Best Game of Thrones Interview Ever

Posted on April 24, 2012 by ilmozart

For those who saw this past Sunday night’s episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones, you know it opened on what can only be called… a fart joke.

Of course said fart joke was followed by some pretty strong direwolf flavored violence, but still, a humorous way to start a show that doesn’t really make you think of slapstick humor.

The Lannister guard who was farted on (and I cannot believe how many times I’ve had to type that word…) was named Sam Mackay and he participated in a great edition of the Reddit Ask Me Anything under the name uncalled4aggression.

Out of his Lannister armor and out of direwolf's reach

Warming Glow links to the choicest of the questions and answers, all of which I highly recommend perusing.

My favorites from the entire AMA?

Q. Are you afraid of being type-casted as the “fart guy”?

A. To be honest I’m just waiting for a sequel to “Thunderpants” I’m pretty sure there’s heavy demand for it.

Q. Since you were on set and all, what sort of baby gift did you get for Melisandre and that thing that crawled out of her womb? Did all the knights pitch in for a diaper genie or something?

A. 5 therapy sessions and a Pilates DVD

Q. What is Peter Dinklage like?

A. Unfortunately he wasn’t on set when I was there but for the sake of this AMA I’m going to put it out there that I caught him wrestling a bear with his bare hands and let’s just say he now owns a lovely new rug

This dude is funny and really personable. It’s too bad his time on @Game of Thrones has come to such an end. Quick — give him more roles where someone will fart on him!!

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Jon Hamm Bowls with the Nerdist, Looks Perfect

Posted on April 24, 2012 by ilmozart

Although he started off working alongside Jenny McCarthy on MTV’s Singled Out, Chris Hardwick has done rather well for himself lately.

Hardwick in contemplative pose

The Nerdist logo

His media empire, starting with his The Nerdist podcast, has grown over the past couple of years. Along with a busy stand up schedule, a robust website and a highly amusing twitterfeed @Nerdist, he wrote a book called The Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (in Real Life),  he has a show that airs on occasion on BBC America, he hosts AMC’s Talking Dead, the post- Walking Dead chat show, and there is a huge podcast industry under the Nerdist heading. If that weren’t enough, recently he started a Nerdist channel on youtube, featuring content from people like Weird Al and Ain’t It Cool News‘ Harry Knowles.  And of course, his own program, celebrity bowling.

See, Hardwick’s dad was a professional bowler, so Hardwick knows a thing or two about throwing that ball…down that lane…and hitting things? I am so clearly NOT a bowler.

Half of Team Nerdist, Jonah and Chris, sharing a super awkward high 5

This week’s episode features the Nerdist team, made up of Chris Hardwick, Jonah Rey (who co-hosts the podcast with Hardwick), Weird Al, and comedian Pete Holmes battling against team Madmen – showrunner Matthew Weiner, Vincent “Pete Campbell” Karthheiser, Rich “Harry Crane” Sommer, and of course, Don Draper himself – Jon Hamm.

Team Madmen, beards and all

I can’t speak to the bowling portion, clearly some of these guys are better than others, but the smack talk here is some damned fine smack talk indeed.  Hamm shows his talent at Play Doh arts and crafts, and reminds us that the old jokes are classics for a reason.  Also, Chris Hardwick’s psyche is seriously messed up if that is that psyches him out.

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What Do You Watch? Part II

Posted on April 23, 2012 by ilmozart

Recently, I started a sort of confessional, telling all who care to read it the long list of television shows that I watch with any regularity.

Sunday was a doozy.  In fact, the New York Times agrees with me:

Right now Sundays are the hardest to piece together. The pileup of must-see shows on Sunday seems to have hit a breaking point this spring, with the return of “Mad Men,” the return of “Game of Thrones” to HBO, and the start of “Girls” and “Veep.” On the same evening, there are the new dramas “GCB” on ABC and “The Client List” on Lifetime, among others.

“That whirring sound you’re hearing in the background is your DVR crashing,” the media trade magazine Adweek declared in a recent article on the long list of quality Sunday shows.

But what about Mondays?

Again, I’m not going to be listing the reruns that I watch daily, just the prime time shows that air on Mondays.

