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2-26-2008
MyTube
Let's talk about "Veronica Mars." I just got done watching season three, you know, the final season, of this incredible show and I have a few bones to pick.
None of those bones, however, are with the show, actors, producers or writers. My issue is with the powers that be that cut season three two episodes short, cancelled it, and doomed the TV viewing public to the drecks that the 2007-2008 season has devolved into.
Now, I will admit that there are some bright spots this season. "Heroes" rolled on as did "Prison Break" and I'm even enjoying "Lost" (although my love/hate relationship with that show could be published in a text book). But with all due respect to my friends, "American Gladiators?" Really?
Writer strike or not, need for "new" shows or not, "American Gladiators," "Moment of Truth" and their ilk are what's wrong with television today. Making them the go-to shows when there's nothing else on makes us all a little dumber.
Would "Veronica Mars" have been preempted by the strike if it were still on? Sure. But with the strike ending, imagine how happy we'd all be with the prospect of four or five new episodes in the Spring after a six or eight episode Fall season? My pulse quickens at the thought.
It may have only run three seasons, 64 episodes, but I will go to my grave believing that "Veronica Mars" was one of the top 5 best TV shows. Ever.
If any television show should have been pulled from its network and fostered somewhere else, this was it. The fact that UPN and then The CW network were not even available in every household or cable market in the US didn't help. Someone should have recognized that and rescued this show. Could you picture this show coupled with "Numb3rs" on Friday night? Or a Tuesday at 9:00 slot with the superb lead-in of an "NCIS?" Shit, make it the lead on Sunday night and let it lead into "Cold Case." I don't care where, but someone should have done this. And the person that had the juice to pull that off and didn't? Die in a fire.
While all three seasons of "VM" were awesome, season three had new heart to it and a new dynamic that opened up possibilities that a high school based show couldn't act on. Whether a season four continued the college theme or they skipped ahead to a "Veronica Mars: FBI" show, I have no doubt that the heart would have been as strong as ever.
The characters on the show, whether it was Kristen Bell's Veronica, Jason Dohring's Logan or even Ryan Hansen's Dick, all had interesting stories. Stories that I, and a lot of others, would like to have heard more of. Did Keith beat the charges and get elected Sheriff? Did the Fitzpatrick's ever get theirs? Did Weevil ever catch a break? Does Dick ever deal with Cassidy's death? Can Wallace get some love? I even want to know what happens to Piz.
Obviously I can not recommend this show highly enough. Go to your local rental store or Best Buy or Target and buy all three seasons of this show on DVD. Watch "Veronica Mars" rather than spend another five minutes with "American Idol" or "Big Brother" or "Biggest Loser" or even another "Law & Order" repeat on TNT. Then lend the disks to your friends to watch and weep at how good TV could be.
Oscar
I didn't watch the Academy Awards Sunday night and yesterday actually made the realization that I hadn't seen any of the films that were nominated for the big six awards; best picture, actor, actress, supporting actor and actress and best director. Not a single one of them.
Now, in fairness to the Academy, I have wanted to see No Country for Old Men since it came out and I may actually go this week. But I can't seem to find any draw in There will be Blood, even with Daniel Day-Lewis' award winning performance, Juno and Atonement seem like renters to me and, honestly, I never got very psyched about Michael Clayton.
I'm not sure if that's a sad statement on Hollywood in 2007 or if I just couldn't bring myself to shell out $9 to sit in a theater for two hours more than a couple times last year.
As a matter of fact, I think I can count the number of films I saw in the theater in 2007 on one hand: 300, The Bourne Ultimatum, Transformers, Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
I think that's it. Maybe I missed one but I don't think so. I do know that Jumper was the first film I saw in 2008 but there are some coming this year that I'm looking forward to. Maybe 2008 will be bigger.
One of the films I was most looking forward to this year, which has been indefinitely postponed as well as, perhaps, re-edited into a crapfest, was Fanboys. Unfortunately, Kristen Bell got the short end of that stick too. Hopefully they'll keep her around on "Heroes" when it kicks off again this Fall.
2-21-2008
Don't Jump!
Went and saw this new film Jumper last night and I was pretty happy with it in general. It stars Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, Little Miss Vixen and Duncan Kane...er, I mean Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson and Teddy Dunn. Oh, and a dude named Jamie Bell.
