'Survivor 16: Micronesia' Official CBS Page Up

I'll be writing introductory posts for the fans as the week goes on, but thought I should mention the official show website is up and running. I don't think I'll be writing introductory posts for the returning castaways even though a few are certainly dubious in their "fan favorite" distinction.

'Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann' Blog Discussion Post

Although I most likely won't be watching the show, I recall a few people were asking for a discussion post to talk about it amongst friends here on the blog. So, here you go!

The show airs Mondays at 8 PM ET/PT in most viewing areas. The official website for the show is here.

'The Amazing Race 12' - East Coast Updates - 01/06

Andy Rooney is on 60 Minutes as I start this, so the show we really want to see (sorry Andy) will be starting soon.

As it airs, I'll update this post with the major events including Philimination. Late tonight my full review of the episode will be up on TV Squad.

Please feel free to jump in with your thoughts in the comments!

TK and Rachel are WAY behind.

Ron and Christina came in first each winning an electric vehicle.

Nathan and Jennifer second. (Grr)
Nicolas and Donald number three.
YAY! The last non-elim! Nearly three hours behind the other teams, TK and Rachel survive. They'll face a Speed Bump next leg.

Phew.

TV Newsy Bits (and Schtuff) - Sunday, January 6, 2008

A New York City subway train, rather subdued and uncrowded. I'll get into the TV Newsy Bits in a moment, but I must tell a tale of urban apartment living first.

Y'see, I live in a fairly large multi-story (but not high-rise) apartment building in urban (as opposed to suburban) New Jersey. I have neighbors on top of me, below me, on both sides, and across the hall. The building itself is an elevator building with about 40 apartments, an intercom system for a supposedly secure building, and a laundry room in the basement. The neighborhood is quiet with apartment buildings, senior citizen housing, some large older houses cut up into apartments, and churches. My biggest complaint about the neighborhood itself are adults on bicycles on the sidewalks, as well as the senior citizen gang with flags atop their motorized scooters who terrorize the sidewalks making me step into yards.

But this isn't about the neighborhood. It's about last night. Well, actually it started before that. The apartment abutting my dining room turned computer/library/home office and kitchen has been vacant for some time. That apartment was traditionally the super's apartment, but the last family man super left months ago. The new super is single and has a studio apartment on the first floor.

I know they renovated the apartment long ago, but heard noises in there this past Wednesday. It sounded like maintenance workers and I heard no more from the apartment until last night when I got home around 8 PM. There was a stereo going ... a very loud one.

Sigh. New neighbors throwing their first party? At one point my intercom buzzed. When I used the talk button, no one answered. No way was I going to buzz anyone into the building when I wasn't expecting any company. And the beat went on next door. It had to be blaring in there because I never ever even heard the first superintendent, the second one there had a surround-sound system and, while that was annoying, it paled in comparison to the music last night.

Then there was a flurry of activity in the hallway and banging on the door over there. I peeked out my window and saw several police cars at the back of the building (which is very odd as they would come in the front for most things). It turns out NO ONE still lives there! A bunch of people commandeered the vacant apartment for a party!

How did they find the apartment? How did they get into the building and then the apartment? The cops said about 30 people were in there! How did they have electricity in there? The apartments come with heat, hot water, and cooking gas, but the power has to be turned on for each individual tenant.

How did I not really hear any unusual hall traffic, no voices from the apartment and just the music blaring? Apparently some of the party-goers were roaming the hallways and smoking cigarettes in the elevator. One of the tenants on the first floor called the police about the strangers in the hallway. But here, the apartment was right next to me and I didn't hear anything in the hallways. I believe they had to be coming in through the back door of the building away from me.

In the end, I'm relieved I don't have new partying neighbors there. I didn't call the police because it wasn't all that late at night and I didn't want my first introduction to neighbors being a call to the police before 10 PM on a Saturday night. My other neighbors have parties and make noise occasionally but we all get along and know we can say something if it gets too much. No one takes advantage although I know when the guy downstairs is having a football game party or the folks upstairs have a small party. They say I'm very quiet, but I've been known to crank my stereo on occasion. Living in an apartment building takes some tolerance of others, but I guess I was a bit too tolerant last night, eh?

