Just a quick recommendation. If you're a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre and like a little romance sprinkled it, check out Stardust, flick that flew under the radar while in theaters (think Serenity, but not as dark). It has gained some popularity in its post-theater, aka DVD, existence. So check it out, newly on Blu-ray!
3.11.2011
3.10.2011
Man v. Food For The Win
For some reason unknown to me, I have just discovered Man v. Food on the Travel Channel. And it is now officially my new obsession. Not only does the Travel Channel air reruns and new airings of Man v. Food, but there are spinoffs as well, such as Man v. Food: Carnivore or Man v. Food: Breakfast. Anyway, I can't believe that I have just discovered this show, especially since everyone I have talked to about this show says, "That's a good show!" or "I love that show!"
In case the title doesn't give it away, Man v. Food follows host Adam Richman across the country to various eating establishments where he attempts to conquer whatever eating challenges life can throw at him. For example, no one had ever finished the 6lb. sampler of food from Humpy's in Anchorage, Alaska until Adam came to town (he got a shirt!). Or the occasion where Adam attempts to eat Special #2 at Orechon Ramen in L.A. (his picture is on the wall!). Adam even finished 8 scoops of ice cream, complete with whipped cream, nuts, and sprinkles (it's called the Kitchen Sink) in about 1 hour. Episode after episode follows Adam on these crazy eating challenges, not only entertaining audiences, but educating them about prime eating establishments all over the country. If I didn't worry about the possibilities of major gastrointestinal problems, I'd vie for Adam's job in a heartbeat.
When I travel, I always like to get a flavor for the culture by sampling the local food. Adam Richman shows us the best places to dine across the country. And in the competition of Man v. Television, Man. v. Food definitely wins.
In case the title doesn't give it away, Man v. Food follows host Adam Richman across the country to various eating establishments where he attempts to conquer whatever eating challenges life can throw at him. For example, no one had ever finished the 6lb. sampler of food from Humpy's in Anchorage, Alaska until Adam came to town (he got a shirt!). Or the occasion where Adam attempts to eat Special #2 at Orechon Ramen in L.A. (his picture is on the wall!). Adam even finished 8 scoops of ice cream, complete with whipped cream, nuts, and sprinkles (it's called the Kitchen Sink) in about 1 hour. Episode after episode follows Adam on these crazy eating challenges, not only entertaining audiences, but educating them about prime eating establishments all over the country. If I didn't worry about the possibilities of major gastrointestinal problems, I'd vie for Adam's job in a heartbeat.
When I travel, I always like to get a flavor for the culture by sampling the local food. Adam Richman shows us the best places to dine across the country. And in the competition of Man v. Television, Man. v. Food definitely wins.
2.15.2011
Mad Love
I LOVE Judy Greer. She's always the wacky sidekick that provides comic relief with her outrageous personality, snarky one-liners, and overall wack-a-doodle-ness. She's a welcome sight in 27 Dresses, 13 Going on 30 and The Wedding Planner. So that's why I was a little disappointed her character in the new comedy Mad Love is a cynical stoic. She still delivers those killer one-liners, but she doesn't exhibit that slutty snarkiness that made her so great in 27 Dresses or 13 Going on 30. But, I'm willing to give her character another chance because I am such a big fan. Who knows, her character may evolve.
And that's the feeling I get about Mad Love. Taking a cue from How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), Mad Love, I have a feeling, is about the evolution of a couple's relationship (it even has narration!); but it's probably not the couple you think. Jason Biggs and Sarah Chalke (who I loved in Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother) play the lovey-dovey couple that meet atop the Empire State building and hit it off right away. But their best friends, played by Greer and Tyler Labine (Reaper), are the real focus of the show. Their incessant bickering and immediate hatred for one another leads me to believe that Mad Love actually focuses on their story from meet-cute haters to passionate, dare I say, lovers. I believe this show will follow the likes of HIMYM, where the story really is in the journey, not the destination. And fans of the bickering duo setup (i.e., Moonlighting) will likely find this not-so-fairy tale romance fun to watch.
Mad Love airs Mondays on 8:30/7:30 central on CBS.
And that's the feeling I get about Mad Love. Taking a cue from How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), Mad Love, I have a feeling, is about the evolution of a couple's relationship (it even has narration!); but it's probably not the couple you think. Jason Biggs and Sarah Chalke (who I loved in Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother) play the lovey-dovey couple that meet atop the Empire State building and hit it off right away. But their best friends, played by Greer and Tyler Labine (Reaper), are the real focus of the show. Their incessant bickering and immediate hatred for one another leads me to believe that Mad Love actually focuses on their story from meet-cute haters to passionate, dare I say, lovers. I believe this show will follow the likes of HIMYM, where the story really is in the journey, not the destination. And fans of the bickering duo setup (i.e., Moonlighting) will likely find this not-so-fairy tale romance fun to watch.
Mad Love airs Mondays on 8:30/7:30 central on CBS.
2.13.2011
Chicago Code v. Blue Bloods
Chicago Code aims to do for Chicago what Blue Bloods does for New York. Both are police dramas set in big cities: Blue Bloods is about a family of cops fighting crime in the Big Apple; Chicago Code, however, is about a police supervisor trying to bring down a corrupt Windy City politician.
