Rerun City and Off Topic Photos, RoofusToo!

Oh my gosh, isn't television horrid with reruns this week? I guess they think that everyone is out of town visiting relatives or something. But some of us had to work. Last night my police scanner was much more interesting than my television. There were two shootings and two cars were torched in my city (Plainfield, NJ), yet nothing in the local news. Thankfully, none of the incidents were in my particular neighborhood, but it's quite peaceful where I live. Well, except for new tenants downstairs who think the hallways are a place to have their children exercise everyday -- thump, thump, thump as they run the halls for at least an hour every night! Ack. THAT is going to stop!

Due to the dearth of anything to watch on TV this past week, I'll give you some photos I took. In the beginning of the week we had snow and ice. Yesterday it was foggy all day and pea soup at night. Today it's supposed to get up to the mid-sixties. Clicking on any of these images will bring up a larger image.


Last night it was foggy as I caught the NJ Transit train home from work.



The fog didn't stop Roofus the cat from making his usual Saturday appearance as I headed to work. He seems to be taking quite the cat nap!


Is that a skunk or is it our buddy Roofus the cat up there in the morning fog?


Yesterday the ornamental kale was covered with dew from the fog and condensation from our last snow.


Here's what the kale looked like on Friday as I went to work (above).


This is what it looked like on Tuesday as I headed to work.


Again, the bunch o' ornamental kale in the snow on Tuesday morning.


This was my Plainfield 'hood on Tuesday morning, similar to the shot I posted last week.


"Go home --> your in the wrong hood." Um, I found the misspelled graffiti in Bridgewater, NJ. Bridgewater is generally upper middle-class to wealthy. Huh. Let them come to my town and see if they're in the right 'hood or not! @@

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

I know I'm a bit late for the start of Hanukkah, but here I am. I hope everyone has a great holiday no matter what you might celebrate. We have a new holiday graphic from Zoetawny and, well ... you'll see.

And now you'll see why my cat Scherzo isn't earning the big bucks by being a television cat. She's only good on camera when she can lick your hand ...

Bereft Without Survivor!

I was so bereft with no Survivor on TV last night that I didn't post anything! Er, well, actually ... I wrote an entry and my Firefox browser decided to change to a new version, thus freezing up my computer and making it lose my entry. So I hit the sack instead. Below is the weather pic I was going to post from last night. I live right directly to the right of his thumb -- the pointy part of Union County. The island directly along the line of his thumb is Staten Island (a borough of NYC), the island above that is Manhattan. The long island on the right is Long Island (duh) ... or, as they say out there, Lawn Guyland.

So far we have about four inches slushed down from sleet, rain, and freezing rain. It's turned back to snow. I don't think we'll get the eight inches, but we might get six.


Here's a bit more Jersey culture for you. I like Taylor Ham (but call it pork roll), but I'm more of a Scrapple person at heart.

Ledger Live - 12-18-08

Television itself is kind of repeats, holiday specials, and such. I may go to bed early again tonight. What are you up to?

Today's musical non sequitur:
If you want to find all the cops
They're hanging out in the donut shop
They sing and dance (oh whey oh)
Spin the clubs, cruise down the block
-- "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles

Wednesday TV ... and Off Topic Day

Hmm ... I used to get all excited about Wednesday night television. Now, I'm not too thrilled about the 8 PM hour (no new Bones). I've watched The Secret Millionaire a few times. It's okay, but it bugs me to no end about the huge dilemma they make about "lying." Sheesh. The folks are going to be thrilled about the money. Knock off the guilt trip about lying. @@ I may or may not watch it tonight.

I've grown tired of Christine and haven't gotting into Gary Unmarried. Maybe I'll watch The Muppets! At 9 PM ET/PT, I'll be watching Criminal Minds on CBS. That's a given. At 10 PM ET/PT, I'm undecided. A new CSI: NY or a new Top Chef. Cable has a few interesting offerings. But there isn't anything I MUST see.

How about you?

In Off Topic ramblings, here's my commuting day:


We had about three inches of snow, but it turned to rain and this is what my NJ neighborhood looked like as I started off to the train station.


Here's our ornamental kale we've been watching on the blog. It likes the snow. Really, it does!


The Plainfield, NJ Train Station is a slushy ... er, winter wonderland.


Snow on the tracks and I always like to take pictures of the lighted lamps at the station.


