 When we American fans of British comedy fell in love with “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz,” there was little question that the folks at the BBC would eventually take advantage of the growing cult surrounding the work of Simon Pegg and release his early series, “Spaced,” on DVD. And, really, how could they not? After all, look at these raves from famous people who are, by virtue of their fame, better than you:
* “Watching ‘Spaced’ is kinda like watching a Kevin Smith film if Kevin Smith had any real talent.” - Kevin Smith * “I watch and re-watch ‘Spaced’ from time to time to remind myself how good television comedy can be.” - Matt Stone “The best thing out of England since Winston Churchill.” - Seth Rogen “I laughed hard, and I hate comedy.” - Judd Apatow “Annoyingly good.” - Eddie Izzard “‘Spaced’ is a to-be-envied, to-be-cherished blend of pop culture heartbreak and genuine human hilarity. It’s also a foolproof Idiot Test. Here’s how it works: if someone ever tries to duplicate, replicate, or otherwise re-do this one-of-a-kind show, they’re an Idiot! Aren’t we all lucky to have such a thing in our world?” - Patton Oswalt “Innovative. Witty. Hilarious. ‘Spaced’ is the show we American comedians watch and say, ‘How the hell did they get away with this?!’ Buy this and you can officially be cool.” - Bill Hader Of course, some of us couldn’t wait for the domestic release - cough-cough Jason Zingale cough-cough - and had to buy a British copy of the set to watch on their region-free DVD player, but we’re guessing those people will still be ordering this set - due for release on June 17 - if only because of the special features. All two seasons and 14 episodes of “Spaced” will be packaged within the set, of course, but there’ll also be new exclusive commentary with director Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Jessica Hynes (nee Stevenson), and guests Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Bill Hader, Matt Stone, Patton Oswalt and Diablo Cody, an exclusive Spaced On Stage reunion Q&A recorded at the National Film Theatre, London in October 2007, and “Skip to the End,” an exclusive feature length documentary. There’ll also be outtakes, deleted scenes, raw footage, a photo gallery, newly updated cast and crew biographies, but something particularly eyecatching is a feature that the “Gilmore Girls” sets could’ve used: an Homage-O-Meter, an onscreen feature that tracks each pop-culture reference. “Spaced.” You know you want to buy it. Too bad it’s not on Amazon for pre-order yet…but it will be. Oh, yes: it will be. Filed under: TV and TV DVDs and Actors and TV Comedies and External Entertainment and External TV Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
 It’s Friday. Wait, that never stops me from posting this sort of stuff any other day…
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 Just when I was beginning to feel comfortable with the various mysteries surrounding the show, the writers had to go and throw a new one into the mix that is so unbelievably confusing, I’m beginning to question if they still know what they’re doing. I mean, I totally buy the whole Ben Linus/Charles Widmore connection, but since when did Locke become such an important entity that he was literally being recruited by Dharma as a child?
