Televison – Page 5 – yadadarcyyada

ARMY OF DARKNESS

Posted on October 31, 2013May 27, 2014 by D. Parker

Army of Darkness (aka Evil Dead 3: Army of Darkness) is a continuation of Evil Dead II where our, er, hero Ash is trapped in The Middle Ages in some bizarre, frenetic, hilarious, cheesy stuff.

There are a couple of endings, depending on where you watch it. I prefer the ending where Ash oversleeps, but the S-Mart ending (where he has to fight the shoppers, undead, whatever, hard to tell the difference most days I’m guessing) was seen as more positive by Universal. Director’s cut has both alternate universe endings.

Bruce Campbell (Weird Science, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Xena, Hercules, Bubba Ho-Tep, Spiderman, Evil Dead I & II, Charmed, Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, American Gothic, My Name Is Bruce, Burn Notice, Fargo and well, everything) is an amazing, under-rated actor. Superb comedic timing and just really cool.

A perfect Halloween treat or trick depending on your point of view.

Autism, Family, Holidays, Movies, Music, Televison, Uncategorized

Edward Scissorhands

Posted on October 31, 2013October 25, 2015 by D. Parker

I sat watching Edward Scissorhands in 1990, mesmerized.

I laughed, I cried, I sighed, I railed against the injustice, and gave my heart to Johnny Depp. No worries, I’d given it before and since; it’s still in good working order. I’m sure he’d reciprocate if he knew I existed…or not.

Themes of bullying, prejudice, isolation, teen angst, self-awareness, hope, pain, betrayal, lies, dignity, honour, and love weave a dazzling web of stunningly brutal tragedy, comedy, and enchantment, in and out, in and out, each thread of this film somehow masses together in utter brilliant film magic.

The castle is gothic and delightful, but a place of secrets and loneliness.

The suburban neighbourhood is weird and flawed, but with creepy optimism and veracity.

The contrast shows that hope and love can flourish anywhere, as can pain and deceit.

Lauded, loved, mocked, hated, and parodied (best, when Depp reprised his role on Family Guy…you have to see it to believe it). And still it has stunningly stood the test of time.

Caroline Thompson, Stefan Czapsky, as well as the astonishing cast and crew did a superb task of articulating Tim Burton’s vision of Edward and his challenges and his triumphs. This film is truly a gift.

Vincent Price is categorically flawless in what turned out to be his last performance on film, ending a dramatic and spectacular career as the great gentleman of horror.

When Winona Ryder (Kim Boggs) is dancing in the ‘snow’ that Edward creates from the angel ice sculpture, it’s so heart-cutting because their love can never be, but they will always know it really is. Perhaps it’s so poignant because Depp and Ryder were a real-life couple at the time…and not meant to be.

This is a perfect movie for Halloween, Christmas, or any day of the year.

Love, love, love this movie. Did I mention I love it, not sure if that was clear.

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized, Zombies

The Walking Dead Again

Posted on October 30, 2013February 23, 2015 by D. Parker

AMC’s huge success, The Walking Dead is amazing, but if you get a chance, check out Boris Karloff in the 1936 film, The Walking Dead.

Books, Televison, Uncategorized, Zombies

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Posted on October 29, 2013April 2, 2015 by D. Parker

One of the images that pops to mind when I think of Halloween is Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Not the movie, although it was funny, the Joss Whedon series that was ubercool and scary.

This series was all about the writing. It was quick, clever, droll, goofy and wicked cool.

Buffy had it all: bad vamps, good vamps, sexy vamps, tall dark and brooding vamps, Drusilla, Spike, zombies, spirits, demons, witches, Faith, warlocks, geeks, pop culture, gypsies, computer nerds, dysfunctional family units, ghosts, goblins, gym, ghouls, librarians, magic, love, The Master, death, sex, hope, The Bronze, friendship, Dracula, teenagers, The First Evil,Nathan Fillion (who first auditioned for the part of Angel in 1996), bullies, field trips, Watchers, The Council, high school, werewolves, lifestyle choices, hope, fear, horror, laughter…everything you could want in a show and of course, slayers.

Although Sarah Michelle Gellar was the star of the show as Buffy, she was nothing without her Scooby Gang and all the other amazing characters, fiends, villains, supernaturals, paranormals, other dimensionals, and of course, her wardrobe, which was quite extensive.

This is a Halloween must see. Watch it for the coolness, return for the witty. Whether you like it or not, it’s all good, 5 by 5.

It’s interesting that Buffy has become such a cult classic because it didn’t always have the top ratings at the time, of course we were watching it on the WB, but it sure had a lot of hardcore fans. It’s really shape-shifted TV.

My fav Buffy character is still always Xander. Who’s yours?

Books, Televison, Uncategorized

Stuff I Learned From It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Posted on October 29, 2013September 16, 2015 by D. Parker

This is what I learned from watching It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown way too often.

1. A young child can stay out all night alone, with no adult supervision, as long as it’s on Halloween night, in a pumpkin patch, waiting for someone to meet them…

2. Jumping into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker is a bad idea. Tried it once, turns out, very bad idea.

3. Charlie Brown should have gotten some candy at Halloween. I wanted to give him some of mine, what about you?

4. Pigpen, the child who walks around in a cloud of dirt is more likable than Charlie Brown.

5. If someone moves a football each time you go to kick it, Good Grief, stop believing them, it’s a theme. Same goes for many situations.

6. A person can have moral standards. Sally agrees to sit in the pumpkin patch with Linus, but threatens to slug him if he even tries to hold her hand.

7. Lucy actually cares about her little brother, Linus (even more than their parents). She goes and gets him from the pumpkin patch at 4am and sweetly puts him to bed. She gets him extra candy while trick or treating. It’s a whole other side of Lucy.

8. Charlie Brown is a hopeless optimist. No matter how people in his ‘community’ ignore, hurt, or bully him, he keeps believing and keeps trying. Or maybe he just has low self-esteem.

9. Dogs like to dress up as World War I Flying Aces for Halloween and fly around on their Sopwith Camels aka dog houses fighting the Red Baron. Who knew?

10. A signed contract doesn’t always mean what you think it means, there could be a loopholes.

11. It’s ok to give a child rocks for Halloween instead of candy. I’ve never tested this one.

12. Schroeder was a talented little dude, I always hoped he’s make it big until I realized he was just a cartoon, then I still hoped he’s make it big.

13. Linus wrote to The Great Pumpkin saying everyone tells him TGP is a fake, but he believes in him. He adds if TGP is a fake he doesn’t want to know. Is this denial or trying to hold onto his beliefs? People do it all the time, with politicians, God, family members, spouses, etc. Even if we know something is not true or wrong, we often don’t want to know.