On the way home, we're talking "police activity." This time the police apparently caused it. My apologies for the quality of the photo -- it was dark and cops were all over the place. I didn't want them yelling at me. What a witness told me was the cop blew the light with lights and siren turning right. He (she?) hit the other car head-on and pushed it ten feet onto the sidewalk by a bank. I walked around them and saw it from the front angle, but didn't dare take a shot. The whole front end of the police car is missing.

And, now I'm home! We're under a winter storm watch for Friday. Sigh.

Today's musical non sequitur:
Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime.
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?
-- "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" as sung by Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee and a gazillion others.

Winter Freakin' Wonderland ... and TV Stuff

Sure, yesterday we were near 70 degrees and look at tonight! I didn't bring either my hat or gloves because they weren't calling for snow. Above is the Plainfield Train Station and below is a nearby street. As I type this, we now have about an inch on the ground.


Since both Survivor and Amazing Race have wrapped up, I want to thank both ORKMommy and RBennie for running the pools in the comments area. You both added a fun dimension to the seasons here and it's very appreciated!

Tonight is a fairly quiet TV night for me. Leverage (good show) is on TNT at 10 PM ET/PT. However, it's one of the ones I've already seen in the press kit screeners. I might check out Momma's Boys, a new reality show on NBC at 10 PM ET/PT. It has the mothers of men living with romance contestants for said men. It sounds like fuel for brouhahas for me! The Biggest Loser has its finale tonight, but I've never watched it. At 9 PM ET/PT, there's a new Mentalist on. I might try to fit in my two recorded Bonnie Hunt Shows and David Letterman from last night as I went to bed early and recorded it.

Gack. Even on a quiet TV night, too much TV, too little time! What will you be watching?

Tonight's musical non sequitur:
Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that dash
She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side
-- 'Walk On the Wild Side" by Lou Reed

Survivor Gabon Bob Gets His Check and Stuff

Bob Crowley, the big winner of last night's Survivor finale, appeared on The Early Show this morning and picked up his check. Aw, he's such a nice guy!


Watch CBS Videos Online

In other news, my Survivor finale review is up over on TV Squad. And, over on CliqueClack TV, my latest Reality Clack column is up and running. Late tonight, my review of tonight's The Big Bang Theory will go up there.

Today's musical non sequitur:
Say what do you think of gentlemen wearing mink?
Gentle and soft
But who'd just as soon off you
For looking the wrong way as not
Jojo, Jojo
-- "Jojo" by Boz Scaggs

Survivor Gabon Finale Post

This is it! It's the big three-hour finale and reunion show! Zoetawny has made us a new season finale graphic to lend to the party atmosphere. Alas, football has delayed the show here, but I will update this post with the major updates. My full review will be up on TV Squad later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Please join in down in the comments area -- that's where the real party is!

I'm expecting the show to start about 8:30 ET here. Sigh.

And ... it's ON! 8:30 PM ET start time here in the NYC area.

BOB WINS IMMUNITY AGAIN!

Kenny was blindsided. What comes around goes around, eh? Bye-bye Kenny.

Memory walk time. Corinne likes not being nice and Randy found out he can make friends.

Yikes ... Susie won the final immunity challenge. There goes my night!

It's a tie between Bob and Matty being voted out, onto a firemaking challenge. Bob has been practicing.

Bob wins the tiebreaker! Matty is out of it and the final three are Bob, Sugar, and Susie.

BOB WINS SURVIVOR GABON! Sugar got no votes, Bob 4, Susie 3.

BOB also won the 100 grand from the viewers. Sugar was #2, Matty #3.

Off Topic Kale and Roofus, On Topic TV Doings

Here's an update on the local ornamental kale. As you see, its edges are turning white. As the winter progresses, it will all turn an off-white and look a lot more like a cabbage sitting in the snow.


Yesterday was Saturday and, almost as if on schedule, I had a date with Roofus the Cat as I headed into work. You can click on any of these images to get a larger picture. Here he is at about halfway zoom on my camera from the station platform. My full zoom ones from yesterday turned out too fuzzy. He's grooming away.


This is what the scene looks like totally unzoomed. Ignore the icky green "Yellow" cabs! The building on the right is the condemned one. Its entire roof and back wall are caving in. The two in the center have businesses on the first floors, apartments on the upper floors. Right now, I think only one apartment facing the street has anyone living in it. Very transient area and many of the immigrants who take those places go away for the winter due to lack of work. The Chotola apartment building tends to get a bit more stable tenants and is usually fully occupied.


This is where I first spotted Roofus the Cat from the street level yesterday. Can you see him?

