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.

Everything in 3 seconds

I've got a horrendous project in work, plus the budget coming up next week, so don't expect to see a lot of me. Here's a three-second review of everything I've watched in the past week or so:

The Office: Hilary Swank is so not hot.
Friday Night Lights: OMG, Matt/Julie is the cutest thing ever! Tim/Lyla is... not.
Battlestar Galactica: Somebody's totally gonna get airlocked. Also, that ending? Kind of like walking in on your parents having sex.
Psych: Fire bad. Tree pretty.
24: I love Tony. "Okay, we'll just forget that happened" and goes on with the deal.

My TV thoughts, let me show you them

Okay, so I've been dropping the ball a lot lately on the TV watching, but I managed to catch up over the weekend. I finally got around to watching 24: Redemption, which I thought was pretty good. Mostly it just got me anxious for more 24, which I guess was kind of the point, but I did like the whole Jack-in-Africa deal (I kind of love the idea of him traveling the world doing good deeds to make up for all the bad things he's done), and I'm glad they got a chance to do it, after scrapping it from season seven.

The plot itself was a little predictable (I knew Jack was going to trade his freedom for the kids as soon as they handed him the subpoena), but no one watches 24 for its unpredictability anymore. We watch it to see Jack kick ass, which he did pretty well. I admit, I laughed my ass off when the African dude tried to torture Jack, like, "You pathetic amateur! This is Jack F'ing Bauer. You think you can break him? Dream on, baby."

I also watched the Psych Christmas special, which for some incomprehensible reason aired in November. (I've given up trying to understand the schedule monkeys.) Best part of the episode was definitely Gus and his sister: "Forehead!" "Ears!" How great is it to have such a close relationship that you can insult someone without actually insulting them, all you have to do is name the body part?

Also caught up with last week's HIMYM (naked Barney!!!!) and Bones. Can we please knock it off with the "Booth is dumb" storylines? He's not, okay? He's an FBI agent. They don't let idiots into the FBI, trust me, I've applied. He may not be as geeky as Brennan and the squints, but he's not stupid. Take note, Show, you're on notice.

Mini-post

Not much to say today, just wanted to post a couple links: David Boreanaz answers 17 Pop-Culture Questions with his usual dry humor and complete disregard for the network talking points, and an article about the guys behind Psych. Also, a reminder that the two-hour season premiere of Bones is tonight at 8. London!

Really, I'm still alive

Okay, since I apparently have people wondering if I'm okay, here's an update to prove I'm still kicking. Haven't had much to say about anything lately, hence the lack of chattiness. It's not like I've missed much... okay, the Olympics started, but I don't really care, John Edwards imploded a little bit, but when is a politician having an affair news?

My mother had a birthday - but I'm not allowed to say how old she is. I went home for the weekend to celebrate it, Mom liked my presents (jewelry and hair product stuff she asked for), and my dad made a cake (which totally fell apart).

The Mole had their season finale last night, and I totally called the mole... and it only took me three tries. I have to say, Craig was the best mole ever on this show. I'm also a little relieved to hear that Nicole and Paul were deliberately being obnoxious to arouse suspicion and/or throw people off their game. I did actually like them by the end - they definitely toned down the bitchery, and even started to get along, which made me think it might be strategy rather than actual personality flaws. I even kind of wanted Nicole to win. Mark, although he played a good game, was just too psycho obsessive about it for me to really like him. I guess it's better that he won, though, because I think his head might've exploded otherwise.

I also (sort of) called the My Boys season finale, except that I didn't realize the season was only 9 episodes long, so I didn't realize it WAS the season finale. But Bobby totally had second thoughts about the wedding, and he totally found out about PJ and Jack, and all the ensuing angst that I predicted will surely happen next season (or the second half of this season... it's still unclear whether this was an actual finale or just a "summer finale." Cable's so weird).

I'm also addicted to Mad Men (which just keeps getting better and better) and Psych (omg Steven Weber as Shawn's uncle!), so my summer TV watching has been somewhat sparse, but quality.

Generally, a Heroes casting announcement elicits a groan, but I'm super excited that Seth Green might be coming on board. My life needs a little more Seth Green in it.