I guess that’s why we love the sweetness and gentleness of things like Snoopy cartoons. We remember fondly those times when things were simple, when you could believe, trust, and hope. Life has become complicated. Peanuts is simple fun.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween24 — I didn’t know she was gonna kill it either!

Televison, Uncategorized

THE HILARIOUS HOUSE OF FRIGHTENSTEIN

Posted on October 26, 2013May 27, 2014 by D. Parker

“Another lovely day begins, for ghosts and ghouls with greenish skin. So close your eyes and you will find that you’ve arrived in Frightenstein. Perhaps the Count will find a way to make his monster work to-day. For if he solves this monster-mania, he can return to Transylvania! So welcome where the sun won’t shine, to the castle of Count Frightenstein!” (This dissolved into maniacal laughter.) ~Vincent Price

I loved this show when I was young. It was on Saturday mornings before they were more commercials than shows.

Let me warn you, the only frightening part about this show was it’s complete cheesiness.

Vincent Price (I’m guessing they spent most of their budget on him) did the opening, closing and some bits crushed in between.

All 130 episodes were taped in a few months in 1971.

It had quirky sketches like The Librarian where a scary old guy (Billy Van, really, most of the characters were him) in a dusty library read horrifying stories except they were more like ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and ‘Henny Penny’ and then he’s say, wasn’t that terrifying? Hmmm, maybe you had to see it.

They also had the Dr. Pet Vet, Igor, The Grammar Slammer, The Professor – U.S. physicist Professor Julius Sumner Miller (Mickey Mouse Club’s Professor Wonderful), Gronk,

Grizelda the Ghastly Gourmet, The Mosquito, Count Frightenstein exiled to Castle Frightenstein in Frankenstone, Canada for failing to revive Brucie J. Monster, a Frankenstein-like monster.

Soooo campy, but it was awesome!

I watched it years later to see if I only enjoyed it because we had very limited TV. No, still peculiar, clever, lots of slapstick, and so bad it was good.

hhof8 — “The castle lights are growing dim. There’s no one left but me–and him. When next we meet in Frankenstone…don’t come alone.”~Vincent Price

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Posted on October 25, 2013October 5, 2015 by D. Parker

No Halloween would be complete without TRHPS.

When I was young I enjoyed going to the theater, bringing my toast, newspaper, lighter, fish nets and loudly yelling, “Borrrrriiinng!” when the Narrator/Criminologist came onscreen, etc.

Now I’m soooo much older and way more mature, so I fondly smile at the astrophysically campy antics of Dr. Frank N. Furter, Brad, Janet, Magenta, Columbia, Eddie, Rocky, and sigh, Riff Raff, but on occasion, I still jump to the left, then a step to right…

Nothing beats a cheesy B-grade movie shared with friends.

If you haven’t seen this, you’re not interested or missing out…

I’d also like to wish Tim Curry a full and speedy recovery from his stroke earlier this year.

Televison, Uncategorized

LOST

Posted on October 25, 2013February 7, 2014 by D. Parker

Lost, yes, I was most of the time.

Thought this might work for Halloween since it had supernatural elements and turned out to be a ghost story. Sigh.

Started well and then dragged us around until I just didn’t care much anymore.

Though I’m still worried about the polar bears.

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

BEETLEJUICE

Posted on October 25, 2013April 26, 2014 by D. Parker

I remember the first time I saw this at the theater, mouth agape in between fits of laughter. Strangely, I feel the same today.

This movie is timeless. Just the right amount of serious and funny, lessons twirled in with candy-coated hilarity. Hard to believe it’s been 25 years.

beetlej5 There was always talk of a sequel, but as a fan I have to say, no thanks. When the first one is this perfect why ruin that legacy?

The cast really makes this movie, each plays their part to eerie fulfillment.

The writing is gruesomely amusing.

The direction of Tim Burton, a strange, mythical creature who entertains and astonishes, is sublime.

There is nothing I would change about this movie.

Described as comedy/horror/fantasy I can see how it’s all those things, but more.

A Halloween or anytime movie for the ages.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetleju…

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

DONNIE DARKO

Posted on October 25, 2013February 16, 2014 by D. Parker

The moment you fall into this movie you know you went down the wrong rabbit hole.

Beyond the obvious shivery moments there are way too many splinters of that’s-creepy-beyond-what-I-want-to-think-about-in-a-film-or-anywhere-else.

In the end it’s a movie about choices. Choices are important, like not making a stupid sequel like S. Darko. Poor choice.

This is one to curl up with in the dark, just be aware what’s in the shadows.

This sci-fi classic is rich and dark and smooth, like a delicious chocolate bunny that is pure evil.

Kind of Harvey gone really, really wrong.

Books, Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

Firefly

Posted on October 24, 2013May 4, 2015 by D. Parker

Why? Why? Why???

This was an awesome show, can’t say enough about how amazing it was.

Cast was unbelievable, story was ripper, and it was brilliant.

So why did this astonishing show only last one season? We do know Fox likes to cancel some well-loved shows. Even cancelled Family Guy then picked it up again later when they finally figured out people liked it, duh. Perhaps Whedon’s on-going widescreen battles (I agree, it’s a Western, just in space), or the order of episodes, or concept.

In the end, whatever the reasons, only 11 out of the 14 episodes ever aired. Maybe people just weren’t ready for it or it was a stupid decision to cancel it. I can think of others, Terra Nova…

It has since become a hit, beloved by many, missed by the few who first watched it…It’s had its imitators, but none can capture the passion of the original.

I did like the tip of the cowboy hat in the Castle Halloween episode where Nathan Fillion wore his Mal outfit…but it’s not the same.

Joss Whedon you are astonishing, and thank you for at least giving us Serenity as a consolation prize.

Books, Movies, Music, Televison, Uncategorized

Shatner’s World: We just live in it

Posted on October 20, 2013March 7, 2015 by D. Parker

I don’t care what anyone says, I adore watching William Shatner, in just about anything.

Sure he’s narcissistic, but he uses his superpowers for good, not evil.

He’s also funny, silly, asinine, but always charming. If you can see this one-man show live, awesome, luckily there’s also a DVD.

Dressed casually Shatner leads us on a magical tour of memories, ours and his.

He shares very personal stories, famous encounters, ridiculous exploits, and talks about Star Trek (of course) all in that oddly heartening, exaggerated style that’s so many have mocked over the years.

It might be his age, but in this one-man show (then again, isn’t that everything he does, really?) Shatner ponders death, those he has lost as well as his own mortality. Yet somehow it’s all comforting and poignant, not morbid. “Love is the difference between the cold light of the universe and the warmth of the human spirit and life doesn’t have to end when love is present.”

If you’re a Shatner fan you’ll enjoy the well over an hour of Trek talk, how his kidney stone became $25,000 for Habitat For Humanity, picking out a pine casket for his father because he thought his Dad would appreciate the thriftiness, his, er, singing career, broke living in his truck, meeting Koko the signing gorilla, acting with Christopher Plummer and James Spader…

If you’re not a Shatner fan, watch something else.

shatner5 — “Death is the final frontier.”