Nevertheless, it appears Locke is the new (less evil) Ben, and after dreaming about a conversation with a former Dharma worker named Horace, the trio set off to find the cabin using Locke’s newly learned information. It’s with a map he finds in the Dharma death pit (i.e. the place Ben dumped all the bodies) that they’re able to locate the always moving cabin, but Locke is sent in alone when Ben declares that his destiny has already been fulfilled. When he enters, however, Locke doesn’t find his expected guest, but rather… Dr. Christian Shepherd, who claims he can speak on Jacob’s behalf. This is where the show totally lost me, because not only does it not make sense that Jack’s father is on the island (and seemingly not a ghost), but apparently, Claire is now a part of the whole cabin/Jacob secret as well. She’s acting mighty creepy, too, and if that weren’t enough, Christian has just told Locke that in order to save the island, he’s going to have to move it. In the words of Harold Lee, “What the fuck?” Filed under: TV and TV Dramas and Lost and External Entertainment and External TV Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
In fact, Richard Alpert didn’t only visit him as a prematurely born baby (I’m still curious as to how Alpert manages to remain the same age for nearly 50 years), but he contacts him twice more throughout his childhood – once under the guise of a “school for special kids” and again via a pamphlet for a Portland-based science camp. Then, as an adult going through rehab following his accident, Locke is visited by another Dharma suit: Abaddon, who suggests that he experience the Australian walkabout to help discover himself. It’s all very coincidental, and while the writers utilized this same tactic in the first two seasons, those instances weren’t bound by such disbelief.|
In the category of time flies, Season 4 of “The Next Food Network Star” is kicking off on Sunday, June 1 on, um, The Food Network. If you’ve watched the show, you know that Guy Fieri, Season 2 champ, has become a huge success, and my personal favorite host on the network. Last season, Amy Finley was eliminated, then brought back on when JAG was disqualified, setting the stage for a Rory vs. Amy finale, in which Amy won her own show, “The Gourmet Next Door” (which is no longer taping). Anyway, if you haven’t seen this show, but if you love to cook and/or eat (come on, that’s everyone!), you have to check it out. The premise is that the contestants compete each week in challenges in which they are judged by three experts, including Food Network personality and restauranteur Bobby Flay. They are judged in how they cook, how they present food, and how they act on camera while doing both of the above. And as with any reality show, there is always drama. Check out this link for more information, and be sure to tune in June 1 at 10 pm ET. |
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Three left standing on “American Idol.” Yep, it’s been a blazing trip, hasn’t it? Still, David Cook and David Archuleta have been earmarked for the finals for a while. I think, though, that there have been more than a few surprises along the way. They do, however, continue to make the results show an agonizing hour long. With that, let’s talk about last night.. The four remaining contestants did a group rendition of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ In The Years,” which happens to be one of my favorite songs from my childhood. Well, not anymore after seeing that butcher job! On to business. David Archuleta, safe. David Cook, safe. Damn, it’s too early in the show. Then a bunch of phone calls, including a hilarious one from a 24-year-old single woman from Pittsburgh who asked David Cook on a date. Talk about being put on the spot…..she said “I see your tour comes through Pittsburgh in July…I will pick you up, show you around the city and take you out to dinner.” What could dude say, besides “I’ll have to see.” Oh, and another note to David….once you hit the outside world again, you’re going to get a lot of that, so enjoy it! Then Maroon 5 performed, and though I do like this band a lot, they look really tired, and they are about to hit the road again for a global summer tour. After that, Bo Bice took the stage, singing his new single, “Witness.” This dude has some great pipes and is a throwback to good old Southern rock. So down to Syesha Mercado and Jason Castro. Really now, did they even need to count the votes? So here we are, two weeks away from the finale. It should be David vs. David, but I’m still a bit terrified. Terrified that my boy David Cook is going to be toast next week, setting the stage for a lopsided finale of Syesha vs. young David. Hey, if Melinda Doolittle can be sent home before the finale, so can Mr. Cook, though he’s got the best voice and best future of anyone remaining. Oh, and side note on David A….dude needs some interview coaching, because he just smiles and giggles at every question. Remember that buzzard that Bugs Bunny tormented, the one with the goofy laugh (”Oh, nope, nope , nope, nope…”)….you know the one, right? That’s who David Archuleta reminds me of when he speaks. So, as we get closer to the finale, here are my power rankings 1. David Cook If David Cook brings his A game next week, I’ll feel better..but I have a feeling all of them will sense the urgency of the impending finale. See you all next Wednesday, and remember, it’s free to leave a comment! |
