skool?

I am officially a student again - had my first grad school class last night. It seems like it's going to be interesting and fun. I have a different class tonight; we'll see how that one shakes out.

It kind of just occurred to me on Saturday that I ought to go shopping for a bookbag and notebooks and, like, school supplies stuff. I'm so out of practice, it didn't even occur to me that I'd need this stuff until now.

In other news, I think Joss Whedon is conspiring to make me watch the second season of Dollhouse. It's like he heard I wasn't thrilled and said, "Hmm, what can we do to make this show more appealing to Laura?" and obviously he couldn't fire Eliza Dushku, so he went with the next best thing. Hiring Jamie Bamber, Michael Hogan, and Alexis Denisof to guest star. If James Marsters shows up, I'll know something's afoot.

In other-other news, Leverage was renewed for a third season. Yay!

Remember me?

In an attempt to rehabilitate this blog, I thought it might be nice if I posted once in a while. Sorry I've been superbusy in work, but it doesn't really seem like it'll let up any time soon. I seriously, seriously need a vacation, but that's not going to happen when I'm trying to find a new job and move to DC.

Anyway, I watched Dollhouse last week. (If you'd like to read about it, Whedonesque has links to about eleventy billion interviews with Joss and/or Eliza.) I was not impressed. I really don't think Eliza can pull off this role, and I'm still iffy on the premise. I'll give it a few more weeks, but just the fact that it's Joss isn't enough to make me want to watch.

On the other hand, several of my favorite shows are coming to an end, either for good or for the season. We're up to the last five episodes of Battlestar Galactica (ever!) and I think my head might explode (in a good way). The Psych season finale is tomorrow (wow, that came up fast), and Leverage ends on Tuesday. I've really been a fan of Leverage (enough that I just gave it its own tag), so I recommend you all catch up during the break, as they've been renewed for a second season.

On the other-other hand, My Boys is coming back March 31st. Also, Kristen Bell is guest starring on Rob Thomas' Party Down, which means I'm wishing even harder than I got Starz.

TGI Friday

Man, it is deader than dead today. Here's hoping this lasts through the holidays.

A couple sorta-good reviews for Leverage, which premieres on Sunday, as well as a sorta-good review for Dollhouse, which to be honest is exactly what I've expected from the show all along. (I don't care how many times Joss says Eliza Dushku is a brilliant actress. I've seen her in plenty of roles by now, and I'm not convinced she can do the "different person each week" thing very convincingly. There are at least six actors from the Buffyverse alone who could do that better than her.)

Also, really interesting interviews with Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss on Mad Men.

Stuff!

Would you believe it, Cobie Smulders is pregnant? Must be something in the water at that HIMYM set. Whatever it is, Craig Thomas is willing to capitalize on it. Also HIMYM-related, the 50 reasons to have sex napkin from last week's episode and Neil Patrick Harris answering some questions.

Also, a summary of every episode of House ever. I admit, I totally lost it at "patient poops a lung." LOL!

A really good review of Leverage, an interview with David Tennant, and OMG Joan paper dolls!!

I also watch TV

So, while the election is certainly the most important thing happening today, there's also lots of other stuff to mention. (Also, there's nothing to do in work and I'm bored. This is what happens when ever single legislator and their staffers leave town to campaign.)

Let's start with interviews. The showrunners of Bones and How I Met Your Mother both have interviews on where the shows are headed this season. There's also the first part of Christian Kane's interview about his new TV show, Leverage. And someone finally tracked down Jimmy Smits to see how he feels about the whole Obama/Santos comparison.

There's also a new Joss Whedon interview, in which the interviewer seems to be really, really defensive of Buffy and really, really hates the new vampire series True Blood. I'm not entirely sure why, other than "It's not Buffy." Joss, however, is happy to talk about both the Buffy comics and Dollhouse.

And finally, Jenna Fischer's got a new movie.

TV news... stuff

I am uncreative with my title today. Dumb cat woke me up too early. Also, I had weird dreams.

Anyway, let's start with 24. Chloe O'Brian will be stepping out for a few hours, due to her real-life baby being born during production. But don't worry, her ex-husband/baby daddy (on the show, people! Not her real baby. Don't go starting rumors now) Morris will be taking over. I don't mind. I like Morris.

