'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Update - 11/11

The show has started on the East Coast. Return for updates as they air! (And visit comments, too.) My full review of the show is at this link.

The teams are on the way to Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Pit Stop Arrival --
1. Lorena and Jason
2. Nathan and Jennifer
3. Shana and Jennifer
4. Kynt and Vyxsin
5. Azaria and Hendekea
6. TK and Rachel
7. Julia and Marianna
8. Nicolas and Donald
9. Ron and Christina
10. Eliminated -- Pat and Kate

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, November 11, 2007

I mentioned I wanted a black t-shirt with white letters "Writer" like the striking WGA writers and graphic artist Zoetawny got straight to work on getting me one. She included the blog and even the little TV Squad logo! How cool is that? Thanks, Zoetawny!

It's Veterans Day. Although I tend to think there must be other ways instead of wars, I salute those who have served risking their lives for our country.

Tonight is the second episode of The Amazing Race 12 and it looks like it will start on time here in the NYC viewing area. I'll be writing up the full review to be posted at TV Squad later tonight, but will start up an East Coast Update post to report big events on the show, including the eliminated team. I'll have that started around 8 PM ET -- please stop by and share your thoughts on the show!

Random thoughts going through my mind on an early Sunday evening:

1. Sometimes strangers on a train should remain strangers on a train for the good of those around them.
2. Just because I nod and say hello as I pass you on the sidewalk doesn't mean you can ask me for money or cigarettes.
3. Construction workers have cool radio-controlled earth-squashing machinery at their disposal these days. Wow! It looks like such fun! I chose the wrong career.
4. Why are newscasters standing so much these days? They never seem to know what to do with their hands. What's up with that?
5. Why does my cat think every time I go into the kitchen that I'm going to give him more food or treats?

Onto today's TV Newsy Bits:

• The WGA strike continues. I'm glad I tend to focus my writing around reality television for the most part.
• Conan O'Brien's priest stalker has been hospitalized. The police were told there were concerns about his mental stability. Now, I watched a few news clips of him. That is one odd priest -- he just kept smiling. If I were arrested, humiliated, and the object of disdain by the public, I'd crawl under a rock. I wouldn't just keep smiling a rather deranged smile.
• The stagehands on Broadway are still on strike. Fitting the situation, the first show affected was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Also affected was Duran Duran and any shows staffed by that particular union.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walkin' down that street
And you ain't had enough to eat
The glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere.

-- "Broadway" as sung by George Benson

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, November 10, 2007

I took this photo in midtown Manhattan (NYC, not Kansas) in the evening as drizzle hit the streets. I didn't see any cats atop the buildings.

MY review of last night's The Next Great American Band is up and running over at TV Squad.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Not TV news per se, but sort of related in the entertainment arena -- Broadway shows will be going dark today as the stagehands go out on strike. It won't affect me as I didn't plan to go see any Broadway shows. What I'd like to see which is going on now at Madison Square Garden is Cirque du Soleil even though critics are panning Wintuk.
• Author Norman Mailer died, again not television, but certainly related to film!
• Ellen DeGeneres is getting a lot of heat for carrying on with her show despite the writers strike. I can understand some of her points, but I don't think it's a good move for her to make when most of Hollywood is in solidarity with the strikers.

Today's music non-sequitur:

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear

And it shows them pearly white

Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe

And he keeps it … ah … out of sight.

-- "Mack the Knife" as sung by Bobby Darin

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates - 11/08

The show has started here on the East Coast. This post will be updated with major news as it airs. Everyone is welcome to comment!

Jean-Robert, James, Todd, and Amanda won Reward -- a dinner in a Chinese village. They also got something to read when they get there, but we're in commercial.

It was the last clue to the hidden idol which only Jean-Robert didn't know about and is meaningless at this point.

Courtney won Immunity!

Jean-Robert voted out.

My review will be posted on TV Squad later tonight.

UPDATE - That review is up and running!

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, November 8, 2007

The Plainfield, NJ Train Station just before dawn. I saw Roofus today, but he went up on an adjacent roof (the condemned building) before I could get a chance to take a photo. He actually can roam four building tops -- the building with the fire escape is too high and on the other side, there's a building which is only two stories.

At around 8 PM ET, I'll be posting a Survivor China East Coast Update entry, updating it as the show airs here in the NYC area. As always, my review of the episode will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. Everyone is welcome to jump in with their thoughts in the comments section of the East Coast Update post, or join in over at TVS!

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Buddy TV is certainly getting around -- they have interviews posted with Ryan Rodriguez from Biggest Loser, Tony Dovolani the recently eliminated dancer on Dancing With the Stars, and Natalie and John from Beauty and the Geek.
• The WGA writers strike has claimed another victim -- 24 will not be airing as originally scheduled because they don't want to break up Day 7.
• Rosie O'Donnell will not be going on MSNBC as their talks have ended.
• Ew Alert!! A priest has been stalking Conan O'Brien. Ew.
• Late last night I saw a TV commercial for contestants for The Amazing Race 13. They might be pushing that forward for the winter season, y'think?
• I also saw Ando from Heroes on a McDonalds commercial.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
It's all because your mama don't dance
And your daddy don't rock and roll.
-- "Your Mama Don't Dance" by Loggins and Messina

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Nah, it's not Roofus the Cat. This is a photo I took on a much warmer day than today as I watched a city cat watch the world go by. Today it's much chillier here with actual freeze warnings ahead and even the "s" word as a possible in the forecast for Friday night. Now, where did I put my gloves from last season?

