TV Newsy Bits, Bloggy Bits, Too - Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Fish gotta swim.

While it's probably one of the worst-composed photos of mine I'll ever post, it's the principle of the thing. There I was standing atop a boulder at the water's edge in Mindowaskin Park (Westfield, NJ) when a group of fish came to me as if I had called them there for a meeting. I told them my woes as they listened attentively but showed no emotion. They're probably more worried about being frozen in the upcoming winter than they are about my issues.

What kind of fish were they? I haven't a clue. They looked a bit like bullheads but are a lot smaller than the ones I remember from my childhood pond fishing days in upstate New York. These guys were about five to six inches long tops and would only be considered a meal if you're starving on Survivor.

In keeping with the thought of "fish gotta swim" -- AOL had more layoffs yesterday and more expected into December according to what I've read. I've had ties to AOL for about fifteen years as a member, AOL Community Leader, blogger, and more recently writing for Weblogs, Inc. My thoughts are with my friends in the company and those who left the building yesterday. AOL Journals Editor Joe Loong is amongst the dismissed. Joe was instrumental in supporting my blogging efforts at AOL Journals as he featured my Adventures of the 2-Faced Baseball and helped me with issues on my first Big Brother blog. Joe, you'll be missed on AOL, but a man with your mad skillz is going to be a great catch for someone. Fish gotta swim.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• I have a sadistic side to me. Yesterday, I looked forward to Richard Simmons being on Letterman most of the day. Yes, Dave is mean to him, but he keeps coming back. The segment didn't disappoint me at all and it wasn't quite like watching Paris Hilton almost cry a few weeks ago.
• I finished watching my season three DVD of The Wire after a marathon most of the night session last night. Oh, I know I'm so far behind the real world on the show, but I'm not going to spring for HBO just to watch it. Although I've been watching it on BET and I thought they were getting it okay, the DVDs are another world -- no blaring trashy chat line ads and seeing bits that were cut out in editing for BET make the show so much better. Rawls was in a gay bar? Oh, my! This show has moved into my top slot of favorite TV shows ever.
  
• Are you following the Ellen Degeneres Doggie Drama? Although I usually miss the show because I'm working most weekdays, this story caught my eye. I'm on Ellen's side of the battle. She rescued the dog, spent a lot of money on the vet and training, but it didn't get along with her pets already residing with her. I think she did the right thing by finding a loving family for the dog and the rescue place now has a huge black mark, as well as a bad reputation, for taking the dog from that loving family. You idiots ... the dog had a family and a home. Now it's got a kennel and staff once again. What are you thinking?
• AOL TV news has an interview with Floyd Mayweather, booted from last night's Dancing With the Stars. I actually briefly caught his performance the other night as I was channel surfing. I don't know if by not watching the show regularly it gives me a different perspective and I didn't see any of the other dancers (I was just passing through, y'see). But I thought he looked stiff at times and very much the amateur. Oh, I couldn't do any better, I know. But as I watched the bit I watched, I thought of my love for So You Think You Can Dance. I think I prefer to watch young'uns who aspire to be dancers than so-called celebrities on a dance show. Of course, your mileage may vary, but his performance didn't make me want to continue watching the show.
• How cool is this? I was just interrupted by the FedEx Man. The good folks at TBS just sent me a neat and spiffy battery-operated Frank TV wall clock and a promo reel on DVD for the show. Frank is Frank Caliendo and I'll report back on the promo. Right now I want to figure out where I'm going to put the clock!

Today's music non-sequitur --
Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity

'Tis then when the hurdy gurdy man
Comes singing songs of love
- Donovan "Hurdy Gurdy Man"

'Heroes' - "The Kindness of Strangers"

Although some important events happened on tonight's episode, it wasn't the edge of my seat excitement I've grown accustomed to while watching Heroes. Oh, I was entertained enough and, as I said, there were some crucial parts which moved the story along. There was no Peter, although Nathan and his mother were there. There was no Hiro, although there was the picture of his father. There was Micah and no Niki.

The Bennets (Butlers) in California

Coincidentally to Claire getting interested in West, her dad told her she may not date any boys. West convinced her to go out with him, telling her he'd fly her anywhere. She lied to her parents, telling them she was going to go to the library. Instead they flew to the top of the Hollywood sign on the hills.

West caught her as she went to leap off the sign saying he knows she has the power, but he never wants to see her hurt. He told her she should tell her dad a credible lie as the library was closed by the time they returned -- something else she was forbidden to do, but not a boy. So, she told him she tried out for cheerleading and was celebrating with the girls. Ho-hum.

