TV, Fall 2007. The winning formula? The ol' suspension of disbelief, one of those glossary terms from English class, is part of two big shows in my list for the best new shows.
I had high hopes for "Journeyman" and a sentimental nod for "The Bionic Woman", but almost out of the gate they just didn't grab me.
On the other hand, NBC's "Chuck", ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Pushing Daisies" are my three favorite new shows. Why did CBS not make the cut?
Part comedy, part spy show, "Chuck" pays spoof AND homage to the tech-geek life and makes him matter in a world where he isn't supposed to be any part of. Starring Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin (whose career has gone ever since 1980's movie MY BODYGUARD) and Yvonne Strahovski, "Chuck" may have the legs for a strong five season run. Why? "Chuck"'s writing offers enough twists and turns and doesn't repeat itself, and interesting cast with minor characters, too.
If you like the quirky stuff ala Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, check out ABC's "Pushing Daisies." I almost hate to tell you anything about it if you don't know. "Story" is big and so are the characters. It also has a psychedelic look to it like Alice in Wonderland via the Tom Petty video.
Hot off HBO's SIX FEET UNDER, Peter Krause leads "Dirty Sexy Money." Legend Donald Sutherland joins William Baldwin, Jill Clayburgh and Blair Underwood in a star-powered show about NYC's richest - and most angst-ridden family. It combines pathos and ethos. You sometimes don't know if it's making sport of the lifestyles of the top 1% or embracing them. It could've been based on a Dirk Wittenborn novel.
More on Wittenborn in the future at this blog, who truly is the vanguard of the genre - and he did it before Jay McInerney did with BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Ice Storms & Computer Crashes
Having a coffee with amaretto flavor watching the ice storm spatter us here. And I've got the USC-UCLA football game on. Chauncey Washington just barrelled in from 10yards for USC's second TD. The new NATIONAL TREASURE trailer just ran; I imagine some fools will try to look for the secret tip on Mount Rushmore, just like in the movie. (Hint: it's a movie).
Anyway, the ice storm reminded me of Rick Moody's book THE ICE STORM, which was also a great movie. I believe it had Tobey McGuire in it. It's got that 70s thing going on, but the same way THAT 70s SHOW did, with a view from 2007.
I decided to go back to the 70's today when my computer crashed and needs reboot repair. I bought a notebook at Wal-Mart for a buck.
I always liked pen and paper, although you can't cut and paste with a snap and you can't search Wikipedia and dictionary.com like I usually do when I'm writing. With computers you have to work a little harder to get some of the romance in writing, although with Wi-Fi you can do that. I wouldn't want to compute in a swamp like that one commercial, although my results do get a little swampy sometimes... My novel POOKOO is set in the pre-Internet world of 1991. I had a manual Royal and Smith-Corona typewriters back then. I still do, but I need ribbons and cleanings for them and don't know who does that anymore.
(This computer? My wife's.)
Anyway, the ice storm reminded me of Rick Moody's book THE ICE STORM, which was also a great movie. I believe it had Tobey McGuire in it. It's got that 70s thing going on, but the same way THAT 70s SHOW did, with a view from 2007.
I decided to go back to the 70's today when my computer crashed and needs reboot repair. I bought a notebook at Wal-Mart for a buck.
I always liked pen and paper, although you can't cut and paste with a snap and you can't search Wikipedia and dictionary.com like I usually do when I'm writing. With computers you have to work a little harder to get some of the romance in writing, although with Wi-Fi you can do that. I wouldn't want to compute in a swamp like that one commercial, although my results do get a little swampy sometimes... My novel POOKOO is set in the pre-Internet world of 1991. I had a manual Royal and Smith-Corona typewriters back then. I still do, but I need ribbons and cleanings for them and don't know who does that anymore.
(This computer? My wife's.)
Friday, November 30, 2007
7A Productions inks deal for foreign distribution
Congratulations to Indie filmmakers 7A Productions. The rising power has inked a deal with Maitland Primrose Group and Moving Pictures Film & Television to distribute both "Room 314" and "One Night" in the foreign markets.
"We're thrilled that these films will start getting more exposure and that the hard and great work everyone put into them will be seen by a large audience," spokesmen for 7A said in a press release. "We'll keep you posted as events warrant! In the meantime, please check out the press page of our site for recent radio and television interviews with Michael and Melissa Leo."
And their "Room 314" won BEST FEATURE at the New Jersey Film Festival. The film will be showing at the Beloit Film Festival in February. We'll take our camera there and get some interview footage with Michael Knowles, who has reportedly been invited to attend.
OTHER:
"One Night" has been selected to screen at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival - Feb 7th-19th, 2008.
"We're thrilled that these films will start getting more exposure and that the hard and great work everyone put into them will be seen by a large audience," spokesmen for 7A said in a press release. "We'll keep you posted as events warrant! In the meantime, please check out the press page of our site for recent radio and television interviews with Michael and Melissa Leo."
And their "Room 314" won BEST FEATURE at the New Jersey Film Festival. The film will be showing at the Beloit Film Festival in February. We'll take our camera there and get some interview footage with Michael Knowles, who has reportedly been invited to attend.
OTHER:
"One Night" has been selected to screen at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival - Feb 7th-19th, 2008.
NFL Network fumbles opportunity
I'm probabaly biased, but I think the NFL Network fumbled an opportunity Thursday by hosting the Dalls-Green Bay football game. Two top teams and two top quarterbacks. It could have been a ratings boom.
On the other hand, the NFL probably wants to highlight this channel and drum up business. But the thing that has always been huge with TV - over books, film, etc. is that it's FREE. (Well, not in a Cable world). So we expect something as consumers. It would have the same backlash as having to pay for e-mail.
RE: the big game, the Cowboys are better. The "W" shows it. As for the Packers, I hope Brett Favre heals up good. Woodson needs to be back, and Jolly, too. Oh, our back-up (Aaron Rodgers) almost beat them.
On the other hand, the NFL probably wants to highlight this channel and drum up business. But the thing that has always been huge with TV - over books, film, etc. is that it's FREE. (Well, not in a Cable world). So we expect something as consumers. It would have the same backlash as having to pay for e-mail.
RE: the big game, the Cowboys are better. The "W" shows it. As for the Packers, I hope Brett Favre heals up good. Woodson needs to be back, and Jolly, too. Oh, our back-up (Aaron Rodgers) almost beat them.
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