Onto television doings!
Tonight is the big three-hour Survivor finale and reunion show! Can you believe it's gone by this fast? At 8 PM ET, I'll open up a post in which I'll give the big updates East Coast time and the comments will be your Survivor finale party place! Graphic arteest Zoetawny has made us all a new finale graphic and everyone is invited. Bring your own bottle and snacks, please!

In yesterday's mail I received a cool screener of TCM's (Turner Classic Movies) The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics. I haven't watched it yet and the show itself is on tonight at 7 PM ET/PT on TCM. It's interviews with folks like Kurt Russell, Dick Van Dyke, Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Michelle Lee ... and many more. It delves into the move to live-action from strictly animated Disney films. Unfortunately it's 90 minutes, so it would buck up against the first half-hour of Survivor tonight. But it is being re-aired next Sunday at 11:45 PM if you wish to watch or record it. Angela Lansbury is the narrator. This one is dear to my heart as the Disney movies, both live-action and animated, played such a role in my younger days. I figured, due to the ages of many of the readers here, you might feel the same.

Actually, TCM has a great movie roster for today, too (all times ET/PT):
Noon: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1970) - Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero
1:45 PM: The Strongest Man in the World (1975) - Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero, Phil Silvers, Dick Van Patten
3:30 PM: The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) - Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk
5:15 PM: Son of Flubber (1963) - Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Ed Wynn
7:00 PM: The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics
8:30 PM: The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) - Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Bill Bixby, Susan Clark
10:15 PM: The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) - Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Tim Matheson, Kenneth Mars, Jack Elam

I know I'll be watching The Absent-Minded Professor -- I haven't seen that one since I was a child!

Today's musical non sequitur:
Caviar and cigarettes
Well-versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
She's a Killer ... Queen
-- "Killer Queen" by Queen

Just Some TV Stuff ... and Stuff

I haven't seen Roofus the Cat since Saturday but the weather has been icky. He's probably under a roof, not atop one. But I went to GoogleEarth and pulled up this satellite image of the area (obviously not really current as we have no leaves these days). You can click on it to make it larger.

The yellow dot is where I stand at the Plainfield Train Station taking Roofus photos. The red dot is the "Chotola" apartment building where he rests on the bay roof between the front fire escapes. The purple dot is the ex-Budget Car Rental where the elderly man feeds all the feral cats. The big aqua arrow means it's two more blocks that-a-way to my apartment building.

My latest Survivor review is up on TV Squad. And, over on CliqueClack TV I have my latest "TV Shows Off the Beaten Path" column posted. This one is about the show Cold Case. Bob Sassone over at TVS has spilled the beans about the next location for Survivor -- Brazil. Actually, Jeff Probst spilled the beans to Ryan Seacrest and Bob must have been eavesdropping.

Reality News Online has an interview with ousted Survivor castaway Crystal posted. Gee, she did so poorly on the physical challenges because she "threw her physicality out the window." Um, yeah. That's what she said --

Crystal: That just went out the window after I had a chance to run up the first hill. It’s hot as hell, I’m hungry. It just snowballed downhill. I think I had one good challenge, when I pulled Paloma off the pole.

RNO: But why did you go downhill?

Crystal: The challenges are not devised for everyday things that people do. They were hard as hell. For a person who’s been in tip-top shape, those challenges were hard. So I threw my physicality out the window and [decided to] play a social game.

Whatever. I'm just glad she's gone. And she is NOT in "tip-top shape."

RNO: What do you think of the reason behind you being voted off?

Crystal: I thought of the fact that I was social threat out there. I think folks didn’t want to go to the finals with me because I would have won. I think I had a great relationship with many of the castaways out there. To some extent, we had some sort of connection with every single one of the castaways. I would have won.

Delusional, I say!

So ... any C.S.I. fans out there? What did you think of the introduction of the Lawrence Fishburne character (to replace William Petersen) last night? I like Fishburne, so I think it might add a new dimension to the show.

Today's musical non sequitur:
Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro
Matty told Hatty about a thing she saw.
Had two big horns and a wooly jaw.
Wooly bully, wooly bully.
-- "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs

Survivor Gabon: 12/11 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. My full show review will be up later over on TV Squad. I'll update this post with major events, but the real fun is in the comments. I hope to see you there!

Bob continues his streak by winning reward. He chose to bring Crystal and Kenny with him to visit a gorilla sanctuary, overnight with a meal and all. He chose to send Susie to Exile Island. Matty hopes to flip Sugar while they're alone.

