. Two of my articles for FireFox News about the ABC series "Life On Mars" appeared at the top of my Google Alerts for news about the show.

My review of Episode 2: The Unreal Adventures of the Real Sam Tyler
My commentary on the show's placement in ABC's schedule: Life On Mars Faces Tough Competition.

Creepy is as creepy does....

2008-10-25T23:08:00.001-05:00

ooooo!.... Wil Wheaton played a serial rapist/killer on "Criminal Minds". "Star Trek: The Next Generation"'s little Wesley Crusher is all growed up... and exceedingly creepy!

NCIS: Heartland review now online

2008-10-19T21:46:00.003-05:00

My review of NCIS episode "Heartland" is now online at Firefox News:
http://firefox.org/news/articles/2127/1/Review----NCIS-Heartland/Page1.html

ER has a new boss and she's got game...

2008-10-15T23:59:00.000-05:00

Angela Bassett is in the house! She's looking good and kickin'ass, but under than tough-as-nails exterior is a marshmallow center with a personal tragedy that will most likely be revealed as the season progresses....

Television preferences and genetics.

2008-10-15T23:09:00.001-05:00

Somethings must be genetic. I've discovered that my mother and I have similar tastes in television. Lately she's been watching BBC America, including "Primeval" and "Eleventh Hour". She also likes "Monk", and I think she mentioned that she also likes "Psych". I fear I'm turning into my mother in many ways. (Can you say bifocals and food hoarding? I knew you could. But I digress.) At least she's not addicted to "Judge Judy" or the soaps. The cats are non-committal, since they have not met my mother.

"CSI:Miami" ... such pretty colors

2008-10-15T23:04:00.002-05:00

I just love the colors of "CSI:Miami"! So bright and cheery and warm -- saturated tones of citrus, crystal blue, and bright green. Yummy!

NCIS: Capitol Offense review now online

2008-10-12T21:07:00.004-05:00

My review of "NCIS" episode "Capitol Offense" is now online at FirefoxNews.org

Catching up on "Criminal Minds"

2008-10-12T20:59:00.004-05:00

Episode: Minimal Loss. It's good to see Connor Trineer playing a good guy again after a recurring role as the wraith-turned-human-turned-wraith Michael on "Stargate Atlantis". And what's with Luke Perry playing a smarmy bad guy again, after playing a smarmy bad guy on "Law & Order: SVU" just a few weeks ago?

Episode: Angel Maker. Although this is a good episode focusing on Hotchner's continuing disability caused by the explosion in the premiere episode, it treads weary ground investigating copycat murders mimicking a dead serial killer's m.o. I'm digging the purple glasses Garcia wears in this episode.

"How It's Made" ... TV to slumber by...

2008-10-12T20:03:00.002-05:00

I love "How It's Made". It's so soothing... it is truly TV to nap by. Don't get me wrong. When I can stay awake, I'm fascinated by how things are made. But the combination of the soothing narration, the light repetitive music, and the predictable motion of the machinery and conveyors puts me right to sleep, every time. Two snoozing, purring cats only compound the drowsy effect.

"Sanctuary" premiere interesting but flawed...

2008-10-12T19:55:00.003-05:00

The two-hour premiere episode of "Sanctuary" was nicely done. They in packed a lot of set-up and back story, and wove an intricate web of entanglements between the three main characters: Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), her seriously butt-kicking daughter Ashley, and the young Dr. Will Zimmerman.

I thought it was a little slow, but my Sweetie thought it was nice that they didn't jump right into explosions just for the "wow" factor. The green screen technology lends it a rich gothic look, but the lighting crew needs to pay a bit more attention to their work before it suspends my disbelief.

So much for 24-hour news...

2008-10-12T19:46:00.001-05:00

What good is a 24-hour news culture when all three cable news channels are running highly biased "investigations" or pop culture BS at the same time.... Excuse me while I go look for headlines on the Internet....

Look, ma! I'm a real TV reviewer!

2008-10-06T21:25:00.002-05:00

I'm now writing reviews of "NCIS" and (soon) "Life on Mars" for Firefox News. Here's a link to my Author Page, which links to all of my current articles. I always wanted to be a critic. (Some may say I've always been a critic, but I digress.) Go check 'em out.

"Earl" has the best guests...

2008-10-06T21:14:00.004-05:00

"My Name Is Earl" has the best guest stars! The most recent episode had Jerry Van Dyke (Dick's brother), which was fitting seeing as how Earl's delusional sitcom life placed him in a replica of "The Dick Van Dyke Show'''s sitcom living room. And John Amos -- I thought he was dead! But no, that was just the character he played on "Good Times". I really, really watch too much TV. With cats.

Live TV reeks...

2008-10-06T21:06:00.003-05:00

Although I like just about everything about staying in a hotel -- endless supplies of hot water, clean sheets, maid service, fluffy towels, etc. -- I loathe the hotel television. No DVR. No ability to rewind to catch a phrase I misheard. No ability to fast forward to skip commercials. No ability to view a channel guide and click to go there, or to click "info" to figure out what channel you're on or what's airing at the moment. It's TV dumbed down. Or TV as an implement of torture. Who knew there were that many channels showing infomercials at 6 a.m.?