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I wrote an article about ten ways I'll cope with the WGA writers strike for TV Squad. Readers here will know that I edited the union construction strike inflatable rat photo I posted last month. Hey, it worked. I realize the strike rats I've seen for the writers strike have been gray, but mine is cooler, right? I think it's the first ever feature article I've had at TVS.
• But no matter how much thought I put into it, no matter my attempts at wit, as well as my solidarity for my writing friends -- AOL welcome-screened my American Idol changes post on TV Squad from the other day and that one's getting all the attention (and fanatics).
• I've decided I want a black t-shirt with "writer" in white letters like the strikers.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Greg Grunberg who plays Matt Parkman on Heroes. He even goes into the latest news about the show and the writers strike.
• Marie Osmond won't quit Dancing With the Stars even though her father passed away.

I'll be watching Kid Nation and posting my review later tonight over on TV Squad.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
And I can change the world,
I will be the sunlight in your universe.
You would think my love was really something good,
Baby if I could change the world.
-- "If I Could Change the World" as sung by Eric Clapton

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, November 6, 2007

We all need a cozy place in the sun, but I'm not sure about the roof of a balcony window. But that's where I first spotted Roofus months ago. Shortly after I snapped this photo, he leaped atop the fire escape on the right and actually caught a bird. Yipes. I just saw feathers flying and a flurry of activity. Since I saw his feet go right through the fire escape "floor," I wish the fire escapes on his building were more like mine with more narrow openings. I don't think there ever are any cats on my own fire escape or roof. Squirrels, birds, perhaps a burglar ... but not a cat burglar! For a larger image, click on it.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Will the writers strike give us Big Brother 9 in January? Check out my latest on TV Squad!
• I also wrote a TVS article about changes coming for the next American Idol season.
• I'm sure you've heard the news, especially if you're a Dancing With the Stars fan -- Marie Osmond's father died. I don't know how that will affect the show, but my condolences go out the the family, friends, and fans of the Osmonds.
• Realitywanted.net has an interview with Ari and Staella, the first team eliminated from The Amazing Race 12. In it they mention they were big fans of the show with favorite teams of Rob and Amber and Mirna and Charla. Hmmm. I actually liked Rob more on TAR than on Survivor and can take or leave Amber. With Charla and Mirna, I have mixed feelings. I'd like to see Charla with someone other than Mirna. Neither team was my favorite on the show.

Today's music non-sequitur:
Through the woodland, through the valley
Comes a horseman wild and free
Tilting at the windmills passing
Who can the brave young horseman be
--"Don Quixote" by Gordon Lightfoot

'Heroes' - "Out of Time"

Well, I'm not quite sure what to make of all of the happenings in tonight's episode. One thing I'm really having issues with is all the jumping around so darn much. I swear this is how they plan it --

"Let's do a minute and a half of Hiro in 1671 Japan."
"Quick! Let's go back to the Company in Hartsdale!"
"Enough of that, go back to Hiro!"
"Too much Hiro, let's go jump in on Claire!"

While I enjoy action, I'd prefer instead of jumping around so much, a more expanded version of the individual character stories. Please!

Hiro

It turns out Takezo Kensei traded Hiro for money and half of Japan with the dreaded White Beard. Hiro, Yaeko, and her swordsmith father were taken captive. Yaeko convinced Hiro to teleport them to escape.

Hiro tried to convince Yaeko that Kensei was good inside, but she wasn't too convinced -- after all, he stole, plundered, got her and her father kidnapped and all so much more.

When Hiro went to the camp to stop White Beard's march, he had to destroy the guns as that would change history if they were to remain. Kensei came in, big swordfight, the building blew up with Hiro teleporting out just in time. But Kensei was blown to bits (apparently) in the blast.

As set up before he went, Hiro returned to Yaeko under the cherry blossom tree. She tried to convince him to stay, they both professed their love, but Hiro said he must return to his own time. Yaeko will tell everyone the tales of the brave Kensei (Hiro will always be the real Kensei to her) so that centuries later, a young Hiro will hear the legends.

Poof. Hiro returns to Ando in present-day Japan. Ando told him there had been no blast, they saved the world. "Yata!"

Alas, then Ando told Hiro that his father was dead and had been murdered. Un-tata.

Noah Bennet (Butler/HRG) in Odessa, Ukraine

Bennet, still in the Ukraine with the Isaac paintings of the future, called Mohinder at the Company in Hartsdale, NY. Mohinder tried to tell HRG that he wasn't trusted at the Company any longer and Bob had assigned him a partner. HRG wanted him to help him with the paintings, but Mohinder said it would put him in danger. HRG burned the paintings. Don't ask me why.