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People sometimes ask, “Hey what’s entertaining in Philly?” And sometimes I just say, “Hey, just watch the TV if you’re ever in town.” If you do, you might be treated to some great local crap like the following:
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Last night’s “Hell’s Kitchen” featured a Sweet 16 dinner service instead of the usual fine dining experience. The teams would have to cook for a young girl’s party and please both the girl and her demanding mom. The show started off with Ramsay and the chefs at a farmer’s market, where they had to gather ingredients and then cook one appetizer and two entrees for the girl and her mom to sample. This was the challenge of the day. The red team (women) made shrimp scampi appetizer, Caribbean halibut and flank steak; the blue team (guys) made stuffed chicken wings, shrimp and sweet potatoes, and surf and turf. In a narrow margin, the guys won. Finally. And they got to celebrate by acting like kids with Ramsay all day–racing go-carts was just one of their activities. The ladies, meanwhile, had to deal with the flaming party planner and help prepare for the event. During the dinner service, Roseann and Matt were both struggling, and both were called out by Ramsay–Roseann for undercooking the girl’s steak, and Matt for overcooking the mom’s fish. Yikes. But Matt has become a whiney, annoying, (for lack of a better term) bitch. I mean, he looks like he’s going to cry every time he’s on camera. He’s also one of those cancerous type employees that is always stirring up controversy by badmouthing everyone else. But overall, the teams did well. The kids attending the party had to submit comment cards, and the guys scored 96% and the ladies 99%. So Ramsay declared that there was no losing team. However, someone had to be eliminated. The guys nominated Matt (big surprise) and the ladies nominated Shaina. Who? Does anyone know who Shaina is??? Maybe that’s why she was nominated. Anyway, Ramsay thought Roseann should be added to the mix and asked her to step forward too. Then Matt whined his way back in, saying he would gladly go to the red team and that then the blue team would be exposed for having no talent. This competition is still way up in the air, but one thing is for sure. There are some huge egos among this group. And I mean HUGE. See you all next week! |
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Here we are at the Final Four of “American Idol,” which means our Season 7 champ is going to be crowned in just a few weeks. And with no more mentors, the remaining contestants just had to choose two songs from among 500 of artists enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That’s a very large catalog. Of course, having so many songs to choose from can be a curse, too. Anyway, here we go…. THE GOOD David Cook kicked things off, and his two songs were Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” and The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly.” His first effort was pretty bland, but he brought his usual power the second time around, though it still was lacking compared to what David usually delivers. Randy said his first choice was just okay and the second was more like the real David Cook; Paula loved both because, well, she’s Paula; and Simon thought the first song was just a copycat rendition of the original, while the second was more like what we’re used to from him. In other words, the judges pretty much agreed with me on Mr. Cook. Syesha Mercado took on Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” (Read the rest after the jump.) |
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You and me both, babe. Sadly, “Talk Sex” featuring host Sue Johanson will end its run on Oxygen this Sunday. The show has been on for six seasons. “I have been on television for 32 years,” [Johanson] said. “I think it’s time. I figured if we haven’t got it by now, we’re not going to get it. We’ve got to make room for somebody else.” “I’m going to miss it terribly,” Johanson told The Associated Press. “It’s been part of my life and I just love it. I’m going to miss writing scripts. I’m going to miss having to read books. I’m going to miss playing with sex toys.” Yeah, Sue always was good at showing gals of all ages how to play with various thingamajigs in a variety of ways. |
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Shed a tear for this split, won’t you?