Christensen plays David Rice who, at about 15, figures out that he has the ability to transport himself to other places. He uses this power by accident to escape from a river after falling through the ice. Abandoned by his mother (Diane Lane) when he was five and treated poorly by his father (Michael Rooker), David sees no reason to stick around after discovering this new power and takes off on his own. He uses his power over the next several years to rob banks, travel the world and live like a playboy.
After popping through London and Fiji, Rice comes back home to find Roland, played by Jackson, in his apartment. Roland is a Paladin, a secret group of soldiers who hunt Jumpers. Rice runs, returning to his boyhood home to see his childhood crush, Bilson's Millie, and lay low. While rekindling a romance with Millie, Rice finally runs into Bell's Griffin who tells him that Jumpers and Paladins have been around for hundreds of years and that they're at war with each other.
When Rice realizes that the Paladins are out for him, he proposes a Marvel-style team-up with Griffin to stop Roland before he kills them. The story spends quite a bit of time showcasing Rice and Griffin using their powers as they jump around the world. It's just shy of annoying but, luckily, the film gets back to the heart of the matter before it gets old.
Rice eventually uses his powers to save Millie from Roland and even reunite, if only briefly, with his mother. The ending leaves the film wide open for a sequel which, I might add, I'd be in line to see.
At first glance, Jumper isn't an overly philosophical film like a Spider-Man, but if you look a little closer you can see that it's a mirror image of the standard superhero film. What would a superhero be like if he wasn't necessarily bad, but didn't want to use his powers for good? What if that person used his or her powers to get what they want? That's what Rice does, surfing a storm if Fiji, eating a sub while sitting on the Sphinx and sneaking his girlfriend into the Colosseum while in Rome.
Jumper is based on a novel of the same name, written by Steven Gould. There is a sequel to "Jumper" called "Reflex" that was written in 2004 so there's material there for the franchise to pick from or, do something original. Afterall, do you really lay on Diane Lane as a co-star and only give her about 2 solid minutes of screen time? Come on, you know you want a sequel!
This is the first thing I've seen Christensen in besides the two Star Wars films. Unfortunately, like Mark Hamill before, Christensen is going to be a Skywalker for a long time before some (me included) can get past it. Otherwise, he's less stiff in the role and the film isn't a bad choice for him. Bell's Griffin is a cool cat who has been fighting the war in style and flying under the radar for years. Bell is fun to watch on screen and I'll have to look for some of his other work in the future.
Bilson is cute as ever, I couldn't take my eyes off her whenever she was on screen. She's good in the role of Millie but I'm waiting for her break out roll as something other than the hot girlfriend. What was kind of cool is that the young Millie was played by AnnaSophia Robb who, in about 3 years when she's legal, is going to be a smokin' hot broad plus, can act. Jackson is always a cool dude but I have to say the white wig he wore for this gig was just odd. But fear not, he did kick much ass and take many names.
I mentioned Teddy Dunn up top as well as Michael Rooker and Diane Lane but they all played relatively small parts in the film. Lane and Rooker are always on their game and even in small doses it's fun to watch them.
The film is fun and full of action and FX but, as I said, there's some more depth to it if you look for it. It was a good way to waste a couple hours and if you get a chance, see it or buy the DVD when it drops later this year. I'm definitely hoping for a sequel but, if we don't get one, maybe I'll pick up the books some day. I'll slice off a full three wheels of cheddar out of five for Jumper. Don't listen to the critics, it's a good flick.
2-18-2008
Flu
It's been almost a week, still feel like shit. If you ever have the opportunity to get the flu, don't. Run in the other direction.
Knight Rider
Anyone catch this TV movie/pilot last night? It was better than average, enough so that I'd watch a weekly series of it, probably. There were some goofy moments, especially at the very beginning.
Our hero wakes up in bed with not one but two hot broads. Then, cut to the hot black cop whose just been out surfing in her bikini before going back in side to also find a hot fucking broad in her bed! Ca-ching.
Not really. If this were 1999 then the three way and the lesbian sex would be hot. In 2007 it's just a ratings ploy during a sweeps month. Still, it's barely enough to raise an eyebrow at any more.
The choice of going with Val Kilmer as the voice of the car was cool enough, though. Choosing a Mustang Cobra as the car was also a step in the right direction. Having the Hoff pull a cameo at the ending...well, this isn't Germany so your mileage may vary.