Bob wins Immunity! Four challenges in a row!

Whoa! Sugar saved Matty with the hidden idol and Crystal got the boot!

Tuesday's Crime TV Night for Me

Nah, this isn't a television image. It's a sign at the NJ Transit Train Station near my workplace. Perhaps it's decorated for the holidays? I just thought it was fitting for an entry about crime TV.

I haven't been watching The Mentalist, but I know that's on tonight. What I will be watching in the 9 PM hour is the new The First 48 on A&E. You have to remember, I'm the one whose guilty pleasure (other than reality television) has been Cops since its inception. The First 48 goes so much further with the investigation of actual homicides. I'm so there. But if I were ever a suspect, I'd surely lawyer up! Not that I will ever be a murder suspect, mind you. I hold the limit to killing insects. And, even then, only when they need to die. You know ... like mosquitoes on my arm, moths in my apartment, and houseflies. Sometimes they just need killing.

Then, at 10 PM, I have a minor dilemma. I want to watch Leverage on TNT, but I'll be recording Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force on A&E. I went from nothing in that time slot I want to watch to two shows this week.

How about you? What are you watching (or did you watch) tonight?

The Amazing Race Final Three Teams on The Early Show

Here's the video from this morning's The Early Show. I love the "worst team ever" bit!

The Amazing Race - Season Finale Show Post

Yes, the show is starting only about two minutes late here in the NYC area. I'll be putting the major updates here and my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad later tonight. But the real fun is in the comments and you're all invited to join in! Who will win the million? Nick and Starr? Dandrew? Tina and Ken? We'll know soon!

In Portland, OR -- Nick and Starr in the lead, Tina scared of heights and slowing herself and Ken down, Dandrew stuck in a bad cab.

UPDATE: Nick and Starr leading, Tina snarling, Dandrew dragging.

UPDATE: Dandrew SO out of the running. Tina and Ken and Nick and Starr tied at this point, both teams looking for a taxi to the finish line.

NICK AND STARR HAVE WON THE AMAZING RACE!

Roofus the Cat, 'tis the Season, and Some TV Doings

The holiday season is in full swing in the shopping district of Westfield, NJ. I always enjoy the decorations at the James Ward Mansion Building, but find the Ann Taylor store on its first floor a bit too pricey for my budget. (Clicking on the images will make them larger.)


Apparently Saturdays on my way to work are the scheduled nap times for Roofus the Cat by the Plainfield Train Station. Yesterday was cloudy and grey, but there he was napping away.


Then there's Friday's sunset full of contrails taken at the Bridgewater, NJ Train Station. One of these days, I'm going to knock down those power poles so it comes out unobscured! This is over the field of geese who mysteriously stay through the winters now. I'm still waiting for the deer to show up.


And then there's television. You know ... what brought us all together here!

Tonight is the season finale of The Amazing Race. I'll be opening a post for comments at 8 PM ET even if it doesn't start on time due to sports. Unfortunately, the season finale is only one action-packed hour, but I'm really looking forward to it! Bonnie Hunt has said that she will have Phil Keoghan and the winners on her show this week. I'm thinking probably Tuesday because that's the day she's been having the Philiminated on. I record her show every day anyway, so I'll catch it. She's rooting for Dandrew. And, to think I like her! Argh!

Tonight is also the premiere of Leverage on TNT (10 PM ET/PT). Since I missed the first two episodes of screeners, I MUST watch how it all starts.

On Tuesday night, up against Leverage, is a new real life cop series called Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force on A&E (10 PM ET/PT). It's a show following the Fugitive Task Force in the NJ/NYC area. I know they're in action around here, but my own lifestyle doesn't warrant them pounding on my door. That's a good thing, of course. I have enough stress with knee woes and working for a living -- I don't need arrest issues, too! Like their series Jacked (with the Auto Theft Task Force), this is going to be a show I'll be either recording or watching as they air it at other times. I love that about the cable stations -- you can usually catch the shows re-aired at other times and don't have to wait for reruns!

Today's musical non sequitur:
Take me to another place
Take me to another land
Make me forget all that hurts me
Let me understand your plan
-- "Tennessee" Arrested Development

Sneak Peak -- Leverage on TNT

Ah, this is my Leverage beverage. Alas, I think it's a Red Bull in Leverage clothing. Unfortunately, I lost a game of FedEx tag a few weeks ago and a package was sent back. I think it was the first two episodes of Leverage. FedEx doesn't always work out when you work through their delivery hours. But, not to fear -- I got another package which contained the second two episodes (and my can of Leverage beverage which I'll keep but won't open).