The real thing of interest which happened with the Bennets was the Haitian showing up to tell HRG that he had to leave to go to the Ukraine. We don't know why, nor do we know what he'll say to his family about his absence.

Nathan, Mrs. Petrelli, Matt Parkman in NYC

Nathan met up with his sons Monty and Simon (great names) while sporting his beard, but looking more sober. He was told to leave the school area. But he was able to tell them that he's coming home before he went.

Next he showed up at the hospital where Parkman and his partner were getting ready to charge his mother with the murder of Kaito Nakamura (Hiro's father). They said her wounds were self-inflicted. She's ready to carry the weight of the charge even though she didn't kill him. She knows Parkman can read her mind and told him to let it go -- the only way out is to confess and if she doesn't, people like them would be in more danger.

Parkman and Nathan talked. Parkman told Nathan all about his powers and what his (Nathan's) mother "told" him. Parkman also told him all about his wife and all. Ho-hum. Nathan tried to talk her out of it, but she just told him to get into a program because she didn't want to lose another son.

Nathan told Parkman that his father didn't like Kaito, but his mother was a friend. They have the full picture of all of the "older generation" heroes. In the picture there's Linderman, DeVeaux, Mrs. Petrelli, Kaito, Mohinder's new boss whose name is Bob, and ... Parkman's father! I'll be mentioning that again soon.

Nathan saw the monster Nathan in the mirror and punched it, bloodying his knuckles. He's determined to make things right for the dead Pete (who's very much alive over in Ireland).

Micah at the Dawson home in New Orleans

His cousin Damon (?) Dawson is a bully, but the older sister Monica is sweet to him. The children were displaced by Katrina, lost their parents (I assume) and are living with their grandmother, Lt. Uhura. Er, Mrs. Dawson?

Micah blows his promise not to use his powers when he rigs pay-per-view on the TV for a wrestling match Damon is desperate to see. He gets in the good graces of Damon, at least for now.

While we didn't really see anything out of the grandmother, it turns out that Monica has powers of her own. All she needs to do is see something on television and she learns it. First it was making the tomato roses from the show the grandmother was watching, but then it was body-slamming a robber at the fast food place where she works.

Does she know about Micah's powers? I'm not sure. Monica seems to be a bit down on herself -- she thinks that she's selfish because she wants to leave the city while others are working to rebuild it.

I know that the grandmother must have some sort of power of her own!

Maya, Alejandro, Derek, and ... Sylar in Mexico

The Wonder Twins and Derek the car thief (from Jersey) found Sylar in the middle of the road looking very dead. Ah, but no! He told them he had been walking for three days and they have a new passenger in Claire's stolen car. He calls himself Gabriel Gray -- his original name, at least the Gabriel part. I can't recall if his last name was Gray. "Gabriel, just like the angel."

They told him they're headed to New York and Maya showed them the book by Dr. Suresh. Heh, Sylar's eyes lighted up at that! He knew they had to either have powers or a link to them. He told them he could introduce them to the doctor (who's long dead).

While stopped for a bit, Derek saw the wanted poster for the Wonder Twins. Thinking Sylar is normal, he turned to him. That sealed the hero connection for Sylar. He told Derek he'd stall them while he (Derek) called the police. Now, this didn't make sense to me. Like Derek, the car thief escaped felon would call the police for any reason!

But Sylar, as we could have guessed, confronted Maya about the poster. She admitted that it was them although Alejandro told her not to. When Sylar told them Derek already called the cops, Maya got into the start of her black-blood eyes murder bit which made Sylar feel intense pain. Alejandro calmed Maya down and Sylar was fine ... but they didn't know Derek was dead inside the building as the three drove away.

Mohinder Suresh, Matt Parkman, and Molly in NYC

Molly is still having her dreams. Well, nightmares. Matt is obsessed with finding his father since he found the picture of him and plans to use Molly to do the deed -- after all, she's the Walker Locating System or whatever that was.

Parkman told Mohinder that his father left him when he was 13, giving him $120 and he never saw him again. His father was a criminal who stole a lot of money from a lot of people.

It turns out his father is more than just a mere thief or thug. He's the man of Molly's nightmares. Although seeing the picture made her scream and refuse to help, she acquiesced and did her Molly thing.

He's in Philadelphia. But, fine, now Molly is in a state of shock and crying through her thoughts for Matt Parkman to help her.

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, October 15, 2007

Nothing fancy, just a chipmunk who thought I wouldn't shoot him if he remained still. I shot him anyway ... with my camera. Photo taken at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield, NJ. (Where the park scenes for the TV show Ed were filmed.)

