How many more do we get?

From what I've gathered via Ausiello, Spoilerfix and various show-specific sites, here's how many episodes we have left of the following (give or take), before the Writer's Strike eats them.

Monday:
Chuck - 5 more
How I Met Your Mother - ?
Heroes - 3 more
Samantha Who - 7 more
Journeyman - ?

Tuesday:
Reaper - between 2 and 4 more
House - 5 more

Wednesday:
Pushing Daisies - 3 more
Private Practice - 3 or 4 more
Gossip Girl - 5 more

Thursday:
The Office - 1 more (cue gnashing of teeth)
Grey's Anatomy - 4 more

Friday:
Friday Night Lights - 9 more

Sunday:
Brothers and Sisters - 5 more

--

So, about 5 more weeks of solid television before it all starts to taper off. Thanks goodness FNL gets it done and will be with us well into the new year - just in time for LOST to begin. And then end again. (Don't get me started right now.)

Heroes: Thoughts on being a Sophomore

I can't just discuss tonight's episode. No. At the moment, Heroes needs more than a snarky recap and a pretty picture of Milo. It needs... a mother's discipline.

See, Heroes is a cool show. I wouldn't exactly call it the smartest, or best written hour of entertainment, but in Season One, it was actually entertaining. It was different and unpredictable and full of cool characters and merging storylines. And it held my attention, kept me wanting, became Must See TV.

Then Hiro landed in feudal Japan and that girl started crying black tears.

Here's what makes Heroes tick: Plot twists, multiple stories and characters, entwined without their knowledge, pushing toward one, big agenda. Season One's agenda was clear from the beginning. Hell, we even got slogans for each phase of the plan. (Say it with me, Save the Cheerleader... save the world.)

Season two's direction was made clear ... last week. Somewhere around the SEVEN episode mark. There's a virus, it's gonna kill them all. The heroes have to fix it. Why did it take so long to get there?

I read a recent interview with Tim Kring (which made me hopeful), in which he owned up to several sophomore issues. Most importantly:

1. Late introduction of the season's purpose (plague wiping out civilization, gotta stop it). I seriously had no idea what the hell any of them were doing until last week. Storyline was/is all over the place. I mean, they mentioned the virus, but then with all the ancient warriors and brain boxes, it was hard to make it fit. And I'm still wondering on B story with the older generation being killed off (I'm suspecting by Adam).

2. The Seven Years in Tibet storyline, or whatever that crap was with Hiro living in his childhood storybook. The payoff with Takezo K./Adam turned out to be cool, but it could have been done sooner. Waaaaay sooner. Like, before there were ever Cherry Blossoms involved.

3. New characters. Seriously, I'm less interested in Maya, Alejandro and Monica than that infomercial where the guy screams about four types of kitchen cleaner. They Nikki and Paolo'd it with the first two, and Monica, poor thing... what's the point? Then there's West. Don't get me started. I mean ... what can I say? That kid totally goobs me out with his Peter Pan flying and dumbass dialogue.

That said, the newbies aren't ALL bad.

1. Elle. The four minutes of screen time Kristen Bell got in episode five, were the most entertaining of the season at that point, and shot her to immediate status as a character I'm actually interested in, want to figure out. And not because I'm already partial (which I am) and think she's fantastic (which she is), but because the character maintained the mystery of Season One. She has a purpose, she has secrets, she's got layers. To me, she's on par with Sylar in that way. Completely unpredictable and totally enthralling. LOVE how Bell is playing her, too. Sadistic little girl. Amazing.

2. Adam. Yes, the Japanese storyline was crap, but the twist - that he's immortal and because of Hiro's tampering, living in present day, carrying a 400 year old grudge and a sexy English accent - awesome. We all knew early in the season that David Anders been made a regular, which left me wondering HOW. Pretty cool payoff - plus, he has GOT to have some connection to Claire, right? (Note that everything I'm saying in this paragraph goes back to the reasons listed as what makes the show tick. Coincidence? I think not.)

As for plot this season, it's hard to comment because I've yet to see anything cohesive. And now I'm sad because it looks like things are about to shift gears (because Kring says he hears his audience!), just in time for an early season finale due to the WGA Strike.

Tonight's episode was probably the best of the season. Why? Oh, I don't know... because we finally found out about the characters we care for, Peter got his freakin' memory back and there was some payoff! And I won't lie, the preview for next week looks awesome. This beach-bound showdown with Mohinder and HRG and The Company. Exchanging Claire for Elle - all good things.

And only three left to give us some closure to a less than stellar, and incomplete season.

Damn you AMPTP!

Thoughts on Striking...

See, I get it.

I do.

I think it sucks because it's the middle of the television season and fans are getting left in the lurch. Shows are hitting their stride, mid-story, and it's possible the viewers will have to wait over a year for seasonal conclusions to already scarce shows (LOST), while baited with the promise of an upswing from faulty stories in others (Heroes). Nevermind the super quick shut down of favorites like The Office, teasing its best table read EVER!

I may go insane.

Not that I think the actors and writers and directors are using this as an excuse for vacation because they don't want to be at work, churning out episodes. If there's anything I learned from my short time in Hollywood, it's that those people are workaholics - seriously. To a fault.

I think the cast and crew is as sad about Dunder-Mifflin sitting empty as I am. Well, probably more when it comes to crew, because let's face it, this strike is NOT good for the grips and the PAs and all the other hardworking little guys making a living on set.