How I Met Your Mother: I didn’t start watching HIMYM until the end of the first season. I don’t quite remember what it was that prompted me to start watching, but I instantly became attached to it.  While the idea of having Bob Saget voice Ted as an “adult” when Ted as played by Josh Radnor is already an adult is a bit odd, this show has had a plethora of good ideas.  The show is creative in its use of time – flash forwards, flash backs, concurrent story lines. And the characters grow.  Especially the programs most showy character, Barney played by Neil Patrick Harris.  He might still be the same Barney who would come up with the “Ode of the Sexless Innkeeper”,
http://youtu.be/NUot1w9t_0g

but of late he’s clearly stopped his one-night stands and become devoted to one woman. It’s not clear if that one woman is really Quinn, or Robin.

Speaking of Robin, you cannot applaud HIMYM without a little Robin Sparkles…

I do realize that I haven’t mentioned the search for the mother. For me, that’s just been a side venture.  Sure I want to know who she is, but it really is all about the journey.

Bones: This is the sort of program that I forget is on, then I watch it and remember that I enjoy its mild form of entertainment. And then I forget about it again. Not that Emily Deschanel (Zooey’s older sister) and David Boreanaz aren’t a lot of fun, and the rest of the cast aren’t all highly enjoyable, but the show isn’t a must-see for me.  I might leave an episode on the DVR for a couple of weeks before watching a whole bunch in a row. The deaths are gruesome enough to keep me watching, but the episodes mostly blend together. Perhaps it was the Gormogon storyline, that preposterous plot that was hurried to its demise by the writers’ strike, that soured me slightly on the show. But only slightly.  This season seems to be handling the Booth+Bones+baby relationship well, so I suppose kudos on that.

Hugh Laurie: Nothing like a Brit to play an American.

House: House is now winding down to its series finale, a finale that probably should have come a few seasons ago.  I adore Hugh Laurie. I loved him on Black Adder, I loved him as Bertie Wooster, and I definitely enjoy him as the modern day medical Sherlock Holmes. But the program and its plotlines have definitely run their course. When the show ended last season by having House drive his car into his ex-girlfriend’s house, it became pretty clear that the end was near. Each episode has the EXACT SAME STRUCTURE. At one point House will announce it’s not lupus and then five minutes before the end of the hour, House will have a conversation with someone, most likely his bff and long suffering companion Wilson, that will shed light on the case at hand, and voila! Diagnosis solved.  It’s to Hugh Laurie’s credit that he’s kept the character of House as engaging as always, even with the ups and downs of vicodin addiction.  It’s no longer surprising, but Laurie keeps it entertaining.

Look how darned happy he is to be solving a murder!

Castle:  I loved Firefly, and not only because of Nathan Fillion’s Mal Reynolds. But, let’s be honest, Mal was a damned fine reason to watch the show.  Even though I’m not crazy about police procedurals, I started watching Castle because of Fillion. And I’m glad to I did. It’s not the most surprising show, the mysteries aren’t all that deep for most of the episodes, but the show is a lot of fun.  Fillion’s Castle is a giant kid who happens to write NY Times best-selling mystery novels and has a relationship with the Mayor that gets him in good with the NYPD.  His glee at being a part of the team is palpable and no one does hang dog like Fillion.  I do want to know where his relationship with Stana Katick’s Beckett, but as long as they get together at some point, I’m ok with things as is for the time being. Of course the show does seem to be pushing them towards some sort of resolution, even if it’s a temporary one, by the end of this season.  Only time will tell.

Smash:  In its freshman season, Smash is still trying to find itself.  I don’t think the show really knows what it wants to be yet. A TV show about the trials and tribulations of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe or an ongoing soap opera full of dramatic cliches or a slapstick comedy where Uma Thurman is a viable option to play Marilyn. It might be all of the above, none of it, or an odd mixture. But as we head closer to the season finale, they’d better get their act together. It helps that the cast is a lot of fun – Angelica Huston, my beloved Jack Davenport (Steve from the UK version of Coupling), Debra Messing in a bewildering array of scarves and chunky jewelry. I don’t mind Katherine McPhee and even though I’m getting tired of her “evil bitch” routine, Megan Hilty’s Ivy is a good kind of trashy with a great voice. Listening to them can be a joy,

Or as with that abomination “Touch me”, it can be painful.  Uma has been a fun addition, even if her singing sorta sucks.