I think that's all I've got, unless anyone wants to give me boy advice. (Seriously, he was obviously interested in me, called me and texted me a LOT last week, and yet was incapable of asking me out on an actual date. He was busy the two times I invited him out with my friends, and hasn't returned my call since Saturday. Boys are stupid.)

Quiet week?

Who knows... they've reached a tentative agreement on the budget, so it's possible that this week might not be crazy hectic. Of course, school code negotiations are still going on, so who knows. At least it's a short week - yay 4th of July!

I had kind of a busy weekend, with going home Friday night (Patches was friendlier than ever; she must have been lonely), and then rushing back here Saturday morning so I could get to Jenn's beer fest/barbecue. That was fun, and I got a bit of a sunburn, but it's already starting to look tan. I was on call on Sunday, but Teresa didn't need me, so I just cleaned my apartment a lot in preparation for my parents, who might be dropping by today on their way home from NY.

I also managed to get caught up with the last couple episodes of Doctor Who. Steven Moffat rocks my world. I'm pretty happy that he'll be taking over for Russell Davies, because he writes the best episodes. Of course, he also comes up with the freakiest shit, so thanks, not only do I have an irrational fear of statues, I am now even more terrified of the dark than I was before. But the Doctor says I have a good reason!

We finally have premiere dates for Dr. Horrible - or you can read it straight from Joss himself. Word on the street is that, despite today being the deadline and no agreement has been reached, SAG doesn't plan to strike, otherwise who knows, we might've gotten a Dr. Horrible sequel. :)

Psych is coming back soon - yay! Check out what James Roday and Dule Hill have to say about the new season.

Random summary of everything

In case you live under a rock, Hillary endorsed Obama on Saturday. Also, Dennis Kucinich wants to impeach President Bush. There seems to be hardly anything in the news about it, but Daily Kos has some info.

In the world of TV, Heroes may be staging a Veronica Mars reunion, as Francis Capra (Weevil) is set to guest star next season. Yay! There's also an interview with Jane Espenson about last week's Battlestar Galactica, which I haven't read, because I was away all weekend and didn't watch the episode yet. Steven Weber is going to be guest-starring on Psych, which is awesome. And finally, a fun feature on what it's like in the writers' rooms of your favorite TV shows.

I watched the second episode of The Mole last night. It's not quite as good as the Anderson Cooper years, but I'm still enjoying it. There are definitely more people on there who do the reality TV thing - like "I'm on TV so I have to act obnoxious to get noticed," but less so than on other shows - possibly because this game is all about behavior and trying to be suspicious or throw the others off. I think Nicole is pretty much crazy, concluding the episode with this stellar threat to Paul: "I'll kill you in your sleep...I can do it and not leave any forensic evidence." Mark is either the mole, or he's taking this shit way too seriously. Also, Bobby is a whiny little bitch.

Is it July yet?

Cybill Shepherd is playing Shawn's mom on Psych!

Monday morning comes again

Hope everyone had a happy Easter. I had a parent-filled weekend, but they bought me things and fed me, so I'm happy.

First up, here's more coverage of the Buffy reunion. You can also see video clips from all the Paley events here, although the Buffy one is little more than the introductions and a little from Joss and Sarah. The Chuck panel had some pretty hilarious clips, though. I also found a podcast of the entire Buffy panel, as long as you don't mind the very loud girl in the audience.

In other news, Jericho has been canceled again, for good this time. Not really a surprise, although it's a little disappointing. I felt like the show really blossomed in the 7 episode run, and it deserved at least a full second season.

Some speculation on Dollhouse's chances from Matt Roush, as well as an update on Bones from David Boreanaz. And this is cute: Reasons I miss Psych. I miss it, too!

Oh, and don't forget to watch How I Met Your Mother tonight - it's the Britney episode!

It's snowing...

Again. Still. Seriously, I'm tired of winter.

Not that I've taken down my Christmas tree or anything, but that's just 'cause I'm lazy and don't have anyplace to put it.

