Watching too much television

So - this is the penultimate blog, so I tried to watch a lot of stuff for it - enjoy - or not.

I've decided to save my SOPRANOS and THE SHIELD reviews - the 2 best dramas on the air right now, for my final blog sometime next week. I'll also review the LOST finale, the RESCUE ME opening, THE OFFICE finale' some other stufff - I really want to do a real blow out of a final blog - so for now, here are some very mini reviews of some of the stuff I've caught:

Why is Dennis Leary walking around saying his show is now better then THE SOPRANOS - that's usually a REALLY bad sign.

MTV MUSIC AWARDS hosted by SARAH SILVERMAN (MTV)
Sarah rocked the house - truly. She's the funniest woman on television right now. As for the rest of the show - it was ok. Everybody tried way too hard to be funny and outragous - and Dane Cook is about as funny as a serious car accident where childrend are killed. But Sarah truly shined and made me wish they would bring her show back really soon.


STERN ON DEMAND (ON DEMAND TV)
RICHARD & SAL (DAILY SHOWS SECTION and BEST OF section)
The Daily show version is 89 minutes. I won't talk about what Richard and Sal actually did - except to say that it was as disturbing an image as I've ever seen on the Stern show yet. The fact that Artie enabled it and these guys went along with it - the look on Sal's face was the look of someone in APOCOLYPSE NOW getting tortured by the enemy. I'll say this one thing of the tape: true - it shows some extreme behavior even for Richard and Sal - and while I can't vouch entirely for Richard - If nothing else - I think this tape shows where Sal's heart really lies sexually. It reminded of the SURVIVOR where one of the vegetarians had to eat meat in order for her team to win the challenge. That said - it was one of the more bizarre acts I've ever seen on the show and hope all the participants were able to have a sense of humor about it. And it's not because I find that act offensive in any way - I know it's now a cliche' - but at least half of my friends are gay. But again, it was really something to see - I don't quite know what to grade it, but if I must base it on the compellingness of it:

I have no idea why this makes me so happy - but for a great japanese version of an old song, go here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HTb81bKwYzI

STERN ON DEMAND!

GARY'S WEDDING VIDEO (VAULT SECTION)
This was short and sweet - notable mostly for the early 90s looks of Howard and the gang. And the mullet Fred sported was worthy of it's own tv show.

KING OF QUEENS (FINALE)
This actually made me sad. A 4 episode arc that concluded one of my most recent favorite comedies. KING ended it's nine year run with a pretty funny hour - I just wish it had remained a little smaller and not gotten SO caught up in the idea of the big FINAL EPISODE. That said - it was certainly satisfactory - had a lot of great funny moments, just not some of the reality that was part of the best of KING. Still, this show will sorely be missed.
SERIES FINALE' GRADE: B -
ENTIRE NINE YEAR RUN: A


VERONICA MARS (FINALE)
Two episodes jammed together - with the final hour being as compelling and well written as any MARS ep. The problem - it wasn't a real finale. Nothing got finalized or resolved. And you know what? It kind of felt right. Though as good as MARS was - it was never as good as it's dynamite first season.
SERIES FINALE' GRADE: B
SERIES GRADE: A -

THE BACHELOR (FINALE')
He picked Tessa! For once, the creepy bachelor actually made the right choice. Tessa seems pretty awesome - and here's hoping she keeps her man and the couple stays happy.
Grade: C

CELEB FIT CLUB (VH1)
Dustin Diamond needs serious, mental help. He's not fit. He's not funny. And he seems full of pain, anger and rage, so he is compelling. Otherwise, how fucking quickly did Marcia Brady go from fat and frumpy to just about beautiful again?
Grade: C

FAMILY GUY (FINALE)
A hilarious spin on BACK TO THE FUTURE that had me laughing out loud.
Grade: B +

AMERICAN DAD (FINALE)
A few laughs, but suprisingly weak ending to a very uneven season.
Grade: C +

THE SIMPSONS (Season Finale') (FOX)
The parody of 24 was pitch perfect and hilarious. Although I defy anyone to figure out what Kiefer's last line of ADR was in the episode. The episode that followed (the 400th) - not so much.
Grade: B +

SLEEPER CELL (FINALE)
Why didn't they just end it? I mean - it was really good and all - but why that whole set up for the third season? We get it - he's going undercover - he's on the run - he's after the bad guy - just end the fucking arc and start fresh next time, dudes.
Grade: C +

AMERICAN IDOL (FINALE)
What if they gave an AMERICAN IDOL finale' and nobody cared?