At the Company with Many

Bob demanded the building be evacuated accompanied by Nathan Petrelli and Matt Parkman. Supposedly Parkman's father, the Nightmare Man (Maury), was in the building or on the way to kill Bob. He wants to kill Maury with the serum. Mohinder balks again. (I think Mohinder lost his mind sometime over the summer -- he doesn't have a clue what he's doing and flip-flops looking confused a lot this season.)

Bob told Parkman that he's the only one who can stop his father because he's the only one with the same powers. Parkman claimed that all he can do is read minds; Bob says he can do more.

So, Parkman decided to have a soul-to-soul talk with the comatose Molly. He told her all about Bob thinking his powers were more than they are and the sad, sad story about his father leaving when he was a child. He noticed that when he told her he loved her, the monitor readings jumped. Why, gosh! He has power! So, he tried to communicate with her and they ended up in a rather lower-class apartment.

Molly told him that's where the Nightmare Man keeps her when he gets her. Sure enough, Maury shows up.

Oh, oh ... but before that ... in the Company, Niki is having visions of the dead DL -- with the Nightmare Man Maury skinking around corners and doorways in the building. DL tried to convince her she was still a murderer and hasn't changed. "You'll never see Micah again!"

Now, she's having the argument with DL in front of Mohinder. Of course, Mohinder couldn't see DL because DL was a nightmare created for Niki by Maury, so he thought she was a bit off ... then he looked confused some more. She ended up turning all Jessica, taking the serum, and breaking through the door to attack Bob with it.

In a struggle with Mohinder over the serum, she stabbed it into her own arm. Oh, she broke Mohinder's nose first.

Mohinder tried to thwart the poison with his own anti-virus which worked for Molly to no avail. It's a new strain.

Bob told Nathan that Maury wasn't the real problem. The real problem is Adam who escaped two weeks previous. Linderman was Adam's disciple. Adam is the visionary. Bob also told Nathan that Peter was alive. He said that he had been in Cork, Ireland, and they recently lost him.

Bob gave Mohinder a gun, telling him the only way to save Niki was to get Claire because of her healing powers. Mohinder hesitated, then told Bob that he was working with Bennet to bring down the company. (What is with him?) Bob told him about bennet killing his mentor, Evon Spector in the Ukraine. "A storm is coming and Claire is the key." (Save the cheerleader, save the world!)

Mohinder, gun in hand, looked even more confused. He doesn't know which side is right. Now, unless he shoots Bob the next time ... I don't know what's up with him.

Nightmare Man, Parkman, and Molly in the Apartment

As I mentioned, Molly and Parkman roughly teleported to the apartment where Maury would take her. It turns out it's Matt Parkman's childhood apartment set for the night his father deserted the family. It's his father's nightmare.

Matt's powers kick in and his father arrived. They had a yelling battle in which you could almost picture Maury as the Wicked Witch of the West being melted by Dorothy. I swear I could hear Maury cry, "I'm melting! I'm melting!"

Oh, that was just me. In reality, Matt's powers grew while his father was surrounded with his own nightmare -- the desertion of his family. Matt and Molly left, leaving Maury behind.

Wham ... they appeared in the Company infirmary with Maury dead on the floor nearby. "He'll never scare you again, Molly."

Peter Petrelli in NYC - Mother Child Reunion

Peter and Caitlin were in evacuated NYC in 2008 when they were surrounded by men in protective suits who snagged them to be decontaminated.

While held captive, Peter was asked why he, a dead man, isn't even sick. His interrogator insisted there was a death certificate for him. Peter claimed he doesn't even remember who he is. When Peter asked about Caitlin, he was told she would be deported.

He was told that the Ashanti virus killed 93% of the population in 2007. His mother is brought to him, but he doesn't remember her at first. As she kept talking to him, it all came back. She told him that Nathan died in the first outbreak of the virus.

When Peter spots them taking Caitin away, he ran to her and freaked out a lot. And, accidentally used his powers to teleport himself back to the room in Montreal.

Where ... Adam arrived. Remember, Adam is the one who left the note to him about fighting the company. And, Adam is also the one Bob fears and says is running the show. And, Adam is Takezo Kensei, unaged after centuries.

Oh, suspense!

Claire and West in California

Claire is snuggling a lot with West despite her promise to her father that she wouldn't have a boyfriend. West showed up to bring breakfast and, with just Mom Bennet at hime, he stayed. Claire at least knew to hide the pictures of HRG because West had said he had been abducted by a man with Horn Rimmed Glasses.

He also showed her an article about the drunken cheerleader ousted from the squad after claiming to see a flying mugger.

They snuggle.

That lasts until HRG comes home and HRG is indeed West's HRG! He bolts, flies away.

Bennet confronted Claire with the article knowing that she had some kind of involvement. The mother mentions the new boyfriend. HRG freaks.

He says they have to move. Claire balks, saying if they go, they can go without her.

And, there you go. Next week is an "answers" kind of episode which is supposed to fill us in on some things. I think we need it.

My 'Amazing Race 12' Season Premiere Review on TV Squad

My TAR 12 season premiere review is live on TV Squad at this link. I hope you enjoy it!

