The Mentalist (TV)

There's a new TV show at CBS, The Mentalist. It was a story about a crime-unit centered around a ... um, for lack of better word, a mentalist. Clearly inspired by Sherlock Holmes (or so I thought), our dude here, the mentalist, paid extra attention to little details around that turns him into a terrific yet understandably socially inept detective. He solved a murder case by pointing a finger to the most unlikely suspect when his team and the public has allegedly held the primer suspect for the case within the opening minutes of the film. He then surprises his mates again when during an autopsy he gave a comment that the victim was gay (he proved correct later, and no, he doesn't tell us how he correctly guessed one's sexual orientation from his cadaver). And just as Sherlock Holmes has Professor Moriarty, so does our detective. He has his own nemesis to answer to. A serial killer brandished by media with "Red Jack" who has been eluded him for five years and one that he has made into "his own" All in all, even if I'm not swept off of my feet, I'm planning to see what this series has to offer in the next episodes.

General review: Mostly acceptable, helped a lot by impressive performances (TV-wise) from Simon Baker and Robin Tunney.

Fringe (TV Series)

Is the name "J.J. Abrams" sparked your interest? For a good reason or otherwise? If it does, then you could consider yourself as a TV series fan or an overweight 'couch-potato' whichever suits you best.

"Fringe" is the latest TV series that put his name out front and for better or worse, after "Lost", "Felicity", "Alias", and the film "Cloverfield", i wouldn't really mind to put a two-hour pilot episode of this series on a test-play.

Fifteen minutes into play got me thinking of "C.S.I" criss-crossed with "X-Files" sans the Alien thingy. Now that was pretty high expectation given that i'm quite sure that nobody's going to argue about "C.S.I" being one of the prominent TV series in recent years, and that "X-Files" is simply a legendary TV series. But, usually, for any given TV series, pilot episode is more often than not, is one of the best episode (if not THE best itself) that series is going to see for quite a while.

Fringe begins on an Transatlantic Flight 627 from Hamburg to Boston. The plane was on a rough electrical storm (whatever that means) and its passengers were anxious at best, but it's all routine, just another flight in a bad weather. Until someone, one passenger shot a syringe into himself, and staggering along the aisle toward the pilot cabin. A flight attendant rose to her feet, trying to urge the man back into his seat. The passenger puked to the flight attendant, and disintegrate his flesh in the process. The terror ensues, and by the time the plane auto-piloted landed in Boston, all of its passengers and crews were dead, their flesh were disintegrated (it's gross but great latex work nonetheless). Thus, the new terror that involves some sort of a chemical compound unfold. And it's a job for Agent Olivia of the FBI to tackle.

First of all, i don't like the main protagonist, this Agent Olivia. She seems more interested with the case through a more selfish reason that i would've liked, and i don't really respected the way she negotiate to had what she wanted. Fortunately, other than that, the pilot episode provides an intriguing piece of an episode. If mystery with a dip of an sci-fi is in your alley, this one you might liked to watch.

American Idol Season 7 Grand Final

David Archuletta might won the praise from the jury, and just might be crowned as the American Idol Season 7 winner later tonight. But, in my opinion, it should be easy to see whose record which would dominate the market more. Yes, i'm talking about the other David. Just like Chris Daughtry from Season 5 who easily outshone the winners. David A is a good singer, doubtless, but he lacked that certain edge that made him unique. In other word, to my ears, he is flat out and nothing new. I wouldn't waste my money on his record. No matter how good the reviews are because i've heard him, and i've already heard the similar sound numerous times before.

Okay, R-rated explicit words here. Oh, god, i hated him. Genuinely. I couldn't get my head around his downcast eyes, his head shaking as if he doesn't believe the flowery praises he had received, and why does everybody seems to fall head over heels over "this-sweet-kid", and no, i don't like his singing. Not at all. Well, despite that, i believe that i'm not exaggerating when i say that this season's grand finale is one of the best American Idol Grand Final ever.

Edit: David Cook won by 12 million votes. Ha ha ha. Eat that, Archuletta!

American Idol Season 7 Episode 39

Spotted this guy, i think it's before David Cook's 3rd song. Having nightmare afterward.

