Wow, been a while eh? As you can see I've been at a loss lately for new article topics (and busy over on Let's Get Lost). But it does seem us spy-thirsty Alias fans do have some upcoming items to look forward to. Tops on my list is the movie above Salt. Sounds like some good action-packed identity-stealing double-crossing fun. Uncle has also mentioned the TV series Human Target and The Unit as watch-worthy. What else has wetted your spy appetites?p.s. anyone know how to get rid of these damn spammers? This blog has been around for like 6 years and this is the first time they've made an appearance...wish they'd go back in their holes...
BTW I should point out Salt comes out here in U.S. on July 23, 2010. :)
ReplyDeleteDavid (Sark) Anders, having been gunned down on "24" is apparently now ready to drink blood (or spill it, whatever) on "The Vampire Diaries", where I won't be joining him.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that, David.
I'm enjoying Human Target as well!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the spammers, you may need to stop allowing anonymous comments or turn Captcha on. That'll stop them dead in their tracks.
"Salt" looks made-to-order for us spy-starved viewers. I'm looking forward to it and hoping the trailer is indicative of the rest of the film.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'll be checking out Matt Damon's "Green Zone", although it's not strictly a spy flick. Sounds like Damon is trying to give away his Bourne role for some reason.
Although "Burn Notice" just finished S3 last week, I'm looking forward to its return in the summer. As easy as BN is to watch, it goes approximately nowhere each season in terms of the big picture, which is unfortunate.
I'm looking forward to the return of Jane Espenson's "Warehouse 13" this summer. Jewel Staite (Kaylee from "Firefly") will show up on W13 this season.
I'm enjoying "Caprica" these days. With James "Spike" Marsters guesting for a few episodes as well as characters named Willow and Xander, it's easy to see Executive Producer Espenson's influence on this show as well.
I'm looking forward to seeing what JJ will give us with "Undercovers". Will it be nonsense or will it be something worthy of weekly commitment? In recent years JJ has saved his best work for the big screen, with his TV shows suffering as a result.
I'm also looking forward to trying out "Covert Affairs" with Piper Perabo. Here is the pertinent info from this Blast Magazine interview:
"Perabo is shooting a new television show called “Covert Affairs” from Producer Doug Liman, who produced the “Bourne” movies and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” In the new one hour USA drama, Perabo plays a CIA agent. When she got the job, Perabo was excited to learn about the CIA world. Perabo visited the CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., and spent a day with female officers.
“It was crazy.” Perabo’s said excitedly. “There was this one lady who was my age, and she was wearing this killer red dress and has this blonde curly hair, and she was like, fit,” Perabo said, filled with awe. “She’s like, ‘I have three security detail that travel with me (in Iraq), and they all look native. I look like one of their trick girlfriends and the other two are security; and we look like we’re just there to party.” Perabo laughed in disbelief. “It was so awesome!”
"Covert Affairs" has just signed one of the regulars from "Heroes". I can think of someone else on "Heroes" who has spy experience as well.
Also on my looking forward to list is the new "Nikita".
And, I think I'll give "Nomads" a try, too. The mere mention of the CIA is enough to get me to watch the pilot if nothing else. The words "adrenaline fueled thrill ride" don't hurt either.
I'm not feeling the love for "Human Target", but I thought "The Unit" was excellent. Why that was canceled so soon is just another of life's mysteries.
I came across these "Alias" tidbits this week:
ReplyDeleteLena Olin shows up in one of the "Law & Order" shows this week. I won't be watching.
Rachel Nichols apparently beat out Will Tippin's Jenny for a part in "Conan" Do we really need another Conan movie? Arnie's was a dreadful affair.
"Alias" (Orci/Kurtzman) meets "Lost" (Daniel Dae Kim) meets "Battlestar Galactica" (Grace Park) for the remake of "Hawaii Five-O".
ReplyDeleteIf HF-0 is no good, we can always try the upcoming remake of "The Rockford Files".
Oh yes, people, "Alias" WILL come back.
I still watch House MD regularly.
ReplyDeleteI still turn on 24 and do something else because I just don't care anymore, but I have created a habit.
I am both frustrated and thrilled with LOST, which seems to be its trademark. It's still the best thing on TV, no matter how wierd it is.