Seth Rogan was great with Jimmy on the KIMMEL LIVE SHOW. KNOCKED UP looks awesome.

MIDNIGHT MOVIE MADNESS (FOX)
A documentary about movies like ROCKY HORROR and the John Waters movies - a great docu if you loved those movies (I did.) The ROCKY HORROR segment was fascinating.
Grade: B +

DOWN IN THE VALLEY (SHOWTIME)
A really creepy movie I'd never seen that has Ed Norton playing an out of place cowboy in Los Angeles. Kind of like a modern rewrite of TAXI DRIVER with much less art, but pretty good nonetheless.
Grade: B -

TENACIOUS D IN THE PICK OF DESTINY (DVD)
I fucking LOVED Tenacious D - I loved the HBO shorts, I loved the MASTERWORKS dvd. This movie, however, sucked. It really sucked.
Grade: D


For an absolute joyful 3 minutes, watch this clip - I didn't care for the movie - but I'm nuts about this clip:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=K-xs42kcOus&mode=related&search=

E.R. (THE WEDDING EP)
Luka marries Abby in an AWESOME episode penned by the great R. Scott Gemmil in his E.R. Swan song.
Grade: A

THE OFFICE (THE BEACH EPISODE - NBC)
Bad. Like most of this season. The show seems to be in a "how stupid can we possibly get" mode.
Grade: D -

ON THE LOT (FOX)
Pretty cool - kind of like a more commercial version of PROJECT GREENLIGHT. But not as cohesive. UPDATE: I've watched a few more eps - it's becoming kind of addictive.
Grade: B -



For those of you that wondered about my cat, Lula, she died last Saturday - it's not the same writing these without her whirring around my feet anymore. I appreciate the many letters of sympathy, but I really miss my cat. And I'm getting really busy with my life again - I have some new goals, a great new girlfriend, Genevieve, and I'm going to get back in the business of just watching tv and film for enjoyment. But, like THE SOPRANOS - there is one more to go - and for people catching up I don't want to spoil anything - so - until next week....don't take any shit from anyone.

THE SOPRANOS heating up...

So, I'm sticking to my plan of ending this blog with the review of the final SOPRANOS. I went away this weekend and my cat is sick, so I haven't had much time to watch - which is why this is 2/3 weeks late - but for the last of the loyal readers, here is a fresh-ish batch of reviews.


HALF NELSON (DVD)
Slow moving and kind of great. Phenominal performance by Ryan Gosling. Very unmanipulative, bleak and hopeful at the same time. Whoever plays the young black girl should've gotten a nomination as well.
Grade: B +


CELEBRITY FIT CLUB (VH1)
Screech is a complete tool. He's fat, unfunny and anti-social in a way that makes my skin crawl. Da Brat is retarded. Marcia Brady is lovely, but the weight gain is shocking. That said - she seems like a sweetheart. Kim from AMERICAN IDOL is sort of the same obnoxious chubby gal I remember from season 2 of that show. I forget the rest of the cast. But mostly, when Screech isn't causing controversy, the show is a bit of a bore. Oh - Tiffany the pop star is in the cast. She's overweight and still cute as a button. But most of the cast are people I've never heard of - and I watch everything.
Grade: C -
THE SOPRANOS (HBO) (3 weeks ago - Junior & Paulie storyline "Remember When")
Okay, another hour, another mediation on life in the mob. This show had 2 storylines going for it - the Junior storyline - Junior has been disowned by the Family and now sits in an old-age version of prison (I think - it seems awfully low security - but maybe that's how those facilities are) - and while it was amusing to see him running the card game - the whole thing felt a bit forced and definitely was sad. Sadder then how Jr. ended up was the extraordinary amount of time they gave to that very minor player in his storyline. The Tony/Paulie stuff - that was great. Subtle, scary - did they really need the Big Pussy imagery - I honestly think not. But still - Paulie has many slips of the tounge - and every week the show has pointed out that Bobby, Christopher and now Paulie are all liablities in their own way. So okay - we now have six hours to go. That's like Godfather 1 & 2 time. But shit has to get started NOW. This is it! This is the end of the best one hour drama in decades! We need great shows and we need them now! On the other hand, you can look at the end of the 5th season as some sort of post script. An epilogue if you will. These last batch of episodes seem to all be mediations on themes in David Chase's head - but they certainly don't feel like any kind of build up to something meaningfull.
Grade: B

