if i were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one tv show along to watch, it would be lost

March 14, 2008 at 6:41 am | In TV, Movies | No Comments

I’ve been in a fugue state of semi-functioning delirium for the last two weeks due to a nasty cold. I’ve gone to the Real Job a couple of days here and there and managed to do a little socializing last weekend, but other than that, I haven’t paid bills, been on the computer, washed dishes, bought groceries….nothing. Just sat around coughing and wheezing, napped some and watched TV….lots of TV.

I’m officially addicted to Lost and I don’t care who knows it. I didn’t watch Lost when it premiered a few years ago and never felt comfortable diving in mid-season. (My OCD compels me to either watch from the beginning or not at all.)

The Husband borrowed Season One of Lost from The Sister-In-Law to keep me entertained while I was home sick. I love that man.

I started Season One last week and as of today I have two episodes of Season Two left. I’m sending The Husband over to The Sister-In-Law’s house today to take Season Three — not borrow, but take by whatever means necessary because I need to know what happens next on the island — for me to watch this weekend.

Lost is a twisted, bizarre, compelling, unusual, outrageous, mind**** of a TV show. J.J. Abrams is either insane or a genius…or possibly both.

Hope I enjoy it as much without the cold medicine.

goodbye 2007…

January 1, 2008 at 8:22 pm | In DVDs, TV, Movies | No Comments

What a year! What a crazy, tumultuous, hectic, bizarre, interesting year. And I’m just talking about my personal life. (Ha ha.)

There are a few movie- and TV-related items on the Best of 2007 and Worst of 2007 lists that I did for CrazedFanBoy.com. Here are a few other 2007 wrap-up lists from around the web to finish out the year:

news from the education channel

December 30, 2007 at 4:27 pm | In TV, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Two emails from The Education Channel to share with you:

Bright House moved The Education Channel to channel 614 on December 11, 2007. Channel 614 is a digital channel and requires a digital converter box. This also applies to The Explorer Channel, your source for NASA TV, currently on channel 21 in the City of Tampa. Bright House moved The Explorer Channel to channel 620.

If you already subscribe to digital cable, you should be able to see The Education Channel on channel 614 and The Explorer Channel on channel 620.

If you don’t have digital cable, call Bright House at 813-684-6400 and ask them to install a digital converter box in your home so that you can see The Education Channel. They will bring you a box, set it up and charge you only $1 a month more, if you tell them you want to see your local educational channels.

If you have questions or problems with this transition, please call us at The Education Channel 254-2253, extension 211.

———————————

January brings you some new series on The Education Channel:

The Habitable Planet (Thursday at 9 p.m.) — This environmental science program introduces Earth’s natural systems–geophysical, atmosphere, oceanic and ecosystems–and explores the effect that human activities have on each.

Connect with English (Saturday at 5 p.m.) — Through the story of Rebecca, an aspiring singer on a journey across America, this series for ESOL students touches on life’s important issues.

The Whole Child (Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.) — Taped a working childcare centers with real caregivers and children, this series provides important information about child development and childcare for the critical years from birth to the age of five.

Are you Movie-Minded?

Of Human Bondage will air January 25 and 27 on The Education Channel at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. respectively.

SPECIAL MLK DAY PROGRAMS:

Check out Doug McAdams’ lecture on the Roots of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s on January 21 at 8 p.m.

At the River I Stand, a documentary at 10 p.m. on January 21.

Visit www.educationchannel.org for more info.

revenge of the nerds, indeed

December 20, 2007 at 1:23 pm | In Blogging, TV, Miscellaneous, Movies | 2 Comments

Let’s hear it for nerdy women! (Don’t panic, nerdy men. We still like you.)

Congratulations to The Park Bench, “a gathering place for nerdy women and nerdy men of discerning taste“ for not only posting a great list of 50 Nerdy Things To Do Before You Die, but for also being mentioned in the USA Today blog Pop Candy.

I “know” Ms. Park Bench — in a MySpace-friend-once-removed sort of way — because she’s the friend of a friend. When my friend told me today about the USA Today mention, I told him that the next time he spoke to Ms. PB to please tell her that I said congratulations and that I’m insanely jealous of her, but I mean that in a good way.

Gotta love that girl power. (Please note that the Pop Candy blogger is also a woman.) Call us whatever you want — nerdy women, geek girls, fangrrls or just regular ole amazing women. Just don’t call us while Battlestar Galactica is on.

p.s. For those of you keeping score at home, I’ve done 1 1/2 of the 50 things. In all fairness, I should say that I scored 1 1/2 out of 50:

  • #19, part-time and/or freelance (half point)
  • #27, sort of. Wasn’t underground (was at a SlayerCon), wasn’t the entire musical, but I do have the soundtrack and listen to the same two songs every morning on the way to work, singing along at the top of my lungs (half point)
  • #38, sort of. Don’t ask. (half point)

I almost did #49, if that counts for anything. #8 and #21 are my top goals for 2008.

film fan fun for november 12-18

November 12, 2007 at 10:53 pm | In Events, Film Series, Film Festivals, Movies, TV, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Here’s a brief look at some (certainly not all) of the local film-related events coming up in the next week:

Visit http://tampafilmfan.com/blog/calendar-of-events for info on these and other local film screenings and events. Email your event info to me at tampafilmfan(at)aol.com.