I'm always down with Burn Notice for some spy fun, and I wouldn't say it goes no where. He solved the problem of who burned him, and now what they did in order to burn him. Something tells me there will be right turn coming for the main story.
I lost interest in Caprica, and since you have to keep up with it regularly to know what is happening, I just gave up trying to watch entirely. That's no reflection on the show really... maybe more for the time slot.
For the record, The Unit was cancelled in 2009. Sadly, it will not return. I loved the show; but then again, I loved Firefly and Jericho too.
Nice to see the old LTA blog still going.
-R.
Thanks Paul, I changed both of those settings.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Jen doing something more meaningful with her career than this.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Kaylee AND Simon appearing on W13 this July.
I'm looking forward to Alan "Wash" Tudyk joining "The Rockford Files" cast.
Last night, Human Target took a large step forward to being a really great TV show. Did anyone else catch it?
ReplyDeleteIt had action, humor, subtle romance (that does not take over the story), a larger story arc that overlaps other episodes without being indecipherable if you had just tuned in for the first time, a clearly defined bad guy, and an unseen big boss toward which to work the story until the season ends... disguises, espionage, suspense, lightheartedness, serious subtexts... MAN! it had everything we ALIAS lovers could want.
Did anyone else see it?
-R.
Robetron, I saw HT (actually I'm watching it again right now). This was my favourite of the episodes I've seen so far.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, this eppie showed some continuity with the return of Layla (from the Marshall Flinkman eppie) and Agent Barnes. And, of course, I always like to see Lennie James of "Jericho" fame, complete with his native British accent (I didn't know he was a Londoner).
I'm still not head over heels with HT. The fact that I can (and have) missed several episodes and it doesn't seem to matter, is, to me, a drawback rather than a selling feature. Nevertheless, that seems to be the trend nowadays, and HT handily beats this year's big hopeful, "Flash Forward", which lost me early on.
I saw this great video demo of the green screen technology using examples from a number of current shows. I thought of this when I saw the Capitol Building in "Human Target" tonight. Makes you question everything you see on TV today.
ReplyDeleteNo problem getting Syd and Vaughn to Cartagena with green screen.
I just rewatched HT online (no long commercial breaks is great). It was an explosive episode with another great fight scene, and everything else Robetron listed.
ReplyDeleteJames is great with accents. Superb actor.
I do a lot with Photoshop. I've done some things putting people in places they were never at, time shifting by making it look like my brother's teenage son is holding my brother when he is 6, and other strange things. My brother now says he will never again trust pictures as evidence of anything.
Robetron,
ReplyDeleteI've been watching The Unit on DVD. I haven't followed it on broadcast TV. The good part about watching it on DVD is no commercials and I can watch as much as I want...until (the bad part) I quickly reach the end because I've watched several episodes a day. I finished the first 3 seasons and I'm looking for season 4. I got the others from the library, but I fear 4 is too new for them to have for a while. I'm bummed to hear it has been canceled. Oh, well, you think I'd get used to that by now.
I wanted to swing by and see if you all had seen this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b172621_this_just_in_michael_vartan_gets.html
I know, its just celebrity gossip, but I love how the author brings up what Syd would think of it and the rambaldi prophecy! she must be a true fan. hope you guys are well!
btw, I'm enjoying Human Target, too, and getting a few chuckles from Chuck. I really like Lie To Me, not so spy-ish but the science of human emotion and deceit is pretty intriguing.
Lisa, she'll dump him when she finds out he's in a boring medical drama (or in a year, whichever comes first).
ReplyDeleteLOL thanks for the scoop Lisa, that article title cracked me up!!
ReplyDeleteOf course, we've covered this before, but since it's getting closer to the June 11 release date, I'll say again that "The A-Team" is definitely on my 'looking-forward-to' list, not only because it should be a Bradley Cooper movie that I can actually watch, but also because it stars Jen's BFF (but tragically, not mine), Jessica Biel.
ReplyDeleteMore dish on Vartan's engagement. How funny/creepy is it that her name is Lauren?!?
ReplyDeleteI'm loving Human Target! This last one was definitely the best, bringing back the FBI Agent and Layla, and an end goal that moves from episode to episode (the boss).
ReplyDeleteI'll admit I was getting bored with it a few episodes ago, as it was turning into just another cliche spy show where every episode stood alone...but it looks like that might be changing to something great!
