'Cuz I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass...

A WORD OF WARNING: What follows is a scathing - well snarky, really - review of X-Men: The Last Stand. It will contain spoilers so if you have not yet watched the film and want to be 'surprised' (read: horrified), you might want to stop reading.

Within the first few minutes of X-Men: The Last Stand, I realized that I didn't want to be on either side of the mutant war. Okay maybe Wolverine's but that would make it a pair and not really the "team" concept Storm keeps bringing up.
Back in May, Cerebra sent me an email review of the film...I'm so thankful I had that warning, although it turns out it wasn't enough. Since I loved her review and thought it far more amusing then the actual film, I thought I would include most of her review along with a few of my own thoughts. (I don't usually publish other people's emails, but in this case, I don't think she would mind and she really hits the nail on the head.) On second thought, I really have nothing to add. Cerebra hits nearly all of my ajor problems with the film with the exception of the charcter destruction of Rogue and Cyclops, the ridiculous Storm action mode, the death of Picard, and mid-air vamp dusting. So here goes...

Well, I promised you a few months ago that I would "see you in May," meaning, of course, that I would dutifully send you a review of X-Men 3. As the release date approached, I began to formulate certain one-liners that might appear, so certain was I that I knew exactly what was coming: more thinly developed characters, sound-bytes, overblown CGI antics, and even more overblown hystrionics from the leads. In fact, I had intended to have the title of this review be either "Here come the tights," or simply "Hoo, hoo, hoo!"

This is not that review.

Make no mistake, the film contains all of the above in spades, and up until the last thirty minutes I still held to the idea that the film was a logical extension of the first two. And then something horrible happened. Well, two horrible things, actually. The first was the arrival of the single cheesiest moment in the series. The second was that after said moment the film... Well, just imagine getting e. coli at Disneyland. The film takes some really nastily masochistic turns while still keeping the veneer of silliness. It's an altogether horrible experience. Incidentally, if you aren't planning to watch this film and want to know just how masochistic, (or you just want to be prepared), skip to the end of this review.

The cheesy moment, the "Abandon All Hope," at the entrance to Hades deserves some special attention. The team assembles to go out against Magneto. Looking over his comrades, a desperate-looking Bobby Drake exclaims "There's only six of us!" First of all, I might point out that there were only five on the team in the first film, but never mind. In response to Bobby's fears, Logan makes an inspirational speech.

I'll let that last sentence sink in.

Now, if your synapses have begun firing again, let me say that I have
nothing against the inspirational speech in general. Every buddy film has to
have one. I don't even have a problem with Logan making it per se. In fact,a Wolverine-style "inspirational speech" (and the quotation marks are absolutely essential here) could be a truly great moment. Were I writing the
film, it would go something like this....

[Team members assemble in the corridor.]

Bobby (anxiously): There's only six of us.

Logan (after a beat): So?

[When Bobby has no response, Logan saunters off towards the jet. After a few moments, the other team members shrug and follow him.]

Okay, that's not Shakespeare, but I feel that its at least true to the
character. What actually happens is the following....

[Team members assemble in the corridor.]

Bobby (anxiously): There's only six of us.

Logan: Yeah, we're outnumbered. We've lost Scott, we've lost the professor, but....

I won't continue. The point is, a Scott-style speech comes out of Logan's mouth. As my eyes grew wider in horror and I began to understand the works of H. P. Lovecraft in a whole new light, I found my mind wandering towards the theatre doors. Should I try to run, hurtling down the aisle in a desperate attempt at escape? Or, upon reaching the doors would I find that the same ones who had inflicted this first torture would have barred them from the outside? Happily, the speech was a short one, so I didn't get a chance to find out, but then new horrors arose....

Some other observations on this film:

A blue Alan Cumming I can take. A blue Kelsey Grammar is giving me a bit of difficulty.

Harley-Davidson's getting some good publicity out of this franchise. "Mutants ride Harleys, you should too" is a much better slogan than "Mountain Dew: The Beverage of Choice When You're Trapped in an Overturned Ocean Liner." (And that's all I'm going to say on the subject of Poseidon.)

"Jean's powers must have allowed her to shield herself in a telekinetic energy cocoon." (Feel free to read over that line several times. It gets better every time.)

Don't worry too much, that won't be permanent.

Rollin', rollin', keep that convoy rollin', that armored convoy rollin', uh oh....

Don't worry too much, that won't be permanent.

Well, there went the glass coffee-table. Those things never survive fight scenes. I suppose that I should count my blessings that a fruit cart never showed up.

I hereby decree that wheelchairs shall nevermore be used for pathos shots.

Don't worry too much, that won't be permanent.

I hereby decree that ice-skating shall nevermore be used for bonding shots.

Magneto's delivering a terrorist ultimatum over Fox news. I see a potentially great season of '24' here....

"And now they wish to cure us. But I say, 'We are the cure!'" (That line's pretty unbelievable too.)