In today's TV Newsy Bits (and a bit o' Bloggy Bits):

• How are you folks doing with the comments in the Dancing With the Stars discussion post? Too many? Need a new discussion post?
• I'll be posting my Heroes recap/review later tonight and encourage show fans to stop back to visit.
• Entertainment Weekly and its website EW.com have an exclusive interview with Jorja Fox from C.S.I. -- she is indeed leaving the show citing both personal and professional reasons. It sounds like she wants more time to do what she wants to do family-wise and in other acting pursuits. As long as William Petersen isn't leaving, I'm okay with the news.
• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Joshua Gomez of Chuck.
• I had an exclusive interview with one of the chipmunks, but he decided he should refuse to comment. I'm not sure if it was Alvin, Theodore, or Simon.

Today's music non sequitur --
"Pleased to meet you,
Hope you guessed my name
What's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game." - Mick Jagger/Keith Richards "Sympathy for the Devil"

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, October 14, 2007

A man waiting on the train into Manhattan on an autumn day. Taken at the Plainfield, NJ train station.

In today's TV Newsy Bits:

• Continuing to support my The Wire addiction without HBO, I've purchased seasons 1-3 on DVD and have my pre-order in for the fourth season which is expected to be released in December. Although I won't be seeing season five for a long, long time, I find it interesting that the theme song ("Way Down in the Hole" originally written by Tom Waits) for next season will be sung by Steve Earle who plays the recurring role of Waylon on the show. I've heard his version, but I like the 5 Blind Boys from Alabama (first season) and Tom Waits (second season) much better.
• I watched the new show Life on NBC in a repeat last night. It kept my interest. I'll have to check it out in its regular time. I like that the networks are often putting repeats of shows aired earlier in the week on Saturday nights. Life didn't initially catch my eye when I read about it and, if not for the Saturday repeat, I might not have ever watched it.
• The second episode of The Next Iron Chef is on the Food Channel tonight. The contestants are to create a simple culinary dish in their own style. Now, if I were there, I'd go with salmon patties. Okay, you know why I'm never on a cooking show, eh?

The return of today's music non sequitur --

This Broadway's got
It's got a lot of songs to sing
If I knew the tunes I might join in
I'll go my way alone
Grow my own, my own seeds shall be sown in New York City

Subway's no way for a good man to go down
Rich man can ride and the hobo he can drown
And I thank the Lord for the people I have found
I thank the Lord for the people I have found.
--Elton John "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters"

'Friday Night Lights' Blog Discussion

Due to popular request, here it is! Your own place to discuss the show Friday Night Lights! Please feel free to hang out in the comments area and talk about FNL with fellow show fans.

The official website for FNL can be found here.
TV Squad's FNL posts can be found here. (No, not written by me, but you might want to check out the reviews anyway.)

Bookmark this post or look it up in the blog search or come by via the link on the sidebar ... enjoy!

TV Newsy Bits - Friday, Oct. 12, 2007

It's just a duck. A duck at the park. It refused to catch fish for me, but was willing to eat bread crumbs.

Here are the TV Newsy Bits for today --

• If you live in the vicinity of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and you're a fan of The Office -- I have cool news for you! The Office Convention will be held the weekend of October 26-28. You can find out more about it here, but it sounds like quite the event. Al Roker will be there reporting for The Today Show, even.
• If you're a soaps fan, you might want to check out the exclusively on the Internet show Coastal Dreams. It takes things a step further and provides interactivity the TV soaps just can't do.
• Reality News Online has an interview with Dave Cruser, cast off of Survivor China just last night. Whoa, he's one smug dude. But I noticed that a commenter here on this blog ("Survivor" I believe was the blogger name used) called his nudity in that one challenge exactly right. "Unless it’s your orientation, having a crazy naked guy running at you is definitely going to make you think twice. And it did. If you have a naked guy running at you, you’re going to be that much less ready. Hence the skipping to make things jiggle."
• I still think Dave was annoying, but I think I'd be personally peeved more at Sherea -- especially if I had to work harder to cover her slacking.
• The Celebrity Spider has an expanded promotional bit on next week's Heroes -- mild spoilers within.
  

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Update 10/11

This post will be updated as the show airs here in the east -- major events including the boot.

So far, just Sherea and Dave fighting in one camp while Courtney and Jean-Robert go at it in the other.

Cool rewards challenge! Both tribes had to meet at Tribal Council for it, don't think it's a double ouster tonight. Fei Long won -- get a fisherman to teach them to fish, spices, vegies, and they kidnap Dave. Dave? That's odd.

Dave gave Todd the clue. Todd's racking them in, eh?

Another cool challenge for Immunity and Fei Long wins.

Dave was voted off after much discussion -- it was between him and Sherea. He voted for Sherea, but it seems the rest voted for him to go.