Onto today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Ohh ... lots of news about the upcoming Survivor Micronesia -- fan and firefighter Joel Anderson has a write-up as does fan motivational speaker Alexis Jones and the returning Ami Cusack. I didn't care for her in Vanuatu. As a matter of fact, Vanuatu was my least favorite season on the show. I'm so not looking forward to Jonny Fairplay, either. Yeah, I understand that they want a villain, but he just creeps me out. But the concept of the season itself sounds fresh. I'm looking forward to seeing the fans kick Ami and Jonny's butts while Yau-Man makes me smile!
• Our friends over at Buddy TV say the finalists are in place to be cast for Big Brother 9 and that there are rumors it will be a shorter season than the typical three month run we see in the summertime. And, yes ... before I get asked again ... it seems the show will have another new season come July.
• The latest in the ongoing Britney Spears saga is that Dr. Phil "rescued" her from the hospital. I'm sure he'll turn it into ratings for himself. I think it's just a sad situation and it's very scary to think of K-Fed as a level-headed parent. Those poor kids.
• Matthew Fox spilled the Lost beans as he knows them for EW.com. Verrry interesting.
  
• Tonight we'll have another episode of The Amazing Race. I'm thinking it must be the finale next week as we're at the final four now. The finale always pits the last three teams in the final leg. I'll put up an east coast spoilers post when it starts here. It's very likely there will be a football delay. I haven't looked at the schedule, just guessing.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
Chickity China the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
Watchin' X-Files with no lights on
We're dans la maison
I hope the Smoking Man's in this one
-- "One Week" - Barenaked Ladies

'Celebrity Apprentice' and Schtuff

Brr ... cold enough out there for you? Here's a hint about what I had to face this morning in 15 degree temperatures and high winds. Although that article has few comments, I know what the commenter from a previous post was talking about with the nasty comments left on that site. Scary stuff.

I'll talk about The Celebrity Apprentice towards the end of this entry. I'll be mentioning the fired person at the end of the post, so beware if you haven't watched the show yet. Although the show caught my interest enough tonight, I doubt I'll be watching it come mid-February. So I'm not going to get into blogging about it full-force.

A few other things first:

• I was pleased with the return of Letterman last night, but that beard has to go. Soon. And far away. It frightened me.
• I think I'm going to like the new cast changes on Law and Order. It's about time McCoy got a promotion, eh? I like Jesse Martin fine, but Dennis Farina partnering with him didn't do anything for me. The new dude shows some promise. I was a bit disappointed that it was two separate one-hour episodes. I think it could have made a splash debut with an involved two-hour story.
• I watched Wife Swap last night. Is it just me or is that show getting even cheesier each season? What the heck was up with that "sparkle" bit? I kept feeling I was watching a commercial of whatever that gum is that cleans "dirty mouths." Why do people go on these shows knowing that they'll look like idiots?
• The cast list is up for Survivor -- thanks, ORKMommy! Jonny Fairplay indeed. I thought they said fan favorites?!?
  

Onto Celebrity Apprentice ...

The pros:

• I actually enjoyed Gene Simmons from Kiss and, on the whole, how the men got along.
• They're in NYC where the show belongs. Good.
• The "celebrity" bit enhances the tasks -- they can call on their contacts, etc.
• The proceeds go to charity.
  

The cons:

• Donald Trump, the Trumpette, and the Trumpling.
• Piers Morgan is rude. There, I said it.
• I hate the Baldwin's eyes. He always looks stoned.
• Who are half of these celebrities? If I saw most of them on the street, I wouldn't even notice.
• Trump is partial to Omarosa and tonight's show showed it.
• Omarosa is still a B Word.

The odd:

• Not even going to his hair, but Trump's tan/coloring is all screwy. It looks like he's been in a tanning booth wearing sunglasses. Ew.
• The winning team got to watch the main boardroom session of the losing team prior to the firing. I'm of mixed feelings about that. They can see the weak links of the other team too much.