Odd how Jean, as the most powerful mutant on earth, is spending most of her time just standing in the background.

A standoff at Alcatraz huh? Three things spring immediately to mind. 1) Are they going to encounter Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery battling terrorists? 2) Are they going to encountered Jack LaLane swimming over there pulling a canoe with his teeth? 3) Are they going to encounter a bunch of Native American political activists? (Sadly, the answer is no on all three counts.)

You know, M, Jean could probably just transport everybody over there, you don't have to move the entire bridge.... Well, okay, if that's what you feel like....

And now we've got the requisite "fire vs. ice" battle.

Don't worry too much, that won't be permanent.

Okay, that might be permanent.

All. of. that. stuff. was. permanent?

Man, I guess they really did mean "The Last Stand."

[...]

[.......]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! (breath) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

How this film ends.... ie, the stuff that's permanent.

Jean kills Scott.
Jean kills the Professor.
Mystique gets de-mutantized.
Magneto gets de-mutantized.
Logan kills Jean.
Rogue de-mutantizes herself.
Ouch.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

Someone is watching all of the outsiders...

I was wrong. I don't often admit this (even when I really should), but you see, I didn't think I could love David Sedaris any more that I already do. The man is one of my heroes...and although I may obsess about many, only a chosen few make it to the "hero/ine" level of my esteem (I mean you are in there with Bono and the boys among others). I have read every single one of his books and own the audio for most of them as well. So you can see why I would assume my "Little Elf"-love couldn't increase, since I felt I was at the pinnacle. But last night proved me wrong. I adore him even more (perhaps this ever-expanding love is how parents feel about their children...I honestly don't know).

I won't give a detailed second-by-second account since that is gloating and I really want Santa to visit me this year, but I will say that I heard all new material. Some worked better than others - Dave can write some pretty awesomely bad poetry about mildew on the face of a recluse - but that didn't really matter. I spent 2 amazing hours listening to a man that can tell a story like none other in a beautifully restored theatre that just seemed to enhance the experience.

Sure I had an annoying couple that took part in a bit too much PDA and a woman with an annoying laugh that seemed to get the jokes a couple of minutes after everyone else. But that didn't damper the experience. I got to see David Sedaris preform. I mean, this is a man that can get me to laugh at some of the most outrageous things and at the same time convey a heartfelt message. If you ever get the chance to see the man in action...run and buy a ticket even if you have to sell your first-born child. Believe me...it will be worth it.

And I can't fight this feeling anymore...

Supernatural
Episode: "Simon Said"
Original Air Date: October 26, 2006
Rating:
Not-a- complete-waste





What I Loved: First of all, anytime a show makes Spinal Tap & Star Wars references in the same ep...I'm in love. How great was it to hear "Stonehenge" blasting in the Impala while the brothers watch Andy's van, a van with a barbarian queen riding a polar bear painted on the side? LOL! And the 2 SW references. First Obi-Wan and then an almost under the breath "These aren't the droids you're looking for..." Frakkin' AWESOME!!
This ep also got us back into the mytharc, which was a nice change of pace from the "let's deal with dad's death/sacrifice" theme we have had for a couple weeks now. The concept that the "evil twin" (and how fun was that cliche) was tortured by the Ceiling Demon in his dreams makes for an interesting development. And the fact that we finally have an honest conversation concerning the supposed "plans" the CD has. Thank goodness they lightened that up with the "freak conversation" and the "I call do-over."/"What are you, 7?" debate. That could have gotten a bit heavy and after the last couple weeks - we need a bit of jovial banter...hate to see this season turn into the depressing-cryfest that was season 6 Buffy.
I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I also love the addition of the Roadhouse and Ash/Ellen/Jo. (well, maybe not Jo completely, but I love Alona Tal and she so got screwed over on VM that I want to like her...that counts right?!?!?) I mean how could you not like Ash...I mean he has the nickname Dr. Badass, will work for Pabst Blue Ribbon, and can drawl with the best of them. Case in point:
Sam: Hey, Ash, um, we need your help.
Ash: Well hell, I guess I need my pants.
But what I really loved...REO Speedwagon. Genius scene in the bar and awesome karoke in the car. I laughed so hard I actually cried. Still chuckling now, truth be told! And the O.J. comment...random. How funny is it that the two shows I review on this blog both mad O.J. jokes this week?

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: While I enjoyed the evil twin idea immensely, the 'good' twin was kind of boring. Sure he was "deep" and only kind of exploited people, but really what did he do the entire ep. I don't understand why people want him to come back. Ah well...YMMV (I'm really starting to dig these internet acronyms!)
The more eps we have featuring Psychic Sam the more I am wishing he didn't have the shining. His "vision" acting - it's worse that Shawn's on Psychic...and that's hard to take. And if that wasn't enough, everytime the brothers meet up with another Psychic Kid, they have the exact same conversation!
Sam: Your mom died when you were six months old...
PK: How did you know that?
Sam: You started getting abilities about a year ago...
PK: How did you know that?"
Perhaps now that the pattern has been broken, we can move on...well a girl can hope!