2-15-2008
Having the flu sucks to no end. Unfortunately, this week I've had to deal with it and let me tell you, it's not going well. But here's a blow by blow account.
Monday
Monday I was pretty much okay all day, went to work and had no major problem till late in the afternoon I had a couple bouts of coughing. Till I got home. Had dinner, started to watch some TV and then about 9:00 I got the chills and couldn't stop shaking. I just laid on the couch till some time in the early morning when I was finally able to get up and go to bed. On the way I called in to work and told them I wouldn't be in on Tuesday.
Tuesday
Didn't really sleep well all night and I was awake, asleep, awake, asleep, swimming laps around the ceiling of my bedroom, awake again. Although I felt like complete shit I managed to sort of sleep all day till about 3:00. At that point I dragged my ass out of bed and took a shower.
Apparently I even made it outside because when I finally snapped back into reality about 8:00 I noticed my mail was in the house. I actually didn't feel very bad during the evening and even managed to watch the new episode of "Jericho" before going to bed.
Bed didn't last very long, however, as I woke up coughing up a lung about 1 or 2 in the morning. Called out of work again.
Wednesday
Wednesday sucked like nothing has sucked before. I was sort of sleeping till about noon when I couldn't stay in bed any more so I made my way to the couch. I could only keep my eyes open for a few seconds at a time and I remember watching the clock on the VCR ticking bye minute by minute. I think I literally watched every minute flip from noon till 2:00pm.
It was really odd, especially 12:33 when I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. Then at 1:52 cartoon birds appeared and braided my hair. By 2:00 I finally forced myself to get up and take a shower, get dressed and head downstairs to my car, start it and clean the ice off of it.
Still not entirely sure how I managed that but I did and then I headed up the road to the medical center. Luckily all those late nights driving home from the bar prepared me for driving in the condition I was in.
Got to the center and scored a hot nurse to take my vitals which, under better circumstances, would have rocked. Temp was 103, which suddenly explained why I was in Reno earlier, blood pressure was surprisingly normal but my heart rate was just slightly slower than that of a rabbit on a four day crack binge.
The doc couldn't fix me. Unluckily for me the flu is one of those drink fluids and wait it out diseases and not the pumped full of antibiotics and feel better by tomorrow morning diseases. I ask the doc if he's been to Reno lately.
The hot nurse came back and dosed me with about 1,500mg of Tylenol to break my fever and, I have to say, it worked surprisingly well. By the time I made my way out to the car about 4:30 I was already sweating. I called off work for the rest of the week and headed to the store for orange juice, soup and Tylenol before coming home and holding the couch to the floor.
Thursday
After watching TV till about 11:00 Wednesday night I went to bed and actually got a decent night's sleep. Stayed in bed till noon before getting up and reintroducing myself to the couch.
Thursday was a much more exciting day than it sounds, however. During all the fevered tossing and turning and odd sleeping angles necessary to keep myself from drowning in the gallons of phlegm the flu has created, I pulled a muscle in my back. I can not begin to express my joy over that development.
I don't really remember what I did all day, things were still a little hazy. I do recall watching the new episode of "Lost" last night, however. I love that show...I hate that show. Oddly enough watching it through a fever does not help it make more sense. Huh.
Friday
Hello, couch. I don't think we've met yet. Allow me to introduce you to my ass. It will be holding you to the floor for the next 10 to 12 hours. Thanks to a couple dead presidents I have a three day weekend coming up. Maybe all the store sales will help me feel better. I'll let you know how that works out.
2-8-2008
Hot Broads You've Never Heard Of
Day 5: Mary Elizabeth Winstead
We'll wrap up the week with a girl I've had on my HBYNHO list for a couple of years now but hadn't posted about her. Then something interesting happened over the last year or so; she blew up! Almost literally, at times, in movies such as Sky High, Final Destination 3, Death Proof and Live Free or Die Hard.
She's also been on TV on shows such as "Touched by an Angel," "Wolf Lake" and "Tru Calling."
Of the chicks I've posted this week, this broad is probably the one you're going to hear the most from in the future. Her undeniable hotness aside, she's a pretty decent actress and have you seen the body on this girl? Tight!
