Sunday, August 02, 2015
"I'm here, she's here, we made it."
Indeed, we have made it. It's really happening. In 4 short weeks I am headed to Chicago to meet up with loyal blog-followers Fu, Des and Jenni. I am so very excited to spend a weekend watching our favorite episodes, reminiscing about the good old days of Alias (or TV in general) and actually SEEING each other in real life.
And again, another thank you to all who made and still make this blog what it was and still is- a place for smart people, who enjoy smart TV to talk. I have a feeling that there will be a lot of that happening once I arrive in Illinois. Stay tuned!!
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«Oldest ‹Older 601 – 800 of 1776 Newer› Newest»Hopefully, "Peppermint" does well enough (and hopefully she enjoyed making it enough) to encourage Jen to seek out more action roles. Shockingly, this is Jen's first lead action role since "All The Time in the World", given that 2007's "The Kingdom" was not really HER movie. I think "Peppermint" will be out in September.
So, GO JEN GO! There's still time to turn this career thing around. We're here for you. Well, two of us anyway.
This article echoes my hope that "Peppermint" will kick start a new chapter in Jen's career. Not holding my breath or anything like that. Just wishing out loud.
We now have a trailer for a number of pilots for the upcoming season. I mentioned the spy dramedy starring Jen's first ex. It's called "Whiskey Cavalier". Dramedy is one thing, but this looks borderline silly, which is not in my wheelhouse. We'll see how it goes.
Here's a list of all the new fall shows on the networks. Good luck TV fans, you're gonna need it cuz this list is a disaster.
Thanks Dung, I hadn't thought of that.
"Salvation" returns for S2 on June 25th. I'd forgotten it was even a thing since S1 ended so long ago. It's a good summer series with some Bad Robot connections.
So, 2 episodes into "Reverie" and I'm not feeling anything yet. I'm not interested in the personal lives of the clients that Sarah Shahi's character is trying to rescue, and so far there isn't much else to latch onto.
Watched the 2 hour season (series) finale of ABC'S "The Crossing", which starred Morgan Grimes's brother and Etta Bishop. I liked it. A little sci-fi, all serial. So obviously it was cancelled immediately and tonight's eppie 11 was The End.
Gotta love network TV.
Ah, the memories. A "whole whack of "Fringe" openings all in one place. I miss these guys.
That moment we long knew was coming, when Stan Beeman confronts his Russian spy neighbours in a parking garage as they attempt to get out of Dodge. (Complete with a couple of F-bombs, so cover the dog's ears).
I'm surprised that FX posted this video so soon after the series finale.
It's been a while since we heard from Lisbeth Salander, but apparently she's back this fall in "Girl in the Spider's Web". By my count, this is the 3rd actress to play Lisbeth and, of course, Daniel Craig won't be on hand for this one either.
Is there a TV show since the beginning of time that doesn't have a character named Shaw?
I love this "related search" offering from Google. I've seen every episode of all of these shows. Gotta say, though, that I wouldn't consider "Fringe" to be a spy show.
Looks like "Timeless" has been cancelled for the 2nd year in a row.
Some classic Chuck and Morgan. Just because.
Chuck and Sarah banging out cartoons these days. Or, as I like to call it.....BORING!!!
S2 of "Salvation" kicks off tonight at 9:00 on CBS.
Just noticed that David Cronenberg, who we know from "Alias", also starred in this year's "Alias Grace". Something about that word appeals to him.
Note to "Reverie": Just give me a reason to care. That's all I ask for. So far, that's a missing ingredient.
It's been a long while since I watched this CIA recruitment message from Jen.
Looking forward to S3 of one of the better Marvel shows, "Stan Lee's Lucky Man". I like it because it is one of the more grounded-in-some-semblance-of-reality Marvel shows and I always like James Nesbitt.
S3 kicks off in 2 weeks.
I can't believe that "Arrow" (161 episodes) and "The Flash" (115 episodes) have both lasted longer than "Alias", with, I might add, no end in sight for either.
Who brings the joy like Pink? Girl has essentially the same band she had when "Alias" was airing live.
The final song of the final show of the final tour. Every Canadian, without exception, knows where they were when this song aired.
Just finished S3 of "Humans". Only 8 episodes, but they managed to kill off 2 important players, including, arguably, the face of the series. Kinda wish they hadn't done that.
So THIS is making my head spin. Today is apparently the 10th anniversary of the final day of filming of "Battlestar Galactica". Ten years. How is that possible?
Remember the theme music?
How did I go 5 months without noticing the "Mission Impossible: Fallout" trailer?
Found a site that seems to have hassle-free (so far) streaming for TV shows that are otherwise out of reach. Not even a single pop-up in the show I watched.
Well, here's an unabashedly enthusiastic review of "Mission Impossible: Fallout".
Page,
I'll try to comment on your posts next week. Besides a heavy work load the past few weeks, my 90 year old mother took a fall and broke her right hip, right arm and right eye socket. A lot to deal with, but I'll be back soon.
OMG, Uncle, that's a lot of damage. I hope she can recover from that kind of trauma. I know from experience that it's no fun at all watching the folks get old. I worry about my own mom a lot these days. She's taken a couple of hard falls in the past couple of years, but nothing worse than a bad sprain (so far). Her driving is something else that concerns me.
Anyway, good luck to your mom. I hope she bounces back from this.
A few days ago I posted this: "Found a site that seems to have hassle-free (so far) streaming for TV shows that are otherwise out of reach. Not even a single pop-up in the show I watched."
Well, that lasted about 48 hours and now they just seem to be begging for money. Uh, as if.
So, black Buffy is about to become a thing.
One-time "Alias" writer Monica Breen is apparently set to be the showrunner. I've suggested, at great length, that BtVS and "Alias" are 2 takes on the same story, so Breen should be right at home.