THE SOPRANOS (HBO - - Chasing It)

The best episode yet of the final season. I wasn't that into the Vito's son storyline (and a different young actor played the role then the previous season) but the Tony/Hesh conflict was superbly played by both actors. And it's nice that THE SOPRANOS doesn't limp off, but rather goes off with a creative decision by the creator to turn Tony into the bloated asshole we always thought might've lurked behind the "neighborhood tough guy" swagger he'd always been cloaked in. In the last four eps, Tony has gotten completely miserable and paranoid with every single person in his life - I think the way this is going, Tony is going to either put a bullet in his own head.....I don't know - I actually don't want to speculate because I'm finally seeing the master plan here at work and I'm loving it. Edie Falco was her usual brilliant self. A lot of people complained that it's bullshit to suddenly present Tony as a degenerate gambler, but all along Tony has gambled - never to this extent - but from what I understand, every big time mobster's second business is gambling. We're just seeing a side of Tony we don't often see. An ugly, racist side with paranoid delusional thinking. As for AJ breaking up with his girlfriend- that was about as exciting as Janice singing Karaoke. Jerry Adler, who plays Hesh, should have an Emmy nom for his fantastic performance in this ep.
Grade: A

THE SOPRANOS "Walk Like A Man" (HBO)

Written & Directed by the supremely talented Terry Winter, this was a brilliant, sparse, stark, bleak masterpiece. Emmys for Gandolfini and Michael Imperiolli seem like a no-brainer. This was unlike the previous 4 eps, in that it truly pushed the plot lines forward, had a truly good performance from AJ, and went so far in the Tony/Christopher/Paulie vortex that it was just....I won't be a spoiler to anyone who hasn't watched yet - but the show kept turning and surprising - and Winter's direction was truly right on the money. And for whatever it's worth, this felt like a true Sopranos classic. Lastly - the great song that ended the ep and played over credits was Los Lobos "The Valley."
Grade: A +


ENTOURAGE (HBO)
I saw the Johnny getting punk'd thing a mile away. But I just love Johnny Drama. Vince fucking his agent was refreshingly blunt and seemed to go beautifuly against what we expect from TV. And while I love seeing Artie Lange in ANYTHING - he and Ari's story were somewhat...so what-ish.
Grade: B

ENTOURAGE (HBO)
The one where they try to get MEDILON going again and the cell phone wars that go on in the Synagogue on a high holy day. This was probably the best ep of the season and Ari's performance was superb.
Grade: A

FIRED (MAX)
For anyone that's ever been fired - watch this movie and regain your self esteem.
Grade: B +


30 ROCK (Season Finale - NBC)
Sucked. Not sure what happened to this show. It was really funny for a while. Now it's getting really stupid.
SEASON GRADE: B
Finale' grade: D


THE OFFICE (Season Finale - NBC)
At this point, why not shoot on videotape and just add a laugh track?
I couldn't really get into THE NEXT PUSSYCAT DOLL. I just didn't find it very compelling - although I only watched the very first one. Still - even if the person wins - hard to get excited over this one.

THE BACHELOR: OFFICER & A GENTLEMEN (ABC)
It took me a while but I've warmed up to Andy. The problem: not nearly enough psychos in the bunch. And why does Andy - who has an admirable build, try to suck in his stomach like an old man when he's shirtless? It's weird, man. Anyway - all caught up now - and the ep where he met all the parents was oddly uncomfortable and why does every single girl on this show seem completely retarded? That one girl who sat him down with her whole speech on how she used to be married? Yikes. They all give me the creeps.
Grade: B -

Letterman had on SANJAYA the other night - I thought he was funny and likable - remarkably confident.