But if there's anything I love, it's a display of solidarity.

My husband is in the entertainment industry, so I know what residuals mean and why they're important. If someone tried selling his CD's or posting their songs on iTunes and left them out of the cut, I'd be there with my own picket sign (even though I think I'd be the only one - have musicians ever gone on strike?), knocking on the proverbial door.

So, yeah, I think the writer's deserve their cut because it's true, in a few years, New Media and the Internet will be an even bigger monster in this industry than they are now. It's strange to me that TV and Movie scribes aren't automatically figured into the deal, because without them, we wouldn't have television. No company would spend millions of dollars in advertising funds for a slot during NBC's Thursday night because characters as ingenious as Dwight Schrute and Veronica Mars would be figments of our imagination (aren't they kind of anyway), LOST would be nothing but a word normally printed in lower case letters, we'd never have heard the charming tale of Ned the Piemaker, and Prime Time wouldn't exist.

Writers ARE television.

Sure, they're important for movies, but TV is the writer's medium. They produce it, they live it, they star in it, they ... write it. The director doesn't get the glory because he comes in for one episode and leaves. It's the guys and girls in the writer's room, under a florescent light at 3 a.m. who run the show - and they do deserve to be compensated.

So, I get it.

I support the strike - what it stands for - 100%.

Still, while I KNOW it's not about greed - it's NOT - if I'm totally honest, there's this little nagging voice in the back of my brain that's kind of annoyed because the average writer in Hollywood makes about $200,000 a year (putting them in something like the top 1% of earning elite in this country) and the ones who are between jobs, working sporadically, make around $62,000 a year (almost twice the average national salary). Granted, Hollywood is an unpredictable place, and a few years from now, that once viable writer may need to live off their residuals while they look for work with the rest of us Regular Joes, so I can't really begrudge them at all - but I can't feel totally sorry for them either, when I'm living with a struggling musician and trying to find a job! Of course, it's people like me, obsessed with the Hollywood product, that make it the norm for salaries in that industry to inflate past people like teachers and social workers, so I can't get too upset can I?

No, dang it, I can't!

Get me the AMPTP, I want my TV back!!!

Heroes: Season 2, Chapter 5

HEROES

Season 2, Chapter 5
Fight or Flight

A random snapshot and thoughts...

1. Riddle me this, Mohinder. Why the hell did you take Molly to The Company? Not your best move. And then, you're sent to investigate Monica? Wha...huh?

2. So, Matt's daddy is a freakin' weirdo. I mean, yikes! But was he giving us a little foreshadowing of Parkman's future? And why do they have the same power, or derivative thereof?

3. Peter - You're goobing me out.

4. What is with Scarface!Nathan? Huh? HUH?

5. So Nikki has the virus, turned herself in and is going to do it with Mohinder. Wait, was the last part not in the episode?

People/Things I'm bored with...

1. Monica. I really thought her power was going to be awesome catering. As a Food Network junkie, I'd prefer it.

2. Again, they weren't in the episode tonight, but seriously, I'm jumping on board with the, "Maya and her brother are the new Nikki/Paulo" train. Most exciting thing I've seen in regard to them was Sylar's promise to kill them in next week's preview.

3. Ando. *yawn*

4. The really bad accents in Ireland.

5. Micah and his super reasoning skills. What kid would have made that association about Monica, with or without the comic book? I know, I know... he's a genius. Fine, I'll give it to him... but right now, that whole family is taxing my attention span.

Things I want...

1. And Elle/Sylar face off. (It makes me a little giddy that KB and Zach are such cute friends offscreen, great chemistry already - so I can only imagine how well they'd play off one another ONscreen.)

2. Sark in present day. Feudal Japan has to go.

3. Bear to stop flying around with Peter Pan. (Not in this episode, but just weighing on my mind.)

Best in show...

Oh, Kristen, how I love you. I mean, your electricity looked totally fake, but that has nothing to do with your skills. And sure, the dialogue lacks that snappy, quippy, super smart quality us Veronica Mars fans are so used to (and missing terribly), but again, you're working with the words you're given. It's the facial expressions, the voice - so much played in so few scenes. Loved the switch from merciless vixen, "I killed him, what's the big deal?" to petulant and childlike (total voice change and everything), "What if I promise not to..." All the interviews I've read and seen were totally true. I saw the loose canon, loving her power and the pain, alongside the girl who's trying to please, to get the job done. Kristen Bell, hero and girl genius. Layers, people, it's about layers! Cannot wait to see what Elle gives us next. And I'm wondering, just a little bit, if Veronica is already on your trail.

P.S. Who's your daddy? No. Really. Who's your daddy... the one on the phone?

Two for One.

Heroes

Season 2, Chapter 3
Kindred

Disclaimer of the day: This blog is for shows I watch, meaning I like them, am invested in the story and characters, which sort of makes them like old friends I give an hour of my time to once a week. And you know how it is with old friends - as much as you love, respect and care for them... you REALLY like to make fun of their quirks, laugh at their mishaps and relive all their most embarrassing moments.

With that in mind, I'm interested to know if anyone else out there is having the same trouble I am, focusing on anything OTHER than the cheesy flying sequence in last night's Heroes? Because I feel certain some other stuff happened, but I... just... can't... seem... to recall.