UPDATE - My review of this episode is up at TV Squad. Come visit!

TV Newsy Bits, Bloggy Stuff, and Tonight's 'Survivor' Blogging Plans

Sometimes I just take photos of odd things. I liked the symmetry of the windows and mismatched gravel piles at this urban warehouse.

Once again this week, I'll be putting up a Survivor 15: China East Coast Update post for tonight's episode. That post will be updated as important events air here in the NYC area and comments are surely welcome! Later this evening my full review of the episode will be posted at TV Squad.

I'd like to extend belated birthday greetings to blog reader and commenter ORKMommy! I hope it was a great day full of family, love, calories, and gifts!

Also -- welcome back from Vegas, Nana in the NW. No, you better not tell us. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. ;-)

On a sadder note, my condolences go out to blog reader and commenter MEB on the loss of her best friend. Hang in there.

In TV Newsy Bits:

• A personal reminder to me and any fans of the show -- Law and Order: Criminal Intent is now on USA at 10 PM on Thursdays.
• In NYC News -- Although Chuck Scarborough isn't my favorite anchorman, I'm kind of getting into watching the local news at 7 PM on WNBC. I don't care all that much for all of the celebrity gossip shows at that hour and if I work late, the timing is good.
• The My Name is Earl folks have a new video online called Respect the Meat. It doesn't want to embed properly here, but you can check it out there.
• Don't forget to stop by the Grey's Anatomy blog discussion post if you watch that one!
  

TV Newsy Bits - Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007

True, it's another not-TV photo, but when I see a cat four stories off the ground, I have to do it. How he gets up there, I don't know. This cat and his feline friend sleep on the fire escape of one building during the colder weather -- taking in the morning sun. They seem to be local feral cats who come and go at will. I think they must get up there from the back of the buildings somehow. Maybe they fly up there -- Cats in Capes!

On another note, heavy thunderstorms kept me offline most of yesterday evening. We needed the rain and the cooler temps, but I'd rather these storms happen in the overnight hours, please.

In the real TV Newsy Bits --

• My Kid Nation review for TV Squad should be up soon.
• I don't watch the show, but ... Wayne Newton got the boot on Dancing With the Stars? I thought his fans would keep him in until much closer to the end of the show. I must also mention that these folks who should be aging normally are frightening me these days.
• Another show I don't watch, but I know many of you do, is Project Runway. I found this NY Post article about it and thought there might be some interest here.
• TVGuide.com has yet another interview with Leslie Nease, recently ousted from China on Survivor.
• And... yikes! Did you hear about all of the doctors, nurses and other personnel fired or suspended in the George Clooney motorcycle accident brouhaha? Although Clooney has gone on record saying that he thinks the punishment is a bit severe, I think the hospital is right in their actions. I know I wouldn't want people releasing my private health information out and about to the press. Okay, I know the press wouldn't care about me. But it's the principle of the thing!
  

'Heroes' - "Kindred"

Oh, my. Sylar is back. Kinda sorta back, that is. Here's the skinny on tonight's show ... please fill in any blanks I might have missed!

Peter Petrelli (Cork, Ireland)

Peter's still at the devices of the iPod thugs. In order to receive the silver box with his personal belongings (including his identity), he has to help the thugs and the beautiful sister Kaitlyn (which I might be spelling wrong) rob the proceeds of soccer betting from Pinky's Sportsbook. He doesn't want to help them, but doesn't really have much choice in the matter. As they were talking about the theft, Peter used Parkman's mind-reading powers and found out one thug planned on stealing all the money from the rest. They didn't believe him, silly thugs.

Kaitlyn promised to have his back and pointed out that she had told the others nothing about his powers. So, the robbery went down. It would have been messy, but Peter's powers saved the gig for the thieves. Oh, but when they returned with the proceeds, sure enough ... the one thug tried to rob the rest. Peter went all Sylar on his butt, had him up on the wall and was virtually choking him when Kaitlyn stopped him with a look.

Then it got corny as the brother gave Peter the box, but now he's happy with who he is and where he is (seeds planted by Kaitlyn) and kisses her. Aw, right. He doesn't open the box. She gave him a tattoo, but it vanished.

Claire and West (California)

In class, West again brought up regeneration in the guise of talking about a lizard girl who regenerates. This, of course, is due to his Peeping Tom at her cutting off her toe and it regrowing almost immediately. She ran out of the classroom, he followed.

As he kept at her about being herself, she finally broke down and yelled that she was special and he can go ahead and tell the world ... and ruin her life.

