Whatever happened to TVGuide?
For those old enough to remember when TVs came encased in big wooden cases, weighed 200#, and a 27″ television was considered a “home theater”, you probably remember that every American home either had a subscription to, or regularly picked up a weekly copy of TVGuide.
Now, in the digital age with 200+ channels and on-screen guides, the ubiquitous magazine of the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s has seemingly disappeared without a trace.
This week, I’m trying an experiment which entails falling back to basic cable which — in my case — doesn’t seem to include an on-screen guide, so I’ve spent the last two days scouring 12 different grocery, book, and other stores to no avail.
In the digital world, I’m just as guilty as the next guy for forgetting about TVGuide, but can it possibly be that a true television landmark publication has disappeared from the face of the planet without so much as a whimper?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=739d48af-c04e-40d3-be94-b108502c6008)
loading...
Cashing in on Michael Jackson
October 6th, 1979 is one of those days that — for some odd reason — I will probably remember forever. Why? Because after a month of scraping together pennies, dimes, and quarters, along with copious amounts of begging to my parents, I finally held a ticket in my hand to the first live concert that I’d ever witnessed. That concert? The Jackson 5 at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama, fronted by L.T.D.
I was 13.
Almost 30 years later, June 25, 2009, I turned on CNN to see beginning of the massive media circus that Michael Jackson’s death was to become.
Whether or not you liked Michael Jackson. Whether or not you liked his music. Whether or not you believed all the media driven stories about reported allegations of child molestation, Michael Jackson has been virtually deified — if not sainted — by the media. About the only person who isn’t aware of the public hysteria surrounding Michael’s death is probably the same type person who lives in a shack in Wyoming writing diatribes to the New York Post about the end of the world…
What really gets me is that as I sat there tonight preparing to see a movie (Did you hear about the Morgans?), there was a 2 minute commercial about a new TV reality series starring “The Jackson 5″ which is clearly absolutely no more than a blatant attempt to exploit Michael Jackson’s death in the pursuit of the all mighty dollar.
For thirty years, we’ve barely heard a peep out of the brothers, and aside from a moderately successful music career and an infamous “wardrobe malfunction”, we haven’t heard anything out of Janet Jackson. Even less out of Latoya Jackson…
Trying to be as politically correct as I can, I find myself at a loss for words, but the one thought that comes to mind is “Jesus Christ people. Michael Jackson is dead. He was a great musician, and like so many famous people, a questionable person.. He’s gone. Get over it, and for God’s sake, PLEASE stop trying to squeeze more money out of his name…”
I don’t however know why I’m surprised. The world is still praising “Saint John” (Lennon), and there are still younger people than I crying over Kurt Cobain, and older people than I still sojourning to see the grave of Jim Morrison.. It’s all a pop-culture sheeple thing I guess.
Nevermind that the world actually lost Brittany Murphy, a fantastic and promising actress yesterday at 32 with barely a peep from the media.
If I could make a wish here, it would be that we all take a moment of silence for Brittany Murphy, that we could all wrap up the exaggerated mourning for Michael, and that we answer the A&E network (the network for said new “Jackson 5″ show) with a resounding and deafening silence in response to the fleecing of Michael’s memory.
Michael was a musician. He was, by some accounts, a phenomenally talented musician. That’s all folks. Move along. Nothing more to see here.
Wayne Hunt
segwayne.com
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=5cf55987-9abc-4c61-bcb9-77876f3da15c)
loading...
Dexter: “The Getaway”
Just watched the final season closer of Showtime’s “Dexter” titled “The Getaway” and just like last week’s episode, I’m virtually speechless.
Last week, I laid 10:1 odds that Debra Morgan wouldn’t survive. Up until the very end of this episode, the writing was so phenomenal that I still believed it based on the lengthy scenes with Deb learning about Dexter’s past, and the whole touching brother/sister scene.
I simply chose the wrong Morgan to die.
Now, we have to wait at least three months for the next fix, and I for one can’t wait. I never thought I’d ever cheer for a serial killer, but nonetheless, I do. Not only that, but I have sympathy for the guy….
My next guess is that next season will deal with the aftermath of Rita’s death, and I’m sure that for some time period, the cops will even be looking at Dexter because of the fighting with Quinn, the hit and run, the fight with the Sheriff, and the missing hours between work then finding/reporting Rita’s death.
If you’ve read this blog over the years, you’ll know that I continually chide Hollywood for its complete lack of originality. I’m willing to admit that I’m wrong — at least to a small degree — because right now, I feel just like the giddy kid who just left the theater after watching the original (and only) Star Wars on the big screen in 1977.
Massive kudos to the writers of Dexter on a season well done. Now adding one copy on Blu Ray to my Amazon Wishlist…
Wayne Hunt
segwayne.com
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=53362415-bf8f-4361-b021-1dac8de40d99)
loading...
