Weekend Rant - Just one of those Best Weeks Ever

This week turned into one of the best ever on the tube. Not only was there brilliant and funny all week long, but playing catch up this weekend I saw some pretty fun stuff, the first being the final and deciding episode of Farmer wants a wife, and Matt decided to take Brooke to be his girl. After seeing his house more closely (and that weird hallway of dead deer looking at you) I changed my mind and although I was originally hoping for Christa, I thought Brooke was a better match. Matt sure made it seem like he as more interested in Christa, but I think he wants more of a puppy dog to follow him around so he made a good choice (and I think Krista dodged one here). If they do another round I could be sucked in to watch if the Farmer is really hot.

Celebrity Circus is a demanding as ever, and I am really impressed by the difficulty of the various routines the celebrities are performing. I was almost surprised that Wee Man was still around this week after his challenges last week but not that surprised that our Olympic athlete Janet got the boot.Yes she is physically capable but is not graceful enough. I did think it was a little ridiculous to have the elimination between her and Antonio Sabato Jr ( seriously, the guy is the hottest thing on the show and always gets high scores) and to keep it hanging until the end. It's a weird formula and this show has a strange pace sometimes. Stacey Dash won some respect and applause from me this week once I realized that the woman is over 40 (I honestly thought she was much younger) but it's pretty much a no-brainer that it will go down to her and Antonio for the win. Rachel did a good job on the tightrope (and kudos to the guys that carried her in that dangerous pyramid stunt), Christopher Knight was okay with his challenge but Wee Man just pointed out to me that penguins are not meant to fly with his routine and he must be the next to go... sorry Wee Man.

Flipping Out is as manic as ever -- and I am in awe of Jeff. This man is the poster child of OCD

and I can not get over his ability to centre his existence on one detail. The sandwich dilemma was funny enough (meatball or pepperoni?) but I hit the roof with the whole drapes drama. When Jeff started obsessing about " The drapes ... The drapes ... The drapes" I almost completely lost it. You better start treating Zola better though man because she deserves it and the whole portrait thing was just poor taste. Give the woman a break -- she has to deal with you Jeff and I can not imagine that she is getting adequately compensated for that. At least Jeff has gotten a taste of his own medicine with his psycho client and might learn the error of his ways eventually.

Doctor Who- The Stolen Earth is way up there on the list of Best Episodes EVER. Not only did we get the appearance of all of the more recent companions but it's a fantastically great story that ties together all of the clues that they have been leaving all season (and probably from earlier as well). I just love the way all of the spin off shows and their characters were tied in to this storyline so seamlessly, and better yet, managed to keep the same continuity that is/was happening in those shows. Torchwood is only the 3 remaining characters (Jack,Gwen and Ianto) who were there at the end of the season. Martha is still with the Unit as we last saw her, as Sarah Jane is doing her thing. The interaction between Jack and Sarah Jane is interesting and I am hoping to see more crossover stuff between the series, even though they are intended for different audiences. I am really loving Catherine Tate as Donna and she makes a great companion to the Doctor and complements well the others while being new and different.

The episode was so jam packed full of fun stuff that I'll list a few of my faves:

- alien bees -- I just knew it....

- Exterminate! (love those Daleks)

- The Shadow Proclamation

- Harriet Jones: Former Prime Minister and the subwave network

- the whole conference call thing with the gang calling the Doctor

- Paintball guns

- Project Indigo

- Rose and her big ass gun

- Captain Jack (and I love how Ianto gets jealous and how everyone finds Jack hot)

I was feeling so sorry for Rose being left out of the call to the Doctor (she was only an observer) but you could feel her heart calling out to him, the level of emoting in this series is astounding. You could feel the terror from the characters dealing with the Daleks, it was all very palpable.

I am still completely freaked out by the ending of the episode and all the cliffhangers .... you knew that it was too good to be true to see Rose and the Doctor reunite, and it was very bittersweet with the Doctor getting zapped by a Dalek and in a sense, dying in her arms.

Is the Doctor really regenerating in to another version? Will there be a faithful companion that will make the ultimate sacrifice (my money is on Rose for that one) ... I am seeing a possible exit and I think it may have to do with Donna and that weird Time Beetle thing from the previous episode Left Turn. When they were at the Shadow Proclamation, one of the attendants commented to Donna about something being on her back, and I wonder if Time Beetles have anything to do with Time Lords or the fact that the Earth is out of synch in the Medusa Cascade. I can hardly wait until next Saturday... like I said, BEST EPISODE EVER.