And it was fun to see Marshall back playing his geeky self 2 episodes ago! :)
I just watched the most recent Chuck. The last 1/4 was much more like a good spy show. The struggle over Chuck's first assigned execution/murder and the dynamic of giving the order, the music during the meeting at the resturant, the fight and chase, etc. Some of it was even a little Alias-ish.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Alias-ish, I see Amy Acker is headed to the season finale of "Human Target", playing a woman "who is really pivotal in Chance's life".
ReplyDeleteAnd, this week's installment features BSG's Grace "Boomer" Park (soon to star in the new "Hawaii Five-0"), as evidenced here.
Also on tap for HT are Moon Bloodgood, recently of "Burn Notice" and "Terminator: Salvation" fame.
The picture of Chance and Boomer by the indoor pool was reminiscent of the scene in Alias where Jack shot who he thought was Irina.
ReplyDeleteWill Tippin's Jenny gits herself a show, which won't be on my "things to look forward to list"
ReplyDeleteI think I liked Jenny better before she was all growed up.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been a long while… :)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of David Anders' demise in 24; I have to make note that the only reason I've been watching this season is for BSG's, Katee Sackhoff. I am in love with her!
Unfortunately, she doesn't have the most thrilling of story lines (although, I did not see the twist at the end of this week's episode coming – hello!), but I just think she's great. I remember watching the beginning of Bionic Woman and thinking she was really kind of exceptional (even though I didn’t know who she was).
Coupled with the comments made here about BSG, I have spent the last two weeks watching the entire series, and I loved it. I’m in the process right now of trying to find the best Complete Series set to purchase, actually!
I’ve seen the first 6 or so episodes of HT – working my way through that slowly. (Nice to be able to recognise Tricia Helfer in the Pilot episode). Glad to hear it’s still pretty good…
Add Zoe (Gina Torres) to the list of "Firefly" types who will show up on W13 this season.
ReplyDeleteI may get around to watching "The Losers". It looks more like what we would have considered Drive-In material in days of yore, but it looks like some harmless fun and plenty of stuff gets blown up.
ReplyDeleteWhat I won't skip is "Iron Man 2". I enjoyed IM1, so bring on the sequel. I'm hoping that the sporty Scarlett Johannson will cancel out the visual assault and battery known to us as Mickey Rourke.
I also fully expect to take in Nic Cage's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
"Chuck" had a delicious Alias-ish WTF moment this week concerning Sarah's first assassination and briefly employed another BSG castoff as the Ring-leader, or at least a hologram of same. Those BSG guys are in big demand these days.
I'm admittedly verrry late in getting around to watching Buffy, so this will be verrry old news to those who took that trip years ago. However, having watched BtVS 7.2 tonight, I was floored by the obvious Sydney Bristow salute in the opening minutes of this episode.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this aired in October 2002, a time when you could be excused if you had walked into your living room, turned on the TV, saw this scene and thought, "oh, who's Sydney running from tonight?". Very cute.
I was also thinking The Losers looked entertaining...until I saw the title. They really should have come up w/ something better imo.
ReplyDeleteWhen there is jack squat on TV, one of my alternative fanboy pursuits involves scouring Youtube for music. It's a great way to either collect live performances or to just broaden the old musical horizons without spending any hard earned cash.
ReplyDeleteMore than once I've gone in search of Sinead O'Connor material that I may not have heard before cuz Sinead at her best is fairly awesome.
As any "Alias" fan worth their salt can tell you, judicious use of Sinead as a soundtrack contributor can make for a lasting impression. Of course, "Alias" isn't the only TV show to make use of Sinead's talent. I recently came across this clip from an obscure British TV movie from 1997, which, beginning at the 4:44 mark, uses Sinead's beautiful "In This Heart", as backdrop for a scene where a young girl, fleeing a lifetime of sexual abuse, has found refuge at a safehouse for kids.
As heart wrenching as that scene is, it's no match for the real life drama faced by the young girl in that clip a decade later. The actress in that clip is Brooke Kinsella, whose younger brother, Ben was stabbed to death in 2008. That in itself is sadly not so remarkable, but I think the response by Brooke (along with many supporters) is pretty inspiring. She and her family led a successful campaign to toughen sentencing for similar crimes (wish we could turn her loose in Canada for a while), and she also penned a book about their ordeal, which she speaks about here.