If Wishes Were Horses: I know it is too soon, but I really want Dean to tell Sam the truth about what Papa Winchester whispered. You know it is weighing down on Dean and it could be like ripping off the band-aid. Although if that means the brothers split up for a couple eps, I can happily wait!
While I am on the topic of hopes and dreams...and please let next week's damsel in distress story work well. I think this is the ep that will make or break the character of Jo.

The One-Line Zinger: (Supernatural writers: Continuing to make pop culture icons into verbs!)
"He full-on Obi-Wan'd me! It's mind control, man!"

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
[Jo walks over to the jukebox & REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling" starts to play]
Jo: What?
Dean: REO Speedwagon?
Jo: Damn right, REO. Kevin Cronin sings it from the heart.
Dean: He sings it from the hair. There's a difference.
Jo: That profile you got Ash lookng for...you're mom died the same way didn't she - a fire in Sam's nursery?
Dean: Look Jo, it's kindof a family thing.
Jo: I could help.
Dean: I'm sure you could, but we got to handle this one ourselves. Besides, if I ran off with you, I think your mother might kill me.
Jo: You're afraid of my mother?
Dean: I think so...

I'd make a deal with God & I'd get him to swap our places...

As many of you know, I am a message board lurker. I rarely post on message boards, since for the most part that ends in a cyber bitch slap, but I enjoy the online forum communities and reading the often amusing thoughts of people far more obsessed about pop culture than me. Well maybe not all of them, but a couple...okay one, but hey that is still progress. I bring this up only because it led me to a new term, picspam. Personally, I love this word. It refers to taking up some space with images, for example "spamming" a blog entry with images. Anyway, there are whole picspam communities that obsess on levels I never thought possible. If you don't believe check out SPN Picspam. These people scare me... So in honor of my new favorite word, I shall picspam my own own blog! Here are a bunch of season 4 O.C. images I found in a quick google search (I caved and watched the season premiere online...shhh don't tell anyone. I'll have more on my reactions later this week. )

Look!! No Swizzle Stick!! She really is gone!!
*breaks out into Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"*

At least we will get one episode of Ryan showing some skin
before the layers make a triumphant re-appearance.


Not sure what's up with the formal wear, but don't really care...
a cast without the dead twig! Life is getting better by the minute!

You don't know who you are...

Veronica Mars
Episode: "Charlie Don't Surf"
Original Air Date: October 24, 2006
Rating: Bloody Brillant





What I Loved: This week showed leaps of improvement from last week, although I am not sure if the show is getting better or if I just need it to be better and so I am projecting happy thoughts. (What am I saying?!?!?! Scratch that...I have never projected happy thoughts in my life.) However, Knows-It-All felt that the ep was an improvement, so I am not alone in my optimism...
So, I think I am falling for Dick Casablancas, which is kind of scaring me at the moment. If you had told me during the first season of VM that a jerk, one-line-an-ep-if-he's-lucky character would become one of my favs...I would have laughed in your face...perhaps even guffawed. But last night just went to prove how great of a character Dick has become. With lines like "You get to be the spy who loves me" or "Go work your little pixie spy magic" and even "We're in a frat, why rape the cow when you're swimming in free milk?" (Not sure if that is brillant or really offensive, but honestly I laughed quite loudly.) All of this was topped off by Veronica's new job description. She no longer investigates cases, she works her "pixie spy magic".

I also completely enjoyed the Veronica/Keith/Logan dinner. The way Logan stares, completely amused, at Keith and Veronica as they banter back and forth was halarious. The longing in his eyes for a relationship like that is almost heartbreaking. His father really fucked him up in a number of ways. Too bad Veronica and Logan won't stay together long enough to solve any of them.

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: Ok...so tell me why do the feminists on campus have to be portrayed in a stereotypical angry, uptight, ice-bitch way. I mean, I got a kick out of Veronica refering to them as "the Greek chorus of feminist shame", but that is about it. They just seem to be out for blood and don't really care if the person - or guy in this case - is guilty of the crime or not. I understand mob dynamics and this is human nature, but by do they have to be so extreme? I mean, the newspaper editor, I think her name is Nish, seems to go out of her way every week to stir up problems and perpetuate the violent, pissed off feminist typecast. Do you really want to pigeonhole feminists that way on a show watched by a whole lot of feminists? Doesn't seem smart to me, but then again, I thought grad school would be a great opprotunity.

On a similar note, I'm really getting tired of the Parker. I know I should feel sympathetic, but I don't. I'm pretty sure that makes me a bad person, but what else is new. Perhaps I could handle her better if Mac, Wallace, Piz, and Weevil hadn't disappeared again this week. I know that Mac is filming Big Love, but why no love for the supporting girl and boys?