The Daily Show: This is every weeknight, Monday-Thursday.  Jon Stewart continues to serve up commentary on the hypocrisy in media and government, giving truth to TDS’s claim of being the “Best Fucking News Team.”  I miss the days of Colbert and Carell, but John Oliver, Samantha Bee, Al Madrigal, and the rest do just fine. Just fine indeed.  And in this election year, I’m damned grateful to have them.

So, that’s Monday.  A bit of a shorter list than Sunday’s, and thank god because I can spend the whole week catching up on Sunday.

Next up…Tuesday – Glee, Cougar Town… Good stuff.

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Game of Thrones: Garden of Bones, first thoughts

Posted on April 22, 2012 by ilmozart

This is an immediate reaction post.

I know I’m a week behind in my recaps (just got a new working computer and catching up on things), but I had to comment on tonight’s GoT episode as soon as it was over.

Tonight’s episode was easily the most brutal one they’ve done to date. We saw Joffrey not only have one his guards beat the crap out of Sansa, he forced Roz to violate a fellow working girl; we saw the gory remnants of the battlefield and a scene right out of the Civil War hospital section in Gone with the Wind; we saw the absolute horrors of Harrenhal and torturers who must have read the end of 1984; and we saw Melisandre give birth to something that resembled pure evil.

Only Harrenhal shot available...Twyin riding to the rescue, though I'm sure not intentionally

Oh, and Cat got Ned’s head back in a box in the most touching scene of the episode.

I must watch this again, and regain my composure, before tearing this episode apart, scene by scene, limb by limb.

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Oh hi doggie: American Classic “The Room”

Posted on April 22, 2012 by ilmozart

Living in LA, you were bound to see this movie poster everywhere:

Johnny, the world's greatest guy

It frightened me, intrigued me.  I had no clue what this was for; was this a horror film that took place in a room? The poster gave no hint — but it was clear the character pictured was an escaped mental patient. And this poster followed you everywhere, waiting for a street light to change on Highland, glancing out the car window on La Brea, in your dreams at night…

This was EVERYWHERE

Fast forward many years.  I started reading about all my favorite comedians being obsessed with this film called The Room. I was a bit slow on the uptake but finally realized they meant that movie with the escaped mental patient.  If Paul Rudd and David Cross were fans, then this was a movie I needed to see.

But, still, never really made a move to take care of that. My brothers watched it on youtube, and I saw a few scenes here and there. After just one scene I realized what The Room was, a modern day Rocky Horror with great illusions of grandeur.  How wonderful.

To ease you in, here is what is arguably the movie’s most famous scene:
http://youtu.be/7S9Ew3TIeVQ

See? Wonderful.

It wasn’t till New Years this past year that I finally fulfilled my mission (thank you Apple TV and youtube!)  Oh what a glorious glorious movie.  It plumbed the depths of human experience and  showcased one man’s utter and complete lack of talent, but simultaneously, shone a spotlight on his utter and complete self-delusion.  I could come with up a list of adjectives and flowery descriptives, but none of them would scratch the surface of this monumental piece of cinema.

Thing is, seeing it at home is one thing. Seeing it at one of the midnight shows  would be something else.  The local indie theater, the Coolidge Corner Theater (if you’re in Boston and you aren’t coming here on a regular basis, shame on you), runs a monthly midnight showing of The Room.  I tried many times to get my act together and go, but it was at midnight and I work for a living.

It wasn’t until I heard that the director/producer/writer/star of the film, Mr. Tommy Wiseau himself was going to be making an appearance at April’s showing, that I committed to one of these midnight shows. Wiseau is notoriously odd. No one knows where he’s really from, how old he really is, how he had $6 million to make the movie.  He has a thick accent, perhaps Eastern European.  He wants to desperately to be seen as an all-American guy, but after all these years has still not mastered the American idioms that betray him the moment he opens his mouth.  All this I knew before last night, but experiencing him and his life’s work in a theater packed with other devoted fans, was something else entirely.

I dragged along a friend who had not yet seen the movie. I told him not to. To be honest, I was afraid that he would back out if he saw just how amazingly bad The Room really was. Luckily, I had no reason to fear.