There, that's my inspirational storytelling session for tonite. Now, here is a less traumatic, but no less gorgeous version of Sinead's "In This Heart". And, if that's not enough, how about this dude? That's like me singing in the shower....not!
I've been enjoying my usuals- Chuck, Human Target, oh yeah, Burn is off, Warehouse not yet on, but V is back. Fringe was good.
ReplyDeleteJust shipped a large package to a customer. How 'bout this for an address:
(Name...)
Battlestar Galactica/Caprica VFX
Building..., Room...
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA
100 Universal
makes me wonder what was in the package, Uncle! :) maybe it was going to the prop department?
ReplyDeleteHey Lisa,
ReplyDeleteIt was a replica I make of a prop gun from a 1960's TV spy series, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. It went to the BSG CG effects supervisor, who, like me, grew up on that old TV series.
Bond (D. Craig) +
ReplyDeleteIndiana (H. Ford) +
"Alias" (Orci/Kurtzman) +
"Lost" (D. Lindelof) adds up to "Cowboys and Aliens".
Got a long wait for this one, though (2011).
"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" has been getting a lot of buzz in the last few weeks. I first heard about it on NPR radio on the way to work a couple weeks back.
ReplyDeleteI'm affeared that this will be an exercise in reading English subs while trying to watch a movie. I HATE subtitles with a passion.
Whether this will be popular in North American theaters, I don't know, but currently, all 3 books in the trilogy are in the Top 8 bestsellers on Amazon.com
Sorry to disagree Page48, but it drives me NUTS when they dub English over a foreign language, or WORSE...have the actors speak English in a foreign accent.
ReplyDeleteI mean, if in a movie you have some Russians in Russia, it totally makes sense they would all speak English in a broken Russian accent to each other right? DAH!
I love it when movies and TV shows keep the appropriate language and subtitle it in English. It's one of the reasons I love LOST and Heroes so much.
Paul, I guess what I should have said is I would just flat out prefer an English language movie (this is apparently already in the works), but how long till it's released?
ReplyDeleteIf it was dubbed, I just wouldn't bother watching it. Subtitles work in small doses, as in "Lost", but if the whole flick was in subs, I would never pay to see it.
PBS ran the English version of the Swedish "Wallander" last year starring Kenneth Branagh. Filmed on location in Ystad, Sweden, but rolled out in the Queen's English. Sure, it's cheating, but it's good cheating, IMO.
Oh, Jen, say it ain't so...again! You're only in "talks", it's not too late to give your head a shake.
ReplyDeleteHuman Target last night-
ReplyDelete2 Jericho stars and 1 Alias star. And we found out who Christopher Chance is.
Top of my watch list.
Uncle, I caught the HT finale (we get to see HT a few days earlier in Canada, but we pay for it with cold winters).
ReplyDeleteGood to see recurring characters like Baptiste and hopefully the techie chick and FBI agent will be back in the future, cuz I like me some continuity in a TV show. Do we know for sure that Amy Acker's character was on the boat when it blew? Hmmmm.
Lately, I've been catching up on Acker's earlier show, "Angel", but her new show, "Happy Town" debuts in a couple of weeks on ABC.
Speaking of new shows, the first trailer for USA's "Covert Affairs" is now out. Not likin' that writer dissing "Alias", sounds like JJ wrote that comment himself.
Page,
ReplyDeleteMy money is on her not being in the boat when it went boom, and because she dove in after the case when it started sinking.
It wouldn't make sense that she wasn't in the boat. Six years after this incident in the present, he's still pining for her and visiting her grave. Otherwise, why didn't she show back up? Unless she wasn't in the boat and she died later for some reason. Either way the effect on Chance is the same.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, though, Amy Acker is an excellent actress. She was smarmy and evil in ALIAS and made me intensely hate her. And then in Human Target, she was instantly adorable and likable! Even I wanted to protect her! hehe! :)
Paul,
ReplyDeleteI'd have to rewatch the series to see if it would violate anything they have said or done, but here is how she could have not been on the boat. Chance, et al, hid her away somewhere, losing all track of her on purpose so no one would be able to get information from them as to where she was. That would be crucial if she was also protecting the book. If they can get to her, so can others through them. The grave and Chance's visits could just be part of the cover.