'The Amazing Race 12' - Season Premiere - East Coast Updates

The start of the season premiere - "Donkeys Have Souls, Too" - is delayed here in the NYC area due to football. Once it starts up, I'll update this post with the important happenings and quick thoughts as it airs. Graphic artist Zoetawny with her new 'puter made a graphic for the blog and I'm ready to watch the show even though I've already watched it not once, but twice! (Does that tell you what you're in for?) My full review is set to be posted on TV Squad at 10:05 PM ET.

Update 8:10 PM ET -- 60 Minutes is still on. I expect TAR to start in about 15 minutes, but will let you know.

UPDATE 8:25 PM ET -- 60 Minutes has ended, the show will be starting momentarily. Racers ready?

Yes! It's on! Cool classic convertibles to the Playboy Mansion. I'm not so keen about the Playboy Mansion part.

Hey ... against other news sources, the non-elim legs are still in! 8 of the 11 are elimination legs! That sounds like non-eliminations to me, doesn't it to you?

They're trying to get to LAX to board flights to Shannon, Ireland. Several are lost and there are two flights, one leaving earlier than the other. Five teams are on the first flight, six on the later one. Ronald and Christina an Azaria and Hendekea have bonded a bit. Hendekea borrowed a cell phone and set up two taxis for their teams.

The earlier flight is delayed and the second shall be first! I love that.

Ari and Staella stole one of the taxis. Good thing the driver let another non-stolen cab pass them.

An old person always falls, don't they?

I'm officially tired of Jennifer and Nathan. She whines very annoyingly. Lorena and Jason aren't too great in that department either. Love it that Kynt and Vyxsin didn't let the broken bike chain stop them.

I absolutely LOVE the high-wire bike Roadblock! That is so cool!

Love the donkeys, and how they cooperate with SOME teams ... teams who are nice to them do much better. Nathan and Jennifer are already screaming at each other. And Ari called one "stupid donk."

Ari threatened to eat his donkey!

Azaria and Hendekea came in to the Pit Stop first and won a trip to Alberta, Canada. Kynt and Vyxsin came in second and TK/Rachel third. Ari is still yelling at his donkey while Ron is singing Danny Boy as he pedals the high-wire bike.,

"Donkeys have souls, too" said Christina commenting about how Ari and Staella were treating their donkey. Jennifer and Nathan are still stranded with theirs.

Lorena and Jason made it to the Pit Stop -- 4th place. Nicolas and Donald are team number five. Shana and Jennifer are team 6. The other Jennifer (with Nathan) is still whining, but they finally got their donkey to move.

Ron and Christina are team seven. Who's your daddy? Kate and Pat are team 8. Now it gets all emotional...! Marianna and Julia are team nine and Jennifer and Nathan are on their heels at team 10.

Guess who karma bit on the butt? Yep, Ari and Staella are eliminated. They stole a cab and were mean to their donkey. Heh.

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, November 4, 2007

This is a photo I took during a previous holiday season, but with the nip in the air mornings now, it seems right for today. Again, I used layers to make the background black and white while leaving the inflated turkey (run, turkey, run!) in color. The location is John's Meat Market in Scotch Plains, New Jersey -- a place I love to go to for old-fashioned butcher attention and really fine meats. If you click on the photo, you'll see a larger version.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Don't forget -- The Amazing Race 12 premiere is tonight after 60 Minutes, with a possible football delay on the east coast. Thanks to the screener I received for the TV Squad gig, I've already seen it. Although I won't spoil anything for you -- I like most of the teams at first glance with two teams who annoy me. One of those two went! (Yay!) So you have no clue what team was eliminated, but it's already off to a good start with me because an annoying team is gone. Now if the other would go away next week!
• The New York Marathon is today. I won't be there. Even when I could run, I didn't run. I think the most I've ever run at one time was two miles, not 26. I will raise a cup of hot chocolate to them from the comfort of my living room.
• It's still uncertain but probable that the WGA's television and film writers will go on strike tomorrow. Although scripted television shows wouldn't be immediately impacted, my late night Letterman fix will probably head into reruns. I guess it would be good for me to go bed earlier, eh?
• Although my own writing isn't covered by the WGA, I can sympathize with its members. Outside of this blog, I write on a freelance contract which necessitates me keeping a day job. I found this Huffington Post article very informative about the writing industry for film and television. In an industry which pays its actors ridiculously high salaries, it offers the writers virtual peanuts in comparison. With my freelance work, I earn more than many of the WGA members and I'm not writing fiction which I know from personal experience is a lot tougher than blogging. And, when you think of it ... if not for writers, there would be no films and scripted television shows in the first place. Stephen King money isn't expected, but a living wage is and they should get their royalties on DVD and Internet sales increased. Is four cents too much to ask? I think not!
  
• Thinking of Stephen King -- I see The Mist is going to be released in theaters soon. That's one of my all-time Stephen King short story favorites. Although I probably won't go see it in a theater, I will definitely get it once it comes out on DVD. (The writer will get paid, I'm sure!) It stars Andre Braugher, one of my favorite actors from Homicide: Life on the Street.

Today's music non-sequitur:
She put de lime in de coconut, she drank 'em both up
She put de lime in de coconut, she called the doctor, woke him up,
And said, "Doctor, ain't there nothin' I can take,
I say, Doctor, to relieve this belly ache?
-- "Coconut" by Nilsson

'The Amazing Race 12' - The Teams - Part Three

Here it is! The last installment on the teams we'll be seeing starting this Sunday, November 4, 8 PM ET?/PT in most viewing areas -- or, seeing the time slot, possibly delayed for sports in many areas. Sigh.