The whole show was pure Shatner – eccentric, engaging, and egocentric, but with a heart as big as his head (tough to do). He makes me smile.

Books, Movies, Music, Televison, Uncategorized

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Posted on October 19, 2013February 10, 2014 by D. Parker

I went to see this movie on opening day 1993 and a few more times in the following weeks. I had no children with me. I also bought the VHS tape when it came out, the soundtrack, and later the DVD. I may or may not have some small toys from the movie and a few TNBC T-shirts over the years, one possibly bought as recently as today.

To say I love this movie is too serene.

Like most Tim Burton films TNBC is funny, dark, deep, and stabbed full of obvious messages.

The main character is a skeleton named Jack Skellington.
He’s the Big Mouldy Cheese of Halloween Town, he’s the Pumpkin King, he has it all, fame, fortune, adulation. But he’s bored with his job. He wants more.
He discovers Christmas Town and sees it’s marketing potential. He figures this must be what he was destined to do.
So he rebrands himself and retrofits Halloween Town to do this new gimmick, Christmas.
Things go terribly, dreadfully, horribly wrong, of course.
The day or should I say eve is saved, mostly with the help of Sally who has loved Jack just as he was.
The Christmas brand is salvaged, as is that of Halloween.
Short story extended, Jack realizes he had everything he needed to make him miserably happy in Halloween Town all along. Cue a gruesomely romantic scene.
Crushed into all that? Lots of cool songs by Danny Elfman (sigh, I still love Oingo Boingo), mayhem, fun, drama, lots of funny lines…one of the best films every made.

nbchrist7 — “Jack, please, I’m only an elected official here,
I can’t make decisions by myself!”
~Mayor of Halloween Town

It’s a marketing dream in one nightmare.

The making of this film is almost as interesting as the film itself. Astonishing. Many have poached from, peeled back, and tried to copy the mastery of this movie in the 20 years since it’s release, but this masterpiece is incomparable.

Makes sense that it’s really just a remake of another perfect classic, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Can’t see it? Think about it.

TNBC combines Christmas and Halloween so naturally, I’m in.

Televison

Grey’s Anatomy

Posted on October 19, 2013May 23, 2017 by D. Parker

greysa3 — “Just when I thought I was out…
they pull me back in.”
~Michael Corleone (Godfather Part III)

I want to dislike this show.

The characters are annoying, whiny, narcissistic, First-World-problem babies who cause most of their own problems. I guess I just explained why I can’t stop watching it, it’s a microcosm of society, exaggerated, like any good soap opera.

Note, spoilers coming on…

Maybe I should have stopped when Denny died.

denny

Or George. Or McSteamy.

Sigh. Or maybe I’ll just tune in to watch the endless droning ‘soapy‘ lather play out.

Books, Canada, Televison, Uncategorized

Murdoch Mysteries

Posted on October 13, 2013March 7, 2015 by D. Parker

Difficult to believe I’ve been watching Murdoch Mysteries for going on 7 Seasons (we need more!)

The books by Maureen Jennings are great, but the series is fantastic.

This Canadian drama stars Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch, a complicated police detective working in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 1890s to early 1900s. It’s absorbing, a little daft, but always intriguing and keeps you mesmerized.

Brilliant job of combining ‘The Gilded Age’, a time when the world seemed to have so much promise with hints of amazing things to come, with a splash of reflection on how things started or went wrong; hindsight being 20/20 and all that.

Valuable lessons, drama, murder, mystery, romance, laughs – Murdoch Mysteries has it all. The only thing that could make it better, perhaps a recurring role for Paul Gross. Just a suggestion.

This remarkable drama has caught on worldwide, with good reason. Enjoy!

Political, Televison, Uncategorized

Flight of the Conchords

Posted on October 10, 2013April 27, 2017 by D. Parker

This show was so over the top, but so funny.

This witty (some might say witless) New Zealand-based twosome generated by Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement describe themselves to being New Zealand‘s 4th most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo, but they are so much more and less.

One or both or three or none of the actors may have also appeared in: Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Men In Black, Dinner for Schmucks, The Muppets, Star Trek After Darkness, Man of Steal, Ironic Man 3, Diagnosis: Death, etc.

The allegedly impromptu musical numbers are awesome, Frodo Don’t You Wear That Ring, I Told You I Was Freaky, A Kiss Is Not A Contract, and The Humans are Dead are so painfully curious and catchy.

Kristen Schaal (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) was scary and hilarious as their Number One Fan.

Rhys Darby (remember him as Jim Carrey’s quirky boss in Yes Man?), was outstanding as their manager.

Some of my fav TV scenes of all time took place in Murray‘s (Rhys Darby) office during band meetings.

This show is a rare treasure that the world wasn’t quite ready for just yet, but I will keep it in my brain.

Televison, Uncategorized

The Blacklist

Posted on October 7, 2013March 12, 2015 by D. Parker

Would this TV series be that good without James Spader?

Who knows?

We don’t have to find out ’cause it has James Spader.

Delicious. A chill and a half with some hot sauce.

Kind of like Silence of the Lambs with the serial killer part replaced by spies, government agents, terrorists, and bad guys.

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

POLTERGEIST

Posted on October 6, 2013February 16, 2014 by D. Parker

Over 30 years later and I wondered if I still would like Poltergeist.

I did.

I still got chills.

I know there have been creepier, more gruesome and violence horrors films since, but nothing will replace this spooky classic.

The reboot of this film series is set to come out in 2014 or 2015. I can’t see how or why they would redo this.

After all, Family Guy did such a fantastic parody in 2006 (Season 4, episode 26) with Petergeist, it was almost difficult to watch the real Poltergeist without giggling. I’ll never look at clowns the same way again.

The plot is like any good fairy tale, a young girl is the unwitting cause her family’s trauma and they do anything to help her; showing that love conquers all.

Does anyone remember the Poltergeist curse? Fuelled by real skeletons being used in the climatic scene, as well as Dominique Dunne’s murder, Heather O’Rourke’s death, and several other incidents the legend of the curse grew, which equals great publicity.

There were 2 more in this series.

2nd was bad, the 3rd horrible.

So the only real curse was trying to milk a series, gee, not like Spielberg’s ever done that …cough, Indiana Jones, cough, Jurassic Park, cough, cough.

Note, no one died in this movie, not one character, even the family dog, E-Buzz survived (I don’t think we can count the canary at the beginning).

And they still scared us silly.

They’rrrre heeeerrre!!!

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

What About Bob?

Posted on October 5, 2013March 7, 2015 by D. Parker

I think What About Bob? is one of the funniest movies ever made.

Never ceases to crack me up.