I wonder of the scripture verse on her gravestone represents a code of some kind for them. It read,"I sought the LORD, and He answered me," with the rest of the verse being, ";He delivered me from all my fears."
Hang on a sec. My tax dollars are FINALLY paying off with this tribute to kick-ass girls appearing on our tax-payer subsidized Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the latest Human Target for the 4th time. I don't know for sure if they got the girl out alive. I can however see 2 more ways they could have.
ReplyDelete1- Lee majors watch monitoring the situation from the docks, saw her get tied up on the boat, freed her during the shootout. However, his question to the new Chance-to-be would seem to suggest he didn't.
2- Winston could have saved her while all of the fighting was going on. Later when he told Chance it was too late to save the girl he could have meant too late to save her normal life, that she would now have to live a life in hiding as a different person.
TTLFT?
ReplyDeleteMaybe "Hanna". Described as kinda Nikita meets Bourne
Will I still remember this in 2011?
I had to think about it a while before posting this. I hate to make the 47 go away from the number of comments. (speaking of which, I still experience my usual flow of 47s. I just can get the juice anymore to report them. Well, maybe this one- Carbonite backs up 47,000 something files on my computer:)
ReplyDeleteI've been watching my regular shows (which are all about to take their summer break, if they haven't already) and working my usual 70 hour weeks.
It's sure been slow here.
Uncle, "it's sure been slow here" is an understatement. The LTA war of attrition seems to be on in earnest.
ReplyDeleteHere's an article from some clown who thinks "Alias" dragged on a little (more like a lot) too long.
Looks like it's 'game on' for "Undercovers" for the 2010-2011 season. JJ apparently directed the pilot (which is already in the can, and, according to one article I've read, is getting "rave reviews").
"Human Target" FBI honey bunny, Emmanuelle Vaugier is joining USA's new spy show, "Covert Affairs", which debuts July 13th.
Wow, 2 new spy shows coming this year. What if just one of them would actually dare to be awesome? Be still my heart.
And, not to be outdone, the new "Nikita" is said to have "turned out very strong".
Three hopefuls, let's see if any of the three pan out.
I finally got around to seeing "Avatar" last week. I loved it. Stunning to look at and a great fantasy, IMO. Look forward to sequels.
I bring this up here only because it ties into something I addressed in a non-47 thread in the past.
ReplyDeleteThe TV series I take my alias and that 1/2 of my business is built on, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," had a conspicuous 47 in the movie version of it's pilot episode. I watched another 1st season episode (1964) today in which the threat of the series comes from a chemical formula named J-47.
I've started seeing trailers for Covert Affairs and gasp at how similar they are to Alias. Even Piper Perabo, the lead, looks and sounds very much like JG at times. I have high hopes as it is on USA which does a great job with Burn Notice. We'll have to wait to July to see it it lives up. though.
ReplyDeleteBonkers is back!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping hard right along with you re: "Covert Affairs". I like the comments in this article, especially this line: "This in some ways is the most ambitious show that we've undertaken," Wachtel adds. "The story is bigger, the production values are bigger, and the ensemble too is a little bigger than our other shows."
The Bourne connection doesn't hurt my feelings either. I just worry a bit about the "dramedy" aspect, which is also what concerns me with "Undercovers", especially given some of JJ's comments about this being a kinder, gentler show than "Alias". Booooooo JJ.
Like you, I'm a fan of what USA has done with "Burn Notice" and I like the idea of another of these 'summer series' to watch (along with BN and W13, which BTW, Gina Torres has apparently excused herself from) while the big networks are in vacation mode, although the short 13-16 episode seasons are hard to come to grips with.
Oh, and this is USA's "Covert Affairs" site where us little people can keep checking in for new trailers.
ReplyDeleteI like that "FROM THE PRODUCER OF THE BOURNE TRILOGY".
I couldn't help but compare the scene in the triler where what-ever-her-name-is is wearing a red dress with her hair up and she gives a big smile when stopped by the authorities to the scene where Syd pretends she's looking for the ladies room when stopped by the Chinese guard. :) Her non-spy office wear is even similar to Syd's dark suits and simple button downs.
ReplyDeleteBTW, do we know when Burn Notice comes back?
BN is back on June 3rd.
ReplyDeleteYeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTTLFT: Well, this one looks like it may be a little too "out there" for me, but I think I'll need to check out "Inception".