"Claire. Shut up."

I fully expected it to be followed by, "And kiss me," while an appropriately cheesy 80's song played in the background. Such disappointment. He could have at least played, In Your Eyes, on a boombox outside the window while he watched her cut off her toe. Of course, West has a dark place. And it's all Claire's daddy's fault... so now, she's Creepy Bear, staring HRG down through the blinds while he looks at rather ominous pictures of himself, glasses busted.

And I'm sorry, but as much as I love Ireland... Peter has got to leave. I mean, come on. Aside from the lost identity and the life of crime, we find him randomly shirtless, (Lightning! Sparks!) practicing his magic show when Bonny Bar Maid walks in? Why did he need his shirt off for that? Ohhh, right. It's for the ladies. The ladies who tat him up with the family symbol?? What?

Sark, can you please get Hiro to take you back to 2007? The Japanese armor isn't really all that flattering to your accent. Plus, don't you want to meet your great, great, great, great, great, great, great granddaughter and her creepy dad? As for Hiro, you've already punched enough holes in the space-time continuum, do you really want to test it further by sticking notes in the sword for Ando? And how does that work? I'd like to see the moment the sword is altered in the present because of something you're doing 400 years prior. My mind can't really wrap itself around that...

Sylar. Are you on LOST now? Wrong network, buddy. Whatever, just glad to have you back, even if you're still evil.

As for Parkman and Mohinder, I feel I have nothing to add that can fuel the fire of speculation more than anyone else already has.

Other people did things, but... I sort of found them uninteresting.

KB countdown: 2 Weeks.

House
4x03
97 Seconds

Um, House, what is wrong with you? Let's just forget the knife incident, okay. Not that I'd ever put it past you in the first place, but still, let's focus on more important things, like how you should fire Cut-throat Bitch. Immediately.

I'll be honest, I didn't think I was going to like Olivia Wilde's character. My husband's comment was, "Isn't that the girl that made out with Mischa Barton?" Yes... she was that plot device, but I liked her even then, so it wasn't Josh Schwartz related. No, my fears, in regard to her stint on House, were more about not wanting to see Cameron replaced. I'm sort of like House that way... I lost the team, and I'm not too keen on newbies. Anyway, I'm now conceding to liking her. So, there you go. Plus, I just felt really bad for her tonight, what with the guy AND his dog dying... waaaay too sad to handle.

That said, there was a shocking lack of Cameron and Chase this ep. I really, really, really hope they haven't become wayside characters because, change what you want, there is no chemistry like House and the original three. And I miss it. Of course, with Foreman's unfortunate foray into acting like House tonight, and subsequently being fired, I can see the halls of Princeton-Plainsboro once again being filled with the sounds of discord. What a beautiful noise.

And could I please get some sort of information on why there is no House next week? Is it sports related? Ugh.

A smattering...

Last night was the Season 2 Premiere of Brothers and Sisters. You know how I am about the Walkers - LOVE them (though, sadly, they've been slightly eclipsed by the Taylors over on FNL). Poor Nora spent much of the summer alone, save for black sheep, Rebecca - her dead husband's love child, who's now living in Kitty's old room. Confused? Heh. Somehow it works for the kooky clan - and I'll always give Rebecca the benefit of the doubt because I feel certain one day she'll go back to Ephram. Oops, is that the wrong show? Anywho, a few questions/comments:

1. I feel bad for Kitty. Are we going to start every season on her cursed birthday?
2. Since when did Joe want a divorce?? He's the one that screwed up and got kicked out. Now he's the one who wants to end it? Um...
3. I see some bumps in the road for Tommy and Julia.
4. I wonder if Kitty and Robert will actually get married... and will he get elected? That would be interesting... and strange. Can you imagine the Walkers in the White House?!
5. A shocking lack of Justin! Bring him home now!

--

Still liking Chuck. It's just super cute - or am I confusing the show with Zachary Levi? Nah. It's a fun show... and I'm especially excited about the casting news/photos released recently. Cutie-patootie Rachel Bilson is headed to Buy More. Not sure who she's playing (Is it possible she's the ex-girlfriend Bryce stole?) or when her arc begins, but I love me some R Bils. Plus, who knows... Zach is cute and very Adam Brody/Seth Cohen-ish... and we know she likes the type. How cute would the two of them be?

Number one reason of the night to watch Chuck? Shout outs to other awesome shows! Chuck's brain is set off by an image and amongst the flashing pictures we hear him say, "Flight 815 was shot down..."

Looks like the Chuck peeps are LOST fans. Solidarity, baby.

--

Claire cut off her toe. And watched it grow back. Gross. And seriously... West is obviously flying in the sky, look up. Mr. Muggles sees him, but you don't? I see some angsty, teenage, "we're so different, no one understands us," bonding ahead. Wonder if West takes Bear on a magic carpet ride next week... Claire's about to enter a whole new world. /Cheesy Disney jokes. On a side note, I sort of love that Bear uses her powers at home (the ring in the water) and that Mom's "in it" and not still being brainwashed.

