The Cape

NBC's new show, The Cape, had its 2 hour premier episode tonight.  It's the return of costumed heroes and villains on television!

I've suffered some disappointment lately when it comes to the television shows that I like to watch.  My favorites usually end up cancelled by the corporate suits.  I've decided to take another chance on a show and I'm hoping it gets to stick around for a while.

The Cape stars David Lyons (ER) as Detective Vince Faraday.  After being framed for the assassination of Palm  City's new police chief, Faraday is rescued by members of the Carnival of Crime led by Max Malini.  After gaining the trust of the members of the Carnival and finding a really cool cape, Faraday is taken under the wing of Max who has trained a generation of illusionists, escape artists, hypnotists and other carny types to show that one man can make a difference.

Did I like The Cape?  You bet I did!  It wasn't overly gritty, deep, and dark.  It was camp without becoming too campy and melodrama without being overly melodramatic.  It was a fun ride.  I'll definitely be tuning in Monday nights to watch more adventures of The Cape.

Cast:
David Lyons (ER)-Vince Faraday/The Cape
Jennifer Ferrin (As the World Turns)-Dana Faraday
Ryan Wynott (Flash Forward)-Trip Faraday
Keith David (Pitch Black)-Max Malini
James Frain (True Blood)-Peter Fleming/Chess
Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)-Orwell

The Return of "V" and "No Ordinary Family"

Tonight marked the return of both "V" and "No Ordinary Family".  I enjoy both of these shows, but things weren't looking very good for the future of "V" when the series went to break back in May of last year.  To be honest with you, I won't be surprised when the show gets the cancel-hammer.

I was a fan of the original "V" mini-series and the follow up sequel mini-series "V:  The Final Battle".  I was even a fan of the short lived TV series that followed the further adventures of the Visitors and the Resistance.

With this new "re-imagined" series, the magic just isn't there.  We have a resistance consisting of an FBI agent, an accused terrorist, a priest, and a ex-pat visitor...that's it.  Where's the action?  Where are the rest of the people that can see behind the facade of friendliness that Anna and her alien cohorts hide behind?  Where's the paranoia?  The visitors haven't even been publicly "unmasked" yet.  Color me disappointed in the direction the creators decided to go with this show with so much potential, but not disappointed enough to lose hope that there's something better coming with this series.

Until next time
-Bill

You've Been Cancelled: Television Shows I'm Going To Miss

We all have that moment of dismay when we find out that one of our favorite television shows is no longer going to be with us.  Here's what I'm going to miss this year.

The Gates (ABC)-ABC's supernatural crime drama only made it through the short summer of 2010.  Yes, the vampire genre is over-saturated.  We have the Twilight Franchise in movie theaters and "The Vampire Diaries" over on the CW, but something about this series hooked me.  Maybe it was just the hotness of seeing Rhona Mitra on my TV screen every week.  However, I'll still miss this show.

As the World Turns (CBS)-One of my favorite soapers of all time ended on September 17th, 2010.  I started watching ATWT when I was a college student and became an instant fan of the residents of Oakdale.  

Caprica (Syfy)-Syfy canned this series when it finally seemed that it was hitting on all cylinders.  I can't believe they cancelled this show, yet Ghost Hunters and Wrestling stay on the channel.  The final five remaining episodes will be aired in a marathon showing on January 4, 2011.  Syfy is working on yet another BSG prequel called "Blood and Chrome" which is supposed to be similar in tone to BSG...I don't know if I'll trust Syfy with another new show, yet.  I'll take a wait and see approach to anything new that Syfy has to offer for a long time.

Stargate Universe (Syfy)-Another blow from Syfy came when they announced that they were cancelling SG:U after half the second season had aired.  There are 10 remaining episodes and they will be aired sometime in the spring of 2011.

There you have it folks...my short list of television shows that I'm going to miss.

-Bill

Live Blogging From the DVR: Smallville, Supernatural, Haven

Due to some time restraints and this damn cold or sinus thing that's hitting me, tonight's LBFD is instead just going to be some quick thoughts about the shows tonight.

First up, the 10th season premiere of Smallville.  I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see Clark in the suit tonight, but at least the suit was more than just a reflection in an eye tonight.  The cloned Lex's were sufficiently creepy, but the "bad one" wasn't really that bad at all.  I would have liked to see him stick around for at least another episode.  That being said, I did like the "You can't save them both" angle that the Lex clone presented.  This is a scenario that Clark/Superman has come up against in nearly all of his incarnations.  The theme of tonight's episode seems to be sacrifice.  One very creepy (at least to me) moment was with Tess (all healed up from her burns) and the young Lex clone, Alexander...just something really off about the way she brought Alexander that glass of milk.

On to the 6th season premiere of Supernatural.  I think ol' Grandpa Campbell has his own agenda that he hasn't told Sam about yet.  I'm not really sure that I trust him.  Sam seems to trust him, but can Sam be trusted?  I'm bummed that there was no Castiel in tonight's episode, but always glad to see Bobby.  It seems that since the apocalypse was averted last season, there are monsters everywhere and it's now up to Sam to convince Dean that hunting is his life.

Haven tonight was mostly another "flavor of the week" type episode, with a tiny bit of the mythology thrown in here and there.  Audrey's boss comes back to Haven to supposedly "debrief" her and try to get her to convince him that she should stay in Haven.  We later learn that the boss was wanting her to stay in Haven and help keep things in check, but as Chief Wuornos points out, Audrey isn't the type that can be told what to do...she has to believe the idea to stay comes from her.  We learn tonight that Chief and Audrey's boss have been in cahoots from the first episode.  No real forward movement on the tattoo people that are out to kill Duke...that was a disappointment.  Children of the Corn reference tonight as well as an X-Files reference.

That's it for me tonight...I've gotta go get some rest so that I can be well for Tuesday's Black Crowes concert!

Live Blogging From the DVR: Fringe Season 3 Premiere

Tonight brings us the season 3 premiere of one of my favorite shows, Fringe.

I'm sure by now that fans of the show are aware that we are going to have one episode that takes place in our world, and one episode that takes place "Over There" throughout the entire season.  So are we getting two seasons of Fringe for the price of one, or are we getting two halves of one season?  Either way, Fringe is back on Thursday nights on Fox television.  Now onto my "Live Blog From the DVR" about tonight's episode.

WARNING:  THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Episode begins "Over There".  Our Olivia (trapped in the alternate Universe) is undergoing some kind of therapy.  I've never noticed this before, but Anna Torv's eyes are asymmetrical...still doesn't detract from her hotness, though.

It amazes me what makeup can do...our Walter and Walternate look very different from each other.  In our Walter we see the face of a man that has been lost for so long, and is trying to find his way back from a tiring journey, while in the face of Walternate we see a man in charge that is used to having things go his way every time, all the time.

Okay we definitely need to get our Olivia out of that prison jumpsuit.  It looks like she's got a load in her pants.

Looks like Olivia may be planning some kind of escape as she was watching very closely as the military guy entered the code for the elevator.  It also looks like they've been trying this memory transference therapy quite a bit as there are numerous needle marks in Olivia's arm.

Nice syringe jab to the neck, Olivia...kicking ass and taking names!  She escapes (surprise surprise), gets outside and is pursued by many people with guns.  She comes up short at a sheer drop off into water...will she give up?  Of course not!  Olivia jumps into the water in her flimsy little hospital gown and the opening credits roll...red credit sequence is to let us know (as if we couldn't tell already) that the episode is taking place "Over There".

Looks like they have passenger flights to the moon "Over There".  Anyone else have dreams of going to the moon for vacation?  I know I would definitely buy a ticket.

I think that this cabbie is going to end up believing Olivia's story no matter how strange it seems.  I think he's seen some screwed up stuff in his life or something as he mentioned something about just getting his life back together, so he might be Olivia's main ally in the alternate universe.

Looks like Olivia is going to be stuck for a while.  I noticed on the topper of the cab there's an ad for "Dogs"...I'm guessing that's their version of "Cats".  I thought that was a little forced...was hoping the differences between our world and "over there" would be a little more subtle.  So was that amber that they encased the opera house in?  I'm guessing that's what the "Amber Response" truck was all about.  I'm guessing the protesters are against the Amber Response tactic.

So it looks like Charlie (now with hair), and the rest of the Department of Defense Fringe Division are all under the impression that their Olivia has some sort of amnesia and doesn't remember her life when in fact it isn't their Olivia at all.  Walternate is keeping secrets from his own team of people.  I'm sure we've all seen enough television shows to know that when you are keeping secrets, things usually don't turn out so well.

Before I go any further, I just have to say that I don't like the alt-world version of Astrid...the uniform is very unflattering and she just really creeps me out.

Olivia wants to head to Massive Dynamic, but Henry (the cab driver) needs to stop for gas first.  Olivia, being the smart cookie that she is, takes the car keys and heads to the bathroom.  Holy crap a gas station bathroom that you don't need a key attached to something silly and large to open the bathroom door!  It really is different "over there".  Olivia breaks down in the bathroom, Henry looks longingly at the picture of his wife and kid.  Olivia steps out of the bathroom and is greeted by burned up Fringe Agent (why can't I remember his name)...uh oh!

Olivia tells Lincoln (that's the burned up agent...thank you EW.com) that she's not who he thinks she is, she has him give up his weapon, she grabs him and tosses him into the bathroom and does the old "palette under the doorknob" trick to keep him in there.  In the meantime, other Fringe agents are coming onto the scene...Olivia starts shooting (it looks as if some of the transference therapy may have worked) some very well placed shots, hollers at Henry to get in the car and get moving.  Oh no!  There's Charlie standing in front of a big propane (I think) tank...it looks as if Olivia is going to shoot Charlie, but at the last minute seems to change her mind and she shoots the valve off the propane tank causing a rather nice boom.  Henry compliments her on her shooting, and Olivia seems surprised that somehow she has become such a good shot.  Looks as if Henry is completely on Olivia's side now as he yanks out the GPS tracker from the cab and throws it out the window so the Fringe Division won't be able to track them anymore...Yay Henry!

Oooh, I guess that alt-world Broyles is in on Walternate's little secret as well.  Now we have two people keeping secrets from the rest of Fringe Division...things are definitely not going to turn out well now.  One person keeping secrets is bad, but two people keeping secrets is usually catastrophic (okay that might be pushing it a bit...but I guess we'll soon see).

Henry and Olivia get to where MD is supposed to be, but it's not there.  It's never been built in the alt-world. Olivia is stuck (for now).  It also seems that the marksmanship isn't the only thing that Olivia seems to have inherited as a result of the transference therapy.  She remembered the address of a safe house that she shouldn't know the address for, and she totally forgot about Peter momentarily when Henry mentioned that "he must mean a lot to you"...she thought he was talking about alt-Olivia's boyfriend, Frank.  Speaking of Frank, it looks as if Charlie has some things to tell the boyfriend (still disappointed that it's not an alt-John Scott from season one, but I guess Mark Valley is busy his 'Human Target' obligations).

It's not a safe house, it's her mom's house (well the alt-world version of her mother as our Olivia's mother has been dead since Olivia was 14).  I really don't like the light blonde hair on Amy Madigan...looks very odd to me.  Bad news though...I think Frank let the cat out of the bag that Olivia's mother is back from France and that Liv would probably go there.

