The kids and I watched every season of the relaunched DOCTOR WHO and I am very glad that we did. Some of the episodes were a bit scary for my six year old, but Fulgencia Maeve Myfanwy is a trooper (and the first several series were produced in Wales which is her spiritual homeland, going by some part of her name). I really liked that the kids really liked this program, as it had so much to offer. There is wonderful science (fiction) to engage their intellects, terrific historical backdrops to fuel their imaginations, awesome villains and monsters to spur their sense of justice, and the stories all move at a gallop so that the thrill of adventure is irresistible. Finally, there is the character and morality of The Doctor. He is set up as a being who viewers want to love and trust, and thank goodness he never lets us down.
What used to annoy me about the children's films when my kids were little was that Disney, particularly, changed the fairy-tales with which I grew up so that they always had a happy ending and that there were no real villians. eg. The Little Mermaid. The original story didn't have a happy ending. I wondered how the sculpture in Copenhagen would be explained if Ariel had ended up with the prince. I think that kids are better able to handle disappointments and tragedies if their stories were more realistic.
The Little Matchgirl, same thing. The original little girl kept lighting her matches that she was selling until they were gone and she froze to death. Not in the Disney version. WHEW.
The stories had a message. Sometimes a harsh one. But, a message nonetheless.
Last edited by patricia; June-5th-2012 at 04:52 PM.
A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.
Oscar Wilde [1854-1900]
What a great season premiere for Mad Men. I had high expectations and was not disappointed.
A fairly subdued but very good season finale topped off a whopper of a season. One of the best in the show's run. It sucks to have to wait until it comes back, but at least Breaking Bad starts soon.
Came upon the middle of an episode of FIREFLY during a Firefly marathon on the Science Channel and couldn't turn it off
I've watched about 6 episodes so far and love it! Have about 4 more recorded, and have scheduled a recording of the movie SERENITY
Smart and entertaining space western
Came upon the middle of an episode of FIREFLY during a Firefly marathon on the Science Channel and couldn't turn it off
I've watched about 6 episodes so far and love it! Have about 4 more recorded, and have scheduled a recording of the movie SERENITY
Smart and entertaining space western
It's pretty baffling that this show only lasted one season. It reminds me in this sense to the wonderful 'Freaks and Geeks', which met a similar demise.
I've got the first two episodes of the new season of Louie waiting in my DVR.
On a completely different note, I recently discovered the cartoon 'Adventure Time'. It's a children's show, but I find it very creative and entertaining.
A fairly subdued but very good season finale topped off a whopper of a season. One of the best in the show's run. It sucks to have to wait until it comes back, but at least Breaking Bad starts soon.
Then I'm going back to an episode of "Unsung" about the Marvelettes. Really great series on R&B artists from the past, mostly. They did a wonderful one on Angela Bofill a few weeks ago.
Last Louie episode with Parker Posey was strange, almost as if they decided to improvise it. But I love Louie. Will be seeing his stand up later this year.
It's pretty baffling that this show only lasted one season. It reminds me in this sense to the wonderful 'Freaks and Geeks', which met a similar demise.
Anyone watching Mad Men over the last few years might have reason to agree that there was more than a few things well worth following here.
Freaks and Geeks is one I've been intending to catch up on. Primarily because it it features an early role for the wonderful Jamie Franco. His acting ability came to the public's attention most prominently in "127 Hours". However, I remain dumbfounded at the exquisite nuance with which he inhabits a scene in 30 Rock, involving Tina Fey and a Dakimakura pillow. The frankness and generosity of his response in his role parlays an emotional and sexual complexity that comes off like a cross between Marlon Brando and Woody Allen.
(Alas, in this particular instance Madame Fey is of course quite outdone, yet her staring eyes and slack jawed gaping countenance suffice as 'straight man', customary to her practice)
Q: 'How do you start free improvising?'
A: 'Well I usually start on D as a matter of fact'
"I wandered alone in the desert and cried "Oh Lord! Oh Lord! What hast thou done, lately?"
"Thought is not a saffron-robed monk pissing in the snow"
"Bitterness slowly crept into the marriage and by the time Lovborg was six years old his parents exchanged gunfire daily"
Recently watched the first season of Breaking Bad. Can't wait to see season two.
"Here’s one, the Spanish Inquisition. They put people in a terrible position. I don’t even like to think about it. Well, sometimes I like to think about it." R. Newman
Last night, as they moved the timeline in and around the conversation with the shrink, along with connecting the events was both very clever and crisply done!
I liked the first episode, then for a while it was a little sketchy, but I liked the last couple of episodes quite a bit. I doubt it'll ever be a favorite, but I'm watching it.