I covered the other teams in this post and in this one, too.

Ari and Staella are one of the younger teams -- 21 and 24 respectively -- and they're best friends all about having fun. Okay.

He's a waiter and she's a restaurant manager. He lives with her family which seems to indicate that neither have been out on their own. Ari says he's catty, mean, rude, hilarious and is never afraid to speak his mind, loves to dance -- always great qualities for the race, right? Staella thinks she's honest, trustworthy, and caring. (I do like that more.)

They think they'll ruffle feathers of the other teams and have a great time. Me? I don't like their attitudes. Well, his attitude. She seems okay.

Marianna and Julia are sisters hailing from Miami. They describe themselves as feisty, best friends, and worst enemies. Julia is the problem-solver while Marianna is the athlete. Both consider themselves to be very competitive and think they're unbeatable. Good. It's always nice to have a strong all-woman team even if we're lacking the all-men teams this season.

Supposedly Julia is emotional while Marianna is as steady as a rock. Julia thinks Marianna doesn't self-censor and is often mean. They've traveled together before and say that their favorite team was BJ and Tyler due to their upbeat energy. Well, hopefully these two will have the same!

Like the blondes this season, they aren't afraid to flirt.

Speaking of BJ and Tyler, look! It's TK and Rachel! They're a dating couple -- she's a florist and store owner while he's a substitute teacher. Their mothers were friends for years, but they're only recently dating.

They say they're always laughing (good) and want to see how their relationship stands up to the race. Rachel believes she's bright and ambitious. She thinks the biggest difference between her and TK are the lives they've led. She started working and bought a business right out of high school while he was a collegiate athlete at UC Santa Barbara.

TK's sport was swimming. He thinks he's dedicated, witty, and intelligent. They hope to spend their lives together starting out with a million dollar nest egg.

Now, here's a team a bit different from many of the ones we've seen before. Kate and Pat are married lesbian ministers. They dated for seven years and married three years ago. They say not to worry -- they aren't afraid to play dirty. Pat is the second-oldest racer this season at 65. (Grandfather Donald is 68.)

Kate thinks she avoids conflict while Pat dives right in. Kate says she's passionate and sarcastic while Pat claims to be persistent and dependable. Pat thinks Kate often misjudges her time, something which might affect them as a team during the race. They're not afraid to compete against anyone and think their years of experience will beat out the physical prowess of other teams. I think others have thought along those lines before and it hasn't won the race yet. But I think they'll be an interesting team to watch.

Although technically California heavy, I like the mix of racers this season. I'm so glad we're not seeing a season full of model couples. What do you think?

'Survivor 15: China' - 11/01 Show - East Coast Updates

The show has started here on the East Coast. I'll be updating this post with important events as they air, so please return here for the news. As always, comments are welcome! My full review of tonight's episode will be on TV Squad later tonight.

UPDATE -- James found the second hidden idol. Alas, Jaime just peeked in his bag and found both hidden idols. Uh-oh.

UPDATE -- Merge is on, black buffs, will use Fei Long camp, feast and Chinese cultural performances

UPDATE -- Frosti won the first individual Immuniy.

UPDATE -- Bwahahaha! Jaime pulled out the blank plaque thinking it was the hidden Immunity Idol -- she got voted off.

My Survivor review for TV Squad should be up at this link around midnight. I apologize for the delay, but it was out of my hands.

'Dancing With the Stars' - Fall 2007 Season - Blog Discussion Post Two

Due to popular request, I'm putting up an additional DWTS blog discussion post for the remainder of the season as the comments in the other one were getting unwieldy.

The official show website is here.

This season's original discussion post can be found here and I invite you to bring over any ongoing discussions you wish from the older post.

The original blog discussion post is located here.
AOL's feature page for Dancing With the Stars is right here.
The TV Squad reviews for the show can be found here.
The SirLinksAlot page for the show is here (lots of great links).

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, November 1, 2007

Oh, look what I got! Look what I got! Thanks to my TV Squad gig, I received a screener copy of The Amazing Race 12 season premiere today! And, but of course, I dropped what I was doing to watch it immediately after the FedEx man left. My lips are sealed; I can't be bribed. I'll be posting a review of the season premiere Sunday evening on TV Squad. But I'll say one thing -- the magic is back! Set the Sunday 8 PM ET/PT hour aside for an amazing good time.

In other TV Newsy Bits:

• Around 8 PM ET tonight I'll be setting up a Survivor 15: China East Coast Updates post which I'll update throughout the show with the major happenings. My full show review will be posted on TV Squad late this evening.
• I have a few posts up over on TV Squad you might wish to peek at -- my Kid Nation review from last night and spoilers for the upcoming Survivor 16. With the latter, if you don't want to know, don't go. It's filming now, so no boot spoilers just location and all stars or not kind of stuff.
• At this time it's still uncertain whether the WGA (Writers Guild of America) will call for its members to strike. If it does, the most immediate shows impacted will be shows such as Letterman, Leno, SNL, and such. They don't have shows filmed ahead and rely on a staff of writers. The first show postponed due to a possible strike is Heroes: Origins according to news sources.
  