Oh crap!  It seems that Olivia has surrendered to the memory transference therapy and now believes that she is the alt-Olivia...this is not good.  Henry waited around after Olivia broke into her alt-Mom's house and sees Olivia leaving with Charlie...looks like he has his suspicions that something isn't quite right, but he doesn't follow Charlie's car.  I do hope that this isn't the last we've seen of Henry.  Broyles wants to know why it's so important to Walternate that our Olivia believes that she's their Olivia, but of course, Walternate doesn't tell him.  I  don't like alt-Mom calling Olivia "Olive"...the name just makes me think of Popeye.  I do like the existence of blimps as a mode of travel over in the alt-world instead of just something that you see floating above sports events.

Episode must be about over as we have now flipped back to our world.  Peter seems to be giving some sort of testimony in Washington D.C. about what happened while he was "Over There".  We go outside and find Walter and alt-Olivia sitting on some steps...Olivia is just fascinated by how different Walter is from Walternate.  Ewww Peter just kissed alt-Olivia.  And they take off to go have something to eat as Walter is starving.

Good set up for the rest of the season, and it looks as if the writers are going to stick with mythology episodes for the most part instead of mythology eps interspersed with stand-alone eps.

Next week's episode is set in our world, and we see just how evil alt-Olivia is.

Tomorrow night, I'll be back with my "Live Blogging From the DVR" twice...one entry for the season premiere of "Smallville" and one entry for the season premiere of "Supernatural".  Hopefully the entries won't come as late as they did tonight.

See ya tomorrow!

An Apology

I know, I know.  It seems that I do a lot of apologizing on my blog.

I really need to set a schedule and stick to it.  I can only promise to try to write something more often on here.

Now on to the meaty stuff.

Last night, Kate Gosselin was eliminated from ABC's Dancing with the Stars.  I haven't watched at all this season, but it seems that the interwebs are abuzz with commentary both pro and con regarding Kate and her dancing ability.  I've even heard her dancing described as "prancing around the dance floor like a spastic giraffe".

I think most people can agree that she wasn't a very good dancer, but what I find more interesting is all the comments regarding her ability to be a good parent to her (and Jon's) 8 children.

Should we cut Kate some slack, or should she focus more on her kids instead of trying to be a celebrity?

Video of The Day

Every once in a while, I'll feature my favorite video of the day here at Mr. Bill's Musings. It could be a silly video, a weird video, a sexy video, or anything that grabs my attention.

You'll see why this one grabbed me. So here it is, Heidi Klum's Guitar Hero commercial.

The Snuggie

Is there some vast conspiracy among blankets? Are blankets going to take over the world by not allowing people to use their hands anymore?

Enter The Snuggie (what an unfortunate name for a product). The Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves!!! I tend to think of it more like a bathrobe that you wear backwards.

If you ask me, the Snuggie makes anyone that wears it look like a member of some druidic cult getting ready to go worship at Stonehenge.

For those of you who sleep at night, you may not have been exposed to the ridiculousness that is The Snuggie. So here, for your viewing pleasure is the commercial for the Druid Robe, er I mean The Snuggie!

Lost Season Finale Reactions: Spoilers

WTF!

First off, let me start by saying "Yay, Hurley!" When I saw the Dharma van come bursting through the jungle, I actually cheered. That was an awesome moment. Hugo finally gets to be a hero.

Secondly, Charlie's sacrifice was very touching, but now with what I know from watching the last few moments of the show tonight, his sacrifice may have screwed up things in a far worse way than anyone can ever imagine.

Third: The return of Walt! Holy shit, that was a very cool moment. When I saw Malcom David Kelly's name in the credits at the beginning of the show, I started grinning from ear to ear.

Fourth: Damn that Mikhail! Maybe now the bastard will finally stay dead.

Fifth: Maybe "The Others" are the good guys after all.

Sixth: Does this mean that the timeline has been altered? Jack, during his flash-forwards, was acting as if his father was still alive.

Overall, this was a great episode. It certainly should give all of us Losties plenty to think about and hypothesize about and discuss until next season.

lost
television
abc