The movie itself is held together by a plot that is to be very loosely described as a plot, interspersed with tracking shots from stock footage of San Francisco.  I don’t know who Wiseau paid for this stock footage, but it wasn’t enough. Never have I been so sure that the movie I was watching took place in the city the by bay.  Wiseau is Johnny, by all accounts the world’s greatest man. He pays for the college education of a local mentally handicapped young man, fully supports his girlfriend/”future wife” buying her a car, a giant engagement ring and possibly a house – he is a goddamned saint.  But his future wife Lisa isn’t happy. None of this is enough for her, she’s bored and wants more excitement.  And Johnny never gets his big promotion.  Her response to these feelings is to sleep with Johnny’s best friend, Mark.  And then it all comes to a head.

That’s the plot, basically.  Oh, there’s a scene with a drug dealer named “Chris R.” Can’t forget about that nugget. This movie exists to show how wonderful Johnny/Tommy is and what an utter bitch Lisa/all women are.  There’s a great deal of psychology at play.  The problem is, not only is all just terrible, but nothing makes sense. Nothing connects. Characters show up and leave without motivation.  There are sex scenes that are so awkward and long, that so lovingly film Wiseau’s oddly muscled naked body and buttocks, that you want to wash your eyes out with lye after seeing them.  People “play” football constantly, though “play” here means tossing it around in a circle for a few minutes, sometimes while wearing tuxedos. People have conversations that start and stop and only repeat what they’d just said in the previous scene.

The movie is a mess. But as I said a glorious one.

When word got out that Wiseau was going to be at this month’s midnight screenings, they sold out so quickly, second shows had to be added.  That excitement was there as we stood in line.  There were guys in suits who brought a football, so everyone played in line, reenacting one of the many football tossing scenes.
http://youtu.be/HjgPYaCr6so

We traded stories of past viewings – one guy in line had seen the movie 23 times.  Women showed up wearing their version of the movie’s infamous red dress. And people brought spoons. So so many spoons. Why spoons, you might ask? Decorating a side table in Johnny’s apartment is an arty photograph of a spoon.  That’s all. And that’s all it took for these spoons to become like the rice thrown during the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

As with all the best moments waiting in line, an instant camaraderie developed.  Everyone chatted with everyone else.  Those in costume or wearing The Room-themed t-shirts were the rockstars. Until Wiseau showed up.  Wearing sunglasses, a teal shirt, a black vest, black pants, and four belts, Wiseau was a star. He was greeted by shouts and applause and basked in the love.  I still don’t know how much of that applause was honest and how much was mocking, but either way, he loved it.

Once we were seated, Wiseau and co-star Greg Sestero (Mark) were brought out.  Everyone got to their feet, clapping and shouting “Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!” There was a very short Q&A – Wiseau was asked mostly stupid questions and mostly refused to answer them.  He then brought up anyone in costume for … Ok, so I’m still not sure why they were on stage. Wiseau had OTHER audience members come on stage and made Greg Sestero, who looked more embarrassed with every passing second, throw a water bottle to them. If anyone caught it 25 times in a row, they would win “maybe a t-shirt.” No one made it past 6 tosses.  Sestero was made to testify that Wiseau had caught the water bottle 21 times. Sestero confirmed Wiseau’s claim ,”I’m sorry to say that we’ve played this game before” to which Wiseau shouted “Why are you sorry?”  Clearly Wiseau’s lack of awareness was both on and off-screen.

A nice and blurry shot of Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau from last night's screening

After a baffling game of toss the water the bottle, the movie started.  People shouted out lines, yelled out comments to what was happening on the screen. It was loud and raucous and fabulous.  There were so many little audience comments that just made the movie sing, “cancer nose”, “because you’re a woman”, “but you just got there” and many other things not fit for polite company – and yes, I know that unless you’ve seen the film, none of this will make much sense. Hell, even seeing the film might not shed much light.  What mattered was that newbie and grizzled fan alike were rejoicing in the movie’s strangeness.

When it ended, the floor littered was with plastic spoons, we were tired and hoarse and totally satisfied. It was everything I’d hoped for, and more.

If you have seen The Room, I would recommend listening to the podcast How Did This Get Made with Paul Scheer.  They parse the film, shaking out hidden meanings, accounting for its flaws, and gain insights from visiting guest, Greg Sestero.

If you have yet to see The Room, lucky for you the entire thing is on youtube.  This is the link for the unrated version, the one with the long, drawn-out sex scenes.  But if you aren’t about to invest in an hour and a half…here is the original trailer and best-of Johnny quotes to whet your appetite.

http://youtu.be/yCj8sPCWfUw

http://youtu.be/if5eP3crl_4

Needless to say, I’ll be back at the midnight screening next month. This time, armed with spoons…

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America’s Next Top Model Staffing Shake-up

Posted on April 20, 2012 by ilmozart

Ok, I’m 2 weeks behind on Top Model.  They sit there on my DVR judging me like Ty-Ty judging someone who isn’t smizing.