The One-Line Zinger: "Hello Dick, Chip, faceless Star Trek crew members."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:

Logan: You were expecting Sidney Poitier?
Veronica: No jokes. No innuendoes. No quips. Don’t even think of alluding to having seen me naked or having touched any part of my body that does not have fingers.
Logan: Did I mention my eyes adore you?
Veronica: Sighs
Logan: I got it.No calling you bobcat.No talk of milky thighs.
Veronica: Sighs. Go home.
Logan: Veronica, I won’t say anything bad.
[Enter apartment]
Keith: So, how’s school going, Logan?
Logan: I’m actually nor hating it. My grades aren’t exactly...
Veronica: [Interupting] Oh, Hearst took him in late because of his high test scores.
Keith: What classes are you taking?
Veronica: Where is this going?
Keith: My end game is to find out what classes Logan is taking.
Logan: Just core stuff – sociology, freshman comp., mass comm., which is kinda coming in handy. Apparently, being the offspring of a murderer doesn’t get old. I’m getting all these interview requests. Larry King wants me to come on with O.J.’s kids.
Keith: You thinking about it?
Logan: No.
Keith: Why is that?
Veronica: Timeout! Whew! Can we stay in the shallow end please?
Keith: I’m sorry. I think it is a good call. [To Logan] I was just curious as to your reasons. [To Veronica] I didn’t realize I had to have the conversation vetted.
Veronica: I would have been happy to veto questions for you ahead of time.
Keith: That would have been nice, huh?!?
Veronica: We could have packed a lunch and made a day of it.
Keith: Missed opportunity if you ask me.
Veronica: A mistake you can learn from.
Keith: What then, exactly, am I allowed to ask Logan about?
Veronica: Hobbies?
[Both Keith and Veronica turn to Logan]
Logan: Surfing...
Keith: What’s your traction?
Veronica: Don’t answer that!
Keith: Sighs

From far beyond the galaxies I've journeyed to this place...

So...it looks like I am finally made it to the better seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. They aren't fantastic yet - according to differing sources, that is at least a season to a season and a half away - however, I do see vast improvement, which to be honest didn't take much after the more than awful first season. But, at this moment, I find myself starting to care...
Well, about some characters at least. I still think that Sisko is a blow-hard and all, but other characters are really starting to get interesting. Kira,Odo, Dax, Bashir, O'Brien and even Quark - or Principle Snider in elaborate make-up - have really started to grow and I love how the show uses their recurring characters. I totally dig Gul Dukat and Garek...not to mention the host of other fun visitors. I originally started watching because Kows-It-All fell in love and had to share, but up to this point I have been less than thrilled. The only reason I even began watching was Ron Moore - the genius behind BSG, which just keeps getting better and better I might add. He took over and the show got better...at least that is my theory.
So why this sudden interest...what was the ep that did it? A brillant 2 parter titled "Past Tense". I won't bore you with details, but I have to say, I am seeing this as a turning point for my viewiership of the program. I can see me devouring the coming seasons. We finally have a good overall villian that is actually menancing...not borg menacing, but still pretty good. Anyway...all I can say is LONG LIVE SCI-FI!!!

Winter is here again, oh lord...

First a Small Forward: I have come to a very important realization. Blogger hates me. You think I am kidding...look at the post time for this blog entry. I repeat Blogger hates me! Anyway, today's blog wasn't anything all that special, but I decided that it had to be posted...not matter the time or cost...well really just the time, I'm pretty much broke again. So now it is after 7pm and I am still trying to get the damn thing to load properly. Blogger may have won a couple battles, but I will win the war!
Anyway, onto the blog portion of the blog. I noticed a funny thing while stuck in traffic today - when I wasn't singing along to Journey's "Wheel in the Sky" (believe me DON'T ASK) - I started recognized some of the cars. Before you start to "hurmph" or simply click away, I'm not talking about a large number...only 5. I'm sure that if more cars had distinguishing stickers, I would recognize more, but here is the current breakdown:
1) The motorcycle dude that somehow figured out how to add a mohawk to his helmet. It makes me laugh every morning.
2) The royal blue Mustang with a "Full Throttle" sticker on the bumper. Unfortunately, it seems that the vehicle got in an accident a couple of weeks ago. It's lost quite a bit of its sleekness.
3) The "Print Shop" Astro van that is almost completely covered with copy shop ads. Incidently, he always stays in the outside slow lane, even when given the chance to move a lane and go faster. Go figure!
4) "Jose's Garden Service" - one of the most courteous drivers out there!
5) Burgundy Cadillac Escalade with those annoying stick figure families on the back window. I have no clue why this bothers me, but I really do hate those little fake families. Also the chick driver is always on the cellphone.
Well, that's it for the moment. See...this really wasn't all that exciting, but the important thing is that I got it posted. And hey...no one can claim that I don't pay attention to my surroundings as I drive!

But who then, who is this, that's scratching from the ground...