Survivor 16 - Micronesia

And so ends what probably the best of Survivor season after sixteen long seasons through eight years of its history. As Jeff himself said during the Reunion, the season already has held several record for, among others 1). The most blind-sided vote. My personal blind-side moment: Mary (for it happened at the first tribal council for Fans), and Ozzy. 2). The most contestant removed due to reasons other than being voted-off and 3). The dumbest move in the history of Survivor. We're not talking about one, or two moves, but three and the obvious winner of "the dumbest move in the history of Survivor", by a land-slide if i should add, is of course Erik with "I give the Necklace to Natalie.. for redemption". James, who would be known as a Survivor with some of the show's best lines put it correctly by metaphoring Erik's deed with being in a sinking boat and decides to give up his already tucked and guaranteed safety life vest.

James, won the audiences' favorite Survivor. Back-to-back as he was also the contestant who won the same US$ 100,000 in Survivor 15: China. Well, who wouldn't love the big guy? He's competent around the camp, he's funny, he has an altruistic integrity with his words and his actions, i mean, you could easily see that unlike any other Survivors, he is already used to hard work and harsh condition. Therefore, seeing him had to quit earlier due to an infected finger instead of voted-off had almost averted my interest in the series. Heck, even his father delivers one of the most hilarious moment in the show.

In a way, even if the series had started and most of time, going with a certain level of enjoyment relatively higher than any reality show that i've ever seen, the finale sort of going anti-climaxed.

I hadn't really liked Amanda even if i had tried my best to gave her a fair judgement. I respected her a lot when she played the Hidden Immunity Idol backfiring the planned-but-obvious 'blind-side' aimed at her. But that is as far as i could like her. I hadn't liked her since China. I think that she's fake, i really hated her downcast eye that reminds me a lot to Antonio Banderas' Puss-In-the-Boots in the Shrek films. But the problem is of course, she's no cat, and she's not cute. Elizza put my contempt at her lips correctly when she addressed Amanda at the final tribal council (this resulted in Amanda gawking as if she doesn't believe. Tough luck, girl. Some of us indeed have different perspective. We're after all, human). What puzzled me though, from what i've read in various blog about Survivor Micronesia, i could say that i'm still the only one who thought that Parvati deserved her US$ 1,000,000 check and who is certain that she would win even before Jeff read the result. Sure, Amanda plays a good game, but like i (and Elizza) said, she's a fake and superficial. Yeah, yeah, i know, who am i to judge, i don't even know her. But, it's a goddamn reality show. The producers expect the viewers to judge the contestants. And really, unless Amanda is my friend, i would still believed that she was fake and superficial. I won't be convinced otherwise.

It's Been a While

Last two night's episode of The Big Bang Theory shows exactly why i liked this comedy show so much. It has "geek" and "nerd" stamped all over its face. For you unfamiliar with the show, it focuses on the life of a four "mad-scientists" whose genius level sky-rocketed way off the chart, one of them incapable of any social-related emotion, one of the other fall in love with a hot young blonde (and of course, normal) next door, and yet another one was totally incapable of talking to any woman except his mother. Trust me. If you considered yourself as a "geek", you're gonna love the show. In fact, watch any episode from the show, and if you can't understand most of it, then you're not a "geek" at all and just pretending to be one. And you should be ashamed of yourself.

Last episode opens with Howard apparently reading an RSS feed from his cell about the next Star Trek film which rumored would shown the birth of Spock scene that prompted to a lengthy discussion about Pon Farr and finally concluded with Spock's final word in The Wrath of Khan, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one" complete with a Vulcan hand sign. Now, really, if you're never seen Star Trek, you would've lost at the very minute. Later, when Penny pretending that she was hosting a quiz and asked Leonard and Sheldon about who is the most frequent actor elected as "The Sexiest Man Alive" by the Poeple Magazine, Leonard promptly answered with "William Shatner". And of course when Penny says no, Leonard and Sheldon takes a moment's pause before re-answering the question with a firm "Patrick Stewart" and did a high-five. Again, if you can't find the correct correlation between William Shatner and Patrick Stewart, then you're just pretending to be a "geek" and therefore need to relinquish the title immediately. I'm dead serious on this one. Go see The Big Bang Theory and see how "geek" you really are.

Reaper is back. But as most of TV series go, in my opinion, i found that my affection waned over time. It is, however, spins the tale a bit when the rebellious Demons plan to take the Devil out using Sam's connection with supposedly, an Archangel Michael's Greatsword. By the end of the episode, Sam earned himself a Demon that really really pissed at him. Oh, and the Devil has changed his cell number. Don't ask.

New Amsterdam hits a season finale after only eigth episode. A promising premise, actually. A man was immortal, he was 400 years old, and would only grows old and die whenever he has found "love of his live". Too much lovey-dovey drama to my taste.

Last night American Idol, Andrew Llyod Weber's night, was my favorite episode of the seventh season by far. Probably because it's Opera night, and although i've never sit on one (Broadway is one of the place in my most wanted list should i ever had a chance to visit New York someday), i louve Opera. Not too mention that Andrew Lloyd Weber was a great musician and actually giving a constructive advice to the contestants that at the very least, way improving one of the contestant's performance. He's a genius. One need only to hear him talking about music, and you know that he's a fucking genius. At this point, i only wished that Jason Castro would hit the bucket tonight. His was easily the worst of the night. Oh, Brooke White as well. The first impression lasts, and she starts out with a wrong foot last night. But i still prefer her over Jason on any given time.

Random Shorts (7)

Random TV ramblings.

Ever seen TV series lately? I'm not really a fan of a TV serie. I believe that i had pointed it out quite often that i can't really commit to stick to any TV episodes for more than several episodes let alone several seasons. So yup, Lost, Heroes, or whatever TV series that people had said that they were good, and would give nothing to missed its single episode hadn't really caught my attention. Heck, i'm not even finished with Lost season 1 and Heroes season 1. Alas, i had my share of TV series. Deadwood, for instance. Awesome Western, awesome cast, an R-rated series that doesn't think highly of itself (see: Heroes). But i just only seen the first season and never really stepped further than that. Dexter, is another. Another R-rated series about murder, another one that doesn't think highly of itself. And i've been planning to sit through for another season (season three). Pushing Daisies, is another, but probably won't go further than season one. Given if, the writers after three months strike decided to back to work on its next episodes.

The problem with TV series is that they tend to relies on its viewer that often they retained the previous seasons' experience. That irked me. Whenever, say, i stumbled upon a twelfth episode of Lost season three, having only seen several first episodes of season one, i would completely lost. Literally. In order to really enjoyed the experience, i would have to look for the previous seasons. A complete waste of time if you asked me. That's why i prefer independent TV series, a comedic ones that in order to enjoy a single episode, you won't have to attain a knowledge beyond its basic set-up. Friends, for instance, you'd only need to know all of its six characters. The Simpsons, is another, where you'd only need to know each of the member of The Simpsons family. And reality shows. To merely commit to single season for a reality show? I could really afford that.

I've been eye-ing for two reality shows these days. Survivor season sixteen, Fans vs Favorites, and American Idol season seven.

Survivor is always my favorite reality show. I mean, better than average host (Jeff Probst), engaging games, tribal councils, and girls in skimpy bikinis? What's there not to like? But, for sixteen seasons, i could count only two seasons where i follow through its episodes for the whole season. Survivor sixteen has recently sent its third contestant home and for three episodes, it gets better. In my book, an episode of Survivor is at its best when you don't know who is the name of the contestant that pulled out from the votes. And for the last two episodes, it did just that.

American Idol claimed to had its best season so far. Previously, i never really get into American Idol before its best six, or seven. And for the previous six seasons, Kelly Clarkson is the only Idol winner that i really did genuinely like. I had her first album, by the way, to show how much i liked her. For the seventh season, i had my ears on since the first episode. Alas, there's only four contestants so far that were my favorite so far. Brooke White. Her pale-complexion, framed by a pale yellow curly hair, her casual sense of style (not too skimpy, not too sexy, just ordinary), and her clear blue eyes won me over right since the day one. My girlfriend had this question mark above her head when i said that she was my favorite. Apparently, she didn't quite like her as much as i do. Or she's simply jealous. Carly Smithson. Flatly, the consistently best voice of the herd (well, probably because that she has a considerably more camera-time than any other contestants. Only time would tell wether she was a really the best voice of the herd. But, this far, i would said and let it be that way). Ramiele Malubay and finally, Michael Johns. Anyone who could sing Bohemian Rhapsody, or any other song sung by Freddie Mercury, and didn't prompt me to frown my eyebrow would get my vote. By default.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Well. So much for the hype. The Sarah Connor Chronicles turns out to be a yet another mediocre TV series invaded our tube which existence merely for the amusement of coach-potatoes, and someone like me. In short, this serie is a Terminator film all over again that instead runs for a two hours, runs an entire season. That, and the (so far, i hope) absence of Mr. Governator and Robert Patrick.