I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the show due to its premise. I'm not all that keen on lawbreakers as hero protagonists. That's one reason I never got into Prison Break. However, I'm finding this a bit different. The team led by Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) works along the lines of Robin Hood, but their "victims" are the real bad guys. I watched the episodes scheduled for December 16 ("The Two-Horse Job") and December 23 ("The Miracle Job").

Not only is the casting excellent (I mean ... Timothy Hutton!), but I found the writing to be clever and even witty at times. It's the sort of ensemble casting I enjoy on Bones, but with way different characters. The humor in the writing is what keeps this show from being just another action show. For example, one of the women on the team has a fear of horses (Dec. 16 ep). Why? Because she saw a horse kill a clown once. Then we see the flashback scene which reminded me of Chuckles the Clown being killed by the elephant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. No parade, but equally bizarre.

I'm really excited about this one. Its debut is this Sunday, Dec. 7 at 10 PM ET/PT on TNT. Then it goes into its regular Tuesday 10 PM ET/PT time slot with another episode on December 9. Yay, I have a new show to watch Tuesday nights at 10!

Survivor Gabon: 12/04 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. My full show review will be up later over on TV Squad. I'll update this post with major events, but the real fun is in the comments. I hope to see you there!

Bob wins reward! Pizza, beer, brownies, and an extended message from home. Now they're all getting a visit, but only Bob got pizza and beer. Matty just proposed to his girlfriend. It was a yes.

Bob won immunity! It's a Bob night!

Despite a valiant effort with another fake idol built by Bob, Corinne was voted out.

The Amazing Race - 11/30 Show

Yes, the show is starting late here in the NYC area once again. 60 Minutes started at a bit after 7:40 PM ET. So we should be up and running in a half-hour or so. I'll be putting the major updates here and my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad later tonight. But the real fun is in the comments and you're all invited to join in!

8:41 PM ET and it's starting here.

Nick and Starr are number one to the pit stop. They win yet another trip.

OMG - Dandrew is number two (THUNK)
Ken and Tina didn't get the clue and need to go back. Toni and Dallas way behind.

Ken and Tina made it -- one oif the final three teams. Sigh. Dallas and Toni eliminated in a tearjerker.

Off Topic: Roofus the Cat and My Own

Yep, this is my own cat Scherzo pretending to be a lolcat. A personal bailout would be nice. After all, I'm not a business who's supposed to know what I'm doing and how to be a profitable business.

Yesterday morning, despite rather raw temperatures and cloudy skies, I spotted Roofus the Cat taking a cat nap way up high. Someone mentioned in previous comments that people live in the building.

Yes, there are folks living in all of the buildings whose roofs Roofus roams except the one condemned one. However, Roofus has outlasted all of the tenancies. The apartments in the buildings seem to mainly rent to seasonal immigrants. Right now many are empty and might not be filled for the winter.

I've seen Roofus go up there -- he goes from an abandoned vehicle to a garage top to the back fire escapes of this same building, then accesses the roof from the back similar to how he gets on the fire escapes in the front. He's generally cleaner and healthier looking than the other local feral cats, but I credit that to his smart ways. The elderly man is still feeding all of the ferals (including Roofus) at the defunct Budget Rental Car place. The interior is stacked with huge bags of cat food and cats seem to come and go from inside to out somehow.

Survivor Gabon: 11/27 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. I believe it's all clips tonight, but thought I'd open up the post for discussion.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Zoetawny made us a nifty new graphic. Gee, my cat doesn't really need a holiday to look chubby and zonked out. But, I'll admit ... she only wears Pilgrim hats for the holiday. I'll be back later with tonight's Survivor post. Enjoy your day with family, food, and love.

DWTS Stuff, Lance on Bonnie Hunt, and Stuff

Park ONLY your tattoos here. Nothing else. No excuses. No Fords or Volkswagens!

I have just a few things I want to touch on. First, a quote of mine from the other day has been made part of the AOL Dancing With the Stars predictions feature. It looks like Lance Bass is leading the predictions from most of the other sites. Oh, well!

Speaking of Lance Bass ... he was on The Bonnie Hunt Show today. She has the old Dean Martin style fireman's pole which some guests choose to use for their entrance. When he went down the pole, he pretended he hurt his ankle. She bought it. I felt so sorry for her! You could tell she was genuinely worried.