Robert Prosky was nothing short of brilliant on the most recent E.R. The storyline was incredible and nobody could've played that role like the superb Mr. Prosky.


THE SPRINGER HUSTLE (VH1)
Starting to kind of love this behind the scenes show of Jerry Springer's program. I'm finding myself rooting for Tobey.
Grade: B


I must say VH1's BEST WEEK EVER was on fire this week. Even though I have no problem with Alec Baldwin's message - honestly - I didn't think it was that big a deal nor evidence of anything but a real life family dynamic. But BEST WEEK EVER was particularly great with these subjects this week. Also - Artie Lange does a great impression of the message on the Howard Stern Show.


REAL WORLD/ROAD RULES INFERNO (MTV)
I guess this is for people who can just never get enough of these characters from the previous shows. While I always have an interest in checking in with yesteryear's reality stars, this show is way over-produced, overly complicated and through all the competitions, lacks what we really want to see - these characters at each other's throats.
Grade: D

SOUTH PARK (COM)
Had a great new episode called "Night of the living homeless" that parodies all three of Romero's zombie films AND the recent remake - genius!
Grade: A


REAL WORLD (MTV)
Davis, that troublemaker, told Jen's boyfriend everything!!!! And he still didn't kick Alex's ass! And they got back together. After Jen admitted to NOTHING with her man, and all the roomates told him what the deal was, Jenn said "I'm so happy I was just honest about my life with him." What????/ In other retarded news, Brooke, the COMPLETE PSYCHO from somewhere South, met a man, decided she loved him, then CRIED and CRIED because he suggested they go BOWLING. She asked through tears "Do I look like the kind of girl you take BOWLING?????" These fucktards are the best fucktards EVER!
Grade: B


THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
I watched a few of these with G. - who thinks that Ripsi's drunken performance and beating up sleeping roomates was every bit the masterpiece we've all been talking about! The funniest thing about this show is everytime they call Kerri "the bad girl of country music." Umm....don't we need to know who someone is before they can take that title? And why are they all picking on Jodi!
Grade: A


AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
So long, Sanjia. We hardly knew ya. Still - it was a shock to see him go - but I have to think that his lackluster "Something to talk about" had to be the final straw for America. Either that, or IDOL is ________
Anyway, I saw IDOL GIVES BACK - Jack Black was really funny.


AMY WINEHOUSE CD
Awesome. Buy it. Now.


LILY ALLEN CD
Awesome. Buy it. Now.


I LOVE NY FINALE & REUNION (VH1)
Actually lost brain cells watching this one. They're on my couch, gasping for air. NY is just a complete idiot, and the finale' seemed fake - as in - they wanted another season and they faked the ending.


DEBBIE DOES DALLAS AGAIN (SHOWTIME)
I was just starting to love this show and now I can't find it.

FLAVA OF LOVE/CHARM SCHOOL (vh1)

Not sure what's more disturbing. Watching Vh1 jump the shark with never-ending "Flava" spinoffs, or how truly insane every single girl on this show is. I'm not kidding - these are the worst people ever presented on tv. Worse still, this is one truly badly produced show. The eliminations are based on bullshit, and these girls should all have psychological help, not more tv exposure. Shame on mainstream star Monique for involving herself in this truly exploitive, and truly boring hour.

Needing to catch up on shows like THE SHIELD - will have more reviews on Monday. And nothing was more disturbing that what went on THE STERN SHOW on yesterday's show between Sal and Richard. My God.

Countdown to the end.

PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! (the colon episode)
Penn & Teller's show has been on the air about 3 or 4 years now and every time I think they have a provocative subject matter, it's always a huge disappointment. Unlike Morgan Spurlock, who actually researches his subject - Penn just goes about spewing hatred towards everything without any REAL point of view on anything - so in effect, his show - really is bullshit.
Grade: D


ULTIMATE BEAUTY CONTEST (VH1)
Wow - this was a truly grotesque window into the world of adolescent beauty pageants. The kids are sad, the parents are scary and pathetic - and the whole enterprise seems completely empty and sordid.
But - the filmmaking was good.
Grade: B

THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
I just watched a bunch of these and it continues to be a very wild and provocative show. And stupid. Really fucking stupid. But in the best possible way.
Grade: B +


AMERICAN IDOL REWIND (SYND)
I occasionally watch these re-edited shows and was completely impressed with how Nikki McKibbin, who was a mess the week before - rebounded back with 2 knockout performances - first MARY JANE and then YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE. Speaking of IDOL, why is it the only person I could remember from this year's crop is Sanjaya?


KING OF QUEENS (CBS)
Like SOPRANOS and THE SHIELD (well - THE SHIELD as it turns out, will be back for one more season after these eps play out) - but QUEENS ends it's 9 year run with a spate of 7 episodes. Judging by the first of the last, in which Arthur coaches Spence on how to get a job, this is just further evidence that KING will probably go down as one of the most under appreciated comedies in the last decade.
Grade: A


ROCKY (DVD)
I recently re-watched this with G. While I absolutely love this film and almost everything about it, I have to say - I agreed with G. about the fact that the fight at the end was one of the weaker elements. Stallone would later correct this in ROCKY 2 - which had better training sequences and a fantastic final bout.


THE SHIELD (DVD)
Continues it's run as the nastiest show on television right now.
Grade: A


REAL TIME W/BILL MA-HAIR (HBO)
Bill had on Al Sharpton to talk about the Imus situation. While Imus is clearly racist, what's not so clear anymore is how easy it is to get villainized by a society incredibly eager to say "gotcha."

ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Good episode, but the Ari/Lloyd thing felt...like the script needed another pass. Ari was all for sending Lloyd to the bar, then had a complete change of heart later - it felt like there was a transition that was missing - and it also felt a little over the top for Ari in the first place. I can't remember the Vince storyline at all.
Grade: B -

THE SOPRANOS (HBO) (Spoilers)
The second ep in their final batch was almost Seinfeldian - it's becoming a show about nothing. And for a major plot point to hinge on a fictional movie that Chris made...just seems....I don't know. And did we need 40 minutes on the death of Johnny Sack? Not that there wasn't a good story in there somewhere, but it seemed like the story could've dealt with Sack being all alone while he was dying - no visits from Phil or Tony - it just seemed really out of place the way it was stuck in the middle of the story. The scene with Silvio provided a moment of electricity - and as The Girl asked me, "Why was Phil giving a classroom speech about his brother to kids who raised their hands and asked questions?" I have no problem with T and Christopher getting into it - it just felt like a very forced way to do it with the movie, which completely took me out of the episode every time they showed it. And enough with Tim Daly as the TV writer. C'mon Sopranos - 7 more episodes, is it too much to ask to get fucking great again?
Grade: B -

Countdown to the end.

PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! (the colon episode)
Penn & Teller's show has been on the air about 3 or 4 years now and every time I think they have a provocative subject matter, it's always a huge disappointment. Unlike Morgan Spurlock, who actually researches his subject - Penn just goes about spewing hatred towards everything without and REAL point of view on anything - so in effect, his show - really is bullshit.
Grade: D


ULTIMATE BEAUTY CONTEST (VH1)
Wow - this was a truly grotesque window into the world of adolescent beauty pageants. The kids are sad, the parents are scary and pathetic - and the whole enterprise seems completely empty and sordid.
But - the filmmaking was good.
Grade: B

THE BAD GIRLS CLUB (OXY)
I just watched a bunch of these and it continues to be a very wild and provocative show. And stupid. Really fucking stupid. But in the best possible way.
Grade: B +


AMERICAN IDOL REWIND (SYND)
I occasionally watch these re-edited shows and was completely impressed with how Nikki McKibbin, who was a mess the week before - rebounded back with 2 knockout performances - first MARY JANE and then YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE. Speaking of IDOL, why is it the only person I could remember from this year's crop is Sanjaya?