SPOILER COMING

The Fired:

• It should have been Omarosa because she's the one who decided (and enforced) they shouldn't use their celebrity to sell hot dogs. But, instead, it was Tiffany the Playboy Bunny who didn't call Hugh Hefner for a donation. (After Omarosa didn't want them to do that, mind you.)
  

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Nah, not an exciting photo, I'll admit. It's raindrops on a berry-bearing tree. We certainly won't see raindrops here tonight as the temperatures dip down into the teens. But we've been lucky so far this season here in the NYC area. I know folks in the Midwest, further up the Northeast coast and even just a few hundred miles north of here have had tremendous snowstorms. Since my knee won't allow me to ski, I'd just as soon as little snow as necessary here, thank you.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• In NYC News news, I was thrilled to see meteorologist Jeff Berardelli on and off the past few weeks on WCBS2. I got all excited thinking he was back for good, but he isn't. He was just helping them out as he visited his family for the holidays. Soon (if not already), he'll be back in Miami and we'll have to deal with Conan O'Brien's doppelganger Lonnie Quinn doing the weather. Blech. John Bolaris is off of CBS2 and into Philly. I'd like to put in a request for a real meteorologist and not a soaps actor, please.
• Law and Order returns tonight for a special two-hour season premiere beginning at 9 PM. I'm so there. I didn't care so much for Dennis Farina the last season or two. It looks like the cop cast has been revamped and I've always liked the stories.
• I'll also be watching David Letterman's return (with writers) tonight. His guest is Robin Williams. I'm not as keen on Williams as I was a few decades back, but I wouldn't miss the show's return tonight for anything! Leno won't be able to do a monologue and has one of the Presidential candidates on for his return tonight.
• Ohhh ... gossip! Claire and Peter from Heroes are a true-life couple these days? Yikes! He's 30, she's 18. She denied they were dating all through that odd haircut he used to sport.
• Tonight also brings us season premieres of Wife Swap and SuperNanny. A new Deal or No Deal is on as well. Power of Ten, too. Oh, my. Television has returned. I'm not so much into any of them, but I might watch Wife Swap before Law and Order. That can be amusing at times.

Today's musical non-sequitur:
But then they sent me away to teach me how to be sensible,
Logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
Clinical, intellectual, cynical.
-- "The Logical Song" by Supertramp

Out With 2007, In With 2008

Well, well, well. It's 2008. I hope everyone had a good time last night whether it was staying at home or going out with the crowds.

Me? Um, well. I fell asleep early. I had planned to at least watch the ball drop on television, but missed it all. I had to work yesterday and had been up since before 5 AM. I thought I was merely taking a nap around 9 PM, setting my alarm to get me up at 10 PM. Uh-oh. I awoke at about 4:30 in the morning. That's just the way it goes sometimes.

Thinking back over the past year I've certainly had some successes, lots of so-so stuff, one major personal blow.

In the success arena:

• This blog has to be at the top of the list. A community has developed here and it opened the doors to a paying writing gig -- something I've wanted for years although my original intention was more along the lines of the Great American Novel. I thank everyone who's been reading regularly and even more of a nod to those who have made it a community.
• Of course, the paying writing gig for TV Squad is a huge success for me in 2007. No, I can't live on the pay I receive, but it sure helps out a lot and getting paid to write is a very personally fulfilling kind of thing. It's something I dreamed of when I received my first typewriter as a Christmas gift at the age of nine.
• My 401K at my day job did very well this year. I can actually see some sort of life after retirement (which, alas, is several years away) between that, my company retirement benefits, and Social Security. It no longer looks like I'll have to go live in a van down by the river.
• I bought a new computer which I will be able to claim on my taxes due to the writing income.
• I bought seasons 1-4 of The Wire and will watch them over and over again. Storytelling done right in the TV medium. Unfortunately, I can't claim the DVDs on my taxes.

To the so-so arena:

• September marked 30 years since I started with my day job employer (which will remain nameless in this blog). I left them for about five years in the 80s, so I don't have 30 straight years with them. It feels like I have 50, though. 1977. I was surely a child.
• I got addicted to Trader Joe's Espresso Coffee Soda only to see it discontinued. I guess I didn't need the calories, but I definitely love that stuff.
• Despite the reputation of the NJ town in which I live, people say hello on the sidewalk, I see diversity everywhere I go, and I have made friends in town as well as new train friends I enjoy this past year.