HBYNHO Bonus
Not only have you never heard of this broad, neither have I. She's just a random bikini chick that I found on the InterWebs so I thought I'd toss you a bonus. This chick may have the most perfect ass I've ever seen. But, judge for yourself. And put down some plastic sheeting first, ya freaks.
2-7-2008
Hot Broads You've Never Heard Of
Day 4: Jessy Schram
Blonde cutie Jessy's biggest role to date is on the Hallmark Channel's ongoing series "Jane Doe." She's also had a lot of guest and reoccurring roles on shows such as "Veronica Mars," "Medium," "House," "Without a Trace" and "CSI: Miami." You should also check her out in the direct to video American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile.
Not only is she a hot girl and a pretty talented actress, she's also an accomplished singer. Check out the photos below and also grab a listen to her song, "You." I'm hoping for good things in the future from this sexy chick.
Heath Ledger
Well, it's still a tragedy that this dude has passed on but the report out yesterday is that it appears to be an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. I guess it's somewhat better than a heroine needle in the arm. But not by much.
2-6-2008
Hot Broads You've Never Heard Of
Day 3: Taylor Cole.
This hot Texas model first popped up on a short lived series called "Summerland." Since then she's guest starred on both "CSI" and "CSI: Miami" as well as "Numb3rs" and an episode during the first season of "Supernatural."
And, yes, this girl's numbers are supernatural; 5'8", 34-24-34 and about three pounds of pure tit. Yum.
2-5-2008
Hot Broads You've Never Heard Of
Day 2: Caroline de Souza Correa.
I'm going out on a limb that nobody has ever heard of this chick. She's had several bit parts in movies including Stealth, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and even Star Wars Revenge of the Sith.
This 5'8" hottie from Brazil is not on the radar for, well, almost anyone.
Till now. Enjoy.
Super Tuesday
Today is the day that 24 states go to the polls to vote for who they want to run in the election in November. Really, it's all a big pain in the ass as far as I'm concerned. My only hope, John McCain is the Republican big winner because he's the only one of the lot that I'd vote for.
Since I'm a registered Independent, I'm not going to be voting for shit.
Strike 3
Three.
The number of months that the WGA has been on strike.
The number of months suffered with very few new episodes of the shows I enjoy.
It's also the number of months left in the normal TV season which culminates in the May sweeps and the yearly upfronts when we find out if our favorites made it through to another year of goodness or, if not, what mindless crap we'll have to weed through in September.
I'm sure some of the shows that I watch will have time to get a few more episodes in the can before the end of the 2007-2008 season but some of the bigger ones like "Lost" and "24" probably aren't going to be able to do much.
I'm hoping that some of the CW shows like "Smallville" and "Supernatural" get something going seeing as "Smallville," at least, was still in production till the middle of last month. Maybe a few others like "Friday Night Lights" will get a few more eps as well. But, we'll see.
Word on the street is that the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers have made some progress over the weekend. Maybe we'll have a better idea if things went well by the end of the week.
2-4-2008
Super Bowl XLII
There will be no living with them now.
Giants fans everywhere will be able to brag on this win for the next year and I, for one, do not want to put up with it. I'm not a Pats fan by any stretch of the imagination but Giants fans, by and large, are an insufferable lot of obnoxious bastards.
Besides, I would have loved to have seen a completely undefeated season just because I don't think any team will have a shot at it again, probably, in my life time. Oh, well. Maybe next year Dallas will pull Romo's head out Jessica's pussy and we'll get a new ring.
Hot Broads You've Never Heard Of
It's been a while since I did one of these but since there's no good news to write about for the Super Bowl, why not. But, let's take it up a notch and do a week of HBYNHO!
I'm actually going to start if off with a broad you may, in fact, have heard of before. A hot blonde number by the name of Sarah Carter.
The first time I actually saw her was in Final Destination 2 although she was dead in about the first five minutes. Her undeniable hotness was so intense that I had to find out who she was just because of that. That was followed up by several forgettable appearances on "Black Sash" but she was redeemed with her important roll on "Smallville" as Alicia Baker in season 4. Since then she's been in "Numb3rs," DOA: Dead or Alive and where you've had the best chance of seeing her, "Shark," as Madeline Poe.
But enough about this hot, 27 year old Canadian, let's get to the photos.
