Off TV Topic ... for the most part

I'll be posting the video look at the last group of Survivor Tocantins castaways a bit later today. So, please check back for that. However, as I often seem to do ... it's time to go off topic for a post!

Well, not all the way off topic. I should mention my "TV Shows Off the Beaten Path" column over on CliqueClack TV, right? In yesterday's column I delved into The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. In particular, I'm loving his puppets -- especially when they yodel. Take a peek at the column for another video and my commentary on Craig! Also, on another TV note: A&E is starting the last season of The Sopranos tonight. Since I only have basic cable, I haven't seen the last season. I caught up with the rest of the series over the past summer and I'm looking forward to the finale!



Then there's the local scene. This week included Groundhog's Day. We had conflicting groundhogs, but starting yesterday we're in a warmer weather streak. That Pennsylvania groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter while the two local groundhogs (Essex Ed of NJ and Staten Island Chuck of NYC) predicted an early spring. Chuck also bit Mayor Bloomberg who seemed to deserve it from the video I saw. You don't take food out of the mouth of a huge rodent with massive front teeth! Chuck drew blood even. I suppose I shouldn't be finding it funny, but I do. Bloomberg tried to link Chuck to a terrorist factor, but I think Chuck's probably just a disgruntled taxpayer.



While Roofus the Cat stood me up for our Saturday morning work commute date, I checked out the ornamental kale. Yep, still buried in the snow and not looking quite as pretty and perky as it did in the past.

All I can say is ... was Sylar (Heroes) in New Jersey recently?

I believe I've taken a photo of this dude before. Or, if not, one similar to him. This is what happens when you leave me waiting in one of those little doctor rooms. Yes, I finally went to my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon yesterday. He understands my need to buy some time before the right knee gets replaced. I got a cortisone shot. I'm talking a turkey-baster sized needle o' stuff way down in the knee joint. Ow. But it's working. I can dance again.

Today's musical non sequitur:

Lather was thirty years old today,
They took away all of his toys.
His mother sent newspaper clippings to him,
About his old friends who'd stopped being boys.
-- "Lather" by The Jefferson Airplane

The Amazing Race 14: Meet the Teams, Part Two

Yep, I'm here to take a look at the next group of teams we'll see next Sunday (February 15) on The Amazing Race. You can find the first group's videos and my commentary in my earlier post. Without further ado:



Christie Volkmer (age 37) and Jodi Wincheski (age 40) are flight attendants from Choctaw (Oklahoma) and Houston (Texas) respectively. Y'know, I think I must have personal issues with blond female teams on the show. Thinking back over the teams, none of the all-blond females ever struck me right. I suppose it might be a psychological thing -- with blond being more fun and all that. Heh. But I think I like these two. Here's why: They're a bit older, but not old enough for it to be way too challenging. And, I think they're absolutely right. They're going to have an edge at the airports. Hmm ... I'll have to see them in action, but I think I might be cheering them on!



Ah, the spoilers were right -- there is a deaf racer on a team this season! But, contrary to the rumors, it's a guy, not a woman. Margie and Luke Adams are a mother and son team hailing from Denver, Colorado. She's a clinical research associate while he's a college grad. She's 50 years old. He's 22. She can hear and sign. He's deaf. She never personally aspired to be on the show, he's wanted to do it just biding the time until he hit 21 years of age. From their video clip, I have to say I like them. They seem like nice people. I hope they do well.



Tammy and Victor Jih, age 26 and 35, San Francisco and Los Angeles, are a brother and sister team. They're both lawyers. They're first generation Americans and both went to Harvard Law School. Yeah, they're probably pretty smart. But, aside from that, their video made me smile ... a lot. I don't know what it is about them, but I think they'll be a strong team despite any sibling rivalry. What is it with casting getting so many nice folks? I want someone to sneer at and it's not going to be these two!



Another sibling team is Mark and Michael Munoz. Mark is 48, living in Los Angeles, a jockey and a stuntman. Michael is 51, a stuntman and actor living in Maui, Hawaii. Little did they know that the shaka hand sign they started off their video with would be something President Obama did at the Inaugural Parade, eh? These two are the "little people" from the spoilers, but they're not really little people, per se. They're just short. Although they didn't irk me in their clip, they came across a bit more so-so than some of the other teams so far. They have a lot of strengths for running the race, so they could do just fine. I just hope to see more personality from them.

Stay tuned for the final three teams coming soon!

