Category Archives: Television

January 29, 2007 · 2:20 pm

Cultural News Bytes – January 29th

Television:

The Muppet Show Meets The Office: The Return of Kermit to Primetime?

The Elder sent me this a link just now that some part of me knew about, but I forgot to head to Muppet Central recently and thus missed out on the details. It seems as if the Muppets may well be returning to television, as their Disney overlords are shopping around a 10-minute pilot featuring everyone’s favourite puppets.

The short pilot uses the television syntax of a documentary (think “The Office” meets “The Muppet Show“). The series revolves around Kermit the Frog as he attempts to reassemble the Muppet troupe and launch a new Muppet show. The mockumentary mini-series would feature fictional English filmmaker Ian Bascombe who, with his film crew, follow the daily happenings Kermit and the Muppets, both on and off stage. Bascombe finds that many of the classic Muppets have gone off to other venues since we last saw them and follows Kermit as the frog attempts to track them down and get the whole troupe back together.

Now, it is just a preview of a proposed mini-series that could then launch into a series, but there is some promise here. There is a sense of wit about a show like The Office that the Muppets have been lacking lately, and I think that it could bring broad comedic possibilities. That being said, I also think that it’s basically ripping off The Muppet Movie (Not the worst source material, but still) and that it will need to find some more ground to work on.

I think that the idea has potential, and I hope they at least go through with a mini-series. The Muppets deserve a chance to reconnect with today’s viewers, and this seems like the best concept to come along yet in terms of doing so. It is certainly better than the defunct America’s Next Muppet pilot they shot a few years back. There might already be two shows covering the backstage tomfoolery of variety shows, and there might have already been two versions of The Office, but I think that the Muppets can work it out.

Reality TV Gone Bad

So, for anyone who might be following the state of entertainment journalism on the internets, this might be repetition for you, but there’s an interesting little war brewing surrounding the amount of nostalgia being pumped into reality TV programming.

Reality Check for a Generation That Knows Best – Alessandra Stanley

New York Times TV reporter Stanley is basically arguing that reality TV, despite its apparent appeal to young audiences, tends to cater more to the nostalgic baby boomers.

“The larger cruelty of Fox’s “American Idol,” its NBC look-alike “Grease: You’re the One That I Want,” “The Apprentice” and even “Armed and Famous” (Erik Estrada?!), is a generational snub. Reality television, which was originally created as a thumb-nosing alternative for the young (“The Real World”), has been co-opted by the baby boomers, who never miss a chance to assert their hegemony on popular culture.

It’s not so much that they watch the shows, though many do. It’s that reality television aims for younger viewers, 18 to 34, while subliminally underscoring and cementing their fealty to the relaxed-fit generation.

Whether it is a firing by Donald Trump or a personal attack by Mr. Cowell, each rejection is a symbolic re-enactment of an inter-era struggle in which the bullies always come out on top.”

Now, at first I wasn’t sure I necessarily bought that this struggle existed to the degree she claimed it did, and I was somewhat siding with Michael Slezak, who over at Entertainment Weekly’s Pop Watch noted the following:

“If I ever got 30 seconds to bend Stanley’s ear, I’d tell her this: Sometimes, TV is just TV… or occasionally, it’s HBO. And that’s not going to change — no matter how much highfalutin’ philosophizing people do about it. So please, for the love of Paula Abdul, stop trying to beat the fun out of my favorite programs, especially Idol. Thank you. That’s all.”

Perhaps it was my general appreciation for reality TV, but I somewhat agreed with his general statement if not his bashing of analyzing reality TV in general. I, of course, had not actually read the article in question. Or, as it turns out, seen the most recent episode of Grease: You’re the One That I Want.

If there was no generational battle going on there, I’m blind and deaf. You have young singers preparing for a role in a broadway musical, and what do they do? They have them singing popular music. And, not just somewhat popular music that works as broadway. There was a version of KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See” that almost made be wretch. There was a version of “Summer of ’69” that honestly made me throw things and hope that they never try to stage a Bryan Adams musical in Toronto. But really, at this point in the competition who exactly is this show aiming for? The kids are going to be the ones voting, but the judges are indeed baby boomers. It was a difference that resulted in some absolutely terrible performances.

