what I was watching on TV last year

Here are some links to some of the things I’ve written about several different television shows from last year. You can read about how Fringe wants to be the new X-Files or the five best TV shows that we’ll never get to see. I also posted my first thoughts on Privileged, revisited Beverly Hills with the new 90210 and expressed my doubts about where Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles is headed. Also, Elizabeth compares True Blood to the Sookie Stackhouse books. There’s more, but I’ll share that later.

the freedom to choose Devo

 

It seems that some of you have discovered my set of “Top 80s” posts by searching for Devo. Maybe the recent interest has something to do with these new bits of information:

Devo recorded a new song titled “Watch Us Work It,” which was featured in a commercial for Dell. The band has announced in a July 23, 2007, MySpace bulletin that a full length music video for the song is forthcoming. Casale said that this song was chosen from a batch of songs that the band was working on, and that also this is the closest the band has been to a new album.

In an article called Are You Not Devo? You Are Mutato, LA Weekly says that “After touring sporadically over the past decade but not releasing any new material, Devo are spending December at Mutato trying to create an album’s worth of new material and contemplating a method of dispersal in the post-record-company world.”

Iron Man trailer (and new TV spot!)

Iron Man trailer

I am huge comic geek and I’ve read some of the comics, but I’ve never been a particularly big fan of Iron Man. If the trailer is any indication, then that is about to change: it looks like I may be a big fan of Iron Man sometime next year. I might even like him as much as I like Jon Favreau by then. Maybe.
Also: I can’t believe they used the Black Sabbath song…I guess they pretty much had to, and it works, but I’m still surprised. Tell me what you think when you watch it.

edit:

there’s a new TV spot and it’s pretty darn cool. (same link)

Marry, Boff, or Kill?

My new work schedule doesn’t allow me much time for updates at the moment, so I thought I would share something that will help you pass the time between posts.

I first encountered this game on 30 Rock so I will mention their version first:

the 30 Rock game (and the original clip)

Watch the clip, but don’t expect much from the game. The choices are too limited and unfairly balanced…although it did seem like a calculated effort.

another version

This one distracted me for a while, but they really need to add more people. It created more groups of three that were tough decisions than any of the other games from the FMK wiki page.

now Bruce Campbell is hungry

…Hungry like the Wolf, to be exact. The last time he was everything.

Old Spice continues their efforts to make their product cool.

the 10 Year Anniversary of Buffy

On March 10, 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered on the The WB. Despite being based on a unsuccessful motion picture, the TV show lasted for seven seasons and changed the face of televison forever. It was so influential that you’ve probably felt it’s impact on pop culture even if you’ve never watched the show. And I highly recommend watching if you haven’t yet…now would be a great time to start because Buffy Season 8 will be starting soon.

some random updates

The Hills Have Eyes 2 | Battlestar Galactica | Underdog | Paris, je t’aime | Grindhouse

The Hills Have Eyes 2 has a new trailer and the poster is different from the other posters that I shared. (Although, it looks to me like it was inspired more by Aliens than the original movie…except for that whole mutation thing.)

Battlestar Galactica will be back on SciFi for a fourth season, so we can expect at least 13 more episodes. (…and a direct-to-video movie?) Also…in case you missed it: Number Six is NSFW (unless you work for me…because I would be cool with that.)

Underdog has a voice in the teaser trailer. (Why not just call it Superdog? …because I’ll tell you one thing: it’s not Underdog.)

Paris, je t’aime (Paris, I Love You) has an international trailer. (…and the poster was the closest thing to a Valentine that I got this year.)

Grindhouse has a new trailer as well…and at least one new poster.

TV logos

I’m stealing someone else’s post because I want more people to read it. You might even say that I have to get the message out.

It’s entirely possible that you might recognize this guy (Nathan Fillion) from Serenity, Firefly, Slither, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (maybe) …or that one episode of Lost.

 

This is from his blog:

“Do you remember the days when watching Cheers, a small peacock icon would appear in the corner of your screen for a quick few seconds, then disappear? The same went for the CBS eye (or meatball, as it was affectionately referred to in the industry), and the ABC ball. Then, slowly, the icons spent more and more time on screen, until they eventually remained throughout your favorite program? There was a brief time when networks were considerate enough to make the icons semi-transparent. But now? I’m watching a wonderful documentary on the construction of Stonehenge and I’m forced to witness the realistic, spinning planet earth labelled DISCOVERY. Completely opaque? TNT? Come on! I know I’m watching TNT- I’m the one who changed the channel. Is this method of advertising proven to get more viewers? Perhaps you could take a poll and ask who is just flippin’ annoyed by it. Maybe this was cool at one time, but in this day of plasma screens and “burn in” dangers, this seems more of a reason NOT to watch your station. You offend me, you networks and cable stations. You push me to watch HBO, where the classy ad folks don’t beat me on the head with logos. But it gets worse. The Closer? I’m so happy for you and your show. I’m so glad you’re still closing. But whilst I’m watching another program altogether you force me to watch you waving a flashlight around and stepping under police tape. You are going to interrupt my entertainment for an ad about the re-run of your finale? Not even a finale- but a re-run! Comedy Central? Your station ID’s used to be funny! USA, your little “Monk adjusts the ad” was cute, but distracting. It makes me resent Monk. Is that what you want? National Geographic- I expect more from you, but you are not above broadcasting the yellow rectangle that represents the magazine. I’M LOOKING AT THAT FOSSIL, AND YOU ARE BLOCKING IT! Entertain me. Educate me. Don’t flog me. I will switch to the station that doesn’t insult me with their pushy ads. Run a commercial, be the network that says, “We won’t do that to you.” I am the consumer. I am all powerful. I am annoyed. Let 2007 be the year of the anti-logo.”

Read the original post on the blog attached to Nathan Fillion’s official MySpace page. And seriously…Let 2007 be the year of the anti-logo. [this entry has been edited.]

Battlestar Galactica DTV movie?

There are talks of a Battlestar Galactica two hour Direct-To-Video movie. The proposed plan is to have the film shoot in March with a potential release between season 3 and a proposed season 4. The problem is that season 4 has not been optioned by Sci-Fi or Universal yet and the movie will not go forward without a season 4. Another thing worth mentioning is that apparently the numbers for Friday nights are less than optimal and they are moving the show to Sundays. What do you think about that?

(edit: new info here.)

Bruce Campbell is everything.

If this man can’t make your product cool, then you might as well give up.
Click this link (stolen from the man himself) if you want your own copy.