In a case of show me yours and I'll show you mine, he took her flying. And then they kissed. That was a bit schmaltzy until she noticed the two marks on his shoulder. He told her that he lost a day a few years back when he lived in St. Louis. He remembers a man staring at him like he was an animal, then woke up the next day.

Although he doesn't know what happened to him, he'll never forget the man with the horn-rimmed glasses. (Cue organ music here.)

Maya and Alejandro (Mexico)

I guess we're just going to see these two keep getting in trouble or captured, her using her bleeding-eyes power to kill the captors, Alejandro curing her by holding her hands and shaking a lot. This time Alejandro got put in jail after being caught trying to break in a car, then it happened as expected. A prisoner Maya-eyed and brought back went with them offering his car. There was a brief close-up of a sticker on the bumper, but the only part I caught was "coil" -- did anyone get the whole thing?

Hiro and Kensei (1671 Japan) and Ando (present day Japan)

Poor Ando. He's really lost without Hiro, playing video games at work instead of working. He goes to the sword in the drawer as he thinks of his friend. Lo and behold ... since Hiro is in the past, he can send Ando updates about what he's doing in the form of little scrolls hidden inside the Kensei sword.

But, what is Hiro doing? He's still working on Takezo Kensei trying to shape him up into the legend he's supposed to be.

Hiro tired to convince Kensei that he has powers, too. Kensei decided he was the devil. When Hiro showed him a brief smattering of his own time and space continuum powers, Kensei wanted to use his powers for gaining wealth for himself. No, no, no!

Hiro swooped up Kensei, forcing him to use his powers by facing 90 angry Ronin to retrieve the fire scroll from some sort of temple. He abandoned him there figuring he'd do what he had to.

As Hiro and the beautiful swordsmith's daugher talked, she mentioned how Kensei seemed to be two different people ... and how the cherry blossoms bit was so gentle and special. Then Kensei returned, scroll in hand.
Poor Hiro. He thought his work there was done and he also fleetingly felt love, but the swordsmith's daughter was meant to be with Kensei, not Hiro.

Kensei seems to have gone all nicey-nice, and worthy of legend. As he and the swordsmith's daughter walked through the cherry trees, the blossoms floated through the air. All of a sudden, Hiro decided he must stay longer in that time.

Micah, Niki, and D.L.

They're back! Well, D.L. is but a gravestone, but Micah and Niki were in this episode. She's leaving him with an older woman relative in New Orleans (why does that woman look so familiar?). He can't show his powers and Niki said she would return for him after she was cured.

Then she turned up at The Company's new office turning herself into Mohinder's new boss for treatment. Cure, huh? The new boss told her he would only need one thing from her in return for curing her. He didn't say what the one thing was. Run, Micah, run!

Sylar and Candace/Michelle

Candace, the illusionist, is calling herself Michelle now. She's been assigned to help Sylar heal from his Kirby Plaza sword impalement. She's made the illusion that they're in Maui, but it's all just an illusion. She also made the illusion that his wounds look healed, but they're not.

He demands reality and finds himself in a bunker triage kind of place alone with Candace... er, Michelle. He's hooked up to IVs and really in bad shape.

Nonetheless, he decides to do his Sylar bit on her, stealing her powers. It doesn't really work. She's dead (maybe) and fat, he seems to be in agony with no powers in the middle of nowhere.

Mohinder's New NYC Office and Mr. Bennet (CA)

Mohinder's returned to NYC, visiting Parkman and Molly. He told them his new office was going to be in town which didn't thrill Parkman too much, but hey. Where the new Company office is turned out to be the kicker -- Isaac Mendez ex-studio!

So now Mohinder is going to be under the watchful eye of The Company. The Haitian could have been a mistake, but it seems like it cast suspicion upon him. When Mohinder was left alone for the boss to meet Niki, he looked at stored canvases. He found the one marked 8/8 -- the last of the set. Uh-oh. He called Mr. Bennet to report his findings. A dead man wearing horn-rimmed glasses.

Run, Noah Bennet, run!

TV Newsy Bits - Monday, Oct. 8, 2007

Oh, I know this isn't a television image. It's a gas station I walk by on the way to the train each morning. They have a brand new spiffy lighted sign. Unfortunately, they offer break service (on both sides of the sign) as well as wheel alingment. If your wheels need to be alinged, it may be a symptom of a more serious problem. Tomorrow I may have to go in and set myself down in a chair in their office to have my break service.

I'll be watching and reporting on Heroes later tonight -- so, if you're a show fan, stop back!

Here are some other TV Newsy Bits of interest:

• Buddy TV has an exclusive interview with Chuck star Yvonne Strahovski. I personally watched one Chuck, but like the hour of How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory better.
• I found a very lengthy interview with recent Survivor castoff Leslie on the Fans of Reality TV website. Interesting read, but l-o-n-g.
  