Supernatural
Episode: "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things"
Original Air Date: October 19, 2006
Rating: Bloody Brillant



What I Loved: Okay...that final Dean speech. I don't know really what to say really...it was perfection. Reminded me a lot of a scene in Season 6 Buffy, but I won't bore you with the details (funny enough...it was the scene that hooked Knows-It-All to the show). There is something beautiful and yet compellingly tragic about Dean spirling out of control. I like it.
Well that and all of the funny references to films ("It's got unrequited 'Duckie' love written all over it!" and "Dude, you've been watching way too many Romero flicks!" and you can't miss "Nah, I think she went out to Rent Beaches"). Yes within 30 minutes we had a Sixteen Candles reference and a Bette Midler flick...coupled with the Ghost reference a couple of weeks ago I am really starting to worry about Dean's film viewing habits. Well maybe the porn jokes as well...especially the "Awkward" moment in which Dean walks in a moment to soon and catches Sam almost watching what sounds like an intro to a porn film ("Next on the Skin Channel Casa Erotica 4. A tale of 2 Latin beauties...).
And last but not least, I must mention the cool-ass Bo Duke slide into the grave to stake the zombie back into her grave. It was just nifty to watch...I must have rewinded that scene a couple times.

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: I didn't really have any real issues with the show itself, I just don't like the see the boys this unhappy. I have reached my wits end with Sam's hair and his new habit of acting completely with his forehead (and is it just me or has he been taking lessons from the "I smell a fart" school of acting. Hopefully, things improve next week. I also missed that the ep didn't really utilize much music. Usually, there is some song to associate the ep with. I have come to expect that from this show, much like The O.C. Different types of music, but both shows use it well (except when choosing awful versions of "Hallelujah" that get progressively worse as the series continues until the worst montage scene ever made on network tellie).

If Wishes Were Horses: I am really hoping that the show does something with the uncle they referenced at the beginning of the ep. I would be interested to not only see the reunion, but also I think it could make for a good flashback ep.

The One-Line Zinger: "What's dead should stay dead!" (Repeated a zillion times and I still didn't take the hint and so the end took me by surprise. Dude, I'm losing it!)

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
(Not so much banter as heartbreaking this week...but still very Buffy!)
Sam: Dean, what is it?
Dean: I'm sorry.
Sam: For what?
Dean: The way I've been acting...and for Dad. He was your dad too and it's my fault he's gone.
Sam: What are you talking about?
Dean: I know you've been thinking it...so have I. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Back at the hospital, my full recovery...it was a miracle. Then five minutes later Dad's dead and the Colt's gone.
Sam: Dean...
Dean: You can't tell me there's not a connection there. I don't know how the Demon was involved, I don't know how the whole thing went down, but Dad's dead because of me. That much I do know.
Sam: We don't know that...not for sure.
Dean: Sam...you and Dad...you're the most important people in my life and now...I never should have come back, Sam. It wasn't natural and now look what's come of it. I was dead...I should have stayed dead. You wanted to know how I was feeling, well that's it. So tell me...what could you possibly say to make that all right?

Now when I look out through your eyes...

I don't really have much to say at the moment - shocking I know! Started off the day with a good laugh. Apparently, Matt McConaughey and Lance Armstrong hav been force to come out and annouce they AREN'T a couple. I'm find this giggle worthy and well as quite sad. What is the world coming to when this is a top story on my personalized Google homepage?!?!? More importantly, what does this say about me?!?!
I'm concerned about the future of a couple of my tellie programs if the Writer's Guild of America decides to go on strike. Oh...and another stringray has attacked (this time leaping into a boat), which leads me to wonder if perhaps we should be preparing for a full on singray assault. Perhaps Stephen Colbert should stop worrying about bears for a short while and focus on the threat of stingrays.
I recently realized that most of my friends don't watch either show I review on a weekly basis. I don't intend to do anything about this, I just find it amusing. Instead of writing the songs that make the whole world sing, it appears that I write the blog that no one gets a couple of times during the week...
By this point, you are probably wondering...what does the pic of Jensen Ackles have to do with this blog. In a word: nothing. Supernatural is on tonight, but the truth is I just like the pic...

At the Car Wash...

Quick Note:
For those of you who actually read these reviews - which I suspect is quite a low number since I doubt I share the exact same tellie schedule as my reader(s) - I thought I would mention that I made some changes to the quote category to my review template. Since most of the shows I review on this blog are quite witty and usually feature some frakkin' awesome banter, I thought I would add a category to feature that. Hope you enjoy!

