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shadowkatGot the new Mac - MacBook Pro, 15 inch. Lugged it home Sat, only to lug it and my old lap-top back
to the fifth avenue store - to get a data transfer. Picked them up after work today. Going to and from the Mac Store was a bit of a work out. Took the subway and walked the equivalent of ten blocks,
part of the time with two lap-tops on my back - so weight-lifting, stairs, and walking - better than the gym. But very sore. Taking some time to get used to. Windows Office is a bit different, partly because it is Windows 2008, so different. And partly because it is a MAC.
Currently watching Hawaii 5-0 in the background. I actually did watch the original back in the 1970s and in reruns, with James MacArthur and Jack Lord. This isn't much better written than that one was. Also, James Marsters Irish accent - so far, isn't that good. I can understand him.
A good Irish accent, an American can barely understand. The Irish speak really fast.
Gossip Girl is weak this season. The writing of this week's episode sucked beans. Not that it was ever amazing. But the cliches jumped up and down and clapped. There's a really cheesy romantic scene between Chuck and Blair that was feels as if it was lifted from a Barbara Cartlandt novel, no offense to Barbara Cartlandt fans. (Basically the Regency equivalent of Danielle Steele.)
But I'm admittedly being a bit harsh - because before that I watched the season premiere of House which rocked. The acting, the direction, and the writing - it was an excellent exploration of what it is like to be in love with a difficult person. Felt more like watching a play than a tv show - which House has been like lately. As if I'm watching a play. The depth of character exploration in this series defies description. And Hugh Laurie's performance, along with Lisa Edlestein, Omar Epps, and Robert Sean Leonard always impresses. Also, if you ever wondered what would happen if Sherlock Holmes fell in love - now you know. What fascinates me about House is in some respects what fascinated me about Sherlock...a brilliant man, who can't deal with people, yet being human yearns for human companionship. Who loves this woman, but is sexist and chauvinistic. The contradictions in this character and his struggle - to overcome his flaws, fascinates me. This is how a romantic relationship on tv should be written, or rather a romantic relationship for adults. Most of tv's romantic relationships appear to be written for adolescents, and are adolescent romance - poetry, gooey eyes, and all emotion. You rarely get to see a romantic relationship for grown-ups explored. House - actually does it. Kudos.
Of course, before those shows - I watched Mad Men and Terriers last night. Which blew me away. I rarely rec tv series (not snark-a-thons and interest polls, even reviews, aren't quite the same thing as actually recommending a tv show) - but this one episode of Terriers, only seen one so far, so may change my mind, we shall see...surprised me. It was a bit like reading a Carl Hiassen novel or Elmore Leonard - with those writers unique blend of comedy and drama, with quirky characters, that have heart, and a dark almost snarky sense of humor. Unlike most tv shows, the people aren't "pretty" and don't look like they've all come out of New York Sports Club or Gym.
They aren't buff, or model pretty. Well, except for a few of the women, it is a guy show, and we do live in a sexist world. It is what it is.
Cast with character actors, who have been in numerous shows, but never quite given a chance to shine, until now - Terriers feels real. It's a bit like Justified, but grittier and the hero is less pretty, yet in some respects, oddly enough, more lovable. A down-on-his luck ex cop, turned PI, and a recovering alcoholic, struggling with a recent divorce - he is riddled with problems. But has a self-deprecating sense of humor. The next episode has Olivia Williams, Adelle from Dollhouse in a guest-starring role.
Unlike most cop or detective buddy shows - this one is character focused. The plot sprouts from the characters and effects them. The characters wear their tragedies on their faces in the scars, and pained filled eyes. And wry wit. I laughed so hard during this show - harder than I have at most situation comedies. And the humor is earned.
In the episode I watched last night - there's a bit about a dog. One of the characters has picked up a small Datsun from the pound, but it is just not the right dog for him and his girl. The
humor regarding it is unexpected and a long-running metaphor for the struggle to find the right nitch or place.
If you haven't tried Terriers and like series such as Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Sheild, and Sopranoes...series that the dialogue is so good, you find yourself re-winding to hear that again. Or you laugh at one scene and are moved by the next. Or you just happen to be a fan of writers such as Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiassen, et al - you should try this one out for size. Unlike most US comedies, it's comedy is wry, understated, never over the top. (Admittedly I don't watch Breaking Bad and Sons -and haven't seen The Shield - too many tv shows, not enough time. And what can I say? I'm moody. Some days I want cotton candy, other's I want steak, and others I have a craving for chocolat mousse. They didn't pull me in when I tried them, but that may well be because I wanted mousse instead of steak. That said? In some respects I like this one better - has a better sense of humor and isn't quite as dark.)
Mad Men was lower key this week, not as brilliant as the past two weeks. But interesting and haunting all the same. I remembered it long after it was over, and find myself re-running scenes from it in my head. In some respects it reminded me a great deal of a John Cheever short story - such as The Swimmer - where a disillusioned suburbanite swims from pool to pool around his surburban neighborhood hunting meaning and finding none. The film version starred Burt Lancaster. I adored the voice-over in this episode. There's a line Don Draper states in it that haunts. Don's voice over is the result of writing in his journal, we are hearing his journal entries. The line is a simple one: "I knew who she was, what she wanted. She told me who she was. But I didn't want to see it. That's the thing of it, we see the person we wish them to be, not who they are. " (I wish I could remember exactly how he said it - was much better. ) The statement is the theme for the show, the series, and the ad game. To sell the fantasy. The dream. The wish. The lie. We lie to ourselves every day, and we are very good liars.
The other cool moment - is a great description of sexual harrassment and how impossible it is to fight, and what it is like to be female in a workplace run and ruled by men. Joey has been making crude comments and jokes - specifically in relation to Joan, a woman who has power over him and has what he considers a female and unnecessary job - she's the office manager. Meanwhile his manager, Peggy, he has an almost sister/brother relationship with and doesn't take her seriously either. Peggy who is leading a team of freelance male copywriters, the only female copywriter in the building or field it appears. When she complains to Don Draper about the blue jokes, the cartoon that is sexually crude about Joan, Don shrugs it off and tells her to either fire Joey or yell at Joey, but she does not want him involved - because she'll be a tattle-tale. So she asks Joey to apologize, and he says this is the problem with working with women, they have no sense of humor. She fires him. And tells Joan, hoping to bond. But Joan shoots her down. Tells her that now, Joey sees Peggy as a humorless bitch and Joan even worse. They can't win.
Things have gotten better. They haven't changed. Not entirely. But they have gotten better.
Note to Hawaii 5-0, if you want me to care - you have to actually to show more and tell less. Lots of action scenes, and not much substance. Marsters who plays the nasty villian - has maybe five lines, and only two scenes - you barely see him, the villain could be played by literally anyone. He's a ghost villain. And there's no mystery about him. It's hard to care if they find him or not. And it's hard to care about the other characters. Lots of quippy dialogue, but not much there. Don't recommend. Although I admittedly only half-watched it. Should watch while not on the internet, give it an actual chance. Just looks a bit like a million other tv shows on - snappy banter, bullets, catchy theme-song, and pretty people. I call it paint-by-numbers tv show. Formulaic to the max with more than a few cliche catch-phrases that we've all heard one too many times before. People seem to enjoy it though. It's mindless cotton candy. A bit like reading a David Baldacci thriller or something by James Patterson (and yes, I've read both writers.) Airplane tv. Watch one hour. Forget the next.
to the fifth avenue store - to get a data transfer. Picked them up after work today. Going to and from the Mac Store was a bit of a work out. Took the subway and walked the equivalent of ten blocks,
part of the time with two lap-tops on my back - so weight-lifting, stairs, and walking - better than the gym. But very sore. Taking some time to get used to. Windows Office is a bit different, partly because it is Windows 2008, so different. And partly because it is a MAC.
Currently watching Hawaii 5-0 in the background. I actually did watch the original back in the 1970s and in reruns, with James MacArthur and Jack Lord. This isn't much better written than that one was. Also, James Marsters Irish accent - so far, isn't that good. I can understand him.
A good Irish accent, an American can barely understand. The Irish speak really fast.
Gossip Girl is weak this season. The writing of this week's episode sucked beans. Not that it was ever amazing. But the cliches jumped up and down and clapped. There's a really cheesy romantic scene between Chuck and Blair that was feels as if it was lifted from a Barbara Cartlandt novel, no offense to Barbara Cartlandt fans. (Basically the Regency equivalent of Danielle Steele.)
But I'm admittedly being a bit harsh - because before that I watched the season premiere of House which rocked. The acting, the direction, and the writing - it was an excellent exploration of what it is like to be in love with a difficult person. Felt more like watching a play than a tv show - which House has been like lately. As if I'm watching a play. The depth of character exploration in this series defies description. And Hugh Laurie's performance, along with Lisa Edlestein, Omar Epps, and Robert Sean Leonard always impresses. Also, if you ever wondered what would happen if Sherlock Holmes fell in love - now you know. What fascinates me about House is in some respects what fascinated me about Sherlock...a brilliant man, who can't deal with people, yet being human yearns for human companionship. Who loves this woman, but is sexist and chauvinistic. The contradictions in this character and his struggle - to overcome his flaws, fascinates me. This is how a romantic relationship on tv should be written, or rather a romantic relationship for adults. Most of tv's romantic relationships appear to be written for adolescents, and are adolescent romance - poetry, gooey eyes, and all emotion. You rarely get to see a romantic relationship for grown-ups explored. House - actually does it. Kudos.
Of course, before those shows - I watched Mad Men and Terriers last night. Which blew me away. I rarely rec tv series (not snark-a-thons and interest polls, even reviews, aren't quite the same thing as actually recommending a tv show) - but this one episode of Terriers, only seen one so far, so may change my mind, we shall see...surprised me. It was a bit like reading a Carl Hiassen novel or Elmore Leonard - with those writers unique blend of comedy and drama, with quirky characters, that have heart, and a dark almost snarky sense of humor. Unlike most tv shows, the people aren't "pretty" and don't look like they've all come out of New York Sports Club or Gym.
They aren't buff, or model pretty. Well, except for a few of the women, it is a guy show, and we do live in a sexist world. It is what it is.
Cast with character actors, who have been in numerous shows, but never quite given a chance to shine, until now - Terriers feels real. It's a bit like Justified, but grittier and the hero is less pretty, yet in some respects, oddly enough, more lovable. A down-on-his luck ex cop, turned PI, and a recovering alcoholic, struggling with a recent divorce - he is riddled with problems. But has a self-deprecating sense of humor. The next episode has Olivia Williams, Adelle from Dollhouse in a guest-starring role.
Unlike most cop or detective buddy shows - this one is character focused. The plot sprouts from the characters and effects them. The characters wear their tragedies on their faces in the scars, and pained filled eyes. And wry wit. I laughed so hard during this show - harder than I have at most situation comedies. And the humor is earned.
In the episode I watched last night - there's a bit about a dog. One of the characters has picked up a small Datsun from the pound, but it is just not the right dog for him and his girl. The
humor regarding it is unexpected and a long-running metaphor for the struggle to find the right nitch or place.
If you haven't tried Terriers and like series such as Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Sheild, and Sopranoes...series that the dialogue is so good, you find yourself re-winding to hear that again. Or you laugh at one scene and are moved by the next. Or you just happen to be a fan of writers such as Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiassen, et al - you should try this one out for size. Unlike most US comedies, it's comedy is wry, understated, never over the top. (Admittedly I don't watch Breaking Bad and Sons -and haven't seen The Shield - too many tv shows, not enough time. And what can I say? I'm moody. Some days I want cotton candy, other's I want steak, and others I have a craving for chocolat mousse. They didn't pull me in when I tried them, but that may well be because I wanted mousse instead of steak. That said? In some respects I like this one better - has a better sense of humor and isn't quite as dark.)
Mad Men was lower key this week, not as brilliant as the past two weeks. But interesting and haunting all the same. I remembered it long after it was over, and find myself re-running scenes from it in my head. In some respects it reminded me a great deal of a John Cheever short story - such as The Swimmer - where a disillusioned suburbanite swims from pool to pool around his surburban neighborhood hunting meaning and finding none. The film version starred Burt Lancaster. I adored the voice-over in this episode. There's a line Don Draper states in it that haunts. Don's voice over is the result of writing in his journal, we are hearing his journal entries. The line is a simple one: "I knew who she was, what she wanted. She told me who she was. But I didn't want to see it. That's the thing of it, we see the person we wish them to be, not who they are. " (I wish I could remember exactly how he said it - was much better. ) The statement is the theme for the show, the series, and the ad game. To sell the fantasy. The dream. The wish. The lie. We lie to ourselves every day, and we are very good liars.
The other cool moment - is a great description of sexual harrassment and how impossible it is to fight, and what it is like to be female in a workplace run and ruled by men. Joey has been making crude comments and jokes - specifically in relation to Joan, a woman who has power over him and has what he considers a female and unnecessary job - she's the office manager. Meanwhile his manager, Peggy, he has an almost sister/brother relationship with and doesn't take her seriously either. Peggy who is leading a team of freelance male copywriters, the only female copywriter in the building or field it appears. When she complains to Don Draper about the blue jokes, the cartoon that is sexually crude about Joan, Don shrugs it off and tells her to either fire Joey or yell at Joey, but she does not want him involved - because she'll be a tattle-tale. So she asks Joey to apologize, and he says this is the problem with working with women, they have no sense of humor. She fires him. And tells Joan, hoping to bond. But Joan shoots her down. Tells her that now, Joey sees Peggy as a humorless bitch and Joan even worse. They can't win.