Oh, "Supergirl", I'm glad I cut you loose when I did. Saves me having to cut you loose now.
Been watching "Condor", a new series based on "Three Days of the Condor". It's on some network I've never heard of, so I have to watch in on Putlocker. It's really pretty good, which automatically tells you it's NOT on network TV.
Almost universally glowing reviews for "Mission Impossible: Fallout"
And, not a Marvel or DC character in sight (Henry Cavill doesn't count). Very refreshing cuz I'm sick and tired of comic book movies.
I was shocked to find out that USA has already cancelled "Colony". I didn't even realize I was watching the season (now series?) finale last week. "Colony" was all that USA had going for it since ditching "Covert Affairs". They can now officially drop off the face of the earth.
Looks like NBC is going to do the decent thing and wrap up "Timeless" with a 2 hour movie. Kudos, therefore, to NBC.
Still trying to get around to adding other comments, but I would like to hear something about Reverie, which I have not seen yet.
Uncle, I can't say whether "Reverie" will be axed or renewed for another season, but what I can say for certain is that the main actors have all been involved in better shows.
Looks like The Picard is making a return. This is good, I think. Patrick Stewart is 78, though, so a 10 year run might be out of the question. Apparently, it's been 16 years since we touched base with Jean-Luc (he of the French name and English accent)
So, of all the actresses in all the world, the CW has hired this mess to be their new lesbian Batgirl (at first I thought it was lesbian Tatgirl, but upon second reading...).
She's both gross and sick. But that's the age we live in now, isn't it?
Funny. I've been watching through the Picard S/T series this past month.
I really feel like an orphan. When my online-viewing computer went belly up (virus suspected)I had trouble getting back to online TV viewing and I am years behind the shows I was watching. Timeless was one of them. I need to check the library for DVD sets, assuming I can remember what series I was watching.
Speaking of "Star Trek" (but not the Picard version), I just got around to watching "Star Trek: Beyond" a couple of weeks ago. That one is almost 2 years old.
Sadly, the new Picard show will be on CBS All Access (home of "Star Trek: Discovery"). I would rather see them bump it up to CBS proper, but I don't get a say.
Well, "Reverie" ended S1 on a pretty significant cliffhanger, so now we'll just wait around to see if it gets a second season.
Well over 10 years (Jan. 2008) since "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" debuted. A show that deserved a better fate than some piddling 31 episodes.
Snowflake Alert: It looks like someone's been triggered by Jen's new trailer.
Just finished up S5 of "The 100". Very decent sci-fi series. Yup, it's a little gory, but I've seen all 71 episodes, and I'm in for the long haul. Great final scene in the S5 finale.
So, in addition to being a shortened S6, MAOS is now going to be a summer series, meaning over a year's wait between S5 and S6.
IMO, MAOS isn't the be all and end all of TV shows, but in light of what else ABC has offered the public in recent years, MAOS has precious little competition on the network and might as well continue in a normal time slot.
Lefties devouring their own.
Now THAT's entertainment.
As McCartney would say: "There ain't nobody that spies like US(A)."
USA Network is getting back in the spy business with a show based on Jason Bourne's "Treadstone" program. Let me guess, if it's any good, they cancel it in 3 seasons or less. If not so good, it could run forever.
Jen's out flogging her movie.
I'd go to the prom with that girl. Of course, she'd hit me with a restraining order, but still...
"Alias" scores one episode in the Top 100 Best TV Episodes of this century. That being "Phase One".
That's the good news. The fact that it's at #53 on a list which includes cooking shows and reality TV is highly insulting.
Currently watching a show called "Killing Eve". Episode 5 introduces us to a shadowy outfit known as "The Twelve". Hmmm, where have we heard of that group before?????
I'd be lying if I said I was able to follow everything that went on in "12 Monkeys". Like The Doctor once said, "time travel, you can't keep it straight in your head". But I watched every episode and tonight watched the 2-part series finale and, as series finales go, it was very good.
And, the entire series was wrapped up in.................47 episodes. Well done, Monkeys.
Again, referring to my assertion that the adventures of Buffy Summers, Sydney Bristow and Veronica Mars are 3 tellings of the same story, I recently reported that a BtVS reboot has been announced (with "Alias" writer at the helm). Today, we have news that "Veronica Mars" is being revived on Hulu.
So, let's do the math. Of the 3 shows, 2 have announced reboots in just the last few weeks. Will we make it 3 out of 3 before Labour Day? Ummmmm, don't think so.
Good news: I only have to NOT watch "The Big Bang Theory" for one more season.
:) :) :) :)
Final season of "The Last Ship" kicks of on September 9.
Just saw my first "Peppermint" TV commercial. AND, there's this brief clip floating around today.
Dear God, I hate to see Jen get involved with that total waste o' space, Lena Dunham. As excited as Jen is is roughly how disgusted I am.
Here she is taking the usual questions about an "Alias" reboot. Not showing any real interest, of course, just going through the motions.
"Alias" may end up being the ONLY show not rebooted. Now "Bewitched" has joined the party.
I've watched this scene a million times. It seems like yesterday and yet it seems like a century ago. How could this show end after 4.77 seasons while "Grey's Anatomy" continues to this day?
And, to again remind me how quickly my life is flying by, it's already been 7 years since this great final scene from SGU.
So, I have no clue who Sophia Bush is, but if she wants to do a spy-thriller on CBS, I won't stand in her way. We could sure use a good one, but this article doesn't promise it will be any good
Well, we can hope.
Right now, "hope" is all we have.
A couple of formerly great blogs seem to have been handed over to new management. I spent a lot of time over the last decade at Seriable and Fringebloggers, but Roco seemed to lose interest in writing after "Fringe" ended. While he maintained Seriable until this spring, it was just a shell of it's former self and basically just posted the kind of TV show headlines found on many other sites. Unlike the glory days, Roco didn't comment on shows or follow any particular show the way he did with "Fringe".