• The DIY network has Burt Reynolds and car contest a'going on. According the the information I received -- "Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit features the star and a top team of experts who lovingly restore the vehicles. Five great episodes of Celebrity Rides: Burt Builds a Bandit will air on Friday nights at 10 pm Eastern/ 9 Central, starting October 19.
  
  You don’t have to sit on the sidelines watching this amazing machine, you can win a Limited Edition Burt Reynolds Trans Am! Submit a video to Heavy.com telling Burt and his co-judges why you deserve the car. That’s right – you have to impress the man himself with your video.
  The deadline for submissions is November 30, so get a move on it.
  The winner will be announced on the series finale (December 14) and the winning video may be aired then too!"
  
  The video below will clue you in on the rules.
  

• Blog reader Sydney found an interesting interview with Jessica from Big Brother 8. Yay, Sydney!

TV Newsy Bits - Sunday, October 7, 2007

I want autumn. I want crisp cool nights, low humidity, and warm (not hot) days.

Make it happen before the snow is upon us, please. I've been resisting the urge to turn on the air conditioner here because it just seems so incongruous to even think of using it during what I consider the best weather times of the year. But I'll admit to running my fan.

In TV Newsy Bits:

TV Land is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Leave it to Beaver with a huge marathon all weekend. Now, of course I don't remember the show from when I was a toddler, but it was one of the earliest shows I can remember watching by the time I was five or so. Beaver, The Mickey Mouse Club (I had a child crush on Cubby and loved Spin and Marty), The Twilight Zone, Ed Sullivan, and the Lone Ranger were the TV mainstays of my really early childhood days. Alas, my mother never wore pearls around the house and my father, though he always sported a Ward Cleaver haircut, only wore a tie for social occasions. The Cleavers we were not.

Although I don't watch The Bachelor, a local contestant was ousted by the show this past week. So, of course, the local news is full of her. This Reality TV World interview shows she really wanted to win. I just don't get it. Perhaps because I'm an avowed spoiled single person, I just can't think people actually go on a show like The Bachelor for love. For money, for fame, but love?

I was looking over Evel Dick's (BB8) MySpace page. I'm not on the list of people he wants to meet. I'm so crushed.

Not.

Memories of a Meerkat - 'Meerkat Manor' - RIP Flower

I love Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet, but I hate it sometimes, too. I realize that they film the meerkats as they live out their lives and they won't interfere, but it's still hard when something happens to one of these critters.

We've lost Shakespeare and many others, but this was the toughest loss of all.

Flower, the matriarch of the meerkat family, was bitten by a cobra and died this past February although the news was just released this week. As a regular viewer of the show I became quite attached to this leader of the Whiskers -- I can only think that she was truly exceptional when it comes to meerkats and I'm very saddened by her passing.

Animal Planet has set up a website as a memoriam. It's amazing how many people have been touched by a single meerkat in the Kalahari Desert. If you have a chance to visit, the videos are definitely worth your time.

Goodbye, Flower. Rest in peace.

TV Squad: Survivor Review, Kid Nation and More!

My review of tonight's Survivor China episode is up over at TV Squad. You can also check out my review of last night's Kid Nation, plus I wrote an article about foreign actors and actresses getting work on shows here using American accents.

Hey ... wasn't tonight Grey's Anatomy? It seems quiet!

'Survivor 15: China' - East Coast Update - 10/04 Show

Keep tuned here (and join in with your comments!) as this post will be updated as events occur on the East Coast!

Rewards Challenge -- Thanks to the women, Zhan Hu won their first challenge. Reward was comforts including a kerosene lantern, kerosene, blankets, and a tarp. They kidnapped Leslie.

Immunity Challenge -- Zhan Hu won, despite spoilers to the contrary! It will be Fei Long going to its first Tribal Council.

Leslie was voted out. Courtney and Leslie voted for Jean-Robert to go, the rest voted for Leslie -- 6-2. Todd and Courtney seemed very reluctant to vote for her to leave, but did.

Tonight's 'Survivor 15: China' Blogging

I'll be putting up an East Coast Update post which will be updated with important events (Immunity, the boot) as the show airs here in the NYC area. Later on this evening, a full review will be posted over on TV Squad. I'll post that link when I have it.

Please feel free to stop by the updates post and share your thoughts on the show!

TV Newsy Bits - Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Well, this is interesting as I'm both a Law and Order: SVU watcher as well as a Lost fan ...

I just finished watching tonight's new SVU and the guest star creepy dude was played by actor Keven Tighe. Now, Kevin Tighe also played John Locke's father in Lost. Guess what? Both characters on both shows used the name Cooper and it wasn't the real name of the character in both instances. Weird, I say!