• This blog will not be affected by any strike. I'd hold out for more pay here, but ... um ... well, I do have my day job because writing can't support me in the jetsetting way of life I love so much. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it.)
• I'm postponing my final installment on the TAR12 teams until tomorrow evening due to time issues today. But, who knows? Maybe I saved the best for last!
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
We can dance if we want to
We can leave your friends behind
'Cause your friends don't dance
And if your friends don't dance
They're no friends of mine.
-- "The Safety Dance" - Men Without Hats

'The Amazing Race 12' - The Teams - Part Two

Continuing on with the teams we'll be seeing starting this Sunday, November 4, I'll cover the next four in this entry. If you click on the TAR12 link you see at the bottom of the post, it will bring up all of my posts about the show. Um ... I think that would be one here now. But there will be more even though I'll be writing the reviews of the show for TV Squad this season. An introductory teams post is over on TV Squad and Part One of the teams can be found here. Without further ado ...

Shana and Jennifer, an actress and a legal assistant, seem like they might take a page from Evil Beauty Queens Dustin and Kandice. They're beautiful (eye candy for the guys) and blonde. On the promos for the season, we've seen these two promise to use flirting and their looks to get ahead.

Shana has a back up career plan -- she also recently finished chef school. (Maybe we'll see her on Top Chef next!) She thinks she's loyal, compassionate, and competitive. She also has a lot of traveling experience.

Jennifer is also well-traveled, but thinks she's more meticulous in comparison to Shana. They both think they have the experiences and competitiveness to win it all. They could very well be a strong team.

Brother and sister team Azaria and Hendekea should prove to be my own personal triumph against misspelling names ... or a huge failure. I'm so hoping Hendekea has a nickname. Henny maybe? Originally hailing from New Orleans, he remains there while she moved out to California.

In the CBS bio, she says she's dainty. Dainty? Can you be dainty on The Amazing Race? Should you even think of daintiness? Yikes!

Both siblings seem to have it on the ball in the brains department, but the bio hints at underlying problems with sibling rivalry. He's the older one and tended to pick on her when she was younger. My brother probably would have picked on me too had I thought I was dainty. I guess we'll see how they do.

Lorena and Jason have more typical jobs for reality show contestants than do many on TAR -- a bartender and a wedding videographer, respectively. Both act, too. (Surprise, surprise.) Compared to Azaria being a facilities engineer and his sister an aerospace engineer, Lorena and Jason have reality show careers, eh?

They're a dating couple who met at a bar three years ago. They live together, but rarely see each other due to conflicting work schedules. And, they're yet another dating team who claim to be using the race to see if they really belong together. Haven't we seen enough of those?

They have cultural differences to overcome, too. Oh, well. He thinks he's courageous and volatile. She's extremely jealous when it comes to him. I don't know. If they bicker too much or call each other "babe" through gritted teeth when the love just ain't there -- they can be out early for all I care!

I think Nicolas and Donald are going to be an interesting team to watch -- he's very young (23) and he's old (68), a grandson and grandfather. I'm talking young and old in terms of running the race, not in "real life." One's tall, one's short. They look so different from many of the perfectly matched kind of teams that I want to cheer these two on from the start.

Nicolas thinks he's reliable, competitive, and goofy. Yes, goofy. I like goofy at times -- as long as he isn't just silly! Donald likes to tell his grandson what to do and thinks that while Nicolas may know maps (he's been a pilot since the age of 17), he possesses street smarts and experience.

I hope Donald is in good shape. I think I want this team to last far into the race because I'm going to enjoy them. I think so, anyway.

The final installment on the teams will be posted tomorrow evening. Are you ready?

[Team images used here © CBS]

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween! A scarecrow amidst the cobwebs in Plainfield, NJ. I used layers to make the background black and white while keeping the scarecrow's colors. It's not my best work, but the sentiment is there! Happy birthday wishes go out to my brother Russ!

Normally I don't work Wednesdays, but I've been working odd hours this week. So, instead of the ongoing Bon Jovi concert crowds in the new Newark arena (I believe there are ten concert dates) messing up my NJ Transit train commute -- today I got NJ Devils fans and the Halloween party people in costume heading to the big parade in Greenwich Village. I just wanted to get home. You know it's bad when I saw two different train conductors I know and the first thing we did was roll our eyes and sigh. But I'm home and they're still working. My sympathies go out to the late shift conductors tonight.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I'll be watching and reviewing tonight's Kid Nation episode for TV Squad -- I'll post the link once it's done.
• Buddy TV has an interview with Goth couple Vyxsin and Kynt who will be on The Amazing Race (coming this Sunday!).
• I should be receiving an overnighted copy of the season premiere of TAR12 for my TV Squad duties tomorrow. I'll tell you if I enjoyed it or not, but I won't spill any beans until my review on TV Squad Sunday night. Heh.
• I should be finishing the look at the teams here tomorrow. I've had a bit of a rough week and I'm running behind.
• Now, this isn't necessarily my cuppa, but I received this promo: "Would you like to see Big Brother 8's Jessica and Eric compete on The Amazing Race? Join the fan campaign to get them cast on the show! Fans are flooding CBS with letters and woobies to show our support for Team Jeric. To get involved, please visit the fan campaign website for information, updates, funny promo videos, and exclusive pictures of Team Jeric with Woobie in New York and Kansas. Also, here is the campaign video to inspire you." -- if you're interested, go for it!
• FearNet.com has a new online series called Buried Alive. I won't have time to check it out until way late tonight, but since it's Halloween and seems fitting, I thought I'd share.
  