Because, really, they should be singing SHOW TUNES. It’s a BROADWAY MUSICAL. COME ON, PEOPLE! It’s not that hard to figure out that when judging someone’s ability to deal with broadway material, you shouldn’t be testing their ability to turn George Michael’s faith into something even more theatrical. Rather you should be testing their range with the type of song they’ll actually have to sing.

But, Show Tunes wouldn’t continue their charade of youth, would it? Really, if they didn’t allow for popular music, why would the kids watch it? The reality is that they wouldn’t, and there’s the problem. And, it’s why I’m on the side of the New York Times, all outside of one little quibble.

See, I like Ivanka. She’s attractive, intelligent, and good-humoured. Her comments are usually pointed, on-topic, and well-stated. This week’s lack of Ivanka was most depressing. In the end, she is surely overstated as she has to give her horribly staged “It was a tough decision, but you made the right one” speech, but I personally continue to see her as the actually intelligent one. I think that there is the ability for some of us to see through the power, see through the annoying hair, to those elements that are actually somewhat enjoyable.

Weekend Box Office Results

The predictions were a bit off this week, no question. People seem to be tired of the Oscar-nominated films, opting instead to head in droves to the two new popcorn releases. Here are the early estimates, along with their difference from my predictions in parentheses.

1. Epic Movie – $19.2 Million (+2.8)

2. Smokin’ Aces – $14.3 Million (+1.8)

3. Night at the Museum – $9.5 Million (+1.6)

4. Catch and Release – $8.0 Million (Not Predicted)

5. Stomp the Yard – $7.8 Million (+0.6)

6. Dreamgirls – $6.6 Million (-0.9)

All in all, I was too high on Dreamgirls and not quite high enough on everything else. Seems like people didn’t quite embrace the Oscar hopefuls as much as was expected, but Pan’s Labyrinth and The Queen each saw healthy returns so it was really only Dreamgirls that suffered greatly.

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January 28, 2007 · 11:29 pm

Talkin’ SAG: And the Winners are…

So, let’s take a quick look at how I did with my Screen Actor’s Guild predictions. All in all, the awards were basically an absolute redux of the Golden Globes outside of a few small differences, and it’s an interesting phenomenon. Last year, the awards that crossed over on the TV side of things were:

Best Drama / Best Ensemble in a Drama – Lost

Best Supporting Actress / Female in a Drama Series – Sandra Oh

Best Comedy / Best Ensemble in a Comedy – Desperate Housewives

Now, the supporting category is even more difficult for someone to crossover in, as the Globes lump Drama/Comedy/Miniseries together, and the SAG Awards mix Lead and Supporting. Thus, Sandra Oh’s victory in both is a strong achievement. However, this year was a whole different monster.

Best Drama / Best Ensemble in a Drama – Grey’s Anatomy

Best Actor in a Drama / Male in a Drama Series – Hugh Laurie (House)

Best Actor in a Comedy / Male in a Comedy Series – Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Best Actress in a Comedy / Female in a Comedy Series – America Ferrerra (Ugly Betty)

What makes this so surprising is that so many acting awards crossed over, where they normally haven’t in the past. There was only one similarity in the two years prior to last as well, which makes it quite an interesting anomaly for there to be three. Have we finally found the group of actors who will united the crazy Foreign press and the actors themselves? Delightful young actress, cantankerous British man and Alec Frackin’ Baldwin? Seems like a winning combo.

As far as film goes, I went 5/5 on a predictable and uneventful set of awards. Whitaker, Mirren, Murphy, Hudson, and Little Miss Sunshine continues to move towards an Oscar run with an Ensemble win.

The deviations from the Globes on the TV side were for the best, really. The Office takes the Ensemble comedy prize over GG winner Ugly Betty, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I had predicted Desperate Housewives, but my heart was always with the delightful group of folks who populate Dunder-Mifflin.

On the Drama side, the only difference was Chandra Wilson, woefully snubbed of even a nomination at the Golden Globes, picking up an award for Best Actress in a Drama. Her role deserves more attention, and I very much enjoy her picking up some kudos from her peers.