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 This week’s episode provided a little bit of movement in the two more compelling ongoing storylines: the fate of the Demetrius and the intra-Cylon war. While I understand how Starbuck’s crew is getting eager to return to the fleet, what are the odds that they stumble upon Leoben at the site of an intra-Cylon battle? It’s obviously not a coincidence so either Starbuck (skinjob or not) is indeed on the path to Earth or she’s (intentionally or unintentionally) leading the ship into a trap. This is the first good clue the ship has discovered on its mission, and there simply isn’t time to go back and check in with the fleet before following the clue to see where it leads. However, that makes me wonder why Adama and Starbuck wouldn’t arrange for some backup meeting point and time if the circumstances prohibited the Demetrius from returning to the fleet at the 60-day mark. Maybe the solution is for Starbuck another crewmember to take a raptor or two and follow the clue while the rest of the crew meets up with the fleet. One thing’s for certain - Starbuck needs to talk to the hybrid, and fast. Leoben wants to form an alliance between the humans and the remaining Sixes, Eights and Twos that would allow Cara to fulfill her destiny, which Leoben says is to lead the humans to Earth. Back on Galactica, Baltar’s tiresome evangelizing intersected with the Tyrol’s semi-dreary mourning/coming-to-grips storyline. The former Chief decided to shave his head and jump rope in his cabin, which are (apparently) common reactions to discovering that you’re a Cylon and losing your wife to suicide. The whole Tyrol/Baltar holding hands thing seems extraneous right now, though I sure hope there is some purpose to it. Watching Baltar preach just makes me squirm, so I hope that he eventually gets what’s coming to him. Filed under: TV and TV Dramas and TV Action and External Entertainment and External TV and Battlestar Galactica and TV Sci-Fi Comments: 2 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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When we last left Jiro and Kotaro, the two vampire brothers had been separated just as an all-out war between the Kowloon and the Company was hitting a fever pitch. Now, as the infected Kowloon spread across the Special Zone, the Company must join forces with the original black bloods in a battle against the new threat. Doing more to further the story than the first eight episodes combined, the third volume of “Black Blood Brothers” is a satisfying conclusion to a show that didn’t really deserve one. Those that watched the anime from the very beginning are aware that it was neither original nor particularly engaging, and though “Chapter Three” really picks up the pace with some great battle sequences, it’s a case of too little too late. The only reason this batch of episodes even turned out so well is conceivably because the series was performing poorly, and were the creators not forced to end things so quickly, it might have been just as dull. Still, thanks to a well-crafted, open-ended finale, “Black Blood Brothers” could very well live on should it experience a renewed interest on DVD. |
 Ever since Fox announced they would be pushing back the seventh season premiere of “24” to 2009, the network has been hard at work keeping fans with their fingers on the Jack Bauer dial. That’s included a new season of their web series “The Rookie,” a news announcement revealing plans to produce a two-hour prequel movie, as well as the upcoming re-release of the drama’s explosive first season on DVD.
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Packaged in an über-cool metal tin case with what looks to be a countdown clock imbedded underneath, the seven-disc set includes three hours of never-before-seen features including a season seven preview, over 25 deleted and extended scenes, two behind-the-scenes featurettes and more. This is the perfect chance to relive the series’ hit-making first season, and with Bullz-Eye running a contest in conjunction with its May 20th release, you could even pick up a copy for a free. Head on over to Bullz-Eye now and |
The first series of the British comedy “Suburban Shootout” is a clever combination of American favorites “Desperate Housewives,” “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” and even “The Sopranos.” In the pilot episode, we meet Joyce, a middle-aged housewife who has just moved with her husband to the London suburb of Stempington, a seemingly perfect community. There are no burglaries or vandalism or crime of any kind in Stempington. Why? Because the entire town is controlled by rival housewife gangs – yes, you read that correctly – who are now vying for Joyce’s allegiance. Above any content within the individual episodes, it is this overall premise that serves as the ultimate running joke. It makes you wonder if it would have worked better as a more contained feature length film rather than an episodic series. While there is nothing tangibly wrong with the show (solid writing, fine performances by a good cast), there’s not much else to bring you back week after week, therefore making this DVD collection of the complete first series the best viewing choice. Also making the set more beneficial is the fact that all eight episodes on the disc contain optional commentary from various producers, writers and cast members, something too many TV sets are lacking. There is also a Cast Filmography listing, and the “Behind the Scenes” feature serves as a good introduction of the characters and the story and proves more valuable to watch prior to screening any of the episodes. |