And on a final note, I checked out the GLAAD Media Awards on Bravo and was impressed with the entire presentation. Great work, and it's nice to see people like Kathy Griffin, Janet Jackson and Herb Ritts celebrated for their positive work with the gay community. I was in awe of some of the celebrities that participated and the subject matter was very serious for the televised portion. We go to see some of the other events as there were awards in several cities. I do have to say that Barbara Walters was humble and articulate in her acceptance of her award, and it was even more humbling to see Judy Shepard accept the Excellence in Media Award. She made it very clear that she was not celebrating her award and would trade it in a second to have her son back. We have made some steps but there is still a long way to go for equality and general acceptance in society, and as long as there is hatred, intolerance and violence towards the LGBT community there is still work to be done.

Reality Round Up - Are you the one?

The CBC started running the Canuck version of " How do you solve a problem like Maria? " this week, looking for the next lead of the Sound of Music on Broadway. I am a huge fan of the classic film and it is a regular holiday staple here. There are some very big names that are associated with the show such as Andrew Lloyd Webber, Simon Lee, Elaine Overholt and John Barrowman (yes he of Torchwood and Doctor Who fame) as the regular judges.
The hilarious Gavin Crawford (from 22 Minutes) is hosting-- and Gavin does have a completely nonchalant attitude towards the whole thing.My favorite contestants so far are Donna and Katie -- but we'll have to see how things develop as neither are the typical Julie Andrews look. I love the marketing for the show -- the simple M? logo and the catch phrase " Are you Maria?" make the concept sound simpler than it actually is. It looks good so far and has my interest, let's hope that now we are to the " Top Ten" situation and the voting will start that the real contenders step up and show us why they should be Maria.

So you think you can Dance ? has finally passed the selection process and we are now into the partner competition part of the series. I enjoy the competitions (and find that the dancers and choreography are even more difficult than last year), but am still looking forward to when half the herd has been culled and we are down to the final 10. That's when the competition gets really interesting. Is it just me or are the Judges being even more difficult this year? I know the game is up several levels, but I find the Judges too critical. Twitch and Comfort are a couple of my favorite dancers so far. Last week we lost the first couple, and this week it's kind of up in the air after several iffy performances.

Farmer wants a wife pulled a quick one last night and we are down to the final 2 girls, Christa and Brooke. It's funny... they are the 2 that I thought from the beginning matched well with hunky farmer Matt, and my heart has grown big on Christa (who I think has enough spark to keep Matt on his toes) and have gotten so tired of the ever virginal Brooke, who just seems to be trying too hard and not in the right ways. Here's hoping Matt chooses Christa... now in a perfect world I would love to see the gay version of this one...

Tori & Dean: Home sweet Hollywood started up this week and I am glad to see Tori back in the fast lane. I can't believe how pregnant she is (again) and looking forward to seeing if we will find out some of the back story of her return to 90210. Will things ever be cool with Mommy dearest? Dean is getting back in the acting gig and I can't get over how adorable Liam is.

Weekend Rant -- End Games

Our wacky season (seriously-- a strike year is not a good thing) is wrapping up... and even with the abbreviated seasons and feast or famine situations, there was some decent story telling this year. Maybe this year was one to force the actors and writers to do their best possible in trying times, but I still feel cheated in many ways and really hope that we don't have another one of these situations again for quite awhile. Amen to that.

Dancing with Stars broke my heart this week with the elimination of Marissa, but I can hardly wait to see the Finale this week and watch Kristi win the trophy. This has been one of the best seasons ever.

Samantha Who? ended the first season well, and I am glad it has been picked up for next year, the chemistry between the characters gets better and better each week and I love the flashbacks to "bad Sam" and the continual struggle to do the right thing.

Medium was different this year, but had tons of interesting elements and after all is said and done things seem to be more back to the status quo of season's past. Maybe it was an experimental season, but I enjoyed it and happy that it will be back again next year.

American Gladiators hit the screen again this week, and not only do I love the new games (Rocket Ball rules!) and the new Gladiators (long and lean is so sexy...) but I am concerned about having a pregnant Layla Ali so close to the action. This show is too much fun.

Farmer wants a Wife continues to be the Guilty Pleasure of the moment, and besides the trashy psychotic girls (yeah-- we found your address on one of the magazines and we are stalking you), it has had some really bad innuendo thrown in. "Sorry to have hit you with my big wood" says Farmer before letting one of the city girls go. The fighting between the girls is getting all out of hand (those slutty church girls) and it is just plain insanity.If Matt wasn't kind of cute and some of the girls weren't kind of okay this would be like watching some really BAD VH1 dating show....

Smallville ended this season with lots of stuff blowing up (as usual) and more angst than should be allowed on any TV show. It was all pretty dull and predictable, and my hope is that Lana is gone for good, Clark finally gets it on with Lois and that they find a decent villain to replace Lex. I am not sure how the show can make it with out Michael (Lex).... he simply made that character into one of the best versions ever. I think it's fine time that they give Clark a spine and get him to start being the hero that he is destined to be.. besides if they are in the final season then go for broke. Thank god Chloe is back next season.

Supernatural did a season finale as it should be done -- great story, fantastic cliffhanger ending and the visuals were astounding. I wonder if we could get these writers to take over for Smallville for it's final season and give Clark some balls? The brothers were spot on (as usual), Lilith is the scariest kid ever on TV (yikes!) and I loved seeing the struggle to try to save Dean. Here's hoping some one gets out Hell real quick-- it doesn't look like fun at all.

There is still more to come over the next 2 weeks -- and then all the new summer stuff that is on it's way.... including my favorite " So you think you can Dance?" and more of the insanely funny Kathy Griffin. For every ending there is a new beginning... or some kind of crap like that.

Weekend Rant - May Sweeps

Farmer wants a Wife kicked off this week, and if the first episode is any indication, I know that I have found another Guilty Pleasure that had me in minor fits of hysteria from the moment it started.

First of all, Farmer (Matt), is a pretty good looking, good old boy who likes to farm (shirt and underwear free), has abs for days, and now suddenly has 10 ladies ("city folk") after his hot ass.

The majority of the girls are way out of their element, but there are a couple that stand out, and it has the makings of a great, trashy show. My picks for the Farmer are Brooke and Christa as they seem to have some chemistry already... Kanisha is trying real hard and seems to be quite interested in Matt, and the biggest joke has to be Josie. I don't think the farm needs another cow...

Besides seeing the girls trying to deal with farm life (and lose those pumps quickly girls, they aren't practical for walking through fields), we got the best elimination ever..... can you believe that the girls need to check under their chicken to see if they have an egg to find out if they are still in the running to be the wife??? Too hilarious... it certainly contrasts your typical "Rose Ceremony" or the Torches on Survivor and added another quaint element to the show. Hopefully enough people will tune in so we can see the whole thing play out.

Lost continues it's season with another outstanding episode. This week's Jack-centric episode was another complete mind-frack, with seeing more of future Jack & Kate, the dilemma of Aaron, Jack's dead dad popping up to visit with both Jack and his " no one knows that she is his daughter also " Claire.... it was all another surreal experience that convinces me more and more that the Island is some sort of a nexus for time and space... we had more references to Alice in Wonderland and I wonder if some one needs to go back through the rabbit hole to change things or to get home. I was surprised that suddenly Jack didn't have a hairy chest (I think this has something to do with his participation in the Speed Racer film) and it was relative to the whole surgery thing... but continued in the flash-forward? It doesn't seem like his personality to have to do all that manscaping but at least were treated to some more hot make out scenes with Kate and Jack. Poor Kate... all those hot make out scenes with Jack and Sawyer-- what's a girl to do? (except wear pants?)

Jack's appendicitis and surgery with Juliette was interesting, but it was more the participation of Rose and Bernard this episode that got me excited. We haven't seen much of either of them this season, and per usual Rose was the big voice of reason and she wants to know that if the Island seems to be a place of healing then why was Jack sick? Good question... and I wonder if they are leading up and beginning to explain why only some of them (the Six) get off the Island -- others stay to live as they know that they can't live in the real world. Locke, Rose and others know that for the grace of the Island they are still alive.... and that leaving is becoming less and less an option.

There is still something big going on with Claire.... her visions of dad and disappearing tonight, as well as the messages to Jack that he is not supposed to raise Aaron all tie into the first season when Claire was told that she had to raise her child (by the psychic who freaked out) or there would be hell to pay.... I keep thinking that if the Island is some sort of nexus that maybe time is more fluid and that events can be changed... as they have been hinted at before with Desmond and Daniel. God this show just sucks me in and gets my head spinning...

Survivor: Micronesia pulled off it's best episode of the season with Amanda finding that damn hidden Immunity Idol, and pulling it out at the last minute to save her ass and get Alexis eliminated. Poor James got booted due to medical reasons (rough season this year) and poor Erik is the last boy standing. The claws are coming out and I am hoping that Cirie's days are numbered, that woman was cold and evil this week and has not one decent bone in her body if she can turn off her Nurse instincts as easy as that ..... yikes!

I had to check out Ugly Betty this week just to see Christian Siriano milk his Project Runway fame for another 30 seconds and found him bland and repetitive. (Fierce is so over and he has the gall to call Rebecca a "hot tranny mess" when she isn't really a tranny but plays one? Puhleese.... )

Nina Garcia as his "handler" was brilliant and she stole the show, and had the best lines of the evening. We all know who the real star is -- someone get the Nina a better deal.

Now that would be fierce. snap snap snap