ReplyDeleteFrom the "Dark Knight" director and has Leo DiCapprio, Michael Caine, and Ellen Page (a good Canadian girl).
Definitely not based on a true story, but could be fun.
Big honkin' pic of JJ's latest spy team.
ReplyDeleteI saw an article playing up the ground-breaking aspect of the two leading characters being black. The writer made a deal out of Boris Kodjoe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw both being "African-American" (that politically correct nonsense term she apparently applies to all blacks).
Had she done any homework at all, she would know that GMR is neither African nor American, but born and raised in England, like those other well known African-Americans, The Beatles.
Kodjoe, on the other hand, was born in Vienna, that other famous breeding ground for African-Americans.
Now, if she called Nelson Mandela an African-American, she'd at least be half right, but she'd still be politically correct, which, after all, is really all that matters these days.
Page-
ReplyDelete;)
Page, it was as though you stuck a laughing knife in my gut. As much as I hate that PC stuff, it surely makes for good comedy sometimes.
ReplyDeleteLet me think of a good, non-profane exclamation... uhhh... how about ... Zounds! ....naa, too Hurculean. How about Whooaaah! ...no, that's too Bill&Ted-ish... I guess this will just have to do as understated as it may be...
Wow! Covert Affairs looks great, and Bonkz is right, the lead girl has so many JG qualities, its almost a little creepy. She could play her in a biographic movie, were there to be one. She could probably be a younger Sydney for a movie set in the seven SD-6 years, or perhaps during her missing three years.
I'm going to be there for the pilot for sure, if I have anything to say about it.
----
I loved Avatar too, and yet, I have just as little to say about it. It was an amazing piece of fantasy. (Although, I really don't care for the "Gia is good, military is bad" foolishness, but hey, I don't expect Hollywood to keep their Communistic paganism to themselves.)
-----
...and have you been keeping up with LOST?! I really think they are not going to botch the ending. If you haven't been watching, we just discovered where the bodies of "Adam and Eve" came from in the caves, from way back to season one. Amazing, how they are bringing it all around, and making sense of it... sort-a.
See ya'll when I can come back. I also have to keep up with the Old English D, Detroit Tigers. The MLB boys of summer are back, and we just owned the Twins and the Yankees (last year's division champs). Now... bring on Boston!
-R.
Robetron, IMDB has Piper Perabo turning 34 on Halloween Night this fall. Only thing I've ever seen her in was "Coyote Ugly" back in the day.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe that Jen just turned 38. Almost a decade removed from that fresh-faced kid that just got her first call from Joey's Pizza.
I think I could have watched "Avatar" with the sound off, it was such a feast for the eyes.
"Lost" has NO excuse for blowing the ending. When did they pick the end date, about 2 years ago? Plenty of time to consider and re-consider options. We'll know in just over a week, I guess, with that whopping 2.5 hour finale. What series has EVER had a 2.5 hour finale?
"Fringe" is much better of late for having at least temporarily set aside the autopsy-of-the-week format and stepped up the alternate universe travel. Of course, that's typical season-ending strategy. Spin wheels for 16 episodes and then get down to business for the final 6.
Speaking of the latest goings on on "Fringe", when I look at this, I can't help but see this.
ReplyDelete3 clips from "Undercovers". JJ wasn't kidding when he said this wasn't going to be "Alias".
ReplyDeleteWhat's with the silly factor anyway? Is this because we're in a recession or something and the networks think we can't handle anything too serious right now?
5 minute trailer for "Undercovers". "Alias" actually gets honourable mention.
ReplyDeleteAgain with the African-American nonsense, this time from the official "Undercovers" Twitter profile.
ReplyDeleteSome Alias love about foreshadowing events on Lost.
ReplyDeleteHey Page, thanks for posting the link to the Undercovers trailer, that DOES look promising!! :)
ReplyDeleteSRG, of course we have to keep in mind that the pilot will spare absolutely no expense, especially since JJ is directing. What happens to the budget after 1.1?
ReplyDeleteWell, I think we can safely say that 1.2 will be done on the cheap, by comparison, and therefore the story and the characters will need to be interesting enough to maintain viewership. This is where I worry about JJ's comments and interviews about the direction of the show where he stresses the difference between the "tone" of this show versus "Alias". This one being all lighthearted and relationshippy instead of dark and complex (not to mention riveting).