I think I might watch too much television. I thought of Amber from Big Brother 8 yesterday. Scary. Here's what happened ... I got off my train and took the elevator up to the ground level from the tunnel. I shared the elevator with both a black man and a Latino man. When we got up to the ground level, there was a group of Orthodox Jewish men with flowers and candles. They let the black and Latino men pass by, then stopped me.

"Are you Jewish?" they asked.

Huh? I immediately thought of Amber -- my nose! My name! I wondered why they didn't stop the black man to ask him! Although I wondered if I would get a free candle or flower if I said I was, I told them no. Then I saw the Sukkah-Mobile in the parking lot. It had the canvas walls, but the times they are a'changing. It was kind of cool, though. I've seen sukkot on streets, but never one built on the back of a pick-up truck. Happy Sukkot!

In television viewing, I watched Cavemen tonight. Never again. I actually enjoyed the show following it -- Carpooling. But I don't think it's worth sitting through Cavemen to get there. I'll stick with Bones, thank you.

An article I wrote yesterday for TV Squad was published today. It's about bizarre reality television shows including Celebrity Shark Bait out of the UK.

'Heroes' - "Lizards"

Yes! I'm so glad this show is back on! I need me my Heroes fix each week! The only bad thing about the show is that there's so much going on during each episode and so many intertwining storylines that it's hard to keep up with every bit.

HIRO

My favorite hero, Hiro, once again had the most giggles from me tonight. He's still in 1671 Japan trying to make the legend of Takezo Kensei come true.

When the "real" impostor of a hero swordsman got too drunk, Hiro donned his armor and used his powers to fight off the attackers and to save the fair maiden -- the swordsmith's beautiful daughter.

In the end, he returned to Kensei and apparently taught him the error of his ways as he could have said fair maiden. Hiro tried to secure the promise that he wouldn't drink anymore, but Kensei wouldn't quite go that far. But when Kensei decided to do right, he ended up getting shot by arrows ... and miraculously recovered. Hmmm...

MAYA AND ALEJANDRO

These new characters are still trying to get to America and we saw more of Maya's powers.

They stopped over at a home where a woman named Nidia was going to send others with them to make it from Guatemala to Mexico. While there, the woman saw something "black" and evil inside of Maya and called her the devil.

As they went through a tunnel, Maya panicked when separated from Alejandro. Her eyes began dripping blood and she seemingly killed the woman who was escorting her. Yikes! But then we found out that Alejandro can make it stop and also seems to be able to reverse the effect if he gets there soon enough. The "dead" woman recovered, called Maya the devil and ran away. Um, okay.

THE BENNETS (BUTLERS) IN CALIFORNIA

Claire is still having trouble assimilating in school. Her class is studying lizards and regeneration which perks her interest. She asks a few too many questions making her teacher think she's just a very interested student, but definitely catching the attention of West -- a fellow student with special powers.

When her car gets stolen, she stops by the Copy Kingdom, her father's new workplace. While there, she kept pushing him because she wants to know her limits. "Perhaps I can help people with my powers!" Noah told her that the folks after them would push her limits until she had no limits left and they must keep it all a secret.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet insists they have no secrets. So, Noah shows her Isaac's work that he has. He told her that Isaac painted the future and that it was a set of eight -- he needed seven more.

By the end of the episode, she cuts off her toe to see if it will regenerate. And, it does. Oh, but who's peeking in the window at her? West! She ran outside with Mr. Muggles who kept looking and jumping up -- West must be hovering overhead, I think.

MOHINDER SURESH, THE NEW JOB, AND THE HAITIAN IS BACK

Mohinder's new boss at the Hartsdale (NY) office (hey, I used to work in Hartsdale, NY!) sent him to Haiti to cure a "special" person who seemed to have caught the virus. Mohinder's own blood seems to be the only cure.

Once there, the patient turned out to be the Haitian. I always liked the Haitian. Although he resisted at first, he took the cure. Now, the boss thinks that the Haitian, once cured, used his powers to eliminate Mohinder's memory and escaped. In reality, the Haitian showed up at Copy Kingdom to join Noah Bennet and Mohinder knows all about it.

THE DEVEAUX BUILDING ROOF, DET. PARKMAN, MRS. PETRELLI, AND THE INVESTIGATION INTO HIRO'S FATHER'S DEATH

Hiro's father (Lt. Sulu - er - George Takei) did indeed die in the fall from the roof with his assailant. But the assailant's body vanished.