: “I feel good. I feel great. I feel wonderful.”~Bill Wiley

Bill Murray is delightful as the multi-phobic, charming psychiatric patient, Bob Wiley, and Richard Dreyfuss is fantastic as Dr. Leo Marvin whose inflated ego makes him a bad doctor, father, and husband.

Bob follows Dr. Marvin on vacation and it becomes the ultimate anti-buddy film.

I just need to think the words, Baby Steps or Death Therapy or even see a goldfish and I get an internal chuckle.

The greatest lessons of this movie? Everyone has something to offer and lighten up, have some fun.

I will warn you, prepare yourself for sore ribs from laughing.

Televison, Uncategorized

AMERICAN GOTHIC

Posted on October 1, 2013February 17, 2014 by D. Parker

No, I’m not talking about the showdown between the Democrats and the Republicans…although there are similarities.

I mean the short-lived, but much-loved TV series, American Gothic, brainchild of Shaun Cassidy.
Wow, being Joe Hardy on the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries sure messed him up.
Or maybe having David Cassidy for a bro. Or was it Da Doo Ron Ron?
Whatever, this show was seriously hair-raising (see what I did there, back to Shaun Cassidy and his big hair) and wickedly cool.

Gary Cole was evil, but in a you’re-hot-way, as Sheriff Buck.

The cast was impressive including:

Gary Cole (Office Space, The Brady Bunch movies, VEEP, True Blood, The Good Wife, Chuck, Hop, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby),
Jake Weber (Elementary, Medium, House, Pelican Brief, Pushing Tin),
Lucas Black (X-Files, Jarhead),
Paige Turco (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, All My Children, Damages),
Brenda Blakke (The Mentalist, CSI, Star Trek: TNG),
Sarah Paulson (12 Years A Slave, Serenity, American Horror Story – Murder House, Asylum and Coven),
Nick Searcy (Justified, Cast Away, The Ugly Truth).
Bruce Campbell sure got bugged.
22 episodes was not nearly enough.

This show was sadly way ahead of its time.

Replay this now and it would be a huge hit.

Supernatural amusement that should have gone on and on and on.

Televison, Uncategorized

Faux Ode to Breaking Bad

Posted on September 25, 2013May 8, 2016 by D. Parker

Are you the viewer drawn toward us?

To begin, take warning, we are far different from what you suppose;

Do you suppose you will find in Walter White ideal?

Do you think it so easy to have become a Pinkman?

Do you think the familiarity of Hank would be unalloy’d satisfaction?

Do you look toward the Skyler when death is on the breath of life?

Do you see no further than a pink teddy bear façade, a smooth and tolerant manner?

Do you suppose money advancement toward a real heroic man would last?

Do you suggest the whities could have been tightier?

Have you no thought, O dreamer, that actions have consequences, this is all illusion breaking into bad?

With a little contravention of Walt Whitman I say adieu to Breaking Bad. Like any good morality play, the lessons were many. I bet you can easily figure out what each character personified.

Breaking Bad reinforced that two wrongs or many, many wrongs don’t make a right.

All actions have consequences, good and bad.

Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons still doesn’t make it right, right?

While we will miss the show, the cast is brilliant and already on the move:
Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle, X-Files, Family Guy, Seinfeld – ‘Hey Denty!’)
Anna Gunn (Deadwood, ER, Six Feet Under, Seinfeld)
Aaron Paul (X-Files, Big Love, Bones, Family Guy)
Dean Norris (Under The Dome, X-Files, Lost, Castle)
Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk,
Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks,
Laura Fraser, Jesse Plemons…

Creating, writing, directing, and producing the AMC drama series Breaking Bad was a masterstroke from Vince Gilligan, X-Files (Note the cast).

Hard to believe it and Heisenberg will soon go gently into TV history.

So long.

Televison, Uncategorized

Goodbye Dexter

Posted on September 24, 2013March 7, 2015 by D. Parker

Dexter is sort of the Jiminy Cricket of this millennium.

Dexter let his conscience (or Harry as his conscience) be his guide, but it was telling him to kill people. It’s an ambiguous thing, the conscience, depending on who owns it. Dexter Morgan is both hero and villain, the grey area of this show is everything. Dexter is doing all the wrong things, but for what he feels are the right reasons.

The world not only accepted a serial killer warmly into their homes, but also embraced him, worried about him, felt his pain. Why? Maybe in some strange way his Dark Passenger made people feel a little safer in a world where bad guys often seem to win, where sometimes the police themselves are the bad guys, and where justice can seem elusive.

No spoilers. I liked the ending of the series. To me, it harkened back to the early days of Dexter. So much has happened, so much has changed and yet in the end, nothing changed.

Various macabre cast & gory guests include:

Michael C. Hall,
Jennifer Carpenter,
James Remar, Desmond Harrington,
Julie Benz, David Zayas, C.S. Lee, Aimee Garcia,Geoff Pierson, Mos Def,
Yvonne Strahovski, Erik King,
John Lithgow, Lauren Vélez,
Keith Carradine, Colin Hanks,
Edward James Olmos, Jimmy Smits, Sean Patrick Flanery, JoBeth Williams,
Peter Weller, Julia Stiles.

I can’t wait to see what Michael C. Hall does next, his acting has changed a lot since his days on Six Feet Under and even the early days of Dexter. As he said to Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, he believes actually playing the part has changed him.

So the world moves on to the next show, the next news story, and we have only blood-splattered memories…

I hope people see the point of Dexter, he’s a representation of what can be done to children, to people if they are not treated with dignity and respect…if they are damaged.

Remember the Monsters?

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OHHHH NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Posted on September 24, 2013February 4, 2014 by D. Parker

I love Saturday Night Live and despite it’s many downs, but I believe there are more ups so I stay with it.

There are so many things to love:

Landshark,
Two Wild and Crazy Guys,
The Church Lady,
Beep in a Box, Ed Grimley,
Canteen Boy, Spinal Tap,
Mary Katherine Gallagher,
Father Guido Sarducci,
Matt Foley, Goth Talk,
Sarah Palin, Pat,
Celebrity Jeopardy!,
Sprockets, Wayne’s World,
Stuart Smalley,
Larry the Lobster,
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer,
Mr. Peepers, Weekend Update,
Samurai Tailor, More Cowbell,
Toonces the Driving Cat,
The Last Voyage of the Starship Enterprise,
Synchronized Swimming,
Chippendale’s Auditions,
Schweddy Balls,
Chronicles of Narnia (Lazy Sunday) –
I could go on and on, believe me, I could, but there’s a special place in my mind for Mr. Bill.

Mr. Bill is the clay figurine clown created by Walter Williams (sent to SNL as a Super-8 reel as part of SNL’s request for home movies) to parody children’s shows. First aired in 1976, 2 years later Williams became a writer on SNL and yahoo, more Mr. Bill.