The guy that was beating Peter up, when he was tied to the chair, where have I seen him before? It's making me batty. I wonder if the Irish thugs will give Peter his life box next week. (I'm sorry, but NBC needs to stop with The Box promo. It's just sad in comparison to, "Save the Cheerleader.") It can't be that simple... plus he was making out with cute bar maid sister... hey, if I were him, I'd want to stay in Ireland, too, so I say, work whatever angle you have to for some time on European soil. (And as cute as he and Hayden are, all the talk of him hooking up with Claire, totally grosses me out.) And in the words of Hubby, who Blackberry Messaged me during the ep, "Milo looks ripped. Heeeeeey."

Still sort of bored with the Takezo K. story... save the visuals on David Anders, whom it appears, is of the same power family as Bear. Warriors and Cheerleaders unite!

The Haitian returns. The virus returns. Mohinder keeps handing out blood to cure people - that can't be good, I'm just sayin'.

Creepiest new hero? Maya. What the HELL is she doing?

That preview for next week better not be faking me out, AGAIN. As in, Sylar better be back. And bring on episode 5 already... I'm ready for some Kristen Bell!

Heroes: Season 2, Chapter 1

Heroes

Season 2, Chapter 1
Four Months Later...
SEASON 2 PREMIERE

I liked the way they opened this one... a smattering of scenes, new characters and old, during the time we missed. An easy, yet effective way to show us things have changed, the story is still moving and we've got some "catch up" to play.

Tonight, I'm working in story groups, starting with the Bennets. Or maybe I should say, Butlers. (Honestly, not the greatest, or most super secret, name change. They could have at least gone with a different letter of the alphabet.) HRG gets little bear all set up for her first day of school in California (again, with the terrible anonymity) and wants her to be as un-noticeable as possible (and we know from the moment he says it, that's NEVER going to happen). She fights the urge to answer a question about Charles Darwin (we get it, evolution) in class, and refrains from taking a swan dive off the P.E. platform (who has one of those things at school... and why do the cheerleaders on this show ALWAYS have on their uniforms), but she's struggling with her inability to be herself (you know, breaking bones, etc. and regenerating), leading to a rather strained phone call between her and DNA Daddy (more on that later). Considering the promos of Bear and West (cool name) getting all kissy face, and him flying, Clay Aiken style, outside her room, I expect she's not gonna keep her secret for long... or stop wearing a cheerleading uniform.

Mother Bennet-Butler is upset that Mr. Muggles can't rest on his puppy competition laurels (you don't have any laurels, Saracen, not a damn one) while under cover. Could they make this woman seem any crazier? Little does she know, ol' Noah's out breaking his boss's fingers for asking him to finish a coffee break. (Why HRG working at Kinkos?) Still, it's all part of Daddy B's big plan to take down "The Company" with Suresh.

Speaking of Suresh. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that he and Parkman are Molly's guardians. Could there BE anything cuter? I don't think so. And it appears while Mohinder is out baiting "The Company," Matty is passing his police exams (nice recovery from the gunshot wounds, man) and questioning Molly on some rather disturbing drawings and dreams. Poor kid. And poor Matt. He and Janice are divorced now (what?)... but I'm sure that's not the end of that story.

And I'm wondering if the creepy guy Molly keeps drawing and seeing (aside from being the baddie that's bigger than Sylar) is the one who's sending death threats to the older heroes. That whole situation was odd to me. Intriguing, but odd. Mainly because, a) Ando had on a suit? and b) If the guy that pushed Mr. Nakamura off the building was old, he sure dressed a lot like Sylar. Wonder if Mrs. Petrelli is gonna bite it? I sorta hope so, but somehow, I doubt it.

Which leads me to Nathan. Wow. Beard. (Someone call for a Jack Shepard character arc?) Apparently, since he and Peter went birds eye in the finale, he's lost his house (no mention of the wife and kids) and his political prowess/aspirations. And he's drunk. A lot. And seeing really creepy reflections of himself in mirrors. Don't worry, Nate, Peter's alive. And hot. And chained to a wall in Ireland. Without his memory, but somehow, with hair that was cut perfectly by the flames of himself.

Hiro. I hope at some point I get this story. Like, is David Anders going back to the future with Masi, because that would be AWESOME. And I love that DA is still rocking the British accent. It's like Sark got the lead role in a really strangely costumed movie. I know I should focus on Hiro here, but I can't. He's just doing his Hiro thing... I'm sure he'll inspire Takezo (I can't spell that name) into action at some point.

Lastly, what is this Maya chick's power, because it's freaking me out?

Next week: More shirtless Peter, and hopefully some Sylar. And really, can we just skip to episode five so I can be in the presence of Kristen Bell again?

I'm so glad this show is back on...

Random Round-up.

1. TV Guide has formulated a nifty (and printable) 2007 Premiere Calendar. New promo pics for all the shows are also beginning to circulate - can't wait to use them for episode posts!

2. I officially want to be BFFs with the Heroes (just wait until Kristen Bell arrives and this feeling goes into overdrive) after all the pics and videos (shot by the cast) from their World Tour.

3. I'm definitely way more sad about this than than I should be, considering I don't know them personally. Still... super classy about the whole situation. *sniff*

4. So, I'm now forced to never leave home on Thursday nights. Thanks a lot, Apple. (Yes, let me go on with the drama - I know it's available other places.)

5. This is driving me crazy... and I'm not even one of those UBER-obsessed people spending every waking minute trying to figure it out. I'm SO not that industrious, instead preferring the lazy man's route and checking every day to see if he's given in and given up.

Save Veronica, Save the World!

Heroes was always a good show, but now,
I think it's moved onto greatness!