So, my overall totals:

Cinema

5/5 on Myles’ Picks

Total: 5/5

Television

1/6 on Myles’ Picks

4/6 on Dark Horses

Total: 3/6 (Yeah, I’m giving ½ pts)

Final Tally: 8/11

Not too bad, I’d say. The TV Awards were definitely a bit of a madhouse, although not a bad one by any means, just surprising.

I’d offer up some more details and analysis of the winners (Such as Steve Carell being robbed AGAIN, the terrible fate befalling Michael C. Hall) but I think that will wait until tomorrow afternoon. Battlestar Galactica is on.

For the full list of winners, Continue reading →

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Filed under Award Shows, Cinema, Television

January 28, 2007 · 2:16 am

Talkin’ SAG: And the Winners will be…

It is another year, and another chance for the various guilds to start awarding their own members in lavish ceremonies. While most of these are quite limited, what with their small number of awards, the Screen Actors Guild has the benefits of numerous awards, big names to parade down red carpets, and enough clout when it comes to Oscar predictions to be of importance. Plus, like the Golden Globes, it encapsulates both cinema and television, providing a great deal of variety for viewers. In short, of the various guild presentations, the SAG Awards are the only ones worth televising (8pm EST, TNT).

As a result, let’s take a look at the various nominees on both the Television and Cinema side of things. Also, yes, I just got Photoshop, and find it ever so much fun.

TELEVISION

First things first, let’s get it out of the way. Due to, I guess, wanting to avoid weighing either TV or Cinema over the other, there are no Supporting Categories for the SAG Awards in Television. There is still a binary between comedy and drama, however, which makes for four awards total, but it makes it very hard for actors and actresses in supporting roles. I’m going to skip the TV Movie-Miniseries Awards, only because I find them slightly boring. Oh, also, because how can one go against Helen Mirren grabbing a SAG Award to sit next to her recent Golden Globe win for Elizabeth I? And, I can’t argue against comedy sensation Jeremy Irons for his work in the same film.

Best Actor in a Drama Series

James Gandolfini – THE SOPRANOS
Michael C. Hall – DEXTER
Hugh Laurie – HOUSE
James Spader – BOSTON LEGAL
Kiefer Sutherland – 24

This is a category that is probably the most difficult to predict, mainly because there is a great deal of precedent for each individual. Gandolfini is a perpetual nominee, Laurie just won the Globe, Kiefer just won the Emmy, and despite being snubbed by the Academy in September Spader won the Emmy the previous year. Which, really, just leaves Michael C. Hall without any sort of awards recognition. In fact, for all of his year’s on HBO’s Six Feet Under, he was never once nominated for his work.

Well, Dexter IS Michael C. Hall, perhaps even moreso than Kiefer Sutherland has become synonymous with 24. While Kiefer perhaps had his most hard-working supporting cast to date in Season 5 (Although sadly neither Gregory Itzin or Jean Smart are nominated here), Michael C. Hall has no such foil to work from, and Dexter works entirely because of his fantastically nuanced performance. Dexter is a killer who operates by his own code, independent from that of the world in which he lives. His performance is absolutely stunning, and I believe that he has a great shot at winning this award.

But, can I argue against Kiefer? I’ve got him as my selection to win, but he just own his Emmy, so people might feel he has enough awards. Perhaps, then, it would be time to bestow a SAG award on Mr. Laurie? I’m predicting they’ll stay clear of the good doctor, but you never know.

Myles’ Pick: Kiefer Sutherland (24)

Dark Horse: Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

Continue reading →

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Filed under Award Shows, Cinema, Television

January 26, 2007 · 4:09 pm

Cultural News Bytes – January 26th

Television

Now, I’m not usually one to pay any attention to Soap Operas by my own volition, but it was impossible to not catch a few minutes of General Hospital during my childhood. I would come home from school and it would always be on the TV, my mother watching along. And, honestly, it was a nice little distraction. The melodrama, the hostage takings, the train crashes, the hotel fires, and just about everything in between; I can’t argue with this kind of insanity. Check out the Wikipedia link and have a good laugh as you delve into the sheer madness of it all.