And, last but not least ... I have a new Reality Clack column and new The Big Bang Theory review up over on CliqueClack TV if you wish to take a gander. In the former, you can tell I don't watch America's Next Top Model. Heh.

The Amazing Race - 11/23 Show Post

Yes, the show is starting ON TIME here in the NYC area! I'll be putting the major updates here and my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad later tonight. But the real fun is in the comments and you're all invited to join in!

YAY! Toni and Dallas came in first at the Pit Stop! They won a trip to the Dominican Republic.

2. Ken and Tina
3. Nick and Starr
4. Andrew and Dan ... it's a non-Philimination, so they remain. Speed bump next leg.

Survivor Gabon: 11/20 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. While I won't be live-blogging it per se, I will update this entry with the big news. My full review will be going up on TV Squad later tonight. As always, have fun in the comments!

Bob's at Exile Island again thanks to Kenny picking him during the auction and Sugar is upping her anti-Randy game.

Kenny wins individual immunity!

Bwhahaha! Randy played Bob's fake immunity idol and was voted out! Oh, happy day!

DWTS - The Final Three and My Predictions

Yep, yep, yep ... the season is drawing to a close. Every year they have a star or two who shouldn't be on a dance show. Without exception, this year it was Cloris Leachman. While she gets my kudos for being as active and agile as she is at her age, she belongs on a "serious" dance show as much as I do. And, no. You do not want me on a dance show. By the way, if you haven't heard, Cloris Leachman has been ill, but she refutes that it's anything serious.

After this week's dramatic elimination of Julianne Hough and Cody Linley, it seems to be anyone's game. Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer are both very talented dancers. Heck, he danced in the boy band, so he has a bit of a background in choreographed moves. Then there's Brooke Burke and her partner Derek Hough (Julianne's brother). Technically, I think she's the best dancer on the star side of things.

But I want Warren Sapp to win. Yeah, you heard me. There's just something about his performances, albeit not technical perfection, that entertain me. He plays to the audience and is just such a paradox of a man that I feel I must cheer him on. Big, gruff-looking, and used to only choreographed football moves, I've found him delightful to watch on stage. Glitter and glam, he's so there even though it seems so incongruous.

Y'see, my main goal in watching any television at all (other than news) is entertainment. Warren Sapp entertains me, thus and therefore ... he should be declared the winner this season. Nah, he's not a polished dancer. But for his size and lack of a dancing background, as well as his personality, he's a winner for me.

I have spoken. Make it happen.

Not Tony Soprano's New Jersey

Nope, it's not Soprano's territory here where I live in New Jersey. It's Roofus the Cat territory! He rules the roosts and the roofs. I took these yesterday morning on my way to work. I had just been thinking it was a perfect day for him to be up there -- cold, yet the sun shining on the building front. He wasn't there when I arrived to the train station, but showed up just as the train was coming.

I managed to come down with a case of gastroenteritis last night and well into today (my day off from work). I'm not sure if it's related to the boil water advisory here in this area -- huge broken water main the other day, but I've followed the rules -- or I just ate something funky or picked up a bug (but no one I know has had it). But I was so violently ill for about 18 hours that I'd almost prefer knee replacement again! I'm feeling better now, but I missed all my TV shows last night -- Bones, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, as well as Letterman. Blech. Plus now I have to be on antibiotics for a period so the knee replacement doesn't get infected. Perhaps my immunity defenses are still down from the surgery. One good thing ... now I have a bottle of Pepto-Bismo which hasn't expired two years ago!

I've watched my Bonnie Hunt Show recording from yesterday as well as today's show. She had Terence and Sarah from TAR on yesterday and he got all taken with her not liking him. Today she showed the perfect example -- when the couple came out to the stage yesterday, he was first and let the door slam on Sarah. I noticed it on the show, but I was thrilled Bonnie repeated the bit on today's show!


This last shot isn't Roofus the Cat, but I found the bike with the bad grafitti around it kind of interesting.

The Amazing Race - 11/16 Show Post

Yes, the show is starting late here in the NYC area once again. 60 Minutes started at a bit after 7:30 PM ET. So we should be up and running in a half-hour or so. I'll be putting the major updates here and my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad later tonight. But the real fun is in the comments and you're all invited to join in!

8:31 PM ET and it's AWN!

Nick and Starr did the FF and came in first again. They each won a waverunner. The others are on the detour or trying to get to the detour.

2. Toni and Dallas
3. Ken and Tina

Dandrew arrived 4th but had to go back to the detour as they didn't follow their clue.