"House"... not the grumpy crumudgeon I used to love

2008-10-06T21:01:00.002-05:00

What is it with "House"? When the show started, House was a grumpy, complicated curmudgeon, and the medical mysteries were intriguing. But now the irrascible old coot is just plain mean, not only self-destructive, but destructive to everyone around him. And the medical mysteries are rather lame, turning into an exercise in how to torture a patient before actually helping him. Are the writer's getting tired, or have they exhaustive the materials?

Deja Vu

2008-10-05T00:20:00.004-05:00

OMG! "CSI:NY" has a holodeck! Granted, using it to look inside the stomach of the deceased isn't nearly as pleasant some of the environs visited by Jean Luc Picard et. al. but hey... it's a nifty gimmick.

On the "Fringe"

2008-09-30T15:10:00.001-05:00

I watched the first three episodes of "Fringe". Mix one part "Alias" with two parts "X-files", shake maddeningly, and serve. Conspiracy, monster of the week, evil corporations, and enough grounding in science and pseudo-science to provide a foreboding sense that this stuff might be possible. The ensemble cast is likable. The mad scientist is deliciously quirky. The red-haired corporate dominatrix is delightfully two-faced. The hero investigator is a little bland, but I think she could grow on me. I think the cats and I will stick with this one for a few more episodes, at least.

Only their hairdresser -- or screen writer -- knows for sure...

2008-09-29T22:42:00.002-05:00

Who decided that red-headed female corporate execs are the villians du jour this season?

--- Evil Corporate Dominatrix Catherine Weaver (actress Shirley Manson) of "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"

--- Evil Corporate Dominatrix Nina Sharp (actress Blair Brown) of "Fringe"

--- Evil Corporate Dominatrix Eva Thorne (actress Frances Fisher) of "Eureka"

Catching up on last week's premieres...

2008-09-28T20:01:00.001-05:00

... Mary Tyler Moore was on "Lipstick Jungle"! She looks great. Playing Brooke Shield's mom! Cool!

... Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrette from "The Facts Of Life") did a walk-on on the season premiere of "ER". At least I think it was Charlotte Rae. She sure sounded like her. But she's looking a little thin.

... William Katt ("The Greatest American Hero") got iced on the season premiere of "Heroes"!

... Seth Green on "My Name Is Earl"... (elaborate hand gesture) AWEsome!

"ER" ... either inject a couple amps of epi, or pull the plug already

2008-09-27T13:07:00.004-05:00

It's hard to get excited about the final season of "ER". The marketing department is even spinning it as "a chance to say goodbye to old friends". Are they really going to use that hammer all season long? Sigh. I have to admit that last season was getting pretty tedious. This season portends more of the same. I mean, really, they killed off one of the most likeable characters (Dr. Pratt) right off the bat. And how, exactly, do they plan to pull off a visit from the long-dead Dr. Greene?

Spin-free democracy...

2008-09-27T11:48:00.001-05:00

I watched the presidential candidate's debate last night on public television to avoid the annoying commentary you get on the cable news and standard broadcast channels. I learned that lesson during the broadcasts of the Democratic and Republican national conventions -- you tune in to hear the speeches, and all you get is blah blah blah and spin from "commentators". PBS at least lets the event speak for itself and saves the spin for afterward.

Whatever happened to ...

2008-09-26T10:02:00.001-05:00

Whatever happened to Statler and Waldorf? I loved those guys. Here's a piece from today's New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/26/opinion/26suboped_ready.html

"The Mentalist" rips off "Psych"?

2008-09-25T21:42:00.002-05:00

"The Mentalist" promos... isn't his "special skill" a direct ripoff of Sean Spencer's faux psychic skills in "Psych"? Some critics are calling it a mashup of "Psych", "House", and "CSI". This one isn't on my "must watch" list (yet), but it does sound intriguing... Perhaps I'll pick it up on the Internet.

Just sayin'...

2008-09-24T21:46:00.000-05:00

When the president breaks into regularly scheduled programming to discuss the end of the American economy as we know it, it really messes with regularly scheduled DVR recording. Just sayin'.

An introduction, of sorts...

2008-09-24T21:36:00.000-05:00

Why write a blog about watching television? And what do cats have to do with it?

The easy answer is that I watch entirely too much television, and I don't write nearly as often or as much as I think I should. That's not a good thing for a professional writer.

I blame this on the digital video recorder (DVR). Back in the old days, when there was only live TV, my choice was simple: I could only watch one thing at a time. Then came the video cassette recorder (VCR), which enabled me to time shift and watch something live while recording something else to view later.

Now, I have the DVR. In fact, I technically have three DVRs: my old 40-GB ReplayTV unit, and the new dual-recording unit provided by my cable company. (Thanks, SureWest. You're enabling my addiction.)

So here I am, blogging about watching television. With cats. What could be more American than that?