Hello and welcome to our Star Trek: The Original Series re-watch. Cookie Monster and I will be your co-hosts. We'll open the casual discussion on the show's first five episodes, then ask you to weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section. THE MAN TRAP Me: A rocky start for the Enterprise and its…
June 24, 2014: Jelly tries to put the kibosh on my travel plans!
The other night, I was awakened by a kerplunk (!), the unmistakable sound of a portly, elderly pug falling off the bed. I sat up to discover 15 year old Jelly, struggling to stand up on the polished hardwood floor. She seemed surprised but otherwise okay. Just in case though, I brought her out to…
June 23, 2014: Top 10 Worst Supervillain Names!
10. Paste Pot Pete Look out! He's going to start shooting paste. Out of his pot. Oh, that Pete. 9. Crazy Quilt Not to be confused with The Master Duvet. Presumably, grandma helped him with his costume. 8. Rainbow Raider Guard your rainbows! As if those damn leprechauns weren't bad enough. 7. Polka Dot Man Winner of Mrs. Haversham's…
June 22, 2014: Top 10 Worst Superhero Names!
10. The Whizzer AKA "The Yellow Streak"? Does the W on his chest stand for "wee"? 9. Matter Eater Lad Look at him go to town on that chain link fence! Bombs, bullets, getaway cars - there is no limit to his amazing powers of consumption! Unless, of course, he gets full. 8. Aqualad Batman…
June 21, 2014: Mailbag!
Well, damn. This pilot script simply refuses to be completed. I'm thinking I may just have to set it aside and come back at it with fresh eyes in a couple of months. Time to shift creative gears and start reviewing some alternate materials: pilot script, series overview, special "character secrets" document, and the 13…
June 20, 2014: And so it begins…
Looks like things are about to get real busy, real fast. A flurry of emails today, a few phone conversations, some decisions made and many more to come. We'll be flying out next week for a few days to crunch some numbers, clarify positions, and, of course, have dinner at one of my favorite Italian…
June 19, 2014: A busy day, but there’s always time for dogs!
A crazy day, chock full o' tests of physical endurance, phone calls, emails, errands, reading, critiquing but, alas, no actual writing. Damn. I've been sitting on this pilot for over a week now. Time to get it done! Tomorrow, come hell or high water, I finally complete that elusive first draft. Best decant the Knob…
June 18, 2014: Join our Star Trek TOS re-watch!
Full disclosure: I haven't watched a full episode of Star Trek TOS since I was a kid. And, sure, we've come a long way since then and a lot of this old series will, no doubt, feel charmingly outdated by today's standards but, damn, if I don't feel a shiver of excitement every time I…
June 17, 2014: Back on the mean streets of Sesame!
Well look who it is. If it isn't our old friend Cookie Monster who, only last summer, announced he was through hosting our weekly Supermovie of the Week Club and done penning reviews of such big screen classics as The Dark Knight, Spiderman, and Abar: The First Black Superman. Well, what a difference a year…
June 16, 2014: July under-the-radar movie releases to look forward to! Or not!
LIFE ITSELF Release Date: July 4, 2014 What it’s about: A documentary on the life of film critic Roger Ebert. What it’s got working for it: As someone who grew up watching Siskel & Ebert, I'm interested. What’s it’s got going against it: Those unfamiliar with his work may not be quite as intrigued. * ROAD TO…
June 15, 2014: July movie releases to look forward to! Or not!
TAMMY Release Date: July 2, 2014 What it’s about: A lifetime loser embarks on a road trip to Niagara Falls with her grandmother. What it’s got working for it: Two great actresses in Melissa McCarthy and Susan Sarandon. What’s it’s got going against it: But you've got to give them material to work with. Very hard to…
June 14, 2014: Father’s Day!
When I think of my father, I remember a man who was kind and generous, but stubborn and suspicious by nature. Someone funny and fun-loving, but a little quick-tempered. A loving husband and father, but a man who, occasionally, took things a tad too personally. In short, my father was a complicated and colorful man…
June 13, 2014: Joe and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!
Ceeripes, I feel like crap! I woke up this morning feeling significantly under the weather: stomach ache, nausea, headache, fatigue, muscles aches, and appetite free. I suspect food poisoning from last night's chicken dinner. I blame Top Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and his roast-chicken-at-375-degree-for-one-hour-and-serve-at-room-temperature recipe. Akemi claims there's only one way to know for sure: "Eat…
June 12, 2014: Bees and Burgers!
Last night, we got together with our foodie friends, Nicole and Lan, for an evening of Bees and Burgers. Campagnolo supplied the burgers while Nicole and Lan supplied the bees... Apparently, they picked them up in Portland (or had them shipped from Portland. I'm not sure how it works). They keep them in the above-pictured…
June 11, 2014: Things I hated when I was a kid!
10. Popcorn Chewy and flavorless. Yes, there's salt and butter, but why not just have the toppings and save yourself the hassle of those annoying bits that get stuck in teeth? 9. Shepherd's Pie Ground beef? Love it. Mashed potatoes? I like. Corn? Sure. All three together? Disgusting! 8. Candied Fruit I still don't understand…