4. (Again) Dandrew
5 Terence and Sarah -- Philiminated

Just Some Stuff

Dateline New Jersey: What some are saying appears to be an alien abduction happened earlier this morning on the gritty urban streets of Plainfield, NJ. According to witnesses, a group of people were innocently standing on a street corner near the Friends Shaker Meeting House when a bright light ensconced them, leaving only their shoes behind. Bystander Jorge Garcia said, "It was a blinding light. I had to close my eyes. When I opened them, there were only shoes where there once were people."

Okay, to be honest ... I saw these shoes and had to photograph them. I know. I'm an odd duck.

I'll be back later tonight with The Amazing Race post and hope to see you there!

Gray Friday and Not Much on TV (for me)

Today's weather here started off foggy and gray. Then it became misty and gray. The ornamental kale above shows the misty effect. In the winter, it will look like cabbage and has been called snow cabbage. It will lose its color. (Clicking on the pictures will enlarge them.)

It's one of the first nights this week with the exception of Big Bang and Survivor nights that I haven't felt like immediately napping after I got home from work. The problem is, when I do that I tend to wake up several hours later instead of my planned half-hour nap. Hopefully that will change since I'm now off the Coumadin as of last night.

Alas, there isn't much I'm interested in watching on TV tonight. Not to fear, I can watch the shows I recorded and catch up a bit!

I have the Survivor review up over on TV Squad and a new TV Shows Off the Beaten Path column up over on CliqueClack TV.

As much as I didn't care for the divorcees on The Amazing Race, I must give them kudos for being caring people. They've set up a charity called The Amazing Grace which will accept donations for an impoverished country visited by TAR each season. This season's start off country is Cambodia. Both women were struck by the poverty in the country.

Today's musical non sequitur:
The city lights, the pretty lights
They can warm the coldest nights
All the people going places
Smiling with electric faces
What they find the glow erases
What they've lost the glow replaces.
-- "Neon Rainbow" by The Boxtops

I leave you in the morning fog of the local train station.

Survivor Gabon: 11/13 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. While I won't be live-blogging it per se, I will update this entry with the big news. My full review will be going up on TV Squad later tonight. As always, have fun in the comments!

Fang won reward and send Bob to Exile Island.

Merge on! Susie wins the first individual immunity building fire.

Whoops! Lost my pool player -- Charlie was voted out in yet another blindside by Kenny.

The Amazing Race - 11/09 Show

I know I'm a few minutes late getting this posted. But, once again, we're on a delay here. I don't know how late the show will start but I'm watching 60 Minutes now. Hopefully soon. I'll update when it starts here in the NYC area. My full review of the show will be posted later on TV Squad, but I'll get the important updates posted here.

8:25 PM ET - The show is finally starting here.

@@ at Kelly in the Roadblock.

First to Pit Stop are Nick and Starr -- they won a trip to Hawaii.
2. Toni and Dallas
3. Terence and Sarah
4. Ken and Tina
5. Andrew and Dan
6. Kelly and Christy -- Philiminated

NEWEST 'Dancing With the Stars' Blog Discussion

Boy, lots to talk about this season, eh? Here's your latest blog discussion post for Dancing With the Stars -- a place for you to talk about the show with your friends from the blog.

(At least Cloris Leachman is gone.)

NEW 'Grey's Anatomy' Blog Discussion Post

Folks have been asking for it, so here it is -- your new home for discussion of Grey's Anatomy. The official website for the show is here. But right here on the blog, you can gather in your comfy chairs with snacks discussing it with your friends. Have fun!

No Criminal Intent Tonight, Yet Tagged

Angry much? I found this poor pay phone in Plainfield, NJ.

Alas, I was looking forward to the debut of Jeff Goldblum on Law and Order: Criminal Intent tonight. Sniffle. They've decided to push it back until 2009 so they can air all sixteen new episodes in a row. Now, that doesn't matter to me with a show like L&O. I hate the long hiatus periods between mini-seasons on shows with continuity like Lost or Heroes. Grr.

Later tonight I'll get up new discussion posts for DWTS and Grey's. Do we need anything else?

An odd note: They're renaming the Triborough Bridge to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. Yes, a worthy tribute. But it's going to be hard to remember -- they should have done it a few decades ago, don't you think?

Lastly, Donna in Al has tagged me with a meme. I usually don't get too involved with the tagging stuff as it can get overwhelming. But since most I know to tag have already been tagged, I'll answer and not tag anyone else. (Unless you want to get in it.) Here we go:

1. Clothes shopping. Hmm, I'm not so huge on this. Given my druthers I'm a jeans or slacks, sweaters and polo shirts, and sneakers kind of person. I do enjoy sweater shopping. I argue with high heels.