Ando identified Mrs. Petrelli as having a fight with Kito before the assailant arrived. So, good ol' new Detective Parkman and his partner pulled her in for questioning. He eavesdropped her thoughts, but she caught him -- "Get out of my mind!"

When left alone in the interrogation room, she freaked out. They busted in to save her, finding her cowering against the wall. Upon seeing the picture she had, they asked the symbol. She said it was her husband's law firm logo. Ando said the symbol meant "great ability, godsend."

She asked for Nathan, making Parkman think that they weren't estranged. Nathan told him that he was the only one she could ask for help now. They all think Peter is dead.

PETER PETRELLI

... is alive and kind of sort of well in Cork, Ireland. The thugs still think he stole the shipment of iPods and try to beat him for information.

The sister of the chief thug, Kaitlyn, tried to help attend to his wounds only to find they healed perfectly as if they had never happened. So we know he retains his Sylar spark throw people power, as well as Claire's powers of healing.

He has no memory of anything prior to being found in the trailer, though. At least he no longer has that silly haircut. When Kaitlyn asked him about the necklace with the symbol, he didn't know what it was.

The iPod theft was supposed to go to someone named McSorley. Well, his brother tried to assault Kaitlyn and Peter used his powers to save her. That didn't make her brother forgive him, though. He taunted Peter with a box which he said was everything he had with him when they found him, but only let Peter know his first name. If Peter wants the box, he has to make up the theft by working with them on a new caper.

Oh, I have so many questions! What's in the box? Mr. Muggles knows West is up high, why doesn't Claire yell at him? How did Kensei live after the arrow attack? How will Hiro get back to his own time? Exactly what company is Mohinder working for -- could it be the same one who employed Bennet?

Bloggy Stuff! - Sunday, Sept. 30

It's New Jersey, what can I say? I encountered this rat on my walk to the train station Friday morning. I'll probably encounter him again tomorrow. I should carry a big stick, eh? (It's actually some kind of union protest at a construction site.)

I'd like to wish a belated happy birthday to blog readers Sharon and Gayle (as well as the other September birthdays in the crowd). I always kind of wonder about the plethora of September birthdays. Hmmm... was it really cold nine months before or what?

But the weather is gorgeous here this weekend! I heard the local weatherman say it's like San Diego. He has a point. I've spent some time there and it's the cool evenings, highs in the mid-seventies in the daytime. Perfect!

In the television-watching department, I just haven't been too thrilled over the weekend. I watched the hour-long COPS 20th anniversary show last night. (It's a guilty pleasure, remember.) I tried to watch the repeat of Cane, a show I missed when it premiered earlier this week. Nuh-uh, just didn't do anything for me. Sorry, Jimmy Smits or not, it's not my thing. I watched the 48 Hours Mystery after Cane and found that interesting as it's a local crime case. No one in my social circles, mind you.

Today I ran through my recorded The Wire (third season from BET) which I hadn't really watched the past few weeks as I was writing my Survivor review while it aired. Omar and Brother Mouzone killed Stringer Bell?!?! Yikes! That's the final straw, ya Baltimore and imported NYC thugs! I went and ordered seasons two and three to go with my season one boxed set. And I pre-ordered season four (release date early December). I just can't get enough of the show and BET's commercials go beyond the point of annoying. I'm glad they aired the series so far and got me hooked, but it's the DVD sets for me on this show, much like I did for Homicide: Life on the Street.

And, as I ramble on here, I should mention that I've met and chatted with the series creator of both Homicide and The Wire -- I have the books The Corner and Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets signed by him. I found David Simon to be a very personable fellow who, if you didn't know who he was, you would never guess he could ever portray the gritty tales of Baltimore so well.

But that leads me to another tangent -- where I met Simon, and where I even got to talk one-on-one for a while with Stephen King (my all-time favorite novelist) no longer exists. For over twenty years I faithfully attended the New York is Book Country street fair in Manhattan. It was there I got meet authors whose works have been such a part of my life. It was there I bought signed first editions and even antiquarian books. It was there I collected the festival's yearly posters.

They stopped having the book fair. I don't know why -- it was certainly a well-attended and enjoyable event. It was usually mid-September and ended up being downtown and first weekend of October the last time they had it two years back. Then it vanished from the city. The end of a literary event although I see they still have their literary tea. But paying over $100 to attend a tea isn't the same as spending $100 on books while being able to actually talk to the authors.

Sigh.

I'm biding my time until Cold Case. How was your weekend?

'Survivor 15: China' - Spoilers Post Link!

I have a post up on TV Squad with major show spoilers for Survivor 15: China. ONLY go there if you want to know

I also ask that the spoilers aren't brought up in the comments on any of the show posts I may make here because I realize a lot of people don't want to know!