Interview with KB about the Heroes gig and turning down LOST!

13 Episodes! I think I love Tim Kring.
(Veronica could SO kick Sylar's ass!)

Such a long, long time...

Wow. I truly didn't mean to be out of pocket as long as I have been... but sometimes life gets in the way, just a little bit! Moving to California, starting school, trying to find a place to live - it's been insane! But it's beginning to settle in, thank goodness!!!

Of course, we don't really care what I've been doing. We care about TV. So, let's get to what I know at the moment.

Upcoming TV/DVD release dates:

August 21 - HOUSE, S3
August 28 - HEROES, S1
September 4 - THE OFFICE, S3
September 11 - GREY'S ANATOMY, S3
September 25 - BROTHER'S and SISTERS, S1
October 23 - VERONICA MARS, S3
December 11 - LOST, S3
---
GILMORE GIRLS, S7 - ??
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, S2 - ??
24, S6 - ?

Hope you're still out there, somewhere.

My own little hiatus.

If a week can be considered such a thing. It is summer, you know... and therefore, not much is on my TV radar at the moment, especially considering the move and etc. STILL. I finished (stayed up until 4 a.m. to watch) season 2 of HOUSE and am very eagerly (read: impatiently) awaiting the season 3 DVDs - of that and several other shows. There's just something about that Hugh Laurie that makes him a teensy bit irresistible. Obsessive. That's me.

Things I've heard about recently:
1. Heroes is already back in production. Good grief.
2. David Anders has been cast on Heroes (hello, love him!)
3. Fandomicity, which I'll assume everyone has seen by now, but if not, there are tons of YouTube links floating around - including the one in the post below this one. Check it out if you like The Office. There's just no excuse not to.
4. Some of the Heroes cast is not returning.
5. Why is this all about Heroes?

Speaking of The Office. Today was my last day of work at the design firm. My boss and a coworker took me out to lunch and gave me a little going away gift: a DWIGHT BOBBLEHEAD. So excited! He will find an immediate place of prominence on my desk - once it's been unpacked. Isn't he cute? And I hear there are bobbleheads of other cast members coming soon!!! They're gonna suck us all in. Every single one of us.

I'm ending this pointless, rambling post now, before it's too late. I promise a return to some sort of normalcy once I'm resettled on the West Coast.

Heroes, Chapter 23

Heroes
Chapter 23
How to Stop an Exploding Man
SEASON 1 FINALE

Okaaaaaaaaaaay.

I'm a little confused. But let's cut to the chase before we ponder the end.

First off, HELLO! We found out Mr. Bennett's name! That was rather exciting... Noah. I like it.

So, in general, I enjoyed the episode, but I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat. Don't get me wrong, the idea of Nathan flying off with Peter hadn't come to mind (I'm not sure why... better yet, I'm not sure why Peter couldn't fly off on his own) and was a great twist on it all, but I still wasn't exactly... satisfied by the episode. I loved seeing all the heroes together in New York, and that Nikki got a good hit in on Sylar, but I think I'd put too much stock in this ending I kept hearing about... maybe someone else will have better insight than me... maybe I will if I think on it longer. This is just initial reaction...

That said, I do appreciate the book being closed, as it were, on Chapter 1. No wondering if the bomb went off or who it was going to be, but we were still left with plenty of questions (it wouldn't be a finale if we weren't), so I'll start there:

1. Where is Peter?

2. Is Nathan alive?

3. What about Parkman? (I could have told him Sylar was gonna shoot those things back at him!)

4. Where did sluggy Sylar go and HOW is he still alive?

5. If this part of the story is over, how do we keep all the Heroes crossing paths?

6. Does Mohinder (I've never discussed what a cutie he is) keep Molly or do DL and Nikki?

7. Why is Hiro in 1641 and why am I supposed to think that's so cool?

Honestly, the "first three minutes of season 2" the cast kept touting at Upfronts... sort of annoyed me. I mean, I love Hiro, but can't he just pop back out of there? And sorry, but I was a little more concerned about the fate of Peter (and his lovely, lovely hair - sorry, it's fabulous) and Nathan.

Still, I trust the show. It had a banner first season and got stronger as it went. I don't understand the impact of this "Generations" storyline and how it will impact the heroes as they are, but I suppose that's the point of a season - to expound on such things.

See, this is where the idea of patience comes in, and I happen to not have any.

Gilmore Girls: A Tribute

I'll miss my girls.

Warning: Lots of Gilmore, lots of silliness... just me remembering a favorite, so if you aren't a fan, you'll probably just want to pass this post by...

Yes, it's corny. Yes, my husband is sitting here, making fun of me with comments like, "I know this is gonna take a lot out of you. Dig deep." Yes, it's just a TV show. But still...

I can't believe it'll all be over in less than two hours. Seriously, I get way too attached to things and my shows are no exception. And this one's been around for a while. Seven years. I've been a fan of this show for SEVEN years... and that's longer than I've known my husband, so he can kiss it!

When I first found Gilmore Girls, I was completely enamored. And for quite a while, it occupied the number one spot on my favorite shows list. Inevitably, it let me down, went ways I didn't like and made me want to run from the room screaming... but it also gave me tons of laughs, lots of heart and even a few tears now and then. I LOVE this show, cracks, faults and all, and I'll miss it terribly. I'm not sure the finale will do it justice, considering the last two seasons, but if I feel like everyone's okay and where they should be, I'll take it.