The thing about this show is that it's balls to the wall full-tilt Sorkin. In order to enjoy it, one has to embrace its Sorkin-ness (Sorkinity?), and just let it be what it is.
What used to annoy me about the children's films when my kids were little was that Disney, particularly, changed the fairy-tales with which I grew up so that they always had a happy ending and that there were no real villians. eg. The Little Mermaid. The original story didn't have a happy ending. I wondered how the sculpture in Copenhagen would be explained if Ariel had ended up with the prince. I think that kids are better able to handle disappointments and tragedies if their stories were more realistic.
The Little Matchgirl, same thing. The original little girl kept lighting her matches that she was selling until they were gone and she froze to death. Not in the Disney version. WHEW.
The stories had a message. Sometimes a harsh one. But, a message nonetheless.
I believe that in the original folk tale (Russian I think) the Sleeping Beauty was raped by the prince, and she woke up giving birth to twins.
Q: 'How do you start free improvising?'
A: 'Well I usually start on D as a matter of fact'
"I wandered alone in the desert and cried "Oh Lord! Oh Lord! What hast thou done, lately?"
"Thought is not a saffron-robed monk pissing in the snow"
"Bitterness slowly crept into the marriage and by the time Lovborg was six years old his parents exchanged gunfire daily"
This would belong on a "guilty pleasures TV shows' thread if there was one, but I enjoy Pawn Stars. The phonied up sub-plots about the relationships between the show's stars aren't bothering me as much as I would have thought, but they really don't add anything for me. And I don't really enjoy the "drama" of the negotiation between the owners and the pawn shop staff over the items brought in or the "behind the scenes of running a business" stuff.
What I really enjoy is the weird old collectible stuff that comes in and the analyses of the experts who come in to authenticate and value it. I feel basically the same way about Hollywood Treasures, a similar show (probably a rip-off) about movie and TV memorabilia that is available on Netflix streaming. They get some fascinating stuff and auction it.
When they call in experts to verify items is pretty cool.
One guy in particular, works at the county museum, so he never puts a monetary value on any items.
Recently noticed all kinds of merchandise offered at History Channel website connected to the roster of shows.
They also keep pulling various experts from Pawn Stars and make up new programs. The guy who comes over when they have a car or motorcycle has a show....the restoration guy has a show....
When they call in experts to verify items is pretty cool.
One guy in particular, works at the county museum, so he never puts a monetary value on any items.
Recently noticed all kinds of merchandise offered at History Channel website connected to the roster of shows.
They also keep pulling various experts from Pawn Stars and make up new programs. The guy who comes over when they have a car or motorcycle has a show....the restoration guy has a show....
I recently saw an episode in which the "ask the expert to value an item" element seemed ridiculous. A guy brought in a 1970's Lincoln Continental that belonged to Jackie Gleason (and had his own "Great 1" plates on it). The paperwork left no doubt that it was really Gleason's and on top of that it had some decorative plate(s) on it attesting that it was Gleason. I think the guy who brought it in was hoping to get 35 thousand for it.
Rick was excited because he new that some other famous celeb's car had gone for a million dollars. He brings in the auto expert guy Dan to evaluate it, and Dan says he loves it, but for "mechanical reasons" he tells Rick not to buy it, because it would need a lot of work. So Rick says he's not interested, saying "He's the expert, and if he says don't buy it, I don't buy it." He doesn't even make a low ball offer?
HUH???? It was clear that the value would derive from it being JACKIE GLEASON'S CAR. And this is in VEGAS where any one of a hundred rich fat guys with cigars would love to show off by driving the Great One's ride. On top of that, the Gleason connection would seem to give the car some real value even sold "as is". In other words, the potential value had nothing to do with it being a 70's Lincoln. So Rick should KNOW that "expensive" engine repairs are practically irrelevant to the value.
Last edited by steve(thelil); August-12th-2012 at 12:57 PM.
Crappy condition 70's Lincoln....no problem with the expert opinion.
Didn't see the segment; putting lipstick on a pig doesn't improve the car.
They see so much stuff come & go probably have a pretty good sense the the Gleason factor would not help if they dumped a bunch of money into it.
Doing a Boss season one marathon courtesy of Starz, leading into this coming Sunday's season two premier.
This is my third time through the first season, and I have to say (again) Kelsey Grammer's performance is nothing short of magnificent. Stellar supporting cast too, blessed by some outstanding writing.
I'm watching the full run of Foyle's War on Netflix, just finished season 3. Also watching the Twilight Zone--viewing any episode I've never seen or don't remember, so not the classics that always show up on the SyFy marathons, e.g. the ones with Burgess Meredith, Gig Young, Agnes Moorehead, To Serve Man, etc.
Originally Posted by Monte Smith