The 2007 bad stuff:

• The absolute worst thing is the loss of my cat Teaser. I miss him every day. I found out that my brother (the one who left a comment here) lost his cat of about the same age three weeks prior to the death of Teaser.
  
• My left knee is crumbling more all the time. I fear I'll have to have the knee replacement before long. I'm not all that worried about the operation itself, nor the recovery. I just don't want to be in a hospital or rehab place for more than a few days.
• I fear my day job is successfully sucking just a bit more of my soul out of me day by day.

Stuff I want to do in 2008:

• I want to keep this blog going at the levels previous to this past month. December was a rather boring TV month, plus I was busy at work, and dealing with the loss of my cat companion of fifteen years.
• I want to continue writing for TV Squad. My contract renews in July (at least it should). I already know I'll be covering BB9 live feeds and the upcoming Survivor season for them.
• I have to get my knee fixed. (Waaah.)
• Knee fixed, more photo stomping. Yay!
• I want to take up real painting. I've been having urges to paint (art stuff, not walls or houses) for a few months now. I used to draw and sketch a lot when I was younger but I never got into painting. I plan to buy an easel, some paints, and some brushes (and other stuff I might need), and see what comes of it. I have to decide between oils, acrylics, or watercolors. But I will do it. Also, it's something I could do in knee replacement recovery time.

How was your 2007?

(Graphic by rockin' Zoetawny)

New Year's Eve TV Newsy Bits - December 31, 2007

Don't ask because I don't have any answers. I came across this stuffed figure quasi-dummy in a wicker chair on the sidewalk in front of a Latino clothing store in Plainfield, NJ today. The cigarette in his mouth was actually burning and that's an empty pint bottle in his lap. He may have one hand. If he does, it's in his pocket supporting his travel duffel. What the pink frill on his sleeve is, I don't know. I didn't ask, he didn't tell. He must be a stranger in town. But at least he dressed for the weather, eh?

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Yes, the world will be watching the ball drop at midnight in Times Square. I might be watching, but I'll do it from my living room. I've done the Times Square thing twice in my life and vowed 20 years ago never again. I hope everyone has a great time, but please be safe.
• A blog reader has a list of the New Year's TV marathons up on his blog if you don't like football. I know I need some Law and Order!
• The late night talk shows return on January 2nd. Yay, Letterman! Since David Letterman's own show and the one following it hosted by Craig Ferguson are owned by his own production company, he made his own deal to return with the writers. Leno and Conan will be winging it without the writers. I may have to watch Leno once just to see how bad he is when left to his own devices. I actually enjoy Letterman's goofiness, so I personally think he'd be better without writers than Leno, but that's the way it goes. I can't help but wonder if guests might be more willing to go on Letterman who has the approval of the WGA than on Leno where they might be perceived as crossing picket lines. It should be interesting.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
Give my regards to Broadway
Remember me to Herald Square
Tell all the gang at 42nd Street
That I will soon be there.
-- George M. Cohan - "Give My Regards to Broadway"

'The Amazing Race 12' - East Coast Update 12/30

Nah, I didn't forget to get a post up and running. The late post is due to yet another football delay here on the east coast. As I type this at approximately 8:20 PM ET, 60 Minutes is still on. I'm not quite sure when it started, but once the real show (TAR!) starts, I'll update this entry with major events including the Pit Stop order.

Late tonight my full review of the show will be posted over on TV Squad.

UPDATE 8:37 PM ET -- Finally, 60 Minutes has ended. (Grr)

Kynt and Vyxsin made up the Speed Bump time and just U-Turned Nathan and Jennifer DON AND NICOLAS (who are ahead of them),ARGH.

TK and Rachel arrived at the Pit Stop first -- won a trip to St. MArtin.

Second place goes to Nicolas and Donald.
Third -- Ronald and Christina

WAH -- Nathan and Jennifer took fourth place, Kynt and Vyxsin Philiminated. ARGH -- why didn't Kynt U-Turn Jennifer and Nathan?!?!?!?!