And, so help me if it's a season of 22 stand-alones where we wrap up each week's case and fade to black with mindless pillow banter. Argghhhhhh!
All of that said, the pilot looks very movie-like in its production values and should be worth checking out. Wouldn't it be nice of Team Darlton, fresh offer their "Lost" assignment, were to take on the writing duties for "Undercovers"? Better them than Josh ("Felicity") Reims, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Okay, I don't know when Youtube will be working again, but if it ever does, here's a preview for the upcoming "Nikita".
ReplyDeleteAnd, a brief synopsis for those not familiar with the old TV show with Peta Wilson:
When she was a deeply troubled teenager, Nikita was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known only as Division, who faked her execution and told her she was being given a second chance to start a new life and serve her country. What they didn't tell her was that she was being trained as a spy and assassin. Ultimately, Nikita was betrayed and her dreams shattered by the only people she thought she could trust. Now, after three years in hiding, Nikita is seeking retribution and making it clear to her former bosses that she will stop at nothing to expose and destroy their covert operation. For the time being, however, Division continues to recruit and train other young people, erasing all evidence of their former lives and turning them into cold and efficient killers. One of these new recruits, Alex, is just beginning to understand what lies ahead for her and why the legendary Nikita made the desperate decision to run.
After seeing this on Youtube, I have to say I am looking forward to the new Hawaii Five-0.
ReplyDeleteBad link. Try this one:
ReplyDeleteHawaii Five-0
Uncle, CBS has to geo-ban on video from their site and Youtube has been out of commission for 24 hours and counting, so all I've seen is the opening credits for H50
ReplyDeleteI remember the original, tho I didn't watch it, but I'll certainly be checking out the Boomer/Jin version this fall.
Book 'em Danno.
Page,
ReplyDeleteI've been using Youtube off and on all day. Must be a Canada thing.
Looks like 5-0 is going to be better than it used to be.
Well, Uncle, Youtube is back, but content is geo-blocked anyway. Also, by way of refresher, H50 is being revived by the "Alias"/"Fringe" duo of Orci/Kurtzman, although no Bad Robot involvement in this one, apparently.
ReplyDeleteHow long before Tricia Helfer guests on this one?
If Helfer guests I hope it's not often. I really got tired of her on BSG.
ReplyDeletePage-
ReplyDeleteOn Fringe borrowing from Alias- Something was nagging at me about that picture when they showed it, but I couldn't figure out why. You got it. I need to go back and watch the last episode again because there was something in that one that came from Alias and I can't remember now what it was. Interesting how the show has become more serialized toward the end of the season.
Uncle, I posted on fringebloggers.com that, in light of the last half dozen episodes, I don't see any way that they can go back to standalone episodes next season.
ReplyDeleteThere's just so much to deal with now, that I don't see how they could burn off episodes with that old freak-of-the-week formula that has plagued much of the shows history.
Let's hope S3 keeps heading in this positive direction.
This isn't what I was trying to remember, but did anyone notice that on the map of the US in the other Walter's office the western half of California is missing? I wonder if that is because "over there" that part of California never became part of the US, that it reverted to part of Mexico, or that it finally slid off into the ocean?
ReplyDeleteUncle, my assumption was that a good chunk of their California is under water now. Walter was wearing what I assume is a Brooklyn Dodgers cap at the restaurant. The Dodgers may have stayed in NY simply because there was no L.A. to move to.
ReplyDeleteWell, somehow I missed this, but apparently "Burn Notice", which kicks off S4 on June 3rd, has already been renewed thru S6.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this article, S6 will sport no less than 18 episodes.
Sure seems like "Alias" could have benefited from being on USA instead of ABC. Can you imagine "Alias" being renewed thru S6 before S4 even debuts? Whew!
Page,
ReplyDeleteGood catch on the ball cap. That seals it for me- in the other universe 1/2 of CA slide off into the Pacific.
Any comments on the Lost finale?
ReplyDeleteA whole bunch of theories are being discussed on the LGL blog.
ReplyDeleteUncle, I posted what few thoughts I had re: "Lost" over at "Let's Get Lost" this morning.
ReplyDelete"Lost" was a juggernaut for ABC and they treated it the way you would expect them to. It's rare to see a 2.5 hour finale for any show, but to have it follow a 2 hour special about the show gives you an idea of the kind of reverence that "Lost" was given.