(cross-posted at www.sticksoffire.com)

star trek:the original series is coming to a theater near you on tuesday (updated)

November 12, 2007 at 10:08 pm | In Movies, TV, Events, Movie Theaters, Tampa Bay Area | 1 Comment

I stumbled across this event posting while looking through Creative Loafing’s online calendar:

Star Trek:The Original Series

Captain Kirk and his swashbuckling crew of space explorers are brought to theaters during this special single-night screening event, which features two digitally remastered, high-definition first season Star Trek episodes — The Menagerie, parts one and two. Participating theaters: Regency 20, 2496 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Woodland Square 20, 3128 Tampa Road, Oldsmar; Park Place Stadium 16, 7200 U.S. 19 N., Pinellas Park; Hollywood 18, 6701 Cinema Drive, Port Richey; and Citrus Park Stadium 20, 7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa.

Tuesday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
$12.50

———————–

UPDATE 11/12/07: There will also be screenings on November 15. Check theater listings for details. (h/t SyFy Portal)

———————–

How cool is that?

If I remember correctly, The Menagerie episodes are the Christopher Pike ones: A clever use of footage from the actual first pilot episode with Christopher Pike as the captain of the Enterprise instead of James T. Kirk. Interesting and well-done, but for some reason not really among my favorites. Plus, $12.50 is a little steep for me these days.

But the chance to watch two Star Trek episodes in a movie theater? How can I NOT go? I haven’t yet bought The Husband any birthday presents (and his birthday is Monday!) and he’s a much bigger Star Trek fan than I am, so I could pass this off as part of his birthday present that I’ve planned for all along. That settles it. I’m going.

Live long and prosper. And pass the popcorn.

———————

UPDATE 11/12/07: Here’s the description from the AMC Theatres website:

Fathom presents Star Trek:The Original Series–beamed onto the big screen in select movie theatres nationwide. This event features the original Season 1 episodes The Menagerie Part 1 and 2, digitally re-mastered in High-Definition and Cinema Surround Sound. Also included is greeting from creator Gene Roddenberry’s son, Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry and an exclusive 30-minute behind-the-scenes look at how the episodes were digitally re-mastered from the original negatives.

SyFyPortal has an interview with Gene Roddenberry, Jr. that all good Trekkers and Trekkies should read.

last chance to save the education channel

September 19, 2007 at 5:55 pm | In TV, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Received via email:

Please call the Board of County Commissioners one more time!

The final budget workshop, the last opportunity for the BOCC to fund TECC, is this Thursday, 9/20, 6 p.m. County Center, Kennedy Blvd.

This has been a long and agonizing process…to save the Education Channel and we are all tired, but your calls and emails are making a difference. By calling and letting the Commissioners know that The Education Channel is important to you, they get a chance to learn first hand why The Education Channel is worthy of their support.

Please call before Thursday and ask the Commissioners to support The Education Channel.

If you can come to the meeting on Thursday and speak, sign up at County Center by 5:15 p.m. — or just sit in the audience with us and wear our big yellow Education Channel button — that would be AWESOME!!

Hopefully, we have made a positive difference in your life and, with your help, will continue to do so. We truly appreciate your support and are honored by your assistance.

SAMPLE SCRIPT: Here’s a sample script below and the phone numbers. Pick one or more of the services that are important to you or use your own example.

Commissioner, when you vote on the budget, please restore funding for The Education Channel. The Education Channel is important to our community. My family counts on The Education Channel for so much, like…

* the Independents’ Film Festival, our local film incubator!

* the arts programs like Classic Arts Showcase and Art Off the Wall

* the math shows like Mathematics Homework Hotline and Frequently Asked Algebra Questions

* stimulating intellectual discussions on specials like Taking Control of Cancer, Turning Points in British History (pre-revolutionary)

* cutting edge research shown in The Lecture Series

* information about local schools like emergency closings and test results

* great Classic and Foreign Films on the weekends

* reading programs for my children

* non commercial, high quality educational programs for my children like Scholastic Classics

* School Board Meetings

* the Documentary Series

* local and state history programs like Tampa Before the Civil War

Board of County Commissioners:

District 1 — Rose Ferlita, 272-5470, ferlitar(at)hillsboroughcounty.org

District 2 — Ken Hagan, 272-5452, hagank(at)hillsboroughcounty.org

District 3 — Kevin White, 272-5720, whitek(at)hillsboroughcounty.org

District 4 — Al Higginbotham, 272-5740, higginbothama(at)hillsboroughcounty.org

District 5 — Jim Norman, 272-5725, normanj(at)hillsboroughcounty.org

District 6 — Brian Blair, 272-5730, blairb@hillsboroughcounty.org

District 7 — Mark Sharpe, 272-5735, sharpem@hillsboroughcounty.org

*fingers crossed*

new season of it’s always sunny in philadelphia starts tomorrow night

September 12, 2007 at 5:56 pm | In TV, Movies, Contests/Giveaways | No Comments

I had seen the previews for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but had never watched the show until I received a sneak peek DVD in the mail that contained the first four episodes of Season Three. The show is an acquired taste….it’s not for everyone, but I can see how it would appeal to some people. Sunny is a meaner, more-caustic version of Seinfeld. (The TV critic for the Chicago Sun-Times wrote today that “Sunny raises the bar on offensive fun.”)