Dexter: “Hello, Dexter Morgan”
10:1 odds that Debra Morgan dies next Sunday night…
Just watched the “pre-season ender” episode for season 4 of Showtime’s “Dexter”, titled “Hello, Dexter Morgan.”
All I can say is “wow”. This season has been so well done that I’m almost completely speechless EXCEPT for the nagging suspicion that I know how it’s going to turn out.
In this episode, Arthur figured out who Dexter is and confronted him in the squad room of Miami Metro. Major cahones, and a really huge “holy crap moment” with Arthur staring Dexter in the eyes and saying “Hello, Dexter Morgan”, clip to black.. We had seen this in the previews last week, but I had NO idea how absolutely amazingly powerful and creepy it was going to be in the context of the episode.
Here’s why I’m afraid I’m headed for a major letdown, but I can’t avoid watching…
In the previews for next week which closes the season, we see Arthur looking Dexter’s address up. The preview flashes to Dexter’s old house, then to Debra in her new apartment, which happens to be Dexter’s old bachelor pad.. We see cops storming in, but it’s obviously not the apartment.
My bet is that Dexter realizes Arthur will be coming for his family then says “oh no, Trinity is Arthur Mitchell, Arthur killed trucker dude and planted all that DNA to get away with it!” and the cops believe him, then get Rita and the kids out of the apartment then storm it.
Trouble is, the address Arthur found was Dexter’s old apartment.
What I’m hoping for…
Dexter realizes his public address is the old apartment, then sends everyone (including Deb) to get out Rita and the kids. Then he concentrates on intercepting Arthur at his old pad… It would be SO cool to see Trinity get his ass handed to him in Dexter’s lair…
Why I hope I’m wrong.
As I swooned earlier, this season of Dexter has been on, or at par with every other season, and the setup for the cliffhanger has been very, very well done to lead us where we are today. Lots of back stories involving others to build the story as well.
Whether I’m right, or whether I’m wrong, I can’t wait to see it, but the only fear I have is that the long awaited season closer may be predictable. It hasn’t so far, so as I say, I hope I’m wrong.
What do you think?
Wayne Hunt
segwayne.com
Showtime:
Related articles by Zemanta
- Dexter: “Living the Dream” (northbynorthwestern.com)
- Dexter: Living the Dream (season premiere) (tvsquad.com)
- A killer part for Lithgow on ‘Dexter’ (pbpulse.com)
loading...
Network TV, ADHD, and You.
Been thinking about this a lot lately and thought I’d pass it by you to see what you think.
Has anyone else noticed that network television seems to be developing a severe case of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) over the last few years? For the first, I dunno, 35 years of my life, network television was simple. 9 months on, 3 months off during the summer so that kids could stay outside and play.
- Image via Wikipedia
Now, certain networks — if not all of them — seem to be going to what I refer to as a “3 and 3″ schedule where they show 3 months of new episodes or programming, then 3 months of reruns. Sometimes even worse. For example, the TV series Chuck (NBC) “season 2″ wrapped up on April 27, 2009 and will be off the air until January of 2010. A seven month hiatus during which most of the ardent followers will have long-since forgotten all about it, leaving little chance for it to get picked up for a fourth UNLESS the third season is absolutely outstanding.
My point is, I understand that it’s cheaper for a network to pay its stars for 6 months a year as opposed to 9. They also get the added benefit of being able to pimp 3 months worth of video (12 episodes) as a DVD “season” assuring them of potentially more money from DVD sales, but what suffers in the end is good programming.
Literally, I can think of at least a dozen hit TV series which didn’t really hit its stride until the second full season. This list could easily include 
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel”, “How I Met Your Mother”, and well, just trust me, the list is endless.
On this new 3 and 3 season layout however, they’ll end up letting slide potentially GREAT TV shows such as “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”, Dollhouse, and Eastwick which have, or at least had phenomenal potential but will never get their chance to shine because they didn’t premier with the ratings at episode one as to be “the next Seinfeld” or “the next Friends”.
Just imagine what Firefly, one of my personal favorites of all time, could have done with a second season and you’ll begin to get the picture.
Go ahead. Tell me I’m wrong.
Wayne Hunt
Segwayne.com
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9c36094b-31bf-4a42-964e-28b8c2b993a6)
loading...
NCIS: Los Angeles, the axe awaits.
Since the very first episode of the original NCIS series, I’ve been a sincere fan. The original series has an inate chemistry between each of the characters which truly seems to feel “real” and like some sort of dysfunctional professional family.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for hopefully the last of the spinoff series, “NCIS: Los Angeles”, hereinafter referred to as simply “LA”..
About 3 months ago now, “LA” premiered as a back-to-back with the original series on Tuesday nights starting Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, Linda Hunt, and a seemingly great cast which should be perfect… Right? Instead we end up with a show that is so far detached from the original with such a “wanna be cool surfer vibe” that — despite having seen every episode — I can’t imagine has long until the network axe falls.