You know what I mean.

But that doesn’t mean that when I see this headline on EW.com ‘America’s Next Top Model gets fierce with its own: Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel, and J. Alexander are dismissed I don’t get a bit teary-eyed, and a bit confused.

Good night sweet princes. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

From the EW article:

Banks, along with co-executive producer Ken Mok, also issued this statement: “Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel, and J. Alexander have been an integral part of the America’s Next Top Modelbrand and they helped turn this show into the household name it is today. They have been amazing assets to the show and will always be a part of the Top Model family. We will continue to actively work with each of them on future projects.”

And here is Ty-Ty’s twitter announcement of this fateful news:

https://twitter.com/tyrabanks/status/193179691400699905

I guess the question is — did they quit or were they fiercely fired?

How can there be an ANTM without these guys? It’s a bit presumptive to think that as long as we have Tyra aka Supersmize we’ll continue watching. It’s been rough ever since they took Miss J off the judging panel and Mr. Jay has become a real force on the shoot.

Plus, how will we get through the hour without hearing the phrase “noted fashion photographer Nigel Barker”?  It’s inconceivable.

Did they piss Tyra off? Did they disagree with her one time too many? Have they stolen the spotlight from her too often? Or did the modelwannabes yell too loudly for Miss J?

I want – nay, NEED – answers!

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More Arrested Development FINALLY

Posted on April 19, 2012 by ilmozart

The usual suspects

Yesterday it was announced the Netflix, who had acquired the rights to do additional episodes of Arrested Development, was going to be airing all 10 of the new episodes on the same day.

That’s right – sometime next year you will be able to spend 5 straight hours (I’m assuming the show will still be a half-hour) with the Bluths, (and possibly Bob Loblaw, Stan Sitwell, Lucille 2, Egg, and Franklin).  This is wonderful news for everyone who had worn out their DVD’s and have been shaking their fists to the heavens in anger over the untimely demise of one of the great sitcoms.

How happy am I? Well, let’s just say the Bluths’ last intervention paints a good picture:
http://youtu.be/0QrZgR10bvg

(Do you think I could get Buster to accompany the new shows with his avant-garde piano compositions?)

I personally will pace myself, not wanting to consume all the awesomeness at once. But for people who like everything at once, this will suit them nicely.

No word on the movie, but that hasn’t been totally ruled out…

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New Trailer: Magic Mike (or Channing Tatum strips)

Posted on April 18, 2012 by ilmozart

Did you know that Channing Tatum used to be a stripper? If you didn’t, are you surprised?

When he hosted SNL, they barely let him keep his shirt on for crying out loud. But hey, it’s a nice view.

Steven Soderbergh has decided to see if he could make money from that view.

Now Tatum was amazingly funny in 21 Jump Street, so I’m open to how he’ll handle this role. Funny or not, casting Tatum as a highly successful stripper was really a no-brainer. Neither was casting his fellow strippers: Alex Pettyfer (I am Number 4 and Beastly), Joe Manganiello (True Blood), Matthew Bohmer (White Collar and Blaine’s brother on Glee) and Matthew McConaughey (naked bongo playing).  All of these men look very very nice without their shirts.

Magic Mike and his muscles

Tatum’s Magic Mike rakes in the dough stripping,  in a very athletic manner I must add, but dreams of designing custom furniture. He seems to meet a lady friend who would rather he make said furniture, which to me is just unfair to everyone else.  I’m guessing he listens to her rather than his legions of fans.  We’ll find out in June.

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What Do You Watch? Part I

Posted on April 18, 2012 by ilmozart

Clearly, I am someone who loves my television.

And I watch a lot of it. A LOT.  So frequently, I am asked “So, what do you watch?” Oddly I always find that a loaded question.

There are the shows that I watch occasionally because I’m bored, like House Hunters International.  There are the shows that I watch when I remember to watch them, like Jeopardy.  There are the shows that I rewatch in reruns because they give me comfort, like Gilmore Girls (I have watched this series through at least 4 times).  There are the shows that I rewatch in reruns because they consistently crack me up, like Seinfeld or The Simpsons.