KING OF QUEENS (CBS)
Like SOPRANOS and THE SHIELD (well - THE SHIELD as it turns out, will be back for one more season after these eps play out) - but QUEENS ends it's 9 year run with a spate of 7 episodes. Judging by the first of the last, in which Arthur coaches Spence on how to get a job, this is just further evidence that KING will probably go down as one of the most under appreciated comedies in the last decade.
Grade: A


ROCKY (DVD)
I recently re-watched this with G. While I absolutely love this film and almost everything about it, I have to say - I agreed with G. about the fact that the fight at the end was one of the weaker elements. Stallone would later correct this in ROCKY 2 - which had better training sequences and a fantastic final bout.


THE SHIELD (DVD)
Continues it's run as the nastiest show on television right now.
Grade: A


REAL TIME W/BILL MA-HAIR (HBO)
Bill had on Al Sharpton to talk about the Imus situation. While Imus is clearly racist, what's not so clear anymore is how easy it is to get villainized by a society incredibly eager to say "gotcha."

ENTOURAGE (HBO)
Good episode, but the Ari/Lloyd thing felt...like the script needed another pass. Ari was all for sending Lloyd to the bar, then had a complete change of heart later - it felt like there was a transition that was missing - and it also felt a little over the top for Ari in the first place. I can't remember the Vince storyline at all.
Grade: B -

THE SOPRANOS (HBO) (Spoilers)
The second ep in their final batch was almost Seinfeldian - it's becoming a show about nothing. And for a major plot point to hinge on a fictional movie that Chris made...just seems....I don't know. And did we need 40 minutes on the death of Johnny Sack? Not that there wasn't a good story in there somewhere, but it seemed like the story could've dealt with Sack being all alone while he was dying - no visits from Phil or Tony - it just seemed really out of place the way it was stuck in the middle of the story. The scene with Silvio provided a moment of electricity - and as The Girl asked me, "Why was Phil giving a classroom speech about his brother to kids who raised their hands and asked questions?" I have no problem with T and Christopher getting into it - it just felt like a very forced way to do it with the movie, which completely took me out of the episode every time they showed it. And enough with Tim Daly as the TV writer. C'mon Sopranos - 7 more episodes, is it too much to ask to get fucking great again?
Grade: B -

the end of an era

As you know, as I've described below, much like the last episodes of THE SOPRANOS, these are the last blogs. Unfortunately - or fortunately - I've become too busy to really pay attention to this site at the moment, so for now, going to keep reviewing up to the last ep of THE SOPRANOS - since the blog began with the first season (on dvd) - this seems like a fitting end. You'll see a few repeat reviews in here, but that's due to my total lack of focus on this site for the moment. Please accept my apologies, as this blog is important to me, but it doesn't really fit in with my life right now.

THE SHIELD (EP 2)
Another complete nail-biter. This show's extended 6th season is a scorcher and Chicklis has never been better as Mackey.
Grade: A

I gave up on DANCING WITH THE STARS - it was fun for a while, but I can't really get into the dance critiques.

Sanjaya remains on IDOL and also remains the one interesting contestant - as this whole season has been an utter bore.

HOUSE scored another great ep with the outbreak of mass hysteria on a moving plane. This show is really showing signs of life in it's final episodes of the season and really upping the stakes for its characters.

Going to see GRINDHOUSE this weekend. Will let you know how it is.


THE SHIELD (FX)
Continues it's winning streak from last season with a first rate opener. No spoilers - but if you love this show like I do, it continues to get better.
Grade: B +