Merry Christmas

To everyone out there who celebrates Christmas, I hope you have a day filled with love and good food. (Can't forget the good food, of course!)

Graphic artist Zoetawny created this image for the holidays and you know she rocks!

Although I've been a bit scarce as of late, we'll have new shows coming on soon. My best wishes go out to everyone!

'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 12/23

The show is delayed here on the East Coast -- I'm not sure how long, but I will post an update when it starts. Important events and the Pit Stop arrival order will be posted in updates as it airs. A full review will be posted on TV Squad late tonight.

UPDATE 8:20 PM ET - 60 Minutes just ended, the real show will begin momentarily.

Thanks to the Fast Forward, Don and Nicolas won first place and a trip to Cancun.

Pit Stop arrivals after Don and Nicolas --

2. Nathan and Jennifer (grr)
3. Ronald and Christina
4. TK and Rachel
5. Kynt and Vyxsin, but despite what was said pre-season, it's one of two non-elimination legs. So, they're still in the race. But during the next leg they will encounter a Speed Bump -- a task they must do in addition to the others. It may slow them down and they won't know when it will happen.

Blue, Blue (Man Group) Christmas and Bloggy Bits, Too

Hey, all! I've still been working unbelievable hours at the day job -- up before five every morning, blech. However, it's dwindling down a bit, just one more real early rising day and then a few days off. (Yes!)

I haven't seen Roofus the cat because it's dark when I go to work and dark when I come home.

Television has been slim pickings for me as of late, but that's okay with the increased workload for year end. I don't feel bad about missing Letterman as it's still repeats due to the WGA strike. It sounds like the deal he was trying to work out with the union for the writers to return to his Worldwide Pants production company have fallen through. Leno will return without writers on January 2nd. I don't care much for him when he has them, so I probably won't watch unless I like a particular guest.

I watched the remake movie of Godzilla the other night on FX. I had been stuck in Manhattan traffic as they filmed it, but had never seen it before. Corny, but I was entertained.

This morning I followed my routine of CBS Sunday Morning with coffee. Huh. Charles Osgood wore an actual tie instead of a bowtie. There was a nice segment on James Taylor and it brought back memories of seeing him on the ski slopes of Mohawk Mountain back in the 80s.

Today I've had the VH1 100 Best Songs of the 90s on in the background as I did chores around the house. I'll have to turn it off for The Amazing Race, but it's reminding me I liked more 90s music than I thought I did. Yeah, I can get jiggy wit' it.

Speaking of The Amazing Race, I'll get the east coast update post up when it starts here on the east coast. It should be starting on time, I believe.

Until then, I made a nifty Blue Man Group holiday greeting for you. I get their newsletter and it provided the link to create it. Fun, fun, fun. I also noticed they're looking for writers. Now, that would be a dream job for me, but since I don't have any background in comedy and physical sketch kind of writing, it will just remain a dream. Plus, what would I do with my 401K and retirement pension where I am, huh? But, I can dream.

Create Your Own Video

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates - Season Finale

The show is starting on time here for a change. As it airs, I'll update this post with the more important events. My full review will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. Please feel free to jump in with your thoughts in comments!

Amanda won reward -- a personal feast. She can choose to share with one or two others (it's a feast for one). She invites Todd to share it.

They've gone for the memory walk and, after the commercial, immunity will be up for grabs.

Todd is the first out for immunity. Courtney is out of it. Denise is out. Amanda wins immunity!

Denise was voted out -- the spoilers were right on final four and final three.

"I would have won if I stayed in the game," said Denise. Well, duh. That "if" ruins it all, huh?

It will be a final three facing the jury once again.

Todd won Survivor China! Four votes for Todd, 2 for Courtney, 1 for Amanda. We know that Erik was the Amanda vote. Denise voted for Courtney. Since JR said well-played and you stole a million dollars, I'd guess he was a Todd vote.

I know many of the readers here didn't want Todd to win, but of the three remaining he was my choice for the win.