As a funny, both strange and amusing side note, Mr. Hands, the man seen only as a pair of hands, but who does most of the damage to poor Mr. Bill was played by Vance DeGeneres, the older brother of Ellen DeGeneres, he was also a correspondent on The Daily Show years ago.

Over the years Mr. Bill has been used to advertise products, as answers in shows, in skits, movies, games, teaching about the environment and in anti-drug campaigns – he pops up everywhere. But always with the same pattern. Things start off well for Mr. Bill and those unfortunate enough to be around him like Sally and Spot. That doesn’t last long. Things go badly for Mr. Bill when Sluggo and Mr. Hands show up. Mr. Bill suffers terrible humiliations that escalate quickly to his ultimate demise with his shrieking in a high-pitched voice, “Ohhhh noooooooooooooo…” . Is it wrong to think it’s funny? Perhaps. Is it funny? Yes. Very much yes.

Televison, Uncategorized

THOSE MAD, MAD MEN

Posted on September 22, 2013March 7, 2015 by D. Parker

madm1 — “What you call ‘love’ was invented by guys like me. To sell Nylons.” – Don Draper

I was ready to say goodbye to Don Draper.
I would miss his greasy hair and blackened lungs.
I would miss watching the slow destruction of his life.

I was ready to say a groovy goodbye to mini skirts,
pillbox hats and Easy Baked at the office by noon.

I was prepared to let them go, Peggy, Joan, Megan,
Henry, Ted, together until the avocado-colored end.

I was all set to say a plastic farewell à la mode
to Betty with Eugene, Sally and Bobby – how quickly they grow.

I was primed to Etch-A-Sketch a copasetic goodbye.
Knowing Roger would keep having heart attacks but never die.

Goodbye to drinking, smoking, mulah-making masters.
Farewell to the scorecard-needing affairs.
Goodbye to not letting women or minorities get ahead.
Farewell to that big, big hair.

I was ready to say goodbye to those Mad, Mad Men
When AMC pulled a fast one to jerk their skinny tie along,
deciding to bogart seasons until Spring 2014 and Spring 2015.
So now I don’t have to say goodbye, so Aloha Don!

Movies, Political, Televison, Uncategorized

Wag the dog

Posted on September 15, 2013March 7, 2015 by D. Parker

This is the incredible invisible film.

It’s as though acknowledging Wag The Dog means we have to admit we let our politicians, their cronies and yes men run our countries into the ground and maybe, just maybe we should do something instead of just complaining.

A dark comedy with a magnificent cast to match.

Amazing work by:

Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Andrea Martin, Kirsten Dunst, William H. Macy, John Michael Higgins, Suzie Plakson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Belson, Suzanne Cryer, Jason Cottle, David Koechner, Craig T. Nelson (uncredited).

Directed by Barry Levinson.

This is about how politicians and their spin doctors distract the electorate from scandals, poor performance, and sometimes general incompetence.

It’s rather macabre and quite disturbing and sadly, these sorts of things happen too often.

Fav scene is always Kirsten Dunst, an actress portraying an orphan, running holding a bag of Tostitos in front of a blue screen and when you see it later she’s running holding a kitten through the war-torn streets of Albania.

Do we even know what the truth is anymore or just what we’re fed?

I know the truth is out there, but where?

If you haven’t seen this movie you should never watch the news and even then…

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

EXCUSE ME, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE MY STAPLER…

Posted on September 12, 2013March 4, 2014 by D. Parker

Nothing mocks and understands work like the 1999 comedy, Office Space. Written and directed by Mike Judge, it focuses on a group of people horribly dissatisfied with their jobs.

OS is for anyone who has ever worked in an office or any job they hate. Viewers recognize the despair, the defeat, the boredom, and can almost smell the regret and unfulfilled dreams in the recycled office air.

Best irritating boss portrayal in the history of movies goes to Gary Cole as Bill Lumbergh.

Best creepy, obsessive (don’t touch his red Swingline stapler), mumbling worker goes to Stephen Root as Milton, actually, Office Space is based on Judge‘s Milton cartoon series.

Ron Livingston is perfection as Peter Gibbons, a discontented computer programmer. Also, Mike Judge as Stan, manager at Chotchkie’s restaurant giving Jennifer Aniston’s character a hard time, as well as David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Bader, John C. McGinley.

There are so many fantastic lines and scenes, just see the movie, bask in its ingenious satire.

When the co-workers are having to look up money laundering in the dictionary, that’s when you fully realize how pathetic they truly are.
This movie wasn’t a hit, but it’s so hilarious and showed people Judge was more than just Beavis and Butt-head.

And who hasn’t wanted to do exactly what they did to the photocopier.

Bob Porter: Looks like you’ve been missing a lot of work lately.
Peter Gibbons: I wouldn’t say I’ve been ‘missing’ it, Bob.

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

YOU’VE GOT MAIL

Posted on September 7, 2013February 15, 2014 by D. Parker

You’ve Got Mail is allegedly a romantic comedy, but to accept that you have to ignore the obvious point that both main characters are in serious relationships when they meet first in a chat room online then later in person. Granted, both break up with their respective partners before they enter a physical relationship, so I guess it’s not actually infidelity. Still, what could have been a delightful love story seems a little emotionally bankrupt because their partners are unaware of the other people involved in their relationships.

Then there’s the title which is total product placement for AOL, sigh. Great cast including: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey (amazing in well, everything), Jean Stapleton (All in The Family), Greg Kinnear, Steve Zahn (Ever see Happy, Texas? You should), Dave Chappelle, Dabney Coleman, Sara Ramirez (unknown then, now Dr. Torres on Grey’s Anatomy), Jane Adams, John Randolph, and Michael Badalucco (The Practice). I’m conflicted because I really do like the movie itself.

Quite entertaining updated version of the 1940 Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullivan classic, The Shop Around The Corner, both based on the play Parfumerie (Miklos Laszlo).

The adorableness of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan do make it work.

It never hurts to have your script by Nora and Delia Ephron, mistresses of witty repartee.

And it’s about books. What could ever be bad about books?

Books, Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

Posted on September 6, 2013February 10, 2014 by D. Parker

The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Del Ray)

I can still read this and laugh so hard it hurts. Contains one of the best scenes ever written, in the tea house with the biscuits, I’m giggling just thinking about it; if you haven’t read it, read it just for that. What am I saying, if you haven’t read it?

One of the most entertaining books ever written and apparently inspired by a drunken evening in Austria with a Hitchhikers Guide to Europe in his pocket, sounds about right.

Adams also wrote and acted briefly in Monty Python and wrote a few Doctor Who scripts.

Worked on video games.

I have no words.