In my opinion, Blue Bloods is the more audience-friendly show. Chicago Code introduces a complicated plot concept right off the bat. Audiences aren't dumb, but Chicago Code gives us too much too soon. The pilot expects us to process it all: the character setup, the corruption plot, and the inter-character relationships--so much so that I found myself dazed and confused at the end of the hour. In sum, Chicago Code may take some time to build a fan base. But to do so may require too much time, time this show may not have since it's a mid-season replacement.
Blue Bloods, however, is buoyed by big name actors and the combination of family drama and crimes-of-the-week. Tom Selleck leads this cast (rounded out with Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Will Estes) as the police commissioner of NYC. His two sons are also cops, his daughter a prosecutor, and his father, well, also an ex-cop and ex-police commissioner. Not only do these characters tackle a crime every week, but each episode contains a scene around the family dinner table where everyone has the opportunity to discuss the crime/issue bothering the detectives, often expressing the opposing views of greater America. These family dinners provide a vehicle to express the battling political opinions of Americans with regard to crime, prosecution, and criminal immunity. And oftentimes, these dinnertime conversations provide revelations and insights into breaking the case (let's just say that there's more to this show than Tom Selleck's mustache).
Blue Bloods wins this shootout, and airs on Wednesday nights at 9/10 central on CBS.
In my opinion, Blue Bloods is the more audience-friendly show. Chicago Code introduces a complicated plot concept right off the bat. Audiences aren't dumb, but Chicago Code gives us too much too soon. The pilot expects us to process it all: the character setup, the corruption plot, and the inter-character relationships--so much so that I found myself dazed and confused at the end of the hour. In sum, Chicago Code may take some time to build a fan base. But to do so may require too much time, time this show may not have since it's a mid-season replacement.
Blue Bloods, however, is buoyed by big name actors and the combination of family drama and crimes-of-the-week. Tom Selleck leads this cast (rounded out with Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Will Estes) as the police commissioner of NYC. His two sons are also cops, his daughter a prosecutor, and his father, well, also an ex-cop and ex-police commissioner. Not only do these characters tackle a crime every week, but each episode contains a scene around the family dinner table where everyone has the opportunity to discuss the crime/issue bothering the detectives, often expressing the opposing views of greater America. These family dinners provide a vehicle to express the battling political opinions of Americans with regard to crime, prosecution, and criminal immunity. And oftentimes, these dinnertime conversations provide revelations and insights into breaking the case (let's just say that there's more to this show than Tom Selleck's mustache).
Blue Bloods wins this shootout, and airs on Wednesday nights at 9/10 central on CBS.
Mr. Sunshine Provides a Ray of Light
Half-hour comedies are hard to pull off. Finding a good one is like finding a four leaf clover; there are a lot of posers (those three-leaf clovers are sneaky), but the actual thing is rare. And when you find one, you hold on to it, sometimes until it falls apart. The four leaf clover comedies currently airing are Modern Family, 30 Rock, Community, and Parks and Recreation (some would say Two and a Half Men). The Office, in its heyday, was one of them, as were Friends, Scrubs, and Arrested Development. Notice that many of the half-hour sitcoms I just named are now cancelled. So you can imagine how impressed I need to be to give a shout-out to another.
Mr. Sunshine is the best new comedy of this season. Perfect Couples, Better With You, Traffic Light, and $#*! My Dad Says, are all a poor man's substitute. But Mr. Sunshine brings a ray of light to this dreary dearth of comedy choices.
Matthew Perry is back on TV as a manager of a San Diego stadium. Because his co-workers are crazy and the writing is sharp, this show is actually laugh-out-loud funny. Allison Janney plays Perry's eccentric, drug-addled, and slightly racist boss. Jorge Garcia found his post-Lost gig as the head maintenance man of the Sunshine arena. Together, they run the arena hosting musical acts, the circus, and a variety of athletic events. Granted, my opinion is based only on the pilot, so it may be too early to call the quality of this particular show. What I can tell you, however, is that Allison Janney + a runaway elephant + an original racist song + clowns bearing axes = a successful pilot.
Tune in to Mr. Sunshine on Wednesday nights at 9:30/8:30 central on ABC and let me know what you think. I'll definitely be there to see if it's worth my while.
Mr. Sunshine is the best new comedy of this season. Perfect Couples, Better With You, Traffic Light, and $#*! My Dad Says, are all a poor man's substitute. But Mr. Sunshine brings a ray of light to this dreary dearth of comedy choices.
Matthew Perry is back on TV as a manager of a San Diego stadium. Because his co-workers are crazy and the writing is sharp, this show is actually laugh-out-loud funny. Allison Janney plays Perry's eccentric, drug-addled, and slightly racist boss. Jorge Garcia found his post-Lost gig as the head maintenance man of the Sunshine arena. Together, they run the arena hosting musical acts, the circus, and a variety of athletic events. Granted, my opinion is based only on the pilot, so it may be too early to call the quality of this particular show. What I can tell you, however, is that Allison Janney + a runaway elephant + an original racist song + clowns bearing axes = a successful pilot.
Tune in to Mr. Sunshine on Wednesday nights at 9:30/8:30 central on ABC and let me know what you think. I'll definitely be there to see if it's worth my while.
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