The series timeline begins in 1999. A several years after the events in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Familiar setting, Sarah and John Connor are on the run again for an umpteenth time, chased by a yet another killer cyborg sent from the future. And just like its film, there's another cyborg sent from the future with sole purpose to protect John from the killer cyborg. At the end of the first episode however, all three (Sarah, John, and the bodyguard cyborg) time-traveling to a year 2007. You know, Skynet, must stop the robot wars, all that sort of reasonings. In itself, if you'd seen Terminator 3, would ruin the timeline, so my best guess is that there'd be another time-traveling stuffs before the season finale. My opinion prevailed though, the first episode was an okay one, it promises of things yet to come. Had it happened in the film, the film would be worth it to sit through. However, a whole season? Well, my interest was greatly reduced by the end of the first episode.

I'm sure you'd be able to guess what was the girl in the poster's role for this serie. If not, go rent yourself Terminator films.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Yeah! Despite the writer strike, the new TV series from Fox, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles has premiered. I had the first two episodes of the brand-new season, gonna watch 'em tonight, and hopefully post an after-thought first impression first thing tomorrow morning. Actually, i'm not really dig Terminator. Sure, Terminator 2 was a terrific action film (that, and the fact that i've seen it when i was still a boy running around with shorts) but more? Not quite so. However, ever since the Terminator spin-off TV series rumors surfaced, and then materialized in form of promotional posters, that's when they had me intrigued. All of the posters were cool. Just check out the one i put in this post. You CANNOT NOT LOVE her!

Pushing Daisies (TV Series, 2007)

One of a brand new (first season) TV series that i watch recently was Pushing Daisies. The main plot revolved around a man, Ned, who often addressed as the Pie Maker by the serie's narrator (the serie uses narrator extensively). He had a gift which i'd say an absurd gift ever since he was nine years old. The gift is whenever he touches a dead living being, any dead living being, the dead living being would be revived.

Now, stop reading for a sec and try to guess the direction of the series.

When i read the first sentence of the main plot description, i had guessed the direction of the film was going to be a dark, gothic, philosophical, and horrific one. I had been wrong.

The Pie Maker's gift had its own rules. The series didn't explain about how the boy got the gift nor does it suggest the issue to be revealed or to be questioned later. The narrator had been shrugged off (or distracted us, the audiences) the ideas of whence the gift had come from... and instead focuses on the boy, who had chooses to accept the gift and never questioned the origin.

The rules of the gift is, if the revived living being touched by the Pie Maker continues to live for a full minute, then another random living being around the proximity would be dead. Any living being. Random. And the second rule of the gift, if the revived living being touched (or being touched by) the Pie Maker again, the living being would be dead permanently. Second touch. Re-dead. Permanent.

Fast forward almost twenty years later, the boy had grown into a renowned Pie Maker. As a side job, he partnered with a private investigator, a cynic, burly man, with a penchant for knitting. The P.I make use of the Pie Maker gift to revive a died crime-victim, obtaining the truth behind the nature of the death, and collect the reward. Until one day, when the Pie Maker had to revive his childhood neighbor, his first and last love, his first kiss, and had decided to keep her alive.

The Pie Maker and the dead girl were naturally in love. Their relationship was an awkward one that hough they shared the same bed, living together, and had a visible affections toward one another, their inability to touch, hug, and kiss were saddening and amusing.

However, the series didn't take the issue seriously (that's why it had been named Dramedy - Drama Comedy). They approach the matter with comical characters, sharp and distinct colors (think Dr.Seuss' The Cat in the Hat film, think Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and mocking absurdity (a car fueled with Dandelion roots? Come on, get real) that even though the series had often always dealt with death, it had no slightiest hint of dread or horrid. It was a light entertainment, not too exciting, but its weird and absurdness had been enough to make me smile a bit.

And of course, the series featured a LOT of cleavage, which is an added bonus, i'd say.