The show is about four friends — Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson) — who co-own a Irish bar in Philly. Danny DeVito plays the father of twins Dennis and Deandra. Everyone is selfish, narcissistic, greedy and petty, and no one seems to have anything to do except hang out at the bar and get caught up in wacky adventures. Here’s my take on the first four episodes of Season Three:

Episode 1:The Gang Finds A Dumpster Baby — This wasn’t the best introduction to this series, because it’s about Dee and Mac finding a baby in a dumpster and trying to use him to make themselves rich and famous. They call the baby “DB” (for “dumpster baby,” ha ha). They take him to a children’s acting agency (”because who has better lives than child stars?”) and then to a tanning salon so DB can play a Hispanic baby. Meanwhile, Frank and Charlie see An Inconvenient Truth and decide to become as green as possible. So-so. Slightly appalling to me, given the subject matter, but that’s just because I hadn’t been exposed to the “sunny” black humor before.

Episode 2:The Gang Gets Invincible — This was a very funny episode about Mac and Dennis trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles. Dee decides to try out — disguised as a guy — to prove that she’s in better shape than the guys. (They reference the Mark Wahlberg football movie Invincible, hence the name of the episode.) Frank and Charlie tailgate the try-outs, drop a little acid and face off against their arch-enemies the McPoyles. Hilarious.

Episode 3:Dennis and Dee’s Mom is Dead — When their mom dies, Dennis inherits the mansion and Dee and her dad Charlie get bumpkus. Dee and her dad cook up crazy schemes to get some of the inheritance, while Dennis, Mac and Frank get things started at their “party mansion.” Realizing that they have few friends, the guys begin advertising for “good looking guys to party with” and get into all sorts of situations. Very funny. The gay double entrendres were a little tiresome and predictable, but still entertaining.

Episode 4:The Gang Gets Held Hostage — Three of the McPoyle siblings take the gang hostage at Paddy’s. Charlie just happens to be crawling around in the ventilation system, so he accidentally becomes a part of the kidnapping fun. Amusing, but not laugh-out-loud funny.

Season Three of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia kicks off on FX at 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 13.

p.s. I’ve got one item to give away: a green T-shirt, medium size, with “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” in small text on the front and “Paddy’s Irish Pub” in big letters across the back. First person to email me at tampafilmfan(at)aol.com with his/her mailing address gets it.

the education channel still needs our help

August 24, 2007 at 9:29 pm | In TV, Movies, Tampa Bay Area | No Comments

Received via email:

August 22, 2007

Dear Friends of The Education Channel,

I am very disheartened to bring you the news that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to zero fund TECC on July 31. Current public perception is that we have been “saved” by the Hillsborough County Government TV offer to produce and air our signature programs: school board meetings, Math Homework Hotline and the Superintendent’s Forum. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without the county’s financial contribution this budget cycle, the institution cannot fulfill its production contracts and will, therefore, lose even more of its funding and its ability to generate current and future income.

However, we should not give up!

Why? Because the budget process is not over yet!

There is still time to let the BOCC know how important The Education Channel is and that it should be funded. The first public budget meeting is September 5. Come and speak out! Your voice does matter.

TECC is going to hold two workshops to discuss the issue to make sure you feel confident, comfortable and knowledgeable speaking to the BOCC. Join us on either:

Wednesday, August 29, at 6 p.m. at The Education Channel, 703 N Willow Ave.

Tuesday, September 4, at 6 p.m. at The Education Channel, 703 N Willow Ave.

More importantly, please mark your calendar for September 5 at 6 p.m. for the public hearing on the budget at County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd. and join us. Together we can make Hillsborough County a better place to live and learn.

Again, I want to thank you for your help. Your emails, calls and letters were very important and very meaningful and I believe will help to save The Education Channel for our community.

Most sincerely and thankfully,

Ann Goldenberg
Executive Director
Tampa Educational Cable Consortium

I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

summer shorts online 2007 at ifc.com

August 9, 2007 at 7:44 pm | In Film Series, Movies, TV, Short Films | No Comments

I have only just now discovered the online film series Summer Shorts Online 2007, presented by IFC.com and Rooftop Films (I’ve never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, now have I?).  A new short film is being posted online every day this summer.  The films are in a variety of genres from many different countries. 

Check it out:  http://www.ifc.com/films?aId=20130

(Thanks go to Andrea the Rooftop Films Intern for sending this to me.)

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