Lorelai,

You are, quite possibly, one of my favorite female characters ever. Strong, funny and full of imagination. Yeah, you made a few not-so-great, slightly out of character, choices along the way (*cough*Christopher Season6and7*cough*), but I think you're gonna pull through in the end - and that's why I love you. I'll miss your quippy, pop-culture self and every love-hate fight with Emily, but most of all, I'll miss seeing you with Rory and Luke every week. However, in my little corner of the world, you'll be working the Dragonfly with Sookie 20 years from now, talking on the phone with Rory, and going home to Luke's Diner every night, so... what am I getting all worked up over?

Rory,

What can I say, kid? You've got a really cool mom, you went to Chilton and Yale... I feel like I've watched you grow up and now I'm a little jealous of your "wide-open" life, but you deserve it. I'm proud of you. I hate we won't see you take over the world, because it's been a long road. You made some mistakes - dropping out for a semester, living with your grandparents... plus I wasn't exactly behind your whole sleeping with a married guy thing, and it was probably a big bad to break up with Jess (or am I just projecting my Milo love on Alexis?), but then you had Logan, and well, I think he was my favorite. Alas, one day, big shot reporter Rory will find herself a guy worthy of a Gilmore Girl... I hate I won't be there for family dinners when you take him home to meet Luke and your mom.

Luke and Lorelai,

Thank god you're cutting the crap. I don't expect anymore screw ups, so I feel okay leaving you tonight. Still... there's no other couple like you; the words "made for each other" come to mind. I'll miss all the banter-laden, flirty love... alas, now I have Jim and Pam to tear my heart out. *sigh* All the good ones do.

Emily and Richard,

You seriously make me laugh. Constantly. You also have the tendency to really piss me off, but generally, it's been a joy. And hey, I even wanted to hit up Friday night dinner sometimes, just to see what went down! That's power. Who will I count on for my weekly dose of guilt and manipulation? Wait, that's right, Nora Walker covers both nicely and when it comes to manipulation, there's always LOST and Heroes. Still, Sylar and Locke have nothing on you two when it comes to getting your way...

Sookie, Michel, Lane, Paris, Jackson, Kirk, Taylor, Miss Patty, Babette, Gypsy and the rest of the Stars Hollow Characters,

You made me laugh, every time you graced the screen. Mainly Michel, because I love a smart ass, but you were all priceless assets in my enjoyment of this show. I fully expect to see Kirk on a reality show someday...

God, I'm getting a little nostalgic, so I'll leave the last word to my husband, "Gilmore Girls: They talked fast. Sometimes... the French guy was funny."

You'll never know how hard it was for him to admit that...

Heroes, Chapter 22

Heroes
Chapter 22
Landslide

Will anyone be upset if I stamp a "filler" label on this episode? Not bad, shoddy filler, but filler all the same. And sometimes it's necessary. We need build up, lead in, for the finale next week... and we definitely have it.

There's Hiro and his dad, engaged in a little bonding time over swordplay... I'm thinking it's obvious Hiro's father is one of the originals like Linderman and the Petrelli Parents, but it seems perhaps there's a schism (just ask the Baudelaire orphans) and pop is on the NO BOMB side. Three cheers for the Nakamura's!

Now, I'm a fairly intelligent person. I did well in school, have a degree, read a lot of books and can usually put two and two together, so I'm asking myself why it didn't dawn on me that Molly was the tracking system!? Hello! And check out HRG - shooting Julia Roberts' brother! All for the greater good, but still...

A lot of people bit it tonight. I'd add DL to the list if he weren't in next week's preview, but what about Linderman? Is he really dead? My husband kept saying, "Can they really kill him right now?" Well, I guess they can, but we'll see if it's a Shannon or a Locke style death. And Ted. I really liked him and now he's missing the top of his head. Not cool.

I am, however, lovin' Claire and Peter with their shiny, new family bond. Let's just hope it ends up with The Cheerleader pointing the gun at the Boogie Man, not her uncle. Still, Clairebear, let 'em fight for a bit... I'm looking forward to that showdown. And it has nothing to do with Milo and Zachary being fun to look at. Not. At. All... *ahem*

Of course, the big question now... is Peter the bomb? Is Sylar? Or do they both go red and glowy next week? What happens to Molly and Suresh? To Micah? Will Jessica or Nikki gain full control? Does Nathan make it through the bomb? Will this show add as much stress to my life as LOST and The Office?

I'm leaving lots of thoughts unfinished, asking lots of questions. Probably because the feeling I have right now is very similar to the one I had at the end of the 2nd Pirates of the Caribbean movie. We've got lots of words and actions, but not a complete thought.

Let's hope I can form a sentence next week.

Up Front with Damien...

Let's talk TV.

Upfronts, specifically, as they started today.

NBC was first out of the gate and they brought us good news.

The Office will have 30, half-hour segments next year. It was a bit confusing at first (because it involved math), but it adds up to be 20 half hour episodes and FIVE, count 'em, FIVE, ONE HOUR episodes. Woohoo! I'm glad they chose this route. The possibility of an hour long show each week was exciting, but it could also have been the kiss of death... Now, it seems they're moving to the 9/8c time slot, pitting Dunder-Mifflin against Seattle Grace, but I've got faith they can pull it off! Make me choose, I'm going to Scranton!

