watching expired appliances align

I've officially shut down my separate DVR blog. The URL www.recordingtelevision.com now redirects to somewhere in the balgavy.com universe. I don't think I'd made a significant post there since last Spring when I raved about WHAT ABOUT BRIAN.

To celebrate the television talk returning to balgavy.com, I thought I'd give a quick run down of what I've been watching (and what I sampled during the past few months). In no particular order, here are some thoughts on some shows:

HEROES (NBC) - Listmaker just raved about this show. Chris Larry's been raving about it since day one. Youthlarge likes to run around whispering "Save the cheerleader" while staring at you until you respond "Save the world." I'm hooked and I can't explain why. Somewhere online I saw a mention that this superhero show pulls elements from Marvel Comics' New Universe line. Does anyone remember that from '86/'87? I'm trying to remember what elements this show has in common with that and I can't remember any. I have almost all of those titles stored in a closet in my parents' house. Thinking of that comic book era makes me wonder if Peter David (who wrote one of the books, I can't remember which - is there an imdb for comics?) writes about HEROES on his blog. Or course, he does. From his Cowboy Pete's TV Round-up "And I can just see the mantra of the series—“Save the cheerleader”—showing up on buttons or t-shirts." So can Youthlarge, Peter. So can Youthlarge.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (NBC) - I raved about the first two episodes. Episodes 3 & 4 didn't live up to my personal hype. Heck, I don't think they lived up to anyone's expectations. How did this show go from being provocative and investigative and tinged with actual drama and a sense of place to being a bad WB knock-off?

WHAT ABOUT BRIAN (ABC) - I loved the first mini-arc that aired last Spring on ABC. This show stunned everyone in the world (well, maybe the 3 million people who watched it) by being renewed for this season. I think it must've stunned the creators and producers most because they've done a pretty disappointing job handling the show so far. They can't seem to get on track with any of these characters. The short season was about examining six friends, and then blowing up those relationships. Once they've been exploded, what happens? Watching the show this year makes me question what I liked about it six months ago!

LIFE ON MARS (BBC America) - I started saving episodes on my DVR this past August. I burned through four of them yesterday. This is the British series where a cop finds himself in 1973. I'm digging this show and along with HU$TLE on AMC, I'm hooked on anything Tony Jordan (co-)creates.

New shows I'm watching but I don't necessarily love (except STANDOFF): JUSTICE, 30 ROCK, UGLY BETTY, KIDNAPPED, STANDOFF

Some shows I've liked in the past and am continuing to enjoy: THE WIRE, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, PRISON BREAK, LOST, VERONICA MARS, BONES, THE AMAZING RACE, AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL, ER, THE OFFICE, LAS VEGAS

Shows I sampled and gave up on: STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, JERICHO, THE NINE, SIX DEGREES, HAPPY HOUR

Shows I used to watch but recently stopped watching: SMALLVILLE, WEEDS, GILMORE GIRLS, SURVIVOR

I guess this entry is pretty typical of what passes for blog content these days. I read a lot of things about amateur critics and the like. Please count me among that group. I just don't understand why people have to be disparaging when they discuss web content in such a fashion. America cares about my opinion about WHAT ABOUT BRIAN. I'm sure of it.

Posted by Marc at 04:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

I think this entry has to be added to the "facial hair updates" category. How can it not be? I turned my beard white for a Halloween party last night!

I went to a Twin Peaks themed Halloween Party hosted by Ami, Sarah and their roommate. Or should I say I went to a party hosted by Audrey Horne, The Log Lady, and Laura Palmer?

Jim dressed as a lion. Not a cowardly lion. Or a dangerous lion. Just a lion. Too bad he shaved more of his beard than planned the morning before the party.

After the Twin Peaks party, we stopped by Skippy and Cortney's to check out their haunted house basement (which Skippy cheerfully recreated for us).

I uploaded a few images to flickr. My photos from the night start here.

Posted by Marc at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Three days ago I plucked an inch long silver hair from my right eyebrow. I wish I'd taken a photograph.

The stray hair had been bothering me for more than a week. I'd usually notice it when I was outside and a gust of wind would pass. From the corner of my eye, I'd see this crazy hair and I'd try to pluck it. The notion that it was growing from my face and not from my hairline didn't dawn on my initially.

I got a haircut a week ago. I was certain that would take care of the random white hair. I didn't notice it for a few days. The hair was back Tuesday. As I walked down the street, or waited for a light to change, I would grab at the corner of my face, trying to catch this hair and tug it out of my head! I couldn't find it. I'm certain all passersby thought I was a crazy man.

A few hours later I stood in front of the mirror and caught sight of the loose hair. It was indeed a white hair, but it escaped from the region of my right eyebrow. I plucked it. Quickly. Before I could take a picture. That random hair reminded me of the first time I noticed my body getting ahead of myself. I first noticed a silver hair in my head 15 years ago. I'm worried about what I have to look forward to at 47.

Posted by Marc at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm reading. I practiced last night. The stuff I wrote when I was 14 and 15 is sad and depressing. Through my struggles to understand life and love you will be entertained.

Tonight @ 8pm
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery @ Bleecker
Tickets: $7

I promise on the entertained part. And then, once everyone has finished, we can dash off to a bar that has a TV and watch the Mets defeat the Cardinals.

Also, I'm wearing argyle socks with a tan background. How could you not want to come check that out? I haven't worn argyle socks in at least half a decade. I was a big fan of a blue pair or cotton argyle socks I owned in '91/'92. I wore them with a pair of brown leather shoes and they were awesome. At the time. If I were really looking to make everyone happy, I'd include an image of me wearing them.

I'm wearing tan argyle socks because I don't have any clean black socks. It turns out I only have three pairs of black socks. I don't know when this happened. I looked in my sock drawer today and there were 5 black socks (well, one sock was dark grey, but I think you know where I'm going with this). All were different types! Where do all my socks go? I think 666Laundry loses them. Or, I lose them the twice a year I wash my own clothes.

So, I will be buying new socks within the next month. I'm not in favor of the brand Gold Toe. That's rule number one for sock buying. I have other rules, but I'm fast and loose with those.

Meanwhile, Dethroner suggests a man should have 14 pairs of socks in his wardrobe. I'm not one of those guys who wears dress shoes to the office every day, so I'm going to only buy three to five new pairs of socks.

There is no mention of socks in my reading tonight.

Posted by Marc at 01:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This month Cringe is combining with the WYSIWYG Talent Show! I'm going to read. I demand that you come and listen.

Wednesday, October 18, at 8:00 p.m.
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery @ Bleecker
Tickets: $7

Doors will open at 7:30 to give you time to grab a drink before the show.

Check it out - I've got my very own bio!

Posted by Marc at 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

After two episodes, I think I'm ready to declare FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS my favorite show of the new Fall TV season.

Alan Sepinwal, one of the TV columnists for the Star-Ledger, writes a blog and liked the first epsiode. He also wrote about the second episode, which aired last night.

I'm totally, totally hooked on this show. The look is gorgeous. The style is slick without being obnoxiously so. The show is cast really, really well. I like the music. I think I like everything about it.

One commenter on Alan's blog disliked that we only get to know a few of the characters. She also didn't like the build up to the second game of the season which lead to a kickoff cliffhanger. I responded:

I think that we're only starting to get to know the characters is one of the great things about this show. It feels somewhat documentary-like, but with really well chosen music to play underneath the dramatic scenes. It's as if we've been dropped right in the middle of this town and this casually unfolding story and we have to catch up, we have to figure out who these people are and how they relate to one another. To me, taking a year to watch that happen is going to be a pleasure. I didn't realize the ratings for the first episode were low and that's really disheartening.

I like that this episode was about football the idea and not about how well the folks behind the scenes could script a game, shoot it from different angles and cut it together in a convincing way. The show really exceeds at being about the small town life and about the way people go about their days, with the idea of Friday night football as the focus.

That's my two cents. And also a sort of quasi-announcement that I think I'll be taking my DVR blog down sometime this month.

Posted by Marc at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)