Veronica Mars
Episode: "Wichita Linebacker"
Original Air Date: October 17, 2006
Rating: Not-a-complete-waste

What I Loved: To be quite honest, overall this was a "meh" ep for me. I didn't dislike any element of the telecast, but I was never really wowed anytime during the 43 minutes of actual programming. I was thrilled that the horribly annoying "Aerie Girls" are gone, which is a huge improvement to the commerical breaks, although those awkward moments were replaced with Sims pet edition videos that scared me more. Apparently, I will never be happy. Anyway, onto the actual show. I am so glad Weevil is back...although it is looking kind of puffy...like Xander in those final years. Oh well...I'm just glad the writers figured out a way to get him onto the college campus and NOT as a student. Cuz no one, my friend, would buy that one. Piz - or Piss as Knows-It-All likes to call him - also made a triumphant return, well maybe not triumphant, but you get the idea. For some reason I'm digging his character at the moment, although as soon as he becomes Veronica's new love interest, I'm sure that love with turn to hate. But back to Weevil...I really enjoyed him working with Keith. I wish that could have lasted longer, but c'est la vie. Oh and I would like to state for the record I loved the episode title. Apparently, the general consensus on the web seems to believe that the reference to Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" wasn't up to par. (Apparently, the ep was originally titled "Friday Night Slights", which everyone but me loved more!) Although, I kept hearing Homer's "hold music" version of the song in my head. Go figure...

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: Ok...so Weevil returns, but NO Mac or Wallace!?!?! WTF?!? I'm getting sick of this. I understand that not every character can appear in every scene, but still...it's becoming ridiculous! And the storyline...all I can say is "eh". I just didn't go for it, especially the Veronica/Logan crap. Can't we have them happy for at least a couple eps before the proverbial shit hits the fan. I know they are going to break up - AGAIN - but at least give us a couple eps of a stable LoVe hook-up. And why did we have to sit through the another heavy handed "well-meaning-but-still-completely-wrong-linebacker's-girlfriend" as a metaphor for Veronica. Didn't V learn all about the problem of jealousy in relationships last year...come on it had a Scottish guy in it...you can never forget a lesson taught by a hot Scotsman! To be completely frank...I'm starting to lose my faith in Rob Thomas and VM in general. Still a good show, but steadily stuck in a downward spiral of mediocrity.

The One-Line Zinger: "Now I'm working at the car wash, which, as it turns out, isn't nearly as much fun as the song sounds."

Witty Banter That Perpetuates the Genius Legacy of Buffy Dialogue:
Keith: All those times I arrested him, he never struck me as great secretary material. Didn't he get arrested for murder?
Veronica: Assault.
Keith: See, he's not even a very good murderer.

But I still feel so blind sometimes...

I think that everyone should get a storage unit. Now before you start yelling at me about "wasting money" or "prepetuating out-of-control consumerism" or the starving children in Africa I could support for less than a dollar a day, I am not advocating buying more crap. I'm advocating renting a storage unit to stockpile all the crap you already own. That way, every couple of months, you could venture out to your storage unit and 're-discover' something you forgot you owned.
Case in point: Slings & Arrows. I watched and loved the first season of this program. I may be a sucker for most things Shakespeare, but the show quickly got me hooked on its own merits (the morticians helped!) I haven't seen the 3rd season, but I didn't feel the second season lived up to the greatness of the first. Anyway, I digress. I completely forgot about the show until I was searching through my storage unit looking for a certain pair of shows and stumbled upon the DVD set. It was like Christmas or something. And the best part...I already own it so I don't have to feel guilty about anything. How novel is that?!?!?!

Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'

Ok...so I actually had this review ready for Friday and then forgot to post it. I don't know what happened...just slipped my mind. Anyway, here is my review of last Thursday night's ep.

Supernatural
Episode: "Bloodlust"
Original Air Date: October 12, 2006
Rating: Fan-frakkin'-tabulous

What I Loved: I never really dug Tara on Buffy until right before her untimely death. However, I did catch a screening ofAmber Benson's movie Chance - an experience I can't really discuss due to horrific events that followed. With all that said...I frakkin' LOVED Amber Benson as a vamp. I hope they bring her back for more. Unlike most posters, I quite enjoy the new take on the vampire mythology...the second set of teeth...limited ways to kill...affected by the sun, but not killed. Sure, I will always think that vamp faces are superior and the whole dusting aspect of vampire killing essential if you show features dying vampires each week, but I have to commend the Supernatural writers for once again making something their own.
Also, how could I forget to mention the return of Metallicar. And the AC/DC's "Back in Black" intro was perfection. You couldn't really ask for more than that. The ep also featured several witty lines, most of which you had to see in context to get.
And last but not least...I love Darker Dean...I mean, the boy was just scary when he decapitated that vamp with the chain saw. That look he gives...I don't know how to describe it. I also loved the interesting and yet sad story of how Dean "embraced the life" at the age of 16. Papa Winchester, despite his best effort, really screwed up his sons...especially Deam

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: To be honest, this episode didn't really disappoint. I mean, I didn't enjoy Dean hitting Sam, but I can see why that happened and what the writers are trying to convey. It is so refreshing to see a show actually try and deal with death in a more realistic way - meaning that all is not hunky-dorry the next week. I also found it quite disturbing I knew the dead cow facts, but again...I can't really blame Supernatural for that one.