THE SOPRANOS (HBO)
THE SOPRANOS opens it's final season, as usual - with a so/so episode. Not that I didn't like the idea of confining it all to one space and having the story be small - the story points with Tony and Bobby were actually really good - it's just the bluntness of the storytelling - the lingering on the character of Janice....God - Janice is probably the show's most poorly conceived and rottenly executed character. She was brought it when Nancy Marchand, who played T's mom, was dying. They thought somehow that Janice would carry the torch and be that foil for Tony. Here's the problem with that theory - Janice is NOT the actress Marchand was - there's a big difference with the mom and the sister in terms of relationships with Tony - and the actress simply plays every scene as if she's had no training at all. Also - the show didn't really need a replacement for the Mom - that was a very special arc and it ended. But with the exception of the near-perfect first season, THE SOPRANOS has never been completely consistent - it's just always been great as a whole - and I have no reason to think there won't be some great eps coming up. Like I said - I actually liked last night's storyline - I just think that script could've gone through a few more workouts and not have been so obvious. I'm also not encouraged by the previews nor the thing David Chase has been saying in the press (he thinks Paulie Walnuts seeing the Virgin Mary last season was one of the series high points - when in fact, it was one of the very low points.) The fact that Chase is directing the finale is scary - Chase is fond of dream sequences, fantasy sequences and anything that has nothing to do with the reality of the show. This final season could be a very bumpy ride, but I hope it's not bumpy enough to fuck up the legacy.
Grade: B -


ENTOURAGE (HBO)
On the other hand, this show seems to be hitting its stride - and having Ari not be the agent for a while is working really well.
Grade: B +

THE "SAW" TRILOGY (DVD)
The first film (unrated) is a modern horror masterpiece of grueling set pieces, an unlimited gruesome imagination and a truly original take on torture and malice. SAW II was like - taking the SAW idea and integrating it with LAW AND ORDER: SVU. You had this really cheesy cop story integrated with the SAW idea and an expanded role for JIGSAW - the Hannibal-esque killer that we didn't see in the first movie - who is now a real MOVIE MONSTER - complete with a steely look and a mysterious way of talking. In other words - a real piece of shit of a sequel. SAW III was even more of a piece of shit. To hear the audio commentaries on both films, you'd think these guys made GODFATHER II.
SAW (original) - B +
SAW II - D
SAW III - F

THE LOOKOUT (In Theaters)
A colorful, youthful spin on memory loss and MEMENTO, this film posits Joseph Gordon-Levitt (from 3rd Rock from The Sun) as a memory losing young man in charge of a bank, which his dangerous new friends want to rob. No spoilers here, but a fine film and a twisty ending.
Grade: B

THE "SAW" TRILOGY (DVD)
The first one is genius. The second two are so beyond bad they need their own zip code.
SAW 1 - A
Saw 2 - D
Saw 3 - F

HOUSE (FOX)
Scored again with a great episode that involved the season's funniest line (House is trying to figure out where he's seen the patient before, and finally screams at him while he's almost in a coma "Have you been in a porno movie?" This was an episode that had lots of questions and provided LOTS of juicy answers. I love this show.
Grade: A
AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)
Call me crazy, but Sanjaya rose to the occasion tonight and rocked the house! I thought his look was original and I thought his voice was really good. What can I say.


I re-watched a SARAH SILVERMAN show at my friend Marc's house last nite - it was the one where she thinks she's a lesbian. Sarah is seriously funny in this one - this was probably the best of the six.


RACHEL RAY interviews BARRY MANILOW
How fucking embarrassing is Rachel Ray? The questions she would ask - the expressions she made - how in the fuck is she this popular? Don't get me wrong - she seems like a very nice woman and she obviously knows what she's doing as far as these gourmet meals (clearly) and tricks in the kitchen go. But first of all - she really needs a new stylist. She's a larger woman and she HAS to stop wearing those bad baby girl dresses. It's just...wrong. Then she asks Barry Manilow these completely inane questions - I was waiting for Barry to blow his own brains out. She asks "So, for your new album, HOW did you ever pick the BEST songs of the 60s - I mean, to call it THE BEST SONGS OF THE 60s - that's like - a REALLY heavy statement." So Barry is like - "Y'know, I just asked some people I respect, looked at the charts..." and Rachel interrupts him with this big fake laugh and screams "You POLLED your friends - how GREAT is that! Oh my God! Hahahahahahahaah."

Very scary woman.