The original show, based (on screen at least) out of Quantico has a lot of the qualities of Bellisario‘s earlier work on JAG. Everything about the original is based around the military and it can’t be confused with other shows. “LA” on the other hand, takes place in a converted “uber-hip” (I guess) water works facility and is replete with one white guy, one black guy, and a 2010 Dodge Challenger. I suppose it’s better than white polyester without socks and a Ferrari driving cop, but the inevitable comparisons to Miami Vice *must* be made. I constantly refer to “LA” as “Miami Vice 2.0″. As if the obvious comparisons weren’t enough, they even throw in the snarky boss cliche just to complete the box set.
Instead of a serious investigations unit based on a naval base, “LA” is a “special ops” unit that seemingly has nothing whatsoever to do with investigating crime. Instead, focusing on hunting terrorists and stuff like that.
I don’t know about you, but I get enough terrorist fear mongering in real life. Despite my admiration of Linda Hunt and even my like of her character on “LA”. Despite the fact that I’ve liked 99% of the work that both O’Donnell and LL Cool J have done, there is simply very little “NCIS” about the supposed successor.
In the end, I’m sure lots of people like the show, but for me, it’s so far off the mark, I’ll have to pass. If you want proof positive that it won’t survive more than another season, they’re half way through this one and haven’t been able to stand on their own without gratuitous crossovers and severe leaning on the original show in the form of the time slot as well as repeat appearances from Vance (current NCIS Director from the original show) and even — as of last night — Abby Sciuto (my favorite forensic scientist).
Like I said, love the actors. I’ve been watching it since the premiere episode, but unless it gets a total retool, I’ll have to pass on the show itself from now on..
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=c898710d-95d1-49e9-acf7-eea207689909)
loading...
Thank you Miss California…
Miss California, Carrie Prejean answers honestly, with villain Perez holding the microphone
I was sitting here paging through the news on the BBC RSS feed this morning as I’m prone to do, when I read about the politically correct “uproar” at the Miss USA Pageant.
Personally, the subject of gay marriage doesn’t bother me one way, or another. I really don’t care what other people do, but I’m incredibly impressed with the answer given by Carrie Prejean (Miss California) in front of a liberal audience
Quote:
—
“I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody there. But that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be,”
—
To this, the raging nutbag idiot Perez Hilton, stirred the proverbial pot by blogging about how Carrie is a “dumb B***H”, while Keith Lewis, co-director the Miss California competition, which Prejean won to make it into the Miss USA pageant ran out to grab his 15 minutes to express how “saddened” he was at her “offensive answer”.
This is just insane to me. Carrie Prejean was verbally ambushed by the ever-offensive Hilton with a question that could not be answered without offending SOMEONE out there. His intent, regardless of the outcome, was to stir the pot and gain publicity for himself.
Had she answered in favor of gay marriage, she would have both angered the majority of Americans (losing the pageant), but most of all, she would have betrayed her own conscience.
To that end, I would submit that Perez Hilton is the villain here, while I applaud Carrie for her willingness to stand up against the liberal political correctness and have conviction in her own beliefs.
I guess, in all that I just feel the need to say “Kudos and well done Carrie“. While I may, or may not agree with what you said, I thank you for reminding us that there are people still out there who are unafraid of saying what they mean, regardless of the consequences..
Strangely, I have the feeling she’ll be quickly snapped up and employed somewhere in the journalism field, and I really wish her all the best.
loading...
I concede on the Buffy Paradox…
Having been raised in a world where Kristy Swanson WAS “Buffy”, and having been essentially forbidden to watch the like-titled TV series from the beginning when I was married, I never quite got into it, though I LOVE the spin-off series “Angel”. Go figure…
So, finally, after hearing friends — like friend o’ the blog Kerri over at Shameless TV – rave about the show for years, I find myself openly receptive to starting at the first season with episode 1 to see what all the spaz is about…
Problem is, I don’t own season 1, and I’m not sure I’m interested in wasting $30 to grab season 1 on DVD, not yet knowing whether or not it’s a keeper for me. So, that leaves me with the ubiquitous netflix, iTunes (ick), or finding a friend that may have it available. That is, of course, unless you guys have a better idea?
loading...
Special Effects Master Stan Winston dies of cancer at 62
Stan Winston, the man synonymous with amazing special effects has left the building at age 62.
Over his long and illustrious career, Stan brought us some of the most memorable visuals to grace the silver screen, from Aliens, to the Terminator, to the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends. As an avid movie buff, I can only say “Thank you Stan, your influence will be felt for generations. Your contributions never forgotten.”
CNN News report : click here
loading...
Californication : a chance to catch up..
I hate to sound like a commercial here guys, but with most shows in hiatus, I was very happy to find that Comcast’s “On Demand” has the full season of Californication, along with The Tudors and several other series in HD waiting for you to catch up, or to pick up the show if you’ve never seen them. Ramping up to the season openers I guess.
Normally I hate reruns, but given the choice between reruns of crap TV shows and Californication, I’ll take the latter every single time.
loading...