Today's music non-sequitur:
And still the raven remains in my room
No matter how much I implore
No words can soothe him
No prayer remove him
And I must hear for evermore
--"The Raven" by Edgar Alan Poe as sung by Alan Parsons Project

'Heroes' - "The Line"

Hmmm ... I'm wondering if the chapter name -- "The Line" -- has to do with the old saying "toeing the company line." I would think so as the meaning behind it is loyalty to the company even if the company's actions may be wrong. Although, after tonight, could the Company have good in mind?

Nah, I think it's a ploy. I don't trust the Company minions. Here's the skinny on what went down in the episode (chapter):

Peter and Caitlin

In the bar where Mickey was murdered by Elle, Peter and Caitlin talk about going to Montreal (as in the painting Peter Isaac'd). Peter doesn't want her to go with him, but she's insistent. She wants to kill the woman who killed her brother.

They opened the episode and closed it, not to be seen in between. In the closing of the episode, they're in Montreal at the very location they were in the painting. They enter what looks to be some sort of studio only to find a note to Peter from someone named Adam -- "We were right about the Company. The world is in danger." Peter doesn't remember an Adam (neither do I, but that's beside the point).

Peter and Caitlin embrace and end up doing a Hiro. They've transplanted themselves to June 14 (Flag Day), 2008 in an abandoned Times Square, NYC. Well, at least that was the date on the evacuation notice Peter found. That's where the show ended, but a lot happened to others in between.

Claire and West

While Claire's advocate Meg voted for her to become a cheerleader, Debbie (that so-and-so) said no. Claire seems to have issues with cheerleader captains. So did I, but I tended to scoff cheerleaders in general back in my high school days.

Claire told West that she had told her father that she was on the cheerleader squad and that she wasn't allowed ot date at all. West suggested she do something to Debbie to get her on the squad. She tried talking to her only to be turned down and laughed at.

Since Debbie the So-and-So was drinking, they came up with a way to humiliate her in public. I believe it was West's idea. He dressed in black garb like a robber, flew in and picked up Claire while she was talking to Debbie. He then dropped her, killing her (but we know she'll heal), and went after Debbie. Debbie called the police to report it, Claire appeared alive, Debbie got canned from the squad and Claire is on. I don't care. I still don't trust West.

West told Claire that parental guidance is a non-issue when you can fly. I think he's going to try to really test Claire's bond with her parents. He reacted strangely when she mentioned parents. Does he even have any? He was in Louisville (if memory serves) when the "man with the horn-rimmed glasses" kidnapped him. Hmmm...

Monica, Mohinder Suresh, Molly, Niki, and Bob at the Company

Lots went down at the Company in Hartsdale, NY, this episode. Mohinder did indeed bring Monica (Micah's cousin) there. They had her watching gymnasts and learning the moves. But then Bob wanted Mohinder to inject her with a serum (the Ashanti serum) which would remove her powers, but might have other effects, too. Of course, Bob says it's all for the greater good. Mohinder almost did it, but ended up going to Bob telling him he quit after calling HRG. He wants to take Molly with him and leave.

Oh, my. Bob did a quick turnaround. He apologized to Mohinder, telling him how hard it's been -- 30 years, a lot has changed, they've overstepped their bounds, he's so valuable to them, a bigger danger exists, blah-blah-blah. So, Mohinder stays, Molly stays.

Bob ended up bringing Monica back to her house, giving her an iPhone with all kinds of videos she can study, and telling her there's a lot of good she can do in New Orleans. Say what? I just know the Company is evil! How dare he act good!

He gave Mohinder a new partner -- Niki (or could it be Jessica?) toeing the company line. No more misunderstandings. Mohinder just looked confused. So did I.

HRG and the Haitian in the Ukraine

Yep, they're in Odessa and we aren't talking Texas. We're not talking a management training meeting in Tulsa like he told Claire, either. They're seeking the remaining Isaac paintings from a Company dude whose name is Etan (I think). He was HRG's mentor in the Company.

HRG knew right where to hit him trying to get the paintings. First he had the Haitian erase Etan's memories of his wife and honeymoon. Then he went for the memories of the daughter when Etan finally told him what he wanted to know.

Etan tried to convince HRG to come back to the Company, telling him it had changed. HRG didn't fall for the company line. He made it look like a burglary and shot him dead to cover his tracks. He and the Haitian then examined the paintings -- number 8, of course, might put a chill down his spine.

"You'll condemn yourself to hell," Etan cried as HRG aimed the gun at him.
BANG
"I know," HRG said.

Yikes, I say.