On the reunion show, James won the 100,000 from show fans. Mark Burnett stepped up to the plate and gave Denise 50,000 because she lost her lunch lady job and is working (unhappily) as a janitor.

New season-- select few superfans of the show versus favorites from previous seasons. Jeff says at least one is from Survivor China (James, I bet).

A Bit Off Topic - Some Sunday Randomness

I once again apologize for not being as blog-conscious as I should be. The holidays are a bit of a rough time of year for me on both a working and personal level. This year the personal level was dealt yet another blow. But I am alive and reviewing the shows I must do for TV Squad -- reminder -- the Survivor 15: China season finale and reunion show are on tonight. I'll have an east coast updates post here for during the show and post a full review on TV Squad late tonight. (And then get up at 5:30 AM to head to work ... sigh.) I haven't even been able to keep up with my email lately, but I'm trying!

Hopefully, once next week is done, I'll be more like my old self. In the meantime I saw Roofus sans his little friend sunning yesterday morning on his balcony window roof.


I took a picture of ice lining a tree on Friday morning.


I took a photo of the James Ward Mansion Building in Westfield (NJ) all decked out for the holidays which includes loud piped Christmas carols as well as a group of live carolers roaming the streets.

Then it was off to a rowhouse in Plainfield (NJ) for a photo of the traditional Christmas lighted Jack O'Lantern display. Diversity is a wonderful thing, isn't it?


A few observations and/or thoughts:

• Whenever I listen to the song "Smooth" I think of Trashy pledging himself to Randall Flagg in The Stand when I hear this line: "I would give my world to lift you up, I could change my life to better suit your mood."
• I work on Saturdays, coming home in the evening. There is always a group of Orthodox Jewish men getting on the train in Plainfield. Where are they coming from? Plainfield tends to be the home of P-Funk with a largely black and rising Latino population. It's supposedly also a gay mecca with folks like ex-Governor James McGreevey buying up the huge old Victorians and Colonial homes. I know there are a few synagogues in town, but I don't see the men on the streets. Yet there they are, about ten of them, getting on the train in Plainfield looking more like they're getting on the train in Crown Heights.

See you all later for the finale updates post!

'Survivor 15: China' East Coast Updates 12/13

As the show airs here on the east coast, this entry will be updated. A full review will be posted late tonight on TV Squad.

Happy belated birthday to commenter Nana! You share Frank Sinatra and my younger brother's day!

Thanks to Courtney, Denise won reward. She chose Courtney and Todd to accompany her on an overnight trip to the Great Wall of China.

Amanda won immunity.

Peih-Gee was voted out.

'The Amazing Race 12' East Coast Updates 12/09

Tonight's show here on the east coast is delayed a bit due to football. (What else is new?)

Once it starts, I'll update this entry with any big news, the arrival order at the Pit Stop and Philimination. My full review of the episode will be posted late tonight on TV Squad. As always, feel free to jump in with your thoughts in the comments section!

It's 8:25 PM ET and the show is finally starting here. Sigh.

Pit Stop --
1. Ronald and Christina
2. Jennifer and Nathan, but NO -- sent back because they took a private car not a taxi. Yay!
2. Kynt and Vyxsin
3. Nathan and Jennifer
4. TK and Rachel
5. Nicolas and Donald
6. Azaria and Hendekea -- Philiminated

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Updates 12/06

The show has started here on the East Coast. I'll update this post with important events (immunity, boot, etc.) as it airs. So, please refresh the page for the latest and definitely let me know what you think of the episode!

My full review is posted over on TV Squad.

Family members are being teamed up with them for the Rewards Challenge. Denise and her husband Robert won Reward -- a boat trip, meal, and phone call. Denise had to pick two others to go with them -- Todd and his sister, Amanda and her sister. The family members of the chosen will spend the night. The family members of those not on Reward go home immediately.

Peih-Gee win Immunity.

Not a shock ... Erik was voted out.

TV Newsy Bits - Thursday, December 6, 2007

Just a New Jersey house framed by barren trees and highlighted by the sunrise on a cold December day.