And then there are the shows that I watch during prime time. But even within prime time viewing there are categories and hierarchies, loyalties and indifferences.

So how to tackle this question?  Usually I respond by saying “Better to ask me what I don’t watch!” but I think it’s time to put this issue to bed once and for all.  However, due to the volume of it all, I’ll go day by day throughout this week.

*Note:  I am cataloging the shows based on the day they air, not the day I watch them.  I watch through a combination of live TV, DVR, On Demand and Hulu.  A true multi-channel viewer, that’s me.

**2nd Note: These are not necessarily the shows I’m watching RIGHT NOW, so much as the shows that air on these days that I watch when they are on.

First up, Sunday:
I watch all of Fox’s animation domination, but some are more out to habit than actual desire to see what happens:

It pains me to write these words...animation domination. Painful.

The Cleveland Show: This usually plays in the background while I’m doing something else. Not sure why I’m still watching it other than a feeling that it’s occasionally funny, so I should just watch it and get it over with. Faintly damning praise, I realize.

The Simpsons:  I loved this show. I wrote my first post about this show. It has been a seminal program in my life, one of the top 5 shows in terms of importance.  But lately (the past decade) it has been on the decline. I struggle every Sunday, trying to find the funny and legitimize the fact that I still watch it. It gets harder every week. There’s always one or two good little jokes or sight gags, but I compare that to the golden days….and I sigh. Or I have on occasion said…
http://youtu.be/8DdeLUA0Fms

Bob’s Burgers: Best of the lot. Hands down. This show is the reason animation for adults was created. It’s funny, subversive at times, visually engaging, and fantastic vocal work by all cast members. I cannot say enough about this show. Just watch it. And they got Cyndi Lauper to sing for them. Great stuff.

Family Guy: This is another show that I would say is heading past its prime. Lately the taste level has been more than questionable and at times just downright cruel to some of the characters. Of course that are 2 scenes that I have saved on my DVR – from “Meet the Quagmires” Peter singing and dancing to Axel F:
http://youtu.be/mAzwQz9UGe4

And from “Friends of Peter G.”, Peter and fellow AA members singing Mr. Booze:
http://youtu.be/wQ_Hxbd6NKM

American Dad: This is my favorite of all of the Seth Macfarlane shows. It manages to be funny – Roger is easily the best and most fertile Macfarlane character – while having heart when it needs to. “The Kidney Stays in the Picture” was extremely heartfelt without becoming sappy or losing focus on the show.

Now on to other network/basic cable TV channels:

Most apt visual for the show I could find

The Good Wife: On CBS. A show for adults. For thinking adults. Who also enjoy a bit of soap opera in their well written, well acted, well plotted dramas. I can watch Alan Cumming as Eli Gold for hours. And Juliana Margulies walks the fine line between strong and fragile without over playing it.  Plus, Christine Baranski seems to be having one hell of a time as Diane Lockhart and it clearly shows.

GCB: This is a new show on ABC that clearly is set to take over from Desperate Housewives.  It’s cheesy and silly and only a few episodes in, but I’m enjoying it. It’s a frothy comedy that does a fairly good job of skewering religious hypocrisy. And Annie Potts is always a hoot.

Mad Men: Do I really need to explain why this show is brilliant? Really? Or can I just say 2 words: Jon. Hamm.

Hamm as Draper. Perfection.

The Walking Dead: First season started out strong, then lagged. Second season lagged and then lagged and “SOPHIA!” and then finally picked up.  The very end of this season made me curious for season 3, so that’s a plus on its side. They did away with Shane, but I just wish they’d finally kill of Laurie and Carl. Could it just be all Daryl Dixon all the time?

So many good things about this caption...

The Killing: I’m no longer watching this, but I felt it needed a shout out because I’m no longer watching it. I enjoyed the first season quite a bit, until the end got silly and the finale just went nowhere. After I felt no pull to watch the beginning of season 2, I deleted it from my DVR season recordings.

Breaking Bad: Granted I started watching this on Netflix, but once I started I couldn’t stop.  Bryan Cranston, the One who Knocks, manages to make Walter White’s transformation organic and realistic when it could have so easily become cartoonish.  Aaron Paul has found the pathos in Jesse when the character could have dissolved into just being pathetic. And Bob Odenkirk’s Saul Goodman is the best TV lawyer since The Wire‘s Maury Levy.

