Weekend Rant - Making up for Lost Time

Things have been running fast and furious for several weeks now, and as I continue playing catch up with a few shows (24 is one of those), I have been making sure that I keep up with my Best in Show favourites such as Lost and Battlestar Galactica. This has to be one of my favourite times of the year as both of those series are rolling out phenomenal seasons and the writing has been incredible. It is nice to see some complicated and enthralling story lines and both series have been keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Dollhouse has really sucked me in with after only 3 episodes and I salut Josh Whedon for creating another fascinating universe. Eliza Dushku is really having a chance to show her acting chops with her portrayal of each of the different persona's and as her fugue Echo in her Tabla Rasla state. The premise is intriguing, I am loving the stories so far and the back story with Alpha and the massacre at the Dollhouse. Casting Amy Acker as the resident doctor for the Dolls is more Whedon brilliance and is totally geek pleasing stuff seeing one of my favourites from Angel (Fred/Illyria) as the scarred Dr. Claire Saunders, and I have been thrilled to see Tahmoh Penikett (Helo from BSG) cast as the FBI agent trying to uncover the Dollhouse. This strange melding of both the Buffy and Galactica universes has me hooked and I can hardly wait to see more.

Lost and The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham has my head spinning watching John Locke getting manipulated by all the different players surrounding his quest to return to the Island, and it's hard to tell who is actually telling the truth.Is it Richard (and Christian?) that are working together on behalf of the Island, or is Widmore and his quest to get the Island back or does it have something to do with Ben? The big reveal that John was going to commit suicide after visiting and being rejected by the majority of the Oceanic 6 in an effort to get them back to the Island, only to be stopped at the last minute by Ben. Of course John made the error of revealing a bit too much information and then was killed by Ben who staged John's suicide. Now that we have John waking up on the Island with a new group of people and an injured Ben makes me wonder what John did in a past life that he needs to make up for it now, or what is so damn special about him that has been alluded to by all the players. One thing is certain, they all seem to need him. The only thing that I can say is that the return to the Island was astounding with all those convenient coincidences.... but I can hardly wait to see Sun and Jin meet again once we figure out When everyone is. Damn this show is astounding.

Battlestar Galactica has me completely sucked in to the last few episodes and I am on pins and needles waiting to see how they will end things with our survivors. Will they finally find home? Is Hera truly the salvation they are looking for? Is Starbuck a clone or hybrid? Something else? Will Galactica hold together long enough to find a new home? Will the President live long enough to see her people safe? So many questions and so little time left...

Heroes is still boring me senseless with the current story line and if the ratings keep dropping like this we may not see any more after this season. Unfortunately this series has fallen victim to the biggest problem that hits sci fi shows ... it seems that it is a problem to try maintaining good writing or well developed story lines that keep the viewers coming back, and I have been bored silly since this story arc started. Wake me up when this snooze is over as they keep just rehashing the same things over and over. At least Chuck is still hanging in there quality wise, but it really has to be Medium which is the most gripping show of the evening. This show is an example of good writing that has made for some great stories so far this season. I love Alison being a bit more out of control and this past body snatcher/possession storyline is making me think that hubbie Joe is going to have a major meltdown soon if Alison keeps putting the kids in danger.

I wish the scheduling would get back to normal and shows like Bones and Big Bang Theory get back to airing new episodes,the occasional new episode is not enough and don't get me started about wanting to see the final episodes of Pushing Daisies. Some shows get no respect and I am furious with ABC for holding on to the last episodes and not even giving the crew a chance to tie things up with the storyline. MADtv finally had a new episode this week, and it was great to see the gang doing their very funny schtick after several months of repeats and compilation episodes. I hope they will air all the final season and let the cast say their farewells. It would be great to see some of the old gang to tie things up but I am not really holding out too much hope for any hooplah. For all we know, all the stuff has already been taped and we are just waiting for it to air.

Project Runway Canada is starting to become too predictable with pretty much the same formula being used over and over. Iman looks fierce, Challenge, at least one designer freaks out and is on the verge of a complete meltdown. There is tons of bitching and usually the biggest whiner goes home, and Sunny wins. Repeat. I bet ya Sunny wins the competition...

My biggest guilty pleasure at the moment has to be RuPaul's Drag Race, which is turning into one of the best shows ever. Not only are our contestants fierce from A to Z, but they are all such lovely and different creatures that you can't help but want all of them to win, except for the one that they are shamelessly promoting as the biggest bitch because the show has to have one. This show hits so many of the right notes with its over the top spoofing of other reality shows and having the balls to show the guys as much as the boys they are as their Drag counterparts. It's a shame that a couple of the more marginal girls have had to go, but I am routing for Angina. Drag is about being a parody or being a character and not necessarily about being a female impersonator. You go girl!

Weekend Rant - Getting back on track

Things are almost back to normal .. almost ... and the best thing is that part of being busy was due to the So you think you can Dance Canada Top Ten Tour that was in Montréal this past Saturday. I had purchased tickets months ago and was not disappointed with the big show.

It was amazing to see all that talent live and in real time, and the quantity of routines was staggering. I would have to say that I saw almost all of my favorite numbers, and was in awe and half deaf due to all the screaming fans that were there. Nico was clearly the fan favorite, as his every appearance brought the crowd to their feet in ovation and the requisite screaming. He was closely followed in crowd appreciation by the other 2 from Québec, Danny and Vincent. Arassay and Lisa seemed to be very popular in Montréal and got the biggest ovations from the crowd, but that is not to say that the rest of the Top Ten were not appreciated, but it wasn't on the same level. It almost goes with out saying that the hometown boys are going to get the biggest cheers, and our fair city did not miss a beat. It was a great evening with a very eclectic crowd of people of all ages and a ton of fun. My ears may never be the same but sometimes you have to take one for the team. Season 2 was recently announced and I can hardly wait to see the next round.

Things should be more back to normal after this week and I have to rant about Survivor and Dollhouse. More to follow...

Weekend Rant - The start of something new

Things will be returning to normal after next week and I will have time to do more than one posting per week. There have been several times during the week that I have cheered for joy or been completely flabbergasted by something that happened on my viewing schedule. This past week was actually a pretty good one and I can't say that quality was lacking in the shows that I checked out.

Heroes returned with a sputter and has me completely bored with their return after the winter break. If this is the beginning of new storyline I am going to hate to see how it develops, they better get their writers in order soon as the show is really loosing it's luster. Maybe they will make up for it next week and get the ball rolling, but it appears stalled at the moment... I am not digging the start of this round and how we seem to be starting over again.

Chuck disappointed me with the 3-D episode, I watched it and just felt completely meh after ... it's a shame because I am a huge fan of the show, and I thought that if any show could pull of something fun it would be these guys since they are so geeky.... but they missed the ball on that one and took the attention away from an otherwise good story. It's kind of funny that our hobbit and dead ex-druggie rocker from Lost, Dominic Monaghan (Charlie) was a guest star playing another rocker... me thinks someone may get typecast if he is not careful.

The good news for NBC was that I was thrilled that Medium came back to the airwaves this week, and it was so nice that things felt back to normal (as far as anything can feel normal in this series) after that awkward turn of events last season. A large part of the success of this show is because of the characters and their interaction with each other that makes this show sing. I just love the kids and they are always finding interesting ways of working "the ability" into their everyday lives. It was a great balance of vision and interpretation and the story line and all the twists and turns made for a great season opener. Welcome back Allison, Joe and family and the gang at the DA's office. It's nice to see you all together again.

Project Runway Canada has more than enough drama queens this time around, and there is tons of delicious tension and bitching between the contestants. The Challenge this week was to create a look for "their special celebrity muse - Canadian sweetheart and Hollywood A-list celebrity Elisha Cuthbert." I think the A Listing is a tad exaggerated, if anything she is a B List celebrity and hasn't really been in the spotlight recently. The show seems to want to pull out the big guns to get the viewers in and I hope they haven't shot their wad too early... anyways, this group of competitors is pretty whiney and yet another of them is on the verge of a complete meltdown with all the pressure and all. Just shoot me -- I am always agah when I see contestants that are surprised that the competition is difficult and that others don't play nice. Welcome to reality TV, just wipe that nose okay? It's kind of gross when you have been crying like a baby.

Anyways, it all reads like your typical good season of Runway, only there aren't enough over the top gay guys nor a decent representation from Montréal (I am ashamed of you Project Runway Canada - is this your new conservative agenda?) and the end results so far have pointed out the big talent of Adejoké, Sunny and Baylor. Brandon is the one getting on my nerves (there is always at least one) and my underdog favorite was Christie until she freaked this week. I'd would have liked to shown my favorite ensemble made for our Canuck B Lister, but alas the GlobalTV website is crap and I can't get episode photos. Margarita got the boot after her stretch fabric nightmare, but Brandon was put on notice for his trashy dress. Iman is a stunning as usual and a real tyrant on the runway, we need more of her. I loved her Ziggy Stardust t shirt at the beginning, fashionable, classy and fierce.

Smallville shined a light at the end of the tunnel with Lana getting all juiced up on Kryptonite in her new super powered invisible armor that gives her powers and the incredible ability to be able to have hot sex with Clark and break the frame of a solid oak bed with their shenanigans. It appears that she is armored inside and out.... anyways, in her "final appearance" she saves the Daily Planet but can never be by our hero ever again. It appears that Lex orchestrated all this and is supposedly dead (again ) and once more I meh and know that Lex will be back and can only pray that Lana is off being Kryptonite Girl elsewhere and helping out those in need. I can hardly wait until Lois is back and Clark grows a pair. Seriously, enough with the stupid angst, it is not necessary, it's time to get our boy suited up and doing the good deeds and becoming the hero and legend that he is supposed to be.

Battlestar Galactica literally knocked me on my ass with the past episode. I can not believe how much happened in that one episode and the pacing was great. All of the multiple elements working together, the mutiny and resistance, the tenacity of Adama as he took back his ship, Zarek and Gaita and their struggle for power and the incredible strength of Roslin as she rallied the troops. Laura Roslin was astounding when she put it all on the line with Zarek and told him that she would hunt him to the end of the universe for justice, I literally had chills as she was giving him her ultimatum. It was all just an astounding episode and you could feel for the first time in these final ten episodes, a glimmer of hope. After all the disappointment and heartbreak there were feelings of pride and duty and a change in direction. It was the start of something new, and I can hardly wait to see what happens next.