Monday, December 08, 2008

Sunday, December 07, 2008

The Amazing Race - Season Finale Show Post

jackie's tv blog, the amazing race

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

Friday, December 05, 2008

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!



Thursday, December 04, 2008

Survivor Gabon: 12/04 Show Post

jackie's tv blog, survivor

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.