Things have gotten better. They haven't changed. Not entirely. But they have gotten better.
Note to Hawaii 5-0, if you want me to care - you have to actually to show more and tell less. Lots of action scenes, and not much substance. Marsters who plays the nasty villian - has maybe five lines, and only two scenes - you barely see him, the villain could be played by literally anyone. He's a ghost villain. And there's no mystery about him. It's hard to care if they find him or not. And it's hard to care about the other characters. Lots of quippy dialogue, but not much there. Don't recommend. Although I admittedly only half-watched it. Should watch while not on the internet, give it an actual chance. Just looks a bit like a million other tv shows on - snappy banter, bullets, catchy theme-song, and pretty people. I call it paint-by-numbers tv show. Formulaic to the max with more than a few cliche catch-phrases that we've all heard one too many times before. People seem to enjoy it though. It's mindless cotton candy. A bit like reading a David Baldacci thriller or something by James Patterson (and yes, I've read both writers.) Airplane tv. Watch one hour. Forget the next.
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no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 11:28 am (UTC)Or, since it's Minear, cancelled.
I think you're going to love this week's Mad Men. Or possibly hate it. Definitely one of their harshest episodes so far, but it's Mad Men so it's all very well done.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 04:20 pm (UTC)Sigh. Yes. It's becoming a bit stale or overdone. The latest is The Event - which sounds a bit too much like Flashforward but without the gimmick. And of course there's the far more intelligent Rubicon - but I got bored in the third/fourth episode.
I think I've burned out on this particular genre. Even Nikita take on it feels stale.
Or, since it's Minear, cancelled.
Hee. True. Has there been a tv series Minear's been involved in that hasn't been cancelled? I guess you could say Angel - he left it before they cancelled it, so it may not count.
Although...F/X might work out for him - it's not mainstream and tends to have shows that are a lot darker than Fox. I can't help but wonder if Whedon's Firefly might have lasted longer if it had been on a cable network, or for that matter Dollhouse or Wonderfalls.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 01:28 pm (UTC)I've never heard of Terriers, but I may check it out now.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 04:12 pm (UTC)Nights at 10pm. Although FX does repeat things. Have only seen one episode - but was pleasantly surprised by it.
Marsters has the worst luck regarding roles. Outside of maybe Torchwood and Smallville - I'm not sure he's had a meaty role to sink his teeth into since Buffy and Angel ended.
The Hawaii 5-0 role on paper had potential but the writing team didn't do anything with it. And the show was so boilerplate.
Not sure Victor Hess (JM's role) is dead, they were flirting with bringing him back and making him an on-going nemesis - which is what all the - "where's the body? make sure you drag the ocean for a body" - was about.
So it was left open. But, if Marsters has any luck - his pilot for Syfy will be picked up and he won't be available.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 04:24 pm (UTC)Ugh, so true. Honestly, other than Caprica, he hasn't done a single thing that I would've watched if he hadn't been in it. And 90% of them are a complete waste of his talent, there's so little acting involved.
Hopefully the SyFy pilot will get picked up AND it'll be a good role for him.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 05:46 pm (UTC)I also loved Castle for completely different reasons.
I haven't watched Hawaii 5-0 or anything else from last night yet, but this morning I caught up on the new Merlin episodes (which I'm enjoying).
I'm so glad that you taped and enjoyed 'Terriers', I think that it is an interesting show, and at least the woman who plays that lawyer role is interesting (all the ex-wifes and girl friends all seem like clones to me).... Tim Minear is an interesting writer.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 02:10 am (UTC)Not all shows are this bad. Nikita isn't. Nor is Glee. Actually I think one of the things that I love most about Glee is the fact that they are making fun of that trend and blatantly avoiding it.
Hawaii 5-0 isn't making the cut. I rewatched without distraction, and it's just another dumb buddy-cop show. I like Terriers better.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 02:28 am (UTC)And yeah, Glee is kind of a stand out. I LOVE the new football coach! lol
no subject
Date: 2010-09-21 11:41 pm (UTC)And strongly agreed on the too-much-telling, not showing. It seems like they wanted to fill in the entire back story in the first episode.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-22 02:01 am (UTC)Watched it again tonight without being on the net at the same time, and the show appears to be centered around a sort of buddy-cop format, with the focus on Danno and Garrett - and they did succeed in setting that up. I'll give them that. But it felt a bit forced at times, as if they were trying too hard. Other than that? There's not much reason to watch it. And hate to say this? But the original was better.