So RIP to those blogs. They were great communities in their day, but completely without soul in this post-blog era.
I notice the "Peppermint" promos teasing "Jennifer Garner Back in Action". They obviously know that this is the Jen people long for.
The only song I know of that mentions Burt Reynolds. RIP Burt. As the Stones would say, "time waits for no one" and every time I look in the mirror I know "it won't wait for me".
Jen, working on her fight moves.
"Peppermint" officially released into the atmosphere today.
"Peppermint" reviews are unanimous in declaring Jen's return to action a disaster. To me, that misses the point. I want Jen to regain her taste for the action genre before she turns into Judi Dench (not that there's anything wrong with JD) and if it takes an apparent dumpster fire like "Peppermint" to get her off the couch, then how can that be a bad thing?
She puts her body through hell to be ready for action roles, so it would be a shame now to go back to flabby rom-com offerings when she's done all this training to get her "Alias" body back.
Jen will never be a movie star and that's perfectly okay, but biologically speaking, winter is coming for her and she ought to be back on TV where she earned a following and a lingering respect for her days as Sydney Bristow. And by TV, I don't mean engaging with the likes of Lena Dunham on a trashy HBO show.
It's time for Jen to course correct and come back to the medium that made her rich and famous in the first place, namely broadcast TV. Somebody needs to save network TV (although 5 years ago would have been better), it might as well be Jen.
Just sayin'.
"The Last Ship" kicks off its final season tonight.
I didn't know it was still sailing. I only saw 2 or 3 seasons. I need a way to safely catch up.
Looking at the bright side, Uncle, there's only 10 eppies per season, so you're not really that far behind.
A new "Charlie's Angels" is on the way, this time with Kristen Stewart (who likes to drive crazy and blast the Stones).
Apparently this is a different spin on the usual Angels fare, turning it into more of a spy-network thingy. Hey, what have we got to lose, right?
I haven't really joined watching any new series for several years. I just watch old DVD's and the occasional rerun. What series from the past several years would be good to jump into? And where can I view them?
Oh, that's a tall order, Uncle. If we're talking NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX and even USA, you haven't missed a thing, cuz these guys aren't even trying any more.
"Alias" kicked off the 'golden age' of network TV in the early 2000's, and the series finale of POI in 2016 seems to have marked the official end. So to find good TV, you have to move beyond the traditional TV dial.
So what is there to watch? Well, I can only tell you what I've watched in the last few years, in no particular order:
1) I watched all 3 seasons of "Colony", a sci-fi show on USA (their only respectable program since they gave up the "blue sky" programming that gave us "Burn Notice" and "Covert Affairs"). Sadly, USA just cancelled "Colony", leaving us with a massive cliffhanger. Thanks a a lot, guys!
2) "Man in the High Castle" (Amazon Prime) is a VERY GOOD serialized sci-fi series. Another of those multi-universe stories.
3) "Stan Lee's Lucky Man". A British MARVEL show, mercifully with no super-heroes, just a bracelet that bestows good (or bad) fortune on whoever wears it. Just finished S3.
4) "Line of Duty". I first tried that because Lenny James had a starring role in the first season. No sci-fi, but a riveting serialized story about a division of cops investigating other cops (looking for "bent coppers" as they say over there)
5) I watched "Strike" (aka "C.B. Strike"), which is a private eye story from J.K Rowling. The entire series is only about 5 episodes. No sci-fi.
6) I watched S1 of Anna Torv's "Secret City" (S2 comes this fall). Only 6 eppies per season. She plays an intrepid reporter uncovering skullduggery down under. No sci-fi.
7) I watched both seasons of "Daredevil"
8) I've watched most of "Longmire".
9) "Game of Thrones" is a massive HBO spectacle, but not for the faint of heart. Sci-fi, fantasy
10)I watched all 3 seasons of "The Tunnel". Cops, no sci-fi
11) I watched all 3 seasons of "Broadchurch". Cops, no sci-fi
12) I watched all 3 seasons of "The Fall". Cops, no sci-fi. Stars Dana Scully. Very good. Don't know if it's coming back or not.
13) I've watched all 4 seasons of "iZombie" on CW. Sci-fi. Lighter fare, but very good. Stars Julian Sark, among others.
14) I've watched all 5 seasons of "The 100" on CW. Good sci-fi. Pretty darned violent.
15) I'm currently part way through "Better Call Saul", the "Breaking Bad" prequel.
16) Speaking of "Breaking Bad", it was very good.
17) I just finished S1 of "Condor", a thriller based on the movie (3 days of). Pretty good.
18) I've watched both seasons of "The Missing".
So, that's a pretty good picture of what I've been watching in recent years. And what do all of these shows have in common, you ask? NONE of them come from the big mainstream networks.
I watch all of these shows on one of the Putlocker websites (like this one) if I can't find legit access anywhere else. The sites seem to move around so I just Google Putlocker and try till I find one that works.
Out of all of these shows, where would I start? "Man in the High Castle" is great and right this minute, you're only 20 episodes behind.
I forgot to mention "Travelers", a nice little sci-fi number, currently awaiting the start of S3. Some familiar faces.
Hot off the press from Digital Spy. A little "where are they now" re: the cast of "Alias".
Maybe they'll do a "where are they now?" on the cast of LTA.
Jen apparently got the "action bug" out of her system. Now it's back to the nonsense. Sighhhhhh!!!!
Last week we reached the Tenth Anniversary of the debut of "Fringe". Ten years in the blink of an eye.
Unlike Jen, who keeps saying she'd love to work with JJ Abrams again, Keri Russell just keeps doing it.