Best Line: "And Hannibal Lecter is a good psychiatrist."

If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain...

Veronica Mars
Episode: "My Big Fat Greek Rush Week"
Original Air Date: October 10, 2006
Rating: Bloody Brillant

What I Loved: The continued use of the word "Frak"...it's making my millenium, folks. Overall, I liked this ep and the direction the season is taking. Besides, you can't do much better than a streaking Logan...well maybe if it lasted a little longer, but hey...I'm not complaining. Kudos also to the artistic contents of Kendall's Briefcase. I'm so glad it wasn't something as cliched as money. Although, I still think Keith shouldn't have taken a little off the top...it could have been hazard pay. (Believe me, being stuck in the desert is a hazard...I've been there!) Oh, and before I get onto my dislikes, I have mention how much I am loving Dick Casablancas at the moment. Sure he can only be taken in small doses, but still...I'm liking where his character is going!!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: Not enough Logan streaking...and I can't believe I am writing this...not enough Piz. Also...where the frak is Weevil. He may not be my absolute fav character, but I am really beginning to miss him. Did he have to do time for the whole Thumper assault? Is he out touring the states with a revival production of Oklahoma!? I would really like to know!! Oh, and don't get me started on the whole Keith/Fitzpatrick storyline. (Rob...just let last year go...I know I have!!) Oh and just for the record...no university would have allowed such an experiment on a college campus...I don't care what waiver was signed. The whole "prisoner experiment" is like 50 lawsuits waiting to happen.

Best Line: "Somewhere in a parallel universe bizarro-Dick is being a total killjoy."

I hope you dance...

I have always been a huge fan of the demotivational posters (I mean lithographs) over at Despair, Inc. I mean, there is some real truthiness in such pearls of wisdom as "Apathy: If We Don't Take Care of the Customer, Maybe They'll Stop Bugging Us", or "Chages: When the winds of chante blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can turn into deadly projectiles", or "Despair: It's always darkest just before it goes pitch black", or even "Cluelessness: There are NO stupid questions. But there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots." I love the fact that somewhere in the world, someone has a killer sense of humor and uses it for evil...well kinda.

Anyway, I was lurking on the message boards over at Television Without Pity when I stumbled upon a thread consisting of faux Despair, Inc.-esque posters featuring images from tellie programs. Some of the statements are taken directly from Despair, Inc., but most are unique! If you have a couple of hours to kill and already belong to Television Without Pity, I so recommend looking through the 183 pages of posters. It will laugh until you cry or pee or pants (or both). If you don't...well at least you can see one of the images on this blog entry...I picked a good one that combines many of my loves!! Perhaps I will put more up later. There are some pretty spectacular Marissa (the twig from The O.C.) bashing ones...

And remembers being small...playing under the table and dreaming

Another small bit of my childhood died this week. I doubt it will make big news anywhere else, but Tower Records & Books is going out of business. Now, I have never been the biggest Tower fan or what someone might term "a loyal shopper", but I grew up right down the street from one and I have dropped a whole lot of cash at several of their locations over the years. Growing up, I rarely went into Tower, but I have fond memories of conning my mom or some other relative into buying me a book when we did venture in. I bought my first CD in the Tower Records on Watt Avenue...Dave Matthews Band, Under the Table and Dreaming. It was the first of many covertly smuggled into my room.

Although, the news of Tower's closure doesn't really come as a shock, I am saddened by the loss. Another local institution has faded into the background, overcome by the Best Buys, Wal-Marts, and Targets of the world. I will miss the quirky by-the-register-nik-naks I always looked at and never bought and the sacrilegious stickers, lighters, and other paraphernalia always featured somewhere in the store. I will miss Tower's wide selection of albums that ranged from classical to actual indie rock...no matter what Tower always seemed to carry the CD I was in search of. I will miss the 'interesting' employees that never really helped locate anything, but always provided a good laugh. I will miss so much...those really were the days...although maybe I will save a couple bucks now! (Hey, you know me...I'm an optimist at heart...grad school couldn't beat all of it out of me!)

They say we don't listen anyway...

Supernatural
Episode: "Everybody Loves a Clown" (2.02)
Original Air Date: 10/5/2006
Rating: Bloody Brillant