A delight to the gray matter and darn you Douglas Adams, you’re one of the reasons my laugh lines are so deep! No, I forgive you and miss you. In this case as entertaining as the on screen offerings of this have been, the book is so much better. All 4 (or 5 depending on your belief system and the hour of day) books in the trilogy are fantastically mythically rereadworthy.

Although Adams left too early at 49, his written works, his activist causes and his understanding of absurdity of it all remains to entertain and amaze us.

And don’t forget a towel is one of the most useful things you can carry with you on your journeys so celebrate towel day May 25th.

Douglas Adams‘ present location: Highgate Cemetery, Highgate, United Kingdom

Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

TAPEHEADS

Posted on September 5, 2013March 7, 2014 by D. Parker

I guess most would dub this 1988 comedy a cult classic as it never enjoyed mainstream recognition. I saw Tapeheads at one of those movie houses that showed cool films, ones you couldn’t see in mainstream theaters; before the internet let you see anything and everything.

Directed by Bill Fishman, and starring:

John Cusack,

Tim Robbins,

Sam Moore and Junior Walker,

Mary Crosby (Dallas);

Doug McClure (when I hear his name I think, I’m Troy McClure, you may know me from PSAs such as…);

Connie Stevens; Don Cornelius; Courtney Love; Doug E. Fresh; Bob Goldthwait (credited as Jack Cheese);

Fishbone (also performs the incidental score);

Lords of the New Church singer Stiv Bators;

Ted Nugent; Xander Berkeley;

King Cotton;

“Weird Al” Yankovic;

and Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, in a cameo as an FBI agent.

You can see producer, Michael Nesmith briefly as a bottled water delivery man (don’t blink).

Need I say more?

Two best friends turn their hard luck story and others misfortunes into a better life with lots of bizarre hijinks and weird fun. A must watch, at least once.

Soundtrack includes: Devo, Fishbone, Bo Diddley, King Cotton, Swanky Modes (Sam Moore and Junior Walker) and “Repave America” written and performed by Tim Robbins, credited as Bob Roberts (another awesome and underenjoyed film) 4 years before that movie was released (not on the soundtrack). “Repave America” was altered to “Retake America” on the Bob Roberts soundtrack.

And once you’ve heard the Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffle song, it will be in your head, lurking, waiting to be hummed.

Books, Political, Televison, Uncategorized

The Pursuit of Happiness Cult

Posted on August 29, 2013March 1, 2015 by D. Parker

Ayn Rand conjured up the cult of Objectivism, which, to the best of my knowledge, is a philosophy whose principal doctrines include but aren’t limited to: reality is detached from consciousness; the practice of concept formation and inductive logic helps attain objective knowledge from perception; apt moral function is the pursuit of one’s own happiness, aka rational egotism; laissez faire capitalism is the only morally correct social system; and selective replication of reality into a physical form (ie. art) can adjust humans’ metaphysical ideas.

Objectivism was branded as a viewpoint intended to define not only human nature, but the nature of our world.The cult aspect of Rand’s work, to believe self-interest, said pursuit of self-interest, and the concept that people are somehow heroes for pursuing self-interest is beguiling. Logic ruling man is always an enthralling thought, but seldom happens, and rarely among Rand’s followers or herself. Like most, this philosophy has been so warped, exploited, and perverted it is a pathetic wraith of Rand’s intentions.

This book, Ayn Rand Cult by Jeff Walker (Open Court) is an interesting, fairly objective read although way too long and ragged at times (like this review), but consider the subject matter.

Many believe Rand’s ideas and beliefs are relics of a bygone era. It’s resurgence, while kept low-key is growing steadily, especially among the extreme right-wing political parties. Although their choice of prophet, an Atheist, Pro Choice woman is baffling.

Reason and logic are admirable, but they are susceptible to the whims, lies, and willful misunderstandings of humans who wield them as weapons against those who may resist.

As for the issues with laissez-faire capitalism, where do I begin? Look around the answers are attacking us each day.

While I have found the ideas of Rand’s work seductive at times, I find it improbable that my own happiness above all others is noble and absolute.

Awards, Music, Parenting, Televison, Uncategorized

Blurred Miley Lines

Posted on August 27, 2013March 12, 2015 by D. Parker

Someone needs to explain to me why people are shocked and/or appalled by performances or images, especially from the MTV Awards. They do it to get attention. We give it to them. It’s about money. It’s about power. It’s about fame. Miley Cyrus is not the first nor will she be the last to be provocative when singing, dancing, acting, modelling, etc.

Sex sells.

She follows in the footsteps of :

Grace Jones, Cherie Currie, Shirley Manson, Tina Turner, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Joan Jett, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Shakira, Fergie, Alexis Krauss, Selena Gomez, Nico, Samantha Fox, Spice Girls, Brody Dalle, Debbie Harry, Poison Ivy, Poly Styrene, Cher, Bif Naked, Kim Gordon, Pink, Shania Twain, Sabrina Sabrok, Carrie Brownstein, Viv Albertine, Wendy O. Williams,

Siouxsie Sioux, Nicki Minaj, Exene Cervenka, Gwen Stefani, Chrissy Amphlett, Ke$ha, Pussycat Dolls, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Jenny Lewis, Penelope Houston, Pat Benatar, Katy Perry, Amy Miret, Britney Spears, Mya, Grace Slick, Courtney Love, Liz Phair and I could go on.

The point is, Ms. Cyrus wants to kill off Hannah Montana to get rich and famous on her own, not on her Daddy’s achy break coat tails. She’s doing a trashy, calculated, brilliant job. Robin Thicke wants to be rich and famous (again, not on his Daddy’s coat tails, hey, see the pattern?) so he agreed to hook up with Ms. Cyrus to be bumped’n’grinded into history.

There’s a simple solution if you find Ms. Cyrus, MTV, etc. too crass, vulgar and rude – don’t watch it. Don’t let your children watch it. If adults want to watch celebrities behaving badly, let them.

I didn’t find Ms. Cyrus’ performance shocking (unless you count that Blurred Lines is clearly stolen from Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up); then again, it wasn’t overly interesting either. She’s a performer. She was performing. Just like she was performing when she was pretending to be Hannah Montana.

Maybe the problem isn’t with the performers, but with the public who can’t differentiate between fantasy and reality. The entire purpose of the MTV Awards is to get attention. It works.

If you don’t like it, turn if off.

Televison, Uncategorized

SUPERNATURAL IMPALA

Posted on August 26, 2013May 26, 2014 by D. Parker

Two hot guys in a hot car fighting supernatural elements.

Toss in some angels, demons, monsters, apocalyptic horsemen, ghosts, etc. well, what’s not to love?

It’s fast-paced, but with kinda meaningful messages. Created by Eric Kripke we got our first taste of Sam and Dean Winchester in 2005 and it just keeps going, Season 9 is about to start, thank you.