Next, premium cable:

Game of Thrones: 3 episodes into its second season, Game of Thrones continues to improve on an already high quality show. They handle George RR Martin’s huge world and never-ending cast of characters with aplomb and talent, and they’ve managed to create the world that I’ve seen in my head for years.
http://youtu.be/-m5LW5jIpYc

Richard Harrow, melancholy assassin

Boardwalk Empire: The pilot was breathtaking.  What followed has been fair, great, and everything in between. To the show’s credit, it’s never been awful. Jack Huston’s breakout performance as Richard Harrow,the half-faced assassin, is layered and wonderful to watch. With Nucky’s actions at the end of the second season, I did feel the stakes were raised and as much as I’ll miss Jimmy Darmody, I’m on board for season 3.

True Blood: While I don’t just watch it for the eye candy, I can’t say it doesn’t hurt. The plots are outlandish – witches, fairies, werewolves, werepanthers, psychics, AND vampires – but there’s some strong acting going on and Dennis O’Hare’s promised return can only make the new season into a wilder romp.

Girls: This just started but I adored the pilot. I don’t care that everyone wasn’t happy and peppy the whole time. The whining and entitlement was age appropriate. The dialog was true and real enough that it wasn’t unbelievable. And let’s face it, that sex scene was so intensely awkward, it felt like the most  honest depiction of sex I’ve seen on TV in a long time. Lena Dunham’s lack of pretension (yes, I will stand by this) is refreshing and ultimately, revealing.

Homeland

Homeland: What a brilliant first season. Since Temple Grandin, Claire Danes has been, thankfully, making me forget her in almost everything else she’s done and she’s been amazing in Homeland. Carrie’s descent into her illness was well handled and Danes made it believable and heartbreaking. Damien Lewis continues to do no wrong.  It is a smart, well-paced, and complicated show, that even when it doesn’t fully work (why Brody did what he did) I wanted more.  Season two cannot come fast enough.

The Borgias: Such a silly silly show, but I love Jeremy Irons as the Borgia Pope and the costumes and sets are lavish and just over the top enough to work. This is a show that is best summed by The Onion’s AV Club as “sexy sexy Catholicism.”

Dexter: This is another show that I’m not sure why I watch it anymore. The first season was new and exciting. The anti-hero serial killer that you associate with was intriguing. But the voiceovers became monotonous, as great as John Lithgow was, the villains became more outlandish, and the show just became a self-parody.  However, with Deb’s discovery ending this past season, the show opens up to some possibility for innovation.

Nurse Jackie and The Big C: These shows just moved to Sunday.  I’m grouping them together because they are of a kind: strong women in distress. Be it drugs or illness, both Edie Falco’s Jackie and Laura Linney’s Cathy make stupid choices while fighting for their sanity and maintain some control in their lives. This is not to say that these are the same shows, but they are similar enough to me that they have started blending together…not sure that’s a good sign.

Finally, the Adult Swim late night line up:
In addition to the reruns of Family Guy and American Dad,  I watch new and rerun episodes of… Robot Chicken; Tim and Eric: Awesome Show, Great Job; Aqua Teen Hunger Force/Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1; Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole; China, IL: Metalocalypse; and The Venture Brothers.

Go Team Venture!

So there we have it. I know, it’s quite the list. But remember…these don’t all air on every Sunday, every week.  This list is an amalgamation of what Sunday shows I will watch.

What do you watch on Sundays?

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Another Prometheus Viral Video, now starring Michael Fassbender

Posted on April 17, 2012 by ilmozart

Ridley Scott’s Prometheus is doing a great job of making us want to see it.

The previous video was a fake Ted Talk with Guy Pearce’s Peter Weyland

And now one promoting the David synthetic human (according to Bishop).

This video is notable for many reasons – the tears, Fassbender’s facial expressions as he discussed things that were distressing or morally wrong, the moments when Fassbender pauses.  It is a fascinating performance and it seems he will give Ian Holm’s Kane and Lance Henriksen’s Bishop a run for their money.

The fingerprint with the Weyland logo is a special touch of genius.

Nothing like altering a fingerprint to show you're playing god

I would also like buy a Fassbender android when at all possible, thank you very much.

Let us watch the trailer again, just for good measure, shall we?

(thanks to Doni for sending this to me)

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments