Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Season Finales Part 2: The Best Finales of 2011

cliffhangers are the staple of the dramatic episodic shows since the 'who shot jr' moment on dallas. some are contrived, some are just okay and every once in awhile some are brilliant in that they astonish and make wish the summer away. this season there were four that left us begging for more. in alphabetical order they are:

'Castle': the season finale had more twists and turns that other shows can't accomplish in an entire season. rick castle has matured yet maintains his boyish charm. kate becket becomes a woman in search of a murderer and new roots. if nathan fillion and stana katic do not get emmy noms there is no justice. week after week they threw home runs. in the finale they astounded. bravo to both of them. all this with an amazing supporting cast makes this one of tv's best shows.

'The Good Wife': this is one of the few finales that had me smiling for days. but underneath that smile i was well aware of all the complications that are coming. julianna margulies continues to amaze. the writers continue to give us crisp characterizations and plot lines. this is the finest ensemble cast on network television. this is the best series on television. if you are not watching this you are missing tv at it's best.



'Pretty Little Liars: the juggler has not dropped a ball. the plate twirler keeps the dishes spinning. not a single crash yet. who's lying? who's being lied to? where the hell did that body in the bell tower go? who the frack is 'a' really? happily the next season begins june 14th but i don't expect qick answers.




The Vampire Diaries: it has left "true blood' in the dust. it is still the most erotic program on the air. damn who could keep track of the body count on the last two episodes. but the finale holy hell. damon getting heart? stefan going roque? elena/catherine what's next? september can't come soon enough.


honorable mention goes to 'bones'. it put a smile on my face but not 'the good wife' smile. the episode itself was a major letdown but the last 45 seconds semi redeemed it. almost!


Paul Ryan Takes Granni for a Day in the Park


courtesy of the agenda project

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Monday, May 23, 2011

Kirsten Dunst Wins Best Actress at Cannes


and i was thinking i was the only one who knew what a wonderful actress she is. well it appears she finally 'got' the right role. the film is 'melancholia'. she won despite some crazy nazi remarks made by director lars von trier. good for the jury that earlier in the week hung the director but honored the performer.






terrence malick's 'tree of life' won best picture. it opens nation wide this month.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Season Finales Part 1: Series Finales

i hate the words season and finales when they are joined together. season finale...ugh. now we tv viewers can be subjected to more mindless reality programing. but as bad as these season finales hit us it's the series finales that can really get to us. this season i lost two favortes: 'brothers and sisters' and 'lie to me'.



for sure ' b and s' may have hit spotty recently but it still had some wonderful story lines most notably kevin and scooty and gay adoption. it was handled with great sensitivity. and uncle saul's coming out at 70+ seemed perfectly logical and real and was sensitively done.

i must admit i will miss dinner with the walkers. and drinking wine with them yet not quite as much as them. i will miss sally field and rachel griffiths most of all. i will miss their scenes together above all. they were like two great dancers together who never missed a beat.


'lie to me' was one of tv's best. it just never seemed to find an audience. what does it say that all the nonsense reality shows do find an audience. it means america is getting dumber year by year. i hope that the wonderful kelli williams gets another show soon. i will miss ger disarming charm the most.



i will miss 'v'. i can't quite figure out why it did not arner more viewers. it's a shame really.



and that's it. no other cancellation has me missing them already at all. i think i will not ever miss them at all.

Friday, May 20, 2011

I Know Where I Will be on 04/06/2012...


jack and rose in 3D. although i question the 'reality' of converting films the 3D master, james cameron, is doing this digital 3D version himself. he is overseeing the entire conversion. hey what the hell to see this wonderful oscar winning film on the big screen once again is a treat alone. kate and leo together again on the greatest love adventure of our time. it can't come soon enough for me.

the release date honors the 100th anniversary of the the tragedy that the titanic was.


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Uncanny

 julianne moore as palin



meryl streep as thatcher



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Monday, May 2, 2011

Bin Laden Dead


hey birthers and teabaggers the black guy pulled this off....the white bush tried with no success but barack got the job done. so keep on talkin crap. you lost this round in a huge way.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Goodbye Llanview

abc stupidly announced the ending of 'all my children' and the groundbreaking 'one live to live' last week. i don't much care about the demise of erica kane but the thought of not visiting llanview the home of 'one live to live' has left me numb. although i have 8 months to visit still ahead of me each visit will be bitter sweet as each day draws closer to the end. and what will they replace it with but another damn daytime talk show. i will not be tuning in. nor should any fan of either soap. it's the only voice we have. boycott the new shows and show abc the error of their ways.


an american art form is now definitely on life support as only four daytime dramas will be on air come january. and now we can have more talk talk talk that we have no use for.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Diana Was Present...



the spirit of diana was ever present this day at the marriage of kate and wills. although i waited for one commentator to make mention of the why many of the well wishers lined the royal road i did not hear it: not since 1997 at diana's funeral have so many gathered in london's streets and their presence today was as much for her (memory) as for the bride and groom. yes they were their to witness happiness for the once 15 year old who followed his mums casket after her untimely death. her spirit also influenced the more modern wedding we saw today than the stuffier one between charles and lady di. wills his is mother's son. i believe he will carry on her legacy of making the monarchy more modern. i will say i believe he has chosen the right partner for this role. 

is it possible to see his smile, his eyes and demeanor and not see diana? i think not. i think diana would have been proud today. she happily appears to have had more influence on william in 15 years, his formative years, than the windsors have had on him. brava diana. bravo kate and wills.


Perfect: Wills and Kate






Keith Returns with 'Countdown'


'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' returns june 20th on the Current tv network. same name, same time, same keith. it's been too long.

here's the station lineup:

dish 196
direct tv 358
time warner 142
comcast 107
verizon fios 192
at&t 189

Thursday, April 28, 2011

It's Official or Is It?

the damn birthers are now saying it's photoshoped. they won't give up. racism at it's worst!


Congrats to Blake Lively


blake made the 'time' magazine top 100 this year. well deserved! and i arrogantly thought i was the only one who knew. who knew?

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Oscar 2011 Dates Announced




Thursday, December 1, 2011:               Official Screen Credits forms due
Tuesday, December 27, 2011:              Nominations ballots mailed
Friday, January 13, 2012:                      Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT
Tuesday, January 24, 2012:                  Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT,
Wednesday, February 1, 2012:             Final ballots mailed
Monday, February 6, 2012:                   Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 11, 2012:                Scientific and Technical Awards presentation
Tuesday, February 21, 2012:                Final polls close 5 p.m. PT
Sunday, February 26, 2012:                  84th Academy Awards presentation