In fairness, her role in MI3 (I think it was 3) was over pretty quickly, and we don't really know how meaty her role in "Star Wars Episode IX" will be. Just the same, this is project #3 for her with JJ, while Jen is stalled out at 1.
Oh, okay, since I mentioned fairness, I suppose it should be noted that Jen appeared in 3 eppies of "Felicity". Pffft.
Tonight at 10:00 p.m. on NBC, we have one of the very few shows of the new season with any sign of promise. Here's the 9 minute opening act of "Manifest".
Here's Jen saying she'd be ticked off if there was an "Alias" reboot and she wasn't asked to join up. Good to hear, but doesn't really matter since THERE IS NO REBOOT.
So, "The Blacklist" doesn't return until January 2019.
Meanwhile, we just marked the 17th (YES, the 17th) anniversary of "Truth Be Told" 2 days ago. I just found TBT while channel surfing that night and wowsers, it was game on.
Page, I haven't seen much of the cop/super hero/action shows (or any new shows for that matter) the past 3 or 4 years. Which ones would be worth getting dvd's from our local library to watch. I know there are some I saw a/some seasons of that may still be on. Here are some that just came to mind:
H50, The Blacklist, Monk, The Mentalist, The Flash, The Last Boat...I know there are others, but I can't think of them. I'm also interested in good comedy ones. Helps my blood pressure.
Uncle, my preference for any TV show or movie is always going to lean heavily toward sci-fi or spy or a combination of the two.
With that as a starting point, I'm not aware of an American cop show that I would watch live, much less check out DVD's. H50 is in season 8, but I haven't seen more than a handful of episodes since it debuted. So, the cop shows I recommend belong on a very short list:
1) BBC's "Line of Duty" (I think all episodes are currently available here, at least for now).
2) BBC's "The Fall" (Pilot episode currently available here)
Knowing Blogger as I do, if I post too many links, this post will vanish, so I'll continue in a separate post(s).
#3 "Longmire", which started out on A&E, was subsequently cancelled, and resurrected for 2 final seasons on Netflix.
# ITV's "Broadchurch", featuring several "Doctor Who" actors (including the soon-to-be "Doctor Her").
The super hero shows are a sore spot with me. There's just too much of that stuff out there. Most of it is rubbish and it's siphoning off a lot of the actors that we know from Bad Robot's glory days. Victor Garber, Kirk Acevedo, Carl Lumbly, Michael Emerson, Kevin Weisman, Amy Acer, and John Noble, to name a few.
That said, I do watch some of them. For the most part, I choose the ones that have the least outrageous superhero powers, namely "Daredevil", "Stan Lee's Lucky Man" are the 2 that stand out. I watched S1 of "The Runaways" for the Kevin Weisman angle and I'm currently watching S2 of "The Gifted" (for the Amy Acker angle). I gave up on "Arrow" years ago and never spent any serious time on "The Flash"
IMO, there is literally nothing currently airing on the commercial US networks that is worth catching up on.
As far as comedy is concerned, I never watch sitcoms. My idea of comedy lies in the dramedy shows like "Chuck" or even a "Burn Notice". Shows with humour that also scratch my action and/or sci-fi itch.
In that vein, I'll go back to a trailer I posted earlier for the upcoming "Whiskey Cavalier" as a "potential" candidate to fill that role. It even stars a recurring "Chuck" actress in the lead role (not to mention Jen's first husband). Of course, this doesn't debut until sometime in the new year. If this trailer is any indication, it may be sillier than "Chuck", which is not a selling point for me. Time will tell.
And, yes, we can safely assume that these 2 will hook up before the series finale.
In the sci-fi area, if you want to catch up on any series, "The Man in the High Castle" should be very high on your list. It has lots of great characters including a female heroine by the name of Juliana.
Whether you can find DVDs at any library, I don't know. Here is a 30 minute recap of the first 2 seasons (only 20 episodes).
Also, as I mentioned earlier, I would catch up on "Travelers" (scroll up for trailer). It's got sci-fi, time travel (think "Continuum"), humour, and heart and you've only missed 24 episodes.
If you're looking to get your spy game on, you should be able to find S1 of "The Night Manager". It's only 6 episodes long. It's a John Le Carre story and supposedly will return with another season someday.
Coming next month from the same team who brought you "The Night Manager", is another Le Carre spy story called "The Little Drummer Girl". I just saw a promo for it on AMC the other night.
So, we've covered superheroes, dramedy, sci-fi, cops (and sheriffs), and spies.
Network TV is out. Streaming and cable is in. I kind of wish it was the other way around.
I neglected to mention that I still watch MAOS as well, although it won't be back for a very long time, probably for a short final season.
"Worst Marvel movie since 'Elektra'"
This is why I hate to see "Bad Robot" actors and/or writers mixed up with these ridiculous superhero films. Can't we all move on?
Getting mentally prepared to take in the debut of "Doctor Her" in about 3 hours. Early reviews very positive. It's not like they didn't have bucketloads of time to write a good story. It's been nigh onto a year and a half since regeneration.
The first episode of the "Doctor Her" era was enjoyable. A lighter version of The Doctor than Peter Capaldi gave us in recent years. I always found his version kind of gruff and/or angry. This was more like a throwback to the David Tennant or Matt Smith Doctors (my 2 personal faves).
As an "Alias" fan, I'm gonna be okay with the heroine being a woman. With a new showrunner, no carried-over characters (like all previous versions of the show have had), no Cybermen and no Daleks, this will be like a rebooted reboot, but I think the show will do fine if it doesn't get gender-preachy. If the first episode is any indication, The Doctor is just doing what The Doctor does.
Not sure how I missed this, but apparently Netflix is bringing back "Designated Survivor" for a 10-episode S3. I'm surprised by this move, because I was perfectly okay with the cancellation after S2 on ABC. It just wasn't in need of a revival, IMO.
It's good to know that Jen's 12 year absence from TV was all about holding out for the right show. Sounds like she picked a winner.
Seriously, how can you go wrong when you hook up with a d-bag like Lena Dunham?
Uncle, here's a story for you. I know you were a "Grimm" watcher. Apparently a spinoff is on the way.
"Grimm" is one of those shows I hope to find time to watch someday. Maybe this will be a catalyst.
Lots of "Alias" reboot articles (here's a good one) popping up again this month, due in large part (if not entirely) to media outlets wanting to talk to Jen about her HBO fiasco.
The one common thread in these new articles is Jen hinting at returning as no more than a guest on any hypothetical reboot.
"The War of The Worlds" soon to get the BBC mini-series treatment. I've seen the Tom Cruise version. This one is a period piece set in Edwardian London.
The only point of interest in this article is this one line: "he (Zachary Levi) did note that they're still trying to get Chuck back to the small screen, most likely in the form of a 90-minute movie."
The rest can be summed up in 2 words: "who cares?"....and I mean that in the nicest possible way. But still...
Gotta say, I miss me some "Covert Affairs". Can't believe it's been more than 8 years since the debut.
Every time I watch this scene from the "Get Smart" movie, I laugh until I cry.
Here's an article which recalls a number of genre shows that re-invented themselves over the course of their respective runs. No fewer than 3 JJ Abrams shows are covered (yes, including "Alias")
FWIW, "The Blacklist" returns on January 11th. This is a show that never really amounted to all that much. I'm not convinced that it earned a 6th season, but here we are.
Sarah Shahi's "Reverie" axed already. Gotta say, it was much ado about not much and didn't really warrant a 2nd season.
"The Last Ship" ends tonight as a show that bears little resemblance to its first season, and I don't mean in a good way. No longer about the virus that was such a big part of the show in the beginning, this season has just been non-stop warring, killing and blowing stuff up. I liked it better when it was about the virus.
I'm ready to move on.
Francie's sister is out at ABC.
ABC's programming is an unmitigated disaster and has been for years. I don't know to what degree she is responsible for that, but it's hard to imagine things will deteriorate in her absence.
Finished "The Little Drummer Girl" tonight. Israeli-Palestinian spy stuff. Pretty good 6 episodes. I don't know if there's a 2nd season on the horizon or not.
Jen with a birthday nod to one Michael Vartan of "Aiias" (and nothing else) fame.
Soooo, ABC is working on a show about a CIA operative recruited at a job fair whilst in University. Only this one is based on a real person, one Tracy Walder, seen here at a TED talk.
Let's see if this ever makes it to air, and then we'll vote on its worthiness. It's produced by someone from "Grey's Anatomy", so there's already that stigma to get past.
I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than sit through "Garth: Live at Notre Dame".
#changethatchannel #garthbrooksblows
A little bit of Jen, onstage, talking about (and to) Bradley Cooper. Filmed from the cheap seats, by the looks of it.
Well, it's a start. Maybe. Probably not.
Jen is teaming up with JJ for a short series for Apple. I won't say the premise is drivel, because it's based on the memoirs of someone's actual life as that person waits for a 2nd heart transplant. BUT, it's not what I would hope for. And let's not kid ourselves, this is JJ Abrams in name only.
Still, if they're working together, we can always hope for a spark to become a flame. Or probably not.
The excellent sci-fi show, "Travelers" makes its 3rd season debut tonight, but I missed the news release 9 freaking months ago that it's only on Netflix this season, which means I just wasted a whack of time going up and down my TV dial looking for it.
I've been binging on S3 of "Daredevil". Looks like Netflix axed it after this season, but who knows what's really going on? "Daredevil" is Disney property and Disney is going into competition with Netflix, so maybe "Daredevil" comes back, maybe not. It would be a shame if it didn't.
BTW, nasty price hike by Netflix recently. And now they've hired Francie's sister, who, if ABC's recent history is any indication, shouldn't be in charge of anything TV related.
"Timeless" gets its 2-hour series finale Dec. 20 beginning at 8:00 p.m.. I wish every series that got cancelled on a massive cliffhanger would get the luxury of a movie conclusion. Talkin' to you, "Colony" and "Defiance" and who knows how many other shows that ended with a massive WTF?
Doesn't speak well of the current state of TV when one of the better shows of the season was s wrap-up movie of a cancelled show from last season. #Timeless
Remember Jen saving Jason Bateman's bacon in "The Kingdom"?
First year since I started watching "Doctor Who" that there has been no Christmas Special. Too bad, it was a nice tradition. This year we're getting the New Years Day episode, which likely won't be too Christmassy.
With no DW to turn to tonight, I binged a few more episodes of S3 of "Travelers". Another very entertaining season, with another familiar face popping up this year. Since this show comes from Brad Wright of Stargate (the TV shows) fame, it has made use of a number of actors from SGU. But, it is also home to a number of actors from "Continuum" as well.
One thing that is disconcerting with a number of these shows that are given a new lease on life by Netflix is that the number of F-bombs goes from one per season on the previous network to one per each 5 minute interval on Netflix. I don't see the point of this. I wonder if an "Alias" reboot was launched at Netflix, would we hear dialogue like "who do you work for, you effing little girl?". Makes ya wonder.
Just finished S3 of "Travelers". This show really needs to be renewed, although they certainly blew things up in the S3 finale.
Good news for adventure lovers: "Strike Back" returns on January 25. Note the new guy: Jamie Bamber of BSG fame.
"Doctor Her" rolling out the only episode of 2019 tonight. There will be Daleks.
"The Blacklist" returns to the tube tonight. Am I sitting on the edge of my seat? Absolutely not, cuz let's face it, the seasons go by and nothing really happens. Red is Liz's Daddy. No he isn't. Yes he is. No he isn't. But, at the end of the day, what the heck difference does it make?