Survivor Tocantins Castaways Part Two

Yep, it's sneaking up on us! Next Thursday is the season premiere of Survivor 18 or ... Survivor: Tocantins. I'm SO ready! I covered some of the castaways in Part One and I'm here to continue taking a peek at those we will love, hate, or be ambivalent about this season:



Jerry Sims, age 49, is a US Army sergeant from Rock Hill, South Carolina. I had really hoped I wouldn't have to talk about chests again. Sigh. Jerry should really cover up those man-boobs. They're verging on the edge of soft core porn. That aside, I think Jerry seems to have it all as far as chances to win in the game. He's in good physical shape enough to be competition for men half his age. He seems to have his head right in that he will have to be devious in the game. I only wonder if being a leader of army folks might be a drawback or a blessing in the game. Time will tell.



Joe Dowdle, age 26, is a real estate salesman from Austin, Texas. While I think he has a game plan and all (persuade and evade), I'm not getting great vibes about how he'll get along with the others in the game. He just reminds me of so many strong physical young guys who have been on the show in the past. He's young, confident, probably very physically fit, good-looking ... and a threat just because. I think he might end up being a target just for those reasons.



James (JT) Thomas, Jr., age 24, is a cattle rancher from Samson, Alabama. Hmmm. He is probably going to be very strong at surviving the outdoors element of the show due to the fact that he's an outdoorsy camping and fishing kind of guy. I think his fellow castaways might underestimate him. He comes across in the video as a nice guy and much less threatening than Joe. I'm going to have my eye on this one.



Sandy Burgin, age 53, is a school bus driver from Louisville, Kentucky. If for nothing but the age and woman factors, I'd love to see her shine in the game. Her game plan is a bit confusing, though. She says she doesn't want to be a Mom, but will mother people if needed. Um. Okay. She does know that older folks are often the target and she seems to have a lot of spunk. On the other hand, she claims she's a bit zany. I've seen perceived wackiness cost folks the game. Another "I just don't know." First one out? Could be, then again she might go far.



Sierra Reed, age 23, is a model from Hollywood, California (not that there's anything wrong with that). Well, if she keeps rocking from one foot to the other on the show like she does on the video, I want her gone. She's reminding me of Drew Barrymore for some reason. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. She doesn't have the explosive chest, but could she wear anything more low-cut? I think she may end up being annoying. I hope I'm wrong but for some reason I found her video annoying. Maybe it was the rocking bit.

Stay tuned for the final castaways soon! We all just might have to cheer on the one named SYDNEY.
:-)

American Idol Hollywood Week ... So Far

Whoa, they've gotten even more strict on Hollywood Week this year! On Tuesday's show, each wannabe had one song to keep them going on with the show. One bad move and POOF, they're gone.

Last night was the group singing. Now, of course, that leads to drama when the contestants might not like each other. A lot of good contenders got the boot including the Osmond and Rose (both of whom I liked). Thankfully, Bikini Girl (I can't even remember her name as I write this, but she annoys me) got canned. As the show ended, I had to call up a co-worker named Nancy Wilson and offer my condolences about her getting the boot. My co-worker is actually more personable, but I told her that her behavior going off stage was inappropriate anyway.

I'm liking the music teacher with the recently deceased wife and his friend more and more each time I see them. Have you any early favorites?

In a world far away from Hollywood, here's what it looked like around here recently:


A neglected bit o' woods is etched in snow, making it a thing of beauty. I won't mention that it's built on contaminated ground. Let's just say it's very pretty.


The Plainfield NJ Train Station in the evening last night. There's a fancy-schmancy NJ Transit double-decker train discharging NYC commuters. Clicking on the images will open them larger and in a new window.

Today's musical non sequitur:
They say that I won't last too long on Broadway
I'll catch a Greyhound bus for home, they all say
But they're dead wrong, I know they are
'Cause I can play this here guitar
And I won't quit till I'm a star on Broadway
-- "On Broadway" by George Benson

LOST 30 Second Review - "The Little Prince"

What a week! I got in from work tonight in time to catch American Idol (next post). Now, I'm not going into great detail -- note my "30 Second Review" bit in the header. But, here's your Lost ... in thirty seconds:

• Not only Charlotte has the nosebleed problems, but Juliet and Miles are, too. They all live ... for now.
• Time continues to warp on the island.
• Sayid reluctantly goes with Ben and Jack.
• Ben gets his lawyer to spring Hurley (although he hasn't been sprung yet from jail).
• Kate follows the lawyer of the person after Aaron and it turns out to be Claire's mother.
• But it isn't her after all.
• It's Ben.
• Sawyer sees Kate deliver Aaron in a time warp.
• In another time warp, Jin is discovered by French people on a raft.
• He's alive.
• And Danielle Rousseau is at that time young and pregnant.
• Sun watches Kate, Sayid, Jack, and Ben. Sun has Aaron with her. Sun has a gun.
• Tonight's key phrase: "When are we?"
  

Lost CLUNK.

Hmm ... not many questions answered, but not many new ones brought up, either. We still don't know exactly why the return of the Oceanic Six will stop the time-warping and save the others (not to be confused with the Others). Kate,Sun, and Hurley won't go willingly, methinks.