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Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (Ernest Borgnine) and his band of “eight balls” from the PT-73 are back with more schemes and scams in the 36 episodes that make up the complete third season of “McHale’s Navy.” Set in the South Pacific during World War II, the show remains a light-hearted comedy focusing more on beating the boss than the actual enemy. While it’s obvious that the plot ideas were beginning to run thin by Season Three, Borgnine and Tim Conway, who plays Ens. Parker, are just as good as ever in this classic war-time comedy. Joe Flynn’s Capt. Binghamton returns to the short end of McHale’s shenanigans, while Yoshio Yoda can be counted as the only real new addition to the cast, playing Japanese POW Fugi Kobiaji. (Yoda appeared in the first two seasons but was given an extended part in Season Three.) Some other recognizable faces that pop up in this season include Ted Knight (Ted Baxter on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and Judge Smails from “Caddyshack”), a pre-“That Girl” Marlo Thomas, and a very young but ever stunning Raquel Welch. Unfortunately, there are no special features included in this set, but with 36 episodes, there’s more than enough comedy to make this worth your while if you’re a true fan of the series. |
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Show: “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”
Role: Opie Taylor. (As if the title of the episode didn’t completely give it away.) You might be surprised to discover that, despite being a spin-off from “The Andy Griffith Show,” there were precious few occasions when Gomer Pyle received visits from his friends and family from Mayberry, NC. In fact, of the 150 episodes of the series that were produced, only three - count ‘em - three episodes featured folks from back home stopping by. We saw Goober pop up once (”A Visit from Cousin Goober”), and Aunt Bee found time in her busy schedule to bless Gomer with her presence (”A Visit from Aunt Bee”), but this time we’re giving props to Opie’s unexpected appearance, which came about through one of the all-time classic sitcom plot lines: a kid running away from home. Why the props for such a predictable premise? Because Opie lives in North Carolina, and “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” took place in California. We have to give Opie credit: when he decides to run away, the kid doesn’t take the half-assed way out. In fact, the idea that a 12-year-old boy could’ve managed to make it across country by himself is something that Gomer can’t even wrap his head around. Now, granted, the man’s not Einstein, but, still, we were kind of wondering about how he managed it ourselves. Opie: I hitched a ride on a plane. You didn’t realize Jim Nabors had that kind of range, did you? Well, he moves back into his dumbfounded expression when Opie explains that he’s traveled cross-country to join the Marines. Why? Because he wasn’t doing so well in school, and to keep from having to deal with a pissed-off Andy Taylor, he figured maybe he’d better go away for awhile…’til, say, adulthood. Filed under: TV and TV DVDs and Actors and Reviews and TV Comedies and External Entertainment and External TV and And Our Very Special Guest Star... Comments: None Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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It only makes sense that following last week’s awesome episode, tonight’s show would be comparably worse. Them’s the rules of “Lost,” I’m afraid, and though we got some more insight into the events leading up to Jack’s eventual post-rescue breakdown, the action on the island was considerably tame.
Of course, I honestly believe that none of the original freighter folk (Faraday, Charlotte, Lapidus and Miles) are bad people, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’ve been placed in an incredibly awkward and high-tension position. For all the hoo-hah caused about their possible disloyalty, however, it seems like the only reason that entire subplot was written was so that Jin could approach Charlotte about her ability to speak Korean. Charlotte denies it at first, but when Jin threatens (in Korean, of course) to break Daniel’s fingers, she gives in. And what exactly does Jin want in trade for keeping Charlotte’s secret? A promise that when the helicopter arrives, she’ll take Sun away from the island. Filed under: TV and TV Dramas and Lost and External TV Comments: 6 Comments Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
I mean, does Jack’s appendicitis really qualify for that level of dramatic tension? Hardly, but when Juliet announces that she’s going to have to operate, everyone freaks out, including Jack, who becomes so unruly during the actual surgery that Bernard eventually just knocks him out with some chloroform. Before all that, however, Faraday and Charlotte head to the medical hatch to pick up some supplies for the surgery, and since everyone has decided that they’re no longer to be trusted following Bernard’s Morse code trickery last week, Jin and Sun tag along with orders that if they try to run away, they’re to shoot them in the legs. That's always a nice way to make someone feel at home, no?|