Good news for those of you who don't have cable and have not yet clued into the brilliance of Psych, or for those of you who are brilliant and just want to watch the episodes again, and enjoy that real-life experience of TV with commercials. Due to the writers' strike and an embarrassing lack of programming, NBC will be airing full seasons of Psych and Monk starting March 2nd. CBS will also be showing Dexter, which I wanted to watch, but I have a feeling it's going to be edited, so I might as well just wait for the DVDs.

In other news, they're making a reality show to cast a Broadway musical based on a movie. Does the madness never end??

In politics, Hillary Clinton is now being compared to Paris Gellar (of Gilmore Girls). I have to admit, the similarity is uncanny. And I also really enjoyed the point that it's "insane (and immensely misogynistic) that American media have been covering the first female front-runner with a real shot at the Oval Office as if she's campaigning for Prom Queen, rather than POTUS".

I did make a tragic discovery the other day. My George W. Bush countdown clock has stopped. I glanced at it and thought, "Hmm, there aren't 390 days until January 20, 2008." And that's when I realized it stopped counting down, leaving me with the paralyzing fear that time could be suspended and George W. Bush would be President forever. Gahhh! Fortunately, I think it's just a battery problem, and not a rift in the time-space continuum; however, I can't figure out where the batteries go in my little clock, or what type of batteries it uses (I'm guessing small ones). Sadness!

Psych!!

Okay, this is the first I've heard of this, and I'm now super-excited! "Psych," everyone's favorite show about fake psychic detectives, is airing a Christmas episode tomorrow (Friday, 10pm on USA)! The second half of the season isn't supposed to air until next year, but apparently things like that don't matter when there's a holiday a-comin'. This appears to be something cable shows do sometimes, since they don't follow the traditional Sept-May season schedule, but they can't pass up the chance to do a Christmas episode. Who cares? I'm just happy to have "Psych" back, even if it's just for one day.

Fall Premiere Season Begins

Considering that about 90% of the TV shows I watched last year have been canceled (in other words, all of them except Bones and 24), I'm really hoping for some good shows this year. I was pleasantly entertained this summer with Psych, Damages, Mad Men, and Burn Notice, but they're all wrapping up their seasons now. So, Fall TV Season, what do you have to offer me?

So far, not much. Last night I watched the premieres of Back To You and Gossip Girl, and was sadly unimpressed with both. Back To You is... well, I think the best phrase to use is "a tired sitcom." A lot of TV critics like to say that the era of sitcoms is over, which I don't think is true. How I Met Your Mother and The Office, for example, are great and original and funny. But for the most part, yeah... sitcoms seem to be directed at people my parents' age, recycling the same characters and jokes from funnier (and, at the time, more original) sitcoms of the '90s. And that pretty much sums up Back To You. I'll probably give it another episode or two, at least until something better premieres in that time slot (8pm Wednesdays), but I have scant hope that this will become a "must see."

In the same vein, Gossip Girl seems exactly like every other show in its genre - the soapy CW teen drama. I've never been interested in shows like The OC or One Tree Hill, and I admit, I wouldn't have watched this at all, if it weren't for the Kristen Bell voiceovers, but it was still a disappointment that she went from Veronica Mars to this. I'm actually pretty skeptical of the premise, that there are blogs dedicated to the lives of high school kids. I mean, do people really care? No one blogged about me in high school. But apparently, if you're rich and live in New York and go to a preppy private school, this really does happen. Don't know how long I can stick with this show. I guess that means I'll just have to watch Heroes to get my VM fix.

Speaking of which, Quentin Tarantino doesn't watch Heroes, either. See? I'm not the only one. DVD update: Heroes is next on my queue, but is listed as a "short wait" (along with Bones season 2 and The Office season 3), so I may be watching Brothers and Sisters next.

Good news for Psych fans - it's been renewed for a third season, starting in summer 2008. This is in addition to the second half of season 2, which is supposed to air in the spring. There's been some confusion on that, especially since USA was calling last week's episode the "season finale," but I'm pretty sure there are still 7 more episodes to air in the second season after the break.