Heroes has also, in the words of its home network, been "bulked" up. Thirty episodes when combined with some sort of spin-off called, Heroes: Origins. I'm hoping, and guessing, this is some sort of internet tie-in like the LOST crew loves to do. Whatever, I'll take as many minutes of Petrelli as I can get!

Scrubs was picked up for 18 more eps (I'm calling last season, here), which means I've gotta get on the ball and watch the current season... I'm lagging behind at Sacred Heart!

And... that's sort of all I care about at NBC. Seems there are a plethora of new shows, as always, so it'll be interesting to see if and which ones pull me into their web.

In other news...

St. Louis was fun. I saw the Arch, pondered the "Gateway to the West," and spent a large amount of time at H&M, but seriously, those things weren't my reason for going.

<----- Him, over to the left in that picture, he's why I went to St. Louis. So to answer your question, yes, Damien Rice was amazing! I don't know who's a fan and who isn't, but if you are - find tickets. Now. Yeah, Lisa's gone and you feel it a little, every now and then, but overall, this show is Damien and he stands quite well on his two feet without her. (And so ends my Damien Rice plug. I'll spare you my detailed account of the concert and my certainty that I saw him being driven into the parking lot a few hours before the show and we totally looked at one another... just know it was fabulous.) It also appears that hubby had a good time at the Kings of Leon show in New Orleans, so overall, a successful weekend of music.

Heroes, Chapter 21

Heroes
Chapter 21
The Hard Part

I know I say this every week - but I have no clue what just happened. I swear, if I have this on my brain all summer, I'm gonna hunt Tim Kring down.

Things I can grasp...

1. Sylar has mommy issues... and apparently, a soft side. I sort of liked his return to nerdy Gabriel (Does anyone else find they're slightly pulled toward, yet totally repelled by Sylar? Just me? Ooookaaay.) Plus, we got a little more insight into his motives. Cold-blooded killer? Well, only if you're unworthy of your abilities - at least he doesn't have it out for innocents or want to blow up New York. Still, the references to him being President were a bit eerie in light of last week, not to mention the painting in his mother's blood. Kinda rude considering Mother's Day is this week!

2. Mohinder and Molly are the sweetest. And Molls... cool power! Wouldn't it be nice to know where someone was just by thinking of them? Veronica could totally own that ability. And speaking of Mohinder, it dawned on me as a bit strange that Sylar gave him a call... then I thought it through. In last week's future episode, when Nathan was actually shape-shifty Sylar, Mohinder was still around. Sylar (as Nathan) had made him a very important player in the research, tracking, etc. of the "terrorists." Why? Sylar could have easily killed him had he wanted to, but I think he has a strange attachment to Mohinder. As weird and dysfunctional as it is, they understand one another. Think Kate and The Marshall on LOST.

3. Nathan is helping Linderman. Seriously, every week, I change my mind about whether or not I trust him. This week... not so much. Still, I'm thinking he might surprise us come game time... especially if Hiro gets to pass on his knowledge of the future.

WTF?

1. How did Sylar unfreeze Hiro's time stop?

2. Why does Linderman want to blow up the city? Why does Mama Petrelli agree?

3. Is Mohinder's sister really dead?

4. How did Candice turn the hotel, or whatever that building is, into a funhouse for Micah? And why does Linderman want him? Jessica is gonna be piiiiissed.

Just gushing a little...

I love that all of the Heroes are appearing in New York, coming together for the final event. My trio (Ted, Parkman and HRG) was back in action and made it to the city in time for Bennett to reunite with ClaireBear. Plus, Peter got his new, flammable power.

Next week on Heroes?

Seriously. Who the hell knows.

Heroes, Chapter 20

Heroes
Chapter 20
Five Years Later

Let's make a deal... I'll stop trying to make sense of Heroes and none of us will wake up with headaches on Tuesday morning. Sound good? Good. Because the whole space-time continuum thing and Future Hiro getting killed and Sylar being Nathan and Parkman being an ass... I'm pretty sure I can't process.

Especially since I'm not a big fan of the future if it turns out like it did tonight. I get that we're supposed to look at it like Ebeneezer Scrooge after the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: This was a glimpse of what will be, if the current state of the present is not altered. Good thing it's a TV show and the future has to change, otherwise, what have we been leading up to for 20 chapters? And seriously, do we really want to force Suresh to deal with genocide or Parkman to lose his... Parkman-ness? Didn't think so. Pretty much the only thing really worth keeping in the future, is tortured, powerful, scruffy Peter with his flowy black coat. Niiice. (Excuse me while I channel Kevin.)

A few things revealed...

1. Nikki reigns. Apparently she and Jessica split completely - or enough that one of them could die without killing the other. Are we to assume still happens if their course is altered? And Micah died? That's not cool.

2. At some point, Sylar kills Nathan... which gives a whole new meaning to the creepy painting Sylar was working on last week. The bigger question is: did Linderman plan it that way?

3. Hiro went all Matrix after Ando died. Now they both return to the present with knowledge of what could be headed their way... and maybe how to stop it. (P.S. I loved the funny at the beginning of the episode when Hiro said, "I scare me." Too cute.)