However, within that link, there is an interesting little blurb that I want to highlight:

“In February 2007, General Hospital will embark on yet another ground-breaking storyline for Sweeps as the entire cast will once again find themselves in a central storyline as a hostage situation takes place at the Metro Court hotel. The storyline which is set to take place over the 16 episodes of Sweeps will be set in “real time” much like the Fox drama, 24. According to the scribes at GH, an explosion will be set off at the Metro Court hotel on Friday, January 26th and then the show will fade to black as viewers are taken 16 hours back in time. Each episode will then represent one hour of the events that lead up to the explosion at the Metro Court hotel.”

Now, when I read a story about this over at PopWatch, I was kind of intrigued by this crossover between my mother’s favourite soap opera and everyone’s favourite Jack Bauer Power Hour, but I’ve started to think about it a bit more. And, I think that it’s an interesting example of the further influence of “serialized” television and its quick demise earlier this season.

For, you see, this season alone has seen the deaths of Smith, Kidnapped, Vanished, Runaway, and even the yet to debut Traveler had its episode order cut from 13 to 8. And yet, here General Hospital is turning to a basic theme that 24 made famous. It was the rise of 24’s ratings, as well as the success of shows like Prison Break, that led networks to produce so many serial dramas, and they struggled to find an audience.

And yet, really, Soap Operas are a perfect example of how to make a serial drama work. They have a plot that strings throughout, but yet they have characters so typical, so defined, that you can figure things out quite quickly. If I have my TV turned onto CTV and General Hospital comes on, I might not have seen a second of it for weeks and yet I can pretty much figure out what’s going on because I know enough about the archetypes at play.

And really, that was what made the first season of Prison Break so watchable, not the bullshit conspiracy stuff. And that’s what made Desperate Housewives work, and not its dumb plots (Which dragged the 2^nd season into the doldrums of television). Even 24’s plots can sometimes let it down, but we keep watching because we idolize Jack Bauer. Without a hook like this, no show survives.

As a result, as much as General Hospital claims they’re going into a “ground breaking” exercise, the plots will be just as thing and just as silly as before. And yet, really, that’s what the people want. Maybe networks should see this as an example for making compelling serialized television.

Cinema

Box Office Predictions

Movies Opening This Weekend

Epic Movie

Smokin’ Aces

Catch and Release

Blood & Chocolate

We’ve got a farcical comedy based on fantasy/adventure films ala “Date Movie,” a bounty hunter film starring Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”), Ryan Reynolds, Ben Affleck and…Alicia Keys? Okay. And then we have a Romantic comedy starring Jennifer Garner and…Kevin Smith? Sure thing. And then some crappy horror movie with one of the worst titles imaginable.

Holdovers from Last Week

Stomp the Yard

Night at the Museum

Each should drop a bit, and a few spots each with the new releases in play, but their holdovers have been solid recently.

Oscar Movers/Shakers

Dreamgirls

The Queen

Pan’s Labyrinth

The Departed

Despite a lack of a Best Picture nod, Dreamgirls is currently leading the American Box Office, and will perform well into the weekend. The Queen, sitting in 3^rd, also continues to perform strongly with weekday audiences, and expands slightly further along with Babel (Which has a little less audience appeal). The Departed launches itself a 2^nd time with a major influx of screens, and Pan’s Labyrinth continues to expand further in its initial run. I would hope that Children of Men would see an increase, but Editing/Cinematography nods only do so much for a film.

For my Box Office Predictions and Viewing Suggestions, Continue reading →

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Filed under 24, Box Office, Cinema, Television

January 26, 2007 · 11:08 am

Thursday Night TV Club – January 25th, 2007

So, let’s face it, it’s a pretty slow night for TV on paper. There are only three of Thursday’s big shows that are new, so in terms of numbers there isn’t much to go on. Despite this fact, however, there appears to be plenty to talk about nonetheless.

The worst thing for American viewers is that all three of the shows which are new all air at the same time. However, thanks to the joys of Canadian Simulcasting, The O.C., CSI and Grey’s Anatomy are all at different times through this evening. And thus, let us take a look at these three shows in terms of their performance last evening.

3. CSI – “Redrum”

While I will admit to not paying complete attention to this, it’s still interesting to see a procedural actually change a little with the introduction of a new character. Liev Schriber’s Keppler is no Gil Grissom, but I think that this is a good thing, as was shown here.