WILDBOYZ (MTV 2)
I love this show - love Steve-O; really love Chris Pontius - who is a very very funny guy and he plays to the camera in a really natural, inherently funny way. I've been watching some of the reruns on mtv2 and had forgotten how funny the show was. The 2 episodes I saw had them with Johnny Knoxville - Johnny pulls a truly heinous prank on Steve-O: he pretends to get bitten by a venomous snake (it was harmless) and gets taken away in a stretcher as he "dies" while Steve-O cries. The only thing I'm not crazy about is their casual treatment of animals - who are mostly just props for their stunts. I actually hate that aspect of it - yet most of the things they do make me laugh. The show doesn't feel like the old JACKASS - instead it kind of apes the style of the 2 JACKASS movies - in which skits are done really quickly with not much setup, and there are smaller, 30 second pieces that could just be about them punching a sleeping producer (it's funnier than it sounds.) JACKASS, the movies ROCK - but WILDBOYS is a better show than Jackass was.
Grade: A

HOWARD TV (On Demand)
GILBERT GOTFRIED & WILL THE FARTER (HOWARD TV - IN DEMAND)
A half hour with each - Gilbert seems shockingly depressed over his marriage and on-the-way baby. Will comes in with some great ideas - but lets everyone down when he can't really get it together. A so/so installment.
Grade: C +

THE NOT SO GREAT DEBATE, WITH SCOTT DePACE AND JOHN THE STUTTERER (HOWARD tv)
John the unbelievably bad stutterer squares off with Stern TV producer Scott DePace regarding abortion, porn and a variety of hot button issues. What follows is insane, insanely funny - and hilariously stupid.
Grade: B +


DANCING WITH THE STARS (ABC)
Heather Mills kicked ass. Ian Ziering was pretty good - but this show should be an hour.

PRISON BREAK (FOX)
Continues to be the most nail-biting, suspense soap opera on TV right now. I won't give away spoilers, but get the first 2 seasons on dvd when you can and get into this astonishingly inventive show.
Grade: A +

HOLLYWOODLAND (DVD)
Ben Affleck is the great actor I always suspected he was, and Adrian Brodey is good as well. The movie is just okay - slow, but with some power. And the scenes of Affleck channeling the soul of Chris Reeves is astonishingly well executed - but I think this could've benefited from more of a focused plot.
Grade: C +

JANICE DICKINSON MODELING AGENCY (OXY)
Continues to be a completely compelling reality show. Well worth watching. I love the two male model roommates who bicker.


I'm really loving THE AGENCY on VH1. Becky is awesome.

ACCEPTABLE TV is a little weird to watch - but it's really cool at the same time, and probably - in some way - the future of tv. Viewers make little shorts and send them in to this Jack Black & Co. produced show, then viewers vote on which sketches come back for another round. The ep I watched was really original and funny.

DICE UNDISPUTED (VH1)
Had a very good ep that had Dice going to record a new cd and the sound man not arriving until 5 minutes before the show. This was one of the better eps that cast Dice as a sympathetic guy - and when they played a bit of his original CD you suddenly remembered why everyone thought he was so goddamned funny in the first place.
Grade: B


SURREAL LIFE GAMES (VH1) (the finale)
In the last episode, I couldn't really follow the game that well - but Vanilla Ice went nuts and destroyed the set and literally wanted to KILL Ron Jeremy. Then in the final square off - we had Tracy Bingham - SHOCKED that she wasn't higher up on the GOOGLE list - against Ron Jeremy. The person to decide who wins - Kathy Griffin - yeah, that one. The talentless woman who never seems to go away. Of course she picked Tracey, and this fun show winds up with horrible and unfair finale.
SEASON GRADE: B -
Finale' Grade: D -


Very sad to say that I'm ending the regular postings on this blog. I really loved doing it, but for various reasons I don't really have the time that it takes to do it anymore - this was a hobby of mine, but I really loved talking about shows and hearing back what people, friends, strangers - thought. Feel free to always write about something or ask about it in the COMMENTS SECTION where u can either blog anonymously or even use a name - u don't have to sign up to do it and it's easy.

Otherwise, I'll probably want review the last batch of SOPRANOS and SHIELD EPS, but in all likelihood will limit it to that. The last show of the sopranos will probably be the last blog for a long time.

I appreciate everybody who read this regularly and it has been insanely fun to sit on a computer and write about what you think and have a dialog and small audience for it. And I'll keep the site up for quite some time if you ever wanted to check a review or something.

Thanks for reading.
The Digital Couch.