2. Furniture shopping. I'll occasionally buy a piece, but unless something breaks I don't have room. None of my furniture will be heirlooms and few pieces actually match. Hey, I like it that way!

3. Sweets. I'm a chocoholic. I like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate ... as long as you don't mix nuts in it. I'm not so fond of cake unless it's chocolate. I refuse to admit I have a problem and you can't make me!

4. City. I live close to my lifetime all time favorite city in the world -- New York City. Unfortunately, I can't afford to live IN the city itself. What I pay for my apartment here wouldn't get me a tiny one-room studio in any sort of decent neighborhood in Manhattan or Brooklyn (the two places I would be if I could). Where I live now is a city, albeit small scale and Jersey-rough. But I enjoy my city. Even though it has a bad reputation, I find the folks friendly, polite, and I've never had any sort of problems at all. There are many good people here but folks tend to lump it in with a Newark or Elizabeth. Perhaps even an Orange. But I like the diversity and conveniences of living here. I can go to the top of the nearby hill and see the Manhattan skyline.

5. Drinks. I'm not a big drinker -- usually going months without alcohol. I like to try out micro-brew beers or drink things like frozen strawberry margaritas in the summertime. I can't stomach Scotch, hard bourbon or whiskey drinks, and never have had a martini in my life. More than a few glasses of wine tend to give me a headache. I learned my lesson about Rusty Nails when I was 19. (Drinking age was 18.) Talking non-alcoholic, I'm enjoying Coke Zero these days, but also like a good ginger beer, too.

6. Music. Eclectic. I have a bit of everything in my collection in every medium from vinyl to cassettes to 8-tracks (yes, I still can play them and tell myself I have to record them to another medium) to CDs and MP3s. Old jazz, rock, some country, even a bit of rap, lots of folk music, plenty of classical, a bit of gospel, you name it.

7. TV Series. Many too many to name.

8. Film. I'm a big Alfred Hitchcock buff. I have a gazillion movies on VHS and DVD ranging about all the genres except porno. Well, I have Midnight Cowboy which was originally rated X back when I was too young to see it. In today's world it only rates an R. I don't go to the movies much but do tend to collect them when the video stores sell 'em cheap.

9. Workout. I used to ski, rollerskate, and do all kinds of outdoor sports before my knees rebelled. Now I do about fifteen minutes a day on my stationary bike and do some exercises meant to rebuild the muscles in my knee. I also walk a lot.

10. Pastries. Mmm ... yes! I don't really have them often, but (of course) anything with chocolate is good. I also like things like apple turnovers and such.

11. Coffee. Yes, please. I grind my own beans and like to try different kinds. But I rarely buy the fancy ones at Starbucks unless it's beans to bring home.

Survivor Gabon - 11/06 Show Post

True, this isn't my Survivor logo -- it's an update on that ornamental kale I photographed a few weeks ago. I am alive, my apologies for not posting much. I'm still fighting extreme fatigue and I'm tending to fall asleep after getting home from work.

Tonight's musical non-sequitur which I meant to post on election day:
It's time for a new direction
It's time for jazz to die
On the fourth day of November
We need a purple high.
-- Prince "All the Critics Love You in New York"

The show has started here on the east coast. I'll update this with major events and post my review on TVS later. Everyone is welcome in comments!

Ohhh ... not a merge, a reshuffle with numbered stones, odd and even. New Kota: Bob, Marcus, Susie, Crystal, and Ken. New Fang: Sugar, Charlie, Matty, Randy, and Corinne.

Matty won Immunity for the new Fang tribe, good thing as he would have been the target had Fang lost.

Whoa ... Kenny worked his mojo on Susie and Marcus was voted off!

The Amazing Race - 11/02 Show

Oh my, the show is actually starting on time here tonight. That's two weeks in a row. They're spoiling us! While I won't be live-blogging tonight's show per se, I will update this post with important events. Later on tonight or early tomorrow morning, my review of tonight's episode will be up over on TV Squad.

Nick and Starr made it first to the Pit Stop, each won an electric car.
2. Kelly and Christy
3. Toni and Dallas
4. Terence and Sarah
5. Andrew and Dan
6. Ken and Tina -- Still in -- non-Philimination

They will encounter a speed bump in the next leg -- a task only they will have to do.