Last night’s results show proved one thing. That you really never know what is going to happen, even if you are sure you know what’s going to happen. They began the show with an awful Neil Diamond group number, and for whatever reason it was weird and awkward. Maybe it’s because these five finalists would never be on the stage together in any other circumstance. Then it was on to business early. Jason Castro, you are safe. Not only did that mean this kid not going home this week, it meant that there were two performers who had less votes than he did. To put this in perspective, I’m fairly confident that New England Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick could have performed those two songs with more emotion than Jason did on Tuesday. So this is baffling to me. Still, we go on… David Archuleta, safe. And I swear the kid must have thought he was heading home this week, because he just looked like he couldn’t believe it. Don’t worry David, you are probably safe for another week or two at least. David Cook, safe. And I have to say, I breathed a sigh of relief. Because if Jason Castro can be top 3, it’s entirely possible that David Cook could be bottom 2, even if he is the one to beat here. So that left a Bottom 2 of Brooke and Syesha. Really, when you look at it, even though Jason was not very good on Tuesday, we’re all just going through the motions to get to a final of David vs. David, so the order that the other three are eliminated doesn’t matter too much. Then, two performances. First, Natasha Bedingfield. Yeah, about that. I don’t get her….she did some pop/reggae type song that she pretty much shouted, making me wonder aloud just what is happening to the music industry. After Natasha sang, she went over and kissed young David, and that was pretty funny. Then Neil Diamond sang his new single, and though the song was bland (sorry dude, your catalog has raised our expectations), he looks great and sounds great for his age. And his mom was in the audience, which I’m sure prompted all of America to get out their calculators……what is she, 90? Then a few phone calls, the most entertaining of which was Simon’s first crush, Tara, who remembered kissing Simon in the sand box when they were nine years old…..ha! Somewhere in the long, drawn out show, Ryan Seacrest squashed the rumors of Paula having a drinking problem, and said something like “We love Paula, she is a member of our family.” Then someone asked Ryan if pigs fly, and he said “Hells yeah, pigs fly!” Finally, the results. Syesha, safe. Brooke White, you are going home. You knew that she knew, and she’s kind of hung on for the last few weeks anyway. But really, come on, was Jason Castro better than Brooke on Tuesday? Maybe not, but like I said this thing is a two-David race. Here are my power rankings and see you all next week! 1. David Cook |
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Last week on “Hell’s Kitchen,” Vanessa burned her hand on some hot oil and was rushed to the hospital. She started off the show okay last night, but definitely like a fighter who had been knocked down a few times. Anyway, the challenge of the day was to create a “fine dining pizza,” one that the restaurant could serve and charge way too much money for. Everyone had to create one, with the two teams picking their team’s favorite to present to Chef Ramsay. The girls chose Jen’s “little bit Italian, little bit French” pizza while the guys went with Ben’s duck and mushroom pizza. Call me boring, but I like good ol’ cheese and pepperoni. Anyway, Ramsay did like them both but declared the guys losers because Ben had left a bit of dirt on some mushrooms. Blech. So the ladies were off to Santa Barbara in a helicopter while the guys prepped the dinner service. What’s more, Ben was given the task of delivering pizzas during the dinner service in this little golf cart. Then Vanessa was shown going into Ramsay’s office (Read the rest after the jump.) Filed under: TV and Reality TV and Kitchen Nightmares Comments: 1 Comment Digg this! Add to Del.icio.us |
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So this thing is heating up. Last night on “American Idol” it was the Final Five performing, with the great Neil Diamond as mentor. But as Simon Cowell suggested, it was one of the strangest shows ever, and that’s mainly because each performer had to sing two selections, and the judges had very little air time. Need I say that this was a formula for Paula imploding on national TV? And that’s basically what happened, though she did rebound. More on that in a bit. I like the more meat, less B.S. that a condensed “Idol” offered. And it was entertaining to see how they would do it. Ryan Seacrest was talking like he had a plane to catch, and the judges were able to give a brief reaction after each performer sang once, and then a full critique after their second song. You gotta love less Paula in any way, shape or form. Without further adieu, here is the recap and prediction for who is going home…. THE GOOD David Cook, what can we say? The dude manages to have some element of surprise (Read the rest after the jump.) |
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