What I Loved: That does it...I really don't like clowns anymore. Much to my surprise, I loved the second ep quite a bit. It proved to be a lift from the depressing nature of last week's season opener, but didn't shy away from dealing the with pain and grief-ridden consequences of those final events. The humor was back in full force, with Dean somehow finding a way to insult both a blind man and a midget within seconds. Oh...and the mad dash for the non-clown chair was classic sibling. (Or at least what I have been led to believe classic sibling antics look like according to sitcoms, since I have no sibling of my own.)
I even liked the Jo and Ellen characters...much to my amazement. It probably helps that I loved Alona Tal (Jo) on Veronica Mars. That look she gave Sam before he stumbles into a "I gotta go...I gotta go every there...right now!" speech...one word: halarious. Too bad Dean has to have a love interest...
On a more serious note, I appreciated that the ep didn't try to shy away from dealing with how the brothers would handle grief. That last scene with Dean beating the crap out of his beloved Metallicar was amazing...and I'm not just saying that. Oh and of course the line "I'm on it like divine on dog dookie." How could you not like that one? Classic!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: Damn you George Lucas and the taint of your re-re-edited original Star Wars Trilogy. Thanks to you, I can no longer see a warrior fire burial without getting the feeling that at any moment Hayden Christensen is going to pop up on screen and ruin everything.
On a completely different rant...now I understand that the main point of the ep was to show the brothers dealing, but I could have used a bit more storyline and a little less Carnivale when telling the sparse circus story. It could have just been me, but let's face it...this is my blog!!

Best Exchange:
Sam: All right, Dean, it's just we've been at Bobby's for over a week now and you haven't brought up Dad once.
Dean: You know what, you're right. Come here, I want to lay my head gently on your shoulder. Maybe we can cry, hug, maybe even slow dance.

This Wheel Shall Explode!

So over the last few days I have been called a number of nicknames I don't really approve of and yet I was caught off guard each time, I never got to give some snappy reply. Which is really ashame, since I am usually chock-full - yes that is the correct spelling...I looked it up - of witty comebacks. It all started on Tuesday when the UPS guy hit me with a "hey sexy" as I opened the door. This was followed up by the exhaust fan repair man (lol that rhymes) calling me sweetheart over and over. As if those two occurance weren't weird enough, the guy that took my order at Starbucks this afternoon called me a "smokin' hot chick". Has the world gone completely mad? Am I being set up for a really funky version of Candid Camera? Man, I wish I was in on the joke...oh wait maybe I am without knowing. I'll keep you all updated!

Anyway, all of this got me thinking about the brillant BBC comedy Absolutely Fabulous (mainly because of the "sweetie darling" rants Eddie always uses on Saffie). I got the first 3 season for my birthday and so I have been gorging myself on the British cult fav. Let me tell you...Jennifer Saunders is a genius...GENIUS!! I'm pretty sure she could do something better with this rambling blog!! Lord knows I have no idea what I'm doing.

I caught fidelity on my shoe...

Okay...here comes my thoughts on last night's Veronica Mars season premiere. Here's a quick reminder of the rating system (well below the image since it took up too much room to fit on this side...or perhaps the rating system terms are too long...either way I had to take up a bit more room...hence this long rambling explanation!):

• Fan-frakkin'-tabulous
• Bloody Brillant
• Not-a-complete-waste
• What the...?!?!?!?
• My eyes...MY EYES!!!!

Veronica Mars
Episode: "Welcome Wagon" (3.01)
Original Air Date: 10/3/2006
Rating: Bloody Brillant

What I Loved: What the frak?!?!?! A Battlestar Galactica reference...twice...have I died and gone to heaven?!?! In other good developments, for once LoVe actually made it through the whole summer, although I'm guessing this won't last long. Liked Piz, which surprised me quite a bit. Loved that Mac has a bigger role this year. I'm ecstatic at the prospect of shorter mystery archs...hopefully this will catch some new viewers!!

What Didn't Make Me a Happy Camper: What's up with the new 'noir-esque' credits?!?!? Oh, and why are we still dealing with the confusion that was last year's Fitzpatrick storyline? Didn't get it then, really don't get it now. (Don't get me started on the Kendall thing, but I am keeping the faith...we didn't see a body!) And why do shows feel the need to create circumstances in which I have to feel begrudgingly sympathetic for characters I don't like. Well, at least Jackie isn't around. Also, why wasn't there more LoVe romance? I mean, I had to watch Wallace and Jackie last year...Rob Thomas still owes me for that! And last but not least, why didn't V go to Stanford? Don't get me wrong, it makes my life easier - I watch the program with a Cal graduate - but some explanation would be appreciated.

Best Line: "Frak is the profanity of the future!"

Singin' drunken lullabies...

I have no voice and my feet still hurt...but man was it worth it. I survived - and quite honestly that is the correct term - my first Flogging Molly concert. Man, what an experience. Their fanbase is hugely diverse and a small sample of each came out last night for a standing only concert in the Sac State ballroom. It is highly amusing to see 50 year old adults mixing in a crowd full of punk rockers and drunks with mohawks. Fan-frakkin'-tabulous!!

All in all, best birthday ever. Well, maybe not ever, but still not a bad way to turn a quarter of a century. It's hard to believe I'm now 25. I don't begrudge turning a year older, I just naively thought I would have accomplished more by now. I have always been an over-achiever...

I could gush (bore) more over the sublime evening (both opening bands coul actually play their intruments), but instead I will leave you with a funny mental image...NikNak & I got stuck in the middle of a punk mosh pit. Laugh away...looking back, I'm sure it was a halarious sight!!