The reverse forensics approach (Hench the redrum, get it?) was a bit difficult to follow while watching only half-heartedly, but it’s something I like to see. It had these characters, usually working in relative harmony, pitted against one another, and then the happy reunion of everyone at the end.

Also, I haven’t watched much of CSI since the whole Grissom/Sara reveal, but even without Grissom on screen it felt weird. I’m definitely not shipping for those two, that’s for sure.

Continue reading →

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Tagged as Thursday Night TV Club

January 25, 2007 · 1:03 pm

Dr. Baltar or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Embrace the Fact that Battlestar Galactica is Taking Over My Life

Dr. Baltar or How I Learned…

I was sitting in a debating round following its end, and was giving my comments. The case had been about Nuclear/Non-Nuclear missiles on US submarines, and the argument was made that it was dangerous to have both on board since a country would have no idea whether it was nuclear or non-nuclear missile being fired, and would react similarly either way. In giving my comments, I was dumbfounded how they hadn’t thought about something. Here’s a paraphrasing of my comment:

“And, I might be wrong, but isn’t there some kind of radiological alarm that would let the other side know it was nuclear or non-nuclear?”

Well, I was wrong, and there isn’t. No, indeed, there is no such thing as a radiological alarm, as Chris pointed out to me. It exists only in the world of Battlestar Galactica.

I was reading a book just the other day, and it tells of how the author traveled through an archway in the middle of a clearing and found themselves in the Temple of Athena. I stopped thinking about nature and cancer, the actual topics of the book, and immediately took a trip to the surface of Kobol where there was the Tomb of Athena and where Gaius Baltar traveled through an archway in a clearing and ended up in the middle of a concert hall.

I was in another class when the professor noted how with the death of one character during childbirth it appeared that her spirit continued on into the body of her child. I didn’t immediately think of the literary or story consequences, but rather how similar this is to the Cylons. I figure Tricia Helfer could play a mean Catherine Earnshaw, as well.

It is in this way that I find myself constantly being brought into this television world, the world of Caprica, Starbuck, Adama, Cylons, and just about everything in between. This is the world of Battlestar Galactica. And, quite honestly, it is taking over my frakkin’ life. Continue reading →

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January 25, 2007 · 12:40 am

Tabula Rosa: The Blank Slates of American Idol

So, anyone who’s been watching American Idol this season may have noticed a slightly more dramatic tone to the proceedings, especially those auditions that would normally be laughed off. We’ve always seen the people who swear and become extremely angry, and they’ve always been good for a good laugh. However, for some reason, we’re not just seeing the angry ones anymore. We’re starting to see people who are honestly terrible, and who the producers must know are terrible, and yet they give them detailed introduction videos, detailed stories, and then absolutely destroy them from a singing perspective. We’re even starting to see montages of them all performing the whole song, which are clearly being created for the sake of producers. They give the bad singers these songs to learn overnight, and then have them sing them purely for the purposes of making people look silly.

We’ve never seen anything quite like this in the past. I don’t know if it’s that it was always edited out in the past, or if they’re coaching these contestants to be as delusional as possible, but it’s getting quite ridiculous. And, to an extent, one of those crazies (A girl named Sarah) is a perfect example of this, but within her craziness I think she pointed out something quite interesting.

Sarah was a normal girl at first, but then she started singing and was clearly tone deaf. Really, honestly, ridiculously tone deaf. And she knew it. She even said she was tone deaf. And yet, she said, she could still be the American Idol because she was trainable, an empty slate. Tabula Rosa. And she could win American Idol without even singing. Continue reading →

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January 24, 2007 · 1:32 pm

Shippers Anonymous

An Open Letter to the World:

Hi, my name is Myles. (This is where you all say “Hi, Myles!” With exclamation mark, too, I want excited listeners). I have a problem. (Here you give me helpful, reassuring looks).

You see, I watch a lot of television. This wouldn’t be too much of a problem, really, it’s not like I have proposals to write or applications to complete or novels to read. I could watch dozens of TV shows a day, really, except that…well, you see, I get a bit emotionally connected to the shows. Too emotionally connected, really. And, I can’t keep on convincing myself that it’s not true, lying to myself and others does nothing good. Thus, I have to fess up.

I…am a shipper.