"The Americans" getting its due at the Golden Globes tonight. I've watched a couple of the other nominated shows, and while the 2 I watched were very good, there is no question that "The Americans" was due for this win.
I didn't watch the Globes,of course, due to my aversion to Hollywood's penchant for commandeering live TV shows to promote their stupid political fantasies, but I did check in on the winners' list.
Remember "Hanna", the movie from 2011? Sure you do. We talked about it here at LTA back in 2011. Bit of a disappointment, IMO.
Well, as also mentioned earlier here at LTA, "Hanna" is coming back, this time as an Amazon Prime series, reuniting "The Killing" co-stars Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos. Early trailer shows Hanna has changed her hair colour since 2011, but is still not to be messed with.
Perhaps the show will be better than the movie? Guess we'll find out in March.
Sooooooo, even though MAOS has been reduced to 13 episodes for S6 and doesn't even air until July, it's apparently already renewed for a 7th season. Given the state of network TV today, this can only be considered good news. Whether or not Coulson returns is yet to be disclosed, but my bet is he will be back.
Got around to watching "Peppermint" tonight. Pretty easy rooting for Jen to take out the trash, which she does most effectively. The movie didn't spend much time explaining how she was able to locate, with ease, everyone she needed to eliminate, but I suppose those are just minor details.
Of note to POI fans:
After the flop known as "Reverie", Shaw re-unites with Fusco for Showtime's "City on a Hill".
That's the interesting part. The show itself doesn't sound like much.
Still no "Alias" reboot, but FWIW, "NYPD Blue" is back in business. Dennis Franz is retired so I assume his bare ass won't be back.
This version is going to star "Burn Notice" alum, Alona Tal. That's enough to make a guy forget all about Dennis Franz's ass.
It was 6 years ago on Friday night that we sent Walter Bishop into the future to save the world. I guess it worked.
Finally, a start date for S2 of Anna Torv's "Secret City". And only about 3 years after the end of S1. Such a torrid pace.
"Hanna" gets a Super Bowl ad.
Netflix cancels "Travelers", which goes without saying, because, after all, it's a good show.
This being Super Bore Sunday, I thought we should flash back 16 years to the most important Super Bore Sunday ever. Before there was even an LTA. Obviously, I'm talking about Super Bore Sunday 2003, also known as the night that "Alias" gave us "Phase One".
BTW, following tonight's Super Bore??? NOTHING! So, enjoy that.
Generally positive feedback re: the "Hanna" pilot, which Amazon streamed post-Super Bore. I don't subscribe so I'll have to look for, ummmm, alternative sources to watch eventually. This is the Super Bore trailer.
Following the flop of "Reverie", Dennis Haysbert has resurfaced on the upcoming (and aforementioned) CBS spy thriller, "Surveillance". Will it ever make it to air? Who knows?
Managed to catch the first eppie of "Hanna". I get the feeling I'm going to like this more than I liked the movie. Hanna didn't get to air out her skills (much) in the pilot, but you can see she's already playing 3D chess with her captors. Gotta wait till March for more, sadly.
The Grammys truly suck bigly. Even if Will Tippin just won one (which, in itself, is just wrong on every level).
This woman (having replaced Francie's sister at ABC) wants to reboot "Alias", and oh yeah, "Lost".
To which I say, "what's holding you back?". There's no law that says "Alias" has to be the last show on the to-do list.
Checked out the pilot for FOX's "Proven Innocent" last night. Not because I need a legal drama in my life (who does?), but more because Rachelle Lefevre is hot as a pistol.
Beautiful cover of Springsteen's "Glory Days".
Some smiles and chuckles with Jussie Smollett, MAGA-triggered victim extraordinaire.
What could be more hilarious, ISIS brides wanting to come home?
I hate it when this happens!
Walter Bishop needs to get this guy back to the lab and find out what dimension he was from.
Gross!! Not to mention unsanitary. And I agree about the brides. :) Wish I had time for a little more TV. Most of the little I watch these days are old TV series dvds. I don't even know what's on, and of that what's good.
"Whiskey Cavalier" gets a post-Oscar debut tonight. I won't be watching the Oscars and doubt that I'll tune in after they're over to watch a pilot of a show that could go either way. The only thing that gives me hope is that I remember a little show called "Chuck", which was hardly a deadly serious affair much of the time, but was still a great show.
I believe the pilot airs again on it's regular night (Wednesday).
BTW, if you are checking out "Whiskey Cavalier", those European locations you'll see are the real deal. Yes, this is ABC, the same network that kept "Alias" trapped in beautiful downtown Burbank for its entire 4.77 season run.
And, here's a review, which falls short of a full-throated endorsement.
This headline from Forbes: "Whiskey Cavalier' Review: The Show Network Television Needs Right Now Is Also Its Best"
Yeah, it's a long headline, and yes, there's an element of truth to it. Network television is in a very bad place right now, so it's definitely time for a show to come along and stem the bleeding. Is that "Whiskey Cavalier"? No, I don't think it is. True, I've only seen the pilot so far, but aside from pretty scenery and some good natured fun, it it needs something more to make a believer out of me.
Being a spy dramedy, the obvious comparison is to "Chuck". Thing is, I still remember how the "Chuck" pilot sunk its hooks into me. WC's pilot didn't approach that kind of impact. And, of course, the sci-fi element of "Chuck" made all kinds of crazy story lines possible. WC (at least so far) has zero sci-fi.
Forbes is right. Network TV needs saving, but WC doesn't strike me as being the show that can halt what seems like an irreversible descent. That doesn't mean it can't be entertaining and maybe even get stronger with time, but right now it feels a little too fluffy to carry the mantle of Network TV Saviour.
On the other hand, what the hell do I know?
How funny. I'm just finishing another viewing of the Chuck series!
Uncle, the series finale of "Chuck" still leaves a lot of people with a bitter taste in their mouths, but not me. I always thought it was a suitable open-ended finale which would have led nicely into that "Chuck" movie that Zachary Levi was never able to pull off. It was "an" end but it wasn't meant to be "the" end.
And, let's face, series finales are really hard to get right, especially given the fact that most of the time we don't want our show to end at all. It means the end of relationships that are often more intense than our real relationships. I've seen a lot of people come and go at my workplace that I rarely give a thought to anymore, but 13 years down the road I still miss me some Sydney Bristow.
"Whiskey Cavalier" debuting as we speak.
Remember just a few short years ago when Scala and Kolacny Brothers were voicing movie and TV trailers left and right?
One of my faves was the S2 trailer for "Homeland".
The full song is worth a listen as well.
Off topics-- I have been watching the series Human Target again, and in the episode I'm watching the main good guy character is using the alias Alexi Volkov, which is the name of the main bad guy in the series Chuck, which I just finished a rewatch of.
And, of course Vivian Volkoff (Lauren Cohan) from "Chuck" is the co-star of "Whiskey Cavalier" (along with Jen's first ex).
My how time flies. I remember when "Human Target" debuted, back in the days when the fall TV season would bring at least faint hope of the next great series (a condition that doesn't plague us anymore).
I haven't seen Mark Valley in anything for years. I'm sure he's out there working, but not on anything I watch.
"Harold" is back. I don't know, though. This doesn't sound like much to get excited about.
Uncle, looks like a new place for you to stream shows for free. Only available in the US of A, though, so I can't even browse the titles.
Zachary Levi is "Shazam". This trailer has been around for ages. I can't believe I haven't seen a "Shazam" clip until tonight on the TeeVee.
Face it. There's only 2 kinds of movies now: 1) Marvel 2) DC.
Every time I fire up the interwebs there's some celebrity "opening up" about something, to which I say "shut up and sing". We're not paying you to "open up".
DITTO!!!!
So, last night on "The Blacklist", Reddington (in unrelated conversations) treated us to discussions of a) pubic lice, b) cunnilingus, and c) the masturbating of tiger cubs (albeit for training purposes).
In 105 episodes of "Alias", I don't recall dialogue involving any of these things, and yet "The Blacklist" checked all 3 boxes in one episode (with an "Alias" writer at the helm, no less).
Maybe it's just me, but I could stand it if they concentrated on making my TV entertainment a little more riveting, while at the same time, easing up on the "locker room" dialogue. Save something for cable.
DITTO!!!!!
"Mom?"
Add "Star Trek: Discovery" to the shows that have ended an episode with the question asked in disbelief: "Mom?"
I must say that S2 of STD has been very good, IMO, and (with reference to my previous post about locker-room dialogue) this season they've done it (so far) without any we're-streaming-so-we-can-say-anything-we-want F-bombs, which clearly have no place in any telling of "Star Trek".
"Mom?" You bet. "Alias" did it. "Chuck" did it. It just never gets old.
Yeah, so I'm most of the way through 1.05 of "Whiskey Cavalier" and I think it's safe to say I've seen what there is to see. "Rolling Stone" has a pretty good take on this one.
I can barely remember JJ's "Undercovers", but I suspect the only difference is that they were already married when the pilot aired, whereas in this show, it's the old will-they-won't-they game.
It's light-hearted fare, it's something to watch on a Wednesday, but as spy shows go, we've all seen wayyyyyyy better. Just not recently, since, as the Rolling Stone piece suggests, the Big Four networks aren't really trying anymore.
Watch out, bent coppers! "Line of Duty" is back for S5. Just finished S9 of "The Walking Dead", S5 of "Strike Back", S1 of "Baptiste" and gearing up for the final season of "Game of Thrones".
What do all of these shows have in common? None can be found on ABC, NBC, CBS, or FOX. Dark days for the tired old networks.
I'm reduced to watching dvds of old tv series and copying cartoons I find on facebook.
If it wasn't for back-door operations like Openload and Putlocker, I'd be watching sunsets and streetlights. I'd go bankrupt subscribing to every streaming service that a person needs to catch a few shows these days.
One of those shows I backdoored last year was "Deep State". I thought it was a one and done, but I see it's back for S2 with a new lead actor (which is a pity, because I liked Mark Strong).
S1 Trailer
S2 Trailer
S2
One episode left in S2 of "Star Trek: Discovery". The course correction taken in S2 has done wonders for this show. Characters you'll enjoy and a serialized story with "Alias" and "Fringe" (and even a Melissa George episode) people in charge make this one worthy of your time.
"Worldwide Trends" on Twitter are ALL "Game of Thrones". Tiger Woods is so 8 hours ago.
Last time Tiger won The Masters, there was no Twitter.
Recently finished S2 of Anna Torv's "Secret City". It's a nice role for her. I'd rather see more "Fringe", but that's not happening. I haven't watched her in "Mindhunter" because the subject material is of no interest to me.
Haven't seen these 3 together since "All The Time In The World". Looks like they've put that little misunderstanding behind them.
I expect today's release of the Mueller Report will get into the nitty-gritty of the Mueller Device. It's high time we got to the bottom of that little mystery. And it's not like we can just subpoena Rambaldi.
"Star Trek: Discovery" S2 finale nails it. Complete with a little "Doctor Who"-like time travel.
43-year-old Charlize Theron can't understand why she's single. I think she just answered her own question.
What was I saying not long ago about celebs "opening up". Shut up and sing, Charlize.
Seen any 47's lately?? Jen has. She turned 47 on Wednesday.
And she thought she had seen the last of 47!
