Over the last year, I've turned into a bit of an anglophile. First it was Doctor Who, next came Top Gear, and now it's the BBC Original Life On Mars.
There's a new, US version of Life On Mars coming out soon.
There's been a long list of British television shows that have made the trip over the pond. American Idol, Three's Company, Weakest Link....on and on the list goes.
The basic gist of Life On Mars is that Sam Tyler is from 33 years in the future. He's not really sure how he got in the past, but he believes his body is in a coma, and his mind is tricking him into believing he's in the past, and that in order to get back to reality, he has to solve a set of issues.
The acting is great and each of the stories are well written.
One of the interesting points of the show is that once there was a conclusion, the show ended. Unlike other shows that start with a particular premise, like Life, once the original conclusion was reached, the show ended. It didn't find a new plot or premise to keep it going past it's prime, before it could jump the shark.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Debate Rules....(Zzzzzz)
So, not much on tonight that caught the eye. The Vice Presidential debate seems to be everywhere.
Quick thoughts:
The Moderator:
Gwen Ifill did a way better job than I thought she would, particularly after the news came out that she has a book coming out about Barry Obama....On inauguration day. Apparently she was stunned when some people thought that this information would be relevant to her impartialness (I know...that's not a word).
I don't know gobs about Gwen, and I really don't care if she does a book on anyone. Nor do I care when that book comes out. However, the fact that she hinted that it may be a bit racist for people to suspect a lack of impartiality, kind of took my breath away.
However, she didn't seem to be all about the Gotcha, so that's cool.
The VP candidates:
Both like-able. No real surprises. My mind wasn't changed, and I suspect no one elses were.
People who hate GW are going to not like Gov Palin. Particularly since she says NUCULAR too! LOVE IT.
People who think Barry is bad for the country aren't going to have their worries alleviated by Joe either.
The middle? They were watching baseball.
Quick thoughts:
The Moderator:
Gwen Ifill did a way better job than I thought she would, particularly after the news came out that she has a book coming out about Barry Obama....On inauguration day. Apparently she was stunned when some people thought that this information would be relevant to her impartialness (I know...that's not a word).
I don't know gobs about Gwen, and I really don't care if she does a book on anyone. Nor do I care when that book comes out. However, the fact that she hinted that it may be a bit racist for people to suspect a lack of impartiality, kind of took my breath away.
However, she didn't seem to be all about the Gotcha, so that's cool.
The VP candidates:
Both like-able. No real surprises. My mind wasn't changed, and I suspect no one elses were.
People who hate GW are going to not like Gov Palin. Particularly since she says NUCULAR too! LOVE IT.
People who think Barry is bad for the country aren't going to have their worries alleviated by Joe either.
The middle? They were watching baseball.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Idiot Lantern
We're here to talk about TV. Not just recapping, although there will be some of that too. But the impact also. The why's and what's of what we're watching.
I'm a bit of a geek. In geekdom, like in America in general, there are lots of common threads.
Growing up, I remember my family being enchanted by "Who shot J.R.".
It was all the rage of the day.
I remember watching the last episode of MASH, along with millions of others.
The Thrill of Victory on Saturday afternoons.
Walt Disney on Sunday Nights.
It's fun to remember those times...and compare today to them.
Of course, some of TV makes comparisons easy....natural.
Like tonight. Tonight I watched the reborn version of Knight Rider.
I watched the two hour made of TV movie last year. It was ok. I thought it was interesting and had a ton of possiblities.
I also LOVE Val Kilmer's voice as KITT.
However, the TV show that was spawned by that movie doesn't really seem to live up to the potential. Nor does it live up to the original.....at least so far.
The biggest problem I have with it is that the writers lean WAY to heavy on technology that is (actually) too cool. Blasphemy I know...but seriously.
For example. There was a scene where Mike and his hotty partner were going to steal a car. To do this, they apparently needed keys. I'm from the Detroit Area...we know better. Anyway, they thought the needed a key. So, they asked KITT to do it. And he did.
He looked deep into his database and somehow found the appropriate key pattern. Possible. Then he used his BUILT IN 3 DIMENSIONAL FABRICATION UNIT to actually REPLICATE ONE!!!
UM....check me if I'm wrong Sandy, but replicators don't come along to sometime after the death of one James Tiberius Kirk. That, boys and girls comes along around the 24th century.
This is my problem with Knight Rider. It rely's heavily upon technology for things it REALLY doesn't need to. The nanotech, skin changing, advanced AI stuff is all cool....but it really shouldn't be used as a crutch.
That said...I'll probably give it a few more weeks...after all, the car has a replicator.
I'm a bit of a geek. In geekdom, like in America in general, there are lots of common threads.
Growing up, I remember my family being enchanted by "Who shot J.R.".
It was all the rage of the day.
I remember watching the last episode of MASH, along with millions of others.
The Thrill of Victory on Saturday afternoons.
Walt Disney on Sunday Nights.
It's fun to remember those times...and compare today to them.
Of course, some of TV makes comparisons easy....natural.
Like tonight. Tonight I watched the reborn version of Knight Rider.
I watched the two hour made of TV movie last year. It was ok. I thought it was interesting and had a ton of possiblities.
I also LOVE Val Kilmer's voice as KITT.
However, the TV show that was spawned by that movie doesn't really seem to live up to the potential. Nor does it live up to the original.....at least so far.
The biggest problem I have with it is that the writers lean WAY to heavy on technology that is (actually) too cool. Blasphemy I know...but seriously.
For example. There was a scene where Mike and his hotty partner were going to steal a car. To do this, they apparently needed keys. I'm from the Detroit Area...we know better. Anyway, they thought the needed a key. So, they asked KITT to do it. And he did.
He looked deep into his database and somehow found the appropriate key pattern. Possible. Then he used his BUILT IN 3 DIMENSIONAL FABRICATION UNIT to actually REPLICATE ONE!!!
UM....check me if I'm wrong Sandy, but replicators don't come along to sometime after the death of one James Tiberius Kirk. That, boys and girls comes along around the 24th century.
This is my problem with Knight Rider. It rely's heavily upon technology for things it REALLY doesn't need to. The nanotech, skin changing, advanced AI stuff is all cool....but it really shouldn't be used as a crutch.
That said...I'll probably give it a few more weeks...after all, the car has a replicator.
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