4. Someone's still gotta save the Cheerleader... *rolls eyes*

5. Bennett is my hero. Seriously, I love him and his noble, underground, hero hiding.

** I'd just like to note, for anyone who happens across this page and has no idea what I'm yapping about - I'm not a crazy person. Because if I tried to read what I just wrote, I might think I was off my rocker.

Heroes: Chapter 19

Heroes
Chapter 19
.07%

Let's get the basics out of the way.
Or: Things you should know about me and Heroes.
1. My loyalty goes to Parkman (hello, dude was on Alias and LOST) and Peter (who knew Jess Mariano could get hotter?).
2. I love HRG.
3. You know who's a hero? Hiro, from Heroes. That's a hero.
4. Let's not discuss Simone. I can't handle her. At all.
5. I trust no one in power.

In the words of my boss, via text message, last night:

Boss: I'm heading home to watch Heroes.
Me: Save the cheerleader...
Boss: F*** her, I'm saving the world.

I'm not sure I can attempt to maneuver through the muddled confusion that is my brain at the moment to attempt and discuss what I just saw played out. I'm attributing this to driving home from Nashville in the middle of the night and only getting about 4 hours of sleep. I refuse to believe it has anything to do with a general misunderstanding of the episode.

Actually, it was a great episode. And not really that convoluted... just a lot of stuff.

What I walked away with:

1. Mamma Petrelli is one of Linderman's "friends" who used to be in on it all. Don't you think? If so, whose side is she on?

2. Linderman's a freak. Dude heals dead things and thinks it's okay to wipe out .07% of the population of NYC. Nevermind the weird art collection.

(Can I take a moment to say my husband is sitting here watching "The Prestige" in the background and it's hella loud in my ear...)

3. Parkman's power has satellite capability. Wonder how far away you can be and still have him hear you?

4. Isaac is hardcore. And a much better painter than Sylar. Nathan looks a bit scary (read: green) in Sylar's version of the Oval Office. Wonder what biggie bad will do with the paintings now...

5. Apparently, even if he is the bomb, it won't kill Peter. And Nathan knows it. Big Brother has mixed motives I think.

6. Linderman has an electric/computer issue and needs Micah to be his mini repairman. Creepy. NikkiJessica is NOT going to be happy when she finds out.

7. Is there anyone who didn't guess that Peter had glass lodged somewhere? Same thing happened to Claire. Remove the weapon, save the hero.

(Oh, dear. Hubby's very excited that Gollum is in this movie.)

8. Whatever Isaac sent off to the publisher is gonna resurface. And it's gonna be important!

9. "The Company" is going down, courtesy of my favorite new trio (sorry Harry, Hermione and Ron): HRG, Ted and Matt Parkman.

10. That cheerleader's not going to Paris.

Confused?

So, aside from the fact that Naive Young Hiro and Pissed Off Future Hiro coming face to face HAS to be tearing a hole in the space-time continuum, it appears the future is grim. Angsty Peter is kissing NikkiJessica, Nathan's promoting genocide, and Suresh has on glasses.

The future's looking dark, my friend. Very, very dark.

I can't wait.

And in other news, there's a Peter Petr... I mean, Jess Mariano/Gilmore Girls marathon on ABC Family this Sunday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Central Time)

Somebody Told Me.

Heroes comes back Monday.

(Thank goodness, because I'm all nervous and fidgety about that lock of Peter's hair Sylar cut off in the last episode! Who knew the big bad was a stylist? Whatever. As long as he doesn't save the hair and sniff it like a creepy freak, I'm good.)

Under most circumstances, there's no way I'd miss the first of "the final 5 chapters," but I'm headed out of town tomorrow and won't get around to watching (and therefore posting my thoughts) until Tuesday afternoon at some point.

Got a little something to do Monday night.

Hangin' out with Brandon and the Boys in Nashville.
(Translation: OH MY GOSH, I'M GOING TO SEE THE KILLERS!!)

Another TV Blog?

Why, yes. Yes, it is.

I'm sure you have questions.

So do I.

Like, why, am I creating yet another outlet in which I will spend inordinate amounts of time doing things like, wondering if Jim goes home at night and imagines confession scenarios between himself and Pam (never mind that Jim doesn't GO home because he isn't REAL), when I should be feeding the dog, washing clothes, paying bills. Eh, what fun are chores and work... ?

TV.

It's about commitment, people. (No, not to an institution.)

Why? Why are you doing this?
1. Because there just aren't enough people out there in the world with television blogs. Ha.
2. I'm a TV addict, this blog is now my therapy. Prepare to see ranting, raving, "squee"-ing, questioning, imagining - and all sorts of other "ings". And don't be shocked to see the words, "If I were..." followed by a delusion of what I'd do, where I the character spoken of, living in said showverse.
3. Because I can.

What shows will you blog about?
My (must not, will not miss) schedule is as follows:
Monday: HEROES.
Tuesday: GILMORE GIRLS, VERONICA MARS.
Wednesday: LOST.
Thursday: THE OFFICE (which you'll hear about the most), GREY'S ANATOMY.
Sunday: BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

Shows I'm about to start watching on DVD.
These are the ones people *gasp* over, when I say I haven't watched them yet. However, the hell that is television's Summer Hiatus seems a perfect time to catch up. Prepare for an ear full.
24, Entourage and House

Like TV? Want to discuss it without the funny looks and reminders that, "they're fictional characters, you know that, right?"

Then welcome, this is a safe place for you.