I haven't seen all of "Avengers: Age of Ultron" yet and now I'm seeing non-stop TV spots for the 2nd Avengers movie after Ultron. If I tried to catch up on all of the Avengers-related movies that I've missed since this soul-sucking craze began almost 10 years ago, I would not leave my seat until Christmas.
Fortunately, I'm not tempted to make any effort to see any of them. Avenge that!!
I turfed "Whiskey Cavalier" after about 3 episodes. Not only does it not live up to the standard that "Chuck" set for a good spy-dramedy, it doesn't even make an effort. Just pointless fluff shot in fancy locations. Think "Undercovers". I suspect WC will have a shelf-life roughly similar to that of UC as well.
Hey TV people. AIM HIGHER!!!
22 inter-connected movies. Apparently that is what it would take to consume the entire Marvel "Infinity Saga" beginning (I think) with the first "Iron Man" and concluding with "Avengers: Endgame". I'm guessing I may have seen 5 or 6 of those in their entirety and bits of a few others. I'm permanently out of the loop on this "epic journey"
It's been 8 days short of one year since the last eppie of MAOS, but it kicks off its 13-episode S6 tonight.
Mark your calendar: I believe this is the first intelligent statement to escape Madonna's lips.....like EVER.
I managed (with ease) to get through the entire run of "The Big Bang Theory" from the beginning to (at long last) the end, without watching a single episode.
It boggles the mind to think that this POS was running while shows like "Burn Notice", "Fringe", POI, "Covert Affairs" and "Chuck" came and went. It lasted almost as long as 3 Aliases.
Note to TBBT: don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.
I think as a whole people these days are looking for more laughter in their viewing. I don't know if they are more spoiled and lonely, or just more stressed (for whatever reason) and they are looking for shows to help them relax and forget the stress of modern life. I still watch those "oldies" however. But I'm also finding myself settling for the more comedic series, but which are also older rather than newer series. But, things ain't what they used to be.
I can get behind "comedic" elements in my dramatic shows. Examples being "Chuck", "Burn Notice", BtVS, "iZombie", "Warehouse 13", but I can't get with the 1/2 hour sitcoms like I did in my youth. Of course, the sitcoms today aren't LIKE the ones of my youth.
Although I like Jerry Seinfeld's brand of standup humour, I spent precious little time watching his sitcom and I probably haven't watched a sitcom religiously since "MASH". Which is not to say that I haven't seen bits of some of these shows because they're inescapable if you own a TV. I actually watched the first episode of the rebooted "Murphy Brown" for nostalgic reasons and it was clear within the first few minutes that the only reason this show returned was to push the usual Hollywood "basket of deplorables" narrative (even casting Hillary Clinton in a cameo). Too many sitcoms exist solely to spew left-wing nonsense ("Modern Family", "The New Normal" to name a couple).
I demand a story worth watching, preferably existing outside the real-world politics of the day. Bad Robot was great at that. "Alias", "Lost", "Fringe", POI belonged to their own self-contained universes, where no-one knew if the President was Republican or Democrat (or if there WAS a president), where none of the characters were "woke" or snuck in FOX News jokes to try to be cool. Those are the kinds of shows that I look for to relax and forget the stress of modern life.
"Game of Thrones" ends its 8 year run tonight. One last chance to bend the knee. GOT debuted on Jen's birthday back in 2011, and tonight's finale will no doubt be mightily disappointing to many viewers, because that is the fate of most series finales. It's one thing to spin a great tale, but quite another thing to wrap it up in a way that doesn't anger a majority of fans.
I've watched every episode, but I'm ready to move on and I won't be following the prequel, because enough is enough with the GOT universe. Gimme something different to watch for the next 8 years.
"Whiskey Cavalier" justifiably axed by ABC. The network that once brought you shows like "Alias" and "Lost" hasn't got a clue anymore.
What Harold Finch will be getting up to this fall on CBS. Trailer for "Evil".
35 years hasn't done Linda Hamilton or Arnie any favours, but they're still determined to save the world. Trailer for "Terminator: Dark Fate".
Come with me if you want to live.
I have no axe to grind with the Raptors, but I hope they get eliminated ASAP so that I don't have to see or hear about Drake ever again. Ever. Forever. How is this clown even famous?
So far, I'm liking S6 of MAOS. I always stop short of loving MAOS, but I'll miss it when it ends.
My favourite character has always been Jemma because she (well, Elizabeth Henstridge) has the ability to remind me of Sydney. Not always, but often enough. I hope she finds a decent series to star in after MAOS fades to black.
I think it's reasonable to assume that I post a link to this scene at least once a year. It's just simply "Fringe" at its best. AT is brilliant here. I can't believe this is almost 6 1/2 years ago. You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
So here's a 3:34 examination of a 1:09 teaser for "Star Trek: Picard". I'm sure I'll check out the show when it arrives. I used to watch NextGen when it was on the air back in the day, but when I see it on TV now, it looks very dated, like a lot of 80's era shows.
TV shows improved A LOT somewhere around 2000. Now, of course, TV has improved so much that we're expected to pay to consume it from one of way-too-many streaming sites. We had it so good there for a while.
More rubbish in the hopper for Jen.
So Elton John 'rejects' Russia censorship of "Rocketman" gay scenes.
If I was Sir Elton, I'd be more concerned with the fact that I hadn't been able to come up with a catchy tune since Ronald Reagan's first term. Just sayin'.
Hats off to "Blindspot" on a pretty good S4 finale. It should set up a decent final season, completely different than the previous 4 seasons, which tended to pretty by-the-book procedural in nature.
Is it just me, or are a LOT of celebrities just completely unhinged?
C'mon, Kirk. Just shut up and sing!!!!
Veronica is (almost) back.
Ya know how, on some blogs, people always say "First"? Well, check this out: "Eight Hundredth".
Luc Besson is at it again. "Anna" has that thing that so much of Besson's stuff has: girls with guns.
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