Jared Padalecki (ER, Gilmore Girls) and Jensen Ackles (Days of Our Lives, Dawson’s Creek – we forgive you for DC, you were young, and of course, Smallville) are brothers who fight ghosties, lots o’ demons, monsters, and all other supernatural type things.

I’m so happy they decided to keep Castiel (Misha Collins), The Colt, the Impala (this Chevy 1967 has been through a lot, it’s basically supernatural itself), Ruby’s Knife, and Bobby (Jim Beaver – Deadwood, Justified, Days of Our Lives) for as long as possible, but I really really wish they could have kept Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Daddy (John) Winchester.

Even threw in Mitch Pileggi for an X-Files kiss.

Action-packed and did I mention the hot guys and the hot car?

This is a program that doesn’t take itself too seriously while trying to remain true to its mythology, and it does so with flare.

Books, Televison, Uncategorized, Zombies

Zombies on Sesame Street

Posted on August 21, 2013June 23, 2016 by D. Parker

I’ve noticed in the last few years people have become obsessed with books and movies about dystopian societies.

Why? Maybe because we’re already living in a dystopian society controlled by those who destroy the very world that gives us life, for short-term profit and power. Worse than that, we let them.

The Walking Dead is a mainstream hit, a soap opera about a post-apocalyptic world where people are being ripped apart by zombies, fighting each other, and still finding time for romance. It’s more about the people, their interactions, what they will do under horrible situations, etc., the zombies are just to make it different than an actual soap opera, well, sort of.

In George A. Romero’s original vision of zombies they were an allegory about consumerism run amok; they’re about each of us consuming each other by over-consuming.

We find them fascinating because we see ourselves in them, the darkness inside, the monster within, a ravenous beast who lives only to consume, to devour, to munch through or chomp down.

There is something strangely admirable about zombies, they are who they are. No lying, no cheating, no deception, no manipulation – they want to tear your flesh apart and eat it and they make no bones about it. Are they even the bad guys or is it the humans who terrorize and torture each other?

Let me sum this up by a quote from the man that started it all, George A Romero –

“I expect a zombie to show up on ‘Sesame Street‘ soon, teaching kids to count”.

His point being, that’s how mainstream they’ve become in our attempt to accept and somehow justify our insane consumerism.

Not saying I don’t like this show, it is so well-crafted it’s impossible not to view and enjoy.

The Walking Dead (in Black and White)

B&W adds a whole other dimension to this series and of course, is reminiscent of Romero’s independent 1968 B&W unique horror standard, Night of the Living Dead. It’s also a great way to sell more DVDs. I really love the B&W version, it’s spookier, moodier, creepier and what real horror is about. Hey, I just love B&W.

In the meantime, check out the graphic novels, much grittier, but quite interesting.

Books, Movies, Music, Televison, Uncategorized

tHe trUTh is sTiLL oUt tHeRe

Posted on August 20, 2013May 30, 2017 by D. Parker

I mostly try to watch shows when they first come on. I try them on like a new shirt – do I like them, are they durable, are they practical, are they a flattering colour, do they make me look fat, well, maybe that’s a bad simile (is there a good one?), but you get my point.I don’t wait for months or years for someone to tell me a show or movie is awesome or until it’s in vogue or whatever. I guess I like to decide to watch shows because I like it, or I decide I dislike them hate it or just forget it or don’t care. I was riveted to X-Files from the first moment I watched it, glued to the screen.

It was mesmerizing. Dark, mysterious, evocative, seductive, gross, and even baffling.

It was a expedition within a journey that just made me want to move forward, that is until Tea Leoni had David Duchovny quit and Season 9 was just so-so, but of course not wanting to miss any of the mythology I trudged on, hoping it would get better. And then Tea Leoni lived through all of Jurassic Park 3, whining in that nasal, oh, but I have moved off into the shadows. She’s not so bad. Duchovny was a big boy; he made his own choices.

This was about weird and wild, creepy, supernatural, alien, government conspiracies, but it was also one of the greatest love stories in TV history. Mulder and Scully weren’t just friends, partners or lovers, they were complemented each other.

They were funny and entertaining.

X-Files is still one of the most amazing shows ever to grace the small or big screen.

Another movie maybe? Revive the series…Just sayin’.

Books, Movies, Televison, Uncategorized

Bully For You

Posted on August 14, 2013June 30, 2017 by D. Parker

Hel-lo McFly! Apparently we now throw parties to celebrate people lying, cheating, slandering, and manipulating. We love it. We tell our children not to bully. However, we love it. Mixed messages, no, try diametrically opposed.

Gordon Ramsey spewing out enough spittle to drown most of NY – don’t yell at people.
Honey Boo Boo – don’t tease or call people names.
Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Fox News, and Sun News – don’t spread gossip, rumours, lies, false ‘news’, propaganda, BS, innuendo, and slander.
Apprentice – don’t backstab, lie, cheat, harass, intimidate.
Real Housewives – don’t hit, yell, lie, spread rumours, harass, and abuse.

It’s embedded in our culture; all of society seems to feed off bullying. We pretend to value people, but really we value drama, electronics, money, power, and more drama.

Bullying is not only acceptable, it’s rewarded. This makes schools and social situations a developmentally deranged breeding ground of bullying.

As if the bullying in school wasn’t bad enough, now the latest tool – cyberbullying. No sanctuary, no escape, and oh so public humiliation.

Bosses destroying you as you’re just trying to make a living; parents screaming, frothing, hurting instructors, coaches, teachers, refs, players, and other parents; governments with hate laws, calling citizens terrorists and radicals, lying, stealing, attacking – home isn’t even safe for some people.

This isn’t good-natured teasing or joking around. The victims are traumatized and even kill themselves to get away.

Certain characters, TV shows, etc. were supposed to be extreme examples of people conducting themselves poorly. Now aggressive images penetrate so deeply into children, adults and society in general that we can’t remember that so instead we worship that bad behaviour.

We cheer when contestants scheme, lie, and manipulate to win. We buy products to emulate spoiled, narcissistic meanies. We hold parties to celebrate bad guys. Our own governments bully and cater to bullies. Then tell our children not to be bullies. Can you see their confusion? The ultimate do as I say, not as I do.

Pull up a chair and please share!

I sat watching Edward Scissorhands in 1990, mesmerized.

I laughed, I cried, I sighed, I railed against the injustice, and gave my heart to Johnny Depp. No worries, I’d given it before and since; it’s still in good working order. I’m sure he’d reciprocate if he knew I existed…or not.

The castle is gothic and delightful, but a place of secrets and loneliness.

The suburban neighbourhood is weird and flawed, but with creepy optimism and veracity.

The contrast shows that hope and love can flourish anywhere, as can pain and deceit.

Lauded, loved, mocked, hated, and parodied (best, when Depp reprised his role on Family Guy…you have to see it to believe it). And still it has stunningly stood the test of time.