The Wonder Twins and Sylar

They're nearing the US border. Alejandro doesn't like Sylar and the feeling's mutual. Sylar likes Maya's "delicious" power. He told Maya that he had special powers, but they all went away. He wants to be special again. As they cross the border, Sylar got Maya to use her powers to knock of the border patrol guys calling them "fake police."

Alejandro fussed that she was a killer because of him (Sylar). She told him that they needed Gabriel (Sylar) to get to Dr. Suresh. Alejandro told her he wouldn't give her his hand the next time and he'd let Gabriel die. Sylar told him that Maya is his own shiny new toy and he'll kill Alejandro.

Okay.

Hiro in 1671 Japan via Ando in present day Tokyo

I like Ando, but it makes no sense to have him read the scrolls. Make that stop.

Yaeko (the swordsmith's beautiful daughter), Kensei, and Hiro attack the camp of White Beard to rescue the swordsmith only to discover that the swordsmith told them how to make guns. Of course, guns didn't exist in Japan in 1671, so Hiro had to make sure the guns get destroyed. They must save Japan!

Then Hiro blew it. As danger surrounded them, he teleported Yaeko and himself away. She then realized it was him she had fallen in love with, not Kensei. It was Hiro with the flower petals! (Well, duh.) Hiro, poor lovelorn guy, kissed her. He's so in love and he knows it's an impossible love as he must get back to his own time and she must fall for Kensei.

The really bad thing is that Kensei saw them kiss. Uh-oh. Hiro told him he had fallen in love with her, but it just can't be -- it would be the only kiss, there would be no more.

Oh, but Kensei didn't believe him and still had his old greed in mind, probably heightened because he knows he can't be killed. He kidnapped Yaeko and knocked out Hiro.

Gulp.

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, October 29, 2007

It's time to play find Roofus the Cat! If you don't see him, click on the image and it will enlarge. I'd say he's coming from one of the apartments in the building, but all of the windows are closed. He must have been sleeping on the bay window roof or one of the fire escapes. I can't help but wonder what happened to the cat who used to curl up with him late last winter on the bay window roof. Alas, the life of a feral cat, especially one between roof and a busy city street, isn't long.

I know an elderly man who runs a car lot nearby puts out food for the strays, but unless they're spayed and neutered, the cycle will go on. That said, I don't think Roofus is "catchable" as he's several stories off the ground and doesn't seem to interact with humans at all.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• I apologize for not posting yesterday. I was having Blogger and gmail issues. I'm still not getting any notifications when comments are made, but at least I seem to be able to post an entry.
  
• I'll be watching Heroes tonight and posting a review later on -- stop back and comment if you watch the show!
• I told you how Court TV is changing its name to truTV (gak). Now they have a new tagline for the brand name change -- "Not reality. Actuality." I like the tagline better than the new name for the channel.
• A possible TV writers strike may come this Thursday. Since the shows I review for TV Squad are reality shows, my paid blogging efforts won't be affected. According to this AOL TV News article, some shows pushed their production schedules ahead to get more episodes finished, but some didn't. I guess we'll know more as time goes on. Although I'm not too keen on unions on the whole, I agree with the actions in this case. Often the writer is the poor stepchild in a television show. And, as a writer myself, I know that freelancers and contractors need some sort of organization to protect them as we're all individuals out here.
• In poking around AOL Television, I also noticed their Halloween page. Cool. I think the television show whose Halloween episodes I always enjoyed the most was Rosanne. I caught one late last night and wouldn't mind a marathon solely of the Halloween eps for Halloween itself.

Today's music non-sequitur:
St. Peter, don't you call me
Because I can't go ...
I owe my soul to the company store.
-- "16 Tons" written by Merle Travis, popularized by Tennessee Ernie Ford

TV Newsy Bits - Saturday, October 27, 2007

A goose enjoying calm waters in Westfield, New Jersey. When I was young, you didn't see many geese around. Nowadays, they're considered a nuisance around here. Yes, they're messy. But I still enjoy seeing them. Some months back a couple of geese set up housekeeping on the lawn of a church near my apartment. Whenever services were held, they'd chase any parishioners who didn't feed them. The geese mysteriously vanished after a month of Sundays.

I have Stephen King's It on in the background as I write this. I really should have written about Pennywise the Clown (as played by Tim Curry) for that TV Squad article. But, if it seems like this is very disjointed, blame the clown.

Last night's Bon Jovi concert in the new stadium in Newark wreaked havoc on commuting and I got home from work almost two hours later than planned. Grr. As a result, I ended up watching The Next Great American Band (for two hours), writing it up for TV Squad because I filled in for the regular writer, then I conked out.

Oh ... and I had to turn word verification back on -- I spent almost an hour yesterday removing comments left by a spambot. I don't think we need Viagra or suffer from erectile dysfunction. I'm sorry, but I had to do it.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• That review of The Next Great American Band is here.
• Buddy TV has a slew of interviews up -- Ebony Morgan from America's Next Top Model, Lacey Conner from Rock of Love and of more interest to me -- Sherea Lloyd from Survivor China.

Argh, It is drawing me in. I must watch.

"I'm the killer of worlds, the eater of children. We all float down here. Don't you want to float, too?" - Pennywise the Clown