In other casting news, Street and Smash won't be around on Friday Night Lights next year. It makes sense, considering they've both graduated and it was a little silly having Street hanging around all last year. They should've either made him an assistant coach or just written him off completely. At least they'll appear long enough to give their characters a send-off. And I like that FNL is being realistic and not keeping them in high school forever, just so they won't have to deal with cast changes. I thought Lyla and Tyra should have graduated by now, too, as should Riggins, although the prospect of Riggins failing and having to repeat a grade would not exactly strain credulity. I am curious what they'll do next year, since Matt, Landry, and Julie are all seniors now, meaning that none of the original cast will still be in high school if there's a season 4 (except possibly Riggins, lol, who will be a sixth-year senior). I'm hoping they'll introduce some new younger players this year... otherwise, it'll feel like the show's setting itself up for cancellation after season 3.

If you're interested in a sneak peak at some new shows, here are reviews for Rob Thomas' Cupid remake, as well as Christian Kane's new series, Leverage. I'm excited for both of them!

And now it's time for the interactive portion of today's post. Last summer, I watched a ton of TV on DVD, introducing myself to a lot of new shows that have become must-see TV, including Friday Night Lights, Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, and Psych. This year, I'm asking for your input. I've got a ton of shows in my queue... which ones should I watch?

Here's the list:

• My Boys
• Entourage
• Arrested Development
• Rescue Me
• Weeds
• Dead Like Me
• 30 Rock
• Ugly Betty
  

Monday morning

Well, I hope you all had a good weekend. I went to dinner on Friday with Christi and some med school people, and then went out to Ceolta's with Christi and a LOT of med school people. They just opened up their smoke-free second floor, and it was totally empty, so we just took over and basically had a private party. The music was awful, though - it was like the DJ totally dated us and only played stuff from the early-mid 90s. Seriously, Boyz II Men? Vanilla Ice? That's not even the fun old-school.

Saturday, I saw Christi again (making up for all that time she was studying for boards and wouldn't leave the library), when she and her friends came down to Harrisburg for the Brewer Fest. Christi volunteered to be the designated driver, but they were out of DD tickets, so she couldn't get in. (Yay, Harrisburg, encouraging drunk driving!) So Christi hung out with me while her friends drank beer.

This was Chelsea's first encounter with a stranger (other than my parents, whom she met on the first day, when everything was pretty much terrifying). She did well - she was very friendly and played with Christi on Friday night, but was pretty shy on Saturday. I think it was because it was naptime and she wanted us to leave her alone.

Speaking of Chelsea, I think there must be some kind of "How To Annoy Your Human" handbook that all cats have to read in kitten school or something. She's picking up Patches' habits, and they don't even live together. Patches, in case I haven't mentioned, has developed this charming way of waking my dad up at 4am by swatting everything on his night table onto the floor. Cell phone, glasses, pens, wallet, spare change, you name it, it gets knocked on the floor. Well, now Chelsea is doing the same thing, except I have carpet (my parents have hardwood floors), so it doesn't make as much noise. So I just wake up to a pile of stuff on the floor, while Chelsea proceeds to paw at me. If the swatting stuff doesn't work, she moves on to poking me in the eye with her paw, or tapping my nose. It'd be quite adorable if I didn't want to sleep for another hour.

Anyway, lots of TV stuff today. There's a bizarre clip of Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku on Dollhouse, who appear to be interviewed by the stars of some other show, one of whom is Jerry O'Connell (omg, remember Sliders? I do).

Also, there's a trailer for Christian Kane's new show, Leverage. CK also has a podcast interview from some country radio station, where he plays three new songs. OMG, I love him so much, and I don't even like country music. I would totally marry him if James Marsters were unavailable. :)

This is a little weird - Jack Bauer will be the best-looking 52-year-old ever. 24 is doing another time jump this season, which puts season 7 at 17 years after season 1, where Jack was 35. Yikes.

I've never heard of this show, but I'm glad to see Janel Moloney getting work. She's pretty awesome (and I miss The West Wing!).