I always watched, almost always enjoyed, but never obsessed and letting go won't be nearly as hard as letting go of "Alias".
The finale was loved by some, hated by others. It's always a struggle to find a pleasing way to end a popular series, as we well know.
Page,
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how they dissed Alias for being serialized, yet Lost has always been serialized and Fringe has become so. Lost infact was more serialized than Alias was as far as I can tell.
I just finished the Chuck finale. I liked it. Well done, satifying conclusion to the season, nice prelude to next season.
ReplyDeleteUncle, I just finished the first hour of the "Chuck" finale 5 minutes ago. Catching the 2nd hour later tonite. Very strong episode, IMO. This year the writers have the advantage of knowing that they're coming back next year. That wasn't the case last year.
ReplyDeletePage,
ReplyDeleteI don't even need to say enjoy second hour.
"Chuck" finale had 2 distinct "Alias" moments in it.
ReplyDelete-Shaw shooting Chuck's father who was standing next to him was almost a mirror image of Sloane shooting Jack Bristow while he stood next to Syd
-this season finale ended with the 2nd generation spy uttering the same question as in "Almost 30 Years"..."Mom?"
Holy Reboot Batman
ReplyDeleteThis is too good to be true. But can it be?????!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not Jewish, but I'm searching online for a prayer shawl!!
Hope, hope, hope they keep the same cast!
Uncle, "same cast"?? I think that would take more than a prayer shawl. Even the writers are tied up on "Fringe", H50, and various other shows.
ReplyDeleteWhat doesn't make sense from the articles I've read is that ABC is contemplating this move as a counter to losing "Lost", and yet it sounds like they want to remove the serial/mythology elements that made "Alias" so difficult for JJ to follow. So, how does that work as a substitute for "Lost", which was the absolute densest of serial/mythology?
Sounds like ABC wants to take "Alias" and turn it into "Undercovers".
Not so flattering mention of "Alias" in this eulogy to "24".
ReplyDeleteOther series that tried to imitate the success — and gravity — of “24” didn’t last as long. “Sleeper Cell,” on Showtime, had only two seasons, and “The Unit,” on CBS, was canceled after four as viewers moved on to more irreverent spy shows like “Chuck” and “Burn Notice.” (The ABC drama “Alias,” which began shortly before “24,” lasted five seasons, possibly because it saw which way viewers were leaning and grew increasingly frivolous.)
Ouch, dude!
Oh. My. God!
ReplyDeleteMy heart started beating faster, and tears literally welled up in my eyes.
This is too good to be true -- I know it.
I can't imagine an ALIAS-verse that doesn't include our original Syd, Jack, Sloane, Vaughn, Dixon, Marshall and Sark etc., and the story-telling that came with it.
We can dream, though!
(I've been watching some of S2 lately -- I still cannot even explain how much I love the show!)
Oh -- can see that the "news" has made the rounds...
http://www.yourtv.com.au/news/?i=186980
And you know, it's almost funny that they want ALIAS now.
ReplyDeleteILA4E, unfortunately, it sounds like it's not "Alias" that ABC wants, but something more like "Alias-Lite", with new faces, new writers, and no JJ.
ReplyDeleteI still don't think ABC understands what they had in "Alias".
The good news is that JJ and Grunberg may be able to follow this version should they choose to watch.
I just remembered the other Alias moment in the Fringe season finale.
ReplyDeleteWell, I got sidetracked before I could type it and when I got back I had forgotten again. But, I realized a different Alias element in the meantime. They had been experimented on children to find ones with certain natural abilities and trained them to enhance those abilities so that at some point in the future they could use them. The father of one of the main characters was head of the experimentation program. And, as Page pointed out, there is an old document showing old technology which also depicts the face of the child of the head of the experiment. And, as Sydney was the crowning achievement of Project Christmas Tree, Olivia was the crowning achievement of Walter and Bell's experiment.
Ah yes, Project Christmas. Get 'em young and train 'em.
ReplyDeleteQuick, before I forget again.
ReplyDeleteThe other Alias element in the Fringe finale- Walter's missing years, the years he does not remember because Bell cut out parts of his brain. Bell did that and kept Walter in the dark because Walter asked him to. Just like Sydney's memory wipe and request that Kendall not tell her about that and her time with the Covenant.