October 2006
This is a list of posts published in October 2006.
Mass Charade
I’m a huge fan of Halloween – moreso now than I was as a kid. Sure, recharging your Trick or Treat energies through a downed Giant Pixie Stick at the intersection of Gale and Linus Streets has its charms – but it wasn’t until my latter years – somewhere around the point I hit my half-life (let’s say – 21) that I really embraced fading into another persona. Losing the 9-to-5 digs and adopting a caveman’s gait or a castaway’s lot, just really seemed to mesh with me. Oh yeah, for some reason my costumes usually involve big, burly beards. What’s that say ’bout me???
As a Halloween treat, I decided to drop you another installment in my oh-so popular, Picture Pages segment. There is no rhyme nor reason to this post. I just grabbed a number of pics taken over the last decade R... Continue reading »
Odds n’ Ends
Good news for fans of Lorne Lanning’s Oddworld games. Lanning had originally stated he was leaving the games industry when EA gave Oddworld Stranger a poor marketing push – citing the industry climate of choosing franchise potential over originality. Now Lanning is back with a new movie and game. Not much is known about the title, but Lanning has been a true pioneer (on the same level as Tim Schafer) and I look forward to everything this guy produces.
Jack Bauer Power Hour
24 fans rejoice. The Season 6 Trailer was released last week and it kicks all kinds of ass. From my read of this, it appears a series of terrorist attacks have crippled several US cities – and the terrorists will stop only on one condition. Jack Bauer must die.
Dammit!!!
Lost – ‘Every Man for Himself’ – 3.4
After my disappointment with ‘Further Instructions’, it was nice to get back on track with more pressing concerns. ‘Every Man for Himself’ picks back up with Jack, Sawyer and Kate. Although this is a Sawyer-centric episode, all three prisoners get equal share of the limelight as we continue to explore their internment.
On with my thoughts.
1. I’ve found that when an episode focuses its attention on island concerns – and uses the flashbacks in brief bursts to underscore the latest events – the ratio seems to work out best for all. Sawyer’s flashbacks in ‘Every Man for Himself’ support that theory. There were precious few headtrips and in those few moments we learned a good deal. We already know Sawyer is a con man – and largely his flashbacks continued to reflect upon his ruse – but they also did a lo... Continue reading »
Tele Mundo – Thursday October 18th to Sunday October 29th
In a bid to catch this feature up on a more traditional weekly schedule (Monday through Sunday), I’ve decided to toss the net wide to capture everything up through this Sunday. Of course, I don’t watch anything on the weekends anyway – so it’s not like I’ve suddenly developed super powers. Plus – there’s the added benefit to The Office repeat this past Thursday (Gay Witch Hunt) leaving me free to expound away.
I’ve decided to add something new to this feature. In addition to my commentary on the programs I’ve watched, I’ll lead each post with a rundown of noteworthy news briefs impacting upcoming programs.
Before we begin, I’ve got to air one gripe. I found a great site that gives me HD screen caps from every episode of Lost. They even give you a breakdown of the next week’s trailer. Unfo... Continue reading »
Lost – ‘Further Instructions’ – 3.3
It’s no secret that in a show rich with character, John Locke is my favorite. It goes back to the pilot episode, where Locke was first seen with his sinister scar freshly etched across his eye. As Kate stared at him across the beach – he locked eyes with her and opened his grin to reveal an orange peel – sinister shades of The Godfather. Of course, in the third episode of the fledgling series – the Locke-centric ‘Walkabout‘ – we discovered a surprise fact about Locke. In flashback, we learned that this rugged hunter was in fact, crippled in the real world. He crash-landed on this fantasy island tethered to a wheel chair – and through the island’s mojo - recovered the ability to walk.
I often look forward to the Locke-centric episodes. It’s in these installments that we learn mor... Continue reading »
Tele Mundo – Wednesday October 4th to Tuesday October 17th
This is about a week overdue and in the interest of catching up, I’ve decided to mash-up weeks two and three into a double posting.
The more I’m watching some of these new shows, the more I’m finding I like my old favorites more. I guess it can take some time to get acclimated to new digs or duds but in the age where an exec would rather green light an eighth straight night of Deal or No Deal over giving a program time to find its footing, it’s tough to fall too hard in love with a show that could be here today, gone tomorrow. Kidnapped has already vanished and while I don’t watch the program, I read that Ray Liotta’s Smith was shut down last week after 3 episodes.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Heroes continues to deliver boffo box-office and was officially picked up for the season. Also, Jericho (w... Continue reading »
Lost – ‘The Glass Ballerina’ – 3.2
Two episodes down… only four more to go. While I like the fact that we have an uninterrupted run of 16 new episodes coming in early February 2007, now that we have had a little nibble, I’m not sure I can wait the three months for the main course to arrive. All good things come to those who wait – right?!?!?
This week’s episode reacquainted us with Jin, Sun and Sayid and their off shore vigil for Jack’s return. It was another strong hour – not as potent as ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ – but still offered enough meat and opened enough questions – and even dangled a few answers – to keep me satisfied.
On with my thoughts.
1. The weakest point to the episode was in the flashbacks. One of the recurring knocks against the flashbacks is that when they focus on the original characte... Continue reading »
Lost – ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ – 3.1
As strong as this new television season has begun – with some promising starts put forth by the stud rookies (including Friday Night Lights, Heroes and Kidnapped (pause for a moment of silence) – there’s something so comforting about being reacquainted with old friends. In the days preceding the third season premiere of Lost (Weds October 4th), I felt that charge that I only get for those rare shows that nestle within my heart. It’s a select list – beginning in the mid-90’s with my discovery of The X-Files, the mantle then grabbed by Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and finally, the baton tossed to Lost. While I’ve enjoyed a number of quality programming over the past decade (which I truly believe to be a renaissance for televised programming) – there’s only been thr... Continue reading »
Tele Mundo – September 27th to October 3rd
I’ve decided to steal a page from Sean’s playbook (Tellyman) and post my weekly observations of the various television shows that have found their way onto my DVR. I have dubbed this weekly feature, Tele Mundo. Both Lost and 24 will continue to receive their own dedicated columns – thus continuing the work I began last year – while everything else will filter through this weekly post.
On a regular basis, I plan to touch on the following programs:
Heroes
Friday Night Lights
The Nine (*premieres October 4th)
The Office
I do watch My Name is Earl but it’s not exactly appointment viewing, thus it’s not appointment reviewing. Also, Kidnapped is officially off my radar screen in the wake of its untimely demise. Good thing too – I couldn’t bare to suffer another Invasion.
Heroes – &#... Continue reading »
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