I'll be posting an east coast update post for tonight's Survivor around 8 PM ET. My review will be posted late tonight over on TV Squad, but the important show events will be in the update post here.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with James Pickens from Grey's Anatomy.
• Reality TV World has a very interesting interview with Jeff Probst as he handicaps the remaining six castaways on the show.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
He said, "I dance now at every chance
in honky tonks for drinks and tips.
But most the time I stand behind
these county bars 'cause I drinks a bit."
--"Mr. Bojangles" by Jerry Jeff Walker

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Well, well, well ... perhaps this is one reason Roofus has been not in sight lately (in addition to the weather). He seems to have a new friend. This is not the cat I used to see him with late last winter -- that one was white and black, mostly white. This one seems all black from what I could see. I suppose we need to come up with a name for the new addition to the roof?

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah -- Light, love, and joy to all!

In TV Newsy Bits:

• I received my fourth season DVD set of The Wire today. So far I've watched one episode. I'll probably watch another before bed as Letterman is striked out.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Philiminated Jennifer and Shana from The Amazing Race 12. I find it interesting that Shana was approached to audition for the show. Is she the one who was "seeing" Ryan Seacrest? They also said that they thought Lorena and Jason were the only team behind them when they used the U-Turn. Jennifer thinks they used it too early in the game.
• Whether there will be a second season of Kid Nation is still out to the jury, but official investigations into the child labor, etc., issues prior to the season have been dropped. A quote from the article -- "It has been determined that absent any formal complaints to this office or request for investigation by any state agency, the Attorney General's Office will not pursue any further inquiry into the 'Kid Nation' production in New Mexico," according to a statement.
• I know someone in comments within the last week asked about a discussion post for another show. If you'll refresh my memory, I'll get one up for you.
  

Today's musical non-sequitur:
I said to Hank Williams
How lonely does it get
Hank Williams hasn't answered me yet
But I hear him coughing all night long
Oh, a hundred floors above me
In the Tower of Song.
-- "Tower of Song" by Leonard Cohen

'Heroes' - "Powerless"

Tonight's season finale of Heroes made me wish the first several episodes of the season weren't as lackluster. It was old-time first season pacing tonight. They didn't jump around as wildly between the characters and locations and even spent more than a few minutes in one spot -- as it should be.

Here's the lowdown by character(s) --

Mohinder Suresh, Molly Walker, Sylar, Maya in Brooklyn
Sylar and Maya were waiting for Mohinder (who still has a screw loose if you ask me, but improves this episode). Mohinder tried to tell Maya that Sylar's a killer and she confesses to killing others, too. She wants the Ashanti virus to take away her powers while Sylar wants his powers back. When Mohinder learns Sylar doesn't have powers, he pulls a knife. But Sylar pulls a gun.

Maya does her eyes thing affecting Sylar, Mohinder, and Molly. Sylar made her stop and Mohinder agreed to help him.

Mohinder takes them to his "lab" -- Isaac Mendez' old studio. He told Sylar that he needed a blood sample, but Sylar is smarter than Mohinder -- he doesn't trust him. But Mohinder quickly drew blood anyway and noted he had to have been injected with the Ashanti virus to stop his powers when he was at the Company.

Meanwhile, Molly offered to find Alejandro (killed by Sylar last week unbeknownst to Maya) for Maya. "He's not anywhere." Maya freaked and went after Sylar. He shot her, then demanded that Mohinder give her the Claire blood cure. "Now look what you made me do," he said after he shot her.

Mohinder injected Maya with the Claire cure blood, and Elle (thinking she could impress her father Bob by going after Sylar after seeing him on their video monitor of Mohinder's lab), went after Sylar, but he escaped. She was tickled pink when Mohinder told her that even though Sylar escaped, she saved their lives. That Elle has issues.

Elle, Bob, and Noah Bennet at the Company in Hartsdale, NY
Elle was in hot water with her daddy for her confrontation with Claire. "You're benched! No more field missions." He was really cold and condescending to her. Which, of course, was perfect for the captive Noah when she asked about what he knew of her past.

He told her that her father experimented with her powers, pushing her way past the wattage he should. Bennet told her that no father who cared about his daughter would treat her that way.

Bob interrupted them, so Elle went off looking for her file. It was empty. But the monitors caught her interest and that's when she saw Sylar was with Suresh at Isaac's studio.

As she was doing that, Bob was blackmailing Bennet. He told him that Claire was "becoming difficult" -- planning to go public. In her best interests, Bennet needed to return to the Company and keep her from exposing it.

Matt Parkman, Nathan and Angela Petrelli in Manhattan
Matt and Nathan told Angela that Victoria (the woman in the group photo) was killed by Adam. She told them that Adam would need Peter to steal the virus at Primatech in Odessa, Texas, as only his powers could do the deed.

Angela told them that 30 years ago she trusted Adam. They were all going to "fix the world." Then she found out that the way Adam would fix it is to wipe out the population. (Reminds me of the Lathe of Heaven).

She told them the only way to kill Adam was a bullet through the head. She thought at Matt that if he needs to do it, only a bullet in the head would kill Peter.

Primatech Paper Adventures
My, what a busy place this was. Adam and Peter Petrelli were there to get the virus which would eventually kill 93% of the population. Peter thought they were going there to destroy it but Adam actually wants to release it. Peter used his powers to knock everyone out of their way.

But then Hiro showed up -- he wanted to kill Adam to avenge the death of his father. Since Peter's as stupid as Mohinder as of late, he thought Hiro was his enemy when Hiro froze time and went after Adam.

Hiro, on the other hand, knows that Adam is a bad dude and fought Peter the best he could so he could kill Adam. But Peter zapped him only ...

... to have Nathan and Matt fly in to town. All during this time, Peter had opened the vault and Adam had gone inside. Oh, no! Stop him!

Nathan convinced Peter that it was him (Peter) on the wrong side -- he was being used by Adam. Hiro had already come to and had gone after Adam in the vault.

Adam told Hiro that he was actually his inspiration. They struggled and Hiro transported them away leaving the vial of virus to fall to the floor ... only to be stopped from breaking by Peter.

Peter destroyed the vial in his hand with the radioactive hands power. Before the vial's dust disappeared, the "Godsend" logo (whatever) appeared in it.

Uh-oh.

Hiro solved the Adam problem at least temporarily by burying him alive in the graveyard where his (Hiro's) parents are buried.

Niki, Micah, Monica in New Orleans
Micha convinced Niki to drive him to save Monica from the hooligans who kidnapped her. For the crime of stealing back a stolen comic book and backpack, one thug was lighting her and an abandoned building on fire.

Micah used his powers to talk to the cell phones for GPS tracking and to change traffic lights to green. Once there, Niki went someone strong, beat up the thug, and saved Monica from the burning building. The building blew up with Niki still inside.

Claire, the Bennets (Butlers) in California
Claire is determined to expose the company. West showed up trying to convince her not to do so. She gave him the file on him and broke up with him. He flew away.

Then Noah showed up telling them that they had saved him with Claire's blood. But he also had to work for the Company once again to keep the family safe.

Claire wasn't to tell anyone of her powers and their lives would be as "normal" as possible.

Noah told them that everything was his fault -- he never meant to hurt anyone. When he went outside, Bob was there and he told him he told them.

Nathan at press conference in Odessa, Texas
When Peter destroyed the virus in the vault, Nathan decided it was time to expose the Company and go public.

He started going on about "ordinary people with extraordinary powers, heroes amongst us" when BANG.

Nathan was assassinated. We saw the back of the killer going out the door.

Cut to Angela Petrelli on the phone in Manhattan with the news of Nathan's death going on in the background -- "I know it was unavoidable. You do know you opened Pandora's box, right?"

Sylar shoots up in the alley
Sylar, pretty beaten by Elle, is like a junkie in an alley shooting up the "cure." His wounds healed and his powers, weak at first, came back.

"I'm baaaack."

So, it looks like Nathan and Niki are dead, but are they? Who was the assassin? Noah Bennet? The Haitian? Bob himself? Will the grave hold Adam long? I guess we won't know until it all resumes in 2008. My one real irk of the episode is that I was overjoyed that Maya was killed -- thus the end of the Wonder Twins ... then they brought her back. Grr.