Okie dokie. I am hereby DONE with The Tudors. Understand, it has nothing to do with the quality of the show. In fact, Fondy and I enjoyed the first season immensely. And we WERE enjoying the second season – until the second disc in our DVD box set started skipping, jumping, pausing and, eventually, freezing up. Assuming it was a problem with my machine, I brought it upstairs and we settled down to watch it on the plasma. Alas, more skipping, jumping, pausing, and freezing. Clearly, the disc was defective. Alas, it had been months since I’d purchased it. I had no receipt nor any recollection of where I’d picked it up. Ah, the hell with it. I headed down to HMV and bought another box set. So, the following day, we settled down in the theater room and started watching. A couple of minutes in, the scene skipped. Then jumped. Then, paused. Aw, bloody hell! I brought it upstairs and tested it on my second DVD player. Sure enough, the same problem.
Well, this time I had a receipt. I went back to HMV and informed them of my issues. “Maybe it’s your DVD player,”offered one helpful employee. No, I told her, that wasn’t the case as I’d tested the disc on two DVD players in addition to my laptop. Well, she assured me that this was the first she’d heard of any complaints regarding The Tudors second season box set. It was, no doubt, an isolated incident. An isolated incident, I couldn’t help but point out, that happened twice. With the exact same disc on the exact same box set. To me. In any case, I picked out my replacement box set and headed home. Again, Fondy and I settled in to pick up where we’d left off. And, once again – skip, jump, pause, and freeze.
When I returned to HMV the following day, I was dealing with another employee who informed me “This is the first time I’ve heard of anyone having a problem with this box set.” Really? I can only assume: a) the last employee I spoke to was guarding our previous conversation like a closely guarded secret and b) I had defied all odds and picked up three successive Tudors season two box sets with defective disc #2’s! He pulled the disc and held it up to the light, showed me what looked like a faint watermark on the disc. Obviously, a problem in the manufacturing process. I was free to pick out a replacement. I did but, before I left and just for laughs, I opened the packaging, plucked out disc #2, and held it up to the light. Sure enough, there was the same faint watermark. Hell, I should be playing the lottery! The employee suggested I give it a try anyway because some DVD players will react differently. If I experience yet another problem, I can bring it back for a refund.
So I returned home and, this time, I didn’t even bother settling in. I popped the disc into my machine and hit “play”. With predictable results. Skip, jump, pause, freeze.
Tomorrow, I head back to HMV to get my money back and say goodbye to The Tudors. Alas, even if I wasn’t left embittered by the whole experience, Fondy has lost interest in the series and wants to move on. Season 3 of Lost, here we come.
Today’s blog entry is dedicated to our friends in Australia.
Mailbag:
Ytimyona writes: “You have pictures and video from the Destiny set, but can’t show us?”
Answer: Plenty of pics of the in-progress set construction – Destiny and shuttle. Alas, MGM has asked me to keep things under wraps for now.
Tim Gaffney writes: “Also, Joe, didn’t you say if we asked you that you would give us some of the colored page info on the proposed episode for the sixth season we are not getting(can’t remember the name) where our intrepid heroes use the time traveling jumper.”
Answer: Thanks for reminding me. I’ll post as part of tomorrow’s entry.
Snakey writes: “So will we get to see or read your short story sometime in the near future?”
Answer: Probably not until 2010.
Paloosa writes: “I’ve been wondering if you have always had a longing to write a short story? How many words or pages does a short story usually run? What do you find more or less difficult in writing it as opposed to a script? Are you on a deadline?”
Answer: I’ve always wanted to write a novel. A short story is the next best thing. As for how long a short story is – that depends. I was given a guideline of 4 000 – 7 000 words and a deadline of June 2009. As for the most difficult part about writing a short story: everything.
Jon K. writes: “Hey Joe, can we get a hint on any of the women cast members? Will any of them be familiar to someone like myself who watches almost every show on tv?”
Answer: Probably.
AMZ writes: “Oh, are you serious about adding a Graphic Novel category to the BOTM club?!”
Answer: Very. I had a preliminary discussion with an author and, hopefully, if the timing works out, he’ll be dropping by for a Q&A to discuss his work in April.
Luis writes: “I dont know if anyone has asked but have you watched Sanctuary???”
Answer: Haven’t seen it.
Jo writes: “I saw ‘the Eyre Affair’ by Jasper Fforde in Baron Destructo’s book montage. I still haven’t met a single other live person that is not one of my siblings that has read it… so seeing it on your list, I’m curious. What did you think of the book?”
Answer: I liked it a lot. I’d recommend you pick up The Big Over Easy.
Arctic Goddess writes: “Did you get the lavender?”
Answer: Yes, thanks. Fondy’s putting it to get use.
Caitlyanna writes: “I just noticed (both on here and on Goodreads) that you’re reading Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler. I just finished Fledgling by her and it was great except for the fact that the ending felt a little rushed. I still have told people in the last few weeks that if they like vampires mixed with a little sci fi and a murder mystery it’s a great story. I love her style of writing. It only took about 50 pages to get into. Have you read anything else by her or is this the first?”
Answer: I’ve read The Parable of the Talents and The Parable of the Sower, both great books.
Tina writes: “Stupid question but is it still ok to send stuff to Bridge Studios?”
Answer: Yep.
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