While that Wikipedia link quite honestly frightens the crap out of me, and makes me quite glad I am now openly shipping so I can avoid that particular road, I still must explain my shipping problem. For, you see, I get far too emotionally connected to the romantic fate of television characters. I become hopelessly enraptured by their innocent looks, their…I can’t even talk about it.

I don’t really get it; it’s not as if I have any particular reason to live vicariously through these characters, but I can’t help but care about their futures. Maybe it’s that I watch shows too late in the evening, when I’m not yet awake enough to contain emotions.

What’s drawing me into the open at this point? It’s entirely Mac’s fault.

I honestly think I care more about her happiness in the world of Veronica Mars than my own. Last season she fell in love with a seemingly innocent boy…who ended up being both a rapist and a mass murderer. She was emotionally crushed, and forever scarred, and she has spent much of this season dealing with her issues. I can’t help but feel for her, her situation. How can you not root for someone who was left naked in a hotel room while her boyfriend went up to the roof to murder Veronica…who he had raped a year and a half earlier?

It’s impossible to not relate to this, to root for her. And her new love interest, PHAT chapter president Bronson, is innocent, active in environmental causes, and seems the perfect fodder for Mac’s own insecurities. It’s far too adorable, too cute, and too easy to become attached to.

And, I’m coming clean because I can’t keep doing this. This is Veronica Mars we’re talking about, where no character is introduced for a simple reason. I had though Mac and Beaver (The aforementioned rapist/murderer) were adorable too, the epitome of the innocent teenage romance, but then the show ripped the rug out from under me. This isn’t some fantasy world, and in time I’m sure Bronson will be revealed to be some sort of environmental terrorist wanted on charges in some foreign country. And then Veronica will have to break the news to Mac, and she will be heartbroken, and her “Libidon’t” will kick in again. And I just can’t have this keep happening. I can’t keep getting attached to these characters’ romances knowing that one of them isn’t a series regular, and could disappear at any time.

So, world, help me out. Please, save me from myself. It’ll only keep spreading, unless you help me remain disconnected from the romantic entanglements of the television world.

Sincerely,

Myles McNutt

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Tagged as Shipper's Log

January 23, 2007 · 7:34 pm

The Superpower Bauer Hour Showdown: Week One

As covered in yesterday’s Cultural News Bytes, the epic battle between Heroes and 24 kicked off last evening. For the purpose of covering this epic battle, I’m going to divide it into Three Rounds: Overall Quality, Ratings, and the OMGWTFBBQ Battle. Based on these criteria, a victor will be named.

Round One: Overall Quality

24 came out fighting: They moved effortless from panic in the streets of the suburbs, to the OMGWTFBBQ moment, to some Daddy Drama, and it was interspersed well with a subtle political movement. The terrorist plot is certainly nothing special at this point, and the entire Sandra Palmer Subplot is slowing the show down, but in the end the newly introduced family drama for Jack was absolutely spectacular.

On the other hand, Heroes immediately sucked the life out of its cliffhanger with a “Two Weeks Later” construct. While it works, it definitely doesn’t result in a great deal of excitement, and it showed. The episode revolved around the fallout from last fall’s actions, but there didn’t seem to be a drive heading forward from this point until the episode’s end. We got very little on Sylar, and everything else was kind of just in a fog. It needed to bring more to the table, in my mind.

Round Two: Ratings

“Heroes” (households: 8.6/13, #T4; adults 18-49: 6.5, #1)

“24” (households: 8.6/13, #T4; adults 18-49: 5.4, #3)

What does this all mean? Well, it means that Heroes drew slightly more viewers, as well as more viewers in the coveted 18-49 year old viewers. However, 24’s ratings were more or less identical to that of last year’s, and Heroes’ ratings held strong. In the end, this basically means that there were a whole lot more people watching TV last night than before. And that’s generally good, I’d say.

Round Three: OMGWTFBBQ

24 wasn’t too exciting…except for the revelation that there is a BAUER BROTHER. And he’s last season’s BAD GUY. And Jack CHOKED HIM WITH A PLASTIC BAG. COME ON!

Heroes had a rather charming line, referring to Nathan as “FLYING MAN”, but lacked a pivotal moment. It struggled to even reach OMG territory.