Also, an update on the new season of 24, which will also start in the spring. I'd already heard the news about no more CTU, the show moving to Washington, DC, and Jack being on trial, but now more excitement - Tony Almeida's not dead! Ordinarily, I'd say it's cheesy to bring a character back from the presumed-to-be-dead, but honestly, there's such a dearth of good characters on 24 (because they killed them all) that I'm happy to have Tony back. Also, I sort of suspected that this would happen, since he didn't get the "silent clock" that marks most main characters' deaths, despite him apparently dying on screen.

Working for free

Okay, it's official now. We have no budget, and the government is partially shut down. Which means I still have to go to work, but I don't get paid until they pass the budget. Whee!

So, get your VCRs in gear (or Tivos, if you have them, but then I'll hate you) - this Friday is the last two episodes of Drive (for those of you who seek closure, but watch futilely, knowing that you're only going to be left with more questions) AND the season 2 premiere of Psych. I am, well, psyched. Psych is on at 10pm on USA... Drive is on Fox, I'm guessing from 8-10pm, but I could be wrong.

Other TV to look out for... Saving Grace debuts in two weeks on TNT. I have no idea what this show is about, except that Holly Hunter stars in it (and I really have no idea who she is). So, why should you watch it? Because everyone's favorite singing vampire, James Marsters, is guest starring in the second episode (and possibly more)! And we all know I'd watch JM watching paint dry (I bet he'd stare at it and be really intense... wouldn't that be hot?), so that's really all I need to hear to become an instant fan. (And yet, I still won't watch Smallville...)

Also, if you watched The Nine, the remaining episodes are being burned off starting August 1st. Like Drive, there will be no closure at the end of the run, and possibly more questions than answers. But it's not like there's much else on TV in the summer.

Nathan Fillion is possibly going to be on Desperate Housewives next season. I've only watched DH a couple times (usually because my mother was watching it), and even though I found it funny, it never compelled me to actually watch it regularly, so it remains to be seen whether Nathan is enough of a draw.

Looking ahead, here's an article about Pushing Daisies, the new fall show from the creator of one of Becky's favorite shows, Dead Like Me. It kinda looks interesting, doesn't it?

Here's something fun and politicky (what do you mean those words only go together when it's me?) - not sure who you should vote for in the next Presidential election? This quiz will tell you which candidates are closest to your positions. Is it a surprise to anyone that my top result was a tie between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both at 63% compatibility with me? (Are we dating?) Of course, that does nothing to help me decide between them. More worrisome, perhaps, is that the number 3 match was Dennis Kucinich. Leprechauns for President!

My new TV obsession

In the absence of good summer TV, I've been renting a crapload of DVDs (yay, Blockbuster online!). Speaking of which, here's a funny article about how Netflix ruins relationships. Good thing I'm single.

Anyway, I've been watching a lot of TV on DVD lately - I worked my way through Firefly, and now I'm watching Bones. Also in my queue: The Office, Battlestar Galactica, Entourage, Hex, House, Arrested Development, Rescue Me, and Weeds. But today I want to talk about a ridiculously funny little show called Psych.

The second season premieres July 13th on USA, so run out and rent the season 1 DVDs right now! You'll want to be caught up. It's about two guys who run a private detective agency... one of whom pretends to be a psychic. He actually solves crimes by being super-observant of evidence and having a photographic memory or something, but for some reason, the police department didn't believe him when he reported crimes, and it's somehow more believable when he tells them he's a psychic. (I know... I was skeptical, too, but there's a scene in the first episode that will totally convince you.) Anyway, it's so off the wall, it's hilarious at times. The plots can be a little repetitive, but you'll be laughing too hard you won't care. James Roday (Shawn the fake psychic) is great at physical comedy, and he and Dule Hill (Gus the straight man sidekick... formerly Charlie from The West Wing!! And you know how I love all things West Wing) play off each other really well. So, uh, go watch it! Now. What are you waiting for? Do you need to be tempted? Okay, fine:

Gus: You named your fake detective agency Psych? Why didn't you just call it "hey we're fooling you and the police department; hope we don't make a mistake and somebody dies because of it."
Shawn: First of all, Gus, that name is entirely too long; it would never fit on the window. And secondly the best way you convince people you're not lying to them is to tell them you are!