Caroline Thompson, Stefan Czapsky, as well as the astonishing cast and crew did a superb task of articulating Tim Burton’s vision of Edward and his challenges and his triumphs. This film is truly a gift.

Vincent Price is categorically flawless in what turned out to be his last performance on film, ending a dramatic and spectacular career as the great gentleman of horror.

This is a perfect movie for Halloween, Christmas, or any day of the year.

Love, love, love this movie. Did I mention I love it, not sure if that was clear.

Pull up a chair and please share!

AMC’s huge success, The Walking Dead is amazing, but if you get a chance, check out Boris Karloff in the 1936 film, The Walking Dead.

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One of the images that pops to mind when I think of Halloween is Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Not the movie, although it was funny, the Joss Whedon series that was ubercool and scary.

This series was all about the writing. It was quick, clever, droll, goofy and wicked cool.

Although Sarah Michelle Gellar was the star of the show as Buffy, she was nothing without her Scooby Gang and all the other amazing characters, fiends, villains, supernaturals, paranormals, other dimensionals, and of course, her wardrobe, which was quite extensive.

This is a Halloween must see. Watch it for the coolness, return for the witty. Whether you like it or not, it’s all good, 5 by 5.

It’s interesting that Buffy has become such a cult classic because it didn’t always have the top ratings at the time, of course we were watching it on the WB, but it sure had a lot of hardcore fans. It’s really shape-shifted TV.

My fav Buffy character is still always Xander. Who’s yours?

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This is what I learned from watching It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown way too often.

1. A young child can stay out all night alone, with no adult supervision, as long as it’s on Halloween night, in a pumpkin patch, waiting for someone to meet them…

2. Jumping into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker is a bad idea. Tried it once, turns out, very bad idea.

3. Charlie Brown should have gotten some candy at Halloween. I wanted to give him some of mine, what about you?

4. Pigpen, the child who walks around in a cloud of dirt is more likable than Charlie Brown.

5. If someone moves a football each time you go to kick it, Good Grief, stop believing them, it’s a theme. Same goes for many situations.

6. A person can have moral standards. Sally agrees to sit in the pumpkin patch with Linus, but threatens to slug him if he even tries to hold her hand.

7. Lucy actually cares about her little brother, Linus (even more than their parents). She goes and gets him from the pumpkin patch at 4am and sweetly puts him to bed. She gets him extra candy while trick or treating. It’s a whole other side of Lucy.

8. Charlie Brown is a hopeless optimist. No matter how people in his ‘community’ ignore, hurt, or bully him, he keeps believing and keeps trying. Or maybe he just has low self-esteem.

9. Dogs like to dress up as World War I Flying Aces for Halloween and fly around on their Sopwith Camels aka dog houses fighting the Red Baron. Who knew?

10. A signed contract doesn’t always mean what you think it means, there could be a loopholes.

11. It’s ok to give a child rocks for Halloween instead of candy. I’ve never tested this one.

12. Schroeder was a talented little dude, I always hoped he’s make it big until I realized he was just a cartoon, then I still hoped he’s make it big.

I guess that’s why we love the sweetness and gentleness of things like Snoopy cartoons. We remember fondly those times when things were simple, when you could believe, trust, and hope. Life has become complicated. Peanuts is simple fun.

Happy Halloween!

Pull up a chair and please share!

Pull up a chair and please share!

No Halloween would be complete without TRHPS.

When I was young I enjoyed going to the theater, bringing my toast, newspaper, lighter, fish nets and loudly yelling, “Borrrrriiinng!” when the Narrator/Criminologist came onscreen, etc.

Now I’m soooo much older and way more mature, so I fondly smile at the astrophysically campy antics of Dr. Frank N. Furter, Brad, Janet, Magenta, Columbia, Eddie, Rocky, and sigh, Riff Raff, but on occasion, I still jump to the left, then a step to right…

Nothing beats a cheesy B-grade movie shared with friends.

If you haven’t seen this, you’re not interested or missing out…

I’d also like to wish Tim Curry a full and speedy recovery from his stroke earlier this year.

Pull up a chair and please share!

Pull up a chair and please share!

Pull up a chair and please share!

Pull up a chair and please share!

Why? Why? Why???

This was an awesome show, can’t say enough about how amazing it was.

Cast was unbelievable, story was ripper, and it was brilliant.

In the end, whatever the reasons, only 11 out of the 14 episodes ever aired. Maybe people just weren’t ready for it or it was a stupid decision to cancel it. I can think of others, Terra Nova…

It has since become a hit, beloved by many, missed by the few who first watched it…It’s had its imitators, but none can capture the passion of the original.

I did like the tip of the cowboy hat in the Castle Halloween episode where Nathan Fillion wore his Mal outfit…but it’s not the same.

Joss Whedon you are astonishing, and thank you for at least giving us Serenity as a consolation prize.

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I don’t care what anyone says, I adore watching William Shatner, in just about anything.

Sure he’s narcissistic, but he uses his superpowers for good, not evil.

He’s also funny, silly, asinine, but always charming. If you can see this one-man show live, awesome, luckily there’s also a DVD.

Dressed casually Shatner leads us on a magical tour of memories, ours and his.

He shares very personal stories, famous encounters, ridiculous exploits, and talks about Star Trek (of course) all in that oddly heartening, exaggerated style that’s so many have mocked over the years.

If you’re not a Shatner fan, watch something else.

The whole show was pure Shatner – eccentric, engaging, and egocentric, but with a heart as big as his head (tough to do). He makes me smile.

Pull up a chair and please share!

Pull up a chair and please share!

I want to dislike this show.

The characters are annoying, whiny, narcissistic, First-World-problem babies who cause most of their own problems. I guess I just explained why I can’t stop watching it, it’s a microcosm of society, exaggerated, like any good soap opera.

Note, spoilers coming on…

Maybe I should have stopped when Denny died.

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Difficult to believe I’ve been watching Murdoch Mysteries for going on 7 Seasons (we need more!)

The books by Maureen Jennings are great, but the series is fantastic.

This Canadian drama stars Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch, a complicated police detective working in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in the 1890s to early 1900s. It’s absorbing, a little daft, but always intriguing and keeps you mesmerized.

Brilliant job of combining ‘The Gilded Age’, a time when the world seemed to have so much promise with hints of amazing things to come, with a splash of reflection on how things started or went wrong; hindsight being 20/20 and all that.

Valuable lessons, drama, murder, mystery, romance, laughs – Murdoch Mysteries has it all. The only thing that could make it better, perhaps a recurring role for Paul Gross. Just a suggestion.

This remarkable drama has caught on worldwide, with good reason. Enjoy!

Pull up a chair and please share!

This show was so over the top, but so funny.

This witty (some might say witless) New Zealand-based twosome generated by Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement describe themselves to being New Zealand‘s 4th most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo, but they are so much more and less.