And the Winner, via Judge’s decision… Continue reading →

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Filed under 24, Heroes, Television

January 22, 2007 · 2:03 pm

Cultural News Bytes – January 22nd

Television

Perhaps as the column on the right suggests, tonight is an interesting night for TV. NBC has created quite the phenomenon in Heroes this season, and they’ve done quite a good job of establishing it as event programming. However, for better or for worse, they’ve decided to leave it in its timeslot. The result? A one-on-one confrontation with Jack Bauer.

This is ballsy stuff from NBC, really. From what I’ve been witnessing on message boards, Heroes is going to have a tough time maintaining their entire audience with 24 in its timeslot. Regardless of Heroes’ success, the reality is that 24 is both riding momentum from last week’s four-hour extravaganza and offers a consistently large amount of drama. Although Heroes is returning from a lengthy hiatus, its “cliffhanger” was more of a prognostication of the future than an actual cliffhanger, and I don’t think it will be enough to defeat the realities of nuclear holocaust.

Let’s look at each side’s advantages

– Riding success of last week’s premiere.

– Recent media coverage has been supportive of its storyline.

– Provides a bit more weekly drama, less slow episodes.

Heroes

– Returning from hiatus with strong marketing.

– Has the better lead-in (Deal or No Deal w/ Heroes preview vs. Prison Break)

My prediction: 24 takes the ratings win by a slim margin. I think that, though, any sign of a weakening storyline on 24 could reverse this trend. Either way, it’s a big story to watch for tomorrow. Us Canadians, however, don’t have to worry about it, as Global is airing both shows. Huzzah for the 49th Parallel!

Cinema

Just a quick note and link for the purposes of saving something for tomorrow’s major piece. Newsweek, every year, puts together a roundtable of people related to the Academy Awards in order to look back at the past year in film and understand who its major players were. Last year was a feature on a series of directors (Spielberg, Haggis, Ang Lee, etc.) whose films were all very dark and full of depth. Coincidentally, their films were all nominated for Best Picture. This year, they decided instead to look at some of the actors and actresses (including a good number of the front runners).

The Lineup: Brad Pitt (“Babel”), Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”), Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Departed”, “Blood Diamond”), Cate Blanchett (“Babel”, “Notes on a Scandal”), Penelope Cruz (“Volver”) and Dame Helen Mirren (“The Queen”)

The result is a fascinating and humorous conversation that maintains a light hearted feel while really getting into some interesting discussions with these actors. Brad Pitt is in particular quite funny, as we could perhaps expect, and I think that it’s really interesting to note that they put them in front of an audience. Really, this is just one giant “Inside the Actor’s Studio” done for Oscar season, which I think serves its purpose well. In Awards season, these people become names on a ballot, not really allowing them to establish themselves as anything more. While someone like Pitt or DeCaprio might not feel this, someone like Forest Whitaker isn’t a celebrity to most people, and I think interviews like this one rightly balance the star hungry populace and those who want to learn more about the people who are being awarded by their peers.

Give it a read, it’s worth your time. And, tomorrow, myself and the elder McNutt will be previewing the Oscar Nominations in Cross-Blog Extravaganza, so stay tuned for that early tomorrow before the nominations go out.

Video Games

So, here’s a short story. The new Nintendo Wii connects to the internet, where you can surf the web and download classic Nintendo games…oh, and check the weather! It’s a really neat feature that I tried out while home for the holidays, and one my brother continues to enjoy. There’s just one problem, you see: I can’t access it here at Acadia.

It’s really quite tragic. We’re not allowed wireless routers in residence, and my little USB Dongle thing that Nintendo released has a neat habit of crashing my computer into a blue screen of death. As a result, I am without a connection to the internet. Why do I lament this today? Because, sadly, today one of the classic games I would most definitely purchase has been released onto the Virtual Console.

Alas, it is true! The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of those games that I never got to really play, and one that while I started in emulator form (Evil, I know) I never finished it. As a result, I want it quite badly, and sadly have no internet connection with which to acquire it. Curses!

To help soothe my pain, and everyone else’s, here’s a YouTube “video” clip. Really, it’s just the game’s logo, but it contains perhaps my single favourite piece of video game music of all time, the theme to the game’s Dark World, in all its MIDI glory.